Attached is the FBI Internet Fraud complaint link. I recommend all of you file a complaint with them concerning evaluation solutions / evalonline.net . PLMK how it goes:

http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx

Understanding the No Money down USDA Mortgage

Buying a home in Wisconsin with no down payment is still a reality thanks to the USDA program.  The Rural Development section of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has made great strides in the past two years to educate loan officers and potential borrowers of the benefits of this program.  The mortgage offered by the USDA is quite different from other programs and is a great way for people to purchase a home without a costly down payment.

Mortgage Insurance

Unlike conventional loans and FHA loans, the USDA loan does not require any mortgage insurance.  This means that every dollar of every payment is going towards the principal, the interest or the escrow for the home.

Closing Costs Paid by Seller

A conventional loan allows the seller to pay closing costs up to 3% of the purchase price.  Similarly, FHA will allow the seller to pay closing costs up to 6% of the purchase price.  However, USDA has no limit on the amount that can be paid by the seller.  This means it is possible to find a house and purchase it without paying a down payment or any closing costs.

Property Location

In order to be considered for the USDA loan a home must be located in an area designated as rural by the USDA.  However, would it surprise you to learn that of the 72 counties listed in Wisconsin, 50 of those counties are considered rural?  And the remaining 22 counties have sections that are considered rural. This means that there are numerous homes that could be eligible for this type of loan.

Income Limits

There are also some limits on the person’s income.  The USDA bases the limits on the total number of people that will occupy a home.  For example, a family made up of a mom, dad, and three children under the age of 18 will be allowed more income than just a married couple.  A Wisconsin loan officer can look up the limits for each county and let you know if you meet the guidelines.

Loan Limits

The maximum amount allowed for a USDA loan is different for each county in Wisconsin.  However, the limits are very liberal.  Some counties, such as Ozaukee and Dane, will allow qualifying borrowers to get a loan up to $230,000.

Not For Select Buyers

Some people are under the impression that the USDA loan is only for Wisconsin borrowers looking for their first home.  However, nothing could be further from the truth.  People buying their first home or their fifth home can use the USDA loan.  The only stipulation is that the property must be the borrower’s primary residence.

It has been mentioned in the news a lot in the past three years that mortgage rates are at an all-time low.  When rates are so low it is only a matter of time before they start to rise.  Take the opportunity to talk to a Wisconsin loan officer and find out if you can get a home using the USDA loan.

This communication is provided to you for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon by you. Rock Realty is not a mortgage lender and so you should contact a USDA lender directly to learn more about its mortgage products and your eligibility for such products.

Original Post - Understanding the No Money Down USDA Mortgage

Understanding the New Rules for Jumbo Mortgages

It is true that mortgage rules have become stricter in the last few years.  However, getting a jumbo mortgage in Wisconsin is still a very real possibility.  Borrowers need to understand up front the basic requirements and also how to compare loans to make sure they are getting the best deal.

In the not so distant past homebuyers could get approved for a jumbo mortgage with only a 5% down payment.  In addition, there were no strict requirements for proof of income.  As long as the credit score was 700+, the loan was as good as done.  Things have changed a lot in the past 4 years, not just in Wisconsin but all over the country.  Here are the basic requirements for anyone that wishes to borrow more than the standard $417,000 amount:

• Borrower must pay 20% of the home’s purchase price as a down payment.  The money must come from their own funds, meaning it cannot be a gift.  Borrowers should be prepared to provide copies of bank statements and investment account reports to document where the down payment came from.
• Borrowers will need to provide adequate documentation that reflects their income.  This may come in the form of paystubs and W-2 forms.  For self-employed individuals, the most recent two years tax returns will be required.
• Borrowers should be prepared to look at loans with adjustable rates.  Long term fixed Jumbo loans are possible but the rates are usually significantly higher than the adjustable loan.

Current Property Values

Before buying a home it is a good idea to talk to a Realtor® to find out about trends in property values in the area.  Many places have seen declines in the past 5 years. However, recent reports show that the overall sales in Wisconsin are keeping pace with last year’s numbers.  And the drop in values seems to have hit a low point.  This means that most places like Madison should see at least stable values for the upcoming year and hopefully a rise in values in coming years.

Limits on Intended Purpose

People can only get a jumbo mortgage on a home that they intend to occupy as their primary residence.  This means that for people looking to buy a vacation home or a rental property will not be able to use a Jumbo mortgage for their purchase.

Focus on Other Debt

One of the biggest changes for approving jumbo mortgage applications is the attention given to debt-to-income ratios.  The current guideline is 38%. This number is calculated using the borrower’s gross, monthly income before taxes are deducted.  Lenders want to make certain that borrowers can comfortably afford the large house payment and still have discretionary income left over.

For those borrowers that are considering a jumbo mortgage in Wisconsin the current mortgage rate climate seems like a good fit for buyers.  Low rates along with lenders who are still pushing these loans make it a good investment for a savvy buyer who has a good handle on their finances.

This communication is provided to you for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon by you. Rock Realty is not a mortgage lender and so you should contact a lender directly to learn more about its mortgage products and your eligibility for such products.

Original Post - Understanding the Rules for Jumbo Mortgages

Qualifying for VA Mortgage

For Wisconsin residents that have previously served our country in the armed forces or in the reserves, the VA mortgage is a great way to purchase a home.  This loan is offered to qualified veterans with no money down and no mortgage insurance, making it very affordable.  And the rules for determining who is eligible are quite liberal as well.

Minimum Service Times

People who have served in the Coast Guard, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force or Army can be considered eligible for a VA loan if they have been discharged and met at least one of the following service times

• At least 181 days of military service during peacetime
• At least 90 days of military service during wartime.

This rule is slightly different for people that enlisted past September 7, 1980 as well as any officer whose service began past October 16, 1981.  For these people they must have completed 24 months of service.

Current Enlisted Military

People that are currently enlisted in full duty for one of the branches of the armed forces can also use the VA mortgage.  After the person has completed 90 days of active service they can apply for a loan.

Service Time for Reserves

Wisconsin residents who have served in the various reserve branches can also be eligible for a VA mortgage.  This applies to any of the Reserve components established with the Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, or Navy as well as the Air National Guard, Coast Guard Reserves and Army National Guard.  For these people they must serve at least 6 years in their chosen Reserve before they are eligible for the VA certificate.

Benefits for Spouses

The spouses of veterans who perished in wartime may also be eligible to apply for a VA mortgage loan. The person would have to meet the other requirements regarding credit and income in order to be approved for the mortgage.

Other Exceptions

There quite a few exceptions for veterans who were not able to complete the minimum service requirements.  If you fall in to one of these categories then you may also be eligible for a Wisconsin VA loan.

• Any person that became disabled during service and received a discharge due to the disability
• People who were discharged after completing only 20 months of a 2 year agreement may be eligible if their discharge was at the convenience of the federal government.
• Discharged due to a personal hardship and have completed either the 181 days in peace or 90 days in war
• Discharged due to a pre-existing medical issue and the person completed either the 181 days in peace or 90 days in war

As you can see from the previous listing, several different people that have served in the military can be eligible for a VA mortgage.  With rates so low, it is a great time to buy a home in Wisconsin and enjoy low payments for years to come.

This communication is provided to you for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon by you. Rock Realty is not a mortgage lender and so you should contact a VA lender directly to learn more about its mortgage products and your eligibility for such products.

Original Post - Qualifying for VA Mortgage

This is an excerpt from a book I am writing called: "Buyers Guide to Foreclosures." I would love to hear from the REOPro community regarding feedback, comments or suggestions on the below statements.

My client just bought a new home two years after we did a successful short sale on his previous home. He now has a mortgage at half the interest rate he was paying previously.  His new home is  approximately half the purchase price of his old home that he purchased in 2004, and his new payments are a third of the old payments. Icing on the cake is that the new home is larger, move in ready, with a two year warranty. More icing? His new payments are $315 a month lower that his small rental.  Yes, it really is less expensive to buy than rent.

How did we do this?  Of course timing is everything.  Prices in this area are 50-60% lower than they were in 2004. There is a good inventory of homes that are reduced accordingly.  When we completed the short sale on his first home, I told him to keep the rest of his credit clean, pay the rent on time, and he would be able to buy again.  It didn't hurt that he was a V.A. buyer.  V.A. buyers can buy a home again two years after a short sale. 

Unfortunately, many figure their credit is shot anyway, so they drown their sorrow in their credit card debt.  After going through the trauma of losing their home, they may think they will never buy again.  But after living in a rental house or worse yet - an apartment, they change their mind.  The desire for home ownership is very strong and everyday I am amazed at the lengths buyers will go to in order to have their very own home.

Every situation is different.  Did you sale your home or walk away?  What is your credit and employment like? What kind of loan are you looking for FHA, VA, or conventional?  See a good loan officer who can assess your situation and give you advise on how to find your way back to home ownership again. Don't wait too long; it may take time and who knows where interest rates will be this time next year.

It's the beginning of the year so time for the round-up of last year's distressed property sales in Sunnyvale. So here's what happened:

Single family and condo townhomes :

Total sales:  835

Short Sales: 111

REO:            73

Distressed sales as a percentage of total sales: 22%

Compare to 2010

Total sales:   849

Short Sales:   106

REO:            89

Distressed sales as a percentage of total sales:  23%

My conclusion:

The percentage of distressed properties in Sunnyvale is virtually the same in Sunnyvale between 2011 and 2010. This percentage is starting to have an effect on prices, east of El Camino. However in the 94087 zip code there were 11 short sales and 3 REOs in 2011 compared with 4 short sales and 2 REOs in 2010 out of 295 sales in 2011 and 307 sales in 2010. While short sales almost trippled in 2011 the percentages are still very low compared to the other zip codes in Sunnyvale. 

If you have any questions about short sales or bank owned homes please feel free to contact me.

Marcy Moyer

Keller Williams Realty

www.marcymoyer.com

marcy@marcymoyer.com

650-619-9285

D.R.E.  01191194

The Obama administration, in conjunction with federal regulators and led by the overseer of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, are very close to announcing a pilot program to sell government-owned foreclosures in bulk to investors as rentals, according to administration officials.
There are currently about a quarter of a million foreclosed properties on the books of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and millions more are coming.
The foreclosure processing delays of last year created a mammoth backlog of properties yet to be processed, which are just now being re-started. One of the initiatives of this program is for the federal government to be in the position to mitigate and manage any new wave of foreclosures, sources say. Late stage delinquencies still in the pipeline number close to two million, according to a new report from Lender Processing Services. Foreclosure starts outnumber foreclosure sales by two to one, and, "the trend toward fewer loans becoming delinquent, which dominated 2010 and the first quarter of 2011, appears to have halted," according to LPS.

Story: As home prices fall, more borrowers walk away
Knowing this all too well, the Treasury Department, Federal Reserve, HUD, FDIC, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, with their conservator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) at the helm, are engaged in a collaborative effort to face this new wave of foreclosures head on and figure out a way to keep these properties from sitting heavily on the books of the government and sitting empty in the nation's neighborhoods.
As the Federal Reserve alluded to in its white paper on housing last week, "a government-facilitated REO-to-rental program has the potential to help the housing market and improve loss recoveries on reo portfolios." REO's (Real Estate Owned) are bank-owned properties, or, in this case, properties owned by the GSE's and the FHA. Three Fed governors pushed for similar plans in speeches last week as well.
A pilot sales program will be starting in the very near future, according to administration officials. They are working on what the market potential is, what pricing would be, how government can partner with private investors, and who has the operational experience to manage so many properties.
"I think there is a fair amount of money in the wings waiting to buy, investors doing cash raises to buy properties on a large scale," says Laurie Goodman of Amherst Securities. "But that means they have to build out a rental organization; it means they build out a management company because if you're accumulating a hundred homes in Dallas that's very different than running a multi-family building."
A number of institutional investors have shown appetite and interest in bulk REO deals, according to officials, but the plan has to incorporate ways to help facilitate financing. That has been one of the biggest roadblocks to deals already in the works between hedge funds and the major banks. Sources close to these private bank negotiations say there is plenty of cash to buy properties, but building out a management structure for the rentals is pricey, and some investors are finding the math doesn't add up to make it worth their while.

Larger investors want to be able to get real scale in any government program, in the range of 50, 100, 500 properties per deal, or one billion plus in assets, say officials close to the plan. That's why the government is looking to test a combination of different approaches. Fannie Mae did a fifty million dollar sale last June, but that was on the small side. Officials are evaluating at what larger asset sales beyond that would look like.
“We expect several pilots that will involve both local investors and institutional investors. The goal here is to reduce supply by converting foreclosed homes into rental units,” says Jaret Seiberg of Guggenheim Securities. “Less supply – even less fear about a flood of foreclosed homes hitting the market – could stabilize [home] prices.”
While much of this program will focus on local areas of distress, largely in the sand states, officials say they are looking at where the assets are today but are really more focused on where all the foreclosures will be in the future. It's not about the stock of foreclosures currently, it's about the flow of them over time and alternative ways to manage that flow.
Officials say they want to bring back private capital and help support rental opportunities for households, particularly when rent rates are up at the same time home prices are down.

Normally there are two ways most REO agents handle their utility bills but wait, there is a third:

1. Pay each bill with a check and set the check aside for several weeks until it is due to minimize the leverage of funds

2. Pay by bill-pay through your banking website which only takes daunting hours of your time due to hundreds of accounts that are no longer used or require deletion

3. Use Realty Pilot's Concourse 360 to create the record of the check file and print one check for each utility company at the end of the month

Let's face it banks don't pay a management fee for properties as an REO and the longer the hold time of a property the more free labor the banks are squeezing out of you. One of the most important things to know is where your break even number with days to hold a property is. Is it based on the number of tasks that are involved, is it due to the price of the home or is it the amount of time the home stays in your inventory? All of these are concerns but the one most important is hold time. The longer the hold time the more chance the REO asset will cost you money rather than make you money. So what do you do? First, pin point what costs you money then find a way to minimize those costs. Since this blog is about utilities I am going to let you in on a little secret.

Utilities will cost you money by the amount of time spent paying the bill-pay through your bank and takes money out of your pocket immediately. They will also cost you money printing numerous amounts of checks every month only to release them strategically hoping not to miss one and you still have to scan a copy of that check for the invoice record. Additionally there could be deposits and bonds involved to support the volume of bills under your own name. So what do you do?

Realty Pilot's Concourse 360 has come up with a very unique check writing system that allows you create the check file within their system right from the expense record that looks just like your check without printing and scanning. This check file stays with the expense that is tracked for each property. This allows the agent to pay all bills for a utility company on one check at the end of the month. So now you only have to print one check for each utility company and your money is not immediately dispersed allowing you to reduce the amount of time your funds are leveraged for the bank or asset company.

According to Josh Kaufman, author of "The Personal MBA", Opportunity Cost is the value you're giving up by making a Decision. Whenever you invest time, energy, or resources, you're implicitly choosing not to invest that time, energy, or resources in any other way. The value that would have been created by your next best alternative is the Opportunity Cost of that decision.

We all need downtime. What is the point of life if we are all work and no play? But all too often I find that people who are "stuck in a rut," or "can't get ahead" are spending way to much time invested in something that has little production or output, t.v. watching being one of the main culprits (and I am referring to our nation as a whole as well as people I personally know).

When we spend our time doing things that produce little fruit we are taking away from the time we could be spending on things that produce fruit.  Of course I write this after having just watched the Broncos beat the Steelers in the playoff game. But that is what got me thinking; how much time do we spend watching well paid athletes (or college kids) play a sport (or one of the many CIS or reality shows), while we can barely make ends meet?

For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Commit your actions in a way that add value to others and you will have a more fulfilled life. Proverbs 16:3

New Year. New You: www.livefitandhappy.com.

www.nickmiller.biz

www.nicksrealestateblog.com.

This is an excerpt from a book I am writing called "Buyers Guide to Foreclosures"  (generic title but to the point).

Financing can be a major hurdle for some buyers wanting to purchase a foreclosure because of the condition of the home, which may keep it from qualifying for conventional or traditional FHA loans. The 203k is a great option. I encourage all agents to familiarize themselves with this loan program.

It's the end of the year so time for the round-up of distressed property sales in Mountain View. So here's what happened:

Single family and condo townhomes :

Total sales:  563

Short Sales: 62

REO:           34

Distressed sales as a percentage of total sales: 17%

Compare to 2010

Total sales:   572

Short Sales:   50

REO:            34

Distressed sales as a percentage of total sales:  15.5%

My conclusion:

The percentage of distressed properties in Mountain View is a higher in 2011, 17% as compared to 2010, 15.5% but the majority of these distressed properties are in the lower price range of Mountain View sales so are being purchased by investors and first time home buyers. West of El Camino is not seeing much distressed property activity.

If you have any questions about short sales or bank owned homes please feel free to contact me.

Marcy Moyer

Keller Williams Realty

www.marcymoyer.com

marcy@marcymoyer.com

650-619-9285

D.R.E.  01191194

From the early days of this network, it has been a dream to offer our members a quality training and certification program however, early on I had not developed the relationships and gathered the expertise that I felt was strong enough to truly give our membership a program to be proud of. So, I spent these past years networking and now I feel we have in place the right people, the right experience, the right insight for a short sale training and certification program like none other in this industry.

So, what makes our training and certification so different? Here are the top 5 reasons we are different and the top 5 reasons you should obtain our certification.

1. No annual dues: As many of you have come to expect, REOPro does things a little differently, with the agent in mind first and foremost so, it was important to me that if we were going to offer a Certification that we don't take advantage of the agent by charging them annual dues. You see, I realize it's not the dues you pay that determine if you are truly "certified experienced" as a short sale agent, it's performance.

2. Your training is not revocable: In other words, once you have been trained and passed the exam, you can always say you have obtained short sale training by REOPro. This isn't something we can revoke or take back from you.

3. You achieve the Certification, you can't buy it: Just taking the training course and passing the exam in no way guarantees you the certification. In fact, taking the training and passing the exam is only 2 parts of 3 that must happen in order for you to achieve the certification. You must still provide us proof of at least 5 short sales completed in the form of client referrals. That's right, you can't buy the REOPro Certification, it must be earned in the form of actual successful closings.

4. Your continued Certification depends on your performance: Once you obtain the Certification, now you must maintain it. Now, unlike other Certifications, to maintain the Certified Experienced Short Sale Agent by REOPro means you will have to complete at least 5 short sales a year with client referrals. In other words, paying dues, attending a continuing education class or visiting with us at a conference isn't enough, you have actually got to perform to maintain your Certification.

5. The quality of the training material and our instructors is based on their successful experience getting to the closing table. Real world experience is by far, the best training anyone can get....at least that is our opinion and therefore, the training material and our instructors are actually experienced and successful Our material is proven to work because we are working it now, using it and being successful.

So, from what I have listed above, as you can imagine we are truly making a difference in this industry and I am proud of this training and certification program so much so, that I will personally be involved in its instruction.

For more information or to register, visit,

 http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=shpa9aiab&oeidk=a07e5hjyc328c7e2ce2

I am still reading through "The Personal MBA" by Josh Kaufman and came to the chapter on finance. In this chapter, he has a subsection on Value Capture.

In that he states: "Value Capture is the process of retaining some percentage of the value provided in every Transaction."

There are 2 approaches to Value Capture.

1. Maximization approach - attempt to capture as much value in each transaction as possible.

2. Minimization approach - capture as little valure as possible, as long as the business remains Sufficient.

 I think most people default to approach number 1. But there is a danger in that.

 Kaufman explains: "When something is a "good deal" customers tend to continue to patronize the business and spread the word to other potential customers. When a business tries to maximize revenue by "nickel-and-diming" their customers or trying to capture too much value, customers flee.

As long as you're brining in enough to keep doing what you're doing, there's no need to fight for every last penny. Create as much value as you possibly can, then capture enough of that value to make it worthwhile to keep operating."

Is there a lesson here for sellers? I think so. While a seller is not building a business, they are still selling a product (their home). And in order for any sale to take place their must be a customer willing to purchase their product.

Now obviously sellers are not worried about re-peat customers. Most of them just have 1 home to sell. But they do need to worry about the 1 customer, who still makes their purchasing decision based on whether the home they are buying has more value to them then their money. And customers do buy based on whether they perceive that they are getting a good deal or not. Trying to capture all of the value from a sale takes away value from the purchase, which in today's market, will cause a buyer to speed walk away from a deal, especially if they have a good buyer agent representing them.

I have heard it said that we judge ourselves based on our intentions and others based on their actions. Beware of a seller that will nickle and dime a buyer to death on the sell of their home, then expect a good deal on the next home they purchase.

www.nickmiller.biz

It's the end of the year so time for the round-up of distressed property sales in San Carlos. So here's what happened:

Single family and condo townhomes :

Total sales:  357

Short Sales: 24

REO:           18

Distressed sales as a percentage of total sales: 11.7%

Compare to 2010

Total sales:   312

Short Sales:   17

REO:            10

Distressed sales as a percentage of total sales:  8.6%

My conclusion:

The percentage of distressed properties in San Carlos is a higher in 2011, 11.7% as compared to 2010, 8.6%. However, at this point the percentage is still ow enough not to have a major effect on property values.

If you have any questions about short sales or bank owned homes please feel free to contact me.

Marcy Moyer

Keller Williams Realty

www.marcymoyer.com

marcy@marcymoyer.com

650-619-9285

D.R.E.  01191194

New Year’s Resolutions

With all the holiday cheer, it’s time to sit down and take to paper all of the goals that we will strive for in the New Year.

• Revamp your office – make it more efficient and organize those piles of files sitting around
• Challenge your self – take one those tasks that you have been procrastinating with
• Invest in a good time management calendar or make it a point to use your Outlook calendar.  Learn a new feature on your outlook that will increase your productivity.
• Get up-to-date with technology – see how you can optimize your technology
• Start that social media forum – see what’s trending and make sure you don’t fall behind
• Modernize your marketing plan – how can you tap into a new market, create a niche
• Volunteer – Get involved in your community – you will enjoy every minute of it!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It's the end of the year so time for the round-up of distressed property sales in Redwood City. So here's what happened:

Single family and condo townhomes 2011:

Total sales:  553

Short Sales: 91

REO:           49

Distressed sales as a percentage of total sales: 25.3

Compare to 2010

Total sales:   600

Short Sales:   93

REO:            78

Distressed sales as a percentage of total sales:  28.5

My conclusion:

The percentage of distressed properties in Redwood City is a little lower in 2011, 25.3% as compared to 2010, 28,5%. This is dues to a 40% decrease in REO sales in 2011. It will be interesting to see if the rumored release of REO inventory actually happens, and increases the percentage in 2012, or if the econmy picks up and helps people afford their homes.

If you have any questions about short sales or bank owned homes please feel free to contact me.

Marcy Moyer

Keller Williams Realty

www.marcymoyer.com

marcy@marcymoyer.com

650-619-9285

D.R.E.  01191194

I just wanted to past this one along to ALL of my fellow Professionals....Please give feed on this one.

P.S. I think this comapny can HELP with it: Halo America LLC-Housing Solutions 4 America!!!

Ratio: 3.5 Million Homeless and 18.5 Million Vacant Homes in the US

Diane Sweet
Crooks and Liars
December 31, 2011

The National Economic and Social Rights Initiative along with Amnesty International are asking the U.S. to step up its efforts to address the foreclosure crisis, including by giving serious consideration to the growing call for a foreclosure moratorium and other forms of relief for those at risk, and establishing a housing finance system that fulfills human rights obligations.

New government census reports have revealed disturbing information that details the cold, hard numbers of Americans who have been deeply affected by the state of our economy, and bank foreclosure practices:

In the last few days, the U.S. government census figures have revealed that 1 in 2 Americans have fallen into poverty or are struggling to live on low incomes. And we know that the financial hardships faced by our neighbors, colleagues, and others in our communities will be all the more acutely felt over the holiday season.

Along with poverty and low incomes, the foreclosure rate has created its own crisis situation as the number of families removed from their homes has skyrocketed.

Since 2007, banks have foreclosed around eight million homes. It is estimated that another eight to ten million homes will be foreclosed before the financial crisis is over. This approach to resolving one part of the financial crisis means many, many families are living without adequate and secure housing. In addition, approximately 3.5 million people in the U.S. are homeless, many of them veterans. It is worth noting that, at the same time, there are 18.5 million vacant homes in the country.

The stark realities that persist mean that millions of families will be facing the holidays in temporary homes, or homes under threat, and far too many children will be wishing for an end to the uncertainty and distress their family is facing rather than an Xbox or Barbie doll.

Housing is a basic human need and a fundamental human right. Yet every day in the United States, banks are foreclosing on more than 10,000 mortgages and ordering evictions of individuals and families residing in foreclosed homes. The U.S. government’s steps to address the foreclosure crisis to date have been partial at best.

The depth and severity of the foreclosure crisis is a clear illustration of the urgent need for the U.S. government to put in place a system that respects, protects and fulfills human rights, including the right to housing. This includes implementing real protections to ensure that other actors, such as financial institutions, do not undermine or abuse human rights.

There is a link available at the Amnesty International website for anyone who is interested and would like to join the call on the Obama administration and Congress to urgently step up efforts to address the foreclosure crisis, including by seriously considering the growing call for a foreclosure moratorium and other forms of relief, and establishing a housing finance system that fulfills human rights obligations.

Respectfully Given,

Dennis Ford Jr.

President

Halo America LLC

dfordjr@haloamerica.com

281-914-0502-Direct

www.haloamerica.com

It's the end of the year so time for the round-up of distressed property sales in Palo Alto. So here's what happened:

Single family and condo townhomes 2011:

Total sales:  590

Short Sales: 13

REO:           9

Distressed sales as a percentage of total sales: 3.73%

Compare to 2010

Total sales:   563

Short Sales:   8

REO:            6

Distressed sales as a percentage of total sales:  2.5

My conclusion:

The percentage of distressed properties in Palo Alto are not enough to make a difference in the market value of homes. There was an increase in both short sales and REO in 2010 over 2011, but again, not enough to make a big difference. Palo Alto has so far managed to escape the trauma of very many people losing their homes. The same can not be said about many surrounding neighborhoods.

If you have any questions about short sales or bank owned homes please feel free to contact me.

Marcy Moyer

Keller Williams Realty

www.marcymoyer.com

marcy@marcymoyer.com

650-619-9285

D.R.E.  01191194

As we start 2012 and 2011 comes to an end, we will all stand in jaw dropping awe that we survived....we made it.....and the promise of a new year, raises the heads of many to the bright future that lays before us, or so that is how the story is suppose to go.

Let's be honest, 2011 was brutal. No, I am not going to go into my top 10 2011 screw ups and goof ups but, let's just simply agree that the majority of Americans want to forget that 2011 really ever happened. Now, that is something I want to talk about.

I want to remind each of you, going forward into 2012 that it's the depths of darkness that makes the light so bright. Earlier this summer, my beautiful niece Carolina came to spend 3 months with me. One of the trips I took her on was to Mammoth Cave Kentucky. Now, for those uninitiated, Mammoth Cave is a huge cave complex that you can go on guided tours through...it's really spectacular, I recommend you should do it. Well, anyways, one of the things they do on the tours is show you complete and total darkness. Now, if you are scared of the dark, this is something you better take an anxiety pill for because, when you are 70+ ft. underground........sunlight....light....non-existent. Well, I say non-existent but, someone inevitably has a watch that glows in the dark or a kid is jumping around with those shoes that have built in strobe lights or something silly like that so, some light is down there however, the amazing part is, up here, in the light of the sun, I don't really notice someone's glow in the dark watch or flashy seizure inducing shoes but, down there.....not only do you notice it, it's like your eyes gravitate to it. Down there, in the depths of darkness where sunlight doesn't dare tred, any light, no matter how faint, burns with the intensity of a thousand suns! Ok...so, I exaggerated a little.....maybe 999 suns but, hopefully you get the point. In other words, no matter how dark, no matter how dank, no matter how much despair is in your life, even the smallest measure of hope is bright enough to lead the masses from the dark. What a beautiful, amazing thought. The darker it is, the least amount of hope you need. It's the darkness that makes hope so bright, even if you don't have enough to see for yourself here in the full light of the sun.

From everyone I have spoken to, from everyone I know and from my own research, 2012 doesn't hold a lot of promise to be much better than 2011 however, we don't need "much" promise, we just need a little because no matter how dark it gets, no matter how much hope we have lost to the darkness, it just takes the tiniest bit and our eyes will do what comes so naturally to them and they will focus, they will hone our senses and we will come out on the other end, smarter, wiser and brighter than ever before.

In 2012, may your faith fill you, may your family hold you, may your friends uplift you, God Bless each of you and look forward to 2012, with just a little hope.