For anyone reading this that uses Yelp on a personal level, you know how powerful of a resource it is. If you haven’t used Yelp, you should take a look. I have used it to find everything from a restaurant to a doctor. I never go to a restaurant without first checking the reviews and will rarely use any provider or service without checking their reviews. Yelp is an online community of users that locally rate businesses. Here is Yelp’s definition of what they are:
What is Yelp? Yelp is an online urban city guide that helps people find cool places to eat, shop, drink, relax and play, based on the informed opinions of a vibrant and active community of locals in the know. Yelp is the fun and easy way to find, review and talk about what's great — and not so great — in your world.
The problem with Yelp as a business owner is getting the reviews to stick. If a customer or client isn’t a frequent user of Yelp, their reviews are “filtered” and not visible from the main business page. The only way to view the filtered reviews is through the very light grey link hidden at the bottom of the page. Yelp’s explanation of the filtering is:
What are filtered reviews? We try to showcase the most helpful and reliable reviews among the millions that are submitted to the site. Not all reviews make the cut, and those that don't are posted to a separate "Filtered Review" page. Filtered reviews don't factor into a business's overall star rating, but users can still read them by clicking on the link at the bottom of the business's profile page.
How do you decide which reviews to filter? We use filtering software to determine which reviews should be filtered on any given day among the millions that are submitted to the site. The software looks at a wide range of data associated with every review.
We currently have 7 reviews showing on the homepage and another 12 that are filtered. Yelp has been a great resource and I hope that they find a way to improve the software that handles the filtering.
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The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 was enacted on December 20, 2007. Generally, the Act allows an income tax exemption for a homeowner that has income realized as a result of a loan modification, short sale or foreclosure.
The Act is set to expire at the end of this year (December 31, 2012). This means that if anyone wishes to take advantage of the benefits of this Act, they must complete their modification, short sale or foreclosure on or before Dec 31, 2011.
Matt Alegi, a partner with the Potomac law firm Shulman Rogers and chair of the firm's residential real estate practice group, says the tax break has meant a savings in the tens of thousands of dollars for individuals. Typically, if someone were to have $150,000 forgiven by the bank, Alegi says, "you just made another $150,000 of income for tax purposes in that year." So, say someone makes $50,000 but had $150,000 forgiven by the bank, that person is now paying taxes on a
200,000 income, and included in a much higher tax bracket. The loss of the relief will plunge homeowners further into debt, Alegi says.
Alegi also believes that the upcoming expiration of the Debt Forgiveness Act will have an impact on short sales. Any homeowner considering a short sale should make a push to complete it this year in order to take advantage of the tax breaks.
We believe that there will be strong lobbying to extend the tax break. If it isn’t extended, it could result in very serious tax consequences for many homeowners.
To take advantage of the Debt Relief Act, you need to fall under very specific guidelines outlined by the IRS. For example, the debt forgiven is only for primary residences and the debt must have been used to buy, build or substantially improve your principal residence and be secured by that residence. And please remember, this is only provided in general terms. If you are considering a short sale or foreclosure, please make sure to contact your tax consultant or CPA to further explore the possible tax consequences. If you do not have someone, make sure to contact us and we will put you in touch with a
If you are facing foreclosure or have any questions regarding a short sale and the foreclosure process, please do not hesitate to contact our team. We specialize in San Diego Short Sales, Orange County Short Sales and Riverside Short Sales.
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If you have a home loan with Wachovia and are considering a short sale, reach out to us today to learn about Wachovia’s “Fast Track” short sale program. The program was created by Wachovia to assist homeowners that have loans with World Savings, World FSB, Golden West Financial and of course Wachovia. This new program has been streamlined to enable fast and easy processing of the short sale.
This program was introduced statewide in 2010, yet very few Realtors® are aware of it. The program was started by Wells Fargo after they aquired both Wachovia and World Savings bank. They determined that it makes more sense financially for everybody involved to create a streamlined program to facilitate market value sales on loans that were issued by Wachovia, World Savings, and Golden West. These loans were acquired at a discount, so they can afford to write these loans off of their books.
We have built a strong relationship with a manager of Wachovia, which allows us to move the files through even quicker than the standard processing times. If you are considering a short sale, please don’t hesitate to contact us and find out how we can assist you.
Some of the key differences with the Wachovia Short Sale include:
Contact us today to learn more about this program!
Wachovia (Wells Fargo)
866-642-8608
General Information: 866-642-9405
Fax: 866-260-3962
LM Dept: 877-213-7063
Home Equity Short Sale Dept: 877-455-6091
Home Equity Short Sale Dept Fax: 866-729-9592
HAFA Phone: 800-922-4684
HAFA Fax: 866-359-7363
View San Diego Short Sale Experts on Yelp. San Diego Short Sale Experts on Google+. San Diego Short Sale Experts on Facebook.
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The December home sales numbers for San Diego came out and are a good reflection of how the overall market performed for 2011. Close to one third of all sales involved a foreclosure and about 20% of sales were a short sale.
The overall sales numbers were higher than a year ago, but still more than 20 percent below the average number of transactions for the month. There was a small burst of sales activity in December, but not enough to boost the value of homes in the region. San Diego has nearly 4 percent more sales when compared with December a year ago, but the average price was down almost 5.5 percent.
“Prices continue to be weak because of the weak job growth and the difficulties a lot of people have getting a loan to buy a home,” said Andrew LaPage of the real estate tracking firm Data Quick. “There’s still an emphasis in the market toward the lower cost distressed properties.” The median San Diego home price fell just over 5 percent from December a year ago. The average price of sales for December was $315,000, which is down from $333,000 a year ago. “We think there’s still a lot of people sitting tight, waiting for something to happen. Either a clear sign that prices have hit bottom. Or the opportunity to qualify for financing,” said LaPage.
Our opinion on it is that there are still a lot of homebuyers waiting on the market to see if there will be further declines.
According to a survey of 109 economists that was released in late December by Zillow, Inc, US housing may fall further under the weight of foreclosures and not rebound until 2013, even as the economy builds momentum and mortgage rates remain at record lows. “Negative equity, unemployment and low consumer confidence remain the key factors delaying a true recovery,” Stan Humphries, Zillow’s chief economist, said in a statement.
Prices will fall 1% in 2012 and rise 2% in 2013, Frank Nothaft, chief economist for mortgage-finance company Freddie Mac, announced in a Dec. 14 report. “A full-fledged recovery in the housing sector will likely elude the US in 2012, but new construction and home sales are expected to be greater than in 2011,” Nothaft wrote.
More than a quarter of homeowners with a mortgage are “underwater,” or owe more than their property is worth. Prices may drop an additional 7%, according to Scott Simon, head of the mortgage- and asset-backed securities teams at Pacific Investment Management Co. in Newport Beach, California.
As you can see from the three statements above, there is a consensus that there will be a continued decline, but no one knows for how much longer or how much. This is another reason that we strongly encourage anyone considering a short sale to start the process now and get out of the property before they lose any further equity. If you get out of the property now and begin the rebuilding process, you will still be able to take advantage of the low prices and the bottom of the market in 2 years.
An annual report of foreclosure activity in the US for 2011 found the number of properties subject to default notices, scheduled auctions or bank repossessions dropped 34% from the previous year, according to a RealtyTrac report released today.
California still has an above average percentage of homes with at least one foreclosure filing in 2011. In California, 3.19% of homes had at least one foreclosure filling in 2011. Other states with an above average number include:
Arizona – 4.14%
Georgia – 2.71%
Michigan – 2.21%
Florida – 2.06%
Illinois – 1.95%
Colorado – 1.78%
Idaho – 1.77%
If you are facing foreclosure or have any questions regarding a short sale and the foreclosure process, please do not hesitate to contact our team. We specialize in San Diego Short Sales, Orange County Short Sales and Riverside Short Sales.
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Are you searching for homes for sale in North County? If so, don't miss your opportunity for this short sale in Mira Mesa!
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Mira Mesa homes for sale, North County homes for sale, Mira Mesa Short Sale, San Diego Short Sale
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We are a local San Diego Real Estate company specializing in helping individuals that are heading into default on their current loans or are already in foreclosure.
At Silvercrest Realty Group, our team assists homeowners throughout San Diego, Orange County, Riverside and other areas of California and the US in negotiating down the amount owed on their home loan(s) (a Short Sale). It creates a win-win situation for both parties by providing the homeowner an option before their property is foreclosed upon, and by saving the mortgage company from having to foreclose on another property.
Our team has over 15 years of experience in real estate, lending and negotiating short sales with banks. Our commitment to each homeowner is the same... We will evaluate each situation individually to help you determine which option is best for you. From there, we will strive to make the Short Sale process as smooth, effortless and private as possible. We will communicate with you throughout the entire transaction, so you are never left wondering what is happening or if the transaction is going through. Our goal is not only to help you in this transaction, but hope to build a client for life by providing you with the service you deserve.
We are not investors, we will not ask you to deed the property to us, we will not lie to you, we will not charge you up front fees and will not recommend you deed to a third party or give up your home. We serve as a neutral third party to the Short Sale transaction and are working for both buyer and seller as a third party negotiator.
We handle Short Sales in all areas of San Diego and can refer you to our partners throughout California and the US if you property is located in another area. You can visit our site San Diego Short Sale Experts for more information and please contact us today to go over your options or for more information.
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Shannon,
Thank you so much for selling our condo. We are so appreciative of you and Glen!
All of us are so much better off in our new bigger apartment, the baby sleeps better in her own room and Rob and I are less frustrated because we are not so crammed. WOW! I can't tell you enough how grateful I am to you both.
Thanks!
Neysa
Hi Glen/Shannon:
That is incredible news and really great timing...before the weekend.
I wanted to sincerely thank you both for making this process as painless as possible. The cast of incompetent and greedy characters that I've encountered in owning this property has at times astounded me. It is great to know that there are real estate professionals who are also interested in their clien'ts needs. Your high aptitude for this field, patience, and professionalism were very much appreciated during an inherently difficult process.
If I know of anyone who requires the services of real estate professonals, your office is at the top and in fact the only reference that I would provide. I will at some point be buying again and I will definitely be contacting you also at that time.
Thanks again,
Frank
Thank you, thank you, thank you. You have been so helpful in this whole process, and very patient with me. Its a relief to get the condo out of my name and this whole financial poor investment behind me now, moving on! I have to admit, who ever bought it got a great deal, it was in good shape.
I will be forwarding your information to my friend who has some questions about selling her house as a short sale, I highly reccomended you (I already told her about you, and she was surprised by how quick you sold my place), her name is XXXXX, when she calls you.
Again, I am very happy with your services and help, I really appreciate everything that you have done for me. Thank you!
Misty
Glen and Shannon,
I just wanted to say a great big thank you for all of your help! We closed our second short sale in 2011, and cannot tell you how relieved we are to finally have these off our shoulders. I know you have spent a LOT of time "fighting" for us and we really appreciate it! We really needed to sell these homes and doing a short sale was our best option.
You have gone "above and beyond" to make this as smooth a process as was possible. I am really impressed how you always maintained a positive attitude even in light of some pretty stressful situations. You guys performed a miracle. I would recommend you to anyone in the same situation.
Thanks,
Eric
God bless!
Best,
Mike
Shannon and Glen were extremely helpful throughout the short sale process. They responded all of my questions quickly and I never felt like I was getting anything less than an honest answer. The short sale process is difficult but the professionals at Silvercrest make it as easy and stress-free as possible.
Kjersti
Shannon and Glen,
We wanted to sincerely thank you for your relentless efforts on our behalf. We feel truly blessed to have such a great group consistently going above and beyond all our expectations to make this work. You both guided us through the entire process, providing detailed documentation and putting together a solid package for our short sale approval. Words cannot express how thankful we are for your outstanding service, professionalism, and impeccable attention to detail. You provided us with hope, and for that we will be forever grateful. There is no doubt in our minds that the both of you are truly the best in what you do. God Bless.
Pete and Ava
Shannon and Glen are VERY good at what they do!!!
Their knowledge of the short sale process is excellent. My wife and I had a lot of questions and uncertainties but Shannon and Glen explained everything. Their knowledge helped put our mind at ease. To short sale your home is a difficult decision. Shannon and Glen provided the information needed to help make that decision and without being pushy. I respected that about their team. At every meeting or phone call, we were ALWAYS asked if we had any questions. They took the time to answer all our questions every time. In addition, they had a team of experts (lawyers, CPAs, etc) for us to consult if we had additional technical questions that they could not answer.
When we were in the short sale process, Shannon and Glen handled everything. It was nice to know that you had a team of experts managing this stressful process. We were given regular updates. Everything they advised us about from the start, happened. There were NO hidden surprises. Lastly, they did a FANTASTIC job negotiating with the bank. We thought we were going to have to pay a very large sum of money but they negotiated the amount WAY down!!!
Overall, we are very happy with their service and the entire process!!!
Thank you Shannon and Glen!
Jeff L
As a client of Glen and Shannon they provided me superior service. They are very knowledgeable about the short sale process and kept me informed through each step of the process. They have a very credible reputation with the mortgage companies they are negotiating with. I highly recommend them both!
Philip S
I highly recommend Shannon and Glen. They are a great team! My process was very difficult because I had loans with two different companies. They were very patient and kept me informed in all of the short sale steps. They are very professional and got back to me very quickly whenever I had any questions. I really appreciate all of the help that they gave me.
Thanks you so much,
Kim
We decided to short sale our townhome in October 2009. We were referred to Shannon & Glenn by another couple that was going thru the same thing and had success with them. From the very beginning they were upfront and honest about the whole process as well as throughout the process. They did all of the leg work on making sure that our short sale went thru, even when our first buyer backed out and we had to get another one. They didn't waste time, we had a new buyer within two weeks. They did their jobs throughly making sure that the buyer would be accepted by the bank. I can't even begin to express how much we appreciated all of the work they did in dealing with BofA.
Summer
Dear Glen and Shannon,
I am so grateful we chose you to help us short sale our condo. I always thought it would be a very difficult process but you made it as fast and painless as possible. You always answered our questions promptly and eased our minds the whole time. We can't believe you even got the bank to pay part of our past due HOA fees! I could not have asked for better service from both of you. Thankfully we can move on with our lives now. I will HIGHLY recommend you to anybody I come across that needs help selling their home.
Thank you both again for all your hard work,
Martin and Brian
We decided to short sale our townhome in October 2009. We were referred to Shannon & Glenn by another couple that was going thru the same thing and had success with them. From the very beginning they were upfront and honest about the whole process as well as throughout the process. They did all of the leg work on making sure that our short sale went thru, even when our first buyer backed out and we had to get another one. They didn't waste time, we had a new buyer within two weeks. They did their jobs throughly making sure that the buyer would be accepted by the bank. I can't even begin to express how much we appreciated all of the work they did in dealing with BofA.
I owned a rental property that was upside down by more than $200K due to the declining market conditions and, with a new baby on the way, the expenses were getting to be more than my wife and I could handle. We were therefore desperate to get rid of the property any way possible.
Thankfully, we were fortunate enough to come into contact with Shannon Keatley and Glen Henderson of Silver Crest Realty. They advertised themselves as short sale specialists. Having already contacted another so-called "short sale specialist," I was skeptical, to say the least. But upon meeting Shannon and Glen, I was put at ease by their professionalism, confidence, and expertise. It is rare these days that I come across a group who does what they say they will do in a timely manner.
As we worked through the sale of my properties, I was thoroughly impressed with their professionalism and the speed with which they handled my transaction. I expected the process to take as much as six months, but in the end it took less than three months.
They also took great pains to ensure that I was financially protected throughout the transaction. As an example, they ensured that my lender waived all deficiency rights against me. That was an essential part of the transaction.
I cannot thank Shannon and Glen at Silver Crest Realty enough. I would recommend them to anyone in need of getting rid of an upside down property, and they are truly "short sale experts."
Mike
Genuine and Professional.
San Diego Short Sale Experts were a pleasure to work with. Very knowledgeable, caring individuals. They met with me and put me at ease during a very stressful time in my life. The process was fairly easy and the deal closed, on time as promised. Hopefully I am never put in this situation again, but I will definitely refer business their way.
James
"My husband and I chose San Diego Short Sale Experts / Silvercrest Realty after meeting with Shannon and Glen to discuss our options when attempting to sell in this very difficult market. The value of our home had decreased significantly from what we bought it for and we were faced with a potential foreclosure. We were able to avoid the consequences of foreclosure by completing a short sale. This was only made possible by the expertise and persistence that both Shannon and Glen used in negotiating with the lender, mortgage insurance company, appraiser, and the buyer. They advised us throughout the entire process and were constantly available to us for all of the questions, as well as any concerns we had along the way. One month ago, we completed the short sale of our home and couldn't be more relieved and thankful to Glen & Shannon for seeing to it that our home sold!"
Crystal & Phil
I spent a lot of time trying to figure out the best thing to do in my situation and after deciding to try a short sale I met with several agents, but Glen and Shannon were the only ones that seemed sincere, honest and the most knowledgeable about the entire process. We had a couple of offers. The first fell through due to the buyers financing, but they got another buyer in right away and we ended up closing with them. All I had to do is sign the papers and wait for updates and then the phone call that said we closed! I highly recommend them.. great team!
Thanks for everything!
Greg
To whom it may concern:
My husband and I recently purchased a home using Glen Henderson as our real estate agent for both the purchase of our new home and the sale of our old one. We could not have been happier with the service he and his partner, Shannon, provided
Because our old home was obtained through an inheritance, we were unfamiliar with home buying process and consequently quite nervous about all the things we did not know. Glen was very patient with us and explained everything that we needed to know clearly and thoroughly, and he was quite knowledgeable about the ins and outs of the process. He was always prompt in returning our (many!!) phone calls and the listing and marketing materials he put together were beautiful.
In addition to his patience and willingness to hold our hands through what could have been an overwhelming process without him, he gave us helpful tips on preparing our home for showing. He was quite flexible and always made himself available to us at our convenience. Several times he and Shannon came to our home in the evening after work to fill out paperwork, go over offers, etc.
With Glen's help, we had two offers for over our asking price after less than a week on the market and he helped us negotiate a great deal on our fabulous new home. Working with Glen was a wonderful experience. I would highly recommend him (and have already done so to a neighbor) and we plan on using him again if we are ever in the market for a new home in San Diego.
Sincerely,
Chris and Rachel
Dear Silvercrest Realty,
My husband Toni & I would like to tell of the continued fantastic service we have been receiving from Shannon & Glen. Over the years we have bought and sold multiple investment properties, along with our two personal residences. We have also had the pleasure of working together with Shannon & Glen in the refinancing of numerous properties.
Shannon and Glen are always available to help answer questions or help put our minds at ease during the various stages of buying, selling and refinancing. I really feel that they always have our best interest in mind. They listen to our needs, wants and concerns. We fell as though they are watching out for us and have always helped us find the lowest rates and the best loans. They have always made each transaction positive and productive.
Thank you for all the hard work. We are glad we have had the continued opportunity to work with Shannon & Glen, and will continue to recommend them to ALL of our family and friends!
Best Wishes,
Rebecca & Toni Garcia
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing to inform you of the wonderful service that Amy & I have received from two of you employees, Shannon Keatley and Glen Henderson. Over the last 6 months, Amy and I have been involved with making real estate investments and were fortunate enough to have had Shannon & Glenn referred to us.
We have now made two home purchases, one in the rental area, and one as a second home. It is amazing to me to have felt so comfortable with their market knowledge, resourcefulness in getting information from the buyer's realtors or the seller's themselves, and lastly their endless effort to execute any task at hand.
We have been very pleased with Shannon and Glen and hope that your company recognizes individuals such as them. These days, employees tend to just "do their job, collect their paychecks, and get home." Not these two. It is rare to see the type of dedication, loyalty, and integrity that they both have and it is extremely refreshing to see the energy and confidence that they both exhibit in making a real estate deal happen.
Regard,
Catherine
To Whom It May Concern:
It was our pleasure to work with Glen Henderson and Shannon Keatley in the recent sale of our home located on the 5th fairway of the Aviara Golf Course here in Carlsbad, California. We were particularly impressed with your firm's focus on specializing in golf course properties and willingness to market in the Wall Street Journal, the Golf Channel etc as necessary.
Glen & Shannon always displayed a thorough knowledge of the real estate market, finance/lending and all of the other administrative requirements in closing our transaction in a most efficient manner. They were most helpful in that regard. We also felt that their innovative thinking as to showing the house and hosting our neighbors for a reception was creative in the most professional way.
We do appreciate their flexibility in providing a menu of services to market the property. Most importantly, their quick response to all of the minor details that emerged in the sale of our home was very much appreciated.
We would be pleased to recommend Glen & Shannon to all others looking for a real estate agent.
Sincerely,
Dan and Fonny
Dear Shannon & Glen,
We are very happy to have your assistance in the selling of our home and our new purchase. If we ever need to buy or sell again in the future, you will definitely be our contact. We are also recommending you to our friends!
Best Regards,
Don & Kathy
Dear Glen and Shannon,
I am very grateful to you and your team for selling our house. The team effort has been wonderful. I am impressed with the support and attention to detail that your team has given me. I would recommend your team to anyone planning on selling their home. Besides making my house presentable, it was sold in a fast and timely manner for top dollar.
Thank your for all your efforts,
Joy R.
To Whom It May Concern:
I initially bought my condo in 2004. However, due to unforeseen circumstances I moved away from San Diego in 2006. For two years I rented my condo out, but with the economy I found myself upside down in payments. I decided to contact SilverCrest Realty regarding selling my condo during the summer of 2009. Glen Henderson discussed with me my options for selling and ultimately a short sale for my condo was the most appropriate route.
In talking with Glen regarding a short sale, he put my mind at ease. He willingly explained the short sale process, the length the process would probably take and the path which I would need to take to complete the sale. Overall, it was a very long process, but Glen handled all the phone calls to the buyer's agent and mortgage companies. He took care of all the hard work and it gave me peace of mind.
Because I was no longer living in the area I relied on Glen for everything. He quickly answered my phone calls or emails or if he was unable to Shannon did. They were very patient, flexible, and knowledgeable in the short sale process. Without Silvercrest Realty my condo would probably still be on the market. I highly recommend Glen and Silvercrest Realty to anyone wanting to buy or sell a home.
Thank you Silvercrest Realty and Glen Henderson for selling my condo!
Best Wishes,
Kelly B.
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