Yay! We just received another Arizona Short Sale approval from Wells Fargo. The process took LESS than 60 days AND they are even paying 3% towards the buyer's closing costs and a full 6% co-broke. What more could a short sale agent ask for??
Would you go to court without an attorney? Why would you trust your short sale to anyone but an experienced short sale agent with successful results?
If you are upside down on your home or behind on your payments, contact us TODAY for Short Sale assistance.
Call Jessica or Randy today to see if YOU qualify for a Short Sale! 602-677-7977
At the end of the day.....even if you do everything right, have a cash buyer and a full short sale approval.....they still may foreclose. Even if it's not on purpose.
Today we wrote a letter to the CEO of Chase, Jamie Dimon. The loan was with WAMU, now Chase. Not sure what more we can do at this point. If anyone has a better idea, please let me know!:
Hello Jamie,
My short sale was fully approved on the above referenced file. When I called in prior to 10/30, we were assured that the Trustee Sale was postponed and that we had an approval. On 10/30, our property was "accidentally" foreclosed on and now Samantha Britt, our negotiator, is attempting to get the sale reversed.
I was just contacted by the REO listing agent as this property has already been assigned, AND they want to offer our tenant Cash for Keys! The built in tenant is a crucial piece to the success of the short sale transaction, as the purchaser is an investor who is buying the property with a built in tenant.
The response we are now getting from Samantha is that "TO RESCIND A PROPERTY DOES TAKE A LITTLE TIME"
It is imperative this Trustee Sale be rescinded as soon as possible and that no further action be taken on the REO side. Please help!"
Well, today is the 10th, the Trustee Sale occured on the 30th. To properly postpone the sale would have taken about 2 minutes. They have certainly had enough time to assign the file to an asset manager, then a listing agent, and now talk to our tenant! What more can be done?
Call Jessica or Randy today to see if YOU qualify for a Short Sale! 602-677-7977
Our passion is to help those facing foreclosure to deal with their situations, either themselves or with the help of professionals. It is our opinion that homeowners in trouble should consider trying to negotiate with their lender themselves before paying any company to obtain a modification/deed in lieu or short sale.
The key is (I) not to wait until too late if your own efforts are not successful and (ii) not to accept a servicer's offer just to reinstate the mortgage and spread arrearages, when you could not pay the basic mortgage payment in the first place.
Usually what they offer is not what can be negotiated. Remember that they are not going to just reduce your payments to be helpful. They will go only as far as they feel they need to. Good negotiating is an art and you can either learn it or have us do it for you.
Remember, once you accept a modification or forbearance plan, the holder will never renegotiate it. So do not make the mistake of taking what they first offer or settling for something that is not realistic for your budget or will not last you long term. For example, if you owe $500,000 on your home and it is now worth $250,000, and you know you may need to sell in 5 years.....a loan modification that does not reduce the principle is probably not the best option for you as you may just be avoiding the inevitable. The likelihood that you will recoup $250,000 of your home's value in 5 years is slim to none. In this case, a short sale may be your best option. Better to do it now rather than later so that you can begin the recovery process immediately and move on.
How to handle a foreclosure:
There are, basically, five parts to obtaining a desired result.
Part one is to put together all of your documents and prepare certain forms necessary to deal with loan servicers.
Part two is to put together the facts of the origination of your loan to show the servicer and holder that you can legally contest the foreclosure and that foreclosure will be very expensive in comparison to a modification, or deed in lieu or short sale.
Part 3 is to slow down the actual foreclosure process, to allow time to negotiate.
Part 4 is to put together a plan that will fit the holders' underwriting guidelines.
Part 5 is to break through the servicer's lower level personel to a decision maker and then negotiate.
If, at any point in this process, you find that you might not be successful, we are available to assist you with further educational materials and/or negotiation services that have achieved over a 90 percent success rate to date.
If you desire more information or wish to engage us please contact us.
Best of luck to you!!!!
REal Estate Needs. REal Life Solutions
Jessica Sulliman & Randy Curnutt
Realtor, Real Estate Consultant, REO & Short Sale Specialist
EVERYTHING LENDERS DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT FORECLOSURES ......and how to use it to your advantage.
Every day we read about the "foreclosure crises" and how the real estate market crash was responsible for it. NOT TRUE. The truth is that most mortgages that are in foreclosure today, were made by lenders who knew that the borrowers would be unable to pay unless they refinanced. And they should have known that great markets don't last forever and people would not be able to refinance.
How does an adjustable rate starting at 2 percent and going to 10 in two years sound?? Think anyone could afford that jump??
The terms were unconscionable; not just ethically, but legally. As was predictable by every lender, when prices started dropping and the credit scores of these consumers did not improve, refinancing was not possible and foreclosures resulted.
And now, we are all left holding the bag.
That is only the beginning. Almost every loan for the last 14 years was made with an improperly done appraisal. Appraisals, under a law called FIRREA are supposed to be totally independant, but realtors, mortgage brokers and lenders made sure that appraisers were pressured into inflating appraisals. That pressure violates any number of laws and regulations and can be used to the borrowers advantage.
Many loan documents did not properly compute the APR on the loan, which is another improper practice.
Loan terms were unexplained and were never properly explained or disclosed. Actual fraud was not unheard of and consumers were the victims, although lenders claimed it was them.
But, there are ways that the lenders' conduct and its impact on the cost of foreclosures, can be used to negotiate afforable modifications, deeds in lieu of foreclosure and short sales. That is our specialty and we do it very, very well. In fact, to date, we have been succesful almost 90 percent of the time.
For more information on how you can find and use this information please contact us. We specialize in short sales, but if another foreclosure alternative is in your best interest, we can assist with that as well or refer you to someone who can do it better. I do hope that this information is helpful!
REal Estate Needs. REal Life Solutions
Jessica Sulliman & Randy Curnutt
Realtor, Real Estate Consultant, REO & Short Sale Specialist
Article Written by: Mick Bernard a Certified Credit Restoration Expert and President of Credit Strategies, a credit consulting firm based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Credit Strategies works with Mortgage Companies, Realtors and Bankers to help their borrowers with less than perfect credit increase their credit scores so they can qualify for the best possible financing.
Short Sale vs. Foreclosure
This debate is racing across our nation. It is one of the questions I am asked the most, "Should I let my house go into foreclosure or should I do a short sale?" Everyone seems to understand a foreclosure will not only demolish their credit score , but it will also ruin their chance of getting a decent interest rate on any new financing they want to get in the next few years. A foreclosure is considered a major incident by the credit bureaus. Any major incident can have a devastating impact on your credit score. Other examples of major derogatory credit incidents are bankruptcies, charge offs, judgments and short sales, which are normally accompanied by the term "account settled." Anytime your credit report has the term, "Settled or Settled for Less than Full Amount," it is considered a major derogatory incident and can have a major negative impact to your scores. How much it will reduce your score is determined by many reasons some of which we can discuss and some that are kept a secret by Fair Isaac, the inventors of the FICO credit scoring system. We do know the higher your credit score, the more damaging a major derogatory incident will be. In other words, a major incident affects the people that have the furthest to fall.
Foreclosure
Most people know what this is. A foreclosure is when the bank takes back a home because the homeowner doesn't make the payments on their home loan or mortgage. In most cases a home doesn't go into foreclosure until a homeowner is several months behind on the mortgage. A foreclosure can have a double negative impact on a consumer's credit score. In addition to a foreclosure listing being a major derogatory incident, there are also normally a significant number of late payments reported by the lender to the credit bureaus. These late payments vary in severity from "30-days" late to the much more damaging "90-days" late incident. In many cases there are additional late payments more severe than 90 days being reported, such as the 120 and 150-day late payments. The number of the late payments and the severity of those payments will all contribute to the damage done to your credit scores.
Short Sale
Short sales are more of a mystery to consumers because there is some confusion regarding the impact they have on their credit scores. Fair Isaac has confirmed that they consider a short sale to be a major derogatory item because of it being listed as a "settled account." Major derogatory incidents can have a severe negative impact on your credit scores. Most of the cases I've been involved with, the main difference between a foreclosure and a short sale is communication. During the foreclosure process the homeowner tends to be more invisible during the process. During a short -sale transaction there is constant communication between the bank and the homeowner. During that time the homeowner or the homeowner's representative has the opportunity to negotiate with the lender. In addition to negotiating a reduced loan pay-off they could also be negotiating what the lender will report to the three credit bureaus when the transaction is closed. If the lender reports, "Settled or Settled for Less than Full Loan Amount," the short sale will be considered a major derogatory incident. If the lender doesn't report the short sale as "Settled or Settled for Less than Full Loan Amount," then this will not be considered a major derogatory incident and will not have the negative impact. The homeowner may also choose to remain current on their home loan during the short sale process. If they remain current then they will not have the added negative impact of the late payments affecting their score.
Effects on Credit Score
The effect a foreclosure or a short sale has on your credit score is impossible to predict because of the variety of other variables impacting the scores. If you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of not being able to make your mortgage payment, do your research. Call your lender to see what options they have available before making any decisions. Call a professional; there are many different professionals that specialize in these types of transactions. The decision you make could have the largest impact on your credit score than any decision you have ever made.
The information below was featured on today's AP wire regarding the pending extension of the 1st Time Homebuyer Credit Extension.
Provided by Jessica Sulliman and Randy Curnutt to assist in keeping you current on important developments.
The senate was presented with a plan to extend the tax credit and increase the income limit. Click Here to see the video update.
US Senators Near Deal On Extending Home Buyer Tax Credit
By Jessica Holzer, Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- U.S. senators are nearing a deal on a measure to extend the first-time home buyer tax credit through next April and expand it to some buyers who already own a home.
Under the deal, certain "step up" buyers who have lived in their current home for at least five years would also qualify for the tax credit, according to lobbyists close to the negotiations. The deal comes amid heavy housing industry pressure to extend the tax credit, which is set to expire Dec. 1 unless Congress acts. The measure, which proponents hope to offer as an amendment to legislation extending jobless benefits, could receive a Senate vote this week.
Under the measure, the credit would run through April 30 of next year, though sales contracts in force by that date would be eligible as long as the deal closes within 60 days. The credit would amount to 10% of the sales price, with a maximum of $7,290. The current credit has a cap of $8,000.
To qualify, first-time home buyers must make no more than $75,000 a year or $ 150,000 for couples. For step up borrowers, the income caps are $125,000 for individuals and $250,000 for couples.
Please contact us at the number notated below if we can assist you with the purchase of your first or move up home!
REal Estate Needs. REal Life Solutions Jessica Sulliman & Randy Curnutt Realtors, Real Estate Consultants, REO & Short Sale Specialists
· Evaluate hardship and financials for short sale feasibility.
· Submit short sale package to the banks.
· Follow short sale process to completion.
· Update with file status and provide weekly office updates.
· Negotiate with banks to accept offer.
· Call banks at least 2 times or more per week per file.
· Communicate with both Realtors and client on the file as to the status without being told to do so.
The best candidate for this position will possess the following characteristics:
· Real Estate License and common knowledge of real estate & mortgage terminology
· Motivated and ability to work independently and efficiently.
· Prior administrative skills. Must know how to use Zipforms, FlexMLS, Word, Publisher & Excel. Quicken & Docusign knowlege a +.
· Must know how to be professional when conducting business.
· Must be very proactive and hardworking, often without instruction.
· Must be focused with the ability to follow up and work with little supervision.
· Must be detail oriented & ORGANIZED as I am NOT (organized).
· Must show initiative and pride in his/her work
· Must be able to multi-task. A definite must!
· Must be a quick learner, personable, have strong problem solving skills, be a self-starter and assertive.
· Must possess a strong ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing
· Must show initiative and pride in his/her work!
· Must be able to handle a NON structured day and work under pressure with strict deadlines
· Must be able to work out of my home and yours.....this is a VERY casual environment!
· Must like children & be able to occasionally work around chaos (I have two little girls who are home from school/pre-k at 3pm)
· Please be reliable & looking for a long term position with us. If your goal is to become a FT agent, this may not be the right fit.
You will be an independent contractor. Hours are flexible and as business dictates. This position is technically part time, though we are busy enough right now and have been busy enough for the past year and a half to keep you busy full time. If you feel you are the best person for this job, please email your resume with a cover letter noting why you are not a full time agent and feel this position would be a better fit for you.
Low-priced foreclosures incite bidding wars: A feeding frenzy that is pitting investors against traditional home buyers
The Associated Press updated 11:34 a.m. MT, Mon., July 20, 2009 PHOENIX -
Each time Lance and Kelli Thorson thought they had found their first home, someone would outbid them. It's already happened at least 15 times. This wasn't how it was supposed to be in a depressed housing market like Phoenix. Buyers are supposed to be able to walk in, and get pretty much whatever they want. Now, the Thorsons have taken up a tactic not seen since the heydays of the housing bubble — they are making offers on homes before they've seen them, as many as three per day. "It's frustrating because we've jumped through all the hoops and there still isn't a reward," Kelli Thorson said. In Phoenix suburbs and other areas of the nation saturated with foreclosed homes, low prices for bank-owned properties are sparking bidding wars that drive up sale prices, entice investors and frustrate traditional buyers who make dozens of offers and still can't land a home. Experts say the environment is strikingly similar to what they saw at the height of the real estate bubble. "This market is about as abnormal as the hypermarket that we came out of a few years ago," said Jay Butler, director of the Realty Studies program at Arizona State University. Just as they did during the boom period, investors now are stocking up on homes, driving up prices and forcing traditional buyers to the sidelines in some areas, Butler said. Because they often pay cash and buy several houses at once, investors are attractive to banks trying to shed dozens of foreclosures, he said. Traditional buyers add time and hassle to the process because they have to be approved for a mortgage. The market won't stabilize until investor influence diminishes and it is once again driven by buyers who plan to live in the home, Butler said. The problem is centered in newer, lower-priced communities affordable for young families and other first-time home buyers. They're the same neighborhoods that were overrun with foreclosures as mortgage rates adjusted and home values dropped. Homes are now listed at much lower prices than when they were sold just a few years ago. In the Phoenix area, the median resale home price last month was $125,000, down from a peak of nearly $265,000 three years ago. Prices have risen from a low of $115,500 in April, when agents say they began seeing a buying frenzy. Real estate agents have been noticing the problem for the past two to three months, said Walter Molony, a spokesman for the National Association of Realtors. It is especially acute in heavy foreclosure areas such as Las Vegas, Phoenix, southern California and southern Florida, where prices are correcting to levels well below their peak during the boom, Molony said. In those areas, it's not uncommon for sellers to get multiple offers. The Thorsons thought they were ideal home buyers. They saved money, have good credit and little debt. But at house after house, the prices are being bid up above the asking price. They made an offer on one bank-owned house, only to hear a counter offer that was $33,000 above the initial asking price of $117,000. Federal legislation designed to help people stay in their homes has slowed the flow of foreclosures into the market, lowering the inventory and increasing the demand for remaining homes. In Maricopa County, which includes metropolitan Phoenix, nearly 32,000 homes are on the market, down 30 percent from January. In the Las Vegas area, home inventories are down nearly 10 percent since March, according to data from the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors. Last month, 4,702 homes were sold in southern Nevada, a record number; 74 percent were foreclosures. Las Vegas real estate agent Jonathan Abbinante said he has clients who are making three offers a day on homes they've never seen. If they get a response, they'll check out the house and decide whether to continue or back out. He said he sees a similar frenzy for houses he's selling. "I sell homes right over the Internet," Abbinante said. "That's what I did in 2004." Bidding wars often result in prices higher than a home's appraised value, putting traditional buyers at a disadvantage against cash buyers who don't need an appraisal to secure a loan. That's happening a lot lately, said Jerry Lou Davis, a real-estate agent in foreclosure-heavy Merced, Calif. She saw similar activity early in the housing bubble. For the Thorsons, with a lease expiring next month and a second child on the way, the pressure to find a home is growing. Kelli is eager to paint and decorate. She already has plans mapped out for their 2-year-old daughter's room. "Buying a first home is supposed to be a really exciting thing to do for a family," Lance Thorson said. "But all the hoops you have to jump through kind of take away from that excitement." Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Looks like things are picking up! My advise: Prepare your buyers for the possibility of bidding wars and be sure you come in with a strong offer!
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
$100 Down Gets You into a Home! 
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