Quick money in real estate is somewhat of an oxymoron in this day and age. Just a few short years ago real estate investors, realtors and mortgage brokers were doing well in a thriving industry. Today, thousands of those professionals have been driven out of business, while thousands more struggle to make ends meet. The […]

Real estate short sale agreements have been offered for years, but have only become popular since the banking crisis occurred. Lenders sometimes enter into short sale contracts to avoid the expense of foreclosure. In essence, banks allow borrowers to sell their house for less than owed on the mortgage note. The real estate short sale […]

The number of homes in foreclosure has reached unprecedented levels; encompassing nearly 11 million properties by the end of 2010. No one wants to have the bank repossess their home, but in some cases it is the only option. In order to avoid becoming a statistic, borrowers must be proactive the moment they realize they […]

Annuitants wanting to sell structured settlement payments must first determine if this practice is allowed in the state where they reside. Approximately 34 states prohibit the sale or transfer of annuity payments. States which do allow the practice limit the number of annuity payments sold and require Annuitants to obtain court approval prior to the […]

Lottery winnings can radically alter a person’s life in both positive and negative ways. Many people buy lottery tickets in hopes of winning the jackpot. They dream about winning millions and achieving financial freedom. They long to quit their job, travel the world, buy a mansion, and shower their loved ones with expensive gifts. While […]

Expired listing letter refers to a marketing tool used by realtors and real estate investors. When realtors list real estate for sale they enter into a contract with the seller. These contracts are generally in place for six months to one year. If the property is not sold when the contract expires, sellers can enter […]

Secured loans refer to financing that uses some type of asset as collateral. Common assets include real estate, business property, and automobiles. If borrowers default on their loan, the lender can repossess the property and sell it to pay off the outstanding balance. Secured loans can be difficult to obtain when borrowers have poor credit. […]

Mortgage loans for bad credit are also known as subprime lending. This means loans are assessed with a higher rate of interest because borrowers are categorized as high-risk by the major credit reporting bureaus. While mortgage loans for bad credit can be tempting, this type of financing often leads to personal bankruptcy and foreclosure. The […]

1031 exchanges are a type of real estate transaction which allows property owners to exchange real estate while deferring capital gains and depreciation recapture taxes. In order to comply with the stipulations of 1031 exchanges, property owners and real estate investors are required to reinvest 100-percent of the equity into “like-kind” property of equal or […]

Many people ask what does REO mean when buying real estate? In a nutshell, REO stands for ‘real estate owned’ and references foreclosure homes and commercial properties owned by the bank. When foreclosed real estate is returned to lenders, the bank becomes responsible for maintaining the property and listing it for sale. When people ask […]