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RISMEDIA, October 31, 2009Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan called on Congress to approve three important measuresto improve housing and the housing market for Americans: extension of the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit for a limited period, extension…

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Now there’s an easy way to find the open houses in the Birmingham, AL area with just the click of your mouse.

Weichert, Realtors – Access Realty has just launched www.8YellowBalloons.com

Tune in to 8yellowballoons.com every week to see where the open houses are going to happen. You would drive around looking but it’s a lot easier with a map.

You can also custom design your own Open House Home Tour!

ePartners comes to Alabama
ePartners is making it’s debut in Alabama in 492 cities statewide. ePartners is a nationwide relocation network that allows anyone to search for and find properties for sale in any city any time.

The local cities are affiliated with an agent or team of real estate agents who work the areas and are specialists in properties in each city. They can help members of the homebuying or homeselling public find exactly what they are looking for.

The ePartners network also contains specific city information on schools and neighborhoods, shopping and restaurants, and parks and recreation.

Sellers can market their homes through the nationwide network and buyers can easily find them from anywhere in the United States.

Some of the main sites are very easy to find: Alabamawebpage.com, Montgomerywebpage.com are examples of url’s that make this network very consumer friendly.

The ePartners network also allows real estate agents to easily get plugged into a nationwide relocation and referral network.

ePartners is set to take off in early December 2006. We will be watching.

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A short sale, by definition, is the sale of a property to a lender for less than the amount of the mortgage owed. This sale is often only permitted under extreme circumstances. The bank or mortgage lender takes into account current economic outlooks, the personal financial situation of the debtor or home-owner, the local real estate market, and the reasonable possibility that the bank will recover some, if not the entirety, of the mortgage loan. The advantages of short selling a property to the debtor are obvious. A short sale is often pursued instead of foreclosure proceedings. Thus, by short selling a property, a debtor can keep a foreclosure off of their personal credit history. Also, the difference between the original mortgage and the short sale offer, also known as the deficiency balance, is partially under the control of the debtor. This means that the debtor is free to pay back the deficiency under their own terms. Sometimes, though rare, this debt is forgiven completely.

The advantages of a short sale are less obvious for the bank or mortgage lender. These institutions are primarily concerned with recouping their financial losses on bad or risky loans. Thus, they may choose to allow a short sale if they believe that this course of action will result in a smaller financial loss than foreclosure proceeding. Whereas a foreclosure can cost the bank or mortgage institution a certain amount of money through legal fees and court proceedings, a short sale is simply an agreement between the debtor and the lending institution and entails much less hidden costs to the lending institution. Oftentimes, a short sale is the best method for the bank to guarantee at least a partial return on a bad or defaulted loan.

A short sale is a fairly common business transaction. However, lenders do not like to view these transactions as financial favors to the debtors. Rather, these institutions view these short sales as sound financial extensions of credit. When retaining an asset makes little business sense or is economically unfeasible, a business will default on their loans. If enough of these loans are defaulted on, a bank or mortgage lender can be put in dire financial straits. Thus, a short sale is utilized to reacquire these economically unfeasible assets and recoup a portion of the extended and defaulted loans. In this manner the financial institution looses only a fraction of the accumulated debt. In these types of business short sales the deficiency balance is almost always forgiven.

There are a number of steps that debtor must take in order to secure a short sale from a bank or other financial institution. Most banks require that a Notice of Default be completed. This alerts the local government of the impending default and stipulates the location, relative value, and financial history of the defaulted property. While conditions vary from bank to bank, several levels of approval are usually required. This is often a long and complicated process for the debtor. Some banks have set limits on short sales, and these restrictions can vary in amount or type. For example, many banks won’t approve a short sale if there are tax liens held against the property. However, if approved, a short sale can be a great way to relieve debt obligation without permanently affecting your credit score.

A short sale, by definition, is the sale of a property to a lender for less than the amount of the mortgage owed. This sale is often only permitted under extreme circumstances. The bank or mortgage lender takes into account current economic outlooks, the personal financial situation of the debtor or home-owner, the local real estate market, and the reasonable possibility that the bank will recover some, if not the entirety, of the mortgage loan. The advantages of short selling a property to the debtor are obvious. A short sale is often pursued instead of foreclosure proceedings. Thus, by short selling a property, a debtor can keep a foreclosure off of their personal credit history. Also, the difference between the original mortgage and the short sale offer, also known as the deficiency balance, is partially under the control of the debtor. This means that the debtor is free to pay back the deficiency under their own terms. Sometimes, though rare, this debt is forgiven completely.

The advantages of a short sale are less obvious for the bank or mortgage lender. These institutions are primarily concerned with recouping their financial losses on bad or risky loans. Thus, they may choose to allow a short sale if they believe that this course of action will result in a smaller financial loss than foreclosure proceeding. Whereas a foreclosure can cost the bank or mortgage institution a certain amount of money through legal fees and court proceedings, a short sale is simply an agreement between the debtor and the lending institution and entails much less hidden costs to the lending institution. Oftentimes, a short sale is the best method for the bank to guarantee at least a partial return on a bad or defaulted loan.

A short sale is a fairly common business transaction. However, lenders do not like to view these transactions as financial favors to the debtors. Rather, these institutions view these short sales as sound financial extensions of credit. When retaining an asset makes little business sense or is economically unfeasible, a business will default on their loans. If enough of these loans are defaulted on, a bank or mortgage lender can be put in dire financial straits. Thus, a short sale is utilized to reacquire these economically unfeasible assets and recoup a portion of the extended and defaulted loans. In this manner the financial institution looses only a fraction of the accumulated debt. In these types of business short sales the deficiency balance is almost always forgiven.

There are a number of steps that debtor must take in order to secure a short sale from a bank or other financial institution. Most banks require that a Notice of Default be completed. This alerts the local government of the impending default and stipulates the location, relative value, and financial history of the defaulted property. While conditions vary from bank to bank, several levels of approval are usually required. This is often a long and complicated process for the debtor. Some banks have set limits on short sales, and these restrictions can vary in amount or type. For example, many banks won’t approve a short sale if there are tax liens held against the property. However, if approved, a short sale can be a great way to relieve debt obligation without permanently affecting your credit score.

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During the heavy economic news week of September 17, the 10-year Treasury yield jumped seventeen basis points, ending the week at 4.63%.
MondayNew York manufacturing missed estimates. 10TSY close: 4.47%
TuesdayThe FOMC lowered the Fed Funds Target Rate by 50 basis points. Energy prices pulled producer prices down significantly; core prices rose. 10TSY close: 4.48%
WednesdayAs with producer prices, consumer prices slid overall, but core prices rose. Housing Starts slipped. 10TSY close: 4.52%
ThursdayJobless Claims dropped slightly. Leading Indicators declined unexpectedly, but Philadelphia manufacturing soared. 10TSY close: 4.67%
FridayNo economic data was released. 10TSY close: 4.63%

Plenty of Data Due

Tuesday
Consumer Confidence and Existing Home Slaes are due at 10:00 Eastern.
Wednesday
Durable Goods Orders are due out at 8:30 Eastern.
Thursday
Weekly Jobless Claims are due out at their usual 8:30 Eastern time, along with final revisions to second quarter GDP. New Home Sales follow at 10:00.
Friday
Personal Income and Spending is due out at 8:30 Eastern. At the same time, monthly Core PCE figures should be released, followed by the Chicago PMI at 9:45. Construction Spending and Consumer Sentiment finish the data week at 10:00.

Durables Decline, Yields Down

Durable Goods Orders Fall
Wednesday’s report on Durable Goods Orders was expected to show a decline of about 3.5% in August, but the results were even lower – a 4.9% drop in durable goods orders overall. Without transportation equipment, which tend to sway the results widely, orders fell 1.8%. The report is a popular gauge of business sentiment, the thinking being that businesses will invest in durable goods only when their outlook is positive. Wednesday’s report reflected the largest decline in orders in seven months.
Yields Slip
The soft economic news, combined with strong interest in the 2-year Treasury auction, pushed MBS and Treasury prices up on Wednesday, lowering yields. After opening higher, the 10-year Treasury yield was down to 4.62% by the end of the day – even with the previous day’s close.
The next releases will be Weekly Jobless Claims and the final revision to second-quarter GDP at 8:30 Eastern on Thursday.

Jobless Claims Down, Economy Picks Up – Housing Drags Yields

Jobless Claims Drop
First-time Jobless Claims fell last week, contrary to what most analysts had expected. It was the lowest reading for initial claims in four months. The four-week moving average fell 9,750 to 311,500, easing some concerns about the job market.
Economy Perks Up
The final second quarter GDP results showed a rather quick 3.8% annual growth rate for the economy. Though less than the previous estimate of 4%, the revision represents a significant upside indicator for economic conditions. Changes to imports were primarily responsible for the downward revision to GDP.
New Home Sales Fall
Thursday’s report on New Home Sales reflected an 8.3% drop in purchases to an annual rate of 795,000 homes It is the largest decline since 1970 and the lowest level in seven years. While much of the economy looks healthy, housing remains a drag, and analysts do not expect to see recovery soon.
Five-Year Auction Draws Strong Demand – Yields Slip
Thursday’s five-year Treasury auction drew solid demand, lifting prices and lowering yields. Some had been concerned that worldwide demand for US debt had softened. The auction results, combined with overall soft sentiment about the economy, pushed MBS and Treasury prices higher, taking yields down. By the end of trading, the 10-year Treasury yield was down to 4.57%.
The next release will be Personal Income and Spending and Core PCE at 8:30 Eastern on Friday.

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During the heavy economic news week of September 17, the 10-year Treasury yield jumped seventeen basis points, ending the week at 4.63%.
MondayNew York manufacturing missed estimates. 10TSY close: 4.47%
TuesdayThe FOMC lowered the Fed Funds Target Rate by 50 basis points. Energy prices pulled producer prices down significantly; core prices rose. 10TSY close: 4.48%
WednesdayAs with producer prices, consumer prices slid overall, but core prices rose. Housing Starts slipped. 10TSY close: 4.52%
ThursdayJobless Claims dropped slightly. Leading Indicators declined unexpectedly, but Philadelphia manufacturing soared. 10TSY close: 4.67%
FridayNo economic data was released. 10TSY close: 4.63%

Plenty of Data Due

Tuesday
Consumer Confidence and Existing Home Slaes are due at 10:00 Eastern.
Wednesday
Durable Goods Orders are due out at 8:30 Eastern.
Thursday
Weekly Jobless Claims are due out at their usual 8:30 Eastern time, along with final revisions to second quarter GDP. New Home Sales follow at 10:00.
Friday
Personal Income and Spending is due out at 8:30 Eastern. At the same time, monthly Core PCE figures should be released, followed by the Chicago PMI at 9:45. Construction Spending and Consumer Sentiment finish the data week at 10:00.

short sales

A letter of hardship is a statement written by a debtor that main goal is to convince a bank or mortgage institution to agree to a short sale of an asset or property. A short sale is the sale of an asset or property for less than the value of mortgage or loan. This sale is a settlement between the debtor and the financial institution that allows the bank to recoup some financial losses associated with bad or defaulted loans. A short sale also allows the debtor to avoid imminent foreclosure. In order to apply for these short sales, the debtor must convince the banking institution of his or her inability to repay the loan or debt. This statement is often made in a letter of hardship.

When writing a letter of hardship, it is important to remember that the primary point of the letter is to convince the financial institution that the debtor, due to certain issues, is not likely to repay the outstanding loan. If the banking institution is properly convinced that the debtor will default on the outstanding loan or mortgage, then they may decide to agree to a short sale of the property or asset. A letter of hardship should be detailed and personal. It should describe the debtor’s current financial situation, listing current income, other loan obligations, and any potential collateral available. The letter should also attempt to explain why the debtor will likely not be able to repay the loan obligation. Remember that the individuals who will decide whether or not to issue a short sale are human. They will be more likely to issue a short sale if the debtor has incurred unforeseen debt or expenses. This unforeseen debt could be related to a death in the family, personal health problems, or any other reason that has led to the unexpected financial stress. The debtor should be honest in a letter of hardship and stress the exact reasons why he or she has fallen behind on their mortgage or loan payments.

It is estimated that loan officers receive forty to fifty applications for a short sale per a day. Less than one short sale is approved for every ten applied for. Oftentimes, a letter of hardship is what separates an approved short sale application from those applications that are denied. The letter should be truthful and personal. There are many real estate companies that offer to write a letter of hardship as part of a short sale package. While these packages are often very professional and the experience of qualified real estate agents is helpful and reassuring, a letter of hardship should only be written by the debtor. This letter should be short, usually under one page. However, there are no set rules. A compelling letter of hardship can often run two or even three pages. The debtor should try to resist the urge to list a set of excuses for his or her current financial situation. Instead, the debtor should focus on concrete reasons for why they have fallen behind on their mortgage or loan payments. Acceptable reasons for falling behind may include the death of a wage earner, unexpected health costs, or the loss of a job. Try to avoid any mention of any unexpected legal fees associated with a criminal defense or personal lawsuit as a reason for the failure to repay a loan or mortgage.