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Mike Sher

Short Sale Tip #16, Hardship items needed for a Short Sale, Farmington Hills, MI

05-20-09
Mike Sher

This is what you commonly need to do a short sale. I send my clients this list before we meet so they are able to get everything together. This also lets me gage how motivated they are. Feel free to use this for your Short Sales.

Mike

Dear Homeowner,

In order to keep your home-selling process running as smoothly as possible, please provide the following items:

1. Fully completed Financial Disclosure Forms (attached 2-page worksheet).

2. Write a 1-page letter explaining how you got in this position.

3. Last 2 month recent pay stubs.

4. Copies of most recent 2 months Personal Checking Account Statements for each borrower on the loan.

5. Copy of signed last 2 years Personal Tax Returns.

6. Last mortgage statement(s), one for each loan you have.

Please understand, this information is critical to keeping the short sales process on track. A quick response is to your benefit, and will save many headaches and last minute delays from happening.

Need more information, call me !

Mike Sher,

Office: (248) 644-4700x242 Fax :(248) 499-1020 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302 E-mail: mike@mikerealtor.com

CDPE (Certified Distress Property Expert)

MCAR, Short Sale Trainer

Max Brook and Real Estate One Short Sale Specialist.

The Mike Realtor Team Blog - Metro Detroit/Oakland County

Servicing in Southeast Oakland County, Auburn Hills, Birmingham, Bloomfield, Berkley, Beverly Hills, Canton, Clawson, Farmington Hills, Ferndale, Huntington Woods, Northville, Novi, Pleasant Ridge, Plymouth, Royal Oak, Rochester Hills, West Bloomfield, Troy, etc. We worked with: Bank of America, Country Wide, HSBC, EverHome, Litton, GMAC, Chase, Wells Fargo, Flagstar, Fifth Third, Charter One, Comerica, Am Trust, US Bank, National City

But, We Can Help!

This is a competitive real estate market. If you have to sell and can not, perhaps it is time to look at a Short Sale. The Mike Realtor Team has performed dozens of Short Sales for professionals who have lost their job, income has declined, medical problems, relocation, retirement, divorce, loss of spouse, unable to make ends meet, or other reasons not listed.

Short Sale Realtor tip #13, Top 10 reasons why your home has not sold, Birmingham, MI

05-19-09
Mike Sher

  1. You're upside down with a loan greater then what the home can sell for. What you owe is irrelevant to how much a buyer is willing to pay for a it.
  2. Other homes are priced far less because they are bank owned or Short Sales. These homes are selling and their is an ample supply of them, you can not wait until they are all sold..
  3. The local economy has generated buyers who are only looking for "Deals". If your home is not priced right it will sit because buyers will find another seller who will wheel and deal!
  4. Your price is based on the list price of other active homes that have not sold. Only sold and pending home sales data demonstrates true market value, homes that have not sold are often overpriced.
  5. You have dismissed the most recent sales because they were foreclosures or were "not as nice as yours". Don't get too emotionally or hypersensitive, if your home is not selling, then buyers feel that you price does not equate to value of your asking price.
  6. We've had so few showings, how do I know that I'm overpriced with out getting buyer feedback? Buyers are not even looking at your home because they found comparable homes at a lower price. If they can find what they want for less, they will never see your home.
  7. Your agent has not told you to lower your price because of fear of upsetting you. Agents do not like giving bad news. If they are a friend or family member they maybe fearful of the wraith that comes with disappointing you.
  8. You are blaming the listing agent for not marketing the home well enough. If the agent has sold other homes recently with the same marketing strategy then most likely your home is over priced.
  9. You have an appraisal from 2006 showing your home value is far greater then what your realtor is telling you. The problem is since that appraisal; real estate values have dropped over 30%, 401K's and IRA's are worth 60% of what they were, lender laws are far more strict and the unemployment rate has sky rocketed.
  10. Everyone says my home is so nice, it must be worth more. Realtors work on the basis of what a home can sell for. If buyers are only willing to pay X for something, then that is what the home is worth in today's market

But, We Can Help!

This is a competitive real estate market. If you have to sell and can not, perhaps it is time to look at a Short Sale. The Mike Realtor Team has performed dozens of Short Sales for professionals who have lost their job, income has declined, medical problems, relocation, retirement, divorce, loss of spouse, unable to make ends meet, or other reasons not listed.

Need more information, call me !

Mike Sher,

Office: (248) 644-4700x242 Fax :(248) 499-1020 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302 E-mail: mike@mikerealtor.com CDPE (Certified Distress Property Expert)

MCAR, Short Sale Trainer

Max Brook and Real Estate One Short Sale Specialist.

The Mike Realtor Team Blog - Metro Detroit/Oakland County

Servicing in Southeast Oakland County, Auburn Hills, Birmingham, Bloomfield, Berkley, Beverly Hills, Canton, Clawson, Farmington Hills, Ferndale, Huntington Woods, Northville, Novi, Pleasant Ridge, Plymouth, Royal Oak, Rochester Hills, West Bloomfield, Troy, etc. We worked with: Bank of America, Country Wide, HSBC, EverHome, Litton, GMAC, Chase, Wells Fargo, Flagstar, Fifth Third, Charter One, Comerica, Am Trust, US Bank, National City

Short Sale Realtor tip #12, if you are unwilling to really work the short sale, then don’t take the listing, Birmingham, MI

05-19-09
Mike Sher

Realtors hate saying no; we are in the yes business. In the past, saying yes was not a big problem. If an agent wanted to "buy the listing" (tell the seller what they wanted to hear to secure the listing), the greatest harm done to the client, was the disappointment of selling for less then promised. Not the best practice by Realtors but it was done to get their sign in the yard of attractive homes. An agent would get buyers, a neighborhood presence and maybe even sell the home after a few price reductions.

Now in a Short Sale, tons of harm is done to the seller. If the seller can't make payments, then they will be foreclosed on. A Short Sale is a time bomb ticking backwards, the longer it takes, the more likely it will explode into a foreclosure. Some agents are still "buying the listing", they put the home on the market, to get some buyer leads and hopes that the Short Sale will solve itself. If an inexperienced Realtor lists a home for Short Sale, and is unable to perform the tasks required to get a Short Approval, then the home will often be lost to foreclosure.

Locally I have seen dozens of homes with other Realtors that became foreclosures because the listing agent was unable to complete the Short Sale. With the limited time period afforded, a seller may only have one chance to sell. They need a qualified Short Sale Realtor to help them. Sadly some listings have been Conditionally Withdrawn while the seller is in redemption period or right before Sheriff Sale. The listing agent has locked up the listing to avoid other (Short Sale) agents from contacting the seller to offer help. In fact the sellers are unable to engage with another Realtor until the listing contract has expired or a release is given. This is wrong and is goes against are fiduciary responsibility to our clients!!

When you choose your Realtor, ask them how many short sales have they closed? Did they negotiation with the bank or was it passed on to a 3rd party? Ask them for references and documentation that shows they are experienced in Short Sales. If a Realtor has never done a short sale or just backed into a few by chance, then you should be concerned. You have a limited time, so make sure the agent has a track record of success. You may not have a second chance.

Mike Sher,

Office: (248) 644-4700x242 Fax :(248) 499-1020 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302 E-mail: mike@mikerealtor.com

CDPE (Certified Distress Property Expert)

MCAR, Short Sale Trainer

Max Brook and Real Estate One Short Sale Specialist.

The Mike Realtor Team Blog - Metro Detroit/Oakland County

Servicing Southeast Oakland County, Auburn Hills, Birmingham, Bloomfield, Berkley, Beverly Hills, Canton, Clawson, Farmington Hills, Ferndale, Huntington Woods, Northville, Novi, Pleasant Ridge, Plymouth, Royal Oak, Rochester Hills, West Bloomfield, Troy, etc. We worked with: Bank of America, Country Wide, HSBC, EverHome, Litton, GMAC, Chase, Wells Fargo, Flagstar, Fifth Third, Charter One, Comerica, Am Trust, US Bank, National City

Great News: HUD Announces $8000 Tax Credit can be used as downpayment for Homebuyers, Ferndale, MI Realtor

05-13-09
Mike Sher

HUD Announces $8000 Tax Credit can be used as downpayment for Homebuyers

News from NAR - Washington D.C.

Shaun Donovan, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, said that the Federal Housing Administration is going to permit its lenders to allow homeowners to use the $8,000 tax credit as a downpayment.

Donovan's remarks came in an address to several thousand REALTORS®, including 130 from Michigan, who are in Washington D.C. this week for the annual REALTORS® Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo.

Secretary Donovan said that important changes, which the National Association of REALTORS® has been calling for, will help consumers purchase a home. "We all want to enable FHA consumers to access the home buyer tax credit funds when they close on their home loans so that the cash can be used as a downpayment," Donovan said. According to Donovan, the FHA's approved lenders will be permitted to "monetize" the tax credit through short-term bridge loans. This will allow eligible home buyers to access the funds immediately at the closing table.

For full story, please visit www.realtor.org



Michigan Association of REALTORS
http://www.mirealtors.com/
720 N. Washington Ave
Lansing, MI 48906
USA
800-454-7842

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Short Sale Realtor tip #11, Just because it works in your State does not mean it works in mine, Troy, MI

05-13-09
Mike Sher

Many short sale specialists out there are ready to sell you books, tapes, videos and coaching time no matter where you live as long as you have a major credit card. Plus if you google "short sales tips, help or expert", you will find 100,000's of gurus (including Mike Realtor) dishing out short sale gospel like Moses on the Rock.

Well, here is a little tip; each state is different when it comes to short sales, foreclosures, deficiencies, sheriff sales, property taxes, deed laws, redemption periods and etc. I live in Michigan where;

•· Michigan has redemption rights, but other states like Texas has no redemption

•· Michigan is a Dower state while other states are Community property or Curtesy

•· Michigan is a "Foreclosure by Advertisement" while other states may be "Foreclosure by Action"

•· Michigan is a recourse state while others like Minnesota are non-recourse

•· Michigan prorates taxes in advance while others are in the rears.

These are just a few examples of some differences between Michigan and other states. Many Short Sale experts like to make a general statement of fact that may only be true in their neck of the woods. Following good advice in one state could be dangerous advice in your state

Check the facts, call your local board of Realtors, talk to a Real Estate attorney and never believe what you read just because someone wrote it.

Mike Sher,

Office: (248) 644-4700x242 Fax :(248) 499-1020 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302 E-mail: mike@mikerealtor.com CDPE (Certified Distress Property Expert)

MCAR, Short Sale Trainer

Max Brook and Real Estate One Short Sale Specialist.

The Mike Realtor Team Blog - Metro Detroit/Oakland County

Servicing Southeast Oakland County, Auburn Hills, Birmingham, Bloomfield, Berkley, Beverly Hills, Canton, Clawson, Farmington Hills, Ferndale, Huntington Woods, Northville, Novi, Pleasant Ridge, Plymouth, Royal Oak, Rochester Hills, West Bloomfield, Troy, etc. We worked with: Bank of America, Country Wide, HSBC, EverHome, Litton, GMAC, Chase, Wells Fargo, Flagstar, Fifth Third, Charter One, Comerica, Am Trust, US Bank, National City