Debt collectors can no longer claim ignorance of the law as an excuse for violating the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) while attempting to collect a debt. On Wednesday, the United States Supreme Court handed down a ruling that severely restricts the "bona fide error" defense under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act for debt collectors that send erroneous collection notices. In a 7-2 ruling, the high court ruled that collection law firms could not use misinterpretations of the law in a "bona fide error" defense under the FDCPA. In the matter of Jerman v. Carlisle, McNellie, Rini, Kramer & Ulrich, Karen Jerman sued an Ohio law firm for violating the FDCPA when it attempted to foreclose on her home following payment on the mortgage. In its initial collection notice, the la... 04/25/2010

last! (edit/delete) As an EWM Realtor on 2 Foreclosure teams with EWM, I work as a buyers agent to assist buyers who want a nice home, great value and can close quickly! Yes, call me! BUYERS, So," you are ready" ( your WELLS FARGO pre-approval or proof of fund is in your hands, ) to purchase a really nice two story 4/2/1  foreclosure home in Bridgewater in Plantation, Florida with an upgraded kitchen,tile floors on first floor, laminant flooring in bedrooms, barrel tile roof, 2 car garage at the quiet end of the street, surrounded by lush landscaping on one side, across the street from the community pool and within walking distance from Central Park Elementary School in the truly desirable community of, " Bridgewater", in Plantation, Florida. BUYERS, this is a sneek preview, ( almost re... 04/21/2010

Condos And A Fort Lauderdale Mortgage Florida is home to all 10 markets having the most foreclosures.  Although there are many other cities around the country that have more distressed property sales, Florida surely has its' share. The hardest hit part of the Florida market has been Condominiums.  If you're not a cash buyer, you'd better do your homework upfront if you're planning on getting a Fort Lauderdale mortgage to complete your purchase. "The Dog Ate My Homework" excuse isn't going to work when buying a condo with a Fort Lauderdale mortgage.  Save yourself and your Agent a lot of time, energy and disappointment by doing your homework regarding the financial health of the condo association. Preferably, this can and should be done before entering into a contract. If not, do so befo... 04/19/2010

  Exterior Front Kitchen Living Room Dining Room Exterior Front Master Bath/Spa SIB REALTY, LLC 305-588-8599   Irina Rogina 561-756-6962  Tatyana Permanova       Rent With Us - Save With Us ---NO FEE SERVICE----- irinarogina@gmail.com See my Add's Gorgeous, private studio, no neighbors in front. Truly charming. Ground floor. In the downtown, art district & Las Olas area.Stainless steel appliances, pergo flooring,granite counters,impact windows,washer & dryer in unit,no foreclosure threat. Beautiful, well located community in the historic and beautiful Sailboat Bend built in 2005. The river just around the corner. ¤1312¤ SW 3RD CT (google map) (yahoo map) 04/18/2010

FHA Fort Lauderdale Mortgage May Be The Answer Did you know that a FHA Fort Lauderdale mortgage can be used to purchase a multi-family property up to four units?  That's right, as long as it's going to be used as a primary residence for the buyer.  So what, you may say.  Not so fast, as the FHA loan limits are higher for multi-unit properties and create a whole new opportunity for buyers and agents. The FHA Fort Lauderdale mortgage loan limits are as follows: Single family - up to $428,750 Duplex             - up to $542,450 Tri-Plex           - up to $655,700 Four-Plex       - up to $814,900 This past week I had an opportunity to help a homeowner use a FHA Fort Lauderdale mortgage to get himself out of a bad situation in a responsible manner.   The homeowner owned a single-family home ... 04/18/2010

Fort Lauderdale Real Estate Break Down - Q1 Results   First quarter real estate results have been tabulated and released by the Fort Lauderdale Board of Realtors.  What direction is the Fort Lauderdale Real Estate market heading?  What changes and trends did first quarter results reveal? Listing activity increased from January to March.  Single family home listings increased 13%, while condominium/town home listings increased 8%.  However, based on a comparison to the same period last year, the number of total new properties for sale remained steady.  The overall inventory level decreased from a 11 month supply of homes to 10 months.  The listing results of the Fort Lauderdale Real Estate activity report show inventories are holding steady despite the continuing supply of distressed pro... 04/12/2010

So much information crosses our desks and computers every day.  As one of the community's most active luxury real estate brokers, I would like to bring you real estate information highlights and create relevance to your real estate planning. ·   I am pleased to report that Julie Jones and Associates closed $15.812M, first quarter sales in 2010 compared to $10.550M in 2009.  I contribute this result to continued advertising and marketing during 2009 coupled with a slow return of buyer activity. ·  In overall activity, April is off to a good start in terms of offers being received.  However, the buyers remain very cautious and the offers are still low versus the list price. ·  According to the latest Florida Trend magazine, Florida 's economy finally has a pulse again.  Florida is not out... 04/12/2010

1/1 Plus den/dining room with great pool view. Pergo floors throughout. FABULOUS DESIGNER DETAILS INCLUDING CUSTOM VENETIAN PLASTER WALLS Amenities include infinity pool and spa, state-of-the-art gym, 24 hour security, valet for guests, entertainment room with pool table, conference room, kitchen and bar, which opens to the pool. SIB REALTY, LLC 305-588-8599   Irina Rogina 561-756-6962  Tatyana Permanova       Rent With Us - Save With Us ---NO FEE SERVICE----- irinarogina@gmail.com See my Add's   Exterior Front Swimming Pool/Hot Tub/Sauna View: Your View Overlooking Pool Area View Kitchen Living Room Studio/Study/Office: Venetian Plaster Wall- Very Classy. Master Bath/Spa Living Room Other: Front Entrance Other: Lobby Other: Social Room wit 2 Flat Screen TV and Pool Table. Can Reserve f... 04/11/2010

Has everyone started to feel the love again? In the greater Ft. Lauderdale real estate market, not only has the inventory sharply declined, prices are climbing as well. As I've been reporting for several months, the market in the greater Ft. Lauderdale area has bounced back and this month, I am forecasting the momentum to continue in spite of the tax credit expiration date coming at the end of April. The only immediate cause for concern is if the interest rates which spiked  .3% in one week, continue to rise. Most analysts state they feel the recent spike was well expected and already built into the home market since it's been known that the Federal Reserve would no longer be buying residential mortgages after March 31, 2010. Since April of 2009, prices in the greater  Ft. Lauderdale re... 04/10/2010

I hope you are all having a wonderful Easter and remembering the all those who aren't with us this year. I certainly am and I'm also thankful for those of you who are still here. Enjoy life, it is too short M 04/04/2010

What if I were to tell you that you could short-sale your current primary residence and still qualify for a new FHA Fort Lauderdale mortgage. That's right, underwater home owners can now sell their property and still be able to purchase another home with a new FHA Fort Lauderdale mortgage. How can that be possible you might ask? Well, like everything in life, there is one little caveat. The borrower must remain current on the mortgage payment while negotiating the short sale through to closing. The truth be told, there is about a sixty day window of opportunity before the short sale will report to the individual's credit report and impact their credit score. FHA will accept HUD-1 documenting sale of current home, even with the short sale implication and still make a new loan as long as ... 03/30/2010

Once known strictly as a Tourism-Based Economy, the city of Fort Lauderdale has grown and now supports a variety of different industries, including High Technology, Film and Television Production, Marine, Manufacturing, Finance and Insurance, Real Estate, and Avionics/Aerospace. The name of "Fort Lauderdale" was derived from a series of actual Forts that were built by the United States during the Second Seminole War. The Forts took their name from Major  William Lauderdale, who was the Commander of the detachment of soldiers who built the first fort.  However, development of the city did not begin until 50 years after the forts were abandoned at the end of the conflict. The City was Named "Fort Lauderdale" and was incorporated on March 27, 1911. Fort Lauderdale is known as the "Venice o... 03/27/2010

The Fort Lauderdale mortgage market received an encouraging message from Bank of America’s offer of principal reduction to underwater borrowers. Bank of America has been sharply criticized for their poor performance in modifying delinquent loans under the government’s HAMP program. Bank of America’s track record in the Fort Lauderdale mortgage and real estate markets dealing with short-sales has been exasperating at best. So why the sudden change of heart? Is Bank of America tired of the ‘black eye’ they continue to receive in the media or are they really reaching out to help their customers? Let’s examine the offer a little closer. Like everything else big banks announce these days there are a lot of strings attached and lots of fine print to read. The plan includes forgiveness of up ... 03/25/2010

Are you receiving annoying or harassing phone calls from telemarketers or debt collectors? In these tough economic times, your telephone seems to ring more often. There are actions you can take to reduce the number of calls you receive. First, you must determine whether the caller is a telemarketer attempting to solicit a product or charity, or a debt collector attempting to collect a past due bill. To stop most telemarketers from calling your home or cell phone, you must sign up through the Do Not Call Registry offered by the Federal Trade Commission. Registration can be made online at www.donotcall.gov or by calling 888-382-1222 from the number in which you seek to block. The national Do Not Call Registry gives you an opportunity to restrict most telemarketing calls received on your h... 03/21/2010

Normally, my blogs are more informative. Normally, they are filled with charts and usually have a positive tone. My mom always said, "If you can't say something constructive, then don't say anything at all."  I've even received responses that say I need to interject more of my own opinions into the articles and be less like a journalist . This time, I am breaking all the rules. What is wrong with the realtors and agents in the South Florida area? My specialty is helping buyers in a price point that seems to be on fire at the moment. Most of my buyers are looking for properties in various townships around the South Florida area in the price range of $100-$250k. At the present time, the condition of a property in that price range means very little. No matter what township, no matter the c... 03/20/2010

It sure seems like we're faced with many more challenges and far fewer tools to work with these days, especially in the Fort Lauderdale mortgage market. The massive foreclosure and short-sale issues have left many Florida homeowners with negative equity. This coupled with Florida's "Declining Value" Tag and more restrictive underwriting guidelines, have made it very difficult for many to find a Fort Lauderdale mortgage solution. CMPS Mortgage Professionals, like myself, are commited to solutions and results. Many times my heart goes out to a family that is paralyzed by their housing problems and exasperated and humiliated by how they been treated. Often times I don't have solutions for them, but I do treat them with empathy, patience and respect. I try to give them good information, adv... 03/18/2010

Most of you are probably saying this Fort Lauderdale Mortgage guy must be crazy. What kind of a foolish question is that? I recently had a prospect that had an FHA insured loan on their current primary residence. They wanted to move up and purchase a larger home with another FHA Fort Lauderdale mortgage loan, but didn't want to sell their existing home in a bad market. The question arose, "Can a borrower have two FHA insured loans at the same time?" After careful research, I discovered there are certain circumstances that allow borrowers to hold two FHA insured loans at the same time. I forwarded the exception list to my prospect and their real estate agent. One of the exceptions for having two FHA financed loans is an increase in family size. The borrower must purchase a larger home wi... 03/17/2010

Let's face it, buyers are all looking for a great deal on their Fort Lauderdale mortgage and home purchase. At the same time, many banks are awash in foreclosed properties. If you haven't discovered the HomePath program it represents a win/win option for both.     Fannie Mae has a wide range of foreclosed properties it is marketing For Sale. This represents a terrific opportunity for buyers to get a great deal and Fannie Mae to get these properties off their books. It also gives real estate agents more properties to list and sell. Buyers purchasing a HomePath property may obtain Special HomePath Financing provided by Fannie Mae. HomePath Financing is available up to 97%. That's only 3% down, even less than FHA requires. One of the biggest benefits to HomePath Financing is there's NO Mor... 03/16/2010

Recently, I've experienced an alarming number of home buyers looking to be preapproved for their Fort Lauderdale mortgage. What's strange about that you may ask? A growing percentage of these requests are coming from buyers that already own a home they can't sell because they're way under water on their mortgage.   Many homeowners that aren't yet delinquent on their mortgage are asking themselves, "how long should I continue to pay my mortgage when I owe so much more than my home is worth?" A growing number are coming to the conclusion that it may be years before their home value exceeds their mortgage amount. This phenomenon has created a new homeowner strategy referred to as "Buy and Bail". This occurs when the homeowner goes out to buy a new home at todays' distressed prices with the... 03/15/2010

Many Americans are wondering how to deal with an underwater mortgage in these tough economic times.  Florida has been hit harder by the housing crisis than any other state in the nation. While some can afford to continue making payments on their home, many across the state have been pushed into foreclosure as home values have decreased anywhere from 15 to 55 percent or more. Aside from a loan modification, we have all heard the terms foreclosure, short-sale, and deed-in-lieu of foreclosure. Each of these terms spells trouble for the homeowner - loss of home, reduced credit score, and negative social stigma. Although lenders in February filed fewer foreclosure actions in Florida compared to a year earlier, a new strategy is on the horizon, an idea coined "strategic foreclosure." If you p... 03/14/2010