Foreclosure reduces the value of a home by 27 percent on average, according to a new study from Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.Other kinds of forced sales have less dramatic impacts, the study found.An estate sale after an owner’s death reduces the price of the
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07/27/2010
An improperly installed drain hose is by far the most common defect that I find with dishwasher installations, but it's also one of the easiest things to get right. In the photo below, which was featured as a Structure Tech Photo of the Day, there are several plumbing defects, two of which are
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07/19/2010
Foreclosure avoidance options vary from state to state. One of the more interesting solutions we’ve seen came from a homeowner in Brooklyn, N.Y., who turned her home into a bed and breakfast in order to cover the mortgage payments. While that may work for now, New York lawmakers did pass a bil
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07/19/2010
Miami ForeclosuresCan't find a forelosure in Miami that is in move in condition?A lot of the foreclosures that you find in Miami need some fixing up. These homes that need repairs do not meet the requirements of a conventional loan, hence the “cash offer only” designation.The FHA comes to the Res
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07/18/2010
1. Minimize The Damage To Your Credit A Short Sale will affect your credit but not as detrimental as a Foreclosure will. A Foreclosure comes with a Final Judgment which remains on your credit report for 7 years. A Short Sale usually is reported as a “settled” account on your credit report. By mai
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07/18/2010
The only time you can't POSSIBLY lose money in real estate or any other 'deal' is before you invest it. That's why putting together a solid business plan is the smartest action step you can take. Decide the type of property you plan to buy, what it will cost to purchase it, what it will co
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07/18/2010
Buying a home after a short sale I need to preface this blog by informing you that I AM NOT A MORTGAGE PROFESSIONAL. I AM A REALTOR and you should speak to a mortage professional for further qualified advice. That being said, let's move on. For most home owners who sell short, they will not
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07/18/2010
A new soldier was on sentry duty at the main gate. His orders were clear. No car was to enter unless it had a special sticker on the windshield. A big Army car came up with a general seated in the back. The sentry said, “Halt, who goes there?”The chauffeur, a corporal, says, “General Brandon.”“I’
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07/18/2010
Army basic trainees at Fort McClellan were required to go on a demanding 12-mile march. They got started at 6 a.m. and were pumped up for the trek.An hour later, feeling the heavy load of their packs, they wondered if the end would ever come. “Men,” our sergeant yelled, “You're doing a FINE job.
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07/18/2010
The scenario is played over and over across the land as bargain-seeking homebuyers attempt to purchase a foreclosed property. A real estate agent constructs an offer for the home, and the offer is “acknowledged!” But first there are a “few” addenda that must be signed before the deal is done. A
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07/18/2010