Housing

Housing and the 2016 Presidential Election

September 28, 2016

What will the next four years look like if the housing market impacts your vote for president? GBSS and the Closing Table Blog examine the options. During Monday night’s debate, Republican nominee Donald Trump responded to Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton’s assertions that he “rooted for the housing crisis” by saying it was “called business.” Embed […]

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FTC MARS Exemption:Good Or Bad For Short Sale Agents?

July 28, 2011

FTC Issues Stay On Enforcement Of Certain MARS Provisions The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently issued a statement that it would no longer enforce several provisions of the widely scrutinized Mortgage Assistance Relief Services (MARS) Rule. The MARS Rule required all real estate agents working on short sales to make certain disclosures to homeowners as […]

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MARS DISCLOSURES

April 13, 2011

Mortgage Assistance Relief Services Rule The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) now requires all companies that offer mortgage assistance relief services (MARS) to make three types of disclosures to short sale consumers. The rule, which went into effect March 31, 2011, also bans the collection of up-front fees. While the advance fee ban was clearly intended […]

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How Does A Short Sale Affect Your Credit Score?

April 7, 2011

Foreclosure vs. Short Sale: Which Option Is Best For My Credit Score? As someone who deals with homeowners facing foreclosure on a daily basis, I am often asked whether a short sale or foreclosure results in more damage to your credit. Unfortunately, there is no straight- forward answer. The reason why this is such a […]

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The Massachusetts Homestead Act

March 16, 2011

Effective today, Chapter 395 of the Acts of 2010 amends the current Massachusetts homestead law. The new law creates an automatic $125,000 protection on all homes that do not have a homestead declaration filed at the Registry of Deeds. The law still provides a $500,000 homestead protection for all homeowners who file a declaration at […]

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National Association of Realtors: LIFE ON MARS

March 11, 2011

Realtors Must Comply With The Disclosure Requirements Of The MARS Rule If They Negotiate Short Sales Or Advertise short Sale Experience.

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Are Realtors Subject To The FTC MARS Ruling?

February 25, 2011

As a real estate professional that exclusively handles Massachusetts Short Sales,  I continue to receive numerous inquiries about the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Mortgage Assistance Relief Services Act (MARS) that went into effect January 1, 2011. I work with real estate agents on a daily basis and depend on them for a large portion of […]

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Proposed Settlement To Force Lenders To Pay For Principal Loan Reductions

February 24, 2011

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that The Obama administration is trying to push through a settlement with the major loan servicers that could force America’s largest banks to be on the hook for reductions in loan principal worth billions of dollars.  News of the proposed settlement is noteworthy because it would be the first […]

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Bank Regulators Likely To Fine Banks Over Foreclosures

February 18, 2011

MSNBC reported today that US Bank regulators are close to punishing mortgage servicers for widespread violations of state and federal laws that resulted in thousands of defective foreclosures throughout the United States.  If anyone ever wanted to see the types of errors the banks were making, take a look at this assignment actually recorded by the […]

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Homeowner Beats Bank of America in Small Claims Court

January 6, 2011

A California homeowner sued Bank of America(BOA) in Small Claims Court after they denied his modification request and initiated the foreclosure process. Dave Graham, who lives in California, applied for a loan modification under the Obama administration’s Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), which is supposed to give eligible borrowers a “permanent” five-year modification if they make […]

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