Z House Realty Group
407-208-1221

How foreclosure Impacts Your Credit Score

2010-05-06T13:03:00Z

As Realtors actively closing short sale transactions, sellers frequently ask us how the short sale will effect their credit. Now, thanks to CNNMoney.com, we have a great new resource to share. Following you will see a snippet from Les Christie’s full article: “Here are the average hit your credit will take: 30 days late: 40 - 110 points 90 days late: 70 - 135 points Foreclosure, short sale or deed-in-lieu: 85 - 160 Bankruptcy: 130 - 240 To come to these figures, Fair Isaac created two...(read more)

End of Home Buyer Tax Credit Unlikely to Deter Most Real Estate Buyers

2010-05-01T13:13:00Z

The 2010 Home Buyer Tax Credit has officially expired. So, what does that mean to the real estate market? According to a survey released by Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services, Inc., Americas looking to purchase homes still believe that now is a good time to buy and are confident that home prices will rise. The survey was comprised of 1,000 Americans, ages 25-64, with at least $35,000 household income, completed April 15-20, 2010. According to the survey, more than 90% of consumers believe...(read more)

Two-to-go.... Two More Days to Qualify for the 8K Buyer Tax Credit

2010-04-29T12:14:00Z

To take advantage of the 8K first time buyers tax credit , you need to be under contract by April 30th. So, decision time has come.... Remember the contract must close by June 30th. Some new construction homes still qualify, so don’t forget to explore that great option! For members of the military, foreign service and intelligence communities may have an additional year to buy a home and claim the homebuyer tax credit. To qualify for the extended credit deadline, service members must have served...(read more)

Your landlord got foreclosed? What about your lease?

2010-04-13T11:32:00Z

With the large number of investment homes being foreclosed upon, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that many tenants are being asked to leave. What might surprise you is that they don’t have to go. A lease supersedes a sale. Meaning that it transfers with the property to the new owner. Based on the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act, which Congress passed last May, as long the tenant has a valid lease and proof of regular payments, they cannot be forced to leave. Even tenants on a month-to-month...(read more)

10 Homeowner Tax Advantages

2010-04-12T14:40:00Z

If someone asked you to name the many tax advantages to owning a home, how many would you come up with? Here are 10 Homeowner Tax Advantages: Homebuyer Tax Credits Deductions for loan fees Property Tax Deductions The Mortgage Interest Deduction Private Mortgage Insurance Home Office Expenses The Costs of Selling Your Home The Gain on Your Home Energy-Efficiency Tax Credits Capital Improvements To Your Home For more great articles on Taxes and Incentives, visit www.HouseLogic.com. Combined Sources:...(read more)

Do you know the value of your Avalon Park home?

2010-04-11T11:25:00Z

Looking for your Avalon Park’s home value? This great customizable too l provides answers to the following que stions: How do actual selling prices compare to listing prices in Avalon Park? How are homes within a 5 mile radius selling? Unsold homes in Avalon Park? Where can I get answers to any pressing questions I may have? The best part it is, you have control over how frequently you receive the information and your criteria. The market snapshot is great for monitoring your existing homes...(read more)

Make Your Moving Day a Success

2010-04-06T12:40:00Z

8 Weeks Before the Move Contact a professional mover or truck rental and get estimates: make early reservations. Decide what furniture stays and what furniture goes. Use up things that cannot be moved (frozen food & flammable household aerosol cleaning supplies) 6 Weeks Before the Move Inventory your possessions and determine what will be sold or donated. Get copies of records from doctors, dentists, lawyers, accountants, etc. Transfer children's school records. 4 Weeks Before the Move Hold...(read more)

You’ve Got Less Than 30 Days to Take Advantage of the 8K Tax Credit, Here are 8 Tips to Help

2010-04-05T15:43:00Z

April 30th is the deadline to be under contract in order to take advantage of the government tax credits. Here are some tips to help eager Orlando Home buyers to capture the tax credit and simplify the shopping process: 1. Get to know your market. Use the internet to see homes, maps, neighborhoods, etc. Find a good real estate agent who is ready to expedite the shopping process. 2. Secure your financing up front. Talk to a reputable lender up front and go through the pre-approval process so you know...(read more)

Free Credit Reports, Not So Free

2010-04-04T20:51:00Z

Everyone has heard the jingles on t.v. and the radio encouraging you to pop online and get your FREE CREDIT REPORT. However, what those ads don’t talk about is the big up-sell... Well, the FTC received over 1000 complaints from consumers who thought they were getting the one free report the FTC provides each year, but instead were unknowingly signing up for credit monitoring and other services. The result is a new law that goes into effect next Friday requiring any website providing free credit...(read more)

8K Tax Credit, Time is Running Out

2010-03-29T11:13:00Z

If you are planning to take advantage of the $8,000 and $6,500 government tax credits, some important dates are fast approaching.... You must be under contract by April 30th and closed by June 30th. While by design these are tax credits and do not provide funds at closing, programs have been created help homebuyer’s take advantage of the funds at closing. Ask for details. Also, don't forget to consider the buyer’s income limits applied in the Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance...(read more)

Need Home Improvements? Lenders offering equity loans again

2010-03-26T10:46:00Z

According to Moody’s Economy.com, lenders are offering home equity loans again. In fact, lenders are expected to loan as much as $36 billion in new home equity loans. What’s the difference between these and what we’ve seen in the past? How the money is being spent. According to Frank Nothaft, chief economist at Freddie Mac, most of the funds will go for necessary home improvements. He believes that consumers are managing their money better due to the “difficult recession we...(read more)

Z House Realty Group Teaches the Fundamentals of Working by Referral with 100 Days to Greatness® - Comprehensive training program by Buffini & Company helps Agents kick-start results

2010-03-24T11:31:00Z

Orlando, Florida, April 5, 2010 - Z House Realty Group will begin offering Buffini & Company’s 100 Days to Greatness® program to help both new and experienced agents jump-start their business. Facilitated by a Buffini & Company Certified Mentor™, 100 Days to Greatness teaches the fundamentals of real estate lead generation by referral, helping agents produce a consistent stream of high-quality leads and referrals. To become a Certified Mentor, Janice M. Ziesig visited Buffini...(read more)

Homeowners Now Have a Better Understanding The Value of Their Homes

2010-03-24T11:25:00Z

Back in 2008, Zillow introduced their “ Zillow Home Value Misperception Index(iii) ” with a shocking 32. Currently, the index is at -2. So, what does that mean? It means that while two years ago, people believed their homes where worth more than they where, people NOW have a fairly good idea of the ACTUAL value of their homes. If anything, they are cynical about their homes worth, which is indicated by the negative index value. The -2 index is actually the closest to zero it has ever...(read more)

30% of purchases by Foreign Investors are by Canadians

2010-03-23T11:33:00Z

Last week I met with one of my Canadian investor-owners who has two properties in Property Management in Orlando. We had a frank discussion on why she chose to invest here. She said that her reasons were three-fold, the incredible deals, the excellent exchange rate and her child’s possible choice of Florida for college. Now, obviously the college reason is not applicable to everyone. However, her other motivations are substantiated by the surge of Canadian investors flocking to the U.S. real...(read more)

Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives (HAFA)

2010-03-22T13:38:00Z

The U.S. Treasury Department’s Home Affordable Modification Program, known as HAMP, was created to help homeowners stay in their homes by lowering interest, principal or extending payment periods. However, they found that even with loan modifications, some people are still unable to afford their homes. Therefore, they worked to create a standardized process for short sales to assist the most needy of homeowners. HAFA applies only to the most needy homeowners and conditions: The property must...(read more)

Z House Realty Group407-208-1221