Renting & Real Estate - July 2007

I'm considering buying a house in Austin, but I dont know anything about the neighborhoods, traffic, crime, pollution, flooding areas, etc etc. What do you think is the best way to go about making this kind of decision (short of visiting) -- i will be visiting soon, but I wanted to do some research to narrow the scope. Thanks for your input!

2007-07-26 07:47:54 · 9 answers · asked by MM 5

My husband and I are looking into buying our first home (we currently live in an apartment but have a baby on the way). The home we are looking at is a new build. It is $115,000. This would be our first home. We don't have much saved p because we weren't really planning on buying a home so soon. Are there any special programs/loans for first time home buyers? We have decent credit (660's).

We make about $40,000/yr combined income (I work part time). Is this house something that we could afford when interest/insurance/etc payments are included? We have no debt.

2007-07-26 07:43:53 · 8 answers · asked by Katie 4

2007-07-26 07:30:11 · 7 answers · asked by earth_dragonai 1

I am looking to purchase a condo with an interest only loan. a monthly mortgage of $640.00 My credit score is not high enough to obtain the loan right now and the offer wont last long. I was hoping that someone that was interested in investing in me and the property. You sell me back the property in 2 years (or less) at market value, you walk away with possibly $14,000 in equity.

2007-07-26 07:19:46 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous

It's not specified anywhere in the lease, but the landlord claims he will charge me 2 months fee for early termination (default) - 1 for future month and 1 for security deposit.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Moris

2007-07-26 07:19:16 · 4 answers · asked by coolmoris 1

When you rent your home through a property management company and you do not reside in the same state where the home is at, how is the process to get it rented out? And are you requred to get some sort of renting/landlord license?

2007-07-26 06:54:49 · 5 answers · asked by Charlie M 1

I'm leasing a house in PA and want to get out of it due to issues with room mates. I was thinking I could just find somone else to fill the paper work out just like i did and replace me as the person paying the rent. not subletting but actually replacing me. one of my room mates said thats not possible and i have to finish the lease agreement before i can move out. i really need to get out of this lease, can anyone help?

2007-07-26 06:52:59 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous

I've found a couple side by side abandoned houses in a pretty great location, but they have no for sale signs posted. How do i find out if they are for sale?

2007-07-26 06:52:43 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous

my father never spoke to the mortgage company,further more the broker told my mother it was alright for her to sign his name. now she is in foreclosure,my father died 5 months after loan was given

2007-07-26 06:24:42 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous

I am looking to buy a home in Texas and must deal with a realtor provided by our relocation service. I think the information he's provided on the house we want to put a contract on is skewed. How can I find actual sold prices and concessions for the area? I'm specifically looking for closed prices in Flower Mound, Texas. Anyone buy or sell there recently.

2007-07-26 05:56:24 · 2 answers · asked by sewing mom 2

If you bail on a house that you were in contract for and you have $3,000.oo earnest money down on the contract but, have given $85,000 total. What does the builder have to give back? And when? They want to keep all the $$ and only give us it back when it sells..that could be 6 -12 months out? Is this Legal?

2007-07-26 05:46:14 · 4 answers · asked by Cal-Tex 2

I recently placed an offer on a home that was in the owner occupant period. I was amazed to see that after the first five days on the market (owner occupant period lasts 10 days) HUD refused my bid and took that of an investor. Is this legal? Should the property remain on the market only to owner occupants for the first 10 days or can HUD's representative determine when they want to sell to investors? I called the representative and they informed me that my bid was too low so they went for the next highest (investor). Should I have the ability to continue bidding for 10 days? I am very confused here and any help would be greatly appreciated.

2007-07-26 05:00:31 · 5 answers · asked by Jeff 2

I am not behind on payments but since i lost my higher paying job and money is tight I need to get out of my loan, I am in an interest only loan, which the payments will go higher, and I do not have money or equity to refinance. I feel this is the only way to get out fo this situation beisdes foreclosure. Also does Deed-In-Lieu affect your credit score?

2007-07-26 03:48:10 · 7 answers · asked by JB 2

My husband and I are moving from one rented flat to another on Saturday. Our current landlord came round earlier today (my husband was there and I was at work) to inspect the property. She said everything was OK and that we would get our deposit back but she said she would need to give us a cheque. My husband told her that we needed it back in cash as we need to give a cash deposit to the landlord at the new flat. We originally paid the full deposit in cash. She said she would 'see what she could do' and would try to give us part cash part cheque. Can she do this? Surely as we gave her the deposit in cash we are entitled to get it back in cash? Without it we are unable to pay the deposit on the new flat.

2007-07-26 03:41:06 · 8 answers · asked by Little Bo Peep 3

Okay, our lease is up for our apartment Aug. 31st. My roomate is planning on moving out at the end of july. Should she still be responsible for splitting the cost of the electricity bill with me? I personally think she should, becuase she is binded to this lease until Aug. 31st and it's not like I'm going to pay her aug. month's rent just because she's not living here.

We are not getting along well at all and I have a feeling she may say something like "i wasn't here for the month of august so I shouldn't have to pay half the electricity bill" I'm sorry, but since she is binded to the lease I think she should, even if she is moving out early, she is still part of the lease.

2007-07-26 03:25:07 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous

My girlfriend and I are looking to move to Arizona and we are finding very cheap new construction in Arizona City. Is it just because of the location or what? It’s a good hour away from Tucson or Phoenix, its kinda’in the middle. Just curious as to why housing is cheaper here than it is in most other places of Arizona. Any help is appreciated.

2007-07-26 03:21:52 · 6 answers · asked by ka0tix 2

2007-07-26 03:20:00 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous

My roommate and i have been living together for a month now and he has already bounced two checks to me for rent... What are my options as far as leaving or evicting him? I always pay on time, should i go to my landlord and say here is my half and make him responsible for his half? both of our names are on the lease. what would happen if i just left? do you think they would actually come after me or just break it off in him?

2007-07-26 02:55:19 · 4 answers · asked by bigm789 2

2007-07-26 02:40:07 · 7 answers · asked by mnazilla 1

I am moving out of state in a month and need to rent my house. I thought about selling it but I would be walking away with no money and no house. What options are avaiable. I am also 1 month behind on my payments.

2007-07-26 02:37:22 · 3 answers · asked by babee864 1

2007-07-26 02:35:45 · 1 answers · asked by Anonymous

I bought my house in Oct. 06 nd plan on moving out of the state. I am 1 month behind on my payments an need help quick. I have talked to a few companies, but they will walk away with all of the money and leave me with nothing. I just need enough to pay my mortgage for 6-7 months so I can move and get back on my feet again.

2007-07-26 02:35:17 · 3 answers · asked by babee864 1

I just found a townhome that I really like that was listed at 120K. My real estate agent and the seller's agent work for the same company. I told my real estate agent to make write up an offer for 110K. She was pushing heavily for me to make a full price offer. She finished the contract for the 110K offer and she was like "I'm positive they are going to coutner offer." The contract wasn't signed and I didn't turn in any earnest money or option money. I'm approved for a lot more and I think that she won't turn in the contract and she'll just tell me "The seller asked for 115K" or something like that in an effort to push her commission up. My questions are: can an offer be submitted without a signed contract, earnest money, and option money? Does she have to give me written notification from the seller showing contract submittal?

2007-07-26 01:32:37 · 10 answers · asked by Mr. F 2

2007-07-26 01:08:43 · 6 answers · asked by Wash 2

im currently going through a letting agent. she accepted dss behind the landlords back. i cant give her months rent up front again and need to wait till get my housing benefit sorted.

landlord now knows about dss as im a week late with rent and is threatening to cancel my agents contract.

if he cancels their contract, what are my rights to staying in the house as a tenant? ive got 2 small kids

2007-07-26 00:50:21 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous

and the owner does not have it in a trust, how does me asking them to put it in a trust before i buy it help me?

2007-07-25 22:54:37 · 1 answers · asked by beach_babe971 2

2007-07-25 22:44:59 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous

If buying a property for £100,000 -to include a 10% vendor gifted deposit (so borrowing 90,000), what is the transfer figure for exchange of contracts?

My solicitor says 100,000 for tax and land registry purposes

Sellers solicitors says it has to be the net figure... I understand this to be incorrect as the property is valued at 100k with the mortgage lender, and they are lending 90% loan to value, so it will go through as being sold for 100k with land registry..

the sellers solicitors seems to think this is wrong..not sure if they are just suspecting mortgage fraud due to the size of "deposit"... one of her points being her clients liability for capital gains...well to my knowledge you pay capital gains on profit, not on gross income, the 10% seller gifted deposit can be put down as an expense against the figure of 100,000

Can anyone shed any light on the matter please?

2007-07-25 22:05:36 · 1 answers · asked by Anonymous

I just passed my exam and Im really concerned that I might not get my license because I took something from a store without paying for it. Of course I would never do that again, and I was crazy then (no excuses though) but they didn't call the police. Thats the only thing Ive ever gotten in trouble with. Besides not having good credit. Well does anyone know?

2007-07-25 19:29:57 · 7 answers · asked by Keepupw/me 1

My husband and I are moving into our first house that requires us to put down a deposit to turn on the water. I'm not sure though how much that usually is? I'm still trying to work out our budget for the next month and can't do it right with out this.

2007-07-25 19:26:01 · 2 answers · asked by Hope 2