1425 Return Shot Ln, Loveland, OH | Powered by Postlets

1425 Return Shot Ln, Loveland, OH | Powered by Postlets

Foreclosures exceed 100,000 in ONE month

Adorable 2Story-Eastgate-4BR 2.5BA

Adorable 2Story-Eastgate-4BR 2.5BA

Absolutely Fabulous

Absolutely Fabulous

Home Is Where The Heart Is

For all we hear about real estate, the search for a home of your own is something far more primal, according to Meghan Daum, a columnist for the Los Angeles Times.

She says, “Few things in the world are capable of eliciting such urgent, even painful, yearning. Few sentiments are at once as honest and as absurd as the one that moves you to declare: Life Would Be Perfect If I Lived in That House.”

In fact, that is the title of her new book. In her lifetime, Daum has constantly visited open houses and prayed that every “For Sale” sign was the opportunity to find her place.

Though her intense desire for a home makes her say the projection of its life-changing effect may be absurd, it really is not. As people who have moved into their “new” home can attest, it does change their lives ... for the better.
Daum came from a family that moved from place to place, which may have influenced her yearning for a home of her own. She says she developed an intense curiosity about what changes the next moving van would bring.

Her vision of a dream home changed from time to time. First it was a prewar Manhattan apartment that was old but very stable. At one time, as a fan of Little House on the Prairie, she moved to Lincoln, Neb., and lived in a cabin. But that didn’t work.

She went to Los Angeles, where she bounced from rental to rental until she found a place. When she realized she couldn’t afford to buy it, she moved again.

Like all comedies, Life Would Be Perfect If I Lived in That House ends with a wedding. But the house they bought was small. So she is still yearning.

“Moving is the American way,”so says book reviewer Virginia Postrel. “We are a land of immigrants and pioneers, eager to see what is on the horizon.” So, if your American dream involves a house, it’s probably not the one you’re living in right now.

Progress is good, and today there are more opportunities than ever before. The home you seek may well be within your reach.

To satisfy your primal need for a place where your heart can be satisfied, stop yearning. Your real estate agent is ready to help you find it.

This Month in Real Estate (US) : August 2010

5 Things to do Before Putting Your Home on the Market

1. Have a pre-sale home inspection. Be proactive by arranging for a pre-sale home inspection. An inspector will be able to give you a good indication of the trouble areas that will stand out to potential buyers, and you'll be able to make repairs before open houses begin.



2. Organize and clean. Pare down clutter and pack up your least-used items, such as large blenders and other kitchen tools, out-of-season clothes, toys, and exercise equipment. Store items off-site or in boxes neatly arranged in the garage or basement. Clean the windows, carpets, walls, lighting fixtures, and baseboards to make the house shine.



3. Get replacement estimates. Do you have big-ticket items that are worn our or will need to be replaced soon, such your roof or carpeting? Get estimates on how much it would cost to replace them, even if you don't plan to do it yourself. The figures will help buyers determine if they can afford the home, and will be handy when negotiations begin.



4. Find your warranties. Gather up the warranties, guarantees, and user manuals for the furnace, washer and dryer, dishwasher, and any other items that will remain with the house.



5. Spruce up the curb appeal. Pretend you're a buyer and stand outside of your home. As you approach the front door, what is your impression of the property? Do the lawn and bushes look neatly manicured? Is the address clearly visible? Are pretty flowers or plants framing the entrance? Is the walkway free from cracks and impediments?




Disclaimer: All information and real estate information deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Neither listing broker(s) nor this company shall be responsible for typographical errors, misinformation, misprints and shall be held totally harmless. If your property is currently listed with another real estate broker, this is not a solicitation of that listing.

Pillar To Post PostNotes

Pillar To Post PostNotes

COUNTRY LIVING & SPORTSMAN'S DREAM LOCATION!

COUNTRY LIVING & SPORTSMAN'S DREAM LOCATION!

Short Sale Tips for Sellers

If you're thinking of selling your home, and you expect that the total amount you owe on your mortgage will be greater than the selling price of your home, you may be facing a short sale. A short sale is one where the net proceeds from the sale won't cover your total mortgage obligation and closing costs, and you don't have other sources of money to cover the deficiency. A short sale is different from a foreclosure, which is when your lender takes title of your home through a lengthy legal process and then sells it.

1. Consider loan modification first. If you are thinking of selling your home because of financial difficulties and you anticipate a short sale, first contact your lender to see if it has any programs to help you stay in your home. Your lender may agree to a modification such as: Refinancing your loan at a lower interest rate; providing a different payment plan to help you get caught up; or providing a forbearance period if your situation is temporary. When a loan modification still isn’t enough to relieve your financial problems, a short sale could be your best option if:

*Your property is worth less than the total mortgage you owe on it.
*You have a financial hardship, such as a job loss or major medical bills.
*You have contacted your lender and it is willing to entertain a short sale.

2. Hire a qualified team. The first step to a short sale is to hire a qualified real estate professional and a real estate attorney who specialize in short sales. Interview at least three candidates for each and look for prior short-sale experience. Short sales have proliferated only in the last few years, so it may be hard to find practitioners who have closed a lot of short sales. You want to work with those who demonstrate a thorough working knowledge of the short-sale process and who won't try to take advantage of your situation or pressure you to do something that isn't in your best interest. A qualified real estate professional can:

*Provide you with a comparative market analysis (CMA) or broker price opinion (BPO).
*Help you set an appropriate listing price for your home, market the home, and get it sold.
*Put special language in the MLS that indicates your home is a short sale and that lender approval is needed (all MLSs permit, and some now require, that the short-sale status be disclosed to potential buyers).
*Ease the process of working with your lender or lenders.
*Negotiate the contract with the buyers.
*Help you put together the short-sale package to send to your lender (or lenders, if you have more than one mortgage) for approval. You can’t sell your home without your lender and any other lien holders agreeing to the sale and releasing the lien so that the buyers can get clear title.

3. Begin gathering documentation before any offers come in. Your lender will give you a list of documents it requires to consider a short sale. The short-sale “package” that accompanies any offer typically must include:

*A hardship letter detailing your financial situation and why you need the short sale
*A copy of the purchase contract and listing agreement
*Proof of your income and assets
*Copies of your federal income tax returns for the past two years

4. Prepare buyers for a lengthy waiting period. Even if you're well organized and have all the documents in place, be prepared for a long process. Waiting for your lender’s review of the short-sale package can take several weeks to months. Some experts say:

*If you have only one mortgage, the review can take about two months.
*With a first and second mortgage with the same lender, the review can take about three months.
*With two or more mortgages with different lenders, it can take four months or longer.
*When the bank does respond, it can approve the short sale, make a counteroffer, or deny the short sale. The last two actions can lengthen the process or put you back at square one. (Your real estate attorney and real estate professional, with your authorization, can work your lender’s loss mitigation department on your behalf to prepare the proper documentation and speed the process along.)

5. Don't expect a short sale to solve your financial problems. Even if your lender does approve the short sale, it may not be the end of all your financial woes. Here are some things to keep in mind:

You may be asked by your lender to sign a promissory note agreeing to pay back the amount of your loan not paid off by the short sale. If your financial hardship is permanent and you can’t pay back the balance, talk with your real estate attorney about your options.

Any amount of your mortgage that is forgiven by your lender is typically considered income, and you may have to pay taxes on that amount. Under a temporary measure passed in 2007, the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act and Debt Cancellation Act, homeowners can exclude debt forgiveness on their federal tax returns from income for loans discharged in calendar years 2007 through 2012. Be sure to consult your real estate attorney and your accountant to see whether you qualify.

Having a portion of your debt forgiven may have an adverse effect on your credit score. However, a short sale will impact your credit score less than foreclosure and bankruptcy.



Disclaimer: All information and real estate information deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Neither listing broker(s) nor this company shall be responsible for typographical errors, misinformation, misprints and shall be held totally harmless. If your property is currently listed with another real estate broker, this is not a solicitation of that listing.