Wow! Yesterday was nothing short of beyond being informative! I was supposed to Flip Video this event that tooks us months to put together and I was so “in” to what the speakers were saying that I totally forgot. Jees! I must remember to designate that job to someone else next time!
Gerald Wolff, the bankruptcy attorney, was beyond amazing! This is one attorney that honestly KNOWS what he is talking about. He understands it, and he will not just take any client. That is a sign of true professionalism. Meaning, if it isn’t right for the client, then no deal. Move on. Gerald was a wealth of knowledge, and I feel so lucky my agents utilize him for their clients. It gives me peace of mind that we are truly doing the right thing, and actually getting the right information to our community. There are so many government programs and issues with the banks that simply do NOT work. It is not to the benefit of the homeowner.
Times have changed. I am an airforce brat, and my dad is a product of the Great Depression. I have been raised you can’t afford it with cash, then you don’t buy it. By no means, do you ever walk away from a debt, and God forbid ever losing your home. Well, guess what, stated income had not been introduced and fraudulant loans being brokered off. Bottom line is it is no longer a moral issue, but rather a business decision. Because of that this is why homeowners MUST know their rights and what they should do today. Look at how many people are going through divorces, robbing Peter to pay Paul, and dying under their mortgage which is hundreds of thousands of dollars they will never recoup. Dare we even say anything about retirement? Big businesses and developers have no emotion when they walk away from a business deal that has no ROI. Look at the developer in New York that just walked away from the $5.4 BILLION dollar housing deal.
The point of yesterday was eye opening to hear the RIGHT information, and put it into perspective that everyone is, or knows someone that is, going through debt. People feel lost, or worse, they are just completely unaware of all of their legal rights or best financial advise that they could take advantage of. Having Stella from Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Orange County was critical in this educational process! There are HUD services that can go through your paperwork and speak to your bank to see if they will release the deficiency judgement or are you so buried you have no choice but to just walk away. Can you take advantage of makinghomeaffordable.gov programs? So many questions and programs that need to be addressed when trying to make th best business decision they possibly can.
My best friend in Texas is a single mom with 2 beautiful children, and she has had her house on the market for 2 years! The agents in Texas no nothing like we do on short sales. I can’t even believe how many homeowners across the country are in the same horrific position NOT knowing their rights and what they can actually do to save their credit and get out of the strangeling financial burdens they are carrying. Come on, how great of a mom/dad/spouse can one possibly be when you go to bed ever night dying under a financial throat hold? Thinking there is no end to a place you don’t want to be! Very sad and is happening every day. My brother went through the same thing in Florida. When I speak to agents and homeowners nationwide they just don’t even know or are aware of all of their options they can take advantage of. I know www.nw.org is out there, too, but there just aren’t enough of these governement entities offered with consulting and free classes like we have here in Orange County.
I am just so glad here in Orange County we have aligned ourselves with the best professionals and HUD services one could ever even hope to have so that we, as professionals, are equipped to truly get out there and help homeowners or even first time homebuyers. Financial education and awareness is everything right now. Peace of mind to getting your money into motion and feeling reassured we are doing the right thing for our particular circumstance is just vital to all of us.
I honestly thank our caring & loving real estate agents at First Team Anaheim Hills for always wanting to know more, better themselves so they can better their clients and staying 110% focused on what matters right now in this ever shifting market: Jackie May, Paul Armas, Kathy Leimkhler, Joyce Nethery, Ken Singh, Art & Jean Navarro, Sonia Tulsiani, Sally Parikh, Mike & Kathey Busse, Oscar Jimenez, Jay Cook, Emily Juarez, Corrine Porter, Larry & Helen Sangorgio, Jerry Addison, Rama Sharma, Ernie Espinosa and Nina Emelianoff. You guys are a true inspiration, and I know I can go to bed at night knowing we are doing our part to help our community. I can’t wait to start doing this every quarter as we have planned. Our next workshop will be even more exciting I just know it!
Thanks again, and I am lucky to know Gerald, Stella, Heather and Amelia Castro from Wachovia and Laura Cowie from our Hallmark Escrow. You guys all rock and thanks for sharing yesterday!
