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When Should Home Buyers Get a Survey? | Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Real Estate Legal Tip

Monday, October 31st, 2011


Keller Williams Realty Atlanta – Peachtree Road

Atlanta Homes For SaleAtlanta Real Estate News - Atlanta Home Buyers


Real Estate Legal Tip

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Legal Tip:  When Should Buyers Get a Survey?

 

 

 

Most lenders do not require their buyers to have a new survey done in preparation for closing.  The lenders have title insurance protection for survey problems.  Keep in mind that lenders also do not require buyers to get owner’s title insurance, but they do require lender’s title insurance to protect the lender!

Most buyers have learned that it is a good idea to get owner’s title insurance, and there are many situations where it is also smart to get a new survey done.

What properties should definitely have a new survey?

1.        New construction  - the builder may have a survey in connection with the construction loan, but make sure that the survey includes driveways, walkways, boundary fences and walls, parking pads, patios, and sundecks.

2.        Properties that have been rebuilt or remodeled – many builders are squeezing large houses onto small lots, and only a survey will show if any building lines and setbacks have been violated.

3.        Older properties with small frontage or narrow width – many of these houses have been enlarged over time, plus there are often encroachments of driveways and fences.

4.        Properties with long legal descriptions (metes and bounds) rather than short legal descriptions (lot number, plat book and page).  It is very helpful if the long legal description refers to the previous survey that was used to write the long legal; in this case a copy of the previous survey may suffice.

5.        Any properties that are made up of more than one “tract” or “parcel”, usually because the parcels were acquired at different times or because neighbors have “swapped” some property to accommodate a driveway encroachment or fence encroachment.

 

Presented by Leigh Clack, Attorney

Neel & Robinson Attorneys at Law, LLC

Leigh.clack@neelandrobinson.com

404-705-3690           fax  404-459-0704

5555 Glenridge Connector, Suite 400, Atlanta, GA 30342



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The Government’s Revamped HARP Program For Underwater Homeowners| Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Mortgage Update

Thursday, October 27th, 2011

Keller Williams Realty Atlanta – Peachtree Road

Atlanta Homes For SaleAtlanta Real Estate News - Atlanta Home Buyers

The Government’s Revamped HARP Program For Underwater Homeowners

 

October 25, 2011
By Richard Staley
www.jimandrichardblog.com

 

The Federal Home Finance Agency announced big changes to its Home Affordable Refinance Program Monday. More commonly called HARP, the Home Affordable Refinance Program is meant to give “underwater homeowners” opportunity to refinance.

With average, 30-year fixed rate mortgages still hovering near 4.000 percent, there are more than a million homeowners in Atlanta and nationwide who stand to benefit from the program overhaul.

To qualify for the re-released HARP program, you must meet 4 basic criteria :

Your existing home loan must be guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac
Your home must be a 1- to 4-unit property
You must have a perfect mortgage payment history going back 6 months
You may not have had more than one 30-day late payment on your mortgage going back 12 months
Most notable about the new HARP refinance program, though, is that the government is waiving loan-to-value requirements on a HARP loans. Homeowners’ participation in the program are no longer restricted by their home’s appraised value. In fact, the new HARP doesn’t even require an appraisal, in most instances.

With the new HARP program, underwater mortgages can be refinanced without LTV limit or penalty.

According to the government’s press release, pricing considerations for the new HARP program will be released on or before November 15, 2011; and lenders are expected to be offering the program as of December 1, 2011.

If you think you may be eligible, first confirm that either Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac is backing your loan. Both groups provide a simple, online lookup.

Fannie Mae loan lookup : http://www.fanniemae.com/loanlookup/
Freddie Mac loan lookup : https://ww3.freddiemac.com/corporate/
If your loan cannot be located on either of these two sites, your current mortgage is not backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, and is not HARP-eligible.

The FHFA’s official press release contains an FAQ section. In it, you’ll find minimum qualification standards, as well as information related to condominiums and to mortgage insurance.

The HARP program is meant to help a wide group of homeowners, but each applicant’s situation is unique. For specific HARP questions, be sure to talk with a loan officer.

Tags: HARP, Home Affordable Refinance Program, Making Home Affordable

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Richard J. Staley & Jim Lewis
O: 678-495-2801
C: 770-351-7553
E-Fax: 770-406-2716
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www.richardstaley.com
www.richardstaley.com/blog

 



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