SO if it's true, as reported by Carrie Bay, DS News, that Equator (nee REOTrans) has launched a new Short Sale Platform, to be used post-haste by an a
s-yet-to-be-named (though they then named it! - Bank of America) bank to process - quickly, cleanly, efficiently - their short sales -- THEN will that mark the begining of the end of the professional short sale negotiators who have been collecting fees up front from sellers to negotiate with the sellers' banks, oft times to no avail?
Let's hope that as the process is technologically streamlined, that the best-of-the-best negotiators remain. Here's hoping!
Best regards, Gretchen
The Hayden House, Lilburn, the Patapsco Female Institute, Mt. Ida Visitor Center, Ellicott City's Old Fire Station, Heart Beat Bridge, Hell House at St. Mary's College -- Do you know what each of these locations have in common here in Howard County MD? Here's a clue: We're asking this question 
on Halloween! They are ALL HAUNTED!
Chills! Thrills! It doesn't get more local than this: Ellicott City, having history, naturally has ghosts -- Lots of them! For the scoop on where to scare yourselves, many thanks to Ellicott City Tourism, a frightening list of local haunts:
http://www.ellicottcity.net/tourism/haunted/
Howard Life brings you up-to-date information on Haunted Howard County Tours!: http://www.howardcountymd.gov/HCT/HCT_GhostTours.htm
Haunted Sites around Maryland, compliments of the Baltimore Sun:
Haunted Houses around Maryland and Pennsylvania, by HauntedHouse.com:
http://www.hauntedhouse.com/search/Haunted_Attraction_Directory/_USA_,040All_50_States,041/Maryland/
Have a Happy Halloween everyone!
Best regards, Gretchen
As forwarded to me by Internet Compass Solutions, it appears good news may be on the horizon -- Word is the credit will be renewed (read: extended?) allowing not just first time, but also repeat homebuyers the credit, to be gradually reduced, but continued through the end of 2010. Let's keep the market moving!
Following is the text as per Bloomberg News:
Senate Democrats on Board with Credit Extension
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) says Senate Democrats have agreed to extend the first-time home buyer tax credit. The latest version extends the program to home sales signed - not closed - by April 30. Purchasers would have another 60 days to close the sale. The credit will also be expanded to include so-called step-up buyers who have lived in their current home for at least five years.
The credit would be cut slightly to a $7,290 cap. Income eligibility for first-time home buyers would stay the same, but it would rise for step-up buyers to $125,000 for individuals and $250,000 for couples.
Source: Bloomberg News, Dawn Kopecki and Ryan Donmoyer (10/27/2009)
I know there are some out there who believe the homebuyer tax credit was a mistake, and that an extension just compounds the mistake, but listen up -- That's easy to say now, but have we all forgotten the stagnant situation of a year ago, with all the potential homebuyers and homesellers petrified, afraid to do anything? We Americans have such short term memories, housing markets, economic realities, elections...
Best regards, Gretchen
Today is the day that Howard County MD Public School Teachers come back (or arrive, if they've just been hired - 200+ new teachers this year!) Of the 200 new teachers, 36 are for new positions. 25% of the new hires are HCPSS graduates, returning to teach here -- what a compliment to the school system!
WELCOME! Who is more important in the lives of our children - Take good care of ALL of our teachers, welcome them, support them, ask them what they need. Volunteer! Join the PTA!
Here are some interesting facts, compliments of the Howard County Public School System:
We have 72 public schools, 4,563 teachers, and anticipate 49,138 students. The operating budget is $656,694,100, and spends $13,320 per student.
For teachers, the average age is 41, average teaching experience is 12.4 years, and 61% have at least a master's degree.
So whether you're HAPPY or SAD to see the end of summer -- HERE IT COMES! The school year begins for Howard County students on Monday, August 31.
Best regards, Gretchen
Okay, first of all, I'm all for the political world of Washington. I believe America is a great
place to live, and I think that checks and balances helps to keep all of us safer and saner, even if we don't see it at the time.
But REALLY!!!
$132 MILLION DOLLARS, in this day and age, unnecessarily escalating the timed replacement of jets, for use by our elected officials in Washington, DC?? This is the same group of people who just rained on the parade of the automobile industry executives (and rightly so), asking them if they didn't think they should be traveling on commercial airlines!
How many people, losing their homes, could be saved for $132 MILLION DOLLARS? Let's see, pulling a number out of the air, let's say $50,000 each -- That's 2,640 homes, 2,640 families, 2,640 neighborhoods not pulled further down? It may not sound like all that much, but to those 2,640 families, it's EVERYTHING! COME ON, WASHINGTON!
Could we have saved all of the Howard County foreclosures for the cost of 2 jets?
Best regards, Gretchen
 |
|
|
I love helping sellers and buyers with their life transitions, guiding my clients toward the best home sale and purchase decisions for them, on a timeframe that best suits their needs!
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
Powered by the ActiveRain Real Estate Network
© 2009 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved
