by arnielevine | Jul 21, 2017 | Finance, Real Estate news
If you bought a house with a down payment of less than 20 percent, your lender required you to buy mortgage insurance. The same goes if you refinanced with less than 20 percent equity. Private mortgage insurance is expensive, and you can remove it after you have met...
by arnielevine | Feb 24, 2017 | Finance, Real Estate news
Imagine mortgage credit standards as a roadway, connecting lenders with potential borrowers who dream of owning a home. What in the mid-2000s was a wide-open superhighway with few barriers became, after the 2008 housing crash, a one-lane path open only to the most...
by arnielevine | Feb 24, 2017 | Finance, Real Estate news
During late 2016 and early 2017, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac made some changes to their processes. Since these two organizations back about half of all mortgages in the US, it’s a big deal. Here are someimportant things to know about conforming 2017 mortgages....
by arnielevine | Nov 3, 2016 | Finance, Real Estate news, San Diego Real Estate
There are two issues that come up toward the end of the calendar year relating to 1031 Exchanges. The first has to do with the time allocated to complete the 1031 Exchange. Issue #1 The tax code requires that a 1031 Exchange be completed within 180 days after the sale...
by arnielevine | Jul 5, 2016 | Finance, Real Estate news, San Diego Real Estate
Just as many predicted, the Federal Open Market Committee,the group that sets the benchmark interest rate for bank lending, elected this week to hold steady and not increase federal funds rate. The current rate is set at between 0.25% and 0.5%, and will remain so,...
by arnielevine | Jul 5, 2016 | Finance, Real Estate news, San Diego Investment Properties, San Diego Real Estate
Existing home sales jumped in May to their highest increase in almost 10 years, according to a recent report by the National Association of Realtors. While existing home sales may have jumped, the high demand and lagging home prices caused the median sales prices to...