1. Price it right from the beginning. Statistically
   over the last year, 90% of sellers accepted less than their original asking
   price according to the National Association of Realtors. Just price it right
   from the beginning, making sure your agent has a list of comparable home prices
   including short-sales and foreclosures.
2. Make it look its best. Unless short-selling
   or foreclosing make your home looks its best from the start, keeping it neat
   and clean. Wait, however, for any major repairs until speaking with your agent.
3. Be flexible. Don’t bend over backwards but
   be accommodating to the buys/sellers and be prepared to negotiate on such
   things as closing costs, paid taxes, touch ups to the home etc.
4. Hire a tech agent-social media is huge. The
   world is moving towards social media, make sure your realtor is tapping into as
   many ways as possible to get your home sold and quickly.
5. Make sure you are not a victim. Do your
   homework and check credentials. With the turmoil of foreclosures and
   short-sales, what seems legitimate is truly not and you will end up with a
   bigger mess in the end.
6. Keep financing in check. Know what you
   have. The reins are tightening on loans so keep debts down, keep cash in hand,
   credit scores up and always know where you stand financially.
7. Be active in getting the word out. Gone are
   the days of sitting back and letting your realtor do all the work. Get out
   there and market! Tap into all your friends, colleagues, family members and get
   that home sold or find that dream home.
8. Expand your search; there is so much out
   there. Maybe you want to be in a 4 bedroom in x town but you can’t afford it.
   Expand that search; you just might be able to afford that in the town 5 minutes
   away.
9. Tread lightly on “Site Unseen” listings.
   These sites that valuate your house based on the information you put in are
   just a guess and can vary by 25% or more. Get a true appraisal done if you are
   serious about moving, refinancing, renting or investing.
10. Keep check-lists. Check lists are great for
    keeping track of the entire selling and buying process but also keep check
    lists of neighborhoods you like in terms of what the neighborhood is actually
    like at different times of day, what is around it, what is the future of the
    land around it. All these factors can help you decide exactly where the best
    fit is for you and your family.

Reports of foreclosures by the millions have been in the news so much over the past few years that to some, it might seem like the new normal.

But as a real estate professional who is in the trenches with financially stressed homeowners every day, it never for a second feels to me like business-as-usual.

The prospect of losing a home is right up there among the major sources of grief, and often, it goes hand in hand with other tragic setbacks such as the loss of a job, a divorce, death of a loved one, mounting medical bills or skyrocketing mortgage payments.

Unfortunately, the first stage of grief is denial, and that’s even more the case when the threat of foreclosure is looming. No one wants to talk about or admit financial troubles—even when millions of others have found themselves in a similar spot. It’s completely understandable, but for homeowners who are behind on mortgage payments, decisive action is often the most critical step toward ensuring the best possible solution.

As a real estate professional who has sought out the Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation, I help homeowners to deal with every aspect of the grief and uncertainty that accompanies a mortgage which is no longer manageable. In the process, I help them to get on a path of financial solvency.

If you or someone you care about would like to change the course of a life that’s facing foreclosure, I get it and I can help.

Contact me today at 410-320-6551 or Diane@TDGMoves.com

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) received funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to assist homeowners facing foreclosure due to involuntary unemployment or loss of significant income.

To qualify, you must be able to answer yes to each of the questions below:

• Are you three months behind on your mortgage?
• Are you unable to make full mortgage payments, but are NOT in bankruptcy?
• Have you received a notice or indication from your lender/servicer that your home is in danger of foreclosure?
• Is your delinquency due to involuntary: Unemployment or Underemployment or Lost income due to a medical condition?
• Has your income dropped by 15% or more?
• Is the delinquent mortgage the first mortgage on your home?
• Is the delinquent mortgage on your principal residence?
• Is the property a single-family residence? (1-4 unit structure or condo unit)?
• Is your current household income less than or equal to the 120% Area Median Income for your area?

If you answered yes to all of the above questions, you MAY be eligible for assistance from the EMA program.  Go to http://www.mdhope.org/EMA for additional information.

Here’s how the program works:

Once you determine you are eligible:

• You will need to download some documentation and a checklist
• Submit the application to DHCD.    If approved for a loan, the your contribution would be 31% of your current gross income.  EMA will pay the remaining balance of the monthly payments until the first of the following events occur:

1. Payments reach the maximum determined amount (including arrears)
2. The maximum of 24 monthly payments have been made
3. You become re-employed at or within 15% of your previous income
4. You are late or default on a monthly payment
5. You fail to report a change in income
6. The property is sold or is no longer the principal residence.

The EMA loan is a zero interest loan with no payments for five years after the end of the Assistance period.  From then on, the loan balance due will decline by 20% annually until the Note has a zero balance after five years.  If you fail to meet any of the conditions, then the applicable balance of the loan at that time will become payable.

For more information about this program, please visit http://www.mdhope.org/EMA

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mortgage, please email me and I will help point you in the right direction.