​5 tips for creating fall curb appeal March 16, 2016

 

(BPT) – Soon, all things pumpkin spice will be here, including the home visitors that bring them. In preparation of the door bell ringing, create a little spice of your own with some seasonal curb appeal. You don't have to limit yourself to pumpkins and hay bales – below are tips and projects for sprucing up your home's view from the curb this season.

Front door, first impressions

Your front door is one of the first things people notice about your home. Give your door a fresh face with a coat of paint in a bold fall color to draw the eye to this focal point of your home.

Another project is to replace the door entirely. Consider options with decorative glass accents, and stunning sidelights (windows on either side of the door) to add more natural light while maintaining a sense of style and privacy. Plus, as temperatures start to drop, Energy Star -qualified entry doors will help maintain your home's energy efficiency. For entry door inspiration check out Pinterest, your resident showroom or your local home improvement store.

Accessorize with new hardware

Replace your front door hardware for a quick, easy facelift. Choose hardware finishes that compliment light fixtures, mailbox and house numbers for a polished, cohesive look. You'll be delightfully surprised what a difference new hardware can make in creating an updated look to your home.

Refresh exterior body and trim colors

For a dramatic change, repaint your home's exterior. It's bold and can make your home stand out from other homes on the block. Not up for the bold change? To make an impact with a smaller change, add new trim colors. When updating trim, choose color schemes that match your home's primary exterior color, or complement it with a fresh twist.

Create points of interest with plants

You don't have to stop enjoying beautiful plants and flowers simply because summer is over. Add pops of color by arranging pots filled with hearty fall flowers like mums, sedum or asters around your front door, or on a porch or deck. Incorporate planters or container gardens of varied sizes, shapes and colors to add visual interest.

Accent with lighting

As summer light fades into shorter, darker days, add exterior accent lighting to the front of your home. Illuminate a walking path with ground-insert solar lights. Or consider solar spotlights to bring out landscaping or to shine on your updated front door. Install matching light fixtures outside your front door, garage door or patio door to provide well-lit entrances that are stylish and inviting to neighbors and guests.
 

Quick Note- Hardship Letter for short sale and loan modifications in denver April 29, 2010

This is again is a quick note that will help rejections or repeat documentation being sent to banks.

• If you are the person on the loan/mortgage statement, then in most cases  the bank wants to know why you cant pay. Not anyone else in the home.
• The hardship letter must state dates and income amounts and dates of reduction and reason why.

Quick Note- Aurora Short Sale with a FHA Loan must be occupied

We have a property in Aurora that the homeowner wanted to leave due to crime and gang violence in the community. The loan that the homeowner has on the property is an FHA loan, so very important in most cases a bank/investor will not approve a short sale if the home in vacant. So be sure you check the terms of a loan before you allow your home owners to move out. They will have to stay in the property until the short sale is approved.

For more details on how the new HAFA plan or who does qualify for a short sale.

Buyers tax credit pending a short sale approval April 20, 2010

Your Hope Team has been getting calls all week from agents that have buyers under contract on our short sale listings, all asking the same question “Do we still qualify for buyer’s credit even though we dont have bank approval”

So we have been trying to find some concrete evidence to support the process.

Here is what it says on the IRS website:

Note Regarding Signatures: While the Form 5405 instructions indicate that a properly executed settlement statement should show the signatures of all parties, the IRS recognizes that the elements of the settlement document, often a Form HUD-1, may vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and may not reflect the signatures of the buyer and seller. FULL DETAILS FROM IRS

So after reading that it 100% says that if you are fully under contract you will qualify, but it does not mention short sale situation. So that was still up in the air and agents did not have a final answer. So we submitted this to our fantastic organization: Certified Distress Property Expert (CDPE) and got this response:
“Just got off the phone with the IRS regarding SS approval and the buyer tax credit. Per the IRS there is no formal law that address’ the issue however the statute is specific as long as you have a binding agreement between buyer and seller and close the sale by June 30-2010 the buyer is eligible. As all contracts have contingencies and since the bank is not the owner until they take the property back in foreclosure they and the short sale approval does not even come into play, the home just needs to close by June 30-2010.”
I would have your clients give a quick call to the IRS hotline to get this from them directly. 800-829-1040

This is a quote from a CDPE forum. (members only)

We are fully committed to our CPDE brothers and sisters, and believe that any contract that has a contingency like any normal tranasaction whether it be an inspection, appsairal etc. This is just the same as bank approval.

That being said any contract that is fully execuited meaning all parties (buyer and seller) signatures, will constitute as a fully executed contract; this needs to be completed before april 30th, and the transaction should close no later that June 30th.

Comments and questions are welcome.

HAFA is craking down FAST April 14, 2010

Homeowners with the new HAFA program you must be 30 days or more behind on your mortgage! Hate it or love these are the guidelines and the banks are denying shorts sales if this is not the case. Bank Of America has a new very fast process that is totally online now. It is getting short sale completed in 45 Days WOW! Please gives feed back agents and homeowners of what you are seeing

FREE Loan Modification Package from Your Hope Team April 12, 2010

Dear Homeowners,

Your Hope Team is dedicated to educating homeowners about foreclosure prevention and the alternatives that are available. We are a local Denver based organization that has a proven track record of 100% success closing short sales. We have also helped tons of homeowners facilitate Loan Modifications. With the new HAFA programing being released this is the perfect time to take advantage of the new quicker short sale process.

If Your Hope Team does not complete your short sale we will buy your grocery for the month.* see terms

Foreclosure STOPPED in 4 days with a Short Sale Contract – Denver

Had a property that I listed 4 days before the foreclosure date! Got a contract in 1 day, submitted to the bank and stopped foreclosure phew! That was close another saved homeowners! If you need help stopping a foreclosure please visit Your Hope Team.

Short Sale Counter and rejected??

I have to just get this off my chest!
When a bank has a short sale file for 4mths, they keep it under the review status and then they come back with a rejected offer due to it being to LOW?
Ok sure the price maybe to low totally understand that. But what are you looking for Mr. BOA and Mr Chase, is there anyone who has had this same pointless and time wasting experience! If you they just gave us a bottom line we could go back with a counter to the buyer!

HAFA-Wells Fargos Plan for Short

April 2010
The spring selling season is upon us and opportunities abound to boost the housing market and get it on a positive track. We have the advantages of low interest rates, affordable housing stock and the homebuyer tax credits that expire within just a few weeks. We also have an ever-growing supply of short sale inventory – and the sooner those houses can be sold, the better for all involved. Wells Fargo is ready to help.

April 30 is quickly approaching
The homebuyer tax credits have been pivotal in helping move inventory. At this time, it appears that the government will not offer another extension. Any first-time or move-up buyer who is interested in taking advantage of the tax credit must have a binding sales contract by April 30, 2010 – with the home purchase completed by June 30, 2010. Our team is ready and eager to help your clients meet this deadline.

Time is of the essence
Short sales remain significant factors in today’s marketplace, allowing more prospective buyers than ever to become homeowners. Because these transactions are more complex, it is imperative that real estate and lending professionals work efficiently as coordinated teams to help our customers. To this end Wells Fargo has created a step-by-step REALTOR® Short Sale Guide, which you can access here.

We are committed to accelerating the short sale process. In fact, for those loans we hold in our portfolio, we have already undertaken efforts to streamline the sales approval process. The majority of the loans we service, however, are owned by other investors. So in many cases, #WellsFargo must obtain the approval of the first and any second mortgage investors. Our goal in these situations is to move the process along as quickly as we can.
We all have important roles to play
Great opportunity exists for those who choose to seize it. By working together, we can make homeownership achievable and sustainable for more individuals and families.

Cara Heiden
Co-President

For help with a Short Sale please contact Your Hope Team