The Mortgage Debt Forgiveness Act of 2007 and the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2009 provide tax relief for debt forgiven through a short sale or foreclosure. In the Internal Revenue Code Section 108, discharge of qualified debt from the purchase of a principal residence can be excluded from income if the discharge occurs in […]

Buyers and sellers unfamiliar with the short sale process always ask if there is anything that can be done to speed up the short sale process. As I have mentioned before, there are new and improved rules that have just been formed to streamline the short sale process that will go into effect April 5, […]

Time and time again sellers, buyers and agents involved in short sale transactions complain that the process takes too long. In fact, buyers often get frustrated and leave prior to receiving approval. It isn’t uncommon to go through two or three buyers in any given short sale. This is unfortunate since it can prolong the […]

Although the number of foreclosures has been reported as going down 8% since last month, it is still up 18% over this time last year. Don’t be mislead by the numbers, foreclosures are still ocurring in large numbers and the government is actively trying to create incentives to help prevent them. The good news is […]

As reported by Reuters on Monday The U.S. Treasury released terms for mortgage companies to increase approval times on short sales and loan modification programs to reduce the numbers of foreclosures. The Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program will provide financial incentives and simplifies the procedures for completing short sales. Since the HAMP program encounters situations […]

The number of Stockton REOs has decreased as banks and investors sell REOs in bulk and foreclosures are purchased at a discount on the court house steps. Banks and investors are also starting to rent the homes they own. We expect this will provide a downward pressure on rental rates. Landlords should lock tenants into […]

The US Treasury Department has announced the formation of a new incentive program aimed at encouraging mortgage servicers to pursue short sales. Details are expected later this month. The program is expected to simplify the process of pursuing short sales by standardizing the process, documentation and timeframes. A short sale is a transaction in which […]

We continue to see in an increase in the number of short sale listings on the market. Out team is currently closing in excess of 90% of the short sales we list. Average time for approvals is 3.6 months. Patience is the key!

I have often wondered how the banking industry got us into the mess we are currently in. This recent article explains a lot. Wells Fargo sues itself. Total lack of common and business sense. And waste of money, time and effort. Maybe the Stockton short sales we process with Wells could move a little bit […]

Current housing policy is attempting to address the needs of home owners facing a cash crunch. Not being addressed however are the homeowners who now are 40 – 60% underwater with their existing mortgages. These homeowners may be able to afford the payment but some are making an economic decision not to. Many have not […]

The ARM reset issue has disappeared as long as interest rates remains at historical lows. The Option Arm problem still is a very large back cloud looming over California. With in excess of 80% of Pay Option Arm homeowners making the minimum payment each month, interest payments are not being paid and loan balances are […]

The number os Notices of Defaults filed in California reached a high in March, 42,704. These new filings are the first step in the foreclosure process and will result in an increase in the number of foreclosure down the road. The number of Notices of Trustee Sale – which are filed 3 months after a […]

The number of Stockton homes for sale has decreased as the number of Stockton foreclosures has dwindled. Good news is the "junk" Stockton foreclosures and Stockton short sales are sold! Demand far exceeds supply. There are approximately 4000 foreclosures countywide that have not hit the market and many more expected. Not quite sure what the […]

As delinquency increase so will Stockton foreclosures and Stockton short sales. HousingWire

Jumbo prime mortgages had the highest foreclosure increases in February. I expect this trend to continue as large numbers of Option Arms and Alt A loans reset. Stockton real estate prices will continue downward at the higher-end. I am experiencing an increase in the number of short sales calls I am receiving. HousingWire Article

Many have fallen prey to these economic times through no fault of their own, and are unable to keep up with their commitments. Some homeowners with adjustable-rate loans can’t make their payments when rates adjust; others fall behind because of a job loss, divorce or illness.It is estimated that more than a million homeowners will […]

Citi is moving forward with the multi-million dollar face lift of their New York headquarters. When will the insanity stop? Meanwhile I continue to experience nothing but frustration with Citi’s loss mitigation department in my ongoing effort to negotiate Stockton short sales. Yahoo! Finance

American Home Mortgage Servicing, Inc., the country’s largest independent mortgage servicer has been sued by hedge fund investor, Carrington Capital…and now AMHS is counter suing alleging racketeering. Meanwhile the number of Stockton foreclosures and short sales is growing. Can’t they all just get along? HousingWire.com Article

FHA first payment default rate are increasing dramatically as FHA becomes the only game in town for buyers with less than perfect credit and minimal downpayments. The same unscrupulous lenders that got is into the sub prime mess are now pushing FHA. /t compound the losses FHA has recently increased their lending limites and The […]