Linda Trevor, ABR, CRS, ePRO, CHLMS, PMN

Getting three listings under contract over the weekend was a real boost for my business and a sign of resurgence in the real estate market in the Triangle Area. With recent Raleigh accolades of Forbes give the #8 spot to this area for “Best Big Cities for Jobs” and some additional praises like #1 City with Best Economic Potential and #1 City Where Americans Are Relocating, you can just feel with anticipation the crack in the dam that is about to burst again.

Raleigh, Cary, Morrisville, Apex, Wake Forest, Holly Springs are all fabulous cities with so much to offer it’s residents. The Wake County Schools are acclaimed, Research Triangle Park is filled with top-of-the-league corporations, the southern towns are filled with charm and historical sites, the colleges (and teams!) are phenomenal, and the downtown area is teeming with life.

Relocating to the Raleigh Area? Let me show you around….you’ll grow to love this area as I have and call it home!

For more Raleigh area accolades!

Loan Modification & Home Affordable Program

If you are trying to make your home mortgage affordable, behind on payments or even facing foreclosure, then consider reviewing the information below about Obama's Home Affordable Program. On April 4^th many mortgage service providers like SunTrust and Wells Fargo will begin reviewing applications for the affordable initiative. Here are some highlights of the programs:

Loan Refinance Program:

Under this program homeowners can refinance home loans that Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae own or guarantee. The program can help people who are currently making their loan payments, have stable income and have a higher loan to value ratio due to declining market values.

If you don't know if you have a government sponsored loan (GSE) then call or visit:

• 1-800-7FANNIE or www.fanniemae.com/homeaffordable
• 1-800-FREDDIE or www.freddiemac.com/avoidforeclosure

Loan Modification Program:

This program allows loan modifications for homeowner-occupants who are having a hardship, in default or close to defaulting on their loan. The entity that services the loan must be the one to preform the modification, especially if you are in default. So contact your lender to start the process.

Visit our special blog posting for information to have on hand for when applying for the Affordable Program.

Visit this site http://makinghomeaffordable.gov/ for more information about eligibility and program details.

Hi Friends,

We are passing along some valuable information on the Home Affordable Initiative. If you feel like you have a friend, family member or co-worker who might benefit from this program during these difficult economic times, then use the list below from Debbie Sheets with SunTrust as a resource for getting started. Please know that any lender can do a Home Affordable Initiative Loan also known as a DU Refi Plus. Loan modification's where the homeowner is currently delinquent and/or experiencing hardship must be done by their specific loan servicer.

Items to Gather for Home Affordable Initiative Loan

· 2 recent pay stubs for all persons currently on the loan

· 2008 federal tax return, all pages & schedules for all persons currently on the loan

· Type of property (manufactured, townhouse, condominium, etc...)

· Do you have a second mortgage or home equity on the home? If so provide a copy of the most recent statement. We need this information regardless of balance.

· Do you have Mortgage Insurance on your loan?

· Do you currently occupy the home as your primary residence?

· If SunTrust does not service your loan please provide the name of your servicer as well as their customer service contact number.

· Have you been more than 30 days late within the last 12 months on your primary or secondary mortgage?

· Do you have additional mortgages outside of the ones on your primary home?

· Go to www.suntrustmortgage.com/dsheets & apply on line. For any items you do not know just enter "Do not know". I will call you to fill in the blanks.

Please write the answers to your questions on this document & return fax to 1-866-458-2942 along with all requested documentation. You do not need a cover page.

SunTrust Mortgage will begin to review applications for the Home Initiative Loan beginning April 4, 2009. Prior to that date we are unable to give you an answer as to qualification or approval.

Applicants who return all the above documentation & complete an application on-line will be considered on a first come first serve basis. If information is missing you will be contacted. The review process begins once we have all information. This process allows us to help as many people as possible.

Debbie Sheet, Mortgage Consultant

Debbie.Sheets@suntrust.com

919-616-2868 or 252-756-3912

Spring is here and Easter egg hunts are right around the corner. Below is a list of fun Triangle events for children and their families. Many community hunts' have age restrictions, so please check event details.

Most events are held on Saturday, April 11, 2009 unless otherwise noted.

Raleigh: 11 a.m. Check your local community centers plus Brier Creek, Lake Johnson, Laurel Hills and Tarboro Road. For kids 10 and younger. Call 831-6640 or go to www.raleighnc.gov/parks for locations.

Raleigh: 11 a.m. At Moore Square Park, downtown Raleigh. Raleigh's biggest festival and egg hunt for kids of all ages. For more information visit http://www.raleigheaster.com

Cary: 10:30 a.m. Kids ages 10 and under are invited to Cary's Bond Park, 801 High House Road, for the 18th Annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 4 with morning and afternoon hunts, at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. For more details, including a schedule of egg hunts, visit Easter Egg Hunt http://www.townofcary.org/depts/prdept/events/easteregghunt.htm or call (919) 469-4061.

Morrisville: 10 a.m. Friday, April 10 at Cedar Fork District Park, off Aviation Parkway. The children will be divided by age, and there will different sections of the Easter Egg Hunt for children ages 3 - 10. For more information visit http://www.ci.morrisville.nc.us/parks/events.asp

Durham: 10:30 a.m. The following locations are offering egg hunts: Campus Hills Park, 2000 S. Alston Ave.; Forest Hills Park, 1639 University Drive; East Durham Park, 2500 E. Main St.; Central Park, 502 Foster St.; West Point on the Eno Park, 5101 N. Roxboro Road. For kids 12 and younger. Call 560-4355 or go to www.durhamnc.gov/departments/parks for details.

Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Orange County: 9:30 a.m. to noon. At Homestead Park, Chapel Hill. For kids ages 2 to 10. The spring festival includes an egg hunt at 10:30 a.m., entertainment, games and prizes. Go to townhall.townofchapelhill.org/parks_&_rec/community_events or call 968-2784.

Knightdale: 11 a.m. At Harper Park on Main Street. For ages 8 and younger. Go to www.knightdalenc.gov/parksandrecreation.html or call 217-2235 for details.

Garner: 10 a.m. Join us for the annual Egg Hunt & Kite Fly at Lake Benson Park, 921 Buffaloe Road. The egg hunt is scheduled for noon for kids 8 and younger. Go to www.ci.garner.nc.us/specialevents.htm or call 772-4688 for details.

Wake Forest: Egg hunts start at 1:30 p.m. depending on age. At Miller Park, 401 Elm St., behind Town Hall. The hunts start at 1:30 p.m. for ages 9 to 12; 2:15 p.m. for ages 5 to 8; and 3 p.m. for ages 4 and younger. Go to www.wakeforestnc.gov/communitycalendar.aspx or call 554-6180 for details.

Interested in understanding how to increase your first time home buyer tax credit (FTHB) by $2000.00? Here is information how you can claim up to $10,000 in tax credits your first year of home ownership and up to $2,000.00 every year after.

Through the efforts of the Recovery Act, a first time home buyer has the potential to qualify for another $2000.00 tax credit by applying for the Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC). This program is serviced by the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency.

This credit is for first time home buyers only, which means no home ownership in the past 3 years by the applicant. If you are married, both spouses must meet this requirement. This certificate will allow you to claim a portion of your mortage interest as a credit against your tax liabilities. This a huge savings over the length of your loan. Think about it!!

Here are a few highlights:

There are income limits to the MCC .
You can qualify for the MCC and not the FTHB tax credit.
The maximum amount you can get a year is $2000.00.
You can claim 20% of the interest you pay on your mortgage as a credit on your federal income taxes.
This a dollar for dollar tax credit.
Only a certified NCHFA Lender can assist you with the application and certificate.
You must apply before you close on your first home!

For more information on the is tax credit visit: North Carolina Housing Finance Agency