Valerie McNeal, CDPE, CRS, GRI,

Easy outdoor staging tips to make the right first impression

One of the fastest growing real estate considerations in America today is something called "staging" your house, meaning furnishing, decorating, outdoor clean-ups and ultimately arranging homes in such a way to attract increased buyer interest.

A recent national survey indicated that staged homes sold on average in 13.8 days, while non-staged homes sold in 30.9 days. Because your home is competing with other nearby comparable listings, staging your home is important for getting the best price when you sell. Here are some outdoor staging tips to optimize your curb appeal, give you a competitive edge vs other homes for sale in your area, and sell your home quickly.

• Ensure your flowerbeds are turned, weed free, and properly edged. All hedges should be evenly trimmed and the lawn regularly maintained. It's a clear indication that you are a conscientious homeowner and that you value your home's appearance. If you're not into gardening, paying for a quick landscaping job might be well worth the investment.
  
• Check to make sure all outdoor lighting is in good working order. Consider leaving them on slightly longer than normal to encourage potential ‘drive-by' viewings from interested buyers during the evening hours.
  
• Ensure your front entryway is presentable. A great exterior accent piece is a freshly painted front door, which, when combined with a few seasonal potted plants, will create a more welcoming entranceway for prospective buyers.
  
• Polish the front doorknob or handle and replace a dented or tarnished mailbox. Make sure your home address numbers can be easily seen from the street to facilitate potential viewings.
  
• Check if your aluminum siding or brickwork needs washing or your gutters need cleaning. If dead leaves are spilling over from your eaves troughs, buyers tend to get a negative impression.
  
• If you have a wood deck, make sure the stain or paint looks fresh. Good-looking patio furniture will contribute to the look of the backyard. If yours looks slightly run down, consider purchasing a new set - something you can take with you when you move.
  
• Clean up yard clutter and put away the kids' outdoor toys to help enhance the size of your yard.

Tips for Preventing Foreclosure

If you are having difficulty making your monthly mortgage payment, taking action now can prevent foreclosure on your home. Local, state, and federal housing counselors and programs can help you get back on track as a homeowner. Read below for some tips and advice on what to do if you think you might be facing foreclosure. We've also provided a list of some expert resources in Baltimore to help you.

Step One: Are you in danger of foreclosure?

· If you know your bills are mounting up or if something unexpected has happened in your life and you know that your mortgage payment will be late or you won't be able to pay it this month, start the process of getting help.

• If you have already missed one or more payments and are getting letters and phone calls from your lender, start the process of getting help. It is not too late!

Step Two: Who should I ask for professional assistance?

The very first action you need to do is call and talk with your lender. Ask for the loss-mitigation department. The longer you wait to talk with your lender, the more fees may be piling up. If you talk with them before they start working with an attorney, they may be able to help you. Some lenders may freeze your interest rate, temporarily forgive missed payments, or create special repayment plans. These may not be long-term solutions, but they could help you while you are working out your finances.

Then you might want to cosult with a realtor who specializes in short sales if the best option would be to sell your home. This is always the last alternative before foreclosing.

Take advantage of free foreclosure counseling. There is a network of certified housing counselors who have been specially trained to provide advice and guidance on foreclosure issues. These counseling services are provided by nonprofit agencies and are FREE. There is a national hotline, 1-888-995-HOPE, which can link you with a local housing counselor, or you can call one of these nonprofit agencies directly. Housing counselors can also work with your lender on your behalf. See below in the ‘resources' section for contact information.

Step Three: What are my options?

• Modify your payments: Ask your lender to consider a ‘workout' or loan modification. If your lender is willing to work with you, they may freeze your payments, forgive missed payments, delay your payments for a short period of time, modify your mortgage or create an individualized repayment plan.

· Apply for a loan: If you have a subprime loan, you may qualify for the state of Maryland's "Bridge to HOPE" loan program. This is a no-interest loan up to $15,000 due at sale or refinancing to those who are in danger of foreclosure. There are income limits and home value limits. In Baltimore City, a 1 to 2 person household must have $94,920 or less in income, and a 3 or more person household must have $110,740 or less in income. Your house must be appraised at less than $525,091. You must be referred to this program by a state-approved housing counselor (see below for list). For more information on qualifications, visitwww.mdhope.org or call 877-462-7555.

• Refinance:

The Community Development Administration's (CDA) Lifeline Refinance Mortgage program provides a refinancing option to Marylanders who may be facing difficulties after financing their homes with adjustable rate or other unfavorable mortgages, or with mortgages that no longer fit their financial situation. Eligibility requirements are similar to those for the "Bridge to HOPE" loan program. Please contact a CDA approved lender to see if you are eligible. More information is available at www.mdhousing.org/lifeline or 877-462-7555.

The Community Development Administration's (CDA) Homesaver Refinance Mortgage Program provides a refinancing option to Marylanders who have sub-prime or exotic mortgages and are experiencing difficulties as a result of mortgage default, low credit scores and/or a mortgage greater than the current value of their home. More information is available at www.mdhousing.org/homesaver or 877-462-7555.

FHASecure is designed for families who are good borrowers but were steered into high-cost loans with teaser rates. This new program allows eligible homeowners to refinance into a secure, fixed-rate FHA loan even if they are in default. For more information visit www.fha.gov/fhasecure or call 1-800-CALL-FHA (1-800-225-5342).

• Sell your house: If your house is worth more than you owe, your best option may be to sell your house. Your lender can approve your plan to sell your house (usually within a specific amount of time). If you owe more than your house is worth, your lender may still approve your plan to sell your house in what is called a ‘short sale'. The lender then forgives the difference between the sale price and the amount that you owe. You can also consider ‘deed in lieu of foreclosure' in which you ‘give back' your property and the debt is forgiven.

Legal Help
There are many companies that will offer to help you keep your home for a fee. This is not your only option, nor do these companies have more power with your lender than you do. Be wary of companies that contact you before you contact them! Before signing any documents or refinancing your home contact a lawyer. See below for a list of Baltimore nonprofit agencies who can provide you with legal advice.

St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center (www.stambros.org) or 410-366-8550
Legal Aid Bureau (www.mdlab.org) or 410-951-7777
Civil Justice (www.civiljusticenetwork.org) or 410-706-0174

Housing Counselors

The below counselors are federal and/or state-approved to help with default and delinquency (foreclosure) counseling.

Acorn Housing Corporation - 16 W. 25th Street, 410-243-9791
Belair-Edison Neighborhoods, Inc. - 3412 Belair Road, 410-485-8422
Druid Heights CDC - 2140 McCulloh Street, 410-523-1350
Greater Baltimore Urban League - 512 Orchard Street, 410-523-8150
Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc - 244 N. Patterson Park Avenue, 410-327-1200
Southeast CDC - 3700 Eastern Avenue, 410-342-3234
St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center - 321 E. 25th Street, 410-366-8550
The Development Corporation of NW Baltimore - 3521 W. Belvedere Avenue, 410-578-7190
Tri-Churches Housing, Inc. - 815 Scott Street, 410-385-1463

Resources on the Web

· Baltimore Homeownership Preservation Coalition

· HUD Tips for Avoiding Foreclosure

· Federal Housing Administration (FHA)

· MD Department of Housing and Community Development

· Neighborworks Center for Foreclosure Solutions

· Homeownership Preservation Foundation

Please feel free to call me for additional information regarding Short Selling your home.

Valerie McNeal, Certified Distressed Property Expert with RE/MAX 443-405-3587 or 301-704-8129 cell

How to Tidy a House in Record Time
The home is a pigsty and potential buyers are arriving within the hour. Here's what home owners can do to turn chaos into order, says Julie Edelman, author of The Accidental Housewife: Your Guide to a Clean-Enough House.

• Target the bathroom. Wipe down the sink, toilet, mirror and floor with disinfectant wipes. Empty the trash. No toilet bowl cleaner? Drop in denture cleaner, let it fizz for 20 minutes and flush.
• Salvage the kitchen. Clear the countertops. Put dirty dishes in the dishwasher. Spray down the counter with a clean-smelling multipurpose spray.
• Pick up debris. Concentrate on getting rid of clutter in the living room. Put it in a bag and hide it in a bedroom closet.
• Vacuum everywhere.

Harford moves to aid people facing foreclosure

Harford County, faced with a 13 percent increase in mortgage foreclosures, is offering residents counseling, a property tax deferral program and legal assistance to avoid losing their homes. "We must take action to let citizens know help is available and where they can get it," County Executive David R. Craig said Tuesday. Four U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development certified counselors, who attended Craig's news conference, worked with 84 homeowners last month, advising them on their rights and interceding with lenders to find manageable payment optionsThe county's Department of Law will continue to assist the Housing Agency to deter foreclosures and to identify mortgage scams. Homeowners who have fallen behind on property tax payments can enroll in a deferred tax program with the county's Department of Treasury. Applications will be available early next year. Information: 877-462-7555.