Jon GoodmanFor foreclosures filed after January 1, 2008, Colorado law no longer provides for an owner’s redemption period. (See Colorado Foreclosure Revolution (Part I). This article explains short pay-off transactions and the ramifications of the loss of owner’s redemption period.) A “short pay-off” or “short sale” is a transaction in which a lender agrees to accept … Continue Reading
Question: How can a buyer purchase a property and remain anonymous? Response: Contracts must identify a buyer against whom the contract can be enforced. Yet sometimes buyers seek to remain anonymous. For example, Joe Developer wants to assemble contiguous lots in downtown Denver on which to build a new skyscraper. Mary seeks to buy … Continue Reading
Question 1: I am the listing broker. The offer from the buyer, counter from the seller, and acceptance of the counter from the buyer was all done by fax. I received a faxed copy of the earnest money check from the buyer with the initial offer. The buyer accepted and signed the counterproposal five … Continue Reading
I am listing a property and my Seller has entered into a contract with “Buyer 1.” We also received an offer from a second competing buyer, “Buyer 2.” We countered Buyer 2’s offer with a backup contingency. The closing date on Contract 1 is approaching and Buyer 1 has asked for an extension. If … Continue Reading
Co-Author: Eric R. Jaworski, Esq. What is a CLUE Report? CLUE stands for Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange. It is a comprehensive database of personal property information relating mainly to insurance claims on private property. CLUE was developed by, and is currently operated by, ChoicePoint Asset Co., a Georgia firm. What type of information is found … Continue Reading
I am aware of the legal concept that if an agent breaches his fiduciary duty to a client, the agent may forfeit his right to a commission, regardless of whether that breach of duty caused damage to the client. Does that same concept apply to transaction brokers? No. In the recent decision of Hoff … Continue Reading
I am aware that Colorado’s Designated Brokerage legislation requires all brokerage firms, even one person offices, to have a brokerage relationship policy. What are the issues which should be addressed in such a policy? General Theme The drafting of an agency policy requires the balancing of a variety of considerations. The policy should create predictability … Continue Reading
I am a broker helping buyers purchase their first home with FHA financing. The buyers knew that they needed to bring 3% of the purchase price to closing. They have had an unexpected setback and have asked me to loan them $500 to complete their 3% down payment. I know these kids are good for … Continue Reading
In Colorado, liens for unpaid real property taxes have priority over all other liens, including deeds of trust. Many of our clients know this and maintain tax escrows on loans they hold which are secured by real estate. Yet not all loans require tax escrows. Lenders with second deeds of trust rarely maintain tax … Continue Reading
This article educates readers about how to avoid inadvertently committing loan fraud. Another article on our website, “How to Commit More Loan Fraud,” intends to further help real estate professionals and sellers from inadvertently becoming caught up in such a scheme. Question: I have brokered a transaction in which the seller is willing to give … Continue Reading
