Choose Windermere Nevada Blog

HOME AFFORDABLE FORECLOSURE ALTERNATIVES (HAFA)

Jeff Brick — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 21:20:00 GMT

The Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternative will launch on April 5, 2010. Homeowners struggling to sell their homes in a short sale are getting some relief, thanks to the federal government's HAFA program.

Up until now, many short sales - in which the lender accepts a sale of the property for less than the full amount owed - have taken months to complete. Sometimes, the complex and lengthy process has failed, resulting in foreclosure.

Prior to the HAFA program, homeowners listed their homes for sale without any idea if the lender holding their note (or notes) would accept the short sale.

Under the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternative program, borrowers receive the preapproved short sale terms from the lender prior to putting the home on the market. The updated short sale guidelines establish easy to understand process with pre-defined steps that make it easier for everyone to understand.

Eligibility Requirements

The HAFA guidelines apply to lenders who voluntarily participate in the HAMP (Home Affordable Modification Program). The Department of Housing and Urban Development says more than 100 servicers have signed up to participate in HAMP, covering more than 89 percent of mortgage debt outstanding in the country.

To be eligible for HAFA, homeowners must first apply for a loan modification through the Home Affordable Modification Program, or HAMP. Owners who do not qualify for a loan modification or miss payments during the initial loan modification period qualify for HAFA.

Property and Homeowner Requirements.

Property is principal residence.
Mortgage originated before Jan. 1, 2009.
Mortgage is owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.
Borrower is delinquent or default is foreseeable.
Homeowner demonstrates hardship.
Borrower's total monthly housing payment exceeds 31 percent of gross income.
Unpaid principal does not exceed $729,750.

When a purchase offer is made, borrowers must submit the sales contract to the lender within three days, along with the buyers' mortgage preapproval and the status of negotiations with other lien holders on the seller's property.

Finally, lenders must approve or deny the contract within 10 days.

HAFA rules also state that lenders must release borrowers from the obligation to repay the difference between the sales price and the loan amount. No deficiency judgments are allowed for a first or second loan.

In the past, short sales were especially difficult for homeowners with more than one loan on their home, since the home sale typically repaid only the first mortgage. HAFA's financial incentives include a payment of up to $3,000 for second mortgage holders.

Other HAFA financial incentives include $1,000 to loan servicers to cover administrative fees, up to $1,000 for mortgage investors who agree to share short sale proceeds with second lien holders and $1,500 to the homeowners for relocation.

The moving expense allocation acts as an incentive for them to stay in the property until the short sale goes through.

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Short Sale approvals by banks increase dramatically while foreclosures slide

Jeff Brick — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:04:00 GMT

Las Vegas and Clark County lead the country in Short Sales. In January of 2009 approved short sales were less than 200 properties. By January of 2010 approvals were over 700 a month.

In early 2009 Short Sales averaged 7 to 8 percent of the total home closings. By end of year that percentage had increased to nearly 25% of the total market of closings.

There has been a dramatic decrease in foreclosure activity in Las Vegas. With the Federal Treasury putting pressure on Banks to either offer loan modifications or approve short sales, banks are foreclosing on fewer properties. The Treasury Department is offering incentives on short sales by providing a $2,500 subsidy, $1,000 to the servicer and $1,500 to the seller for moving expenses. In addition investors can get $1,000 by allowing subordinate lenders to get $3,000 in proceeds from the sale. The program is effective April 5th but servicers can implement it earlier.

It is costly for lenders to go through the legal process of foreclosing. Short Sales are so much better for neighborhoods. Sellers selling their home on a short sale are generally still living in and caring for the home during the marketing and closing process. This enhances the neighborhood because that Short Sale is one less foreclosure in the community.

Banks have really gotten organized in the past year to more effectively process and handle these Short Sales. Many Banks have pulled Asset Managers from their Foreclosure departments and moved them to their Loss Mitigation (Short Sale) departments as Negotiators. In addition Banks have moved the entire process from a pen and paper system to the same on line transaction systems that they are using to process their Foreclosures.

In general a Short Sale is a more acceptable solution to most lenders than foreclosure. Working with the bank to find a solution through Short Sale rather than walking away from the property demonstrates higher level of cooperation.

Homeowners should consult their attorney and Certified Public Accountant to review the potential consequences of Short Sale and Foreclosure. Windermere Real Estate has partnered with Distressed Property Consultants an attorney backed Short Sale processing firm that works in concert with the professional Windermere agent and provides attorneys to represent the homeowner to advise the seller and negotiate with the lender to minimize and/or alleviate deficiency judgments and promissory notes.

For more information go to: www.choosewindermere.com/Nevada/Short Sales

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Looking for analytics to track data on your Windermere Platinum website?

Jeff Brick — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:49:00 GMT

All that a GraphicalData website user needs to do is create an account in Google, sign up for Google Analytics and paste a snippet of code into an appropriate field in your admin center.

This is very easy to do…just go to Google Analytics and if you already have a Google account for some reason, just use it. If not just follow the steps for creating an account and you are on your way.

Once you have created an account, you can then sign up for Google Analytics. Just a few more steps…and you will be done! Once signed up a small snippet of code wil be displayed. You will need to copy the account number within this script of code and insert it into the appropriate place in your admin center…which will activate it.

...(Continued)...

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WHAT IS EARNEST MONEY? HOW DO I GET IT BACK IF THERE IS A DISPUTE?

Jeff Brick — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:36:00 GMT

Well, earnest money is the money you would put down to demonstrate your seriousness about buying that home. In order to prove your seriousness the earnest money must be large enough to demonstrate good faith and is usually between 1-5% of the purchase price (though the amount can vary with local customs and conditions).

If your offer is accepted, the earnest money becomes part of your down payment or closing costs
If the offer is rejected, your money is returned to you
If you back out of a deal, you may forfeit the entire amount
If either party refuses to execute the nessecary documents required to release the earnest money (See NRS645a.175 3.(a) very interesting )

*** NRS 645A.175 Duty to execute documents necessary to release money deposited in escrow; exception for good faith disputes; recovery of damages for failure to execute; award of attorney’s fees.
      1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2 or in the escrow agreement between the parties and the holder of the escrow, upon the close of an escrow for the sale of real property or on the date the escrow is scheduled to close if it has not closed, each party shall execute the documents necessary to release the money deposited in the escrow.
      2. A party may refuse to execute a document necessary to release the money deposited in the escrow only if a good faith dispute exists concerning that money.
      3. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 645.8701 to 645.8811, inclusive, if a party refuses to execute a document necessary to release the money deposited in the escrow within 30 days after the holder of the escrow makes a written request for the execution, the party injured by the failure of the other party to execute the document may collect from that party:
      (a) Actual damages of not less than $100 nor more than 1 percent of the purchase price of the real property for which the money was deposited in the escrow, whichever is greater;
      (b) The money deposited in the escrow which was not held to resolve a good faith dispute concerning the sale of the property; and
      (c) A reasonable attorney’s fee.
      (Added to NRS by 1995, 1527; A 1999, 1180)

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Take Back your Power!

Jeff Brick — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:07:00 GMT

It is time to let go of the economy and take control of your existence. You can either give away your power to; the economy, the market or the story of the day. Giving away personal power is giving away your control, hope and happiness. There is always a story for why things aren't going well. Today, this moment, take your power back!

Personal power is the ability to achieve what you want. More than anything else, it is personal power that brings you success and happiness. There have been some that have felt powerless in the economic climate of the past months.

Power is a multi-faceted concept. You experience a sense of personal power when you feel in control of your life. Power is the ability to achieve goals. It is also the ability to influence others. Considerable power comes from the ability to communicate. Power includes enthusiasm and optimism. Your energy level is related to your power. You have personal power when you are the master of your destiny. Power is related to self-esteem and confidence. The freer you are, the more you tend to experience your power.

· We give away our power - people can't take it without our perrmission

· We allow people and things to have an unhealthy level of control and influence in our life

· Getting angry, bitter and/or resentful at others will fix nothing.

· Positive change starts with awareness, understanding and acknowledgement

· The situation will change when you change.

Take back your personal Power by following these steps:

1. Challenge Yourself. All too often our desire to live a comfortable, painless, easy and safe existence (all things driven by fear) is the very thing that kills our potential, our productivity, our ability to develop and ultimately, our spirit. In order to take back your power you will need to be courageous. Being courageous is a choice. Be prepared to be uncomfortable and understand that is part of the growth process and part of taking back your power. Personal power is doing what you need to do to make your dreams come true. Many times this means doing something different than you are doing now! Otherwise you will keep getting the same results!

2. Face your fears. You can never take back your power until you confront the things that scare you. Being fearful does not represent weakness but rather humanity. Fear is something we can use for our personal development. Fear is personal. We all have our own personal fears. Today choose two of those fears to face. These fears can range from learning a new technology to bungee jumping.

3. Substitute gratitude for envy. There is always someone or something that is bigger and better. This is a losing game. Focus on gratitude for all that you have been blessed with; health, friendship, professional associates and peace. The only antidote for envy is appreciation.

4. Take control of your health. Exercise. The kind of exercise that empowers you is the kind that lets mind and body sing together as one. Find the exercise that induces a positive mental state and that is enjoyable to you. Maybe walking is empowering to you because you are expanding the scope of your surroundings. Yoga can bring tone and strength to mind and body. For some it is a game of tennis or golf.

5. Get Inspired and Inspire others. Surround yourself with others who inspire and challenge you. Working together with like minded committed and inspired individuals is exciting and productive.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, It is the only thing that ever has."

Margaret Mead

6. Enhance and protect your brand Associate with people, organizations, situations and products that enhance your reputation and that are visionary. In the professional world your brand is your power. Your company brand should empower you with the latest tools, technology and marketing to enhance your business.

7. Keep re-inventing yourself. Being stagnant and inflexible in a dynamic world is a sure-fire way to become redundant, unnecessary and powerless. While your core values, beliefs and standards might remain constant, it is important that you continue to adapt

" Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough. "
Oprah Winfrey

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2009 Community Service Day!

Jeff Brick — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:32:00 GMT

More than 30 members of Windermere Anthem Hills & Windermere Prestige Properties adopted a major geological site on the east side of Las Vegas October 16, as part of our Annual Community Service Day initiative.

This year's project consisted of a cleanup effort at the Great Unconformity, a geological site at the base of the Frenchman (Sunrise) Mountain. It is called the Great Unconformity because it represents a 1.2 billion-year gap - about one-fourth of the Earth's geologic history - which appears to missing between the rock layers.

For years, the site was plagued by illegal dumping and vandalism, but efforts such as Windermere's have greatly restored the area since the mid-1990s. Windermere agents completely filled a construction dumpster with litter, carpet, glass and bits of furniture.

Panera Bread ("The District" location) donated breakfast for all the volunteers. Bagels, pastries and fresh coffee was served. A big thank you to Panera Bread!

Windermere's Community Service Day: Making our neighborhoods better places to live, was established in 1984. All Windermere agents and staff dedicate one day each year to work together on neighborhood improvement projects. Community Service Day is a great opportunity to give back to the communities where we live and work, and gives us a chance to work together.

Because of Windermere's leadership role, similar programs have been adopted by real estate firms across the country.

Since the conception of Community Service Day, Windermere associates and staff have volunteered more than a half million hours of service to help improve our communities. We at Windermere are committed to continuing this tradition and expanding the positive impact it can have on the communities we share.

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The Phone Every Real Estate Agent Should Buy!

Jeff Brick — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:53:00 GMT

MY PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION, THE HTC PRO2 (Watch the Video)

The HTC PRO 2 is possibly the most highly anticipated Windows Mobile device of all time. It marks the return of the tilting screen made popular by the HTC TyTN II (and its many variants such as the AT&T Tilt), plus the debut of some new technologies out of HTC that should very much appease the Windermere Real Estate professional. Introducing the HTC Touch Pro2. Form meets function. They tilt. A smart design, a speedy connection, and a big, bright touch screen that tilts. This is the smartphone you've been waiting for. The Touch Pro2's commanding design offers a 3.6 vibrant tilting touch screen. Slide out your screen to reveal a full-size keyboard to make email and texting faster.

The Touch Pro2 offers seamless integrated features that enable you to stay connected, informed, and in control with one touch. Put people at the center of your communication access all their calls, SMS, emails, and even status updates right from their contact card. Windows Mobile lets you manage your Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents on the go. With

HTC's Straight Talk, you can turn your device into a professional quality speakerphone by the simple act of flipping it over.

It's not all business with the Touch Pro2 with instant access to YouTube videos and the ability to take and send video and pictures with a 3.2 megapixel camera, you'll find endless entertainment.

...(Continued)...

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SHORT SALES - WHAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW

Jeff Brick — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:25:00 GMT

SHORT SALES - WHAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW

Summary Data on Short Sales

Short Sales are About 15% of National Housing Market
First-Time buyers are nearly half of Short Sale Buyers
Short Sale Properties sell at 15 - 20% less than non-distressed properties
Expect 2 Months for "yes" or "No" response to offers
Three offers for every completed short sale
Expect an Average of 4 Months on market
5% total commission is most common; 6% does happen

What should Homeowners who have challenges meeting mortgage payments do?

Homeowners having difficulty making their mortgage payments should talk to their mortgage servicer or a housing counselor as early as possible.The servicer may not be the same company that originated the homeowners mortgage.
The servicer will work with their customers to find viable alternatives to foreclosure where possible.
A servicer may own the loans they service and/or service the loans for investors so the ultimate decision as to what alternatives can be provided may not be up to the servicer.

What is a Short Sale?

A short sale is a program that allows homeowners to sell the home for less than the amount owed on the mortgage.
Homes are sold at fair market value and the proceeds are used as payment in full on the mortgage.
Borrowers must qualify to be considered for a short sale.
Qualification does not guarantee short sale approval.
Note: A promissory note for debt not covered by the sale may be required by some investors or, junior lien holders to agree to the short sale.

Homeowner options include:

Refinancing
Repayment plans
Loan modifications
Short sales
and other options

Why are there short sales?

Homeowners have an involuntary hardship and can no longer afford their monthly mortgage payments.

The property is worth less than what is owed.

Short sale homeowner benefits

Avoid stress of foreclosure sale; honorable exit to a difficult situation.
Homeowners can typically live in the home until the new owner closes, giving time to make other living arrangements.
Foreclosure is postponed and collection calls will stop once a written, signed offer is received and approved.

Short Sale impacts

Homeowner impacts

Credit report will state "paid off in full for less than full balance."Reestablishment of credit may be required to qualify for a new mortgage following a short sale.
There may be tax implications. The homeowner should speak with their tax advisers about the tax implications of a short sale.

What else homeowners should be aware of

Buyers cannot be anyone the homeowner has a close personal or business relationship with,including family and friends
Homeowners are responsible for making their mortgage payments while the home is on the market.
Mortgages in bankruptcy require special consideration.
Homeowners should speak with their mortgage company to discuss their options.

What does the Sellers' REALTOR need to know

Who would not be eligible buyers

Anyone with a close personal or business relationship to the homeowners; family, friends, neighbors.

How to possibly reduce the time line

Notify the lender that is servicing the property as soon as the listing contract is signed. This allows the servicing company to complete the property valuation and borrower financial evaluation prior to receiving the offer. This significantly reduces the short sale decision time on a submitted offer.
Allow the appraiser timely access to the property
Due to the complex nature of the sale, the process does not follow those of a typical real estate transaction

What REALTORS need to know

A short sale approval is good for only 30 days
If the closing does not occur within 30 days:
The entire short sale package may need to be resubmitted with updated information, and/or the approval process may need to start over.
Buyer concessions must be approved by the investor.

Common Short Sale obstacles

Unrealistic expectations

Timeliness do not follow typical offer-to-close time line
Price 'low ball' offers due to market conditions
Excessive seller concessions and costs

Offer does not meet investor guidelines

Mortgage insurer requiring promissory note

Processing delays

Valuation delays
REALTOR and customer required documents missing or not signed and dated properly

Team not fully engaged

Buyer's REALTOR working short sale without homeowner engaged.
Buyer REALTOR often considered an unauthorized third

What can derail lender approval?

Homeowners/sellers
Refuse to sign investor required promissory note
Don't provide access to the property

Junior lien holders

Will not approve transaction

Buyers

Unable to secure financing

Property

Unclear title

Listing price

Too high or too low - either not generating enough offers or creating offers which are too low.

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Google Analytics - Must Have!!!

Jeff Brick — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:43:00 GMT

Looking for analytics to track data on your website?

All that a Windermere Platinum website user needs to do is create an account in Google, sign up for Google Analytics and paste a snippet of code into an appropriate field in your admin center. This is very easy to do…just go to http://www.google.com/analytics/ and if you already have a Google account for some reason, just use it. If not just follow the steps for creating an account and you are on your way.

Once you have created an account, you can then sign up for Google Analytics. Just a few more steps…and you will be done!

Once signed up a small snippet of code wil be displayed. You will need to copy the account number within this script of code and insert it into the appropriate place in your admin center…which will activate it.

[NOTE: Your Windermere Platinum Website has provided a manual to walk you through this whole process. Go into your admin center>website>website statistics>Google Analytics. Also take note of the field where you will paste in your Google Analytics account number. Then click the "Update Analytics" button and you are good to go.]

After this process is completed, you will be able to log into your Google Analytics account from any Web browser and see up-to-the-minute real time statistics on everything you could ever want to know about your site visitors and their behavior. All kinds of charts and graphs and information.

This powerful Web-based statistics package was once a stand alone product and cost $100’s/month before Google bought it awhile back, and now makes it available to anyone for free.

Website statistics are highly useful if you have the ability to a) understand what they are saying about your site’s ability or lack of ability to convert visitors to clients, and b) they can be used to help create a strategic plan of action.

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Windermere Launches a New Marketing Plan

Jeff Brick — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:40:00 GMT

Do you have a Marketing Plan for your Real Estate Business?

I am excited to announce that Windermere Services Nevada is now offering a Marketing Fulfillment session for all agents that would like to take a tour of all the Windermere Marketing tools that are available.

As Windermere's Marketing Director, I will meet with you one-on-one and take you through each step of all the Marketing Tools and show you how to incorporate these tools in your marketing plan.

Some of the items we will cover are:

What does your marketing plan look like?
How to make the most out of marketing your farm
Do you have a SOI List?
Are you mailing marketing materials to your SOI?
Are you emailing the Windermere Report monthly?
Do you enhance all your listings with Realtor.com?
Do you use Windermere's Photo Gallery?
Do you have your Bio on all websites?
Referral Revenue Sources

According to NAR, 84% of consumers use the internet to view properties on line. Consumers are more educated and know exactly what they want and how much they want to spend for it. In today's market, the consumer is looking for an agent that is Technology savvy, educated, highly experienced and someone they can trust.

By looking at the Marketing methods available, you will learn how to market to your clients and gain their trust in you as the professional Windermere Agent that you are!

To schedule a Marketing Fulfillment session call Deb at:
702-432-4600 or email mailto:nvmarketing@windermere.com

Marketing will help your bottom line! So schedule yours today!

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Prudential California CEO... Joins Windermere as New President

Jeff Brick — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:41:00 GMT

The New President of Windermere Exclusive Properties February 27th, 2009 Steve Rodgers, former President and CEO of Prudential California Realty, Southern California was named a partner and the new President of Windermere Exclusive Properties.

Rodgers, who was with Prudential for more than 14 years, spent the last few months researching the companies and cultures that best fit with his views for the future of real estate. He was honored to have been presented with career opportunities at numerous local, national and international real estate firms and franchises.

"There were many exciting and impressive people and meetings along the way to consider" said Rodgers. "But the partnership with Windermere Real Estate presents a unique opportunity for me to work with a more boutique, locally owned and operated firm. At Windermere, I can serve agents and consumers in a more personal and targeted way."

Windermere agents enjoy the less corporate atmosphere and consumer centric focus of their San Diego offices. The branches are locally run and provide agents with exceptional support and training.

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A Special Message From Robyn Yates

Jeff Brick — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:19:00 GMT

Committed, Creative, Visionary

These are words to describe your Windermere Leadership. It is a time of challenge in our industry and in our country. Today is the day to stick together and to work as a team to create solutions. In our Windermere Family we are committed to each of you and your business. You can count on Windermere to lead you and the community.

Remarkable, Inspired and Principled

Shirley Brass:

Windermere is dedicated to honest, ethical and professional service. Windermere offers the best tools to the best people and gets out of their way, and Shirley is proud to be a member of the Windermere family. With State of the Art technology, as seen on Windermere.com, as well as their extensive marketing technology, Windermere is dedicated in meeting your Real Estate expectations. This technology combined with educated and skilled agents like Shirley Brass, you can rest assure that you are in good hands throughout your Real Estate experience

Steven Carns:

"I have always recommended customers choose their real estate agent and brokerage carefully," says Steve. "It is interesting upon my return to Southern Nevada that I found myself in the same position of making a very difficult choice of brokerage firm with which to associate. Then, I discovered Windermere and my difficult decision became an obvious choice."

A previous Southern Nevada resident, Steve comes to Windermere as an experienced real estate professional from the highly competitive luxury market in Sarasota, Florida. There he enjoyed significant success with the local Prudential and Sotheby's affiliates. Upon returning to the Las Vegas valley in 2007, Steve began an exhaustive search for a firm that could not only meet his high standards of quality and integrity, but one with the vision and leadership to drive toward the future of real estate, not just react to the realities of the past. "There are a lot of great real estate companies in this market to choose from, but they are not all the same. When I walked through Windermere's front door, I instantly knew it was different. I knew Windermere was the firm where I could best serve the needs of my clients. I had taken a hard look at many of the area's finest companies. I found no other company could match Windermere's level of technology, marketing, agents and client satisfaction. We are definitely raising the bar for real estate brokerages in Southern Nevada."

Ed Haendel:

"I am proud to be and agent for Windermere Prestige Properties. Windermere focus the highest ethical standards and integrity are unparalled. As a Windermere agent, your complete satisfaction is my number one goal."

Helene Moore:

With all of Helene's personal and professional skills and the technology and marketing tools that Windermere adds to her arsenal, the relationship is one that is sound, professional and long-lasting. Helene has found her "real estate" home with Windermere and is proud to be a member of the Windermere family.

Windermere Real Estate is committed to each of you and to our Truth's and Vision. We are collectively creating the Real Estate company that the community looks to as the most professional with the most productive and respected Real Estate professionals. It is our expectation, vision and goal to always be the leader and provide the most up to date technology and marketing solutions. All of this while serving the community.

Windermere Real Estate has grown from a small office in Green Valley of fourteen agents to over two hundred agents in five years. More importantly our growth has been focused not on numbers of agents, but on the most respected and professional agents in the community. In other words, this is a company based on Quality people not just numbers. You won't see Windermere trying to get the most number of agents. Rather, our goal is to attract the best agents through the law of attraction and ensure through our collective commitment that every Windermere agent is highly successful.

We are inspired to keep striving to provide you with the absolute best resources. We are committed to you and ask for your commitment to us. By being engaged with us you are ensuring your success.

What You Should Know If You're Considering
Making a Change to a New Brokerage

Click Here

To lead the field in our industry today takes specific tools
in your toolbox that are unique and exclusive!

Platinum Web site

The exclusive Windermere tool, your platinum website puts you in control - you control your own content, links, searches, offerings and photos that your visitors will experience. Innovative products will make you look good.

Unsurpassed Built-in lead generation - Multiple reasons for visitors to contact you, with calls to action. You are always the primary contact!

Click Here for Platinum Website Brochure

Mobile Agent

The exclusive Windermere tool, the evolution in real estate information access is here with Mobile Agent, the industry's first consumer mobile search tool for real estate. Mobile Agent takes home searching to the next level. It allows the consumer to go mobile and puts the agent in their hand.

Click Here for Mobile Agent Brochure

Internet Concierge Program

Windermere's complimentary Internet concierge program provides you with the tools and resources to generate more leads, clients, prospects and exposure by using the largest syndication network available!

With the highest number of syndication partners available and more being included all the time, Windermere's Internet Concierge Program provides you with a competitive edge above other real estate professionals. Syndication gives you an advantage that is clear to sellers, encouraging them to list with you.

Click Here for Internet Concierge Brochure

Relocation Department

Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® is a global network of nearly 700 premier real estate firms with 5,500 offices and 170,000 sales associates in 38 countries around the world.

Collectively, this group has sold over 1.2 million homes worth $370 billion in 2007, more than any national real estate brand. LeadingRE dominates the United States list of top 500 real estate firms, with more of the Number One market leaders in the top 90 markets than any network.

On Site Builder Relationships

Windermere has recently earned the exclusive listing rights for Toll Brothers, a semi-custom builder in Las Vegas. Toll Brothers selected Windermere for the caliber of its agents, their professional reputation and Windermere's unsurpassed technology and marketing tools.

Windermere Quarterly Event June 23rd at

Red Rock Country Club: "Unraveling the Mysterys"

Key Note Speaker

Michael Fanning
Windermere Services Seattle

Click Here for the Unraveling the Mysterys Flyer

As we continue to lead in Technology & Marketing tools many company's look to us for their solutions. This is why we share just a few tools with you today. For a complete overview please contact any of your Windermere Leadership Team. (Click on any of the Leadership names below for their profile)

Stephen Redman & Di Redman

Dennis Yates & Robyn Yates

Jeff Brick

Veronica Richards

Deb Shields

Windermere Real Estate is the leading residential real estate network in the West with more than 325 offices and 8,500 associates serving neighborhoods in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming, Washington and British Columbia. Windermere has been consistently ranked as the largest regional real estate brand in the western United States by REAL Trends, a primary source of industry data. Windermere has a proud heritage of serving communities by way of the Windermere Foundation, which provides funding to social service agencies that offer housing and services to low-income and homeless children and families. Windermere's Web site, Windermere.com, receives over 2 million unique visits per month, and is regarded as one of the leading real estate sites in the country in terms of customer usability. In 2006, Windermere was selected as an Official Honoree of the 10th Annual Webby Awards based on excellence in Web site content, design, functionality and overall experience.

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Windermere New Email System Info

Jeff Brick — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:01:00 GMT

When will my e-mail be migrated over?

Between June 1 and July 31, 2009, we will transition all associates with a Windermere.com email address to a new email system.

Windermere Email Accounts will be migrated on an individual basis.
We will not be migrating whole offices at a time.

We will no longer be publishing a schedule of associates with their migration date. All associates will receive at least 2 notifications prior to migration with notice about their upcoming migration.

Why a new e-mail system?
Email is consistently cited as the most important tool you use as part of your business. In order to ensure that you have the most current and scalable email, Windermere will be migrating our current webmail email system to an upgraded system offering you the advanced features you need to succeed in today's market.

What improvements come with the new system?
The new system is vastly superior to the current Windermere email system. Some of the upgraded features include:

1. Access email anytime, anywhere - from the office, at home or on the road.

2. Email, contacts, calendars and tasks can be automatically synchronized between the web and Outlook. Changes made at one location, are available in all.

3. Increased storage capacity equal to 10GB per account (compared to 50MB with our current vendor).

4. Share your calendar with other associates using the new system.

5. Mobile synching with BlackBerry, Windows Mobile and iPhone* at no extra charge.

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Short Sale Lender Submission & Processing Guide for Windermere Agents

Jeff Brick — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:49:00 GMT

SHORT SALE SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS BY LENDER

Many Mortgage Companies and Servicing Institutions have their own unique requirements when it comes to Short Sale requests from borrowers. Select from the list below to see the general requirements of the lender/ servicer.
We have included downloadable forms and documents for those lender or servicers that require special forms and documents to be completed by the borrower. Certain of the forms and documents we have available have been scanned and the quality of the image may not be of good quality.

ABOUT US THE COMPANY
www.mresolution.com

Mortgage Resolution Services, Inc. provides a full range of services to the real estate community, all designed to support the efforts of brokers and agents working with homeowners overburdened with mortgage debt. As market conditions become more challenging and mortgage delinquencies increase, Mortgage Resolution Services, Inc. can help. By providing education, coaching and a comprehensive short sale processing service, Mortgage Resolution Services, Inc. is ready to help real estate professionals who are seeking to adjust their business plan to account for current market conditions.

SHORT SALE PROCESSING

As pre-foreclosure and foreclosure numbers continue to run at very high levels, we can show you how to find homeowners who need your help.
For those of you who would like to keep in touch with your "regular" real estate business and who want to avoid getting gobbled up by the demands of handling the processing of short sale files we have a solution. Mortgage Resolution Services, Inc. can handle the short sale processing and negotiating tasks on your short sale files.
You keep the client, you take care of the real estate side of the transaction and we will do the heavy lifting with the mortgage lenders and their loss mitigation departments.
Even before you ever take this listing, we can let you know if you have a short sale transaction that will likely be approved.
As an agent all you have to sell is your time and your expertise. Mortgage Resolution Services, Inc. can help by confirming you have an approvable short sale so you don't waste time on a transaction that will likely be declined and we can remove the day-to-day burden of chasing down loss mitigators.

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Las Vegas - Obama Signs Measures to Help with Troubled Mortgages

Jeff Brick — Wed, 27 May 2009 22:11:00 GMT

President Obama today enacted two measures that provide incentives for lenders and loan servicers to make troubled mortgages more affordable. The legislation also streamlines Hope for Homeowners, a government program to refinance ï¿½underwaterï¿½ loans that so far has helped few distressed borrowers. Obama said the bills also require banks to honor existing leases on foreclosed properties, and provide $2.2 billion to help homeless families. In addition, the measures give federal investigators more tools to crack down on mortgage and commodity fraud.

ï¿½I believe weï¿½re moving in the right direction, but I want to remind everybody that it took many years and many failures to get us here, and itï¿½s going to take some time to get us out,ï¿½ Obama said. ï¿½The stock market will rise and fall. The job market has taken a beating and wonï¿½t be back immediately. The housing market still has a long way to go. But Iï¿½m confident we will get there.ï¿½ As the details of the measure are released I will keep you informed to what this means for Nevadans

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Listen Up Las Vegas... Use your $8,000 Tax Credit as Your Down Payment!

Jeff Brick — Thu, 14 May 2009 10:53:00 GMT

National Association of Realtors Applauds Use of First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit as Real Estate Down payment

Use $8,000 Tax Credit as Real Estate Down Payment. National Association of Realtors is Optimistic

By Sylvia Cochran

Today the National Association of Realtors comments on the change in the rules that allows the $8,000 tax credit to be used as a down payment for a real estate purchase.

$8,000 Tax Credit May Be Used For Real Estate Down Payment

The good news the National Association of Realtors was clamoring for, came in the form of an announcement from Shaun Donovan of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The association's website reports that the FHA has given the green light to lenders for a change in the real estate down payment rules.

The National Association of Realtors states that the $8,000 tax credit that home buyers would normally be able to apply for during their tax preparation may now actually be applied toward the down payment of the real estate purchase. A specially designed loan vehicle "pays forward" the tax credit and thus the real estate buyer borrows the funds for the down payment.

In the past, the use of borrowed funds for a real estate transaction was considered an unacceptable practice. Today, it might be the little extra nudge otherwise qualified real estate buyers require to make their dream of homeownership a reality.

First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit as Real Estate Down Payment is Not a New Idea

The US News Home Front Blog reported that already in January of this year, the state of Missouri was allowing the first time homebuyer tax credit to be turned into a down payment on a piece of real estate. The Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) discovered a way of writing a second loan of up to 6% of the home purchase price, which would then later on be paid off with the first time homebuyer tax credit that is valued at 10% of the purchase price.

Consumers who repay the down payment loan will not be charged interest but instead only a processing fee. Those who fail to repay when they receive the first time homebuyer tax credit see their down payment loan funneled into a 10 year loan that is repaid - with interest - over a decade.

Is it time for the National Association of Realtors to rejoice nationwide?

Sources

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2009/05/11/daily37.html; http://www.realtor.org/press_room/news_releases/2009/05/re_summit?lid=ronav0019; http://www.usnews.com/blogs/the-home-front/2009/03/30/the-first-time-home-buyer-tax-credit-and-your-down-payment.html

More resources

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2009/05/11/daily37.html

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Las Vegas Listing Inventory Shrinks

Jeff Brick — Fri, 08 May 2009 16:05:00 GMT

Las Vegas Inventory shrunk to nearly 18,000 resale units through the end of April. Inventory levels were down 22.2% compared to the same week of the prior year.

In April, closings were 98% of the listing price. Homes that were listed and sold in less than 30 days sold for 101% of the listed price. Forty-six percent of the properties listed are selling for 101% of list price and closing in 30 days or less. This is an indicator that the majority of homes are priced at fair market value.

Agents are seeing multiple offers on properties with curb appeal that are surfacing on the market. First-time homebuyers are realizing their dream of homeownership. Investors are taking advantage of the low prices and placing cash offers on properties that they hope will turn a profit. Short Sales (loans on properties that are higher than the current market value) are getting bank approvals faster and closing escrow.

NEW MONTHLY LISTINGS YEAR-TO-DATE

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4 Ways to Court International Investors

Jeff Brick — Mon, 04 May 2009 17:05:00 GMT

The dollar’s plunge against many foreign currencies, along with softening real estate prices, have made U.S. properties extremely attractive to overseas buyers. Here are four ways to tap into this expanding market:

1. Join the club. Immigrants and foreign nationals often join social groups to connect with people like themselves. For instance, there’s a Canadian Club of Chicago, a Canadian Club of Washington, D.C., and a Canadian Association of New York. Looking to work with buyers from France? Try the Alliance Française in Washington, D.C. Wherever you are, find clubs that bring together people from around the world, and begin networking to generate referrals from overseas friends and relatives of local members.

2. Partner up. You may be able to find eager international buyers by teaming up with other professionals who’ve already built relationships with them. Search your area for attorneys, CPAs, and other professionals who work with international buyers. Interview them to determine their level of expertise and professionalism, and if they’re smart and capable, ask if they’re willing to send and receive referrals to overseas buyers.

3. Work the Web. Allow international investors to search for properties in their native language right from your Web site. How? Contact your state association first, because some, like Florida, offer the service to members. If your local association doesn’t offer that service, hook up with a capable Webmaster who can upgrade your site to allow foreign-language searches.

Also, make sure your advertising directs foreign buyers to a Web page that’s geared specifically to them. If you advertise in, say, Paris, include the address for a Web site that you’ve created exclusively for French-speaking visitors. Or put a French flag prominently on your Web page with a link that says, “View this page in French.” That helps international buyers feel as though you understand them and allows you to track responses to your ads.

And be sure your Web content incorporates the local dialect. Find an expert translator who can translate precisely and use common phrases and idioms familiar to buyers in their language.

4. Ask for help. Treat international buyers no differently than you’d treat U.S. buyers—ask them for referrals. Also, get their opinions on the best places to advertise for buyers in their area, and ask if they’d be willing to make in-person introductions to brokers from their country with whom you can build a professional relationship.

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Slight Help for Underwater Homes Las Vegas

Jeff Brick — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:47:00 GMT

6 companies to get $9.9B under mortgage program

If you are more than 5% under water in your house(s) the Federal money going to banks won't apply to you. Those of us who are 25%, 50% or more under water will have to find our own ways of lowering the principal.

What can you do? Sue the Banks for predatory lending. Sue the Banks for violations of TILA and RESPA. Sue the Banks for appraisal fraud - if you can prove any of the above. Stop paying your mortgage - let .em have it back. File for a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy - if you have income. File for a Chapter 7 if you don't.

It's only rational.

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Marco... Polo... Marco... Polo...

Jeff Brick — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:25:00 GMT

Governments and Governmental Systems come and Go but

Good Merchants are here to Stay.

Real Estate agents are Merchants. While Real Estate Agents may not sell 'retail' goods,

they do sell what people want to buy.

The following article shows the power and endurance of the Mercantile Spirit as explained by way of Marco Polo and his family.

What I learned From Marco Polo and the Current Economic Crisis.

Go Here To Read On

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Do We Really Need to Use Technology...

Jeff Brick — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 11:49:00 GMT

If I haven't been able to convince you yet of where our industry, the worlds technology and whether you should be apart of it or not check out these numbers!

Do you know how many people are using search engines every day?

Do you know how many blogs are on the world wide web?

Do you know how many videos are actually on YouTube?

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TOP 6 MOBILE/CELL PHONES for Business Professionals

Jeff Brick — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 11:22:00 GMT

You're intelligent enough to know that carrying around a cell phone and a PDA is inefficient. Lighten your load by utilizing an all in-one device. Whether you use it as an organizer, an e-mail device, a cell phone, or all of the above, getting a smartphone is a smart move. Here are the top SIX picks for these phone-PDA hybrids; picked one for each major carrier, as well as one unlocked smartphone and one from out side the states.

TOP SIX MOBILE/CELL PHONES

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Las Vegas Home Closings on the Rise!

Jeff Brick — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:28:00 GMT

March home closings rose 21% to 2,720 compared to February closings. Buyers are taking advantage of the current market conditions and purchasing homes. Home closings are up 74% from March 2008. As foreclosures and short sale listings are still flooding the Las Vegas inventory, buyers are benefiting with the combination of low sales prices, low interest rates and high inventory. Foreclosed homes were 81% of the closings for March.

The average home price in Las Vegas dropped another 5% last month, or 43% since March of 2008. Multiple offers on properties are making a comeback as buyers are bidding on pristine properties at prices from 2002 and 2003 levels.

The Condominium market is up 25% from 441 sales in February to 554 in March. Compared to the same time last year, condo closings are up 164%. Condo foreclosures were 86% of the total closings for March. Condo short sales (the sale of a property that is less than the current loan amount) have steadily increased in 2009, showing that sellers are working with banks to sell their homes to avoid foreclosure.

The market is showing signs of strength when you factor in the contingent and pending sales of 9,220, many of which are waiting for bank approval. The number of closings, once bank approvals are received, could have a very positive market impact, decreasing inventory and further improving closing figures.
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Is Las Vegas Good for Investors?

Jeff Brick — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:03:00 GMT

Investors Corner

Savvy investors are snapping up condos, town homes and single-family homes. Property prices have fallen to a point in which many properties provide a positive cash flow. Rentals are still strong in the valley. In addition, the rate of return on these investments is exceeding Wall Street. An example:

A 1 bedroom, 1 bath condominium, being offered at $50,000 in the community of Latigo in Silverado Ranch, rents for an average of $750.00 a month. The monthly association fees are $120 a month. See chart for the cash flow and return on investment.

Additional considerations:

These calculations assume 100% occupancy.

Closing costs are not factored into the cash investment.

Additional returns could be made over time as the property increases in value.

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Short Sale, Deed-in-Lieu or Foreclosure Las Vegas

Jeff Brick — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:41:00 GMT

Short Sale, Deed-in-Lieu or Foreclosure. Effect on Credit Rating.

A Hobson's Choice.

Some say a Hobson's choice is a take it or leave it choice. I say a Hobson's choice is one where all the choices lead to different things, equally bad.

And, so it is with losing your home - foreclosure, short sale or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure. How will one of these choices affect your credit? Is one of them better for your credit rating than the other? A few answers follow.

Some have said that the choice between them is like the difference between being hit by a train a bus or a truck. No matter what you get squished.

Effect on Credit Rating. Foreclosure or Deed-in-Lieu of Foreclosure

Some say the seller will take a hit between a 200 and 300 drop in credit rating or FICO. Either choice will cause negative marks on your credit. How much depends on your individual situation. ...(Continued)...
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