More homeowners get long-term help

Posted on February 2, 2010 by rashadhart

Intense pressure from the Obama administration spurred loan servicers to ramp up the amount of permanent modifications they offered to troubled borrowers.

The number of long-term adjustments completed under the president’s foreclosure prevention plan rose to 66,465 at the end of December, or 7.4% of all trial modifications started, up from 31,382 a month earlier.

Another 46,056 modifications are pending borrowers’ final signatures, according to Treasury statistics released Friday. Another 48,924 were denied permanent modifications, mainly because they did not make their trial payments on time, did not hand in the needed paperwork or did not meet the program’s criteria.

Meanwhile, the number of delinquent homeowners in trial modifications rose to 787,231, up from 697,026 a month earlier.

“Treasury is committed to working with servicers and borrowers to sustain this improved pace,” said Phyllis Caldwell, chief of Treasury’s Homeownership Preservation Office.

Administration officials increased pressure on servicers in November after the slow pace of conversions to permanent modifications raised concerns that the $75 billion plan will fall far short of its goal to help up to 4 million delinquent homeowners.

The administration ramped up its oversight of loan servicers’ conversion operations, sending in SWAT teams to break up any logjams and requiring banks to submit updates twice daily on their efforts. Officials also called financial executives to Washington to urge them to quicken the conversion rate.

Housing experts, however, remain concerned that the rate of foreclosures still outpaces the help homeowners are receiving under the program. A record three million homeowners received at least one foreclosure filing in 2009, according to a RealtyTrac report released Thursday.

“We have a lot more to do if we’re going to address the foreclosure crisis,” said David Berenbaum, chief program officer for the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. “The servicers will have to step up to the plate.”

One prominent forecasting group, Moody’s Economy.com, said this week that it expects the Obama program to save only 400,000 to 1 million borrowers from foreclosure.

A lot of borrowers are too far underwater or don’t have enough income to qualify for a permanent modification, said Celia Chen, senior director at Economy.com. Others will not be able to provide all the documentation needed.

Administration officials said they continue to review the program to make sure it is helping those in need, Chen said she doesn’t think there’s anything the government can do to keep these borrowers in their homes.

And once these homeowners go into foreclosure, it will hurt the housing market, she said.

“As more of these loans fail to make it to permanent modifications, a lot will go back on the market as foreclosures and that will depress home prices,” said Chen, who expects home prices to fall another 10% by the third quarter of this year.

Trial to permanent

Under the president’s plan, delinquent borrowers are put into trial modifications for several months to make sure they can handle the new payments and to give them time to submit their financial paperwork. Once the modification becomes permanent, servicers, investors and homeowners are eligible to receive thousands of dollars in incentive payments.

Overall, about three-quarters of people are making their payments on time, said Michael Barr, Treasury assistant secretary.

Loan servicers, however, have said they are having trouble getting the necessary documents from borrowers, while homeowners maintain that their financial institutions are repeatedly losing the paperwork. Once their files are complete, borrowers may be denied long-term help if they don’t meet the program’s criteria.

At Wells Fargo, for instance, a quarter of the 74,000 borrowers who had made three trial payments on time did not turn in all the required documents. Another 25% turned out not to be eligible for modification after their documents were reviewed. The remaining are expected to receive permanent modifications.

Who leads and who lags

Loan servicers efforts continue to vary widely. Citigroup (C, Fortune 500) led the pack by placing 47% of its eligible delinquent borrowers in trial modifications, while Saxon Mortgage, a subsidiary of Morgan Stanley (MS, Fortune 500), came in at 46%. Among the other major servicers, JPMorgan Chase (JPM, Fortune 500) put 36% of eligible homeowners in trial modifications, while Wells Fargo (WFC, Fortune 500) put 34% in. Bank of America (BAC, Fortune 500) continued to trail the pack with 19%.

In terms of longer-term assistance, Wells Fargo led the pack among the nation’s largest servicers with 2.41% of its eligible delinquent borrowers in permanent modifications. Citi placed 2.1% and Chase 1.68%.

Bank of America, by far the nation’s largest servicer, said it has implemented “extraordinary efforts” over the past two months to boost its conversion statistics. The servicer, which had converted only 98 homeowners by the end of November, increased that number to 3,183 a month later. That means only .3% of its eligible homeowners are in permanent modifications.

Asked repeatedly about the laggards during a conference call with reporters, Treasury officials declined to say what measures they would take to force servicers to improve their modification efforts or whether the banks had met their goals.

Source: CNNMoney.com By Tami Luhby, senior writerJanuary 15, 2010

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Homebuyer tax credit: No e-file and four-month delays

Posted on January 29, 2010 by rashadhart

Good news homebuyers: You can file for your $8,000 first-time buyer tax credit again.

Bad news: You still can’t e-file your taxes if you want the cash. And there are long delays.

On Thursday, CNNMoney revealed that buyers who purchased their properties after Nov. 6 were unable to claim the refund because the Internal Revenue Service had yet to release a new form and instructions. But on Friday, the IRS finally posted the new form 5405.

The two-month delay was frustrating to Florida resident Charles Teschke. “We are not broke or anything, but nevertheless we were still counting on getting the tax refund to help pay for the appliances and stuff we needed for our new home,” he said. “The IRS told me they estimate it will take four months for me to get my refund!”

First-time buyers were able to immediately file for the tax credit after Congress approved it last February as part of the stimulus program. All they had to do was file an amendment to their 2008 tax returns (the ones they filed last April) and claim the promised refund of 10% of the purchase price, up to $8,000.

They were able to e-file, and they received their refunds promptly. One reader filed a claim the first week of August, and had the check by the third week in September.

But on Nov. 6 the rules changed. That’s when Congress extended — and expanded — the tax credit, which was originally scheduled to expire on Nov. 30.

Now, the deadline is April 30, by when all contracts must be signed. (Closings must happen by June 30.) Plus, existing homeowners looking to trade up (or down) can qualify for a $6,500 refund.

And these new buyers can no longer file electronically. They have to mail in paper forms, including the new 5405, whether they are amending their 2008 taxes or claiming it on the 2009 taxes that are being filed this spring.

That is going to dramatically slow refunds, but taxpayers can’t blame the IRS. Instead, it’s people scamming the system who are at fault.

For example, in October tax preparer James Otto Price III was the first person convicted of this crime. He falsely claimed the credit for 15 clients.

So buyers must now file documentation with their taxes — including proof of residency, a signed mortgage statement and drivers license — which the e-file system is not equipped to handle.

“Because of the scams, the IRS started sending back the amended returns and asking for proof,” said Mary Mellem of David & Mary Mellem, EAs & Ashwaubenon Tax Professionals. “The system has no way of sending along the documents they’re requiring. Taxpayers must file a paper return instead.”

The IRS points out that taxpayers can still use the electronic forms available on its Web site or consumer sites such as TurboTax; they just have to print them out, attach the proof and mail everything in. And that can take quite a while.

“Taxpayers are looking at another three months before they get their returns,” said Mellem.

Source: CNNMoney, By Les Christie staff writerJanuary 16, 2010

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Consider Live-In Stagers for Vacant Homes

Posted on January 26, 2010 by rashadhart

Showhomes, a Nashville, Tenn.-based home-management and staging company with eight offices in Florida, provides live-in stagers for vacant homes that are up for sale.

Live-in stagers reduce the chances that the property will be vandalized, and they ensure that the listing is kept in show condition and ready for buyers to tour with just 30 minutes’ notice. They also must vacate the home when it sells; but in return, they pay dramatically reduced rents. Don Vanderhoef, who owns Showhomes’ Fort Lauderdale franchise, says, “A big part of it is psychology. Buyers see food in the refrigerator, clothes in the closet. They see all the signs of life of a regular home.”

While some real estate agents worry that live-in stagers will not keep the home clean or cause problems when asked to move out, Vanderhoef says in-home managers sign contracts and submit to background checks.

In the company’s 24-year history, he says it has worked with only one problem manager. The program’s properties generally spend less time on the market and fetch more money than other vacant listings. The company collects a “success” fee of 1 percent of the list price when a sale is completed and only the upfront money if the home is not sold.

Source: Charlotte Observer, Paul Owers (01/17/2010)

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Housing Economists: Sales Are on the Rise

Posted on January 20, 2010 by rashadhart

The housing recovery should gain moment in 2010, but the improvement will still be slow, according to a panel of economists speaking at the International Builders Show in Las Vegas.

“It won’t be a strong recovery, but it will be a recovery,” said David Crowe, chief economist for the National Association of Home Builders.

Crowe forecast that sales of new homes will rise by about 33 percent while resales will go up 7 percent. He expects prices to remain stable in most areas, but some cities may see some slight declines.

“I believe we’ve seen the worst of the house price declines … The stage is set for the consumer to return,” Crowe said.

Source: Associated Press, Alex Veiga (01/19/2010)

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7 tips for buying foreclosures

Posted on December 17, 2009 by rashadhart

1. Don’t get caught up in a feeding frenzy

“Everybody and their grandmas are trying to buy foreclosures,” said Glenn Kelman, CEO of Redfin, an online, discount broker. But that doesn’t mean you should lose your head.

Banks put repossessed homes back on the market at cut-rate prices because quick sales help avoid the expense of upkeep, such as property taxes, insurance, heat and electricity.

Those lowball prices represent golden opportunities, but they also attract dozens of buyers who may bid until homes are no longer bargains.

Don’t get caught up in a bidding war. Instead, carefully calculate what you want to spend and do not exceed that price.

2. Contact lenders directly

Smart buyers establish relations with asset managers at banks. This may reward them with inside information or first crack at new foreclosures hitting the market.

In the case of a short sale, for example, it can give the inside edge. If a buyer is pursuing a short sale — buying a home for less than what the current owner owes on the mortgage — she should talk directly to the property’s asset manager. That way, if the short sale falls through and the bank repossesses the house, the asset manager knows she is still interested. It could lead to a quick sale without other bidders.

3. Get pre-approved from the lender you want to buy from

If you’re trying to buy a property from, say Bank of America, it can help to get a pre-approved mortgage from Bank of America. Doing so may cause lenders to look more favorably on your bid if it’s similar to others.

Plus, you’re not locked in if other lenders offer you better terms. You can always change your mind and get your mortgage from another source.

4. Consider fix-ups

Most REOs, the industry term for bank owned properties, are sold as is. “The conventional wisdom is that banks will do nothing to the houses before the sale,” said Kelman.

That can be problematic today because so many foreclosed homes are in less-than-mint conditions. Often, the former owners were struggling to pay their bills and may have neglected routine maintenance. Or, they may have trashed the properties before leaving

In 25% of cases, homebuyers persuade lenders to fix some of the problems before the sale closes. Most of the time, banks would rather sell the house to the next available bidder — one who doesn’t ask the bank to pay for repairs.

So be willing to consider a home that needs some work — but budget accordingly.

5. Hire a real estate attorney

Once banks agree to sales, they often want to move fast and load contracts up with legal mumbo jumbo. As a result, buyers often do not have the time or expertise to figure all the angles.

The solution is to hire a real estate attorney — even in states where home sales are usually completed without one. Considering you’re making a six-figure investment, the legal fees are cheap insurance against the risks.

6. Wait to make an offer

Homebuyers may be well served to wait before making an offer. Let the house sit on the market for a few days, giving others a chance to set the bidding tone. Then jump in.

“Talk to the agent selling the property,” said Kelman. “The agent may tip his hand. Call up and ask, ‘Should I make an offer? What should I come in at?’”

The agent may tell you he has offers at, say $300,000 and you should bid a bit higher, giving you an advantage over earlier bidders.

7. Tour properties with contractors

With so many REOs in seriously deficient shape, it’s essential to go over every inch with someone who can spot problems and tell you how much it will cost to remedy them.

A foundation crack can be a minor problem or a deal breaker, and most ordinary homebuyers have no way of telling the difference. Like an attorney, a contractor can be very worthwhile insurance.

Source: CNNMoney.com, Les Christie (11/19/2009)

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Buying a Home in Time to Get Credit

Posted on November 19, 2009 by rashadhart

House hunting usually slows down this time of year, as people put their searches on hold during the holidays.

This winter could be different, however, thanks to the extension — and expansion — of the first-time home-buyer tax credit.

“We’re going to see far more interest in the fourth quarter than we generally do because of the tax credit,” says Heather Fernandez, vice president of Trulia.com, a real-estate search engine. Traffic surged on the site on Nov. 5, the day Congress approved the credit extension, she says.

The new law extends the tax credit for first-time home buyers and opens it up to some existing homeowners as well: The credit is now up to $8,000 for first-time buyers and up to $6,500 for repeat buyers.

All buyers must have a binding contract on a house in place on or before April 30. The purchase must be for a principal residence and must close on or before June 30.

To be considered a first-time home buyer, an individual must not have owned a home in the past three years. And to be eligible, existing homeowners need to have lived in the same principal residence for five consecutive years during the eight-year period that ends when the new home is purchased.

Income limits have risen as well. According to the Internal Revenue Service’s Web site, www.irs.gov, the home-buyer tax credit phases out for individuals with modified adjusted gross incomes between $125,000 and $145,000, and between $225,000 and $245,000 for people filing joint returns.

The inclusion of move-up buyers might inspire homeowners to take action and list their house if they’ve been putting it off, says Carolyn Warren, a Seattle mortgage broker.

“If people love their home, it’s not going to entice them to sell,” Ms. Warren says. “If they’ve had it in the back of their minds and really would like to move up, it might push them into doing it sooner than later.”

If you’re thinking of purchasing a home, here are five tips:

Don’t procrastinate
Start your house search now. Getting an early start will give you a better chance of finding the right house before the credit deadline.

When first-time buyers thought that the credit would expire Nov. 30, people scrambled to find properties in September and October, says Pat Lashinsky, chief executive of ZipRealty, a residential real-estate brokerage firm. In some cases, “there wasn’t inventory that fit people’s needs,” he says. In some markets, including Phoenix, Chicago and parts of California, for example, properties had multiple bidders, Mr. Lashinsky adds.

Before you start house hunting, get preapproved for a mortgage, says Eddie Fadel, a Miami-based mortgage banker. And do a realistic assessment of what you can afford.

Buyers who have to sell an existing home should price it aggressively from the beginning to drum up interest and get a buyer as soon as possible, Ms. Fernandez says.

Don’t count on another extension
The credit won’t be available forever, Mr. Fadel says.

“This is a medication for the housing crisis,” he says, “Once the patient — which is the housing market — is cured, there will be no medication needed.”

Be mindful of interest rates
Interest rates are low right now, but will likely rise next year, Ms. Warren says. Higher rates will affect your monthly mortgage payments, thus the affordability of the house you are buying.

“It’s pretty universally accepted that rates will be higher next year,” she says. “What is unknown is how fast and by how much.”

Average rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages have been hovering around 5%. But when the Federal Reserve stops buying large amounts of mortgage-backed securities next year, interest rates could rise, Ms. Warren points out. The Fed plans to end its purchase program in March.

Communicate with your lender
Make sure you’re speaking with your lender regularly to avoid any delays. If the lender asks for any additional documentation, turn it in as soon as possible, says Doug Heddings, a New York-based real-estate agent with Charles Rutenberg Realty.

And think twice before pursuing a short sale. That’s where someone sells a home for less than what he or she owes on a mortgage, with permission of the lender. The process can be lengthy and unpredictable because the homeowner’s lender has to approve any deal, Ms. Warren says, and it can get complicated when there is a second mortgage associated with the property.

Don’t take shortcuts
Don’t forgo any of the steps you would normally take just to make the tax-credit deadline. That means making sure the house is a good fit and is in the right location and getting a home inspection, Mr. Lashinsky says. Skipping steps could cost you in the long run.

“Don’t let the tax credit get you to make a decision to buy a house that you wouldn’t otherwise want to buy,” he says. “Don’t shortcut the process to get the tax credit.”

Source: Wall Street Journal,  AMY HOAK (11/15/2009)

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Are There Any Foreclosures Left?

Posted on November 13, 2009 by yourmortgageplanner

For the eighth straight consecutive month, national foreclosure activity in the U.S. was dominated by a small set of states.

As reported by RealtyTrac.com, more than half of October’s foreclosure-related activity came from just 4 states:

  1. California
  2. Florida
  3. Illinois
  4. Michigan

The remaining Top 10 states in terms of total foreclosure activity included Arizona, Georgia, Texas, Ohio, New Jersey, and Maryland.

Foreclosures are up 19 percent from last October, but a deeper look at the RealtyTrac report revealed two positive developments for the housing market.

  1. Foreclosure activity is down 3 percent from last month
  2. Foreclosures per Household decreased in 9 of the 10 most heavily concentrated states

Furthermore, Nevada’s foreclosure pace is down 4% from last year.  This is a big deal because Nevada has long led the nation in foreclosure-related activity. Until last month, Nevada’s year-to-year foreclosure rate hadn’t fallen in more than 4 years.

It’s too soon to say that the foreclosure market is drying up, but bargains are getting harder to come by.  First-time buyers and bona fide investors alike have been snapping up property at a furious pace.

According to an industry trade group, distressed homes account for nearly one-third of home resale activity.

That said, buying foreclosures isn’t for everyone.

For one, properties are often sold as-is and may be defective.  The cost of repairs may negate “the deal” or “the steal” — depending on the cost of the home.

Secondly, closing on a foreclosed home can be a 3-month long process. This is because banks rarely process home sale paperwork as fast as a “person” would. A 3-month timeframe may not fit your schedule.

In the end, fundamentally, buying a foreclosed home is the same as buying a “regular” home — there’s a contract and a closing.  Most of the steps in the middle, however, are different.

Read the complete foreclosure report and take a peek at the foreclosure heat maps on the RealtyTrac website.  If you like what you see, talk to your real estate agent about what to do next.

There’s still good deals in the foreclosure market, but based on October’s data, they may not last through the winter.

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Low Prices Draw Investors Back to Market

Posted on November 12, 2009 by rashadhart

Real estate investors are moving back into the market, according to a new survey from Move.com.

According to the Move.com survey, 12.1 percent of home buyers today plan to buy a home as an investment property, compared to 5.6 percent in March 2009. The survey found that 15.8 percent of those interested in investment property were men and 8.1 percent were women and 52.6 percent of the investment buyers were between ages 35 to 49.

Of the 25.3 percent of buyers who are focusing on foreclosure properties, 42 percent regard the purchase they are considering an investment and don’t plan to live in the property themselves; 13.2 percent plan to rent out the property; 11.3 percent are going to fix up the property and resell it; and 17.4 percent plan to house a family member until the property can be sold profitably.

Of the 9.8 percent of buyers who say that they plan to purchase and live in a property in the next two years, 5.4 percent plan to purchase in the next 12 months; 48.3 percent are first-time buyers; 52.8 percent are women, and 44.1 percent are men.

Buyers of investment and personal property say they are motivated by these factors:

Prices are as low as they will go, 23.6 percent
Foreclosure prices are a bargain, 18.7 percent
Great selection of homes for sale in their target community, 21.2 percent
Concerned interest rates will rise, 14.2 percent

Source: Move.com (11/11/2009)

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Seattle is Positioned to Bounce Back

Posted on November 10, 2009 by rashadhart

According to CNNMoney.com Seattle is ranked second for best recovery bets. Our Real Estate has fallen only 15% through the economic decline, which is about half of the national average. With our fortune 500 companies still surviving, our unemployment still below the national average we are poised to make a nice comeback over the next two years.

Median home price: $371,000

Value lost since 2006: 15.2%

Forecast gain by 2011*: 3.8%

Seattle has become a world-class city with a diverse, vibrant economy. As a home to manufacturers such as Boeing and software providers such as Microsoft, the job market has held up better than average, with a current unemployment rate of 8.8%.

Home prices had a softer landing as well, dropping just 15.2% over the past three years, about half the national average. However, prices do tend to be volatile, according to Mark Fleming, chief economist for First American CoreLogic. The lack of available land for development is one reason for that volatility, as are political restrictions on growth.

After another modest price decline of 2.3% in the next eight months, the market should begin to turn up. Between June 2010 and June 2011, the city should see a gain of 6.2%. Averaged out, that means a 3.8% gain over the next two years*.

And while that may not sound all that robust for those jaded by the annual double-digit returns recorded during the boom, that performance will be one of the best of any large city during that period.

Source: CNNMoney.com

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First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit It’s Official

Posted on November 7, 2009 by yourmortgageplanner

Obama signed the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit today.

Congress both extended and expanded the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit program Thursday.

The up-to-$8000 tax credit’s expiration date has been pushed forward to spring, requiring homebuyers to be under contract by April 30, 2010, and to be closed by June 30, 2010.

The program’s basic eligibility requirements remain the same:

  • Buyers can’t purchase the home from a parent, spouse, or child
  • Buyers can’t purchase the home from an entity in which they’re a majority owner
  • Buyers can’t acquire the home by gift or inheritance
  • All parties to the purchase must meet eligibility requirements

The new law includes some notable updates, however.

For one, the definition of “first-time home buyer” has been expanded to include most homeowners with at least 5 years in their current home.  “Move-up” buyers like these are now eligible for IRS tax credits, but with a cap at $6,500.

This means that you don’t have to be a true first-time home buyer to claim the “first-time home buyer tax credit”.

Other eligibility changes include:

  • The subject property’s sales price may not exceed $800,000
  • The subject property must be a primary residence
  • Income thresholds raised to $125,000 for single-filers and $225,500 for joint-filer

And remember, the First-Time Home Buyer program grants a tax credit as opposed to a deduction.  This means that a tax filer would receive a cash payment of $2,000 from the U.S. Treasury if his “normal” tax liability totals $6,000 and he was eligible for all $8,000 available under the new law.

The complete list of qualifying criteria is posted on the IRS website.  Be sure to review it with a tax professional to determine your eligibility.  Then mark your calendar for April 30, 2010.

It’s 5 months away.

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