“No hardwired mortgage down payment requirements for well-qualified homebuyers. Not 20 percent. Not 10 percent. Not 5 percent.”- Inman News

An alliance of dozens of civil rights, real estate, labor, mortgage and consumer advocacy groups, along with a substantial percentage of the members of Congress have been addressing six federal agencies for the past two weeks to convince officials to change their minds about the controversial “QRM” (qualified residential mortgage) proposal that would mandate 20 percent down payments and strict debt-to-income rules.

While the regulatory agencies cannot discuss the proposal, industry sources say the rule writers are getting the message and are believe to back down in their final QRM plan.

“If they don’t back down enough, however, say sources on Capitol Hill, Democrats and Republicans in the Senate and House are prepared to force them to do so with corrective legislation.”

Bipartisan groups of 160-plus members of the House and 40 members of the Senate wrote to the six agencies last week, urging them to focus on sound underwriting, safe loan products, and borrowers’ ability to repay, plus full documentation… not down payments. The six agencies include, the FDIC, SEC, HUD, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Housing Finance Agency and the Federal Reserve.

To put it simply using a definition from the Wall Street Journal, a short sale is a transactions in which the borrower with lender approval sells the home for less than what is owed on the loan. Short Sales are often less damaging to a neighborhood’s property values than a foreclosure would be.  The program makes it easier for borrowers to voluntarily transfer ownership of properties through a “deed in lieu” of foreclosure. 

This plan will award borrowers $1500 from the government if they sell their home for less than they owe on it.  This is the newest addition to Obama’s $75 billion foreclosure prevention plan. 

Call 252-261-3800 or email sales@seasiderealty.com to speak with a short sales specialist.

Occupied homes seem to sell better, especially in a very competitive market. Realtors and builders have used staging techniques to help sell homes for a long time, but “staging” is reaching new heights these days.

Builders have developed a new strategy to help sell their new construction in a distressed real estate market.  Johanna Calvin is a 45-year old Los Angeles event coordinator and decorator who has seen business slow. Quality First Home Marketing, a San Diego start-up,  is offering Johanna incentives for giving their townhomes a stylish look that make the home seem like someone is living there.  Usually “Home Staging” companies will charge the homeowner thousands of dollars to decorate the house with furniture, but Johanna actually lives in the townhouses for a greatly discounted rate and also receives a bonus if the house sells quickly.

Vacancy of homes is a factor that can drive the price of real estate down.  By filling the homes, the real estate will in turn gain more value.  Showhomes Management LLC, a franchise operation based in Nashville, has about 350 “resident managers” who occupy these high end homes in order to facilitate sales.  The company has reported that their revenues have increased 88% since last year!

The idea of the website is to help the average consumer determine if they can qualify for a loan modification or refinancing.  The site offers tools and calculators to help borrowers determine if they are eligible for different types of loan modification programs. 

Some additional features include: detailed information about this government program, self assessment tools, a mortgage calculator, resources to find free counseling, and a checklist of required documents.