home equity to pay

MSN Money - The hazards of some home-equity loans MSN Home Hotmail My MSN Sign In Money S earch MSN Money: Help Home News Banking Investing Planning Taxes My Money Portfolio Loans Insurance Banking Home My Accounts Bill Pay Mortgages/Loans Services Credit Reports Financial Tools Track your bills Resources Decision Centers Home Buying Guide Home Financing Your Credit Rating Financial Privacy Better Banking Credit Card Smarts Bankruptcy Guide Commentary Index Related Links Manage Debt More on Budgeting Print-friendly version Send this to a friend See where rates stand Calculate your debt burden here Find a home-equity loan Find books on home buying Find It! Article Index Finance Q&A Tools Index Site Map Don't get fooled by the "special programs" offer mentioned in advertisements. Today's homeowners have forgotten -- or never learned -- the lessons of their grandparents. Recent articles by Terry Savage: • How to limit divorce's financial sting , 1/5/2003 • 5 financial steps to help your aging parents , 1/5/2003 • Prepare for the unthinkable: long-term care , 1/5/2003 More... The Basics The hazards of some home-equity loans advertisement What looks like an easy way out of debt could one day put your family out on the street. Get the facts behind those enticing ads for 125% home-equity loans before you put your home on the line. By Terry Savage What looks like a great deal, but could turn out to be the most devastating financial decision of your life? It's when you consolidate credit-card debt by taking out home-equity loans for more than the value of your house, sometimes for up to 125% of the home's value. Unlike traditional home-equity loans that rely on the equity you've built up in your home, these loans aren't tax deductible and usually carry higher interest rates. Find a loan that's right for you at the Loan Center By television, direct mail and now by e-mail, lenders are pushing you to consolidate your credit-card debt by borrowing on your home. Here's the text of an actual e-mail I received recently: Consolidate Debt, Refinance Your Home or Put Cash In Your Pocket! We Have Special Programs with rates starting as low as 2.5% APR 7.22% Special Programs for Self-Employed Borrowers Previous Bankruptcies or Foreclosures OK!! Debt Consolidation - pay off high-interest debts and get the cash you need Second Mortgages - get 125% of your home's value. The television commercials make it look easy and enticing. A top athlete, like quarterback Dan Marino, offers you the chance to cut your monthly payments, pay off your credit cards and take out extra cash to remodel your kitchen or go on a vacation. But think twice. It's important to understand the risks, as well as the attraction, of those lower monthly payments. For some, this is the way to go For many people, a home-equity loan is indeed the smart way to borrow. The interest rate is typically lower, and the interest is tax deductible. Plus, home-equity loans are amortized over about 15 years vs. about four years for credit cards. That means the monthly payment on a home-equity loan is far lower than a minimum required credit-card payment. For example, if you owe $10,000 on your credit card at 15%, you'll probably have a monthly payment of $278. But the same amount owed at 15% on a home-equity loan that's amortized over 15 years results in a monthly payment of only $140. The more you owe, the more enticing a home-equity loan looks. At $20,000 in debt in the same scenario, the home-equity loan costs $280 a month, while the credit card and/or auto debt requires a $557 monthly payment. The trouble comes when people borrow all their home equity to pay off their debts, but they haven't learned how to manage their money well enough to avoid running up credit-card debts and auto-loan debts again. In fact, the lenders have a name for this process: It's called "reloading." Then, if the economy slows or one of the breadwinners loses a job, the next time you get into credit-card trouble, you could actually lose your house. Statistics from the Mortgage Bankers Association underscore the problem. The percentage of homes foreclosed in 1998 was 1.16%, about double the rate of the terrible recession years of the early 1980s, when 0.59% of homes were in foreclosure. The rising foreclosure rate comes even as bankruptcy rates remain high, with 1.2 million filings in 1999. But as people try to avoid bankruptcy, they're increasingly taking out home-equity loans to pay off their other bills. As a result of those home-equity loans (and new mortgage programs designed to help people buy homes with down payments of less than 5%), Americans have a lower percentage of equity in their homes than at any time in history. Essentially, an unsecured loan The real kicker comes if you borrow past the value of your home. Unlike home-equity loans, these loans usually are not considered tax deductible. The law says that all interest on a first mortgage (of up to $1 million) is deductible. And interest on up to $100,000 of a second mortgage or home-equity loan also is deductible. By law, interest on any part of a loan that exceeds 100% of the value of your home is not deductible. In addition, lenders typically charge higher rates, because you've essentially taken out an unsecured loan. An unsecured loan means there is no collateral in case you default on the loan. A mortgage for up to the value of your home is "secured" by the home itself. Many lenders charge interest rates seven or eight percentage points higher than traditional mortgages. In some cases, that's twice what you'd pay for a regular mortgage or home-equity loan. Don't get fooled by the "special programs" offer mentioned in advertisements like the one I mentioned earlier, either. They're either introductory loans, which require large "balloon payments" several years later, or adjustable rate loans in which the rates -- and the payments -- can increase every year. As long as the loan is repaid, it's very profitable. And the lenders know that paying off mortgage or home-equity loans takes a high priority in a consumer's mind, so the default rate is far lower than on unsecured credit-card lending. SMR Research, a financial industry market-research firm, reports that about 30% of all home-equity loans are sub-prime. That is, these are loans made to borrowers who are considered a poor credit risk -- the very people most likely to be caught in the crunch when the economy turns down. Bankruptcy: the only escape The greatest danger for those who fall for this pitch is the fact that they've put their home on the line. If they fail to make the payments, the lender can force the home to be sold in a foreclosure proceeding. The grantor of the original mortgage must be paid off first; then the home equity lender collects what's left from the sale price. And if there's not enough equity to repay the home equity lender, a default judgment will be entered against the borrower for the difference. The only escape is bankruptcy. The generation that went through the Great Depression of the 1930s learned the hard way not to borrow against the family home. So many people lost their homes that by 1935, banks categorized 20% of all mortgages as "real-estate owned" -- that is, foreclosed. But today's homeowners have forgotten -- or never learned -- the lessons of their grandparents. Rising home prices have tempted homeowners to count home equity as a source of ready cash. But that kind of home equity borrowing should only be done as part of an overall financial plan and a disciplined approach to money management. Otherwise, today's easy way out of debt could one day put your family out on the street. 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Real Estate Inspector --

Idaho Real Estate Commission Home Page 633 N 4th Street PO Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720-0077 Telephone: 208-334-3285 Fax: 208-334-2050 Toll Free in Idaho: 866-447-5411 Due to installation of equipment upgrades this site may experience some down time between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm on Saturday July 23, 2005. -- What's New: E&O Renewals are due now, 2005 CE Core Course Online, Winners of Free Renewals!, July 2005 License Law, Agency Brochure, License Fee decrease , etc. Real Estate Inspector -- How are we doing? The Commission would like to know. Please completeour Service Satisfaction Survey . (Click here for a map to our office.) Donna M. Jones, Executive Director Idaho law (Chapter 20, Title 54, Idaho Code) charges the Idaho Real Estate Commission with administering and enforcing the license law for real estate brokers, salespersons and certain business entities, and with administering the Idaho Subdivided Lands Disposition Act (Chapter 18, Title 55, Idaho Code). To meet these mandates, the Commission seeks to protect the public interest, which includes both the interests of the regulated licensees, and the interests of prospective buyers and sellers of the services of these regulated licensees. State of Idaho home page The Idaho Real Estate Commission complies with the State of Idaho's Information Technology Resource Management Council's policies concerning web pages . Disclaimer: The Real Estate Commission makes every attempt to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the data contained in these documents. Every attempt is made to keep the information up-to-date and accurate, however, the Real Estate Commission makes no warranty, guarantee, or promise, expressed or implied, concerning the content of these documents and acknowledges that inadvertent errors in the information may occur. IREC Home Page LicensingInformation Consumer Information Licensee Search Law, Rules & Guidelines R.E. Schools, Instructors, & Courses Education What's New Calendar/ Meetings Webmaster Contact Us IREC Forms Complaints & Questions Online Renewal & Services Publications Course Schedules R.E. Exam Dates IREC LibraryDirectory Helpful Links

Home For Sale

Homes for Sale - HUD HUD News Newsroom Priorities About HUD Homes Buying Owning Selling Renting Homeless Home improvements HUD homes Fair housing FHA refunds Foreclosure Consumer info Communities About communities Volunteering Organizing Economic development Working with HUD Grants Programs Contracts Work online HUD jobs Complaints Resources Library Handbooks/ forms Common questions Tools Webcasts Mailing lists Contact us Help Homes for Sale Information by State Esta página en español Print version Email this to a friend Helpful Tools Maps/Directions Neighborhoods Additional Information How to Buy a HUD Home Housing Counseling Homebuyers Kit HUD-Approved Lenders HUD-Approved Condos Lead Hazard Control Fair Housing Information Settlement Costs and Helpful Information Officer Next Door Teacher Next Door Revitalization Areas $1 Homes to Local Governments About Multifamily Property Sales Consumer Alert Several federal agencies have properties to sell. In fact, HUD sells both single family homes and multifamily properties. Check them out - one might be just what you're looking for! Single Family Homes for Sale From HUD From the Department of Veterans Affairs From Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation From General Services Administration From Internal Revenue Service From Small Business Administration From US Army Corps of Engineers From Customs From the U.S. Marshals Service From the Department of Agriculture Rural Development Related Links From Fannie Mae From Freddie Mac From Realtor.com Multifamily Properties From HUD From Fannie Mae General Services Administration Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Content updated March 17, 2005 Back to Top FOIA Privacy Web Policies and Important Links Home U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 451 7th Street S.W., Washington, DC 20410 Telephone: (202) 708-1112 TTY: (202) 708-1455 Find the address of a HUD office near you

Real Estate Broker

TREC - Home Page -- Licensee Info Search Quick Links -- To Popular Pages -- Licensee Info Search R. E. Contract Forms Renew or Apply Online Salesperson Application Real Estate License Forms Education Providers Core R.E. Course List Freq. Asked Questions Real Estate License Act TREC Rules Data File Downloads HOME Area TREC Home Page Licensee Info Search Meetings & Agenda What's New Archive What Does TREC Do? Freq. Asked Questions Email Notification List Related Web Site Links Topics of Special Interest Mission Statement Compact with Texans Customer Service Survey Link Your Site to TREC Site Map KEY To Symbols =Page is in area (folder tab) of this color = Adobe PDF file format = Web site external to TREC About This Web Site: Get Help Navigating the TREC Web Site Comment on the TREC Web Site here Web Site Wins 2005 Award The November 2005 issue of the TREC Advisor is available in both printable PDF and HTML formats. Licensees and other subscribers can access the TREC Advisor here . Commission Enacts Temporary License for Evacuees from Katrina Click here for details for prospective temporary licensees , including a special application form, the press release and the new rules pertaining to those affected by Hurricane Katrina. Our mission is to assist and protect consumers of real estate services, thereby fostering economic growth in Texas. What's New? The Texas Real Estate Commission proposed revisions to 6 contract forms and 4 addenda at it regular meeting on December 5, 2005. View the proposed forms and summaries here . A periodic Sunset Review of the Texas Real Estate Commission is currently underway, as required by the Texas Sunset Act. Broker Minimum Services Requirements . . . read the latest updates . 2005 Legislative Report - Two new bills to affect the Real Estate License Act; one new bill to affect the Texas Timeshare Act . . . read more Inspectors! We now publish the Minutes of recent Inspector Committee Meetings. Also, see the new, searchable Inspector Questions & Answers page. List of Providers for the new Legal Update and Legal Ethics courses. Please see our updated MCE FAQs page , covering the new Legal Update course and Legal Ethics course. Most Recent Enforcement Questions and Answers (past 6 months) -- Find former "new" items in the What's New Archive Important Information! TREC Redesigns Licenses The Real Estate License Act is now codified at Ch. 1101, Tex. Occ. Code File and Pay Online! Broker & Salesperson Applications; Broker & Salesperson Renewals; All Inspector & ERW Renewals All Licensees! Easily update your permanent mailing address online free. Look up MCE courses completed in the Quick Links' Licensee Info Search . Page last modified: 12/18/2005 Site Map Privacy & Security Policy Open Records Accessibility Texas Online Statewide Search TX Homeland Security

Selling Home

Real Estate Agents Boston Homes For Sale Selling Home The Home Selling Process There is more to selling a home than just picking a price and putting an ad in the paper. At Rooney Real Estate our brokers have been involved in well over a thousand sales transactions, and believe us when we say that each sale is different. Below, we've listed five steps that we will take for you when selling your home. If you have any questions or would like further information about our real estate services please do not hesitate to contact any one of our real estate agents at anytime. Step 1: Pricing Your Home When you decide to sell your home, a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) is necessary to identify an appropriate suggested asking price. This process entails a licensed broker from Rooney Real Estate visiting your home to tour your property, then comparing it to recent comparable sales and on-the-market properties in the area. We do extensive research to ensure that your home is correctly priced, to maximize the return on your investment in the shortest amount of time possible. Step 2: Listing Process When you feel you’ve reached a satisfactory asking price for your home based on a discussion of the information presented to you in the CMA, the next step involves signing a listing contract with Rooney Real Estate. The listing contract outlines all of the terms and conditions surrounding the listing of your home with Rooney, including the length of the listing period, the commission rate, the services to be provided by Rooney Real Estate, and a marketing strategy. When all of the terms and conditions are agreed upon by you and Rooney Real Estate, the listing contract is then signed by both parties and becomes a legally binding document until the date of expiration. Step 3: Marketing Process When you list your home with Rooney Real Estate we employ a number of different techniques to ensure that your home receives maximum exposure. Those techniques include: A customized web page on our new state-of-the-art web site Immediate listing on MLS (Multiple Listing Service) and LINK (Listing Information Network) A customized informational brochure for your property Alerts to more than 600 home seekers in our client database Weekly advertising in the Boston Globe, Boston Homes, Boston Herald, and SouthBostonOnline Television advertising (spring 2004) Private showings with clients and cooperating agents Weekly open houses Open houses for cooperating agents For Sale signage on your property Step 4: Sales Process • Offer to Purchase At Rooney, we require that all formal offers be done in writing accompanied by a $1,000 deposit check, which is placed in an interest bearing escrow account. The offer is considered "under agreement" when the buyer and seller reach an agreed upon sale price, and both parties have signed the offer to purchase. • Home Inspection and Smoke Inspection Most Offer-to-Purchase agreements are contingent upon the results of a home inspection, to be performed by a licensed Massachusetts residential home inspector. Under Massachusetts law, all properties must pass a smoke detector inspection test, to be performed by the Boston Fire Department prior to closing. • Buyer Financing and Bank Appraisal All prospective buyers must show written proof of "pre-approval" or "pre-qualification" from a certified home lending institution prior to arranging a home inspection. The allocation of funds must occur at least ten days prior to a closing date. All mortgage lenders and banks require that an appraisal of value be done on the subject property prior to the allocation of funds. • Purchase and Sale Agreement (P&S) The Purchase and Sale agreement is a binding legal document that spells out the exact conditions for the purchase and sale of a property. These conditions include a purchase price, a schedule of payments, the broker’s fee, exclusions, and a closing date, among other important details. Typically a 5% deposit towards the purchase price is also collected by Rooney Real Estate at this point and put into an interest bearing escrow account. Step 5: Closing • Transfer of Funds The lending institution is represented at closing by a conveyance attorney, whose job it is to confirm a clear title and to convey funds to those persons and/or creditors who are owed money. • Recording of Deed The property transfer is complete when the signed property deed is recorded at the Suffolk County Registry of Deeds. This usually occurs within 24 hours of the closing. Rooney Real Estate • South Boston 617-269-1000 • Dorchester 617-288-9700 Boston Homes | Boston Condos | Boston Real Estate Agents | Boston MLS Listings Contact Rooney Real Estate | Home Selling | Home Buying | Real Estate Services Land for Sale Boston | Commercial Real Estate Listings | Sitemap | Apartment Rentals Real Estate Resources | Real Estate News | Mortgages | Boston Real Estate Map