Tuesday, October 30, 2007

24-Hour Hotline Available to Help Avoid Foreclosure

According to Sentinel Staff Writer Jondi Gumz, "A national survey released Monday by the AFL-CIO reports that 49 percent of homeowners with adjustable rate mortgages admit they do not know how their mortgage adjusts and 73 percent do not know how much their mortgage payment will be after the adjustment.

"'This survey shows that many homeowners simply are not prepared for the steep rise in mortgage payments that this market inflicts on ARM [adjustable-rate mortgage] holders,' said AFL-CIO President John Sweeney.

"To help union members, their parents and their children who are trying to avoid foreclosure, AFL-CIO officials have opened a 24-hour hotline staffed by Money Management International, a HUD-certified counseling agency."


The "Save My Home" hotline is at 1-866-490-5361


To read Jondi's article in its entirety, go to Union Homeowners Know Too Little About Their Mortgage Payment

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Fall 2007 Horticulture Lecture Series at Cabrillo College

Don't miss this five lecture series on Water Use in the Landscape, hosted by the Cabrillo College Environmental Horticulture Center.

Water is a critical natural resource that must be protected and used wisely. We will follow water's flow into our environment and see how it is used. Who is using the water and what are they using it for? Can you garden with limited water? Can you harvest the water that naturally falls on your property and use it later? What are the tools we can use to reduce your water application? And can this be done and still have all the coolest plants in your yard?

The series of five lectures is $40 when purchased as a group; or $10 per lecture if attended individually.

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

WHY YOU SHOULD PRICE YOUR HOME REALISTICALLY

TIME Chances are that your home will sell at its fair market value. Pricing it realistically at the outset simply increases the likelihood of a timely sale with less inconvenience and greater monetary return.

COMPETITION Buyers educate themselves by viewing many homes. They know what is a fair price. If your home is not competitive in value with those they have already seen, it will not sell. Buyers typically look at homes within a $10,000 price range. If your home is not priced within the correct range, it very likely will not be exposed to its potential or targeted buyers.

REPUTATION Overpricing causes most homes to remain on the market for too long. Buyers who are aware of a long exposure period are often hesitant to make an offer because they fear "something is wrong" with the house. It often happens that homes that are on the market for a long time eventually sell for less than their fair market value.

INCONVENIENCE If overpricing keeps your home from selling promptly, you can end up owning two homes - the one you've already purchased and the one you're trying to sell. This can prove costly and worrisome, as well as inconvenient.


EIGHTY PERCENT OF THE MARKETING OF YOUR HOME IS DONE THE NIGHT WE DECIDE AT WHAT PRICE WE WILL LIST YOUR HOME.

IF YOU ARE UNWILLING TO LIST YOUR HOME AT, OR JUST BELOW, THE
CURRENT MARKET VALUE YOU ARE BETTER SERVED NOT PUTTING IT ON
THE MARKET AT ALL.


FRANK MURPHY
831-457-5550