berkley ma: Will I have the “American Dream” again?? - 12/12/10 11:58 AM
December 12, 2010
I recently received an email from a person who was very distraught over the necessity of having to go through a short sale. The simple fact of needing the short sale was very upsetting to her, but she was also upset over the fact that she was told that she would not be able to own a home again for at least 5 years!!!
I was shocked when she said that to me.
I asked her who told her such a thing? She informed me that her bank had indicated that to her.
That left me thinking … (5 comments)
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berkley ma: Short Sales explained. 2 in a 10 part series - 12/09/10 02:40 PM
Please take a moment and watch the 2nd in a 10 part series on short sales. After having successfully completed well over 50 short sales and having 16 currently pending I am uniquely skilled and qualified to assist in handling even the most challenging of situations.
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berkley ma: Foreclosure Sales down for Quarter 2 - 09/30/10 01:57 PM
According to an Inman News Report foreclosure sales (properties that are purchased either already bank owned OR have already started the foreclosure process and need lender approval) have dropped 4.9% from Quarter 1 and over 20% from the same quarter last year.
Is that a sign that we are on the mend?????? Not quite yet. The numbers showed a decline due to the total number of sales jumping so much in the 2nd quarter due to the impending expiration of the tax credit. Many more thousands of units sold which put the numbers of foreclosure sales as a smaller percentage.
Massachusetts … (2 comments)
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berkley ma: A quick and easy excel budgeter - 09/25/10 09:56 AM
While surfing the internet I came across this budget spreadsheet that I thought was quick and simple. There are plenty of costly and some free programs that will help you figure out your spending but they can be so difficult and/or time consuming to learn and use. The thought of creating my own spreadsheet is enough to make me want to poke pencils through my ears!!!!!
Download Lauren's Budgeter (XLS)
1. Scroll to the current month.2. Enter your current balance in the "Starting Balance" box at the top left.3. Enter your credits and debits on the appropriate dates they … (1 comments)
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berkley ma: Is your homestead act still protecting you??? - 09/11/10 09:47 PM
I received an email earlier today from a past client asking me if the homestead act they had filed when they purchased was still valid after they refinanced.
The answer is NO.
I have heard different attorneys give different answers to that questions, and I had 1 attorney once respond "That there are different schools of thought on this issue......".
The only school I want and am interested in is protection! Real estate agents and attorneys have always assumed that the exemption was subordinate to a pre-existing mortgage, but believed the Homestead otherwise remained valid when a new refinance mortgage was … (1 comments)
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berkley ma: Searching for your new home???? - 07/31/10 12:15 PM
THE ROAD MAP TO YOUR HOME!NARROWING THE SEARCH"If you don't know where you're going ... you'll probably end up somewhere else."
Taken from a book title, this quote conveys a very simple message:To achieve an objective, create a plan!
If you plan to buy a home soon, you will need to know "where you are going." For a most enjoyable home-buying experience, first build a road map to your new home, a list of priorities that will lead you to your objective-a new home!
The first priority is time frame.
Write down the date by which you would like to move … (0 comments)
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berkley ma: Taunton MA Foreclosure Deficiency - 07/26/10 02:47 PM
Many states allow lenders to chase you down for the deficiency balance after they foreclose on your home. Knowing whether they can come after you and if they are more than likely to do so, may change your mind on what to do with your home if your are upside down. For a more in-depth guide on the process in Massachusetts please click on Help ME AVOID FORECLOSURE
The following is a list of states and there laws on deficiency judgements on foreclosures. Please do not use this as a SOLE reference or construe it as legal advice.
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berkley ma: Short Sale vs Foreclosure - 07/25/10 08:45 PM
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berkley ma: Zillow by their own reporting is NOT an accurate source for property values - 10/05/09 04:14 PM
With all the information out there avaiable to home sellers and home buyers, finding and getting the right information becomes a challenge.
Zillow is one of the most well known property valuation websites, but if you are using it to decide what to place your home on the market for or what the home you are looking to buy is worth you will getting inaccurate or irrelevant information.
This is a portion of the Zillow Data Coverage and Zestimate Accuracy graph. As you can see in Bristol County they are only within 5% of the sale price 24% … (3 comments)
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berkley ma: WARNING - If you or anyone you know has a mortgage pending with Taylor Bean and Whitaker - 08/06/09 01:18 PM
Taylor Bean and Whitaker, (third largest FHA servicing lender in the country) has ceased operations effective immediately. They just sent out a press release. They will not be closing or funding ANY loans in their pipelines. They were simultaneously shut down by FHA, Freddie Mac and Ginne Mae. This is going to affect a great many loans in this area. They had a major branch in Braintree which serviced many brokers and lenders in this area.
If you applied and were approved for a mortgage with TBW or have a buyer on your home that is using TBW this loan will NOT close. … (0 comments)
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berkley ma: Berkley Market Report - APRIL THRU JUNE 2009 - 07/03/09 06:38 AM
Total Market Report is provided to give you an overall picture of the current market conditions.The following report is for single family homes sold in Berkley from April 1, 2009 - June 30, 2009.Single Family HomesNumber of Homes on Market 62 (UP 23 from last report!!!)Average Days on the Market 151 - An abundance of homes placed on the market in the last 4 monthsNumber of Homes U.A.G 5 - that averaged only 63 days on the market (Price = Pace)Average Price of U.A.G. Homes $237,480Number of Homes Sold 8Average Sold Price $278,975
Average Asking Price $370,375Lowest SALE Price $110,000Highest SALE Price $425,000
April, May … (1 comments)
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berkley ma: 2009 Federal Tax Credit and the local home buyer - 03/26/09 06:37 AM
With all the talk about the stimulus package and what it means to YOU the homebuyer I would like to point you in the direction of my website to get accurate information on how you can benefit.
I have provided a 20 second video along with a detailed description of how this $8,000 Federal Tax Credit can provide you with extra $$$$$$$$ almost immediately. This money is NO longer a 0% interest loan as was the $7,500 Tax Credit. This is a true credit.
How can you go wrong buying a home now???? Fact - Interest rates are AMAZINGLY LOW (4.85% … (2 comments)
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berkley ma: The Mortgage Bankers Association Interview - 03/12/09 06:54 AM
The real estate market in Massachusetts is not nearly as bad as the National Media likes to report. In fact, Massachusetts ranks the the TOP 10 (#7) of the Best Real Estate Markets in the nation. The foreclosure rate in Massachusetts is not even in the top 15 of the highest in the nation. So, having the correct facts at hand paints a different picture of the real estate market that we are in locally.
That being said we are still having a very real problem with the short sales. The horrendous and painfully slow pace at which they operate is putting … (5 comments)
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berkley ma: BERKLEY - MARKET REPORT JANUARY 2009 - 02/08/09 07:53 AM
Total Market Report is provided to give you an overall picture of the current market conditions.The following report is for single family homes sold in Berkley from January 1, 2009 - January 31, 2009.Single Family HomesNumber of Homes on Market 41 (up 4 from last report)Average Days on the Market 82 - Living proof if they are priced correctly they will sell timelyNumber of Homes U.A.G 3 - And only 41 days to get the buyer!!!!!! Price=Pace
Average Price of U.A.G. Homes $298,933Number of Homes Sold 3Average Sold Price $283,833
~$250,000 As of January 8, 2009 ~$361,250 As of December 5, 2008 ~$259,125 As of November 2, 2008 ~$312,913 As … (6 comments)
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berkley ma: If you are a renter please read this: - 01/27/09 05:42 AM
If you currently rent an apartment, single family home, condo, or some other type of housing please read this.
Due to the unfortunately large number of foreclosures innocent renters are being forcibly displaced. Fannie Mae is now taken steps to prevent or delay the evictions on homes that they foreclose upon.
Please read the following article:
Fannie Mae Announces National REO Rental Policy
Not all properties are Fannie Mae foreclosures so you would need to verify if this applies to you. Fannie Mae will be notifying tenants in their properties of this availability.
With the home prices being so affordable and … (2 comments)
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berkley ma: Should I wait or should I buy?? - 01/24/09 06:56 AM
Should I wait or should I buy?......this seems to be the biggest and most frequent question in the market today.
Why a person or couple is looking to buy is the question we need to have answered BEFORE we can even think of answering the should I wait or should I buy question.
What we need to determine is if the house is to be used as an investment or a lifestyle asset. Are the buyers looking for a home to set their roots, perhaps start a family, become an active member in a community?
Or is this for a … (9 comments)
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berkley ma: My 4-1-1 in Progress - 01/18/09 07:32 AM
For the first time in my almost 14 year career I put a business plan in place. It has been 1 week since I started it (I know this isn't a long period of time but everything starts with the 1st day than week) and I am both excited and anxious.
This 4-1-1 is without a doubt a work in progress. When I first sat down with my pencil and paper I wanted to accomplish everything - if you saw the plan you would have laughed. After a couple of days, almost having an anxiety attack trying to meet or bite … (31 comments)
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berkley ma: **WARNING** YOUR CELL PHONE NUMBER GOES PUBLIC TODAY!! - 01/15/09 05:58 AM
Heads upREMEMBER: Cell Phone Numbers Go Public today REMINDER... all cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sale calls.
.... YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone: 888-382-1222. It is the National DO NOT CALL list. It will only take a minute of your time. It blocks your number for five (5) years. You must call from the cell phone number you want to have blocked . You cannot call from a different phone number.
HELP OTHERS BY PASSING THIS ON TO … (12 comments)
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berkley ma: Abatement time on your property taxes - 01/14/09 05:20 AM
Property valuies have dropped nearly 20% in the past two years, as if you needed me to tell you that. Well, Fiscal Year 2009 property tax abatement forms are due by February 2nd and take a peek at the value that they are charging you taxes on. Properties are valued as of the previous January 1st (January 1, 2008, for FY2009), and the values reflect the market that existed at that time. Since the values have decreased since that date a property tax abatement could save you a few hundred dollars.
Contact me by email bobbiefiles@kw.com and I can send you the … (3 comments)
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berkley ma: What a shocking statement!!!! - 01/12/09 05:11 AM
I am sitting here working on my daily agenda. Thinking about my 20% that MUST be done and how much of the 80% I can't fit in.
Well, I have the t.v. on as background noise on CNN - maybe I can subliminally digest some pertinent information. I am sure this is a repeat BUT I know it is from a recent show, as the economy is being discussed.
Suze Orman is the guest speaker giving out her financial advice to people calling in. She made 2 statements that both amazed and shocked me at the same time.
1.) In her usual … (16 comments)
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