Get Socially Savvy with Sara

Your Clients Are Looking for You !

2018-09-20T13:40:00.000-07:00

CAN THEY FIND YOU?

WHAT WILL THEY FIND?

Consumers are online - so agents you need to be too!!

Building relationships and word of mouth is still the best tool.

But a captivating online presence is a must with the savvy consumers you are trying to target today. Providing useful and helpful information, continually demonstrating your value proposition will help you stay relevant and vital in your ever changing market.

REALTORS!! How many of you have read your trade paper this month? Realtor Magazine had an article on page 4.

Are you staying at the top of your game?

Are you sharpening your tools to be better then the REALTOR next to you?

"Consumer expectations are driving industry demand.Grooming your online presence will keep you front and center."

-Nar President Elizabeth Mendenhall

FREE weekly training for agents

Wednesday's

10 AM - 12 PM

13920 City Center Dr Suite 260

Chino Hills CA 91709

Sara James Forkel

909-313-6974

Email Me

Posting on Blogger

2016-02-25T07:05:00.000-08:00

2016 Housing Expectations

2016-02-23T14:32:00.002-08:00

Happy Hump Day

2016-01-20T07:44:00.000-08:00

PCT's Team Forkel

2016-01-15T07:43:00.003-08:00

Step by Step Blogger posting

2016-01-15T07:42:00.001-08:00

Daily Inspiration

2016-01-15T07:30:00.000-08:00

Scheduling Posts on Blogger

2016-01-05T09:00:00.000-08:00

Update your PacificCoastAgent app today

2015-12-15T14:44:00.000-08:00

6 ESSENTIAL APPS FOR ANY TRAVELER

2015-08-04T17:19:00.000-07:00

Traveling to another country can be difficult – language barriers, getting lost, etc. can turn a fun vacation into an unimaginable nightmare. Luckily, modern technology makes travelling easier than ever before. Here are the 6 essential apps for any traveler.

1. Overcoming the Language Barrier

When travelling to a different country, one may find that the locals don’t speak your language, and signs aren’t always in English. In comes the new Google Translate app, with its incredible live translation of signs and speech. The application is very fast and simple to use, and can make your life a whole lot easier in a foreign country.

Free – Android & iOS

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2. Getting Situated

Another problem travelers might encounter is not knowing their surroundings. It’s easy to get lost in a place you don’t know, and if you could have sworn that your hotel “was here somewhere”, it’s time to let your phone do the work for you. Google Maps is Google’s navigation app. It can help you by providing walking directions, driving directions, and even public transportation directions.

Free – Android & iOS

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3. Driving Around

If you’re renting a car, you’ll need the best driving navigation app available today – Waze. Also owned by Google, Waze is the most efficient navigation app available today. The app uses information from other users to find you the fastest routes, bypass traffic, warn you about police and traffic cams, road hazards, and more.

Free – Android & iOS

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4. What is it in Dollars?

Want to find out how much a new souvenir will cost you? What about how much this dinner is in your home currency? XE Currency is the best currency conversion application around. Just input the value, select the currency, and you’re good to go.

Free – Android & iOS

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5. Where to Eat

If you’re not one for tourist traps and prefer to eat authentic local cuisine or want to try a local dish a certain town is known for, then you’ll want to download Foodspotting. This app will provide you with local recommendations for almost anywhere in the world, provide you with a list of nearby restaurants, and can learn to predict your next craving for a specific dish.

Free – Android & iOS

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6. Tipping

Tipping too little can be embarrassing, and tipping too much is also an unpleasant experience. Once more, your smartphone can help you here. What you need is a tip translator, meaning it can tell you what the local tipping customs is and calculate the amount you need to leave based on your check and percentage.

Free - Tipping Bird for Android | $0.99 GlobalTipping for iOS

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Source

Guide to Using Your Computer's 'F' Keys

2015-08-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered what those twelve, mysterious 'F' keys at the top of your computer keyboard do? Most of us ignore them but they actually have a number of uses that can help you enjoy a quicker and more efficient computer experience. Known more properly as the 'Function Keys', some are more useful that others and many of them have different functions depending on the programmes you are using. Our simple guide gives you are all the information you need about the uses of the 'F' keys so that they are a mystery no more!

Nearly every programme uses F1 as a Help Key. So if you are on the internet for example and press F1, your browser will automatically bring up a help page. If you are in Microsoft Word and press F1 you will be taken to the extensive help section.

On your Windows Desktop, pressing F2 allows you to quickly rename a file or folder. So if you want to give a more specific name to your 'Photos' folder for example, click on it once using your mouse (not twice as that will open the folder), then press F2. The name of the folder will be highlighted so you can type over it.
If you are in Microsoft Word, press F2 along with the 'ALT' and 'CTRL' keys on your keyboard to open a new document quickly and easily.
Also in Microsoft Word, CTRL + F2 opens the 'Print Preview Screen' to give fast access to your printer options.

F3 opens a 'search' feature in nearly all programmes including Windows, Google Chrome and Internet Explorer. This search feature helps you find a key word in a text easily so you can move straight to the section of a document or web page that you need to see.
In Microsoft Word, press SHIFT + F3 to change the first letter of a word to Upper Case. Press it again to make the entire word UPPER CASE. Press it a third time to return the word to its original lower case.

If you are using Internet Explorer, pressing F4 will open the address bar so that you can quickly type in a new web address.
If you are in Microsoft Word, press F4 to repeat your last action.
Press ALT + F4 together to close the programme you are using, such as your internet browser, Microsoft Word or your Photos Folder.

If you are browsing the internet, press F5 to refresh or reload the page you are looking at.
If you are using Microsoft Word, this opens the useful 'Find and Replace' function. This allows you to automatically replace one word with another throughout a text without having to go through each one-by-one.

F6 will move your cursor to the address bar in nearly all Internet Browsers including Internet Explorer, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. This allows to type in a new web address and move to another web page efficiently and quickly.
In Microsoft Word, press CTRL + SHIFT + F6 together to open a new document while keeping the document you are currently working on in a separate window.
On your laptop, pressing F6 can reduce your volume (this works on many laptops, but not all laptops).

This key is not used by most internet browsers, but in Microsoft Word and other programmes it will bring up your Spell Checker and Grammar Checker.
Press SHIFT + F7 in Microsoft Word to run a thesaurus on a word you have highlighted so you can check for a word which has a similar meaning.
On your laptop, pressing F7 can increase your volume (this works on many laptops, but not all laptops).

This key's main use is to access Safe Mode when your computer is starting up. Safe Mode is used when you have a problem with you PC, allowing you to open it with limited programmes. We recommend you seek help with using safe mode unless you are experienced with fixing computer problems.

Pressing F9 has no function in internet browsers but it will refresh your document in Microsoft Word.
If you use Microsoft Outlook as your email inbox, pressing F9 will immediately trigger an email you have sent, without the usual time delay.
On your laptop, pressing F9 can reduce your screen's brightness (this works on many laptops, but not all laptops).

Press F10 to activate the menu bar in your internet browser or programmes like Microsoft Word. In newer versions of Microsoft Word, this also brings up a display of some handy shortcuts to menu options such as 'File' and 'Edit'.
Press SHIFT + F10 as an alternative to right clicking your mouse on a file or internet link. On your internet browser, this brings up a series of easily clickable options, such as 'reload' and 'go back to previous web page'.
On your laptop, pressing F10 can increase your screen's brightness (this works on many laptops, but not all laptops).

Press F11 to enter and exit full screen mode on your Internet Browser. Really useful if you are watching a video!

Press F12 to open the 'Save As' option when using Microsoft Word.
Press CTRL and F12 together to open a new document when using Microsoft Word.
Press SHIFT and F12 together to automatically save a document in Microsoft Word.
Press CTRL + SHIFT + F12 together to immediately print a document in Microsoft Word.

Whats Happened this week in the housing market

2015-07-21T14:26:00.000-07:00

	In testimony to Congress, Fed Chair Janet Yellen signaled that the Fed would likely raise policy rates later this year. The first hike is expected in September.

	Retail sales slipped slightly in June, raising some concerns that the economy could be slowing down. Slow economic growth is good for mortgage rates.

	Greece has finally agreed to terms for financial bailout in Europe. The recent turmoil supporting rates will likely no longer be a factor.

	The NAHB reports builder confidence at the highest level since 2005. More builders are optimistic about current and future sales conditions for new homes.

	Foreclosure activity was at the lowest level in a decade during the first half of 2015. Foreclosure starts are below pre-crisis levels, signaling housing market strength.

	First-time buyers are gaining confidence and continue to join the housing market. Their participation has increased from 27% to 32% of the market year-over-year.

A young businessman had just started his own firm. He rented a beautiful office and had it furnished with antiques. Sitting there, he saw a man come into the outer office. Hoping to look like a hot shot, the businessman picked up the phone and started to pretend he was working on a big, important business deal.

He threw huge figures around and made giant commitments. Finally, he hung up and asked the visitor, "Can I help you?"

The man said, "Yeah, I've come to activate your phone lines."

Shared with me By Shannon Martinez

Mortgage Banker
NMLS 267394
(626) 255-7605
smartinez@envoymortgage.com
ShannonMartinezLender.com

Envoy Mortgage, NMLS #6666

The Healthiest People in the World & How They Got That Way

2015-07-21T14:21:00.004-07:00

The Secret to Achieving Old Age

We all want to enjoy as many healthy years as possible. But the secret to a long life is not a simple one, rather, it is made up of many little secrets, that include: Eating habits, daily routines, good genetics, avoidance of certain materials as well as good sleep and good mental health.

So what ARE these secrets, specifially? Why do some countries have a higher average age than others, while some individuals live significantly longer than 100 years? and what can people do to prolong the life span they have been given at birth, and so spend more time with their family and loved ones? We don't have all of the answers, but we do have some valuable information and recommendations for you!

Video Marketing Tips

2013-12-11T07:30:00.000-08:00

Real Estate Video Marketing – As you may have heard in one of our most recent posts, this is one of the most overlooked niches still today, as only 4% of agents are actually taking advantage of this tactic and 74% of sellers want an agent that uses video to market listing (according to Realtor.com).

Video can draw a multitude of visitors, can be reproduced multiple times without duplicate content issues, gets ranked very well in Google and can totally go viral with social sharing. If you are not currently using this, then you must integrate this into your real estate marketing plan today!

Video Share Sites

1. YouTube YouTube isn't just an American favorite; it’s popular throughout the world. For More on YouTube Reviews.

2. Break The majority of the videos on Break are humorous, whether they are bloopers and

blunders caught on video or scripted clips created by users. More on Break

3. Vimeo Vimeo is quickly becoming both a popular video share website and a social

networking site. More on Vimeo

4. LiveStream This site is basically an all in one broadcast solution for video. You can create,

edit, and add things similar to broadcast companies could add.

5. Operator11 Go live with your camera and create your own channels. You can also send

video comments and remix your videos.

Recording Your Video Tips

~ Your Smart Phone or standard digital camera to take short video segments of each room or feature of the property. Keep the video segments to 10-15 seconds, just enough to describe what the viewer is watching. The goal is to create a video that is about 2-3 minutes long.

~ Have someone hold the camera or take along a tripod to do it yourself.

~ Feature yourself in the opening scene to introduce the property, and at the end to thank viewers for taking the video tour.

~ Consider creating permanent opening and closing video segments that you can

use with every video. In this way, you can have a polished, consistent opening

scene and closing scene. Then when you take the video segments at each

location, you need only take the segments for that property.

~ Inside the property, make sure to turn on all the lights, ceiling fans, fireplaces,

etc. so that you can capture these features in motion. As you’re shooting your

individual video segments, be sure to pan slowly so that you don’t create a blurry

video.

~ When taking each video segment, don’t start speaking until 1-2 seconds after

hitting record, and leave 1-2 seconds after speaking before stopping the

recording. ( you don’t want to cut your voice off!)

Have fun and remember to smile for the camera!

Help to make you Presentations Memoerable

2013-11-04T07:30:00.000-08:00

5 Reasons We Forget Presentations from Rexi Media

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Parkfield Escrow Real Estate Agent Education Opportunity

2013-11-03T19:30:00.000-08:00

Homes4Love Video

2013-11-03T12:12:00.000-08:00

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Walk To End Alzheimer's at Angel Stadium | Nov. 16, 2013

2013-11-03T10:24:00.002-08:00

Walk To End Alzheimer's at Angel Stadium | Nov. 16, 2013 from Socially Savvy PR

Homes 4 Love Team will be there stop by our both or join our team and walk with us to fight this terrible disease.

For more about Homes4Love visit our website!

What Does it Take to Amend the CC&Rs?

2013-09-13T09:36:00.000-07:00

One of the questions that we are often asked is “What is required to amend the CC&Rs?” Civil Code section 1355 (Civil Code section 4270 starting in 2014) provides that an amendment to CC&Rs is effective after all of the following requirements have been met:

The requisite approval of the percentage of owners as required by the governing documents has been obtained,
Written certification of the approval by an officer of the association, and
Recordation of the amendment

While the specific approval required must be determined by looking at the specific set of CC&Rs, most such documents require the approval of a super-majority of owners, typically 67% of the total voting power. If the CC&Rs are silent on the required percentage of owner approval necessary to amend the CC&Rs, then Civil Code section 1355 provides that an amendment may be approved by a majority of all members.

If there are multiple classes of membership, it is not uncommon for the CC&Rs to require the approval of a super-majority of each class of members to also be required. In addition, certain types of amendments may require the approval of first mortgagees (the banks who hold the mortgages on the various units or residences in the association), or even the city. The types of amendments which require the approval of the first mortgagees are spelled out in the CC&Rs, and typically are limited to amendments which could adversely impact the security interest of the mortgagee, such as amendments changing the manner in which assessments are imposed or allocated among the various owners.

How Do We Vote?

Once the required approval percentage is determined, the Davis-Stirling Act requires that voting on the proposed amendment must be done by the double envelope secret ballot process set forth in Civil Code section 1363.03(b) (Civil Code section 5115 starting in 2014), with the votes counted at an open meeting so that the vote counting can be observed by the members. The ballot must contain the proposed amendment to be voted on by the members.

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ATTACHING JUDGMENT LIEN TO REAL ESTATE

2013-09-12T09:23:00.000-07:00

Any lien on any real estate, consensual or judicial, must appear in the county land records to be effective. Once a judgment is "docketed" in the county land records, it constitutes a lien on all real estate owned by the debtor in that county.⁵ Once docketed, a judgment lien works very much like a mortgage. The judgment runs interest at the judgment rate. The creditor can foreclose on the judgment lien and auction the property through judicial process.

If the judgment lien has attached to real estate, the judgment creditor will often want to simply be patient and wait. The judgment continues to run interest at the judgment rate awarded or the legal rate of 9% in the state of Virginia⁶ and 10% in Maryland⁷. This is currently much higher than market savings or mortgage rates. The real estate will usually continue to appreciate in value. If there is an existing prior mortgage, the judgment debtor will continue to pay it down. As a result of all of these factors, the judgment creditor’s position normally becomes stronger with time, once the judgment has attached to real estate.

If the judgment debtor has only personal property and no real estate, the situation is very different. Personal property depreciates with time, can be damaged and can be easily hidden. Real estate is not going anywhere. One of two things will eventually happen with a judgment lien on real estate. If the debtor is financially viable, he will eventually have to pay off the judgment lien in order to sell or refinance the property. One day, the telephone will ring and someone will want to know where to send the check.

If the debtor is insolvent, a prior mortgage holder may eventually foreclose. If there is enough equity in the property, this will also result in payment to the judgment creditor. The property may have already been encumbered by one large mortgage, multiple mortgages or other judgment liens. In this case, it is possible for a judgment lien creditor to be under secured or completely unsecured. If a prior mortgage holder forecloses in this case, the judgment creditor may get nothing and the judgment lien is eliminated. The only good news is that the judgment lien creditor did not expend additional legal fees in foreclosing on the real estate.

It is expensive to enforce a judgment lien on real estate. This requires a lawsuit involving the property owner, all mortgage holders, all judgment lien holders and anyone else with an interest in the property. A commissioner in chancery or special master often hears the case and must be paid hourly for this purpose. A title search on the property is necessary and the foreclosure auction must be advertised in the newspaper. It is practically impossible to recover attorney’s fees incurred foreclosing on a judgment lien. It is also impossible to settle such a case by agreement, unless the judgment debtor is solvent.

Accordingly, it is often the best strategy for a judgment creditor to simply wait. If judgment creditors are impatient and insist on foreclosing on the judgment lien, this will result in high costs and a lower chance of recovery. Foreclosure is normally a good strategy only if the judgment debtor has the ability to pay the judgment or the judgment is large and there is ample equity in the property.

The judgment will not attach to the real estate unless it is docketed in the name of the property owner. Therefore, it is important to look ahead and know the name of the property owner before filing the lawsuit to obtain a judgment. Common problems involve, married names, trade names, middle names and initials. It is normally possible to list a defendant more than once, with variations of their names. Then the judgment will be entered in all variations of the name, and is more likely to attach to property.

In Virginia and Maryland, a judgment in the circuit court will automatically be docketed in the land records of that county.⁸ A judgment in the district court, however, is not automatically docketed. The creditor must obtain an abstract of the judgment from the district court and have the judgment docketed in the circuit court land records.

Judgment liens on real estate are also county specific. A judgment docketed in one county will not attach to real estate in another county. Again the creditor must request an abstract of the judgment from the original court of entry and then have that judgment docketed in any county in which the debtor owns real estate. Docketing a judgment is relatively cheap, so it is often a good strategy to simply have judgment docketed in multiple surrounding counties, where the debtor may own property.

If the judgment debtor owns real estate in another state, the process is similar, but somewhat more complicated and expensive. The creditor must have their judgment "domesticated" in the state where the real estate is located. Most states including Maryland and Virginia have adopted the Uniform Enforcement of Judgment Act.⁹ In these states, the domestication process is simpler, cheaper and faster. The creditor must obtain a "triple seal" abstract from the court where the judgment was entered. This abstract is then mailed to the court in the new state, along with domestication forms. The judgment debtor receives notice, normally by certified mail. The debtor has no ability to avoid judgment in the new state, except on procedural due process grounds. In other words, the debtor can show that it was not properly served in the original court or that the court lacked personal jurisdiction. The judgment debtor cannot, however, reargue the merits of the case and whether they owe the creditor money. This is normally true even in the case of a default judgment. Some states, however, have not adopted the Uniform Enforcement of Judgment Act. In such states, it is necessary to actually file a new lawsuit in the state where the real estate is located.

Docketing a judgment in the land records is normally so easy and inexpensive that a judgment creditor will normally want to have the judgment docketed in all counties in which the judgment debtor will ever possibly obtain an interest in real estate. A judgment lien normally lasts for at least a decade and can normally be extended for decades more.¹⁰ Over the passage of this time, many things can happen causing the judgment to attach to real estate.

Once a judgment is docketed in a county, if the judgment debtor ever buys real estate in that county the judgment lien will immediately attach. Real estate often passes by inheritance. If your judgment debtor’s parents live in as certain county, this is reason enough to have the judgment docketed there. If real estate is owned by tenants by the entirety, a judgment against just one tenant will not attach. If the parties’ later divorce or the non-debtor passes away, the judgment will immediately attach. Docketing a judgment is so cheap and lasts so long, it is often worthwhile to docket the judgment in any county in which the debtor, lives, may live in the future, or has relatives.

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Ability to Repay and Qualified Mortgage Standards Under the Truth in Lending Act (Regulation Z)

2013-09-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

AT A GLANCE

Status:Final Rule

Issued Date: January 10, 2013

Published Date: January 30, 2013

Effective Date: January 10, 2014

Docket no. CFPB-2011-0008
CFPB-2012-0022

Read common consumer questions about mortgages.

The CFPB amended Regulation Z, which implements the Truth in Lending Act (TILA). Regulation Z currently prohibits a creditor from making a higher-priced mortgage loan without regard to the consumer’s ability to repay the loan. The final rule implements sections 1411 and 1412 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act), which generally require creditors to make a reasonable, good faith determination of a consumer’s ability to repay any consumer credit transaction secured by a dwelling (excluding an open-end credit plan, timeshare plan, reverse mortgage, or temporary loan) and establishes certain protections from liability under this requirement for “qualified mortgages.” The final rule also implements section 1414 of the Dodd-Frank Act, which limits prepayment penalties. Finally, the final rule requires creditors to retain evidence of compliance with the rule for three years after a covered loan is consummated.

This page contains resources to help you understand the rule and its implications.

The rule

Final rules submitted to the Federal Register

July 10, 2013:We issued a final rule amending certain provisions of the rule. It is based on a proposed rule issued in April 2013.
January 10, 2013: We issued the document containing this final rule. On January 30, 2013, the Office of the Federal Register published the final rule.
May 29, 2013: We issued a final rule amending certain provisions of the rule. It is based on a proposed rule issued in January.

EFFECTIVE DATE

This rule is effective January 10, 2014.

BREAKDOWN OF THE DOCUMENT’S CONTENTS

This document contains the following parts:

Preamble summarizing why we are issuing the rule, our legal authority, reasoning behind the rule, responses to comments, and analysis of the benefits, costs, and impacts of the rule
Regulatory text, which, when effective, will amend Regulation Z and can be found on page 638 in the document above
Official interpretations of the rules which can be found on page 690 in the document above

Compliance guide and related information

COMPLIANCE GUIDE

Read the Small Entity Compliance Guide to learn more about the rule in a plain language and FAQ format which makes the content more accessible for a broad array of industry constituents, especially smaller businesses with limited legal and compliance staff. Or watch our video on YouTube to learn more about the rule.

ABILITY-TO-REPAY/QUALIFIED MORTGAGE COMPARISON CHART

Review our comparison chart, which compares the general Ability-to-Repay requirements with the requirements for originating Qualified Mortgage loans.

What this means for consumers

The new rule will go into effect on January 10, 2014. This summary outlines some of the ways we expect it to impact consumers who have residential mortgage loans. Download the consumer summary.

Proposals

CONCURRENT PROPOSAL

The CFPB is proposing to amend Regulation Z, which implements the Truth in Lending Act (TILA). The Dodd-Frank Act requires creditors to make a reasonable, good faith determination of a consumer’s ability to repay any consumer credit transaction secured by a dwelling (excluding an open-end credit plan, timeshare plan, reverse mortgage, or temporary loan) and establishes certain protections from liability under this requirement for “qualified mortgages.” The Bureau is proposing certain amendments to the final rule implementing these requirements, including exemptions for certain nonprofit creditors and certain homeownership stabilization programs and an additional definition of a qualified mortgage for certain loans made and held in portfolio by small creditors. The Bureau is also seeking feedback on whether additional clarification is needed regarding the inclusion of loan originator compensation in the points and fees calculation.

View the concurrent proposal here.

You can also view, as individual documents, the concurrent proposal’s preamble, regulatory text, and official interpretations.

RELATED PROPOSALS

June 21, 2013: We issued a proposed rule with request for public comment that proposed certain amendments for several of the final mortgage rules we issued in January 2013. This proposal was published in the Federal Register on July 2, 2013. You can also review comments submitted on the electronic docket.

May 11, 2011: The Office of the Federal Register published the following proposed rule issued by the Federal Reserve Board.

June 5, 2012: The Office of the Federal Register published a a notice reopening the comment period specifically for certain new data and information. That notice, and comments received, are available online: Notice of Reopening of Comment Period to seek comment on certain new data and information submitted during or obtained after the close of the original comment period.

April 19, 2013: We issued a proposed rule with request for public comment that amends some of the final mortgage rules issued by the bureau in January of 2013. Specifically, it amends this rule and the mortgage servicing rule.

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Socially Savvy Agent Training Class 9-18-2013

2013-09-10T09:30:00.000-07:00

Social Media Training with Socially Savvy Sara Forkel at Coldwell Banker First Premier Realty Ontario CA.

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Proven, successful real estate prospecting strategies !

2013-09-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

Calling expired real estate listings (perhaps their listing price was too high or their previous agent was not of the highest quality; a word of caution - these people are likely frustrated with real estate agents and so you must work extra hard to convince them that you are hardworking and smart)

Talking to For Sale By Owners (over 85% of people trying to sell their own homes give up and hire an agent)

Going door-to-door

Calling past clients

Sending holiday cards/ small gifts with your name and contact information (my family is a big fan of magnets)

Calling people in your social network (everybody knows someone that wants to buy or sell a house)

Calling out-of-town owners (a lot of them may be facing frustrations with managing a home from a distance and be ready to sell)

Sending a notice to your alumni or fraternity/sorority newsletter (there could be alumni in your area)

Paying for the White Pages to make your name distinct, such as bold or large lettering

Organizing neighborhood parties (what better way to build rapport with the people that live around you)

Creating a quarterly neighborhood newspaper that includes news such as weddings, honors, college acceptances, move ins and outs, selling prices of homes, etc (of course the newsletter will include your photo and contact information)

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2013-08-30T01:10:00.003-07:00

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Proven, successful real estate prospecting strategies include:

Calling expired real estate listings (perhaps their listing price was too high or their previous agent was not of the highest quality; a word of caution - these people are likely frustrated with real estate agents and so you must work extra hard to convince them that you are hardworking and smart)
Talking to For Sale By Owners (over 85% of people trying to sell their own homes give up and hire an agent)
Going door-to-door
Calling past clients
Sending holiday cards/ small gifts with your name and contact information (my family is a big fan of magnets)
Calling people in your social network (everybody knows someone that wants to buy or sell a house)
Calling out-of-town owners (a lot of them may be facing frustrations with managing a home from a distance and be ready to sell)
Sending a notice to your alumni or fraternity/sorority newsletter (there could be alumni in your area)
Paying for the White Pages to make your name distinct, such as bold or large lettering
Organizing neighborhood parties (what better way to build rapport with the people that live around you)
Creating a quarterly neighborhood newspaper that includes news such as weddings, honors, college acceptances, move ins and outs, selling prices of homes, etc (of course the newsletter will include your photo and contact information)

Why you want to refinance before fall

2013-08-29T17:20:00.000-07:00

Considering refinancing your mortgage? If you hold off
until the fall, you might not be able to afford it.
If you've been putting off that mortgage refinance you've been thinking about, beware: you might
not be able to afford it - or even qualify - if you wait until fall.
Why? Rising interest rates, an improving economy, and impending stricter lending guidelines
mean waiting a few months to refinance a mortgage could be a costly mistake.
Here are three reasons mortgage experts say you should refinance before fall arrives.
The Government May Stop Investing In Mortgage-Backed Securities
Are you holding off on a refinance until the government confirms the economy is improving?
Doing so could make your refinance more expensive. Why?
In March 2013, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the Fed may adjust the pace of
buying mortgage-backed securities according to the pace of economic recovery - which means
slowing purchases if the economy improves.
The problem is that the buying of mortgage-backed securities has been a large contributor to
rates staying low, says Dean Vlamis, VP of Residential Lending at Perl Mortgage in Chicago, IL.
In fact, rates have already jumped in recent weeks since the Federal Reserve Board starting
hinting at ending the buying program. For example, the average interest rate in May 2013 for
a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 3.54 percent, and jumped to 4.07 percent for June 2013,
according to Freddie Mac.
So with rates already on the rise, the time to lock in a rate is now - before they go up even more.
Tightening Credit Guidelines May Make it Difficult to Qualify
Though they won't come into effect until January 10, 2014, changes are coming to laws that
govern how strict lenders have to be when qualifying borrowers for mortgages, including
refinances. And your lender may soon start getting ready to use the new guidelines.
Amendments to the Dodd-Frank Act, a consumer protection rule that identifies mortgage
qualification criteria, will require lenders to confirm at least eight criteria through third-party
documentation, including other debts, child support and alimony payments, and income.
Because of these stricter qualifying standards, prospective homeowners may find it difficult to
get approved for a loan.
And don't be surprised if the guidelines start changing before January 10th.
"Some lenders may adopt tighter credit guidelines later this year in anticipation of new DoddFrank rules set to take effect in January 2014," says Mayfield.
So, to avoid the extra paperwork and tighter application requirements, homeowners should
refinance now - before their lenders implement these changes.
Improving House Prices
The median existing single-family home price rose a whopping 12.9 percent in the 12-month
period from May 2012 to May 2013, according to the National Association of Realtors. And
while the real estate market is improving, it may not be good news if you're planning a fall
refinance.
"For the first time in years home values are increasing," Vlamis says. And while higher home
values give refinancers more equity in their homes, Vlamis also cautions that an improving real
estate market also means that interest rates are likely to rise even higher - so you have to act soon
to reap the benefits.
What's more, Mayfield says it can take longer for a loan refinance application to be approved
than a mortgage on a new home purchase. And with the housing market improving, refinance
applicants may be waiting in a long line to get their paperwork processed.
"Borrowers should be aware that lenders typically give priority to purchase loan applications
over refinances," says Mayfield. In fact, borrowers who want to refinance in the fall may have to
wait longer for their transactions to close as the purchase market continues to pick up, she warns.

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Why you want to refinance before fall