HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: karen@synopsys.com (Karen Vahtra)
Newsgroups: misc.invest.real-estate
Subject: Re: How important is title insurance?
Date: 12 Aug 92 14:34:45 GMT
Organization: Synopsys Inc.

In article <q83mmcr@lynx.unm.edu> pkrause@triton.unm.edu (Paul Krause CIRT) writes:
>In article <1992Aug11.221036.3534@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU> rbm8p@faraday.clas.Virginia.EDU (Rick MacDonald) writes:
>>
>>The attourney who is handling my deed in an owner-financed
>>house purchase wants me to buy title insurance.  The house
>>is 40 years old and is located mid-neighborhood.  Is title
>>insurance just a gimmick?
>
>Good question.  I have had several heated discussions with various real estate
>related people about this.  Around here, no title company will close a sale
>without it.  Is there anyone reading this group who has ever had first hand
>experience with a title policy paying off?  My own feeling is that it is a
>way to make the buyer/seller pay for insurance to protect from title company
>or attorney mistakes but is such a part of the system there is little hope
>of avoiding it.
>
>Paul

I have a friend who works in title insurance.  They do find forgeries!  What
happens is a lot of time relatives will sign for someone else and illegally
sell a house.  I don't know much else beyond that but I wouldn't be happy
myself without it.  

Karen
From: jrbd@craycos.com (James Davies)
Newsgroups: misc.invest.real-estate
Subject: Re: Shared Equity
Summary: it's a scam
Keywords: equity skimming
Date: 14 Aug 92 23:24:42 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Cray Computer Corporation

In article <1992Aug14.182428.18105@software.org> facemire@Software.ORG writes:

{He's stuck with a house in another state that has dropped in value.}

>THE SOLUTION?:	A financial advisor told my wife that we should investigate
>	a "shared equity" arrangement.  As she understood it, shared
>	equity meant something like the following:
>
>	o We let the other party to the shared equity arrangement move
>	  into the property for NO MONEY DOWN.
>
>	o They would assume ALL payments (principle/interest, taxes, ins.)
>	  and would maintain all upkeep of the property - including repairs.
{etc.}

There's a scam called "equity skimming" which is pulled on desparate
home sellers; basically, the person pulling the scam takes over somebody's
property in a way much like you describe (basically just moving in and
taking over the payments), but then they rent the house to a third party
and stop making the mortgage, tax and insurance payments.  It takes a while
for you to notice/sue them/evict the tenants/cancel the contract, by which 
time they've fled town with a year's rent, and you get back your (possibly
trashed) house, which is now delinquent in mortgage and taxes, and you have
NOTHING to show for your part in this "contract".

I would be *extremely* skeptical of any such arrangement.  The questions
you should be asking anyone suggesting this include:
	* what happens if the other party doesn't pay the mortgage?
	  Chances are that you're on the hook.  Foreclosure takes a long time.
	* what happens if the other party doesn't pay the insurance?
	  The house probably won't be insured; you lose everything if
	  it burns down (and you're probably still liable for the loan).
	* Does this "financial advisor" have anybody in mind who would 
	  move in?  Is that person perhaps his brother-in-law? :-)

I would run, not walk, away from anybody who suggested this.  You're
looking at a *lot* of hurt potential here, basically up to and including
the loss of the full value of your house (not just the equity).
Newsgroups: misc.invest.real-estate
From: bobk@sequent.com (Bob Krull)
Subject: Re: 15 year vs. 30 year loans
Organization: Sequent Computer Systems Inc.
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 92 18:15:12 GMT

In article <1992Aug19.160244.13771@sctc.com> bies@sctc.com (Marty Bies) writes:
>Just to twist this thread a little more...
>We are going to refinance soon, (isn't everybody :) and I was thinking of
>going with the 30 year.  My reason for doing this is that we are going to
>move in about 4 years and I thought putting the difference (what we are

<stuff deleted>

Go with an adjustable if you are really only going to keep the mortgage
for a short time. Virtually all adjustables are 30 yr. amortization.

Bob Krull
From: bd670@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Russell I. Dyreng)
Newsgroups: misc.invest.real-estate
Subject: Re: Taxes
Date: 20 Aug 92 17:16:23 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, (USA)


joe@otto.lvsun.com (Joe Barger) writes:

>        I would like to know what is a good way to lower the
>        taxes on owned property.  My mother paid off her house
>        and now the taxes are as high as a house payment. Would
>        it be a good idea to get a second mortage?

I assume that you are talking about property taxes here.  
>
>        Can you take a second mortage out for less than the 
>        total value of the house?
>
>        Would this lower the ammount of taxes paid?
>
>        If there are any other/better ways of getting away from 
>        high taxes on owned property please let me know!

Taking out a second mortgage will do absolutely nothing to affect
amount of property taxes assessed.  This tactic would decrease 
her income taxes, but she would pay more in interest than she 
would save on her income taxes.

Getting back to the property taxes.  They are assessed 
differently depending on the state and county in which you live.
I can only tell you how it works in my area (Davis County, Utah)
and perhaps applying a similar strategy in your area, you might 
be able to decrease the taxes.

Normally in my area, the tax notice arrives in the mail, 
several months before the taxes are actually due.  There should 
be a place on the statement that tells you the assessed value
of your property.  This is the number, which when multiplied by 
the tax rate, gives the amount due.  Look carefully at the 
assessed value .  If it looks too high then try to find out 
what the actual value of the home is.  

Oftentimes the county will adjust the value upward by more than 
the actual increases in value in your area.  This can compound 
over time and can really throw things out of whack over a 
period of several years.  

If this is the case you can go to the Board of Equalization and 
plead your case.  It might be good to first give the the county 
assessor's office a call and find out if you need to have a 
formal appraisal done on the property first.

I've done this twice and have been successful in both cases.

The tax laws vary by location, so not everything that I've 
mentioned will necessarily apply in you case, but give it a 
shot.  It can't hurt.

Good luck!

Russ
bd670@cleveland.freenet.edu
Xref: sparky misc.invest.real-estate:514 misc.consumers.house:11027 misc.consumers:15360
From: wmoore@spike.comet.ucar.edu (Wayne Moore)
Subject: BOULDER CO area HOUSE FOR SALE
Organization: COMET/Univ. Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Boulder  CO
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1992 23:03:31 GMT

From: wmoore@comet.ucar.edu (Wayne Moore)
Newsgroups: misc.invest.real-estate,co.general,misc.forsale
Subject: BOULDER area HOUSE FOR SALE
Distribution: usa
Organization: no affiliation

126,900$  6803 Camelia Court, NIWOT, Colorado
7 miles from Boudler NE toward Longmont
in Boulder County

Niwot is a real town, over 100 yrs old, not a bedroom subburb.

1982 Frame Ranch in NIWOT, quiet neighborhood surrounded by open space
with 3 parks within one block in various directions.
4 Bedroom, 2 full and 1 3/4 baths, study,big family room, living room,
dining room, 2-car garage
2220 finished sq ft (1110 on main)
Master bedroom with 3/4 bath plus 2 other bedrooms on main flr
full size windows (3 by 6 feet, 2 side-by-side one alone) in basement
2nd master bedroom with full bath in basement
Very energy efficient
Newer exterior paint (painted last summer)
Newer appliances
2 by 6 outer wall construction
thermal windows
skylights
automatic sprinkler system
garage door opener
clothes shoot to laundry sink
dog run
fireplace
professionally finished basement
attic fan
forced-air gas heat
gas hot water
Left Hand glacier water
Niwot school system (state leader)

Call 449-7000 and ask Jan McRoberts
about property by address
or send e-mail to wmoore@comet.ucar.edu
Xref: sparky misc.invest.real-estate:532 misc.consumers.house:11099 misc.consumers:15418
From: ark@alice.att.com (Andrew Koenig)
Newsgroups: misc.invest.real-estate,misc.consumers.house,misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Making an Offer for a Home with a LIEN and Title Insurance
Date: 20 Aug 92 13:10:39 GMT
Article-I.D.: alice.23495
Reply-To: ark@alice.UUCP ()
Distribution: misc
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill NJ

In article <19651@fritz.filenet.com> asylvain@fritz.filenet.com (The Chipmunk) writes:

> Mechanics' liens can also victimize a perfectly well-intended
> homeowner, who just gets screwed.  It's been known for a homeowner to
> contract some labor, say building a block-wall with iron-work, and
> dutifully pays what's owed.  Now, it turns out that the contractor
> sub-contracted somebody to put up the iron-work, and does NOT pay the
> sub.  Well, the sub can but a lien against the homeowner.

> Unfortunately, I do not recall the legal remedy to this situation.

Around here, it seems to be common practice, before giving the last payment
for a job to the main contractor, to obtain a signed statement from the
contractor to the effect that all subcontractors have been paid.
-- 
				--Andrew Koenig
				  ark@europa.att.com
Newsgroups: misc.invest.real-estate,misc.consumers.house,misc.consumers
From: macrakis@osf.org (Stavros Macrakis)
Subject: Re: Making an Offer for a Home with a LIEN and Title Insurance
Organization: OSF Research Institute
Distribution: misc
Date: 19 Aug 92 11:31:11

In article <AMALIK.92Aug18122141@bubba.ma30.bull.com>
amalik@bubba.ma30.bull.com (Alka Malik Sobti) asks about buying a
house with a lien on it.

1) In any case, your offer should contain appropriate language to
protect you (things about marketable title, etc.).

2) You will probably want the lien cleared before closing.  Either
that or reduce the price by the amount of the lien.

For good advice, you should hire a lawyer.  A good lawyer is one who
will tell you what the risks are, and help you decide what you want to
do (as opposed to someone who will simply give an opinion that it's
``no problem'').

Do not depend on the seller's lawyer or the real estate agent for
advice.  Get as much information from them as you can, then take it to
YOUR lawyer, who should be experienced in real-estate matters.

	-s
From: asylvain@felix.filenet.com (The Chipmunk)
Newsgroups: misc.invest.real-estate
Subject: Re: 15 year vs. 30 year loans
Date: 20 Aug 92 02:32:22 GMT
            <75970004@hpcc01.corp.hp.com>
Reply-To: asylvain@fritz.filenet.com (The Chipmunk)
Organization: Foundation for the Increased Wealth of Chipmunks

Written in article <75970004@hpcc01.corp.hp.com>
 by loftis@hpcc01.corp.hp.com (Kirk Loftis):

:	 Here is a question.  How about 20-year notes?  The intererst
: paid on this is not much more than 15, but far less than 30.  Why don't
: people buy 20-year notes?

I didn't know anyone was selling them!!

-- 
The Chipmunk.
Opinions are mine, void where prohibited, taxed, licensed or regulated.
If you explain so clearly that nobody can misunderstand, somebody will.
From: asylvain@felix.filenet.com (The Chipmunk)
Newsgroups: misc.invest.real-estate
Subject: Re: 15 year vs. 30 year loans
Date: 18 Aug 92 01:16:20 GMT
Reply-To: asylvain@fritz.filenet.com (The Chipmunk)
Organization: Foundation for the Increased Wealth of Chipmunks

Written in article <1992Aug16.184734.24761@porthos.cc.bellcore.com>
 by tony2@prefect.uucp (21131-gozdz):

: While your observations are very valuable (pun
: intended) and interesting at this time of mass
: mortgage refinancing, what happens if you only pay
: attention to good investment principles and disregard
: the principal? :-)

"Good Investment Principles?"

Never heard of 'em.

You can't disregard the principal!  He'll slap your rist with a wruler!

: Tony

-- 
The Chipmunk.
Opinions are mine, void where prohibited, taxed, licensed or regulated.
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
    -- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Newsgroups: misc.invest.real-estate
From: kseshadr@oracle.uucp (Krishnan Seshadri)
Subject: Builders/Contractors in the Washington DC area
Reply-To: kseshadr@oracle.uucp (Krishnan Seshadri)
Organization: Oracle Corporation (Federal Division), Bethesda, MD
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1992 19:13:04 GMT
X-Disclaimer: This message was written by an unauthenticated user
              at Oracle Corporation.  The opinions expressed are those
              of the user and not necessarily those of Oracle.

I am thinking of (very much in the prelim. stages) of having my house built,
instead of buying one. I would like to get in touch with anyone who has
done this in the DC area (VA, MD suburbs) and get relevant information and
advice from them. I would appreciate any other sources of information I
should look up before I embark on this project.

All help greatly appreciated.

Krishnan Seshadri.
Oracle Corporation - (301) 598-8924 
 

======================================================================
kseshadr@us.oracle.com     

Voice:       (301) 913-5017
Newsgroups: misc.invest.real-estate
From: richhg@hsv3.lsil.com (Rich Henderson-Gragg)
Subject: Re: Tax Implications of Duplexes
Organization: Headland Technology
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 21:37:11 GMT

in an article  (Russell I. Dyreng) writes in part:
 
>you essentially depreciate over time the 
>value of one half of the structure.  On a $100K property you 
>would be allowed to write off approximately $40K.  
>
>$100K*0.8/2=$40K

   The value for time above is usually ~20 years (40k/20=$2k year).
There is a concept of accelerated depreciation but it has intersting tax
effects.  Also remember when you sell the duplex the money (2kyr) you declare
becomes profit at the sale.
    (Sales price - (purchase price - ( 2kyr*yrs clamed) =  profit) ).

   It is still a potentially desirable thing to do as all the other
deductions mentioned (utilities (that you pay), tools, repairs ECT add up over time.)
The best thing to do if anyone want's to do this (buy and rent duplexes) is to get
a competant tax consultant (CPA etc) and look at your specific situation.

   -Rich-

Newsgroups: misc.invest.real-estate
From: hguo@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Hongsheng Guo)
Subject: flood insurance
Followup-To: hguo@nwu.edu
Organization: Northwestern University, Evanston Illinois.
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1992 05:27:37 GMT

I am buying a townhouse in Niles, IL.  Can anyone tell me what flood
insurance is?  Does every homeowner have to have it?  How importent is it?
Where can I should go to get one?   Is a zone map neccesary?
Thank you in advance.
	please repply to hguo@nwu.edu
From: kev@osf.org (Kevin Till)
Subject: How is Pasadena Balanced Return Fund?
Keywords: Mutual Fund
Organization: Open Software Foundation
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1992 14:07:23 GMT

Hi,

	According to yesterday's Wall Street Journal ad, Pasadena Balanced 
Return Fund is waiving its 5% inital load until Sept 30. Morningstar rated it as 
5 although I can't find it from the top fund section in the July issue of Money 
Magazine.
	
	Any comments about the fund will be appreciated!
	
	
-- 
Kevin T. Till	
System Engineering
Open Software Foundation
From: srm@ross.com (Sesha Myneni)
Newsgroups: misc.invest
Subject: "Goerge Soros and the Quantum fund -info"
Date: 14 Aug 92 22:20:57 GMT
Distribution: misc.invet
Organization: ROSS Technology, Inc. Austin, Tx.


	I am curious about this Quantum Fund. If any of you know
anything about this guy and/or his fund please enlighten me on it. I
want to buy some shares. Is it still open? 

I am relatively new to the market and mutual funds.

thanks in advance.

-sesha

--
_______``When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro...''__________
Seshagiri Rao Myneni                                     srm@ross.com
-ROSS Technology Inc., 5316 Hwy 290 West, Suite 500, Austin, TX 78735
-Work: (512) 892-7802 x264  fax: (512) 892-3036  Home: (512) 892-7993
From: goykhman_a@apollo.hp.com (Alex Goykhman)
Newsgroups: misc.invest
Subject: Re: is it time to invest in Japan?
Date: 18 Aug 92 19:05:33 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Chelmsford, MA

In article <1992Aug18.165239.9676@porthos.cc.bellcore.com> tony2@prefect.uucp (21131-gozdz) writes:
...
>A week or two ago, there was a long interview in
>Barron's in which I remember an "expert" claimed
>that the Nikkei may drop in the fourth phase of the
>crash (a market panic) down to 6000 or so before it 
>starts to recover....

    If my recollection is correct, during the Great 
    Depression the US stock lost ~90% of its value.
    A similar drop in the Nikkei would bring it down
    to 4000 or so.

    Post-WWII Japan has experienced one of the greatest
    economic booms in modern history, with one of the
    greatests economic busts to follow.





-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: all opinions are mine.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: mikee@xvt.com (Mike Ernst)
Newsgroups: misc.invest
Subject: Re: REITs
Date: 13 Aug 92 16:39:56 GMT
Followup-To: <3318@ra.nrl.navy.mil>
Distribution: usa
Organization: XVT Software Inc.


   Mike Kirby and his company, Greenstreet Advisors, research REITs
   and publish information on them.  He is often quoted in WSJ articles
   on REITs.  Their primary customers are institutional investors,
   but they may make their reports available to individuals as well.
   Their offices are in Newport Beach, CA.  I expect you can get the
   phone number from directory assistance.
Newsgroups: misc.invest
From: tony2@prefect.uucp (21131-gozdz)
Subject: Re: is it time to invest in Japan?
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 92 16:52:39 GMT

In article <1992Aug18.152342.18005@fid.morgan.com> joec@fid.morgan.com (Joe Collins) writes:
>The Tokyo stock market is in the trash (14300 or so) and way off
>its highs. In addition, the US currency is also quite low.
>
>It seems that if I invest in an equity fund targeted at Japan and
>hold for a while, I may have a good chance on both a currency
>play (US Dollar strengthens) and an equity play (Tokyo market
>recovers).
>
>Any opinions?
>
>Joe
>joec@morgan.com
>
>
A week or two ago, there was a long interview in
Barron's in which I remember an "expert" claimed
that the Nikkei may drop in the fourth phase of the
crash (a market panic) down to 6000 or so before it 
starts to recover. It seems still too early to me to
invest in Japanese stocks/funds, since many problems
are just beginning to surface there (NTT's stock, the
largest capitalization issue there, fell 85% from its 
top in 87(?) and keeps falling, even though the Japanese 
government still owns 65% of it). Here is another example:

_____________________________________________________________
Mutual fund                Symbol Gain/loss 1/2/92-8/14/92
_____________________________________________________________
Vanguard Intl Eqty Ind Pac  VPACX          -29%
DFA Japanese Small Co       DFJSX          -40%
Scudder Japan Fund          SJPNX          -27%
Gt Japan Growth Fund        GJGRX          -25%
_____________________________________________________________

Just my two yen...

Tony

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Antoni S. Gozdz                tel  (908) 758-2931  |  Bellcore  NVC 3X-261
tony2@prefect.cc.bellcore.com  FAX  (908) 741-2891  |  Red Bank, NJ 07701, USA
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*


Newsgroups: misc.invest
From: pvonk@scott.skidmore.edu (Pierre VonKaenel)
Subject: Which financial magazine?
Organization: Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs NY, 12866
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1992 11:21:42 GMT

After a decade "leave of absence" from managing my own portfolio, I am
now returning to the investment scene.  Back in the 70's I used to
subscribe to Forbes and Value Line for data/news.  What's good today?
I can get copies of Value Line in the library, so I'm more interested
in knowing which magazines (Forbes, Money, ??) provide an assortment
of in-depth as well as short late-breaking news items.  (I guess they
all do... but which ones are *good*.)  Any advice.......  ?


-- 
Pierre von Kaenel	| Skidmore College	     | pvonk@scott.skidmore.edu
Math & CS Dept.		| Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 | (518)584-5000 Ext 2391
When asked his position on euthanasia, our local state rep. responded:
"I support youth all over the world."
From: Clive_Camm@mindlink.bc.ca (Clive Camm)
Newsgroups: misc.invest
Subject: Re: Annual Reports : how to get?
Date: 13 Aug 92 06:00:25 GMT
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Distribution: world

The easiest way to get annual reports from a company, if you don't own the
stock, is to phone the company, and ask for the Investor Relations department.
Tell them you are interested in the stock, but want to read the annual report
first.  They should drop one in the mail for you right away.  If they don't,
they're not doing their jobs.


Clive Camm

Newsgroups: misc.invest
From: acheng@ncsa.uiuc.edu (Albert Cheng)
Subject: Re: is it time to invest in Japan?
Originator: acheng@shalom.ncsa.uiuc.edu
Organization: Nat'l Ctr for Supercomp App (NCSA) @ University of Illinois
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1992 17:52:28 GMT


In article <1931@coyote.UUCP>, shekita@yeti.almaden.ibm.com (E. Shekita) writes:
>By this reasoning, Russia and Africa should be world economic 
>powers. Instead, they're towards the bottom of the pile.
>I would argue that a country's most important resource is its 
>people --- their work ethic, their educational values, their 
>willingness to sacrifice for the future, their citizenship,
>the government and business communities they establish. 

Well, abundance natural resource is a necessarily condition
but not sufficient.  A stable government is needed too.  Soviet
Union was in such an anti-progress system for 70 years, they
have a long way to go.  Africa have more than its share of
political turmoil.  The little progress was constantly destroyed
by civil wars.

Japan had no war on its soil for centuries except the couple years of
WWII.  Enough destruction but not completely wiped.  The Korean wars
and following embargo against mainland China gave Japan a good
opportunity to restart its economy.

>Japan is all too aware of its lack of natural resources. If you look
>at where investment is going, you'll see that Japan has huge investments 
>all over east Asia --- much larger than the US. I believe that Japan's 
>ultimate goal is to position itself as a high-tech design center, with 
>its manufacturing bases located off-shore in countries where resources 
>and low-tech manpower is cheaper. The US is also moving to this model,
>although not as aggressively (e.g., the recent trade pact with Mexico). 

Japan has a big population to feed too.  Investment oversea would keep
the tycoons rich but does not do any good to the local workers.  (Isn't
this obvious here?)  You can't provide employment for 120+ million
people with high-tech jobs only.  Lossing manufacturing jobs to other
SE Asia countries will drive Japan into bad situations like US.

For real long term (30 years?), I would not bet on Japan.  For short
to intermediate terms (< 15 years), Japan still has some good times
ahead due to the rapidly expending Asia markets.
From: jvariyam@ada.stat.uga.edu (jayachandran n variyam)
Newsgroups: misc.invest
Subject: Outlet Malls
Date: 20 Aug 92 18:53:49 GMT
Article-I.D.: rigel.1992Aug20.185349.18544
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Georgia Statistics Department
Originator: jvariyam@ada

Are there any publicly traded holding companies owning outlet 
malls? Thanks. 
Newsgroups: misc.invest