shortsales: Florida Foreclosure Stats by County, End of Year 2008 - 01/20/09 01:42 PM
I just got the most recent stats from Foreclosures.com for the Florida Market. Here's the top 10 Counties based on percentage of households with an LP filing against them in '08.
#10 Palm Beach 10.37% of all households
#9 Hernando 10.47%
#8 Dade 10.96%
#7 Orange 11.06%
#6 Pasco 11.46%
#5 (tie) Broward 11.71%
#5 (tie) Walton 11.71%
#4 St. Lucie 16.4%
#3 Flagler 16.58%
#2 Lee 21.59%
And the #1 County in all of Florida #1 Osceola 23.33%!
Many areas of Florida are seeing HALF of their MLS are either pre-foreclosure or REO. I guess it can't be ignored anymore...we … (5 comments)

shortsales: I just got a short sale answer in 6 business days! Bank United - 12/05/08 09:44 AM
I didn't believe it myself!
I snail-mailed the whole package (that's how they wanted it) to Bank United on November 26th, the 27th was Thanksgiving, so at the EARLIEST (if they were open) they got it on the 28th, which was last Friday.
Today, Friday December 5th, I got a call from them with a counter offer.  Do you believe how fast that was!
The truth is...there's NO REASON for a file to sit on someone's desk for over a month waiting.  I have one that the bpo was done about 6 weeks ago and we're still waiting... and it's a … (11 comments)

shortsales: Andy Tolbert interviewed by Smart Woman for syndicated TV show on Foreclosures - 12/05/08 09:34 AM
Hey All!  I am so excited!  I was interviewed 2 weeks ago for a nationally syndicated TV spot by Smart Woman on what a homeowner should do if they are facing foreclosure.
They came to my house and brought their TV crew and everything!  We filmed in my "home office" (which happens to also be my guest room, we have a 2 bedroom home!)
It is supposed to air in January, I'll let you know when I know more.
 
It's important that we all do our part to tell the public that there ARE options available... I heard that 60% … (2 comments)

shortsales: Why Don't Florida Agents Know About the October 1 Foreclosure Law? - 09/24/08 02:53 AM
Last week I had the pleasure of presenting the Keynote Address on the “Risks & Rewards of the Foreclosure & Short Sale Market” at the annual meeting of the New Smyrna Beach Board of Realtors. It was a beautiful room, overlooking the marina, and it made me want to go outside and jump in!
But all of that turned ugly real fast when I started talking about the new Florida Foreclosure Law (HB643) that goes into effect on October 1st. Most of them had NO CLUE what I was talking about! So that’s what prompted today’s (long) article.
I believe that … (6 comments)

shortsales: When can you buy another house after Foreclosure or Bankruptcy? - 08/12/08 12:54 PM
I get this question all the time, and there's a lot of misinformation floating around out there, so I decided to get you some clarification.  This is as of 8/1/08.
Please note, this is Fannie Mae's Guidelines, so FHA, VA, and other types of loans will differ.
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy (liquidation): 4 years from the discharge or dismissal date
Chapter 13 (repayment plan): 2 years from discharge (paid as agreed) or 4 years from dismissal (kicked out) Extenuating Circumstances: reduced to 2 years.
Multiple Bankruptcies: 5 years (exceptions may reduce it to 3 years)
Foreclosure: must wait 5 years from the … (7 comments)

shortsales: Webinar with a Loss Mitigator on Thursday, discussing Short Sales - 07/07/08 06:47 AM
Hey All!  On Thursday at 3pm Eastern time I'm interviewing a former Loss Mitigator on a webinar and he's going to spill the beans on short sales and forebearance agreements.
He's now "crossed over" to our side and helps agents and investors get more transactions closed.  Like 'em or Hate 'em, short sales ARE a part of our business now, and no matter how hard we try, there is no way to avoid them, both on the listing AND buyers sides! 
I believe that the more you know about ALL of the pieces and parts to a real estate transaction, even … (0 comments)