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May 27, 2010 marked my first full year of being smoke free. I could NOT have done it without Healing Laser Clinic in Lake Mary, FL. My sincerest thanks go to Mark and Melissa...God Bless You both!
Having smoked for 27 years, I had tried EVERY method out there to quit, only to go back to smoking within a month. I saw the 'Stop Smoking' sign in the window everytime I went to get my nails done, and one day something actually made me walk in and find out what it was all about. I made an appointment for a week later (wanted to finish up the carton I had bought). I still can't believe it, but I actually walked out of there an hour later, feeling as though I had NEVER smoked a cigarette in my life!!!
If you have any doubts as to the effectiveness of this method, please don't hesitate to contact me!
Take a peek at my TV testimonial...
http://stopsmokinglife.com/healing-laser-clinics-stop-smoking-laser
Monday, June 7, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Distressed Homeowners...Be Aware of Balloon Payment on Modifications
This comes as no surprise to me, however, the numbers are staggering. The foreclosure crisis is in no way close to coming to an end. The media would have you believe that things are looking brighter, however, $18 BILLION in mortgages are scheduled to reset in 2011. In reality, Real Estate agents are preparing for the next wave of defaults by becoming more educated in the distressed property arena.
If you or anyone you know is struggling to make their mortgage payment, I'm here to let you know there ARE options. Please visit my website dedicated to distressed homeowners for more information.A year ago, the Obama administration launched the Making Home Affordable program, putting $75 billion toward modifying mortgages and helping millions of borrowers through the worst housing crisis in decades.
So far, the results are slim. About 100,000 Florida loans have been modified on a trial basis. A spokeswoman for the Treasury Department says it is difficult to estimate how many borrowers are eligible.
Fewer than 15,000 trial loan modifications in Florida have become permanent. Nationwide, 116,297 modifications have become permanent out of almost 1.3 million trial modifications begun under the Obama program.
Bankers point out that a mortgage modification is only a temporary break that gives borrowers an affordable payment while they stay in the home. Borrowers, they say, should make plans for the day when that period of lowered payments will end and decide whether they can really afford the house.
A cut in the interest rate, for example, could end in a few years, which would mean the monthly payments would increase and the loan potentially becomes unaffordable again.
Under the Making Home Affordable program, interest rates can be lowered for up to five years. Then they start rising again, 1 percentage point per year until the rate reaches the market rate at the time of the modification. Loans modified outside the federal program can have different provisions.
Another emerging issue is balloon payments. Not all loan modifications have them. But some permanent loan modifications defer payment on a portion of the loan until years later.
When the mortgage’s term ends – in 30 or 40 years – or when the house is sold or the loan is refinanced, some borrowers will owe a one-time, lump-sum payment that could amount to tens of thousands of dollars. The balloon payment covers the portion of the principal that was deferred.
The concept of deferring principal and having a balloon payment is widely misunderstood. A lot of people think (the principal that they’re not paying) is going to be forgiven, when, in reality, it's not.
Homeowners may be unaware of the terms of their new deals – for a good reason. Terms such as balloon payments are not spelled out in their loan papers. It doesn’t say you have to make a balloon payment [in the future]. Unless you know how to work a real estate calculator, you don’t know what you’re signing.
For borrowers trying to hold on to their homes the difficulties continue even after the new loan begins.
About 20 percent of modified loans, through last June, ended up in default only three months later, according to federal statistics.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Soooo...You Think You Wanna Sell Without An Agent?!
| In today's tough housing market, some sellers are looking to cut costs by selling their property without using a real estate agent. Sellers who skip the listing agent and offer their home as a "for sale by owner" - or FSBO believe they can potentially save themselves thousands of dollars. But, FSBO sellers should be prepared to do a lot of legwork to manage the entire sales process, with no guarantee of a final sale. Here are five questions homeowners should ask themselves before selling a home on their own. 5 questions to ask: 1. Do I know the value of my home in today's market? A common mistake FSBO sellers make is to price their home too high. As a result, the property languishes on the market. When a home sits for a long while, buyers start to wonder what is wrong with it. To market a home competitively, sellers should research the final sales price of similar properties in their community. Updated sales information is available to agents through proprietary reports, but individual owners can also dig up sales data from public sources. Online real estate sites may offer sales trend information for local neighborhoods, sales prices for comparable homes in the community, known as "comps," and the average length of time homes have remained on the market,. It takes a lot of work to look at this data and figure how to price your home, but it's important in order to come up with the right value. It may even be worthwhile to purchase an appraisal from a certified licensed appraiser, even though buyers eventually have to pay for their own. But homeowners who buy an appraisal before putting their home on the market can eliminate the risk of a pricing surprise when a buyer applies for a home loan. Even if sellers think they've arrived at fair home values, potential buyers may still try to negotiate prices downward. One strategy to sell quick is to price the home about 5% below the most recent comps in your area. 2. Am I ready to work with a buyer's agent? In a typical real estate transaction, the listing agent represents the seller. But the buyer may choose an agent to represent his or her interests, too. When a real estate deal is made, the seller usually pays both agents involved a commission based on the sale price of the house. That commission is negotiable, but it has traditionally been about 6 percent of the purchase price. The buyer's agent and seller's agent generally split the commission in half. As a FSBO seller, you may decide not to use a listing agent, but you can't control whether or not a potential buyer wants to use a buyer's agent. If the buyer does use an agent, homeowners should consider offering that agent the typical commission, which would be about 3 percent of the sales price. Sellers who decide not to offer to pay the commission will probably shrink their pool of potential purchasers, because buyer's agents would not have an incentive to show their clients the seller's home. 3. Will I take charge of sales and marketing responsibilities? Some FSBO sellers underestimate the amount of effort it takes to market their home. Sellers should be prepared to keep the home clean, clutter-free and "show ready" at all times (inside and out). Other steps sellers should take include:
In addition to marketing their own property, FSBO sellers often need to find and hire people to help them complete the sales process. These professionals include real estate attorneys (to review contracts and offer advice), appraisers and contractors (to make any necessary home repairs). 4. Can I bear criticism of my home? The emotional aspect of selling a home is often overlooked, but it's an important part of the selling process. Owners will probably hear a lot about their home's shortcomings from buyers trying to negotiate a lower sales price. Or worse, they may not receive any interest in their home, especially if the price is too high. You have a better chance of being a successful seller if you don't take negative feedback personally. 5. Am I willing to screen potential buyers? It may seem pushy, but FSBO sellers must be willing to screen their own buyers. You don't want to take your house off the market to negotiate with someone who was never qualified for the home in the first place. Before you sign a contract with a buyer, make sure the purchaser will be able to come up with the necessary funds. Before accepting an offer, ask for a current pre-approval letter from a reputable lender. The preapproval letter should show that the buyer spoke to the lender and has been preapproved for the purchase price of the home. It's harder to get a mortgage these days because the bar is higher. Applicants need better credit, higher salaries and a bigger money reserve than they needed just three years ago. So there you have it...just a few things to keep in mind if you are considering FSBOing (fizz-boing). Save yourself a few headaches and hire a professional, just as you would for a root canal or a tummy tuck. |
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Orlando Homes for Sale, Land, and Real Estate | Homes & Land of Greater Orlando
Great job on my Lake Mary listing for the front cover of Homes and Land of Greater Orlando!
Have a look...
Orlando Homes for Sale, Land, and Real Estate Homes & Land of Greater Orlando
Thanks!
Sarah Maus
Realtor, CDPE, TRC
Weichert Realtors-Hallmark Properties
www.SarahMaus.com
Have a look...
Orlando Homes for Sale, Land, and Real Estate Homes & Land of Greater Orlando
Thanks!
Sarah Maus
Realtor, CDPE, TRC
Weichert Realtors-Hallmark Properties
www.SarahMaus.com
Friday, February 26, 2010
424 Raccoon St. Lake Mary, FL 32746 | HomeFinder.com | ID: O4954521
424 Raccoon St. Lake Mary, FL 32746 | HomeFinder.com | ID: O4954521
Beautiful home in the Preserve at Soldiers Creek!
1356 Golf Point Loop Apopka, FL 32712 | HomeFinder.com | ID: O4960458
Wanted to share this listing information:
"Strategic" Default...NOT the Answer
Walking Away Is NOT The Answer
You may have heard that a "strategic default" can be an appropriate and even beneficial reaction to an upside-down mortgage or impending foreclosure. While this idea is widespread, the truth is that default is never an easy road to choose, and rarely ever strategic.
Unfortunately, the ramifications of a "strategic default" are rarely explained, leaving many homeowners stranded on an island of misinformation. To assist you, I've prepared a free report outlining the myths and misrepresentations of strategic defaults.
Contact me today to get the facts!
Visit www.SarahMaus.com/SarahHelps for more information.
David Maus Breaking New Ground
David Maus Automotive Group will break ground this month on a new dealership — its fifth in Central Florida and its first brand with General Motors Co.
The dealership and its financing partner, Kansas City, Mo.-based Van Tuyl Automotive Investment Group, will open David Maus Chevrolet in Sanford this fall on a 12-acre site it already owns next to the existing David Maus Toyota dealership. Maus and Van Tuyl bought about 40 acres there in 2006 for $20 million, Seminole County records showed.
This new dealership will create about 125 new jobs ranging from receptionists and cashiers to technicians and accountants.
The $5 million, 60,250-square-foot building will include a showroom and service center with 36 service bays on 12 acres on Rinehart Road, said Greg McClellan, general manager at David Maus Chevrolet. In September, Detroit-based GM gave David Maus Automotive Group the franchise that formerly belonged to Bill Heard Chevrolet, which closed in late 2008 after its Columbus, Ga.-based parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
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