New Short Sale Program - HAFA

The U.S. Treasury Department rolled out the Home Alternative Foreclosure Alternative (HAFA) in April 2010.  This program is an add-on to the existing Home Alternative Modification Program (HAMP) that is supposed to guarantee a faster short sale approval and closing while guaranteeing the homeowner that they will not come after them for a deficiency or [...]

Tags: borrowers, buyers, foreclosure, HAFA, HAMP, sellers, short sale

Short Sale Process May Be Improving

The current way lenders handle short sales is very inefficient and frustrating for everyone involved in the process.  It is very obvious to me, as a Realtor, that something needs to change.  The short sale negotiation process currently takes anywhere from 90 to 180 plus days, during which time the house sits vacant and deteriorating.  [...]

Tags: borrowers, buyers, foreclosure, sellers, short sale

10 Reasons First-Time Homebuyers should Buy Now

If you are a first-time homebuyer with a job and fairly decent credit, your dream of owning a home instead of throwing away your money in rent can come true.  There are so many incentives available to you that you simply cannot afford to wait.  Below is a list of the top 10 reasons [...]

Need to Find a Job?

Finding a job in today’s economy is very tough.  Employers have their pick from the cream of the crop and are no longer seeking the fresh, young college grad.  Why would they when they can hire an experienced person with impressive credentials for the same amount of money?  Employers know people are desperate and are [...]

Buyers Beware of Chinese Drywall

A new and growing concern in the Florida real estate market is drywall that was manufactured in China.  U.S. manufacturers of drywall couldn’t keep up with new homebuilders demand during the housing boom from 2000 to 2006.  In addition to the housing boom, Florida suffered through a bad hurricane season that dramatically increased the [...]