2 Bdrm/2 Bath House for Sale off I-10 in Phoenix at Cypress Landing!
1206 Sq Ft * 2002
$115,000 - UNDER MARKET and PRICED TO SELL!
6646 W Nez Perce St. Phoenix, AZ — I-10/67th Ave

Large backyard with side yard and RV Gate. Great starter home or investment property. Within minutes of the I-10 freeway.

Call Kelli Grant to see this excellent property for sale! 602-799-5420

2 Bdrm/2 Bath Condo for Sale in Salida Del Sol!
1298 Sq Ft * 2002
$239,000 - UNDER MARKET and PRICED TO SELL!
16801 N 94th St. #2044 — 101/Bell Rd

Spectacular mountain views from living room, bedroom and balcony! Desirable Scottsdale Area convenient to shopping, dining, entertainment, night life. Within 5 minutes of the 101 freeway. 2 bedroom split floorplan is perrfect for office or roommate.

Call Kelli Grant to see this excellent property for sale! 602-799-5420

2 Bdrm/1 Bath House For Sale Way Under Market Value!
$135,000
1015 E Brown St
Phoenix Arizona 85020

MLS #2982912

Huge Sized Lot (.19 acre) with RV Gate on quiet street near mountain preserve.

Contact Kelli Grant to see this property. 602-799-5420

Walk Away or Stay?

There are thousands of homeowners facing foreclosure who simply walk away from their properties and their mortgages. The lenders are left to deal with the financial fallout.

It’s starting to become a business decision and not just a financial duress decision causing homeowners to walk away. Many who owe more than their houses are worth abandon their homes and mortgages and it just might make financial sense, especially if you are not too concerned about the hit to your credit score.

Some homeowners are combining that strategy with a new one. They are buying new homes before their old homes go into foreclosure, and then walking away from the old homes and the old mortgages.

What these homeowners hope to achieve is getting out of their current untenable mortgage situations with a new home and a new mortgage. And it appears that so long as the homeowners don’t mind seeing their credit scores tumble, this strategy will work.

The homeowners will need to come up with a new lender and sizable down payment for the new home, but once they’re in, there is nothing that the old lender can do.

Since the new home with the new mortgage, has no connection to the old home and the old lender, the old lender can not come after the new home to collect any debt owed on the old home.

What is also a sign of the times is that there are now realtors who specialize in helping homeowners pursue this strategy and lenders who also specialize in these situations.

Is this the right thing to do? I was raised with traditional values that you should pay back the money you borrowed. However, when a colleague approached me with the concept, I have to admit that it made me think. I have clients who continually ask my advice about the home they purchased in the height of the market . . and when they consider the crushing blow they’re taking, they want to know what they can do.

Some have crunched numbers and it may take an additional 7 yrs to break even…and if there are short sales and foreclosures attracting buyers who can enter the neighborhood for up to $300,000 less than what others entered into - what does that mean to the neighborhood? Are these new neighbors taking care of their homes and their yards in the same manner? Are they upgrading and landscaping to the same level as those that paid hundreds of thousands more for their homes?

Even when the overall market returns, will the neighborhood be an entirely different community than when others purchased the home? And, if you’re at a time in life saving for retirement and the primary residence was supposed to be an appreciating asset - is it better to walk away with a minor ding on your credit for going through a short sale and “starting over”?

I don’t have the answers, but I can say that, suprisingly, this concept made me stop and consider!

DISCLAIMER: I don’t condone this behavior, approve of such acts, or recommend doing this at home….but it sure is funny!!

The Rotten House
She spent the first day packing her belongings into boxes, crates and suitcases.

On the second day, she had the movers come and collect her things.

On the third day, she sat down for the last time at their beautiful dining room table by candle-light, put on some soft background music, and feasted on a pound of shrimp, a jar of caviar, and a bottle of spring water.

When she had finished, she went into each and every room and deposited a few half-eaten shrimp shells dipped in caviar into the hollow of the curtain rods.

She then cleaned up the kitchen and left. When the husband returned with his new girlfriend, all was bliss for the first few days. Then slowly, the house began to smell.

They tried everything; cleaning, mopping and airing the place out.
Vents were checked for dead rodents and carpets were steam cleaned.

Air fresheners were hung everywhere. Exterminators were brought in to set off gas canisters, during which they had to move out for a few days and in the end they even paid to replace the expensive wool carpeting. Nothing worked.

People stopped coming over to visit. Repairmen refused to work in the house. The maid quit.

Finally, they could not take the stench any longer and decided to move. A month later, even though they had cut their price in half, they still could not find a buyer for their stinky house. Word got out to the local Realtors and eventually even the local Realtors refused to take their calls.

Finally, they had to borrow a huge sum of money from the bank to purchase a new place.

The ex-wife called the man and asked how things were going. He told her the saga of the rotting house. She listened politely and said that she missed her old home terribly and would be willing to reduce her divorce settlement in exchange for getting the house back.

Knowing his ex-wife had no idea how bad the smell was, he agreed on a price that was about 1/10th of what the house had been worth, but only if she were to sign the papers that very day. She agreed and within the hour his lawyers delivered the paperwork.

A week later the man and his girlfriend stood smiling as they watched the moving company pack everything to take to their new home……… And to spite the ex-wife, they even took the the curtain rods!!!!!!

When a borrower is unable to meet the monthly mortgage payments on their home, the borrower will lose title to their home through:
1. A Short Sale
2. Foreclosure, or
3. Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure

But, did you know that under Section 108(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, a mortgage lender who forgave debt was required to provide a 1099 Form to the IRS stating the amount the borrower had been forgiven? The amount of debt forgiveness on a home is then taxed as ordinary income, for any of the previously three mentioned methods.

For example, you owe $250,000 on a mortgage and the lender reduced the amount owed to $200,000 to facilitate a short sale. Under current tax law, the $50,000 in forgiven mortgage debt becomes taxable income.

Unfortunately, the majority of people in a situation where that can’t make the mortgage payments are in financial distress (DUH!) and are unable to pay the additional taxes.

Relief is in Sight!
On December 20, 2007, President Bush signed H.R. 3648, known as the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007. It amends Section 108(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to ensure that any amount forgiven on mortgage debt secured by a principal residence will not be taxed. It was effective as of December 20, 2007 and applies to indebtedness discharged on a principal residence before January 1, 2010.

There are many legitimate organizations that help consumers fix their credit, but others are just waiting to take advantage of those needing help.

In today’s world of easy credit, bad credit and heavy debts are not uncommon. For many people, debt and credit problems become unmanageable. If you are looking for help, beware of several common credit-fix scams. First, understand that if there are errors on your credit report, such as debts that aren’t yours, you can fix these errors yourself for free. But, if your report is correct and simply contains information that you wish wasn’t yours, there isn’t much you can do. Creditors can keep debts on your credit report for seven years, and there is no magic trick that will make them go away.

Keeping that in mind, watch out for the following, as presented by Bankrate.com:

1. We speak the credit bureaus’ language or know some secret regulation that can make unappealing items on your credit report vanish.

Remember that there is no such thing as a secret formula that corrects unappealing citations on your report to make them go away. Some companies offering these services will just take your money and disappear. Others will bombard credit bureaus with frivolous disputes, and while these items are under investigation, they may temporarily be omitted from your report, after which they will return. The company, however, will show you your miraculously “clean” report and collect its fee. Also, keep in mind that the Credit Repair Organizations Act forbids any company from accepting money until after it does what it has promised, says Susan Grant, director of the National Fraud Information Center. Remember that scams will usually ask for money upfront.

2. We’ll convince the creditor that you don’t really owe the debt.

This works similarly to the first scam. Companies will concoct a scheme for you to challenge the debt or will claim that they will issue a deluge of procedural requests that will persuade the creditor to drop the claim.“Federal agencies have described these schemes as bogus,” says Deanne Loonin, staff attorney with the National Consumer Law Center. If you believe that you may actually have a defense with regard to a debt, you should consult a lawyer.

3. We will get you a brand-new, clean credit file. Remember that this is always illegal.

Companies may try to persuade you to apply for a new taxpayer identification number or employer identification number for the purposes of building a new credit history. This is a felony. Be especially vigilant of this one, because you may not realize what you are being asked to do because part of the con is not to explain the entire scheme. Besides being illegal, the “new” credit report would still list your name and address, which would still be connected to your old debts.

4. Call our 900 number for details on our credit-fix strategies.

This can be combined with any scam, and more than likely, the con artists will try to keep you on the phone as long as possible, extending huge per-minute charges.

5. We’ll clean your credit fast and use our contacts to get you a credit card, mortgage or loan.

This is a newer scam, and one of the most costly. Consumers who really need money or loans are especially susceptible to this, and can be persuaded to pay huge amounts to the scam. Some companies mimic credit-counseling agencies or mortgage companies, and will hit you up again and again, until you have nothing left. Since there are legitimate non-profit groups that help educate consumers with regard to their credit, it is best to keep a tight hold on your wallet and be wary of any quick-fixes or big promises. A little reference-checking on the Internet should quickly reveal the legitimacy of any companies.

Generally, be wary of companies that initiate contact, outrageous promises or huge fees. You should also be careful of two common mistakes that are not scams, but are costly. Refinancing your home to pay off credit cards is a bad idea since your home is now on the line. Also, since you are entitled to free copies of each of your credit reports annually, be careful of companies that ask you to pay for them.

Andorra Credit Repair Corporation is one reputable agency that you can contact with additional questions.

Your annual free credit report can be obtained at AnnualCreditReport.com. This site is sponsored by the three major credit reporting agencies, TransUnion, Experian and Equifax. You set up a log in and password, and it tracks the date and will remind you to pull your report again on the anniversary the following year.

Your Primary Home is First.
Buying your own home gives you a place to live and teaches you the cost of home ownership, financing and market conditions. You receive tax benefits and an asset that you can sell, many times for a profit. You will also learn about property maintenance and build your own network of professionals who can prove to be invaluable when investing. Finally, your first home could later turn into your first investment property! When you decide to upgrade or get a bigger house, you might be able to keep your first home as a rental property. Consult your real estate advisor to find out if your house would make a good rental property.

Knowledge is Key.
Being a savvy investor takes more than just buying up properties. Having a good knowledge base goes a lot further than a “sixth sense” for good deals. Use the Internet, read books by reliable authors, and attend investment groups and college courses. These are all good resources to learning the best investment practices. You should also tap into other successful real estate investors and real estate agents for information.

Professional Help Is Essential.
Although you may not think you need help, a trustworthy and honest professional may be the partner you need. When it comes to spending tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, I’m sure you want to invest it wisely. You go to a dentist for your teeth, a CPA to prepare your taxes, a doctor when you feel sick….so why would you think a realtor is any less necessary as an important professional to include on your family team? Real estate is usually what people spend the most money on in their lives and yet they’ll take short cuts and risk losing thousands of dollars trying to be an expert on their own. Realtors manage real estate transactions every day, whereas you may only handle one every few years.

Management companies take the pain out of property management. For instance, managing a rental property takes a lot of time, and you will need to be prepared to make repairs, resolve issues and advertise for renters if you are taking on the task yourself. In the long run, a management company may be just what you need. Use the referrals of friends, family and associates to find reliable, honest professionals to help you.

Know the Market.
Before you invest, research the local market thoroughly. There is no universal real estate “bubble.” Each market is different, and has different fluctuations and trends. One market may be good for rental income but not appreciation, while another market may be excellent for appreciation but not for rental income. There are endless variables, and it is important for you to know exactly what you’re getting into. Remember that one area is never the same as another area. Even within your local market, different neighborhoods may have their own fluctuations and pros and cons. Turn to your realtor for advice about your intention and what neighborhoods and areas will best reach your goal.

With these basic tips under your belt, you are ready to venture out into the investment arena. Happy investing!

$258,000
4 Bdrm/2 Bath
1676 sq ft
MLS #2932288

Needs TLC. New pool pump. Excellent neighborhood and desirable area. Big lot with swimming pool and big backyard with grapefruit tree. NO longer a diving pool, only 5 ft deep. Good home for an investment, fix up, first time home buyer. NO HOA! Close to all amenities…shopping, dining, golf. Scottsdale Fashion Square within minutes. Freeway within 5 minutes with easy access to Phoenix. Family estate sale.

Gorgeous brick fireplace in living room/great room open to the kitchen

View of Wilshire St from front yard

In a buyers’ market it can often be tricky to get even close to your asking price. There are, however, a few things you can do to help get a little closer, or even actually get your asking price. A recent Realty Times article discussed some of the following tips that most people can implement to help get the asking price… and sell the house as soon as possible. There are generally three categories that they fall in:

ONE
Finish the unfinished rooms or convert any convertible rooms, such as the basement or a recreational room. Not only does this give an increased amount of usable space, but it can also be used as a selling point since these are expenses that the buyer doesn’t have to incur. Not to mention, there seems to be an increased desire for move-in ready homes where the buyer does not have to do a thing to the house.

In houses over $500,000, offer a free media room. With deals, you can probably have one installed for around $5,000. Media rooms are something many house shoppers see as a neat luxury, and could be the difference between someone going for your house or someone else’s. Just over a year ago, Architectural Digest united with Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, Inc. in a consumer-trend study to find that 32% of people seeking a secondary home wanted a media room/home theater. For more info on top amenities buyers look for in luxury homes, click here.

TWO
You can make the mortgage on your house more desirable by buying down the interest rate. This is something fairly easy to offer someone, and a lower payment certainly makes your home more desirable!

Rather than offering a cash-specific incentive, you can offer something else like a vacation. Again, this makes your offer stand out from other offers.

Offer seller financing. This is actually not that difficult to do if you can make the deal work, and can actually end up earning you some money. Talk to your realtor about the possibilities.

THREE
Offer to pay their HOA fees for a year. This is a practical buyer benefit. If someone is carefully looking at their budget, not having to include these fees in their monthly expenses can be a big deal.

Offer to pay off some of their debt. If this is done as part of the loan program, then it could lead to the buyer qualifying for a larger loan, or a better interest rate. If just a side agreement, then again, it could mean lower monthly payments, which can be extremely important to the buyer.

Finally, you can always offer to pay the closing costs. These tend to be something that is a big hit to buyers’ pocketbooks, and something people don’t adequately budget for when shopping for a new house.

Unfortunately, other than the few aesthetically appealing things you can do to spruce up the house, real incentives tend not to be cheap. They can mean the difference from having to drop your asking price by quite a few thousand… or actually getting what you want! The key to choosing which incentive to go for is to think about what incentive works best for you AND what is a true attraction for the demographic of buyers looking to buy your house and in the community you’re in.