Frugal Tips for Making a Home More Appealing

Homeowners who want to sell but don’t have a lot of cash to spruce up their properties might consider these tips from Bankrate.com for upgrading a property without spending a fortune.

Polish up the kitchen. Add new cabinet door handles, replace lighting and update the faucet set. Unless the cabinets are mica, give them a fresh coat of paint. Order new doors for kitchen appliances.

Tidy up the bath. Replace the toilet seat. Clean up the floor with vinyl tiles or sheet vinyl applied over the old floor. Re-grout the tub and, if the tub is dingy, add a new prefabricated tub and shower surround.

Paint the walls.

Add closet systems to all the bedrooms, pantry, and entry closets.

Hire a plumber and an electrician to fix anything that is loose or that leaks.

Clean the carpets or, if they are worn, cover them with area rugs.

Replace ceiling lights with inexpensive but attractive fixtures.

Refinish or repaint the front door and replace the hardware.

Mow the lawn, edge the sidewalks, mulch all the beds and put two big planters at either side of the front door.

Source: Bankrate.com (07/14/2010)

What Causes Borrowers to Walk Away?

While borrowers with “super prime” credit scores accounted for just 5 percent of the mortgage delinquencies, about 28 percent of their defaults were calculated and strategic.

This relatively small actual number is nevertheless causing the credit industry to look at new ways to evaluate walk-away risk even among the very creditworthy.

Credit bureau Experian reports that borrowers in California, Florida, and other hard-hit states are more likely to walk away than people living in states with more stable markets. Also, residents of states where lenders have no recourse are more likely to toss in the towel.

People with small amounts of negative equity also are more likely to stay and pay.

Source: Washington Post (07/03/2010)

Dealing With IRS Tax Credit Rejections

The IRS has been rejecting first-time home buyer claims from anyone who shows a Form 1098 Mortgage Interest Expense in their prior year files. In many cases, the applicants are entitled to the credit because their previous mortgage interest deduction is for a timeshare, mobile home, boat, or other recreational property. If you have a client who is in this unfortunate position, here is some advice from Enrolled Agent Eva Rosenberg, who authors the Web site TaxMama.com. • Respond to the IRS immediately and tell them why their rejection is wrong. Be prepared to prove that the mortgage the IRS is seeing isn’t on a personal residence. First-time home buyers are entitled to own other types of real estate and still get the home buyers credit, so provide proof that the previous mortgage was on something else. • Send a letter explaining the situation and providing proof of a previous rental or other non-ownership living situation, including copies of rental contracts for the last three years, an old driver's license showing that address, utility bills, etc. • Home buyers who believe the IRS may view their situation in this way should be proactive, providing proof that they are a first-time buyer when they initially file for the credit. • Anyone who is rejected after two attempts to explain the problem to the IRS should call the Taxpayers Advocate Service toll-free, (877) 777-4778, their Congressman, and their Senator, Rosenberg advises.
Source: TaxMama.com, Eva Rosenberg, EA (06/16/2010)

Fiserv Study Says Markets Are Improving

Fiserv on Monday released a report that analyzed housing financial data from fourth quarter 2009, which seemed to suggest real estate could be improving. “Optimism that a sustainable economic recovery is underway and is driving increases in home prices across many U.S. metro areas. More and more, consumers have confidence that buying a home doesn’t mean catching a falling knife,” says David Stiff, chief economist for global financial technology firm Fiserv. Among the conclusions of the report were:

• California markets collapsed about one year before much of the rest of the U.S., creating increased affordability. Year-over-year prices are up in eight of 28 California metro areas and prices have increased from recent lows in 24 of 28 metro areas. The strongest rebounds were in coastal markets, including the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego, where there are decreasing levels of foreclosed homes. Markets in the interior have also experienced a price bounce, mainly due to strong investor demand.
• In Washington, D.C., home prices were up 5.2 percent year-over-year. Since the market bottomed in early 2009, prices in this metro area have risen more than 9 percent. Washington boasts a relatively strong local economy with 6.8 percent unemployment compared to 9.9 percent for the U.S. The earlier rapid decline in prices also substantially improved affordability.
• Ohio and Michigan, two states hit hard by the recession and loss of manufacturing jobs, are seeing signs of stabilization. Housing is very affordable across metro areas in these states. There is less uncertainty about the future of the U.S. auto industry and jobs in auto and auto parts manufacturing have been increasing since December 2009.
• Other markets where investor purchases of foreclosed homes have dominated housing sales are also coming back into balance. This includes metro areas such as Minneapolis, Detroit, and Memphis, where recent sales have included more regular, non-distressed homes.

Source: Fiserv (06/14/2010)

Chinese Status Symbol: A Hong Kong Home

For many wealthy Chinese, the ultimate travel souvenir is a vacation home, especially a vacation home in Hong Kong. According to one of Hong Kong’s largest real estate companies, Centaline, Chinese buyers represented 18 percent of all real estate purchases in Hong Kong in 2009. Other estimates say the Chinese are responsible for 40 percent of all Hong Kong purchases of property over $1.13 million. Benedict Ma, associate director of research at CB Richard Ellis, says buying Hong Kong property is a status symbol. “You buy an apartment, go back, and tell your friends all about it. If you can afford a place in Hong Kong, you are saying you have arrived.” Ma says many Chinese are also interested in buying U.S. properties, but strict visa policies restrict Chinese visitors to the U.S.

Source: Newsweek International, Alexandra A. Seno

The 'Cher House' Sold in Miami

ONE Sotheby’s Realty in Miami closed this week on the resale of a mansion sold by singer Cher in 2006 to Sean Wolfington. The recent sale brought $10.45 million, about $2 million more than Wolfington paid.

"There's a shortage of trophy properties on the market and we are seeing an increasing number of wealthy foreign buyers from Latin America and Europe looking to capitalize on the weak U.S. dollar," says Daniel De La Vega, broker of ONE Sotheby's Realty.

Associate Jorge Uribe, who listed the property, says, "A lot of people told me to lower the price by 20 percent to 30 percent because everything was down, but I advised my client to be patient. In the end, the new owners paid a great price for one of the most unique properties in Miami.”

Source: ONE Sotheby’s Realty (05/06/2010)

How Much Will Home Owners Insurance Cost?

The price of insuring a property can raise the cost of ownership significantly. There are various factors that affect the cost of insuring a home: · Location. A home near a fire hydrant or protected by a professional fire department, as opposed to volunteers, will cost less to insure. · History of claims. Previous claims push up the cost of insurance. Ask the seller to provide a home’s insurance claims history report. This information is available from the sources: The CLUE report is $19.50 and can be purchased at: http://tinyurl.com/26m57uo. The A-Plus report is $9 by mail and $13 by fax and available at: http://tinyurl.com/293slq7. · Need flood or earthquake insurance? Policies for both of these perils are sold separately and can be pricey. · How old are the systems? Electrical and plumbing systems that are less than 10 years old cost less to insure.
Source: Associated Press (04/23/2010)

Credit Issues Slowing Recovery

A survey of 200 real estate executives by Akerman & Co, a national commercial real estate company, reveals they believe credit issues and the volume of distressed properties continue to inhibit the recovery of the real estate market. The report found that:

• 79 percent of respondents said availability of credit and other financing challenges was the most pressing issue facing the industry.
• 65 percent believe that large inventories of lender-owned properties are preventing a recovery in the commercial real estate industry.
• 44 percent said inventories of distressed properties and their effect on pricing was the second most pressing issue.
• 54 percent believe residential is the real estate sector best positioned for a recovery.
• 20 percent said the industrial sector is best positioned.

Source: Akerman Senterfitt (04/05/2010)

No Authoritative Estimate of Total Foreclosures

How many foreclosed homes are really out there? No one can say for sure, but the number seems to be somewhere between 500,000 and 1 million. To date, no one has been able to track the total number of properties owned by banks, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and mortgage investors. Here are a few approximations: • Barclays Capital uses foreclosure data from mortgage securities to estimate that there are slightly more than 600,000 homes in the process of foreclosure. • RealtyTrac, which examines public records, estimates the number is closer to 700,000. • Independent housing economist Tom Lawler combines data from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the Federal Housing Administration, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., and securitization trusts to conclude that there are actually about 500,000. Source: The Wall Street Journal, James R. Hagerty (03/19/2010)

Sam Zell: Recovery Is Underway

Sam Zell, the billionaire investor who made his fortune in real estate, told Bloomberg News yesterday that he expects the U.S. housing market to start recovering at the end of 2010 and strengthen in the middle of 2011.

Zell, who according to the Forbes’ tally is the 237^th richest person in the world, said, “Conditions are getting better, but there’s a lot of uncertainty. The real question is: Can confidence return enough so that what you call the green shoots can continue forward?”

Zell said he expects more turmoil in the commercial real estate business, pointing toward General Growth Properties Inc., the mall owner that is fighting a takeover, as an example.

Source: Bloomberg, Rita Nazareth (03/16/2010)

What Will the Market's New Normal Be?

In a new study, "Housing in America: The Next Decade," Urban Land Institute senior resident fellow John McIlwain says the housing market will not return to what it was prior to the downturn but rather that a "new normal" will take its place.

He expects another 10 percent decrease in residential prices this year, a jump in the number of borrowers abandoning "underwater" mortgages, and a change in consumer perceptions of homeownership.

"The emotional impact on the children and parents and disillusion about the 'joys' of homeownership will be intense; new attitudes to homeownership and the American dream will emerge," McIlwain writes.

He expects home price appreciation to hover around 1 percent or 2 percent per year after the market recovers and the national homeownership rate to drop from 67 percent currently to 62 percent by 2020.

In the coming decade, McIlwain expects the following:

• Older baby boomers to move to urban, mixed-use, mixed-age centers near family instead of retiring to Sun Belt communities;
• Immigrants to snub the suburbs in favor of more close-knit communities;
• Younger boomers to face the challenges of lost home equity and a smaller pool of move-up buyers;
• Generation Y to rent for long periods by choice or because they are paying off student loans or have stagnant incomes.

Source: Inman News (02/01/10)

6 Surprising Facts About the Buyer Tax Credit

The homebuyer tax credit is not as simple or straightforward as you might think. Here are some nuances that will affect homebuyers who plan to use it.

• To qualify for the move-up tax credit, a home owner must have occupied the same principal residence for five of the last eight years consecutively.
• Buyers can elect to claim the credit on either their 2009 or their 2010 tax return, whichever is best for them.
• Buyers who claim the credit in 2009 can’t file electronically because the Internal Revenue Service hasn’t put the required forms on line. The wait for a refund is three or four months.
• The home can be a mobile home or travel trailer that is fixed to land owned or leased by the home owner. A mobile home or travel trailer that is actually mobile doesn’t qualify.
• The home can’t be purchased from a close relative, including a parent, spouse, child, grandparent or grandchild.
• A buyer who earns no taxable income or doesn’t owe any federal income tax can qualify for the tax credit and file a tax return just to claim it.

Source: Bankrate.com, Marcie Geffner (01/21/2010)