Zillow Advice RSS: Question-Discussion-Guide,Home Buying,Boston- MA

Parking

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:54:00 GMT

Does Zillow incorporate parking when estimating value?

2 replies

has anybody worked with realestate.com

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:55:00 GMT

would they be any better/worse than the traditional brokers?

1 reply

Can a proptery be sold before removing its building violations?

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 13:10:00 GMT

A bank owned property has building violiations reported by Boston builling department. Can the bank sell the property "as is" before removing the violations? Does the bank need some kind of certificates from the building department before selling the property?

2 replies

Soft second?? can anyone explain how this works?

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:43:00 GMT

Just curious as to how exactly this type of loan works and how it is payed off.

2 replies

cosigner and $8000 first time homebuyer credit

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:50:00 GMT

I am just short salary wise of being able to qualify for a mortgage. My credit is excellent over 750. My dad offered to cosign an fha loan with me. How will this affect the first time home owner credit. Will I still qualify?

3 replies

Short Sale - One offer at a time?

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 02:02:00 GMT

I live in MA and made an offer on a short sale. I was told that short sales are tricky and time consuming but decided to go for it. I asked my agent to make sure we had exclusive consideration, meaning no one else could bid if the seller's decided to work with our offer. She assured us that this was how it works, the bank would only work with one offer at a time.

The seller's forwarded our offer to their two banks. We received no paperwork or offer acceptance but was assured that this how short sales work. The first bank approved after three days. The second bank accepted three weeks later. Our agent tells us that once the seller's sign these two approvals we have a deal!

But wait...on the afternoon of the second bank's approval, the seller's agent tells us that a new offer has come in and we now must make our highest and best offer. What?

At the least this sounds highly unethical. I'm wondering if the seller's have violated any aspect of contract law in MA. I get it, short sales are tricky, but how can this stunt be pulled at the last minute like this? Doesn't exlcusive consideration kick in at some point...when the sellers submitted our offer? When bank #1 approved? When bank #2 approved?

Is there anything I can do to put this back on track, regardless of the stength of this other offer (if it even exists, I'm suspicious!)?

5 replies

Appraisal and inspection before the Certificate of Occupancy?

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 03:20:00 GMT

I am planning to buy a condo in the new development. The developer has not yet received the Certificate of Occupancy. I know that the lender would not accept the P&S unless the Certificate of Occupancy is issued. Would I still be able to perform appraisal and inspection BEFORE the Certificate of Occupancy is issued? And if so, then how long are the appraisal and inspection reports are valid for?

Are there any other general considerations I should keep in mind? Thanks!

2 replies

8000 tax credit

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 02:16:00 GMT

My fiance and I are about to close on a new condo. I sold my condo a few months ago, so I obviously don't qualify for the first time homebuyer tax credit, but my fiance has never owned a home.

Both of our names are on the mortgage and the title. Does she qualify for the tax credit?

2 replies

Tax credit as downpayment or closing assitance?

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:58:00 GMT

I was approved on the automates system, the file was scrubed we added comps to the appraisal, and then we had a desk review which was approved, and now we are waiting for the underwriter again. This has taken litterally since the beginning of may. it is an FHA 30 fixed rate mortgage...I wondered since all of this is done now, how much longer should the process take? The house is being built so we are just awaitng now for it to be completed and get the certificate of occupancy, and then we are good to go.

I found a note on the the Federal tax reserve site that said you can use the 8000 as a tax credit or part of your down payment or closing costs but you still have to come up with the 3.5 fha down payment precentage which I did do. Has anyone done this? and would this delay the process even more?

thanks so much,

ME

Thanks for any advise you might have?

1 reply

buying a condo in a new development that's less than 70% sold

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 01:34:00 GMT

i'm considering buying a condo in a new building, but am having trouble finding a lender since the development is less than 70% sold; isn't this a bit of a chicken/egg scenario, wherein it is impossible to get to the 70% if the loan options are so limited? Â is there a law that is governing this policy, or is the lender's prerogative?

3 replies

how get to see the propertys?

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:03:00 GMT

2 replies

can the $8k tax credit be applied to down payments for condo developments less than 70% sold?

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 02:26:00 GMT

i'm considering buying a condo in a new development that is currently just 25% sold - and wondered if the $8k credit can be applied to a loan from a private lender? is it their option? is the $8k dependent on income?

7 replies

Year of sale?

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 01:43:00 GMT

It was stated that our home was recently sold. We purchased it in 1971. It is impossible or very difficult to change information on your web site.

0 replies

I want to buy a house / condo for investment purposes near Boston. What is the best way to do this ?

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 01:15:00 GMT

3 replies

Is it okay to use the same realtor as seller?

Thu, 21 May 2009 20:01:00 GMT

We are shopping for our first home and are friendly with an RE Agent. It just so happens that the house we are interested in is listed with the same agency that we intend to use. Is this a bad decision? Should we get out of working with our current agent and look specifically for a Buyer's Agent?

5 replies

Is there a place on zillow where buyers can advertise what they are looking for?

Tue, 19 May 2009 03:29:00 GMT

7 replies

how do I get a "fair" price on house if asking price is well above zestimate?

Tue, 12 May 2009 17:37:00 GMT

Im looking at houses in the city of boston and Ive noticed that there are some for sale for a huge amount over the predicted value. For example I saw one listed for roughly 2M when the zestimate was 1.5M and the assessed value from the city of boston is 1.3M. This house has been on the market >90days. How do you get a "fair" price on such a house if the owner is asking so much above what the house is apparently worth?

4 replies

Is it possible to get a reissue rate on an owner's title insurance policy in Massachusetts?

Tue, 05 May 2009 16:17:00 GMT

I have found conflicting information online regarding the possibility of getting a reissue rate on an owner's title insurance policy. Most sites seem to indicate that this is possible, but it looks like it might be dependent on which state you're in. This is a purchase and not a refinance, and the property was last sold 6 years ago. If we are able to produce a copy of the seller's owner's title insurance policy, will we be eligible for a reissue rate? If we are, any idea what the discount would be? Thanks.

0 replies

How do I find a realitor in my area that would help me to find a bank owned or house in foreclosure?

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:56:00 GMT

10 replies

Need your kind advise please.

Sat, 04 Apr 2009 01:58:00 GMT

3+ years ago i had to go for the bankruptcy due to financial crises. Now its been 3+ years and i don't have a credit score because after the bankruptcy i never applied for the credit cards till today. Now i have a better job and am financial much secured. If i wanted to buy a house then what are my options? I've utility bills on my name and they're always paid on time. Is there any way i'll be able to get the loan? Is there any program? like mass housing? may be fha loan? I would really appreciate for your kind advise/suggestions. I can put down 5%.

6 replies