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Patricia "Pattie " Romano Your HomeTown Realtor 609 312-9043

Short Sales in Ocean County /New Jersey

A year ago, many real estate professionals didn't know what a short sale was. Now, with the mortgage industry in a meltdown and failings of financial institutions making headlines, some agents are getting a crash course. I know I have-

According to RealtyTrac, with the number of foreclosures increasing over last year across the country, lenders are opting to sell homes facing foreclosures rather than let them go to auction in order to minimize losses.

Coming Up Short

During the recent real estate boom, many buyers paid more for their properties than they are worth today. Compounded by the 100 percent financing that was so readily available, these buyers now find themselves with mortgages higher than their current property value.

When these buyers encounter hardships, such as divorce, medical conditions or loss of employment, they are unable to market their property and pay their outstanding loans. In many cases, they fall victim to foreclosure or even bankruptcy.

Mortgage lenders have found a viable alternative - a short sale - which allows homeowners to sell their properties as long as their lender agrees to satisfy the loan for less than the outstanding balance. The advantages to lenders are purely financial. In many cases, foreclosure proceedings can be long and expensive, so a short sale offers lenders the opportunity to minimize their losses.

Plenty of Pitfalls

One of the biggest obstacles involving a short sale is the amount of time lenders take to make a decision. Typically, this process can take 30 to 45 days Even up to as long at 4 months. Buyers must understand the process and be willing to wait for the final decision to know if they will actually be able to buy the home.

Lenders can dictate what other seller settlement expenses they will be willing to accept. Lenders see this as an opportunity to recuperate some of their losses since they're already accepting a payoff that is lower than what's owed. This benefits the buyer usually.

In most cases the buyer will have to be willing to obtain the Certificate of Occupancy- at their own expense. Which the listing agent should already have had it the home inspected by the local Building department. This will show potenial buyer the underlying cost that may have to be incurred. ALL RESALES MUST HAVE A C of O to transfer title/in some cases it's not necessary - BUT Not Reccomended. With the present inventory out there today first time home buyers will benefit form the SHORT SALES

It's still a great time to buy- To fully get informed information Call me or one of my Team members for a complete update on the current trends here in Ocean County New Jersey

Patricia " PATTIE" Romano
REALTOR® Associate
RE/MAX
At Barnegat Bay
31 North Main Street ( RT 9 )
Manahawkin,NJ 08050
www.soldbypattie.com
609-978-4046
Direct cell-609-312-9043
eve: 609-978-5985 - till midnight

The Romano Team
Buyers Agent-
Janis Olson
REALTOR® Associate
609-276-1741

Sales Assistant
Beatrice Ogule
732-261-1570

The Proper way to clean your Monitor

Did you know that you're supposed to clean the outside of your computer screen?

YOU'RE ALSO SUPPOSED TO CLEAN THE INSIDE OF IT TOO!

Not many people know about this or know how to do it. so I thought I would send you a link to help you

http://www.raincitystory.com/flash/screenclean.swf

Okay- I was bored today- everything is closed so I thought I would play a little on the computer

PATTI'S Princess Project Tiara Times

It's always a wonderful feeling to Give back

"PATTI'S PROM PROJECT" Boutique event: 3/28/09

If you have any gowns, shoes, costume jewelry or accessories and would be kind enough to donate to Ocean County's First Annual "Patti's Prom Project" we would greatly appreciate it. All Junior and Senior High School girls in need of prom wear from the Ocean County area are welcomed to attend our scheduled event on March 28, 2009 at the Lacey Community Center.

Please Drop off all your Donated Dress',Shoes,Gifts to any of the 3 RE/MAX at Barnegat Bay office

Please call RE/MAX At Barnegat Bay

Lacey office- 609-693-5002

Manahawkin Office609-978-4046

Toms River office-732-914-0074

or call

Please call Robin Bahr 732.600.0778 OR Elisabeth, 732.330.2152

All donations are greatly accepted.

We will be offering a six hour Limo ride for 10 people! To one lucky winner.

If you have a business that would like to donate to our Project, please call. We need nails, hair, flowers, shoes, accessories, etc. Thank you for all your help.

All proceeds to go to American Cancer Society's Relay for Life!

Donations for all Tastes If you are a business and would like to donate please call. We need nails, hair, flowers, shoes, accessories, tanning, gym, limo service, etc...

Scheduled Boutique event is March 28, 2009 starting at 10 AM to be held at the Lacey Community Center.

Email Robin Bahr Robinrealtor@comcast.net OCBR @732-244-8111 or Carly @ VIP Cleaners, 732.269.3888.

If your closet is fresh out of taffeta, make a contribution to The Princess Project today! Please help with anything a young lady will need to have the best time of her year!

All proceeds to go to American Cancer Society's Relay for Life!

Making Dreams Real

Have a love and luck filled St. Patrick's Day!

Thanks,

Patti's Princess Project Team

Making Prom dreams come true.

"This project was created by Robin Bahr"

Understanding the Housing Recovery Plan & YOU

Understanding the Housing Recovery Plan

The recently announced Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan is a sweeping effort to stem the national tide of foreclosures and to help as many as 9 million homeowners stay current on their mortgages. Here's a look at what the plan will entail and who will be eligible for assistance.

Basics of the Plan

The nationwide foreclosure problem has caused a ripple effect of lowering home values throughout individual communities. The Obama administration's plan marks the largest government response since the beginning of the housing crisis. At its core are three main strategies:

  1. Secure refinancing for as many as four million responsible homeowners, with the goal of making monthly payments more affordable
  2. A $75 billion stability initiative to encourage lenders to modify loan terms for three to four million mortgages at risk of foreclosure or already in foreclosure.
  3. Additional financial support for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Housing Affordability

Under traditional rules, homeowners who owe more than 80 percent of their home's value cannot easily refinance their mortgage. Many homeowners who have paid money down and are current on their monthly payments have seen their home's value drop enough that they lack the necessary equity to qualify for refinancing.

Under the Housing Affordability and Stability Plan, qualifying homeowners would be able to refinance their mortgages to current rates, making monthly payments more affordable. For those borrowers who are currently facing high rates following an ARM reset, the plan offers a chance to switch to a lower fixed rate mortgage.

Who Qualifies - In order to qualify for this portion of the plan:

  • Borrowers must have mortgages guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.
  • Homeowners must owe more than 80 percent of their home's current appraised value.
  • Homeowners must not owe more than 105 percent of the home's current appraised value.
  • Borrowers must be current on monthly mortgage payments.

Homeowners with second mortgages will also be eligible but with additional restrictions. Along with the 105 percent limit, borrowers must be able to prove that they can still meet payment terms on the original loan and the lender must agree to keep the original loan in "primary position" in terms of monthly payments.

Who Doesn't - While some details of the plan have not yet been released, initially it appears that the following groups of borrowers may not qualify for this portion of HASP:

  • Borrowers who owe significantly more money than their home is worth.
  • Most borrowers whose mortgage exceeds the $417,000 conforming limit.

Housing Stability

The second portion of the plan is designed to provide relief to homeowners whose loan payments have risen to 40 or even 50 percent of their monthly income. The plan's goal is to reduce the total monthly mortgage payments for struggling homeowners. To do so, the Financial Stability Plan has allocated a total of $75 billion in incentives that should encourage lenders to modify loan terms.

Some components of the plan include:

  • Shared Modification Responsibility: lenders will be responsible for modifying loans so that the borrower's payment is reduced to 38 percent of their monthly income. Following that point, the initiative will match further reductions dollar for dollar down to 31 percent.
  • "Pay for Success" Incentives for Servicers will be awarded when borrowers stay current on a modified loan, in addition to an up-front incentive paid at the time a loan is modified under the program's guidelines.
  • Borrower Incentives will entail a monthly balance reduction payment applied to the loan's principal as long as the borrower remains current on payments/
  • Early action incentives will include payments to both the servicer and borrower when an at-risk loan is modified before payments become delinquent.

Who Qualifies -

  • Borrowers whose combined mortgage balance exceeds the current market value of the home
  • Individuals with high debt/income ratios

Who Doesn't - The administration has indicated that the following categories of borrowers will not qualify for this portion of the plan:

  • Borrowers who do not live in the home
  • Speculating investors or home flippers
  • Borrowers whose mortgages exceed the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac conforming limits

Support for Fannie and Freddie

Using money authorized by congress in 2008 under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act, the Treasury Department is increasing its funding commitment to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac by $200 billion total. Specifically, Treasury will increase Preferred Stock Purchase Agreements to $200 billion each (from the previous level of $100 billion each).

The overall goal behind this move is to increase confidence in the two mortgage giants and by doing so support the continuation of low mortgage rates.

Other Provisions in the Plan

  • $1.5 billion in relocation and other assistance for renters displaced as a result of landlord foreclosure.
  • $2 billion in neighborhood stabilization funds.

Patricia " PATTIE" Romano
REALTOR® Associate
RE/MAX
At Barnegat Bay
31 North Main Street ( RT 9 )
Manahawkin,NJ 08050
www.soldbypattie.com
609-978-4046
Direct cell-609-312-9043
eve: 609-978-5985 - till midnight

Buyers Agent-
Janis Olson
REALTOR® Associate
609-276-1741

Do you really need the signs out on non saleable inventory?

In reading the Most Recent post by Jim Crawford- Real Estate Agent: Jim Crawford ~ Atlanta Real Estate-ABR E-PRO (RE/MAX Greater Atlanta)
Jim Crawford ~ Atlanta Real Estate-ABR E-PRO

Buying the Listing! Understanding Deceptive Listing Techniques. -

I needed to follow up as he sparked a controversial subject and one that it seems to be the in my own area seems to be the practice-,It amazes me when I look at the daily updates posted on the MLS board. I can pick out immediatly who the culprits are- It's the Same Agents- From the Same Agencies- Over and Over Again-

They are making false promises to sellers about the current market and what They can sell their home for- only to have the home sell 6 to 8 months later for 30% Less.

What are these agents thinking?

My question to them is:

Do you really need the signs out on non saleable inventory? Do you think that to list 20 homes is a contest of abilities? It isn't. A professional agent is the one conducting the interview to see if they are taking on a salable home into their inventory. A professional Real estate agent, will in fact turn a listing away and in some cases encourage a seller Not to sell.

What we as Real Estate professional must remember is: Overpricing can result in lawsuits- Overpricing can often cause hypocrisy- Overpricing can cause a stale reputation-Overpricing can help your neighbor sell their home-Overpricing often misleads sellers-Overpricing can frustrate selling sales associates Overpricing can frustrate brokers and sales managers-Overpricing can frustrate sellers-Overpricing can frustrate buyers-Overpricing can result in NO showings-Overpricing can result in losing listings Overpricing usually results in NO SALE-Overpricing can result in the termination of a Sale

The Professional listing agent's goal is to see if the seller:

•1. Is motivated to sell a home

•2. Understands what the current sales that have taken place in the last 3 months

•3. The seller is willing to price the home at a market price or below.

•4. Realize they'll have to make concessions on price, and contributions toward buyer's closing costs.

•5. Is aware that appraisal may have limitations.

The Pricing a home has never been more important than it is today-because of the harsh market we are in, Our Pre- Foreclosure market is 2 in every 5 homes on the market- Short Sales are over running our market, with Sellers just walking away from their obligations, The last thing we need to do is make promises we can not keep- We need to be totally honest and ethical to the public we serve. We are doing a total injustice and breaking the law-