Tag: deed holders
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Multiple States Demand Paybacks From Company That Paid Deed Holders to Use Its Brokerage in the Future
States have come down hard on listing agreements that bind deed holders to one brokerage to sell their homes in the future. Now, under a settlement agreement, MV Realty must pay restitution for the harm done to Massachusetts deed holders for contracts that bound customers for 40-year periods. If MV Realty complies with the agreement, it will…
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Are Risky Mortgages Making a Comeback? Here’s What We All Must Know.
Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) can be helpful financial tools. They can also create trouble when the rate adjusts upward. Since the pandemic, adjustable-rate mortgage loans have seen a comeback. And some market watchers are becoming concerned. As one headline put the point this month: Adjustable-Rate Mortgages Caused Trouble in 2008. They’re Worrying Experts Again.
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Judge Forces White House Budget Director to Keep Consumer Bureau on Life Support
Begrudgingly, Russell T. Vought just requested $145 million from the Federal Reserve to keep the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — which he runs — alive. Barely. Only a few months of the CFPB’s work will be covered by that $145 million. Judge Amy Berman Jackson declared in a December 30, 2025 federal court order that…
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Higher SALT Caps, Lost Credits: How the 2025 Tax Law Affects Deed Holders
On the Fourth of July, 2025, Donald Trump signed the “Largest Tax Cuts in History” into law. California’s governor calls the law a plan for the ultra-rich. And yes, as SmartAsset.com points out, independent analyses show most of the new tax cuts will benefit those who already enjoy high incomes. Many changes begin with the…
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Deed Holders “Turn Complaints Into Paperwork” After County Hikes Property Taxes
Deed holders in Davison County, South Dakota get a tax bill for each parcel they own. Many property owners were startled by their latest tax bills. In previous years, parcels of land were combined, giving their owners a lower overall tax assessment. Unwilling to pony up the money for the higher taxes, some are choosing…
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Look Who’s Back in the Real Estate Market: Investment Firms Sense Opportunity
Home prices? They’re high. Mortgage rates? Not exactly low. Current deed holders with lower mortgage rates still don’t want to move if they can help it. And hopeful buyers keep renting, biding their time. Investors are “seizing the opening and ramping up” their activity, according to the financial data analytics firm Cotality. Market watchers such…
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Home Building or Repairs: How to Fight Construction Fraud or an Unfair Lien
Residential construction fraud can include contractors not finishing paid-for work; fraudulent invoicing for work not done; manipulative bidding; malicious liens; or false statements about their credentials, or about whether (or how much) work is required. For an example of the first problem, we begin with a current set of allegations in metro Philadelphia.
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Tip Line Will Bust Lying Mortgage Applicants, Says Trump Administration (Before Going After New York’s AG)
The Trump administration believes mortgage fraud is out of control. So, federal officials now run a tip line, to get people to report suspicious behavior. The administration is so gung-ho about mortgage fraud that it’s even accused New York Attorney General Letitia James of filing improperly completed mortgage applications. That’s bullying, and the charges are…
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Trees Don’t Respect Property Lines. Who’s Liable for Accidents or Hazards?
Trees are beautiful. They cool our Earth, buffer noise, and drink up stormwater. They offer habitat to birds, and so much more. Trees can make beautiful, natural borders between properties. But, from time to time, they do play a role in tensions between deed holders. Today we explore a few common conflicts related to trees…
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Deed Holders Versus Squatters: Does Florida’s New Anti-Trespassing Law Signal a Trend?
This year, Florida criminalized squatting. Florida homes may be left temporarily empty for various reasons. Some are vacation homes. Some are owned by seniors who need to be absent for healthcare reasons. Some homes wait empty for insurers to authorize storm cleanups. Sometimes, a home stands empty simply because buyers have yet to move…
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What Resources Exist for Deed Holders Who Need Cash?
Ever heard the phrase house rich, cash poor? It can be frustrating to have a valuable home and empty pockets. You might be dealing with job changes, emergencies, new goals, hopes and dreams… And you need cash. Can you reach into your property value to get the cash now — without downsizing to a cheaper…
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Update: State Lawmakers Have “Fast Cash for Houses” Wholesalers on Their Radar
Tempted to sell your home quickly and easily to one of those “We buy any house” outfits? Wait. Don’t even think about giving up that deed until you read this.
