A loan modification is when the lender modifies your current mortgage in order to work with you because of a hardship. The purpose is to help make your loan more affordable. Usually it is in the form of a rate reduction and conversion of an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) to a fixed loan, typically a 30 year fixed.
These days, it seems like everyone is purporting themselves to be a Loan Modification Specialist. Borrowers should be wary of such loan modification "mills" and should only work with a company who has licensed attorneys who actually do the negotiations. Most of these so-called loan modification companies have displaced mortgage loan underwriters doing the negotiations.
Lenders and servicers are very busy with desperate homeowners trying to save their homes from foreclosure. Unfortunately, they do not have the man power or the capabilities to save everyone. Many people are simply getting lost in the system and suffering an unnecessary foreclosure when they could have worked it out with their lender.
As you may have already experienced, lenders can take advantage of a homeowner's lack of knowledge and negotiating prowess. In fact, most homeowners never even reach the real decision-makers. Homeowners oftentimes wind up settling for much less, than they could have without professional help. I can assure you that without legal representation, you will not get the same results! When a lawyer is involved, it seems as if the calls start to get answered and the letters responded to. Often this can make the difference between saving your home and losing your home. There should be no doubt that you will achieve far better results than going it on your own.
A forensic loan doc audit should be included with every loan modification. Moreover, you should not have to pay a separate fee for a loan doc audit. A lot of companies will have you pay anywhere from $895-$1,500 just for the loan doc audit itself; then subsequently charge you $2,800 or more for the loan modification.
A loan doc audit should include the following: a. Review file for efficacy b. Review file for RESPA (Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act) violations c. Review file for TIL (Truth-In-Lending) violations d. Review file for Fraud e. Review file for Predatory Lending violations
A loan doc audit is critical because the more violations that are discovered - the more leverage you have when negotiating with your lender.
Another common loan modification company scam is to charge a separate fee if you have a 2nd mortgage. You should never have to pay a separate fee if you have 2nd mortgage. Be wary of any company that tries to charge you to negotiate with your 2nd lender. This is a very common tactic.
You should only work with a company that has a true 100% money back guarantee. If the loan modification company you are working with does not offer you a 100% money back guarantee - run and don't look back. If the company is really as good as they say they are, they should back it up - in writing.
Each loan modification should also come with a Cease and Desist letter to your lender. The Cease and Desist letter prohibits lenders from contacting you directly and instructs the lender to contact your attorney instead, thus relieving unneeded stress during this difficult time.
With all of the bad press going around concerning loan modification companies it is imperative that you do your due diligence when protecting your most precious asset and possession - your home. So, be sure to ask a lot of questions.
We have an experienced team of loss mitigation servicing center personnel that put your case together with expertise and precision. We understand how to package your case file the way the lender expects to see it, saving valuable time and achieving near perfect results. Our streamlined procedures reduce the process time, helping you end the stress of waiting for a final resolution. We have in-house attorneys who are leading experts in the field of real estate litigation and negotiations. Our legal support staff are the best in the field and come from all over the nation.
Senin, 30 November 2009
Minggu, 22 November 2009
Advice For Buying A Property At Auction
Buying property at auction is a pleasant change from the conventional methodologies but at the same time it is equally important to carefully bid property at an auction. There are few basic guidelines to consider when buying properties at auction. Before getting started search for appropriate auction house listing properties you are interested in and request for their catalog. Auction houses generally organize regular auction sales with printed catalogs few weeks in advance. Subscribing to catalog mailing list is another option. This will give you an overview for the motive behind the property is being sold and the mortgage details of the property. Read the catalog carefully and go through each and every detail provided. Mark all the properties you are interested in buying.
It is always recommended to attend an auction as an observer to get the real feel and to understand its modus operandi. Request from the auction organisers for the auction pack and the auction you have decided to attend. The auction pack encloses information like the title deeds, seller's information form, local authority and environmental searches, lease details in case of leasehold property. In addition to the legal checks it is important to visit the property in person. Research on the property intensively and inquire through neighbors and local estate agents. Hire a qualified property advisor to carefully examine the property for spotting structural problems. After you finished the survey of the property crosscheck with the descriptions provided in the catalog.
The next step involves carefully planning the accurate costs. It is important to consider additional costs as costs of survey and legal advice, finance arrangement fees, stamp duty, remodeling and renovation costs, buyer's premium if any. These costs if not considered might consume most of your margin and in worst cases you might end up paying from your own pocket. Carefully read all the contract and auctioneers terms and conditions mentioned in the catalog. Minutely examine all the details or seek legal advice from a solicitor or a chartered surveyor. Get the money required for deposit arranged in advance. You are required to pay 10% of the cost of the property on the auction day when the contracts are signed and remaining balance to be paid in full within 28 days. If you need mortgage assistance it is wise to plan ahead or you might end up losing the 10% deposit in event of non-payment of the required amount within 20 working days.
Allocate a fixed budget for yourself before entering the auction room. Be firm and decisive on how much you are willing to spend and do not get carried away by emotions in heat of the moment. You can also appoint an auctioneer or a solicitor to do the bidding for you. On the actual day arrive well in advance and get a nice seat for yourself so that the auctioneer can easily acknowledge your bidding signal. Keep your eyes open to your surrounding and carefully listen to the opening announcements. You are also required to carry a couple of identification papers and a cheque to cover the 10% deposit.
Buying a property at an auction can be fruitful if you sincerely follow the basic strategy. You might end up buying the best property at almost nominal price.
It is always recommended to attend an auction as an observer to get the real feel and to understand its modus operandi. Request from the auction organisers for the auction pack and the auction you have decided to attend. The auction pack encloses information like the title deeds, seller's information form, local authority and environmental searches, lease details in case of leasehold property. In addition to the legal checks it is important to visit the property in person. Research on the property intensively and inquire through neighbors and local estate agents. Hire a qualified property advisor to carefully examine the property for spotting structural problems. After you finished the survey of the property crosscheck with the descriptions provided in the catalog.
The next step involves carefully planning the accurate costs. It is important to consider additional costs as costs of survey and legal advice, finance arrangement fees, stamp duty, remodeling and renovation costs, buyer's premium if any. These costs if not considered might consume most of your margin and in worst cases you might end up paying from your own pocket. Carefully read all the contract and auctioneers terms and conditions mentioned in the catalog. Minutely examine all the details or seek legal advice from a solicitor or a chartered surveyor. Get the money required for deposit arranged in advance. You are required to pay 10% of the cost of the property on the auction day when the contracts are signed and remaining balance to be paid in full within 28 days. If you need mortgage assistance it is wise to plan ahead or you might end up losing the 10% deposit in event of non-payment of the required amount within 20 working days.
Allocate a fixed budget for yourself before entering the auction room. Be firm and decisive on how much you are willing to spend and do not get carried away by emotions in heat of the moment. You can also appoint an auctioneer or a solicitor to do the bidding for you. On the actual day arrive well in advance and get a nice seat for yourself so that the auctioneer can easily acknowledge your bidding signal. Keep your eyes open to your surrounding and carefully listen to the opening announcements. You are also required to carry a couple of identification papers and a cheque to cover the 10% deposit.
Buying a property at an auction can be fruitful if you sincerely follow the basic strategy. You might end up buying the best property at almost nominal price.
Rabu, 18 November 2009
Can Anyone Be A Real Estate Investor?
Yes, why not? Real estate investment is no big deal if you have the correct approach supported by the money that goes into the investment. It has risk and so does all other investments that produce high return. Only that in this type of investment one can face any or all the types of risk that investments usually face. But the greatest risk lies in the form of uninvited friends who flock around you the moment you think of investing in real estate. You see them often in commercials that promise to make you a millionaire without even investing a dime. Invest, but beware.
There is no need to panic or turn away from investing in real estate as of all the investments; real estate can yield great results if thinking long term. It can not only appreciate in value over a long time however instant results can be achieved in the form of rents and leases if the properties have buildings on them.
A serious investor in real estate property should have the capital to invest in the first place. You should be careful that this money is not in the form of any debt. As a thumb rule it should be followed that never ever invest with borrowed money. If you are launching a business, then the matters are different, but always follow this rule when your aim is purely investment. Also remember that money does not buy experience. Investing in a field that is full of unscrupulous elements waiting to feed on your inexperience makes life difficult. So it is best to have a good knowledge of the market and also have a thorough know how of the system that is associated with real estate. Finally before investing you should know about the place you are investing in and the potential of growth and appreciation of the value of your property.
The people that will manage your investment are also very important. In fact, they are the most important as the value of property will depend on the management of it. A badly managed estate can get devalued even if the property prices in the locality are increasing. So you will need a team of managers who also have good negotiating skills to assist you in your investment.
Those of you who feel that it is a very risky investment or do not have enough money to invest, do not need to stay away. There is the opportunity for investing through the real estate investment trusts. These trusts invest in various companies associated with real estate and are listed on the stock exchanges. These are actually specialized mutual funds that invest only in real estate stocks. As an investor your benefit will be from the dividends that these trusts pay out and this consists the bulk of the profit they earn over a period. These are comparatively low risk investments though they too have their highs and lows.
There is no need to panic or turn away from investing in real estate as of all the investments; real estate can yield great results if thinking long term. It can not only appreciate in value over a long time however instant results can be achieved in the form of rents and leases if the properties have buildings on them.
A serious investor in real estate property should have the capital to invest in the first place. You should be careful that this money is not in the form of any debt. As a thumb rule it should be followed that never ever invest with borrowed money. If you are launching a business, then the matters are different, but always follow this rule when your aim is purely investment. Also remember that money does not buy experience. Investing in a field that is full of unscrupulous elements waiting to feed on your inexperience makes life difficult. So it is best to have a good knowledge of the market and also have a thorough know how of the system that is associated with real estate. Finally before investing you should know about the place you are investing in and the potential of growth and appreciation of the value of your property.
The people that will manage your investment are also very important. In fact, they are the most important as the value of property will depend on the management of it. A badly managed estate can get devalued even if the property prices in the locality are increasing. So you will need a team of managers who also have good negotiating skills to assist you in your investment.
Those of you who feel that it is a very risky investment or do not have enough money to invest, do not need to stay away. There is the opportunity for investing through the real estate investment trusts. These trusts invest in various companies associated with real estate and are listed on the stock exchanges. These are actually specialized mutual funds that invest only in real estate stocks. As an investor your benefit will be from the dividends that these trusts pay out and this consists the bulk of the profit they earn over a period. These are comparatively low risk investments though they too have their highs and lows.
Kamis, 12 November 2009
Jumat, 06 November 2009
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