Maytag Recalls Refrigerators
March 10, 2009
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Name of product: Maytag®, Jenn-Air®, Amana®, Admiral®, Magic Chef®, Performa by Maytag® and Crosley® brand refrigerators.
Hazard: An electrical failure in the relay, the component that turns on the refrigerator's compressor, can cause overheating and pose a serious fire hazard. Description: The recall includes certain Maytag®, Jenn-Air®, Amana®, Admiral®, Magic Chef®, Performa by Maytag® and Crosley® brand side by side and top freezer refrigerators. The affected refrigerators were manufactured in black, bisque, white and stainless steel.
Sold at: Department and appliance stores and by homebuilders nationwide from January 2001 through January 2004.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON MODELS AND SERIAL #'S - CLICK LINK BELOW
Maytag Recalls Refrigerators
provided by
Tammi Burgee * Senior Account Manager * 214 -732- 5999 * tammi.burgee@fnf.com www.homewarranty.com * 1-800-862-6837
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Home value is secondary
The key to refinancing today is the amount of equity you have
By Lew Sichelman
Last update: 7:31 p.m. EST Jan. 29, 2009Comments: 5WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) --
Question: Is it possible for me to refinance my home even though the value of the house is about the same as the loan I have that will reset next year (5-year, interest-only). I am in the Southern California area which has been hit by the loss of home values.
Answer: The key to refinancing these days is the amount of equity you have in the house, not the value of the property.
These days, consumers are seeking practical products for their homes and economical ways to transform their living spaces, says Robin Avni, consumer strategist at Iconoculture. MarketWatch's Amy Hoak reports. (Jan. 27)Values are important, of course. Nobody is going to give you a loan for more than the property is worth.
But more important is what you are willing to put into the deal in the form of equity. If you owe more than 80% of the newly appraised value of the property, you won't be offered as good a rate as if you owed less than 80%. Once you start approaching the 90% level, the rate goes up some more, and it starts getting real tough to find a lender willing to take the deal.
Since you have an interest-only loan, I am going to bet that you didn't put a lot of money down when you bought the house, if you put up anything at all. If I'm right, you might have to approach your current lender as a potential hardship case who will go into foreclosure if your loan is not reworked.
On the other hand, your saving grace might be that you bought your house four years ago while values were still trending north. If that's the case, you might have enough equity to refi at a decent rate. So start talking to lenders right away. Rates are currently at or under the 5% level.
Q: What are the chances of interest rates being reduced to allow a refinance on an existing VA mortgage? I am currently at 6% but at age 62 would like to be able to refinance at a lower, more manageable, rate/payment in retirement.
A: I'd say the chances are pretty good. Rates are the lowest they've been in years, and they may be heading down even further. As long as you have a decent credit score and are still employed, you should be good to go.
But you need to compare the cost of refinancing to the net savings to see if such a move is worthwhile. If it costs, say, $3,000 out of your pocket to refi, and you end up saving $100 a month, it would take 30 months to recoup your cost. After that, it is found money. But if you sell or otherwise pay off your new loan before that, you would have wasted your money you spend to close on the new loan.
Q: More than 10 years ago in Ohio, I was notified by the IRS that a tax lien had been placed on my small business. After closer review, it was discovered that the IRS made a mistake and it was another company with the same name, only "Inc.", not "llc" as mine was. The government sent me a statement that the $110 owed was satisfied. It was not mine to begin with, but the IRS would not agree to send a letter to the credit agencies except to say it was satisfied. Since this occurred more than a decade ago, can I now have this removed from credit files?
A: Because the lien was placed in your files in error, Norm Magnuson of the Consumer Data Industry Association says the IRS absolutely should have notified the credit repositories to remove it from your files rather than simply reporting that it was satisfied. But that's water under the proverbial bridge.
More important at the moment is that paid liens -- the IRS is using the term "satisfied" to mean "paid" -- should automatically be removed from your files. Under the law -- Section 605(a)(3) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act -- a paid lien must be dropped from your records seven years after it has been paid. So, if it is still there, more than three years after it should have been deleted, write to the three national credit reporting agencies and tell them in no uncertain terms to get on the ball.
Nationally syndicated columnist Lew Sichelman has been covering the housing market for more than 35 years. Because of the volume of mail he receives, he cannot answer individual questions, nor can all questions be answered in this space.
Email lsichelman@aol.com
http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/key-refinancing-today-equity-you/story.aspx?guid=%7BB225ADEB%2D13B7%2D47A4%2D9FA0%2D21FF16946614%7D
The key to refinancing today is the amount of equity you have
By Lew Sichelman
Last update: 7:31 p.m. EST Jan. 29, 2009Comments: 5WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) --
Question: Is it possible for me to refinance my home even though the value of the house is about the same as the loan I have that will reset next year (5-year, interest-only). I am in the Southern California area which has been hit by the loss of home values.
Answer: The key to refinancing these days is the amount of equity you have in the house, not the value of the property.
These days, consumers are seeking practical products for their homes and economical ways to transform their living spaces, says Robin Avni, consumer strategist at Iconoculture. MarketWatch's Amy Hoak reports. (Jan. 27)Values are important, of course. Nobody is going to give you a loan for more than the property is worth.
But more important is what you are willing to put into the deal in the form of equity. If you owe more than 80% of the newly appraised value of the property, you won't be offered as good a rate as if you owed less than 80%. Once you start approaching the 90% level, the rate goes up some more, and it starts getting real tough to find a lender willing to take the deal.
Since you have an interest-only loan, I am going to bet that you didn't put a lot of money down when you bought the house, if you put up anything at all. If I'm right, you might have to approach your current lender as a potential hardship case who will go into foreclosure if your loan is not reworked.
On the other hand, your saving grace might be that you bought your house four years ago while values were still trending north. If that's the case, you might have enough equity to refi at a decent rate. So start talking to lenders right away. Rates are currently at or under the 5% level.
Q: What are the chances of interest rates being reduced to allow a refinance on an existing VA mortgage? I am currently at 6% but at age 62 would like to be able to refinance at a lower, more manageable, rate/payment in retirement.
A: I'd say the chances are pretty good. Rates are the lowest they've been in years, and they may be heading down even further. As long as you have a decent credit score and are still employed, you should be good to go.
But you need to compare the cost of refinancing to the net savings to see if such a move is worthwhile. If it costs, say, $3,000 out of your pocket to refi, and you end up saving $100 a month, it would take 30 months to recoup your cost. After that, it is found money. But if you sell or otherwise pay off your new loan before that, you would have wasted your money you spend to close on the new loan.
Q: More than 10 years ago in Ohio, I was notified by the IRS that a tax lien had been placed on my small business. After closer review, it was discovered that the IRS made a mistake and it was another company with the same name, only "Inc.", not "llc" as mine was. The government sent me a statement that the $110 owed was satisfied. It was not mine to begin with, but the IRS would not agree to send a letter to the credit agencies except to say it was satisfied. Since this occurred more than a decade ago, can I now have this removed from credit files?
A: Because the lien was placed in your files in error, Norm Magnuson of the Consumer Data Industry Association says the IRS absolutely should have notified the credit repositories to remove it from your files rather than simply reporting that it was satisfied. But that's water under the proverbial bridge.
More important at the moment is that paid liens -- the IRS is using the term "satisfied" to mean "paid" -- should automatically be removed from your files. Under the law -- Section 605(a)(3) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act -- a paid lien must be dropped from your records seven years after it has been paid. So, if it is still there, more than three years after it should have been deleted, write to the three national credit reporting agencies and tell them in no uncertain terms to get on the ball.
Nationally syndicated columnist Lew Sichelman has been covering the housing market for more than 35 years. Because of the volume of mail he receives, he cannot answer individual questions, nor can all questions be answered in this space.
Email lsichelman@aol.com
http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/key-refinancing-today-equity-you/story.aspx?guid=%7BB225ADEB%2D13B7%2D47A4%2D9FA0%2D21FF16946614%7D
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Severe Weather Closings
Sorted by Category, then Organization
Charter Schools,Colleges,Other Schools,Private Schools,Public Schools
click on the link: http://media.myfoxdfw.com/closings/
Sorted by Category, then Organization
Charter Schools,Colleges,Other Schools,Private Schools,Public Schools
click on the link: http://media.myfoxdfw.com/closings/
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Down Payment Assistant Program
DPAGroundSwell2 was launched today to coincide with the introduction of H.R. 600, FHA Seller-Financed Downpayment Reform Act of 2009, by Representative Al Green (D-TX). H.R. 600 is the 2009 version of last year's bill (H.R. 6694) that would restore seller-funded downpayment assistance (DPA).
Reformed DPA will help stimulate the housing market by providing working-class Americans with a path to homeownership and generate $150 billion in home sales this year. Purchasing a home now puts homebuyers in a position to build equity as markets recover.
CONGRESS INTRODUCES BILL THAT WOULD REINSTATE DOWNPAYMENT ASSISTANCE: NEHEMIAH RESPONDS
- Bill Would Broaden Opportunities for Sustainable Homeownership Without Government or Taxpayer Dollars -
Sacramento, CA, January 16, 2009 -- The following statement was issued today by Scott Syphax, president and CEO of the Nehemiah Corporation of America in response to H.R. 600, a bill introduced in Congress that would reinstate seller-funded downpayment assistance (DPA). Prior to the October 1, 2008 ban on DPA, Nehemiah was the oldest and largest provider of downpayment assistance.
"There is an overlooked solution to today's housing crisis and fortunately several members of Congress recognize the role DPA plays in getting us there. We commend Congressman Al Green [and additional members of Congress] for working tirelessly to support a bill (H.R. 600) that creates opportunities for sustainable homeownership, which serves as the cornerstone to strengthening a crumbling housing market and breathing life back into the economy. With foreclosures on the rise and banks maintaining their stranglehold on credit, DPA offers a simple solution without spending a single government or taxpayer dime according to the Congressional Budget Office. Further, it enables worthy families to take advantage of depressed home prices, therefore reducing the glut of homes on the market. We urge Congress to reach across the aisle and prioritize broadening opportunities for responsible homeownership in America by reinstating DPA."
http://www.nehemiahcorp.org/
Copyright © 2008 Nehemiah Corporation of America. All Rights Reserved
Broker of Texas Sold Team Realty says about DPS:
This program alone will really kick off the market!
By losing the DPA it is likely to be one of the biggest reason that people are not buying. They don't have enough cash to make the down payment.
I would say that 99.9 percent of our clients that used this help are still in their homes.
1- Because they had a good job and credit, just not cash. If we lend smart we will keep our people in homes and buying homes.
2- This will help investors the most.
3- This will bring back the under 200K buyers by the droves.
Reformed DPA will help stimulate the housing market by providing working-class Americans with a path to homeownership and generate $150 billion in home sales this year. Purchasing a home now puts homebuyers in a position to build equity as markets recover.
CONGRESS INTRODUCES BILL THAT WOULD REINSTATE DOWNPAYMENT ASSISTANCE: NEHEMIAH RESPONDS
- Bill Would Broaden Opportunities for Sustainable Homeownership Without Government or Taxpayer Dollars -
Sacramento, CA, January 16, 2009 -- The following statement was issued today by Scott Syphax, president and CEO of the Nehemiah Corporation of America in response to H.R. 600, a bill introduced in Congress that would reinstate seller-funded downpayment assistance (DPA). Prior to the October 1, 2008 ban on DPA, Nehemiah was the oldest and largest provider of downpayment assistance.
"There is an overlooked solution to today's housing crisis and fortunately several members of Congress recognize the role DPA plays in getting us there. We commend Congressman Al Green [and additional members of Congress] for working tirelessly to support a bill (H.R. 600) that creates opportunities for sustainable homeownership, which serves as the cornerstone to strengthening a crumbling housing market and breathing life back into the economy. With foreclosures on the rise and banks maintaining their stranglehold on credit, DPA offers a simple solution without spending a single government or taxpayer dime according to the Congressional Budget Office. Further, it enables worthy families to take advantage of depressed home prices, therefore reducing the glut of homes on the market. We urge Congress to reach across the aisle and prioritize broadening opportunities for responsible homeownership in America by reinstating DPA."
http://www.nehemiahcorp.org/
Copyright © 2008 Nehemiah Corporation of America. All Rights Reserved
Broker of Texas Sold Team Realty says about DPS:
This program alone will really kick off the market!
By losing the DPA it is likely to be one of the biggest reason that people are not buying. They don't have enough cash to make the down payment.
I would say that 99.9 percent of our clients that used this help are still in their homes.
1- Because they had a good job and credit, just not cash. If we lend smart we will keep our people in homes and buying homes.
2- This will help investors the most.
3- This will bring back the under 200K buyers by the droves.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Keller News
The Keller City Council on Tuesday:
Issued a notice of intent to issue $8.45 million in certificates of obligation, bonds that do not require a vote, to pay for previously committed projects including a fire station, drainage improvements, park land acquisition, and parking lot improvements for Johnson Park.
Updated an interlocal agreement with Tarrant County to begin the third phase of Rufe Snow Drive improvements, which are scheduled to begin construction this summer. The council approved a resolution expressing intent to reimburse cost for this project with future bond proceeds.
Approved a bid for traffic signals to be installed at the Keller-Smithfield Road intersection with Bear Creek Parkway East and emergency signals on Bear Creek Parkway at Fire Station No. 4.
from http://www.kellercitizen.com/
The Keller City Council on Tuesday:
Issued a notice of intent to issue $8.45 million in certificates of obligation, bonds that do not require a vote, to pay for previously committed projects including a fire station, drainage improvements, park land acquisition, and parking lot improvements for Johnson Park.
Updated an interlocal agreement with Tarrant County to begin the third phase of Rufe Snow Drive improvements, which are scheduled to begin construction this summer. The council approved a resolution expressing intent to reimburse cost for this project with future bond proceeds.
Approved a bid for traffic signals to be installed at the Keller-Smithfield Road intersection with Bear Creek Parkway East and emergency signals on Bear Creek Parkway at Fire Station No. 4.
from http://www.kellercitizen.com/
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Homebuyers
Now, no matter where you live in the United States, owning your own home may be more affordable than you think!
If you are currently renting or wanting to move up, HomeSteps would like to help you on your way to homeownership.
We will pay up to 3.5%* of your purchase price in closing costs for all offers presented on HomeSteps homes between October 23, 2008 – January 31, 2009.
To qualify for this great money-saving offer, just ask your real estate agent to show you the available HomeSteps homes in your area and to include this closing cost offer at the time of your initial offer on a HomeSteps home.
If you want more information please give me a call at 817-501-7309 or email Joana@soldteam.net.
This was provided by HomeSteps, a Freddie Mac Unit.HomeSteps® 2008 Ask An Agent Sales Promotion
Now, no matter where you live in the United States, owning your own home may be more affordable than you think!
If you are currently renting or wanting to move up, HomeSteps would like to help you on your way to homeownership.
We will pay up to 3.5%* of your purchase price in closing costs for all offers presented on HomeSteps homes between October 23, 2008 – January 31, 2009.
To qualify for this great money-saving offer, just ask your real estate agent to show you the available HomeSteps homes in your area and to include this closing cost offer at the time of your initial offer on a HomeSteps home.
If you want more information please give me a call at 817-501-7309 or email Joana@soldteam.net.
This was provided by HomeSteps, a Freddie Mac Unit.HomeSteps® 2008 Ask An Agent Sales Promotion
Homebuyers
Now, no matter where you live in the United States, owning your own home may be more affordable than you think! If you are currently renting or wanting to move up, HomeSteps would like to help you on your way to homeownership. We will pay up to 3.5%* of your purchase price in closing costs for all offers presented on HomeSteps homes between October 23, 2008 – January 31, 2009.
To qualify for this great money-saving offer, just ask your real estate agent to show you the available HomeSteps homes in your area and to include this closing cost offer at the time of your initial offer on a HomeSteps home.
If you want more information please give me a call at 817-501-7309.
This was provided by HomeSteps, a Freddie Mac Unit.HomeSteps® 2008 Ask An Agent Sales Promotion
Now, no matter where you live in the United States, owning your own home may be more affordable than you think! If you are currently renting or wanting to move up, HomeSteps would like to help you on your way to homeownership. We will pay up to 3.5%* of your purchase price in closing costs for all offers presented on HomeSteps homes between October 23, 2008 – January 31, 2009.
To qualify for this great money-saving offer, just ask your real estate agent to show you the available HomeSteps homes in your area and to include this closing cost offer at the time of your initial offer on a HomeSteps home.
If you want more information please give me a call at 817-501-7309.
This was provided by HomeSteps, a Freddie Mac Unit.HomeSteps® 2008 Ask An Agent Sales Promotion
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