Myth #1: Foreclosure happens fast. With unemployment and underemployment still affecting nearly 1 in every 4 Americans, no one is immune from fears that a pink slip might quickly turn into a foreclosure notice. According to NeighborWorks America, nearly 60 percent of families seeking foreclosure counseling cited a lost job or cut wages as the reason they were facing foreclosure.

While the Obama Administration’s Home Affordable Programs haven’t been nearly as effective as predicted in actually preventing foreclosures, they have had the effect of extending the foreclosure process for many families. Even though the legal process of foreclosure can happen in as few as 6 months in most states, it is currently taking much longer for the average foreclosure to get to completion. Recently, JP Morgan Chase revealed that their average borrower who loses a home to foreclosure has not made any payments in 14 months nationwide; 22 months in FLorida and 26 months in New York.

To be sure, some see this as a good, others view it as unnecessarily dragging out the overall market’s recovery. Many insiders will point out that these delays in foreclosure may be calculated to save the banks the costs of owning and maintaining foreclosed homes, not to help homeowners. In any event, the fact that foreclosure does not happen nearly as fast, in many cases, as expected does give families who are temporarily down on their luck some extra time to try to get back on their feet and save their homes.

Myth #2: Buyers can’t get clear title or title insurance on foreclosed homes. When the foreclosure robo-signing scandal first hit, there was widespread concern that buyers would not be able to get clear title on foreclosed homes, because the former foreclosed owners might be able to come get their homes back when the improprieties in the bank’s foreclosure documentation processes came fully to light. At the same time, several of the country’s largest title insurance companies publicly balked at issuing policies on bank-owned homes until the issue was resolved. At this point, the banks claim they have revamped their processes, and all banks have stated that they have found not a single borrower whose home was repossessed without them having missed the requisite number of mortgage payments. Nevertheless, a number of governmental investigations are still in progress.

The fact is, buyers of bank-owned properties in nearly every jurisdiction are protected from later title attacks by foreclosed homeowners by the bona fide purchaser rule, under which courts would prefer to simply award cash damages to be paid by the culpable bank to a wrongfully foreclosed-on homeowner, rather than reversing the sale or ownership to the new, innocent buyer. Additionally, the title insurers have now changed their tune and restarted issuing insurance policies on bank-owned homes which protect buyers’ interests, after working with the banks for them to take responsibility in the event a former homeowner prevails in a wrongful foreclosure suit.

While there are still many intricacies of title to be resolved for foreclosure buyers who purchase homes at trustee sales and auctions, or for cash buyers who often went without title insurance in the past, on the average, Trulia-listed, bank-owned property purchased with an average mortgage and title insurance, the chances a buyer’s title will later be successfully challenged by the foreclosed homeowner on the basis of robo-signing? Exceedingly slim.

Myth #3: Buyers should wait for the shadow inventory to be released. Many a buyer, discouraged with the homes they see on the the form in their price range, has decided to sit still and wait for the banks to release for sale what is called their “shadow inventory” – rumored to be anywhere from 4 to nearly 6 million homes that have already been foreclosed, but not listed for sale, or will be foreclosed in the near future. The fact is, to the extent that the banks have acknowledged the existence of a pool of homes they own but are not selling, they have expressed that their reasoning for holding the homes off the market is to avoid flooding the market and driving home values down any further. For that reason, buyers should not expect to see a massive influx of these shadow homes onto the market anytime soon – if ever.

The banks’ current modus operandi is that as they sell a home, the replace it with another home in that market – if they sell 50 homes in a town that month, they’ll put another 50 on the next. So, don’t hold your breath waiting for a fabulous new flood of homes. Instead, set up a Trulia alert to notify you when homes that fit your search criteria come on the market, and be ready to call your agent and go visit any and every one that looks like it might be a good fit.

Myth #4: If you’re looking for a deal, you’re looking for a foreclosure. Despite what they may say, no buyer’s heart’s fondest desire is to buy a foreclosure. But almost every buyer dreams of buying a great home – and getting a great deal on it. Many people think that to get a great value on their home on today’s market, it means they must buy a foreclosure. As a result, the value and other advantages of buying an individually-owned home on today’s market are frequently overlooked. Individual sellers with homes on the market right now are generally quite motivated, and understand that their homes are competing with discounted short sales and foreclosed homes. Many of these sellers are slashing prices in an effort to get them sold – the most recent Trulia Price Reduction Report revealed that 27 percent of homes on the market across the country have had at least one price reduction. Now that’s what I call a sale!

Further, individual owners are often much more negotiable on a wide range of contract terms than a bank which owns a foreclosed home. You can work with non-bank owners on things like repairs, closing dates, choice of escrow provider, closing costs and even included personal property much more flexibly than you can when the bank is on the other side of the bargaining table. On top of that, many individually-owned homes are in pristine, move-in condition; that is much rarer with foreclosures. So, don’t underestimate the value of the deal you might be able to get on a non-foreclosed home. Just get clear on what you can afford and look at all the homes that are available in that price range, without discriminating against non-foreclosures.

Myth #5: Having a foreclosure on your credit history means it’ll take years and years before you can buy again. One of the most Frequently Asked Questions in the Trulia Voices Community by homeowners who are facing or have just lost a home through foreclosure is how long it will take before they’ll be able to buy again. Until recently, the standard wisdom was that 5 years, minimum, would have to have elapsed between the foreclosure and the new home purchase. Now, though, borrowers can obtain an FHA loan with the low, 3.5 minimum down payment requirement as soon as 3 years following a foreclosure. To do so, though, all your other ducks must be in a row.

Post-foreclosure buyers need a credit score of 620-640 to qualify for an FHA loan; higher for a non-FHA loan – given that the foreclosure itself usually dings anywhere from 100-150 points off the credit score (not necessarily counting a full year or more of pre-foreclosure missed payments), former homeowners who want to buy again need to ensure they have no other late payments or credit dings after they lose thier home. You must have clean credit with no derogatory marks like late credit card payments following the foreclosure, and you may also be required to document 12 to 24 months straight of on-time rent payments after the foreclosure.

Further, the bank may impose a lower debt-to-income ratio on post-foreclosure borrowers than on borrowers who have not had a foreclosure, in an effort to keep your mortgage payments low, keep you from overextending yourself and boost the chances you’ll be a successful homeowner over the long-term this time around. The bank will also need to see 2 years of continuous employment history in the same field, and documentation that you meet other loan qualification requirements.

• 

  Dos and Don’ts of Homebuyer Incentives

  Homebuyer incentives can be smart marketing or a waste of money. Find out when and how to use them. Read

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  (New!)

  Pet Odor Can Chase Away Buyers

  Don’t let pet odors derail your home sale. Read

(information courtesy of: Lex Hudson, A-Pro Home Inspections 615-478-6036)

 A prelisting home inspection-one that is paid for by the seller plays a large part in a buyer’s decision to buy. It signals openness about the shape of the house and omits the possibility of unpleasant surprises that could potentially slow the sales transactions and bring the price down. In addition, Realtors who require or recommend prelisting home inspections give their client’s homes a marketing edge.

These inspections also give the discriminating buyer upfront information on the condition of the home, and in some cases, a preemptive seller’s inspection means that repairs, such as a dripping faucet or roof leaks, will likely be fixed.

The report also signifies to buyers that the sellers made all efforts to sell the house and cared about selling to somebody who was going to be satisfied with the condition of the home and the repairs made to it. With their own report, sellers can choose, for example, to spend a few hundred dollars fixing a faulty electrical problem that might otherwise result in a claim for thousands off the home price.

Some of the multiple benefits of recommending that a seller conduct a prelisting home inspection include the financial advantage for home sellers to make important repairs. Should a buyer request a specific repair as part of the sale agreement, the seller could easily be placed in the position of having that repair done at the last minute at a higher cost.

Alternatively, if that buyer opted to negotiate the price downward due to a repair left undone, they may face typical decreases such as for every $1 of identified repairs, buyers ask at least double or triple that in a price reduction.

Savvy home sellers who, for example, learn through home inspection that portions of the roof need repair may opt to repair that section immediately. Paying $5,000 for the repair is far more enticing than reducing the asking price by $10,000 or more. Buyers typically expect a $2 to $3 price discount for every $1 worth of defects turned up by their inspector.

Most buyers think that buying a home is going to be a lengthy, complicated, and stressful process potentially lasting for months. The prelisting home inspection reduces the stress inherent in such a major transaction as all parties quickly gain a thorough knowledge of the home through a full written home inspection report.

It also reduces time spent on the negotiation process, as all information on the home is given upfront to the buyer. This limits the potential of any surprises and tells to the buyer that problems may have been found and were repaired so the house is in the best condition possible.

Prelisting home inspections are no longer a rarity; instead, they’re becoming a valuable part of any seller’s marketing. It’s estimated that the number of homeowners choosing to conduct a Prelisting home inspection has increased to 85% in the last one to two years.

Sellers or realtors who pay for a prelisting home inspection know it’s a small price to pay-average cost is $400-for a checklist covering over 1,500 items in a home. The result is that they’re more prepared to sell the home quickly for the highest valuation and that home buyers are more receptive to enter into a sale because they feel comfortable with all the information on the home’s condition being disclosed upfront.

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Calle Neilson & Maggie Scott Take Honors for 3rd Straight Year

October 28, 2010

Franklin, TN – The Tennessee Golf Association is honored to recognize its player’s of the year for 2010.  A few familiar faces and one new have risen to the top after what has been a challenging season for golf in Tennessee.  Many of our great golf courses were stressed from heat and dry weather, with two major championships being moved to different sites due to course conditions caused by the severe summer heat. 

Blazing the women’s amateur trail in Tennessee this season were two women who are no strangers to this accomplishment.  Calle Neilson and Maggie Scott end at the top for the third straight year.  On the men’s side Tim Jackson claims his 9^th player of the year title, while Steve Golliher is introduced for the first time as senior player of the year. 

The 2010 Women’s Amateur Player of the Year is awarded to Calle Neilson of Nashville.  Calle started off strong this season winning the Tennessee Women’s Amateur Championship at Cleveland Country Club back in June.  Her first women’s amateur title, she set the pace early by taking medalist honors for the stroke play qualifying round, then moved on through the week, match by match until securing the win 2&1.  In July Neilson qualified for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship at Charlotte CC in Charlotte, NC and did not look back.  She went on to make match play of the U.S. Women’s Amateur where she advanced to the round of 16.  Calle has begun her senior year at the University of Virginia and is currently in her fourth varsity season with the Lady Cavaliers Golf Team. 

2010 Senior Women’s Amateur Player of the Year honors goes to Maggie Scott of Charleston.  This makes her eighth women’s senior amateur player of the year award.  Perhaps eight is her lucky number.  Back in September Maggie closed out the women’s amateur season with an impressive 8^th Women’s Senior Amateur Championship title at Five Oaks Golf & Country Club in Lebanon.  Scott also added points with her great play at her home club, Cleveland CC, in June when she advanced to the quarterfinals of the Tennessee Women’s Amateur Championship.  If you were to ask Maggie what stands out for her the most this past season she would likely not mention any of the above, rather tell you how proud she is to now be a grandmother.

Tim Jackson claims his ninth and second consecutive TGA Amateur Player of the Year trophy.  Jackson began his pursuit for the title with a 2nd place showing at the SunTrust Tennessee State Open, where he was the low amateur. Jackson continued his solid play through the summer, highlighted by a second consecutive low amateur, a T-32, at the U.S. Senior Open at Sahalee CC in Washington. Tim followed this up by making the match play at the U.S. Amateur at Chamber’s Bay and winning his sixth TGA Mid-Amateur Championship at Spring Creek Ranch. Jackson concluded his year with an appearance in the round of 16 at the U.S. Mid-Amateur at Atlantic Golf Club.

Steve Golliher won his first TGA Senior Player of the Year trophy after a stellar season. Golliher competed in twelve events and finished outside of the top four only twice. After finishing fourth at the Holston Hills Invitational, Golliher finished in third place at the Inaugural Tennessee Senior State Open at Stonehenge GC, garnering low amateur accolades. Steve would go on to finish in the top 3 in eight of his remaining 10 events which included four wins. After a year long battle for the title, Golliher would clinch the title by winning the last two TGA Championship Series events, a series which saw Steve win three of the four tournaments he competed in.

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Factor in Function
Consider where flooring will be used and what conditions it needs to withstand.  For example, is this a room where you spend lots of time or one where kids rambunctiously play?  Will there be heavy traffic with tracked-in dirt or light traffic in socked feet?  And will flooring be subject to water spills, high humidity or warmth from radiant heat?

Consider Room Decor
Will you be redecorating when you install new flooring?  If not, then complement the current style and color scheme of the room.  Also be attentive to the flooring types in adjoining rooms if there is an open-space plan.  And, pay attention to the scale of flooring patterns in light of room size to ensure you create the desired look and feel.

Research Required Upkeep
To be sure that maintenance won’t be an issue, find out how much cleaning and care is needed.  And know that easy care does not limit your style choices.  Stylish options abound.  For instance, there are laminates made to resemble stone or wood, which require less care.  And low-care linoleum and vinyl floors come in chic colors and styles.

Address Special Concerns
Floors in places that get wet should be slip-resistant of course.  And if you live with someone who is elderly or who needs disability-friendly floors, give extra attention to surfaces.  How about allergy sufferers?  Hard surfaces or hypoallergenic options, like cork, are a great option.

Don’t Forget Green
Among the eco-sensitive options are cork and some bamboo products.  If you prefer a more traditional look while going green, check into reclaimed wood.  And remember the “green” in your wallet – always keep your budget in mind as you shop.

Additionally, think about whether you will install the flooring yourself, and how long you plan to stay in your home.  If resale is a consideration, know the recoup value of a flooring upgrade.

Getting a Home Inspection? Remember to Check the Sewer Pipe!

When buying a home, your offer should always be contingent on the results of a professional inspection of the property. If the inspection turns up something like termite infestation or cracks in the foundation you can back out of the contract, or you can have the seller repair the problem to your satisfaction.  

A professional home inspection will cover the interior and exterior of the house, but it will rarely include an inspection of the building’s sewer (known as the private sewer lateral or side sewer). 

The private sewer lateral is the part of the sewer that runs from the house to the public sewer main, which is located under the street, alley, or in an easement behind the house. 

The maintenance and repair of the private sewer lateral is the responsibility of the property owner. But most owners don’t give much thought to the private sewer lateral until a sewage back up occurs, usually due to a damaged or root-clogged pipe, or an offset joint. Repairing damages caused by a sewage backup can cost thousands of dollars; an expense not always covered by homeowner’s insurance policies.  

For only a few hundred dollars, a licensed plumber can do a video inspection of the private sewer lateral. The video will show if there are cracks or breaks in the pipe, offsets, and any root intrusion (the leading cause of sewer backups). Private sewer lateral repairs costs can be several hundred dollars; replacement costs can run $5,000 or more.  

If a private sewer lateral problem is discovered as part of the home inspection prior to close of escrow, the buyer has the opportunity to negotiate with the seller to cover the cost of cleaning or repairs. 

A Simple Device Can Protect Your Home from Sewage Backups 

Two additional things you’ll learn with a private sewer lateral inspection are: 1) whether or not the lateral has a cleanout; and 2) if that cleanout is fitted with an Overflow Protection Device. 

If you don’t have a cleanout, you should have one installed. It will give you and your plumber easy access to your private sewer lateral for cleaning and maintenance. 

And the best way to prevent sewage from backing up into your home – from a blockage in your private sewer lateral or from the public sewer main – is to have an Over Flow Protection device. This inexpensive device allows sewage back-ups to spill outside rather than from a drain inside your house.  

Installation of the device (which is available at many plumbing supply stores) is relatively simple, but must be done according to your local sanitary district specifications. We recommend that a licensed plumber install the device since elevation and location are critical for the device to function properly.  

Source: The Central Contra Costa Sanitary District PIPELINE, Fall 2009