Short Sale is Deceptive.

The term Short Sale is deceptive, because they actually take a really long time. But if you’re willing to be patient and trust the process, we can almost always close the transaction for you.

I’m going to give you a few critical pieces of information in this video to help you avoid pitfalls in the Short Sale process.

I’ll start with a few words of caution to Sellers.

First, not all lenders will accept a short sale, so this may not be an option for you. But I will be happy to speak with your lender to see if this is a possibility for you.

Second, just because you’re upside down does not mean you’ll qualify. You must have a hardship, like loss of job, illness, divorce, death, or job transfer.

Third, I highly recommend that you speak with a lawyer and a CPA before starting this process. Here’s one reason why. When you got your loan, your lender may have filled in misleading information about you that. For instance, if they stated that you were making more money than you were actually making, you could be charged with fraud.

Now, if you can clear all these hurdles, then here’s the good news:   We can usually close the deal for you, and if you have a property under four hundred and fifty thousand dollars in good condition, you will get multiple offers.

The other good news is that if you can complete a short sale, the impact on your credit will be much less than a foreclosure.

For buyers, there are less hurdles to clear. But patience is still the name of the game. If you need to be in a house in 30 days, short sales are not for you. The process of buying a short sale takes six months on average, compared to 30-60 days for a traditional sale. Buyers have submitted up to 10 offers before one is accepted. So buyers have to be flexible and not get your heart set on any one house. Tell yourself that you’ll take the first offer that’s approved by the lender.

Last year one third of all short sales didn’t go through. That’s because this process is unfamiliar to many realtors and they weren’t prepared for the follow-through that’s required on these transactions. I’ve found that my persistent follow through with lenders enables me to close 99% of all my short sale transactions.

So if you have the patience, give me a call, and well get started on your Short Sale today.

Barbara Whisenant

Your Friend in the Business

Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/barbarawhis

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Read my Blog: http://www.barbarawhis.com

Visit my Real Estate website: http://www.Homes4SaleSanDiego.com

Visit my Nu-Skin website: http://barbaraw.nsedreams.com

P.S. It's my intention to build lifelong relationships one client at a time. If you know of a friend, co-worker or family member who has a real estate need, please contact me. Your personal referrals are the greatest compliment I can receive!

A Division of Richard Realty Groups, Inc 5411 Avenida Encinas, Suite 110, Carlsbad, CA. 92008 Cell: (760) 583-2107    eFax: (760) 496-1649   DRE# 01357594

Feed The Children – Haiti - Vitameal

 

l By February 22, 2010,  I have made a personal commitment to feed 500 children affected by the devastating earthquake in Haiti.

As you know, I am very passionate about bringing relief to the hungry and suffering children of the world. I have found a very effective way to accomplish this goal. Through Nourish the Children, we do not just feed a starving child, we provide them a specially designed, delicious hot meal that contains all of the essential vitamins and minerals that this deserving child needs to heal the ravaging effects of starvation!

We work hand in hand with Feed The Children, one of the world's most effective humanitarian agencies. Because of the infrastructure that they have in place, (unlike most other food relief organizations), Feed The Children has been given access to a US military transport plane. As of Monday January 18^th, Feed The Children has already pulled 2.5 tons of VitaMeal from their Haiti clinic and distributed it to victims. (About 60,000 meals)

FTC has deployed two Feed The Children employees that will oversee the safe feeding of these children. Four thousand more VitaMeal bags are on their way (120,000 meals) and Nu Skin Enterprises has ordered the manufacturing of 20,000 additional VitaMeal bags destined for the children of Haiti!

I am writing you to see if you would consider “adopting” some of these children left homeless and in many cases parentless and alone, due to this devastating earthquake. Each bag will provide a hot nourishing meal for 30 children. $22 feeds 30 children, $44 feeds 60 children and $110 will feed 150 children. With such a generous heartfelt act, Nu Skin Enterprise will thank you by feeding an additional 30 children on your behalf!

This is your chance to reach out to the children of Haiti in a way that is SECURE, and really matters. Your bag is guaranteed to arrive safely and quickly into the hands of one of these desperate children. If you have a desire to reach out and help, PLEASE look at my website at http://barbaraw.millionsofmeals.com IMMEDIATELY.

My goal is to find loving hearts that will commit to sending one of these 20,000 VitaMeal bags today! In these hard times I find it hard to ask, but the suffering that these children are experiencing is far more devastating than anything we can imagine.

If you would like to make a difference in Haiti, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IMMEDIATLY!

You can either make a one time contribution, in multiples of $22, or - please consider continuing to feed the child you have “adopted”, each and every month?

If you would prefer to purchase VitaMeal for donation online, at my secure site please visit http://barbaraw.millionsofmeals.com/. Here you can place your order for VitaMeal with credit card or debit card by clicking on the donation tab.

We have all the reason in the world to implement this challenge.

The reports of devastation and hunger coming from Haiti are some of the worst we have ever seen.

You can also help by passing this information along to people you know who would like to make a difference in these children's lives. The children of Haiti thank you!

Blessings,

Barbara Whisenant

Your Friend in the Business

Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/barbarawhis

Be my Friend on Facebook: Barbara Whisenant http://www.facebook.com/barbarawhis

Be my Fan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/homes4salesd

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/barbarawhisenant

Read my Blog: http://www.barbarawhis.com

Visit my Real Estate website: http://www.Homes4SaleSanDiego.com

Visit my Nu-Skin website: http://barbaraw.nsedreams.com

P.S. It's my intention to build lifelong relationships one client at a time. If you know of a friend, co-worker or family member who has a real estate need, please contact me. Your personal referrals are the greatest compliment I can receive!

Short Sale Stall from CNBC

LENDERS TO HALT FORECLOSURE EVICTIONS OVER THE HOLIDAYS

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will suspend foreclosure evictions from December 19, 2009 through January 3, 2010.  To help struggling families over the holidays, both owner-occupants and tenants living in properties foreclosed upon by Fannie Mae will not be evicted.  Freddie Mac's suspension of evictions will be limited to properties up to four units.

In a similar move, Citigroup Inc. will suspend foreclosure sales and evictions for 30 days through January 17, 2010 for loans it owns.  Citigroup's foreclosure moratorium, however, does not extend to loans it services on behalf of other investors.  Given these developments, other lenders may follow suit, so check with the lender if appropriate.

Barbara Whisenant

Your Friend in the Business

Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/barbarawhis

Be my Friend on Facebook: Barbara Whisenant http://www.facebook.com/barbarawhis

Be my Fan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/homes4salesd

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/barbarawhisenant

Read my Blog: http://www.barbarawhis.com

Visit my Real Estate website: http://www.Homes4SaleSanDiego.com

Visit my Nu-Skin website: http://barbaraw.nsedreams.com

P.S. It's my intention to build lifelong relationships one client at a time. If you know of a friend, co-worker or family member who has a real estate need, please contact me. Your personal referrals are the greatest compliment I can receive!

A Division of Richard Realty Groups, Inc 5411 Avenida Encinas, Suite 110, Carlsbad, CA. 92008 Cell: (760) 583-2107    eFax: (760) 496-1649   DRE# 01357594

FHA to toughen rules for home buyers

The Washington Post

FHA to toughen rules for borrowers
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is proposing raising minimum credit scores for borrowers who receive FHA-backed mortgages, increasing down payment requirements, and limiting the amount of money sellers can provide toward closing costs.  The proposed changes are part of an effort to shore up the agency’s finances, which have been hit with rising defaults to its mortgage insurance program.

MAKING SENSE OF THE STORY FOR CONSUMERS

• Historically, the FHA has played a critical role in propping up the housing market by insuring lenders against default after the mortgage market failed.  Currently, the agency guarantees approximately 30 percent of all home loans and 20 percent of refinancings.  In the past, the FHA has resisted raising down payments or insurance premiums, fearing it would be shutting out qualified borrowers and stunting the housing market’s recovery.

• The FHA is hoping that the proposed changes, including requiring that borrowers bring more cash to the closing table, will ensure that borrowers are less likely to default on their loans.  Officials at FHA have yet to determine how much cash will be required.

• Up-front cash can include down payments as well as other payments.  Currently, FHA borrowers can put down as little as 3.5 percent.  One lawmaker has introduced legislation that would require FHA borrowers to put down a minimum of 5 percent.

• The agency also currently allows sellers to provide up to 6 percent of the home’s value toward closing costs or down payments.  Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Shaun Donovan has said he wants the maximum permissible level to be lowered to 3 percent, in line with industry norms.

• The FHA has decided “for the time being” to raise its minimum credit score requirements for new borrowers.  The new requirements have yet to be determined.  Presently, borrowers with credit scores as low as 500 may qualify for an FHA loan.

To read the full story, please click here.

In Other News

  San Francisco Chronicle 

Gov’t increases pressure on mortgage industry
The Obama administration said Monday it will crack down on mortgage companies that are failing to do enough to help borrowers at risk of foreclosure, as part of a broad effort to ramp up participation in its mortgage assistance program.

To read the full story, please click here

Reuters

U.S. housing market meltdown not over yet: Zandi
The meltdown of the U.S. housing market is not over yet, and home prices will soon start trekking downward again as a flood of foreclosures loom, a well-known economist said Wednesday.

To read the full story, please click here.

Los Angeles Times

New U.S. home sales rise 6.2 percent
Sales of new homes rose more than expected last month to the highest level in more than a year as the housing market shows stability after its historic collapse.

To read the full story, please click here.

The Washington Post

Home sales rebound to early-2007 level
Economists and policymakers got what they were looking for Monday: a clear uptick in the housing market.  The catch is few believe it’s sustainable.

To read the full story, please click here.

  Orange County Register

State ruling to cut most property taxes
State officials say that property taxes will probably fall for most California property owners next year due to deflation, the first such property tax cut since Prop. 13 took effect three decades ago.

To read the full story, please click here.

  Los Angeles Times

Average home sale price virtually unchanged in third quarter
The average price of houses sold in the country’s 32 largest metro areas was virtually unchanged in the third quarter from the same period a year ago, according to the latest government figures.

To read the full story, please click here.

  San Francisco Chronicle

Gov’t unveils rules to speed up “short sales”
The Treasury Dept. unveiled sweeping rules this week to help financially troubled homeowners who need to sell but can’t get a price high enough to pay off their mortgages.  Homeowners will even get $1,500 to help cover their moving costs.

To read the full story, please click here.

  Los Angeles Times

Home loans will hold fewer surprises
Anyone who has purchased or refinanced a few homes has probably learned to dread the closing statement, which all too often included a pile of new or inflated fees that your lender had never before mentioned.

To read the full story, please click here

Setup your own home search at Barbara’s Web Site.

Barbara Whisenant

Your Friend in the Business

Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/barbarawhis

Be my Friend on Facebook: Barbara Whisenant http://www.facebook.com/barbarawhis

Be my Fan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/homes4salesd

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/barbarawhisenant

Read my Blog: http://www.barbarawhis.com

Visit my Real Estate website: http://www.Homes4SaleSanDiego.com

Visit my Nu-Skin website: http://barbaraw.nsedreams.com

P.S. It's my intention to build lifelong relationships one client at a time. If you know of a friend, co-worker or family member who has a real estate need, please contact me. Your personal referrals are the greatest compliment I can receive!

A Division of Richard Realty Groups, Inc 5411 Avenida Encinas, Suite 110, Carlsbad, CA. 92008 Cell: (760) 583-2107    eFax: (760) 496-1649   DRE# 01357594

12 Reasons to List Your Home For Sale During the Holidays

If you need to sell you home, the holidays could be the best time to sell.

Below are several reasons why the holidays are a great time to list your home.

1. There is Less Competition for Buyers.

2. Winter Prospects are More Serious Buyers.

3. Your Home Looks Better During the Holidays.

4. One of the Highest Percentages of “Listings Sold” to “Listings Taken” Occurs During This Time of Year.

5. You May Receive More Money for Your Home Now—Because You Have Less Competition.

6. Throughout the Holiday Season, You May Restrict Showings During Your Personal Family Events

7. Buyers Have More Time to Look at Homes During Holidays, Especially During Vacations.

8. January is Traditionally the Biggest Transfer Month—and You Must be on the Market to Capture That.

9. By Selling Now, You Can Have a Delayed Closing or Extended Occupancy Until the Beginning of the Following Year if You Want.

10. When You Sell During the Winter, You Have an Opportunity to Buy During the Spring, When Many Homes are on the Market.

11. You May Have Fewer Actual Showings, but More Qualified and Motivated Prospects.

12. Corporate Transferees, Who Need to Buy a Home Now, Can’t Wait Until Spring.

Call me today for more information.

Barbara Whisenant

Your Friend in the Business

Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/barbarawhis

Be my Friend on Facebook: Barbara Whisenant http://www.facebook.com/barbarawhis

Be my Fan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/homes4salesd

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/barbarawhisenant

Read my Blog: http://www.barbarawhis.com

Visit my Real Estate website: http://www.Homes4SaleSanDiego.com

Visit my Nu-Skin website: http://barbaraw.nsedreams.com

P.S. It's my intention to build lifelong relationships one client at a time. If you know of a friend, co-worker or family member who has a real estate need, please contact me. Your personal referrals are the greatest compliment I can receive!

A Division of Richard Realty Groups, Inc 5411 Avenida Encinas, Suite 110, Carlsbad, CA. 92008 Cell: (760) 583-2107    eFax: (760) 496-1649   DRE# 01357594

Homebuyer Tax Credit Not Just For 1st Time Homebuyers Anymore!

 

President Obama has signed legislation to extend the Homebuyer Tax Credit. Passage of the bill was widely anticipated to further spur economic recovery in the housing sector, as more buyers are now eligible for tax breaks under the new law.

The $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit was originally set to expire on November 30.

In addition to offering the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit, the new law also allows a $6,500 credit for repeat or move-up homebuyers who have lived in their primary residence for five years or more.

The tax credits are available to buyers who sign purchase agreements on a new or existing primary residence between December 1, 2009, and April 30, 2010. Buyers would have until June 30 to close on their new homes.

There is an $800,000 price limit on all homes eligible for the credit.

The income limits for all buyers are now $125,000 per year for individuals and $225,000 for married couples. Under the old program, the limits were $75,000 and $150,000 respectively.

The first-time homebuyer credit is also available to those who have not owned a home in the previous three years. The credit does not have to be repaid unless the home is sold or ceases to be the primary residence within three years. 

Setup your own home search at Barbara’s Web Site.

             

Barbara Whisenant

Your Friend in the Business

Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/barbarawhis

Be my Friend on Facebook: Barbara Whisenant http://www.facebook.com/barbarawhis

Be my Fan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/homes4salesd

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/barbarawhisenant

Read my Blog: http://www.barbarawhis.com

Visit my Real Estate website: http://www.Homes4SaleSanDiego.com

Visit my Nu-Skin website: http://barbaraw.nsedreams.com

P.S. It's my intention to build lifelong relationships one client at a time. If you know of a friend, co-worker or family member who has a real estate need, please contact me. Your personal referrals are the greatest compliment I can receive!

A Division of Richard Realty Groups, Inc 5411 Avenida Encinas, Suite 110, Carlsbad, CA. 92008 Cell: (760) 583-2107    eFax: (760) 496-1649   DRE# 01357594