Heath's Blog

I blogged about extending the $8000 tax credit to first time home buyers yesterday. Today I found a link for the call to action from the NAR. If you are an agent, a broker, a consumer, a renter, or someone else who can use this program, please use the letter to encourage your government reps to extend the credit.

I am not sure if more than one extension will be necessary, but there are many consumers who are just waking up to the available credit and how it could help them buy a home. Traditionally, interest rates rise in the second year of a new US President. If that happens, many people will be able to afford less house.

If the tax credit is extended, it will help offset a rise in interest rates. If rates don't rise, there will be a continued market for first time buyers.

Here is the link to a suggested letter:

http://takeaction.realtoractioncenter.com/campaign/hbtc?qp_source=actionmargin

Happy listing and selling real estate!

The following is a Document Checklist That Is Necessary For Completing A Short Sale

- A Financial Information Form showing your debts and assets
- Monthly statement(s) or information for all mortgages and liens against the property including:
Mortgage/lien holder company name
Account number
Balance and monthly payment
- Your Contact information

- Hardship Letter explaining your circumstances
- Last two years of income tax returns
- Last two months bank statements
- Last two paycheck stubs

- A broker's explanation of the property's current value

- A letter authorizing your broker or agent to negotiate with the lender and/or the servicer about your loan.

If you do not have any of the items listed above, a written statement explaining why you don't have them may be acceptable.

The MOST IMPORTANT ITEM is AN EXPERIENCED BROKER!

Happy Listing and Selling real estate!

If you haven't done so already, email your reps and the prez with your request for an extension of the First Time Buyer Tax Credit. Interest rates usually rise in the second year of a new president, so we will need some help for the first timers early next year.

If we don't start asking now, we might see another slowdown. If your market can benefit with the First Time Buyer Tax Credit extension, here's where you can find out who to contact.

Go to http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt and enter your zip code. You will see who your reps are and how to contact them. Then, contact them! Some buyers think they have already missed out on the credit. If the credit is extened, those buyers might act faster this time!

And, either re-blog this or write your own blog on the same topic! Keep the momentum of the first time buyers going! It wouldn't hurt to get the NAR involved, too. Email the CEO Dale Stinton! His email is dstinton@realtors.org (as of 9/21/09)

Happy listing and selling real estate!

If you are looking for waterfront on Cape Cod, now is the time to buy. The sales volume for the price points above and below $1 million are both off from last year.  This means that many sellers will welcome activity on their property.

If you are thinking of a Cape Cod home, buy now before the rush!

Single Family Sales in Barnstable County under $1,000,000
                                    # Listings        Change           $Volume         Change         DOM
1/1/09-8/31/09                  1610             -13%           $551,518,736        -22%             143    
1/1/08-8/31/08                  1859                               $711,241,734                            145

Single Family Sales in Barnstable County over $1,000,000
1/1/09-8/31/09                      80              -49%         $139,134,588        -52%            233
1/1/08-8/31/08                    156                               $288,575,244                              203

It's a beautiful day on Cape Cod!

http://www.CapeGroup.com Cape Cod Real Estate

Rosh Hashanah is not often understoodand is often overlooked by those who aren't a part of it. It is a day of reflection each year where one's actions over the last year are reviewed. If you haven't been a stellar example of goodness, you then have ten days to get your act together before the Day of Atonement - Yom Kippur. If you've been a gleaming example of all that is good, your focus may be more on future events.

Regardless of what your religion is, any time lots of people are reflecting and resetting their futures is a good time to check yourself.  Whether you have had a good year or a tough one, today is your day to wake up and act on the changes that need to be made so next year you can look back and be proud.

Happy Listing and Selling real estate!

Southeastern New England is waiting for the final words that will tell the world Hollywood East is an actuality. For years the project has been planning, organizing, and promoting the possibility of a new, highly technically relevant movie studio and production facility.

The funding for the project is the last hurdle in the future of the Massachusetts movie industry's effort to encourage movie making and production in the Bay State. Plymouth town residents are watching for developments like a Red Sox fan watches a possible no hitter developing.

This is the month of decision. When the funding comes, Massachusetts will become the place for a new revolution. They are looking for one if by email, and two if by telephone.

I receive weekly updates from a few site monitors. Some are sales gimmicks and some have interesting information.

Today one of them mentioned that of the over 1 million sites they are monitoring, the average down time is almost 1 hour. Over a week that doesn't seem to be too bad. 24 x 7 = 168 hours so one hour may not be a problem.

But, if that hour is during the time a customer was searching for you, it could be a problem. Such a small amount of downtime is less problematic than other Internet issues. Most people have learned that occasionally a server is down. If that happens, simply refreshing the browser or returning a few minutes later can provide the solution.

So spread the word that if your site appears to be down, it is probably a momentary glitch. Refreshing or retuning in a few minutes will help. Also, encourage anyone who sees your site down to tell you. It may be something that requires more action.

Hey! If you see my site down, would you mind sending me a note?  Thanx!

Happy listing and selling real estate!

"Courage is the form of every virtue at the testing point." CS Lewis

The real estate business is a business that could be called courage inducing. There is no guaranteed paycheck for a commissioned salesman. There is only the possibility of success. And with each success, the possibility begins again.

Throughout each part of a transaction, from the initial meeting to the deposit of the check after the sale, courage is a requirement.  Sometimes courage is required to make the initial phone call.  Sometimes it is required to co-broke with an obstinate business person. Sometimes courage is required to choose what is right and best when others aren't or won't.

Real estate professionals are courageous. We address fears and obstacles every day. Every day we are tested in many virtues. Those who are successful in passing the testing point find success in business.

Happy listing and selling!

I am working the buy side of a short sale transaction where GMAC is the servicer of the loan. In order to get info to and from GMAC, the short sale negotiator only communicates by email. Even the loss mitigation department can't access the short sale department by phone, according to the LM people.

Maybe the corp short sale dept heads think it is easier to say no to an email than it is to hear a voice. However, when you read "the house is in disrepair" it is different than hearing the voice of the agent who has actually been into the property and seen "the mold, holes, stains," and other sundry issues.

So if you are trying to get a GMAC short sale done, plan on lots of time and little personal interest. Hopefully, they are receiving the emails that are relevant to your deals. Maybe they have some new way of reading written words that give a more complete understanding than the rest of the world does.

I think that their attempt to limit communication in to their department, is limiting their understanding, and therefor delaying or even causing them to miss opportunities to get the best for their client - the lien holder.

I was honored to be invited to the 102nd Intelligence Wing Family Day last weekend at Otis Air Force Base. It is a time when the base awards service men and thanks friends and family of those serving.

One of my good friends, Technical Sergeant Scott Manamon, received two awards from his commanders. The day was full of good music, proud families and friends, and recognition of those soldiers and airmen who are working hard to keep us safe.

The personell at Otis have gone through a change from being a fighter wing to becoming an intelligence wing. I was glad to be present, and I know his family is very proud of him.