Spotlight

What is FIRPTA? By Diane Donley, Republic Title North Coit, Member of CCAR’s Affiliate Committee FIRPTA (The Foreign Investment In Real Property Tax Act of 1980) is a tax law that may impose a tax on certain defined “foreign persons” selling U.S. real estate. It is important to determine as early in the transaction as…

How Low Can You Go? The Lowest Down Payment Required for a Conventional Loan By Wendell Cox, Creative Credit Solutions, Member of CCAR’s REALTOR®/Lender Committee What is the lowest percentage of down payment possible on a conventional loan? If you responded “20%” – you are with the majority. You are also incorrect. The lowest down…

Economic Update: Good News, Bad News, and Be-on-the-Lookout News By Mickey Lynam (NMLS 974623), IBERIABANK Mortgage, Member of CCAR’s REALTOR®/Lender Committee Today’s economy is anything but stable. One day the stock market is up, the next day it falls significantly. Why? Who knows. That’s why I am in the mortgage business! However, one does not…

Got Buyers Who Can’t Get Approved? A New Generation of Mortgage Loans Provides a Solution By Alexandra Swan (NMLS 117371), Willow Bend Mortgage, 2019 Chair of CCAR’s Realtor/Lender Committee According to the Texas Mortgage Bankers Association, 30% of Texans are self-employed. Fueled by a strong economy, a swelling population in North Texas, and a new tax…

Residential Pools are High Risk of VGB Safety Noncompliance Tom Tracy, TREC Professional Inspector (#23433), Blue Sky Home Inspections, CCAR Affiliate Committee Member As summer approaches and swimsuits start to make their way out of storage it is time to start thinking about pool safety. Texas regularly leads the nation as having one of the highest…

Investing Your Money Wisely First Requires an Investment of Your Time Sarah Kerr, Future Financial Securities, LLC, CCAR Affiliate Committee Member Do you have a 401k? If so, did you know…   You are being charged fees you may not know about in your retirement plan? Yes/No You may not understand the extent of the fees…

PIDs, PUDs, and MUDs, Oh My! Suggested for you:MUD, SUD, PUD, PID, TIRZ Video Resource.  ______________________________________________________________ Melissa Condensa (NMLS 1149324), Guild Mortgage, CCAR REALTOR®/Lender Committee Member  Everyone is likely familiar with PUDs (Planned Unit Developments), so let’s focus on the other two: PIDs and MUDs. What are PIDs and MUDs? They are both mechanisms developers…

Where Does That Inspection Report Go? Lee Warren (NMLS 0536180) – Prospect Inspectors,  CCAR Affiliate Committee Member  After an inspection is performed, often times the inspector will go over the findings with the potential buyer to let them know about all of the deficiencies that the inspector observed during the course of the inspection. By…

Good News: Cash Buyers Are NOT your Only Option for Distressed Properties Dawn Ferreiro (NMLS 1048123), Great Western Home Loans,  Member of CCAR’s REALTOR®/Lender Committee Unfortunately, distressed or extremely outdated properties are a common conundrum in the real estate industry. Often times when this occurs the sellers believe their only option is finding a cash…