foreclosure (107)

Who is a REO agent?

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The real estate market is a very volatile place to conduct your business – and for many of us, it’s an absolute necessity. After all, you need somewhere to live, right? This seems to be the problem for a lot of people, though. Because they feel they “need” a real estate agent, they are less likely to actually take into consideration what is being said, at least fully. One of the “new” breeds of estate agent that has arrived in recent years is an REO Agent.
Various PR issues and a lack of understanding about the world of REOs leaves a lot of people with the opinion that they are only out for themselves – especially REO agents. However, when you can actually see what they are trying to do on the market for you – beyond the sales talk – then it’s far easier to take an REO agent at face value.
So what does an REO Agent actually assist you with?
They are, undoubtedly, one of the most important cogs in a deal which involves an Bank Owned property. They regularly get the best deals, and if an investor is looking to pick up a property for up to a fifth off the asking price they need to be prepared to do a little dealing and this will, at one stage, most likely involve an REO Agent.
While it’s easy to paint an REO Agent as somebody who benefits from the suffering of others, the work that they put in is simply incredible. For example, your traditional real estate agent will be helping sellers keep a home in good shape and offering advice to help sell it as fast as possible, and in return can get anything from 4-6% commission for giving advice, being there to assist and putting you in contact with the right people.
An REO Agent on the other hand will walk into a dilapidated and vacated home with squatting pets and dangerous appliances and get the sleeves rolled up, cover all of the repair and maintenance costs themselves for up to 90 days after the sale, and then turn the house around to make a sale in the end. They may only walk away with about 1.5% commission, by the way.
For all the talk of REO Agent and real estate agents doing dirty deals, teaming up or even just downright ignoring offers along the way for their gain and benefit, the majority of REO Agents get into this line of work because the “traditional” form of real estate agency has not worked out for them or they have been forced out of the market for a variety of reasons.
As long as you get the right Home Inspection team in and the right staff to help out with the process, working with an REO Agent can be much easier and if you are willing to tough out the bad days together you can really make a significant change around the household and get the price that you are really looking for. They can be hard working and they come with a bad name, but with a bit of faith and an understanding that they are not the same as your normal real estate agents, you can go a long way together.
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ion REAL ESTATE | by Michael Humphries | Compass Roads Realty, Inc

 

4359187347?profile=originalA Short Sale is defined as any sale of real estate that generates proceeds that are less than the amount owed on the property. A real estate short sale occurs when the lender and borrower decide that selling the property and absorbing a moderate loss is preferable to having the borrower default on the loan. It is therefore an alternative to foreclosure. Lenders try to recoup as much money from the sale as possible because they must also pay settlement fees, including agent commissions, at closing.

 

 

 

Who Can Do a Short Sale?

There are two basic qualifiers for a short sale. While these two qualifiers do not cover every conceivable type of short sale, they are pretty standard for about 90% of the short sales. They are:

  • Zero or Negative Equity
  • Seller Hardship

With a few exceptions, if you've got those two qualifiers going for you, you are likely to get a short sale approval. There are a few banks who will not do a short sale under normal circumstances. Most banks aggressively pursue short sales and want to approve them. There are nearly twenty thousand short sales currently For Sale in South Florida.

Who Pays the Commission?

In a traditional sale, where the transaction results in net proceeds to the homeowner, agent commissions are the responsibility of the seller. In rare markets, a buyer may also pay agent commissions. In a short sale, the commission technically remains the responsibility of the seller, but the lender covers it with part of the sale proceeds. Because short sales are designed for financially-distressed homeowners, sellers seldom can afford to contribute money to close the deal. The lender effectively plays the role of seller in decision-making and bearing the expenses of selling.

Are There Any Cost to the Seller?

In addition to the commission, the lender typically also pays for all closing costs, including title insurance, taxes and document stamps. Other than being responsible for past due utility payments, the seller usually pays $0 at closing. The federal government has streamlined the short sale process for more than 100 lenders participating in its Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program, or HAFA. The lender can pay up to 6 percent of the sale price in agent commissions on a HAFA short sale transaction. In general, lenders base the maximum commission fee allowed in a short sale on what is "reasonable and customary" for the market

Do You Need to Use A Realtor?

Most lenders require that the sellers hire a real estate agent to represent them in a short sale. Although in some states a seller may initiate a short sale request directly with his lender and even market the home and receive an offer on his own, it is likely that at least one agent will be involved -- either representing the buyer, the seller or both. A short sale is one of the most complex sales in today's market and requires a tremendous amount of time and experience to successfully close the deal. There have been over 21,000 short sales completed by realtors over the past 6 months within Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Michael Humphries, designated broker for Compass Roads Realty, Inc. and real estate author covers local and national real estate news, industry trends and market analytics. Read more of his work here.

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Search for thousands of homes in South Florida with direct access to the MLS.

http://compassroadsrealty.com/

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HSBC Bank Policy Designed to Destroy Homeowners who want to Avoid Foreclosure.

I currently have a client who has two liens on his home. The first lien is with HSBC and it’s a conv. fixed rate 30 year mortgage. The second lien is with US Bank and it’s a Home Equity Line of Credit. In order to avoid foreclosure, my client originally approached both lenders and requested a Deed-in-Lieu however, the lenders advised him to complete a short sale. He finds me, we list the home for sale, and get an offer that pays off the first lien in full, as per the HSBC pay off letter and pays the second lien nearly 60% of what they are owed. This past weekend, we received notice that HSBC has decided to set a foreclosure sale date of 10/24/2013. We notified US Bank of the pending HSBC foreclosure and they have opened an Expedited / Assist request in order to escalate our offer through their system for a quick decision on the short sale. We have contacted HSBC to notify them of this development with US Bank and requested HSBC to postpone the foreclosure 45 days in order to give US Bank enough time to complete their process. As of right now, HSBC is refusing to postpone the foreclosure any length of time.

The baffling part of this issue is that it appears, by HSBCs actions, they would rather incur the cost of foreclosure, attorney fees, court cost, preservation cost, disposition cost and REO cost in general in order to purposely avoid the short sale and avoid getting a pay off in full. So, my question is, why would a bank do this? Do the bank’s executives know this is how their short sale / foreclosure / loss mitigation departments are being run? Do the bank’s executives know that they have policies in place that hurt themselves, hurt the homeowners, hurt the local communities, creates a situation where no one wins?

I suspect that if an Executive at HSBC saw my clients case, they would step in and fix this. I suspect that if an HSBC investor saw what was going on here, they would step in and do something. In fact, I suspect that if anyone at HSBC would stop, look at this situation, evaluate their policy and see how this doesn’t make any sense what so ever, they would step in and help us but, so far….no help at all.

In order to bring national attention to this issue, I am going to use my network to its fullest capability. I am going to list the names and dates of the people I spoke with at HSBC in hopes that someone…anyone who can do anything….even if it’s nothing more than some advice, will step in and help.

A list of HSBC employees who haven’t been able to help us or haven’t been willing to help us….

10/8/2013 @ 8:11 am cst called into 1-855-698-7627, Got a call from Mrs. Mantra who was calling me on behalf of Mrs. Danielle Paschale. I was transferred to Sandra Scott who transferred me to supervisor Dania. Call ended with no resolution other than I needed to talk with Foreclosure.

10/7/2013 @ 4:06pm cst I called HSBC 1-800-395-3489 and spoke with Sandy, who said I needed to talk with my Single Point of Contact Danielle Paschale. Danielle wasn’t available so I was transferred to Chris in Modifications. Chris said I needed to speak with Danielle Paschale or someone in HSBC’s customer relations department. Transferred me to customer service who gave me Danielle’s number and said I need to call her.

So, the end result, no one was able to give me an answer, no one took accountability for the file and in fact, I am back to where I started, with a call into Danielle Paschale who is likely going to have Mrs. Mantra call me to tell me she can’t help me so, who can? Better yet, who will?

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It's not dead, it's gone in to hiding so the industry can recover from the onslaught of politicians with nothing else better to do but "save" everyone and, in doing so, cripple an entire industry. Not to mention them going against one thing that is supposed to happen with a capitalism economy; right alongside success is also failure. Companies fail and get rebuilt. People fail and homes, cars, boats, etc. get repossessed by the banks. It's the capitalistic circle of life!  Industries are built on this circle. From mortgage brokers to real estate agents. The irony is that many of their saving programs failed and we will be right back where we were. In the meantime, how many in our industry will now fall? The current administration only saved a few but in doing so they caused a quite a few more to fall. How is that progress? How is that change? To make it worse, those that were saved only failed later. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying there weren’t some serious issues in the foreclosure world. There was fraud, invalid foreclosures, and a few other problems. The government, with the National Mortgage Settlement, made those at fault pay to the tune over $51 billion. However, that still doesn’t change the fact that foreclosures will not die so long as we have capitalism. Banks will still lend, and, for many various reasons, people will still default, and the banks will repossess. We won't have what we did 5 yrs. ago but there will be plenty to go around and if another bubble bursts I bet that there will much less of a noticeable celebration in the industry that makes money from it......after all, we wouldn't want to give the politicians another opportunity to grandstand at the expense of the real estate industry.

Now, speaking of politicians interfering. One of the first things done when the current administration took office was a moratorium on foreclosure activity. All banks that had foreclosures were ordered to stop processing them. Next come the reviews, audits, fines, etc.. (all of which were dealt with as mentioned above and the National Mortgage Settlement) and here we are a few years later and they are now finally getting back to where they can proceed with business, which does mean finally processing those properties in default. Interestingly enough those orders did not include Fannie and Freddie with whom the government has a significant vested interest. What’s the point you ask? Well, have you seen Fannie’s profits for the 2nd quarter? $10.2 BILLION! Yes, that’s billion with a B. So, in essence, the government shut down all of their competition and reaped the rewards. How would you like to shut down every real estate agent in your market area and take every listing out there for nearly 4 years? Pretty slick if you ask me.

I have a webinar to teach in an hour so I better end the rant. I will close by saying what I started with, that REO’s are not dead, but merely in hiding. Banks want to keep a low profile on their foreclosures activity so they won’t have politicians interfering again. Wouldn’t you if you had to pay $51 Billion the last time they interfered? In addition, if you don’t really believe me then understand I have been doing this for 10 years and I know patterns when I see them. Keep an eye on all of the reports and you will see some that state foreclosures are down while others state they are up. Why the confusion? Well…..good question…why? 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                          For more information, please contact:

Michael Collins, CDPE, SFR, BPOR
608-921-8536
Mike@RockRealtyWI.com

Local Agent Provides Alternatives for Homeowners Facing Foreclosure

Online report outlines alternatives to foreclosure for distressed homeowners in Dane & Rock County Wisconsin, including Janesville, Madison, Milton, Stoughton, Oregon, Monona, Edgerton, McFarland, Evansville, Verona, Fitchburg, Brooklyn & .

CDPEReflectionLogoJanesville, WI – (3/19/2013) – Local CDPE-designated agent, Michael Collins of Rock Realty, has developed a website providing information describing several opportunities for homeowners to avoid the negative financial impact of foreclosure.

This community resource is available at www.WIShortSaleHomes.com and defines foreclosure alternatives including short sales, loan modifications, and forbearance.

“It’s a concern to me that so few in our community know their options when they start to fall behind on mortgage payments,” Collins said.  “If they act quickly and get informed, they can make informed decisions to find financial stability.”

Foreclosure alternatives such as short sales—which now make up over one-third of real estate closings across the nation—are an increasingly popular way for both homeowners and lenders to minimize their losses in this tough economy.

“More lenders are realizing that they can save money in a short sale versus a foreclosure, and are more likely than they were three years ago to approve a short sale offer.” Collins said.  “This is good news for homeowners because they now have more options than ever.”

The CDPE designation Michael Collins has acquired provides real estate professionals with specific understanding of the complex issues confronting distressed homeowners.  Through comprehensive training and experience, CDPE-designated agents are able to provide solutions for homeowners facing financial hardship in today’s market.

For more information about the CDPE Designation, visit www. CDPE.com

IMPORTANT GOVERNMENT DISCLOSURE: You may stop doing business with us at any time. You may accept or reject the offer of mortgage assistance we obtain from your lender (or servicer). If you reject the offer, you will not have to pay us for our services. The above brokerage is not associated with the government, and our service is not approved by the government or your lender. Even if you accept this offer and use our service, your lender may not agree to change your loan.
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It’s a sign of the times!

Most of us grew up thinking that if we planned well and played by the rules, we’d never have to stand by as our financial lives unraveled.

But upheaval on Wall Street, unacceptable rates of unemployment and plummeting real estate values have taken their toll.  Since 2007, 7.9 million homeowners have lost their homes to foreclosure. Current estimates are that one in four homeowners owe more on their mortgages than they could get from the sale of their home. Millions more homes will be lost to foreclosure before this real estate crisis runs its course.

The sad fact is that foreclosure is not an isolated event. For months leading up to the loss of a home, financially strapped homeowners live under a cloud of uncertainty.  And then for many years afterwards, the blow to credit gets in the way of buying another home or buying anything on credit. Foreclosure even complicates employment prospects.

The impact of foreclosure is huge and the sad fact is that it’s often avoidable.

CDPEReflectionLogo

As a real estate professional who has earned the Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation, my mission is to provide financially strapped homeowners with options to foreclosure, ensure that they steer clear of scams, and help navigate them through the solution that best meets their needs.

Among the most important facts to keep in mind: the sooner help is sought, the better the options.

These are tough times, but more help is available than ever before. If you or someone you care about is ready to navigate away from the dark cloud of an unmanageable mortgage and realize that hope and blue skies are within reach, contact me today and let’s get started.

What are your 10 Options to Avoid Foreclosure?

Top-Short-Sale-Real-Estate-Agent-Realtor-Wisconsin

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PDF Version of this article - 10 Underwater Homeowner Options

Slipping toward foreclosure can lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, and loss of self-esteem. Don’t give up. There are options available to help millions of homeowners rescue themselves from the brink. Since it is crucial to act before a foreclosure takes place, now is the most important time for you to review the following options and solutions.

As a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE), I am trained in assessing all foreclosure alternatives and pursuing the best solution for your own financial situation.

1) Short Sale

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A short sale allows the homeowner to avoid foreclosure, minimize financial damage and move on from a burdensome, unaffordable mortgage. In many cases, a short sale allows the borrower to qualify for a new mortgage in just 24 months, as opposed to five years or more after a foreclosure.

A trained real estate agent can help facilitate a short sale with your lender if you have three qualifications. First, you must show some type of financial or personal hardship. Second, you must have a monthly shortfall, meaning your monthly expenses are greater than your monthly income. Finally, you need to prove that your debts are greater than the value of your assets (certain investments, property, etc.). These requirements may differ per lender, so check with a distressed property specialist for specific information from your mortgage company.

2) Reinstatement

A reinstatement is the simplest solution for a foreclosure, however it is often the most difficult for homeowners to achieve. The homeowner simply pays the total amount past due (including late fees) to the lender. This solution does not require the lender’s approval and will “reinstate” a mortgage up to the day before the foreclosure sale.

3) Forbearance or Repayment Plan

A forbearance or repayment plan involves negotiating with the mortgage company to allow the homeowner to repay back-payments over a period of time. The homeowner typically makes current mortgage payments in addition to a portion of the back-payments owed. This option requires lender approval.

4) Mortgage Modification

A mortgage modification involves the reduction of one of the following: the interest rate on the loan, the principal balance of the loan, the term of the loan, or any combination of these. These changes require lender approval and typically result in a lower payment for the homeowner and a more affordable mortgage.

5) Rent the Property

This option does not require lender approval, but does require the homeowner’s ability to rent the house for enough money to cover the monthly mortgage payment.

It is important to remember that there may be unexpected costs associated with the maintenance of a rental property in addition to the monthly mortgage payments. Homeowners should take this into consideration when deciding whether this option will work for them.

6) Deed-in-Lieu of Foreclosure

Also known as a “friendly foreclosure,” a deed-in-lieu allows the homeowner to return the property to the lender rather than go through the foreclosure process. Lender approval is required for this option, and the homeowner must also vacate the property. Deed-in-lieu can potentially lessen the damage to a credit score and future loan eligibility, and sometimes the lender will forgo their right to pursue a deficiency judgment, meaning the homeowner will not be responsible for further payments.

7) Bankruptcy

Many have considered and marketed bankruptcy as a “foreclosure solution,” but this is only true in some states and situations. This does not require lender approval, but you must have non-mortgage debts that you claim as a hardship.

Entering bankruptcy can be a risky and costly process. Be sure to seek the advice of a qualified bankruptcy attorney when pursuing this as an option.

8) Refinance

As opposed to mortgage modification, refinancing means you will be acquiring a new loan based on your current credit standing. If you have already missed mortgage payments, your credit score may make it difficult to find a loan with cheaper payments.

9) Sell the Property

Homeowners with sufficient equity can list their property with a qualified agent who understands the foreclosure process in their area. Unfortunately, many homeowners in today’s market have experienced a decline in home value and may owe more than what the home is worth.

10) Servicemembers Civil Relief Act

(Military personnel only)

If a member of the military is experiencing financial distress due to deployment—and that person can show that the debt was entered into prior to deployment—he or she may qualify for relief under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. The American Bar Association has a network of attorneys that will work with servicemembers to help qualify them for this relief.

Pull Yourself Back From the Brink

If you are on the edge, you have no time to waste. Call me today; I’m here to lend a hand.

CDPEReflectionLogo-300x300.jpg?width=300Place Your Confidence in CDPE

With the right assistance, the stress of facing foreclosure becomes manageable. CDPE- designated agents have received the knowledge and training necessary to assess all possible foreclosure alternatives and pursue homeowners’ best options. A CDPE- designated agent attends several days of intensive, thorough training on foreclosure avoidance and how to help facilitate a short sale efficiently and ethically. The highly regarded CDPE logo means you are working with the most informed, up-to- date resource available.

Michael Collins, CDPE, SFR, BPOR
Broker - Rock Realty
608-921-8536

If you are wondering if a short sale might be right for your home, please visit our Short Sale Home Evaluation page.

Is a Short Sale right for my Wisconsin Home?

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It is a common occurrence in the Silicon Valley for homes that are in Probate to also go into default. For many older home owners there is scant cash in the bank, they may still have a mortgage, and without a trust a home goes to Probate. When that happens the bills, including the mortgage do not get paid until a Personal Representative is appointed by the court. This can be a lengthy process if there is a disagreement amongst heirs as to who should be in charge. Unfortunately that is a very common occurrence in Santa Clara probate sales.

So while the relatives are arguing over who rules the Santa Clara Probate roost, the mortgage does not get paid and the lender starts the foreclosure process.  

Once at least three payments are missed a Notice of Default may be filed on the Santa Clara Probate Sale. This notice will give you three months to cure the default. If the owned money on the Santa Clara Probate home is not paid during that three month period a Notice of Trustee Sale can be filed and the Santa Clara Probate home can be sold three weeks after that.

The attorney for the Santa Clara Probate home can go to court and get an order to temporarily stop the foreclosure process while the estate is being settled, but this takes some time as well.

Because the inventory is so low and the demand for homes is so high in Santa Clara, most Santa Clara Probate Sale homes can be sold and ownership transferred during the Notice of Default period. The defaulted loan on the Santa Clara Probate home can be paid off, and the rest of the equity used to pay the other bills and then distributed to the heirs.

Sounds simple, but sometimes it isn't. Once a loan on a Santa Clara Probate sale goes into default it is transferred to the loss mitigation department. Sometimes that is the equivalent of going into a black hole. These departments are overwhelmed and under staffed. It can take many weeks to get pay off information from them. In a traditional sale the title company will order pay off information less than a week before closing which is more than enough time to determine exactly how much is owed by the seller to pay off their loan.

In a Santa Clara Probate sale when the loan is in default it can take many weeks to get the pay off information. The title company should start the pay off demand as soon as there is a contract. That way, maybe 30 days later they will have the figures to pay off the loan.

If it is a short escrow period for the Santa Clara Probate Sale it is possible that everyone might be ready to close and there is still no pay off demand from the lender. When this happens, the escrow can still close and title can be transferred, but the money can not be distributed until the mortgage is payed off, and the estate will have to pay for a mortgage on a home it no longer owns until the bank gets its money.

So if you are involved in a Santa Clara Probate Sale and there is no money to pay the mortgage make sure that the process is started right away to get the pay off demand for the loan or the estate will be paying on the loan after the escrow is closed.

If you have any questions about Probate Sales in Santa Clara or San Mateo County please feel free to contact me.

Marcy Moyer

Keller Williams Realty

www.marcymoyer.com

marcy@marcymoyer.com

D.R.E. 01191194

650-619-9285 

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If you are the Personal Representative for a Redwood City Home in Probate that has a delinquent mortgage, but there is equity in the home, DON'T BE AN OSTRICH!!!!!!

 

It is now very common for Redwood City homes that are in Probate to have mortgages. Many homeowners were enticed to refinance in the last decade because of easy money or low interest rates, many seniors have reverse mortgages on their Redwood City Probate homes, and some people did not refinance because of low interest rates, but because they were helping out family members.

When a mortgagee dies the mortgage still needs to be paid. Death does not eliminate the obligation. So what do you do if the mortgage is late, the home is in foreclosure, and the estate has no money to pay the mortgage? It is very common for Redwood City Probate estates to be house rich but cash poor.

The first thing that has to happen in a probate with this situation is that a personal representative needs to be appointed. This sounds like a no brainer, but sometimes there are fights within a family as to who that person is going to be, and while people are fighting the bank could be foreclosing. So stop fighting and get someone appointed. 

Once the Personal Representative is appointed he or she should hire a real estate agent. This agent should have experience in both probate and short sales. Probate experience is a no brainer, but the reason for short sale experience is because that person will know who to talk to to postpone the foreclosure.

You will need to give authorization to your agent to speak with the bank and that takes a few days, so do this right away.

Once the postponement is granted get your Redwood City Probate home on the market and get it sold. Postponements generally are only good for 30 days at a time, and you may not get a second one if the home does not have an offer, so don't delay.

If the home has no equity then you should speak with the bank about a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure. You may be able to negotiate the bank giving the estate $5,000 to $10,000 if you give them the keys and empty out the Redwood City Probate home. However, prices are appreciating so rapidly right now that you may believe your Redwood City Probate home is underwater when it really isn't.

So, if you have a Redwood City home in Probate and there is no money to pay the mortgage, don't just stand there, do something. Take the necessary steps to get help to make sure the estate's home is not lost to foreclosure. If you hide your head you could lose hundreds of thousand of dollars in equity.

If you have any questions about selling a Redwood City Home in Probate please feel free to contact me.

Marcy Moyer

Keller Williams Realty

www.marcymoyer.com

marcy@marcymoyer.com

D.R.E. 01191194

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Are you looking for a deal in a Short Sale or Bank Owned home in Santa Clara County? If so, don't bother. The inventory of distressed properties in the county is so low it is not worth doing a specific search for either a short sale or foreclosure. If one comes up in your general area search, go for it, but don't expect to get a deal, because there are so few of them.

Total number of single family homes for sale in Santa Clara County

1045 (historically low number)

Total number of short sales SFR For Sales in Santa Clara County:

65 or 6.2%

Total Number of SFR Foreclosures For Sale in Santa Clara County

18 or 1.7%

Total Number of Condos/Townhomes For Sale in Santa Clara County

233 (historically low number)

Total Number of Short Sale Condos For Sale In Santa Clara County

23 or 9.8%

Total Number of Bank Owned Condos For Sale in Santa Clara County

11 or 4%

Combined Single Family Homes and Condos/Townhomes for Sale in Santa Clara County

1278

Total Number of Single Family Homes and Condos/Townhomes for Sale That Are Short Sales or Bank Owned in Santa Clara County

117

Total Percentage of Short Sales and Bank Owned Homes and Condos/townhomes

In Santa Clara County

9.2%

As you can see the inventory of Santa Clara County Short Sales and Bank Owned properties that are currently for sale is less than 10%. This is not enough to bring the price of homes down in Santa Clara County, and not enough to allow for these homes to sell for less money than any other home in a similar location and condition. So, if one shows up in your search, be prepared for having to work harder to get through the offer and escrow process, but do not expect to to get a bargain.

 

If you have any questions about Short Sales or Bank Owned Homes in Santa Clara County please feel free to contact me.

Marcy Moyer

Keller Williams Realty

marcy@marcymoyer.com

650-619-9285

D.R.E. 01191194

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Buing a Foreclosure in Winchester, VA

Buying a Foreclosure in Winchester, VA 

If you're thinking about buying a foreclosure in Winchester VA, there are certain things you should know.  Foreclosures can be great buys, and many of them are listed at bargain prices.  But, and there is always a but, foreclosure purchases do have characteristics that aren't always like fair market sales.

  • A foreclosure becomes known as an REO (real estate owned) once the homeowner ar135612838754036.png?width=200has lost it and the lender has taken control of it. Most consumers don't know the difference, so "foreclosure" is often used to avoid confusion.
  • A foreclosure is typically sold "as-is".  That may mean that some repairs will NOT be made.  Lenders will usually take care of any problems that could be considered a hazard.  For instance, an electrical meter has been tampered with and someone could stick his hand inside of it and get electrocuted.  Water, air, mold, heating and structural issues also come to mind when considering repairs that are hazardous.  They may end up being negotiated.
  • Lenders really don't care who you are.  They will not discriminate against you for any reason.  They view you from data on a piece of paper as a potential buyer who they will never see, hear from or get to know.  All they want to know is, "Can you buy the property?"  If they seem like they are being hard to get along with, it's not personal.  When a bank's asset manager has 200 files sitting on his desk, he doesn't have time to discriminate. 
  • Banks who are trying to liquidate their REOs are not like a seller who has to sell.  You can't demand things from them.  Expecting the same level of response time, offerings of closing costs or just about anything else is more than likely going to frustrate you.  If you start demanding things during the negotiations, they will just say, Banker"Next." 
  • Threatening a bank with legal action because they are not responding to your demands will not win their favor, approval or respect.  Again, their response will be, "Next."
  • When you buy a foreclosure, you normally buy caveat emptor.  Buyer beware.  That doesn't mean that all foreclosures are dumps in terrible condition.  It can be quite the opposite.  A bank in California may not have a clue what a house in Winchester, VA looks like.  So, they can't afford to make any disclosures or promises about a property they will never see.  You buy at your own risk.
  • Some banks will work with you on closing costs and some will not.
  • Banks may charge you a daily per diem if for some reason you cannot close on time.  I've seen it go up to $150 a day.  It's best to have all of your paperwork ready, as well as your loan approval done on time.  Make sure you're ready to get busy once the bank agrees to your offer to purchase.  You should already be pre-qualified for a loan before you start.  It's better to be pre-approved. 
  • The less complicated your contract is, the better chance you have of getting the property.  Adding a bunch of contingencies or conditions only makes the next contract more attractive, and banks will gladly accept a pile of contracts before they make a decision.  Keep it simple.  Some things are unavoidable like a final loan approval, but you can skip some contingencies.  Talk to your Cornerstone agent. 

Don't give up on foreclosures because they're more work.  A foreclosure might be the buy of a lifetime.  It takes patience and understanding, and when you're ready to buy a Winchester VA foreclosure, give your Cornerstone agent a call.

Buying a foreclosure in Winchester, VA

What to look for when buying a foreclosure in Winchester, VA

 

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Foreclosure Listings
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Number of Foreclosures Showing Signs of Decreasing

The number of foreclosures in July 2012 is 10% lower than the amount from July 2011. Finally, it looks like the real estate market is making solid improvement. In fact, July 2012 is the 22nd month, in a row, to show a decline in foreclosure activity when compared to the same period from the previous year.

Overall, there is a 20%+ decrease in the annual number of homes being taken over by banks. The trends are taking place in at least 38 states as well as Washington, D.C.

As a whole, the nation is seeing that one home out of 686 homes is either in foreclosure or on the verge of repossession.

In comparison, Wisconsin shows one home out of 701 is facing foreclosure. Coupled with the news from last month that housing prices are on a steady rise; it does seem that the real estate market is getting back on the right track.

What does this mean for Buyers and Sellers?

In order to see how this is a good thing for both buyers and sellers, we have to look at the big picture. Fewer homes facing foreclosure would indicate that people who were out of work, or working at below average wages for their skill set, are now finding better paying jobs. The better jobs obviously are resulting in more money, aiding these families to get current on their bills. This would indicate the overall job market is improving. A better job market means more potential buyers that can purchase a home. That is great news for people who are in a position to sell a home.

The same type of facts has an impact on people looking to buy a home. An improving job market is good for those people that were out of work, fresh out of college or working at a job that was enough to pay the bills while they searched for a better option. More employment translates to more income, leading to more savings and an improved ability to pay for a mortgage.

What remains to be seen is the impact these improvements will have on the lending industry. One of the main problems that led to the real estate crash is the loose requirements that were in place allowing almost anybody access to a home mortgage. It is doubtful that mortgage lenders will return to those kinds of practices. However, it is a good assumption that lending rules will ease a bit in the coming months to help borrowers take advantage of the unprecedented rates that we have experienced for the last 3 years.

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Los Altos Ca Short Sale/Foreclosure Round Up

In Los Altos from Jan 1, 2012 until June 30, 2012 there were:

3 closed short sales

3 closed bank owned homes

Total sales during this time period were 192

Total % Short Sales: 1.5%

Total % REO Sales: 1.5 %

Total Percentage  Los Altos Distressed Properties: 3%

Again, we have a high priced neighborhood and almost no distressed property sales. Values are appreciating and there are more pople trying to buy homes than there are homes available. Additionally, there is very little new contruction before the crash, so there is not a big group of people who bought into a large development and are now underwater.

If you have any questions about short sales or foreclosures in Santa Clara County please feel free to contact me.

Marcy Moyer

Keller Williams Realty

www.marcymoyer.com

marcy@marcymoyer.com

650-619-9285

DRE  01191194

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In East Palo Alto  from Jan 1, 2012 until June 30, 2012 there were:

36 closed short sales

20 closed bank owned homes

Total sales during this time period were 96

Total % Short Sales: 37.5%

Total % REO Sales: 20.8 %

Total Percentage  East Palo Alto Distressed Properties: 60.7%

60.7% of all East Palo Alto sales being distressed is enough to still have major effect on the overall market. However, as inventory is still so low unless these homes are truly physically distressed, which is more common with bank owned homes at this level, it probably will not have a long lived effect. It is interesting to see there are almost twice as many short sales as bank owned sales which has also happened in other cities. 

If you have any questions about short sales or foreclosures in San Mateo County please feel free to contact me.

Marcy Moyer

Keller Williams Realty

www.marcymoyer.com

marcy@marcymoyer.com

650-619-9285

DRE  01191194

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In Redwood City from Jan 1, 2012 until June 30, 2012 there were:

46 closed short sales

22 closed bank owned homes

Total sales during this time period were 363

Total % Short Sales: 12.6%

Total % REO Sales: 6%

Total Percentage  Redwood City Distressed Properties: 18.6%

18.6% of all Redwood City sales being distressed is enough to still haves some effect on the overall market. However, as inventory is still so low unless these homes are truly physically distressed, which is more common with bank owned homes at this level it probably will not have a long lived effect. It is interesting to see there are twice as many short sales as bank owned sales.

If you have any questions about short sales or foreclosures in San Mateo Clara County please feel free to contact me.

Marcy Moyer

Keller Williams Realty

www.marcymoyer.com

marcy@marcymoyer.com

650-619-9285

DRE  01191194

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WI Market Update

Here is today's market listings update for Active foreclosure single family homes located in Rock County Wisconsin. This information was pulled from the South Central Wisconsin MLS on 3/7/2012 at 8:30 A.M.

  • 59 total Foreclosure|Bank Owned|REO homes are currently listed in Rock County, WI
  • Low listing price: $10,000
  • High listing price: $369,900
  • Average listing price: $85,857
  • Median listing price: $60,000
  • Average days on the market: 63
Click here to see these Rock County Foreclosure Homes.
 

Of course these numbers change on a daily basis, so to obtain the most up to date information on current foreclosure/bank owned homes for sale, please contact us directly at 608-921-8536. We would be happy to customize the search further for you to find the home that is just right for you.

As an extra benefit to Rock Realty home buyers, we offer a 1% broker commission rebate after closing. This could mean $1,500 back on a home purchase of $150,000. We love to hear how these rebates help our clients. Some use them for home improvements, while others simply put it in savings for future needs. It is a great option that we are happy to offer. Contact us for further details and limitations.

At Rock Realty, we currently have great single family homes listed for sale in Rock County. Feel free to visit our listings page linked below:

Rock County Wisconsin Home Listings 

Additional Foreclosure|Bank Owned Home Purchase Information

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WI Market Update

Here is today's market listings update for Active foreclosure single family homes located in Dane County Wisconsin. This information was pulled from the South Central Wisconsin MLS on 3/7/2012 at 8:15 A.M.

  • 130 total Foreclosure|Bank Owned|REO homes are currently listed in Dane County, WI
  • Low listing price: $39,900
  • High listing price: $430,000
  • Average listing price: $169,812
  • Median listing price: $154,400
  • Average days on the market: 67
Click here to see these Dane County Foreclosure Homes.
 

Of course these numbers change on a daily basis, so to obtain the most up to date information on current foreclosure/bank owned homes for sale, please contact us directly at 608-921-8536. We would be happy to customize the search further for you to find the home that is just right for you.

As an extra benefit to Rock Realty home buyers, we offer a 1% broker commission rebate after closing. This could mean $1,500 back on a home purchase of $150,000. We love to hear how these rebates help our clients. Some use them for home improvements, while others simply put it in savings for future needs. It is a great option that we are happy to offer. Contact us for further details and limitations.

At Rock Realty, we currently have great single family homes listed for sale in Dane County. Feel free to visit our listings page linked below:

Dane County Wisconsin Home Listings 

Additional Foreclosure|Bank Owned Home Purchase Information

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Madison, WI Foreclosure Listings

WI Market Update

Here is today's market update for Active single family foreclosure and bank owned home MLS listings located in Madison Wisconsin. This information was pulled from the South Central Wisconsin MLS on 2/15/2012 at 10:45 A.M.

  • 42 total Foreclosure|REO|Bank-Owned home listings in Madison, WI
  • Low listing price: $58,000
  • High listing price: $340,000
  • Average listing price: $152,235
  • Median listing price: $149,500
  • Average days on the market: 57

There are some fantastic deals available right now! Of the 42 foreclosure listings in Madison, 21 of them are listed for under $150,000. These numbers change on a daily basis, so to obtain the most up to date information, please contact us directly at 877-774-7625 or email us at Info@RockRealtyWI.com. If you are looking to buy a discounted home in Madison Wisconsin, we would be happy to customize the search further for you to find the home that is just right for you.

As an extra benefit to Rock Realty home buyers, we offer a 1% broker commission rebate after closing. This could mean $2,000 back on a home purchase of $200,000. We love to hear how these rebates help our clients. Some use them for home improvements, while others simply put it in savings for future needs. It is a great option that we are happy to offer. Contact us for further details and limitations.

Original Post - Foreclosures in Madison Wisconsin

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