2010 is almost here!

RE/MAX Fine Homes, the Canaday Group wishes you a happy & safe New Years!

It's a Great Time to Buy!

Video of Lucy in A Charlie Brown Christmas. Watch till the end. It's what we ALL want for Christmas!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tC3PJDDuoCY&feature=related

Tips for what you can do NOW to Avoid Foreclosure

Don't wait. Expect long wait times when calling your servicer. Ask for the "home retention team." If you are put on hold, wait until someone comes back on the line. Keep a record of whom you speak to and what was said.
Know your options. The Making Home Affordable Mortgage Modification Program is the government's main program to prevent foreclosures. More than 2,300 servicing companies participate, covering about 85% of all single family home loans. Check with your servicer to see if a new loan that could lower your payments is an option. Check out HUD.gov or MakingHomeAffordable.gov
Build a budget. Make a list of your monthly expenses and ask what sacrifices you are willing to make to remain in your house.
Manage the process. You will have to fill out lots of paperwork. Take your time and be patient. Be honest and realistic when answering questions. Make copies of everything before you send. Verify the recipient received your docs.
Try again. You can reapply if you are turned down. If you don't qualify, maybe it is time to short sale your home. Exit gracefully before foreclosure is at your door.

The Canaday Group would like to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!

Make $$ in 2010 - Your Home

This excerpt was taken from CNN Money:
Following three years of declining home prices, the end of the nationwide housing slump may be in sight. Home sales consistently have been rising, the surplus of houses is shrinking, and most economists believe home values nationwide will hit bottom in the second half of 2010, but not before declining an additional five
to 10 percent. That's good news for homeowners hoping to sell or rebuild lost equity.

KEEP THIS IN MIND
- Mortgage rates currently are below 5 percent, and should remain low for the next few months, partially due to the Federal Reserve's ongoing purchase of mortgage-backed securities. However, if the economy quickly turns around and inflation fears resurface, rates could rise to as high as 6.5%, slowing demand and pushing down home values.

- According to one analyst, the market will remain tilted in favor of buyers over the next year, but that power gradually will be reduced as conditions in the housing market continue to improve.

- Buyers hoping to purchase or invest in a lower-priced, entry-level home should expect some competition from investors and other buyers. To remain competitive, buyers are advised to put down as much cash as possible, as many investors are offering to make all-cash deals. Another factor to keep in mind is that offers below listing price often are outbid by others.

- Some home sellers are postponing listing their homes until the market recovers. However, timing the market is difficult, so homeowners thinking of selling should carefully weigh their options. Congress recently expanded the federal tax credit to include some existing homeowners, but they must close before June 30, 2010 to qualify. Although existing homeowners are not required to sell their current home to qualify for the credit, those who plan to rent out their current residences should be aware that many lenders require borrowers to show they are financially capable of paying two mortgages, or show rental income for at least six months.

Read the full story here:
http://money.cnn.com/2009/11/09/pf/Make_money_home.moneymag/index.htm

2010 Homebuyer Tax Credit

RE/MAX Chief Executive Officer, Margaret Kelly, talks about the government's extension/expansion of the first-time homebuyer tax credit. Certain existing homeowners can now qualify for the credit and homebuyers have until April 30, 2010 to put a contract on a house.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3BzAYXCR1A

Short Sale Seminar - for Buyers or Sellers

The Canaday Group would like you to attend a free
Short Sale Seminar - for Buyers or Sellers
Wednesday, November 18th from 6:30pm -8:00pm.

Lee Ann Canaday with the Canaday Group is a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE). The Canaday Group has a short sale department and has successfully closed numerous short sales. Short sales allow a homeowner with a legitimate hardship to sell their property for less than the balance of their mortgages and avoid foreclosure. At our seminar we will explain the short sale process, how to obtain financing, how to avoid foreclosure and we will present short sales currently on the market.

Location:
UCI University Club
801 E. Peltason
Irvine, CA 92697

*Food & beverages provided
Any questions, please call 949.249.2424