When marketing to probates, the "go to" person you want to contact is the executor, also known as the Personal Representative, among other terms. This is the person that has been given the authority by the Court to wind down the early affairs of the deceased, and is tasked with liquidating the real property attached to the estate. 

Although most people are mailing the executor, some real estate agents and investors are intent on calling them. What to say once you get them on the phone? One idea is to build momentum by getting a series of yes's. I'll explain. 

It's long been a practice of phone sales to ask questions that only lend itself to a yes. By building a series of "yes", "yes", "yes", the sales person asks for the sale and the prospect, having been in a mental pattern of saying yes throughout the call, is more pre-disposed to say yes to the close. Is this reminiscent of the boiler room tactics of the 80's? Maybe a little, but it still works. 

When calling executors in an effort to list or buy their home, one game plan is to simply ask them to verify truths contained in the probate case file. They know this information to be factual, and so they are hard pressed to say no. So for example: 

You: "Good evening, Mr. Smith. I understand that you have been appointed the Personal Representative for the estate of Sally Smith, is this correct?"

Executor: "Yes, that is correct". 

You: "I also understand that the estate has a property located at 123 Main Street?"

Executor: "Yea, that's the property".

You: "Great. I'm curious if I can come by for about 15 minutes on Wednesday to view the property to see if we can make an all cash offer on the property...."

The quintessential point is to not ask the executor for any information, but to merely confirm what you already know. 

It's worth noting that typically, the executor phone number is included roughly 20-30% of the time in the court records. To get more phone numbers, there are other "phone append" services that can take your list and populate phone numbers. You can also do this on your own through services like White Pages. 

If you prefer to take less of a direct approach and want to mail the executor, here's a pdf with sample letter templates. Need a website that communicates with executors? Get some ideas by viewing some sample probate websites. 

First, a little background is in order.

With an aging boomer population, there will be trillions of dollars transfer from one generation to the next in the coming years and these probate properties are unlisted, unpublished and unknown.

While every agent and investor should seriously consider adding portfolios to their portfolio, this process is often shrouded in mystery when it need not be. Probate is simply the court-supervised process that ensures that the estate's taxes, expenses and creditors are paid and the remaining proceeds are distributed to the heirs, in accordance to the wishes of the deceased. Sure, there's some nuances and paperwork, but it's not that arcane of a process. 

Once real estate professionals want to enter the probate arena, the question often is "how do I market to them?" As a starting point, consider putting up a website tailored exclusively to probate. A typical agent's site is busy, with myriad links to different audiences. There may be a section to buying a home, selling a home, moving tips, etc, etc. By having a site dedicated to probate, you can speak directly to the needs and desires of families that are going through this difficult process. The goal of such a site is to: 

1) Educate executors on the probate process and offer insights into what their responsibilities are, what they can expect in terms of the probate timeline, and what their options are.

2) Build empathy with those families by having a "heart to heart" conversation. 

3) Establish yourself as an authority in the probate process and convince them to list the home with you or, if you are an investor, convince them to sell the home to you. 

To view some sample probates I've designed for other agents and investors, check out a few examples here. 

It's been said that there are "riches in niches", and you can gain a distinct competitive advantage by establishing yourself as a probate expert that can liquidate real property in the estate. 

It is rapidly becoming apparent that the auto accept industry is killing the REO business forcing companies to do everything possible to combat them. The latest announcement by RReview that they will be moving away from broadcast orders says it all. I cant understand why agents feel they need to take every single order the only real winners are small BPO companies that love the way there orders are taken quickly ( at low fees to most of the time)

Finding that Elusive Starter Home

The past few years have brought several changes in the real estate industry. The housing bust of 2006-08 led many people to either sell or walk away from their home. As the market is continuing to rebound, many investors have scooped up homes at affordable prices and are offering them as rental properties. In addition, other investors have bought homes at discounted prices with the sole intention of selling them at near-full value for a profit. So the question remains; how does a first time homebuyer find an affordable starter home?

Consider a Different Location

Too many times a young person or couple will buy a home in hopes of expanding their family. That leads to choosing a home that is convenient to good schools, nearby shopping and plenty of entertainment activities. However, for people that may be a few years away from starting a family, the location should be different. Buying a home within the city limits, for example, where the owners can be extremely close to work, could be a better fit.

Consider an Older Property

Younger people often get caught up in the dream of buying a new home and settling in with the smell of fresh paint and recently rolled carpet. However, new homes usually have a much higher price than older homes.

While it is true that an older home may either need a bit of repair before purchase or more maintenance compared to a newer home, the savings in purchase price can often offset the repairs and maintenance expense. In addition, young ambitious people may be able to tackle some, or all, of the maintenance and repairs on their own which can save them more money in the long run.

Tone Down Expectations

A starter home is simply a way for most people to get experience with the entire home buying process. This means that potential buyers should look at the home as a learning experience. Most individuals can get by with far fewer amenities than what they are accustomed to. Or, instead of giving up nice amenities, it is possible to buy a much smaller home and save up for a bigger home in the future.

Have Financing in Order

Since there seems to be a bit of competition for starter homes it is wise to have the financing in place before looking for a home. Putting an offer on a home with a firm pre-approval letter from a local mortgage lender will make the whole process smoother and give you a better chance of getting your offer accepted.

It may take some time, but with a little patience and realistic expectations a qualified borrower can find that starter home that will set them on the path to achieving their financial dreams.

↓↓Start your home search today!↓↓

[Janesville Area]

http://www.JanesvilleRealtor.com

[Madison Area]

http://www.MadisonWIForSale.com

I know some day soon our days as BPO specialist will end, this could be the start of our demise.  This article refers to appraisers however the software in use today will soon make us all pretty much obsolete.    Any comments?

Does the mortgage industry still need Appraisal Management Companies?

Not with Fannie Mae's Collateral Underwriter

We have all heard by now of Deep Vein Thrombosis, a debilitating condition caused by sitting still in one position for hours on end, often in a plane on a long-haul flight and in a tight and cramped position. But just like air passengers, who are often cruelly crammed in to tight spaces by airlines getting as many of us travellers as possible into one plane (to maximize its own profits), long haul drivers are suffering similar fates. These include truck drivers, salesmen and real estate agents.

Real estate agents are often forced to drive from the office to the home that is up for sale (to show potential clients around) and back again several times a day. And the practice is playing havoc to those who suffer from DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis).

The news that drivers face the same medical issues as airline passengers has alarmed those working in the real estate industry. In fact, doctors have confirmed that it doesn’t matter where you are sitting – be it on a train, on a plane or in a car – a blood clot could occur if the person has been stuck in the same position for hours on end.

One French cardiologist has termed the condition as “economy class syndrome” in reference to the confined space in which passengers are forced to endure long haul flights. But think about your long car journey and you will soon realize that long term driving is punishing your legs in much the same way as a cramped passenger aboard an economy airline.

DVT may occur when the legs are restricted in one tight position for long periods of time. The blood clots in the part of the leg below the knee. Some hours later, after the clots have formed, they will journey around the body after fragmentation. It gets worse as these fragments are liable to form in the lungs, head or even the brain – sometimes with fatal results.

A recent study of 160 patients who had suffered from DVT showed that 39 of them had acquired the condition after travelling for a period of more than four hours. 28 of the 39 had actually travelled by car. ..Thats almost 70%.

Doctors have advised that if you have a long-haul journey to make, it may be better to fly rather than drive, as this would involve less time sitting in one cramped position.

Also, don’t overlook the importance and success of compression socks. They certainly aren’t the most attractive accessory but definitely the most important if you fit the description of a potential DVT candidate.

Be sure to speak to your doctor for more information on the potential of DVT.

PamsVAS - Real Estate REO and BPO Virtual Assistant Services

Is the new Fannie Mae Appraisal Program helping or hurting? What are the basics of the program? Well, the real estate giant is planning to offer mortgage lenders access to proprietary home valuation databases, so that they can use it to assess the “accuracy and risks posed by the reports submitted by appraisers.”

So this system will look closely at the work performed by the appraiser and flag any possible errors. This means the lender can ask for an appraisal to be looked at again, which could in turn lead the lender into reconsidering whether or not to go ahead with the loan.

This new step – to be added from January 26 – will mean the price a home is sold or bought at being determined more thoroughly and will undoubtedly add more time to the closing process and may ramp up the cost of the appraisal fees for doing all that extra work.

So why is this happening now? Well, Fannie Mae wants lenders to make more informed decisions when approving a loan to a home buyer for the mortgage. At present, a buyer will scour the internet and real estate listings and look for their dream home in the area of their choice. Then a buyer finds a home, makes an offer, agrees on a final price and then starts the home buying process.

The price is at the very high end of their budget but that doesn’t matter because this home is in the area they have always wanted to move into, It has a number of A-listed schools nearby, great shopping malls and restaurants at their doorstep and a place where the crime rates are very low – so it’s got to be well worth it! Right?

But from January 26, the lender will submit the appraisal report to the new Fannie Mae Program and they will come back with “lower risks comps” that could value the home at a higher rate. The lender could then ask the appraisal team to look at the loan again and reconsider, adding time and money to the buying process.

The fear of many real estate agents is that if appraisers become concerned they are constantly being told its assessments are inaccurate, they will automatically be more conservative in their assessments, resulting in lower house prices and stalling the housing market growth considerably.

Only time will show the affects of the New Fannie Mae Appraisal Program. Let us know if you see any drastic changes in your transactions and listings.

PamsVAS - Real Estate Virtual Assistant REO and BPO Services

Part  1 of a series 

Let’s be honest, how many of us can say that when handed a Real Estate manual, we jump for joy at the thought of having to actually read it –much less understand and retain what we’ve read? “Fifty pages on how to properly complete a real estate BPO . . I’ll just wing it.” Chances are we either end up skimming over the literature while thinking of all the other things we could be doing or we “shelf it” it and scram to find it when a situation arises. If you want to increase the size your wallet, then you need to increase your attention span –and that’s just the ugly truth! So, without further a due, let’s move on to the promised resolve. I am confident I can hold your attention; after all, it is Pam’s Way!

“How can I get more BPOs?” Oh Boy, have I not been asked this question countless times! While I do have 25 years of Real Estate experience under my belt, my answer has remained the same from the get-go. Adhere to the companies guidelines -literally to the “Tee”. Yes, it’s really that simple. The guidelines are there for a reason; they spell out what each company wants and expects from you. “But Pam, why are they only assigning me rural BPOs? ‘The properties are so far apart that the fee barely covers my expenses.’ ” Well you see, the competition between agents for BPOs is pretty cutthroat. Those who adhere to the company’s standards and guidelines are, in essence, giving the companies what they want; in turn, those agents get what they want. As for the slackers . . well, they get what the “model agents” don’t want.

Mastering the Art of Taking Clear & Usable BPO Photos

It always amazes me when I stumble upon botched BPO photos. You would think that with today’s technology as well as with the growing popularity of social media, one would be capable of delivering “clear and usable” photos. Still, a fair amount of agents submit less than satisfactory photos. So, what deems a photo satisfactory? Well, let’s take a look.

So, you’re browsing through the MLS search results…trying to find those perfect comps, when you stumble across a listing whose photo features the picture taker’s driver’s side wing mirror. Would you pause and question the use of the photo or would you continue on without even noticing? If you were a reviewer of a BPO whose subject photo featured the picture taker’s rear view mirror, hood, dirty windshield etc . . Would you think, “Wow, this person has really gone above and beyond our expectations! They are definitely someone I should delegate more orders to!”? Feel free to use the following photos as a reference.

Recap:
BPO Photos should NOT feature the following:
• Your limbs and/or extremities
• Any part of your vehicle
• Mirror Reflections
• Front yard BBQs
• A moonlit subject property
• Subject property in motion
• The mail service/carriers
• Pets/Animals
• Family pictures
• Billy’s “not-so-secret” magazine collection
• Timmy’s nasty addiction
(You get the idea)

Remember, this is your profession; not Instagram, where you gain likes for uploading photos worthy of “#photobomb”.  Get yourself together. If you want to receive more BPOs, then give the companies a reason to assign you more.

I know . . time is money. You may think 1 botched batch of photos out of 5 isn’t all that bad. After all, you managed to make it to all five properties in one day; you’ve even made it home in enough time to complete data entry and submit the orders before dinner! Either you’ll luck out and they’ll let the photos slide or they’ll make you collect new photos. Regardless of the outcome, submitting botched BPO photos will definitely cost you money in the long run -so take your time!

The agents who invest their time into providing quality service are the agents who receive the highest amount of BPOs; leaving those who compromise on quality in turn for getting the job done quickly, their leftovers. Apart from receiving a higher volume of BPOs, the model agents are also more likely to win the listings. I mean, come on, if you can’t take a picture properly (even after having been provided instructions), then one can only imagine what your completed transaction documents would look like.

So, I conclude the first part of my planned series with the following words of wisdom…

“Practice doesn’t make perfect. Practice makes permanent. Perfect practice makes perfect. So, every time you repeat an action, right or wrong, you will find it easier to repeat that same action, right or wrong. Develop a passion for obtaining your goals. If you do, you will never cease to grow.”

When one is truly passionate about something, it increases ones chance of success. Passion is what pushes one to give more than 100% of oneself, instead of simply putting forth the bare minimum.

Check out our full Blog HERE

Don’t forget to add us to your Social Media pages for more good reads!

Housing Market Ends Strong in 2014

The Wisconsin housing statistics are in for this December of 2014. Here is an excerpt from what the Wisconsin Realtors® Association (WRA) had to say:

~~~~~
The housing market ended 2014 on a strong note with both existing home sales and median prices higher in December, according to the most recent analysis of the state’s housing market by the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association (WRA). Home sales in December rose by 2.1 percent compared to December 2013, and median prices rose 4.3 percent to $145,000 over that same time frame. For the year, home sales in 2014 were slightly below a very strong 2013 market, down just 1.5 percent; but prices were higher in 2014, up 3.1 percent to an annual statewide median of $148,000.

“Despite a slow start due to harsh winter weather early in the year, 2014 rebounded nicely and ended with an excellent December and a very good final quarter of the year,” said Dan Kruse, chairman of WRA board of directors. Kruse noted the fourth quarter of 2014 was the strongest since 2005.
~~~~~

Below are the number of Home Sales and Median House Prices for the state of Wisconsin, Dane County, and Rock County. These stats include Janesville and Madison. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions pertaining to these figures. This month both Dane & Rock County's home prices increased significantly. On a year over year basis, Dane County's total number of homes sold was up while Rock County home sales slipped.

Thinking of purchasing a home before prices or rates rise any further? I'd be happy to show you any homes currently listed for sale. Feel free to visit either site below:

Real Estate Listings in Janesville, WI 

Real Estate Listings in Madison, WI.

With the recent home price increases, now might be the right time to sell your Wisconsin home. Take advantage of your increased equity! Feel free to take a look at our cutting edge Rock Realty Marketing Plan! If you would like some insight into how much your home is currently worth, I would be happy to provide you with a report that gives a close estimate to what your home might sell for in your current local Wisconsin real estate market. Click below:

What's My Wisconsin Home Worth?

Has your home value fallen below what you currently owe? Have you experienced a hardship like divorce or job loss? A short sale may be right for your situation. Visit our distressed property page for more information.

Wisconsin Short Sales

Housing Statistics for the State of Wisconsin:

December 2014
Home Sales: 4,778
Median Home Price: $145,000

December 2013
Home Sales: 4,663
Median Home Price: $139,000

Housing Statistics for Dane County, WI:

December 2014
Home Sales: 466
Median Home Price: $220,170

December 2013
Home Sales: 442
Median Home Price: $202,250

Housing Statistics for Rock County, WI:

December 2014
Home Sales: 131
Median Home Price: $116,250

December 2013
Home Sales: 147
Median Home Price: $110,000

View my report from last month. Wisconsin November 2014 Housing Statistics

Get ready for major changes, this isn't your grand parents Real Estate market anymore!

______________________________________________________________________________________

View the video online

A giant 3-D printer can literally build houses. We’re seeing this in China, and in the United Kingdom. You can get a 3-D house for just 5 thousand dollars!

Continuing Education Classes start as low as $29.95 for 3 hours of continuing education credit. Some classes we offer are BPO Simplified, and REO Simplified. If you need CE credit for your license, why not get it through us? To learn more, visit REOPro's Continuing Education tab and follow the directions.

Visit REOPro Default Professionals at: http://reopro.ning.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

Posted by: James A.Browning, Course developer and creator for BPO and REO Simplified.

Most organizations, people and teams like to come first, but when you are top of the league in the foreclosure division stakes, it’s not a medal your team will be proud to wear. This is the wooden spoon prize, the unwanted accolade and a position not to be proud of.

CoreLogic is a leading provider when it comes to real estate charts and data, and it places poor old New Jersey at the top of this league for foreclosures. At 5.5 per cent, New Jersey has the highest percentage of foreclosures among mortgaged homes. And what makes that figure sound even worse is that in second place came New York and Florida, which both tied for the runners-up spot with 4.1 per cent. That’s quite a big difference!

Moreover, it seems to get worse when the figures released for the state’s delinquency rate is the highest of them all in the United States at 9.1 per cent. That figure is well in excess of both Florida and New York once again. Yet these figures come as the country as a whole seems to have falling rates of foreclosure.

Last October 2013, there were some 875,000 homes registered as in some form of disclosure across America. But overall things have gotten better because the rate of homes in some form of foreclosure in October 2014, exactly a year later, had dropped by a staggeringly impressive 30 per cent. Currently there is slightly more than 600,000 homes under the threat of foreclosure.

So what is behind the science and under the hood of these higher than average foreclosure rates in New Jersey? Well, for starters the entire process of foreclosure (from the very first payment missed to kicking the occupants right out of their home) takes much longer in New Jersey than it does anywhere else in the U.S. And it is this long drawn-out process that has contributed to a backlog in the county courts that get to ultimately deal with the foreclosure.

Many mortgage lenders in New Jersey decided to freeze the foreclosure process for thousands of households in the state. This meant many homes were effectively frozen in the foreclosure status, but Hurricane Sandy also helped to play a huge part in the process of adding new homes to the foreclosure lists, although this would have affected New York State just as much. The good news is that the process is moving swiftly along now.

Pamsvas.com  -  Real Estate REO and BPO Virtual Assistant Services

After completing  a 2014  P&L this is what became apparent:

1,000 BPOs completed

$30,0000 expenses to complete BPOs including a part time assistant.

That means, just to be in business to complete BPOs  we need to budget $30 per BPO.

Therefore at $50 per BPO, on average -

we net $20 per BPO before social security taxes and health insurance.

Anyone who completes BPOs for $35 or $40 cannot possibly be making a profit.

The Wisconsin housing statistics are in for this November of 2014. Here is an excerpt from what the Wisconsin Realtors® Association (WRA) had to say:

~~~~~
Existing home sales in Wisconsin fell in November compared to the same month last year, but home prices increased over the same period, according to the most recently released analysis of the state’s housing market by the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association (WRA). Existing home sales in November were down 6 percent whereas median prices rose 6.6 percent to $145,000 between November 2013 and November 2014.“The last couple of months have been a bit of a roller coaster in terms of sales,” said Dan Kruse, chairman of WRA board of directors. “October sales were up over last year but sales in November were down” Kruse said. Comparing year-over-year sales for the two months, October sales rose 658 units compared to October 2013 while November sales declined 288 units relative to November 2013. “Putting these numbers into perspective, our housing market remains strong in Wisconsin,” Kruse said. “We had the strongest September to November sales period since 2006, before the Great Recession began”
~~~~~

Below are the number of Home Sales and Median House Prices for the state of Wisconsin, Dane County, and Rock County. These stats include Janesville and Madison. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions pertaining to these figures. This month both Dane & Rock County's home prices increased significantly. On a year over year basis, Dane County's total number of homes sold was up while Rock County home sales slipped.

Thinking of purchasing a home before prices or rates rise any further? I'd be happy to show you any homes currently listed for sale. Feel free to visit either site below:

Real Estate Listings in Janesville, WI 

Real Estate Listings in Madison, WI.

With the recent home price increases, now might be the right time to sell your Wisconsin home. Take advantage of your increased equity! Feel free to take a look at our cutting edge Rock Realty Marketing Plan! If you would like some insight into how much your home is currently worth, I would be happy to provide you with a report that gives a close estimate to what your home might sell for in your current local Wisconsin real estate market. Click below:

What's My Wisconsin Home Worth?

Has your home value fallen below what you currently owe? Have you experienced a hardship like divorce or job loss? A short sale may be right for your situation. Visit our distressed property page for more information.

Wisconsin Short Sales

Housing Statistics for the State of Wisconsin:

November 2014
Home Sales: 4,542
Median Home Price: $145,000

November 2013
Home Sales: 4,807
Median Home Price: $136,000

Housing Statistics for Dane County, WI:

November 2014
Home Sales: 431
Median Home Price: $225,000

November 2013
Home Sales: 425
Median Home Price: $210,000

Housing Statistics for Rock County, WI:

November 2014
Home Sales: 131
Median Home Price: $113,000

November 2013
Home Sales: 147
Median Home Price: $108,000

View my report from last month. Wisconsin October 2014 Housing Statistics

The Real Estate scene will change ..

From Inman News

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Real estate disruption won’t be what you think

Real estate disruption is inevitable, and the industry eventually will experience a massive overhaul. However, disruption may come in a form far different from what most people expect. Looking at the current state of the real estate business, there are a handful of major players at the corporate level that own pretty much everything in the industry, from brokerages to mortgages. The only thing that these conglomerates do not own is the agent and client relationship.

Currently, large companies allow real estate brokerages to operate on slim margins with the goal of incentivizing agents to push their clients to purchase ancillary products. In this scenario, the real estate agent acts as the lead pipeline for financial and transactional products. These ancillary products come in the form of appraisals, mortgages, title insurance, home warranties, home inspections and an endless number of fees associated with every transaction.

For example, Bank of America owns the appraisal company it uses. How is that even legal? (See for yourself here: www.landsafe.com.) Although many think that disruption to the industry will come in the form of eliminating the agent, a more likely scenario is that disruption will come in the form of real estate agent empowerment as agents transition into homeownership experts.

Empowering agents with the information and tools to help consumers save money at the point of close and sell their homes for top dollar brings relevance back to the agent. Disrupting the status quo will come in the form of decreasing closing costs, increasing the effectiveness of agent marketing and empowering the agent and consumer with the tools necessary to decipher an infinite amount of real estate information.

Ultimately, the market will decide the future role of the real estate agent. However, one fact remains clear: Consumers continue to demand a real estate professional to guide them through the property transaction.

Here are three additional insights into the future of real estate industry disruption:

1. The number of agents will decrease

Technology eventually will appeal to a portion of consumers who want to conduct their entire transaction online. Some savvy consumers will handle their own marketing, financing and closing, so fewer agents will be needed. However, agents able to prove their worth will continue to thrive because a majority of consumers will value the insights of a real estate professional.

2. Technology will put downward pressure on transaction costs

There are countless fees associated with every transaction: closing costs, loan origination, inspections, title fees — the list goes on. The growing role of data analytics will allow companies to make smarter and more cost-effective decisions regarding all aspects of buying, selling and owning a home. Increased efficiency will pressure companies to reduce cost to stay competitive.

3. Consumer behavior will continue to support the agent commission structure

Without drastic legislation and a sheer drop-off in consumer demand for real estate agents, there is no clear indication that the current commission structure will change. Consumers will continue to need a real estate professional to open the door, talk their ear off and handle the negotiation process when emotions fly high. Real estate is a relationship-based business, and until the relationship is taken out of the equation, technology will struggle to find mainstream adoption to replace the real estate agent entirely.

Will Caldwell, a San Diego resident, is the CEO and co-founder at Dizzle, a mobile real estate tech company that helps Realtors generate more word-of-mouth leads

Discover the newest form of BPO automation to hit the market. Turbo BPO is no longer just an outsourcing destination, we now empower agents to work on their own orders more efficiently.  This web software is built upon the trial and error of tens of thousands of outsourced orders to make the system as flexible, yet error free as humanly possible.  Our products take an innovative approach to form fill automation by recreating your MLS grid in our system, uploading your MLS data, automatically calculating nearly every possible data field to generate a "Data Driven BPO", and then transferring the final data into the valuation forms.  Theoretically you can complete up to 100% of a valuation form without even opening the company form, although you would still want to check the special instructions!  Invest less than 30 minutes seeing an iForm demo (25 Minutes) and iFill demo (2 Minutes) and this product may just change the whole way you've ever looked at completing a BPO more efficiently and more importantly, of quality.

-> WARNING: THIS CAN COMPLETE A BPO FROM COMP SELECTION TO SUBMIT IN UNDER 10 MINUTES

-> NO SETUP FEES

-> 25 FREE CREDITS

-> ABSOLUTELY RISK FREE

-> PAY AS YOU GO SERVICE @ ONLY $2.50/ORDER

What is the iForm?

- A one size fits all BPO form which automatically calculates nearly every possible data field.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymbLNziT1OE

What is iFill?

- A web browser extension which enables 100% data transfer from the iForm into valuation company forms.

Compatible Companies

BPO Fulfillment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWME37Q1pZU

Clear Capital: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lY0DMR7P8Hc

CoreLogic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCuKhEyGgIE

Emortgage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjYgv4MfCD0

Equi-Trax: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSFz5YYKgAY

iMortgage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3FHDl2W5Do

LSI/ServiceLink: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_TI6AKIZhI

Ocwen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pujy-Ql43_4

Old Republic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpysYnCH2T4

Proteck: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm3nukxRrCk

Realty Pilot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiAYmNbBJHE

Real Estate Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRl4HKzfH3o

Single Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8fXIl6CDX8

Solution Star: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Dg2Zu_ncEE

Specialized Asset Management: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNITNLNLqKk

Register a free account to get started immediately!

Regards,

John Gattinger

Turbo-BPO.com

First-Time Homebuyers Discounts through FHA

People in the market for their first home can take advantage of a new offer from FHA. This new initiative aims to provide more information to buyers though classroom education and will reward them with a reduction in the premiums paid towards mortgage insurance.

HAWK to the Rescue

The name of the new initiative is called Homeowners Armed with Knowledge (HAWK). The borrowers are asked to complete a series of classes prior to buying the home as well as a few courses scheduled after the home has been purchased. At the time of this writing the classes are broken down in the following ways

* 1st class to be completed before the buyer completes a purchase contract

* 2nd class will be completed after a contract is signed and before the loan is finalized

* 3rd class will be completed within 12 months after the loan is finalized

Goals of the Program

Simply put, the HAWK initiative is hoping that people buying their first home will have a better understanding of the overall process thanks to the counseling and will be in a better position to make wise financial decisions in the future not only in regards to their housing but also to their other needs.

Monetary Benefit

Once the customer has completed the necessary classes their upfront mortgage insurance premium will be reduced along with the monthly premium that is paid as part of the mortgage payments. In addition, if the customer has no delinquent mortgage payments within the first 2 years of the loan the monthly premium will be reduced again.

Some Limits and Expiration Dates

Since this is a new program with no history to review the FHA is rolling this out with limits. The program is currently scheduled to only last for 4 years. In addition, not all FHA loans are going to be accepted under this program. At this time there is no news about how many loans will be allowed to use HAWK but FHA has stated that there will be a maximum number each year.

Class Time Requirement

For the class completed before the contract signing the prospective buyers will need to finish at least 6 hours of counseling and education.

The class that is conducted after the contract signing is a one hour class as well as the class that comes after the loan is closed.

Each class will issue a certificate to the students indicating that the course has been successfully completed. These certificates will be necessary in order to get the reduction in mortgage insurance premium.

In general, this is a great program that FHA is offering. It provides critical information to potential home buyers in order to better prepare them for a prosperous future and it rewards them by reducing the amount paid on their mortgage.

Take a look at --> Madison, WI Homes for Sale or browse through --> Janesville, WI Real Estate Listings!

Should newly-minted real estate licensees be required to go through an apprenticeship period?

This is the question being discussed among real estate professionals across the county.

The topic in question is whether or not an initial license alone is sufficient for a person to practice the business of real estate. The solution suggested by professionalism advocates is to adopt legislation requiring an apprenticeship phase. Providing structured supervision and training to new licensees in an effort to elevate the character and professionalism throughout the industry.

In spite of the ongoing apprenticeship debate, most do agree that our industry is due for a "new development of professional consciousness and  a higher standard of professional service",  towards both consumers and practitioners alike.

How many of you think our industry lacks professionalism amongst its peers?

In a recent article written by Realty Times—California Real Estate Commissioner discusses "what makes a real estate practitioner a professional". 

Read it here and honestly ask yourself how many of the 7 professional attributes  you possess. 

http://realtytimes.com/todaysheadlines1/item/31818-20141202-real-estate-commissioner-seeks-greater-industry-professionalism

So, how many of the 7 did you claim?

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

Search for thousands of homes in South Florida with direct access to the MLS. http://compassroadsrealty.com/

The Wisconsin housing statistics are in for October of 2014. Here is an excerpt from what the Wisconsin Realtors® Association (WRA) had to say:

~~~~~
Wisconsin’s home sales rose significantly in the month of October, and median prices continued growing at a solid rate, according to a recently released analysis of the state’s housing market by the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association (WRA). Existing home sales in October 2014 were 9.6 percent higher than October 2013 while median prices were up 4.2 percent over that same period, growing to $148,000. “This was a strong bounce in home sales in a month where sales activity is typically winding down as we approach winter,” said Dan Kruse, chairman of WRA board of directors. “In fact, this is the strongest October sales we have seen since 2005 when the WRA began using the current data collection system.” Kruse said. Median prices continued to rise statewide in October, growing at a 4.2 percent annual pace. On a year-to-date basis, home prices in Wisconsin were up 2.5 percent compared to the first 10 months of 2013, which more than outpaces the annual national inflation rate, which stood at 1.7 percent as of September.
~~~~~

Below are the number of Home Sales and Median House Prices for the state of Wisconsin, Dane County, and Rock County. These stats include Janesville and Madison. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions pertaining to these figures. This month Dane & Rock County's home prices increased significantly. On a year over year basis, Dane County home prices were up 3.7% and Rock County prices are up 13.8%!

Thinking of purchasing a home before prices or rates rise any further? I'd be happy to show you any homes currently listed for sale. Feel free to visit either site below:

Real Estate Listings in Janesville, WI 

Real Estate Listings in Madison, WI.

With the recent home price increases, now might be the right time to sell your Wisconsin home. Take advantage of your increased equity! Feel free to take a look at our cutting edge Rock Realty Marketing Plan! If you would like some insight into how much your home is currently worth, I would be happy to provide you with a report that gives a close estimate to what your home might sell for in your current local Wisconsin real estate market. Click below:

What's My Wisconsin Home Worth?

Has your home value fallen below what you currently owe? Have you experienced a hardship like divorce or job loss? A short sale may be right for your situation. Visit our distressed property page for more information.

Wisconsin Short Sales

Housing Statistics for the State of Wisconsin:

October 2014
Home Sales: 6,366
Median Home Price: $148,000

October 2013
Home Sales: 5,748
Median Home Price: $142,000

Housing Statistics for Dane County, WI:

October 2014
Home Sales: 501
Median Home Price: $225,000

October 2013
Home Sales: 517
Median Home Price: $216,796

Housing Statistics for Rock County, WI:

October 2014
Home Sales: 206
Median Home Price: $122,950

October 2013
Home Sales: 165
Median Home Price: $108,000

View my report from last month. Wisconsin September 2014 Housing Statistics