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<rss version="2.0" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"><channel><link><![CDATA[http://www.trulia.com/voices/rss/activity/Chicago---9158]]></link><description><![CDATA[Trulia Voices ]]></description><language><![CDATA[en-us]]></language><item><title><![CDATA[I am confused as to WHY more buyers are NOT out there taking advantage of the $8,000 TAX CREDIT?]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.trulia.com/voices/Home_Buying/I_am_confused_as_to_WHY_more_buyers_are_NOT_out_th-105971]]></link><description><![CDATA[Do they not know about it? Do they not UNDERSTAND it? Someone enlighten me...]]></description><pubDate><![CDATA[Wed, 1 Apr 2009 16:16:48 PDT]]></pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[a friend of mine has had a house on the market for almost two years. If he drops the price any lower, he will]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.trulia.com/voices/Home_Selling/a_friend_of_mine_has_had_a_house_on_the_market_for-143041]]></link><description><![CDATA[owe the bank but because the market is in such a mess, homes in the area are selling for 50-100 grand less than they should be. I know this is a problem all across the country. He doesn't want to just walk away like I've read many are doing, but after two years it seems there is no hope. I told him stop making payments, put the mortgage in distress and then try to short sell. What are his options?]]></description><pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 6 Jul 2009 03:34:13 PDT]]></pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hi my name is Susie. I wanted to know about renting a condo/townhome that is in preforeclosure.]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.trulia.com/voices/Foreclosure/Hi_my_name_is_Susie_I_wanted_to_know_about_rentin-143091]]></link><description><![CDATA[The HOA has evicted the homeowner for not paying HOA dues. I dont know when the homeowners bank will actually foreclose on the property however. Can an HOA actually rent out a unit if it doesnt own it? the board does have right of first refusal. I suppose it depends on whats in the bylaws- but wanted to get as much info as I possible can here. 
I want to try to buy the unit in a few months- I just am unable to do so now. What happens if the unit is sold or foreclosed on before I am able to buy it- is that an automatic eviction for me? is there a place I can turn to to help make a decision if I want to do this or not to ensure I dont get screwed.]]></description><pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 6 Jul 2009 08:41:30 PDT]]></pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Looking for a short sale , max. amt 195 ,000 , west of  Oak Park ave. to Neva ,  will c 1600 block of Rutherfo]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.trulia.com/voices/Home_Buying/Looking_for_a_short_sale_max_amt_west_of_-142971]]></link><description><![CDATA[???. 1600, 1700 , 1800 and 1900 blocks  only  Thanks........... Fran]]></description><pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 5 Jul 2009 17:38:11 PDT]]></pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[How much for closing on a $200K townhome for 60 C Ione in South Elgin? Sellers will Pay ALL closing costs!]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.trulia.com/voices/Home_Selling/How_much_for_closing_on_a_K_townhome_for_C_Ione_-142983]]></link><description></description><pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 5 Jul 2009 18:38:13 PDT]]></pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[There was a bank owned foreclosure and I submitted the full offer (asking price of the bank, but not through]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.trulia.com/voices/Home_Buying/There_was_a_bank_owned_foreclosure_and_I_submitted-142891]]></link><description><![CDATA[the listing agent but my agent). The agent tells me agent oh it will take 10 days to respond. Don't know why 10 days? 10 days later the listing agent is like oh someone else submitted the higher offer. My question is if i am giving bank the offer they were asking isnt deal closed? At the time I submitted the offer the listing agent said there were no offers. Signed the agreement with bank's asking price along with pre-approval letter as well as the earnest money check. I am thinking the listing agent wanted to sell it through himself for commission reasons and i doubt that my offer was submitted. What can i do in this case?]]></description><pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 5 Jul 2009 12:43:42 PDT]]></pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[I am looking to buy a condo in Chicago for a reasonable price with good prospects for appreciation in the]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.trulia.com/voices/Market_Conditions/I_am_looking_to_buy_a_condo_in_Chicago_for_a_reaso-141846]]></link><description><![CDATA[future. I have looked in Ravenswood, Uptown, Lakeview, and Albany Park. Any thoughts on the next hot neighborhood?]]></description><pubDate><![CDATA[Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:23:44 PDT]]></pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[In a presentation to a possible client, what does a realtor mean when talking about strong marketing support?]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.trulia.com/voices/Home_Selling/In_a_presentation_to_a_possible_client_what_does_-142779]]></link><description><![CDATA[Wonder if some realtors' perceptions of marketing differ w/clients' understanding of marketing. It's most apparent when "bigger" realtor references marketing materials created by agency's corporate marketing team but don't go beyond that and move quickly to the comps What current conventional strategies and tactics should a seller expect? Many make big deal about seller having own website, being on Trulia, etc., but do realtors also have specific tactics to reach different price points? How do realtors drive prospects to websites? Do realtors understand the importance of writing a description w/terms most likely to be picked up by search engines? Do realtors generally embrace targeted marketing strategies to attract buyers or get by w/as little as possible because of costs? How do realtors learn about marketing vs. selling? Any input on this would be enlightening.]]></description><pubDate><![CDATA[Sat, 4 Jul 2009 20:49:17 PDT]]></pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[I am a first time home buyer. I have put down offers on 3 homes. Each home offer is over the asking price.]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.trulia.com/voices/Home_Buying/I_am_a_first_time_home_buyer_I_have_put_down_offe-140360]]></link><description><![CDATA[Either the bank is not accepting the offer or short-sale always have some kind of problems. I been searching for a year and a half . It is not that the buyer are not out there, the banks have some kind of hang-up or something. What is the problem?]]></description><pubDate><![CDATA[Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:07:59 PDT]]></pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[looking for rent to own in galewood how can I find homes I interested in homes starting price around 199,-230]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.trulia.com/voices/Home_Buying/looking_for_rent_to_own_in_galewood_how_can_I_find-142780]]></link><description></description><pubDate><![CDATA[Sat, 4 Jul 2009 20:54:50 PDT]]></pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Are there any differences between pre-qualify and pre-approve? How long will a pre-qualified or approval?]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.trulia.com/voices/Home_Buying/Are_there_any_differences_between_pre_qualify_and_-140686]]></link><description><![CDATA[letter valid for? Any application fee for each?]]></description><pubDate><![CDATA[Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:19:19 PDT]]></pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Options for receiving other offers while your home is under contract?]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.trulia.com/voices/Home_Selling/Options_for_receiving_other_offers_while_your_home-142478]]></link><description><![CDATA[I have a contract on a home that I am planning on accepting this morning.  The contract is a bit lower than Iwould like, but in this market, it may be the best I get.  The contract is contingent upon attorney review and financing.  However, I have still been receiving calls about my home.  Can I continue to show my home, and if someone makes a better offer, what are my options with my existing contract?]]></description><pubDate><![CDATA[Fri, 3 Jul 2009 05:11:13 PDT]]></pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[LENDERS/MORTGAGE BROKERS:  What are new homebuyers options if they do not have the 3.5% downpayment??]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.trulia.com/voices/Home_Buying/LENDERS_MORTGAGE_BROKERS_What_are_new_homebuyers-142320]]></link><description><![CDATA[More and more clients are asking me about other options if they cannot get the 3.5% downpayment.  They really want to take advantage and own a home they can afford.  80% of my inquires are going after the foreclosure and reo markets. 

How about Seller financed portion of downpayment?  And can you elaborate for these homebuyers thier options if they do not have the 3.5% downpayment including many state and local government and nonprofit lenders?]]></description><pubDate><![CDATA[Thu, 2 Jul 2009 12:05:32 PDT]]></pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[I purchased my first home a year ago in April, at the time of closing, as dictated by the closing docutments]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.trulia.com/voices/Home_Buying/I_purchased_my_first_home_a_year_ago_in_April_at_-142217]]></link><description><![CDATA[the seller was to pay $600.00 toward new siding from a settlement they got for the defective siding that was used that they had yet to apply to repairing the house.  The seller wrote a personal check to a vendor who I had gotten an estimate from.  The check was given to me (which I still have to this day).  Unfortunatly a few weeks after the sale, the vendor that the check was written to went out of business, meaning that I can no longer use the check that they wrote to have my siding replaced. I wrote several letters to the seller and heard nothing back.  I got ahold of him on the phone and he said he had talked to his real estate agent and that he would write another check to a vendor if we got him an estimate of the work we were getting done.  I sent him this information over a month ago and have still heard nothing.  Should I go ahead and start working with my attorney to get a demand letter written up?  Do I have any rights since it was in all of the closing docutments?]]></description><pubDate><![CDATA[Thu, 2 Jul 2009 06:33:20 PDT]]></pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[$199,900 home  but needs 25,000 in work unfinished, what to offer???]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.trulia.com/voices/Home_Buying/_home_but_needs_in_work_unfinished_what_to_o-138319]]></link><description><![CDATA[okay, here's the situation, there is a 4BR 2.5BA new construction home (0 years old)offered at 199,900 and has been on the market for 5 months now..the realtor representing  the property says it needs 25,000 in finishing work ( landscaping, central air, front steps, laundry hook-up) etc.. but the major living componets are in, besides the stove..seller will not complete, my fiancee' is a contractor, thus savings us ALOT of money hiring outside people, long story short, what is the minimal asking price you would say is fair, or that wouldn't offend them? I know its a bidding game but I dont want to be unrealistic on what figures to offer them, we have strict limits on max  home price and taxes..from our mortgage person. And we can only go FHA, no conventional because my credit is only a 680..also does anyone have a website for FHA regulations for passing an inspection??help!]]></description><pubDate><![CDATA[Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:49:18 PDT]]></pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[any agents here handling leasing/rent for 235 van buren? i would like to check out some units!]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.trulia.com/voices/For_rent/any_agents_here_handling_leasing_rent_for_van_bur-132836]]></link><description></description><pubDate><![CDATA[Wed, 3 Jun 2009 23:48:14 PDT]]></pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Same old question but some details. Should I get involved in a bidding war on a foreclosure?]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.trulia.com/voices/Foreclosure/Same_old_question_but_some_details_Should_I_get_i-141441]]></link><description><![CDATA[The property was listed 7 days ago and its gotten 3 offers already. This is a *forclosure*. The listing agent told my guy to bring his best offer. What else would he say, right?

Regardless, the asking price is around $60K for a 2bd condo, without any flooring. I'm aware I need flooring before closing and that is not a problem at all. Comparable properties are going around $90K-$110K in much better shape of course.

I guess my question is is it worth getting started in the bidding war? What is the best strategy? Where should I start with the offer? $70K? I don't think its worth more than $75K, because of the additional work required.]]></description><pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:35:26 PDT]]></pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[How difficult is it to get tenants?]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.trulia.com/voices/Rental_Basics/How_difficult_is_it_to_get_tenants_-141935]]></link><description><![CDATA[I am looking at 2-4 unit buildings on Chicago's southside near Hyde Park.  How difficult is it to get and keep tenants?  Do 1 bedroom units have a faster occupancy rate than 2 or 3 bedroom?  I am a first time investor and still looking to strike and I need to know how realistic it is to keep the building occupied.  Of course, pricing and the unit condition will factor in, but lets just say that my rates and condition are competitive or better than the market.]]></description><pubDate><![CDATA[Wed, 1 Jul 2009 07:03:19 PDT]]></pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[A fannie mae REO bank owned property is subject to pre-approval from a specific mortgage company, so do you]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.trulia.com/voices/Home_Buying/A_fannie_mae_REO_bank_owned_property_is_subject_to-141608]]></link><description><![CDATA[have to pre-qual with this broker if you are already PRE-APPROVED with FHA.]]></description><pubDate><![CDATA[Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:37:20 PDT]]></pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[How Many People Know About the 203k Steamline Loan that FHA Offers...?]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.trulia.com/voices/Foreclosure/How_Many_People_Know_About_the_k_Steamline_Loan_th-140108]]></link><description><![CDATA[It does not apply only to foreclosures. So how many of you are even aware of the 203k Streamline loan that allows you to rehab a property, condo even Mixed-Use (owner occupied/retail) property?  Not many I am guessing. 

Why isn't anyone taking advantage of this opportunity while interest rates are so low now?]]></description><pubDate><![CDATA[Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:15:22 PDT]]></pubDate></item></channel></rss>
