New Real Estate Poll: Americans Increasingly Optimistic about Homeownership

Americans are significantly more optimistic about homeownership than they were a year ago. That’s according to a new national survey released this week from Prudential Real Estate, a Brookfield Residential Property Services company. According to the second-annual Prudential Real Estate Outlook Survey, a full 60 percent of Americans have favorable views toward the real estate market. That’s up 8 points since last year.

The survey shows that signs of increasing optimism are widespread:

• With interest rates at historically low levels, 96 percent agree or somewhat agree that now is a good time to buy.

• A full 70 percent of respondents have some degree of confidence that property values will improve over the next two years; with an 8 point increase in those very confident or confident compared to last year.

• 63 percent believe that real estate is a good investment despite the recent market volatility; that’s up 11 points from last year.

The survey confirms that despite the recession, homeownership remains a central part of the American Dream. Eight in 10 respondents said homeownership is very important to them; only 15 percent said the economic downturn made homeownership less important.

“Respondents told us what our sales professionals see every day that, despite recent market volatility, homeownership remains integral to the dreams of most Americans and that consumers’ confidence in the housing market is returning,” said Earl Lee, president, Prudential Real Estate. “This is good news for home buyers and sellers, communities and our economy as a whole. As more people look to take advantage of historic interest rates and prices, we believe the foundation for a sustainable recovery is in sight.”

The survey also highlighted strong ties between homeownership and the community: 77 percent agree that homeownership strengthens a sense of community with 87 percent agreeing or somewhat agreeing that neighborhood comprised of homeowners have a stronger sense of community than neighborhoods made up mainly of renters. This is critical in an environment where two in three respondents believe community feelings in America are declining.

Among the generations, 94 percent of respondents believe that finding the right home and community are crucial to helping their family be happy. Only a small minority of older Americans said the recent housing crisis made homeownership less important to them. Nearly half of Gen Y respondents said it made homeownership more important. Gen Y’ers are particularly optimistic about the road ahead with 72% expressing favorable views about the residential real estate market.

“Characteristically, many of these consumers, particularly Gen Y, share a firm sense of family and community,” Lee said. “It’s not surprising now that they’re embracing homeownership to build on that sense.”

The survey also highlighted consumer caution in a recovering real estate market: 93 percent of respondents said that the housing crisis reminds them that they must be more careful about buying and selling property. More than 90 percent of respondents said a good real estate sales professional can help them make the right choices about homes and communities; and 71 percent believe good agent representation is more important than ever, up 4% from last year’s survey.

Methodology: Interviews with 1,251 Americans who are “in the market” to buy or sell a home were conducted online by Palisades Media Ventures and Penn Schoen Berland, between Feb. 10 and 20, 2012. Respondents are aged 25-64 with a household income of at least $50,000, and either recently bought/sold a home or are considering buying/selling a home. The margin of error is +/- 2.8% for all respondents and higher for subgroups.

Consumer Complaints: Loan Modification Scams Highlighted

Recently, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and NeighborWorks® America highlighted the ongoing foreclosure rescue scam crisis during a press conference to identify top consumer complaints in New York.

During this National Consumer Protection Week event, representatives offered guidance on avoiding financial scams, including loan modification scams.

The Federal Trade Commission’s Northeast Regional Office organized the press event, which highlighted the most egregious frauds plaguing New York residents and featured scam avoidance tips from the Better Business Bureau Serving Metropolitan New York, United States Postal Inspection Service, New York Attorney General’s Office, New York State Department of Financial Services, New York City Department of Consumer Affairs and AARP.

The Loan Modification Scam Alert Campaign educates homeowners about the warning signs that indicate that the person or company offering assistance may be a scam. The top three warning signs of a scam are any person or company that:

• Asks for fees in advance of fully providing services

• Guarantees that they’ll stop a foreclosure or get your loan modified.

• Tells you to stop paying your mortgage company and to pay them instead

“Scams present a real threat to homeowners who are afraid of losing their homes, especially now that new bank settlements and government programs are in the headlines. At times like this, we often see a spike in activity among companies who pretend to be authorized by the government, but are, in fact, scams,” says Deborah Boatright, northeast regional director, NeighborWorks America. “Homeowners are advised to seek help from HUD-approved housing counseling agencies, which offer professional assistance free of charge, and to report scam to the authorities. You can do both from www.loanscamalert.org.”

“Homeowners are looking around desperately for solutions and are vulnerable right now. The foreclosure crisis is ongoing, and foreclosure rescue scammers are taking advantage, often pretending to be affiliated with the government or another trusted resource in order to trick distressed homeowners into paying them money for nothing,” said Yolanda McGill, senior counsel for the Lawyers’ Committee’s Loan Modification Scam Prevention Network (LMSPN). “The best way to avoid losing money to a scam is to never pay for foreclosure help. The best help out there is free from HUD-approved housing counseling agencies.”

Since the launch of the Loan Modification Scam Prevention Network complaint database in February 2010, more than 21,000 consumers have reported foreclosure rescue scams totaling over $60 million in lost money, more than doubling last year’s figures of 10,000 complaint reports and $27 million in lost money. Of this year’s total figures, over 1,100 complaints came from New York State consumers, with reported losses of over $4 million, also more than doubling last year’s total figures of 500 complaint reports totaling $2 million in lost money.

The Loan Modification Scam Prevention Network is comprised of the Federal Trade Commission, the Lawyers’ Committee, NeighborWorks America and dozens of national and local agencies and organizations from around the country, including Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the Homeownership Preservation Foundation, the U.S. Treasury Department and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

KEY REALTY, INC., Serving your Real Estate Needs, Sell Houses or Buy a Home in Rockford,IL and in the surrounding suburbs.  

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What You Need to Know about Cancellation of Mortgage Debt

A lender will, on occasion, forgive some portion of a borrower’s debt. The general tax rule that applies to any debt forgiveness is that the amount forgiven is treated as taxable income to the borrower. Some exceptions to this rule are available, but, until recently, the borrower was required to pay tax on the debt forgiven. A new law enacted in December 2007 provides relief to troubled borrowers when some portion of mortgage debt is forgiven. However, this relief expires on December 31, 2012 and NAR will be working to obtain an extension throughout the year.

Below is some general information you need to know about this law and cancellation of mortgage debt.

General Rule for Debt Forgiveness

If a lender forgives some or all of an individual’s debts, the general rule is that the forgiven amount is treated as ordinary income and the borrower must pay tax on the forgiven amount. Exceptions apply for bankruptcy, insolvency and certain other situations, including mortgage debt.

Current Law for Mortgage Debt

(Jan. 1, 2007 through Dec. 31, 2012): A borrower can be excused from paying tax on forgiven mortgage debt. The debt must be secured by a principal residence and the total amount of the outstanding obligation may not exceed the original mortgage amount plus the cost of any improvements.

Does the relief apply only to a sale?

No. The provision has broader application. Lenders might forgive some portion of mortgage debt in a short sale (when value at sale is less than the amount owed) or in a foreclosure where the debt is wiped out. In addition, if a borrower still living in the home is able to make an arrangement with a lender that reduces the principal balance of a mortgage, the amount forgiven in that workout will not be taxed.

Can the homeowners in a short sale or foreclosure claim a loss?

No. The loss is considered a personal loss and is, therefore, ineligible for either capital loss or ordinary loss treatment.

What happens to the seller when mortgage debt is forgiven?

Until January 1, 2013, the homeowner will pay no tax on any forgiven amount.

Does this provision apply to a refinanced mortgage?

Only in limited circumstances. The relief provision can apply to either an original or a refinanced mortgage. If the mortgage has been refinanced at any time, the relief is available only up to the amount of the original debt (plus the cost of any improvements). Tax relief is generally not available for second mortgages or home-equity lines of credit where the funds are not used for home improvement. Any amount that is not eligible for the relief provision will be taxed as ordinary income.

How does the homeowner get the correct information to the IRS?

The lender is required to provide the homeowner and the IRS with a Form 1099 reflecting the amount of the forgiven debt. The borrower/homeowner must file a Form 982 to reflect the amount forgiven and to show the reason why the forgiven amount is not taxable. Any taxable portion of forgiven debt will then be reported on the homeowner’s Form 1040 for the tax year in which the debt was forgiven.

What if a property declines in value but the owner stays in the house?

The provision would not apply. The provision applies only at the time of sale or other disposition or when there is a workout (reduction of existing debt) with the lender.

Do all lenders forgive mortgage debt when property values decline or the home is in foreclosure?

No. Some states have laws that allow a lender to require a repayment arrangement, particularly if the borrower has other assets. Forgiveness of debt is always at the lender’s discretion.

KEY REALTY, INC., Serving your Real Estate Needs, Sell Houses or Buy a Home in Rockford,IL and in the surrounding suburbs.  

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Own the Smallest Town in America: Buford, Wyo. for Auction

Williams & Williams, a leading brand in real estate auctions, will auction the entire town of Buford, Wyoming on Thursday, April 5 at noon MST. This unique event will offer potential buyers a rare opportunity to own an entire town. Buford is known as the “The Nation’s Smallest Town” with a population of one. It’s also the town with the highest elevation on Interstate 80 at 8,000 feet above sea level.

Despite its size, this historic town has no shortage of visitors and is a must-see destination for many travelers. Included in this income-producing town are five buildings: the Buford Trading Post which sells fuel, snacks and memorabilia, a three-bedroom modular home, a 1905 school house (used as an office), a garage and a 1900s cabin (used as a tool shed). Nearby attractions include Curt Gowdy State Park, Vedauwoo State Park and rock climbing area, the 140-year-old “Tree in the Rock” and the Ames Monument.

“We are offering a rare opportunity to own a town and piece of American history,” says Pam McKissick, Williams & Williams’ CEO. “Owning your own zip code does come with perks—you can be the mayor, sheriff, town council, sole voter or any other position you’d like to create.”

Located midway between Cheyenne and Laramie, Buford is the second oldest town in Wyoming, dating back to the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad. Named after Major General John Buford, a hero of the battle of Gettysburg, the town has been visited by Presidents Ulysses S. Grant and Franklin D. Roosevelt and outlaw Butch Cassidy. 

KEY REALTY, INC., Serving your Real Estate Needs, Sell Houses or Buy a Home in Rockford,IL and in the surrounding suburbs.  

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