Home Buying and Selling Real Estate

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Not Every Short Sale Seller Pays Taxes on Canceled Debt
2009-08-31 07:00:00
An average short sale seller may not really understand the tax consequences that may occur over the issue of canceled debt in a short sale. All sellers who are contemplating a short sale should get legal advice, but equally as important is to receive tax advice from a qualified and competent tax adviser. It's possible that certain types of canceled debt may trigger tax liabilities on a short sale. The law is complex. In particular, the possible ramifications of hard-money loans such as equity loans or cash-out refis should be discussed beforehand with a tax accountant. If the seller did not use that money to improve the home, it's possible that the seller may owe taxes when all is said and done . . . read more about canceled debt. More Articles by Elizabeth Weintraub: Establishing a Loss For Your Personal Residence Tax Consequences for a Home Business Office Writing Off Uninsured Home Losses ©Big Stock Photo Technorati tag: canceled debt
More About: Taxes , Seller , Sale , Debt , Pays

Tips for Green Moving
2008-06-09 07:00:00
Consumers who are concerned about protecting the environment are typically also partial to the eco-friendly practices of green moving. Me? I don't have to worry about moving because my husband says...
More About: Tips , Green , Moving

ASHI is the Oldest Home Inspection Group in the U.S.
2008-06-06 07:00:00
There are many home inspection associations a home inspector can join, but the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) has been around the longest. Almost every home buyer who is represented...
More About: Group

Choosing Types of Listing Agreements
2008-06-04 07:00:00
Have you ever stopped to consider the type of listing agreement your agent is asking you to sign? Odds are no. In fact, odds are nobody has explained the various...
More About: Listing , Types

Will a Short Sale Ruin My Credit?
2008-06-02 07:00:00
The bulk of my emails from readers lately center around the same question: Will a short sale ruin credit? Many home owners seem under the impression that doing a short...
More About: Credit , Sale , Ruin , Short

First American Title Has a Long History
2008-05-30 07:00:00
Way back in 1974, I got my start in the real estate industry by typing title policies for First American Title . I was very young, and still in college. I...
More About: History , Long

Robert G. Allen: Guru or Sham?
2008-05-28 07:00:00
Out of the hundreds of seminar speakers and investment gurus I have met in my life, one person I have never met in real life is Robert G. Allen . But that...
More About: Guru , Sham

Tips for Buying an REO Home From the Bank
2008-05-26 07:00:00
Where I sell in Sacramento, REOs (bank-owned homes) are receiving multiple offers, sometimes 20 to 30 offers on any given listing. My buyers win most of the time because they...
More About: Buying , Tips , Home , Bank

Stewart Title Offers Nationwide Services
2008-05-23 07:00:00
Few people know this, but I used to be a Certified Escrow Officer and got my start in escrow at Stewart Title Company. In 1976, I had just moved to Newport...
More About: Services , Offers

OWN IT: The Ups and Downs of Home Buying for Women
2008-05-21 07:00:00
It took me about four hours to read through Janet Musselman's new book, OWN IT: The Ups and Downs of Home Buying for Women , and it was a fun...
More About: For Women

Walking Away From Your Home Carries Risk
2008-05-19 07:00:00
When home values fall, a home owner might start to think about walking away from a home. The scenario goes something like this: It's 2005. Dick and Jane have not saved...
More About: Home , Walking , Risk

State Farm Earns Kudos for Claim Handling
2008-05-16 07:00:00
Full disclosure: I have been a satisfied customer of State Farm Insurance for decades. But my loyalty to State Farm doesn't mean it's better than any other insurance company. I stick...
More About: Kudos

Bank of America is America's Largest Residential Mortgage Bank
2008-05-14 07:00:00
Where I live in northern California, you can find a Bank of America branch almost every mile or so. Bank of America s are almost as ubiquitous as Starbucks. I've...
More About: Residential , Mortgage

How Can There Be Two Offers on the Same Listing?
2008-05-12 07:00:00
In a market like we are in today, it's not unusual for home buyers to find themselves in situations where the seller of the home they want receives two offers...
More About: Offers , Listing

Coldwell Banker is More Than a Century Old
2008-05-09 07:00:00
Before anybody writes to me to ask why I am writing about Coldwell Banker and not every other real estate company out there, please understand that I am blogging about...
More About: Century

Best Places to Live in America
2008-05-07 07:00:00
All of us have, I believe, at one time or another, wondered about where would be the best places to live. Some of us are lucky and born in the place...
More About: America , Places , Live

East Sacramento Homes Photo Gallery
2008-05-05 07:00:00
Spring is in full bloom in Sacramento , so last week I grabbed my trusty camera and headed off to photograph the distinctive gardens and homes of East Sacramento. It amazes me...
More About: Photo , Gallery , Homes

How Fed Cuts Affect Mortgage Rates
2008-05-02 07:00:00
It's not true that Fed cuts reduce mortgage rates, regardless of how many times you hear it, says my expert, Dan Tharp. According to Mr. Tharp, when the Federal Reserve Bank...
More About: Mortgage , Rates , Cuts

What is Jingle Mail?
2008-04-30 07:00:00
Jingle mail is a growing phenomena in the United States, which is a direct result of the foreclosure crisis. Some home owners, terrified of pending foreclosure, decide to mail their house...
More About: Mail , Jingle

Home Buying Before Marriage
2008-04-28 07:00:00
Many couples choose to buy a home before marriage, but is it wise? Regardless of whether you are planning to get married, are prohibited from enjoying the institution of marriage or...
More About: Marriage , Buying , Home

Chicago Title Insurance: Founded 1847 in Chicago
2008-04-25 07:00:00
In the midst of recent title company closings, Chicago Title Insurance is still going strong. But then Chicago Title has operated continuously since 1847, and it's one of the oldest...

American Home Shield Sells Home Protection Plans
2008-04-23 07:00:00
In the spirit of full disclosure, I am admitting that I have a home protection plan issued by American Home Shield . I renew my policy every year, and I ask sellers...
More About: Plans

Paperwork Buyers Need to Buy a Home
2008-04-21 07:00:00
Don't be frightened off by putting together home buying paperwork. It's not nearly as bad as you might surmise. But it's a good idea to begin collecting the required paperwork and...
More About: Home , Buyers

GEICO Insurance: History, Policy Types and Rates
2008-04-18 07:00:00
You might not remember the name of GEICO Insurance , but you probably remember the gecko. In California, geckos are very popular. I can't count the number of homes I've toured where...
More About: History , Policy , Geico , Types

How to Stage a Kitchen
2008-04-16 07:00:00
For many sellers, staging a kitchen is the hardest room in the house to stage. Although many people consider the kitchen to be the most important home in the house, the...
More About: Kitchen , Stage

Donald Trump is the Face of Real Estate
2008-04-14 07:00:00
Women, have you ever asked yourself: "Hey, if I were a golddigger, would I marry Donald Trump ?" You know, I wouldn't....
More About: Estate , Real Estate , Face

Farmers Insurance is Not Just for Farmers
2008-04-11 07:00:00
Way back when my mom was growing up during the Great Depression, Farmers Insurance was a big name in homeowner's insurance. It still is today. I am living proof that you...

Should You Sign a Buyer's Broker Agreement?
2008-04-09 07:00:00
Some home buyers don't want to sign a buyer's broker agreement with a buyer's agent until they get to know that agent. But many buyer's agents refuse to show property...
More About: Sign , Broker , Agreement

Getting Ready for the Home Inspection
2008-04-07 07:00:00
It pays to prepare for a home inspection. I'm working with a buyer who is selling a home in another county. When he finally received an offer, he was so excited...
More About: Home , Ready

Buying a Condo Means Buying Into a Homeowner Association
2008-04-04 07:00:00
The worst thing a condo buyer can do is to neglect to inspect the homeowner association documents and meeting minutes. With declining sale prices and falling inventory, many home buyers are...
More About: Buying , Condo , Association , Homeowner