In an effort to fill in some of the gaps exposed in the initial Making Home Affordable (MHA) program, Washington has stepped up its efforts to assist more distressed homeowners. In a press release on April 28th, the U.S. Treasury announced an update to the program designed to assist nearly 50% of those homeowners seeking relief from the MHA program.
What's New?
By some estimates, nearly 50% of all struggling homeowners actually have two mortgages. This is because many borrowers chose to split their mortgage in two to avoid an additional Private Mortgage Insurance monthly payment. The problem is, having two mortgages complicates attempts to refinance or modify home loans.
To minimize these complications, the new legislation is intended to assist mortgage servicers with new guidelines that give incentives for participation and help decrease payments for homeowners. These incentives have also been extended to homeowners enrolled in the program to assist them in making their future payments on time.
The news announcement also addressed the Hope for Homeowners (H4H) program created last year. The biggest news relating to H4H is that participating servicers will be required to look at H4H in tandem while considering a loan modification. In order to support more investor participation, incentives will be extended to the servicer and the Treasury will continue their buying program to help rates stay attractive as well.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
Seminole County Swine Flu Update
The Seminole County Department of Public Safety (Emergency Management) is closely monitoring the Swine Flu event. Regular conference calls have been established with the State of Florida Division of Emergency Management and Department of Health at 1100 each day until further notice, including weekends. The Seminole County Health Department, Public Safety and Sheriff's Office are meeting daily to discuss the event and strategies for future actions. The State and Seminole County Emergency Operations Center remains at a Level - 3 (monitoring).
Although the media has reported Swine Flu in Central Florida, there are no confirmed cases from the State health departments. Sentinel physicians throughout the State and all area hospitals have been reporting numbers of sick to the Health Department daily.
Seminole County's "Prepare Seminole!" Web site (www.prepareseminole.org) has been changed to a preparedness Web site for the Swine Flu. Information will be posted to the website on a regular basis. United Way has activated their 2-1-1 system 24 hours a day / 7 days a week until further notice to provide basic information on the Swine Flu and prevention tips.
Remember basic health habits:
Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food."
www.SarahMaus.com
Although the media has reported Swine Flu in Central Florida, there are no confirmed cases from the State health departments. Sentinel physicians throughout the State and all area hospitals have been reporting numbers of sick to the Health Department daily.
Seminole County's "Prepare Seminole!" Web site (www.prepareseminole.org) has been changed to a preparedness Web site for the Swine Flu. Information will be posted to the website on a regular basis. United Way has activated their 2-1-1 system 24 hours a day / 7 days a week until further notice to provide basic information on the Swine Flu and prevention tips.
Remember basic health habits:
Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food."
www.SarahMaus.com
David Maus Golf Tournament
The David Maus Foundation held its First Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament just five years ago with a small group of volunteers. Since then, the golf tournament has become the main fundraising event for the David Maus Foundation as it continues to contribute to local children's charities.
The 2009 Celebrity Golf Tournament
Known as one of the best charity events in Orlando, the David Maus Foundation Celebrity Golf Tournament pairs each team with a major league sports athlete or entertainment performer. If you missed it last year - don't wait any longer to register your team for this year's event at the award winning ChampionsGate Golf Resort on Monday, May 18th.
The event begins the evening before on Sunday, May 17th at the ChampionsGate Clubhouse during the Meet the Pros event. All guests are invited to meet the Celebrity players, bid on auction items and enjoy the food and entertainment. On Monday morning participants can register, take part in a Pro Golfer Clinic and enjoy breakfast with an 8:30am shotgun start. This is a great way to support this year’s beneficiaries, the Ronald McDonald Houses of Central Florida and the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.
Thanks to our supporters, the David Maus Foundation has been able to underwrite two rooms at the Ronald McDonald Houses, taking away the worry of overnight costs so families can spend precious time with their child in the hospital.
Please take a moment to visit the Sponsors page to see the incredible businesses and individuals that help make this event happen each year.
Silent Auction Items
Make a donation to the 2009 Celebrity Golf Tournament beneficiaries by participating in the Silent Auction as part of the Meet the Pros event. You may view the Silent Auction items below.
EA Games Facility Tour
Dwight Howard autographed jersey
Autographed snow board
42” LCD Television
Home Schedule & Information Celebrities Sponsors Course Useful Forms History
www.SarahMaus.com
The 2009 Celebrity Golf Tournament
Known as one of the best charity events in Orlando, the David Maus Foundation Celebrity Golf Tournament pairs each team with a major league sports athlete or entertainment performer. If you missed it last year - don't wait any longer to register your team for this year's event at the award winning ChampionsGate Golf Resort on Monday, May 18th.
The event begins the evening before on Sunday, May 17th at the ChampionsGate Clubhouse during the Meet the Pros event. All guests are invited to meet the Celebrity players, bid on auction items and enjoy the food and entertainment. On Monday morning participants can register, take part in a Pro Golfer Clinic and enjoy breakfast with an 8:30am shotgun start. This is a great way to support this year’s beneficiaries, the Ronald McDonald Houses of Central Florida and the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.
Thanks to our supporters, the David Maus Foundation has been able to underwrite two rooms at the Ronald McDonald Houses, taking away the worry of overnight costs so families can spend precious time with their child in the hospital.
Please take a moment to visit the Sponsors page to see the incredible businesses and individuals that help make this event happen each year.
Silent Auction Items
Make a donation to the 2009 Celebrity Golf Tournament beneficiaries by participating in the Silent Auction as part of the Meet the Pros event. You may view the Silent Auction items below.
EA Games Facility Tour
Dwight Howard autographed jersey
Autographed snow board
42” LCD Television
Home Schedule & Information Celebrities Sponsors Course Useful Forms History
www.SarahMaus.com
Sunday, April 26, 2009
The Early Bird Gets The Worm - Orlando On Sale!
THE EARLY BIRD GETS THE WORM…IN ORLANDO DISTRESSED SALES
The Orlando area’s huge backlog of existing homes for sale shrank to a 26-month low last month as local Realtors sold 48 percent more houses and condominiums than they did a year ago.The year-over-year improvement in re-sales, which extends back seven consecutive months to last September, was given a boost again in March by foreclosure-driven bargain prices.
March sales of homes and condominiums in the core Orlando market rose to 1,653 this year from 1,120 a year ago, even as the median price fell nearly 38 percent to $137,000 from $220,000 in March 2008.For the first time, the Orlando Regional Realtor Association examined “distress sales” in detail and found that 49 percent of the homes sold by its members last month were either owned by banks already or had been sold under financial pressure of some kind.The report released Monday also revealed a wide disparity in market prices because of the large number of foreclosed properties:
• Bank-owned homes – those already through foreclosure – sold for a median price of $95,000.
• Homes for which lenders had agreed to take less than the amount owed on the mortgage – known as pre-foreclosure or “short” sales – sold for a median of $143,500.
• Homes marketed by owners not under financial duress sold for a median of $174,995.There are a growing number of local and International house hunters trying to snap up properties for deep discounts of 50 percent or more – sometimes, substantially more.
It goes without saying that if you are in the market to purchase a home that is in distress, the best deals are snatched up many times before you can get to the home to view. As an example, I had requested to show one of my buyers a bank owned home in the Egrets Landing subdivision in Lake Mary 2 days ago. Yesterday (the day we had scheduled the showing), the home went pending, and according to the listing agent, the bank was NOT accepting back up offers!
If you have any interest in buying a distressed property…just remember, “the early bird gets the worm”!
The Orlando area’s huge backlog of existing homes for sale shrank to a 26-month low last month as local Realtors sold 48 percent more houses and condominiums than they did a year ago.The year-over-year improvement in re-sales, which extends back seven consecutive months to last September, was given a boost again in March by foreclosure-driven bargain prices.
March sales of homes and condominiums in the core Orlando market rose to 1,653 this year from 1,120 a year ago, even as the median price fell nearly 38 percent to $137,000 from $220,000 in March 2008.For the first time, the Orlando Regional Realtor Association examined “distress sales” in detail and found that 49 percent of the homes sold by its members last month were either owned by banks already or had been sold under financial pressure of some kind.The report released Monday also revealed a wide disparity in market prices because of the large number of foreclosed properties:
• Bank-owned homes – those already through foreclosure – sold for a median price of $95,000.
• Homes for which lenders had agreed to take less than the amount owed on the mortgage – known as pre-foreclosure or “short” sales – sold for a median of $143,500.
• Homes marketed by owners not under financial duress sold for a median of $174,995.There are a growing number of local and International house hunters trying to snap up properties for deep discounts of 50 percent or more – sometimes, substantially more.
It goes without saying that if you are in the market to purchase a home that is in distress, the best deals are snatched up many times before you can get to the home to view. As an example, I had requested to show one of my buyers a bank owned home in the Egrets Landing subdivision in Lake Mary 2 days ago. Yesterday (the day we had scheduled the showing), the home went pending, and according to the listing agent, the bank was NOT accepting back up offers!
If you have any interest in buying a distressed property…just remember, “the early bird gets the worm”!
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