Archive for August, 2010

NEW Refinance Options: FHA Short Refinance Option

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

It’s the same story everywhere a real estate agent turns:  we can’t afford our payments with ARMs adjusting and we can’t sell because we owe more than our home is worth!

Perhaps a little light?  New refinance options will soon be available to underwater homeowners who are current on their mortgage.  Beginning on September 7, 2010 FHA will offer certain ‘underwater’ non-FHA borrowers who are current on their existing mortgage and whose lenders agree to write off at least ten percent of the unpaid principal balance of the first mortgage the opportunity to qualify for a new FHA-insured mortgage.

Criteria for eligibility: 

  1.  Credit score higher than 500 and must meet all current underwriting qualifications
  2. Home must be the borrowers primary residence
  3. Borrower must be up to date on payments
  4. Borrower must owe more than what the home is worth
  5. Borrower’s existing first lien holder must agree to write off at least 10% of their unpaid principal balance, bringing that borrower’s combined loan-to-value ratio to no greater than 115%.
  6. The existing loan to be refinanced must not be an FHA-insured loan, and the refinanced FHA-insured first mortgage must have a loan-to-value ratio of no more than 97.75%

Contact the Walker Derby Team for more information!

Are Vacant and Unoccupied Homes covered under insurance?

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

It’s no surprise that this is nowhere close to a Seller’s Market!  Even with the downturn on the real estate market, life does continue to go on.  There are countless homeowners who have transferred out of state or have decided to take advantage of the market to purchase another home only to leave their current home vacant while it sits on the market waiting for the right buyer.  Those sellers need to take a close look at their home owner’s insurance policy!

Most homeowners policies are written for owner occupant so there are often exclusions to include property abandonment and/or neglect.  This includes homes that have been unoccupied for a specific number of consecutive days.  Typically insurance considers a “vacant home” as one where the owner is not staying in the home and has removed his personal belongings.  An “unoccupied” home is one where the home owner is not staying in the home however personal belongings still remain.

Vacant and unoccupied homes face a much greater risk of damage than an occupied home.  Not only are break-ins more common (Recently I had one Hiram listing broken into and thieves stole the POOL TABLE!), theft of systems such as the AC compressor and/or copper piping but also property liability.  It is very important for the homeowner to contact their insurance company to discuss proper coverage if the property is to be vacant.

Once a homeowner has confirmed insurance coverage on the property, give us a call to list your home.  Our team services owners looking to sell their homes in Acworth, Atlanta, Austell, Douglasville, Hiram, Kennesaw, Lithia Springs, Mableton, Marietta, Powder Springs, Roswell, Smyrna, Villa Rica and Vinings.