This beautifully renovated late 19th century cottage is situated steps from the  De Wint house where at the end of the war, in May of 1783, Sir Guy Carleton, the British commander, met with
Washington to sign orders for peaceful evacuation of British troops from New York City. Now owned and maintained as George Washington's Headquarters The De Wint House is dedicated as a National Historic Landmark and is open to the public, 10 to 4 daily.


I'd love to live in this charming house a short walk from main street of Tappan

The fenced-in cottage garden is charming, with it's meandering path leading through the pretty plantings and provides a shaded picnic spot with sunny patio. I can imagine it full of friends enjoying barbecues on the spacious deck, or picnics under the shady tree at the bottom of the garden. One of my favorite spots is the sun-room, where I can imagine sipping cold lemonade on sultry evenings while reading about the vivid history of Major John Andre and his subsequent demise at the hands of a hangman on the hilltop at Tappan.

Winter evenings in would be equally as wonderful with a cosy fireplace providing a warm glow throughout, and I'd love to entertain friends in the spacious dining room adjacent to the new kitchen.

A combination of history, charm, character and modern conveniences make this a wonderful home. Something I'd certainly love to call my own, maybe you would too?

Come and see it for yourself.

Call Vanessa for appointment or for further information about this home or Tappan, at 845 598 5083

Take a look at this home in Warwick, NY and call me for a preview!

Mortgage holders who can no longer afford their monthly home payments for whatever reason do have choices. Choice number one is to sell the home and give back the bank its money and get on with life. But what if the selling price of your home is less than they owe? This is called being “upside down” in your loan, and selling isn’t an option.

For mortgage holders who are upside down, option two is to apply to their bank for a short sale: asking the bank to accept whatever they can get for the house as satisfaction for the loan. Or, they can simply allow the bank to foreclose. Both these options will unfortunately affect the homeowner’s credit severely.

The Hows and Whys of Loan Modification

The other option for homeowners is convincing the bank to offer a loan modification. And loan mods don’t apply just for upside-down homeowners. Borrowers of adjustable-rate mortgages and home equity loans may also be considered for a loan modification.

Bear in mind that some loan modifications which come with debt forgiveness also come with credit damage, and possibly income tax consequences. Dear Old Uncle Sam may see the debt forgiveness as a form of income. But other loan modification types can be quite attractive, and range from the bank giving you a do-over and re-instating your account to current if you resume payments, to reducing your interest rate, changing an adjustable rate to fixed, allowing interest-only payments for a while or deferring payments altogether, extending the loan’s term, or eliminating bank fees.

But why would a bank say, “Can’t pay your mortgage anymore? Tut tut there, old friend. How ‘bout we just forget that nasty loan you agreed to and give you a better deal?” Bankers don’t even give away toasters any more for cryin’ out loud! The answer? One word: Good Old Uncle Sam again. (Ok, too many words, but come on…)

Under the 2008 Bail-Out Program, the U.S. government has been pushing banks to negotiate loan modifications with borrowers. Some banks are actually cooperating, or trying to appear to be cooperating. Whatever their intention, some modifications are actually being offered, and in the least, the application and approval process can delay foreclosure for up to a year.

Programs by the Major Banks

The following is information on several of the programs from major banks. Co-operating institutions include Citigroup, Bank of America (aka: Countrywide), JPMorgan Chase, IndyMac and Wells Fargo, including the HOPE for Homeowners program guidelines and revisions, and Fannie Mae / Freddie Mac loan modifications.

CityGroup

CitiGroup's loan modifications help borrowers in default by reducing the monthly mortgage payment. Choices for this are accomplished either by lowering the interest rate, extending the loan's term, or forgiving part of the debt or a combination of those terms. If you are not in foreclosure yet, call CitiGroup at 866.915.9417. Home owners who not yet delinquent may qualify for the Citi Homeowner Assistance program by calling 800.667.8424.

CitiGroup Eligibility Requirements:

• CityGroup must hold the first mortgage. Second mortgages or home equity loans don’t count.
• The home in question must be the owner’s primary residence. The summer place in the Hamptons doesn’t count either.
• The homeowner must be working in good faith with CityGroup and be truthful about his situation and income.
• The loan must be current, but the homeowner must be able to show a need for help to remain current.
• The present monthly payment must be at least 38% of the homeowner’s monthly income. 
• Filing requirements:
• A hardship letter (hardship letters explain how a borrower got into the situation, what he has done to rectify the situation so far and why he needs help).
• Pay stubs dated within the last 30 days, covering at least a 60-day (2-month) period.
• W2/tax return or year-end business statement (if applicable) for the prior year.
• Personal bank statements from the last 6 months.

A handy tip on filing packages for ALL banks:

Most banks will require you to assemble and present them with a plump packet of financial information. Keep a copy of the package you initially file, and keep it current with copies of new bank statements, pay stubs etc. One game banks like to play is to keep requesting applicants to submit and re-submit financial documents. True, it keeps the banks informed of changes in your personal situation. But it also gives them an “out” in granting modifications if the applicant can’t keep up with the blizzard of paperwork often required by loan modification departments. Now I know where all the trees are going.

JP Morgan Chase Loan Modifications

Chase gobbled up Washington Mutual and EMC Mortgage Corp. some months ago. Chase started a loan program at the end of January, 2009 for two years, intended to help homeowners in trouble with their Chase mortgages.

JP Morgan Chase Eligibility Requirements:

Chase requires applicants to submit the usual packet of information (see “Handy Tip” above) including hardship letter, pay stubs proving you have income, financial statements, bank statements and tax returns. Beyond that:

• Chase must hold the first mortgage on the loan.
• The property must be the owners’ primary residence and he must occupy it.
• Adjustable rate mortgages, sub-prime and Option ARM loans from JP Morgan Chase, Washington Mutual or EMC Mortgage Corp. may qualify.
• The homeowner must show the ability to afford a debt ratio including principle, interest, taxes and homeowners insurance of 31-40% of his monthly income.

Call JP Morgan Chase at 866-550-5705 for more information.

Bank of America (Countrywide Mortgage)

Bank of America bought Countrywide and its assets in 2009 and controls its mortgage loan portfolio. Countrywide Financial's (Bank of America) loan modification program is called The Homeownership Retention Program. It runs from December 1, 2008, with no definite termination date.

Loan Modification Program Options Offered by Bank of America (Countrywide)

Providing borrowers qualify for the HOPE for Homeowners Program, Countrywide will first offer an FHA refinance to eligible borrowers. This program calls for equity sharing.

If borrowers do not qualify for the FHA refinance, the following options are available, based on what kind of loan the borrower has:

• Sub-prime Adjustable Rate Mortgages. Borrowers will be offered a five-year extension on the introductory rate or an interest-only rate conversion to as low as 3.5%, which later converts to a fixed-rate mortgage.
• Pay-Option ARM. The negative amortization feature will be removed, and the interest rate reduced to as low as 2.5%; the loan will convert to a fixed-rate mortgage or a 10-year interest-only loan. Upside-down loans will be reduced to 95% of appraised value.
• Sub prime Fixed-Rate loans. The interest rate will be reduced to as low as 2.5%; and the loan will convert to a fixed-rate mortgage or a 10-year interest-only loan, with periodic interest rate adjustments.

Eligibility Requirements

• The property must be owner occupied and be from 1 to 4 units.
• Borrower must have a qualifying loan such as a sub-prime mortgage or a pay-option ARM, originating before December 31, 2007
• Borrower may be current but likely to become 60 days delinquent between Dec. 1, 2008 and June 30, 2012, with a loan-to-value ratio above 75%.
• Sub-prime ARM resets or Option ARM recasts must be likely to cause or have caused the borrower to become delinquent, providing the loan-to-value ratio is above 75%.

Call Bank of America’s mortgage department at 1.800.669.6607

HOPE for Homeowners Program

The Hope for Homeowners Plan is a government stimulus program executed with lenders willing to write down (or discount) the loan pay-off. Contact your lender first to see if they are willing to participate. The program began Oct. 1, 2008 and ends Sept. 30, 2011.

How it works:

Eligibility requirements are strict to prevent fraud, but because the program is a good one. First, your original mortgage is funded by a new FHA backed loan by a conventional lender. This often results in debt forgiveness on upside-down properties. The loan is funded at 90% of the property’s appraised value. Homeowners pay closing costs and an up-front mortgage premium of 3%. When the home is sold, the homeowner must share some of the future equity with the government, somewhere between 100% and 50%, depending on how much equity has accumulated to the date of sale.

Hope for Homeowners Program Eligibility Requirements

The intention of the plan is to provide a program designed to fit many upside down homeowners, and no credit score is required. Its requirements are like many other programs:

• The home must be the mortgagee’s principle place of residence and he cannot own any other properties.
• Mortgage payments cannot exceed 31% of the borrower’s gross monthly income.
• The homeowner must have been truthful in obtaining the mortgage and cannot have a record of felony fraud for the last ten years.
• The loan was originated prior to Jan. 1, 2008 and the borrower has made at least six payments.
• The homeowner is struggling to meet the mortgage payments and can not currently afford the mortgage.

IndyMac FDIC

IndyMac was seized by the government and as such is operating under the new corporation name of IndyMac Federal Bank. IndyMacFed’s program’s intent is to lower mortgage payments for its borrowers to prevent even more foreclosures. The program hopes to rescue borrowers in trouble through lower interest rates, extended terms or reduced principle balances. The program started in August, 2008, and so far has no ending date.

IndyMacFed Eligibility Requirements

As with most programs, it must be a first mortgage that is owned or serviced by IndyMac originally.

• The home must be owner occupied.
• The loan must be in default or at risk for default because of either an upcoming balloon on an adjustable rate or Option Arm.
• The homeowner must be able to afford a mortgage payment including principle, interest, taxes and insurance of 38% at a reduced rate and extended term.

Contact IndyMacFed at call 800.781.7399 or 877.908.4357.

FHFA Federal Loan Modification Program

The federal government is getting into the act to help speed up the loan modification process with its own program. Called the Federal Government Loan Modification Program (under the perplexingly illogical acronym of FHFA, for Federal Housing Finance Agency) the Fed hopes to lower mortgage payments and keep borrowers at risk in their homes longer. No termination date so far. Participants include:

 Fannie Mae

• Freddie Mac
• Federal Home Loan Banks
• Wells Fargo
• Department of the Treasury
• FHA
• Federal Housing Finance Agency
• All HOPE Now lenders

 FHFA Eligibility Requirements

• The property must be owner occupied and a primary residence.
• Borrowers must have missed at least three or more payments.
• Borrowers must be able to afford a 38% payment including principle, interest, taxes and insurance.
• No one already in bankruptcy need apply. Borrowers already bankrupt are ineligible.

Finally, it's never obtaining a loan modification is never an easy process as most banks arbitrarily turn down loan modification applicants with little or no reason. My advice is Don't Give Up! Get a good attorney.  I can point you in the direction of a really good one that deals with New York clients and has a great track record of turning peoples lives around. He writes a blog "Keep Home Your Own" which will give you some insights into his compassion, diligence and competitive spirit which makes him a winner for his clients.

For further discussion on your options when experiencing financial distress, please call me at 845 598 5083.

Visit the website www.friendsofthenyacks.org for the complete list of performers, schedule changes and rain location information.

The home was built this year by Rockland's SMK Home Builders to their highest standards. Its breathtaking views of the Tappan Zee Bridge and 30 mile vistas of Westchester and the Hudson River are equally as impressive as the quality workmanship I found inside.

In Great Britain (I was born in Wales), we have a slang term: “gob-smacked.” It’s used when you come across something so stunningly amazing that your mouth (your “gob,”) drops open and you instinctively cover it, or “smack” it with the palm of your hand. When I walked into this home, I was “gob smacked.” The wide-open contemporary architecture with its cathedral ceilings and walls of glass framed the spectacular outdoor vistas like an ever-changing art show.

The ultra modern chef's kitchen was just as impressive. It features the highest quality appliances and glass countertops, and it overlooks the main living area. I could easily picture how convenient it would be for entertaining - plenty of storage, logical layout and all the right appliances. The Realtors attending this event certainly gravitated toward the kitchen, but that could also have been due to the delicious food and wine from Nyack's Casa Del Sol that was served, courtesy of Scott Gunst of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.

Let me tell you a little more about this wonderful home, because it really got me excited.

It is situated in one of the most prestigious neighborhoods in Rockland County, NY. The homes on Tweed Boulevard are all special in many ways. The obvious main attraction is their location, perched high above the widest part of the Hudson River, overlooking spectacular views. However, many of these homes are built on very little property and are literally "cliff hangers!" But unlike many of its neighbors, this property has over 2 acres of level lawns, lush landscaping and a wonderful pool, surrounded by a blue-stone patio. Water jets playing beyond the edge of the patio provide an exciting visual esthetic, and on a summer day, the soothing sound of pattering water can be heard throughout the house.

Back inside, there's a luxury main floor master suite with a gas fireplace and one of the most gorgeous bathrooms I've ever been in. The tub alone just has to be seen. I imagined myself settling into the bubbles, overlooking the pool with the expansive Hudson in the distance. Worthy of a Cialis ad. Somebody call the ad agency!

There are another 4 to 5 bedrooms, all with travel-magazine views. All have large closets, Brazilian cherry floors, and are interspersed with three and a half beautiful bathrooms, each one with different decor, glass tiles, amazing floors and top of the line hardware.

There is a "crow's nest" room with, again, more gob-smacking views - I'd love it as a home office, but probably wouldn't get much work done. I’d spend my time watching sailboats on the river, spectacular rainstorms and brilliant sunrises. It is accessed via a spiral staircase overlooking the pool. Except for the wonderful kitchen and stunning master bathroom, the crow’s nest room is my next personal favourite.

With all this glass and open space, privacy is assured by electric gates, a security camera system and by a surrounding perimeter fence. The double garage doors are made of opaque glass, and there is parking for more cars or guest vehicles on a sweeping driveway.

As one of the finest new homes to hit the market in Rockland for a long time, this is certainly worth seeing before it's snapped up! Contact me today and I'll be delighted to arrange a personal viewing and provide you with any other details you may need to make it yours!

Let’s start at the beginning.

Last year, my husband and I were in the process of opening another coffee shop, this one  in Oyster Bay Long Island. Our small coffee shop in Piermont, now 6 years old, is doing so well enough that we hoped to open a similar shop in an equally compelling location. Oyster Bay was an obvious choice. We were lucky enough to obtain a business grant for improvements to the building in the busy downtown area and what was to be a great location. We put our lovely 1790’s brick cottage in Piermont on the market and received an offer in a matter of days.

That’s when things began to go wrong. Long story short, and not wishing to bore you with the personal trivia, we changed our plans, stayed in Piermont, and withdrew our home in Piermont from the market. The Greater Hudson MLS (in it’s infinite wisdom) shows a listing’s expiration date to all Realtors when the original contract ends, regardless of whether the home is taken off the market for any reason other than selling. 

Our listing “expired” June 30^th. Since then I have received no less than 20 calls from The Realtor In Question. The voice-mail recorded messages tell me that he is so confident he can sell our house that if it doesn’t sell in 120 days, he will buy it from me at a price I agree to.

Hmmmm, I doubt that somehow….The next phase of our one-sided conversation included a personal call. Not from a licensed Realtor but some poor chap with a script that I patiently listened to (taking notes of the content of course!) At the end, I asked if he was a Realtor,

“No maam, just working part time for one.” He said.

“Are you looking at the MLS listing on-line right now?” I asked,

“Yes,” was his quick response.

Hmmmmm, again… Only licensed Realtors and broker’s administrative staff are supposed to have access to the extremely personal details contained in a listing. We pay a lot of money to protect ourselves and our clients. To discover a non-licensed person actually accessing this information was extremely disconcerting. “Can you see the Listing Agent’s remarks at the bottom of the page,” I ventured?

 “Yes I can,” he said, hesitatingly.

“Can you read them to me please?” I continued.

And he did, verbatim. When he finished I asked if the term ‘Agent Discloses Interest’ meant anything to him.

He replied that it didn’t and if I wanted clarification I should speak to his boss.

I informed him very politely, a little sarcastically, but very succinctly that it means I am a Realtor, and not just any Realtor, but the owner of the property in question.

“Oh, what should I do then?” he responded.

I suggested he ask his “boss” to train him better so that this situation wouldn’t cause him further wasted time and embarrassment. I also asked him to take me off the calling list, as my home number is listed as a “Do Not Call” number.

That’s when the barrage of calls started.

I presume they are recordings as obviously no-one is listening to my greeting, which always opens with “Vanessa Saunders, Broker Associate, Baer & McIntosh Real Estate”. But now for SEVEN days straight I have returned to my home office to be greeted with several versions explaining how this “gentleman” will do more for me than any other Realtor can hope to offer. Saying this to me once is OK. Twice, is annoying, and now a full count of 20 calls is downright RUDE…and while I’m at it …plain STUPID.

I called his broker today but she was unavailable and as yet has not called back.  I called the number referenced in the recordings 5 times but only got another recording. So far, he hasn’t returned my call. So much for exemplary service! I really would have liked to have spoken to him in person, but when the phone rang for the 17^th time, this time while I was writing my daily Blog and I got yet another recorded message, I broke down. The blog will wait. This needs attention…

While I understand that Realtors are under great stress in this market, it is no reason to barrage unfortunate home owners/would be sellers with pushy calls using bully-boy tactics, including inflated offers which can’t possibly be substantiated in the way they are portrayed. I am disappointed in my colleague for going to these great lengths to get a listing and for using harassment and misrepresentation. This is especially hard on those people that have been listed previously and sat and watched the values of their homes continue to drop. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Sure, but not by using bullying tactics. Professionalism, creativity, service and diligence will get the results sellers are looking for.

I hope that those of you who have succumbed to the bullying realize that you are able to complain if you are unhappy. You are even able to make a formal complaint, first to this persons broker, and ultimately to the New York State Association of Realtors Professional Standards Committee. (If you need contact info call me.) However, if you are just in the process of being bombarded with these guerrilla tactics and are fed up, and want to make them go away, here are some ways to prevent the noise from continuing, compliments of EHow.com.

How to Report Phone Harassment

Phone harassment is a general term used to describe repeated, unwanted calls that cause grief, distress or invasion of your personal privacy. Abusive or threatening calls are a criminal offense in some states and should be immediately reported to the police. Any one phone call can be considered harassment, but a local phone company will usually not take complaints unless there have been numerous transgressions. There are several steps you can take to avoid phone harassment, including putting your home telephone number on the "do not call list" for telemarketers. Your mobile phone can also be placed on this list as well.

Instructions

Step 1

Find out your phone company's policy regarding reporting phone harassment. Some companies mandate that you file a formal complaint with local police first; others recommend that you call the phone company's complaint department before speaking to police.

Step 2

Keep notes on harassing calls that have been made to your phone number numerous times. Write down what was said and when the call came in. You may need this as evidence later.

Step 3

Report repeated harassing calls to either the Phone Company or local police, according to your phone company's policy. Extremely malicious calls or calls with direct threats of violence should be immediately reported to the police. Use the notes you recorded on the harassing calls as evidence when giving police a statement.

Step 4

Have a "trap" installed on your phone line---if you do not have caller ID or the feature doesn't indicate where the call is coming from---by your phone company for particularly frequent harassing calls or extremely threatening calls. This "trap" will allow the call to be traced, and will help local police apprehend the perpetrator. A more advanced version of a trap can be installed also, using a service called "Call Trace."

I hope this has been informative and not just a rant from my end. My goal is to serve clients with exemplary service that gets results. I expect nothing less from my colleagues, and many of them are more than able to provide the results you need in a difficult market without resulting to such desperate measures.

Nearby attractions include local wineries, skiing, snowboarding and tubing at Mt. Peter, Tuxedo Ridge and Mountain Creek;  The Warwick Drive-In movie theatre, farmers’ markets, apple and fruit picking farms, Woodbury Commons Shopping Outlet Mall, Sugar Loaf Crafts Village, Museum Village, the Lycian Theatre, New York’s Renaissance Festival, Mountain Creek Water Park, Hickory Hill golf course, Warwick Country Club and Crystal Springs Resort. Also nearby are the Bear Mountain State Park , Harriman State Park , Ringwood Manor and West Point Military Academy .

There are several homes currently available to rent or for sale including the superb Tranquility Point. Only 45 minutes to NYC, commuters enjoy the convenience of the NJ Transit bus to NYC. Alternatively,  the Metro North train is only 10 minutes away.   See our homepage for school information and bus and train schedules and rates.

For further information on currently available homes for sale or rent contact Vanessa at 845 598 5083.

These two clients are currently in the process of discussing a reverse mortgage loan analysis with Mr. Rubin. In addition he is reviewing the court documents and producing a functional defense to help keep their homes. Quick decisions rarely bring value to complex situations. Seniors were fair game in the years of free money, deceptive lending practices and sub prime loans. It is now our obligation and responsibility to peer over our fences and ask of our senior neighbors if help or consultation is necessary as they suffer silently the disease of the distressed loan.

If you, a family member, or friend and even a neighbor needs help, please have them contact me and I will be delighted to assist them by putting them in touch with the "right" people dedicated to helping people keep their homes whatever their age.

Vanessa Saunders | Certified Distressed Property Specialist (CDPE)

845 598 5083 |Vanessa@wesellny.com

However, in a  a recent speech by Hon. Sheila Bair, the chairwoman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Blair states, “Sustainable home ownership is a worthy national goal.  But……when there are other, equally worthy solutions……home ownership may not be the right answer”.

We find ourselves right in the middle of our nation’s absolute worst financial and economic crisis as it affects home ownership. The bigger numbers show trillions of dollars in pooled loans and investor and servicing agreements most certainly far beyond our imagination.  The more comprehensible figures detail hundreds of homes and thousands of families in default and at risk of losing their homes. But our Federal Government and its agencies' speechwriters and presenters now seem to choose phrases noticeably absent of the words which we have grown to take comfort from.  

Loan modifications and incentive plans designed for home owners to stay in their homes appear to have lost favor.   Chief executive John Taylor of the National Community Reinvestment “because of a home’s appreciation, which gave people the opportunity for wealth creation that would otherwise have remained out of reach”.  These are not causes and issues for debate at a time for a family in crisis.  Families don't debate whether the social pathos is a logical choice or if their belongings and children’s bedrooms should be emptied by a Marshall doing his job at a foreclosure auction.  

What happened to HAMP?

HAMP was designed to save our homes, our communities, our churches, stores and neighborhoods. Where are they now?  Do we care about the multi-million dollar loan pools and the model makers were right or wrong in buying, trading and selling our home mortgages.  The Wall Street creations dating back to the beginning of this century have left millions of Americans now searching for paths of solution when served with a foreclosure summons. 

Our government’s inventory of housing stock, through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, represents the largest landlord in this great nation, with new foreclosed homes coming “every 90 seconds during the first three months of the year” according to numbers written in an article by Binyamin Applebaum in the NY Times. 

As a Certified Distressed Property Specialist I am meeting with more and more families involved in a foreclosure action. My goal is to save them by finding their best options to stop that from happening. Many of them have no recollection of the papers signed or the significance of the paperwork contained in their files.  I beg them to search for these documents and take them to an attorney that will find a way to stop the action and formulate a definite path and defense.  Loan modifications are not easy to negotiate, in fact most people are told by their lender that they don't qualify and give up. Don't.

This week one of my collegues was lucky enough to list a wonderful home in Nyack, Rockland County, NY. It is known locally as the Montgomery Schuyler Roosevelt house, because the Roosevelt's stayed there on several occasions. A former stage coach stop this wonderful property is situated on 9.1 emminently subdividable acres atop of Clausland mountain. Breathtaking 60 mile views to the west, adjoining Buttermilk Falls Country Park and yet only 12 miles to Manhattan, and a couple to the Palisades Parkway or the NYS Thruway, make this an ideal spot for a developer to snap up and place up to 8 homes on this wonderful property. Of course that means that the original property built by a former sea captain, with it's many intact architecural features that include a wonderful look out tower, stone fireplaces, carved mantels and railings, paneling from the old captains boat, secret rooms and so much more will be bulldozed. So sad that such a fine home can not be protected by it's fine and lenghty history or even it's quirky architecture and fine character.

I am an historic homes specialist and I'm trying desperately to find someone that loves old buildings, who would be willing to spend considerable time and money on this grand old gentleman and give him a new lease of life. He would provide in return, a great opportunity to live in a home that has been filled with love and history, on an amazing piece of property. It would even be possible to build several homes as an investment, then sell them off to pay for the restoration.

For more information about this home call me at 845 598 5083.

I'm happy to report that things appear to be looking up finally in our area just north of Manhattan. What makes me say so? Well when multiple offers are forthcoming and bidding wars are happening once again I can only assume that the market is finally on the up swing once again. Of course not all homes in our market are experiencing such good news and those that are not selling are typically those that are still firmly stuck in the price rut of yesteryear. But for those sellers who listen to logic, absorb the market numbers,  and heed the advice of their Realtors, they are selling and moving forward with their lives.

I am amazed however, at how many potential sellers that I am presenting to these days are living in hope. False hope indeed, that the price their neighbor sold at two, or even three years ago, when we were at the top of the impossibly inflated market, will somehow return, and not too far in the future, either!  I despair for these people who refuse to listen and I despair even more for those Realtors that allow these seller to continue in their quest for the unattainable by buying in to the dream, then taking a listing that clearly won't sell and eventually will cause those sellers even more harm.

Do the math. I make it abundantly obvious to potential sellers that I have no intention of "giving their home away," but merely wish to provide them with a clear, concise picture of what price will not only bring buyers in a market that is controlled by buyers but even more importantly their home will appraise. I let them know that decent Realtors provide their buyers with all the facts and figures of the homes they wish to view in order to narrow down the search before heading out. That means obviously overpriced homes will be passed by. Why bother showing overpriced properties? There are hundreds that are priced right. Good Realtors spend more time providing their buyers with all the information they need in advance of viewings. This achieves several things. It saves time and gas, embarrassment and heartbreak and most importantly, clean transactions that go through.

Spinning wheels in this market is surely a sign of despair? Why waste time, and energy on listing or showing a non starter? Why give false hope to a desperate seller? Don't we owe fair and honest representation to ourselves and far more importantly to our clients?