Old loan, new interest

Old loan, new interest Driven by capital-gains rules and soaring home appreciation, the appeal is growing for ‘owner- carry’ mortgages. Seller financing, once used to attract buyers forced out of the market by high interest rates on conventional loans, may be making a comeback thanks to California’s handsomely appreciated market and the ceiling on tax-free …

Why 50-year mortgages are a ‘Stupid Investment’

Why 50-year mortgages are a ‘Stupid Investment’ Take the worst problems of one stupid investment and mix it with the biggest concerns of another and you wind up with a Stupid Investment of the Week to the second power. And that’s precisely what you will get if you fall for a 50-year mortgage, a relatively …

10 questions to ensure good condo purchase

10 questions to ensure good condo purchase Finally, we get to the all-important 10 key questions smart condo buyers should ask (but condo sellers hope their buyers don’t ask): 1 – WHAT IS THE FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE HOMEOWNER’S ASSOCIATION (HOA)? If you are a buyer seriously considering purchasing a specific condo unit, it’s time …

Colorado foreclosure rate still No. 1 in U.S.

Colorado foreclosure rate still No. 1 in U.S. For the second consecutive month, Colorado has the dubious distinction of having the highest foreclosure rate in the nation, the latest sign that the weak, lower-priced housing market continues to plague the economy. The report by RealtyTrac Inc. of Irvine, Calif., shows that 3,706 homes in Colorado …

Cooling real estate market still leaves many buyers out in cold [South Florida]

Cooling real estate market still leaves many buyers out in cold The cooling real estate market offers a bit of good news for cash-strapped home buyers: The affordability squeeze has eased slightly. But the income needed to buy a typical home is still twice what it was four years ago. Buying a median-priced home in …