maryland real estate: My toasty fire is a labor of love - 01/26/15 01:04 AM
It's cold and snowy in Maryland and I am blessed to be able to work from home today in front of my cozy fireplace.

As I was getting the fire started this morning, I realized that I have been taking for granted the fact that my dear husband has worked long and hard over the course of the last year to see to it that when winter hit we would be prepared to use our fireplace as a supplemental heating source if need or wanted.
I always know that when I step out to grab logs from the wood rack … (0 comments)

maryland real estate: The cost of compliance in 2015 - 12/26/14 10:22 PM
As we look forward to a new year we are reminded that the new Consumer Disclosures will become mandatory in August.
Those of us in the title industry have already started gearing up for the changes by updating our computer hardware if needed so that our computers are able to handle the new software, attending training and working with our software providers and our IT providers  to ensure that our updates will be ready for install in time for the August 1 deadline.
How will the changes affect you and your client? What can you expect to see in the months to come?
As  in … (0 comments)

maryland real estate: APPEALING YOUR PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT IN MARYLAND - 05/11/12 04:49 AM

 
Appealing your real estate tax assessment is something that all Maryland homeowners should be thinking of as we near the beginning of another new tax year. For those who have or will be purchasing and closing on Maryland real estate within the next month it is possible that the tax assessment for the property you are purchasing is substantially higher that the appraised value of the property.  If that is the case then you really need to appeal your tax assessment IMMEDIATELY after closing.  The appeal process is not that difficult, and depending on the value of your property, … (0 comments)

maryland real estate: SHERLOCK HOLMES HAS NOTHING ON ME!! I A PROFESSIONAL TITLE AGENT - 08/03/11 08:51 AM

I am a PROFESSIONAL TITLE AGENT!
But, I spend my days playing detective!
Today, I am trying to solve the mystery surrounding a missing link in the chain of title. 
While I am a very good detective, having spent the better part of the last 25 years doing just this type thing every day, I am becoming increasingly tired of this role.  
In the current transaction we have a bank owned property that is under contract with a closing date of MAYBE Friday, the 5th of August.  
One would think that since there are not less than 3 title … (2 comments)

maryland real estate: Thanks to AR my phone is ringing off the hook, BUT....... - 07/20/11 02:48 AM
Over the last several days I have taken many calls (at least 10) from a company trying to sell me front page Google Juice at the lordly price of $200/month!!
How did they come to call me I asked.  Oh, we found your blog and thought this new program we were offering for REALTORS would certainly help you get front page coverage.  Blah, Blah Blah.  WELL......  First of all, I'm not a Realtor, I'm a Title Agent.  Secondly, if you found my blog, did you bother to read anything other than how to call and annoy me with your solicitation?   I … (5 comments)

maryland real estate: WORKING FROM HOME- It doesn't work for me. How do you all do it? - 03/14/11 03:13 AM
I am forced to be working from home today as a result of a well malfunction. Oddly enough when I woke at 5 a.m. all was well with the well.  (no pun intended)
After reading some news and checking and responding to e-mail, I went to take a shower and much to my surprise found that the well pump was not working at all.  So.. a quick and angry call to my husband at work yielded an argument between us and a phone call by me to a well specialist.   Luckily the well specialist will be able to come out today … (125 comments)

maryland real estate: Is it time to replace your blankie? - 02/02/11 08:15 AM
My five year old grandaughter reminds me very much of Linus.  She has a blankie, now this blankie is not a little tiny thing that she can easily carry from place to place, NO, it's a queen size blanket that has become over the last 5 years more than a little tattered.  She particularly loves the "taggie" on the blankie, which taggie is almost gone now. Blankie goes wherever she goes, except to school.  Blankie stays in the car because she can't take it to school. She would if she could probably, but...
I was talking to her about blankie the … (2 comments)

maryland real estate: A great video presentation on how the banks MAKE money on short sales and REO - 01/20/11 02:40 AM
I got this from a friend today and I was absolutely appalled after viewing it.  This is the BEST ever explaination I have ever seen on the way that banks make money on REO and short sale.  It will make you wonder then, what the heck takes them so long to approve short sales.
It's definately NOT because they are LOSING anything. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssl5yb7FewA
This little video clip will make your blood boil, but it will also educate you so that when you are going to make your offer on either a short sale or an REO you are armed with a … (4 comments)

maryland real estate: I HAVE PRAYED FOR THE BEST BUT AM PREPARED FOR THE WORST - 10/27/10 05:32 AM
It's a nasty day here in Maryland. Rain and humidity in abundance.  Resulting in my feeling a little blah.
My blogs usually consist of some information that I feel pertinent to the industry, but today I am going to talk about this past year and how hard it has been. 
As I look at projections for the remainder of this year I am hopeful that things are starting to turn around and that the market will stabilize and allow me to continue to have a modicum of success, but more importantly to allow me to continue to help people looking to … (0 comments)

maryland real estate: PERRY HALL REO AVAILABLE-TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FANNIE MAE'S CREDITS ACT NOW - 09/23/10 07:14 AM
I know a lot of REO agents who specialize in Fannie Mae transactions and have decided it's time I started to recognize them here on this blog since I post a lot of information about Fannie Mae here.  For many years now I have had a very loyal base of Realtors who consistently send business my way. One of these friends is Sandie Klein.  Sandie is a long time REO specialist and is affiliated with Long and Foster. She is in the Top 5% of Agents Nationwide. 
In an earlier post I provided some information about Fannie Mae's new incentive program being offered … (0 comments)

maryland real estate: I'M TAKING A PLUNGE AND I CAN BARELY SWIM - 09/17/10 08:01 AM
We all know that times are tough and when times are tough the tough get going. 
Many, many years ago, I was a licensed title agent and a licensed real estate agent here in Maryland.  When I was licensed as a real estate agent I was working full time at a title ageny as a settlement officer. My boss at the time was not very supportive of my part time job and it was difficult for me to give my real estate clients the service that they deserved.  So, I let the real estate license go.
For the last 12 years I have been … (2 comments)

maryland real estate: Fannie Mae Launches new consumer Website-KnowYourOptions.com - 08/04/10 03:41 AM
Fannie Mae announced today that it has launched its new consumer website, KnowYourOptions.com to educate homeowners about their options to avoid foreclosure and how to get help.
The purpose of this website is educate homeowners who may be facing foreclosure. It is a sad fact that many homeowners who are facing foreclosure don't know what resources may be available to them. This web site strives to offer homeowners a one-stop shop for easy to understand consumer friendly information on the range of options for avoiding foreclosure. 
The website is designed to be a compliment to those web sites that many lenders may … (1 comments)

maryland real estate: YOU ARE NOT NECESSARILY OUT OF HOUSING DEBT AFTER FORECLOSURE - 06/18/10 08:41 AM
An article written by Dina ElBoghdady of The Washiington Post http://thewashingtonpost.com brings to light a practice that few are aware of relating to "deficiency judgments".
When you go through a foreclosure and the bank resells your home, you may think that is the end of what was probably the worst financial nightmare you had ever gone through.  Maybe NOT.
Over the last year lenders have become more aggressive about getting money lost in foreclosures and other distress sales, including short sales.  Prior to the housing bust most lenders would rarely chase after homeowners to pursue a deficiency judgment. But because of … (2 comments)

maryland real estate: FINANCIAL REFORM OVERHAUL TO CHANGE THE WAY IN WHICH LENDERS ARE COMPENSATED-WHAT A NOVEL CONCEPT - 05/27/10 07:19 AM
I read a good article in the Washington Post today written by Dina ElBoghdady.  In the article Ms. ElBoghdady reports that are several provisions in the legislation that are designed to change the way in which lenders are compensated.  The provisions wiould hold lenders responsible for the loans they make and would require them to make loans only to consumers who can repay them. What a novel concept!
"It would have been unthinkable to get through financial reform without addressing the mortgage market because this is why were are in the mess we're in," said Julia Gordon, senior policy counsel … (0 comments)

maryland real estate: New foreclosure rules in Maryland effective June 1, 2010 - 05/13/10 01:42 PM
The Maryland General Assembly has recently ended it's session for the year and the Maryland Land Title Association was following many of the bills very closely.  Of particular interest to everyone in Maryland was the passage of HB 472 FORECLOSURE PROCEDURES-FORECLOSURE MEDIATION. 
These new rules will significantly alter the time lines for foreclosures in Maryland. 
The passage of this bill will significantly change the way in which foreclosures for OWNER OCCUPIED HOMES which are being used as PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE are handled in Maryland.  New rules will now require that the lender must provide, or attempt to provide, the homeowner with loss mitigation alternatives to foreclosure … (2 comments)