PINCH ME! I must be dreaming.
My dream starts out that I've just put a home on the market that's a short sale. My owner has mailed his "short sale" package with all his financials and we are waiting for the offer to come.
Low and behold 4 weeks into this dream we receive a great offer! I've got the pre-HUD done now and it's time to fax everything in. Done. Next....
Making THE CALL. Oh, how I am dreading making THE CALL!... You know the one, to the BANK. Knowing I'm going to be on hold for... oh say an hour, I wait until I have a break with everything else so I can sit and listen to scratchy bad elevator music, praying someone will answer my call before my ear actually burns up.
Ring, ring, ring.... a few prompts and 5 seconds later I'm talking to someone live. What, really? "Hello, this is Debbie, thank you for calling __blah blah blah____, how can I help you today?" "Hi Debbie," I stumble to say with my mouth full of spaghetti...
Debbie tells me that my file has just been assigned to a negotiator (I just sent it yesterday!). She then says with a GIGGLE... " Oh, I'm YOUR negotiator!" So, I giggled too, wouldn't you?. I really must be sleeping. You agree right, what are the chances I would get THE ACTUAL NEGOTIATOR ASSIGNED TO MY FILE when I dialed a 1-877 number... to a large loan servicing company??
After telling me she will be handling my file, she then proceeds to give me ALL her contact information including her direct line, email address and fax number. :) Ok, at this point I say to her, "REALLY Debbie?" She tells me its their goal to have my file complete within 30 days AND she says she is going to call ME once a week with updates. WHAT? She orders the BPO while cheerfully telling me she is looking forward to working with me. OMG.
So, I hung up the phone and thought to myself... AM I DREAMING? Is this really possible? And, then I wonder,... is the nightmare yet to come? Stay tuned as the story continues!
Signed,
SLEEPING SHORT SALE BEAUTY
!
Applications to Purchase Homes Rose Last Week
Mortgage applications to purchase homes rose 2.4 percent last week, compared to the previous week, on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the weekly report from the Mortgage Bankers Association.
The increase was driven by a 4.5 percent rise in applications for government-guaranteed mortgages, including FHA and VA loans. Conventional purchase applications increased 0.8 percent.
On an unadjusted basis, purchase applications rose 1.5 percent compared to the previous week and were down 32.4 percent compared to the same week a year ago.
Mortgage rates declined:
· 30-year fixed-rate mortgages decreased to 4.38 percent from 4.44 percent;
· 15-year fixed-rate mortgages decreased to 3.77 percent from 3.88 percent;
· 1-year ARMs increased to 7.04 percent from 6.96 percent.
Source: Mortgage Bankers Association (09/29/2010)
Buyers Should Consider Prepaying Mortgage
Should home buyers with sufficient cash pay down their mortgages or put the extra money in investments or savings?
Financial experts say the choice depends on the home buyer's employment prospects, current savings, and investable assets.
If life looks a little uncertain, they advise putting the money in a safe place, like a savings account. But for people with more stable financial situations, paying down the mortgage can be a great investment, often providing a better return than a savings account.
Source: Washington Post, Ilyce R. Glink and Samuel J. Tamkin (02/27/2010
Buyers Who Wait May Lose a Lot
Potential home buyers who delay have a lot to lose.
First-time home buyer and move-up tax credits worth $8,000 and $6,500, respectively, expire April 30. Buyers who qualify get a dollar-for-dollar reduction in taxes or a cash payment if they don't pay enough taxes to cover the credit.
Other factors that should spur buyers:
Low mortgage rates. If the Federal Reserve stops buying mortgage-backed securities at the end of March, 30-year rates will almost certainly rise to more than 6 percent.
Rising prices. About 30 percent of markets are already experiencing price increases. Prices are falling in 12 percent of markets, says Fiserv (but that only helps if you want to live there).
Source: Money Magazine, Beth Braverman (03/02/2010)
Realtors, Foreclosures, Short Sales, Relcoation, Residential Agents, Suwanee, Cumming, Alpharetta, Gainesville, Sugar Hill, Duluth, St. Marlo, Olde Atlanta Club, Chattahoochee River Club, Windermere.
Melanie and Brian Gurley have recently teamed up in Real Estate. Together, their backgrounds, experience and expertise make them a fantastic team. They love taking great care of their clients and offer superb service. The Gurley Team's slogan is "Making it Happen ... for you!" This is how they want every client feel when their transaction is complete!
We work closely with each of our clients. We truly value your needs and work hard to faciliate your transition into your next place in life. If you are relocating to Georgia, we specialize in helping our clients understand Metro Atlanta, the schools, neighborhoods and options for living here. For first time home buyers, we enjoy being apart of this very exciting time and work very closely with these clients to make sure every step in the process is understood. For all our clients, first time, moving-up, downsizing, investing, you name it... we value you and we are here for you.
MELANIE GURLEY
Melanie Gurley has been a licensed Residential Realtor for since 2005. She is a member of NAMAR (Northeast Atlanta Metro Association of Realtors). She has been honored as a a Life Time Member of the Millionaire Elite Society, is a Certified Relocation Agent, a Foreclosure Agent for an Assett Management Company, a Short Sale Expert,an eAgent, and the leader of an incredible team of agents, stager, closing attorneys and administrative assistant. Melanie is also a member of Keller Williams ALC for South Forsyth Market Center (Associate Leadership Council). Melanie was presented with the "Outstanding Customer Service" Award by Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Partners on October 22, 2009. Melanie's clients best describe her as a true problem solver, makes deals happen, and always puts her clients' needs first.
In addition to traditional sale for Buyer and Seller transactions, Melanie specializes in Short Sales, Bank Owned Properties, Investment Opportunities and Relocation Transactions.
BRIAN GURLEY
Brian's passion for photography and cinematography has led him into a long, successful career as a Producer and Director of Photographer for notable movies, newscasts , television shows and many national and local commercials. He has owned interest in several production companies during his thirty-plus years. His current company, Wide Open Pictures, is still going strong, allowing him the opportunity to be diverse in his work with both Real Estate, and Cinematography. Brian obtained his Real Estate license in March of 2010, joining Keller Williams Realty and the National Association for Metro Atlanta Realtors (NAMAR) in May of 2010. With his background in photography and marketing, Brian works closely with our Sellers to make their homes eye-catching both on-line and in print. Brian has exceptional marketing style, which brings out the most beautiful features for all our properties. Brian also has a strong background in refurbishing and remodeling homes. He has built and remodeled several homes over the last 15 years and understands all aspects of building, remodeling and refurbishing. His eye for detail brings great value to our clients. He is able to advise them with their difficult decisions throughout their house hunting process .
TESTIMONIALS
"It was wonderful working with Melanie! We tried the route of selling on our own.... after 3 months we decided it was time to get help. Melanie's marketing plan went into action and within 2 weeks we had an offer. Every step thereafter was smooth and we closed on time without a hitch! I would recommend Melanie to anyone. We thoroughly enjoyed working with her!"
Brian V.,Alpharetta, May 2007
"It's unusual we know to have fun while looking for a home. But, with Melanie we felt so at ease, we really enjoyed the process. And, we knew Melanie was watching all the details. Thank you Melanie!"
Michael and Julie T., Suwanee , March 2006
"A very personable, hard-working and honest agent. It's hard to find an agent that really cares!" Ginna H. Suwanee, September 2005
Letter to Cartus Relocation from client:
Finding an agent willing to go the extra mile is always difficult but finding someone who's willing to put themselves out to extraordinary lengths in a tough market and very uncertain prospects of success is truly a Godsend. We were blessed this way recently with the help of Melanie Keck Gurley. Shortly before leaving Georgia we met Ms. Gurley once when we were interviewing agents. We selected a different agent based on a recommendation (with an emphasis on legal backup we thought we needed) from a realtor we'd met out in California where we've moved. Working with that agent was very difficult and she failed to provide good assistance from the legal side. After 2 months of our constant prodding to get some real effort from her, when we finally got an offer, her poor advice resulted in our losing the opportunity. Once we realized how poorly we were being served we terminated our agreement with the former agent and, with no further face-to-face meetings or conversations, hired Melanie.
In hindsight, I realize it was just as well because the former agent certainly didn't have the necessary intelligence, grace under pressure, knowledge, or sophistication which Melanie brought to bear. We got an excellent offer (nearly the same as the one we'd lost previously) within a month but that was the easy part. We had about 45 days until closing from the time of the offer and Melanie worked nearly every single day with lenders, attorneys, and the other agent to bring it to a successful closing. The financial, legal, and personal elements of this transaction were extremely sensitive and difficult. Conventional wisdom and advice about situations such as ours from informed folks in the industry suggested it might take as long a six months from the time of the offer to negotiate a successful closing. Melanie managed to complete our's in just 45 days.
I'm sure she'd rather not take on another case as intensive as ours right away but I would like you to know, if you need to select an agent to handle your most intricate, difficult and sensitive transactions you can rely on Melanie. We're glad we did.
Rob and Mary S., Suwanee 2008
Oh, we have a wonderful most fabulous agent! Thank God it closed, but I will miss my 6am Wake up call from Melanie Gurley! haha!!! When I come home next month, we will have to meet for a drink and celebrate . You have been top notch! Natalie K. 2009
Melanie helped us price the home for a quick sale. She also did a good job of selling the house at the list price! Karen T., Suwanee 2009
Melanie, Thank you very much for the great job you did at getting my home sold. You went the extra mile and did a lot more than I would have expected. Lois H. Cumming, 2009
Dear Mrs. Gurley, I wanted to take a moment of your time to thank you for your diligent and relentless effort for the selling and closing of my house. This marks a new beginning for me not only financially, but emotionally. You and the Gurley Team are very good at what you do and I am truly blessed to have you on my side. As stressful as a short sale can be, you seemed to effecttively communicate every step of the process, making it seemless and bump free. I can only assume that as of now I am free from 2905 Camplay Drive!!!!!
......on a side note, is there anything else i need to do. Also, if you ever need a testimonial, please feel free to call. Thank you again...... Jeff H. Suwanee, 2011
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