Augusta, GA

In a word, YES. According to this article from Yahoo Finance and CNNMoney.com, if you've sold your home as a short sale, or you've been foreclosed on, your mortgage company may still be able to get a deficiency judgement against you. BB&T (my personal mortgage holder) has affirmed that they are seeking more and more deficiency judgements as many homes are no longer worth the amount of the mortgage.

Generally a mortgage has two parts: a pledge of collateral (the home) and a promise to repay the loan. If you are selling short, being foreclosed on, or giving your home back to the bank (deed in lieu of foreclosure), don't just assume that your deficiency has been negotiated away. Please seek legal advice to ensure that you are not only being released from the title but also from any debt.

Augusta residents, please (confidentially) contact me if you have any questions. I work with an amazing real estate attorney who can assist you with any issues you may be facing. You can reach me at stacie@staciewells.com or 706.447.3746.

Also, don't forget to visit me at www.MoveToAugusta.com for the latest on what's going on in the Augusta GA area!

If you've been following this story, you know that the Downtown Development Authority has been considering parking meters for an area on Broad Street in Downtown Augusta, GA. There has been heated debate as to whether this would help or hinder the businesses located there. Some felt that the increase in traffic turnover would improve the number of patrons. Others felt it would drive patrons away who weren't willing to pay 50 cents to a dollar an hour to park. Yesterday the Downtown Development Authority annouced that parking meters for downtown Augusta are no longer being considered, but stronger enforcement of current parking limits is now in the works. Stay tuned for further updates!

Feel free to visit me at www.MoveToAugusta.com

Spring in Augusta GA will be here before we know it and so will the Masters Tournament. Both are famous for their azaleas. This pic was taken a couple of years ago on the campus of Augusta State University, located in downtown Augusta. Here's to warmer temperatures and bright sunshiny days!

Don't forget to visit me at www.MoveToAugusta.com!

The information your home inspector provides will be critical to your making a well-informed home-buying decision. In other words, this is no time to scan the Yellow Pages. As always when you're hiring a professional, start by collecting referrals from people you trust. If you want to interview a few candidates, the following questions are a great place to start:

• Are you licensed, or a member of a professional inspector's organization?
• What is your professional background?
• What kind of ongoing training do you receive?
• Do you have errors and omission insurance?
• Can I see a sample inspection report?
• Do you specialize in a certain kind of construction?
• What does it cost?
• How soon are you available?

Regardless of the situation, I always have recommended to my clients that they get a home inspection. It doesn't matter if it's new construction. Contractors and County Inspectors do make mistakes that a good home inspector can catch.

Don't forget to visit me at www.MoveToAugusta.com!

Lender's fees and other closing costs can add 3 to 5 percent to your home's purchase price. When looking for the best deal on fees, though, realize that some lenders show third-party fees on their good faith estimates, while others show only their own fees.

LIKELY LENDER FEES:

1. Origination fee ("points")
2. Administration fee
3. Application fee
4. Broker or lender fee
5. Commitment fee
6. Document preparation
7. Underwriting fee

LIKELY THIRD-PARTY FEES:

1. Credit report
2. House appraisal
3. Pest inspections
4. Recording fees
5. Settlement fees
6. Survey
7. Tax and insurance prepayment
8. Title search
9. Title insurance
10. Courier Services

AND ALWAYS ASK: "What other costs will I be responsible for to get our home closed?"

Don't forget to visit me at www.MoveToAugusta.com!