Possibly. Keep in mind though that this process is dependent on may variables determined by your mortgage lender. First of all, visit your lenders web site to see if they offer loan modifications. They will list the steps required to modify the loan. The problem sometimes occurs when the lender tells the homeowner that it will be no problem to lower the monthly payment and then at the end of the process, the promises made by the lender in earlier conversations are not kept.

Each modification program has different rules but generally the homeowner must be currently living in the home and not using it as an investment property. Next the homeowners must be able to show that their income has decreased and there is a hardship in paying the current payment.  Once all of the criteria have been met and the correct documentation has been submitted to the lender, the lender may or may not modify the loan.

I do not recommend employing the services of a so called “Loan Modification Prifessional” that will do the paperwork for a fee. If you simply must enlist the help of a service, please do so ONLY if you can pay upon the successful completion of the loan mod. Many companies charge borrowers upfront for the loan mod and then are unable to deliver. Think about it, if you really had three or four thousand dollars laying around would you need to modify your loan in the first place? Don’t do it.

Statistics show that a huge percentage of the loans that actually do end up getting modified end up in foreclosure anyway. Most times, if you are having trouble paying the monthly payment, a savings of a few hundred dollars per month is not going to make any difference.

Short Sales

Short sales make the most sense to me for those having trouble paying their monthly payments. The process can definitely be successful when done correctly.  When you do a short sale, the lender agrees to take less for the house than you currently owe on it.  Again there are strict criteria on who can qualify to sell their home short and who cannot. Those who cannot would be those with obvious equity and no hardship. Those who can will meet the criteria listed below.

• you have a hardship, such as a job loss, divorce or medical emergency
• you owe more than your house is worth
• you’re unable to afford your current monthly mortgage payment
• you’re unable to modify your current home loan

Step one is to call us at 719-264-7777 and make an appointment to go over your current situation. Step two is to determine the true value of the property and list it for sale in the MLS. Beware of the scammers will instantly buy your home for cash or at least claim to do that.  Banks are getting wise to these scams. The buyer makes an offer to purchase your home for a super low amount. They then turn around the same or next day and try to resell the property to a new buyer. In essence this steals equity from the lender and can be considered fraud. Buyers who intend to resell the property must disclose their intention as part of the sale so the lender is made aware of this condition. Most lenders do not look favorably on this practice.

 Colorado State laws are also very strict about waiting periods before an investor can transfer the title to a home purchased in a short sale. These shady dealings are exactly why you should never trust the sale of your home to some company who clains to just want to help people.  Many of these companies advertise on craigslist.com or use hand made signs on street corners. I have a 21 year real estate career in Colorado Springs and real estate license that I do not want to lose. All of my dealings are done in a professional manner. I just can’t risk it for some flaky investor doing things the wrong way!

Short sales are not for the faint of heart. The process can be tedious. Lots of paperwork has to be filled out, signed and sometimes signed again. Homeowners simply can’t do it themselves. The real estate closing fees and commissions are figured in the final payoff to the bank. Most sales do not require sellers to bring any money to closing. Once again, if you had thousands of dollars laying around, would you be thinking about a short sale? Probably not.

Selling a home short will not damage your credit as much as a foreclosure. Again, you will have missed payments and that dings your credit. The real focus should be on finding a more affordable place to live so you can start fresh. I help people just like you in all stages of mortgage distress. The key is to take action immediately! Contact me now so I can advise you and you can make a plan for a better future.

This is a common question that I hear all the time. There is no simple answer. The thing to know first is that if you miss a payment, the bank is not going to foreclose immediately.  Foreclosure is a lengthy process and costs lenders a lot of money so they don’t want to have to foreclose on their borrowers. If you act quickly, you will have time to make an informed decision.

Can I make a partial payment?

No! It’s all or nothing with your monthly payment. Banks will not accept a partial payment and they most likely will send back your check uncashes.

The key is to be proactive in avoiding foreclosure if you think you can’t make your payments. Many people are faced with job losses, illness or family emergencies that cause financial hardship. First of all know that you are not alone.  We specialize in working with home owners who are in a place where making payments is a real problem.

What are the options?

First it is good to sit down with a real estate professional (notice that I said professional ) to discuss your unique situation.  My concern is that there are so many vultures running amok in this market that will take advantage of unsuspecting home owners in distress.  They will offer to buy your home and close immediately. I ran across a couple the other day that told me that they are not about “the money” but really concerned about  “the people”. Really? Real estate is my business. I do not buy homes from owners in distress. I will give you counsel and offer options. That’s all. No weird lease-options, seller buy back or money back (illegal) options. Be very careful! Contact me right away so I can advise you in a professional and discrete manner.

Tomorrow…

Loan Mod or Short Sale?

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FHA and VA financing are offered on this home so buyers can close with minimal or no down payment.  This home just needs a new owner to add personal touches and a bit of TLC to make it perfect. Contact me for your private showing.

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Bank Owned!

Beautiful walk-out rancher is ready for a new owner to enjoy all that it has to offer. This home sits on 2.5 acres in the trees. Private but close to highways for commuting. Over 5000 square feet of living space. Main level features huge master suite with fireplace. Two other bedrooms are also on the main level. Formal dining room and large open kitchen area are perfect for entertaining.

Large open family room has bar area plus big space for TV or gaming tables. Walkout to patio and enjoy the quiet sounds of the pines. This home has three gas fireplaces to take the chill off. The five large bedrooms and four baths will be perfect for those with a family or guests.

For a private showing, click here to contact me. I do not expect this property to last long on the market!

Priced at $110,000 this rancher is a bargain. Just under 1100 square feet with three bedrooms and one full bath, this home needs very little to make it shine. This is a perfect opportunity for someone who just wants to do a little bit of fix-up to have a very nice home. Large deck offers mountain views. Corner lot gives a sense of privacy. This home is a very easy commute to Fort Carson.  Investors will also appreciate to potential for profit in this home. Contact me today for your private showing.

Former Model in The Boulders Broadmoor

Great floorplan in this casual living home! Main level master suite. Newly finished wood floors. All new stainless appliance package. Large open dining room plus living room. Family room offers built-ins and walk out to patio for outdoor entertaining. You’ll appreciate the fully finished basement complete with wet bar, built ins and large open room for pool table or home theater. Five bedrooms and four baths. Over 4700 square feet.

Prestigious area with an easy commute to downtown, Fort Carson or Peterson AFB. Located in Cheyenne Mountain School District 12.   For your private showing contact us now!

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This is has been updated by the bank and is now ready to move in and enjoy! All new paint and carpet in this beautiful custom home. Over 6400 square feet, 5 bedrooms and 5 baths. Top of the world views will wow you as you sit on the deck.

Main level library also has it’s own deck for taking a break during your reading. Luxurious master suite features fireplace, large bath and walk in closet.

This home is an entertainer’s dream! Very large kitchen, family rooms and main level formal spaces. Fully finished basement has room for game room, theatre and more!

Interested? Contact me for your private showing. This one is priced to sell! You won’t find a better opportunity in Colorado Springs right now!

This little cottage is just over 800 square feet and has 2 bedrooms and one bath. Large corner lot could possibly be re-zoned for commercial use.Perfect location for those wanting easy access to Old Colorado City, Manitou, hiking/biking trails and more! Walk to Starbuck’s (that alone should be enough to make you want this house).

This home is bank owned REO and needs lots of work BUT could be a great opportunity for an investor or someone who want to live there and do their own rehab.

My  idea would be a cute little shabby-chic cottage with a new kitchen and bath but keep the charm of the Victorian styling. So many options for the right person. Contact me to set up your own private showing.

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Read it and let me know what you think.

and let me know what you think. There are many opportunities for profit right now in real estate. I am an experienced flipped who knows how to make money in this segment of the market. Feel free to contact me with all of your questions about making money in a down real estate market. I would love to assist you with your investment plan!

Currently, when a home owner falls at least 30 days behind on a payment, the bank will start their action plan. The first thing they might do is to order a BPO or broker price opinion. The homeowner will not even know about this but a qualified professional (someone like myself) will drive by the home, take a few photos and then assess the current value of the home. By this time the home owner has been fielding annoying phone calls for about two weeks from the mortgage company. They want to know when they can expect a payment to be made. This is the time to call or contact me about ways to solve the problem.

If you act early in the process it may be possible to modify the loan with the mortgage company. To do this, the home owner must prove that they have good reason to be behind in their payments. Financial statements, pay stubs and all bank statements from the past 3-6 months are then provided to the lender. No lender will approve a loan mod if the borrower has any liquid assets that could be used to pay the payment. This means if you have stocks, bonds or cash not in an IRA or 401K, you need to just go ahead and keep paying. Using the excuse of “my neighbors are not paying so why should I” is not an excuse.

The next and really best option is to put the home on the market for sale and attempt to get an approved short sale done. Most banks are getting better at approving short sales for home owners in distress. Be sure to contact an experienced short sale Realtor that knows how to get the transaction completed. There is much more to a short sale then just getting it under contract with a low price. Having an agent that understands the process is half the battle!

The final thing to do if the above two options have failed or are not possible, is to wait for the foreclosure to occur. As soon as hte sale has happened, the home owner or tenant will have a visit from the listing agent that will be handling the REO listing for the bank. This agent will make an offer of CASH or the occupants to vacate the property. We REO agents call this Cash For Keys or Financial Relocation Assistance. The home owner or tenant must sign a form stating that they agree to move out on a specific date (usually fairly quickly), leave the property in broom-clean condition and then a check will be presented as compensation to the tenant or former owner. Tenants may have the right to stay for up to 90 days if they can provide a copy of their current lease. No rent is paid and the cash offer still applies.

The best thing to do when having trouble with house payments is to make an action plan and contact me for assistance. I specialize in helping distressed home owners solve their mortgage problems. I have seen many different situation and problems get solved but it takes the initial contact to get things started. I have found that the home owners stress level is greatly decreased when I can offer my assistance. Contact me now if you are facing this problem. I am here to help!