April 27th, 2008
Boosting property taxes causes more pain
Surprisingly enough, in this severe housing downturn, several governments across the country are proposing increases in homeowners’ property tax rates.
Surprisingly enough, in this severe housing downturn, several governments across the country are proposing increases in homeowners’ property tax rates.
And overwhelmingly, people I speak with are ticked off that the government is even considering helping folks who can no longer afford their monthly mortgage payments.
Here’s a chilling scam: Not only are con artists stealing people’s identities, they’re stealing their homes, too.
Problem is, appraisers often tailor their decisions on what a home is worth to match whatever figure mortgage lenders and real estate agents want them to hit. If a home needs to be valued at $400,000 for a deal to close, you can bet that appraisal is going to come in at or above that magic number, whether it deserves to or not.
A long list of state and federal officials are investigating mortgage companies across the country, trying to puzzle out their role in the housing crisis and the record number of foreclosures hitting U.S. homeowners.
A host of scam artists, they say, are getting into the reverse-mortgage business. The reason? The mortgages are complicated. It’s hard for homeowners to understand exactly what they’re signing up for. That’s a perfect recipe for a scammer.
The Iowa Supreme Court in late January ruled that homeowners can sue builders for poor workmanship even if they aren’t the original owners of the home.
When something goes wrong with a residential real estate purchase, who steps up to take the blame? Increasingly, the answer to that question seems to be “no one.”
Whose fault is it when a buyer pays far too much for a home? The buyer’s? Or the buyer’s real estate agent? Marty Ummel, who in 2005 purchased a house in San Diego for $1.2 million, is asking the legal system to decide.
If you’ve ordered a home inspection be thankful if you live in Louisiana, not so happy if you live in California.
your one-stop real estate info blog!
Written by Dan Rafter [email] for b5media.
Accounting Solver
Behind The Buzz
Biz Chicks Rule
Biz Levity
Boss Hatch
Brandcurve
Business & Blogging
Buzz Networker
Common Sense PR
Contract Worker
Copyblogger
Daily Blender
Digital Money World
Doing Biz Abroad
Everyday Networker
Franchise Pick
Greener Assets
Home Biz Notes
Interview Chatter
Just Make Money Online
Leadership Turn
LifeDev
My Organized Biz
One Vote Matters
Pimp Your Work
Project Management 411
Property Crossroads
Second Life Pros
Slacker Manager
Small Business Boomers
Startup Spark
Successful Blog
Talk Stock Trading
Taxgirl
The 501(c) Files
The Golden Pencil
Work Boxers
Yielding Wealth
Recent Comments