http://activerain.com/blogs/penthouse Local information on everything you need to know... from market statistics to area schools, from things to do to best places in Queens to visit and have a great time. This blog is much more than just Real Estate info, it's about your community. en-us http://activerain.com/blogsview/1322635/n-baldwin-gorgeous-brick-1-fam-4-br-shortsale-in-n-baldwin-299k-take-a-look <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>N. Baldwin - Gorgeous Brick 1 Fam 4 br SHORTSALE in N. Baldwin- $299k - Take a look</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/6/8/8/6/6/ar125747759466886.jpg" height="360" alt="" width="480" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/2/9/4/3/7/ar125747770373492.JPG" height="158" alt="" width="210" />  <img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/6/6/6/2/2/ar125747777822666.JPG" height="158" alt="" width="210" />  <img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/3/9/1/0/8/ar125747782280193.JPG" height="158" alt="" width="210" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong></strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Property Description</span> </strong></p> <p><em><strong>This is property is in EXCELLENT MOVE-IN CONDITION!!!</strong> Gorgeous One Family In N. Baldwin -<strong> A Must See!!!</strong> Beautiful Custom Kitchen, New Bathroom. Price Reduced! Great House. Located In N. Baldwin. Close To NYC. Remodeled Main Floor With Kitchen, Full Bath, Side Entrance Leads To Yard. Modern Full Bath. <strong>Easy To Show Flexible Monday - Sunday.</strong> Perfect Starter Or Retirement Home. Convenient Yet Private!</em></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Listing Price $299,000</span></strong></p> <p><strong>Bsmt/Subfl-</strong> Full Partly Finished Basement w/ 1 Bedroom</p> <p><strong>1^st Floor-</strong> Livingroom, Full bath, Dining Area/Eat in kitchen,1 Large Br.</p> <p><strong>2nd Fl</strong> - 3 Bedrooms, Fullbath</p> <p><strong>Lot Size-</strong> 50 x 100</p> <p><strong>Lot Square Footage-</strong> 5,000</p> <p><strong>Taxes-</strong> $7,879 (<em>does not reflect STAR exemption</em>)</p> <p><strong>School District-</strong> 10 (<em>Baldwin</em>)</p> <p><strong>Approx Year Built-</strong> 1948</p> <p><strong>Construction-</strong> Brick (vinyl siding)</p> <p><strong>Block-</strong> 468</p> <p><strong>Lot-</strong> 37</p> <p><strong>Show Instructions-</strong> By Appointment Only</p> <p><a href="mailto:prorealtor@verizon.net" title="Schedule a private viewing" target="_blank"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to schedule a private viewing.</p> <p> </p><iframe src="http://data.mashedworld.com/dualmaps/map.htm?x=-0.130349&amp;y=51.516407&amp;z=16&amp;gm=0&amp;ve=5&amp;gc=0&amp;bz=1&amp;bd=0&amp;mw=1&amp;sv=1&amp;svb=0&amp;svp=0&amp;svz=0&amp;svm=2&amp;svf=0&amp;addr=994 Alhambra Rd. Baldwin, NY 11510" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="width: 100%; height: 640px; padding: 0; border: solid 1px black;"></iframe> <p><a href="mailto:prorealtor@verizon.net" title="Schedule a private viewing" target="_blank"><strong>Click here</strong></a> to schedule a private viewing.</p> <p> </p> <p><img title="Vincent Martinez Realtor" src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/4/5/9/7/3/ar125747788237954.JPG" height="346" alt="Vincent Martinez Realtor" width="725" /> </p> <p><strong>To find the value of your home with a FREE, over-the-net home </strong><em><strong>HIGHEST Price Analysis</strong></em><strong>, please visit: </strong><a href="http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/"><strong>http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>SEARCH over 50,000 homes online for FREE and be the first to know about HOT NEW LISTINGS before other buyers do, please visit </strong><a href="http://www.allnylistings.com/"><strong>http://www.allnylistings.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p><em>Disclaimer: The above Real Estate information was provided by Vincent Martinez, Realtor for the #1 Real Estate offices in New York and the #4 office in the USA. </em><strong><em>Vincent Martinez</em></strong><em> is a </em><strong><em>Certified Realtor Short Sale Professional</em></strong><em> by the Long Island Board of Realtors (L.I.B.O.R.) and a member of Prudential Douglas Elliman - Licensed Real Estate Broker. Vincent Martinez does not guarantee or is any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog post and information provided is without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Information here represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments by others may not express the views of the author. <strong>N. Baldwin - Gorgeous Brick 1 Fam 4 br SHORTSALE in N. Baldwin- $299k - Take a look</strong> Copyright © 2009 By Vincent Martinez, All Rights Reserved.</em></p> <p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=703394168&amp;ref=profile" title="Friend me in Facebook" target="_blank"><strong>Friend me on Facebook</strong></a> </p> <p><a href="http://twitter.com/nyforeclosures" title="Follow me on Twitter" target="_blank"><strong>Follow me on Twitter</strong></a></p> Vicente A. Martinez Realtor Brooklyn | Long Island | Queens Homes (Prudential Douglas Elliman Licensed Real Estate Salesperson) Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:37:38 -0600 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1322635/n-baldwin-gorgeous-brick-1-fam-4-br-shortsale-in-n-baldwin-299k-take-a-look http://activerain.com/blogsview/1314662/did-you-know-you-are-entitled-to-a-yearly-free-copy-of-your-credit-report- <p><strong>Did You Know - You Are Entitled To A Yearly Free Copy Of Your Credit Report?</strong></p> <p><strong>You are allowed to receive one free credit report every 12 months from each</strong> of the nationwide credit companies - Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. This free credit report can be requested through this website&nbsp;<a href="https://www.annualcreditreport.com">https://www.annualcreditreport.com</a> This website permits you to request a credit report once every 12 months from each of the major consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.</p> <p><strong>It's up to you whether you ask for all three credit reports at the same time or order one today and others later.</strong> The benefit of getting all three at the same time is that you can compare them. Just keep in mind that you will not be eligible for another free credit report from the Central Source for 12 months. On the other hand, the advantage of asking for one today and others later -ie., one credit report every four months- is that you can keep an eye out for any changes that may show up on your credit report. Remember, if you order from only one company today you can still order from the other two companies at a later date.</p> <p><strong>If you find erroneous information and wish to dispute or correct</strong> that information in your credit report then contact the credit reporting company that provided the credit report:</p> <ul> <li>Equifax - <a href="http://www.investigate.equifax.com">www.investigate.equifax.com</a></li> <li>Experian - <a href="http://www.experian.com">www.experian.com</a></li> <li>TransUnion - <a href="http://www.transunion.com">www.transunion.com</a></li> </ul> <p><strong>Getting back on track is easier than you think.</strong> Give it a shot then come back to this post and tell us about your experience.</p> <p><img title="Vincent Martinez Realtor" src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/9/5/8/3/4/ar125711396743859.JPG" height="346" alt="Vincent Martinez Realtor" width="725" /></p> <p><strong>To find the value of your home with a FREE, over-the-net home </strong><em><strong>HIGHEST Price Analysis</strong></em><strong>, please visit: </strong><a href="http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/"><strong>http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>SEARCH over 50,000 homes online for FREE and be the first to know about HOT NEW LISTINGS before other buyers do, please visit </strong><a href="http://www.allnylistings.com/"><strong>http://www.allnylistings.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p><em>Disclaimer: The above Real Estate information was provided by Vincent Martinez, Realtor for the #1 Real Estate offices in New York and the #4 office in the USA. </em><strong><em>Vincent Martinez</em></strong><em> is a </em><strong><em>Certified Realtor Short Sale Professional</em></strong><em> by the Long Island Board of Realtors (L.I.B.O.R.) and a member of Prudential Douglas Elliman - Licensed Real Estate Broker. Vincent Martinez&nbsp;does not guarantee or is any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog post and information provided is without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Information here represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments by others may not express the views of the author. <strong>Did You Know - You Are Entitled To A Yearly Free Copy Of Your Credit Report?</strong> Copyright &copy; 2009 By Vincent Martinez, All Rights Reserved.</em></p> <p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=703394168&amp;ref=profile" title="Friend me in Facebook" target="_blank"><strong>Friend me on Facebook</strong></a>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://twitter.com/nyforeclosures" title="Follow me on Twitter" target="_blank"><strong>Follow me on Twitter</strong></a></p> Vicente A. Martinez Realtor Brooklyn | Long Island | Queens Homes (Prudential Douglas Elliman Licensed Real Estate Salesperson) Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:23:59 -0600 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1314662/did-you-know-you-are-entitled-to-a-yearly-free-copy-of-your-credit-report- http://activerain.com/blogsview/1314661/did-you-know-you-are-entitled-to-a-yearly-free-copy-of-your-credit-report- <p><strong>Did You Know - You Are Entitled To A Yearly Free Copy Of Your Credit Report?</strong></p> <p><strong>You are allowed to receive one free credit report every 12 months from each</strong> of the nationwide credit companies - Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. This free credit report can be requested through this website&nbsp;<a href="https://www.annualcreditreport.com">https://www.annualcreditreport.com</a> This website permits you to request a credit report once every 12 months from each of the major consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.</p> <p><strong>It's up to you whether you ask for all three credit reports at the same time or order one today and others later.</strong> The benefit of getting all three at the same time is that you can compare them. Just keep in mind that you will not be eligible for another free credit report from the Central Source for 12 months. On the other hand, the advantage of asking for one today and others later -ie., one credit report every four months- is that you can keep an eye out for any changes that may show up on your credit report. Remember, if you order from only one company today you can still order from the other two companies at a later date.</p> <p><strong>If you find erroneous information and wish to dispute or correct</strong> that information in your credit report then contact the credit reporting company that provided the credit report:</p> <ul> <li>Equifax - <a href="http://www.investigate.equifax.com">www.investigate.equifax.com</a></li> <li>Experian - <a href="http://www.experian.com">www.experian.com</a></li> <li>TransUnion - <a href="http://www.transunion.com">www.transunion.com</a></li> </ul> <p><strong>Getting back on track is easier than you think.</strong> Give it a shot then come back to this post and tell us about your experience.</p> <p><img title="Vincent Martinez Realtor" src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/9/5/8/3/4/ar125711396743859.JPG" height="346" alt="Vincent Martinez Realtor" width="725" /></p> <p><strong>To find the value of your home with a FREE, over-the-net home </strong><em><strong>HIGHEST Price Analysis</strong></em><strong>, please visit: </strong><a href="http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/"><strong>http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>SEARCH over 50,000 homes online for FREE and be the first to know about HOT NEW LISTINGS before other buyers do, please visit </strong><a href="http://www.allnylistings.com/"><strong>http://www.allnylistings.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p><em>Disclaimer: The above Real Estate information was provided by Vincent Martinez, Realtor for the #1 Real Estate offices in New York and the #4 office in the USA. </em><strong><em>Vincent Martinez</em></strong><em> is a </em><strong><em>Certified Realtor Short Sale Professional</em></strong><em> by the Long Island Board of Realtors (L.I.B.O.R.) and a member of Prudential Douglas Elliman - Licensed Real Estate Broker. Vincent Martinez&nbsp;does not guarantee or is any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog post and information provided is without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Information here represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments by others may not express the views of the author. <strong>Did You Know - You Are Entitled To A Yearly Free Copy Of Your Credit Report?</strong> Copyright &copy; 2009 By Vincent Martinez, All Rights Reserved.</em></p> <p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=703394168&amp;ref=profile" title="Friend me in Facebook" target="_blank"><strong>Friend me on Facebook</strong></a>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://twitter.com/nyforeclosures" title="Follow me on Twitter" target="_blank"><strong>Follow me on Twitter</strong></a></p> Vicente A. Martinez Realtor Brooklyn | Long Island | Queens Homes (Prudential Douglas Elliman Licensed Real Estate Salesperson) Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:23:03 -0600 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1314661/did-you-know-you-are-entitled-to-a-yearly-free-copy-of-your-credit-report- http://activerain.com/blogsview/1313409/selling-your-queens-ny-home-find-out-the-value <p><strong>Selling Your Queens NY Home - Find Out The Value</strong></p> <p><strong>Are you getting ready to place your home on the market?&nbsp;</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="http://www.NewYorkMarketValue.com" title="NewYorkMarketValue" target="_blank"><img title="NewYorkMarketValue.com" src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/7/4/1/7/1/ar125701994617147.jpg" height="800" alt="Your Queens NY Property's Value" width="568" /></a></p> <p><strong>Do you know what its worth? Now is the right time to find out! It's easy! Just log on,</strong> provide a few pieces of information about your home, and a FREE analysis of your home's approximate value will be emailed to you. You get all of that without having to speak to an agent. It doesn't get any better than that! <strong>Click on the image now and find out today.</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> Vicente A. Martinez Realtor Brooklyn | Long Island | Queens Homes (Prudential Douglas Elliman Licensed Real Estate Salesperson) Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:22:04 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1313409/selling-your-queens-ny-home-find-out-the-value http://activerain.com/blogsview/1308758/home-buyer-tax-credit-has-been-extended-thru-april-30th-2010- <p><strong>Home Buyer Tax Credit Has Been Extended Thru April 30th 2010!</strong> </p> <p><strong><strong>In addition to </strong>he extension</strong> of the $8,000 first time home buyer credit there is a <em>NEW $6,500 Tax Credit</em> available for current homeowners that wish to buy thru April 30th 2010. <strong> </strong>They would all have until the end of June of 2010 to close on their new homes.</p> <p><strong>Keep in mind that this can reduce the federal income taxes that you pay</strong>. <em>How you might ask?</em> By deducting the interest of your mortgage and property taxes that you pay every year that you file your income tax returns.</p> <p><strong>Check out the video below.</strong></p> <p><object id="cnbcplayer" height="380" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" width="400"><br /><param name="type" value="application/x-shockwave-flash" /><br /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><br /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><br /><param name="quality" value="best" /><br /><param name="scale" value="noscale" /><br /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><br /><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" /><br /><param name="salign" value="lt" /><br /><param name="movie" value="http://plus.cnbc.com/rssvideosearch/action/player/id/1311449402/code/cnbcplayershare" /><br /><embed name="cnbcplayer" salign="lt" bgcolor="#000000" scale="noscale" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" allowfullscreen="true" src="http://plus.cnbc.com/rssvideosearch/action/player/id/1311449402/code/cnbcplayershare" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" height="380" width="400" /><br /></object> </p> <p><img title="Vincent Martinez Realtor" src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/5/5/6/2/8/ar125677826882655.JPG" height="346" alt="Vincent Martinez Realtor" width="725" /> </p> <p><strong>To find the value of your home with a FREE, over-the-net home </strong><em><strong>HIGHEST Price Analysis</strong></em><strong>, please visit: </strong><a href="http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/"><strong>http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>SEARCH over 50,000 homes online for FREE and be the first to know about HOT NEW LISTINGS before other buyers do, please visit </strong><a href="http://www.allnylistings.com/"><strong>http://www.allnylistings.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p><em>Disclaimer: The above Real Estate information was provided by Vincent Martinez, Realtor for the #1 Real Estate offices in New York and the #4 office in the USA. </em><strong><em>Vincent Martinez</em></strong><em> is a </em><strong><em>Certified Realtor Short Sale Professional</em></strong><em> by the Long Island Board of Realtors (L.I.B.O.R.) and a member of Prudential Douglas Elliman - Licensed Real Estate Broker. Vincent Martinez does not guarantee or is any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog post and information provided is without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Information here represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments by others may not express the views of the author. <strong>Home Buyer Tax Credit Has Been Extended Thru April 30th 2010!</strong>  Copyright © 2009 By Vincent Martinez, All Rights Reserved.</em></p> <p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=703394168&amp;ref=profile" title="Friend me in Facebook" target="_blank"><strong>Friend me on Facebook</strong></a> </p> <p><a href="http://twitter.com/nyforeclosures" title="Follow me on Twitter" target="_blank"><strong>Follow me on Twitter</strong></a></p> Vicente A. Martinez Realtor Brooklyn | Long Island | Queens Homes (Prudential Douglas Elliman Licensed Real Estate Salesperson) Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:37:59 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1308758/home-buyer-tax-credit-has-been-extended-thru-april-30th-2010- http://activerain.com/blogsview/1305625/new-listing-new-construction-short-sale-360-e-167th-st-bronx-ny-10456- <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>- New Listing - NEW CONSTRUCTION Short Sale - 360 E 167th St. Bronx NY 10456 -   <img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/6/6/8/0/4/ar125665540140866.jpg" height="339" alt="" width="480" /></strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Property Description</span> </strong></p> <p><em>2 Family - NEW CONSTRUCTION - 100% Brick Building In The Bronx. Doesn't Need Anythign!! Move In Condition. Amazing Investment Building In Diamond Condition. Great Opportunity For An Investor Or User To Own A Treasure Of Real Estate In This Prime Location. </em></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/3/8/1/7/9/ar125665551397183.JPG" height="150" alt="" width="200" />   <img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/5/8/3/1/6/ar125665561261385.JPG" height="150" alt="" width="200" />   <img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/8/4/8/3/7/ar125665568773848.JPG" height="150" alt="" width="200" /></span></strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Listing Price $459,000</span></strong></p> <p><strong>Bsmt/Subfl-</strong> Full Unfinished</p> <p><strong>1^st Floor-</strong> Apt1 Living room, Dining area, Kitchen, Full bathroom</p> <p><strong>2^nd Floor-</strong> Duplex with 1st floor Apt. - 3 brs and full bathroom</p> <p><strong>3^rd Floor-</strong> Apt2 Living room, Dining area, Kitchen 2 brs and full bathroom</p> <p><strong>Approx Year Built-</strong> 2006</p> <p><strong>Construction-</strong> Brick</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Listing Price $459,000</span></strong></p> <p><strong>Show Instructions- By Appointment Only</strong></p><iframe src="http://data.mashedworld.com/dualmaps/map.htm?x=-0.130349&amp;y=51.516407&amp;z=16&amp;gm=0&amp;ve=5&amp;gc=0&amp;bz=1&amp;bd=0&amp;mw=1&amp;sv=1&amp;svb=0&amp;svp=0&amp;svz=0&amp;svm=2&amp;svf=0&amp;addr=360 E 167th St. Bronx NY 10456" frameborder="0" style="width: 100%; height: 640px; padding: 0; border: solid 1px black;" scrolling="no"></iframe> <p><img title="Vincent Martinez Realtor" src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/2/4/6/9/4/ar125665475349642.JPG" height="346" alt="Vincent Martinez Realtor" width="725" /> </p> <p><strong>To find the value of your home with a FREE, over-the-net home </strong><em><strong>HIGHEST Price Analysis</strong></em><strong>, please visit: </strong><a href="http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/"><strong>http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>SEARCH over 50,000 homes online for FREE and be the first to know about HOT NEW LISTINGS before other buyers do, please visit </strong><a href="http://www.allnylistings.com/"><strong>http://www.allnylistings.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p><em>Disclaimer: The above Real Estate information was provided by Vincent Martinez, Realtor for the #1 Real Estate offices in New York and the #4 office in the USA. </em><strong><em>Vincent Martinez</em></strong><em> is a </em><strong><em>Certified Realtor Short Sale Professional</em></strong><em> by the Long Island Board of Realtors (L.I.B.O.R.) and a member of Prudential Douglas Elliman - Licensed Real Estate Broker. Vincent Martinez does not guarantee or is any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog post and information provided is without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Information here represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments by others may not express the views of the author. New Listing - NEW CONSTRUCTION Short Sale - 360 E 167th St. Bronx NY 10456 Copyright © 2009 By Vincent Martinez, All Rights Reserved.</em></p> <p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=703394168&amp;ref=profile" title="Friend me in Facebook" target="_blank"><strong>Friend me on Facebook</strong></a> </p> <p><a href="http://twitter.com/nyforeclosures" title="Follow me on Twitter" target="_blank"><strong>Follow me on Twitter</strong></a></p> Vicente A. Martinez Realtor Brooklyn | Long Island | Queens Homes (Prudential Douglas Elliman Licensed Real Estate Salesperson) Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:12:44 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1305625/new-listing-new-construction-short-sale-360-e-167th-st-bronx-ny-10456- http://activerain.com/blogsview/1295154/3-ways-to-find-deep-discount-properties-in-your-backyard- <p><strong>3 ways to find deep-discount properties in your backyard!</strong></p> <p>1. <strong>Pick an area that you know is a good rental area</strong>.&nbsp; If you're not sure, ask a Realtor to pull up an area that has a good mix of properties for sale and properties for rent.<br /><br />2. <strong>Ask that Realtor to give you what the DOM</strong>&nbsp; (average days on market) is and what's the average&nbsp; $/sf sold in that area.</p> <ul> <li>Let's say if that area normally sells for $225/sf in today's market. Then watch for new REO listings that are listed at around&nbsp;$144/sf and send them an offer. This is what savvy real estate investors refer to as "low hanging fruit".</li> </ul> <p>3. <strong>Have a Realtor give you all the REOs that the status recently changed</strong> from Pending Sale to Available (that means the deal fell through).</p> <p><strong>If you live in the Queens, Brooklyn, or Long Island areas send me an email with your specific request</strong> (for one or all of the items outlined in this post) and I could email you the local stats.</p> <p><strong>Please be as spefic as possible</strong>&nbsp;when emailing me at <a href="mailto:ProRealtor@verizon.net"><strong>ProRealtor@verizon.net</strong></a></p> <p><img title="Vincent Martinez Realtor" src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/6/8/5/2/9/ar125608967092586.JPG" height="346" alt="Vincent Martinez Realtor" width="725" />&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>To find the value of your home with a FREE, over-the-net home </strong><em><strong>HIGHEST Price Analysis</strong></em><strong>, please visit: </strong><a href="http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/"><strong>http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>SEARCH over 50,000 homes online for FREE and be the first to know about HOT NEW LISTINGS before other buyers do, please visit </strong><a href="http://www.allnylistings.com/"><strong>http://www.allnylistings.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p><em>Disclaimer: The above Real Estate information was provided by Vincent Martinez, Realtor for the #1 Real Estate offices in New York and the #4 office in the USA. </em><strong><em>Vincent Martinez</em></strong><em> is a </em><strong><em>Certified Realtor Short Sale Professional</em></strong><em> by the Long Island Board of Realtors (L.I.B.O.R.) and a member of Prudential Douglas Elliman - Licensed Real Estate Broker. Vincent Martinez&nbsp;does not guarantee or is any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog post and information provided is without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Information here represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments by others may not express the views of the author. <strong>3 ways to find deep-discount properties in your backyard! </strong>Copyright &copy; 2009 By Vincent Martinez, All Rights Reserved.</em></p> <p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=703394168&amp;ref=profile" title="Friend me in Facebook" target="_blank"><strong>Friend me on Facebook</strong></a>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://twitter.com/nyforeclosures" title="Follow me on Twitter" target="_blank"><strong>Follow me on Twitter</strong></a></p> Vicente A. Martinez Realtor Brooklyn | Long Island | Queens Homes (Prudential Douglas Elliman Licensed Real Estate Salesperson) Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:51:54 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1295154/3-ways-to-find-deep-discount-properties-in-your-backyard- http://activerain.com/blogsview/1266627/new-listing-2549-balsam-ave-east-meadow-ny-11554 <p><em>Searching for that special property that you can put some sweat equity into but at the right price and have a great home?</em> This may be the home you have been looking for! Come and see this cozy 1 family, 3 main floor bedrooms, 1 bath - Ranch styled home on a corner lot. Excellent curb appeal! The grounds are truly spectacular at almost 8,000sq.ft. and perfect for entertaining.  But one of the things that really makes this home great is the location on a quiet and peaceful block set back from major roads.</p> <p><em><strong>If you are a handy fix-it person this could be a dream come true.</em></strong> It's worth a look. Property is subject to short sale.</p> <p>To set up an appointment with us to tour this home privately - email <a href="mailto:ProRealtor@verizon.net"><strong>ProRealtor@verizon.net</strong></a></p> <p><strong>Selling at... $ 294,500</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Features</span></strong></p> <p>•  Single Family Home</p> <p>•  Great Location</p> <p>•  3 Bedroom 1 Bathroom Ranch</p> <p>•  Desirable East Meadow Location</p> <p>•  Private Yet Convenient</p> <p>•  Eat In Kitchen</p> <p>•  Wall To Wall Carpeting</p> <p>•  Close to NYC</p><iframe src="http://data.mashedworld.com/dualmaps/map.htm?x=-0.130349&amp;y=51.516407&amp;z=16&amp;gm=0&amp;ve=5&amp;gc=0&amp;bz=1&amp;bd=0&amp;mw=1&amp;sv=1&amp;svb=0&amp;svp=0&amp;svz=0&amp;svm=2&amp;svf=0&amp;addr=2549 Balsam Ave. East Meadow, NY 11554" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="width: 100%; height: 640px; padding: 0; border: solid 1px black;"></iframe> <p><img title="Vincent Martinez Realtor" src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/5/8/1/2/4/ar125600462642185.JPG" height="357" alt="Vincent Martinez Realtor" width="725" /> </p> <p><strong>To find the value of your home with a FREE, over-the-net home </strong><em><strong>HIGHEST Price Analysis</strong></em><strong>, please visit: </strong><a href="http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/"><strong>http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>SEARCH over 50,000 homes online for FREE and be the first to know about HOT NEW LISTINGS before other buyers do, please visit </strong><a href="http://www.allnylistings.com/"><strong>http://www.allnylistings.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p><em>Disclaimer: The above Real Estate information was provided by Vincent Martinez, Realtor for the #1 Real Estate offices in New York and the #4 office in the USA. </em><strong><em>Vincent Martinez</em></strong><em> is a </em><strong><em>Certified Realtor Short Sale Professional</em></strong><em> by the Long Island Board of Realtors (L.I.B.O.R.) and a member of Prudential Douglas Elliman - Licensed Real Estate Broker. Vincent Martinez does not guarantee or is any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog post and information provided is without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Information here represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments by others may not express the views of the author. <strong>New Listing - 2549 Balsam Ave. East Meadow NY 11554</strong> Copyright © 2009 By Vincent Martinez, All Rights Reserved.</em></p> <p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=703394168&amp;ref=profile" title="Friend me in Facebook" target="_blank"><strong>Friend me on Facebook</strong></a> </p> <p><a href="http://twitter.com/nyforeclosures" title="Follow me on Twitter" target="_blank"><strong>Follow me on Twitter</strong></a></p> Vicente A. Martinez Realtor Brooklyn | Long Island | Queens Homes (Prudential Douglas Elliman Licensed Real Estate Salesperson) Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:15:25 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1266627/new-listing-2549-balsam-ave-east-meadow-ny-11554 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1293355/i-m-back- <p>It's been six months to the day since my last blog post. I was ranked #1 in Queens at the time and #5 in NY State by this site. Today I'm #2 in Queens and #10 in the state of NY. Sometimes life throws you a curve ball. Fortunately, I have a great manager, an awesome mentor, and a super supportive family&nbsp;and they all keep me on my toes.</p> <p>A lot of things have changed in that time and I now have plenty of things to write about. Believe it or not I still get quite a few responses and inquirues from the 460+ posts that I wrote over the last couple of years. Keep your eyes open, you'll be seeing a lot of me from now on. I'm back!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img title="Vincent Martinez Realtor" src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/9/1/2/5/1/ar125600417315219.JPG" height="346" alt="Vincent Martinez Realtor" width="725" /></p> <p><strong>To find the value of your home with a FREE, over-the-net home </strong><em><strong>HIGHEST Price Analysis</strong></em><strong>, please visit: </strong><a href="http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/"><strong>http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>SEARCH over 50,000 homes online for FREE and be the first to know about HOT NEW LISTINGS before other buyers do, please visit </strong><a href="http://www.allnylistings.com/"><strong>http://www.allnylistings.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p><em>Disclaimer: The above Real Estate information was provided by Vincent Martinez, Realtor for the #1 Real Estate offices in New York and the #4 office in the USA. </em><strong><em>Vincent Martinez</em></strong><em> is a </em><strong><em>Certified Realtor Short Sale Professional</em></strong><em> by the Long Island Board of Realtors (L.I.B.O.R.) and a member of Prudential Douglas Elliman - Licensed Real Estate Broker. Vincent Martinez&nbsp;does not guarantee or is any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog post and information provided is without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Information here represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments by others may not express the views of the author. Copyright &copy; 2009 By Vincent Martinez, All Rights Reserved.</em></p> <p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=703394168&amp;ref=profile" title="Friend me in Facebook" target="_blank"><strong>Friend me on Facebook</strong></a>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://twitter.com/nyforeclosures" title="Follow me on Twitter" target="_blank"><strong>Follow me on Twitter</strong></a></p> Vicente A. Martinez Realtor Brooklyn | Long Island | Queens Homes (Prudential Douglas Elliman Licensed Real Estate Salesperson) Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:04:58 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1293355/i-m-back- http://activerain.com/blogsview/1041723/find-out-if-your-contractor-is-licensed-check-this-site-first- <p><strong>Find Out If Your Contractor Is Licensed - Check This Site First!</strong></p> <p>Whether you want to find out if your home improvement contractor is licensed or have a complaint against a home improvement contractor <a href="http://home2.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/licenses/license_check.shtml" target="_blank"><strong>check out this site</strong></a> or Call 311. It's easy and it's FREE.</p> <p><strong>Tips</strong></p> <ul> <li>Get trustworthy referrences - (also check for complaints in neighboring counties ie. Suffolk, Nassau, and Westchester) </li> <li>Cancellation of the agreement- You have the right to cancel the agreement within three (3) days of signing. </li> <li>Get the (DCA) Department of Consumer Affairs Home Improvement Consumer Guide by calling 311 or <a href="http://home2.nyc.gov/html/dca/downloads/pdf/home_improvement.pdf" target="_blank"><strong>download it here</strong></a><strong>.</strong> </li> <li><strong>Don't </strong>pay more than one third upfront to start the job (continue with "progress" payments) </li> <li><strong>Don't</strong> take loan advice from your contractor IT'S ILLEGAL! </li> <li><strong>Always</strong> use a licensed contractor!!</li> </ul> <p><em>Please note:&nbsp;the links above are good only for the five boroughs of NYC. Home Improvement Contractors who do work in NYC are required to be licensed by DCA. The work includes, but is not limited to, remodeling or repairs of your home (including on your grounds). It does NOT include NEW constructions, or plumbing and electrical work.</em></p> <p><img title="Vincent Martinez Realtor" src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/3/5/2/8/6/ar124020141668253.JPG" height="335" alt="Vincent Martinez Realtor" width="700" /></p> <p><em></em></p> <p><strong>To find the value of your home with a FREE, over-the-net home </strong><em><strong>HIGHEST Price Analysis</strong></em><strong>, please visit: </strong><a href="http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/"><strong>http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>SEARCH over 50,000 homes online for FREE and be the first to know about HOT NEW LISTINGS before other buyers do, please visit </strong><a href="http://www.allnylistings.com/"><strong>http://www.allnylistings.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p><em>Disclaimer: The above Real Estate information was provided by Vincent Martinez, Realtor for the #1 Real Estate offices in New York and the #4 office in the USA. </em><strong><em>Vincent Martinez</em></strong><em> is a </em><strong><em>Certified Realtor Short Sale Professional</em></strong><em> by the Long Island Board of Realtors (L.I.B.O.R.) and a member of Prudential Douglas Elliman - Licensed Real Estate Broker. Vincent Martinez&nbsp;does not guarantee or is any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog post and information provided is without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Information here represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments by others may not express the views of the author. <strong>Find Out If Your Contractor Is Licensed - Check This Site First! </strong>Copyright &copy; 2009 By Vincent Martinez, All Rights Reserved.</em></p> <p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=703394168&amp;ref=profile" title="Friend me in Facebook" target="_blank"><strong>Friend me on Facebook</strong></a>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://twitter.com/nyforeclosures" title="Follow me on Twitter" target="_blank"><strong>Follow me on Twitter</strong></a></p> Vicente A. Martinez Realtor Brooklyn | Long Island | Queens Homes (Prudential Douglas Elliman Licensed Real Estate Salesperson) Sun, 19 Apr 2009 23:25:42 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1041723/find-out-if-your-contractor-is-licensed-check-this-site-first- http://activerain.com/blogsview/1041719/allnylistings-com-is-a-free-service-to-help-area-home-buyers-find-their-dream-home- <p><strong><a href="http://www.allnylistings.com/" title="AllNYlistings" target="_blank">AllNYListings.com</a></strong> is a FREE service to help area home buyers find their dream home. Your first email will list all homes currently for sale that meet your search criteria. Then each morning you will be emailed a list of all of the new homes for sale <em>and price changes since your previous search</em>. No more having to rely on manual searches.&nbsp;Start your auto-email home search today! It's just that easy!</p> <p><img title="Vincent Martinez Realtor" src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/3/6/6/1/7/ar124020108571663.JPG" height="335" alt="Vincent Martinez Realtor" width="700" /></p> <p><strong>To find the value of your home with a FREE, over-the-net home </strong><em><strong>HIGHEST Price Analysis</strong></em><strong>, please visit: </strong><a href="http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/"><strong>http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>SEARCH over 50,000 homes online for FREE and be the first to know about HOT NEW LISTINGS before other buyers do, please visit </strong><a href="http://www.allnylistings.com/"><strong>http://www.allnylistings.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p><em>Disclaimer: The above Real Estate information was provided by Vincent Martinez, Realtor for the #1 Real Estate offices in New York and the #4 office in the USA. </em><strong><em>Vincent Martinez</em></strong><em> is a </em><strong><em>Certified Realtor Short Sale Professional</em></strong><em> by the Long Island Board of Realtors (L.I.B.O.R.) and a member of Prudential Douglas Elliman - Licensed Real Estate Broker. Vincent Martinez&nbsp;does not guarantee or is any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog post and information provided is without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Information here represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments by others may not express the views of the author. Copyright &copy; 2009 By Vincent Martinez, All Rights Reserved.</em></p> <p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=703394168&amp;ref=profile" title="Friend me in Facebook" target="_blank"><strong>Friend me on Facebook</strong></a>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://twitter.com/nyforeclosures" title="Follow me on Twitter" target="_blank"><strong>Follow me on Twitter</strong></a></p> Vicente A. Martinez Realtor Brooklyn | Long Island | Queens Homes (Prudential Douglas Elliman Licensed Real Estate Salesperson) Sun, 19 Apr 2009 23:19:57 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1041719/allnylistings-com-is-a-free-service-to-help-area-home-buyers-find-their-dream-home- http://activerain.com/blogsview/1041716/video-email-talk-fusion <p><strong>I just joined Talk Fusion, a service which allows its users to send streaming video email</strong> in just a few short and simple steps. All you have to do is log into your account, click the create a video tab, look into your web cam (provided by Talk Fusion), and hit the send button when you're done.</p> <p><strong>I've already had the opportunity to view a few dozen high quality crystal clear videos.</strong> The start up cost will be considered by some as 'a bit pricey'. I on the other hand don't mind paying it (<em>it's worth every penny</em>).</p> <p>Check it out <a href="http://www.talkfusion.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Click Here</strong></a></p> <p><img title="Vincent Martinez Realtor" src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/6/4/8/0/4/ar124020078040846.JPG" height="335" alt="Vincent Martinez Realtor" width="700" /></p> <p><strong>To find the value of your home with a FREE, over-the-net home </strong><em><strong>HIGHEST Price Analysis</strong></em><strong>, please visit: </strong><a href="http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/"><strong>http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>SEARCH over 50,000 homes online for FREE and be the first to know about HOT NEW LISTINGS before other buyers do, please visit </strong><a href="http://www.allnylistings.com/"><strong>http://www.allnylistings.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p><em>Disclaimer: The above Real Estate information was provided by Vincent Martinez, Realtor for the #1 Real Estate offices in New York and the #4 office in the USA. </em><strong><em>Vincent Martinez</em></strong><em> is a </em><strong><em>Certified Realtor Short Sale Professional</em></strong><em> by the Long Island Board of Realtors (L.I.B.O.R.) and a member of Prudential Douglas Elliman - Licensed Real Estate Broker. Vincent Martinez&nbsp;does not guarantee or is any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog post and information provided is without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Information here represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments by others may not express the views of the author.<strong>Video Email - Talk Fusion</strong> Copyright &copy; 2009 By Vincent Martinez, All Rights Reserved.</em></p> <p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=703394168&amp;ref=profile" title="Friend me in Facebook" target="_blank"><strong>Friend me on Facebook</strong></a>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://twitter.com/nyforeclosures" title="Follow me on Twitter" target="_blank"><strong>Follow me on Twitter</strong></a></p> Vicente A. Martinez Realtor Brooklyn | Long Island | Queens Homes (Prudential Douglas Elliman Licensed Real Estate Salesperson) Sun, 19 Apr 2009 23:14:17 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1041716/video-email-talk-fusion http://activerain.com/blogsview/1041656/cool-freebie-great-site-investor-s-comb-thru-looking-for-properties <p><strong>Cool Freebie - Great Site Investor's Comb thru Looking For Properties</strong></p> <p>I'll keep this one short and sweet.</p> <p>I just came across this site today and I&nbsp;haven't heard or seen anyone on AR using it yet.</p> <p>Check it out<strong> </strong><a href="http://www.flipit.com/"><strong>http://www.flipit.com</strong></a></p> <p><strong>I hear investors comb this site on a daily basis. </strong>Also, the ads are free and you're allowed to renew until the posted property is sold.</p> <p><img title="Vincent Martinez Realtor" src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/8/8/2/3/4/ar124019772743288.JPG" height="357" alt="Vincent Martinez Realtor" width="747" />&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>To find the value of your home with a FREE, over-the-net home </strong><em><strong>HIGHEST Price Analysis</strong></em><strong>, please visit: </strong><a href="http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/"><strong>http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>SEARCH over 50,000 homes online for FREE and be the first to know about HOT NEW LISTINGS before other buyers do, please visit </strong><a href="http://www.allnylistings.com/"><strong>http://www.allnylistings.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p><em>Disclaimer: The above Real Estate information was provided by Vincent Martinez, Realtor for the #1 Real Estate offices in New York and the #4 office in the USA. </em><strong><em>Vincent Martinez</em></strong><em> is a </em><strong><em>Certified Realtor Short Sale Professional</em></strong><em> by the Long Island Board of Realtors (L.I.B.O.R.) and a member of Prudential Douglas Elliman - Licensed Real Estate Broker. Vincent Martinez&nbsp;does not guarantee or is any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog post and information provided is without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Information here represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments by others may not express the views of the author. <strong>Cool Freebie - Great Site Investor's Comb thru Looking For Properties </strong>Copyright &copy; 2009 By Vincent Martinez, All Rights Reserved.</em></p> <p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=703394168&amp;ref=profile" title="Friend me in Facebook" target="_blank"><strong>Friend me on Facebook</strong></a>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://twitter.com/nyforeclosures" title="Follow me on Twitter" target="_blank"><strong>Follow me on Twitter</strong></a></p> Vicente A. Martinez Realtor Brooklyn | Long Island | Queens Homes (Prudential Douglas Elliman Licensed Real Estate Salesperson) Sun, 19 Apr 2009 23:09:36 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1041656/cool-freebie-great-site-investor-s-comb-thru-looking-for-properties http://activerain.com/blogsview/1041711/deed-in-lieu-of-foreclosure-another-alternative-to-foreclosure <p><strong>It's yet another alternative to foreclosure. </strong><em><strong>One that I don't really recommend</strong>...</em> instead I would recommend a shortsale. <a href="http://activerain.com/blogsview/467466/Short-Sale-Video" target="_blank">Click here to learn about shortsales</a> and how you can benefit from them if you're considering the Deed-in-lieu of foreclosure.</p> <p><strong>You may be able to deed the property to your lender/servicer and avoid a lengthy foreclosure</strong>. This would help to keep away from a long-lasting foreclosure. For information on how this will disturb your credit rating, consult an independent tax advisor. This alternative sends to the credit bureau that the economic condition was mitigated. If accepted, the Deed-in-Lieu documents will be forwarded to your banks attorney's office to finalize the procedure. Here are the required documents you will need to complete the process:</p> <ul> <li>Updated financial information for all parties on the mortgage(s) </li> <li>Interior appraisal </li> <li>Title Reports, to ensure that the property is free and clear of any debts, liens, encumbrances, and the premises are vacated </li> <li>Completed Deed-in-Lieu documents </li> </ul> <p><em><strong>The entire process takes roughly ninety (90) days to complete, however, it may take longer.</strong></em></p> <p><strong>The quickest and best method is still the shortsale process (if you qualify). </strong><a href="http://activerain.com/blogsview/467466/Short-Sale-Video" target="_blank"><strong>Click here</strong></a> for more information.</p> <p><img title="Vincent Martinez Realtor" src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/1/6/2/4/6/ar124020045264261.JPG" height="335" alt="Vincent Martinez Realtor" width="700" /></p> <p><strong>To find the value of your home with a FREE, over-the-net home </strong><em><strong>HIGHEST Price Analysis</strong></em><strong>, please visit: </strong><a href="http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/"><strong>http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>SEARCH over 50,000 homes online for FREE and be the first to know about HOT NEW LISTINGS before other buyers do, please visit </strong><a href="http://www.allnylistings.com/"><strong>http://www.allnylistings.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p><em>Disclaimer: The above Real Estate information was provided by Vincent Martinez, Realtor for the #1 Real Estate offices in New York and the #4 office in the USA. </em><strong><em>Vincent Martinez</em></strong><em> is a </em><strong><em>Certified Realtor Short Sale Professional</em></strong><em> by the Long Island Board of Realtors (L.I.B.O.R.) and a member of Prudential Douglas Elliman - Licensed Real Estate Broker. Vincent Martinez&nbsp;does not guarantee or is any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog post and information provided is without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Information here represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments by others may not express the views of the author. <strong>Deed-in-lieu Of Foreclosure - Another Alternative To Foreclosure</strong> Copyright &copy; 2009 By Vincent Martinez, All Rights Reserved.</em></p> <p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=703394168&amp;ref=profile" title="Friend me in Facebook" target="_blank"><strong>Friend me on Facebook</strong></a>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://twitter.com/nyforeclosures" title="Follow me on Twitter" target="_blank"><strong>Follow me on Twitter</strong></a></p> Vicente A. Martinez Realtor Brooklyn | Long Island | Queens Homes (Prudential Douglas Elliman Licensed Real Estate Salesperson) Sun, 19 Apr 2009 23:08:43 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1041711/deed-in-lieu-of-foreclosure-another-alternative-to-foreclosure http://activerain.com/blogsview/1041705/short-sales-made-simple <p><strong>You may be able to sell your home at fair market value even if the sale's proceeds are less than what you owe on your mortgage(s)</strong>. This alternative gives you an opportunity to sell your home quickly, while attempting to save your credit rating. At the close of escrow, if the short sale is approved, the proceeds are wired to your bank and your obligations tho them are fulfilled.</p> <p>The documents required:</p> <ul> <li>Updated financial information for all parties on the loan (<em>Contact me for more information <a href="mailto:prorealtor@verizon.net" target="_blank"><strong>Click here</strong></a>)</em> </li> <li>Completed short sale documents (i.e. Purchase Agreement, HUD Documents etc.) </li> <li>Verification of income </li> <li>Interior appraisal</li> </ul> <p><strong>The short sale process takes roughly 60 days to complete, however it may take longer.</strong></p> <p>The shortsale stages are:</p> <ul> <li>Determination of value - <em>Can be done in the first 2 weeks</em> </li> <li>Negotiation and approval of offer - <em>Can be done as quickly as 2-5 days</em> </li> <li>Final approval - <em>Can be completed as quickly as 2-5 days</em> </li> <li>Escrow closing - <em>Should take roughly 2-4 weeks</em></li> </ul> <p><img title="Vincent Martinez Realtor" src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/1/1/7/7/2/ar124020016327711.JPG" height="335" alt="Vincent Martinez Realtor" width="700" />&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>To find the value of your home with a FREE, over-the-net home </strong><em><strong>HIGHEST Price Analysis</strong></em><strong>, please visit: </strong><a href="http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/"><strong>http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>SEARCH over 50,000 homes online for FREE and be the first to know about HOT NEW LISTINGS before other buyers do, please visit </strong><a href="http://www.allnylistings.com/"><strong>http://www.allnylistings.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p><em>Disclaimer: The above Real Estate information was provided by Vincent Martinez, Realtor for the #1 Real Estate offices in New York and the #4 office in the USA. </em><strong><em>Vincent Martinez</em></strong><em> is a </em><strong><em>Certified Realtor Short Sale Professional</em></strong><em> by the Long Island Board of Realtors (L.I.B.O.R.) and a member of Prudential Douglas Elliman - Licensed Real Estate Broker. Vincent Martinez&nbsp;does not guarantee or is any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog post and information provided is without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Information here represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments by others may not express the views of the author. <strong>Short Sales Made Simple</strong> Copyright &copy; 2009 By Vincent Martinez, All Rights Reserved.</em></p> <p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=703394168&amp;ref=profile" title="Friend me in Facebook" target="_blank"><strong>Friend me on Facebook</strong></a>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://twitter.com/nyforeclosures" title="Follow me on Twitter" target="_blank"><strong>Follow me on Twitter</strong></a></p> Vicente A. Martinez Realtor Brooklyn | Long Island | Queens Homes (Prudential Douglas Elliman Licensed Real Estate Salesperson) Sun, 19 Apr 2009 23:03:57 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1041705/short-sales-made-simple http://activerain.com/blogsview/1041697/how-to-stop-avoid-the-foreclosure-wave-heading-our-way-in-any-state <p>Determing what stage in the process you are in is the key!</p> <p>Here are your TOP 5 options:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Forbearance</strong>- Your mortgage company may be able to arrange a repayment plan, to repay your debt over an extended amount of time, based on your financial situation. <em>(I'll help to see if you qualify).</em> </li> <li><strong>Loan Modification</strong>- You may be able to modify the terms of your mortgage loan by lowering the rate, extending the term, or capitalizing the interest. This may help you catch up, and sometimes reduce your monthly payments to a more affordable level. <em>(I'll help to see if you qualify).</em> </li> <li><strong>MI Claim Advance-</strong> Your mortgage company may be able to work with you to obtain a one-time payment from the Mortgage-Insurance fund to bring your mortgage current. <em>(This loan will be paid back directly to the MI company and is an unsecured Note.)</em> </li> <li><strong>Deed-in-lieu of foreclosure-</strong> As a last resort, you may be able to voluntarily "give back" your property to the lender. This won't save your house, but it is not as damaging to your credit rating as a foreclosure. <em>(To be used as a last resort ONLY!!!)</em> </li> <li><strong>Pre-foreclosure sale-</strong> This will allow you to avoid foreclosure by selling your property for an amount less than the amount necessary to pay off your mortgage loan. Also, this option has become very popular and has more advantages than any other option. <em>(Subject to bank's approval of a shortsale).</em> </li> </ul> <p>Walking away from your property can carry many long-term consequences. A foreclosure has very serious credit implications. Foreclosures are a matter of public record and are reported to credit reporting agencies in the United States. <em>Once the foreclosure is reported, it becomes a part of your permanent credit file and will remain for up to ten years.<br /></em><br />We may be able to help you avoid, or reduce, the consequences of foreclosure. Please contact us as soon as possible so that we can have the opportunity to evaluate all possible solutions to avoiding foreclosure. <em><a href="mailto:prorealtor@verizon.net" target="_blank"><strong>Click here to contact us.</strong></a></em>&nbsp;</p> <p>Or contact me directly at <a href="mailto:ProRealtor@verizon.net"><strong>ProRealtor@verizon.net</strong></a> for more information.</p> <p><img title="Vincent Martinez Realtor" src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/3/1/2/4/9/ar124019993794213.JPG" height="335" alt="Vincent Martinez Realtor" width="700" /></p> <p><strong>To find the value of your home with a FREE, over-the-net home </strong><em><strong>HIGHEST Price Analysis</strong></em><strong>, please visit: </strong><a href="http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/"><strong>http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>SEARCH over 50,000 homes online for FREE and be the first to know about HOT NEW LISTINGS before other buyers do, please visit </strong><a href="http://www.allnylistings.com/"><strong>http://www.allnylistings.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p><em>Disclaimer: The above Real Estate information was provided by Vincent Martinez, Realtor for the #1 Real Estate offices in New York and the #4 office in the USA. </em><strong><em>Vincent Martinez</em></strong><em> is a </em><strong><em>Certified Realtor Short Sale Professional</em></strong><em> by the Long Island Board of Realtors (L.I.B.O.R.) and a member of Prudential Douglas Elliman - Licensed Real Estate Broker. Vincent Martinez&nbsp;does not guarantee or is any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog post and information provided is without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Information here represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments by others may not express the views of the author. <strong>How To Stop / Avoid The Foreclosure Wave Heading Our Way - In Any State</strong> Copyright &copy; 2009 By Vincent Martinez, All Rights Reserved.</em></p> <p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=703394168&amp;ref=profile" title="Friend me in Facebook" target="_blank"><strong>Friend me on Facebook</strong></a>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://twitter.com/nyforeclosures" title="Follow me on Twitter" target="_blank"><strong>Follow me on Twitter</strong></a></p> Vicente A. Martinez Realtor Brooklyn | Long Island | Queens Homes (Prudential Douglas Elliman Licensed Real Estate Salesperson) Sun, 19 Apr 2009 22:59:50 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1041697/how-to-stop-avoid-the-foreclosure-wave-heading-our-way-in-any-state http://activerain.com/blogsview/1041690/movie-review-seance <p><strong><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/4/9/3/6/1/ar124019954016394.jpg" height="244" alt="" width="325" style="float: left;" />From the moment this flick started I knew it was going to suck</strong>... Boy was I right!!!</p> <p><strong>The group of victims here are college students in a broken down college dorm</strong>. After holding a s&eacute;ance they "accidentally" release the ghost of a serial killer... the former janitor. Must I go on??</p> <p><strong>I should have left this one on the shelf</strong>. The flick was cheesy and the cinematography was probably the worst I've seen.</p> <p><strong>Do yourself a favor and skip this one altogether!</strong></p> <p><strong>This flick&nbsp;wasn't worthy of trailer... so I didn't post one.&nbsp;</strong></p> <p><strong></strong></p> <p><img title="Vincent Martinez Realtor" src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/1/9/9/2/2/ar124019959522991.JPG" height="335" alt="Vincent Martinez Realtor" width="700" /></p> <p><strong>To find the value of your home with a FREE, over-the-net home </strong><em><strong>HIGHEST Price Analysis</strong></em><strong>, please visit: </strong><a href="http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/"><strong>http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>SEARCH over 50,000 homes online for FREE and be the first to know about HOT NEW LISTINGS before other buyers do, please visit </strong><a href="http://www.allnylistings.com/"><strong>http://www.allnylistings.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p><em>Disclaimer: The above Real Estate information was provided by Vincent Martinez, Realtor for the #1 Real Estate offices in New York and the #4 office in the USA. </em><strong><em>Vincent Martinez</em></strong><em> is a </em><strong><em>Certified Realtor Short Sale Professional</em></strong><em> by the Long Island Board of Realtors (L.I.B.O.R.) and a member of Prudential Douglas Elliman - Licensed Real Estate Broker. Vincent Martinez&nbsp;does not guarantee or is any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog post and information provided is without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Information here represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments by others may not express the views of the author. <strong>Movie Review - Seance</strong> Copyright &copy; 2009 By Vincent Martinez, All Rights Reserved.</em></p> <p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=703394168&amp;ref=profile" title="Friend me in Facebook" target="_blank"><strong>Friend me on Facebook</strong></a>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://twitter.com/nyforeclosures" title="Follow me on Twitter" target="_blank"><strong>Follow me on Twitter</strong></a></p> Vicente A. Martinez Realtor Brooklyn | Long Island | Queens Homes (Prudential Douglas Elliman Licensed Real Estate Salesperson) Sun, 19 Apr 2009 22:54:11 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1041690/movie-review-seance http://activerain.com/blogsview/1041678/movie-review-revolver <p><strong><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/6/0/2/7/9/ar124019889997206.jpg" height="300" alt="" style="float: left;" width="425" />"<em>Dangerous combination... chess and cons</em>,"</strong> ponders Jake Green (Jason Statham) in <em>Revolver</em>. This flick was a thinker. I like it when a movie throws out a challenging, confusing plot that introduces you to a group of seemingly unrelated puzzle pieces then, by the end, surprises you by revealing how they are all interrelated. The acting, the mind games, and the way it all fit together in the end was brilliant. Jason Statham is playing a different character this time and he has HAIR! Andre Benjamin was also a very pleasant surprise. He did a great job.</p> <p><strong>At first glance, "Revolver" has the makings of a typical gangster film,</strong> teeming with well-dressed tough guys having reputations as swindlers, crime lords, hitmen, and loan sharks. <em>But then the movie takes a sudden left turn and begins to evolve into something much more cerebral</em> as the story almost becomes a game itself--held together by a underlying theme of casinos, chess, and cons. I can't say there were any dull moments in the storyline, either. In fact, one of my favorite scenes came from this film, when the "Sorter" (a hitman) has a change of heart and takes care of business in an almost operatic bloodbath.</p> <p><strong>The footage is awesome, the fight scenes are well choreographed, and the editing is fast paced.</strong> Over the end credits, we're treated toward a variety of experts expounding upon the ego, the individual, and chess strategy. If you like your mind to be challenged, see this movie, it's a good one. Find out for yourself. (The cartoon part was really unnecessary, but I couldn't stop laughing at it!)</p> <p><em><strong>I enjoyed this flick and will be picking up my own copy.</strong></em></p> <p><strong>Check out the trailer below.</strong></p> <p><strong></strong></p><object height="525" width="660"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/svGAucw3Y80&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0&amp;color1=0x006699&amp;color2=0x54abd6&amp;border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed allowfullscreen="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/svGAucw3Y80&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0&amp;color1=0x006699&amp;color2=0x54abd6&amp;border=1" allowscriptaccess="always" height="525" width="660"></embed></object> <p><strong></strong></p> <p><img title="Vincent Martinez Realtor" src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/4/1/1/6/1/ar124019895616114.JPG" height="335" alt="Vincent Martinez Realtor" width="700" /></p> <p><em></em></p> <p><strong>To find the value of your home with a FREE, over-the-net home </strong><em><strong>HIGHEST Price Analysis</strong></em><strong>, please visit: </strong><a href="http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/"><strong>http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>SEARCH over 50,000 homes online for FREE and be the first to know about HOT NEW LISTINGS before other buyers do, please visit </strong><a href="http://www.allnylistings.com/"><strong>http://www.allnylistings.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p><em>Disclaimer: The above Real Estate information was provided by Vincent Martinez, Realtor for the #1 Real Estate offices in New York and the #4 office in the USA. </em><strong><em>Vincent Martinez</em></strong><em> is a </em><strong><em>Certified Realtor Short Sale Professional</em></strong><em> by the Long Island Board of Realtors (L.I.B.O.R.) and a member of Prudential Douglas Elliman - Licensed Real Estate Broker. Vincent Martinez does not guarantee or is any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog post and information provided is without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Information here represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments by others may not express the views of the author. <strong>Movie Review - Revolver</strong> Copyright © 2009 By Vincent Martinez, All Rights Reserved.</em></p> <p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=703394168&amp;ref=profile" title="Friend me in Facebook" target="_blank"><strong>Friend me on Facebook</strong></a> </p> <p><a href="http://twitter.com/nyforeclosures" title="Follow me on Twitter" target="_blank"><strong>Follow me on Twitter</strong></a></p> Vicente A. Martinez Realtor Brooklyn | Long Island | Queens Homes (Prudential Douglas Elliman Licensed Real Estate Salesperson) Sun, 19 Apr 2009 22:47:51 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1041678/movie-review-revolver http://activerain.com/blogsview/1041667/movie-review-the-water-horse <p><strong><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/5/0/5/3/0/ar124019825203505.jpg" height="450" alt="" width="303" style="float: left;" />This is a flick that invites comparison to "E.T." </strong>The movie centers on Angus, a 12-year-old boy who is the son of a housekeeper, Anne MacMorrow living in a luxurious manor in a Scottish village in the midst of World War II. When he discovers a mysterious rock on the beach and peels it, what hatches is a dragon-like creature he names Crusoe that rapidly expands to the size of a horse and has to be re-housed in the local loch. Crusoe is small creature <em>(for the first few weeks)</em>, part dog, part giraffe and part who-knows-what emerges, he hides it in the bathroom, keeping its presence secret from his mom, letting its presence known only to his sister, Kirstie and a handyman, Lewis <em>(who conspire with the boy to hide the fast-growing pet from others.)</em> The water horse, which eventually grows way way way too big to be kept in the bathtub, must be transported to the sea, just as E.T. had to go home. Crusoe, as the Water Horse, is named, becomes the Loch Ness Monster.</p> <p><strong>"Water Horse" isn't as great as "E.T.," but it follows its template</strong>: a fairy tale that shifts into action-adventure. The movie has a great feel for the period (WWII), in which children didn't backtalk and something as simple as an orange delights Angus a solemn boy who misses his off-at-war dad. The movie benefits enormously from its rural setting - with the green hills and glittering lakes, Angus basically lives in a brochure for Scottish tourism.</p> <p><strong>I am not sure if this makes sense, but the director and cast did too good of a job.</strong> I could have enjoyed this movie even without the computer animated sea monster. The characters are strong enough to carry this movie without it.</p> <p><strong>Check out the trailer below.</strong></p> <p> </p><object height="525" width="660"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yr_vCoMSrsA&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0&amp;color1=0x006699&amp;color2=0x54abd6&amp;border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yr_vCoMSrsA&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0&amp;color1=0x006699&amp;color2=0x54abd6&amp;border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="525" width="660"></embed></object> <p><img title="Vincent Martinez Realtor" src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/9/2/8/6/0/ar124019834006829.JPG" height="335" alt="Vincent Martinez Realtor" width="700" /> </p> <p><strong>To find the value of your home with a FREE, over-the-net home </strong><em><strong>HIGHEST Price Analysis</strong></em><strong>, please visit: </strong><a href="http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/"><strong>http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>SEARCH over 50,000 homes online for FREE and be the first to know about HOT NEW LISTINGS before other buyers do, please visit </strong><a href="http://www.allnylistings.com/"><strong>http://www.allnylistings.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p><em>Disclaimer: The above Real Estate information was provided by Vincent Martinez, Realtor for the #1 Real Estate offices in New York and the #4 office in the USA. </em><strong><em>Vincent Martinez</em></strong><em> is a </em><strong><em>Certified Realtor Short Sale Professional</em></strong><em> by the Long Island Board of Realtors (L.I.B.O.R.) and a member of Prudential Douglas Elliman - Licensed Real Estate Broker. Vincent Martinez does not guarantee or is any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog post and information provided is without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Information here represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments by others may not express the views of the author. <strong>Movie Review - The Water Horse</strong> Copyright © 2009 By Vincent Martinez, All Rights Reserved.</em></p> <p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=703394168&amp;ref=profile" title="Friend me in Facebook" target="_blank"><strong>Friend me on Facebook</strong></a> </p> <p><a href="http://twitter.com/nyforeclosures" title="Follow me on Twitter" target="_blank"><strong>Follow me on Twitter</strong></a></p> Vicente A. Martinez Realtor Brooklyn | Long Island | Queens Homes (Prudential Douglas Elliman Licensed Real Estate Salesperson) Sun, 19 Apr 2009 22:37:24 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1041667/movie-review-the-water-horse http://activerain.com/blogsview/1031557/flushed-away-movie-review <p><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/8/9/4/2/1/ar123959617212498.jpg" height="400" alt="" width="272" style="float: left;" /><strong>The story in "Flushed Away" is simple and not particularly original, but it's told cleverly</strong> (with a screenplay by five writers and direction by animation veterans David Bowers and Sam Fell), with daffy British humor, split-second sight gags and smart dialogue.</p> <p><strong>Roddy (voice of Hugh Jackman), a pet mouse in an upscale London apartment has his life interrupted</strong> by the arrival of a sewer rat named Sid. Adding to his vexation: While trying to flush Sid down the toilet, Roddy gets himself flushed instead. I guess if it isn't one thing, it's another, when you're a pet mouse.</p> <p><strong>The upper-class Roddy now finds himself mingling with the common mouse,</strong> rat, and other subterranean creatures in an underground city built specifically for mouse-sized animals and made from trash and debris cast away by the humans. He wants only to get back to his home in Kensington, of course, but he must rely on a mouse named Rita, an adventuresome mercenary who pilots a boat through the sewers, to help him.</p> <p><strong>This being a characteristically British film,</strong> there are digs at the French (who are quite literally frogs) and at the Americans (one of whom is shown insisting that his British hosts know nothing about football) - but most of all there are endless affectionate swipes at the British themselves, and at that old English obsession, class.</p> <p><strong>It's is the classic fish out of water story</strong>, or rather, posh rat discovering his roots.</p> <p><strong>I enjoyed this flick with my kids... they loved it!</strong></p> <p><strong>To find the value of your home with a FREE, over-the-net home </strong><em><strong>HIGHEST Price Analysis</strong></em><strong>, please visit: </strong><a href="http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/"><strong>http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>SEARCH over 50,000 homes online for FREE and be the first to know about HOT NEW LISTINGS before other buyers do, please visit </strong><a href="http://www.allnylistings.com/"><strong>http://www.allnylistings.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p><em>Disclaimer: The above Real Estate information was provided by Vincent Martinez, Realtor for the #1 Real Estate offices in New York and the #4 office in the USA. </em><strong><em>Vincent Martinez</em></strong><em> is a </em><strong><em>Certified Realtor Short Sale Professional</em></strong><em> by the Long Island Board of Realtors (L.I.B.O.R.) and a member of Prudential Douglas Elliman - Licensed Real Estate Broker. Vincent Martinez&nbsp;does not guarantee or is any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog post and information provided is without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Information here represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments by others may not express the views of the author. <strong>Flushed Away - Movie Review</strong> Copyright &copy; 2009 By Vincent Martinez, All Rights Reserved.</em></p> <p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=703394168&amp;ref=profile" title="Friend me in Facebook" target="_blank"><strong>Friend me on Facebook</strong></a>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://twitter.com/nyforeclosures" title="Follow me on Twitter" target="_blank"><strong>Follow me on Twitter</strong></a></p> Vicente A. Martinez Realtor Brooklyn | Long Island | Queens Homes (Prudential Douglas Elliman Licensed Real Estate Salesperson) Sun, 12 Apr 2009 23:18:54 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1031557/flushed-away-movie-review http://activerain.com/blogsview/1031548/checklist-spring-cleaning <p><strong>Checklist - Spring Cleaning</strong></p> <p><strong>A key to protecting the investment you've made in your home is by following a regular maintenance</strong> schedule. By performing preventative maintenance on an on-going basis, you'll avoid many of the big ticket repair items that can lower the value of your home.</p> <p><strong>Here are helpful checklists</strong> for monthly and spring maintenance.</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Inside Your Home</span></strong></p> <ul> <li>Test your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector. </li> <li>Check the filters on your heating and cooling systems.&nbsp; Be sure to clean and change according to the manufacturer's schedule. </li> <li>If you have a humidifier or an electronic air filter, check these as well.&nbsp;&nbsp; </li> <li>Check faucets for drips.&nbsp; </li> <li>Check plumbing for leaks. </li> <li>Check furnace air filters each month during the heating season.&nbsp; Clean or replace as necessary. </li> <li>Inspect fireplace, wood stove and chimneys.&nbsp; Have each clean and serviced as needed. </li> <li>When spring begins, shut down and clean furnace humidifier.&nbsp; Close the furnace humidifier damper on units with central air conditioning.&nbsp; </li> <li>Check air conditioning system and clean or replace air filters.&nbsp; Have system serviced as need (recommend every 2 to 3 years). </li> <li>Check and clean dehumidifier as necessary. </li> <li>Where possible, turn off furnace and fireplace pilot lights. </li> <li>Deep clean carpets and rugs. </li> <li>Vacuum air duct grills and bathroom fan grill. </li> <li>Inspect your dryer's lint duct.&nbsp; Disconnect it from the dryer and vacuum out lint from the duct and areas surrounding your dryer.</li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">In the Basement</span></strong></p> <ul> <li>Ensure sump pump is operating properly.&nbsp; Check to be sure discharge pipe is connected and allows water to drain away from the foundation. </li> <li>Check pipes for condensation or dripping.&nbsp;&nbsp; </li> <li>Check the basement floor trap to be sure it contains water.&nbsp; Refill as necessary.<br /></li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Outside Your Home</span></strong></p> <ul> <li>Examine foundation walls for cracks, leaks or signs of moisture.&nbsp; Repair as required. </li> <li>Check paint on outside walls and fence.&nbsp; Repair and paint as necessary. </li> <li>Check level of any exterior steps or decks which may have moved due to frost or settling.&nbsp; Re-level as necessary. </li> <li>Check and clean out gutters and downspouts. </li> <li>Repair loose joints and ensure secure attachment to your home.&nbsp; </li> <li>Clear any obstructions and make sure water flows away from your foundation.&nbsp; </li> <li>Remove any debris from drainage ditches and culverts. </li> <li>Prune and fertilize landscaping as necessary. </li> <li>Make a visual inspection of your roof (or hire a professional to do so).&nbsp; Note the general condition.&nbsp; Sagging could be a sign of structural damage and should be checked by a professional.&nbsp; Inspect all roof flashings, checking for signs of cracking or leakage.&nbsp; Replace broken or damaged shingles as needed. </li> <li>Inspect windows and doorways.&nbsp; Replace damaged caulking and weather stripping.&nbsp; </li> <li>Check for and seal holes that could be an entry point for pests and rodents.<br /></li> </ul> <p><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">I can't stress how important the following step is.</span></strong></em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li>Have a thorough termite inspection if you don't currently have a termite service.&nbsp; Follow up on any treatment and repair recommendations.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </li> </ul> <p><strong>Remember, termites swarm the first day the tempertaure hits between 75-80 degrees</strong>. So have your termite inspector come in and do this crucial spring time pre-clean up. <em>It will save you money in the long run.</em></p> <p><strong>To find the value of your home with a FREE, over-the-net home </strong><em><strong>HIGHEST Price Analysis</strong></em><strong>, please visit: </strong><a href="http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/"><strong>http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>SEARCH over 50,000 homes online for FREE and be the first to know about HOT NEW LISTINGS before other buyers do, please visit </strong><a href="http://www.allnylistings.com/"><strong>http://www.allnylistings.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p><em>Disclaimer: The above Real Estate information was provided by Vincent Martinez, Realtor for the #1 Real Estate offices in New York and the #4 office in the USA. </em><strong><em>Vincent Martinez</em></strong><em> is a </em><strong><em>Certified Realtor Short Sale Professional</em></strong><em> by the Long Island Board of Realtors (L.I.B.O.R.) and a member of Prudential Douglas Elliman - Licensed Real Estate Broker. Vincent Martinez&nbsp;does not guarantee or is any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog post and information provided is without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Information here represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments by others may not express the views of the author.<strong>Checklist - Spring Cleaning</strong> Copyright &copy; 2009 By Vincent Martinez, All Rights Reserved.</em></p> <p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=703394168&amp;ref=profile" title="Friend me in Facebook" target="_blank"><strong>Friend me on Facebook</strong></a>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://twitter.com/nyforeclosures" title="Follow me on Twitter" target="_blank"><strong>Follow me on Twitter</strong></a></p> Vicente A. Martinez Realtor Brooklyn | Long Island | Queens Homes (Prudential Douglas Elliman Licensed Real Estate Salesperson) Sun, 12 Apr 2009 23:09:26 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1031548/checklist-spring-cleaning http://activerain.com/blogsview/1031547/de-clutter-and-get-paid <p><strong>De-clutter and get paid</strong></p> <p><strong>Make money off y<span style="text-decoration: underline;">our clutter on </span></strong><a href="http://www.craigslist.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Craigslist</strong></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>!</strong></span></p> <p><strong><em>Looking for a way to de-clutter</em></strong> the basement/attic and make money at the same time? Why not hold an online garage sale? Careful planning and creativity can turn your mountain of junk into a fistful of cash.<br /><br /><strong>First, while you don't need a garage to have a garage sale</strong>, you do need some stuff to sell. Take pictures of all the stuff you want to sell and advertise it on <a href="http://www.craigslist.com/" target="_blank">Craigslist.com</a>&nbsp;</p> <p><br /><strong>One man's trash may be another man's treasure, but don't try to sell actual trash</strong>, either. Make sure appliances and gadgets actually work, wash any clothing you intend to sell and make sure other items are clean and in good condition. Here's a list of popular sellers:</p> <ul> <li>appliances </li> <li>books </li> <li>costume jewelry </li> <li>sports equipment </li> <li>children's toys </li> <li>flatware </li> <li>baby equipment </li> <li>CDs, DVDs </li> <li>patio equipment </li> <li>garden tools </li> <li>kitchen utensils/gadgets </li> <li>clothing, especially children's </li> </ul> <p><strong>Now that you've decided just what you're going to sell</strong>, the following tips will help make your online "garage sale" a success:</p> <ul> <li>Take pictures of each and every item or items that you intend to "package". </li> <li>Don't overprice any of the items or they'll end up back in your garage, basement, or attic </li> <li>Be prepared to haggle with customers. </li> </ul> <p><strong>After seven days if you still have anything left over then reduce the price and <em>repost</em> on Craigslist.</strong></p> <p><strong>Craigslist has clearly established itself as one of the leading online brands and the dominant presence</strong> in the US online classifieds market. Give it try!</p> <p><strong>To find the value of your home with a FREE, over-the-net home </strong><em><strong>HIGHEST Price Analysis</strong></em><strong>, please visit: </strong><a href="http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/"><strong>http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>SEARCH over 50,000 homes online for FREE and be the first to know about HOT NEW LISTINGS before other buyers do, please visit </strong><a href="http://www.allnylistings.com/"><strong>http://www.allnylistings.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p><em>Disclaimer: The above Real Estate information was provided by Vincent Martinez, Realtor for the #1 Real Estate offices in New York and the #4 office in the USA. </em><strong><em>Vincent Martinez</em></strong><em> is a </em><strong><em>Certified Realtor Short Sale Professional</em></strong><em> by the Long Island Board of Realtors (L.I.B.O.R.) and a member of Prudential Douglas Elliman - Licensed Real Estate Broker. Vincent Martinez&nbsp;does not guarantee or is any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog post and information provided is without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Information here represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments by others may not express the views of the author. Copyright &copy; 2009 By Vincent Martinez, All Rights Reserved.</em></p> <p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=703394168&amp;ref=profile" title="Friend me in Facebook" target="_blank"><strong>Friend me on Facebook</strong></a>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://twitter.com/nyforeclosures" title="Follow me on Twitter" target="_blank"><strong>Follow me on Twitter</strong></a></p> Vicente A. Martinez Realtor Brooklyn | Long Island | Queens Homes (Prudential Douglas Elliman Licensed Real Estate Salesperson) Sun, 12 Apr 2009 23:06:26 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1031547/de-clutter-and-get-paid http://activerain.com/blogsview/1031538/springtime-is-the-best-time-to-winterize-your-home <p><strong>Springtime Is The BEST Time To Winterize Your Home</strong></p> <p>When I first moved into my house I was oblivious to the fact that <em>homes need to be winterized</em>. As a result my first winter there was a very cold one and my heating cost went thru the roof. I was able to do a few things here and there but the major things could not be done as they require to be done on the outside of the house.</p> <p><strong>First thing is first.</strong> You should have a professional home inspection performed.</p> <p><em>A home inspection will look at the systems that make up the building such as:</em></p> <ul> <li>Structural elements, foundation, framing etc </li> <li>Plumbing systems </li> <li>Roofing </li> <li>Electrical systems </li> <li>Cosmetic condition, paint, siding etc.</li> </ul> <p><strong>If you are buying a home</strong>, you need to know exactly what you are getting. A home inspection, performed by a professional home inspector, will reveal any hidden problems with the home so that they may be addressed BEFORE the deal is closed.</p> <p><strong>If you are selling a home</strong>, you want to know about such potential hidden problems before your house goes on the market. Almost all contracts include the condition that the contract is contingent upon completion of a satisfactory inspection. And most buyers are going to insist that the inspection be a professional home inspection, usually by an inspector they hire.</p> <p><strong>Old Man Winter is settling in for a long chilly season.</strong></p> <p>Outside you'll want to:</p> <ul> <li>Look for deteriorating finishes. Minor problems can be patched to preserve the wood. Put bigger jobs, such as scraping and refinishing painted or stained areas, on the calendar for next spring or early summer. </li> <li>Caulk joints and minor cracks on exterior walls and siding. (<em>pic to the right</em>) </li> <li>Store or cover outdoor furniture, toys and grill. </li> <li>Purchase rock salt for melting snow and a shovel or snow blower if you don't already have one. Make sure you have the right kind of gas and oil on hand for your snow blower in the case of an unexpected snowstorm. </li> <li>Drain and shut off sprinkler systems and other exterior water lines to avoid frozen and broken pipes. Leave all taps slightly open. </li> <li>Insulate exterior spigots and other pipes that are subject to freezing but can't be drained or shut off. </li> <li>Rake and compost leaves and garden debris, or put out for yard-waste pickup. </li> <li>Clean storm drains, gutters and other drain pipes. </li> <li>Check the foundation for proper drainage. To do this, spray yard with a hose to see if water runs away from the house. A little shoveling to reshape the earth next to the house may make the water run away from the foundation. </li> <li>Make sure dirt or piles of wood don't come into contact with or touch siding, inviting termites and carpenter ants into the house. </li> <li>Seal driveway and walkway cracks, if needed, before ground freezes regularly. </li> <li>Inspect the roof for loose, damaged or missing pieces. </li> <li>Check attic vent openings for nests or other blockages.</li> </ul> <p>Here's what you'll want to do inside:</p> <ul> <li><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Have your furnace system serviced to ensure it's working efficiently and not emitting carbon monoxide.</strong></span></em> (pic to the right) </li> <li>Clean permanent furnace filters and replace paper or disposable filters. </li> <li>Replace the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. </li> <li>If you have a fireplace, have your chimney swept thoroughly. It should be cleaned before the soot build up reaches one-fourth inch thickness inside the chimney flue. </li> <li>Check your hot water heater for leaks and maintain proper temperature setting (120 degrees recommended by Department of Energy). <em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">On older water heaters with less insulation, for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit you lower the temperature, you save 6 percent of your water heating energy. </span></em></li> <li>Check the attic to see if insulation needs to be added or replaced. This is the most significant area of heat loss in many homes, so it is also important to see that it has proper ventilation. Inadequate ventilation could lead to premature deterioration of the insulation materials. You may also need to check insulation in exterior walls, crawl spaces and along foundation walls. </li> <li>Check all windows and doors for air leaks. Install storm windows and putty, caulk or add weather stripping as needed. </li> <li>Check basement and cellars for seal cracks or leaks in walls and floor. </li> <li>Make sure all vents are clean and operating properly. </li> <li>Clean and vacuum baseboard heaters, heating ducts and vents. </li> <li>Remove or winterize air conditioning units.</li> </ul> <p><em>Before the temperatures dip too far south, follow these simple guidelines to winterize your home and save money on utilities. </em></p> <p><strong>To find the value of your home with a FREE, over-the-net home </strong><em><strong>HIGHEST Price Analysis</strong></em><strong>, please visit: </strong><a href="http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/"><strong>http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>SEARCH over 50,000 homes online for FREE and be the first to know about HOT NEW LISTINGS before other buyers do, please visit </strong><a href="http://www.allnylistings.com/"><strong>http://www.allnylistings.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p><em>Disclaimer: The above Real Estate information was provided by Vincent Martinez, Realtor for the #1 Real Estate offices in New York and the #4 office in the USA. </em><strong><em>Vincent Martinez</em></strong><em> is a </em><strong><em>Certified Realtor Short Sale Professional</em></strong><em> by the Long Island Board of Realtors (L.I.B.O.R.) and a member of Prudential Douglas Elliman - Licensed Real Estate Broker. Vincent Martinez&nbsp;does not guarantee or is any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog post and information provided is without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Information here represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments by others may not express the views of the author.<strong>Springtime Is The BEST Time To Winterize Your Home</strong> Copyright &copy; 2009 By Vincent Martinez, All Rights Reserved.</em></p> <p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=703394168&amp;ref=profile" title="Friend me in Facebook" target="_blank"><strong>Friend me on Facebook</strong></a>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://twitter.com/nyforeclosures" title="Follow me on Twitter" target="_blank"><strong>Follow me on Twitter</strong></a></p> Vicente A. Martinez Realtor Brooklyn | Long Island | Queens Homes (Prudential Douglas Elliman Licensed Real Estate Salesperson) Sun, 12 Apr 2009 22:58:56 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1031538/springtime-is-the-best-time-to-winterize-your-home http://activerain.com/blogsview/1031537/steam-clean-the-bathroom-don-t-re-tile-it- <p><strong>Steam Clean The Bathroom - Don't re-tile it!</strong></p> <p><strong>Whether you're working on your home's seasonal deep clean, or planning to entertain guests,</strong> you know the amount of time that goes into cleaning your bathroom.&nbsp; And if you have a tile bathroom, you know how much elbow grease and time go into scrubbing and polishing.</p> <p><strong>But why spend all that time and back breaking effort if it can be easier?</strong>&nbsp; Here are a few tips that can help make your scrub down much less painful, and truly showcase the elegance of your bathroom tile.</p> <ol> <li><em>Steam</em> can loosen up even the most stubborn dirt and grime.&nbsp; Try running a hot shower for a few minutes before tackling the tile.&nbsp; Good old elbow grease can get any job done, but there's no reason to work yourself to the bone. </li> <li>Ammonia is your comrade in the war on mold, mildew, and bacteria.&nbsp; Adding a little bit to some soap and water will help knock their foul presence out of the picture and keep them out, while giving your tile a nice polished look. </li> <li>After a good scrub down, a little bit of wax and a quick buff with a hand towel will have your tile glistening, and will also shield it from future scuffs and mucky buildup. </li> </ol> <p><strong>Tile isn't cheap, and isn't always the easiest to maintain.</strong>&nbsp; These tips can help you protect your investment and turn your bathroom into a work of art.&nbsp; Try them out next time you tackle your tile, and see what a difference they make!</p> <p><strong>So just remember all of my Queens, NY homeowners... You'll never get a second chance to make a first impression.</strong> So let's make every showing count!!</p> <p><strong>To find the value of your home with a FREE, over-the-net home </strong><em><strong>HIGHEST Price Analysis</strong></em><strong>, please visit: </strong><a href="http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/"><strong>http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>SEARCH over 50,000 homes online for FREE and be the first to know about HOT NEW LISTINGS before other buyers do, please visit </strong><a href="http://www.allnylistings.com/"><strong>http://www.allnylistings.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p><em>Disclaimer: The above Real Estate information was provided by Vincent Martinez, Realtor for the #1 Real Estate offices in New York and the #4 office in the USA. </em><strong><em>Vincent Martinez</em></strong><em> is a </em><strong><em>Certified Realtor Short Sale Professional</em></strong><em> by the Long Island Board of Realtors (L.I.B.O.R.) and a member of Prudential Douglas Elliman - Licensed Real Estate Broker. Vincent Martinez&nbsp;does not guarantee or is any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog post and information provided is without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Information here represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments by others may not express the views of the author. Copyright &copy; 2009 By Vincent Martinez, All Rights Reserved.</em></p> <p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=703394168&amp;ref=profile" title="Friend me in Facebook" target="_blank"><strong>Friend me on Facebook</strong></a>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://twitter.com/nyforeclosures" title="Follow me on Twitter" target="_blank"><strong>Follow me on Twitter</strong></a></p> Vicente A. Martinez Realtor Brooklyn | Long Island | Queens Homes (Prudential Douglas Elliman Licensed Real Estate Salesperson) Sun, 12 Apr 2009 22:55:48 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1031537/steam-clean-the-bathroom-don-t-re-tile-it- http://activerain.com/blogsview/1031535/give-your-fixtures-a-nice-luster-before-a-showing- <p><strong>Give Your Fixtures A Nice Luster Before A Showing </strong></p> <p><strong>I would say update depending on the condition of the plumbing and fixtures.</strong> <em>It may just need to be polished up with a little bit of <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Brasso</span> to give it that showroom shine (the fixtures of course).</em></p> <p><strong>There are several good reasons to make sure all of your plumbing and fixtures look good and are in good working order before putting your home up for sale.</strong> When potential buyers come to look at your home, they are likely to turn on faucets and flush toilets "just to see".&nbsp;This is no time to make a bad impression with grungy old fixtures, leaks or stained sinks.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Before showing your home, you should make sure that all faucets and knobs are clean and shiny</strong> (<em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">again I've found Brasso to be quite cost effective, at only $4.00, in giving it that brand new look we're looking for).</span></em>&nbsp;If needed, buy new ones. They don't need to be expensive.&nbsp; An inexpensive but shiny and obviously brand new fixture will make a far better impression than an expensive but old and stained one.&nbsp;Another good reason to look after these items before putting your home up for sale is the likelihood of a home inspection prior to closing.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Most savvy buyers will insist on allowing an independent contractor to perform a home inspection before closing.</strong>&nbsp;The inspector will be checking for leaks, pressure and making sure any appliances included with the home are in good working order.&nbsp;If the inspector finds any problems in these areas, it could easily cause a delay in closing.</p> <p><strong>To find the value of your home with a FREE, over-the-net home </strong><em><strong>HIGHEST Price Analysis</strong></em><strong>, please visit: </strong><a href="http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/"><strong>http://www.newyorkmarketvalue.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>SEARCH over 50,000 homes online for FREE and be the first to know about HOT NEW LISTINGS before other buyers do, please visit </strong><a href="http://www.allnylistings.com/"><strong>http://www.allnylistings.com/</strong></a><strong> </strong></p> <p><em>Disclaimer: The above Real Estate information was provided by Vincent Martinez, Realtor for the #1 Real Estate offices in New York and the #4 office in the USA. </em><strong><em>Vincent Martinez</em></strong><em> is a </em><strong><em>Certified Realtor Short Sale Professional</em></strong><em> by the Long Island Board of Realtors (L.I.B.O.R.) and a member of Prudential Douglas Elliman - Licensed Real Estate Broker. Vincent Martinez&nbsp;does not guarantee or is any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog post and information provided is without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Information here represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments by others may not express the views of the author. <strong>Give Your Fixtures A Nice Luster Before A Showing&nbsp;</strong> Copyright &copy; 2009 By Vincent Martinez, All Rights Reserved.</em></p> <p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=703394168&amp;ref=profile" title="Friend me in Facebook" target="_blank"><strong>Friend me on Facebook</strong></a>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://twitter.com/nyforeclosures" title="Follow me on Twitter" target="_blank"><strong>Follow me on Twitter</strong></a></p> Vicente A. Martinez Realtor Brooklyn | Long Island | Queens Homes (Prudential Douglas Elliman Licensed Real Estate Salesperson) Sun, 12 Apr 2009 22:50:04 -0500 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1031535/give-your-fixtures-a-nice-luster-before-a-showing-