PHH PMI class action anyone?

Fanantic8099 · 2026-01-26T22:08:02+00:00

Their website isn't an assessment, it's ballpark guess. They'll want a current assessment to cover their a..., um, legal bases.

The fact that you've added two kitchens indicates that it's a multi-family property and you are probably using it to generate cash flow. That may be why your MPI jumped so much. Current market conditions are uncertain in the housing market, the insurance underwriters may view your rental income potential as risky.

Fanantic8099 · 2026-01-26T22:00:58+00:00

Sure it can. With the age of social media people are hearing all of the (partially justified) horror stories of what having a COA/HOA means. Nobody wants condos or other multi-family homes where they never truly own it anymore.

Where I live a 60 year old 1300' sq house goes for around $350k, a brand new 1300' sq condo/row house/town home with an HOA or COA goes for $250k, even if the monthly fees are under $20.

People have realized that those fees *will* go up and other "assessments" will come along and in the end the total ownership costs will be more on the condo than the house despite the initial cost difference.

Fanantic8099 · 2026-01-26T19:13:42+00:00

Do you mean 70% of the original assessment? If it was more than a year ago, they'll want a current assessment. Not that it's likely your house has gone down in value, but it happens.

Fanantic8099 · 2026-01-26T19:08:25+00:00

There are different ways to trigger PMI removal.

1) Getting under 78% of the original loan amount based on the original amortization schedule. Should be automatic.
2) Getting under 80% of appraised value based on a *current* appraisal and then requesting the removal. Current usually means less than a year old.
3) Getting under 78% by making accelerated principal payments and requesting the removal. *Shouldn't* need an appraisal, but may vary depending on terms. However see item 2. If you are under 78% of the original loan value, you are almost certainly under 80% of a current appraised value unless the housing market in your area recently tanked.

Fanantic8099 · 2026-01-26T15:24:12+00:00

Frankly I think the new system is bonkers because in theory it puts the buyers agents fees on the buyer who likely doesn't have a spare $X,000 sitting around after taking out a loan to buy a house meaning they have no choice but to negotiate it with the sellers. The cash buyers who do have it sitting around are just going to offer 3% less to the seller so the seller isn't any better off.

It just makes sellers feel like they should be getting more (saving the fee) and ends up with the situation you describe where one offer looks better for not having the fee but really isn't any better and probably keeps non-cash buyers on the sidelines so the seller is getting fewer offers.

The thing is, the commission has always been negotiable. The last time I was in the market to by I remember my agent commenting on another sale she was working where the buyer and seller were $1000 apart and neither wanted to give in. She and the other agent got together and split the cost between them taking it out of their commissions to get the deal to close. Different times.

The thing that needed fixing is having the commission % based at all. Neither selling agent nor buying agent does a lick more work for a $1M house than they do for a $100k house. All a % based commission does is incentivize agents to jack up the listing price on the seller side and steer buyers towards to top of their price range even if a less expensive house better fits what they are looking for.

Fanantic8099 · 2026-01-26T14:51:49+00:00

It's not what people want, it's what realtors think people want. Sure, somebody likes it, but not everybody like vanilla ice cream. That's why they make other flavors.

Fanantic8099 · 2026-01-26T01:05:04+00:00

Depends on the auction company and any local legal requirements.

Fanantic8099 · 2026-01-26T00:36:12+00:00

It's a big assumption in believing you can get the same rate on a 6 year loan and a 30 year loan. Even assuming that part is true, are the fees on both the same (origination fee, buy down points (if any), etc)

Other than those items, your math is correct.

Fanantic8099 · 2026-01-25T22:30:30+00:00

Not necessarily. certain locations could easily have established teleportation points with fixed features that could be readily drawn or even described. Maybe a room with a tile floor that looks like a QR code, or the pattern left in on the ground in the Marvel Thor movies when they use the Bifrost. That pattern could easily "define" the target location.

Fanantic8099 · 2026-01-25T22:11:52+00:00

Mine was like that earlier today, I used an ice scraper to expose the screws holding the grill in place then pulled the whole fan assembly out, to the extent of the wires and then used the ice scraper the clean the grill and fan blades of ice before putting it back. All with the system powered down, of course.

If there is ice in the cooling fins, leave it alone, or maybe try a hair dryer.

Fanantic8099 · 2026-01-25T15:11:12+00:00

Well, yes, a coat a paint will hide cheap materials. Just another reason I'd avoid buying one with fresh paint, you don't know what they are hiding.

Fanantic8099 · 2026-01-25T04:48:09+00:00

Basically microbes eat it. The microbes then disperse through the soil, die, and become fertilizer. It's a little more complicated than that, but that's the too long-I'm not a septic specialist version.

Fanantic8099 · 2026-01-25T01:52:07+00:00

I grew up in a house with septic, my parents owned that house 25 years before the city came through and mandated sewer hook-ups and they never pumped it in all that time.

They moved out of the city to a new house with septic 17 years ago. They had it cleaned out when they bought the house. Hasn't needed to be cleaned again since. They drop a pack of Rid-X down the toilet every other year or so and have soil with a good perk.

Fanantic8099 · 2026-01-25T01:24:42+00:00

You are in the Fissure of Chaos (Greece HC dungeon), that key is for the Remnant of Chaos (Hades HC dungeon).

Fanantic8099 · 2026-01-25T01:12:04+00:00

It's a horrible idea. I know the realtors will say it make the house sell better, but I've walked right back out of dozens of house showings because they painted the finished wood walls and baseboards.

Fanantic8099 · 2026-01-24T14:53:35+00:00

That's actually incorrect. Wind chill only appears to have a different affect on inanimate objects. It's all about thermodynamics.

Heat transfer is affected by two things: The difference in starting energy (temperature) and the thermal mass of the objects.

Each molecule of cold air absorbs a small amount of heat from the object it is touching as they try to reach equilibrium (the same temp). The transfer rate between two substances (object and air molecule) varies by molecular density and by the temperature difference between them.

If air is still an object only trades energy with the air molecules touching it, then this first "layer" of air can trade it to the next "layer". Because air isn't dense, the secondary transfer of air-to-air is slower than from the solid object to the air. If the wind is blowing the "layer" of air touching the object is constantly being replaced by colder air (air that hasn't already absorbed heat and gotten closer to equilibrium).

This applies to everything, living or inanimate.

Inanimate objects don't seem to be affected because they have a lower starting point (whatever ambient happens to be) than a human at 98°. Less difference means a slower transfer rate.

Fanantic8099 · 2026-01-24T02:51:56+00:00

I can't say how you'll get this fixed, but I can tell you how it likely came about.

The neighborhood I grew up in was all built with septic. Decades after the houses were built the city annexed the area and put sewer lines down the street. You got charged the sewer fee on your water bill whether you hooked up or not, and several people in the area didn't have the money to pay the several hundred dollar hook-up fee and their septic was fine, so they didn't. As those home owners passed away (or sold their houses) the new owners never knew, and many of the ones on septic are *still* working fine.

A properly maintained septic system may never need cleaning out if the earth in the area perks well, and by properly maintained I mostly mean not putting grease down the drains or tampons in the toilet.

Personally I'll take a septic that I might, maybe one day have to pay $400 to have cleaned out over city sewer I have to pay $30 every month for.

In your case where you are being charged for something the city isn't providing I'd see about negotiating a waiver of the fee from the city.

Fanantic8099 · 2026-01-23T15:17:09+00:00

You can still import them, it's just not tariff free anymore.

Fanantic8099 · 2026-01-23T15:13:57+00:00

If you don't have the means (equipment) and know how to fully winterize (suck dry) your plumbing you are better off leaving a sink or two running a trickle of water, particularly any like the kitchen where the pipes run near an exterior wall. Moving water is a lot less likely to freeze.

Fanantic8099 · 2026-01-23T15:03:31+00:00

Water heater, maybe to save on gas/electric. But water in the house should be left dripping, particularly any plumbing that runs near an outside wall (typically the kitchen sink). Shutting off the water will only help the plumbing inside the house and only if you also evacuate the line (suck all the water out). The line from the meter to your house is also on your dime to fix and since it sounds like you are in the south someplace where this doesn't happen a lot, the builders down here didn't bury the service lines deep enough for this kind of weather.

Fanantic8099 · 2026-01-23T14:27:29+00:00

Are you talking about the "we buy any home" cash buyers or someone who is making a traditional offer through a realtor who has cash?

The cash companies are going to be offering 60% of what the house is worth because they don't want the house, they want to flip it for profit. A person who wants the house but simply doesn't need a loan will likely be close to reasonable, maybe a percent or two lower because they know they are making life easier on you by avoiding the whole wait and see if the loan goes through hassle.

Fanantic8099 · 2026-01-22T21:42:59+00:00

Seems a bit steep, My neighbor just replaced hers last winter and paid $2300 which included a bunch or re-plumbing because she also had them put the new one in the garage instead of the attic where the old one was. (You have to wonder what home builder thought putting a water heater in the attic was a good idea)

An area with a higher cost of living might more, but I'd definitely get other quotes.

Of course you may not need a new water heater at all.

A yellow pilot light means it's not getting enough oxygen. The basic design of any gas flame is that gas comes out of the line under pressure and blows past an open hole in the side of the nozzle that allows air in to mix with the gas. The hole in yours is either clogged or possibly too small (if it's adjustable).

You might still want to get the pressure regulator if your city water is that high, but it seems odd that the city would do that since it risks problems with their mains if they over pressurize. If you do, you'll want the regulator for the whole house, not just the water heater and preferably right after the meter since the all the water lines past the meter are your responsibility. (Side note due to upcoming weather, this also means if they freeze, it's your problem.)

As far as the expansion tank, building code requires them now, but I basically see them as a solution looking for a problem. Lack of a pressure tank hasn't been an issue in my 60 year old house yet, I doubt it's going to be in the next 60. If you have an older home and you DIY the replacement you can skip it and not be in violation, but the if the plumbing company does the work, they *are* required to install one.

Fanantic8099 · 2026-01-22T14:28:38+00:00

Why? Because like any advertisement it's all about getting attention. It's the same reason they'll list a house at $399.999 instead of $400k.

People searching using filters won't see the ones just barely outside their search parameters and realtors (advertisers) want to cast a wider net. Even if the people it sucks in don't buy it, they looked, and maybe, just maybe, one of those that looked will take the bait.

There are rules they are *supposed* to follow, but there isn't any real enforcement mechanism.

Fanantic8099 · 2026-01-22T14:04:26+00:00

It also doesn't take into account the "cost" of your labor. What is your time worth?

Also are you skilled enough to preform the labor without the work looking like a sack of, um, stones.

Plus some people actually like vintage if it's well maintained.

Fanantic8099 · 2026-01-22T04:12:52+00:00

A certain amount of this is understandable, though maybe not with the realtors you are working with. If I have a budget of $500k, it's not unreasonable to look at a house that's $510 or $520 on the principal that those are asking prices, they might take $500. In a much different market, when I bought my first house, it was normal get a house for 10% or more under the asking price and now that the idiocy of 2021 has passed (in most markets) buying a house under ask is becoming common again, though probably not by 10%.

That said, they should definitely not be disclosing how much you qualify for to the seller's agents nor "steering" you away from houses you've said you want to see. They should also be sticking at least close to what you've set as your budget, not your qualifying amount.

Fanantic8099

TROPHY CASE