I couldn't be more excited about this announcement!!!!

News Release

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS
The Voice For Real Estate®
500 New Jersey Avenue, NW
Washington DC 20001
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
For Further Information Contact:
Mary Trupo, 202/383-1007
mtrupo@realtors.org
Uniform Process for Short Sales Will Help Struggling Homeowners, Say RealtorsÒ
WASHINGTON (May 14, 2008) – Help is on the way for many homeowners who are facing foreclosure, thanks to new details under the Making Home Affordable Program announced today by the U.S. Treasury and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The Making Home Affordable Program is designed to help homeowners obtain modifications to their loan so they can afford to stay in their home. Where a modification is not possible, new incentives encourage the “quick private sale or voluntary transfer of property, which will save homeowners money and protect their financial future,” according to U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. The National Association of Realtors® expects that a uniform process for handling short sales and financial incentives will facilitate this process.
“NAR is pleased that the government is stepping in to help prevent foreclosures by streamlining the short-sale and deeds-in-lieu process,” said NAR President Charles McMillan, a broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Dallas-Fort Worth. “NAR has been calling for uniform short sales procedures and other initiatives that will help today’s homeowners in challenging economy.”
Short sales occur when a bank agrees to let homeowners who have fallen behind on their mortgage to sell their home for less than they owe on their mortgage. Visit www.treasury.gov for detailed information on the program changes.
“Many families are finding themselves with a mortgage that is higher than their current home value, and they are struggling,” said McMillan. “As Secretary Geithner noted, and as NAR has been advocating for many months, stemming the foreclosure crisis and stabilizing the housing market are critical to our economic recovery.”
“We have heard from Realtors® that the extensive delay in the short sale process had caused many buyers to go elsewhere and have left many would-be sellers with no option but foreclosure. We are all pleased that the government has stepped in to help homeowners and those wishing to buy a home,” McMillan said.
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Uniform Process for Short Sales will Help Struggling Homeowners, say RealtorsÒ – add 1
The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing 1.2 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.
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Information about NAR is available at www.realtor.org. This and other news releases are posted in the Web site’s “News Media” section in the NAR Media Center.

Another reason not to leave your home

I just caught wind of this article from the NY Times newspaper and thought I would share.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/30/us/30walkaway.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&ref=patrick.net

Is your home fading away?

In today's real estate market you are not alone if you are experiencing periods of financial instability and facing numerous hardships in trying to keep up with your mortgage payments and paying your monthly bills.
Each day can be a struggle trying to cope with the unbearable stress and heartache knowing there is a possibiity that you might lose your home to foreclosure or may have to file for bankruptcy.
Do you know that foreclosure is not the only option? Don't let his happen to you because you didn't know what they are.
An alternative to foreclosure is pursuing the option of a short sale. A short sale is the sale of your home negotiated with a bank or mortgage compnay to accept less than what is owed on the property
Did you know that banks prefer to do a short sale over a foreclosure? Banks are not in the business of owning property and do not want to foreclose on you.
In order to qualify for a short sale, you must have a demonstrable financial harrdship. You will have to prove this hardship through a signed letter that will be submitted toyour mortage company along with other documentation.
What is an Acceptable Hardship?
A hardship can be defined as a material change in the financial situation of a homeowner that is or will affect their ability to pay their mortgage.
Examples of acceptable financial hardship are:
1. Loss of Job
2. Business Failure
3. Damage to Property
4. Death of a Spouse
5. Death of family members
6. Severe Illness
7. Inheritance
8. Divorce
9. Mandatory Job Relocation
10. Medical Bills
11. Military Service
12. Payment Increase or Mortgage Adjustment
13. Insurance or Tax Increase
14. Reduced Income
15. Separation
16. Too much debt
17. Incarceration
If you are finding yourself is a situation where you need to sell, owe more than your home is worth or have been late with your mortgage payments a short sale may be an option for you.
Disclaimer: This post is not intended to be or to provide legal advice. We recommend that you speak to your attorney and your tax accountant regarding specifics and to find out if this is the best option for you in your situation.
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Compliments of Donna Bigda