Jeffrey Dolfinger

All I hear from other Realtors is them telling their clients facing foreclosure not to file bankruptcy. Usually they use future credit as the reason. That's hogwash a foreclosure causes almost as much damage to a credit score. Then after the short fails the agents pulls the listing and the seller moves out and the home goes into foreclosure.

This attitude and direction is a big mistake, even the lenders would agree.

Lenders want the homes protected, winterized and kept up, when someone walks this does not happen, pipes freeze the grass goes uncut etc. Lenders understand bankruptcy and know how to work with it.

When an individual files for bankruptcy it gives them time to work things out. They stay in their home and are afforded the opportunity to work out a plan to repay the lender over time. If they are unable to work out a mutually benefical plan they get to move out in an orderly fashion and the lenders gets proper notice about the move and a real chance to protect the asset.

If you are an owner and are facing foreclosure bankruptcy is a viable option that may help you keep your home. If you reside in the Dutchess County New York area please contact me for a referral to a few of our local experts that will not lie and pick your pockets. Contact me at http://www.247reorealty.com/

Here is a link to the US Bankruptcy Court for the Sourthern District of NY http://www.nysb.uscourts.gov/

BANKRUPTCY is not a bad word!

The past few nights the moon has been real bright and the coyotes are howling like crazy. I grew up in the town where I now reside and do not remember hearing or even seeing coyotes very often as a young child or young adult. Last night I was awaken to the howls of at least 5 or 6.

This year while hunting I saw what I thought was a Siberian Husky that had gotten loose only to realize that it was a large coyote. It was so big that it made me have second thoughts about being in the woods sitting on the ground with a bow and arrow.

Everyone I talk too has noticed an increase in the coyotes hear in Hyde Park, New York. They are becoming a concern. The other day in mid day my dogs were going nuts and would not stop. When I finally looked out the window I saw why, a large coyote crossing my back field, not even paying any attention to my two dogs. While it is nice to see wildlife flourish it makes me wonder if there is a population problem with the coyotes.

In discussions with my neighbors they are split on the coyotes. Ironically the hunters say they are great because they eat anything dead or dying,roadkill etc. My non hunting neighbors don't like the fact that I tell them I saw coyotes cross over their yards and seem afraid or nervous. One neighbor even asked me to shot the coyote. I told her I could not morally do that as I firmly believe in not shooting a living creature just for the sake of it.

I showed a home the other day on 5 acres close to where I reside and told my story about the big coyote. The buyers wife looked at her husband and said " This is why we need neighbors."

I never thought that a coyote or the coyote population would effect a potential sale.

Has anyone else seeing a rise in the number of coyotes?

Announced just today NY has about 80 million dollars of NEW federal money to assist homeowners with their heating bills for the balance of the season. The program is called HEAP and is administered through New Yorks Social Services Departments. Call your local county office to see if you quailfy for assistance, which is income based. So even if you live in a high end area but have a financial setback you may qualify.

This is a great program and unlike alot of things in New York, this program actually has gotten better with the recent crisis. Short sale agents, please spread the word to your clients in need!

So many brokers including myself have gotten away from taking earnest money deposits from buyers. At least where I reside brokers do not prepare contracts and every binder stated that the binder was only in place until the contract was superceded by a formaly lawyers contract. I know this is not the case in many states and even in other parts of New York. The em in my area is only a show of faith, not part of any contract. If the buyer walks there is no easy legal way for the seller to keep the EM without a court order and what broker wants to get involved in that?

EM's have become a real thing of the past in my area. I wonder why is a show of good faith no longer required?

It has become so common place that I do not even want to see a written offer until its a final offer, so everything is done via phone or email. Most of the offers I get come in from verteran agents with no pre-quals, and the offeres have little to no money down. I understand the little money down, and sometimes reputation can make me forget about the pre-qual, but no EM? How do I sell it to my client when there's no EM?

Buyers do not let your agent or broker talk you out of an EM, the EM could mean the difference between you and another buyer. With attractive pricing and rates do you really want to take a chance?

Looking for foreclosures, investment properties or flips in Dutchess County? Go to www.247REOREALTY.com

For those of us who reside in the country water is a major issue. It seems that somewhere everyday there seems to a be problem with someones well water. Whether the water is tainted with chemical or biological contaminants it always seems to be something. 4 years ago my wife bought 15 acres of rural farmland in my local town, complete with an old farm pond. What did we find at the bottom of the pond, almost the contents of an entire barn, machinery and all including an old truck from the now deceased plumbing inspector for the neighboring city, who rode everyone to abide by the law until the day he died.

While digging the foundation and various other trenches the dirt smelled so much like cow manure that everyone coming on site would ask where are the cows!

So we built our home and I think that I am the only one who has ever drank the well water. From the day we moved in we have bought bottled spring water and have the machine just like at the office as do all of our neighbors. We could have bought filters, done reverse osmosis etc, but in the end no one trusted that those systems would not eventually fail.

Our county has been debating the mandatory testing of all wells for some time. Only one local town has passed an ordinace.

Do you drink your well water?

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