201311.27
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The Economics of Thankfulness

First and foremost, a Happy Thanksgiving to you all! Secondly, despite the great relief that many homeowners have gotten over the past year by “getting out from under” the crushing weight of a home mortgage gone bad,  “Adults have maintained a positive view of homeownership five years after the biggest housing crisis hit the nation…

201311.07
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Divorce + Upside Down Residence = Potential for Disaster

Please click this link and check out an article I was invited to co-author with one of our firm’s realtor friends, Dennis Blackmore:   http://dennisblackmore.com/2013/11/07/divorce-short-sale/ Complications of Divorce under Virginia law can make real estate transactions more difficult.   The article addresses some of the most common pitfalls in completing short sales in Virginia while also dealing…

201310.09
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More Good News / Bad News

The Good News on this rainy day 3 of a moderate Noreaster in Tidewater, Virginia, is that foreclosures and “shadow inventory” continue to decline.    The meteorologists tell us we have a couple more days of winds and much needed rain off the Atlantic Ocean.  Likewise, the economists predict that our financial storm is not over…

201309.27
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Dual Agency Hot Potato

Never underestimate the lobbying power of NAR (National Association of Realtors).   NAR managed to have the enforcement of the anti-dual agency rule postponed.   The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) had planned to implement the new regulation 10-1-13 to help fight Fraud in Short Sales. “Dual Agency” is generally defined as one real estate…

201309.25
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Choosing an Agent to List your Under Water Property

When interviewing agents to list and sell your Short Sale, i.e., your real estate which is currently worth less than the total owed on the mortgage, there are many factors to consider.   Personality compatibility, motivation level, persuasiveness, compassion, are all factors in selecting a “partner” to help you succeed in the business of selling your…

201203.07
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Where is the Cavalry?

How much help can Veterans and potential FHA refinancers expect from the latest program announced by President Obama at his recent (3-6-2012) press conference? For a good summary of the new program see an article in Bloomberg Business (http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/obama-unveils-housing-initiatives-for-military-fha-families/2012/03/06/gIQAjW1mvR_story.html) “the administration has struck an agreement with various banks and lenders to conduct a review of…