Israel Gonzalez

Hollister Short Sales: Mistakes to Avoid When Facing Foreclosure

2012-01-03T15:53:00Z

Hollister CA – Mistake #1: Deeding your property to a third party without confirming your debt has been paid off.

Deeding your house to someone else is one way to avoid foreclosure. However, there are some things you need to do before you make a decision to deed your house to someone else in order to stop foreclosure on your home.

Click here to discover how other sellers successfully executed a short sale and avoided foreclosure.

You will need to consult with an independent attorney, not the buyer's attorney. Deeding your property will render you powerless. The new owner will always have control, and as such she can do anything with the property, including renting it out and keeping the rent or even attempting to sell it to make profit. This may in turn have a negative financial impact on you because the new owner might not make your mortgage payments. As you well know, this can cause huge damage to your credit.

Mistake #2: Selling your home at a huge discount.

Take time to explore your options especially when your foreclosure sale is more than 45 days away. Take a day or two making phone calls to try to find an appropriate solution for your situation. Do not allow a buyer to push just to get you to sell her your property. In such a case, the deal will most likely be favorable to her and not you. Equity in your home belongs to you.

Mistake #3: Authorizing a prospective buyer to deal directly with your lender.

The buyer will always ask your lender to accept a discounted payoff. The negotiations may be longer than expected; and if they fail to agree, the buyer may decide not to buy your property.

This could waste time for you. Before you realize it, you may not have time to resolve the situation and avoid foreclosure. In addition, not knowing what goes on between the buyer and your lender may be detrimental to you. It may happen in such a way that the buyer could handle the negotiation and presentation of information in a way that makes it very difficult for you to resolve your loan situation later.

If you believe this is the best option for you, please make sure you consult with a real estate professional or attorney before signing a contract. Hiring a real estate professional to represent you costs you nothing, as the lender will pay the fees.

We have helped homeowners like you, and we can do it for you at absolutely no cost. The worst thing for you to do is sit back and do nothing about your situation.

Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property so you can move on with your life. Send me an e-mail at israel@ighomes.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at (831) 636-8858.

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Thinking about a loan modification?Our Hollister loan modification guide will show you how to reduce your mortgage payment, keep your home, and get back on your feet. Send me an e-mail to israel@ighomes.com to request a Free Copy.

Or, click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this.~Israel Gonzalez.

Israel is a Real Estate Agent at Beale Properties.

Phone: (831) 636-8858. israel@ighomes.com.

View My homes for sale at www.bestREOhomes.com.

Israel Gonzalez specializes in loan modification assistance and short sales in Hollister California. Hollister Loan Modification Help, Hollister Short Sales. Hollister Short Sale Realtor Hollister CA Short Sales. Hollister Realtor.

Important Notice

Israel Gonzalez, Beale Properties, and the Stop Foreclosure Institute are not affiliated in any way, shape, or form with the government. Our services have not been reviewed or endorse by the government or your lender. Most lenders willingly work with agents on short sales. Why?

Because most short sales are beneficial to a lender. If you accept our offer to help you on a short sale, your lender may not agree to a short sale or to modify your loan. We do offer a loan modification kit.

However, the likelihood of negotiating a modification is like everything else in life. It takes work and persistence to convince your lender to modify your loan. No matter what you or we do, your lender may not approve a loan modification.

We do not recommend that you stop paying your mortgage, because this will cause damage to your credit and could cause you to lose your home. Because we know avoiding foreclosure is so important to any homeowner, we recommend that you speak with the appropriate legal or tax advisor before making any decision.

This is not intended as legal, technical, or tax advice. Please speak with a licensed professional before making any decision. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of the date of writing.

You have the option to reject a short sale or loan modification from your lender if it does not meet your approval. If you decide not to go thru with the short sale, then you do not have to pay us our fee. We normally make a real estate sales commission for helping you on a short sale.

The views expressed here are Gonzalez's personal views and do not reflect the views of Beale Properties.

This information on "Hollister Short Sales: Mistakes to Avoid When Facing Foreclosure" is provided as a courtesy to our readers to help them make informed decisions.

Hollister Short Sales: How Do I Benefit from a Short Sale?

2012-01-02T16:36:00Z

Hollister CA – The Stop Foreclosure Institute is closing another short sale tomorrow. The sellers had a job transfer out of state. They were short selling an FHA loan with a second mortgage. The short sale was fairly simple because of FHA's short sale guidelines.

Click here to discover how other sellers successfully executed a short sale and avoided foreclosure.

Here is how these sellers benefited from the short sale.

Benefit #1: The sellers were able to walk away with the debt wiped out completely. The FHA short sale guidelines released them from the first mortgage debt. The second mortgage also gave them a complete release. At first they weren't willing to do that, but we offered them a little extra money in return for a complete release. Fortunately, they agreed to it. This meant the sellers were able to completely wipe out a total of $80,000 in upside-down debt.

Benefit #2: Limited Tax Consequences. These sellers will owe taxes on only approximately $30,000 of the loss. Why? Because that was around how much money was borrowed on a home equity line. The Mortgage Debt Relief Act of 2007 states you will not owe taxes on a loss if you used that money to purchase or remodel your home.

However, if you borrowed and used the money for something else, then you would owe taxes on the loss. You would owe the money whether you short sold or the lender foreclosed. (Note: This is only my opinion after reading the law. I recommend you talk to a competent tax professional before making any financial decision.

Benefit #3: They will be eligible to buy another home in two years. Current Fannie Mae rules allow homeowners to buy another home two years after a short sale. Compare that with the five to seven year wait after a foreclosure.

Benefit #4: The sellers paid no money for the short sale. Everything was paid for by the lender. The short sale lender paid the real estate agent, title company, and all other fees. The homeowners can look forward to getting their financial life back on track.

Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property so you can move on with your life. Send me an e-mail at israel@ighomes.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at (831) 636-8858.

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Or, click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this.~Israel Gonzalez.

Israel is a Real Estate Agent at Beale Properties.

Phone: (831) 636-8858. israel@ighomes.com.

View My homes for sale at www.bestREOhomes.com.

Important Notice

The views expressed here are Gonzalez's personal views and do not reflect the views of Beale Properties.

This information on "Hollister Short Sales: How Do I Benefit from a Short Sale?" is provided as a courtesy to our readers to help them make informed decisions.

Hollister Short Sales: Who Is in Charge during a Short Sale?

2011-12-30T19:16:00Z

Hollister CA – Many home buyers think the short sale lender is in charge during a short sale. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The short sale lender can only veto short sale offers. He can't put the property up for sale or decide to whom to sell it. Only the homeowners can do that. Why is that?

Discover how other sellers successfully executed a short sale to avoid foreclosure by clicking here.

Until the lender forecloses on the home, the homeowners are in the driver's seat. They "own" the property until the lender forecloses.

We have had many buyers get angry that a homeowner would not accept their lowball offers. "You have to submit my offer to the lender. If you don't, then that would be fraud," they tell the homeowner.

You, the homeowner are in charge. That means you can make the following decisions:

You're allowed to pick the buyer's offer you think the lender will be most likely to accept.
You're allowed to turn down offers you don't like for whatever reason. (Maybe the buyers are too picky about the home and want you to make repairs.)
You're allowed to turn down offers if the buyer isn't pre-approved for a loan. In addition, you can ask the buyer to inspect the property before she writes a contract.
You're allowed to ask for an earnest money deposit to make sure the buyer is serious about the house.

It's your right to do these things for as long as you own the property. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property so you can move on with your life. Send me an e-mail at israel@ighomes.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at (831) 636-8858.

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Or, click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this.~Israel Gonzalez.

Israel is a Real Estate Agent at Beale Properties.

Phone: (831) 636-8858. israel@ighomes.com.

View My homes for sale at www.bestREOhomes.com.

Important Notice

The views expressed here are Gonzalez's personal views and do not reflect the views of Beale Properties.

This information on "Hollister Short Sales: Who Is in Charge during a Short Sale?" is provided as a courtesy to our readers to help them make informed decisions.

Seven Ways You Benefit from a Hollister Short Sale

2011-12-29T17:08:00Z

Hollister CA – A home owner thinking of a short sale recently asked us why she should short sale versus just walking away and letting her lender foreclose on the home. We gave her the normal answer: "It's much better for your credit." That was the first thing that popped into our head. But I knew there are more benefits to a homeowner than simply better credit, so I put together the entire list. Here are the other benefits.

Discover how other sellers successfully executed a short sale to avoid foreclosure by clicking here.

1. The upside-down debt is erased in most cases. If you're selling because of a financial hardship, then the upside-down debt will be automatically erased in most cases. Is your loan owned or insured by the following agencies: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, and or VA? If you're short selling because of a financial hardship, their policies state that your debt will be erased.

2. You're eligible to buy another home much sooner compared to a foreclosure. The most common loan program, Fannie Mae, stipulates that you can buy another home under its program in two years. FHA, a popular low down payment loan program, stipulates that you can qualify for an FHA loan within three years.

3. No Cost To You. That's right. A short sale costs you nothing. All the expenses are paid for by your lender. That includes the title insurance, any county taxes or fees on the sale, attorney fees, and the real estate agent. If the lender foreclosed on the house and then tried to sell it, it would have to pay all the costs. So why not pay the costs with a short sale?

4. Your credit suffers less damage. Most people think a short sale will be the kiss of death to their credit. That's the one big advantage of a short sale over a foreclosure.

Upon completion of the short sale, your credit score will drop between 50 and 100 points. However, it will rebound fairly quickly. The other benefit is that you will have less debt. (A lot of debt hurts your credit score.) You will have a lower debt-to-income ratio, which will boost your credit.

In a couple years your credit will be back to normal, and you can buy another home. In addition, anything and everything bad on your credit can be fixed through the dispute process.

5. You can often rent a comparable house for less than your former mortgage payment. In one example, a homeowner in foreclosure found a larger home. It even had a fenced backyard for his kid and a garage. His prior mortgage payment was $1500. He rented the nicer, bigger house for $850 a month.

6. You avoid the humiliation of a foreclosure.

7. You don't have to pay rent during the short sale process. A short sale can take up to six to nine months. Not all of them do, but some do. If you aren't concerned about your credit, then you can stop making your mortgage payments during the short sale. You can use the savings for the deposit on a rental.

Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property so you can move on with your life. Send me an e-mail at israel@ighomes.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at (831) 636-8858.

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Or, click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this.~Israel Gonzalez.

Israel is a Real Estate Agent at Beale Properties.

Phone: (831) 636-8858. israel@ighomes.com.

View My homes for sale at www.bestREOhomes.com.

Important Notice

The views expressed here are Gonzalez's personal views and do not reflect the views of Beale Properties.

This information on "Seven Ways You Benefit from a Hollister Short Sale" is provided as a courtesy to our readers to help them make informed decisions.

Another Tip to Improve the Odds of Your Short Sale Offer Being Approved

2011-12-28T16:40:00Z

Hollister CA – If you're selling your home, ask the buyer to write a letter about why she wants to purchase the home. If you're a buyer, then write that letter.

Discover how other sellers successfully executed a short sale to avoid foreclosure by clicking here.

The listing agent will submit that letter along with the short sale paperwork. With a little luck, that letter will help "grease the wheels" and cause the short sale to be approved faster.

Short sale negotiators are human beings. They have emotions that can be touched by a good story.

These letters might sound like a joke, but they can make a huge difference. I've even seen homeowners lose money on their sales because they liked a certain buyer over another one. In that case, the sellers sold their homes for several thousand dollars less to buyers they liked. (Usually the other buyers had been rude and the sellers didn't like them.

If that made a difference when the seller was losing his own money, then think about the difference it will make to a short sale negotiator who isn't losing her own money.

Put a good story in your letter. Here are a few examples.

You might say something like this: "I'm a first-time home buyer looking for my first home. I just want to move out of my cramped apartment and am looking forward to my first home, where I can plant a garden."

Or maybe it would be like this: "We've looked for a while and finally found this home on Elm Street that we love. We're selling our current home so we can buy a house with a yard. Our two boys, Tim and Julian, have been begging us for a swing set. We never had room in our old condo. If you approve our short sale offer, we'll finally be able to give them the large, fenced-in backyard they've always wanted with a swing set. We've already picked out the swing set plan, and Tim and Julian are so excited about it. So don't approve the short sale offer for us; approve it for them."

See how I'm pulling the negotiator's heartstrings? Unless your short sale negotiator is absolutely heartless, it will make a difference for you.

Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property so you can move on with your life. Send me an e-mail at israel@ighomes.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at (831) 636-8858.

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Or, click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this.~Israel Gonzalez.

Israel is a Real Estate Agent at Beale Properties.

Phone: (831) 636-8858. israel@ighomes.com.

View My homes for sale at www.bestREOhomes.com.

Important Notice

The views expressed here are Gonzalez's personal views and do not reflect the views of Beale Properties.

This information on "Another Tip to Improve the Odds of Your Short Sale Offer Being Approved" is provided as a courtesy to our readers to help them make informed decisions.

Does My Hollister Short Sale Have to Be Approved before I Put It Up for Sale?

2011-12-27T18:48:00Z

Hollister CA – We often get asked if a short sale is even worth the effort. "Do I need to have my short sale 'approved' by my lender before I put my home on the market?" one seller asked us.

"When I called my lender, they wouldn't talk to me about my short sale. I'm concerned they might do that when I finally sell the property and I'll never get the short sale approved."

Discover how other sellers successfully executed a short sale to avoid foreclosure by clicking here.

Here is our answer. Most lenders will not talk to you about a short sale until you have several things in place. They want a solid offer from a pre-qualified home buyer along with all the necessary financial documents.

Why do they do this? Because they only want to process short sales that will sell and close. Now, I think it's a silly way to do things. Instead of refusing to negotiate short sales until there's an offer on the table, they should instead pre-approve short sales.

This would make the process so much easier. A home could be placed on the market at a set price, and buyers would be more interested in the property because they know they can get an answer in two to three days versus two to three months.

We brought this up with Matt Vernon, the Vice President of Bank of America's Short Sale Department. He knows there is stuff to improve. But it's hard to change the course of a huge company with so many different parties involved.

Despite all this, experienced short sale agents are getting short sales approved every day. The Short Sale Process is getting better and easier to navigate, and more and more lenders are moving toward "approved" short sales. You just need to find a good short sale realtor who can navigate his way through the crazy short sale process.

Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property so you can move on with your life. Send me an e-mail at israel@ighomes.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at (831) 636-8858.

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Or, click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this.~Israel Gonzalez.

Israel is a Real Estate Agent at Beale Properties.

Phone: (831) 636-8858. israel@ighomes.com.

View My homes for sale at www.bestREOhomes.com.

Important Notice

The views expressed here are Gonzalez's personal views and do not reflect the views of Beale Properties.

This information on "Does My Hollister Short Sale Have to Be Approved before I Put It Up for Sale?" is provided as a courtesy to our readers to help them make informed decisions.

Will Your Hollister Short Sale Realtor Follow Up Properly to Ensure Success?

2011-12-23T17:41:00Z

Hollister CA – We got a short sale approved yesterday. This file was a fiasco from day one. Despite the incompetence we faced from outside entities, we got the file approved through persistent follow up. The first lender handling the file was incredibly incompetent; his short fax number didn't work. We mailed the short sale package to him, and he lost it. We mailed it again, and he finally got it.

Click here to discover how other sellers successfully executed a short sale and avoided foreclosure.

We would call, email and fax the short sale negotiator. He wouldn't get back to us for two to three weeks at a time. (This was despite our calling and emailing every single day.) We finally got him to call back when we threatened to go to the press with the story.

This incompetency went on for several months. Unfortunately, the first buyer got impatient and walked. Fannie Mae was the actual owner of the loan and eventually fired the first company as the servicer and hired another company. This new company was also fairly incompetent.

Here is what was shocking! The company is a subsidiary of one of the largest information technology companies in the world. The subsidiary's phone lines didn't even work properly. The automated prompts went in a circle. Just goes to show how technologically advanced they are!

Finally we were about to get an approval. The short sale negotiator called us and said, "I can approve the file if you do this and this." We made the changes and send them to her. A few days later she called back and said, "You need to net us the same amount of money and raise the sales price."

She explained that the file had mortgage insurance, and she needs the insurer's approval. We talked to the title company and figured out how to make the changes. Fortunately, everything worked out okay. We raised the price and had the seller pay the same amount of the buyer's closing costs. Yes, we had to get a little creative. Please note: Everything was completely legal and ethical.

Here is the point of this crazy story. Short sales are unpredictable. The lenders pile more and more files on each staff person. In my opinion, these staff are overworked and underpaid. Fortunately, most short sales are not so bad as this one. If you're persistent and know what you're doing, even the bad short sales can be approved.

Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property so you can move on with your life. Send me an e-mail at israel@ighomes.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at (831) 636-8858.

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Or, click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this.~Israel Gonzalez.

Israel is a Real Estate Agent at Beale Properties.

Phone: (831) 636-8858. israel@ighomes.com.

View My homes for sale at www.bestREOhomes.com.

Important Notice

The views expressed here are Gonzalez's personal views and do not reflect the views of Beale Properties.

This information on "Will Your Hollister Short Sale Realtor Follow Up Properly to Ensure Success?" is provided as a courtesy to our readers to help them make informed decisions.

Can Your Hollister Short Sale Realtor Beat the 80% Short Sale Failure Rate?

2011-12-22T16:12:00Z

Hollister CA – Some people think short sales represent a bargain in the real estate world. Others have said banks sell short sales for below market value because they want to avoid foreclosure.

That isn't true. Yes, banks do prefer to sell a property in foreclosure as a short sale. They know that short sales usually sell for more money than a foreclosure. I'm sure you are wondering why, so let me explain.

Click here to discover how other sellers successfully executed a short sale and avoided foreclosure.

The problem is that a lot of time the BPOs are inaccurate. A former short sale negotiator called the process a "BPO Mill." The lenders care more about cost than accuracy. If your short sale realtor doesn't understand the BPO process, then you're at risk.

Here is what we do to avoid BPO problems. We prepare our own valuation of the property. We give that valuation to the person doing the BPO. Then, if the lender declines the short sale, we ask why. Many times it's because the lender thinks the property is worth more than it actually is. In that case, we have to appeal the BPO value.

We send the lender our own BPO and all the information to back up our value. Most lenders will review it, and many may order a new BPO. Or they may try to get ours "validated." That means their valuation department will double check everything. If the valuation department agrees, then it uses our BPO for the proper value.

The entire short sale process is actually fairly simple. If the short sale lender declines an offer, ask why. You then have to demonstrate why the lender should accept the offer. If you have good data to back up your case, the lender will re-consider. That gives your seller a better chance at a successful short sale outcome.

We always track all the sales activity in the neighborhood and surrounding area of the property we're selling. That way we can send updated information to the lender. When we keep lenders up to date on what's going on in the neighborhood, they're able to make a better educated decision on the short sale.

Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property so you can move on with your life. Send me an e-mail at israel@ighomes.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at (831) 636-8858.

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Or, click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this.~Israel Gonzalez.

Israel is a Real Estate Agent at Beale Properties.

Phone: (831) 636-8858. israel@ighomes.com.

View My homes for sale at www.bestREOhomes.com.

Important Notice

The views expressed here are Gonzalez's personal views and do not reflect the views of Beale Properties.

This information on "Can Your Hollister Short Sale Realtor Beat the 80% Short Sale Failure Rate?" is provided as a courtesy to our readers to help them make informed decisions.

Hollister Short Sale Help: Another Short Sale Almost Killed by Lender Incompetence

2011-12-21T20:43:00Z

Hollister CA – We have seen many instances where a short sale that should have been approved was denied. If your short sale Realtor doesn't know what she's doing, you might get stuck with a promissory note you don't deserve.

Click here to discover how other sellers successfully executed a short sale and avoided foreclosure.

Here is a good example of this happening. A real estate agent had a short sale with one of the largest lenders in America. The short sale negotiator said he would not approve the short sale unless the seller came to closing with $50,000 cash. The sellers said no way.

Fortunately, the agent knew that Fannie Mae owned the loan. The good news for the seller is that Fannie Mae does not ask for promissory notes or pursue deficiencies. (There are a couple exceptions, but they didn't apply here.) If those are Fannie Mae's guidelines, then why would the short sale negotiator require the seller to bring $50,000 to closing?

Turns out the negotiator was not following Fannie Mae's Short Sale Guidelines. The agent contacted Fannie Mae directly. Within 72 hours a supervisor called from the short sale department. This time they were singing a different tune.

The sale was approved and the promissory note waived. The seller got to walk away owing zero. Why do things like these happen? Because, in our opinion, there is little oversight over the short sale process. Nothing happens when a short sale gets rejected and sells for less as a bank owned property. No, don't kid yourself; this happens a lot.

These short sale negotiators develop an adversarial mindset. They probably even get paid bonuses based on how much money they squeeze out of short sale sellers. This causes their ego to get in the way of what's best for the owner of the loan. If you're thinking about short selling your home, make sure your agent knows how to research who the owner of your loan is. That info will allow her to negotiate from a position of power -- and it will help you avoid a deficiency or promissory note.

Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property so you can move on with your life. Send me an e-mail at israel@ighomes.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at (831) 636-8858.

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Or, click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this.~Israel Gonzalez.

Israel is a Real Estate Agent at Beale Properties.

Phone: (831) 636-8858. israel@ighomes.com.

View My homes for sale at www.bestREOhomes.com.

Important Notice

The views expressed here are Gonzalez's personal views and do not reflect the views of Beale Properties.

This information on "Hollister Short Sale Help: Another Short Sale Almost Killed by Lender Incompetence" is provided as a courtesy to our readers to help them make informed decisions.

Hollister Short Sales: Questions to Ask before Hiring a Short Sale Agent

2011-12-20T18:55:00Z

Hollister CA – The right agent can make the difference between success and failure on your short sale. You risk losing a lot when your agent doesn't understand short sales. The short sale can be denied and the home foreclosed. Then you have to wait five years to buy another house, or the lender may ask you to repay the loss.

Click here to discover how other sellers successfully executed a short sale and avoided foreclosure.

Here are the questions I would ask an agent before hiring him.

Question #1: How many short sales have you listed and sold in the past six months? This is important because you want an agent who is up to date on all the potential issues. They should understand the short sale process from start to finish.

Question #2: In the past, what lenders have you negotiated short sales with? It is helpful when the agent you are interviewing has already done short sales with your lender. You know he they will already be familiar with your lender's policies and procedures.

At a minimum, you should look for an agent with experience with Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Chase. These are the most common short sale lenders.

Question #3: What can you tell me about my lender and how it works? A knowledgeable and experienced agent will usually know the specifics about your lender. He will be able to tell you what to expect in the process. They will know upfront if the lender is likely to ask for a promissory note or deficiency.

Question #4: What is your track record for success and failure on short sales you have handled in the past? Look at the agent's track record. If he is hard working and diligent, he will have a strong track record. That is good news for you.

Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property so you can move on with your life. Send me an e-mail at israel@ighomes.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at (831) 636-8858.

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Or, click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this.~Israel Gonzalez.

Israel is a Real Estate Agent at Beale Properties.

Phone: (831) 636-8858. israel@ighomes.com.

View My homes for sale at www.bestREOhomes.com.

Important Notice

The views expressed here are Gonzalez's personal views and do not reflect the views of Beale Properties.

This information on "Hollister Short Sales: Questions to Ask before Hiring a Short Sale Agent" is provided as a courtesy to our readers to help them make informed decisions.

60 Minutes and the Housing Market – How Do Short Sales in Hollister Fit In?

2011-12-19T18:41:00Z

Gainesville FL – Very few people disagree that banks are not handling the housing crisis properly. Why is it so hard to get a reasonable loan modification?

Click here to discover how other sellers successfully executed a short sale and avoided foreclosure.

Pollution is defined as the following by Wikipedia: "Pollution can be a simple example of market failure. If costs of pollution from a factory are not borne by the factory owner, but instead are borne by the workers or people in the community, then prices are distorted."

Basically, the factory can pollute at will. Now, let's take the same sentence and change it to banks: "Negligence and incompetence can be a simple example of market failure. If a $180,000 loss on a single house is not borne by ABC National Bank but is borne by Fannie Mae and the American public, the decision-making process is distorted."

Over 80% of all loans that major banks have are not owned by the banks. That could be used to argue the banks are polluting the economy at will.

Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property so you can move on with your life. Send me an e-mail at israel@ighomes.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at (831) 636-8858.

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Or, click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this.~Israel Gonzalez.

Israel is a Real Estate Agent at Beale Properties.

Phone: (831) 636-8858. israel@ighomes.com.

View My homes for sale at www.bestREOhomes.com.

Important Notice

The views expressed here are Gonzalez's personal views and do not reflect the views of Beale Properties.

This information on "60 Minutes and the Housing Market – How Do Short Sales in Hollister Fit In?" is provided as a courtesy to our readers to help them make informed decisions.

Hollister Short Sales: A Technique to Make Short Sales Easier

2011-12-16T21:46:00Z

Hollister CA – I read an interesting book. The author talked about persistence and how it helps you be successful. He told a story about phoning a call center.

Click here to discover how other sellers successfully executed a short sale and avoided foreclosure.

The first person he talked to told him he couldn't buy something in bulk for a certain price. Rather than argue with her, he instead hung up and called back. The next person he talked to agreed to sell him the product in bulk for the price he wanted. He got what he wanted a lot faster and easier than if he had spent time arguing with the first person.

He gave another example of trying to change his account info with a phone company. The first person told him he needed to print and sign a form. Then he must have it notarized and mailed to the company, and the company would then change the account information.

Did he willingly go along with her? No. Instead, he hung up the phone, called in again, and talked to another rep. In just a few minutes that rep had changed the information in the computer system. Goal accomplished.

So what does this have to do with short sales? We will use this same strategy when we negotiate your short sale. If the first person won't give us what we want, we will ask someone else.

Now, this can't be used in all stages of the short sale. But it can be used to increase our odds of success. Remember, our goal is to help you wipe out the upside-down debt, get rid of any tax liability, and keep your credit intact. We might even be able to get you a $3000 short sale incentive from your lender.

Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property so you can move on with your life. Send me an e-mail at israel@ighomes.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at (831) 636-8858.

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Or, click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this.~Israel Gonzalez.

Israel is a Real Estate Agent at Beale Properties.

Phone: (831) 636-8858. israel@ighomes.com.

View My homes for sale at www.bestREOhomes.com.

Important Notice

The views expressed here are Gonzalez's personal views and do not reflect the views of Beale Properties.

This information on "Hollister Short Sales: A Technique to Make Short Sales Easier" is provided as a courtesy to our readers to help them make informed decisions.

Why Isn't My Vacant Home Selling as Fast as Others in Hollister?

2011-12-15T20:55:00Z

Hollister CA – Selling a home is part financial, part logic, and a lot of emotion. Everyone knows that feeling when you walk into the home that's "the one." You get that breathtaking feeling: the butterflies in the belly and that instant view of your family sitting on that couch in front of the fireplace on a cool fall evening. Those are all emotional aspects, and selling a home is definitely based in part on the emotions of the buyer.

Click here to discover how other sellers successfully executed a short sale and avoided foreclosure.

When you're selling a home, you have to appeal to the emotions of the potential buyers as well as their financial desires. If your home has absolutely no furniture in it, you may find that potential buyers spend more time on trivial things like chipped paint, spots on the carpet and cracks in the plaster. They notice unmatched patches from where paintings were and the way the carpet is more worn in one area than others.

These trivial things are things that, if there were furniture in the home to distract their attention a bit, they probably wouldn't even notice; but without furniture, they stand out quickly.

Of course, obvious problems like a huge crack down a wall are going to be noticed with or without furniture. But if you have all the paintings and decorations hanging on the walls when they're looking, they're going to see the style and accents of the home instead of the outline of where the paintings were. They won't be seeing where the walls are faded and thinking "This room definitely needs painted" before adding it to the checklist of work they'll need to do to make this their perfect home.

If you have a couch and chair, they're not going to notice where the wearing of the rug may be, as it's pretty rare buyers will pull furniture out to look under and behind it. Those small paint chips at the baseboards from typical wear and tear aren't going to be so noticeable. They'll be busy seeing how well you fit in an entire dining room set along with a large china cabinet and a small accent table in the dining room, realizing how big it is as opposed to seeing it appear smaller and wondering if it will fit their entire dining set.

A buyer looking at an empty room sees "work that needs to be done on the home" and "uncared for little things," as opposed to when they move into it seeing the house empty for the first time when they'd call these same issues a few simple fixes for the "Honey Do List."

A room filled with furniture is much more "homey" and inviting than an empty, voice-echoing house. It's so much easier to find warm feelings and a welcoming atmosphere in a house that feels lived in with furniture and some personal surroundings. Many people actually rent furniture, staging their home to make it look lived in. Doing this puts more emphasis on the coziness of the home as opposed to the little imperfections.

It's a proven fact that a home will sell faster when it feels inviting and lived in, so it may be worth raiding your family room and doing without a few seats or renting a few rooms of furniture for a month while you have Open Houses and are trying to sell your home. You want potential buyers to easily picture their families in your home, so make sure your house is staged to look lived in. Give the potential buyers an old fashioned, welcome home feeling the minute they walk in.

Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property so you can move on with your life. Send me an e-mail at israel@ighomes.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at (831) 636-8858.

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Or, click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this.~Israel Gonzalez.

Israel is a Real Estate Agent at Beale Properties.

Phone: (831) 636-8858. israel@ighomes.com.

View My homes for sale at www.bestREOhomes.com.

Important Notice

The views expressed here are Gonzalez's personal views and do not reflect the views of Beale Properties.

This information on "Why Isn't My Vacant Home Selling as Fast as Others in Hollister?" is provided as a courtesy to our readers to help them make informed decisions.

Hollister Short Sales: Should I Be Embarrassed by Doing a Short Sale?

2011-12-14T17:42:00Z

Hollister CA – Short sales are situations that can often cause emotional turmoil as well as financial upheaval. It's amazing how quick people are to judge others, but times may be changing when it comes to today's financial situations. We're all feeling the tough times. We've seen local businesses close, people we know losing jobs they've had for years, and how the cost of living increases while the income we're making doesn't seem to be keeping the same pace.

Click here to discover how other sellers successfully executed a short sale and avoided foreclosure.

Most of us don't speak "legal-ese," and personally I'm thankful most of us also don't operate like some lenders. It's hard to understand why a lender will jump at doing a short sale on a home as opposed to working with someone who's done everything in his power to make right the situation he's ended up in by being overdue with the lender.

Many lenders somehow find it more logical to do a short sale than to work with the original owner and re-finance or negotiate terms that make it more reasonable for the owner to make regular payments again. Placing the overdue amounts at the end of your loan and putting you back on track seems more logical to you and me than taking a short sale. But then again, when does our logic seem to match the logic of most lenders?

What we have noticed though is that while we're all together in this economy's financial mess, we also seem to be more sympathetic and understanding about the situations of others. Friends and neighbors aren't so quick to judge those who suddenly have a "Foreclosure" or "Short Sale" sign on their front lawns. People have become more sympathetic to those in their community who have been hit hard by hard times, and there's no longer a scarlet letter worn by those who have hit hard times and find themselves having to give up their home via a short sale.

There is no shame in short sales. In most cases the homeowners have approached their lenders in every possible way, using every possible means to keep their homes. Most lenders turn down every option other than literally snapping your fingers and coming up with all of the money owed instantly, no matter what the situation may be. These lenders should bear all the shame for creating situations that don't allow for a good, honest homeowner to maintain her dream.

A short sale is an option taken to help keep your dignity, sell your home, and have a fresh start. Many take this choice hoping to do less harm to their credit rating. Often friends and neighbors will not only understand your situation but respect that you've remained dignified through a terrible crisis in your life. Each of us understands that we're almost all only a paycheck away from being on the streets in today's economy.

As we work together to make things better, one of the things we notice is that there truly is a lot less judging and finger pointing going on in life. There's a whole lot more understanding and help. The fingers are pointing to the lenders now instead.

We're here to help you understand and get through making the choices you need to make regarding a short sale of your home. We have the knowledge and training behind us to make your transition as smooth as possible. Most of all, we will treat you with respect and help you not only make the experience understandable, but bearable. We can give you information that will give you hope and show you that the future may have a better picture ahead and even another home someday with our help.

Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property so you can move on with your life. Send me an e-mail at israel@ighomes.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at (831) 636-8858.

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Or, click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this.~Israel Gonzalez.

Israel is a Real Estate Agent at Beale Properties.

Phone: (831) 636-8858. israel@ighomes.com.

View My homes for sale at www.bestREOhomes.com.

Important Notice

The views expressed here are Gonzalez's personal views and do not reflect the views of Beale Properties.

This information on "Hollister Short Sales: Should I Be Embarrassed by Doing a Short Sale?" is provided as a courtesy to our readers to help them make informed decisions.

Hollister Short Sales: The Importance of Curb Appeal When Selling Your Home

2011-12-13T18:06:00Z

Hollister CA – No matter what the circumstances are when you're selling your home, you want to get top dollar for it. For the potential owner it's like her birthday, or Christmas or Hanukkah. So why not GIFT WRAP your home for her?

As silly as that seems, that's exactly what you're doing when you put up your home for sale: you're presenting a large gift to the potential owners, and one of the first things to attract their attention is the packaging. You want them to take their first look and say "That's the one I want" even before they've stepped inside your home.

Click here to discover how other sellers successfully executed a short sale and avoided foreclosure.

When you're sitting around at a holiday get-together or birthday party, the first package that catches your eye is the one that's wrapped perfectly: the one gift that looks well cared for and beautiful on the outside. From that one look at the outside wrapping of that gift, you just know that whatever is inside has to be something special if the person took such care to wrap it so perfectly.

This works in the opposite direction as well. If someone stops at the last minute and literally just leaves the gift in the bag from the store where it was purchased with nothing more than a bow slapped on it, your first thought isn't "Wow, that's got to be a great gift"; instead, you probably barely glance in that direction. It could be a great gift, but the presentation says that the gift giver didn't put a whole lot of time, effort and thought into it. Chances are whatever was bought didn't have a whole lot of thought put in it, either.

Your home is much like that birthday or special holiday gift. The "wrapping" is the outside curb appeal. If someone is driving by and sees this beautifully wrapped home -- one with perfect lighting placed in just the right spots, clean driveways and sidewalks, trimmed bushes and freshly painted trim -- that person is going to take a second look.

However, driving by a house that's just sitting in a "plain bag with a bow" (trim peeling; overgrown, untrimmed bushes; landscape with no appealing lighting to help see the entire area) is going to cause the potential buyer literally not even to give the house a second look as he drives by.

The inside of the house could be immaculate and have every amenity imaginable; but because it wasn't "wrapped" in beautiful gift wrap with a sparkling bow and attention-grabbing beauty, it will either be passed by or (if out of desperation they do look further) the buyer will offer a lot less simply based on the shabby packaging.

Curb appeal is the beauty a potential buyer sees from the outside before she ever even begins to approach the inside. Curb appeal is what makes her say, "We should really take a look at this one!" Make your house the package that jumps out amongst the other gifts so those potential buyers drive by and say, "We have to open that package! Anyone who took the time to make it look so perfect has to have good taste! It can only get better from here!"

That's how important curb appeal is in selling your home. Make your home shine from the outside in and gives potential buyers the feeling that with a beautiful bow and perfectly matched paper, this is the gift they want to open!

Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property so you can move on with your life. Send me an e-mail at israel@ighomes.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at (831) 636-8858.

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Or, click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this.~Israel Gonzalez.

Israel is a Real Estate Agent at Beale Properties.

Phone: (831) 636-8858. israel@ighomes.com.

View My homes for sale at www.bestREOhomes.com.

Important Notice

The views expressed here are Gonzalez's personal views and do not reflect the views of Beale Properties.

This information on "Hollister Short Sales: The Importance of Curb Appeal When Selling Your Home" is provided as a courtesy to our readers to help them make informed decisions.