Buyer FAQs

1031 Exchanges

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IRS Code 1031- No gain or loss shall be recognized on the exchange of property held for productive use in a trade or business or for investment if such property is exchanged solely for property of like-kind which is to be held either for productive use in a trade or business or for investment

A few bullet points are as follows:

  • 45 Day identification period- The tax payer must identify potential replacement property(s) by midnight of the 45th day from the date of sale
  • 180 Day exchange period- The taxpayer must acquire the replacement property by midnight of the 180th day, or the date the taxpayer must file its tax return (including extensions) for the year of the transfer of the relinquished property, whichever is earlier
  • Reverse exchange is when you purchase a property prior to selling the other property. Same deadlines apply as above
  • If you sell a home that you have not lived in 2 of the last 5 years you could be subject to capitol gains tax on the gain for the sale
  • Those “2 years” don’t have to be the last 2 years and they don’t have to be a continuous 2 years
  • Gain= what you paid for the home + improvements to the home subtracted from what you sold the home for
Make sure to consult with an attorney and/or your tax advisor for strategies and more information on this program to see if it fits your needs.
Contact me for all of your Real Estate investing needs!!

 

Deteriorating Sonotube Duct

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Picture of a duct system from inspections I attended this week. Most of the home was galvanized in floor ducts but a few of the sections were Sonotube. Only 1 of the sections were damaged as seen here in this picture. The aluminum foil was peeling away and the card board was a bit deteriorated. Not a great thing but I have certainly seen systems in much worse condition than this one. Yes, this can be fixed

New VA Funding fees as of October 1, 2011

VA Fees

Here is a chart of what the new VA funding fees will be. Let me know if you have any questions!

Sonotube in floor duct systems

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Sonotube is a cellulose/cardboard based material with a mylar coating which was used in many floor duct systems throughout the Albuquerque market. In a perfect installation, Sonotube is incased in concrete when the slab is poured. However this type of product has been susceptible to damage through water infiltration likely due to inadequate drainage conditions, overwatering of irrigation and evaporative cooler operation and leaks) and installation problems as well. Furthermore, due to its cellulose make-up, this product has also been prone to damage from termites.

 

Since the majority of the ducting system is not accessible or visible, and because damage to the in-floor ducting system can in some cases be an expensive repair, having the ducts scoped/inspected by a qualified professional with a fiber-optic camera is always advised

***Obviously the picture is of a toilet paper roll and this is because I like to think of sonotube ducting as a bigger thicker toilet paper roll lined on the inside with aluminum foil.

LTV & DTI

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I often get the question of what DTI and LTV are so here it is:

DTI- means Debt to Income and is used by lenders to determine whether you make enough money to be able to make your mortgage and other debt obligations on a monthly basis.  A lot of details go into the calculations of debt to income. Debt is defined as any revolving and installment debt you have as well as any other obligations you may be required to pay on a monthly basis.  Things like utilities and insurance payments for cars or life insurance are not counted as monthly debt.  Calculating income can be tricky when income comes from being self employed or commission, or from part-time income.

LTV- stands for Loan to Value and is used by a lender to determine the equity in a property.  On a purchase, the value is always the sales price, unless the appraisal comes in lower than the value of the accepted contract.  On a refinance, the appraisal determines the market value of a home and then the current balance on the mortgage loan is divided by the value to determine how much equity is in the home.  Whether you buy or sell, the loan to value is used to determine what type of loan programs are available for you.

 

 

 

Lead Based Painted Marked “yes”

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There is a category on the MLS printout that says “Lead Based Paint” and it either says yes or no. This is not a question as to if the home has lead based paint or not. It is a question as to if the home is subject to Lead Based Paint Disclosure or not. Homes built prior to 1978 are subject to the lead based paint disclosure from the seller disclosing if the seller has any knowledge of lead based paint hazards in the home or not. Just because “yes” is marked does not mean that there is lead based paint in the home it just means that the home was built prior to 1978 and is subject to the seller disclosing. Lead paint inspections are always encourage. You can goo to EPA Lead Paint for more info or contact me with any questions.

What is PMI??

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PMI is private mortgage insurance and all loans that don’t have at least 20% down are required to carry PMI.  PMI is insurance that a lender puts in place to reduce the risk of the loan going into foreclosure.  There is a monthly premium that is paid just like your homeowners insurance.  The good news is that PMI allows many borrowers to qualify for a loan when they don’t have 20% to put down.  In today’s economy it is hard to save that much money for many people.   Each loan type, FHA, conventional and VA have some type of fee that is used to help lenders lend money without too much risk.  The good news is that now PMI may be able to be deducted on your income taxes.  Talk to a tax preparation specialist to find out if your PMI is deductible and stay tuned to this station for more information on loan types.  Stay tuned to this station for more information on the best programs to use to purchase a home.

 

Difference between a full home inspection and a mechanical inspection

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As a home inspector of 16 years, one of the most frequently asked questions I get is “What is the difference between a Full Home Inspection and a Mechanical Inspection?”

 

Simply stated, a Full Home Inspection encompasses a visual examination of the structure including, but not limited to, the exterior cladding/siding, grading around the dwelling, roof covering, windows and doors, walls and ceilings, crawl spaces/attics and garages. Also included in the Full Home Inspection is an inspection of the mechanical systems including the plumbing, electrical systems, heating/cooling systems, built-in appliances and fireplaces as well.

 

In contrast, a Mechanical (also referred to as a Warranty Inspection) only covers the basic mechanical systems including the plumbing and electrical systems, heating and cooling systems, built-in appliances and roof covering.

 

In most cases, the best value for the client is a Full Home Inspection. This type of inspection truly does provide the most amount of information to a perspective buyer and allows them to make an informed and educated decision regarding the homes’ purchase.

 

Joseph Lebron

General Inspectors

505.261.0351 call/text

generalinspectors@yahoo.com

 

2 things I hate about being a Realtor

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There are only 2 things I really don’t like about being a Realtor.

1. Fumbling around with all the keys! Does anyone else get annoyed when there are numerous keys, darn things don’t work correctly and who knows what works what. Then to top it off you have your own keys in your hand, your lock box key, probably a cell phone and the mls sheets fumbling around. Maybe I just need a purse.

I was showing homes yesterday and ran across this house that had the keys color coded. That made my day!

2. Can anyone guess what the 2nd thing is I don’t like about being a realtor? :)

What is a 1st time home buyer??

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The answer to this question is not the obvious answer that one would think. There is a lot of talk about first time buyers and the many programs that are available to them.  The definition of a first time buyer is someone who has not owned a home for the last 3 years.  They may have owned homes in the past, but haven’t within the last 3 years.  There are many programs available for first time buyers that allow them to purchase homes sometimes with as little down as $500.00.  The mortgage industry is always looking for ways to make it easier for people to buy a home and one of the ways is allowing them to have little or no money down.  In the past in order to own a home you had to have 20% down.  The most common first time buyer loan is with the Federal Housing Administration, but, there are also first time buyer loans in conventional and VA.  Stay tuned to this station for information on the different FTB loans and how you can purchase a home using them.

 

Rachel Donovan

Legacy Mortage

License # 368845
505-328-4792
rdonovan@legacymortgagenm.com
http://legacymortgagenm.com/RDonovan/

 

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Coldwell Banker Legacy Realtors (505) 292-8900 8200 Carmel NE Ste. 103A Albuquerque, NM 87122