Mike's Latest Real Estate Insights

New Beaufort County Foreclosure website!

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:29:32 PDT

I've been working on a website to answer questions and provide up to date FORECLOSED AND SHORT SALE HOMES! Please visit www.BeaufortSCForeclosures.com for updated availabilities and information about buying a foreclosed or short sale home.

This site has REALtime information and not a just something from the county courthouse that was thrown together to advertise homes that aren't actually available for months or sometimes never. This information has been taken from the local MLS, to include; Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton and other surrounding counties.

You can easily look at posted listings or create your own search through the easy to use tabs, just enter your home requirements and a complete list will be created. If you are trying to compare home prices for certain areas, you can do detailed searches for non REO properties also.

If you would like, you can also navigate to my main website for even more information about Beaufort county, www.BeaufortSCForeclosures.com.

Thank you,

Mike Sackman

Incredible New Listing in Lady's Island

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:22:47 PDT

While the exterior of this 3BR/2.5BA French Country home is breathtaking, with custom built wrought iron gates and fencing, flagstone courtyard, and brick patterned bordered drive, you must see the inside of this home to truly appreciate its value. This 2635 sq ft home (plus garage and workshop) boasts hand carved columns and arches, oak flooring, Italianmarble and porcelain tile. $629,000

Please visit www.10DolphinPointDrive.com for more details.

More REO/Foreclosures coming?

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:43:22 PDT

We have been lucky in Beaufort to have only seen a small amount of foreclosures locally. Though I believe this will change here within the next few months; here's why. Our "selling season" typically runs from April/May to August/September time frame, which is typical for most areas since school's out and the convenience of a summer move is most logical. Our military folks typically transfer during those periods also; some coming in and some going out of the area.

What makes me believe the market for REO properties will increase is the amount of properties that didn't sell this past "selling season". I know of properties that were in short sale scenarios that didn't sell and are now vacant (a lot of that blame falls on the lenders not responding to offers in a timely manner) so the next step is usually foreclosure. Our MLS just recently added a method to search for short sales and most aren't updated yet, but I know of at least 25-30 short sale opportunities in the area that didn't sell. Not to say they won't, but if 50% don't that's 10-15 foreclosures coming into the market. I know that doesn't seem like a lot, but when we typically have 3-5, that's a huge increase. Sad thing is those numbers may last a while, SO it's actually the perfect storm if you are a buyer and/or an investor!

Here is a picture of one of my foreclsoures that is BRAND NEW! To see all of Beaufort Foreclosures and other conventional listings please visit the FORECLOSURE section of my website by clicking here to see properties that are updated bi-weekly. Beaufort Foreclosures

This home is 2800 SQFT, 4 bedroom, 3.5 baths, and a two car garage offered at 260k!!!

Great New Listing in Royal Pines Area!

Sun, 09 Aug 2009 19:21:07 PDT

True 4BR home aggressively priced. www.150middleroad.com

For more great values on Beaufort area homes, visit www.mikesackman.com

Showcased listings

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 09:56:27 PDT

Please visit the following links to some extraordinary deals, including foreclosed and short sale opportunities.

Telfair on Lady's Island www.60Lemoyne.com

Lady's Island www.22ashleyrd.com

Live Oaks foreclosure www.1622deannedr.com

Shell Point www.6009morningmist.com

Walling Grove on Lady's Island www.42wallinggroverd.com

These and other homes can be found at www.BeaufortHomesToday.com. If you are interested in receiving daily alerts directly from MLS for new homes on the market (including foreclosures), go to the website and sign up, your privacy is guaranteed.

Might be old to you, but new to me!

Thu, 14 May 2009 11:11:15 PDT

Active duty personnel can now receive assistance for transfers during certain time frames that lost money or homes due to the housing crisis. Please visit this website for more information!!!

It used to be only if the base was on the BRAC list, now it applies to everyone that served during different time periods.

HTTP://HAP.USACE.ARMY.MIL/EP_PCS.HTML

Foreclosures....WHAT foreclosures!

Thu, 14 May 2009 08:56:35 PDT

Well it's been a while since I posted, shame on me...but all all for good reason. The season of buying and selling is here and things are looking up. With buyers taking advantage of the first time home buyers incentive and the great selection of available homes, I've been non stop for the past 6 weeks.

I found a great deal for a young couple on a home that in 2006 sold for 287k and just had a contract accepted for 173k and they are paying 3% of the buyers closing costs!! Another was almost 2 thousand sqaure feet, built in 2005, 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath and a two car garage for 140k!! There are a few more, but the point is NOW is the time to buy a home.

Short sales are dominating the market right now. I would guess that two of every five homes is a short sale. If you need information on the difference between a short and foreclosure, just go to my website, www.BeaufortHomesToday.com and register for information.

Military relocations have been the vast majority of my recent business (4 of 6 contract the last two months). Some folks realized that Beaufort was the place they ought to be so they packed up where they were and moved down.

Last but not least, the fishing is red hot and this weekend I WILL be out there!!!

Soft Shell Crab Festival, Port Royal,South Carolina!

Sun, 19 Apr 2009 05:04:48 PDT

It was a great time at the Port Royal Soft Shell Carb Festival yesterday! The sun was shinning, the people were friendly and the Crabs were just awesome. We had them from the Plum's booth and have to say they did a fantastic job! The antique cars were just unbelievable, I have to say the 68 Corvette was my personal favorite though the Mustangs were incredible! With the Beaufort Water Festival coming soon and a Taste Of Beaufort around the corner, and the Marine Corp Air Station Air Show, you need to make plans to get to one of these great events in Beaufort, South Carolina!

I have been out of the AR loop for a week or two, not because I don't love AR, but because the buying season is in FULL SWING and I have been shwoing properties non stop. There are some excellent deals to be had for those realizing the market has a massive inventory and the 8 thousand dollar tax break ends December 1, 2009 and want to take full advantage of it. Not to mention interest rates are still around the 5% range.....

Buying a Foreclosed Home or Potential Foreclosure Property

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:00:36 PDT

This post about distressed properties was the best I've seen! I wanted to pass it on for everyone.

Via Bill Gassett Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate (RE/MAX Executive Realty):

Are you considering buying a foreclosed property? Why not after all there are plenty of them all around the country and they can typically be bought at a discount to the present market value.

Buying a foreclosed home however, is not for the timid at heart and there are many things that buyers need to consider. If you have ever watched a late night infomercial you would think buying a foreclosed home can be bought for 50 cents on the dollar and immediately re-sold for a boat load on money. Don't plan on it!

Foreclosed homes generally can be purchased anywhere from 5%-20% below the current market value. Along with the chance for immediate equity comes a lot more risk. As a buyer of a foreclosed home you need to prepare yourself for a significant amount of due diligence.

As a twenty three year veteran to the Real Estate industry, I would highly recommend having an attorney represent your interests. One of the 1st things an attorney will do is a title search to see if there are any liens or other liabilities on the property. Things like unpaid taxes, mechanics lines, or court judgments are all possible land mines. The sooner you determine the legal status of the property the better as this will help determine if it is worth it to put in an offer.

The last thing you want to have happen is to think you just bought a home for $400,000 but then find out there is $75,000 worth of liens on the property.

Having your financing already lined up is a very important consideration as well because these kind of transactions tend to move very swiftly.

Unlike a traditional Real Estate transaction everything is "buyer beware". You will be buying a home in many cases in "as is" condition. In many cases a person who has lost their home because of financial difficulties probably has not had the funds to keep up with the maintenance.

There could be any number of problems that are not readily apparent. Issues with some of the more expensive components of a home such as heating, plumbing and electrical systems are all possible. Don't be surprised if there has been vandalism by the previous home owner or other vandals either.

I have gone in plenty of foreclosed homes where the owner has taken out their anger on the home. I have been in homes where the entire kitchen was removed. Some of the other more common issues today is the copper plumbing being taken out of a home. I know that may sound crazy but it happens!

Still interested in buying a foreclosed home? Here are the three scenarios when buying one:

A pre-foreclosure where you buy directly from the home owner before the bank takes over.

At an auction where you may be in competition with other buyers.

From a Real Estate company or the bank itself. This is known as an REO aka Real Estate owned.

In a pre-foreclosure you get to do all your various due diligence including any home inspections and a title search to make sure there are no liens. In a pre-foreclosure the owner signs over the deed to you and you take title to the property. In this scenario you acquire the mortgage a must bring it current giving the bank any missed payments.

Buying at an auction typically carries the most risk but also can come with the greatest reward. Auctions are handled differently from state to state. Some are held right at the property and others at the local court house.

Many times with an auction you are not allowed to inspect the property prior to the scheduled auction date. These types of sales tend to bring out more "investor" types as these properties can be bought on many occasions for a price that could warrant a "flip" where the buyer turns around and re-sells the property.

A buyer going to an auction will need to come up with a good size deposit and will be expected to show they have the ability to complete the purchase.

The REO scenario is usually the least risky as the bank has acquired the property and has wiped out the liens through purchase. Once a home is Real Estate owned many banks will list these homes with a Realtor. The buyer gets clear title, is most often allowed to inspect the home, and is allowed to have a mortgage contingency.

A few other very important considerations in the foreclosure process in the "pre-foreclosure period" and the "redemption period".

The pre-foreclosure period is the time between a previous owner's notification of default and the point when the property can be sold by the lender.

This time period is also when the existing owner can make good on the note and keep their home, or sell it themselves. So the shorter the pre-foreclosure period, the more advantageous it is for the new buyer.

The redemption period is the time when the previous owner is allowed to buy back the home after the lender has sold it. Again, the shorter this time period, the better it is for the buyer.

Some states have no redemption period, making it an optimal situation for someone to purchase.

These time periods vary depending on the State the property is located in. Knowing the exact redemption period is critical because you could end up losing time and money if the previous owner ends up taking back the home.

Most of your efficiency as a buyer depends on whether the state in which the property is purchased uses mortgages or deeds of trust for real estate transactions.

When a state uses mortgages, it means they also conduct their foreclosure proceedings through the courts. These transactions tend to take longer and have a range of potential problems. When a state uses deeds of trust, the foreclosures are non-judicial and tend to resolve quicker and with far less head aches.

In Massachusetts the primary means on foreclosure is non judicial (no court action). If the deed of trust, however, does not contain a power of sale language,(language in the mortgage that allows the mortgagee to sell the property) the lender may seek judicial foreclosure.

As few as 75 days may pass from the time a property owner receives a notice of default until the property is sold at a public foreclosure auction sale.

As you can see there is quite a bit to know when buying a foreclosed home. In addition to having a good attorney a knowledgeable local Realtor can be very important as well in helping to determine the market value.

If you are a Massachusetts home owner and have come across this article and may be potentially facing a foreclosure there are options to avoid this potential situation. See this avoiding Massachusetts foreclosure resource.

There are other options to avoid a foreclosure including a short sale which I have been successfully doing in the Metrowest massachusetts area. Here are a few articles worth reading:

Foreclosure avoiding it through a short sale or loan modification

Short sales and deed in lieu of foreclosure

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

About the Author: The above Real Estate information on Buying a foreclosed home was provided by Bill Gassett, a Nationally recognized leader in his field. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-435-5356.

Have a home to sell in Metrowest Mass? I have a passion for Real Estate and love to share my marketing expertise!

For Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate and homes see Metrowest MA Real Estate. Want to have MLS access to beat other buyers to your dream home? Sign up with no obligation at my MLS Property Finder Site.

I service the following towns in Metrowest Massachusetts: Hopkinton, Milford, Upton, Southboro, Westboro, Ashland, Holliston, Mendon, Hopedale, Medway, Grafton, Northbridge, Uxbridge, Franklin, Douglas, and Framingham MA.

Click here to view Bill Gassett's Real Estate profile.

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Building lasting relationships by helping people move in and out of Metrowest Massachusetts for the last 23 years.

Another Great week ahead! THINK POSITIVE!!!

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 04:22:36 PDT

With all the to do about the stimulus, the credit crisis, the bailouts, etc....I decided to focus solely on LEAD GENERATION and not let the "bad things" weigh me down(3 hours every day!). I stopped focusing on the what if's and buckeled down on what was most important in a buyers market, that being BUYERS!

The results have been remarkable, through follow up and great customer service I have two clients this week and 2 customers this weekend (will be clients!) April is looking AWESOME and I'm thankful for every one of my previous clients and future clients alike!

"POSITIVE IS~WHAT POSITIVE DOES"......THINK POSITIVE!!

www.BeaufortHomesToday.com

"CATCH THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING"

It IS Spring !!!!!

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 10:31:01 PDT

Please tell me spring has sprung, it is gorgeous outside! Hopefully we will keep it in the 70's for a month!!

CDPE

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:45:39 PDT

Is this going to be the silver lining everyone is saying it's going to be. The premise of the whole thing sounds great, but will it be the go to designation for the banks for distressed properties?

Input please.....

Beaufort SC foreclosures and short sales

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 07:12:36 PDT

There are a few items I want to cover to help BUYERS understand more FORECLOSURES and SHORT SALES. The last 5 buyer contracts I have written recently have been one of the two. Not every situation is suited for a buyer to purchase a distressed property and I want to cover a few items.

FORECLOSURE SHORT SALE

OWNER OF PROPERTY BANK OWNER/SELLER

CONDITION AS IS AS IS (owner may do minor repairs)

TIME OF REPSONSE TYPICALLY <10 DAYS FROM DAYS TO MONTHS

TIME TO CLOSE 30-45 DAYS (UNLESS CASH OFFER) 30-45 DAYS AFTER ACCEPTANCE

INSPECTIONS ALLOWED ALLOWED

VA FINANCING YES (MUST PASS INSPECTIONS) YES(MUST PASS INSPECTIONS)

FHA FINANCING SAME SAME

CONTRACT NEGOTIATION BANK OWNER, BANK HAS FINAL SAY

There are many pro's and con's to purchasing a distresed peoperty. If you are interested in finding out more and need help deciding if these properties are for you, please visit my website, www.beauforthomestoday.com and register for a free consultation.

A Military must read!

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 03:37:59 PST

This is truly great news for our men and women in uniform and I feel it's my duty to pass it on to everyone I can. If you have represented a military family, please pass it on to them!

The financial strain affecting so many military families required to move in a bad housing market may soon be alleviated in the newly passed $787 billion stimulus package.

The stimulus - signed into law by President Obama on Feb. 17 - features a provision titled the Military Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP). HAP benefits (normally payable only at BRAC locations) will be extended to certain military homeowners who bought homes before July 1, 2006 and who sell the homes before Sept. 30, 2012, according to MOAA.com.

HAP was originally written in response to rising foreclosures and the credit crisis, and seeks to add more than $400 million to help military homeowners who are in the middle of foreclosure, or unable to sell their homes in the event of a permanent change of station order.

What's more, HAP will not only provide help to military homeowners who receive PCS orders and are unable to sell their homes, but will also assist wounded warriors who must relocate due to medical reasons, and surviving spouses of fallen servicemembers who are also forced to move.

The bill "will change this country for the better," said Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., who heads the House Appropriations Committee, in a MarketWatch Report.

The secretary of defense will use these funds to acquire titles to servicemembers' homes or reimburse individuals for losses after a private sales or foreclosures, reports The Washington Post.

"We must stem the spread of foreclosures and falling home values for all Americans and do everything we can to help responsible homeowners stay in their homes," said Mr Obama in a speech after he signed the bill.

Additionally, the stimulus will help military families who want to buy their first home. A first-time Homebuyer Tax Credit was included in the stimulus to give prospective home buyers a credit of 10 percent of the purchase price, up to a maximum for $8,000. The previous requirement for consumers buying homes after Jan. 1, 2009 to pay the money back would be removed, unless the house is sold within three years of purchase.

MLS information for Bluffton and Beaufort Real Estate

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 06:01:53 PST

As a Realtor that has done transactions in Bluffton and Beaufort areas in recent weeks and years and a member of both MLS associations covering the two areas, I want to shed some light on how the MLS system works and how the two geographic locations vary,

Basically, there are two MLS associations covering the area of Beaufort County (and some outlying counties). Depending on the company a Realtor works for, you are involved with the Hilton Head MLS or the Beaufort MLS, but some companies are associated with both, as is the case with the company I work with. This works in my favor since I have a broader range of homes to show my clients and can compare home prices for the entire county and not just one area. I like being a member of both, I can help my clients learn more about the local Real Estate and I can be their "one stop source" for the entire area and not have to refer clients to another agent due to not being a member of that particular MLS and not having access to available homes.

Geographically, Beaufort and Bluffton are separated by the Broad river, so we consider the areas as being SOUTH of the Broad or NORTH of the Broad. Highway 170 and 278 are four lane corridors between the Beaufort and Bluffton and make the drive easy (approximately 30 minutes). Not to mention it's a beautiful drive, passing over two gorgeous rivers and preservation land on both sides of the road, never to be developed.

"As the crow flies", the two areas are closer if you drove a boat across the Broad River or Port Royal Sound! I take my boat from Port Royal Landing Marina to Hilton Head for lunch on nice days and it takes 30 minutes, by land it would be an hour "out of season".

As the saying goes, "to each their own", both areas are great and are about the same distance to Savannah and Charleston. For information on how to receive listings from both areas or receive information on listing your home and benefiting from the exposure that I can bring as a member of both MLS associations, please contact me for a consultation.

Have a great day!

Short sale consulting companies.

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 13:39:22 PST

Without going into too much hubly bubly, has anyone considered any of the various companies out there that are consulting for lenders? I have spoke to several and I'm tighter with my bucks than ever before.

If you have a name with a thumbs up or down would do, I can do the research from there. I just think that as quick as REO's came in, they will go just as fast once they get this stimulus bill squared away and figure out how to keep folks from foreclosing.

Have a great day.

NO fishing today, bummer!

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 16:22:12 PST

Just when I thought spring has sprung, it's going to be 27 in the morning. So, good thing I didn't put my coat up and DARN good thing I didn't de-winterize the boat!!

The only thing I'll be happy about tomorrow is submitting a new sale to the closing attorney! It was a great weekend, the weather was bad but the selling was good. My dogs didn't like the thunder at 3am this morning, two labs in bed looking for protection wasn't cool, but they sure like the frigid temperatures that were behind the storm, they played outside all day and are wooped now!!

House selling advice, where to turn.....Short sale?? Maybe...

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 15:27:23 PST

As I drove down my road today, the reality of the home selling situation has hit home, literally. There were 6 out of 20 homes between mine and the stop sign at the end of the block. I thought to myself home many of those homes were owned by military folks transferring out and how many weren't, I know at least 4 are military so the other two are obviously moving for one reason or another.

Now my curiosity peaked and I decided to drive down to the other stop sign when I came home, another 7! So that's 13 on my one block of 60 or so homes. Some of these homes have been on the market for 180+ days, nothing unusual in today's market, but competition from foreclosures increases every day, so the pictures doesn't get prettier with days on the market.

So what's a seller to do...is foreclosure the only option, who can help me, how did this happen, where do I go now??? The list is goes on, but believe it or not, you do not have to foreclose, you might not even need to sell (unless you are leaving the area of course).

If you have a home currently listed, speak to your Realtor about options and possible assistance from your current lender. They may be willing to work with you on whatever the problem might be, they may even lower your interest if you have a really outrageous rate. I read an article that mentioned one lender had worked out a forebarence for 2 months payment to allow the home owner to catch up on their bills, that's where they actually allow you to miss a payment, but add it on somewhere in the loan, typically on the end.

Short sales are, in my opinion, a MUCH better alternative to foreclosing. Seek the advice of a REALTOR that is experienced in the sale of distressed properties and someone that is willing to hear your situation and understand all the options available to you.

Fishing 101!

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:40:32 PST

As the Lowcountry starts to wind down from an unusually cold winter (it's still lingering), it's time to get the offshore gear out and get ready for some Tuna, Wahoo, Dolphin (mahi-mahi), and whatever else makes the reel scream! Typically, we need to go out 40 or 50 miles so it's a long day, say 5-5.

Recently, we have been hitting the local flats when weather permits to jump schools of redfish, typical schools hold up to hundred or so fish in the 4-10 pound class. It's really nice when we have one of our typical 75 degree days in February with no clients in town to get on the flats boat at low tide and make something happen!

As I talk fishing for fish, it's also the time of year when Home Buyers are fishing for a good deal. The saying is "fish start biting when the yellow butterflies are flying" is absolutely true, I guess since it coincides with flowers blooming and the smell of spring. What that means too is it's time to get the house ready to sell and get the sprucing up in full swing. When the buyers start coming in to town, will your house show well, will the inside be neat and tidy and the outside blooming with a variety of colors to attract a passing buyer??

If you're a home buyer fishing "for a new home", now is the time to check your credit score and find a lender to get a pre qualification and to let you know just how much you CAN SPEND, but not NEED TO SPEND. You don't need to be alone in your home search, find a Realtor that knows the ins and outs of today's market can really take the stress and anxiety out of the process and let you do what you need to do, which is find a home that makes you happy! A good Realtor can direct you to the best deals and make the entire process less stressful and maybe even enjoyable.

So whether you are Buying or Selling, we are all fishing one way or another, the big question is....

DO you want a keeper, or a throwback?

Military Relocation Specialist??!! Says who?

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:44:14 PST

As a Realtor that is interested in always understanding the industry and obtaining knowledge to help my clients, I set forth to get my "Military Relocation Specialist" qualification. Yes I served 22 years in the Navy and feel I'm well qualified to help the men and women in our armed forces, but I wanted the official deal! I have closed many deals with military transferee's, helped people buy homes from Japan, and have done very well.

But as I found out, there is no such qualification as a Military Relocation Specialist! I Searched at the National Association of Realtors site and the closest qualification that they know of (though don't recognize) it the CRP, Certified Relocation Professional.

So, if you are military and someone classifies themselves as a Military Relocation Specialist, you might want to dig a little as to what credentials they have. I guess it's up to the person making the claim that they can follow through with what they offer. I didn't write this to cast doubt on ANYONE or their abilities, it just struck me that the title, Military Relocation SPecialist follows so many official credentials, and it's really a self proclaimed specialty. If anyone knows any different, please email me the link to get my certification!

The key to working with military families? Using the latest technologies to connect with clients around the world and get them information quickly, understanding the the VA loan process, and keeping in mind the need for a quick resale down the line as the family gets transferred to its next station. I will make the claim, "I am a MILITARY RELOCATION SPECIALIST", and proud of it!

NAVY MASTER DIVER(ret)

Relief for Military Homeowners!

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:18:57 PST

This article was in the Military news section and I think it's worth a view from everyone. Military men and women have no choice when they transfer, it's "do your time here and move on". Our military folks have really been caught in the middle of the meltdown and it's really becoming an issue within the forces.

As a retired Navy guy, I feel for these young families and what is happening to them; first the war, now their homes!

The "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act" (S. 336), most commonly known as the economic stimulus bill, has an administrative provision that would relieve military homeowners on PCS orders who are bottom up on their mortgages or otherwise suffer a significant loss on the sale of their homes. The bill would temporarily extend coverage to these groups under the Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP), which normally only applies to members whose home values are depressed by base realignments and closures. The provision would cover servicemembers and federal civilian employees in these categories who purchased a primary residence before July 1, 2006 and who receive PCS orders or suffered a wound, injury, or illness while deployed between that date and September 30, 2012.

Thanks,

Mike

Help for Military Buyers!! Senate proposes relief!!

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:01:17 PST

This was an article from Military News about something the Senate propsed to help out men and women in uniform.

Please check it out!

The "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act" (S. 336), most commonly known as the economic stimulus bill, has an administrative provision that would relieve military homeowners on PCS orders who are bottom up on their mortgages or otherwise suffer a significant loss on the sale of their homes. The bill would temporarily extend coverage to these groups under the Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP), which normally only applies to members whose home values are depressed by base realignments and closures. The provision would cover servicemembers and federal civilian employees in these categories who purchased a primary residence before July 1, 2006 and who receive PCS orders or suffered a wound, injury, or illness while deployed between that date and September 30, 2012.

Thanks,

Mike

www.scmilitaryrelocation.com

Blackberry supported as Ekey!!

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 04:45:32 PST

Mornin everyone! I asked for pro's and con's for the TREO and Blackerry smartphones and the majority that replied back didn't know the Blackberry (certain models) is supported by GE Security for use as an EKey.

I thought this was a huge issue since I know a lot of Realtors that use the Blackberry and want the additional feature. I for one didn't want a phone without it, so now I'm happy :) I provided the link to GE Security for you to check out.

Smart Phones and EKeys

Have a great day!!

Mike Sackman

HELLLLP!! Stay with my TREO or do the Berry??

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:56:56 PST

OK, here it goes...I have had my TREO now for 3 or 4 years and REALLY want to try the Blackberry, just don't know if it's worth it.

I use my TREO as a lock box key, all my email is set up, contacts stored, blahblahblah....but it's getting old. I know the Blackberry can now be used as a lockbox key which is new, and it obviously has all the other cool stuff I need. The problem is it took me forever to learn the TREO and don't know if I want to go through the hassle again.
There is the Storm and the Curve, both have good write ups...I download music which is a plus for the Storm, I like to rock out in the M35!

Any pro's and con's would be most appreciated. I can get them for the same price through Sprint.

Short or Foreclosures....

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:27:53 PST

There is a huge difference between a Foreclosure and a Short Sale. If you are a Seller of a property and just need to talk to someone about your options, who do you call, the originating lender, a friend or family member? All mentioned are good sources of comfort, but not the cold hard facts about the reality in today's housing market.

Short sales are becoming a preferred option in selling a home in today's market. There is a negotiation between you(seller) and the lender where they allow you to sell your home at a discounted price and the difference between selling price and amount owed is negotiated for payment. Sometimes the difference is forgiven in total, they may take a percentage of the amount, or they may ask you to pay it back entirely as if you borrowed the money.

The Short Sale option must be looked at as soon as you decide to sell your property and especially if you are up side down on the value of your property and have to move. There is a process that must be followed to be successful using a short sale, if it's not done right, you risk foreclosing.

Military members are fast becoming the users of short sales because they have no choice when it's time to transfer. It's a very sad reality I have to deal with and a very tough appointment when I have to tell a military family their house isn't worth what they paid for it. It's one of the reasons I have become so well versed about the Short Sale process. Military members will transfer usually 4 or 5 times in a 20 year career and having a foreclosure on your credit report isn't the way to go about it, TRUST ME!

So, if you are a home seller or home buyer, find out the facts about short sales and foreclosures.

Please contact me for any questions you may have or shhot me an email.