Yes Virginia, there really is a Santa Clause! In some cases, Sellers can get out of an upside down residence or investment property without a short sale. We naturally encourage shortsales because: (1) less damage to your credit than a foreclosure, bankruptcy or ongoing loan payment default; (2) The client experiences Closure as compared…
The House Bill and budget has been sent to the Senate as I write today. It does NOT include an extension of the exemption that expired 12-31-13 for treating forgiven debt as income. There are still advocates for the extension of the exemption and this is the latest information available as of today: Bill Seeks…
My investor and flipper clients still tell me about homes that they have bought at auction that are stripped of all copper wiring, HVAC equipment, appliances, and much of the plumbing by the time they are given access. Most bidders take these potential set backs into account when formulating a bid for a foreclosure auction…
Whether it was Perry Mason, LA LAW, or an actual relationship with an attorney, most of us have stereotypes of attorneys. Not only attorneys in general, but the way you think of an F. Lee Baily or Johnny Cochran type litigator is probably not the same way you feel about a Tax Attorney. When you…
Perhaps no other profession in North America is in more dire need of respect and appreciation than that of realtor/real estate agent. Setting aside the jokes about the world’s 2nd oldest profession, even early caveman needed an “MLS” and an efficient way to evaluate all the important aspects of a prospective cave’s suitability to the…
Some short sale clients ask: “Why do you charge an up front fee for your services? and what good is $100, really? What can you cover with $100?” The lion’s share of the initial $100 charge is to pay to have our client’s title searched. In the Virginia conveyancing industry, title examination is almost always…
Some clients who come into our office to sign documents to shed the albatross of an upside down home, have asked, “why do you have a dog in the office?” First I must point out that many enlightened organizations permit well trained canines at work. Dogs have long since proven their worth in law enforcement,…
First and foremost, a Happy Thanksgiving to you all! Secondly, despite the great relief that many homeowners have gotten over the past year by “getting out from under” the crushing weight of a home mortgage gone bad, “Adults have maintained a positive view of homeownership five years after the biggest housing crisis hit the nation…
Please click this link and check out an article I was invited to co-author with one of our firm’s realtor friends, Dennis Blackmore: http://dennisblackmore.com/2013/11/07/divorce-short-sale/ Complications of Divorce under Virginia law can make real estate transactions more difficult. The article addresses some of the most common pitfalls in completing short sales in Virginia while also dealing…
We often have clients ask us what to do with a deceased parent’s real estate that was “under water” or requires a short sale to be able to sell it. Is it worth the effort, time, and potentially a little money to short sell a deceased parent’s home? There is no “one size fits…
