FYI - (these tips in this first time homebuyers series are not just for newbies/first time homebuyers)   Before I start.... A very important FYI -  Stop listening to the news & media !!!  There is still plenty of mortgage money available. You don't need perfect credit and 20% down. You can have less than perfect credit and 3% out of pocket. FHA loans can help you with this.   What is important when shopping for a home and shopping for a mortgage?  Preparation is usually the key for most things in life. Being successfulat it doesn't always happen overnight. And buying a home is usually the biggest investment is one person's lifetime. So, understanding the process is key, but that will be explained in another part. Just getting qualified seems to always be the biggest hurdle, depending on... 11/29/2008

Holiday Fantasy of Lights Bike Night Tradewinds Park Sunday, November 16, 2008 Registration Begins at 5:30 p.m. Bicycle through the Holiday Fantasy of Lights for this one night only at a cost of $5 per bicycle. The Holiday Fantasy of Lights is usually a drive thru (with your car) event but this night only bicyclists can pedal leisurely through larger than life animated light displays.  Each participant will receive a glow necklace and other activities include: a live deejay, bounce houses, and a rock-climbing wall.  Food and beverages will also be available for purchase.   The park did not do this last year for they did not een do the Fanasty of Lights. But its back and I am looking forward to it. The kids have there bikes ready, and I have pulled out the chair that attaches to my bike ... 11/15/2008

These are words that you do not want to hear from one of your customers already suffering through the trials of foreclosure and the loss of a husband. But yes, it happened to one of my customers the other day. My customer had received a notice on her door back early October and I promptly contacted the Lender to advise that the property is NOT VACANT and the homeowner is still living there. They assured me that all is well. Well, two weeks later all was not well. I contacted the Lender at about 3:00 in the afternoon to let them know of their error from their property preservation dept. They provided me with contact info to their hired third party company who does their maintaining of pre foreclosure properties.  This company was going to get their contractor right on it, back to the hom... 11/07/2008

It seems we're hearing more and more these days about the botched attempt by Agents trying to list a Short Sale when their heart and soul just isn't in it. So why do they do it? What are their chances of success? How loyal are they really being to their customer? Is it a question of ethics? Katerina Gasset a knowledgeable Short Sale Expert recently posted on such a situation that she experienced; please read her story too: Read Katerina Gasset's view on Realtors doing a short sale. I just think it's incredible and recently ran across such a botched attempt in acquiring another Short Sale listing here in Coral Springs.  I received a call from a desperate homeowner who is facing foreclosure. They had been referred to a Agent to list their home to be sold as a Short Sale. The Agent agreed ... 11/01/2008

One of my Short Sale Listings has really put me to the test of having to support the "Why" of an offer; Why should the Lender accept the offer. I received an offer on a Short Sale listing back at the end of Aug. The offer came in about 7% below list. Not too bad. The Lender ordered the BPO that came in almost 20% above list. WHAT? Where are these numbers coming from? I challenged the BPO and went back to the solid market statistics for the area that I had already presented to them; recently sold homes and their prices, inventory of homes, condition of subject home. etc. And all clearly indicated the offer price was within an acceptable range for an offer. The Lender reviewed and said "yes", you're right we'll adjust the fair market value down a bit and this is what me must net. Still, n... 11/01/2008

Whole Foods Market in Coral Springs Florida on University Drive is a great place to shop for all your high quality family brands for any occasion; big and small. During the month of October there are a number of great events to attend and one fast approaching is: Allegor Coffee with the Mayor, Scott Brook Come in to the Whole Foods Market on October 22nd from 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. and meet Mayor, Scott Brook. Complimentary Allegro coffee and scrumptious breakfast pastries will be waiting for you while the supplies last. This is a great opportunity for you to visit with the Mayor in a welcoming environment to talk about what may be on your mind in regards to our city of Coral Springs. Got a question, come on it and meet the Mayor. If you indeed would like to meet with the Mayor, the cit... 10/10/2008

So I got an email from a fellow rainer last night saying Halloween was going to suck with a picture in the email. I must agree with her on this.   But at the same time, luckily we don't trickor treating within the neighorhoods. I take the kids to the local mall. The Coral Square mall located in Coral Springs. For the last 4 years that is where we go. I get there early enough before the big kids show up and leave early. They usually start the trick or treating around 4-4:30. So we usually would get there around 3:30. It's what we plan on this year as well. If you would like to attend here is the info, and after the mall trick or treating they are planning a Monster Mash. Not sure what that is, but sounds like fun. Coral Square Mall's Monster Mash DJ's, Dancers, Games and Prizes!Halloween... 10/09/2008

IT's still a great time to purchase a home or to refinance !!!!   Lenders still have money to lend. WARNING... WARNING.... buyers can still buy with little money out of pocket, all thanks to FHA mortgages. There has been a lot of doom and gloom out there in recent months. It's not even the media that is spreading the negative news. Realtors, loan officers, and even many of the consumers are telling others that there is no money to be lent. If not, many are asking questions if there is any money to lend. With all the news mentioned above, not once have I heard that there are some lenders still lending money. And it's really not that hard. You still don't need stellar credit. In regards to FHA loans, you can still have a FICO score of 550 or higher, as long as the credit meets FHA standa... 10/09/2008

In effort to get kids wearing there helmets while riding there bicycles, the coral springs police department will be giving away kids meals certificate. So if you live in Coral Springs, you better be wearing your helmet.   CORAL SPRINGS - Police in this city will be on the lookout for kids wearing bicycle helmets. And if they catch you wearing one, you better be hungry. The police department will be giving away certificates from Chick-Fil-A for free kids meals to riders who are "caught" wearing their helmets, during an awareness campaign being conducted by the city's Bicycle Unit. Chick-Fil-A has donated 500 kids meals to the city for distribution to elementary school students in an effort to increase awareness about bicycle safety, said Sgt. Joe McHugh. Chick-Fil-A donated 500 certific... 10/07/2008

Contrary to many opinions Short Sale property listings are selling here in Coral Springs, Coconut Creek, Parkland and surrounding cities.  What makes them so special and why are they selling? They're a great opportunity for a qualified Buyer to purchase a home at a great price. Due to declining market values here in South Florida, Short Sale homes are priced at prices that will get them sold. Unfortunately, too many home sellers that aren't distressed have their homes priced at values that Buyers do not find attractive; overpriced for the current market. Those homes listed as a Short Sale with a Realtor who specializes in Short Sales will be in a much better position of getting the home sold compared to a traditional Realtor; one lacking in Short Sale experience. Short Sales demand an e... 10/02/2008

I recall when Short Sales were really becoming an ever increasing part of the South Florida real estate market. Foreclosures month after month were increasing. I had made the decision that I wanted to help the distressed homeowner and put my focus on Short Sales and received advice from others in the industry to not concentrate on Short Sales - why not I had thought. Then as having recently closed on a Short Sale with Wells Fargo, I know why I made that decision some time ago as it is way more than simply getting someone's home sold. It's about making a difference in your customer's lives knowing that I did all that I could to help my customers avoid foreclosure.  Let me share with you what I mean about what this has meant to one of my customers: "I think I found the best Realtor on the... 09/24/2008

With the recent financial markets reeling in turmoil, industry experts and administrations are putting on their thinking caps in hopes of finding some resolution to what affects Wall Street and the housing industry. Take a look at the Short Sale and how it can help.  You hear talk of bailouts to those facing foreclosure with government throwing them a life rope. You hear of the alternatives offered in a Loan modification and if that doesn't work then foreclosure is imminent.  Offering a loan modification to someone who had a small hiccup along the way but now clearly demonstrates that their income and debt will support a loan modification is a fabulous option. But offering a Loan modification who really can't firmly demonstrate their ability to pay their loan is just stalling the proces... 09/20/2008

The good news is ... inventory levels in South Florida continue to decline from a high of 41,196 (October 2007) to 38,360 today (a decline of 6%). Also, we have gone from a 4+ year supply of homes to a 2 year supply of homes. These are all solid indications that we are approaching the bottom of the housing crisis. Unfortunately the decline of inventory is not due to increased sales. The decline is because home owners are taking their homes off the market ... 26,641 listings have expired this year. Additionally, the foreclosure rate continues to skyrocket ... 25% of all properties for sale in South Florida are either bank owned or in pre-foreclosure. The bank owned properties will continue to dominate pricing for 2 more years ... some segments locally have seen a 26 -- 29% drop THIS YEA... 09/19/2008

Typically from May through September us Floridians do a lot of sweating with temperatures raging up into the 90's. We wake up, watch the morning news, see another day forecasted of high 80 to low 90 degree temperatures, take a shower to get refreshed and ready for another busy day. We step outside of our comfortable 65-78 degree cooled homes and in nothing flat that refreshing shower is gone in a flash as beads of perspiration immediately pool up on your forehead heading straight for the rest of your entire body. Ha....and forget about any hairstyle as your once fancy style is now a mass of mess as the humidity moves in.  NO....NO....NO... it's really not that bad. Especially when we know what's right around the corner come late October through April.               Absolute paradise; th... 09/15/2008

Where do you go for Short Sale help? A year ago, you couldn't hardly find any information about Short Sales and now you're inundated with info about: What is a short sale? Can a short sale help me? Is it better than foreclosure? Do I have to pay a fee to have my home sold as a short sale? Do I have to have missed payments on my mortgage to do a Short Sale? Can I do a Short Sale myself? Do I need a Realtor? Can any Realtor successfully handle a Short Sale? The questions go on and on.......... To summarize in a statement: A Short Sale can help you to avoid the devastating effects of a foreclosure when your Lender agrees to settle your account when a Buyer agrees to purchase your home for less than the mortgage balance whether or not you have missed any payments and you don't have to pay a... 09/12/2008

When I first acquired my Sellers Short Sale Listing here in Coral Springs Florida and I was told that the Lender was Ocwen I got a bit concerned from what I heard from others in the field.  However, I do try my best to not let the opinions of others and adverse situations affect my opinion until I have experiences to make a qualified opinion myself. So I remained hopeful when I undertook the Listing having but one goal to get the property sold. My Seller had two mortgages with Ocwen that needed to be negotiated. I must say that OCWEN was on the ball from day one: They had their set of required documents and systems in place. Upon faxing documents, they requested a follow up from me in two days and if I did not follow up the file would not be assigned for review; so you knew what I'd be ... 09/09/2008

As I watch the weather report wondering if our town of Coral Springs Florida will be spared from Hurricane Ike moving towards us from the East, I think of of the interactions that occur between Hurricanes and Human Beings and the resulting display of human nature. I've been through a few Hurricanes here in South Florida and it's truly incredible what can happen to the human spirit after a storm hits leaving devastation. Within neighborhoods spanning across the city of Coral Springs you'll find neighbors helping neighbors. The storms have taken away our power for days on end and we find ourselves in the streets helping neighbors clear up fallen debris and trees, sharing stories of the storm and finding out about the lives of our neighbors. You'll find neighbors cooking up their once refr... 09/06/2008

Your home has been on the market for sale as a Short Sale for a while now. In the last chapter we discussed Selling your Home as a Short Sale. You've had some steady showings and are anxiously awaiting for an offer as you continue to miss your mortgage payments. Another busy day has passed you're sitting at the kithen table and your phone rings; it's your Realtor...she informs that an offer has come in on your home. Finally! WOO HOO!... now what? 1.  Remember all the documentation that your Realtor asked you to gather: hardship letter, paystubs, bank statements, tax returns, income & expense statement, etc ? These will be used to support other documentation put together by your Realtor to have the facts to present to your Lender to approve the sales offer.  2.  Along with your financial... 08/22/2008

WARNING !!!  WARNING !!! WARNING !!!  Beware of others giving you bad advice. Now, this is not the law, this is just my opinion and my advice. Lately, I have received a few phone calls from either past clients or from consumers reading my posts. They are telling me that they are being contacted by loss mitigation specialists. And these so-called people are telling them to miss a mortgage payment, so that they can go back to their current lender in order to modify their mortgage, to help lower their rate and payment.  Let's dissect this first.     Common sense tells me to always pay my bills on time, no matter what. Right? What guarantee do I have if I do miss this payment, that my current lender will modify my loan? Doesn't missing a payment tell everyone that I am having difficulty and... 08/21/2008

Summer has been in full swing as we push on through the hot summer temperatures hoping for an easy hurricane season and enjoy the planned summer vacations of special times with family and friends. The housing market continues to plug its way through some tougher times but like any strong and resilient city, the residents of Coral Springs will strive and survive!  Changes always seem to be contant and aren't any different here in Coral Springs. This month we've seen quite a significant increase in home sales while the average sales price has declined. Could this again indicate to us that a drop in prices will increase the number of home sales. That would seem to be the case this month. Home Buyers continue to purchase homes at great values. Take a look below to see where the Buyers are m... 07/28/2008