OK You Love them no matter your age you so those cute little chicks and the smile starts deep inside and fills your face like the sweet sugar taste of a fresh soft mushy yellow peep... hmmmmmm I just love my peeps and now I know which came first .. the egg not the peep. Oh and my favorite Peep easy receipe .. and a great way to start the day         Feel free to share your favorite Peep Story.   04/11/2009

With all the benefits to be derived from approving a short sale offer, you might wonder why any bank would rather risk long vacancies, vandalism, months of no mortgage payments and the eventual cost and uncertainty associated with a home going to auction or other foreclosure sale. Badgering. Let's face it, nobody likes to be badgered. Yes, you might be excited by submitting your first short sale offer but resist the urge to call too often or otherwise badger overworked staff. Maintain regular contact and put a system into place.  How Low Can You Go---Not that Low! While lowball offers are expected, don't waste everyone's time by submitting something excessively below the current market value. Keep it realistic and plan to justify the reasons why you think the offer is fair.  Requesting ... 04/10/2009

The following article was meant to scream"warning Will Robinson danger danger" but then I re re read it and said to my self ... really  only 7% of all home mortgages are in default by 30 days .. really only 7% that's like nothing.. that's less them 1 in 10 people you would think it should have read only 7% are current on their mortgages the way the news sounds. and yet we let headlines and news stories like this send us running to find a day greeter job at our local walmart. If you really  think about it , if only 7% of your daily prospecting calls (and you are prospecting) failed to say YES to a listing appointment or would not sign a buyers agreement  you would call that a GREAT DAY... so start looking past the headline and start imaging the possibilities of what you can do with that ... 04/08/2009

Ways to Stop Foreclosure  There are quite a few ways that a homeowner can stop foreclosure. I thought I would list them here with some brief explanations. Loan Workout- A loan workout is when you negotiate with your lender any kind of plan that will benefit both you and the lender when you are delinquent or in default. This is a broad term used in the industry to cover the different options you may have such as a loan modification, repayment plan, short sale, forbearance plan etc. Loan Modification- This is when the lender modifies your current mortgage in order to work with you and make your mortgage more affordable. In the past this was only used when a borrower was delinquent but now it is being used before someone is delinquent. This will be the hottest term and way to help people a... 04/04/2009

What liability does the homeowner have when doing a short sale? For advice on your liability when doing a short sale it's best to consult an attorney. Recent changes in law, such as the Mortgage Debt Relief Act of 2007, have reduced homeowners' tax liability. In a short sale of a primary residence, the Mortgage Debt Relief Act did away with much of the tax consequences. For residences other than a primary, in both a short sale and a foreclosure the homeowner could be taxed for the difference in what is owed and what the bank receives as payment. This means the IRS could consider the difference as income, and the homeowner could be taxed on that income. In a short sale we seek a full release of lien and request that the debt be considered settled. A short sale is a negotiation, so the ba... 04/01/2009

Attention Agents "Short Sale" Is Not A Marketing Term. Seems lately that every listing I look at says Short Sale or Short Sale Approved or better yet Possible Short Sale and yet when I do a little homework I see the agent has listed it above recorded loan amount and the only way it would go into a "short sale" sale status is if agent fees were paid out. Ok technically this would be a short sale if the lender paid the agent fees instead of the seller would contract the listing agent to sell the house for a fee. Put the bigger point is the listing agent has possible harmed the Seller by no full explaining the short sale process and the impact and options. If the value in the market is less then what is owed then price it based on the value and then you have a true short sale situation but... 03/31/2009

I Love the Apprentice when it first air I thought what a great tool to watch teams in action and hopefully learn from the best and sometime the worst. I will have to say that I like the non celebrity casting better then the celebrity castings, the non celebrity cast members seem to be "hunger" for the opportunity to work with one of the BEST (Donald Trump). You can love him or hate him but you have got to respect is ability to band and market him self over and over again and stay on top. Well now you can get lesson learned for the Apprentice for the web site, some great bits of knowledge here.  Thanks Donald Trump.. PS I am availed for hire. Lessons Learned Blog by Randal PinkettTrump University Episode One:BE A TEAM PLAYER IF YOU WANT PERSONAL SUCCESS This week's task - The teams creat... 03/30/2009

Benefits available through HAP The program provides assistance to eligible applicants in three ways: The Government may purchase applicants homes by paying off the balance of any mortgage existing at the time of the announcement, or for 75% of the fair market value prior to the announcement, whichever is higher. If the amount an applicant owes on the mortgage is less than 75% of the prior fair market value, the applicant may be paid the difference. The HAP Resale Program sells properties acquired through the HAP to re-coup costs to fund future programs. Applicants who are able to sell their homes may be reimbursed for part of their losses or paid at the time of closing in some cases. Finally, applicants who defaulted on their mortgage through foreclosure may receive assistance. Applican... 03/28/2009

I just got an email about 5 properties that are brand new and are part of a bank foreclosure sale.  One of the most dangerous parts of buying a foreclosed home is that they are often suffering from "deferred maintenance."  Since these are brand new, they shouldn't have as many possible issues.  What most people would immediately jump to is that the homes are pretty heavily discounted.  Was $285,985, Now $219,900 Was $279,900, Now $199,900 Was $275,980, Now $219,900 Was $277,780, Now $219,900 Was $258,900, Now $209,900 So, there could be some good deals here.  But, I think the better headline would be what is being offered.  No Closing Costs... And 100% Financing... Of course, this would be for qualified buyers using the preferred lender.  With the rates where they are now, this could be... 03/18/2009

 Credit eligible borrowers may now qualify for $14,000 in either rehabilitation and/or down payment assistance through participating lenders to buy and rehabilitate a FORECLOSED home within the state of Georgia. Borrowers may purchase and renovate single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and even modular homes all priced up to the FHA Limit. Georgia first time home buyers may still qualify for the $8,000 tax credit. All borrower pay back this zero-interest second mortgage only when the property is sold, refinanced or is no longer used as the borrower's primary residence and is forgivable after around five and one-half years. So what's different about this program versus the other down payment assistance programs? Obviously, the $14,000 dollar amount and higher purchase price availab... 03/18/2009

What is a "good" credit score?FICO® scores can range from 300 to 850, but the majority of scores usually fall within the 600s and 700s: 20% are above 780 20% are in the range of 745 - 780 20% are in the range of 690 - 745 20% are in the range of 620 - 690 20% are below 619 Since there is no universal score cutoff used by all lenders, it is hard to say what a good score is outside the context of a particular lending decision. For example, one lender may determine that a score of 750 may qualify you for a platinum credit card, whereas a score of 675 may indicate that you are a better match for a standard card. 03/17/2009

  Lawrenceville Homes for Rent Home for Rent in Lawrenceville, Lease Purchase Available on this home $1,200 per month 4 BR 2.5 Baths, ready to move in now Call me for more information Telmo Bermeo 770-309-6417 Rental Application Lawrenceville Real Estate and Home Improvements Information Home improvement Services in Lawrenceville Additions & Remodeling - Lawrenceville, GA Air Conditioning - Lawrenceville, GA Appliances - Lawrenceville, GA Home Additions - Lawrenceville, GA Brick & Stone - Lawrenceville, GA Carpenters - Lawrenceville, GA Carpet Installation - Lawrenceville, GA Framing - Lawrenceville, GA Home Renovations - Lawrenceville, GA Master Bedroom Remodeling - Lawrenceville, GA Concrete - Lawrenceville, GA Bathroom Renovations - Lawrenceville, GA Decks& Porches- Lawrenceville, G... 03/13/2009

 What I have learned about FHA Financing Inspections.. Not Fact just experence remember each inspectors works within a lenders guidelines fro approval FHA HOME INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS  CRAWL SPACE Must have access to all of the crawl space areas. Major water build-up in the crawl space is not allowed and must be remedied. Any areas of wood rot must be removed and repaired. Ventilation & vapor barrier are required. At least 18" clearance is required from the floor joist to the ground. If the crawl space has been dug out, the earth cannot be disturbed within 1 foot of the stemwall or pier supports. If the earth has been disturbed, then a retaining wall should be installed. If a sump pump is used, it MUST be hard wired. Extension cord hook-ups are an extreme safety hazard and cannot be use... 03/09/2009

What is the Making Home Affordable plan (MHA)? The Making Home Affordable plan is part of President Obama's broad, comprehensive strategy to get the economy and the housing market back on track. The plan potentially could help up to 9 million families restructure or refinance their mortgages to avoid foreclosure. The key components of the Making Home Affordable plan are: Refinancing for up to 5 million families unable to take advantage of lower interest rates because of falling home values. •$75 billion in incentives to provide loan modifications for up to an additional 4 million families, bringing monthly payments to sustainable levels. •Clear and consistent guidelines for loan modifications. •Support for judicial modification of certain home mortgages through bankruptcy. •Strengtheni... 03/04/2009

With all the talk of Loan Modifactions and Who Can and Can Not qualifiy I  thought I would shre a bit of what I know ... as of today... stand by it changes fast. Eligibility and Verification • Loans originated on or before January 1, 2009. •First-lien loans on owner-occupied properties with unpaid principal balance up to $729,750. Higher limits allowed for owner-occupied properties with 2-4 units. •All borrowers must fully document income, including signed IRS 4506-T, two most recent pay stubs, and most recent tax return, and must sign an affidavit of financial hardship. •Property owner occupancy status will be verified through borrower credit report and other documentation; no investor-owned, vacant, or condemned properties. •Incentives to lenders and servicers to modify at risk borrow... 03/04/2009

A home inspection may not be required for an FHA loan, but it can save homeowners money in the long run A home is one of the biggest investments you will ever make in your lifetime. This is why making sure that the home you intend to buy is in good condition is so important. Though all FHA mortgages require a home appraisal, they do not require a home inspection. Many borrowers confuse the two and mistakenly assume that an FHA appraisal is a guarantee that the house is in good condition. In actuality, an FHA appraisal is for the lender, not the borrower. If you want to avoid buying a lemon, you will need a home inspection. The FHA does not currently have home inspection requirements. Even so, a home inspection is in your best interests; it is a very good idea to get one prior to making ... 03/01/2009

I am not sure how many times I have tried to read understand and relate this information to my daily Real estate Real World .. I guess we will all be back in schools soon learning all the ins and outs of the plan. in the meantime here is what is know. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released this Q&A about the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan, which was announced by President Obama on Wednesday, February 18, 2009.Here are some answers to most-asked questions about the plan:  Part 2  6. What are the interest rate and other terms of this refinance offer?The objective of the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan is to provide borrowers with a safe loan program with a fixed, affordable payment. All loans refinanced under the plan will have a 30- or 15-ye... 02/27/2009

From RealtyTrac, Foreclosure filings-default notices, auction sale notices and bank repossessions-were reported on 303,879 U.S. properties during the month, a 12 percent increase from the previous month and a 27 percent increase from August 2007. The report also shows one in every 416 U.S. households received a foreclosure filing during the month. Which states have the highest foreclosure rates? Nevada: 1 in 91 homes California: 1 in 130 homes Arizona: 1 in 182 homes Florida: 1 in 194 homes Michigan: 1 in 332 homes Georgia: 1 in 422 homes Ohio: 1 in 444 homes Colorado: 1 in 452 homes Illinois: 1 in 483 homes Indiana: 1 in 522 homes 02/27/2009

Ok been over talked about bloged about and I am sure somewhere there is a song about the "Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (EESA)", It should not come as a surprise that National Association of Realtors has weighed in on the issue.  A SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSED ECONOMIC STABILIZATION ACT October 2nd, 2008 By: NAMAR, REALTOR Action Center The House has defeated the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (EESA) on a vote of 205 - 228. NAR supported the package. Media reports about it did not present the case for the many ways it would have supported the real estate industry. The summary below presents all the bill's provisions, condensed into some general subject headings. Many of these provisions are likely to survive in whatever legislation comes next. Help ... 02/25/2009

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released this Q&A about the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan, which was announced by President Obama on Wednesday, February 18, 2009.Here are some answers to most-asked questions about the plan:Questions and Answers for Borrowers about the Homeowner Affordability and Stability PlanBorrowers Who Are Current on Their Mortgage Are Asking:1. What help is available for borrowers who stay current on their mortgage payments but have seen their homes decrease in value?Under the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan, eligible borrowers who stay current on their mortgages but have been unable to refinance to lower their interest rates because their homes have decreased in value, may now have the opportunity to refinance into a 3... 02/25/2009