It seems like everytime we turn around, there is a new change to mortgages or their requirements.  Here is the latest one.  Effective October 1, 2013 the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced the following changes to their Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Short Sale requirements: New or different documentation requirements for verifying assets, income, and expenses.  Although they haven't said what's going to be new and or different, just know that it is and it will be in effect in 4 days! Deficit Income Test (DIT) will be used to determine a homeowner's financial hardship.  Possible elimination of the financial hardship/deficit income preforeclosure sale requirement for: service members who have received Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Orders, or homeown... 09/27/2013

I was dismayed the other day when I found out a Niceville Florida short sale seller could have used HAP (Homeowner Assistance Program) to sell his home, but did not. Now, due to the reduced value of his property, and military PCS move, he has no choice to avoid foreclosure, but to short sale. Why? He qualified in every way: PCSd prior to September 2010, moved to a base more than 50 miles from Eglin Air Force Base, his property value had declined more than 10% and he had purchased his home prior to July 2006. Why can’t he use HAP? He refinanced his home for more than the original purchase price with the express purpose of investing in property improvements. Normally, this might be covered by HAP, but not for this Niceville seller. He did not save any receipts for improvements. He paid f... 07/06/2012

I posted last year, and probably will every year.  I've enhanced and added, so if you can think of additional ways, please let me know, and I will add them.  Remember always "All Gave Some But Some Gave All!"   1. Take a Veteran out to eat; whether it is a fast-food chain or a fine-dining establishment. 2. Are you a knitter or crocheter? Make a scarf for the cold-winters ahead. Donate them at a local-VFW for a veteran in need or contact Operation Gratitude to see how to donate. 3. Listen to their stories with interest. If they are a war-veteran they have seen things you will never see. Listen and Learn. 4. Call and Visit a local nursing home or VA Hospital. Find out what you can do to help. If you quilt make a blanket for a needy veteran. If you bake call and find out if you can bring i... 12/29/2011

Times are tough for many Veterans who have served our country proudly.  As many are separating after numerous deployments, these well skilled servicemembers will be seeking employment in the private sector.  Many job fairs are only offerered about every 6 months, and vets may have to travel some pretty good distances to reach them.  So here is some information that can save you some time and money in your career search.                      The Veterans Virtual Career Fair is a collaboration with Monster.com and will be held from November 14-18th and is free to our veteran community. Connect with over 22 employers to help move your career to the next level -- USAA, Amazon, Cisco Systems, Department of Veterans Affairs, and more.   Register in advance to complete your profile which can b... 11/07/2011

  As an Eglin AFB area agent who specializes in HAP listings, I frequently receive offers from agents who are not familiar with the HAP program.  Since our Emerald Coast area is home to Air Force, Navy, Army and Marines at Eglin AFB, Hurlburt Field, Duke Field, Whiting Field and Camp Rudder, you will find several listings that are sale type “HAP” when searching the Emerald Coast MLS.  If a HAP home seems right for your buyer, what do you do? First, know what HAP means.  It is the Homeowners Assistance Program for the Department of Defense.  HAP helps military members who have orders to relocate, but own homes with negative equity, cover their mortgage losses in order to sell.  The HAP program was expanded in 2009 to help Wounded Warriors, Surviving Spouses, BRAC-impacted service members... 07/11/2011

    HAP is the Homeowners Assistance Program that helps Eglin Air Force Base or Hurlburt Field airmen PCSing to new bases who have upside-down equity in their homes.  That is, their mortgage balances are more than the fair market values of their properties. HAP helps those military members who are ordered to transfer to new bases avoid foreclosure, short sale and VA Compromise Sale by paying off the mortgage balance not covered by the sales proceeds due to declining market values.  If you qualify for HAP, there are three main programs for assistance:  Government Acquisition (GA), Government Assisted Private Sale (GAPS), and Private Sale (PS).     In this article, we’ll example the Government Assisted Private Sale (formerly called Private Sale Augmentation).  Will it work for you? Let’s... 06/15/2011

VA Home Loans for Veterans and Active Duty Personnel at Eglin Air Force Base in Niceville Florida Top Ten Reasons to Use a VA Loan to Buy Your Next Home 1. Nationally there was 1 VA loan funded for every 6 FHA loans in 2010 2. No Lender Fees 3. Credit Scores as LOW as 620! 4. 100% Financing (No Down Payment Required) 5. Cash Out Refinance up to 90% LTV 6. Loans are Assumable 7. No PMI 8. Rules prohibit Originators from charging more than 1% Origination Fee 9. Buyers can receive CASH-BACK at closing for their Out-of-Pocket Expenses and Earnest Money Deposit 10. Thousands of Enlisted Men and Women working at Eglin Air Force Base For more Information on Resources for Veterans Visit: THE VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER For More Information on Other Government Loan Programs Visit: Government Loan ... 05/23/2011

  If you are an Eglin Air Force Base, Hurlburt Field or Whiting Field airman, have PCS orders and need to sell your home, you may have heard of HAP. HAP is the Department of Defense’s Homeowner Assistance Program.  The program was expanded to help PCSing service members sell their properties, when “upside down” in mortgage value.  For example, you owe $250,000 on your mortgage, but your Navarre Florida home is only worth $150,000. If you qualify, HAP may pay your entire shortfall at closing when you find a buyer.  This is a wonderful program that can help you avoid foreclosure, short sale or VA Compromise Sale on your Navarre, Crestview, Niceville or Destin Florida area home. Here is an overview of HAP Steps and Mortgage Qualifications: 1. Your current mortgage balance must be 90% of yo... 03/16/2011

If you are an Eglin Air Force Base or Hurlburt Field airman, you may have heard of “HAP”.  HAP is the Department of Defense Homeowner Assistance Program that was expanded to help PCSing service members who are “upside down” in their mortgage loans. You may have read the HAP website and think you don’t qualify for the program.  One of the main qualifications is that you owned your home prior to July 1, 2006. Think again!  There is almost a footnote on the site, that corrects the ownership date requirement:  "Q. If I had a contract to purchase my home prior to July 1, 2006, but closed after that date, do I qualify?    A. If you are a Military PCS eligible applicant and were under contract to purchase prior to 1 July 2006 and closed after that date, you would qualify"According to the Emer... 03/03/2011

The 2010 racing season has come to an end and the off-season is well underway and turning out to be both successful and busy for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. Next on the schedule for DRR is the inaugural Partner Summit, which will take place on Tuesday, November 9th and Wednesday, November 10th at Eglin Air Force Baseand the Water Color Inn & Resort. Day One will take place at the spectacular Five-Star WaterColor Inn & Resort in Panama City, Florida. The second half of the inaugural  Summit will take place at Eglin Air Force Base. DRR Partners will have a rare opportunity to use the F-35 Strike Fighter simulator during a visit to the location of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter training site for the Marines, Navy, Air Force and eight Coalition Partners. DRR will have the No. 22 IZ... 11/08/2010

This beautiful home on Shire Lane in Silver Oaks, Crestview Florida just sold.  The home had impeccable upkeep. It was 2751 square feet, four bedrooms, two full baths and two car garage. The landscaping was outstanding. The sale price was $218,000.This home sold as an Eglin Air Force Base HAP Private Sale.  HAP (Homeowners Assistance Program) is a program which assists U.S. military service members relocating to new bases, called PCS (permanent change of station).  In these cases, the service member's mortgage exceeds the market value due to home values declining.  Under certain circumstances, HAP will cover the mortgage loss.  With a HAP Private Sale, the government reimburses the military service member after closing for the loss, including closing costs up to 3% for conventional loa... 08/31/2010

   The military's Homeowner Assistance Program is getting speedier all the time!  I just had another HAP contract approved, this time for a Crestview Florida home sale in the Redstone subdivision.  The sellers were PCSing from Eglin Air Force Base more than 50 miles away.  They purchased their home prior to July 2006, their property value had declined at least 10% and they met other HAP requirements.  Primarily, they owed more on their mortgage than the property was worth.  That's where HAP comes in to help our military service members.  HAP will pay the mortgage shortfall at closing to assist the service member relocate to a new base.  For this Crestview Florida HAP sale, the airman sent in a complete application along with the real estate contract and market analysis which I provided.... 08/17/2010

  If you are buying a home around Eglin Air Force Base or Hurlburt Field, you may want to know about HAP properties. HAP stands for Homeowner Assistance Program, and it is designed to help military service members sell homes with upside-down mortgages.  For example, if you are looking at a Crestview Florida home where the military seller owes $250,000 on the mortgage, and the home is only worth $150,000 (very common), this might be a scenario where HAP could help.  If the seller qualifies, HAP will cover his mortgage loss at time of sale, and allow you to buy it without waiting for a “short sale”. HAP, run by the Army Corps of Engineers, assists airmen who are PCSing (permanent change of station) with orders to a new base more than 50 miles away.  To qualify for the HAP program, the se... 07/19/2010

     Are you a U.S. military service member at Eglin Air Force Base who has been relocated by the government to a new base? Do you have to do a short sale?  Is your lender Chase? If so, you may not get any special consideration, despite PCS (permanent change of station) orders. I am currently in negotiations with Wells Fargo and Chase, as junior lien holder, for a Fort Walton Beach Florida short sale.  The Eglin Air Force Base seller was transferred, or PCSd (permanent change of station), to a new base and had to sell his home.  Of course, he was substantially upside-down in his mortgage balance compared to his market value.  He has no choice but to follow orders and relocate.  He was not qualified for HAP due to the original purchase cut-off date of July 2006.  There is little hope of ... 04/28/2010

School Preparations for the arrival of the Army 7th Special Forces Group are under way in Okaloosa County, in Fort Walton Beach, Niceville and Crestview.  They have included training for the school district's staff, a Web site page for incoming parents and trips to Fort Bragg, to speak to families who will move to the Emerald Coast. Between 1500- 2000 new students are expected when the Special Forces completes its move in about two years. The benefit is our county is familiar with the needs of military children, as Eglin AFB, Hurlburt and Duke Fields have been a part of this community for a very long time. On a social level, for example, the Student-2-Student program in high schools pairs up new students with established ones to help the new arrivals make friends and find their place in... 03/07/2010

  Are you an airman PCSing from Eglin AFB or Hurlburt Field?  Are you upside down in your mortgage and owe more than your current property value?  If so, you may know I have been checking the HAP website daily for the last several months.  As I have previously reported, the site was taken down at one point, and all information was removed.  Today, the site has changed and information is posted that may be useful to relocating military who might qualify for the government assistance to cover some of the loss. 1.  Qualifications include: PCSing more than 50 miles, having purchased your home or entered into a contract to purchase prior to July 1, 2006, you lived there and it was your primary residence, and your orders were between February 1 2006 through September 30, 2012. 2. Your home m... 09/30/2009

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. will be conducting a "Test Mission" on Tuesday morning September 1st 2009. The closure is scheduled to occur between 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m-noon, and should last no longer than 60 minutes.  The areas that will be affected will be Highways 85, 123 and 285 through the Eglin Range will be closed, so mark your calendars for the dates and times, and drivers should plan works schedules accordingly if you will be coming from Crestview, DeFuniak or Niceville .  For more information, call 882-4846 or 882-3935 and reference Mission 7679 or 7901.) Additional road closures info:· Range Road 213 to the intersection with Range Road 231 and west of the intersection with Range Road 215. · All range roads intersecting Range Road 213 · State Road 85 from Range Road 213 to 0.4 ... 08/30/2009

Check out my new website ! Thanks active rain !!      08/12/2009

  HAP, where are you? HAP is the Homeowner Assistance Program for U.S. military members “who face financial loss” when selling their homes in order to PCS, or "permanent change of station" to a new base.  In other words, if you are an airman stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, Hurlburt Field or any other base and you have “orders” to move and your mortgage amount is more than the current value of your home- HAP is supposed to help you.  HAP was meant to help cover a significant portion of your losses so you can dispose of your real estate to PCS, even if you are upside-down in  your mortgage, without facing foreclosure. But what is HAP doing?  I am sorry to say- NOTHING!  Thousands of servicemen have applied for help and many have already relocated - with no financial assistance. I have... 07/18/2009

EGLIN FLORIDA . COM Is Now Eglin AFB Florida . COM EGLINFLORIDA.COM Is Now EglinAFBFlorida.COM Tell a Friend | Add Eglin AFB Florida.com to Favorites | Eglin AFB Florida Sitemap Eglin AFB Florida Relocation | Brandon | Eglin AFB Florida Blog | Advertising     Eglin Florida .com Has Become Eglin AFB Florida .com.Please update your bookmarks!  Beaches of South Walton | South Walton Real Estate | North Walton Real Estate | 30-A Real Estate | Freeport Florida Real Estate | Inlet Beach Real Estate | Dune Allen Real Estate | Miramar Beach Real Estate | Santa Rosa Beach Real Estate | Seacrest Real Estate | Watersound Real Estate | Watercolor Real Estate | Blue Mountain Beach Real Estate | Rosemary Beach Real Estate | Grayton Beach Real Estate | SanDestin Real Estate | Seagrove Real Estate | Se... 05/30/2009