The entire team brings a great deal of experience to ChangingStreets.com and Our big challenge now is working with them to continue the growth and keeping consumer satisfaction as high as possible, we are meeting on a regular basis to make this happen.

ChangingStreets.com sold over 18 homes in Eastern Shiawassee County in September.

The office is located accross the hall from the Wrought Iron Grill in Owosso, for more information on buying or selling in Owosso contact Kelly Bila 989.721.1271.

Foreclosure is the Legal process by which a lender cancels (forecloses) a borrower’s right of redemption of the mortgaged property through a court order (called foreclosure order). The court sets a date up to which the borrower can redeem the property by paying off the entire loan balance (including foreclosing expenses). Thereafter, the lender is free to sell the property and, upon the sale, applies the sale proceeds first to the due amount and pays the remainder (if any) to the borrower. The borrower remains liable for the due amount if the property remains unsold, and for the short fall if the sale proceeds are insufficient to pay off the entire debt. The lender is generally under an obligation to sell the property at or near its fair market value (FMV).

Then there is my definition:

The legal process by which the bank which holds the mortgage on your house cancels your mortgage agreement because you have missed too many payments. In this case you lose the house and all money and investment put toward it to that point.

Losing your home has got to be one of the scariest things a person can experience.  Or the riskiest financial strategy one can execute.  Regardless of the why, we’re all in a heap of trouble because of it.  And looking back, I think we can probably all agree that some preventative medicine would have directly helped a lot of people, and in doing so, indirectly helped our situation as a whole. But help has perhaps come along, better late than never, as the Treasury Dept. is finally stepping in and forcing the banking industry to take some responsibility for their (continued) failure to make things (right) better.

Anyone who has been involved in the pursuit of a loan modification, either for themselves or otherwise involved, knows how difficult the process is. Not necessarily because of the hoops that ordinarily accompany government programs and assistance, but because the banks themselves refused to cooperate. Some more blatantly than others.  Now the Treasury has announced a withholding of incentive money to 3 of the largest mortgage lenders, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and Chase, until they get their acts together. This isn’t breaking news today, but I find the details interesting enough to share.

First of all, none of the 10 major lenders passed their audits with flying colors. All of them have violated rules of the President Obama’s Making Homes Affordable plan.  The top 3 require “substantial improvements” while the others require “moderate improvement.” Only those requiring substantial improvement are being penalized at this time.

So what I find is interesting is that my experience, and the character I have associated with each of the top 3 offending banks is right in line with the Treasury’s reports and the bank’s reaction to such.

Bank of America.  Most of the problems I had trying to close out a foreclosure or short sale were the result of Bank of America’s involvement. It’s not that they were mean or seemed to be resisting the sale. They were just so SLOPPY. Now this comes from working the Buyer’s end of the deal. I never dealt with them directly. But my opinion formed of them over the years has been unprepared, sloppy, and unprofessional.  This runs right along with the Treasury’s assessment that BOA, as the worst offender, had poor internal controls for identifying and contacting homeowners, and their error rates for calculating homeowner’s income were more than 4 times the Treasury’s allowance.  Further painting this picture of incompetence is BOA’s plea of no contest to any of it. They said they know they have improvements to make in key areas and will strive to do better.  Now, incompetent or playing dumb? These are the folks that worked along with Countrywide so who knows? But they’re guilty and they know it.

Now Chase bank I haven’t had that much experience with, that I know of, with my real estate sales.  In my decades of personal banking experience though, they are bastards. I am considering editing that into a different word, but to be true to this article, that is the term I use all the time at home. My LOCAL BRANCH have always been angels in helping to deal with the company’s BS, and that’s what kept me there for so long. But eventually I had to fight the power and move on. Might I add here that whereas Chase always made me feel insignificant in a banking business designed to make THEM money, not protect mine, ELGA Credit Union is like family, working together with the goal being a win-win.  Chase is up in arms over the Treasury’s assessment that when calculating a homeowner’s eligibility for the program, they were wrong one-third of the time. That’s 6 times the government’s limit. Deny deny deny. Deny the homeowner’s rights and deny wrong doing. That about sums up my experience with Chase Bank.

Wells Fargo is the only one of the three that is actually formally disputing the findings, citing the Treasury’s use of outdated data for the assessment. This actually sounds about right to me, too. My mortgage is through Wells Fargo and IN MY EXPERIENCE they have been a pleasure. Now I haven’t been involved with them on a foreclosure level, but when miscellaneous things have popped up, they were easily resolved. Even when they owed me money. As big as they are I would think a higher margin of error would be expected, but hopefully they are as cooperative with their distressed customers as they have been with me.  Their violations included poor processes for determining program eligibility and high income error rates.  According to Wells, they’ve been aware of shortcomings and making improvements all along. They feel that if current data were used, their score would have been better. I have to say, that fits my image of them as well.

I think these three instances of things making perfect sense to me – the violations, the bank’s responses, and my opinion of each, prior to the situation –  is such a big deal is because NOTHING ELSE MAKES SENSE. The fact that our values got so inflated, that banks got so loose, and people over spent – okay. I can actually kind of see how that would go under the radar because everyone was happy! But once the fit started hitting the shan, why wasn’t action taken quicker? Too many people tried to do the right thing and were denied unjustly. When their jobs were cut or the main household provider died – those people didn’t run, they faced the situation and jumped through the hoops, only to fall victim to the bank’s negligence.  This resulted in undue hardship to homeowner’s and a worsening of our economy as a whole. It’s all business to the banks who were simply crunching numbers, but for me – the humanity was always up front and personal . And the numbers I couldn’t help crunching were how many people were suffering senselessly. It simply hurt too much. I spent my last several months selling homes in a constant state of “WTF?” due to dealing with banks and watching people who should have been winners, lose. That’s why I’m clinging to this one chunk of business that makes sense and hoping that it leads to more.

Do the situations fit your experience with these banks? I’m really surprised GMAC isn’t on the list. I wonder if they are the alleged 4th big offender who somehow got out on a technicality. How is your relationship with your lender?

Our webtraffic increased 40% last month to over 10,350 unique visitors (over 59,000 visits). Growth has been consistent in all markets, proving the viability of the site in different markets.

We are finishing up the two-way chat, feel free to chat with an agent when they are available. They can answer questions, schedule showings, and give advice. Keep in mind these are the most experienced buyers agents around with over 26 sales a year on average.

We are also in the ninth inning on a new buyer tool. Our registered buyers will be able to get information on 95% of the listed homes in Michigan, North Carolina and Hawaii by text!…Drive by, text aloha the property address to our number and boom property info…and a link to a mobile friendly site that will show you all the photos, detailed information and a link to your buyers agent to get into the listing asap.

We have many new tools coming as well, staying smart, easy, sane is not easy, but it is necessary.

We are looking forward to bunch of happy closing over the next 60 days!

In order to qualify for the home buyer tax credit ($8,000 refundable tax credit for first time buyers, $6,500 refundable tax credit for non-first time buyers that qualify) you must have a home under contract by April 30, 2010 and close by June 30, 2010. I would also add completing a home inspection to the being under contract, if you do inspection and back out of deal after April 30, you will not get credit on next home.

Ok, so we know it is crunch time. We know $6,500 (tax free!) is a lot of money, which makes $8,000 a lot of money. So what do we do now:

Get on ChangingStreets.com look at homes,

Get a mortgage pre-approval, this is huge, it will make getting the deal accepted by the buyer easier, at a better price and on time,

Contact ChangingStreets.com in your area, your StreetSmart agent can guide you to a reputable lender, home inspector and negotiate your best deal on a new home. (not to mention the fun part…SHOWING HOMES!)

This really is too good to pass up, if your payment is $1,250 now you will live for free for six months!

If you are renting for $1,000 a month you can own a $120,000 home and your payment including taxes and insurance  will be less than your rent, and you get $8,000.

Click here to get more info on the tax credit

Here are some hints on how to come up with $$ to get tax credit.

We are very excited to be part of the communities of Raleigh and Cary North Carolina, and Kalamazoo Michigan! We are sure our Smart, Easy, Sane real estate system will make home buyers and sellers in these very educated markets as happy as they have in our home markets. ChangingStreets.com system is simple; tons of information, easy to use website, innovative use of technology to build value for sellers and buyers. You deserve for your real estate company to be ahead of the curve.

Our philosophy is simple, the world does not need another real estate company, it needs a better one.

We also look forward to continuing to partner with established local agents that have proven to be superior in their markets. This is an unstoppable match, great local talent and cutting edge technology from different markets, sweet!

Consumers should demand more, we encourage it!

Making little lifestyle changes will do a lot to enhance sustainability for the planet–and make every day Earth Day.

It’s a great feeling every Earth Day to bike to work and show your love of the planet. But sustainable practices-managing how you use resources to ensure that there will enough for future generations-doesn’t have to be limited to once a year. With a few adjustments, sustainable practices can easily become a part of daily life and save you money while you help improve the planet.

What is sustainability?

Sustainable living is an umbrella term that covers many different ideas and programs. It can be as simple as recycling and using less water or as complex as changing state and federal policies to promote wind and solar power and high-speed rail transportation. Local planning commissions can promote sustainability by allowing higher density housing that uses less land.

If you want to support some of these public sustainability programs, you can contact your government representative (http://www.congress.org) to express support. You could also support a nonprofit group like the Edible Schoolyard (http://www.edibleschoolyard.org/) program, which teaches kids how to grow and eat locally.

Opposition to sustainable practices

Not everyone is a fan of sustainable practices. Some people worry that conservation efforts produce more government regulation, increase living costs, and reduce corporate profits. Not sure where you stand on these major policies. Why not start small and see?

Eat locally. One of the biggest impacts a family has on the environment is what it eats. It takes around 10 calories of fossil fuel-in the form of fertilizers, processing, and transportation-to produce a single calorie of supermarket food, according to Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma (http://www.michaelpollan.com/omnivore.php). Cut down on your food’s energy impact by eating food grown near your home.

A 2001 study conducted by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture (http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/pubs/staff/ppp/food_mil.pdf), Iowa State University, found that the cost of transporting food from the region or the local area was four and 17 times less, respectively, than buying from national distributors.

Finding local food isn’t difficult

Local Harvest (http://www.localharvest.org) will help you find farmers markets as well as farms in your region that offer subscription programs. Signing up for a subscription means you pay up front, so there’s a risk if the harvest fails. Costs vary depending on the size of the share and your part of the country. A good estimate from Local Harvest is that you’ll spend about $600 to cover produce for a family of four during a four or five month growing season.

Keep food even closer to home by growing your own, either in your backyard or in a shared community space. Expect to spend several hours a week seeding, weeding, and harvesting. Gardening is also a great way to teach kids about healthy eating.

The downside of eating locally is that food from a farmer’s market often costs more than the same from the supermarket. And in winter, you may eat a lot of cabbage and potatoes if you stick to local eating.

Buy gently used

Everyone likes something new once in a while-and fast-growing kids require it. Consumer spending is also a big contributor to a healthy economy. But producing and transporting new products from the factory to you also uses lots of resources. One way to get new stuff and still promote sustainability is to trade something you no longer want for what you need.

Freecycle (http://www.freecycle.org) is a 7 million-strong global network of people who share their possessions-for free. Once you join online, you’ll receive regular email about used items that you can request and pick up. Eva Schmoock, a student nurse and mother of two in Carrboro, N.C., is an avid user. She’s found new homes for everything, including paint and kids’ bathing suits.

A low-tech option: Organize swap meets with neighbors to lessen your environmental footprint without opening your wallet. Get your kids to put fliers in mailboxes to promote the swap. Or try a consignment shop.

Reduce trash by composting

It isn’t just what you buy that has an impact on the world’s resources, it’s what you throw away. The average American is responsible for almost 5 pounds of garbage a day, 12.5% of which is food scraps, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/municipal/pubs/msw07-rpt.pdf). That trash clogs landfills and pollutes ground water.

Want to reduce waste? Consider composting. Just put those peels and pods (but no meat or dairy products) in a separate container instead of the garbage can. When the container is full, carry it to your compost pile.

A $10 plastic bucket with a lid will work; fancier models have charcoal filters that cut down on smells but cost two or three times as much. Let your kids scrape plates into the compost pail or empty the full container.

You’ll find a compost bin for every budget. You can fence off a small (out-of-sight) section of your yard with less than $50 worth of mesh wire and poles. Plastic bins and barrels are neater, but can cost several times more. The best part of composting: In six months, nature will convert your waste into terrific fertilizer to sustain your vegetable or flower garden.

By: Amanda Abrams
Published: August 28, 2009

Amanda Abrams is a Washington, D.C.-based writer who spent many years planning to be an organic farmer. Now she writes about how to make the world a better place for papers like The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times.

Trees don’t ask for much-dirt, water, sunlight. Yet they provide a wealth of benefits: They improve the air you breathe, cut your energy bills with their shade, provide a home to wildlife, and add beauty and value to your home.

But every year, 3.2 million acres of forest are cut down, according to the Nature Conservancy (http://www.nature.org/initiatives/forests/misc/art22113.html). Several million more acres are lost to fire, storm, and disease. That’s why planting new trees and protecting the ones we have is so important. You can do your part by

          •Caring for the trees in your yard

          •Supporting tree-planting activities in your community

          •Donating to organizations, such as The Nature Conservancy, which works to preserve the world’s trees and forests, and American Forests (http://www.americanforests.org), which offers a unique way to take action. First, use its online Climate Change Calculator (http://www.americanforests.org/resources/ccc/) to determine your carbon footprint. Then, make up for your emissions by donating to a forest restoration project.

Why should you care about trees? Bankable benefits

The most tangible bang from your bark comes from energy savings. Three properly placed trees could save you between $100 and $250 a year in energy costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (http://www.energy.gov). Trees save energy two main ways. Their shade cuts cooling costs in the summer. In winter, they serve as windbreak and help hold down heating costs.

The National Tree Calculator (http://www.treebenefits.com) estimates that a 12-inch elm in an Omaha yard can save $32.43 a year on your energy bills; the same tree in Atlanta would save you $11.89 annually. The calculator also breaks down other dollars and cents benefits of your tree, like decreasing storm water runoff, removing carbon dioxide from the air, and increasing property values.

In our elm example, the 12-inch tree adds $40.23 to the Omaha home’s value and a $57.33 to the one in Atlanta. And as trees grow larger, they can add even more value.

A 2002 study by the USDA Forest Service pegs the value a single tree adds to a property of about $630. Of course, tree value depends on size, species, location, and condition.

Adds Frank Lucco, a real estate appraiser with IRR-Residential in Houston, “On a $100,000 home [in my market], as much as $10,000 of its value could be associated with mature trees.”

That’s peanuts compared with the role trees play as the lungs of the planet. A report by the Trust for Public Land (http://www.coloradotrees.org/benefits.htm) estimated that one mature tree takes 48 pounds of carbon out of the atmosphere each year and returns enough oxygen for two human beings.

Plant your tree in the right spot

To get the full benefits from your trees, choose the right one and put it in the right location. Planting a deciduous tree on the west side of a house provides cooling shade in the summer. In winter, after it loses its leaves, the same tree lets in sunlight that cuts heating and lighting bills. On the other hand, an evergreen on the west side blocks sun all year long, making a home colder and darker in winter. Rather plant evergreens, a great choice for blocking icy winter winds, on the north side of your home.

If you’re planting a new tree, think about its fully grown size and shape before you dig. Branches from a tree located below power lines can cause outages as it grows. Roots from a tree located too close to a home can damage the foundation or block sewer lines. The wrong tree in the wrong place could actually lower your home’s appraised value if it’s deemed hazardous, says Frank Lucco, a real estate appraiser with IRR-Residential in Houston.

Tree costs

Expect to pay $50 to $100 for a 6- to 7-foot decidious tree, such as a katsura or evergreen. The same tree at 15 feet will cost $100 to $200, according to Brad Swank of Molbak’s Nursery in Woodinville, Wash. The Arbor Day Foundation sells saplings for as little as $8-$15, or less if you’re a member.

Since trees cost money, be cautious about any home construction work. “Tree failure can happen seven to 10 years after construction, primarily because the root system fails when the soil is compacted,” says Thomas Hanson, a member of the American Society of Consulting Arborists (http://www.asca-consultants.org) from Kirkland, Wash. Also watch for diseases or pests (http://forestry.about.com/od/diseases/tp/An-Index-of-Common-Tree-Diseas.htm) that can threaten trees in your yard and community.

Become a tree advocate

Ensuring that your community has lots of healthy trees doesn’t have to be more complicated than a trip to the nursery and a hole in your backyard. Dig it twice as wide as deep. Let kids push in the dirt and help water weekly until the tree is two years old. The Arbor Day Foundation (http://www.arborday.org) will tell you how to select the right tree for your needs and climate, where to plant it, and how to maintain it.

The foundation also is a great place to look for community and educational programs.

          •Its Tree City USA (http://www.arborday.org/programs/treeCityUSA/) initiative provides expert advice and national recognition to cities and towns that want to establish tree-management plans.

          •Its Arbor Day Poster Contest (http://www.arborday.org/kids/postercontest/index.cfm) for fifth-graders gives teachers a fun way to help students learn the importance of trees.

          •Its nationwide list of volunteer organizations (http://www.arborday.org/programs/volunteers/index.cfm) lets you search for tree care opportunities in your state.

Considering everything trees do for you, it’s the least you can do for them.

Brad Broberg is a freelance writer from Federal Way, Wash. A former newspaper reporter and editor, he writes about business, health care, and real estate for REALTOR Magazine, the Puget Sound Business Journal, and Seattle Children’s Hospital, among others. He’s lived in the same home for 22 years-a home he shares with seven towering Douglas firs.

Hey guys, I thought you might be interested to learn how going through the short sale impacted our credit reports. You are welcome to share the general information, but please do not share our names, nor our personal details. Prior to the layoff, and the short sale process, we were at, or very near 800 rating. The last report we pulled was probably a year prior, when we purchased a camper, and it was around 795. In April, we were running 60 days late on payments (for 2 months running), and had 1-90 day late listed (we are challenging this, as we were never 90 days late, but that is what was listed). But EVERYTHING else was current and no payments were missed. The reports show concern over Amount owed on Delinquent Accounts, and Amount Past Due. Now we have the short sale listed, and the delinquent accounts closed (both GMAC and BOA are listed as: Closed, Settlement Accepted on this Account). They are showing 3-90 days late on the BOA account (we are going to challenge this).

Yes, that is right, our credit score actually went up slightly after the short sale. The middle score in April was 644, and in August 658. Overall, missing payments, and short selling the home cost us 140 pts on our report. We are pursuing financing for a new home in Knoxville, and the biggest issue is the 90 day lates. It seems the settlement can be worked around fairly easily by a knowledgeable mortgage broker. I would suggest that a short sale is a good method to get away from a large burden, but try to avoid 90 day lates if at all possible, 60 days does not seem to be a problem, but 90 is an issue. I am told that even with a 90 day late, we can get financed 12 months after the late occurred, through an FHA loan.

I hope that is helpful, just information. If you have questions on a short sale contact Adam (810) 733-3374