Ocala, FL

There certainly is a lot of confusion about modifying for the average homeowner to try to navigate through today and it is changing by the minute. We have the acronyms coming out of space at us and we as professionals are trying to keep up with it all. What's a homeowner to do when the lenders can't even figure it out themselves?

What you might want to consider before you even look at a modification is your own local real estate market, you local economy, and the stability of the neighborhood you live in, in addition to how much you actually owe on your home vs. today's market value. Why are all of these factors so important? Well, a modification might not be the best solution for you at all.

Take a good look at you local real estate market. There are many places on the internet you can check, or you may consult with a local professional I would recommend you get at least two opinions on this from very qualified professionals. Ask them to provide you some documentation about the rate of decline in sales prices in your local market, the increase or decrease in the amount of homes selling. Ask them to provide you with neighborhood specifics in your neighborhood. How many are short sales or foreclosures?How many are normal sales? How long are they taking to sell? This will give you an better idea of the current value.

Then look at the unemloyment rate in your area. Is it declining or increasing? Is it worse or better than your state average? Are there prospects of new employers coming into your area, or expansions with current companies? Check with the Chamber of Commerce, or you Economic Development Council. If the rate of unemployment is rising or higher than the state average, chances are that the recovery in housing prices will take longer in your area.

Why is all this information important to you if you simply want to get your payment reduced on your home? If you get your payment reduced through a loan modification, you are going to be signing some new documents from your lender. You may be giving away some rights under this new agreement that you currently have under your old agreement. Most people just don't read the fine print, because they are so very relieved that they have reduced their payments to an amount they can afford and in signing the modification, the mortgage has been brought back into good standing (with payments and interest tacked on to the end of the loan).

Now you owe more than you did before, and it may take many years before your equity will increase enough for you to sell without applying for a short sale anyway.

For some homowners, the obvious solution is a short sale. It just hard to face the fact that you will have to move and become a renter for a while. It seems like a step in the wrong direction, when in fact it may be the best solution of all, epecially while Uncle Sam is has specail allowances in place for you to do so.

Please visit my website at www.stopocalaforeclosures.com for further information and definitions and free reports.

I have created a Google Map showing the location of all Ocala area 55 plus communities. Eventuaaly I plan to put a link from the place marks to blog entries that will discribe each community. If you're not familiar with Google Maps, you can zoom in and out, move the map around with your mouse and even get an aereal view. For a breif discription of Ocala 55 Plus Retirement communitiies visit my web site. This is the link to my Ocala 55+ Communities Map.

The weather here in Ocala has been unusually warm for October. As a matter of fact it's been so hot that we have set records for he date several times. Here is how it has been. So far, half way through October, it's been in the low to mid 90's almost every day. It should be in the mid to high 80's and getting dryer all the time. October is also the beginning of the dry season where the afternoon thunderstorms stop, the humidity goes away and it doesn't rain for weeks om end. If you'd like to know more about Ocala weather visit my new web page that has all sorts of Ocala weather info.

GolfLink.com ranks Ocala as number 8 in it's list of Florida golf destinations. In addition of some great golf courses like Golden Hills, which just hosted the 2009 U.S Woman's Mid amateur Championship, Ocala has some really great Golf Course Communities. These great communities combined, with the fact that the Ocala area has the second lowest median home price in Florida, makes for some pretty great deals on homes. You can actually buy a home right on a golf course here in Ocala for under $200,000.00. Interestedin finding out more about Ocala Golf Course Communities? Call or email me and I can send you a list of Ocala area golf course homes for sale. There has never been a better time to buy.

January begins the 2010 classic events of the HITS, Horse Shows In The Sun . Ocala warmly welcomes horses, riders, equestrians of many disciplines for the 7 week event.

Ocala is the Horse Capital of the World an honorary title that Lexington Kentucky competes to share. Of course we believe Ocala is the best location due to the year round moderate and warmer temperatures, providing the ability to enjoy the equestrian lifestyle anytime you want.

After much work and competition HITS culminates with the $100,000 Grand Prix. If you'd love to be around horses and enjoy the competition and other events, visit us in January and relax in the sun with the horses.