Garren Grup, REALTOR, CDPE, GRI… Naples & Bonita Springs, FL

SENATOR MARTINEZ WARNS OF FORECLOSURE PREVENTION COPYCAT GROUPS

The announcement that some owners are falling prey to predatory practices yet again is one that causes me to shake my head in disappointment. The first time these people fell prey was when many of them purchased homes that they were not truly qualified for and again now by groups looking to make a profit by "helping" those that are already struggling with paying their mortgage.

September 5, 2008 -

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) today warned Floridians seeking foreclosure prevention assistance to be careful who they call for help. So-called copycat groups have set up toll-free telephone numbers that are nearly identical to the foreclosure assistance hotline established by the nonprofit Homeowners Preservation Foundation in alliance with the HOPE NOW coalition. Unlike the Homeowner's HOPE Hotline, the copycat groups charge for their services and may steer people to unscrupulous lenders.

"The foreclosure crisis has a number of families seeking assistance so they can avoid losing their home. Nonprofit groups are helping educate homeowners about their options free of charge. Unfortunately, copycat groups are ensnaring people seeking help and steering them to expensive and sometimes fraudulent services," said Martinez. "I would encourage people seeking foreclosure counseling to make certain they're contacting a HUD-approved member of the HOPE NOW Alliance and that counseling services will be provided free of charge."

The phone number for the Homeowners HOPE Hotline is 1-888-995-HOPE (4673).

This week, Senator Martinez sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin asking that copycat phone numbers be reassigned because of the confusion and distress copycat groups cause those seeking assistance.

See more breaking news updates from US Senator Mel Martinez(FL) - Click Here

I find the above report on these unethical practices especially troubling in a month when I would think we would all be coming together as we remember the events of September 11th and strive to not just be better but to be the best we can be, both for ourselves, our country and for eachother.

Garren Grup, REALTOR

Delivering Information with Noteworthy Results in Naples, Bonita Springs & Estero!

I wanted to bring you all the first in a Top Ten series that I will be blogging about to inform both customers and my colleagues about in order to dispell some of the myths about credit. Improving and making the best of your credit rating has become increasingly important with the tighter lending standards. Don't let these obstacles get in the way of a home purchase!

Myth # 1 - When I pay off a past-due account, such as a charge off or a collection account, it will show "paid" and no longer be negative.

It is difficult to fully restore your credit without paying your outstanding debts. However, paying off a debt can actually hurt your credit. Negative items on your credit report are allowed to stay on your credit report for a maximum of seven (7) years, except for bankruptcy that can stay for up to ten (10) years. This 7 or 10-year clock begins ticking at the date of last activity. Making a payment represents new activity and restarts the clock. When paying an outstanding debt, you will change the account status to paid collection, paid charge-off, satisfied judgment, or paid ‘was x days late". This is still considered very negative and appears as though you had to be strong-armed by the credit bureau to pay the account. It is almost always prudent to have a professional help so as to not further damage your credit by trying to do the right thing.

Garren Grup, REALTOR

Delivering Information with Noteworthy Results in Naples, Bonita Springs & Estero!

Recently I launched my outside blog on Blogger, which may be more familiar to some as having a .blogspot.com extension. What does everyone think of having an outside Blog as well as the ActiveRain as well? Please, please, please be kind!

I look forward to any thoughts, comments and experinces with SEO and www.Blogger.com

Call Garren Grup, REALTOR ®...

Noteworty Results in Naples, Bonita Springs & Estero!

On July 31, the President signed into law H.R. 3221, the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, a sweeping, nearly 800-page housing law, unlike anything we've seen in a generation. Shrouded in controversy, the bill has a number of provisions which have been exhaustively debated and politicized in the media ever since.

Here are the highlights below:

Housing & Economic Recovery Act of 2008 First-time Homebuyer Tax Credit

Download this chart in PDF for distribution Click Here

See more about this Act and Click Here

For the best information when purchasing or selling a home. Contact someone that is current with what is happening with the housing market and economic recovery efforts.

Call Garren Grup, REALTOR ®...

Noteworty Results in Naples, Bonita Springs & Estero!

Tuesday, August 19, 2008, 12 noon EST - Tropical storm Fay never reached hurricane strength, and is now past Collier County, currently in the Lee and Hendry County areas. In general, the storm was not a major event.

Damage is very light in most areas----tree limbs and a very occasional downed tree. Structural damage to buildings was very light in most of the Naples/Bonita/Ft. Myers area, although we did hear of some problems toward the central part of the state, around Clewiston.

Winds were lighter than predicted, usually in the 20mph to 40mph range, with some gusts as high as 70mph near Immokalee. Storm surge was lighter than predicted, and even rain was lighter than predicted, although we will likely continue to have rain for the rest of today. Flooding was also lighter than expected. Most businesses in the area were closed today, but some grocery stores, pharmacies, and even Burger King and Dunkin Doughnuts remained open.

The biggest problem is loss of power for a number of homes, with the last report saying 28,000 homes in Collier County. Power is expected to be restored much faster this time as compared to Wilma in Collier County, and Charlie in Lee County from years past. So in summary, there was very minor damage, despite the efforts of some media to over dramatize the storm. Things are expected to be back to normal by the end of the week.

Despite reports to the contrary Fay has been a bleesing and there was very minimal damage and no tornados in the Collier or Lee county area. Tropical Storm Fay actually has and will have an added benefit of bringing some much needed rain to Florida and its neighbors. Florida and Georgia have been battling Alabama to release water from a reervoir that supplies drinking water to 3 million people. The 4-10 inches will substantially help refill reservoirs and raise lake levels on Lake Okeechobee and surrounding lakes as well as help curb the 2 year drought that has been the 2 driest back to back years on record. Lake Okeechobee as of a month ago was a little more than 4ft below it's average level.

Lake Okeechobee, which is second largest freshwater lake in the contiguous United States and is also the liquid heart of the Everglades. South Florida depends on the 730-square-mile lake during dry periods, when it can be used as a reservoir.

See more on Fay's drought relief at Southwest Florida News


Garren Grup, REALTOR ®...

Noteworty Results in Naples, Bonita Springs & Estero!