201606.24
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Why can’t I let my brother in law negotiate my short sale? He is a realtor after all!

Kudos to one of our legal network affiliates of Attorney Short Sale Negotiators who answered this question as succinctly and accurately as you could ever ask: Should real estate agents negotiate short sales? No.  Absolutely not.  It is replete with legal issues, risks, deficiency issues (amounting to tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars of…

201605.23
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WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

On occasion we lose great employees, lawyers, staff, and friends of the firm as they go on to new callings or perhaps to meet their Maker.   Thankfully, this edition’s ‘WHERE ARE THEY NOW” is about the former. Matt Pittman, former law firm digital maintenance expert, network and computer guru, file scanning department leader and firm…

201605.18
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In a Rare Political Comment

We try to maintain a fairly objective and only mildly editorial real estate blog.   Admittedly, the road to Hades is paved with our good intentions at times.    So in the interests of keeping a clear conscience, I tell you unashamedly that the following is total editorial and opinion.  Read no further if that bothers you.  …

201604.15
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Creative Financing = Creative Tax Headaches

A client called today to have our lawfirm engage in a discussion with his CPA as to tax ramifications for “subject to” sales of homes.    For those of you who have never considered using “creative financing” to sell your home or buy a home, a “subject to” means the buyer takes over the seller’s mortgage…

201503.31
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The Triple “I” Intersection

At the intersection of Inventory, Income and Interest rates, we find the biggest pool of eligible buyers of new homes.     New road projects at that point on the map appear to be moving to a place that will reduce the pool of eligible buyers.   Take a minute and listen to the Real Estate Industry Blog…

201502.04
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Lingering Missinformation on Short Sales

Among our sustained flow of new short sale clients, we still have surprising instances of absolute misinformation about the process that causes many homeowners to suffer from the paralysis of analysis and delay starting their short sale for far too long.   Sources of misinformation are plentiful, and that is before you even get to the…

201501.06
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Another Reason to Avoid Foreclosure

Our firm was recently contacted by a borrower who formerly took advantage of our free consultation on foreclosure prevention cases.   The homeowner ultimately decided to allow his home to go into foreclosure and not fight for a short sale or other remedy.  I don’t remember all the details why the decision was made to take…

201412.30
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Short sale tax break signed into law

No wonder our legislators and President are suffering such low approval ratings right now – with just 2 days to spare, they have finally re-enacted the Mortgage Debt Forgiveness Relief provisions which keep Short Selling home occupants from facing stiff taxes on phantom income.    Unfortunately, 2015 is upon us and once again the collection of…