Getting approved for a home loan is scary if you don't know how much home you can afford. Ilyce Glink explains in today's Real Estate Minute. Getting a home loan doesn’t have to be scary. You just have to know your limits when it comes to taking on debt. The housing bubble and great recession [...]
Understand the pros and cons of real estate investment trusts before jumping in. Real estate investment trusts have both advantages and disadvantages. Q: We are retired and our investment advisor suggested that we invest in REITS. Would this be a good idea? We have about $270,000 in assets and he wants us to invest about [...]
Thinking about paying off your second mortgage with a home equity loan? Make sure you don't pay more than nominal fees. Q: My first mortgage will be paid in full in a couple of weeks. My home is worth around $300,000. I have a second loan of less than $30,000 with an interest rate of [...]
In most real estate markets, home prices have risen 5 percent or so in the past year, but they are still lower than they’ve been in ten years or more. Prices are expected to keep rising, so for home buyers, spring will be a good time to make that long-awaited move to a first home or move up to a [...]
WSB Radio’s Ilyce Glink Show: Refinancing an FHA loan, selling your first home and cutting back on spending. On this week’s Ilyce Glink Show on WSB radio, Ilyce explained the first rule for her concept of “rebuilding America one house at a time”—getting yourself back to ground zero. Ilyce’s idea for rebuilding America starts at [...]
If you're buying a condo while in school or want to know if you should buy a condo now, be sure to do your homework. Q: My son is a graduate student and working for a retailer while in school. He wants to buy a high-rise condominium in Atlanta, Georgia. He’s going crazy with [...]
Should I refinance for 15 or 30 years? When refinancing a rental property, think about your long term and short term goals. Q: I am interested in refinancing a rental property that qualifies for the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP). I owe $91,000 on the first mortgage and I have a second mortgage at $19,000. [...]
There are many mortgage fraud cases these days. Selling a house to yourself is considered mortgage fraud, which is illegal. Q: I just formed an S Corporation and I would like to raise some capital. Can I buy a house with my corporation at a good deal then sell it back to myself with a [...]
Buying a car while refinancing your home can cause some problems if you don't have a lot of cash available. Q: Is it ok to buy a car while I am refinancing my home if I am paying cash for the car? A: If you don't take out a loan for the car and you [...]
Giving land to children? Be careful. Giving property to children can cause many problems if you haven't done your research. Q: My parents have agreed to deed two acres of their property to me plus an easement for the driveway back to the future home site. The land was surveyed. The county has confirmed that [...]
