Stop Foreclosure Institute of Chicago Assisting Homeowners in Distress

Yes, You Can Beat The System!

Chicago IL – A lot of people in today’s lending market are stuck. They locked in their interest rate when rates were higher. Now, they are barred from refinancing because they are upside down on their house.

Whenever they apply for a new loan, the first thing the lender says is, “The current property value is less than what you owe. We can’t lend you enough money to pay off your old lender.” Do they have any options?

Discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale to avoid foreclosure by clicking here.

Their best option is probably a loan modification. Their lender is more than likely to work with them since their home dropped in value.

They may have to stop making payments before their lender will approve a loan modification. But, some lenders are even modifying loans that are current.

I’ve heard of homeowners stuck with a loan where the payments are going to gradually increase over time. Their current interest rate is 6%. But, it is going to increase by 1% a year until it hits 9.5%.

They can afford the home at the current interest rate. But once it goes higher, they will have to do something. Why not do it now?

Take the onetime credit hit and lock in a reasonable interest rate. Some people have been able to get their interest rates on jumbo loans reduced to between 4% and 5%.

Many loan modifications will even reduce your interest rate as low as 2% for 5 years. But, stick to your guns and lock in a reasonable rate for the remainder of the loan.

You don’t want to have to apply for another loan mod in 5 years. (Most people don’t see how interest rates could possibly go any lower.)

We offer a loan modification guide to consumers. Here is what we cover in the Stop Foreclosure Institute’s Loan Modification Insider Secrets Guide.

* An easy to understand, Step By Step Guidebook.

* How to write a Hardship Letter that gets your loan modification approved.

* Three big loan modification mistakes and how to avoid them.

* Loan Modification from the lenders point of view.

* How the Making Home Affordable Program can help you.

* What not to do so you don’t risk being carted off to jail.

* How to calculate your budget properly to increase your chance of success.

To request this kit, please click here to request a copy.

Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property and never pay the bank another penny. Send me an e-mail at myrealtorphil@gmail.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at (312) 953-6725

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Remember to visit my Chicago short sale blog Short Sale Super Man for great tips and information on short selling in Chicagoland www.ShortSaleSuperMan.com

Thanks for reading this, Phil Buoscio.

Phil is a Real Estate Agent at Better Living Realty – Buoscio Brokerage, Inc.. Chicago Short Sales Realtor:

Phone: (312) 953-6725. myrealtorphil@gmail.com.

View My homes for sale at www.BetterLivingRealty.com.

Phil Buoscio, is a broker with Better Living Realty he leads the sales team “Phil Buoscio Team” and specializes in short sales in Chicago Illinois. Chicago Loan Modification Help can be referred to you. We don’t do loan modifications ourselves but we work with those who do.

We know Chicago Short Sales. I am a Chicago Short Sale Realtor. Chicagoland Short Sale Realtor. Chicago IL Short Sales. Chicago Realtor. We do business in Pilsen. McKinley Park. Bridgeport. Wicker Park. West Town. Ukranian Village. Lincoln Park. Near North. River North. East Village. Logan Square. Uptown. Edison Park. Portage Park. Hermosa. Lincoln Park, South Loop, West Loop. Bronzeville. Hyde Park. Kenwood. Oak Park. Brookfield. Cicero. Berwyn. Evanston. LaGrange. LaGrange Park. Riverside. We sell condos, single family homes, lots, land, multi units, two flats, three flats, etc.

Copyright 2010 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved. This is not intended as legal, technical, or tax advice. Please speak with a licensed professional before making any decision. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of the date of writing. The views expressed here are Phil Buoscio’s personal views and do not reflect the views of Better Living Realty – Buoscio Brokerage, Inc..

This information on Chicago Short Sales: How To Lower Your Mortgage Payment Without A Refi is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

Chicago IL – Loan Modifications are tough. Lenders don’t want to reduce your payment or reduce the amount you owe.

It’s insane. Don’t even get me started on the topic of the nation’s courts being tilted in the favor of the big banks!

Most loan modifications end in failure because the banks are so hard to work with. In a recent story in the news, a New Jersey Company is accused of defrauding homeowners out of thousands of dollars.

Discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale to avoid foreclosure by clicking here.

According to the story, one couple had more than $2,800 billed to their credit card but received no loan modification. Another customer paid more than $3,500 and received no assistance.

Your best bet for a successful loan modification is to negotiate it yourself. No one else is going to care as much as you. After all, whose house hangs in the balance?

Yours! A loan modification negotiator in another state that has already collected his fee isn’t going to care as much as you will.

That is why we offer a loan modification guide to consumers. Here is what we cover in the Stop Foreclosure Institute’s Loan Modification Insider Secrets Guide.

* An easy to understand, Step By Step Guidebook.

* How to write a Hardship Letter that gets your loan modification approved.

* Three big loan modification mistakes and how to avoid them.

* Loan Modification from the lenders point of view.

* How the Making Home Affordable Program can help you.

* What not to do so you don’t risk being carted off to jail.

* How to calculate your budget properly to increase your chance of success.

To request this kit, please click here to request a copy.

Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property and never pay the bank another penny. Send me an e-mail at myrealtorphil@gmail.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at (312) 953-6725

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Remember to visit my Chicago short sale blog Short Sale Superman frequently for great tips and info on short selling in Chicago www.ShortSaleSuperMan.com

Thanks for reading this, Phil Buoscio.

Phil is a Real Estate Agent at Better Living Realty – Buoscio Brokerage, Inc.. Chicago Short Sales Realtor:

Phone: (312) 953-6725. myrealtorphil@gmail.com.

View My homes for sale at www.BetterLivingRealty.com.

Phil Buoscio, is a broker with Better Living Realty he leads the sales team “Phil Buoscio Team” and specializes in short sales in Chicago Illinois. Chicago Loan Modification Help can be referred to you. We don’t do loan modifications ourselves but we work with those who do.

We know Chicago Short Sales. I am a Chicago Short Sale Realtor. Chicagoland Short Sale Realtor. Chicago IL Short Sales. Chicago Realtor. We do business in Pilsen. McKinley Park. Bridgeport. Wicker Park. West Town. Ukranian Village. Lincoln Park. Near North. River North. East Village. Logan Square. Uptown. Edison Park. Portage Park. Hermosa. Lincoln Park, South Loop, West Loop. Bronzeville. Hyde Park. Kenwood. Oak Park. Brookfield. Cicero. Berwyn. Evanston. LaGrange. LaGrange Park. Riverside. We sell condos, single family homes, lots, land, multi units, two flats, three flats, etc.

Copyright 2010 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved. This is not intended as legal, technical, or tax advice. Please speak with a licensed professional before making any decision. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of the date of writing. The views expressed here are Phil Buoscio’s personal views and do not reflect the views of Better Living Realty – Buoscio Brokerage, Inc..

This information on Chicago Short Sales: A Cautionary Tale On Loan Modifications is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

Chicago IL – This is one of the first questions potential short sale sellers ask us. “I heard of something called “forgiveness of debt income and that it is taxable. How does that work?” they ask.

The following article is my personal opinion only. I recommend that you consult with a competent legal or tax professional before moving forward with a short sale.

In most cases the answer is that a short sale will usually not cause you to owe income tax.

Discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale to avoid foreclosure by clicking here.

It used to be that you owed income tax on any forgiveness of debt.

When a lender decides to forgive all or a portion of a borrower’s debt, the forgiven amount is considered as income for the borrower and is liable to be taxed.

Here are the following ways you can qualify to short sale a property without any tax liability.

Short Sale of a Primary Residence. The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 (and it’s extension in the 2008 Federal Bailout) now allows you to short sale a primary residence without any tax liability.

Today when a homeowner short sales a primary residence, they can file a simple form and the forgiven debt is no longer taxable.

The amount of forgiven mortgage debt allowed to be excluded from income tax is limited to $2 million per year.

Short Sale of a Non-Primary Residence: If the property you are selling is not a primary residence, then you may be eligible for tax relief if you are considered insolvent.

I don’t know the exact guidelines, but insolvent is usually considered when your total gross debts are more than your total gross assets. I’m sure a good tax professional can give you more information.

Click here to view the IRS’s website about the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act and Debt Cancellation.

Click here to view the article on the IRS’s Website: Mortgage Workouts Now Tax-Free for Many Homeowners.

Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property and never pay the bank another penny. Send me an e-mail at myrealtorphil@gmail.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at (312) 953-6725

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Chicago loan modification kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your bank. Click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this, Phil Buoscio.

Phil is a Real Estate Agent at Better Living Realty – Buoscio Brokerage, Inc.. Chicago Short Sales Realtor:

Phone: (312) 953-6725. myrealtorphil@gmail.com.

View My homes for sale at www.BetterLivingRealty.com.

Phil Buoscio, is a broker with Better Living Realty he leads the sales team “Phil Buoscio Team” and specializes in short sales in Chicago Illinois. Chicago Loan Modification Help can be referred to you. We don’t do loan modifications ourselves but we work with those who do.
We know Chicago Short Sales. I am a Chicago Short Sale Realtor. Chicagoland Short Sale Realtor. Chicago IL Short Sales. Chicago Realtor. We do business in Pilsen. McKinley Park. Bridgeport. Wicker Park. West Town. Ukranian Village. Lincoln Park. Near North. River North. East Village. Logan Square. Uptown. Edison Park. Portage Park. Hermosa. Lincoln Park, South Loop, West Loop. Bronzeville. Hyde Park. Kenwood. Oak Park. Brookfield. Cicero. Berwyn. Evanston. LaGrange. LaGrange Park. Riverside. We sell condos, single family homes, lots, land, multi units, two flats, three flats, etc.

Copyright 2010 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved. This is not intended as legal, technical, or tax advice. Please speak with a licensed professional before making any decision. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of the date of writing. The views expressed here are Phil Buoscio’s personal views and do not reflect the views of Better Living Realty – Buoscio Brokerage, Inc..

This information on Chicago Short Sales: Will I Owe Income Tax After A Short Sale? is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

Chicago IL – GMAC, was the financing arm of General Motors. It was taken over by Uncle Sam and has been mostly privatized as Ally Financial.

However, many people still have loans from the original GMAC. Some of these homeowners want to short sale, but are curious about how it works.

Discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale to avoid foreclosure by clicking here.

A GMAC short sale is not too much different from other short sales. To start a short sale with GMAC, first call them at the 800 number on your most recent statement. That number is currently 800-850-4622.

Most of GMAC’s loans have been sold. The first thing you or your short sale realtors should do is find out who owns the loan now.

On our last GMAC short sale, the loan had been sold to a Wall Street “Sliced and Diced” Fund. In this case, that fund made the decision on whether or not to accept the short sale. GMAC was simply handling the file for them.

Another owner of loan might be Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, both highly controlled by Uncle Sam.

Or, the loans might be owned by a private investor, but insured by VA or FHA. The guidelines to approve a short sale will be set by the owner or insurer of the loan.

For example, FHA allows a homeowner 120 days to successfully short sale their house. FHA will accept a net equal to 88% of an FHA appraisal for the first 30 days.

After 30 days, that number is reduced to 86%. After 60 days, it is reduced again to 84%. So yes, Bank of America short sales are tough.

However, if you know who the investor (or insurer) is on a loan (and their guidelines), it makes it much easier to get a short sale approved. Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, and VA own or insure between 60% and 75% of all loans.

If you are thinking of doing a short sale, then make sure your agent understands their guidelines. Their guidelines are all a little different.

Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property and never pay the bank another penny. Send me an e-mail at myrealtorphil@gmail.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at (312) 953-6725

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Remember to visit my Chicago short sale blog for great tips and information on short selling in Chicagoland www.ShortSaleSuperMan.com

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Chicago loan modification kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your bank. Click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this, Phil Buoscio.

Phil is a Real Estate Agent at Better Living Realty – Buoscio Brokerage, Inc.. Chicago Short Sales Realtor:

Phone: (312) 953-6725. myrealtorphil@gmail.com.

View My homes for sale at www.BetterLivingRealty.com.

Phil Buoscio, is a broker with Better Living Realty he leads the sales team “Phil Buoscio Team” and specializes in short sales in Chicago Illinois. Chicago Loan Modification Help can be referred to you. We don’t do loan modifications ourselves but we work with those who do.

We know Chicago Short Sales. I am a Chicago Short Sale Realtor. Chicagoland Short Sale Realtor. Chicago IL Short Sales. Chicago Realtor. We do business in Pilsen. McKinley Park. Bridgeport. Wicker Park. West Town. Ukranian Village. Lincoln Park. Near North. River North. East Village. Logan Square. Uptown. Edison Park. Portage Park. Hermosa. Lincoln Park, South Loop, West Loop. Bronzeville. Hyde Park. Kenwood. Oak Park. Brookfield. Cicero. Berwyn. Evanston. LaGrange. LaGrange Park. Riverside. We sell condos, single family homes, lots, land, multi units, two flats, three flats, etc.

Copyright 2010 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved. This is not intended as legal, technical, or tax advice. Please speak with a licensed professional before making any decision. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of the date of writing. The views expressed here are Phil Buoscio’s personal views and do not reflect the views of Better Living Realty – Buoscio Brokerage, Inc..

This information on How GMAC Short Sales Work is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

Chicago IL – If you are facing financial hardship, then paying credit cards and other unsecured debts is your lowest priority. An unsecured debt is a debt where they can’t take away your car or house. A secured debt has something as collateral, such as your car, house, or anything else of value.

The most commons unsecured debt is a credit card. When you stop paying them, they will call you nonstop. The reason is because they don’t have any other way to collect from you.

Discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale to avoid foreclosure by clicking here.

They can’t come get your car or take your house. So, they make up for that by blowing up your phone with harassing calls. In addition, they use deceptive tricks to get you to pay them.

For example, there are Federal Laws that regulate what they can do or say. They aren’t allowed to threaten to sue you, but then not follow thru and actually file suit.

To get around this rule, they will use language that sounds legal, but isn’t. In one situation, a debt collector in Buffalo, New York named their firm Hoffman, Weinberg & O’Brien to make it sound like they were a law firm.

They would then leave messages on people’s answering machines. They would say they were with the office of Hoffman, Weinberg & O’Brien and then say they may resort to future legal action. In addition, they would reference case number 8306042.

If you didn’t know any better, you would think the case number was for an actual lawsuit against you. Scary, right?

Most credit card accounts never sue (despite the constant threats.) Even when they do sue and get a judgment, they rarely ever attempt to garnish wages.

A lot of judgments expire without getting paid. But, a lot of them get paid off when a person’s income increases, or that person sells a valuable asset such as a house.

Here is how to stop the harassing calls. Simply ask the person who calls for their fax number or mailing address. Then, fax or mail them a letter that requests them to stop calling you.

Here is some sample language you can put into the letter.

“Under my rights in the Fair Lending Law and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, I hereby request you stop any and all phone calls to me or any other person. At this time, I do not wish to speak with you, anyone at your company, or anyone representing you concerning this matter.

Do not contact me by phone regarding this matter. I demand that you stop calling my at home, on my cell phone, at work, at my relatives house, or any other location. Please make any future communication with me in writing.

I am aware of my rights under section 805(b)2 of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and am willing and able to exercise them. I am keeping track of all calls from your company and may consider recording calls.”

Make sure that when you mail the letter, you send it return receipt requested. If you have access to a fax machine, then fax it out. It’s much easier and stops the calls quickly.

Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, a creditor or collection agency that calls you after you request them to stop may be liable for statutory damages up to $1,000 plus any actual damages suffered, plus attorney fees.

Another tactic you can use to shut down any debt collector is to tell them you are recording the call. They back off when they realize they are on tape. You can buy an inexpensive call recorder at Radio Shack or Amazon.com.

Just hook it up to your phone and you’re ready to go. In addition, you may want to keep a log of all phone calls from debt collectors. This can be useful if you ever have to go to court.

After reading the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, in my opinion, the following acts are prohibited:

Violation #1: Call you before 8 AM or after 9PM.

Violation #2: Tell your relatives, family, or friends that you owe them money, or state that they are in the debt collection business when they contact any relatives, family, or friends.

Violation #3: Contact you after you send a written request that they cease further communication.

Violation #4: Contact you after you request they cease.

Violation #5: Threaten you with violence. In addition, they are prohibited from using obscene or profane language.

Violation #6: Publicize a list of people who owe them money.

Violation #7: Cause your phone to ring repeatedly or continuously to annoy you.

Violation #8: Call you without telling you who they are and why they are calling.

Violation #9: Mislead or falsely represent the amount owed, that they are an attorney or law firm, that if you don’t pay then you’ll go to jail, state or claim that you committed a crime, or threaten to take an action that is not allowed legally.

Violation #10: Not informing you that any information obtained can be used for the purpose of collecting their debt.

Violation #11: Threaten to repossess any property that they legally don’t have the right to repossess. I remember hearing a lady calling a national talk show and saying that a debt collector had threatened to repossess her cat.

What is this world coming to?!! That is definitely a violation! Cats, dogs, and children are not normally given as collateral against loans. This isn’t the middle ages here!

Violation #12: Threaten to sue you and then not follow thru with it. In addition, they are not allowed to threaten to do anything unless they actually intend to follow thru with it.

There are many good lawyers who specialize in helping consumers when a debt collector violates the act. Just google “Fair Debt Collections Lawyer.”

Many of them can help you at no cost out of your pocket. They will take on your case on a contingency basis and get paid from the money they collect from the debt collector.

If you have any specific questions or need help, please give me a call. Remember I’m here to help you in any way that I can.

Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property and never pay the bank another penny. Send me an e-mail at myrealtorphil@gmail.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at (312) 953-6725

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Remember to visit my Chicago short sale blogs for lots of great info and tips about short selling in this market

www.ShortSaleSuperMan.com

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Chicago loan modification kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your bank. Click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this, Phil Buoscio.

Phil is a Real Estate Agent at Better Living Realty – Buoscio Brokerage, Inc.. Chicago Short Sales Realtor:

Phone: (312) 953-6725. myrealtorphil@gmail.com.

View My homes for sale at www.BetterLivingRealty.com.

Phil Buoscio, is a broker with Better Living Realty he leads the sales team “Phil Buoscio Team” and specializes in short sales in Chicago Illinois. Chicago Loan Modification Help can be referred to you. We don’t do loan modifications ourselves but we work with those who do.

We know Chicago Short Sales. I am a Chicago Short Sale Realtor. Chicagoland Short Sale Realtor. Chicago IL Short Sales. Chicago Realtor. We do business in Pilsen. McKinley Park. Bridgeport. Wicker Park. West Town. Ukranian Village. Lincoln Park. Near North. River North. East Village. Logan Square. Uptown. Edison Park. Portage Park. Hermosa. Lincoln Park, South Loop, West Loop. Bronzeville. Hyde Park. Kenwood. Oak Park. Brookfield. Cicero. Berwyn. Evanston. LaGrange. LaGrange Park. Riverside. We sell condos, single family homes, lots, land, multi units, two flats, three flats, etc.

Copyright 2010 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved. This is not intended as legal, technical, or tax advice. Please speak with a licensed professional before making any decision. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of the date of writing. The views expressed here are Phil Buoscio’s personal views and do not reflect the views of Better Living Realty – Buoscio Brokerage, Inc..

This information on Chicago Short Sales: How to Stop Harassing Debt Collector Phone Calls is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

Chicago IL – The Stop Foreclosure Institute recently received a question from Werner. “I am behind on my payments and thinking of just letting my home go into foreclosure. What does that do to the neighborhood?” he asked.

Here is our answer to his question. It does hurt the neighborhood. But, it also hurts you.

Discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale to avoid foreclosure by clicking here.

Most banks do not do a good job and processing and handling foreclosures. They take 12-18 months to foreclosure on a house and then sell it.

In the meantime they do little to maintain the home. I estimate that half of all the properties I have seen in foreclosure have never even been checked on by the lender.

It has gotten so bad that one homeowner even started up a website to report on these banks. The website is called Lender Offender.

Check it out here: www.LenderOffender.com.

Here is an example of one of the homes on the site.

58557 Sun Valley Blvd, Goshen IN 46528

The home was probably posted by one of the neighbors. Here is what they said about it on the site:

“Sheriff sold 4/25/09 to IndyMac Bank. Neighbors have now given up mowing the property. People have either been squating or visiting the house through open doors.

IndyMac refuses to talk to neighbors and refers us to Elkhart County who says IndyMac owns property outright. County will mow and fine at least once, but won’t keep mowing.

Property not up for sale. Thanks for being such a horrible and unresponsive neighbor IndyMac. Shame on you. ”

In my opinion these banks are not being responsible with these properties. The biggest problem is that Uncle Sam usually takes the fall for any loss.

Uncle Sam does this by guaranteeing them against loss on many mortgages. Or in other cases, Uncle Sam has already bought the defaulted loan from the bank.

The homes eventually sell for a discount after the foreclosure. No home buyer is going to pay market value for a home that needs repairs!

This gives the banks little incentive to check on these properties. Fortunately you can help.

Stay in your home until it sells. Keep it looking good and everything in good order.

Then, put it up for sale as a short sale. That will help protect the property values in your neighborhood.

Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property and never pay the bank another penny. Send me an e-mail at phil@teambrealty.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at (312) 953-6725

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Remember to visit my Chicago short sale blogs:

www.ShortSaleSuperMan.com

www.Chicago-ShortSaleBlog.com

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Chicago loan modification kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your bank. Click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this, Phil Buoscio.

Phone: (312) 953-6725. phil@teambrealty.com.

View My homes for sale at www.BetterLivingRealty.com.

Phil Buoscio, is a broker with Better Living Realty he leads the sales team “Phil Buoscio Team” and specializes in short sales in Chicago Illinois. Chicago Loan Modification Help can be referred to you. We don’t do loan modifications ourselves but we work with those who do.

We know Chicago Short Sales. I am a Chicago Short Sale Realtor. Chicagoland Short Sale Realtor. Chicago IL Short Sales. Chicago Realtor. We do business in Pilsen. McKinley Park. Bridgeport. Wicker Park. West Town. Ukranian Village. Lincoln Park. Near North. River North. East Village. Logan Square. Uptown. Edison Park. Portage Park. Hermosa. Lincoln Park, South Loop, West Loop. Bronzeville. Hyde Park. Kenwood. Oak Park. Brookfield. Cicero. Berwyn. Evanston. LaGrange. LaGrange Park. Riverside. We sell condos, single family homes, lots, land, multi units, two flats, three flats, etc.

Chicagoland Short Sale Realtor.
Chicago IL Short Sales.
Chicago Realtor.

Copyright 2010 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved. This is not intended as legal, technical, or tax advice. Please speak with a licensed professional before making any decision. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of the date of writing.

This information on Chicago Short Sales: What does letting a house go into foreclosure do to the neighborhood? is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

Chicago IL – The Stop Foreclosure Institute recently received a question from Richard. “I accepted a job transfer and had to move. Unfortunately we were upside down on the house.

I decided to rent it out rather than short sale it. The renters just moved out. I just checked the house. They trashed it!

I could rent the house out again, but I would have to spend several thousand dollars fixing it up first. What would you recommend that I do?” Richard asked.

Discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale to avoid foreclosure by clicking here.

Here was our recommendation. That is a tough situation. You could fix up the house and rent it out again. But, you risk having the same thing happen all over again.

Here is the other problem. The amount you can charge for rent has gone down in most areas. This means you will probably have to write a check every month.

If you are able to rent it and cover all the costs, then I would recommend you keep the home. If not, then I would recommend you short sell it.

Here is why I recommend that. If you can break even, then the house will be a good investment as the real estate market recovers. However, you will always risk large unexpected costs like the one you are experiencing right now.

If it the rent does not cover all the costs, then more than likely you are in an area where the housing prices are still dropping. This means the burden will only get bigger as time progresses.

Costs will keep on going up. Rent might drop even more. The housing market could decline even further. It would be better to just get rid of the liability now, once and for all.

Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property and never pay the bank another penny. Send me an e-mail at myrealtorphil@gmail.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at (312) 953-6725

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Remember to check out my Chicago short sale blogs:

www.ShortSaleSuperMan.com

www.Chicago-ShortSaleBlog.com

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Chicago loan modification kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your bank. Click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this, Phil Buoscio.

Phil is a Real Estate Agent at Better Living Realty – Buoscio Brokerage, Inc.. Chicago Short Sales Realtor:

Phone: (312) 953-6725. myrealtorphil@gmail.com.

View My homes for sale at www.BetterLivingRealty.com.

Phil Buoscio, is a broker with Better Living Realty he leads the sales team “Phil Buoscio Team” and specializes in short sales in Chicago Illinois. Chicago Loan Modification Help can be referred to you. We don’t do loan modifications ourselves but we work with those who do.

We know Chicago Short Sales. I am a Chicago Short Sale Realtor. Chicagoland Short Sale Realtor. Chicago IL Short Sales. Chicago Realtor. We do business in Pilsen. McKinley Park. Bridgeport. Wicker Park. West Town. Ukranian Village. Lincoln Park. Near North. River North. East Village. Logan Square. Uptown. Edison Park. Portage Park. Hermosa. Lincoln Park, South Loop, West Loop. Bronzeville. Hyde Park. Kenwood. Oak Park. Brookfield. Cicero. Berwyn. Evanston. LaGrange. LaGrange Park. Riverside. We sell condos, single family homes, lots, land, multi units, two flats, three flats, etc.

Chicagoland Short Sale Realtor.
Chicago IL Short Sales.
Chicago Realtor.

Copyright 2010 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved. This is not intended as legal, technical, or tax advice. Please speak with a licensed professional before making any decision. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of the date of writing. The views expressed here are Phil Buoscio’s personal views and do not reflect the views of Better Living Realty – Buoscio Brokerage, Inc..

This information on Chicago Short Sales: Renters trashed my house. What should I do? is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

Typical Abandoned Real Estate

Chicago IL– The New York Time had an interesting article about one man’s mission in the fight to stop foreclosure. According to the article, Mark Guerette, attempted to make use of all the empty, abandoned houses he saw.

I get frustrated when I see homes sitting empty for months and months. “Those homes should be put to good use!” I thought to myself.

It bugged me that homes would sit empty for months and even years at a time. The lawn would become overgrown.

A window might leak. Or, vandals would break the windows. Rain would start getting inside the house, thereby causing mold on the walls and ceiling.

The house would get uglier and uglier. As a working short sale realtor, I knew how much this would cause the home’s value to drop.

Most of the homes were in foreclosure. The owners had moved out to avoid being kicked out. But, the banks didn’t take care of the homes.

It bugged me to see these trashed homes come on the market and sell at a substantial discount.

“Those banks are hurting the housing market. Someone needs to do something!” I thought to myself. But, I never did anything about it.

Discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale to avoid foreclosure by clicking here.

Apparently this guy did. Mark would find abandoned homes, fix them up, and rent them to needy families.

An old English Common Law principle called “Adverse Possession” would make him the owner of the home after several to a dozen or more years.

Of course, he was responsible for keeping the home up, paying all the property taxes (including past dues taxes), and risking having a former homeowner confront him.

Illinois’s Adverse Possession law would give ownership after 7 years. He thought that law was enough to make what he was doing legal. Apparently not!

According to the article, he now faces up to 15 years in prison. This is after he disclosed what he was doing to everyone.

He mailed the owners of the homes and the banks with the mortgage and told them of his plans. The lease with his tenants disclosed that he wasn’t the legal owner.

And yet, he still faces a prison sentence? Do you think that is fair? I don’t. Please tell me what you think in the comments section below.

Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property and never pay the bank another penny. Send me an e-mail at phil@teambrealty.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at (312) 953-6725

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Remember to visit my Chicago short sale blog frequently for great tips and information on Chicago short sales www.Chicago-ShortSaleBlog.com You can also visit my new themed short sale blog at www.ShortSaleSuperman.com

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Illinois loan modification kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your bank. Click here to request a copy

Thanks for reading this, Phil Buoscio.

Phil is a Real Estate Agent at http://shortsaleagentadvocate.com/. Chicago Short Sales Realtor:

Phone: (312) 953-6725. phil@teambrealty.com.

View My homes for sale at www.BetterLivingRealty.com.

Phil Buoscio, is a broker with Better Living Realty he leads the sales team “Phil Buoscio Team” and specializes in short sales in Chicago Illinois. Chicago Loan Modification Help can be referred to you. We don’t do loan modifications ourselves but we work with those who do.

We know Chicago Short Sales. I am a Chicago Short Sale Realtor. Chicagoland Short Sale Realtor. Chicago IL Short Sales. Chicago Realtor. We do business in Pilsen. McKinley Park. Bridgeport. Wicker Park. West Town. Ukranian Village. Lincoln Park. Near North. River North. East Village. Logan Square. Uptown. Edison Park. Portage Park. Hermosa. Lincoln Park, South Loop, West Loop. Bronzeville. Hyde Park. Kenwood. Oak Park. Brookfield. Cicero. Berwyn. Evanston. LaGrange. LaGrange Park. Riverside. We sell condos, single family homes, lots, land, multi units, two flats, three flats, etc.

Copyright 2010 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved. This is
not intended as legal, technical, or tax advice. Please speak with a
licensed professional before making any decision. Information is deemed
reliable but not guaranteed as of the date of writing. The views expressed
here are Phil Buoscio’s personal views and do not reflect the views of
http://shortsaleagentadvocate.com/. This information on Chicago Short Sales: Saint or Sinner?
You Decide is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make
informed decisions.

Only 24% of short sales are closing in our market.  That’s right, only 24%.  Why is this?  Most agents simply don’t have the education and the resources to handle a short sale properly.  It’s not that they’re bad agents, many are just simply too stressed to deal with all the details and work it takes to get a short sale closed.  Our office has linked up with Chicago’s top negotiating company and we are experiencing a 9o% success rate on the short sales we are working.

So you’ve stumbled to this blog somehow, I assume you are looking for more information on short sales.  Well… you’ve come to the right place.  There’s lots of information here for you to learn, but the biggest thing as a home owner thinking about a short sale is, can I actually do one?  There is not an easy answer to that question.  The best bet is to stop by my office or our negotiators and learn about the process.  In the meantime, check out this video on the short sale time line and how the whole process works.

Phil Buoscio, is a broker with Better Living Realty he leads the sales team “Phil Buoscio Team” and specializes in short sales in Chicago Illinois. Chicago Loan Modification Help can be referred to you. We don’t do loan modifications ourselves but we work with those who do.

We know Chicago Short Sales. I am a Chicago Short Sale Realtor. Chicagoland Short Sale Realtor. Chicago IL Short Sales. Chicago Realtor. We do business in Pilsen. McKinley Park. Bridgeport. Wicker Park. West Town. Ukranian Village. Lincoln Park. Near North. River North. East Village. Logan Square. Uptown. Edison Park. Portage Park. Hermosa. Lincoln Park, South Loop, West Loop. Bronzeville. Hyde Park. Kenwood. Oak Park. Brookfield. Cicero. Berwyn. Evanston. LaGrange. LaGrange Park. Riverside. We sell condos, single family homes, lots, land, multi units, two flats, three flats, etc.

Chicago IL – The Stop Foreclosure Institute recently received a question from Jennifer. She is having a hard time selling her home.

“I have had my house for sale for a little while, but it hasn’t sold. No buyers have come to look at it. At first I thought the price was fair. But, now that no one has come to see the home, I am beginning to realize that I am upside down.

My realtor hasn’t talked to me about a short sale. What should I do?” Jennifer asked.

Discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale to avoid foreclosure by clicking here.

Here is what I would recommend to her. First, talk to your current agent about a short sale. The might be uncomfortable with bringing it up.

Short sales are a sensitive issue. Some people get offended when you ask them about a short sale. It doesn’t look like that is the case with you.

Tell your agent that you think you might be upside down. Ask them what they think they can realistically sell the house for in today’s market.

Then, ask them for a “Net Sheet.” This is a sheet that details all of the costs and fees associated with selling a home.

The fees and costs are subtracted from the sales price to give you the net amount you will receive from the sale. Compare that number with your mortgage payoff.

If it is less than what you owe your lender, then you will need to consider a short sale. Ask your agent if they can handle your short sale.

If not, then you may need to hire someone else. Short sales are a lot more complex than a normal real estate transaction.

Make sure the person you interview has closed short sales in the past and knows what they are doing.

Ask them how the short sale process works. Have them explain it to you. This will help you determine if that person can do the job for you.

Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property and never pay the bank another penny. Send me an e-mail at myrealtorphil@gmail.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail. If you prefer, then you can call me at (312) 953-6725.

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Remember to visit my Chicago short sale blog frequently for great tips and news on Chicago short sales www.Chicago-ShortSaleBlog.com

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Chicago Loan Modification Kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your lender. Click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this, Phil Buoscio.

Phil is a Real Estate Agent at Better Living Realty – Buoscio Brokerage, Inc..

Phone: (312) 953-6725. myrealtorphil@gmail.com.

View My homes for sale at www.BetterLivingRealty.com.

Phil Buoscio, is a broker with Better Living Realty he leads the sales team “Phil Buoscio Team” and specializes in short sales in Chicago Illinois. Chicago Loan Modification Help can be referred to you. We don’t do loan modifications ourselves but we work with those who do.

We know Chicago Short Sales. I am a Chicago Short Sale Realtor. Chicagoland Short Sale Realtor. Chicago IL Short Sales. Chicago Realtor. We do business in Pilsen. McKinley Park. Bridgeport. Wicker Park. West Town. Ukranian Village. Lincoln Park. Near North. River North. East Village. Logan Square. Uptown. Edison Park. Portage Park. Hermosa. Lincoln Park, South Loop, West Loop. Bronzeville. Hyde Park. Kenwood. Oak Park. Brookfield. Cicero. Berwyn. Evanston. LaGrange. LaGrange Park. Riverside. We sell condos, single family homes, lots, land, multi units, two flats, three flats, etc.

Copyright 2010 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved. This is not intended as legal, technical, or tax advice. Please speak with a licensed professional before making any decision. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of the date of writing. The views expressed here are Phil Buoscio’s personal views and do not reflect the views of Better Living Realty – Buoscio Brokerage, Inc.. This information on My Realtor hasn’t talked to me about a Short Sale & I’m not even getting a showing. I think I might be upside down. What do I do is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

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