Carmen Cotto-Rivera

For those of you sports fans, we are still reeling from the surprise news of championship pitcher Cliff Lee forgoing $30 million to come play for the Philadelphia Phillies. Many are asking why? There are many rumors circulating why he shunned the New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers to come back to Philadelphia. Could it be because of the way his family was allegedly treated by the Yankees fans during last year's world series? Cliff Lee denies this, but he did say that "it feels different here, than anywhere else".

It is apparent that this decision is supported by his family and they really loved being here during the year he played for the Phillies in 2009, and was disappointed when he was traded to Texas a year ago. Perhaps the reason could be of the very, very passionate and intense fan base in the Philadelphia metro market area, perhaps it's the cheesesteaks and hoagies, or the history, or perhaps it's the choices of incredible neighborhoods where one can raise your family in.

I myself, had a "Cliff Lee" experience (except being offered $120 million)and recently relocated back to the Philly area (where I grew up) in Burlington County, NJ and I have learned the following: the friendly people in public places (yes, even in the post office and in motor vehicles), the convenient location (within a half hour drive from Philly, within 2 hours from NYC and 1 hour from the Jersey Shore), the excellent hospitals, schools, and universities, and the amazing amount of home values compared to other nearby metro markets. I'm amazed at the small town, neighborhood feel, yet so close to all the urban amenities.

There are times in our lives where money isn't everything and quality of life is. As I've grown older I have learned to value the intangible things in life much more than the tangible things. Perhaps, just perhaps, that may be why Cliff Lee came back to Philly.

To learn more about the different neighborhoods in the South Jersey (Philadelphia suburban market), check out my website.

Check out homes in some of these Philly neighborhoods:

Mt. Laurel, NJ

Marlton, NJ

Moorestown, NJ

For more information of Living in Burlington County, contact me at 201-835-5650 or check out Living in Burlington County.

If someone you know may be working a Wells Fargo Short Sales in NJ, here are some updates from a seminar I just attended. To get more information on short sales and to download free reports, visit my website or contact me at 201-835-5650.

Here are some highlights of the seminar:

1. 92% of people keep paying their Wells Fargo mortgage on time. With all the news in the media about foreclosures, we tend to overlook this fact.

2. Most people in trouble hide because they don't understand their choices. As real estate agents, we can provide such an important service to these home owners by helping them get out of these hardship situations. Also, helping homeowners is helping the banks avoid foreclosure, because it ends up costing them more money..usually.

3. Wells Fargo is in the process of establishing Home Preservation centers throughout the country to help homeowners falling behind in their mortgages. These centers are set up to work with customers who prefer face-to-face assistance with their workout options. Currently there are centers being set up in the following states: California, Nevada, Arizona, Florida, Virginia, Maryland and now, New Jersey.

There are different types of short sales, that's why each one I've been involved in has been different. Also, short sales vary from lender to lender on how they are being handled. Here are some types that were mentioned:

A. Portfolio scenario - this loan is still owned by Wells Fargo and has not been sold to another investor. Also, there is no junior lien (ie., 2nd mortgage) with this loan. There is no negotiator and all Wells Fargo Short Sales in NJ key decision makers are in-house. In these types of short sales, decisions can be made in 10 days and funding of this sale can be done in 60 days.

B. Investors w/a junior lien scenario - in this loan, Wells Fargo does not currently own, which means it has been sold to possibly Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, private investors or others. Each investor has different requirements, that is why short sale procedures vary so much. Wells Fargo will will send package and settlement request for junior lien to the investor. The real estate agent is responsible for negotiating the 2nd lien. Wells Fargo acts as intermediary but does not make the decision, therefore, time-lines vary.

C. Investors w/a junior lien, mortgage insurance and borrower has $50K assets in banks scenario - after the real estate agent sends package to Wells Fargo and during the negotiation, then junior lien may want a $10K note, mortgage insurance may want also $10K note, an investor may want a $10K cash, home owner doesn't accept this and the deal dies. Wells Fargo is the facilitator in this type of short sale and does not have a decision making authority. Unfortunately, many short sales fall apart during the negotiations, that's why it's important to get the ball rolling early on, to provide the most complete and updated documentation, and for all parties to be communicating constantly to increase the success rate of the short sale.

It was projected that in 2011, 1 out of 3 home sales in NJ will be in some sort of distress. This was a pretty sobering statistic for NJ. Also, the #1 reason for people not paying their mortgage is: job loss.

It is so important for home owners to understand the process in order to avoid their property being foreclosed on.

If anyone you know is falling or will be falling behind on their Wells Fargo mortgage, it's important to notify them as early in the process as possible. Wells Fargo might even send their short sale manager to their home and even help them prepare the documentation along with the assistance of a real estate agent. For a home owner, there's more dignity when they're able to get out of a distressed situation as a short sale, then go through a foreclosure. A seller may be able to apply for a mortgage in 2 years after a short sale versus in 7 to 10 years if they go through a foreclosure. Lenders may look at a foreclosure worse than a bankruptcy.

Here is a government website for home owners that provides information if they are falling behind on their mortgages. It explains the loan modification and refinance programs, avoiding scams and frauds. Click here. If you or someone you know is falling behind on their Wells Fargo mortgage, click here. To search for properties, including short sales and foreclosures, in the Burlington County, NJ area, click here.

Contact a real estate agent before or as soon as someone you know starts falling behind on their mortgage. Only a licensed real estate agent can list a short sale property. It is best when a licensed real estate agent teams up with a real estate attorney to properly market (to net the lender as much money as possible in the current market) and negotiate a short sale with the home seller's lender. There are 3rd party short sale negotiators out there, but sellers should be very careful about using them, since some states are requiring that a short sale negotiator be licensed. In NJ, more and more real estate agents are working with attorneys in helping home owners negotiate short sales with their lenders.

Cranberry Festival in Burlington County, NJ    For more info on living in Burlington County, call me at 201-835-5650 or search for properrties directly on my website.

I had the privilege of attending the 27th annual Cranberry Festival in Burlington County, NJ this past weekend.  It was my first time going and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by the number of a variety of vendors and attendees.  The festival was held in beautiful Chatsworth, which is the heart of the Pine Barrens in Burlington County, NJ. 

New Jersey ranks 3rd in the nation in cranberry production.  The cranberries grow on low lying vines that are in wet marshy areas called bogs.  Every fall, bogs across the Pinelands are flooded and harvested to produce beautiful seas of floating red berries.  NJ's family farms produce about 40 to 50 million pounds of cranberries each year.  The Pinelands of NJ, are over 1.1 million acres of protected forest mostly located in Burlington County, NJ.  It has a sandy, acidic soil which makes it an ideal natural environment for cranberries to grow. 

Cranberry cultivation begin in NJ in 1835.  Many of the families producing cranberries today are descended from the original growers from the 1800's.  The Lenni-Lenape Indians were the first known harvesters of cranberries in NJ.   These Lenape Indians used cranberries to draw poison from arrow wounds, to dye rugs, blankets and clothing; as a symbol of peace; and for commerce with early European settlers. NJ sells 95% of their cranberries to Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., which had a large presence at the festival, of course.

While at the Cranberry Festival in Burlington County, NJ,  I got to sample so many ways cranberries are consumed.  I tried:  breads, muffins, pies, hot sauces, dipping sauces, chocolate chip cookies w/cranberries (awesome!), ice cream, and dried, like raisins. There were so many other ways they were being sold that I did not get to sample.    One noteworthy way at the Cranberry Festival in Burlington County, NJ, was cranberry wine.  NJ wines is a growing industry and I must say the handful of wine booths that were there were the most crowded.   There were also Cranberry bog tous that were sold out for Saturday, and the slots for Sunday were quickly filling up.  (Source for all this cranberry info is from:  American Cranberry Growers Association).

This festival happens once a year in Oct.  It definitely is worth checking out.  Bring your walking shoes, camera, and very healthy appetite! 

Map of Cranberry Festival in Burlington County location in the town of Chatsworth:

Thinking of Living in Burlington County, NJ? For more information, contact me at 201-835-5650 or go to my website.

Most people have this image of "Jersey" as an overcrowded, tough, in-your-face-straight-to-the-point attitude, overcrowding of industrial smoke stacks, big hair, loud talk, fake suntan state. That's mostly in North Jersey thanks to the new onslaught of "Jersey" TV reality shows, IE., Real Housewives of NJ, Jersey Shore, Jerseylicious, etc. Having lived there for 20 years, I must say that I developed that attitude as well, when I worked in the construction and real estate industries.

However, now I have recently moved to South Jersey, where I did most of my growing up - below the state capital of Trenton, (By the way, there is much debate among "Jerseyans" as to where the North-South line is in the State) In my opinion, I draw it straight across our state capital, which is relatively close to a geographical center. I have moved to Burlington County, NJ -a breath of fresh air - literally. If you are thinking of Living in Burlington County, NJ, it definitely is worth checking out. Living in Burlington County, NJ, puts you approximately a half-hour of Philadelphia and an-hour-and-a-half from New York City. More and more people who have been thinking of Living in Burlington County, NJ are moving there. Why?

Burlington County, is rich in history, agricultural base and vast pine lands forest. It consists of approximately 525,000 acres - the largest of all of New Jersey's 21 counties. It is the only county that stretches from the Delaware River to the Jersey shore. It is the statewide leader in farmland preservation and ranks 6th in this category nationwide.

The "farm belt" is located in the northeast region of the County. Over the past 12 years, the County has experienced "smart growth" planning with the towns in an effort to balance development with open space and farmland, and avoid the land use conflicts and suburban sprawl. (source: Burlington County Chamber of Commerce )

The 13-town region that borders the Delaware River has seen over a billion dollars in new construction, thanks to the light rail service, called The River Line. The River Line routes connects the cities of Camden, where you can take the Patco high speed line into Philadelphia in the southern end, and Trenton, where you can take NJ Transit or Amtrak train into NYC on the northern end.

Can you believe that in Living in Burlington County, NJ, 57% of the County is listed as wooded, about 10% is developed residential, and about 5% includes business and industry? That is amazing because of Burlington County's proximity to two major metropolitan areas.

There are over 170,000 housing units in Burlington County, NJ. To view current Burlington County, NJ properties for sale, click here. Feel free to browse the diversity of properties, from small rental units, to townhome condominiums, log cabins, estates, and horse farms. Also, about 7% of people Living in Burlington County, NJ is aged 65 or older, thus retirement communities are springing up to accommodate the influx of new senior residents. (source: Burlington County Resource and Relocation guide). For a direct link to active adult community units on the market, click here Active Adult Communities.

Burlington County is conveniently located at exits 4 and 5 off the turnpike with a handful of bridges crossing the Delaware River into Philadelphia and surrounding Pennsylavia communities. You will have easy access to I-295, Routes 70, 73, 38, and 130, connecting residents Living in Burlington County, NJ to Philadelphia and New York City.

Compared to North Jersey, you get more house and more land for the money, and even, yes, taxes are slightly lower! Therefore, Living in Burlington County is definitely worth exploring, "you gotta problem with that"?