To understand the terms, it’s important to understand the three stages of foreclosure:

1. Pre-foreclosure stage. This stage begins when the homeowner falls behind on home-loan payments (or sometimes other terms of the loan). Lenders may wait for a second, third or even fourth missed payment before sending the homeowner a Notice of Default — which becomes public record. The homeowner then has a given period of time to respond to the notice and/or come up with the outstanding payments and fees — sometimes by selling the home in a pre-foreclosure sale, also known as a distress sale. (If a judicial procedure is required, it occurs after the notice of default is given.)One type of pre-foreclosure or distress sale is a short sale — when proceeds from the sale of a home are less than the amount of mortgage still owed to the homeowner’s lender. A lender-approved short sale (or short payoff) occurs when the homeowner’s lender agrees to accept the proceeds of the home sale as satisfaction of the mortgage owed, even though proceeds are less than the outstanding debt.
2. Foreclosure stage. At this stage, the former homeowner may or may not have been evicted — depending on state law — when the lender puts the home up for public auction (after a judgment of foreclosure in those states requiring judicial procedure).If the home sells at the foreclosure auction, (sometimes called a sheriff’s sale, trustee’s sale or step sale) money from the sale is used to pay off the costs of the foreclosure, taxes and other prior liens, service charges and advances, interest and principal on the mortgage, late charges or fees, and liens recorded after the first mortgage. Any amount left over is paid to the borrower (former homeowner). When proceeds from the sale are less than the various amounts owed, the lender may be able to hold the borrower responsible for the difference (deficiency judgment).
3. Post-foreclosure stage. When a property that does not sell at auction — either because no one bid on it or because bids did not meet the lender’s or agency’s minimum price — the property becomes real estate owned (REO) by the lender or government agency that guaranteed the loan (such as FHA/HUD, VA, etc.). You’ll also hear the term bank-ownedapplied to these properties, whether they are owned by an actual bank or some other type of lender. (Be aware: The term REO also applies to properties purchased by companies from employees who didn’t sell their home on the market before relocating, which is to say that not all REOs are foreclosed properties.)Once the lender or agency has repossessed a property following a failed auction attempt, the home is put back on the market. Most REO properties are listed for sale through real estate brokers and placed on the Multiple Listing Service.

At this stage, the foreclosure process is complete, and the property may be accurately described as a foreclosed property, while in the first two stages the home is in foreclosure and should be referred to as a foreclosure property. (You’ll find, however, that real estate writers and others sometimes misuse this terminology; be sure to ask if you are unsure what stage of foreclosure a particular property is in.)

If you are thinking about buying a foreclosure, make sure that you go to the Register of Deeds and search the property for liens.  These are not posted online.  If there are liens on the property, you will be buying them as well.  To search foreclosures in the Wilmington NC area please visit http://www.cbbaker.com/idx/residential/search . To get guidance if you are close to being in a short sale situation, please visit http://www.cbbaker.com/foreclosureNew.php

We have a Certified Distressed Property Expert on our team. Call us and we would be glad to help.

The house is wonderful! But before you buy, carefully check the location to be sure this is the house you want to buy.

• Consider destinations

Where will family members go most often from this new location? How easy is it to reach those places from here? How accessible are schools, churches, grocery stores, medical care, public transportation, shopping malls, and neighborhood services?

• Be sure rooms have a view

What is the view from the house and yard? Is the yard right for your anticipated activities? What uses are possible for nearby undeveloped land? Is a new road planned?

• Check around the clock

Is rush hour traffic a problem? What will be the impact of special events like local high school games or church picnics?

• Crash test the driveway

How easy is it to get into and out of the driveway?

• Be service conscious

What utilities serve this property? Are the rates competitive? Do you want an all-electric house, or do you want gas or oil heat? Where will you get your mail? Where are the easements?

• Dig below the surface

Is the soil stable? Is part of the property on a flood plain — if so, what is the history of floods on the property?

• Visit the neighbors

How will you fit in with the neighbors? Do people seem to be friendly? Are houses well-maintained?

• Read the fine print

If the community has special by-laws or architectural controls over changes to a house, what are the pros and cons?

Make a list of the positive and negative aspects of each property as you tour it. Assign priorities to important elements of the house’s location.

Do you have home questions about a specific location? We can help. Call or e-mail us now. Kay Baker 910-202-3607 or kaybaker@seacoastrealty.com

To search all Wilmington NC real estate please visit www.cbbaker.com

Provided at the closing of your home or purchased directly from 2-10 HBW*, this warranty covers normal wear and tear to your home’s major systems (furnace, hot water heater, air conditioner, plumbing and electrical systems) and major appliances (refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, built-in microwave, disposal, trash compactor). Complementary to your homeowner’s insurance, your 2-10 HBW warranty covers the repair or replacement of the most frequent and likely home system and appliance breakdowns.

When a covered system breaks down, simply place a claim online or call their toll-free number, and we will immediately dispatch a contractor to make the repair. You pay the contractor a small service fee and we pay the rest for all covered items. You don’t have to hassle with finding a contractor or worry about negotiating the cost of the repair work. In the event that a covered system or appliance cannot be repaired, we will replace it with a system or appliance of comparable or better quality. It’s the perfect solution for today’s busy homeowner.  There are warranty plans for existing homeowners who are not planning on selling as well.

For more information please visit http://www.cbbaker.com/pages.php?page=152

Put Your Home’s Equity To Work

With Six Savvy Strategies

Do you have idle equity sitting in your home that could be building wealth instead? One of the great aspects of homeownership is that you increase your wealth every month by building equity in your home and reducing your tax bill at the same time.

After you’ve been in your home a few years, you may have some equity that you could put to work for you. Even if the property has appreciated by just a few percentage points per year, significant equity can build up fairly quickly. Just be sure you retain enough equity that you’ll be able to pay a real estate agent’s commission when you sell the home.

Home equity loans are the most common means of tapping a home’s value. In states where home equity loans are not allowed, however, you can still put your home’s value to work by refinancing it for more than you currently owe–a “cash out” refinancing.

The first way most homeowners think of using their equity is to pay off high-interest debt. That’s one popular option, but you could also invest that equity in other ways. Here are six more ways to put your equity to work for you.

1. Trade Up

Using your equity as a down payment for a larger home could make financial sense. If you’re in a $200,000 home now and it appreciates by 5% each year, your gain is $10,000 for the first year. In five years, that home would be worth $255,256. But in a $275,000 home, that same 5% growth would be $13,750 for the first year. After five years, the more-expensive home would be worth $350,977 — nearly $100,000 more than the less-expensive home.

Of course, you may not be able to count on 5% appreciation every year. It could be higher or lower, depending on the state of the economy and market conditions. Not to worry, though. Even 2% appreciation will still add up over time.

Using additional equity to trade up will allow you to put a significant amount of money down on your next home. That could allow you to own a home you never could afford before.

2. Downsize

Another way to use your equity is to scale down. With the recent changes in tax laws, homeowners may sell a home every two years and walk away with tax-free profits up to $250,000 (for singles) and $500,000 (for married couples). By scaling down, you can purchase a smaller, less-expensive primary dwelling, and use the extra cash for investments, debt reduction or even purchasing an investment property.

3. Second Home

The real estate market has been fueled during the past few years by retiring baby boomers purchasing second homes. Maybe now is the time to purchase that home on the beach, at the lake or in the mountains. We can refer you to a knowledgeable agent in a resort area to help you with this move.

If you know you’re retiring to a particular area in the next few years, study that market now. You may want to buy the home now while prices are still affordable. If you do, you could rent the home during the peak vacation season. Many second homeowners discover they can just about cover their annual property expenses by renting out during peak season.

4. Investment Property

While the stock market often bounces up and down, many investors feel comfortable with the security of real estate. Not everyone has extra money to play the stock market profitably, but landlords can enjoy income every month. The secret is selecting the right property and finding expert property management if you don’t want to manage the property yourself. We can help with both these issues.

Some buyers have found it beneficial to purchase a property in the area where their college-age children are going to school. Their child can help manage the units and share the housing with other students to defray costs. The young adults learn responsibility and property management skills, and you have a live-in manager to watch over your investment.

5. Shared Equity

Another way to put your idle equity to work is to lend it to an adult child as a down payment for his or her first home. Some parents maintain a co-ownership interest while the young adult makes the mortgage payments. At the time of the sale, the equity is then split between the two. This is called a shared-equity arrangement.

6. Remodel

If you really like where you’re living, but desire a few more amenities, consider taking cash out for remodeling or adding to your current home. The interest paid on some home equity loans is tax deductible, just as it is with your first trust. Give us a call to find out what financing options suit your situation best.

Call us, we are the experts with expert partners in mortgage and everything real estate related. 800-497-7325-3607 or kaybaker@ec.rr.com . Sign up for our newsletters and our weekly TGIF Scoop on everything Wilmington NC!

They provide another investment that includes a mortgage-interest tax deduction.

Whether you rent it out or not, you can deduct the mortgage interest as long as you use the home more than 14 days or more than 10% of the number of days the home is rented annually at a fair rental, whichever is longer.

Qualified second homes include houses, condominiums, cooperatives, mobile homes, house trailers, boats or similar properties that have sleeping, cooking and toilet facilities.

Here’s an interesting twist on the mortgage interest deduction: If you take out a home equity loan on your first home and use the funds to acquire your second home, the interest on the home equity loan is also deductible. That’s three mortgage interest deductions off your tax return!

Consult IRS Publication 936 for a complete discussion of how mortgage interest for a second home is deductible.

You can purchase your future retirement home in Wilmington NC now, at today’s prices.

Though your second home may be a vacation home now, if you buy right you can convert it into your principal residence later.

They can produce their own income.

Renting out a second home occasionally or often can help you pay for the property with OPM (other people’s money). Check with your tax advisor about how much of the upkeep and management expenses are deductible against your income.

Buying Tips From The Experts

Buy something within a reasonable distance.

Be sure you can get to your vacation home in a short amount of time. Before you make a final decision, travel the distance on a typical Friday afternoon to see whether the drive will be too much to deal with after a long work week.

Rent in the area several times before you buy.

If you really like a particular area, check it out during different seasons. This way you get to know the climate, people, pests, traffic patterns and other regional particulars first-hand.

Consult other owners.

Check with owners of nearby properties about public and private facilities, special maintenance required due to location or weather, the social climate, local development plans and prevalence of crime. Learning about the lifestyle of the area may help you narrow down your choices.

Think home first, investment second.

Although you may be able to generate rental income from your vacation home, it may not cover your ownership costs. (If you want to try real estate investments, give us a call to look at properties in the Wilmington NC  local area.)

Consider different styles of properties in a vacation area.

To minimize upkeep and have a more secure environment, a condo may be preferable to a single-family home. If you plan on converting it to a retirement home, consider what type of home you’ll want as a full-time residence.

Here are some of the current Wilmington NC real waterfront/waterview real estate  in our area.

Priced from 100,000 – 200,000  Click here

Priced from 200,000- 400,000  Click here

Priced from 400,00 -600,000  Click here

Priced from 600,000 – Click here

To search all properties please visit www.cbbaker.com

Wilmington International Airport stretches it’s wings again.  Chicago O’Hare International Airport was just added as a nonstop flight by American Eagle.  Good news for Wilmington.  Business travelers now have the option of flying out in the morning and coming home that  night.  ILM currently services 7 cities nonstop commercially:  New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Charlotte (ILM’s hub), Atlanta, Chicago and Orlando.  Talk is that Boston might become the next nonstop flight after meetings next month.  The success of these flight patterns will hopefully bring more nonstop flights into our area.  In addition to nonstop, ILM stays busy with flights to where ever you might want to go.  We invite you to fly into our hometown and visit.  If you would like to see what Wilmington NC has to offer, check out www.cbbaker.com for more information and real estate. Fly in | look at real estate | be home that night.  Easy….

Rendering by Creative Illustration Media, INC. LS&P Architects

Wilmington NC is going to get it’s own state of the art  Convention Center.  After waiting for approvals and site plans, an opening date has been set for the Historic Downtown Wilmington Convention Center on the Cape Fear River. 

The grand opening is set for Thursday January 13, 2011 at 9:30 am.  The public is invited and there will be a ribbon cutting ceremony with the mayor and other community leaders.  Following the ceremony, there will be a BizTech Expo with technology and business vendors.  On January 15 a black tie event will be held by the Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, with proceeds benefiting the Cape Fear Future initiative.  

A couple of big companies have signed contracts to hold their conventions here for the next couple of years.  This will bring added revenue to Wilmington NC and expose our area and all it’s natural treasures and great Wilmington NC real estate opportunities.  

Please explore our website for the most up to date listings of all Wilmington NC real estate and waterfront properties.  www.cbbaker.com or call us and we will personally select properties that will fit your real estate needs or portfolio.

The Regency at Landfall is truly a place like no other. With its legendary beauty, old world charm and unmatched amenities, you can truly enjoy luxurious living on the coast of North Carolina.  

Landfall offers golf and more golf… The unsurpassed Jack Nicklaus 27 hole and the 18 hole Pete Dye course are stunningly designed and border glassy lakes, wetlands and dramatic views of the Intracoastal Waterway. And both of these are just steps from your front door at The Regency at Landfall.

In addition, Landfall offers an Olympic sized pool, walking paths, tennis complex, fitness center, two clubhouses and two pro shops.

The Regency at Landfall offers the best of all worlds, being located convenient to the port city of Wilmington, NC and less than 5 minutes to Wrightsville Beach, NC and Mayfaire Town Center. 

The Regency at Landfall offers wooded homesites available now for building and prices range from $250,000. Lenders are offering very aggressive mortgage terms for the remaining homesites at The Regency with up to 95% financing. And there are special incentives for builders, for a limited time only. 

The Regency’s lovely wooded neighborhood is an array of elegant homestyles to Mediterranean. Come enjoy this relaxing coastal lifestyle at The Regency at Landfall.

For more details on The Regency, to search for all homes for sale in Landfall , or Wilmington, NC real estate,  please contact kay@cbbaker.com or 910-497-7325 or www.cbbaker.com .

Landfall near the Port city of Wilmington, NC and only minutes to Wrightsville Beach, NC is an exclusive gated community comprised of  nearly 2200 acres, with approximately 4 miles on the waterway and Howe Creek. Landfall offers 2 of the best golf courses in North Carolina, the Jack Nichlaus (27 holes) and the Pete Dye (18 holes).  Both courses have their own clubhouse and pro shop. And, the Drysdale complex offers one of the finest tennis facilities, a fitness center and 8 lane Olympic pool. Landfall with its lakes, ponds and lush vegetation, and  nearly 2000 homes definitely offers one of the most upscale gated communities on the East Coast..

The Landfall and Wilmington NC real estate surely surpasses any in the Southeast in style, location and amenities. Landfall homes for sale range in price from $400,000 up to $7,000,000.

Presently there are 126 homes for sale in Landfall, 5 pendings that range in price from $500,000-$1,000,000. This year there have been 47 homes sold in Landfall with a sold price of $445,000-$1,950,000.

To search for specific homes in Landfall you can check out my website at cbbaker.com or landfallrealestatenc.com.