The real estate market can seem chaotic now. What advice would you give to some- one interested in selling their home?
If the home was purchased prior to 2004 and you have not refi nanced since then, you may be in a position to sell without being upside down on your loan. If you purchased a home or refi nanced after 2004, then you may want to try to wait until the housing market recovers a bit before you sell. You may also consider renting, loan modifi cation, or possibly a short sale (
www.SaveMyFloridaHome.com). If you want to fi nd out what your home is currently worth, you can have an appraisal done ($250-500) or you can request a free home evaluation (
www.shadytreehomes.com/Seller_Listing_Ser- vices/
page_2013261.html) from a licensed realtor.
What about buying a home now?
If you are in the market for a new home, contact a licensed realtor (
www.savemyfl
oridahome.com/Agent_Experience/ page_2342508.html) who can take a look at your unique circumstances and provide you with guidance on your options. If you are a fi rst-time homebuyer, there are many assistance programs available to you that can help you with down-payment and closing costs, such as SHIP (localism. com/blog/fl /posts/1907865/-15-SHIP-Down), and there are loans specifi cally designed for the purchase of Energy Ef- fi cient homes. If you are an investor, your realtor can provide you with daily email alerts for new investment properties and local foreclosure/distressed home listings (
www.shadytree-
homes.com/Foreclosure__Short_Sale/page_2381836.html).
What if they were in trouble with their mortgage?
Always keep the lines of communication open with your lender, and contact an experienced realtor who has experi- ence in pre-foreclosures. You may consider renting, loan modifi cation, deed in lieu of foreclosure, or possibly a short sale (
www.savemyfl
oridahome.com/). A short sale should be one of your last options, but it is still better on your credit than a foreclosure and will allow you to get back into another mortgage much sooner. Keep in mind that with a foreclosure, the lender can still pursue you for collection of the defi ciency balance. With a properly negotiated short sale, you may be released from this defi ciency judgment. Everyone has unique circumstances. You should consider also seeking legal and tax advice from qualifi ed professionals before you decide which option to choose. Lenders have gotten smarter, and have also been mandated to work much harder to keep homes out of foreclosure, and they have made the short sale process much quicker and much more user-friendly in the last few months. Don't decide to just walk away from a home mortgage before you research the circumstances, as this is a decision that will affect you for many years to come, every time you apply for credit.
Trish Sarfert can be reached at 850-449-0908. See ads pages 19 and 31.
OUR MISSION: to create a healthy and sustainable environment for each of our customers, reducing and eliminating toxins while providing a spotless home and/or work place.
OUR OBJECTIVE: to ensure the complete satisfaction of each client seeking a healthier lifestyle through the use of effective green cleaning products, equipment, and techniques.
Protect yourself, your family, your customers and our planet.
Check us out online at
www.GulfCoastGreenCleaning.com or call toll-free
LICENSED (877) LUCK-GREEN natural awakenings INSURED December 2010 19
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32