About Stanislaus County, CA

Century 21 M&M and Associates is teaming up this year with News 10 ABC and the Coats for Kids program. Our goal is to collect 2500 coats for area kids.

If you are in Stanislaus, or Merced counties call me at 209-633-2839 or email me at JPatton@c21mm.com so I can make arrangements to pick up your coat donations.

Read all about the program at our company blog http://c21mmblog.com/ I look forward to hearing from you.

I recently decided that I am tired...of being sick and tired. If change is going to come, I have to get up and be involved! Voice my opinion to those that are in position to make changes. I, for one, am in favor of the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit. I believe that it has done a lot of good for Homebuyers, sellers, my business and the economy.

I came across a website where we all can go and write Congress a letter regarding different topics that pertain to our well-being. I set up a profile and whenever I want to write a letter to congress, I can do it and make sure it is sent to the correct lawmaker, who were voted in their seat to listen to the people. Real Estate Agents are at the forefront of hearing the complaints because we deal with the constituents and we know their struggles and pain. In addition, to dealing with their pain...we have a story or two of our own. This site gives a forum to make those issues known by using your own voice.

Agents can also go to National Association of Realtors website and quickly fill in the blanks to write a letter to Congress regarding this Home Tax Credit. I encourage all Realtors, homebuilders, homebuyers, homesellers, loan officers, etc... to write your Congress and request to extend the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit.

This credit has helped over 1 million homeowners thus far...we can not stop here! My letter to Congress to extend the $8,000 First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit reads:

Dear Congress,

The $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit is set to end November 30, 2009. As a Real Estate Agent, I have been able to see first hand the benefit of waht the home credit has done to gain confidence in first-time homebuyer's. I have seen a rise in attendance to Open House, a larger and quicker response to newly listed properties. Combined with lower prices and interest rates that housing market will continue to heal. I do not believe we are at the point that we can rely on the lowered prices and interest rates alone. This part of the stimulus package has definitely started to help get the country back on track.

I believe that now is the time to extend the credit at least another year. Otherwise, we could see the housing market back track and that would not be good for your constituents nor the economy. With the expiration date coming up soon can cause a halt soon before the cut off time. Due to the homeowner having to purchase, receive acceptance, secure financing and successfully close on or before November 30, 2009. Currently, the time frame to close a home after acceptance is 45-60 days, which means a homeowner would have to have found a home and receive acceptance on that offer before mid-October.

Although, we have seen a rise in sales, the market has not fully recovered. I request to extend and expand the credit for an additional period of time, in order to continue the progress that has been made to date. Urgency is upon us to take care of our families in this great country. Act now to extend and expand the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit.

Sincerely,

D'Adrea Davie

If you are thinking of Avoiding Foreclosure, Short Sale or Buying a home in Northern California's Central Valley (San Joaquin, Alameda, Contra Costa and Stanislaus Counties - includes Stockton, Manteca, Tracy, Lathrop., Salida, Ripon, Modesto, Lodi, Hayward, Castro Valley, Union City, Fremont, Newark, Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin and all surrounding cities). Call us at 866-543-0461 or email us.

Just a short drive of around 2 hours, in the opposite direction of my last destination (Yosemite National Park) is another one of my favorite places, Monterey California.

This was the view from the window of the bed and breakfast I stayed in the last time I spent the weekend in Monterey.

It's always nice to get away for a day to the coast especially when it's 105° here and its a cool 70° in Monterey. Although I was there last January and it was in the 80's for several days in a row. That was a great change from the fog we were experiencing in the valley at the time.

Monterey also has the world famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, great restaurants, great golf, Fishermans Wharf, and an Awesome Farmers Market on Tuesdays.

The Awesome and world famous Seven Gables Inn Bed and Breakfast. Great views , great rooms, wonderfull breakfast. The afternoon wine reception is fantastic and the evening fresh baked cookies and milk should not be missed.

Monterey has some great beaches for strolling or sunning yourself. The water is a bit too cold for me to jump into though. I must be getting old.

Here are some helpful tips to making a Short Sale transaction a successful one.

Whether you're SELLING a home through a Short Sale or BUYING one, be prepared for what's ahead. Each lender is unique and will most likely have different systems in place to handle each type of transaction. For example, they could have a Short Sale Dept., a Loan Modification Dept., a Home Retention Dept. ect.

Some times Short Sale transactions can be long and frustrating. Sometimes you may wait months only to find out the sale was not approved. This is happening more now that lenders are doing more loan modifications connected with the Making Home Affordable plan.

A Short Sale means the lender that hold the note on the property agrees to accept a home's current sale's price and considers the full amount paid in full. If the lender still demands the seller (homeowner) to pay the remainder of the balance, that would not be considered a Short Sale, at least not one a seller would want.

Normally if the lender "forgives" part of the loan, the homeowner would not be responsible for paying taxes on the "forgiven" portion, but the lender will still report the loss to the IRS, so be sure to check with your tax attorney or tax preparer to find out if you would be liable for paying taxes on that amount. On a recent Short Sale I was doing, a lender approved the Short Sale but stated that upon closing, their recovery dept would try to collect the balance not covered by the sale. So, sellers MUST be sure to read your Short Sale approvals very carefully to make sure the Short Sale will cancel all debt secured by your home.

If you are involved on the purchase or sale of a home that falls in the Short Sale category, the buyer and seller are the ones that enter into a contract to sell/buy the home, CONTINGENT upon the lender's approval of the price. Once the lender approves the price/offer, escrow may be opened for the winning offer.

Feel free to contact me with ANY questions you may have on any of your Real Estate needs. I always make time to talk to you.

THE MORTGAGE FORGIVENESS DEBT RELIEF ACT OF 2007

H.R. 3648

NO Equity on your home?

Behind on your mortgage payments?

Is your Lender giving you the run around?

You may qualify for a SHORT SALE!

If you're at least 30 days behind on your mortgage, your mortgage company may be willing to consider completely forgiving a significant portion of your mortgage debt through a Short Sale (provided you go through the proper process). The portion they forgive, under H.R. 3648, is NO longer counted as personal income and CANNOT be taxed by the federal government.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE MORTGAGE FORGIVENESS DEBT RELIEF ACT AND DEBT CANCELLATION

CLICK here AND TALK TO YOUR TAX PREPARER.

A short sale is a special transaction that allows you to sell your home - even when your mortgage debt is higher than the value of your home.

I am a REALTOR® with the experience and commitment to help you negotiate a settlement with your current lender(s) so you can sell your property and get out from under this burden. Best of all, my commission will be paid by the bank, so you won't have any out-of-pocket expense!

A SHORT SALE WILL HELP YOU:

•· Avoid Foreclosure

•· Protect Credit Score from "foreclosure" ding

•· Be free of financial & emotional burdens

AND, I will help you STAGE your home FREE of charge, for a faster sale! Call me today for the peace of mind you deserve.

REMEMBER: ALWAYS HIRE AN ACCREDITED STAGING PROFESSIONAL REALTOR® FOR ALL YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS. THE MOST TRUSTED & REPUTABLE REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS.

ADDIE SCHARFF, REALTOR®, Accredited Staging Professional (ASP)

BEAUTIFUL HOMES REALTY, CA Dept. of Real Estate License #01449964

e-mail: Addie@SellingBH.com Website: www.SellingBH.com

(209) 277-8346 or (408) 887-2142 cell