I am embarassed to say I cannot answer one of my first time buyer's questions about a property. I am wondering if I could get some clarification from knowledgeable REO agents on what transpires during a Sheriff sale. Names and addresses have been changed to provide confidentiality, but the financial figures as shown in the tax records are true:

Property address: 123 Main Street

03/04/97 Property is owned by Happy Owners Trust, Mrs. Happy Owner Trustee, with a mortgage of        $47,450 held by Miscellaneous Mortgage Company.

04/01/05 Quit Claim Deed from Happy Owners Trust to Mr. April Fool, with new mortgage of $74,400  held by Let Us Be Your Mortgage Company.

01/13/09 Sheriff Sale to New Player Mortgage Company for $52,500

01/29/09 Judge of Ill Fated County Sheriff Deed to New Player Mortgage for $52,500

Question: What happened here? Was there a real auction sale whereby the New Player Mortgage Company actually bought something for a real dollar amount of $52,500, being it was something they already held the first mortgage lien on to begin with?

Question: Did New Player Mortgage Company have to pay a full $52,500 plus all the normal closing costs associated with an arm's length sale in the same amounts any other buyer would have had to pay?

Or.... did New Player Mortgage Company simply pay a reduced amount in order to protect their position during the Sheriff Sale auction process? What did New Player Mortgage really pay?

PS: The reference property at 123 Main Street is now Active on the MLS for $17,200. My first time home buyer wonders how a property that sold in January of this year for $52,500 is now on the market for $17,200. Can you help?

 Thanks for any and all help!

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has a live "Eagle Cam" that is positioned above a bald eagles nest located on the Potomic River about 75 miles from Washington DC.

What a treat to see a young eaglet as it grows into a beautiful specimen of the bald eagle, the great symbol of freedom and might of our nation.

Take a peek in from time to time as I do, in total wonder and awe. 

http://www.myoutdoortv.com/explore-the-u.s./eagle-cam.html

Question: Why did the elephant paint all of his toe nails different colors?

Answer: So he could hide in the jelly bean jar!

Question: Why did coffy paint his toenails all different colors?

Clue #1:

Clue #2:

Happy Easter everybody!

http://wherescoffy.blogspot.com

He's backkKKKKKKK!!!!  YayyyYYYY!!!!  Coffy has just returned from his second consecutive trip to Jamaica! Ann and Josh agreed to allow him to accompany them on their recent vacation trip. Thank you Ann and Josh!

Something tells me he had preferential treatment? Looks like he has his own seat on the airplane in this picture. The first leg of his trip was from Cleveland, Ohio to Key West, Florida:

 Coffy is hoping he will get served a meal during his plane ride from Cleveland to Key West

He likes Key West! Could he maybe stay here instead of getting on the cruise ship?

 After watching the movie The Titanic, Coffy keeps eyeing those life rafts nervously.

The sun is incredibly bright at Grand Cayman Island! He should have brought along some sun glasses.

Ah yes! That's what friends are for! His traveling companion lent a pair of sunglasses.

 Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!  uh..... Looks like Coffy is feeling a little intimidated?

He's still waiting for some pictures to be developed from Jamaica. Check back soon. He'll be adding up his trip mileage to enter into his log journal.

Have your thoughts turned to spring and summer activities? Do you think life would be better if you were living the great life in one of the condos at Meyers Lake?

There are some great Meyers Lake Condominiums available right now in all price ranges. Some are high end with lots of amenities, while others will fit the budget for those more cost conscious. There are some waterfront properties available from time to time.

Either give me a call or make an email request and I'll send along a list of all the active properties around the lake.

Jim Dvorovy , Realtor, Cutler Real Estate

email to: jdvorovy@cutlerhomes.com

Cell 330-685-4615

What are the odds of this happening... Coffy will be on his way BACK to Jamaica! This time he will be taking a cruise ship leaving from Florida, and even get to stop over in Cozumel.

Perhaps its the luck of the Irish? I don't even know if Coffy is Irish, or even what he is for that matter. But he sure is lucky this week. A trip to Jamaica would ordinarily be considered a "Once in a lifetime trip" for most of us, but Coffy is going back next week! Not only is he going back to Jamaica, he will be going to Ocho Rios once again, a place from which he has just recently returned!

He will be gone for the week of March 22 - 28. Stay tuned for his latest pictures when he gets back.

If you are planning an out of the state vacation and would be willing to let Coffy go along, please let me know?

In the meantime, there is an expanded picture clue, follow the link below, guess where in Stark County the picture was taken, and win a certificate to a local restaurant:

http://activerain.com/blogsview/922881/Wheres-Coffy-11-Jim-Dvorovy-Canton-Oh-Real-Estate?

Thanks!

I was fortunate to be able to do something recently that I wish I could have done years ago! I tagged along during an FHA appraisal. I had approached our mortgage loan originator and mentioned that I sure would like to actually be present during an FHA appraisal and learn just exactly what the appraiser is really looking for during the property inspection part of the appraisal process. Within days she had hooked me up with an appraiser that agreed to allow me to tag along on his next upcoming property inspection that required an FHA appraisal.

With the tremendous rise in the number of FHA loan packages now being approved for buyers, it has become more critical than ever to gain a better understanding about the FHA loan appraisal process. Whether we are working with a buyer or a seller, it sure is nice to have an understanding of why a property will (or will not) qualify for an FHA loan, and what amount of repairs would need to be completed in order to allow it to qualify.

Up until the time I actually got to experience the process, lots of confusion kept swirling around in my mind due to all the war stories about FHA loans that I had heard throughout the years. Now I can feel tremendously better due to the knowledge that the appraiser allowed me to gain while he verbally explained to me each item he was looking for (and at) as well as why. During the process, he had told me about the need for the property to meet the minimum guideline of being safe, sanitary and secure.  As he made his way through each area of the house, he pointed out conditions that he considered as simply being cosmetic items that would not need a notation on the appraisal form. He also went on to tell me about which items would need a notation, as well as why those items were not safe, sanitary, or secure. He also told me what action would be required in order to bring the noted item to minimum standards. 

From now on when I am in the process of listing a property, I will feel a brand new sense of confidence in being able to help the homeowner address any items that need to be completed in order to make a property "FHA ready". Also from now on when I am with a buyer and showing homes, I will be able to point out which items they will need to either address or have the seller address should they be considering an FHA loan package. Since a greater percentage of loans are FHA, it makes sense for the seller's property to appeal to the maximum number of buyers by striving to have the property meet FHA guidelines. I can now provide a better level of service due to my new found knowledge to both buyers and sellers.

I owe a debt of gratitude to the appraiser that allowed me to tag along and for taking the extra time to explain the process to me.

Coffy just got back from a super vacation trip to the island of Jamaica! He had traveled by plane with Eric and Tiffany and family and logged about another 3400 miles.

He enjoyed his stay at the Beaches Boscobel Resort and Golf Club which is about 10 miles from the town of Ocho Rios. Ocho Rios is about a two hour drive from Montego Bay.

This is one of his favorite hang outs during the week

 Rules, rules, and more rules. Oh well, he still had fun despite of it all

AhhHHHH yes! A great way to beat the heat

Oh boy! A friendly face! This new pal is so much better than that character he met in Florida awhile back!

Each February for the past several years I have attended the free online cyberspace convention. I first learned about it from reading one of my favorite sites BrokerAgentNews.com. I look forward to it each year and wouldn't want to miss it.

The graphics improve on a yearly basis, and it is almost like really being there in person. It is free to sign up and free to attend the convention, and free to visit the virtual trade show booths, free to listen to the scheduled speakers each day, etc. 

It runs for a full seven days from Feb 22 - 28. Each day features a line up of speakers dealing with topics of varied interest. You've be able to visit the trade booths as if you were really there, and sign up for drawings, maybe purchase some material, etc.

Why not click on the link below, sign up, and browse the program, I am positive that you will be glad you did. Many of our AR members have benefited greatly, and I would appreciate their endorsement and recommendation for others to take part in the program. It is a great learning experience.

http://recyber.cyberconventions.com/

Thanks,

Jim

Somebody,  somewhere would benefit much more than you could imagine if you would just simply let them know how special they are.

Who can you contact and let them know that you are thinking about them? How much might it mean to them if you were to wish them a Happy Valentines Day?

Coffy the Cutler teddy bear wishes you and your loved ones a very Happy Valentines Day.