Monthly Archives: May 2013

Commercial & Residential Real Estate (CRE) News & Updates

5-31-2013: Some are predicting more commercial real estate foreclosures. Apparently, every 5-10 years, banks evaluate commercial loans and can ask for them to be paid off. Cash reserves of many small businesses have fallen and placed them in a short … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Georgia Residential Mortgage Act (GRMA) fee at closing

For a number of years, there was a little noticed fee on each closing statement (HUD-1) in Georgia. A $6.50 fee was charged for each new loan on a property. You an see why the fee doesn’t raise any interest … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

What’s in your wallet? Worse yet, what isn’t?

The answer isn’t more cash…but… What is the real cost of your credit card charges? And paying the minimum balance on your credit card is like paying mostly the interest and not much of the principal. So be careful of … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force (FFETF)

President Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force (FFETF), was created in November 2009 to wage an aggressive, coordinated, and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. attorneys’ offices, and state and … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force (FFETF)

Auto License Fees – the great uncollected tax!

I have noticed several “out-of-state” license plates here in the Atlanta, Georgia area. Most of these tags I see in parking lots of apartment complexes. Per Georgia State Law, you must change your vehicle registration within 30 days of relocating … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Auto License Fees – the great uncollected tax!

Georgia HB 1055 – Seniors say goodbye to Georgia Income Taxes in 2016

Update 4-12-2021:  Sometime after this original blog post, Georgia Legislature capped the income exclusion at $35,000 if you’re 62-64.  Age 65 and older, the exemption rises to $65,000.  If a couple qualifies for both, I understand the total exclusion is … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Easements – Another way to meet your neighbors

Easement is roughly defined as “permission to get access to” something. Whether it’s your spouse, or utilities, or a neighbor’s adjoining property…you’ll have to get permission first to access their “private” property. All kidding aside about your spouse’s or partner’s … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Easements – Another way to meet your neighbors

Mortgage fraud continues – because there’s humans involved

Update 9-22-2014: Still no FBI updates on mortgage fraud – gee, do you think it has stopped? Right… As of the date of this post (5-15-2013), there have not been any formal FBI reports on mortgage fraud since 2010.   But … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

California Agent Visual Inspection Disclosure (AVID) form

Even though I’m in Georgia and we don’t do this…yet…it still makes me ask the question :   Why? For the benefit of Buyers, Sellers, or thousands of California attorneys who can sue? Even though the form stipulates that the AVID … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on California Agent Visual Inspection Disclosure (AVID) form

Real estate transfer taxes

Without real estate transfer tax, Chicago property tax hike might be inevitable Opinion The emergence of local real estate transfer taxes 7-29-2017: COMMENTARY: Hike in property transfer tax detrimental to Delaware>/a>. Update 7-18-2017: Real estate market slowdown may impact land … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment