Right now, consumers are usually charged for appraisal costs, but that might be changing. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recently proposed a new rule that would require mortgage lenders to provide free appraisal reports to applicants. The report would offer a deeper look at...
According to the real estate website Zillow, purchasing a home can pay off, on average, in just three years. In a new analysis they call the “break-even horizon,” Zillow explores the advantages of purchasing a home versus renting. Chief among the reasons are building your own...
Buyers are becoming more and more savvy when home shopping, and many have a specific idea of what they’re interested in before they even set foot inside a home. When a buyer thinks about spending their hard-earned money on a new home, most expect the...
HUD’s 203(k) program is a beneficial program that assists home buyers who are looking to rehabilitate and repair single-family properties. Eligible properties include one- to four-family dwellings that have been built for at least one year. Demolished homes can qualify as well, but must have...
A new 3.8% surtax, or “transfer tax,” that takes effect on January 1, 2013 could impact certain real estate transactions next year. There has been a lot of discussion about this new surtax and how health care could start to impact real estate, but understanding...
The Mortgage Debt Relief Act is something worth familiarizing yourself with in order to better understand your tax liability as it relates to forgiven debt. Right now, the program has been extended until December 31, 2012, but there is talk of extending it further to...