Real estate shapes every facet of our lives, from the leases we sign to the investments we make. And it's often women who are at the forefront of these pivotal decisions.
At Women+RealEstate, our mission is to empower women on their journey to building generational wealth!
We’re here to help. The Team @ Women + Real Estate™ will be here answering your real estate questions — in the order we get them, right here on this page.
Questions that other people have asked are listed below, anonymously, in case they help you too. Save this page and check back regularly for new entries. If you don’t see your question, fill out the form below, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
Q: What is a Rent Deferral?
A: In a rent deferral, you negotiate with your landlord to defer a portion of the rent owed and pay at a later time - either in a lump sum or subsequent payments. Read more
Q: What is a Rent Reduction?
A: In a rent reduction, you negotiate with your landlord to reduce your rent for either a part or all of the term left on your lease. Read more
Q: What is a Rent Abatement?
A: In a rent abatement, you negotiate with your landlord to forgive the past due rent subject to your remaining current for the balance of the lease. Read more
Q: What is mortgage forbearance?
A: Forbearance is when your mortgage servicer or lender allows you to pause (suspend), or reduce your mortgage payments for a limited period of time while you regain your financial footing. Forbearance doesn’t mean your payments are forgiven or erased. You are still required to repay any missed or reduced payments in the future. Read more
Q: What are interest rate buydowns?
A: Interest rate buydowns are a financial arrangement where a homebuyer pays an upfront fee to reduce their mortgage interest rate. Essentially, it’s a way to “buy down” the interest rate, making monthly mortgage payments more manageable. Read more
Q: I've been laid off due to Covid-19 and can't pay my mortgage ... what are my options?
A: If you are experiencing a hardship such as job loss, income reduction, or sickness due to COVID-19 and you are no longer able to make your mortgage payment, your mortgage servicer is available to help with mortgage relief options, including: mortgage forbearance, late fee relief, repayment plan or loan modification. Read more
Q: I've been laid off due to Covid-19 and can't pay my rent ... are there any options?
A: Many local and state governments have taken steps to minimize the impact of the novel coronavirus crisis on tenants, including placing moratoriums on evictions and utility shut offs due to nonpayment and prohibiting late rent fees. Click here for eviction guidelines by state and resources for rental assistance
Q: Who is eligible for eviction protection under the CARES Act?
A: Renters are eligible for eviction protection through the CARES Act if they live in a rental home that is receiving federal subsidies or if they live at a property with a federally backed mortgage. Click here for a list of rental housing covered by the CARES Act
Q: How can I check if my home qualifies for eviction protection through the CARES Act?
A: You can access the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) database of Multifamily Properties Subject to Federal Eviction Moratoriums. This tool tracks eligibility for the CARES Act eviction moratorium.
This database contains data on millions of apartments in multifamily housing insured by the Federal Housing Administration or with mortgage by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, and millions more supported by the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, HUD, and/or USDA programs.
NOTE: The database and map do not include data on single-family rental homes of one to four units that are also protected under the CARES Act, and they do not include all Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac multifamily mortgages.
