Santa made an early appearance this afternoon in Pelham AL!

Each Christmas Eve he finds time to ride through every neighborhood in Pelham with a special Fire and Police escort, waving to all the kids and adults.

He rides with his sleigh on top of a firetruck, while his reindeer are back at Santa's Workshop at the North Pole getting ready for a long night of work!

Here is Santa visiting the Ivy Brook neighborhood.....

Courtesy of Ann Allen, e-Pro, SRES, ASP

BIRMINGHAM AREA REAL ESTATE

205.902.4868

Keller Williams

One Chase Corporation Drive, Suite 150

Hoover, AL 35244

Ann@AnnAllenTeam.com

© 2008 Ann Allen, All rights reserved

Photo taken by Ann Allen, and may not be reproduced without express written permission of Ann Allen, Keller Williams Realty, Hoover AL. Please check if Creative Commons License as been granted for this or other photography provided by Ann Allen. Permission usually granted if credit is given with a link back. Thank you for your understanding.

There are 13349 homes on the market in the Greater Birmingham area today and of those 1517 are foreclosed properties.

Statistics show there are 6 major reasons for foreclosure

1. Loss of Income
2. Death of a Borrower
3. Divorce
4. Over Extended Credit
5. Illness
6. Gambling

Understanding the Foreclosure Process could possibly help to prevent some of these foreclosures from ever taking place. There are three types of foreclosure proceedings -

Non Judicial, Judicial, and Strict

Alabama is a non judicial state which means that No Court Action is Required. A Power of Sale clause is found in all trust deeds, which means that if the Trustor does not make the loan payments, the trustee can sell the property at a public auction without having to obtain permission from the courts.

The trustee simply records a notice of default, sends a copy to the Trustor, and after the statutory period, notice of sale is posted on the property.

A seller will usually receive a Demand Letter issued by the lender or lender's agent prior to the foreclosure action being filed. You will need to read your Mortgage to see if a demand letter is required. Most Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA and VA loans have an acceleration provision that requires this letter.

When the foreclosure is sold and does not produce enough cash to pay the loan balance and costs of sale the law allows for a judgment against the borrower for the unpaid balance called a deficiency judgment. This can result in garnished wages and seized assets. So in addition to the homeowners credit being destroyed by the foreclosure they could be forced into bankruptcy.

And so this great American dream of Home ownership becomes a heavy burden that they can no longer keep. But in the pre-foreclosure stage there are options.

1. Put your home on the market with a Realtor to get it SOLD.
2. Work with your Lender to Refinance your mortgage. (30% Equity is usually required) Or they may work with you on Loan Modification.
   
3. Let your Realtor talk to your lender about loss mitigation to work out a plan to get the collection amount current.
4. Let your Realtor negotiate with your lender for a Short Sale. This is where the lender allows the sale of the property for an amount less than what is actually due.

Why would you want to do this?

1. You may actually be able to save some of your equity.
2. You can save your credit.
3. You can avoid loss of future income (deficiency judgment)
4. You can avoid owing Federal income taxes on the deficiency judgment if the lender sends you a 1099 for that amount.

So if you are in this type situation,

Don't let your home end up in the pile of Foreclosures!

Take action today to save your hard earned equity, protect your credit and future income and preserve your future.

CALL A REALTOR TODAY!

THERE IS NO TIME TO WASTE!

I AM AVAILABLE AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO ASSIST YOU!

DEBBIE HUTCHINS, CRS

RE/MAX FIRST CHOICE - PELHAM, ALABAMA

205-368-2474

Give me a call TODAY and lets get started

Saving Your American Dream!

30-YEAR FIXED RATES AT HISTORICAL LOWS!!!

According to the Primary Mortgage Market Survey®published today at Freddiemac.com the average rate in the Southeast on a 30 Year Conventional Fixed Mortgage is at 5.24% and 4.95% for a 15 Year term. Of course these rates can vary a bit from lender to lender but these are incredible Mortgage loan interest rates! (The APR will vary on these approximate rates based on the amount of closing costs charged by the lender of your choice)

According to The National Association of Realtors, the Federal Reserves lowering of the key interest rate will have a significant impact for home buyers and homeowners who need to refinance. This will impact our housing sales, home values, and the economy.

Coupled with HIGH inventory, LOW prices, MOTIVATED Sellers and a vast array of Mortgage loan programs this makes for a great market in which to BUY a home!

The mortgage process can take from 2 to 6 weeks, according to how quickly you act so now is the time to get busy and find a home so that you can Lock your rate and be moving in your New Home with a nice LOW mortgage payment in the ealy part of 2009!

So what are we waiting for? I am listening for your call........

and my Shopping Shoes are by the door!

If you are caught up in the spirit of the Christmas holidays and busy with family and friends just send me an email! Zero me in on the Area, Size of Home, any particular details that might be important and I can get busy sorting through the large amount of inventory to compile a list that you can be previewing via the Internet.

Then when the holidays are over we will be ready to go and check them out!

EMAIL ME AT DEBBIEHUTCHINS@REMAX.NET

During the Christmas holidays we always look forward to gift giving and Christmas dinners and spending time with family. In the days leading up to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day we typically gather together with our "WORK FAMILIES" to share in the holiday spirit.

It is a special time of year when we can take time from our busy work schedules and rejoice in the spirit of our friendships that have grown during the year while we are hustling and bustling with listings and showings and contracts and closings! It is a time to relax from the hectic pace that is known to a Realtor and just enjoy being together while we share a wonderful meal of favorite dishes brought from our home kitchens.

Now this is no casual affair! Our "Queen Bee" broker Anita Latham pulls out the finest silver and crystal dishes and adorns the tree and decorates the tables to make us all feel special! And we do! We also invite all of our builders and developers to join us in the festivities so that they can feel special too. Because they are!

We are a proud "family"! From our wonderful broker Anita (and her husband Jim) to all of the fabulous office girls (that work so hard for us all year) to each and every Realtor that has joined together to form this company known to you as Re/Max First Choice. We are proud because we are all such hard workers and conduct our business with a strong ethic and have a true sense of caring about families and community. We are a "family" that can be happy and proud for each other, and THAT is a great feeling!

So after all the preparations were done and the food began to arrive from each kitchen with love we enjoyed a funfilled afternoon with good fellowship, good food, stealing presents Dirty Santa style and lots of laughter!

No party is complete without the party jester! And we always appreciate the helping elf!

So do you see what I am talking about?

BIG Smiles, Christmasy Red Sweaters, and

Blinking Snowman Hats!?!?!

YEP we are one big Happy Family!

And what is all of this talk about the Real Estate Market being S L O W ?!? Why there were several of our agents that could not attend our special event because they were "out showing houses"! And what is this?.....Are these some of our finest Realtors and Builders signing CONTRACTS at our Christmas Party? Like I said, we are a dedicated bunch!

And so it goes without saying.....another GREAT year at Re/Max First Choice drawing to an end as we celebrate our "Work Family" Christmas and we will begin to celebrate the New Year and welcome 2009 filled with positive hope for an exciting year of home sales and Happy families and looking forward to yet another Christmas together.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF MY "FAMILY" AT RE/MAX FIRST CHOICE!

And on behalf of Re/Max First Choice

I would like to wish you and your family a wonderful holiday

and invite you to be a part of our family!

If you have any Real Estate needs that I can be of service

please do not hesitate to give me a call!

FAMILIES ARE MY BUSINESS!

HOME INVENTORIES ARE AT AN ALL TIME HIGH!

NOW is the TIME to BUY a home.

HOME PRICES ARE AT AN ALL TIME LOW!

NOW is the TIME to BUY a home.

SELLERS ARE MOTIVATED TO SELL!

NOW is the TIME to BUY a home.

INTEREST RATES ARE AT AN ALL TIME LOW!

NOW is the TIME to BUY a home.

THERE IS AN ABUNDANCE OF MORTGAGE LOAN PROGRAMS AVAILABLE!

NOW is the TIME to BUY a home.

DEBBIE HUTCHINS WITH RE/MAX FIRST CHOICE IS NOW AVAILABLE TO ASSIST YOU IN FINDING THE HOME THAT YOU NEED TO BUY! NOW is the TIME to give me a CALL.

One of the largest monthly bills that the typical family has in their monthly budget is the Mortgage payment on their home. With home prices and interest rates at the incredible lows that they are RIGHT NOW there could be no better time to buy that home that you have wanted and to get a mortgage payment that will afford you to live a lifestyle that includes some of the enjoyable things that you would like to do in addition to owning a home. Savings in dollars that could be used toward clothing, education, food, entertainment and family vacations.

Low home prices and Low interest rates mean lower than rent mortgage payments. Why rent when you can own your own home? Rent payments are final....when you pay that monthly rent payment it is gone forever. When you make a mortgage payment it is reducing your mortgage balance and building your equity in your home. You also enjoy the tax benefits of deducting your property tax and mortgage interest payments.

With inventories running high there is an abundance of home available for you to choose from. You will be more likely to find the perfect home that suits the needs of you and your family. You might even be able to get that EXTRA room that you have been needing. A place for the kids to have a Playroom or that Home Office that you have been needing. The possibilities are endless.

Home Sellers are not the only ones that are motivated. With the slow down in New Home Starts there are Developers with Lots that they need to remove from there inventory. These lots have been released to sell at reduced prices to Individuals and not just Builders. Your situation may be that you just need to purchase the lot now and build your home later. Or you can select a lot and floorplan and be moving in about 6 months from now. (Just in time to qualify for the First Time Homebuyers Tax Credit deadline of July 1, 2009).

A very important point to remember is that historical what comes down will eventually go back up. It happens in the stock market, it happens at the department store, it happens at the gas tank and it WILL happen in the Real Estate Market. Don't be the one that is looking back and saying " I sure wish I had bought that house when the price was lower and the interest rate was incredible".

DON'T LOOK BACK AND SAY "I didn't get that MEMO"Just give me some insight on what your needs are. What is the best area for us to concentrate on based on your job or a particular school district. What price range do you need to stay in? Not sure? Let's get with the Mortgage Company and find out. How many bedrooms? How many baths? Do you want a basement or prefer walking out ground level? Do you like the idea of living inside a neighborhood or do you prefer more privacy?

Once I have the details I can lay the ground work and get busy researching the market to decide which homes are the best for us to go and preview. It is an EASY process and you will be moving into your new home in no time.

I GOT THE MEMO, DID YOU?

“My goal is to apply my professional experience and training to the 'personal needs' of each and every client

to guide them comfortably through their real estate transactions.”