Green Real Estate Appraiser

Hiding the Litter Box for an Open House – Ideas

Posted on March 17, 2012 | Leave a comment

Dealing with the litter box before opening your home to buyers is important, as some of them may find the sight of it unappealing.

Contact the appraiser at www.socalappraisalserv.com for more marketing questions. (ex: what adds value).

“No one wants to look at a litter box in a bathroom,” said Joanne Kane, a vice president with Nest Seekers International real estate in Southampton, N.Y. “Even if it’s not the smell, if you just walk in and see it, it’s not pleasing.”

And that kind of reaction could affect sales.

“I don’t know if it would prevent a sale, but people do buy on emotion,” said Ms. Kane, who has two cats of her own. “It’s all about the senses when they come in.”

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Bank Officials Cited in Churn of Foreclosures

Posted on March 16, 2012 | Leave a comment

Managers at major banks ignored widespread errors in the foreclosure process, in some cases instructing employees to adopt make-believe titles and speed documents through the system despite internal objections, according to a wide-ranging review by federal investigators.

The banks have largely focused the blame for mistakes on low-level employees, attributing many of the problems to the surge in the volume of foreclosures after the housing market collapsed and the economy weakened in 2008.

But the report concludes that managers were aware of the problems and did nothing to correct them. The shortcuts were directed by managers in some cases, according to the report, which is by the inspector general of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

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ALERT – New Housing Scam Emerges in California

Posted on March 15, 2012 | Leave a comment

If you’re applying for the $2 billion state-run program that helps struggling borrowers, remember, the process should be free from start to finish.

Contact the appraisers at www.socalappraisalserv.com to determine the value of your property before beginning any negotiations.

State officials have noticed an emerging scam: Callers say they will help homeowners apply for Keep Your Home California benefits for fees of up to $900. The calls are happening statewide. Applying for the program is free.

California, one of the hardest-hit states in the U.S., launched Keep Your Home California last year to help folks who’ve lost their jobs, seen their companies move away or watched their home equities plummet. It’s a bid let homeowners catch up on mortgage payments, help them relocate after a short sale and cut their principal, by far the most-controversial part of the program. So far, the program has helped about 12,000 borrowers, reflecting more than $200 million in aid.

Officials with Keep Your Home California, a program run by the California Housing Finance Agency, encourage Californians to call (888) 954-5337 instead of taking phone calls from solicitors about the program. You can also visit keepyourhomecalifornia.org.

Reprinted from SD Union Tribune

Disclaimer: for information and entertainment purposes only

Hiding the Litter Box for an Open House – Ideas

Bank Officials Cited in Churn of Foreclosures

ALERT – New Housing Scam Emerges in California

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