Check out my latest appearance on The Morning Blend!

This week was all about short sales and how they help homeowners!

How Short Sales Help

Check out my 2nd appearance on The Morning Blend!

This weeks topic was the Robo-Signing Settlement.

Robo-Signing Segment

It's a sign of the time!

Most of us grew up thinking that if we planned well and played by the rules, we’d never have to stand by as our financial lives unraveled.

But upheaval on Wall Street, unacceptable rates of unemployment and plummeting real estate values have taken their toll. Since 2007, 7.9 million homeowners have lost their homes to foreclosure. Current estimates are that one in four homeowners owe more on their mortgages than they could get from the sale of their home. Millions more homes will be lost to foreclosure before this real estate crisis runs its course.

The sad fact is that foreclosure is not an isolated event. For months leading up to the loss of a home, financially strapped homeowners live under a cloud of uncertainty. And then for many years afterwards, the blow to credit gets in the way of buying another home or buying anything on credit. Foreclosure even complicates employment prospects.

The impact of foreclosure is huge and the sad fact is that it’s often avoidable.

As a real estate professional who has earned the Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation, my mission is to provide financially strapped homeowners with options to foreclosure, ensure that they steer clear of scams, and help navigate them through the solution that best meets their needs.

Among the most important facts to keep in mind: the sooner help is sought, the better the options.

These are tough times, but more help is available than ever before. If you or someone you care about is ready to navigate away from the dark cloud of an unmanageable mortgage and realize that hope and blue skies are within reach, contact me today and let’s get started.

Foreclosure Fears Foster True Grief

Reports of foreclosures by the millions have been in the news so much over the past few years that to some, it might seem like the new normal. But as a real estate professional who is in the trenches with financially stressed homeowners every day, it never feels like business-as-usual to me.

The prospect of losing one’s home is right up there among the major sources of grief, and often it goes hand in hand with other tragic setbacks such as the loss of a job, a divorce, death of a loved one, mounting medical bills or skyrocketing mortgage payments. Unfortunately, the first stage of grief is denial, and that’s even more the case when the threat of foreclosure is looming. No one wants to talk about or admit financial troubles—even when millions of others have founds themselves in a similar spot. It’s completely understandable, but for homeowners who are behind on mortgage payments, decisive action is often the most critical step toward ensuring the best possible solution.

As a real estate professional who has sought out the Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation, I help homeowners to deal with every aspect of the grief and uncertainty that accompanies a mortgage which is no longer manageable. In the process, I help them to get on a path of financial solvency. If you or someone you care about would like to change the course of a life that’s facing foreclosure, I get it and I can help.

Contact me today at 402-598-3965 or peg@maloney.com

Seven Out of 10 Renters Say Owning a Home Is a Top Priority

RISMEDIA, July 8, 2011

Most Americans still believe that owning a home is a solid financial decision, and a majority of renters aspire to homeownership as a long-term goal. According to the 2011 National Housing Pulse Survey released recently by the National Association of REALTORS®, 72 percent of renters surveyed said owning a home is a top priority for their future, up from 63 percent in 2010.

Seven in 10 Americans also agreed that buying a home is a good financial decision while almost two-thirds said now is a good time to purchase a home. The annual survey, which measures how affordable housing issues affect consumers, also found that more than three quarters of renters (77 percent) said they would be less likely to buy a home if they were required to put down a 20 percent down payment on the home, and a strong majority (71 percent) believe a 20 percent down payment requirement could have a negative impact on the housing market.

“Despite the economic setbacks Americans have experienced in today’s current climate, it is clear that a strong majority still believe in homeownership and aspire to own a home,” says NAR President Ron Phipps. “However, achieving the dream of homeownership will become increasingly difficult for buyers if they are required to make a 20 percent down payment, which may be a reality for many of tomorrow’s buyers if a proposed Qualified Residential Mortgage rule is adopted. That is why REALTORS® are strongly urging regulators to go back to the drawing board on the proposed rule.”

Defining the QRM rule is important because it will determine the types of mortgages that will generally be available to borrowers in the future. As currently proposed, borrowers with less than 20 percent down will have to choose between higher fees and rates today—up to 3 percentage points more—or a 9-14 year delay while they save up the necessary down payment.

Over half—51 percent—of self-described “working class” homeowners as well as younger non-college graduates (51 percent), African Americans (57 percent) and Hispanics (50 percent) who currently own their homes reported that a 20 percent down payment would have prevented them from becoming homeowners.

Pulse surveys for the past eight years have consistently reported that having enough money for a down payment and closing costs are top obstacles that make housing unaffordable for Americans. Eighty-two percent of respondents cited these as the top obstacle, followed by having confidence in one’s job security.

The survey also found respondents were adamantly against eliminating the mortgage interest deduction. Two-thirds of Americans oppose eliminating the tax benefit, while 73 percent believe eliminating the MID will have a negative impact on the housing market as well as the overall economy.

“The MID facilitates homeownership by reducing the carrying costs of owning a home, and it makes a real difference to hard-working American families,” says Phipps. “Homeownership offers not only social benefits, but also long-term value for families, communities and the nation’s economy. We need to make sure that any changes to current programs or incentives don’t jeopardize our collective futures.”

When asked why homeownership matters to them, respondents cited stability and safety as the top reason. Long-term economic reasons such as building equity followed closely behind. On a local level, respondents said neighbors falling behind on their mortgages and the drop in home values were top concerns. Foreclosures also continue to remain a large concern, with almost half of those surveyed citing the issue as a problem in their area.

The 2011 National Housing Pulse Survey is conducted by American Strategies and Myers Research & Strategic Services for NAR’s Housing Opportunity Program. The telephone survey polled 1,250 adults nationwide, with an oversample of interviews of those living in the 25 most populous metropolitan statistical areas. The study has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

NAR’s Housing Opportunity Program, www.realtor.org/housing opportunity, was created in 2002 to encourage local REALTOR® associations to create initiatives that help increase housing opportunities available to consumers and make affordable housing more readily available in their communities.

Information about NAR is available at www.realtor.org.

Peg Maloney
www.omahanebraskahouses.com

First Time Home Buyer Loan Availability

Today we are discussing the availability of loans for first time home buyers with Joe Iaccheri from Regent Financial Group in Omaha, NE. First time home buyers are the biggest group of buyers in the market.

The most commonly used loan for first time home buyers is the FHA Loan, (Federal Housing Administration). The FHA loan has more leniency is some areas where first time home buyers are concerned. These areas are Total Debt Ratio, Credit Score and Available Reserves which make this loan easier to qualify for. Mortgage Insurance is also now built into the FHA loans where before you would have had to carry PMI or Private Mortgage Insurance on your first home. This Mortgage Insurance insures the money on the behalf of the lender. As of April 18, 2011, The government has increased Private Mortgage Insurance.

5% Conventional Loans are great for people with rock star credit. You will need to have a very high credit score and good reserves. Most Private Mortgage Insurance companies do not like to insure 5% Conventional loans for people. They would rather flip you to a 10% Conventional loan or to an FHA loan and be able to carry Private Mortgage Insurance. With just a 5% down payment, you are considered more of a risk by the bank rather than if you were to put 10% down.

Get your credit cleaned up.

Be prepared for extra paperwork.

The national average is 45 days for closing of loans.

Call Joe Iacherri at Regent Financial today!
4402-884-5613
www.Regentfinancial.com

Peg Maloney
Re/Max Real Estate Group
402-598-3965
www.omahanebraskahouses.com

10 Tips To Make Your House Look Like a Model

10 Tips To Make Your House Look Like a Model



1. Declutter - Clean, Clean, Clean
2. Remove any evidence of pets - Litterboxes, smell, toys
3. Remove any evidence of kids - Remove posters, personal artwork, etc
4. Cleanup the Front Yard and Porch - You are looking for Good Curb Appeal
5. Remove any Sunken Pavement Stones
6. Paint - Paint any rooms that need updated
7. Replace Fixtures - Lights, Ceiling Fans, etc
8. Replace Faucets and Spouts - Kitchen and Bathroom
9. Show Flowers/Greenery outside
10. Aromatherapy - Spray Vanilla before a showing!