Bad Credit Loans - 02/28/09 08:09 AM
Michael Mergell, Managing Broker RE/MAX Ability Plus-Fishers
 
Many people make the assumption that since they have less than perfect credit, they are barred form owning their own home. They are under the impression that no one will trust them with a mortgage; while this may have once been the case, the rules have loosened up somewhat in the last several years. Rather than eschewing providing mortgages to people with a poor credit rating as they were traditionally prone to doing, banks and other mortgage providers have instead come up with mortgage products which are great for people with bad credit. … (0 comments)

Investing in Real Estate... - 02/28/09 08:07 AM
Michael Mergell, Managing Broker RE/MAX Ability Plus-Fishers
 
Are you thinking about investing in real estate? It can be a great way to make money. Some of the world's richest people-Donald Trump and Suleiman al-Fahim, for example-made their fortunes in real estate. Real estate is a great way to generate passive income. If you have enough passive income streams, you can quit your job and live off the residual income from your investment properties! It is worth bearing in mind, however, that like anything with huge potential payoffs, real estate investment is risky. There are no guarantees in the world of … (0 comments)

Make It Your Home - 02/28/09 08:05 AM
Michael Mergell, Managing Broker RE/MAX Ability Plus-Fishers
 
With house prices continuing to fall and a recession looming here we look at your property, not merely bricks and mortar but your property being your home for you and your family.
Buying a property is likely to be the largest investment you will make and your largest asset. If you bought at the peak of house prices in 2007 then you may be despairing at the almost daily reports of house price falls, repossessions on the rise and the likelihood of negative equity. If you are thinking of selling and moving on, … (0 comments)

Ask These Foreclosure Questions - 02/28/09 08:01 AM
Michael Mergell, Managing Broker RE/MAX Ability Plus-Fishers
 
On August 22nd, 2008, the Foreclosures Help resource website conducted a survey of U.S. residents who are either now in foreclosure or at least three months delinquent on their mortgage. The purpose of the study was to get a better understanding of the needs of people who are facing foreclosure. Below are the survey results, ranked in order of popularity from most to least.
1) How exactly do I protect my home from foreclosure?
The most popular question on foreclosure homeowner's minds was naturally how to stop the foreclosure. In many cases the … (0 comments)

Buying Foreclosures - 02/28/09 07:58 AM
Michael Mergell, Managing Broker RE/MAX Ability Plus-Fishers
 
Everyone is aware of the current real estate crisis and increased foreclosures going on in the States. But what many people may not be aware of, is that there are some great values available if you are looking to purchase a house or property. Whats different now then in the past, is that not only are the number of forecloses at all time highs, but the quality is much higher as well.debt is one of the most important things you should do your homework on. After that, find out what types of payment … (0 comments)

Wage War on Foreclosure - 02/28/09 07:55 AM
 
Michael Mergell, Managing Broker RE/MAX Ability Plus-Fishers
 
According to a report on 60 Minutes last Dec. called The Mortgage Meltdown, the number of foreclosures that we will face in the next 12 - 36 months is frightening. The next wave of loan defaults will come from Alt-A and Payment Option Arm loans. How do we deal with this next wave? Pres. Obama's Housing Affordability and Stability plan is a start but I think the administrative aspect is unwieldy at best. There are still a huge number of homeowners that will face foreclosure no matter what. Homeowners that don't meet … (0 comments)

SAVE HOME FROM FORECLOSURE - 02/27/09 06:01 AM
Michael Mergell, Managing Broker RE/MAX Ability Plus-Fishers If you are behind in your mortgage payments and the home may be going to foreclosure soon, there may be a way to delay foreclosure and possible save the home. Many of the mortgages we currently have were sold. Original mortgage notes may be lost or difficult to find. I saw a news program today that indicated that one way to get some extra time is for seller to ask for the Mortgage Note. When the Mortgage Co tells you the home will go to foreclosure, ask to see the note. In some cases … (0 comments)

How The Stimulus May Help You - 02/27/09 05:56 AM
Michael Mergell, Managing Broker RE/MAX Ability Plus-Fishers $787 billion is a nearly unfathomable number. What does it really mean and where it all that money going? According to the official American Recovery and Reinvestment Act website the money is broken down in the following manner: $288 billion - Tax relief $144 billion - State and local fiscal relief $111 billion - Infrastructure and science $81 billion - Protecting the vulnerable $59 billion - Health care $53 billion - Education and training $43 billion - Energy $8 billion - Other The biggest chunk of the money goes to something called "tax relief." … (0 comments)

Finding the Right Agent...Michael Mergell - 02/23/09 05:00 PM
 
Michael Mergell, Managing Broker RE/MAX Ability Plus-Fishers
 
It is feasible to always take help from professional real estate agent to make a lucrative deal. Real estate brokers provide every kind of help to sellers as well as buyers. Without a nice real estate agent, you may never get an implausible deal. There are various ways to find the best real estate agent in your desired area. Real estate agent can be a person as well as a firm that helps you in selling/buying real estate. Checking the local bulletin boards might also provide you with various real estate agents. … (0 comments)

Be Glad Your Not in Spain - 02/23/09 04:56 PM
One country facing a particularly dire situation is Spain.  One Spanish housing association believes that unsold homes in Spain could grow to 1.5 million by the end of the year.  Compare that to the estimated 1 million homes on the market at the end of 2008 - a potential 50% jump.  And with about 13% unemployment, the Spanish market isn't expected to improve anytime soon.Two ways Spain is dealing with the housing crisis:
Homeowners can extend their mortgages without penalty.  For example, a 15 year mortgage could be expanded to a 20 year mortgage to lower monthly payments but increase the … (0 comments)

Think Outside the Box - 02/23/09 04:51 PM
Have you been speculating how to make it in sellings in real estate?
The current economic crisis has agents that focus on property, as well as home owners looking to sell their homes wondering how they can be successful in their endeavors.
In spite of vast fund lows plus woes lots of individuals have discovered that there is a manner to thrive make it in sales in real estate!
The clandestine to thrive make it while it arrives to mastering trades of residences plus other structures rests in your facility to be innovative when it arrives to motivations! while you offer … (0 comments)

Housing Stimulus Seminar - 02/20/09 02:46 PM

… (0 comments)

Different Views on Your Property... - 02/19/09 12:54 PM
Your  House As Seen By:
Yourself...
 
 
Your  Buyer...
 
Your  Lender...
 
Your  Appraiser...
Your  County's Tax Assessor...

… (0 comments)

Find the Right Builder - 02/17/09 01:19 PM
Michael Mergell, Managing Broker RE/MAX Ability Plus-Fishers
Buying a new home is a major decision. Choosing a good home builder is also very important. You will want someone who is established and can be trusted, someone has the knowledge and skills in constructing a new home, someone who can manage team of craftsmen skilled at building a quality house.
Do not make the largest purchase of your life, without doing your homework. If you are ready to build your dream home, you must invest the time, to learn more about the Home Builders in your area.
Also, you want to find … (1 comments)

EAH Your Ticket Home - 02/16/09 02:04 PM
Mergell&Associates   your EAH Partner          
                                               
What is Employer-Assisted Housing?
Employer-assisted housing (EAH) includes a variety of housing benefits employers can offer to help their workforce afford homes. An EAH program can help the employer's bottom line by improving employee recruitment, retention, productivity and moral. EAH programs can work for any type of employer-private, public or even non-profit organizations, and in any type of market.
Who Benefits?
An Employer-Assisted Housing Program benefits the employee, the employer, and the community by creating a strong and stable workforce to ensure the community and the local economy continue to prosper for years to come.
  Employer … (1 comments)

Employer Assited Housing, Your Ticket to Homeownership - 02/16/09 02:03 PM
Mergell&Associates   your EAH Partner          
                                               
What is Employer-Assisted Housing?
Employer-assisted housing (EAH) includes a variety of housing benefits employers can offer to help their workforce afford homes. An EAH program can help the employer's bottom line by improving employee recruitment, retention, productivity and moral. EAH programs can work for any type of employer-private, public or even non-profit organizations, and in any type of market.
Who Benefits?
An Employer-Assisted Housing Program benefits the employee, the employer, and the community by creating a strong and stable workforce to ensure the community and the local economy continue to prosper for years to come.
  Employer … (0 comments)

Fixed Rate, Usually Best for New Buyers - 02/16/09 12:06 PM
Michael Mergell, Managing Broker RE/MAX Ability Plus-Fishers
People look for the lowest monthly payment they can get on a car, on an apartment and on a house - often the lowest monthly rate, at least at the start of the loan, will be with an adjustable rate mortgage so a lot of folks jump on this in favor of paying a lower out of pocket than they would be paying on a fixed rate loan. This can work very well in some situations, but with the current state of the economy in Canada - this may not be the best option … (0 comments)

First Time Real Estate Investors - 02/16/09 11:43 AM
Michael Mergell, Managing Broker RE/MAX Ability Plus-Fishers
 Before you finalize your first purchase as a property investor, you'll have to ensure that your investment property financing is set up properly. The choices you make about financing an investment property make all the difference in the world in terms of the total cost of the property, as well as to the net capital gain which you will have as a result of your property investment activities. With this in mind, you'll want to examine all of your investment property financing options and choose well from among them.
Do you intend to keep … (0 comments)

Avoid Foreclosure, Know The Signs - 02/16/09 11:37 AM
Michael Mergell, Managing Broker RE/MAX Ability Plus-Fishers
 The last situation that a homeowner wants to face is losing their home in the foreclosure process. That is why I wanted to provide you some tips on how to avoid foreclosure. We all take our homes seriously and we love the fact that we have a roof over our heads.property. It is a way to protect them from losing money in the long run.
What Is Foreclosure?
In case you have no idea what a foreclosure is; it basically states that when you purchase your home you enter a contract with the lender … (1 comments)

SELL YOUR HOME QUICK & EASY - 02/16/09 11:36 AM
Michael Mergell, Managing Broker RE/MAX Ability Plus-Fishers
If youre looking to sell your home fast, youll need to attract as much attention as possible. A real estate agent can help, although he can only do so much. He can show your home and help to get it out there to buyers, although he cant make it sell. If you want to sell it fast, youll need to do some work yourself. If you put the effort into selling your home fast, chances are that you will.
The quickest way to sell a home is by staging it. Staged homes literally invite … (0 comments)

Selling Your Home is as Easy as.... - 02/16/09 11:24 AM
Michael Mergell, Managing Broker RE/MAX Ability Plus-Fishers
If youre looking to sell your home fast, youll need to attract as much attention as possible. A real estate agent can help, although he can only do so much. He can show your home and help to get it out there to buyers, although he cant make it sell. If you want to sell it fast, youll need to do some work yourself. If you put the effort into selling your home fast, chances are that you will.
The quickest way to sell a home is by staging it. Staged homes literally invite … (0 comments)

SELL YOUR HOME QUICKLY - 02/16/09 11:09 AM
 
TWITTER pushed content by MICHAEL MERGELL
Making a quick sell has a little to do with luck, but it has more to do with how you market your home and present it to buyers. The following tips will help you sell your home fast:
· Market your Home - Marketing your home involves a lot more than placing an ad in the paper. You need to place ads, post signs, host open houses...Basically, you need to do everything possible to get people in to look at your home. Host a neighborhood fundraiser in your home. Put your home on the … (1 comments)

Making a Quick Sale - 02/16/09 11:06 AM
Michael Mergell, Managing Broker RE/MAX Ability Plus-Fishers
Making a quick sell has a little to do with luck, but it has more to do with how you market your home and present it to buyers. The following tips will help you sell your home fast:
• Market your Home - Marketing your home involves a lot more than placing an ad in the paper. You need to place ads, post signs, host open houses...Basically, you need to do everything possible to get people in to look at your home. Host a neighborhood fundraiser in your home. Put your home on the … (0 comments)

Rent Back Your Own Home - 02/15/09 08:22 AM
If you are looking at home repossession then selling and renting back could be the ideal solution. You could also take this option if you and your partner are divorcing, if you want to free up equity or if you emigrating. There are specialist companies online who would offer you the chance to sell your home and then remain in the property as the tenant. You would also be given the chance of being able to buy back the home for an agreed price when you sold the home.
check out www.IndyHomeHelp.com for more help with this subject
… (0 comments)

Selling Your Home Quickly - 02/15/09 08:19 AM
 
Michael Mergell, Managing Broker RE/MAX Ability Plus-Fishers
Making a quick sell has a little to do with luck, but it has more to do with how you market your home and present it to buyers. The following tips will help you sell your home fast:
• Market your Home – Marketing your home involves a lot more than placing an ad in the paper. You need to place ads, post signs, host open houses…Basically, you need to do everything possible to get people in to look at your home. Host a neighborhood fundraiser in your home. Put your home on … (0 comments)

5 THINGS TO SELL YOUR HOME QUICKER - 02/15/09 07:27 AM
MARKET YOR HOME
HIRE A REALTOR
SPRUCE IT UP
STAGE YOUR HOME
SET A COMPETITIVE PRICE
… (0 comments)

SELLING YOUR HOME QUICKLY - 02/15/09 07:21 AM
 
… (0 comments)

10 Property Rule is Back! - 02/13/09 02:03 PM
by Michael Mergell, Managing Broker RE/MAX Ability Plus-Fishers
I have been given some VERY good news that just can't wait till Monday
Here are some some-what detailed and tentative guidelines for Fannie Mae's return to a 10 financed property limit.  I was tipped off early this week that Fannie was going to make this move, but I had seen nothing yet from within Countrywide.  I did find that Fannie Mae is indeed working on rolling this out.  This is tentative, but I like to try to be on the leading edge of things as much as I can be...
1.  The projected … (0 comments)

10 Property Rule is Back! - 02/13/09 02:00 PM
by Michael Mergell, Managing Broker RE/MAX Ability Plus-Fishers
I have been given some VERY good news that just can't wait till monday
Here are some some-what detailed and tentative guidelines for Fannie Mae's return to a 10 financed property limit.  I was tipped off early this week that Fannie was going to make this move, but I had seen nothing yet from within Countrywide.  I did find that Fannie Mae is indeed working on rolling this out.  This is tentative, but I like to try to be on the leading edge of things as much as I can be...
1.  The projected … (0 comments)

203k Opening Doors to Fixer Uppers - 02/13/09 01:51 PM

RE/MAX Ability Plus-Fishers
Opening Doors for you all across Indy and Hamilton County.
by Michael Mergell, Managing Broker RE/MAX Ability Plus-FishersFHA's Streamlined 203(k) program permits homebuyers to finance up to an additional $35,000 into their mortgage to improve or upgrade their home before move-in. With this new product, homebuyers can quickly and easily tap into cash to pay for property repairs or improvements, such as those identified by a home inspector or FHA appraiser.
Practically the only home repair or renovation program out there for those with less than perfect credit .Borrower up to 110% of the homes after-improved value.Call … (0 comments)

203k Opening Doors to Fixer Uppers - 02/13/09 01:37 PM

RE/MAX Ability Plus-Fishers
Opening Doors for you all across Indy and Hamilton County.
by Michael Mergell, Managing Broker RE/MAX Ability Plus-FishersFHA's Streamlined 203(k) program permits homebuyers to finance up to an additional $35,000 into their mortgage to improve or upgrade their home before move-in. With this new product, homebuyers can quickly and easily tap into cash to pay for property repairs or improvements, such as those identified by a home inspector or FHA appraiser.
Practically the only home repair or renovation program out there for those with less than perfect credit .Borrower up to 110% of the homes after-improved value.Call … (0 comments)

To Rent or to Buy... - 02/13/09 01:21 PM
by Michael Mergell, Managing Broker RE/MAX Ability Plus-Fishers
Renting a home or apartment is commonplace. It's clear that some people simply just can't afford to buy their own home because of the down payment required. With FHA financing back in the mainstream, as little as 3.5% down payment can get you into your home!
My key mortgage partners have invested a lot of time learning the ropes of FHA financing and have taught me to understand that it represents an unprecedented opportunity for first time homebuyers RIGHT NOW. Most renters don't realize how easy the cost justification is for owning versus … (0 comments)

TO CONGRESS: A Money Saving Proposal - 02/13/09 10:08 AM
by Michael Mergell, Managing Broker RE/MAX Ability Plus-Fishers
When a company falls on difficult times, one of the things that seems to happen is they reduce their staff and workers.  The remaining workers need to find ways to continue to do a good job or risk that their job would be eliminated as well.  Wall street, and the media normally congratulate the CEO for making this type of "tough decision", and his board of directors gives him a big bonus.
Our government should not be immune from similar risks. 
Therefore: Reduce the House of Representatives from the current 435 members to … (0 comments)

Pass a stimulus package or don't already... - 02/13/09 09:58 AM
by Michael Mergell, Managing Broker RE/MAX Ability Plus-Fishers
 We all have been hearing about the new "Stimulus Package" that congress is "going" to pass, right. If you haven't you must never turn on your tv, radio or log onto the net. It seems that congress is clogged again with arguments between the two parties, separate agendas and a disagreement between what's best for the American people.
Three things need to be evaluated as most important. Jobs, Real Estate and Small Business. They all agree publicly that the housing or real estate market is at the heart of a recovery (as it … (0 comments)

Relocating? The BEST of the best and the rest... - 02/13/09 09:43 AM
by Michael Mergell, Managing Broker RE/MAX Ability Plus-Fishers
Everyone moving to a new city or state faces important decisions about the best place to live. Where you buy a home really depends on what is essential to you - are you looking for a quiet place to retire, a place where your children can reach their educational goals, or a metropolis where you can enjoy fine dining and theater? Once you've decided on what you are looking for, you can choose the lifestyle and location that's right for you.For the most affordable home prices, Indiana, Ohio, Texas, and even an area … (0 comments)

Why We Refinance... - 02/12/09 12:46 PM
by Michael Mergell, Managing Broker RE/MAX Ability Plus-Fishers
Refinancing a mortgage loan basically means that the homeowner is changing mortgage payments and terms of the loan to new terms and monthly payments. Homeowners refinance mortgage loans for several reasons. Mortgage payments are one of the largest monthly expenses for any family. Reducing the payments gives extra cash to the homeowner to manage other expenses. First and one of the best reasons could be to lower their monthly mortgage payments. Interest rates for home loans change all the times based on economy. If the mortgage interest rate goes down then it may be … (0 comments)

Secrets to Enormously Profitable Real Estate Investing - 02/12/09 11:57 AM
by Michael Mergell, Managing Broker RE/MAX Ability Plus-Fishers
Knowing how to negotiate and close a deal is one thing. Being able to structure different types of transactions and think on your feet when in front of a seller is quite another. You need to become a transaction engineer so whatever comes your way you can handle. Here are some examples to work from and build your real estate portfolio.1. Buying a property in pre-foreclosure involves approaching the borrower/owner and offering to buy the property outright. The borrower/owner can walk away with something to show for any equity in the property and … (0 comments)

There are other options rather than Foreclosure - 02/12/09 11:30 AM
 
by Michael Mergell, Managing Broker RE/MAX Ability Plus-Fishers
Homeowners who have the option of completing a short sale in order to avoid foreclosure may be better served by saving their home in this manner. In some cases I can actually renegotiate the term, monthly payment and back debt to a more comfortable payment allowing you to keep your home.
You owe more on your home than it is worth. Perhaps you have lost your job and are behind several payments. Maybe you are dealing with an increasing payment from an adjustable rate mortgage and are now facing foreclosure. A short … (0 comments)

 
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Michael Mergell

Fishers, IN

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Michael Mergell, RE/MAX Legends Group

Address: 5645 Castle Creek Parkway North, Indianapolis, IN, 46250

Office Phone: (317) 863-4094

Cell Phone: (317) 645-8717

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