CDPE Foreclosure and Short Sale Education - HAFA - Introduction

HAFA Explaineda

Making A Successful Move With Pets

Making the move to a new home and leaving your familiar surroundings can be a stressful on both you and your pet. It can be even more difficult for your beloved pets when moving because they have no idea why all the commotion! It is important to have a plan and take your pet's needs into consideration to have a smooth transition for everyone. Below are some tips to help you get started!

• Take your time and plan ahead. Stretch out your packing over several weeks so you won't have to worry about any last minute crunch times. This will help to avoid panic in the last days, leaving moving day as relaxed as possible for you and your pets.
• Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian a few weeks before your move for a check up. Be sure to attain your pet's veterinary records so that they can be forwarded to your new veterinarian. Certain localities may have stringent requirements or restrictions regarding pet ownership. You may need permits or registrations.
• Don't change your pets' routines. Animals thrive on routines, if they know when to expect things such as feedings and walks, they will do much better. Changing these routines can cause animals to feel stressed and might cause illness or behavioral. Try to keep everything on the same level as normal.
• When you arrive at your new home, designate a unused room with a door that is quiet and just for them. Provide them with fresh food and water and their bed or favorite toy, something that is familiar to them. This will keep them safe and calm while the move is going on.
• If your pets are not micro-chipped be sure to get a new pet ID tag with your new address and contact phone numbers and if they are micro-chipped be sure to update the info with your microchip company.
  
  If you are moving a long distance and need to enlist the help of professional pet movers you have many choices. There are companies that specialize in air travel for moving pets and others that offer various methods of pet transportation that can transport your pets to the next state or around the world. As always do your research to find one that fits your needs and comes highly recommended.

Staging Tips To Help Sell Your Home Fast

In this difficult economy, selling your home can be a challenge. Sellers are looking for help to sell their home faster and for top dollar. Staging a home for sale is one of the best marketing strategies in residential real estate.

If you are not familair with staging, it is the process of showcasing your home in its absolute best light. By doing this, you draw buyers’ attention to your home’s most appealing features and helps to not draw attention to the features that are not as appealing.

By staging your home you can emphasize on your home’s positives. It’s part art, part science--and all marketing. It can involve everything from fresh paint to clever carpentry, new lighting to new window treatments. And don’t forget the borrowed (or rented) furniture to define and enhance each room!

To see staging in action, watch an episode or two of HGTV’s Designed To Sell for some amazing tips. Also see Top 10 Home-Staging Dos and Top 10 Home-Staging Don’ts by Designed To Sell’s Donna and Shannon Freeman.

Below are some tips that you can follow to help make your home shine:

* Clear it out. You have stuff--lots of stuff. And your house is overloaded with all that stuff. Go through each room and get rid of the clutter everywhere you see it. Your rooms will look bigger, more restful, and more inviting. And all you did was pick up!

* Clean it up. Make sure everything shines inside and out, from windows, floors and countertops inside to the deck, garage and yard outside. Pay particular attention to the kitchen and bath. A little well-applied elbow grease will go a long way in selling your home. And it’s free!

Do these two simple things, and you’re already ahead in the staging game.

But should you keep going and stage other aspects of your own home? That depends on whether you have the eye, the skill--and the objectivity. Can you put yourself in the buyer’s shoes and see your home as the buyer will see it--positive points and negative points? Are you prepared to tackle those negatives? Do you have the “designer’s eye” for color and other design elements? Do you have the technical skills to complete improvements?

Staging can definitely help sell your house for more if it’s done right, whether you do it on your own or you hire a professional stager.

Tips On Cutting Your Property Taxes

Every homeowner is required to pay property taxes, and on top of the other expenses that come along with owing a home, it can be a strain on the budget in these tough times. However, there are some ways you can cut your property tax bill, one top tip is having a propery reassessment.

Homeowner's property taxes are typically calculated based on an official assessment of the property. Because the value of many home's have dropped in the last few years, homeowners can challenge what the value of the home is currently valued at and thus reduce the tax bill by hundreds of dollars. Even before you seek an assessment, it is a good idea to check your records to make sure there are no mistakes. Simple typos and incorrect information can cause homeowners to be.

With the current economic crisis, many counties are raising property taxes in an attempt to balance their fiscal budgets and reduce their deficits. According to a survey by the National Association of Counties, a group that represents county governments.property taxes, about 18% of counties whose fiscal year begins between January and June increased property taxes to address revenue shortfalls.

Whether you are planning to sell your home in the near future or are planning to stay for a few more years, it is worth trying to get a reassessment. Keep in mind that if you can reduce your taxes, it will be a great selling tool.

When Looking At Homes Watch For These Red Flags

Once you begin the househunting process in your search for a new home, it can be easy to get caught up in the excitement and overlook potential problems. It is of course vital to always have a professional home inspection before signing any contracts. However, it is important to be on the look out for some potential issues before you start the process of purchasing the home. Below are some red flags to look for when you begin searching for your home.

•Be on the lookout for strange odors. Pet smells, musty odors and even cigarette smells can be red flags as they can be hard to get rid of and may signal a deeper problem. Keep in mind if the home smells like heavy cleaning products the seller might be trying to hide a problem.
•Watch out for wiring issues. While an electrician is the only one to accurately diagnose wiring problems there are some things you can be on the look out for. Make sure all the switches and outlets in the house function properly. Any lights that flicker or don't work as well as hot outlets are all symptoms of wiring problems.
•Problems With Windows. You can tell a foggy window problem right away just by looking at them but also be sure to check out all the windows to make sure they are fully functional. Some older windows maybe warped or painted shut and if you do see foggy windows that is a sign that the seal is broken.
•Look up for ceiling stains. Some buyers don' think about looking up at the ceiling but if you see stains then its obvious..something’s leaking. It might be a simple repair or it might be quite costly. Most roof leaks result from neglected flashing that seals “valleys” in the roof or around a chimney or vents, roof leaks mean mean it’s time to replace shingles. If the leak is under a bathroom it might be shower or even the toilet that is causing problems.
•Look closely for insects and rodents. Keep a close eye out for signs of rodents and bugs. Be on the lookout for hidden mouse traps, rodent droppings, roach motels or other signs that there may be a problem. If you do locate a home that you are ready to purchase, absolutely get a termite inspection as they can only be detected by a professional inspection.

Of course these are just some things to look for and while they may not present a serious problem and may be a mior fix it is important to be aware of potential issues and headaches downt the road.

Preventing Home Theft

• Taking steps to prevent theft can reduce your insurance premiums and save you from the heartbreak of losing items that are worth more to you than money. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation estimates, in 2007 alone, there were nearly 2.2 million burglaries in the United States. There are steps that homeowners can take to make their properties less vulnerable to intruders and precautions to prevent becoming a victim of theft. Consider the following safety tips to protect your home and family
  
  
• Make it difficult for an intruder to hide; trim bushes and trees to allow maximum exposure of windows and doorways.
• Install a home security system. According to the FBI, homes equipped with centrally monitored alarm systems are 15 times less likely to be targets of break-ins.
• Install motion-detection lights on all sides of the house. This will help to make your home less inviting to burglars.
• Take part in the neighborhood watch and get to know your neighbors. Neighbors can play a key role in preventing home thefts. Homeowners who interact with their neighbors are less likely to be victimized by other members of their community. At the same time, closely knit neighbors are more likely to call the police if they see someone suspicious poking around your property.
• When you aren't home, use a timer set to turn interior lights on and off at varying intervals as though your home was still occupied.
• Use solid core or metal clad entrance doors with solid door frames firmly attached to your home. Many intruders enter residences by physically destroying lightweight hollow core doors and flimsy door frames.

Taking these preventive measures can reduce the chances of your home being broken into and your possessions stolen. It is a good idea to review your insurance policy to make sure it provides all the protection you need. It is recommended that you videotape your valuables and note any serial numbers in case of theft.

What is Private Mortgage Insurance?

Once a home has been purchased and you go to closing you may be required to purchase private mortgage insurance (PMI) . This insurance is payable to a lender and is specifically to offset losses in the case where a mortgagor is not able to repay the loan and the lender is not able to recover its costs after foreclosure and sale of the mortgaged property.

PMI insurance protects the lender, not the homeowner and it is typically required by lenders due to the higher level of default risk that's associated with low down payment loans. This type of insurance is usually only required if the downpayment is less than 20% of the sales price or appraised value (in other words, if the loan-to-value ratio (LTV) is 80% or more)

The cost of PMI premiums vary, but typically they fall between one-half and one percent of the loan amount, depending on the size of the down payment and loan specifics. These costs are in addition to your mortgage payment and not usually tax deductible. The PMI may be payable up front, or it may be capitalized onto the loan.


Many homebuyers want to know how long they will be required to have this insurance. If you are currently paying PMI, you will need to continue paying your premiums until you pay down your mortgage to the point that it equals 80 percent of the original purchase price or appraised value of your home at the time the loan was obtained, whichever is less.

You have another option where the lender will automatically cancel the payments but they wont do this until you 22% equity in the home rather than 20%. Keep in mind you do have the right to cancel PMI at the 20% mark a lender won't automatically cancel it for another 2 percent

Eliminating Toxins In Your Home

Most homeowners don't realize just how many toxins they have inside their home. These toxins can be found in many household items that are used on a daily basis. These toxins can be especially dangerous if someone in your home has allergies or asthma. Below are a a list of simple changes that you can make to make your home free of toxins.

Cleaners: Most cleaners you purchase at the store contain toxins and irritants that can cause breathing difficulties, such as bleach and ammonia. You may use cleaners on a daily basis contain many powerful cleaning agents that contain toxins that can cause problems. The good news is that there are many alternatives on the market today that do just as a good of job cleaning but are much more safer to both the environment but to those that live in your home!

Paint: Paint has traditionally been high odor substance that contains potential toxins. There are many 'green' paint options available today that are not only low odor but that have no cancer causing toxins (also called VOCs). Look for paints that have been certified by Green Seal. Benhamin Moore also has a Natua line of paints that are just as rich and durable, just water based and much safer.

Air Fresheners: Everyone loves their home to smell fresh, but items like air fresheners, candles and fragrances contain synthetic components that can cause irritation to the lungs. In addition to irritants some can contain a chemical called 'phthalates', which has been shown to cause birth defects, hormone disruption and reproduction problems. Look for alternative candles or scents that have essential oils instead of synthetic fragrances.

Furniture: Many people don't think of furniture as being toxic but if your furniture is old and worn it main contain flame retardants called PBDE's that can cause serious health problems. These chemicals can effect brain, nervous or reproduction problems. Be informed that stain repellents on furniture can also contains toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde. Do your research before putting any repellent on your furniture.

Also consider adding houseplants - they help filter the air and add a sense of life to any home. If you don't already have one, using a bagless vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter can greatly help to improve the air quality in your home.

Home Purchase Agreements

During the homebuying process, you will be required to submit what is known as a real estate purchase agreement to the seller. This agreement will be between you and the builder if the home you are buying is a new construction. The purpose of this agreement is a legal document between the buyer and the seller and will outline certain to aspects of the sale, including the purchase price.

The real estate purchase agreement also indicates specifics of the sale such as the time frame for the sale and any conditions or contingencies relating to the sale, and other things you should be aware of.

As with any other legal contract, a real estate contract may be formed by one party making an offer and another party accepting the offer. Typically, the party making the offer prepares a written real estate contract, signs it, and transmits it to the other party who would accept the offer by signing the contract. At this point, the other party may accept the offer, reject it or make a counteroffer. To be enforceable, a real estate contract must possess original signatures by the parties and any alterations to the contract must be initialed by all the parties involved.

Because these agreements can be confusing, it is always a good idea to work with a real estate professional when dealing with legal forms before signing if you have any questions or are confused with any of the terms.

What Can a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) Do For You?

What can Jerry Pilgrim, a CDPEAdvanced member, offer to homeowners in distress?

“I am a member of the CDPEAdvanced program. You may have heard of CDPEs or Certified Distressed Property Experts before. We are agents who have committed to understanding and providing foreclosure avoidance solutions to homeowners facing financial hardship.

Being a real estate agent today means something different than perhaps a few years ago.

Today, around 15 percent of mortgages are delinquent, or not being paid. That means one in six homeowners you meet may be experiencing the same challenges you are. So the first thing you should know is that you’re not alone, and that there are millions of others across the country in your situation.

As a CDPEAdvanced member, I’m part of the charge to turn this crisis around by immersing myself in the solutions available to distressed homeowners. And my goal is to bring the best option to each individual homeowner.

CDPEAdvanced gives me access to regular industry updates from the Distressed Property Institute, a company created by real estate leaders with the specific purpose of pulling as many homeowners out of distress as possible.

I also have access to a network of top agents nationwide who are also dealing with distressed properties. This is a powerful tool. It lets me find out what is happening on the front lines, what banks and buyers are looking for, which foreclosure avoidance tactics are working and which ones aren’t.

Between the market analysis and the network of agent communication, I can offer you the most current, relevant solutions. This housing market has become such a moving target that anyone who isn’t taking extra steps to keep up will simply get left behind. My clients need to know all the options available to them, and that is what I can deliver. This is why I am a CDPEAdvanced member.”

Find out more by visting www.PilgrimTeam.com or visit www.StopYorkForeclosures.com

Prevent Mortgage Modification Fraud

Hi
I wanted to give you a heads up on something I think every single homeowner should be aware of. The FBI and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder have reported a 400 percent increase in mortgage fraud cases from five years ago. Seems to be that with more homeowners unable to make mortgage payments, there are more and more predators trying to exploit these people.

I don't want to be unnecessarily alarmist. But this is a threat that you or anyone you know should be aware of when going through a real estate transaction. It's not the nicest thing to think about, but essential nonetheless.

For anyone you know who is considering a relocation, mortgage modification, short sale or any other transaction, I put together a free report available on my website that explains what kinds of fraud schemes the FBI has seen, as well as the "red flags" to look out for. You can download it here:

http://stopyorkpaforeclosure.com/

If you have any questions about mortgage scams, or if anyone you know needs legitimate, professional help with avoiding foreclosure, please don't hesitate to contact me. I am here to help.

New FHA Rules To Protect Buyers

When new homebuyers go to closing to finalize the sale, many are surprised that the costs to close were more than they expected. Many figure on the amount that the Good Faith Estimate provided as the final amount. Unfortuantely that estimate is not final and just a rough idea of the final fees associated with a mortgage loan due at closing. Many times these costs increase by the time the buyer gets to the closing table without warning.

However as of January 1, here is good news for homebuyers. New federal rules adopted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development took effect. The new rules will implement a redesigned, simplified Good Faith Estimate form to help buyers avoid those closing-table surprises.

Before this new policy, lenders would provide the borrowers with the estimated fees was complicated and confusing. Under the new rules lenders will all be required to use the same form for their Good Faith Estimates – a three-page document issued by HUD.

There are also new rules that will put a cap on the increases in costs that are indicated on the Good Faith Estimate and guidelines so that fees listed on the initial estimate reflect the actual cost at settlement.

Strategic Foreclosures Good or Bad?

Recently there has been some talk about "strategic foreclosures". Unfortunately there have been some individuals promoting to people who are in financial distress and don't know where to turn when they have fallen behind in their mortgage payments. They have taken the stand that it is O.K. to just walk away and never look behind them for the consequences that come with such a move.

Just last week Good Morning America had a special about walking away form your commitment. The analogy they used was that if it is good enough for corporate America to do so, it is O.K. for the average homeowner too. It was totally irresponsible reporting and they should be taken to task to promote such a terrible injustice to the public. They did not mention what consequences there are to individuals who actually must work and maintain households, credit ratings and personal reputations if they allow a foreclosure to happen. Obviously they did not realize or even care that with that type of reporting people could be jeopardizing their financial futures including holding on to the job they currently have or a job in the future. Corporations don't have to think about those things as it not part of the business world. So yes, corporations do that sometimes but with different consequences.

Please don't consider a Strategic Foreclosure as you might not be happy what you may end up with. Call me today for a confidential interview and we can set the record straight and get you on the right financial path.

Mortgage Financing Programs

I am going to cover different loan programs that are being offered as of now over the next few days. With new RESPA rules loan programs have been changing along with how they are offered.

I first will discuss FHA loans as they are known as of today. This is becoming the most popular loan out there today in the York, PA area. The most important factor is the amount of money down that is required by HUD. As a buyer you will need to have at least 3.5% down of your own in the transaction. The Seller can contribute up to 6% of the sale price towards the Buyers closing costs as of today. That will be changing shortly to 3% in april. You can see why it is one of the most popular loans in the market. You can get into a $200,000 house for as little as $7,000! With the rates hovering around 5% +/- and the tax credit of between $6,500 for a current married homeowner or $8,000 for a first time homeowner (not owned a home in the last 3 years) you can practically get in for no money down. Keep in mind there is an up front mortgage insurance premium that you can add either to the mortgage amount or pay it at time of settlement. There is also a monthly fee that is added to your mortgage payment.

For more information call us at The Pilgrim Team. 717-757-5955

Uncork York 2010 Tour de Tanks Event

Recommended LinksBusiness PartnersAgent ReferralsNewsletterBlogAbout Uncork York 2010 Tour de Tanks Event
Thursday, February 04, 2010by The Pilgrim Team
2010 Tour de Tanks Event
Saturdays & Sundays in March





What: Tour de Tanks
You're invited into the cellars at 14 wineries for Pennsylvania's ultimate wine tasting experience. Celebrate the arrival of new vintages with special tank and barrel tastings to preview the season's upcoming wines before they are bottled.



Meet UnCork York winemakers and enjoy delicious treats along the way.



When: Saturdays & Sundays in March 2010
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
March 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28



Where: 14 Wineries Along The
UnCork York Wine Trail*

*Participating Wineries:
Adams County Winery
Allegro Vineyards
Cullari Vineyards
Four Springs Winery
Fox Ridge Vineyard & Winery
Hauser Estate Winery
Hummingbird Ridge Winery (NEW!)
Moon Dancer Vineyard & Winery
Naylor Wine Cellars
Nissley Vineyards & Winery Estate
Reid's Orchard & Winery
Tamanend Winery (NEW!)
West Hanover Winery
Waltz Vineyards Estate Winery (NEW!)*
*Waltz is ONLY offering Tour de Tanks
tastings SATURDAYS during the event.


Tickets: $20 Each*
Your ticket includes a souvenir UnCork York Wine Glass, which you'll receive at the first winery you visit. Your ticket is good for all four weekends at all 13 wineries.

Use your ticket at any participating winery during the event to get 10% off the sale of wine. Collect stamps along the way to become eligible for exciting UnCork York prizes.

Tickets are available online and at participating wineries and will be on sale through the end of the event.

•Tickets can be purchased online for $20 using a credit card.
•Tickets may be purchased at the participating wineries for $20 using cash or check.
•*Tickets can also be purchased at participating wineries via credit card, however, a $1 credit card processing fee will be applied per ticket.
Getaway Packages



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