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Fixer-Upper Financing: 203k Program

The word “as-is” can indeed be one scary phrase. Especially when buying a home in today’s market where foreclosures and short sales that need fix-up work are plentiful. But a little-known Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan pro...

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Kitchen and Bathroom Upgrades

Instead of playing the trade-up game, more homeowners are staying in their homes, upgrading kitchens and baths and building additions to accommodate their needs instead of moving into a bigger house, but there are also some early signs of a...

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Fourth Quarter Housing Affordability

The percentage of households that could afford to buy an entry-level home in California remained at 64 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009, compared with 61 percent (revised) for the same period a year ago, according to a report released ...

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FHA 90 Day Flip Rule Waived

If you’re a real estate investor who has avoided deals because of the 90 day resale or flip rule, go find a deal! Friday, January 15, 2010, the FHA waived the rule, and will finance homes with no requirement for seasoning in a flip start...

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Fed leaves key rate unchanged

The Federal Reserve today announced it will maintain its target for the federal funds rate in the 0 percent to 0.25 percent range, and expects economic conditions to warrant exceptionally low levels of the federal funds rate for an extended...

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Real Estate Analysts Cautiously Optimistic for 2010

According to David Crowe, chief economist of the National Association of Home Builders, home builders, mired in their deepest slump since the Great Depression, are likely to see a rebound in sales in 2010 as stabilizing home prices and rec...

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The Expanded Home Buyer Tax Credit

As we begin 2010, home buyers have something to look forward to and more importantly, take advantage of—the extended and expanded home buyer tax credit. “First-time home buyers” who purchase homes between November 7, 2009 and April 3...

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Take Advantage of the Extended Tax Deduction

Hats off to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and its lobbying efforts for bringing us fantastic news out of Washington, D.C.–lawmakers have extended the homebuyer tax credit to April 30, 2010. And they’ve sweetened the deal: ...

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Housing and Economy Headed for Sustainable Recovery

Aided by the home buyer tax credit, the outlook for housing and the economy appears headed for a sustainable recovery, according to the National Association of Realtors®. There has been a steady downtrend in housing inventory for well ove...

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