New RESPA regulations now require additional “cooling off” periods when the HUD Settlement Statement is changed. While the intent of the changes is to protect the consumer, the changes are causing delays in the time it takes to move a home sale from the time the offer is accepted until the time the closing of escrow occurs.
The majority of the burden of these new changes falls into the ...
OK, it took some doing, but it's done.
I've spent the last couple of weeks digging up and crunching numbers for my 2009 Oceana County real estate market study, and let me tell you, it's been an "interesting" experience. One economy-sized bottle of Advil later, I am pleased to present my finished product.
I've posted it on my website. Just go to www.timwhitehomes.com and click on the "2009 Oceana ...
Over the last couple of months, the wind turbine tower project proposed for the waters of Lake Michigan off of Oceana and Mason Counties has generated a lot of debate and discourse. As Realtors, we have a vested interested to stay informed of this project, and the ramifications, good or bad, that it could have to our communities.
I recommend that all local community members familiarize themselves ...
At Wednesday's weekly meeting of the Hart Rotary Club, a motion was presented to donate $500 in relief aid to those struggling to survive in Haiti following the earthquake that ravaged the country. The vote was unanimously passed by all present.
The money donated will be matched by Rotary International. For $1,000, the Rotary will purchase a ShelterBox that will be shipped to Haiti ...
It's January, and it's a new year! Now that all the hustle and bustle of the New Year has passed, and I am no longer writing "2009" on everything (well, almost), it's time to focus on replenishing the stock of homes to sell.
I am now taking listings for the Oceana and Mason county areas. We had sales in the 4th Quarter beyond expectations, and I need more homes to sell!
If you are thinking about ...
The Senate voted 98-0 on Wednesday and yesterday the House voted 403-12 on legislation that includes the extension and expansion of the home buyer's tax credit. The President is expected to sign the legislation, perhaps as early as today.
This is great news if you have been thinking about buying, or selling your home. Here are the highlights of the new legislation:Current Credit:The current ...
If you're in danger of losing your home, there are five things you really need to know. These five things are the five alternatives to real estate foreclosure. I'll touch briefly on what they are, and some of what's required in each step below.1. Reinstatement - This assumes that you are capable of coming up with the funds to get your loan current. Talk to your lender to find out what the ...
If you're like me, you're sick of hearing the phrase, "Think outside the box." I've been outside the box for so long now, I can't even see the dang box anymore!
I have had some success this year by utilizing some unorthodox means to get my real estate deals in Oceana County closed, however. The most prominent, by far, is not even original, just a resurgence of an old practice from the '80's. That's ...
If there's one recurrent quote I hear from people on a daily basis, it's, "I'm too busy."Whether we're discussing writing a blog, keeping up with listing information, or attending meetings or seminars, none of us seem to have enough time in the day to get done what we need to accomplish. This is on the forefront of my mind, because I caught myself doing just that.I was invited to attend a Rotary Meeting ...
My family and I just returned home from an amazing Labor Day Weekend spent at the cottage on Basford Lake. The weather was absolutely perfect! Not a drop of rain, sunny skies, and great temperatures.
I was able to spend some great quality time with the kids boating, fishing, swimming, and telling stories around the campfire. My wife and I left our laptops behind, and enjoyed spending time together ...