Blog

Multiple offers

We are seeing more and more multiple bid situations with non-reo Â and short sale listings. Why so much interest…..well supply and demand, low interest rates, favorable terms and a good long term investment. Yes, real estate is a good investment again, flips are back in vogue specifically in major metropolitan areas. How can you win a multiple bid? Â Make sure your realtor is presenting favorable terms to the seller in writing, quick closing, very little contigencies and a solid pre-approval letter is very important. Also if possible, make sure you deposit is near 20%, this will ease any concerns with […]

Special Assessments

We are seeing many condo listings with HOA fees in the thousand’s of dollars. There is a surplus of aged condo buildings in the Chicago area. Over time, large and expensive building maintenance is a huge concern. HOA boards meet not only to bid out the work but also to determine and vote on payment of these improvements. Well managed building typically have the funds to make these repairs. What happens if the HOA does not have funds to make these repairs? The board will vote on a one time special assessment just for this specific project. The special is […]

No more affordable housing?

As developers revitalize the Chicago building development, the city wants developers to create plans for affordable housing. The commissioner on planning and housing wants developers to contribute funds, building housing or set aside 10% of units in a new development toward affordable housing. This created quite the buzz as developers not only battling city hall over while keeping the banks happy as well. Recent housing numbers deflated some of the steam created by buyers. There is an uncertainty again in the Chicago housing market.

Housing Market Slowing Down?

The housing numbers ie the case-schiller index pointing to a housing slow down….before summer? New Home Sales and housing starts, 2 of the biggest numbers followed are down over 10% from Feb and March of 2013. Existing home sales are down as well, usually these numbers are tied to rising mortgage rates, not the case this time, foreclosures continue to decline. Is our sluggish labor market to blame..have we peaked? Experts are expecting a down turn in the market.

Broker Price Opinions

Also known as BPOs in the Â distressed or real estate owned world. Most servers will order a bpo, typically preformed by a local realtor to give a hard and fast opinion on value. A BPO is ordered to give the investor an idea of what his investment is worth in real time. The investor through their servicer will order an appraisal if the value on the BPO is too low or if there is a significant variance between 2 values.

What is a short sale?

Short sales occur when a bank is agreeing to take less than what is owed on the original mortgage. Typically a bank will accept and issue a short payoff if the borrower can show hardship, an inability to continue paying the monthly mortgage mortgage payment due to illness, loss of job or decline in income. In most cases, the lender will not consider a short sale if the borrower is not delinquent. This could take up to 90 days of reporting to the credit bureau that you are late. The process is lengthy as the bank’s underwriters will review your […]

Are you a fustrated buyer?

Limited inventory, real estate agents not returning phone calls, property not in move in ready condition? Â Join the long list of buyers facing these very same issues. Limited inventory concerns coupled with appreciated property values are giving banks the luxury of pricing their own distressed asset over market value. The number of muliple bids allows the banks to reap back losses from years ago. They only hope it will continue.