Well, its been said that an owner can actually sell their own home if they want to.  This is not so with HAFA Short Sale program.  HAFA stands for Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternative.  The HAFA program is not allowing homeowners to sell their own home.  You must hire an agent to handle this transaction for you. This is actually a good policy is many ways, but the most important is that - doing a short sale is a stressful process no matter if it is HAFA or the regular or what I call the traditional short sale way.  Let an ageng handle this for you - it will above all lighten the stress level.  Remember it is hard to be objective when it is your home you are trying to sell and especially if it is "Short" sale. If you are in the Stockton, CA area and need to short sale your home.  Join... 04/16/2010

In this market madness, renting maybe an option that will help you keep your home.  This could be either you rent out a room or two or you have a second property and need to rent it out or you can stay with relative or friends and rent your property out until you can afford the mortgage on your own. Can your property rent for the mortgage amount or more? In many cases rent does not cover full expense of the property - can you afford the difference?  Do not forget to add in your insurance, home owner's association, property management (if you can afford it) and taxes (if possible) and especially if you cannot afford to pay these items.  This is another way to avoid foreclosure. 04/15/2010

In most cases, your mortgage is not fully cured or reinstated through a forebearance option .... not until all your payments are up to date or paid in full.  If you miss a payment (just 1) your mortgage servicer can end the agreement and you can end up in the same stage of the foreclosure process as you were originally.  If you are in default now and miss you are back in default and have to pay close attention to any sales date set or you could end up in foreclosure (quickly).  Servicer must abide by the foreclosure laws for your state. So yes, forebearance is an option to avoid foreclosure, but understand the rules before you agree. 04/15/2010

Well we are coming up on Tuesday the 6th... wow. time flies when you are having fun. If you are a consumer and you have  been having problems finding a property in the Sacramento area... you need to stop by and see one of our 203k team agents. We have properties in all areas of the state. We usually find them a month or so before they get listed and you can too. If you come to one of our seminars we'll hook up up with a Realtor or agent to find a property for you. They may be all fixed up but you don't care do you really? One of our new agents just told me about some in Stockton. All these properties are yours... not going to have multiple bids, just come see us and we'll put you with someone who knows this product and can lead you to a home you can purchase without a bid war and get fo... 04/04/2010

Walking away from your home should NEVER be an option. Owning a home comes with many decisions that have to be made and homeowners must remember their obligations. Walking away from your home will do more harm than good, by walking away from you home you have decided to: Ruin your credit: Foreclosure remains on credit reports for 10 years or more and remains as a public record permanently. Typically, a foreclosure will affect your credit score for several years and lower your score significantly.  Subject yourself to a deficiency judgement: the bank has the right to pursue a deficiency judgement. Possibly subject yourself to reassignment, termination, and/or challenge future employment: Employers have the right and actively check the credit of all employees who are in sensitive position... 04/03/2010

Below is a statistic replay of what is going on in the San Joaquin Central Valley area and especially in Stockton, CA: Sold since 1/1/10                                                (1,099) REO listings - Active                                               (588) Short Sales - Active                                                (303) Short Sales - Contingent or with lender for approval   (468) Pending listings - both REOs and Short Sales            (959) New listings are continually coming, Some that fell out are back on the market, Few price increases, much higher price reductions. This is the eyeview for today, March 30, 2010 - Today's  MLS eyeview of our MLS (Metrolist/Prospector) listings: New Listings 283   Back on Market 167   Price Increases 26   Price Reductions 176   Contin... 03/31/2010

When I wrote about Bank of America's - Invitation only someone commented that it would not help many because most homeowners are more than 50% underwater on their mortgage owed vs property worth. Bank of America is a part of the HAMP program and will offer you both the HAMP, the non-HAMP and now this by Invite Only program. Some of the other lenders are probably going to follow suit soon.  I would tend to agree that each program that has been introduced is only going to help a few in comparison to the huge default/foreclosure situation.  But I also think that we should understand that no one program is going to clear up the entire mess!  It will have to a few at a time due to the vast mess that is at hand.  So what I like about the programs is that it does show that someone is at least ... 03/28/2010

The process for getting NID-HCA assistance with compiling your request for a loan modification is not complicated at all.  Remember, this is a Free service that is supported and created by HUD.  This service will require you to bring them the necessary paperwork and they will submit the papwerwork to your lender: The process consist of - but not limited to: Verifying the information you submit Putting together a housing counseling plan Submit your package to your lender You will be expected to, but limited to Complete the application Prepare your hardship statement Bring in the required documents to complete the package Follow up with your lender/ open your mail for correspondence from  your lender Keep your NID-HCA counselor updated on any correspondence received While this agency cann... 03/27/2010

HUD is offering FREE Housing Counseling!  You can not beat FREE.  FREE trained NID-HCA agent to help you get your Loan Modification package together.  This service is a part of the Making Home Affordable Program. Avoid paying someone to take your money "try to help you" -- contact a local NID-HCA counselor and get them to help you get your paperwork together and explain to you how the process works.  If your lender will listen to anyone it will be a NID-HCA Counselor because they are trained on how to submit the loan modification request package. This is the quickiest and easiest way to get help with requesting a loan modification.  The sure way to get a full and complete request package to your lender. This HUD sponsored program is FREE.  Why would you not take advantage of this FREE s... 03/27/2010

HUD is supporting and encouraging Real Estate Professionals to go green in the community by educating themselves to the many ways to go green and then going out and educating the community.  Are you on board? HUD offers 2 loan programs to encourage the homebuyers and homeowners to go green.  The EEM (Energy Efficiency Mortgage loan) to be used in conjunction with FHA 203(K) Streamline Renovation loan.  Also, for the exising homeowner there is a loan called Title I for home improvement that is available and encouraged. The Central Valley Realtist Association (CVRA) is on board.  They are doing a kickoff to bring this information to the Central Valley community by holding a seminar on April 7th (5-7pm) at Prudential California office at 5713 N. Pershing, Stockton, CA.  Get more informatio... 03/27/2010

COMING SOON!! 2168 Breiens Way, Stockton Ca    For More Information and Pictures CLICK HERE Bedrooms: 3Baths: 2Sqft: 1477Lot Size: .015Style: L-Shaped Description:Coming Soon!! Great 1-story home in Stockton Ca. Home includes 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths. Home has stucco exterior with stone accent and   a low maintenance yard. This home will be on the market soon, contact us today for information! 03/25/2010

Borrow instead of buying. Borrow from libraries instead of buying personal books and movies. This saves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printing new books. Share power tools and other appliances. Get to know your neighbors while cutting down on the number of things cluttering your closet or garage. Hear more - April 7th - 5713 N Pershing - Stockton, CA. Prudential California Building. 03/21/2010

 Skip the bottled water. Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste. Bring a reusable water bottle, preferably aluminum rather than plastic, with you when traveling or at work. Check out this short article for the latest on bottled water trends.   Hear more about how you can help your home and your community.  April 7th, Stockton, CA  5713 N Pershing at the Prudential Building.  5-7pm www.centralvalleyrealtist.com  go to Calendar tab.   03/21/2010

Why fill our landfills with items that others can use. For example, some have said that it takes 50 years to break down old leather shoes in a landfill. Wouldn't those shoes be put to better use by sharing them with those in need? You bet. The same goes for furniture and other household items that you are no longer using. The Goodwill, Salvation Army, American Cancer Society and others all accept "recycled" items. Want more information? FREE event to share other ways to go green.  April 7th - 5-7 at the Prudential California building in Stockton, CA  5713 N Pershing.  See you there! 03/21/2010

There are several ways you can contribute to "go green" in your home and everyday activities. On April 7th, come out and hear how you can help Stockton and other communities go green by starting right in your own home and community.  Here are just a few suggestions that you can start doing to help in your own home: Idle your car 10 minutes less a day One cup a day - saves on dirty dishes One napkin instead of a whole hand full Leave your ATM receipts in the machine Plant a Tree or donate to AmericanForests.org plant a tree Paper or Plastic bags OR bring your own 100% cotton tote bage to the store with you Help eliminate Vampire Electricity Drain by using a smart power strip, then turning it off when not using Come out and join a go Green event in Stockton, CA on April 7th to learn more... 03/21/2010

What a great idea to bring more Finance education to the youth in the community.  This is a good start to help the youth avoid some of the pitfalls that they could face by not knowing anything about how to handle their finances at an early age. This is not just for Youth.  The information is valuable to all.  This is a FREE presentation with no sales pitch.... and the youth are invited.  One stipulation, youth must be accompanied by an adult because it will be held at the San Joaquin Delta College and that is their safety rule. Join us!  Youth Education Day   Date Monday, April 05, 2010 Time 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm PDT Where 5151 Pacific Ave. Stockton, CA 95207 Event Type Recordnet.com Calendar Region Stockton Artist/event website www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=104283256269514&ref=mf Cost ... 03/21/2010

I wanted to let all the real estate professionals know that I formed a new group on ActiveRain - called Realtist.  This is an open invitiation to you to join our group and learn what a Realtist is and see some of the good works we do in the communities to help better serve the underserved communities. A new local chapter is located in the Central Valley - called Central Valley Realtist Association.  Website:  www.centralvalleyrealtist.com and there are some great community events coming up in April. We will feature the events of the communities and invite you to join us in our efforts. 03/18/2010

What is a Realtist and why are we important to the community? The Realtist was started by National Association of Real Estate Brokers back in 1947 and is still working to serve the communities by educating and empowering the underserved.  While the organization was created to assure Black Real Estate Agents an equal right, it has grown to include all race, creed and color in the movement to Fair Housing. Being a Realtist is the same as being a Realtor.  A Realtist ...  believes in "Democracy in Housing" - the principle that all citizens have the right to equal housing opportunities, regardless of race, creed, or color. A Realtist... is dedicated to enhance the economic improvement of its fellow members and the minority communities we serve.   ** Real Estate training and opportunities ar... 03/18/2010

Buyers still have time to get in on the Tax credit - First time home buyers to take advantage of the tax credit.  Remember this is not money you will get in your hand at closing it is a tax break.  But it is sufficient. So go on get pre-approved and get to your agent and let them know you are ready to find you a new home! Ask your agent about the automatic new listing report. It is a great tool for letting buyers know what is new on the MLS.  Giving them the opportunity to be the first to see the listings, get out and go view and hopefully find the house that they are looking for.  Happy house hunting 03/13/2010

Lead Facts Did you know the following facts about lead?   FACT: Lead exposure can harm young children and babies even before they are born. FACT: Even children who seem healthy can have high levels of lead in their bodies. FACT: You can get lead in your body by breathing or swallowing lead dust, or by eating soil or paint chips containing lead. FACT: You have many options for reducing lead hazards. In most cases, lead-based paint that is in good condition is not a hazard. FACT: Removing lead-based paint improperly can increase the danger to your family.   If you think your home might have lead hazards, read on to learn about lead and some simple steps to protect your family. Health Effects of Lead Childhood lead poisoning remains a major environmental health problem in the U.S. Even chi... 02/26/2010