My 10 Favorite Smartphone Apps I use in my Real Estate Business (PS: Not just for Realtors)

In my experience, these ten apps I downloaded to my smartphone are some of the most useful (and fun) apps for my business - most of them for free and most available for the IPhone and Android. Do you use any of them? Others you would recommend?

1. Waze

This social driven navigation app is all you need when taking clients on showings or going anywhere for that matter. I believe this app is better than most car or portable navigation systems because it is interactive with other users... and there are many of them. It will notify you of hazards, traffic jams, police, road closures and much more. But what makes it especially useful is that it will automatically reroute you if there is a problem ahead. It's easy to use and follow with the screen and voice prompts - but best to have a smartphone holder on your dashboard to easily see the screen.

2. Dropbox

Have you ever been somewhere without access to your computer and needed to send a document or file to a client? With Dropbox you can keep your active and important files with you where ever you go. Your computer and smartphone automatically sync files whenever one is updated or added. So when someone needs a document, picture or file, you can access it from your phone and email them the link. Trust me, this will come in very handy.

3. Slydial

You're busy and need to update a client or associate but don't want to take the time to have a conversation with them. No problem, use Slydial to leave them a voicemail on their cell phone without having to call them. Leave the message with what they need to know and you're done. Especially beneficial when you need to update one of the chattier types.

4. Realtor.com

This should be obvious, but what really comes in handy is when you're with a client and pass a home for sale and they want to know all about it. You just open up this app and search for homes for sale near your current location and there is the listing with everything you need to know for the client. It has many other beneficial features for us too!

5. Evernote

It can do some of what Dropbox does and more. You may want to use Dropbox for a simple file sharing app, but Evernote incorporates more functionality and interactive features that allow you to manage your business and time across all of your devices. Evernote is a note taking app by design. It's absolutely amazing at a lot of things. It's great for keeping track of relatively small pieces of information such as receipts and client conversations. It's also quite useful for writing down or scanning meeting notes, client updates, information from websites and important documentation that may accompany your business, home or finances - just to mention a few. To simply sum up the differences: "Dropbox is a file back-up and syncing service and Evernote is a note storing and syncing application. The two may sound similar, but they are not." You should have both!

6. Icon.Me

Never be without a business card with Icon.me! It's a digital business card that contains more and better content than any paper business card could ever convey. When you meet someone, you just open the app and enter their phone number or email and they now have all of your business information digitally... and in a format they can easily save to their contacts.

7. Instagram

Now that they added the 15 second video feature, it makes it so easy to take a short video of a property or one or two of it's special features and easily upload it to Facebook and Twitter. Be creative and this can be a great tool for marketing a property.

8. Camera+

A great addition to your smartphone's camera... you can take pictures and edit them right in the same application. The preset editing features do a great job of enhancing your photos. While I use a separate camera for most of my property shots, there are situations where my smartphone camera is better - either because of lighting or the angle I need to use for the picture... and when appropriate, my IPhone Panorama shots work great. I have no less than 15 photo related apps and I use them all for various purposes. But to get back on track here... Camera+ is a must.

9. Photo Editing Apps

As you can tell from my comments above, I go a little bit crazy with the camera related apps because everyone of them is excellent to use for different purposes. Two great apps that allow you to professionally edit your photos with either presets or manually are: (1) Photogene2 and (2) Snapseed.

10. Yelp

This one may sound a little off track, but using Yelp to write reviews about almost anything increases your exposure to many people... so look at this as a marketing tool. You can write reviews about vendors such as home inspectors, electricians, plumbers and contractors you have used in your business. Also, you can write reviews about restaurants that you frequent. Yelp has a very wide user group and you can creatively and effectively use it to increase your exposure and grow your business. When you write a great review about a restaurant in your area, how about printing it out, framing it and taking it to the restaurant for them to display! And, oh by the way, maybe you can leave cards there and let them know you're in the business of helping people buy and sell homes... They interact with a lot of people everyday - Do you think they might remember you when they learn of someone looking to buy or sell?

One last honorable mention is SlowShutter. This camera app is designed for taking pictures in low light and it does an excellent job. What I especially like is how easy it is to create amazing effects to enhance your pictures. For example, with the slow shutter speed in low lighting you can create a mist around your picture of that pond or swimming pool... or ghost like image across the lighted patio at night. Practical and fun application to use in your business.

I hope you find at least a few of these beneficial in your business. If you have others, please mention them in the comments! Your feedback is always welcome.

Short Sale - What's My Tax Liability?

I am selling my house via a short sale.  Will I have to pay tax on the forgiven debt?

 Under the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007, enacted December 20, 2007, taxpayers may exclude debt forgiven on their principal residence.  This provision applies to debt forgiven in calendar years 2007 through 2012. Up to $2 million of forgiven debt is eligible for this exclusion ($1 million if married filing separately).  Details are on Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 982 and its instructions, available on www.irs.gov.  Debt reduced through mortgage restructuring, as well as mortgage debt forgiven in connection with a foreclosure, may qualify for this relief.  In most cases, eligible homeowners only need to fill out a few lines on IRS Form 982 (specifically, lines 1e, 2 and 10b).

What are some of the rules?

The debt must have been used to buy, build, or substantially improve the taxpayer’s principal residence and must have been secured by that residence.  Debt used to refinance qualifying debt is also eligible for the exclusion, but only up to the amount of the old mortgage principal, just before the refinancing.  Debt forgiven on second homes, rental property, business property, credit cards or car loans does not qualify for this tax-relief provision.  In some cases, however, other kinds of tax relief, based on insolvency, for example, may be available.

Will the government extend forgiveness?

It is possible that the federal government may extend the principal residence short sale tax forgiveness beyond December 31, 2012.  It is also possible that the government may not extend this provision.  The government needs tax revenues and 2012 is an election year, which may affect political decisions.  Given what we know now, people who are considering a short sale of their principal residence are better off if they sell their house in 2012.

Can the mortgage lender come after me?

Please be advised that your mortgage lender might not agree to forgive the mortgage deficiency. If they do not forgive the deficiency, they may legally pursue you personally to collect this debt.

Is a Short Sale right for you? Contact me to learn how our team of professionals can help you get through this difficult time and avoid foreclosure! 

From the Blog: Stop Foreclosure Right Now. Re-Printed with permission.

Who Knew? Banks CAN change the locks on your home BEFORE they foreclose!

Who changed my locks?

When a borrower becomes seriously delinquent on their mortgage, the bank will eventually send someone to the house to verify occupancy and perhaps assess the current market value.  If the bank’s representative, who may be a real estate agent, contractor, or other third party, deems that the property is abandoned, then the bank may change the locks and secure the premises even if the bank does not yet own it.  The bank might even winterize the property to defend against the possibility of water damage from frozen pipes in the winter.

Can I get the keys?

The fine print in most mortgage loan documents allows banks to secure a mortgaged property if their field representative sees that the property is vacant.  Even if the doors are locked, the bank may change the locks on an abandoned property.  Typically the bank will not tell the owner or listing agent that they’ve changed the locks.  However, the owner and listing agent have the right to request the new keys from the bank.  We have seen banks mail the keys or provide a lockbox combination upon request, although sometimes it will take several phone calls to obtain the keys.

What happens to my stuff?

If a mortgage lender changes the locks on a vacant house prior to foreclosing on the property, they will not remove any personal items.  In other words, the bank will not clean out the house before they foreclose.

What if I am still in the property?

If the bank’s representative sees that the house is occupied, then they will not change the locks until after a foreclosure sale.  A lot of homeowners facing foreclosure have an unfounded fear that the bank will lock them out of their home prior to a foreclosure auction.  If the home is occupied, then the mortgage lender will not change the locks, nor will they seize any personal property.

Should I let the bank know that I am still in the property?

If a person who is behind on their mortgage payments still lives in the property, it is wise for them to inform their bank that the house is occupied.  If the bank is notified that someone is living in the premises, then they may not send a field representative to the house.

You can avoid foreclosure via a Short Sale. The impact of a Short Sale is far less damaging to your credit and job opportunities. If you're experiencing a hardship and unable to make your mortgage payments, contact me to learn how we can help!

From the blog: Stop Foreclosure Right Now.  Reprinted with permission. 

Foreclosure Timeline in Pennsylvania

Foreclosure is a legal procedure in which property pledged as security is sold to satisfy the debt.  A mortgage lender’s rights can be enforced through foreclosure if the borrower defaults on mortgage payments or fails to fulfill any of the other obligations in the mortgage.  The foreclosure process in Pennsylvania begins when a borrower fails to make payments on a mortgage loan, or an owner fails to pay property taxes or water/sewer bills, or any other lien holder pursues its right to collect the debt secured by the property.

Sample Timeline for Foreclosure in Pennsylvania

August 1, 2011	August mortgage payment due but not paid
September 1, 2011	September mortgage payment also due.  Two months’ payments are now due.
October 1, 2011	October mortgage payment due.  Three months’ payments are now due.
October 6, 2011	Lis Pendens Notice.  Lender sends a Notice of Intent to Foreclosure (Act 6 Notice) to the borrower.  The lender may also send an Act 91. The homeowner has 20-30 days to respond.
November 9, 2011	The maximum 30 days in the Act 6 and Act 91 Notices are up.  The lender hires a foreclosure attorney.
December 9, 2011	The foreclosure attorney for the lender files a complaint at the county courthouse (Court of Common Pleas).
January 24, 2012	The borrower fails to respond to the complaint, and a default judgment is entered in favor of the lender.
February 26, 2012	The county Sheriff’s office schedules a date for the Sheriff’s Sale.
March 26, 2012	A notice of the Sheriff’s Sale is sent to the borrower and to other lien holders.
April 26, 2012	The Sheriff’s Sale is held.
April 28, 2012	The Sheriff’s office prepares and records a deed conveying title to the purchaser.  If a third party did not purchase the property at the Sheriff’s Sale, then the deed conveys title to the mortgage lender.
April 29, 2012	Eviction or Ejectment process begins if the borrower is still residing at the property.

 Typically the foreclosure process in Pennsylvania will take longer than the above diagram.  The lender may delay filing of a foreclosure lawsuit because they’re inundated or because they are attempting a workout with the borrower.  The borrower could delay the process with legal motions.  The judge in the county court may delay the foreclosure process to see if the borrower and lender’s attorney can reach a better solution.  The Sheriff’s Department may delay the sale because they’re overwhelmed.

From the Blog: Stop Foreclosure Right Now. Re-printed with permission.

Avoiding Foreclosure - Short Sale Solution may be Right for You!

Short Sales are all we do and we've been doing them since 2005 with over 300 successfully closed! Contact me today to learn how our team of professionals can help you.

1 out of Every 3 Homeowners are Underwater on their Mortgages!

Economy Watch at MSNBC recently reported that 1 out of every 3 mortgages are underwater. While, it goes on to say 90 percent of the owners are current in their payments, 10 percent are behind. Add this to the fact that foreclosures rose 9% in May from a month earlier and you have a picture that there is more trouble on the horizon for many families struggling day-to-day just to get by.

Many people that find themselves facing a hardship and owe more than their home is worth don't have to end up in foreclosure. A successful Short Sale of their home is a far better alternative on almost every level. Yet many homeowners will wait too long to ask for help or list their home with someone who isn't familiar with the Short Sale process only to have the sale rejected by the lender.

Significa does Short Sales... and they have been doing them since 2005 - over 300 Short Sales successfully closed. With our team of professionals, you have access to an Attorney, a Processor and a Negotiator. Our team knows how to represent you and get your home sold, avoiding foreclosure, so you can move on with your life.

Contact me today to learn how we can help you.

Articles referenced: 

One in Three Mortgage Holders Are Underwater


Foreclosure Activity Jumps in Troubling Sign for Housing Recovery

I’m behind on my mortgage. Should I move out or stay in the house?

In most cases, it is wiser for a homeowner to stay in their house.  Many people who are behind on their mortgage payments have an unfounded fear that they will come home one night to find their belongings removed and their door padlocked.

Banks prefer to have someone, particularly the homeowner, stay in the house.  Mortgage lenders do not like vacant houses, as they lose value due to break-ins, ice damage in the winter, or lack of upkeep.

A homeowner behind on their payments can save money by staying in their house.  Rather than paying for rent somewhere else, they can live rent-free in their house until the property is sold.  The money that is saved during this period can be allocated for moving costs, a security deposit, and rent when they eventually move elsewhere.

Even if the homeowner is delinquent with their mortgage, they are still the owner of record and therefore remain responsible for the property.  The owner could be cited by the local municipality for not maintaining the grounds, such as failure to cut the grass or shovel the snow off the sidewalk.  The owner is still responsible for paying property taxes.

The owner is also liable for what occurs on the property.  For example, if the owner abandons the property and has a pool, they could be liable if someone falls into the pool even if that person were trespassing.  The owner is also expected to maintain insurance on the property.  If they cannot afford insurance, they should inform their mortgage lender so the lender can pay for forced placed insurance.

Unless there is a compelling reason to move now, such as job relocation or a contentious divorce, it is wise for a homeowner to stay in the home while the foreclosure process unfolds.

From the blog: Stop Foreclosure Right Now – Reprinted with permission.

Avoiding a foreclosure by successfully processing a Short Sale of your home is what we do! We close 90% of our Short Sales. Contact me to see how our team of professionals can help you.

Short Sale? Don't Trust Listing and Selling Your Home with Just Anyone!

Read this before you have an attorney or just any Realtor list & process your short sale. See why Keller Williams Realty Lancaster teamed-up with Significa Corp is your best option for avoiding foreclosure & selling your home. Why would you go anywhere else? 

• Significa has 7 years’ experience in successfully closing short sales. 
• We specialize in processing short sales. It is our full time business. 
• We provide attorney services included in our short sale program at no cost to the homeowners.
• We have a staff of 18 dedicated and trained people servicing the customer.
• We successfully close 90% of our short sale transactions.
• We have documented systems and manuals in place for the short sale process.
• We offer personalized service and weekly updates to all parties in the transaction.
• We have a detailed S.O.P. (Standard Operating Procedures) and accountability for all of our roles in our short sale process.
• We offer a training program with certification and we are considered the leaders in our industry. We also offer a Continuing Education Course for agents.
• We use leading technology to process our short sales.
• We have extensive relationships with most lenders in the country and are able to escalate a file immediately We can by-pass the bureaucratic channels when necessary.
• We have processed and closed over 300 short sales.

Short Sales - helping you avoid foreclosure... it's what we do...it's all we do... Significa Corp. - Contact me today to learn more and see how our team of professionals can help you!

Will My Bank Allow Me to do a Short Sale If I’m Current on My Mortgage Payments?

This is one of the questions I get asked most frequently. Here is the answer.

Not all short sales involve sellers who are delinquent on their mortgage. Some banks will consider a short sale for a person who is current on their mortgage if there is a legitimate hardship and a documented decline in property values.

Some banks have a policy whereby they will only consider a short sale if the borrower is behind on their payments. This policy can be viewed as absurd, especially if property values have dropped dramatically in the area. On the other hand, why would a creditor want to consider taking less money when someone keeps paying them per their original loan agreement?

A technique used by some people who want to minimize their damage to their credit while also having a short sale approved is to deliberately pay their mortgage late, but no more than 29 days late. When a bank receives their mortgage payment 30 or more days late, they inform the credit bureaus. For someone who is looking to borrow money, especially via a mortgage loan, in the next two years, a single instance of being 30 days late can prevent them from obtaining the loan they desire.

A person could choose to not pay their mortgage on time, which after a few days (typically the 6th of the month or later) causes the bank to treat the loan differently than if it were paid on time. The bank may send the file to their loss mitigation department once the loan is delinquent. The bank will call the borrower, and may send mail, offering options and assistance. One of the options may be a short sale.

Of course, the technique to prevent a 30-day report to the credit bureaus involves the borrower paying their mortgage plus the late fee just before the end of the month. That way the loan never goes 30 days behind, but the bank starts offering options to the borrower. That action may trigger the bank to consider a short sale or loan modification.

Some banks unfortunately have the policy whereby the borrower must be at least three months behind before they’ll consider a short sale. If that’s the case, then the homeowner must make a decision whether they should stop paying the mortgage. In some cases, it may be the best option for a person to stop paying the mortgage. That is a decision that should be made only after consulting various professionals, such as an attorney, and weighing the pros and cons.

The first thing one should do is call their bank to express difficulty in paying the mortgage or selling the house. Many banks will mail a short sale package to the borrower if asked. Some banks will reveal their precise policy on how to qualify for a short sale, while other banks will provide nebulous answers.

If you are considering a Short Sale, contact me and let our team of professionals assist. We are here to help you and help keep you out of foreclosure!

Market Insider - Valuable, customized, and up-to-date information on real estate trends in your local communities.

The Myth: Sellers "Pay" Buyer's Closing Costs

Sellers never pay the buyer's closing costs... plain and simple! Forever, all parties to a transaction have used the phrase: "Seller paid closing costs"... or something close to this. The truth is that in every situation I can think of where there is a "seller consession", the buyer is actually still paying the closing costs and financing them in with the mortgage. Let me explain why that is....

One needs to view the transaction from the seller's perspective. They have a house to sell and they have a price in their mind that they will not go below. Or, stated differently, if they get this price or above, they will be happy. For this example, let's say that price is $300,000. They could and probably are asking something more than this amount. Selling the home for $300,000 would net this particular seller $75,000 at settlement.

If a buyer comes to the table with an offer of $300,000, the seller is thrilled and accepts. If the buyer comes to the table with an offer of $315,000 and asks for $15,000 from the seller to cover closing costs; again, the seller will be thrilled and accepts. Under either scenerio the net price to the seller is $300,000. And in both cases he nets $75,000 or close to it after adjusting for a little difference in higher costs for commission and transfer taxes on the extra $15,000. (Approx. $1,000). The seller would not accept any offer that has a net price lower than $300,000.

Since the buyer may now have a loan amount $15,000 more ($315,000 vs. $300,000), the buyer is actually financing the closing costs into the mortgage loan. The seller hasn't "paid" the buyer anything.

It always surprises me that buyers don't get this. When I explain their options as we develop our offer strategy, they have trouble understanding it from the seller's side. And the seller's side is very simple - the bottom line or what is the amount they walk away with at settlement. How it's structured between offer price and seller consession doesn't make any difference to the seller - as long as the home will appraise for that offer price.

Finally, when preparing an offer,what we should ask the buyer is: "Are you paying your own closing costs at settlement or do you want to finance them?"