What not many Realtors or advisors are willing to admit from the very beginning is that when a homeowner is in debt, both the foreclosure and a short sale can have a devastating impact on the credit history. However, choosing the lesser of the two evils is important. Its natural for sellers to be concerned about the impact of a short sale on their credit score. Who wouldn’t?

As a homeowner who is facing a foreclosure, don’t expect that a short sale will not leave any marks on your credit record. But keep in mind that a short sale will affect your credit score for a shorter period and that you have better chances to buy a home again soon. Here are three issues that affect you the most.

Reason #1

Every state has different regulations on credit ratings but most often realtors talk about 80 to 100 point decrease in credit score due to a short sale. The score may be a little higher or lower depending upon other variables affecting the credit score as well. In case of a foreclosure, the credit drops by over 250 points! Even if you start off with an excellent 800 points credit, once you get a foreclosure on your report you will end up with 550 points, which is poor and hopeless.

Reason #2

What I find to be the biggest difference between foreclosure and short sale is that a short sale allows the purchase of a new property in case the owner does not miss any mortgage payments, has not signed a promissory note or a deficiency judgment has not passed. In case of any one of the occurrences, a homeowner has the freedom to buy a house within two years. On the other hand, if the homeowner signs a foreclosure, about 5 to 7 years are needed to apply for a new mortgage. And as if that wouldnt be enough the borrowing terms for the new mortgage may become tighter as well.

Reason #3

A big minus that foreclosure carries is the deficiency judgment and that makes a short sale to be a better option. The chances of deficiency judgment with a short sale are lower compared to a foreclosure as the lender agrees on solving the problem together. This implies that the bank is not acquiring the property in a short sale and the homeowner is selling it to a buyer which he would do otherwise. And thats very important when thinking of your future financial security!

The decision is up to you in the end. But before making it think of what now affects you the most and most importantly, what will affect you in the future: your credit score, the period in which you wont be able to buy another home and the deficiency judgment.

If you’re thinking about remodeling your kitchen, or finishing your basement, you probably want to get your investment back when you sell your home. But when it comes to payback value of home improvements, some are definitely more profitable than others. As a general rule, kitchen and bathroom projects usually get a nice return on investment, typically 90% or more.Things like adding rooms or finishing basements tend to pay back the least.Finishing a basement usually returns less than 50%, so it’s not a project likely to show profit at selling time.

There are a number of factors that go into determining how well a project will pay back. Payback value depends a lot on the current market conditions in your area. If the market is hot and homes are selling fast, you can expect a higher payback value than you would get in a slow market.

The type of project you do and how it fits in with other homes in the area can have a big influence on payback too. If you put your money into the wrong type of improvement, you won’t get your money back. But if you’re smart about what you do, you can make money. The payback will be better on improvements that are in demand and conform to neighborhood standards. Adding a second bathroom in a neighborhood where most homes have two bathrooms will give a high return on investment.  Building a large addition that makes your home twice as big as the other homes on the block probably won’t pay back very well. Likewise, the popularity of a project will factor into how much it pays back. An improvement heavily customized to your wants and needs won’t pay back as well as something more common to other homes in the neighborhood.

Another factor to consider is the cost of the improvements. If you can do the work yourself, you can save significantly on the cost of the project and greatly improve the chances of getting a good return on the investment.

The list below is compiled from several published surveys and shows typical payback for some popular remodeling projects:

• Kitchen remodeling – 90%
• Add a bathroom – 90%
• Bathroom remodeling – 80%
• Install central heating – 90%
• Install central air – 75%
• Add a deck – 70%
• Replace windows – 70%
• Add a room – 55%
• Build a pool – 45%
• Finish a basement – 40%

Private Sector

Conventional Loans – The only security guarantee is the value of the property.

Conforming Loans
Conventional loans that follow the terms and conditions established by the guidelines of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

• Fixed-Rate Mortgage
  The interest rate and the principal payments remain fixed throughout the loan. Keep in mind your monthly escrow account payment could vary from year-to-year as taxes and insurance rates change.
• Variable or Adjustable-Rate Mortgage
  The interest rate on the loan fluctuates over the period of the loan. Periodic adjustments to the interest rate are made based on changes to a defined index. The loan’s interest rate is determined by adding a fixed number of points to the defined index.
• Balloon Loan
  Short term, fixed-rate mortgage that has monthly payments usually based on a 30-year amortization schedule and a lump sum payment due at the end of term, usually 3, 5 or 7 years. The interest rate on balloon loans is usually less than a 15- or 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.
• Piggyback Loan
  A second mortgage that closes with the first. Often the first mortgage is for 80% of the purchase price and the “piggyback” is for 10%. The home buyer covers the remaining 10% with their down payment. (Some lenders will write a second mortgage of 15% or even 20% of the purchase price.)
• Housing Finance Agencies
  These agencies offer special loan programs to low- and moderate-income buyers, buyers interested in rehabilitating a home in a targeted area, and other groups as defined by the agency. Working through a housing finance agency, you can receive a below market interest rate, down payment assistance and other incentives.

Jumbo and Non-Conforming Loans
Loans above the maximum amount established by the guidelines of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Often the interest rate charged for a jumbo or non-conforming loan is higher than that of a conforming loan.

• B/C Loans
  Loans for borrowers who cannot meet the credit guidelines established by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The purpose is to offer temporary financing to someone whose credit history disqualifies them for a conforming loan (including someone who has recently filed for bankruptcy, foreclosure or late payment on their credit report). Typically the interest rates run higher and vary depending upon the individual credit situation.

Government

FHA Loans
The Federal Housing Authority (FHA), which is part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), plays a significant role in helping low- to moderate-income families qualify for mortgages. FHA assists first-time buyers and others who would not qualify for a conventional loan, by providing mortgage insurance to private lenders. Interest rates for an FHA loan are usually the going market rate, while the down payment requirements for an FHA loan are lower than conventional loans. The required down payment can be as low as 3 percent and the closing costs can be included in the mortgage amount.

VA Loans
VA Loans are guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Service persons and veterans can qualify for a VA Loan, which usually offers a competitive fixed interest rate, no down payment and limited closing costs. While the VA does not issue the loans, it does issue a certificate of eligibility required to apply for a VA loan.

RHS Loan Programs
The Rural Housing Service (RHS), which is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, guarantees loans from private lenders to help low- to moderate income families qualify for mortgages.

When interviewing a home inspector, ask the inspector what type of report format he or she provides. There are many styles of reports used by property inspectors, including the checklist, computer generated reports, and the narrative style.

Some reports are delivered on site and some may take as long as 4 – 6 days for delivery. All reporting systems have pros and cons.

The most important issue with an inspection report is the descriptions given for each item or component. A report that indicates the condition as “Good”, “Fair” or “Poor” without a detailed explanation, is vague and can be easily misinterpreted. An example of a vague condition would be:

Kitchen Sink: Condition – Good, Fair, or Poor.

None of these descriptions gives the homeowner an idea what is wrong. Does the sink have a cosmetic problem? Does the home have a plumbing problem? A good report should supply you with descriptive information on the condition of the site and home. An example of a descriptive condition is:

Kitchen sink: Condition – Minor wear, heavy wear, damaged, rust stains, or chips in enamel finish. Recommend sealing sink at counter top.

As you can see, this narrative description includes a recommendation for repair. Narrative reports without recommendations for repairing deficient items may be difficult to comprehend, should your knowledge of construction be limited.

Take the time and become familiar with your report. Should the report have a legend, key, symbols or icons, read and understand them thoroughly. The more information provided about the site and home, the easier to understand the overall condition.

At the end of the inspection your inspector may provide a summary with a question and answer period. Use this opportunity to ask questions regarding terms or conditions that you may not be familiar with. A good inspector should be able to explain the answers to your questions. If for some reason a question cannot be answered at the time of the inspection, the inspector should research the question and obtain the answer for you. For instance, if the inspector’s report states that the concrete foundation has common cracks, be sure to ask, “Why are they common?” The answer you should receive will be along these lines: common cracks are usually due to normal concrete curing and or shrinkage. The inspector’s knowledge and experience is how the size and characteristics of the cracking is determined.

We recommend that you accompany your inspector through the entire inspection if possible. This helps you to understand the condition of the home and the details of the report.

Read the report completely and understand the condition of the home you are about to purchase. After all, it is most likely one of the largest investments you will ever make.

Saving money by saving energy in your home isn’t as difficult as you think, it just requires a little work! These simple changes will surprise when you see how much you save.

Saving year-round:

Are all your doors and windows properly sealed with weather stripping and properly caulked? This is the first thing to check!

Adjusting the thermostat in your home when you’re in versus when you’re out adds up. Consider installing an automatic thermostat to do the work for you. In the summer, raise the temperature of the home when you aren’t there and turn it down when you get home for that cool refreshing feeling. Reverse in winter.

How hot is your water heater running? Try lowering the temperature to 120 degrees and insulating your hot water supply pipes. This will reduce hot loss.

Are your vents and registers blocked? Clean them out or replace filters.

How’s the insulation in your home? This is one of the biggest energy costs due to escaping heat or cold. Make sure your insulation is up to code or better. If need be, add insulation. Remember, heat rises and cold air falls. During the colder months, you don’t want all that heat to escape through your roof so have the attic insulation inspected!

Saving during warmer months:

You can reduce the amount of solar heat inside your home by closing drapes and shades on sunny days. Apply this tactic in reverse during colder months.

What temperature is your thermostat set to? Can you survive at 78 degrees in the summer? It’ll still be a very nice change from the 90 degree weather outside. Each degree lower than that can significantly increase your cooling costs, especially in older homes that have less thermal efficiency.

Consider installing an attic fan to circulate the hot air and prevent it from penetrating into your living areas on the hottest days. It will regulate the temperature of your attic and help!

Have you switched to compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs? They use up to 75% less energy than regular bulbs you know!

Not in a space that requires lighting? Turn off the lights then! The heat they generate adds up!

Turn off the television or computer if you aren’t using them. They generate a lot of heat as well and use a lot of energy.

If you follow these tips, you should see a difference in your energy bill every month. The main thing is taking action!