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Stephanie LeFew

Debt Forgiveness for a Primary Residence

Tax break

A 2007 law exempts from tax up to $2 million of debt forgiven in a foreclosure or similar proceeding for a primary residence, according to the Internal Revenue Service. The tax break extends to 2012.

The lender's willingness to negotiate varies and depends on the loan balance, condition of the property, location and resale opportunities.

Short sales or deeds-in-lieu of foreclosures are apparently considered the same as a foreclosure on your credit score.

A foreclosure remains on a credit report for seven years. Credit scores can begin to rebound in as little as 2 years if bills are paid on time, according to FICO.

Please let me know if there is anything that I can answer for you in regards to shortsales that you may need to sell, or would like to buy.

Experience in shortsales since 2001.

Warmly,

Stephanie LeFew

Tampa Realtor

Tampa Home Buy Realty

www.TampaHomeBuy.com

813-624-3332 cell

stephanie@tampahomebuy.com

New Realty Company Opening in Tampa Bay!

I just started my new company, Tampa Home Buy Realty, LLC

I am very excited!! Selling homes since 2002, I felt a strong desire to start up my new company and continue assisting New Home Buyers, Veterans, people relocating to Tampa Bay Florida and investors in purchasing homes at terrific prices. Bank owned homes, shortsales, Builder Inventory are all terrific ways to get a home at a wonderful price.

It's a terrific time to be a buyer!! The Congress and The Senate approved an extension of the up to $8,000 tax credit for new home buyers. Just this morning President Obama signed H.R. 3548, enacting into law an extension, and adjustment, of the $8,000 tax credit for first-time buyers. Among other things, the extension adds money for certain move-up buyers; creates one deadline for signing a contract and a later deadline for closing; changes income requirements; and limits a purchased home's cost to $800,000. A purchase must be under contract by April 30, 2010. A purchase must be under contract by April 30 must close no later than June 30, 2010.

I also offer Buyer Incentives to all of my Exclusive Buyers!!

When I list and sell a home that is in a Preforeclosure status and a Shortsale occurs, the seller does not pay my commission directly. My commission is actually paid out of the negotiations with the Bank.

Please let me know if there is any way that I can assist you in either a home purchase or the sale of your real estate.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Warmly,

Stephanie LeFew

Broker, Tampa Home Buy Realty

www.TampaHomeBuy.com

813-624-3332 cellular

Some Banks Getting Harder to Deal with -- Shortsales

I have been experiencing the Banks getting somewhat tougher to deal with in regards to negotiating shortsales, especially Bank of America. In order to get things done, I have had the negotiator insist on reducing commission to 4% as well as having the seller come to the table with $5000 dollars, pushing for $10,000, but accepting $5,000. Also time on the file to be even looked at is extremely long. Every time I called the seller, she was so irate about Bank of America, often driven to tears. She felt disrespected by Bank of America and of had quite a few descriptive words to say about them. The sale however was completed, and everyone breathed a real sigh of relief.

GTE has been easier to deal with however. One of my sellers told me from the beginning that the bank could forget about completing the shortsale if they insisted on a deficiency judgment. The home was their primary residence. I went forward with the shortsale negotiations believing for the best. The shortsale was negotiated, however the shortsale approval letter stated that the seller understood that the bank may consider a deficiency judgement. The seller by that time was just about over it. I called the bank once I received the expected approval letter and let them know that the seller said they could not agree to that. I was told that was standard and it would have to remain. I asked her what would have to happen in order to get that removed. I was told that the mortgage insurance company would have to sign off on the request to remove the verbiage and also a manager at GTE would have to sign the letter once she received it. I said, "Well could you try to get that done so we can get the deal done?" -- the mitigator said "sure". After about 5 days, I received the letter with that contingency removed. My seller was soooo excited and relieved. The sale went thru with buyer, seller, and realtors very happy. The buyers were expecting their first child. The Sellers could move into a home in the same area and were very excited to put everything behind them. God was with us.

Please let me know if you have any questions about selling a house behind in payments in Tampa Bay, selling homes in 4 counties - Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas & Hernando Counties.

Warmly,
Stephanie LeFew
Broker, Tampa Home Buy Realty
Tampa Real Estate for Sale at Incredible Reduced Prices
813-624-3332 cell
stephanie@tampahomebuy.com / www.TampaHomeBuy.com

Buying a Foreclosed Property? Please be careful!

When a buyer considers buying a home where there is a person selling their home to the new buyer, the seller is required to fill out a Seller's Disclosure noting all that they know about the home. There is disclosure.

When a buyer is considering a Bank Owned Home or REO, there is no seller disclosure. The Bank says I don't know; I never lived there. I don't know.

The person that lost the home to the bank in a foreclosure may have been really mad and could have done something to the home that is not easily observable - flush cement down the pluming, flood the house and turn the heat up as high as they can and laugh about the moisture issues the bank will now have to deal with. It is really criminal what some disgruntled home owners have done.

So...as the new potential home buyer, it is ALWAYS a good idea to get a thorough home inspection with a reputable home inspection company with the water and electricity turned on. The Bank should turn the utilities on for the home inspection, however occassionally the buyer will have to fit this bill.

You have to exhibit a lot of wisdom in buying a home.

Sometimes a great deal is not such a great deal for the new buyer, but a great deal for the seller. Protect yourself, please, by paying for a home inspection. This is a buyer's expense. With a termite inspection the cost of a home inspection should be $425 approximately, depending on the square footage of the house.

Please let me know if there are any questions I can answer for you.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Warmly,
Stephanie LeFew
Tampa Real Estate done Right
www.TampaHomeBuy.com
Tampa Home Buy Realty
813-991-1355 office
813-624-3332 cellular
stephanie@tampahomebuy.com

FDIC Foreclosure Prevention Initiative

The FDIC has launched a FREE Foreclosure Prevention Toolkit for consumers in order to help them to avoid unnecessary foreclosures as well as foreclosure prevention scams.

This tool kit tells the consumer who to contact and what documents are needed to apply for a loan modification that could help to save their home from foreclosure.

The public can access the free tool kit at http://www.FDIC.gov/foreclosureprevention.

The FDIC's foreclosure prevention tool kit includes:

  • "Is Foreclosure Knocking at Your Door?" brochure (available online and in print), which encourages consumers facing financing difficulties to contact their servicer, apply for a loan modification and talk to a counselor.
  • "Beware of Foreclosure Rescue Scams" brochure (available online and in print), which provides information on common scams, tips for detecting fraudulent deals, and resources for reporting criminal activity.
  • Spring 2009 edition of FDIC Consumer News, which features advice for consumers on avoiding foreclosure rescue and loan modification schemes.
  • Your Own Home module of the FDIC's Money Smart curriculum, which offers tips and advice on avoiding foreclosure with a loan modification, preventing foreclosure "rescue" scams and providing legitimate sources of foreclosure prevention assistance.

Please let me know if you need to sell your home by shortsale. The Bank pays my commission and is included in the negotiations with the bank. I have been selling homes involved in a preforeclosure situation since 2002.

Warmly,

Stephanie LeFew

Tampa Bay Florida Realtor Specializing in Tampa Shortsales

Tampa Home Buy Realty

www.TampaHomeBuy.com

813-624-3332 cell

813-991-1355 office