Homeowners Spending Their Mortgage Payments?

According to this Diana Olick article on CNBC.com, Mortgage Defaults May Be Driving Consumer Spending, recent studies show that "Americans are now far more likely to pay their other bills first before their mortgage (which is a big turnaround historically speaking)." As a result, the thought is that many of the nearly 7.4 million homeowners who are not paying their mortgage payments (defined as the total number of delinquent first mortgages plus REO properties - see the most recent mortgage performance data current as of March 31, 2010 in the LPS Mortgage Monitor: April 2010 Mortgage Performance Observations published by Lender Processing Services, a provider of mortgage processing services, settlement services, mortgage performance analytics and default solutions) may actually be spending money that would normally go toward making the monthly mortgage payment on consumer goods and services (i.e. food, clothing, car payments, medical expenses, entertainment, travel, etc.). The article mentions that Paul Jackson, publisher of Housingwire.com, wrote an article, For Consumers, Time to Shop (Until the Mortgage Drops), in which "he describes a case study of someone who applied for the government's Home Affordable Modification Program. The person had an $1,880.00 monthly mortgage payment on which they'd defaulted, but said person's monthly bank statement showed payments to a tanning salon, nail spa, liquor stores, DirecTV bill with premium charges, and $1,700.00 in retail purchases from The Gap, Old Navy, Home Depot, Sears, etc." Jackson goes on to say "Even if you assume that just half of the current 7.4 million currently delinquent mortgages fit this sort of ’spending profile’ (that is, they are spending their mortgage) and you assume a $1,000 median monthly mortgage payment for most U.S. homeowners — you get a $3.7 billion boost per month to consumer spending. It’s certainly enough spending to matter in the overall scheme of things." I find this truly scary, but I do believe that this is happening. In fact, I think this behavioral trend will become even more common as housing prices continue decline leaving more and more homeowners (I use that term loosely since until you have more equity than you have debt on your home the bank "owns" more of the home than you do) in position where they owe more than their homes are worth (i.e. underwater or negative equity). Frankly, I think this behavior is the result of a rather logical decision making process. If you were an underwater homeowner who owned a home and you had a choice between paying your mortgage (when you know you will never see that money again) and buying goods and services that you can enjoy now, what would you do? This is all a matter of economics and mathematics and in that vane paying for a declining asset (i.e. the home) makes no sense. As a result of this you can bet that foreclosures and short sales will continue to occur at high levels for the next several years.

Short Sale and Foreclosure Help and Assistance for Homeowners and Property Owners in Nashville TN and Middle TN. If you are a Nashville Tennessee, Franklin Tennessee, Brentwood Tennessee, Nolensville Tennessee, Spring Hill Tennessee, Murfreesboro Tennessee, Smyrna Tennessee, La Vergne Tennessee, or Middle Tennessee homeowner, property owner, condo owner, real estate investor, home builder or real estate developer who cannot pay your mortgage payments (due to losing your job, having your income reduced, illness, health problems, adverse business conditions, slow sales, loss of investment property tenants, vacancy issues, lack of funds to complete the project, feuding business partners, etc.), know that you will not be able to pay your mortgage, have defaulted on your mortgage, are already in foreclosure, or owe more than your home is worth, please contact me to discuss your options including a loan modification and a short sale (a real estate short sale occurs when the sale proceeds are not sufficient to pay off all the mortgages and liens on the property/home). I am a Middle Tennessee distressed real estate, short sale, pre-foreclosure (preforeclosure) and foreclosure REALTOR and Expert. I primarily help sellers (homeowners, property owners, condo owners, owners of high end homes and properties (estate homes, luxury homes and executive homes), real estate investors, home builders and real estate developers) of distressed real estate, short sales, pre-foreclosures, foreclosures, investment properties, failed new construction projects and struggling commercial real estate developments located in Middle Tennessee (Rutherford County TN, Williamson County TN, Davidson County TN, Robertson County TN, Maury County TN, Murfreesboro TN, Smyrna TN, La Vergne TN, Eagleville TN, Lascassas TN, Rockvale TN, Christiana TN, Brentwood TN, Franklin TN, Nashville TN, Belle Meade TN, Nolensville TN, Spring Hill TN, Gallatin TN, Springfield TN and Mt. Juliet TN).  If you do need to short sell your home or property, or you need a quick sale due to being in foreclosure, you can request short sale and foreclosure help and assistance on my website at Get Short Sale and Foreclosure Help and Assistance from a Nashville Tennessee and Middle Tennessee Short Sale and Foreclosure REALTOR, Real Estate Expert and Real Estate Investor.

Foreclosures Continue to Increase

Foreclosures Continue to Increase

According to this Diana Olick article on CNBC.com, Foreclosures Are Rising, foreclosures continue to increase (i.e. more properties are going to foreclosure auctions) due to the failure of the various loan modification programs (many borrowers do not end up qualifying for permanent modifications and many borrowers default on modifications even if they are granted) and the huge backlog of seriously delinquent loans (over 5 million), which are now making their way toward becoming foreclosures. Basically, foreclosures are going to remain extremely high for the next few years, and, as a result, seriously stress the banks' asset managers. Therefore, the banks are going to need to liquidate their excess non-performing assets via short sales.

Short Sale and Foreclosure Help and Assistance for Real Estate Investors, Home Builders and Developers in Nashville TN and Middle TN. If you are a Nashville Tennessee, Franklin Tennessee, Brentwood Tennessee, Nolensville Tennessee, Spring Hill Tennessee, Murfreesboro Tennessee, Smyrna Tennessee, La Vergne Tennessee, or Middle Tennessee real estate investor, home builder, condo developer or real estate developer who cannot pay the property/project mortgage payments (due to the poor economy, adverse financing conditions, slow sales, loss of investment property tenants, vacancy issues, lack of funds to complete the project, feuding business partners, etc.), have already defaulted on the mortgage, or are already in foreclosure, or owe more than the property/project is worth, please contact me to discuss your options including a short sale (a real estate short sale occurs when the sale proceeds are not sufficient to pay off all the mortgages and liens on the property/project). I am a Middle Tennessee distressed real estate, short sale, pre-foreclosure (preforeclosure) and foreclosure REALTOR and Expert. I primarily help sellers (property owners, real estate investors, home builders and real estate developers) of distressed real estate, short sales, pre-foreclosures, foreclosures, investment properties, failed new construction projects and struggling commercial real estate developments located in Middle Tennessee (Rutherford County TN, Williamson County TN, Davidson County TN, Murfreesboro TN, Smyrna TN, La Vergne TN, Eagleville TN, Lascassas TN, Rockvale TN, Christiana TN, Brentwood TN, Franklin TN, Nashville TN, Belle Meade TN, Nolensville TN, Springfield TN, Gallatin TN and Mt. Juliet TN). If you do need to short sell your home or property, or you need a quick sale due to being in foreclosure, you can request short sale and foreclosure help and assistance on my website at Get Short Sale and Foreclosure Help and Assistance from a Nashville Tennessee and Middle Tennessee Short Sale and Foreclosure REALTOR, Real Estate Expert and Real Estate Investor.

Short Sales Will Increase

Short Sales Will Increase

According to this Diana Olick CNBC article, Let the Short Sales Begin, the Obama Administration's Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Plan (aka HAFA) (effective April 5, 2010), which is offering financial "incentives to borrowers, servicers, investors and second lien holders" to encourage short sales, plus the coming wave of foreclosures (shadow foreclosures, Option ARM and related foreclosures) will result in a substantial increase in the number of short sales. I absolutely agree. The question is whether the increase will be enough. The article goes on to state that the "Administration increased the incentives such as "doubling the amount of cash to $3000 offered as borrower "relocation expenses" and juicing the payoffs to the others as well. Of course they want to push short sales because of course they know that their modification program isn't working as planned." That is no surprise. Very few people I talk to are granted loan modifications and even the ones that are know that the loan modification it is a band-aid, not a solution.

Short Sale and Foreclosure Help and Assistance for Real Estate Investors, Home Builders and Developers in Nashville TN and Middle TN. If you are a Nashville Tennessee, Franklin Tennessee, Brentwood Tennessee, Nolensville Tennessee, Spring Hill Tennessee, Murfreesboro Tennessee, Smyrna Tennessee, La Vergne Tennessee, or Middle Tennessee real estate investor, home builder, condo developer or real estate developer who cannot pay the property/project mortgage payments (due to the poor economy, adverse financing conditions, slow sales, loss of investment property tenants, vacancy issues, lack of funds to complete the project, feuding business partners, etc.), have already defaulted on the mortgage, or are already in foreclosure, or owe more than the property/project is worth, please contact me to discuss your options including a short sale (a real estate short sale occurs when the sale proceeds are not sufficient to pay off all the mortgages and liens on the property/project). I am a Middle Tennessee distressed real estate, short sale, pre-foreclosure (preforeclosure) and foreclosure REALTOR and Expert. I primarily help sellers (property owners, real estate investors, home builders and real estate developers) of distressed real estate, short sales, pre-foreclosures, foreclosures, investment properties, failed new construction projects and struggling commercial real estate developments located in Middle Tennessee (Rutherford County TN, Williamson County TN, Davidson County TN, Murfreesboro TN, Smyrna TN, La Vergne TN, Eagleville TN, Lascassas TN, Rockvale TN, Christiana TN, Brentwood TN, Franklin TN, Nashville TN, Belle Meade TN, Nolensville TN, Springfield TN, Gallatin TN and Mt. Juliet TN). If you do need to short sell your home or property, or you need a quick sale due to being in foreclosure, you can request short sale and foreclosure help and assistance on my website at Get Short Sale and Foreclosure Help and Assistance from a Nashville Tennessee and Middle Tennessee Short Sale and Foreclosure REALTOR, Real Estate Expert and Real Estate Investor.

How To Stop Foreclosure

How To Stop Foreclosure

Homeowners and real estate owners who are in foreclosure, or who have received a letter from their mortgage lender's attorney stating that the foreclosure process will begin, or have received a notice of default frequently ask me how they can stop the foreclosure. Therefore, I listed the best ways to stop a foreclosure action below depending on whether you want to keep your home or investment property.

Options if you want to keep your home or investment property:

• Mortgage Refinance - If you have not missed a payment yet you still may be able to refinance into a more affordable loan. You should investigate this option as soon as you know that there may be financial trouble as this option will only remain viable for a short period of time. If your home is worth substantially less than the mortgage(s) you need to refinance this option will not work.
• Loan Modification - Contact your mortgage lender as soon as you miss a mortgage payment and ask about their loan modification options. Don't expect much help, though, as most loan modification requests are not approved.
• Loan Forbearance - If you are denied for a loan modification due to your financial issue being temporary you may be able to get a loan forbearance agreement with your lender. Basically, forbearance is a temporary reduction in your mortgage payment (usually 3-6 months) where the part of the payments that you did not make (i.e. the difference between the normal payments and the reduced payments) is added to the final forbearance payment. Due to the large final payment, this option most likely only a temporary way to stop foreclosure. However, getting the foreclosure stopped is absolutely necessary so that you can review other options (see below).

Options if you do not want to (or or not able to) keep your home or investment property:

• Short Sale - A short sale is a sale of real estate where the sale proceeds are not sufficient to pay off the liens on the real estate (usually the mortgage(s), tax liens and unpaid HOA and condo fees). This is the best way to proceed in that you can frequently, but not always, get the mortgage debt(s) fully satisfied and get released from any future obligations. A short sale is also less damaging to your credit than the other options. If you decide that a short sale is your best option I highly recommend that you chose a REALTOR who specializes in short sales (i.e. not a traditional REALTOR, or neighborhood expert), or a short sale investor. In either case, you need someone who knows how to close short sales since they are very different than regular real estate sales.
• Bankruptcy - If you have a lot of unsecured debt (i.e. personal loans, credit cards, unpaid bills, collection accounts, etc.) and just need to buy time to evaluate other options a bankruptcy could work for you. Please know that bankruptcy will not save your home. It will only delay the foreclosure unless the lender wants to work with you. Due to the complex laws which regulate personal bankruptcy, you will need to contact a bankruptcy attorney.
• Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure - Basically, a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure is where you deed your home directly to your mortgage lender in exchange for them stopping the foreclosure. While this option is better than foreclosure, at least from a credit score standpoint, it will usually not get you released from the debt and probably will not work if you have other mortgages on the property.

Please note that all the options above will be slightly more difficult for real estate investors than they are for homeowners.

Short Sale and Foreclosure Help and Assistance for Homeowners and Property Owners in Nashville TN and Middle TN. If you are a Nashville Tennessee, Franklin Tennessee, Brentwood Tennessee, Nolensville Tennessee, Spring Hill Tennessee, Murfreesboro Tennessee, Smyrna Tennessee, La Vergne Tennessee, or Middle Tennessee homeowner, property owner, condo owner, real estate investor, home builder or real estate developer who cannot pay your mortgage payments (due to losing your job, having your income reduced, illness, health problems, adverse business conditions, slow sales, loss of investment property tenants, vacancy issues, lack of funds to complete the project, feuding business partners, etc.), know that you will not be able to pay your mortgage, have defaulted on your mortgage, are already in foreclosure, or owe more than your home is worth, please contact me to discuss your options including a loan modification and a short sale (a real estate short sale occurs when the sale proceeds are not sufficient to pay off all the mortgages and liens on the property/home). I am a Middle Tennessee distressed real estate, short sale, pre-foreclosure (preforeclosure) and foreclosure REALTOR and Expert. I primarily help sellers (homeowners, property owners, condo owners, owners of high end homes and properties (estate homes, luxury homes and executive homes), real estate investors, home builders and real estate developers) of distressed real estate, short sales, pre-foreclosures, foreclosures, investment properties, failed new construction projects and struggling commercial real estate developments located in Middle Tennessee (Rutherford County TN, Williamson County TN, Davidson County TN, Robertson County TN, Maury County TN, Murfreesboro TN, Smyrna TN, La Vergne TN, Eagleville TN, Lascassas TN, Rockvale TN, Christiana TN, Brentwood TN, Franklin TN, Nashville TN, Belle Meade TN, Nolensville TN, Spring Hill TN, Gallatin TN, Springfield TN and Mt. Juliet TN). If you do need to short sell your home or property, or you need a quick sale due to being in foreclosure, you can request short sale and foreclosure help and assistance on my website at Get Short Sale and Foreclosure Help and Assistance from a Nashville Tennessee and Middle Tennessee Short Sale and Foreclosure REALTOR and Real Estate Expert.

Housing Headed For Trouble

Housing Headed For Trouble

As a short sale specialist, my listings usually sell very quickly. However, since March 2010 began my short sale listings are selling more slowly than they did previously. I attribute this to the first-time home buyer tax credit since those buyers were the primary buyer pool in my market Middle Tennessee. I think this is particularly true for most markets in the US where the tax credit had a substantial short term impact (particularly in lower priced markets where the $8,000 tax credit is a fairly substantial percentage of the sale prices). Now that the first time home buyer tax credit is nearing expiration, those tax credit buyers are, apparently, not willing to buy new short sale listings (they will still buy pre-approved short sales that can be closed in 30-45 days with a reasonable degree of certainty) since there is no guarantee that they will be able to close by 6/30/2010 (the expiration of the tax credit). Therefore, the only way to sell these short sale listings is to lower the price. These increasingly lower priced short sale and pre-foreclosure listings will put downward pressure on new construction and other retail priced listings.

The next phase of the great real estate meltdown is beginning to unfold as I predicted it would over 1 year ago (see my blog post from 11/2009 for a detailed breakdown of the drivers of the real estate market: Our Phony Real Estate Market). Unfortunately, the tax credit was nothing more than a temporary band-aid solution (really a gimmick) that will ultimately result in the tax credit buyers ending up in foreclosure at a very high rate since they are underwater the moment of closing (most put little to nothing down and have very little cash reserves) and will be even more so as the market declines. The buyers who purchased short sales and foreclosures as substantial discounts will likely be fine. That is why I only sell those types of properties. Unfortunately, home buyers who purchased new construction or other retail priced listings will be in trouble in the next few years. The main problem is that the entire US economy was built on debt. Consumer spending, which was 70%+/- of the entire US economy, was built largely on consumer debt (think credit cards, home equity loans, HELOC's, personal loans, etc.). Without this debt there can be little to no growth in consumer spending, and by extension, little to no growth in the US economy, until personal incomes increase at least enough to pay down current debt and still leave enough to spend more. Given that unemployment still hovers near 10% (the real number is about 16%) this will not happen anytime soon. It is just a matter of simple accounting. In addition to the end of the tax credit buyer ear there is the Option ARM foreclosure wave coming. As a result, there will lots of foreclosures and short sales over the next 5-10 years.

Short Sale and Foreclosure Help and Assistance for Real Estate Investors, Home Builders and Developers in Nashville TN and Middle TN. If you are a Nashville Tennessee, Franklin Tennessee, Brentwood Tennessee, Nolensville Tennessee, Spring Hill Tennessee, Murfreesboro Tennessee, Smyrna Tennessee, La Vergne Tennessee, or Middle Tennessee real estate investor, home builder, condo developer or real estate developer who cannot pay the property/project mortgage payments (due to the poor economy, adverse financing conditions, slow sales, loss of investment property tenants, vacancy issues, lack of funds to complete the project, feuding business partners, etc.), have already defaulted on the mortgage, or are already in foreclosure, or owe more than the property/project is worth, please contact me to discuss your options including a short sale (a real estate short sale occurs when the sale proceeds are not sufficient to pay off all the mortgages and liens on the property/project). I am a Middle Tennessee distressed real estate, short sale, pre-foreclosure (preforeclosure) and foreclosure REALTOR and Expert. I primarily help sellers (property owners, real estate investors, home builders and real estate developers) of distressed real estate, short sales, pre-foreclosures, foreclosures, investment properties, failed new construction projects and struggling commercial real estate developments located in Middle Tennessee (Rutherford County TN, Williamson County TN, Davidson County TN, Murfreesboro TN, Smyrna TN, La Vergne TN, Eagleville TN, Lascassas TN, Rockvale TN, Christiana TN, Brentwood TN, Franklin TN, Nashville TN, Belle Meade TN, Nolensville TN, Springfield TN, Gallatin TN and Mt. Juliet TN). If you do need to short sell your home or property, or you need a quick sale due to being in foreclosure, you can request short sale and foreclosure help and assistance on my website at Get Short Sale and Foreclosure Help and Assistance from a Nashville Tennessee and Middle Tennessee Short Sale and Foreclosure REALTOR and Real Estate Expert.