Real Estate News - Debby Poronto, Keller Williams

washingtonpost.com -

A new real estate cost to watch for: Developer's private transfer fee

3/5/2010 11:00 PM

How about this for a new and ingenious real estate money machine? Every time a house sells during the next 99 years, 1 percent of the price goes back to the original developer or is shared among investor partners. Ka-ching!

Be aware of good-faith estimate' rules, or it could cost you

2/26/2010 11:00 PM

IRS clarifies documentation needed for tax credits

2/19/2010 11:00 PM

Despite back-to-back snowstorms that shut federal offices for days, the Internal Revenue Service issued new guidance last week on the two tax-credit programs that are powering the country's real estate markets -- the $6,500 credit for repeat buyers and the $8,000 first-time-buyer credit.

Good real estate news: Home equity is rising again

2/12/2010 11:00 PM

With all the bad news about underwater homeowners and strategic walkaways, you might think that American homeowners' equity holdings are in the tank. But the least-publicized recent statistic on real estate is that, despite these scary reports, home equity is again on the rise.

Cash-in refinancing could help homeowners save

2/5/2010 11:00 PM

Thinking of cashing out some equity when you refinance your mortgage? Sure, that used to be what millions of homeowners did when they needed extra money.

To boost sales of foreclosures, FHA suspends anti-flipping rules

1/29/2010 11:00 PM

Call it three birds with one stone: The federal government hopes to help low-down-payment home buyers, investors who fix up foreclosures, and communities burdened with too many bank-owned and foreclosed homes -- all with one potentially far-reaching policy change.

IRS offers guidance on new $6,500 tax credit for repeat home buyers

1/22/2010 11:00 PM

If you've been holding back on getting involved with the new $6,500 federal tax credit for repeat home purchases, there's no more excuse for inaction. You now have all the official IRS guidance you'll need to buy a house, qualify for the credit and pocket the $6,500.

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Mortgage lenders can sidestep new rules to prevent lowball estimates

1/15/2010 11:00 PM

After 6-year wait, protection from bad credit reports

1/8/2010 11:00 PM

Regulators outline potential pitfalls of reverse mortgages

1/1/2010 11:00 PM

If you, your relatives or your friends are contemplating applying for a reverse mortgage in 2010, check out the new guidelines proposed in December by federal regulators. Though aimed at banks and credit unions, the guidelines neatly sum up the potential pitfalls for consumers in the fast-growing reverse-mortgage field. Reverse mortgages typically are restricted to homeowners 62 and older who have untapped equity in their real estate and want to turn it into cash.