Home is...where you go when vacation is over!

It is a midsummer evening and the crickets are playing their tune with sheer, creeping consistency; The warm afternoon temperatures have given way to a cool, slightly breezy atmosphere. Eyes are tired - yet there is no real rush to sleep. This is summer. This is summer, after vacation, before a real school schedule, with the pace of something between dreams and reality. Summer is the "hot" selling season, too. Real estate continues to be a wonderful investment and buyers all around are taking note. This time of year, things seem more possible - like homeownership. Choosing between that amazing vacation and a down payment becomes a little bit easier. For, as we all know, all good things come to an end. After a very busy year, my family finally took a vacation a couple of weeks ago. We stayed in a couple of cities and one in particular had a very nice hotel room with a bay view - heaven on earth! Even so - we all knew it was temporary. It was vacation, after all! We admired the furnishings, the view and the lobby (seriously), and I promised myself I wouldn't forget some of the specific decorations I really liked, you know, so I could repeat at home.... (already forgotten). When we left, however, and finally arrived home, it was just as wonderful. And as I thought about this, I reminded myself that home is where you go when vacation is over! The best thing you can do as a potential buyer is to dream...visualize your home, what you like, how it makes you feel...and then call me! I will help you make that dream a reality. As a seller, look at your home with a buyers critical eye....and then after you have de-cluttered and cleaned, call me! I will help with more ideas (if needed) to stage your home, and I will provide you with statistical information to help get your house sold (yes, the market is good for selling right now)! As always if you or anyone you know is looking to buy or sell -- and you need someone that will work hard, be honest and not stop until the job is done - call me! Until then, enjoy the rest of your summer!

There has been a lot in the news about the California Homeowner Bill of Rights which was signed into law this week. A few facts about this law, which was created to help struggling homeowners in the state of California: 1. This law prevents a lender from dual tracking a home mortgage - which means a lender cannot simultaneously have a home in the foreclosure process while at the same time working on a loan modification. 2. Homeowners must be provided with a single point of contact when negotiating a loan modicfication. 3. The bill expands notice requirements that must be provided to a borrower before taking action on a loan modification application or pursuing foreclosure. Additional information on this new law can be found at www.dsnews.com The new law is effective January 1, 2013. If you or anyone you know if not eligible for a loan modification, but want to prevent the negative credit effects of foreclosure, a short sale may be the best choice. Contact me today of you are interested in learning more about the process. Best - Stacy