Refinancing your home at a lower rate makes sense if you can keep your refinancing costs to a minimum. Q: We have a mortgage loan on a second home (it’s a vacation home) with our credit union. The APR is at 4.039 percent and the loan is just a little over a year old. We [...]
A fiscal cliff deal reached and we have new taxes but it seems we're relying on small business to revive the economy. I'll explain why. And as usual, providing personal finance advice, real estate advice and consumer advice on the Ilyce Glink Show on January 6, 2013 at 11:00am Eastern Time on WSB Radio. Welcome [...]
For those that took advantage of the first-time home buyer tax credit in 2008, you still need to repay the IRS back over time. Q: I bought a home in April, 2008 and took advantage of the $7,500 home buyer tax credit. My understanding is I will have to pay back the full amount to [...]
A contract for deed is another option for underwater real estate investors when trying to sell their homes. Q: I recently read your article "Not a lot of help forthcoming to underwater investors." I want to add another option for that real estate investor to consider. Having been in the real estate business for about [...]
In the nearly 20 years that we’ve been writing this column, we’ve offered New Year’s Resolutions for home buyer and home sellers, plus New Year’s Financial Resolutions that everyone can use to start their year off right. This is the first year since 2007 that we’re starting with a brighter outlook for real estate. Home [...]
Looking around our neighborhood, I see fewer “for sale” signs this December than last year. In fact, several homes that were on the market for over a year have sold this autumn and are now closing. It still isn’t easy being a seller, but times are slowly getting better. Home values are starting to stabilize [...]
It is possible to refinance your mortgage at lower interest rates than HARP, but you might end up paying more in closing costs. Q: I keep hearing about these really low refinance opportunities but nobody seems to say which bank or mortgage broker is offering them. I have a 15-year fixed rate loan at 4.25 [...]
I'm off this week! Enjoy an encore presentation from the November 11, 2012 Ilyce Glink Show. Bill Nemeth and Merry Brodie join me to talk about the 2012 tax review and the fiscal cliff. And as usual, providing personal finance advice, real estate advice and consumer advice on the Ilyce Glink Show on December 30, [...]
To speed a closing with the bank before the end of 2012, you need to talk with your bank to decide what is faster: a short sale or deed in lieu of foreclosure. Q: My daughter’s home has been unoccupied for the last six months or so and is listed as a short sale. [...]
Making home improvements can lower your capital gains tax, but that may change in 2013. Q: In 1975, my parents built a four bedroom house on Cape Cod and they put my name on the deed with theirs. My parents died quite some time ago, so I have had the house since then. For most [...]
