From about January through April, swarming termites would remind Floridians every year to renew their pest control bonds, but just like banks and credit card companies over the past decade, it appears that termites have gotten sneakier. The last time Poincianans experienced a good "swarming" was over five years ago.
Under the 2008 bailout, the federal government offers tax credits for home energy efficiency improvements of up to $1,500. You can get this money by adding qualifying windows, doors, insulation, roofs, heating and cooling equipment, and water heaters to your house by 2010.
There are also renewable energy tax credits (not just deductions), of up to 30%, for solar and small wind energy systems. If you are looking into solar water heaters, a less-expensive system would cost around $4,111 instead of $9,135 after a 30% federal credit. If you purchase a hybrid car, you can get a tax credit ranging from $250 to $3,500 depending on the characteristics of the car. (A tax credit lowers your tax bill dollar-for-dollar, versus a tax deduction, which takes money off of your taxable income.) To learn more, email us.
According to a study by the Mortgage Asset Research Institute (MARI), mortgage fraud is more abundant now than it was at the height of the lending boom. MARI singled out the most troubled states based on cases it gathered from about 600 lenders, mortgage insurance firms and mortgage investors, as well as federal data on loan originations. Rhode Island topped the list, followed immediately by Florida. Also in the top ten were Illinois, Georgia, Maryland, New York, Michigan, California, and Missouri.
Scam artists have found a new field in the Obama foreclosure-prevention plan. Attempting to make a grand per customer, these firms charge fees for what they call "quick and effective negotiations" with banks. In most cases, the firms will take your money, then do nothing. The Federal Reserve issued advice for people seeking to modify their mortgages:
Former CEO of General Nutrition Centers (GNC), Greg Horn says,
Energy and fuel efficiency can dramatically reduce use of fossil fuels. Insulating your home can save you up to 15 percent on your utility bills each month.
For those into cutting edge appliances, consider replacing your old tired water heater with one of those so-called newfangled tank-less water heaters. They can save a load, or two, and aren't actually so newfangled. In fact, tank-less has been around for some time, but with the new environmental movement, it's finally caught on in popularity.
If you go cutting edge, go Florida. We build tankless water heaters right here. Write us at Home@PoincianaHome.net for more information.
For more by Greg Horn visit the Poinciana Library. You'll find there - along with other environmentally forward publications and public-access computers - a recently donated copy of his book Living Green.
Living Green by Greg Horn, 2006, pg. 76, Freedom Press, 1861 North Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga, CA 90290.
The bad news first: According to recent data from the MidFlorida MLS, foreclosures reign supreme in Poinciana. Nearly 90% of all current sales are properties in some state of foreclosure, like short sales, bank-owned, and foreclosing properties.
Other than that, Poinciana begins the new year like it was 2006. With 79 sales in the month of January, a dip from 92 in December 2008, yet it is almost exactly how we started 2006. (Click on image to see a close-up of the statistics.)
To widen the good news, the market is still getting rid of foreclosures and Poinciana is showing a five-month trend so far towards improvement in both sales and reduction of supply. The percentage of existing homes in some state of foreclosure decreased, but by only 4% over the last 60 days. A small change but heading in the right direction.
The number of homes on the market fell below 1,000 ... finally ... to 991 properties. Barring another wave of foreclosures, Poinciana is headed in the right direction again. Ready to buy? Write us.
Now more than ever, it's critically important to make sure that, when you work with professionals in the real estate industry, beware! According to The Impact of Mortgage Fraud On Florida, a report compiled by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), Florida ranks top 10, nationally, in per capita mortgage fraud.
The report included "falsely inflating the value of a property" as a method used to de-fraud homeowners. This was a technique popular in the Poinciana area between the years 2004 and 2007 and the primary reasons we have a housing crisis in southwest Kissimmee. How was it done?
Real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and appraisers aligned themselves to sell a properties. Many times, the agent and the broker were the same person. The weird thing is Florida allows this dual agency and pretend that no conflict of interest could possibly exist. (The conflict being obvious to honest agents, like Darhlene!)
Some agents back then even required buyers to use a specific mortgage broker, who would use a specific appraiser, who would, in turn, use a specific et cetera. While mostly gone with the bubble, too many real estate agents still partake of this activity but are more likely to be aligning with banks these days.
Long before many realized that the housing bubble had burst in 2006, I had asked my broker at RE/MAX Executive Group, "What happened to home buyers?" Buyers were cooling and far too many homeowners were suddenly asking about short sales. To serve these owners I asked RE/MAX leadership, "When are you going to schedule a short sale training for staff?"
But apparently business leaders had no clue of what was about to burst by 2007 and refused to offer training ... at first. About six months later, they closed their Kissimmee doors without warning.
That's about the time I began keeping statistics on Poinciana's housing demographics through the MidFlorida Regional Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Today, after years of keeping track of Poinciana's MLS sales, inventory, and, now, foreclosures, I say with great relief that I've got good news.
We are at the beginning of a recovery!
This 32-page handbook is priceless. It includes tips on ways to cut corners and get to the gist of what's important to selling a home. In addition, 101 Ways includes:
Important Tips from Agents
16 Places Outside to Improve Curb Appeal
41 Extras to Stimulate Buyers
$9.95, includes shipping. Click on the Buy Now button above. Email us if you wish to use a payment service other than Revolution Money.
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), a press release issued by ForSaleByOwner.com contained "inaccuracies and misleading statements" about their ability to advertise listings worldwide. NAR made it clear that ForSaleBy Owner.com does not enable home sellers to advertise their home through NAR nor Realtor.com without broker representation. That’s us! To sell your home, go to Poinciana’s honest broker. Go to PoincianaHome.net.
Nearly new, bank-owned home with split-floor plan. Over 2,300 square feet of living space in Poinciana's Village Two. Four bedrooms with three baths. Sold for $130,000
If you're ready to sell your Poinciana home, contact us immediately. In this difficult market, it is important to have you home priced right to compete with "the bank."
When the Orlando Sentinel was looking for an expert in Poinciana home sales, they turned to Darhlene Zeanwick, who explained the seriousness of the housing crisis in Poinciana to Sentinel reporters. One of the most stunning statistics is the REO-driven economy in Central Florida, is the "38% of homes in Poinciana in some state of foreclosure or short sale."
What this means to homeowners in Poinciana who are ready to sell their homes today is that they will have to "compete against the bank," or, more correctly, "many banks." In this community of many churches and the nation's largest homeowner association the APV HOA,
Need to get in touch with the Association of Poinciana Villages (APV) high-tech-like? Here are the emails of some of their personnel.
Jeanette Coughenour - jeanette@apvinc.net
Valentin Ramos - vramos@apvinc.net
Benny Gonzalez - csd1@apvinc.net
If you'd like to help make our APV HOA transparent, email us at Home@PoincianaHome.net with your concerns or information you'd like to share.
The Osceola County human services department has a new program that is designed to assist residents behind on mortgage payments. It's called the Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention Program. Apply online now.
Another fool Realtor did it again! With a cheap security system for his customer. The agent depended on a "contractor" to maintain a key lockbox on a house for sale. What the agent didn't realize the first time he worked with Mr. Lockbox Contractor was that the contractor used only the cheapest he could find, most accessible lockbox on the market. And what happened?
Poof! The lockbox disappears.
Now someone else, somewhere unknown has a key to this home. And what do you think the agent did for his customer?
He did it again. Ring. Ring. "Mr. Contractor, put another lockbox on that house." And what happens? Again!?
Think about it. Do you really want a ...
A new door locking system, the Schlage LiNKsystem, is not a newfangled gizmo that only promises to pocket your money, it actually has modern practical value. It can be wirelessly set and opened via the Internet or from a mobile phone.
Users can lock or unlock the deadbolt, as well as change, activate or disable the locks using a secure four-digit code. If the high-tech approach isn't reasonable, the lock can also be opened using a keypad or the old-fashioned way with a key.
As more and more people are struggling to get re-financing for their homes, more and more are also looking at offering lease-to-own agreements. Such agreements enable tenants to rent a property with the option of buying the residence at some date in the future.
Sellers with once-vacant properties, who add this option, have seen a stable cash flow, and they also get a prospective sale later! Sellers can contact Home@PoincianaHome.net to see what a rent-to-own option might look like.
Sept. 16, 2008 | Now burdened with the nation’s highest level of mortgage fraud, Florida residents are now just finding out that a program -- that at one time reimbursed people scammed by mortgage brokers -– no longer exists -- at least not for them.
State regulators killed a victim assistance program with no public debate more than a decade ago, even when it was warned that mortgage fraud was on the rise in Florida. While 47 states have protections for people who are scammed, including guaranty funds and insurance that covers fraud, Florida has nothing in comparison.
A program offered by the Florida Bar and Florida Legal Services Florida provides access to a lawyer and free legal advice for homeowners troubled with financial issues. To take advantage of this free program call, toll-free – (866) 607-2187 - or take advantage of their new, online Intake Form.
Fill out the form on-line to bypass the toll-free hot line available. If you opt to call the hot line, note their office hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. They also take up to ten days to respond to intakes.
You’ll be asked a few initial questions about your situation to ensure an accurate placement, and then you’ll be sent to a free attorney. The attorney will then negotiate with the lender on your behalf to help keep your home from foreclosure.
More than 10,000 Florida attorneys have volunteered their services in the program, according to Florida Legal Services Inc. They volunteered under the the Florida Attorneys Saving Homes program.
Other legal aid services for Florida homeowners include:
A Community Development District(CDD) is a local, special purpose government authorized by Chapter 190 of the Florida Statutes. For example, Poinciana's active adult community, known as Solivita, is a CDD. While a common error among Realtors (r), Bellalago is not a CDD.
CDD's have several powers , such as the right to enter into contracts, to own both real and personal property, adopt by-laws, rules and regulations, as well as to sue and be sued. A CDD may also levy taxes to pay for construction, operation and maintenance costs of public facilities.
Staging -- in the bubble years -- was a useless fad with price tags in the thousands! Staging your home doesn't have to be anywhere near that expensive and isn't as difficult as "stagers" like to pretend.
Basically, keep in mind that using staging practices, your aim is to focus the attention of a prospective buyer in the "right" places. Eliminate counter-top clutter. Deborah Ehrlich-Layne of Tampa-based Staging Plus, Handyman Matters, and HGTV's show, "The Stagers" offered some of the following advice:
And what about those property taxes these days!? Many homeowners across Florida are asking the same question: If the value of my home has dropped, why has my tax bill increased? The Florida Association of Realtors has a few answers.
Debt is not a crime. That's why there are laws against debt collectors who harass. If you're feeling intimidated, checkup on the rules. The Fair Debt Collection Practice Actis a federal law. It applies to debt collection companies which are hired by the lenders. This law allows debtors to go to court if there is violation to any term of the law.
When Lakeland newspaper, The Reporter, needed a local expert to help them understand the extent of the housing crisis in Poinciana, they didn't have to google "Poinciana Home." They already knew they could turn to Poinciana's expert, Darhlene Zeanwick. Darhlene relayed statistics from the multiple listing service, the Osceola County Association of Realtors, and information only a local expert could know. To read the article, see The Reporter. The Reporter is a news media business covers news in Central Florida's "four corners" area, which includes Orange, Lake, Osceola, and Polk counties.
Options to a short sale? Are there any?
You've come to the right place if what you're seeking is an alternative to a short sale, pre-foreclosure, or lis pendens.
Forbearance means that a lender agrees to let you delay your payments to them for a short period of time. That doesn't mean the lender has forgiven the debt. They may just allow you to pay what you owe at a later date.
Forbearance can be a good option for someone who is experiencing temporary financial difficulty. A forbearance mortgage is often combined with other programs that bring your monthly mortgage payments current after a negotiated period of time.
Fireman's Fund Insurance Company is offering "green insurance" for residential properties. The insurance would be for homeowners:
Here's a way to fix-up your home at a fraction of the cost of other appliance outlets, and you can do it while helping Kissimmee's Habitat for Humanity. Go to the REStore.
RE stands for “restore." For more information, check out the REStore web site. They are located on Main Street, near downtown Kissimmee near Appliance Direct. They're only open on Fridays and Saturdays, so plan ahead.
Gov. Charlie Crist recently appointed a group of 13 to a new program to combat the rising problem of foreclosures. The program, called the HOPE Task Force, stands for Florida Home Ownership Promotes the Economy.
"Last year one out of every 95 households experienced foreclosure in [Florida] with filings up more than 275 percent over the previous year," said chief financial officer Alex Sink, one of the committee members. "Working with the Governor's HOPE Task Force, my office will be focused on identifying solutions to help families work through the often confusing and difficult process of retaining their homes."
HOPE is scheduled to meet four times – March 3, March 19, April 2 and, via conference call, on April 9. HOPE will make recommendations to Crist, the speaker of the House, and to the president of the Senate by April 18. Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp serves as chair to HOPE. Click here for meeting agendas, a complete list of the task force members and additional information on the HOPE Task Force.
Source: FAR EarlyBird News, 02/21/2008.
If your home is your primary residence and you have an ARM, avoid going down the path of short sales. If at all possible, you want to do everything you can to modify your loan – your best option. Going down the loan modification path – over a short sale – will help you keep your home so you can sell it when the market will give you at least what you paid for it. Before entering into a short sale agreement with your bank or mortgage broker, call one – or all of the following numbers – and tell them you're looking to get help with modifying your loan.
If your home is your primary residence and you have an ARM, avoid going down the path of short sales. If at all possible, you want to do everything you can to modify your loan – your best option. Going down the loan modification path instead – over a short sale – will help you keep your home so you can sell it when the market will give you at least what you paid for it. Before entering into a short sale agreement with your bank or mortgage broker, call one – or all of the following numbers – and tell them you’re looking to get help with modifying your loan.
Choosing a Realtor who suggests the highest list price is not a recipe for success — nor is opting for the agent who charges the lowest commission. Found a “top-producer” instead?
Think again. You may not benefit by opting for the “volume agent.” For example, that Realtor may have listed 60 homes in 2006. Sold 20 of them with 10 now in foreclosure. (Is that the kind of real estate agent you want representing you?) Another agent, possibly a SEED agent, may have listed only 15 in 2006 but sold 13 with none in foreclosure today.
Remember SEED qualities in an agent: Smart, Empathic, Experienced, and Dedicated. I am so confident that I can sell your Poinciana home, that I've put my marketing manual out on the Internet. Google "Poinciana SEED Approach." With today's technology, if you're Realtor does not have their marketing plan published on the Internet, you may ask them what they're hiding. Then consider using a transparent Realtor.
Reference: 10 mistakes to avoid in real estate in 2006, Bankrate.com.
