Help For Home Owners 2.0?

Help for home owners 2.0? This link is a video that may help you better understand how this is a better looking plan but still a tough pill to swallow. Many Idaho people are struggling right now and this may sound like good news but unless you can possibly qualify and nothing says they are writing down the principle on your loan..  That means many people will be looking back in the next few years thinking great interest rate, still under water in my home : (

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/45020283#45020283

December 31, 2012 Mortgage Debt Relief Act comes to an end

http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=179414,00.html

 

 

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Are Boise Home Values Increasing?

Are Boise home values increasing? Boise ranks in top 15 cities that listing prices are rebounding which is a good sign. As our market is starting to find traction the same problem is still there, does 10% increase in list prices equate to actual sold prices and does the 10%  really help the vast majority that are under water on their mortgage by much more? If you are experiencing hard ship for what ever reason and are in fear of foreclosure please don’t delay and call Idaho’s top Short Sale Agent Joshua Groesbeck 208-353-7131 or visit www.homeswithjosh.com or www.idshortsale.com

 

http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2011/09/23/15-cities-where-listing-prices-are-rebounding

Changes to the HAFA Program

The Treasury Department took action in December eliminating some rules it said have held back short sales through the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives program.

HAFA was launched in April 2010 to provide an incentive to servicers and investors for pursuing short sales and deeds-in-lieu of foreclosure. The program was designed for homeowners who fell out of the Treasury’s Home Affordable Modification Program and was touted as a new standard for short sales.

But both HAFA and HAMP have struggled. The Treasury has spent only $4.3 million through HAFA, inducing roughly 661 short sales since the program launched, according to the Congressional Oversight Panel, the Troubled Asset Relief Program watchdog.

With such low numbers, the Treasury has eliminated rules that have constricted eligibility for HAFA. Among them, servicers are no longer required to verify a borrower’s financial information or determine if the borrower’s total monthly mortgage payment exceeds a 31% debt-to-income ratio. Servicers still must obtain a signed hardship affidavit.

“While this requirement has set the standard for mortgage affordability under HAMP, it is not as important for homeowners ready to transition out of their home,” a Treasury official said. “Eliminating this requirement further streamlines the process for homeowners applying to the program.”

In order to get more second-lien investors to clear short sales, the Treasury changed how servicers pay out to these holders. Before, the second-lien investor had to agree to accept 6% of the unpaid principle balance owed to them, up to $6,000. But the new guidelines eliminate that 6% rule. Now, servicers on behalf of the investors determine the amount or percentage of the unpaid principal balance of the second lien to be paid to each holder.

However, the cap still remains at $6,000.

The Treasury also directed servicers to grant borrowers who request consideration for HAFA the same timeline as those who are approached by the bank. Now, all borrowers must receive a short sale agreement no later than 30 days after request.

The Treasury said it will begin reporting official HAFA numbers in the first quarter of 2011.

First Time Home Buyer Or Investment

First Time Home Buyer Or Investment!!Adorable 3 bedroom 2 bath 1144 sqft. split floor plan with quiet location near NNU. Landscaping gives very nice curb appeal to this corner lot home. Dual gates for R.V. parking on the west side of back yard. Back yard has concrete patio with mature tree providing excellent shade for those evening BBQ’s.  $69,900 you can bet that this won’t be available for long!

For more information about this home and others call Joshua Groesbeck direct at 208-353-7131 or josh@homeswithjosh.com

Banks Agreeing To Do More Short Sales

I have been saying this for at least the last 2 years and finally banks are trying to get it done. House values have been devastated over the last few years leaving more and more home owners hung out to dry. Theoretically speaking the short sale has almost become the new natural sale of your home with banks giving all kinds of incentives to sellers to do it. Of course no one wants to lose their home but if you are having trouble paying your mortgage or if it no longer makes financial sense to stay  call Josh Groesbeck  (208-353-7131) to talk about what options you may have.  Many programs are available to you and just walking away with out seeking assistance is not a good idea.

Banks are agreeing to more short sale transactions, and short sales are taking less time to sell, which is helping to clear large inventories of distressed properties more efficiently, says James J. Saccacio, RealtyTrac CEO, in releasing new housing data this week.

“This is a glimmer of hope that lenders are getting more realistic,” Rick Sharga, senior vice president of RealtyTrac, told Bloomberg News. “It’s a win for borrowers who avoid foreclosure, buyers who get a house in better condition and banks that lose less money, which is also a win for taxpayers.”

During the second quarter, the number of homes nearing foreclosure accounted for 12 percent of total home sales, with banks agreeing to more transactions at prices below the outstanding mortgage balance, RealtyTrac reported in releasing its second quarter data this week.

What’s more, pre-foreclosure homes took an average of 245 days to sell after receiving the initial foreclosure notice–that’s down from 256 days in the first quarter, RealtyTrac reports.

Sales of homes in the foreclosure process or short sales sold on average for a 21 percent discount–or an average sales price of $192,129–compared to the sales price of non-distressed homes.

Source: “Home Short Sales Increase as Banks ‘More Realistic’ on Market,” Bloomberg News (Aug. 24, 2011)

Are Short Sales The New REO

I have been helping a lot of distressed home owners for the past couple of years and the link below explains what I have been experiencing. Banks are starting to realize that the Short Sale are most of the time the best route to take. A Short Sale here in Idaho will help stop the downward trend of home prices also keeping homes from becoming more distressed. (i.e. – a beat up home is a beat down home price)

If you or someone you know is needing help with their distressed home please contact Josh Groesbeck 208-353-7131 or www.homeswithjosh.com

http://kcmblog.com/2011/06/22/are-short-sales-getting-easier/

Short Sale The New REO

One of the largest lenders Bank of America is Tripling their number of mortgage assistance centers. This bold move leads me to believe that they are preparing even more for what has become an industry standard, The Short Sale.  Many homes are being lost to financial hardship from lack of employment but tied very close to that are the people that are in homes so upside down in equity that they will not be back to even equity for many years maybe 10 to 15. It is a numbers game but if these banks really take a look (and they now are) the best way to market recovery is too embrace the Short Sale and stop the bleeding. Values will really start to form a housing bottom and those who Short Sale can be back in the market within a couple of years and help absorb some of the housing  inventory. If you or someone you know is facing hardship or an upside down mortgage call Josh Groesbeck 208-353-7131 or www.idshortsale.com

http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000020309

Startegic Defaults Are On The Rise

This is a great article below on Strategic Defaults- I was listening in on a webinar conference with the Vice President, Portfolio Retention, REO and Short Sales for Western US at Bank of America Home Loans...He made a comment about how people who bought their home at or near the peak will most likely see the value back in their home somewhere around the year 2030And if that seems like a long time, that’s because it is.. Now that is a pretty bold statement and we hope that’s not the case.  Banks for years have used Strategic Defaults with plenty of money to spare but if a homeowner is sitting in a bad assest they are frowned upon. As I have represented many people short selling their homes there is always some pride that is lost- Somebody please tell me when a bank is defaulting, do they feel bad or is it just a smart business decision? Read more below..

Joshua Groesbeck 208-353-7131 or josh@homeswithjosh.com

A growing number of home owners whose homes have dropped drastically in value are deciding to stop paying their mortgage and walk away from the property, even though they can afford to keep making the payments–a move known as strategic default.

The exact number of strategic defaults is unknown. A study conducted by the Federal Reserve Board showed that half of home owners who walked away from their home owed twice what their house was worth.

From celebrities to prominent business people to the average home owner, strategic default is a growing option more home owners are taking. For example, Morgan Stanley walked away last year from a $1.5 billion mortgage on five buildings in San Francisco despite record-breaking profits in 2009.

For some, strategic default has spurred a debate over ethics.

“Most people considering strategic default come to me and want my permission,” says Ronald Kaniuk, a foreclosure defense lawyer. “People who cannot pay their mortgage are apologetic. For people who can afford their mortgage or can just barely afford their mortgage and see it as a losing investment, they want absolution.”

But the stigma attached to strategic defaults is influenced by how many other people are doing it, says Luigi Zingales, an economist and professor at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.

“Once you think it’s socially acceptable, it becomes easier to do,” Zingales says. But Zingales cautions home owners that strategic defaults hamper neighbors’ property values and can affect the home owner’s credit scores. Plus it can become a question of ethics–they are breaking a commitment they made to pay back the mortgage.
Source: “Some Homeowners who can Afford the Mortgage Still Default as a Strategy,” The Palm Beach Post (Feb. 27, 2011

Boise Bench Short Sale

Solid Boise Bench home is located in a quiet cul-de-sac. Garage has been converted into another bedroom or office.  2 beds 1 full bath a kitchen with upgraded counters with breakfast bar. Park your car in the car port and use the large concrete pad for your work trailer or R.V. $104,936

For more information please visit www.homeswitjosh.com or call Josh Groesbeck direct 208-353-7131 or josh@homeswithjosh.com

HAMP Struggling With Cancellations Or Rejections

Below are numbers for Bank of America, JP Morgan, Citi Mortgage, Wells Fargo and how they have been doing with HAMP ( Home Made Affordable Program)- Is your lender trying to foreclose on you? Would you like to minimize the damage to your credit and avoid foreclosure?     FREE CONSULTATION AND FREE SERVICE Joshua Groesbeck 208-353-7131 or josh@homeswithjosh.com

As of November 30, 2010, there were an estimated 1,420,048 borrowers eligible for HAMP who are 60 or more days delinquent.

The servicer performance report released Monday by Treasury revealed that as of the final day of 2010 there are a total of 521,630 active permanent modifications and 152,289 active trial modifications.

By contrast there have been 1,025,907 homeowners rejected for HAMP modifications by the eight largest servicers, and there have been 572,655 canceled trial modifications.

To date there have been 1,466,448 HAMP trials started.

The report details numbers reported for several servicers, including the Bank of America (BofA), Citi, JP Morgan Chase, and Wells Fargo. Though the “big four” banks are leading the pack in numbers of modifications, the numbers are quite low over all when contrasted with the 3 to 4 million homeowners HAMP projected to help by 2012.

On top of that, it seems the pace of modifications is slowing dramatically.

Bank of America has the highest number of modifications of all surveyed servicers. The company reported it currently has 45,753 active trial modifications and 90,243 active permanent modifications.

In June, BofA reported it had completed 72,323 permanent modifications so far. The servicer completed just 6,484 modifications nationwide from November to December 2010.

BofA also has 199,196 homeowners in canceled HAMP trial modifications, and 114,531 homeowners who were not accepted for HAMP trial modifications. Of those homeowners, 18,031 are currently in the process of alternative modifications, 18,572 are in the process of short sales or deeds in lieu, 35,872 are experiencing foreclosure starts and 12,549 have completed foreclosures.

CitiMortgage reported a total of 42,746 active permanent modifications at year-end, and 7,415 active trial modifications. Citi has 81,329 homeowners in canceled trial mods and 128,665 homeowners who were not accepted for HAMP trial modifications, with 34,369 in the process of alt mods, 3,370 going through a short sale or deed in lieu, 8,864 foreclosure starts and 4,527 foreclosure completions.

JP Morgan reported 66,441 active permanent modifications, 20,7999 active trial modifications, and 113,997 in canceled trial mods. The servicer has denied the most homeowners HAMP modifications, at 334,462. Of those homeowners, 101,136 are in the process of alternative modification, 9,892 are in the process of short sales or deeds in lieu, 35,676 are experiencing foreclosure starts and 8,994 are in the process of foreclosure completions.

Wells Fargo reported 70,135 active permanent modifications and 18,526 trial modifications, as well as 118,395 in canceled mods. Wells has 172,387 homeowners who were not accepted for a HAMP trial modification, of those, 47,818 are pursuing alternative modifications, 10,550 are in the process of short sales or deeds in lieu. There are 18,914 foreclosure starts and 11,340 completed foreclosures.

The performance report says the most common causes of trial cancellations are insufficient documentation, trial plan payment default, and borrower ineligibility. Most common causes of trials not accepted are insufficient documentation, borrower ineligibility, or mortgage ineligibility.

Interestingly, Citi and JP Morgan experienced a decline in active permanent modifications from November to December.

Cumulative permanent mods recorded for Citi and JPMorgan in November 2010, were 52,856 and 67,722, respectively.