June 1, 2011 Allstate Corporation, the home and auto insurer with more than $80 billion in fixed-income investments, is scaling back bond holdings and buying real-estate equity and infrastructure assets as it prepares for rising inflation. “We should favor alternatives and inflation protection over fixed income,” Chief Investment Officer Judy Greffin told investors today. “That …
All Posts Tagged
Tag: ‘Buying’
US House Republicans Aim To Raise Down Payments For FHA Loans
Posted May 25 2011 by George Martin, Jr.
in Credit Related, Financing, Mortgage and Loans, Recent Changes with Comments Off
WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives are circulating legislation to raise the minimum down payment for loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration, the main source of mortgage money for first- time homebuyers. Currently, homeowners are able to take out FHA-backed loans with a minimum down payment of 3.5%. A draft …
BUYER BEWARE: Just because a vacant home has been winterized doesn’t mean it’s OK
This past month I have been involved in 2 sales that involved “Bank Owned REOs” that had been winterized prior to my involvement. When scheduling a professional inspection I requested the water service be activated so the plumbing portion of the home could be inspected and discovered both homes had busted water pipes. Home inspections …
Suze Orman Vs. Warren Buffett: Whose Real Estate Advice Should You Follow?
Posted Mar 17 2011 by George Martin, Jr.
in Buying, Consumer Behavior, Financing, Market Update with 0 Comments
You know Suze Orman – she delivers hardcore financial gut checks to everyday Americans on a regular basis. In her latest book, The Money Class, she also recently delivered a pretty striking declaration: that the American Dream – which, for many, includes home ownership and upward economic mobility – is as dead as a doornail. …
The Rules: Initiative Gives Homebuyers 15 Days to Buy Without Investor Competition
Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and HUD all have programs designed to give individuals looking to buy a home as an owner-occupant a chance to purchase prior to allowing real estate investors to buy these REO properties. All programs are similar with links at the bottom of this page too the specifics of the various programs. …
The 5 New Rules of Real Estate
We’re about to enter the peak season for real estate shopping: spring. But, before you jump in with both feet, you should know a lot has changed since the last time you may have bought or sold a house. It’s like dating — all of those old rules you used to know have changed over …
