Maryland

I got the Best Birthday Card...Twice!

Just so you know from the start, my Birthday precedes Valentine's Day but that has given me a lifetime mission.

My goal is to remind everyone that these are separate and distinct holidays and nobody is supposed to forget.

So I did a double take when I saw my Birthday Card from my Brother and my Childhood Best Friend.

Sure as shooting, of all the Birthday Cards on the planet, they sent the exact same one this weekend.

It made me remember something really special.

Many Moons ago, my Dad told me about this really special birthday card he selected for me.

He mentioned it over and over. The big day finally came and I opened the card.

Sure enough, I loved it.

It was a photo of a young woman walking the beach with a caption wishing me the warmth of a summer day for my Birthday,

The only thing was he had given me the exact same card the year before.

We HOWLED! We could not stop laughing.

I still have the card and better yet, I still have the priceless memory.

So it is not lost on me that I got the exact same card this weekend from my Brother and my Childhood Best Friend.

You'll Retrieve Golden Results with Cheryl Ritchie, RE/MAX 100, for all your Southern Maryland Real Estate Services.

Longwood Gardens Conservatory - Hibiscus Blooms

Dolores and I always enjoy our visits to Longwood Gardens, in Kennett Square, PA. Current visitors will see and enjoy the annual Orchid Extravaganza and the thousands of beautiful flowers and plants in the Conservatory.

The Conservatory at Longwood Gardens is a very inviting travel destination on cold winter days. Take you family, with cameras in hand, and enjoy the beauty of nature.

Longwood Gardens Conservatory - Hibiscus IMG_2488

Hibiscus at Longwood Gardens IMG_2489

Hibiscus at Longwood Gardens IMG_2487

Photographs by Roy Kelley using a Canon PowerShot G11 camera.
Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs

Dinner
The most romantic place for Dinner in Silver Spring has to be Sergios.

It is intimate, quiet and dark, like a cozy cave, the wait staff are attentive, the drinks are good, the food is Real Native Italian, Generous and Excellent! (especially the veal dishes). The atmosphere is understated thick white tablecloth elegant and romantic.

Nothing beats having that warm, friendly, personal greeting from Sergio Toni, the owner, a native of Rome and now a Silver Springer. Sergio has been involved with this restaurant since 1982 when it was Mamma Reginas.

This Silver Spring Restaurant is a hidden treasure - the location is in the basement (off the garage) of the Hilton Hotel in Silver Spring.
Sergio Ristorante Italiano
8727 Colesville Road
Hilton Hotel Garage
Valet Parking
(301) 585-1040


Flowers
Bell Flowers - Their Place on the corner of Silver Spring Avenue and Georgia has been a Downtown Silver Spring Landmark for 65 years now! Family Owned with a tradition of excellence - they know flowers and they do Flowers right! Always consistent in their friendly and fast service.
(301) 588-1300 8201 Georgia Avenue Silver Spring, MD 20910

Hoover Fisher Florist - With a motto like "Reaction Guaranteed" Hoover Fisher does not disappoint when it comes to flowers. Also a family owned Business for over 55 years. A little further outside Downtown Silver Spring in the Woodmoor Shopping Center is another excellent place to purchase great fresh flowers.
(301) 593-4700 16 University Blvd (Woodmoor Shopping Center) 4 Corners, MD 20901


Candy
Velatis - Forget the Whitman Sampler or Russell Stover, for something more Valentines Day specia,l try Velatis. The candy is made fresh right before your eyes in a little shop on the corner of Bonifant Street and Georgia Avenue in Downtown Silver Spring. My recommendation for Valentines, go for the Chocolate Covered Caramels - out of this world!
(301) 578-8612 8408 B Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Herboso & Associates

is Proud to present

large luxury townhouse For Rent

Enter this beautiful townhouse and you will immediately sense its elegance. . .

Open living plan adorned by two- sided fireplace

Beautiful kitchen ready to entertain your family. . .

Open design. . . Kitchen Island

Gleaming Wood Floors. ..

Scenic views. .

From a private deck. ..

Relax and enjoy. . .

Park Setting, private and convenient

3 bedrooms, 4 baths 2 car garage

Hardwood floors

Eat in Kitchen with island

Master Bedroom has tray Ceiling

Finished Basement

Location galore to shopping and transportation

Milestone Shopping Center a 5 minute drive

Award winning Schools

• Little Bennett ES
• Rocky Hill MS
• Clarskburg HS

Clarksburg Maryland is located in Montgomery County Maryland. It is a great example where baby boomers call home. There has been a major growth in this city because of its location and convenience to I-270 and Washington DC Metro area. The schools are one of the major attractions to new residents seeking for a family oriented location to call home.

To search for more rentals or homes for sale click here

Thank you for considering this townhouse for rent. We are brokers located in Montgomery County and your first step should be to contact your Realtor and give them this address 23312 BREWERS TAVERN WAY, CLARKSBURG, MD 20871 for more info..

Or this MLS number: MC7772724

And if you do not have a Realtor and you are. .

READY FOR INMEDIATE OCCUPANCY!

CALL ME FOR A PRIVATE SHOWING. .

240-426-5754

Fernando Herboso
Broker – Solutions Finder
"Don't Pray For A Miracle. . .expect it!"
Herboso & Associates llc

www.ReallyNiceHomes.com
www.Short-Sales-Expert.com
Office 240.898.1848
Cell 240.426.5754
Fax 888.913.3535
My real estate knowledge is always up-to-date. For expertise you can depend on, call me when you have questions about the market or are ready to make a significant move. . .Quality representation is not expensive, its priceless!

Clarksburg MD Rental Properties

The latest news that could affect underwater homeowners is that the Government reached a settlement with major lender in the tune of 25 billon dollars.

The news is spreading across the internet about this major agreement. .

A lot of criticism and a lot attention is being paid from a political point of view. .

But, what about you?

How does these news affect you if your home in underwater?. Or

If your home is being considered for a Loan Modification. .or

If your home is listed as a short sale right now. . or

If your home was recently foreclosed

What does it mean?

This post is for you, if you want answers and want the bottom line

How much money is available?

25 billion dollars being paid by Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citigroup, and Ally Financial

Why?

Because they got caught falsifying records and signatures from unsuspected homeowners

"Take me to your leader"

Robo-Signing. . remember?

ANNOUNCING THE 25 BILLION DOLLARS ROBO-SIGNING-SETLEMENT

The lenders promised not to do it again. .

Who qualifies to get some of this money?

Any homeowner that has incurred a foreclosure in the last 3 years will get a check for $2,000. . (and an autographed copy of their own robo-signature --unframed)

Any homeowner that has a mortgage underwater and is CURRENT ON THEIR MORTGAGE PAYMENTS may qualify for a principal reduction. No details yet on this, but we suspect that they will start with loans that are underwater.

Please read it again. . .you have to be CURRENT ON YOUR MORTGAGE PAYMENT!

Of course regular loan modifications are still being entertained by the same lenders using other established programs provided that the homeowners qualifies and are agreeable into signing.

Who does not qualify?

If your loan is held by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which by the way own half of all U.S. mortgages.. . you do not qualify.

How do I find out if my loan is Freddie or Mac?

These mortgages do not qualify under the terms of the settlement. You can find out if your loan is with either of these lenders by looking up your loan at www.fanniemae.com/loanlookup or www.freddiemac.com/mymortgage

What is my first step if I feel this could help me now?

Just reach out to your bank to find out if you may be eligible. The only banks that are participants of this settlement are below with their phone numbers. . if your lender is not listed there. .you do not qualify. If your home was foreclosed by any of these banks during 2008 and 2011, call them to claim your $2000.00

 Ally/GMAC: 800-766-4622

 Bank of America: 877-488-7814

 Citigroup: 866-272-4749

 JPMorgan Chase: 866-372-6901

 Wells Fargo: 800-288-3212

I need help now!. .how soon can I expect this help?

You'll need to be patient. The Government and the banks agreed to have up to three years to distribute these funds. If you are current on your mortgage payments and need immediate relief. .perhaps this may not be an option for you.

It has been reported that over the next one to two months, administrators will be picked to handle the distribution of the settlement, and they will have six to nine months to determine which borrowers will get help. . so the waiting game continues

Do I qualify for a principal reduction?

If your loan is both owned and serviced by any of these banks, I'll say you may have a small shot. We are not sure yet how they are going to determine who qualifies for a principal reduction yet? The ideal situation would be in my opinion that you have a mortgage underwater, serviced and owned by one of these banks, you are having problems paying your mortgage and started using your credit cards to buy groceries. You have depleted most of your savings and are living paycheck to paycheck now.

Now, if you already up to the limits of your credit cards all your savings are gone and you have to choose to eat or pay your mortgage next month. . you can't wait for this program. . you'll need to act now.

Nevertheless it is an undaunted task by these lenders. .and a puzzling decision by the government that allows this:

That people who NEED HELP are homeowners that are behind on their mortgage payments. .not the ones that are current!

The people that NEED HELP are homeowners that have seen an increase on their mortgage payments (ARMS) and a decrease in their total salary and they can no longer pay a full mortgage payment anymore.

The obvious problem here is that if they reduced the principal to your neighbor's mortgage and you share the same servicers and owners of your loan. . then you should be able to also qualify. .and your neighbors next door. .and the neighbor next door and . . ..the next . .and the next. .and the next. .. . around the world? . . you get my point.

What if my house is already listed as a short sale, and I'm in the middle of negotiations with my lender right now?

If you already missed one mortgage payment, you do not qualify for this Government Mortgage Settlement and my advice is to continue on with your plans and the Realtor helping you.

If you have NOT missed your mortgage payments and you are seeking for a short sale relief. .you may consider calling your lender to the numbers listed above and ask them specifically. .do you qualify?

Be prepared to wait some time for this.

Don't be a victim of bad information!

There is currently a lot of bad and misleading information out there regarding short sales in Maryland DC and Virginia and you need to arm yourself with the facts before you take the next step you need to take.

Get the facts from a distressed property expert that has the ability to help you avoid a foreclosure by doing a Short Sale today!

Is A Short Sale an Option For Me?

Fernando Herboso

Broker for Herboso & Associates

www.Short-Sales-Expert.com

Original article publised in: www.ReallyNiceHomes.com

Government Mortgage Settlement Questions & Answers -- DO You Qualify?