Hot Property

Who am I?

I am the basis of all wealth, the heritage of the wise, the thrifty and prudent.
I am the poor person’s joy and comfort, the rich person’s prize, the right hand of capital, the silent partner of thousands of successful people.
I am solace of the widow, the comfort of old age, the cornerstone of security against [...]

Oh oh, did you miss the Housing Market Bottom?

FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release Contact: March 24, 2009
U.S. MONTHLY HOUSE PRICE INDEX ESTIMATES 1.7
PERCENT PRICE INCREASE FROM DECEMBER TO JANUARY
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. home prices rose 1.7 percent on a seasonally-adjusted basis from December to January, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s monthly House Price Index. 
Here in the Tampa Bay [...]

Florida Home Sales UP 6th Straight Month

ORLANDO, Fla. – March 23, 2009 – Florida’s existing home sales rose in February, making it the sixth consecutive month that sales activity showed increases in the year-to-year comparison, according to the latest housing data released by the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR). February’s statewide sales also increased over January’s figures in both the existing [...]

Does Freddie Mac own your mortgage

If you are considering some of the Government programs available to help you avoid foreclosure, you will need to know who own’s your mortgage.
Here is a link from Freddie Mac where you can find out if they do.
https://ww3.freddiemac.com/corporate/
Contact Team Sumberg for Tampa Bay Real Estate. info@TeamSumberg.com

Special Help for Military Families Forced to Sell at Loss

Military families are often required to relocate to a new assignment. As housing prices have fallen, many military families have been forced to either sell at a tremendous loss, attempt to rent their home, split up their family, or face foreclosure. The recent American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) included a provision to help these [...]

Active Military have some help if facing Foreclosure.

Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
We had someone mention that their customer was facing certain foreclosure and that they were active military.  I suggested they look into SCRA.  As a sitting member of Hillsborough County Code Enforcement Board, I have encountered this more than once while hearing cases with liens against the property.  Usually the party is [...]

HOT - Today’s Testimony - Examining the Making Home Affordable Plan

Statement of
Patrick J. Lawler, Chief Economist
Federal Housing Finance Agency
Before the House Financial Services Committee
Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity
“Examining the Making Home Affordable Plan”
March 19, 2009
 

Statement of
Patrick J. Lawler, Chief Economist
Federal Housing Finance Agency
House Financial Services Committee,
Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity
March 19, 2009
“Examining the Making Home Affordable Plan”
Chairwoman Waters and Ranking Member Capito, thank [...]

10 steps to negotiating an affordable loan modification

Feb. 12, 2009 – A list of the top 10 steps homeowners can take to negotiate an affordable loan modification. The following steps apply to homeowners working directly with a lender, as well as to those teaming up with an attorney or alternative third-party representative.
1. Come clean. It can be tempting to bend the truth when [...]

The UPSIDE of FLORIDA Real Estate

The upside of Florida real estate: 15 market positives
Let’s take a look at some of the opportunities for today and the future of Florida’s real estate market.
1. Great prices. Statewide, the existing-home median sales price was $161,200 in the fourth quarter of 2008; a year earlier, it was $216,600 for a decrease of 26 percent.
2. [...]

Scam Artists Targeting Troubled Borrowers

ADVICE FROM THE FEDS:
Scam artists are proliferating, attempting to make money from troubled borrowers interested in taking advantage of President Barack Obama’s foreclosure-prevention plan. The firms charge fees for what they tell borrowers will be quick and effective negotiations with banks. In most cases, the firms take the homeowners’ money - often more than $1,000 [...]