Monday, August 11, 2014

How To Roll Repairs Into A Purchase…


small brett pic How To Roll Repairs Into A Purchase...I want to show you how to roll repairs into a purchase price.
I touch on this subject from time to time.
If you are buying a house that needs minor repairs – but the seller refuses to do them – what do you do?
This situation happens a lot, especially on bank owned homes.
The simple answer is to use an escrow hold back. …an escrow hold back is a small amount of money that is held out of the seller’s proceeds from the sale to make the repairs.
You have to write the escrow hold back right into the contract – under special provisions. To avoid having to rewrite this clause – be specific. Your realtor will need to write – “An escrow hold back in the amount of $______ will be used for (specific) repairs.”
One key with the escrow hold back is the repairs need to be minor – and they can’t take that long to finish. …an average amount of an escrow hold back is $1,500 to $5,000.
Knowing how to solve minor repair problems on an offer – can sometimes make the difference between getting a great deal on a house, or not buying it at all.
If this situation comes up with your deal – just give me a call – I can help you out.
That’s it for today!
Have a good day today! …and thanks for reading.
Brett

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Rules On FHA Gift Giving…


small brett pic Rules On FHA Gift Giving...FHA gift questions come up often.
I wanted to give you the rules on FHA gift giving. Here ya go…
Acceptable gift donors for FHA loans…
1) Borrower’s relative.
2) Borrower’s employer or labor union.
3) A close friend with a clearly defined and documented interest in the borrower.
4) A charitable organization.
5) A governmental agency or public entity that has a program providing home ownership assistance.
Unacceptable gift donors for FHA loans…
1) The seller.
2) The real estate agent or broker.
3) The builder or an associated entity.
Gifts from these sources are considered inducements to purchase, and must be subtracted from the sales price.
That’s it for today!
Have a good day today! …and thanks for reading.
Brett

Monday, August 4, 2014

Quick Credit Tip…


small brett pic Quick Credit Tip...Did you realize that 15 percent of your credit score comes from the length of time each account has been open, and the length of time since the account’s most recent action?
So, it’s impossible for someone who is new to credit to have a perfect credit score.
A longer credit history provides more information and offers a better picture of long-term financial behavior.
So, to improve your credit score, individuals without a history should begin using credit, and those with credit should maintain longstanding accounts.
That’s it for today.   …Have a good week!
Thanks for reading!
Brett