It’s recommended that homeowners first try contacting their lenders or loan servicers directly to talk about foreclosure prevention options. But if you aren’t having much luck, there are also organizations that can help by negotiating with lenders and servicers on your behalf.

Here are some of options out there.

• Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) – This program may lower your monthly payment to 31 percent of your verified monthly gross income. Typically, this is about a 40 percent drop in monthly mortgage payments.
• Principal Reduction Alternative (PRA) – Was designed to help homeowners with homes worth significantly less than what is owed to lenders.
• Second Lien Modification Program (2MP) – If your first mortgage was modified under HAMP SM and you also have a second on the property, you may be eligible for a reduction on the second mortgage as well, or your home equity loan or HELOC.
• Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) – If you are current on your mortgage, but haven’t been able to get approved for a traditional refinance because the value of your home is too low, this program may qualify you to refinance.

There are also options for unemployed homeowners, such as the Home Affordable Unemployment Program (UP), Emergency Homeowners’ Loan Program (EHLP) and FHA Forbearance for Unemployed Homeowners.

To find the option right for you, contact a representative at Real Estate Ally.

You can also answer a few simple questions online t to see if you are eligible for one of these foreclosure avoidance government programs by going here.

This number is anticipated to continue to rise to five times that rate in the next five years with over 30% of “green” home building being forecasted for 2016. Beyond 2016, builders believe over 90% of their projects will be “green.” Home buyers are seeking earth-friendly features in homes for sale, so home sellers and remodelers should take note of these statistics. Renovation work has also increased in recent years, most likely due to the shifting economy, and builders report that home remodels make up over 60% of their business, according to the recent McGraw-Hill study done in conjunction with National Association of Home Builders and Waste Management.

So, home owners and those looking for new homes with eco-friendly perks, have the “green” light! Almost half of builders (46%) have begun marketing their “green” services and are becoming well-versed in determining the best needs and options for their clients. As builders become more familiar with the processes involved with earth-friendly materials, consumer cost has decreased as well, making it a great time to upgrade your home for sale. Benefits of making these eco-friendly measures can be reduced energy costs, reduced waste, better quality of life, and peace of conscience.

There are a number of new homes for sale that offer eco friendly homes in San Diego. Here are some of the builders with new green homes available now in San Diego, in Carlsbad, Brookfield Homes is building a selection of homes for eco savvy homebuyers that offers a one story floor plan and several two story floor plans in the coastal hills of Carlsbad near the location of the proposed high school.

To get more information on the results of the Green Home Builders and Remodelers Study, click here.

Is your home sending the correct message to San Diego homebuyers?

If not, it may be time to consider hiring a gardener or getting help from family and friends to make some needed changes as soon as possible. The right gardener can transform the most jungle-like backyard into a beautifully manicured area of peace and tranquility, in as little as a day! With all the other tasks associated with selling your San Diego home, landscaping is a great project to outsource.

Before hiring a gardener, ask friends or neighbors for referrals. Once you have a few recommendations, ask questions and raise any concerns you may have with the gardeners/landscapers you decide to interview. Some key points to discuss are how often you would like service and what you need included at each visit. Services range from simple mowing to complete care, with reseeding, watering and fertilizing options. Don’t be afraid to ask your new gardener for help with ideas and improvements that could increase your property value and alert your gardener as to the property status, since there may be times when extra special service is needed (such as before an open house). You might even request that any extra cut blooms be left for you to use inside your home.
Keep in mind that a specialty garden is not the same as basic maintenance. If you have special circumstances, you may want to consider sharing written along with any verbal instructions with your chosen landscaper. Of course maintenance and seasonal costs, liability insurance and worker’s compensation coverage are all topics you will want to discuss before entering into any agreement.

Once you have begun your service, inspect the initial work and take time to notice the changes occurring in your landscaping. As you offer feedback to your gardener and become a part of the process, you will see your home evolve into a well-kept, beautifully groomed masterpiece. Your home will create the best impression possible and deliver the message you want to share with potential San Diego home buyers. Look for more tips for San Diego home sellers coming soon.

Call Loren for more details at 760-602-1000

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DEBTS

-Do not open any new credit accounts (revolving, installment or deferred payment/interest) or have any credit reports pulled.  Keep the use of your credit cards to a minimum.  A credit refresh report will be run just prior to funding and any inquiries will need to be explained and documented.  Any increase in debt will be added and considered in qualifying calculations.

ASSETS

-Cash required to close that will be wired to the escrow company…  It must come from accounts that have been verified and reflected on the application.  For a purchase transaction, provide a copy of the canceled escrow deposit check.

-Any substantial deposit that are not from payroll will need to be explained and documented.  Any transfer(s) from account(s) not on the application will need to explained and documented.

-If closing funds are currently in retirement account or securities, please provide proof of liquidation and deposit/ transfer into a liquid account that is documented and on the application. If from retirement, provide terms of liquidation, outlining any penalties or taxes due.

-If closing funds are in multiple accounts, provide proof of transfer/consolidation into the account you are using to make the final wire transfer to escrow.  Once all funds are liquidated and consolidated, provide current balance verification showing all funds needed to close.

- For gifts from family members… provide the gift letter, bank statement from donor showing ability, and paper trail / copy of check (from same donor account) and proof of  deposit into your account.  Then provide new balance statement.

- For verification of assets, online screen print outs are not accepted.  They typically do not show the full account number and/or full name and/or institutional name and logo.  Full statements with all pages are required.  If the statement says “page 1 of 15” all 15 pages must be provided, even if some pages seem irrelevant or only contain fine print information.  WIRE CLOSING FUNDS TO ESCROW AT LEAST 2 DAYS BEFORE CLOSE DATE.

-For purchase transactions…  please supply your home insurance quote and agent contact information within the next week to 10 days…  This must be provided before we submit the loan to underwriting.

OTHER MISC

-To conform to fraud protection laws, all addresses reporting on credit report must be explained.

Any inquiries must be explained and new debts must be documented.

-Employment is re-verified right before funding.  If any change in employment is anticipated or occurs during the loan process, please advise us immediately.

-If you are going to hold title in a revocable family trust, provide all pages of the trust agreement.  The Title Company may require additional trust documentation.

Brought to you by Zach Taylor with RPM Mortgage, He can be reached at 619-813-7908

Check out some of these great deals on the coast:

One of the nagging questions some potential home buyers worry about is how much further home prices will fall. This is an important question but there may be a more important question to ask. What is my monthly cost of a home? While prices are likely to fall some more, locking in a 4% mortgage rate for 30 years may be the better long term decision. I believe buying a home while there is more inventory to choose from and low, low interest rates makes sense for those home buyers that have a long term outlook, just like it does for real estate investors. Our current real estate market is being heavily supported by savvy real estate investors who have known what the Wall Street Journal and others are just now saying…Now is a great time to buy real estate in San Diego.

Coastal one story

Terrific opportunity on this upgraded coastal carlsbad one story home. 3 bedrooms, office &  loft, 3 car garage,  with many updates including granite counters, wood floors, top quality stainless appliances and more… incredibly priced $650,000. Call Loren Now 760-602-1000

Upgraded Kitchen

6737 Lonicera Street
Carlsbad, CA 92011

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6650 Cabela Place Carlsbad CA 92011

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