7020 Crystal Beach Torch Lake Michigan

Heaven on earth! Torch Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. This absolutely fabulous home has a world class view on a pure sugar sand beach. If only the finest will do for you and your family this is the home for you. Five plus bedrooms 3 baths. Call Dave Handley at Flat Rate Realty Grand Traverse for your personal tour.

Easy Living In the Heart Of Traverse CIty

Do you want it all? Attractive free standing single family home with all the conveniences of a condominium lifestyle. Only three years from new. Located in the best area of Emerald Hills, with a easy living open floor plan and lot’s of privacy. Featuring a first floor master suite, warm friendly kitchen with convenient breakfast bar. You also have a full finished lower level with a full bath and generous fourth bedroom, perfect for guests. Two car attached garage. Call Flat Rate Realty Grand Traverse for your personal tour 231-264-0222

Sunny Days And Trave Area Real Estate

Flat Rate Grand Traverse buyers like to view homes on sunny days. The long, grey days of winter are finally winding down. The weather forecast for this weekend is more SUN! We are looking forward to working with our buyers this gorgeous sunny weekend. We want good news for sellers come Monday morning!

Traverse City Fun With Grand Children

We love spending time with our grand children. This past weekend we went to the Great Wolf Lodge. The 86 degree heat was wonderful on these old bones. At Great Wolf the staff was courteous. The hotel was clean.
The pizza delivered to our room was delicious. Thank you to Mancinos The water park was fun, fun, fun. Next to selling real estate this was just the best time We will definitely do this again.

Believe! Think Positve Thoughts!

I do believe if you think postive thoughts, do postive deeds and think well of others the energy that is created will bring a constant stream of postive good things your way.
I see in all our futures abundace, health and so much more. Two thousand and ten; its time to begin again Life is good. GOD is great. Blessings to all this Christmas Season.

Education Matters In Real Estate

At Flat Rate Realty Grand Traverse education matters. Our Grand Daughter Betsey is helping write this blog today. Betsey says “education in general is a huge part of our lives.” Right now learing is her job.
At Flat Rate Realty educating our buyers and sellers is our job. We educate our buyers that they can earn up to 50% of the agent buyers commission. This can be thousands of dollars. We educate our sellers they no longer have to pay huge commissions to market and sell their home and properties.
Betsey is right education is everything. Educated buyers and sellers can save lots of money with Flat Rate Grand Traverse!

Sharing The CASH!

Our Business Philosophy At Flat Rate  Realty Grand Traverse

It was really time to make a change. The current way of doing business was dying.  The internet has changed everything.  Home buyers are now very informed on what area they want to live, homes for sale and prices.

So sharing our commission with our buyers makes sense to me. Buyers are doing some of the work so they should share the cash.

Cash Back to Buyers!
You can MAKE MONEY by buying a home with Flat Rate Realty. We have two exciting programs that can put between 25% and 50% of our commission in your pocket when you buy a home in the Grand Traverse Region.

Foreclosure Avoidance Help

             

      Foreclosure Avoidance Help             

All Inquiries Are Confidential

Worried About Losing Your Home To Foreclosure?

Sometimes, bad things happen to good people.  You are not alone.  Nationwide, almost 15% of all mortgages are in default, meaning that they are 30+ days late with their payment. Michigan alone has over 1 million distressed homes (pre-foreclosure, bank auctioned, and bank owned or REO homes), and is among the top states for foreclosures in the nation.

There are many different reasons for someone to be unable to make their mortgage payment, and regardless of what yours may be, there is most likely a way to avoid foreclosure!

Dave Handley is the only Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE), in Northern Michigan he can help you find a solution.  Whether your solution will keep you in your home, or allow you to sell your home in what is called a “short sale,” his goal is to negotiate with your lender and help you avoid a credit-destroying and emotionally-damaging foreclosure.

To speak confidentially with Dave about what your options are,

simply Contact Agent Dave now 231-633-4677 or email Dave@FlateRateRealtyGrandTraverse.com there is light at the end of the tunnel, and Agent Dave can help you reach it.

Why Not Just Let It “Go Back To The Bank?”

While it may not seem like it now, there will come a time when your current financial troubles will pass.  You will feel much better knowing that you did everything you could to avoid this devastating financial consequence.  The chance at avoiding foreclosure takes only effort and cooperation on your part.  As your agent, Dave will do all the rest, and investing his  time, money, and effort.

Reasons To Avoid Foreclosure:

Issue	Foreclosure	Successful Short Sale
Future Fannie Mae Loan – Primary Residence (Effective May 21, 2008)	A homeowner who loses a home to foreclosure is ineligible for a Fannie Mae backed mortgage for a period of 5 years.	A homeowner who successfully negotiates and closes a short sale will be eligible for a Fannie Mae backed mortgage after only 2 years.
Future Fannie Mae Loan – Non Primary Residence (Effective May 21, 2008)	An investor who allows a property to go to foreclosure is ineligible for a Fannie Mae backed investment mortgage for a period of 7 years.	An investor who successfully negotiates and closes a short sale will be eligible for a Fannie Mae backed investment mortgage after only 2 years.
Future Loan with any Mortgage Company	On any future 1003 Application (Standard Loan Application), a prospective borrower will have to answer YES to question C, in Section VIII, that asks, “Have you had property foreclosed upon, or given title or deed in lieu thereof?” This will affect all future rates.	There is no similar declaration, or question regarding a short sale.
Credit Score	Score may be lowered anywhere from 250 to over 300 points. Typically, this will affect score for over 3 years.	Only late payments on mortgage will show, and after sale, mortgage will be reported as paid or negotiated. This will lower the score as little as 50 points, if all other payments are being made.  A short sale’s effect can be as brief as 12 to 18 months.
Credit History	Foreclosure will remain as a public record on a person’s credit history for 10 years or more.	A short sale is not reported on a credit history. There is no specific reporting item for “short sale.” The loan is typically reported as “Paid in full, settled.”
Security Clearances	Foreclosure is the most challenging issue against a security clearance, outside of a conviction for a serious misdemeanor or felony. If a client has a foreclosure, and is a police officer, in the military, a government employee, a security officer, or any position that requires a security clearance, in almost all cases, clearance will be revoked and position will be terminated.	A short sale, on its own, does not challenge most security clearances.
Current Employment	Employers have the right, and are actively and regularly checking the credit of all employees who are in sensitive positions.  A foreclosure, in many cases, is grounds for immediate reassignment or termination.	A short sale is not reported on a credit report, and is, therefore, not a challenge to employment.
Future Employment	Many employers are requiring credit checks on all job applicants. A foreclosure is one of the most detrimental credit items an applicant can have, and, in most cases, will challenge employment.	A short sale is not reported on a credit report, and is, therefore, not a challenge to employment.
Deficiency Judgment	In 100% of foreclosures (except in those states where there is no deficiency) the bank has the right to pursue a deficiency judgment.	In some successful short sales, it is possible to convince the lender to give up the right to pursue a deficiency judgment against the homeowner.
Deficiency Judgment Amount	In a foreclosure, the home will have to go through an REO process if it does not sell at auction.  In most cases, this will result in a lower sales price, and a longer time to sell in, a declining market. This will result in a higher possible deficiency judgment.	In a properly managed short sale, the home is sold at a price that should be close to market value, and, in almost all cases, will be better than an REO sale, resulting in a lower deficiency amount.

We are here to help.  Simply Contact Dave Handley Now.

What Is A Certified Distressed Property Expert?

Eighty-five percent of homeowners experiencing financial distress say their first contact will be to a licensed agent.  Yet, fewer than 1 percent of agents consider themselves foreclosure or distressed property experts.  Dave Handley has taken the time and money to invest in the education necessary to allow him to help people in this most difficult and stressful situation.

The developers of the Certified Distressed Property Expert Designation (CDPE) believe that in almost all cases the best person for a homeowner in distress to speak with is a well-informed, licensed Realtor® that has the tools needed to help that homeowner find the best solution for their situation.

Foreclosure is a devastating financial and emotional process for a homeowner to go through, and in many cases they do so alone and without guidance of any kind, and therefore never recover financially.

Through extensive and ongoing education, Dave has earned the CDPE Designation, and has  dedicated his time and effort to understanding the issues distressed homeowners are dealing with.  Dave understands the full range of solutions and is ready to help.

While experiencing financial distress is difficult for any family, the process of finding a real estate professional shouldn’t be.  Selecting a CDPE agent ensures you are dealing with a professional ready to address your needs.

Agent Dave Handley is here to help, and will use the utmost discretion!  Call
Agent Dave 231-633-4677

Frequently Asked Questions About Short Sales

“Short Sale” is a relatively new expression to many homeowners, yet this type of sale has been part of the real estate market for many years.  Unfortunately, most Realtors aren’t familiar with the process, which has caused a lot of confusion in the community, with homeowners and even other Realtors.  Being a Certified Distressed Property Expert, I thought it would be prudent to explain and dispel some of the misunderstandings.

What Is A Short Sale?

A Short Sale is when:

• A homeowner is authorized, by the bank, to sell for less than what is owed on the mortgage.
• The lender authorizes or accepts the sales price as a payoff.
• The seller avoids a credit-destroying foreclosure, and sometimes they can also avoid a deficiency judgment.

The seller won’t get any money at closing, yet they will avoid the financial and emotional damage that a foreclosure can cause.  During our negotiations with the bank, we work to include a favorable wording for the forgiven debt of the mortgage, which can help the recovery of the homeowner.  And we’re able to do so in many circumstances.

Why Would A Lender Agree To Lose Money?

• A lender loses significantly more money if they have to incur the additional expenses of a foreclosure, as opposed to accepting a short sale.
• Lenders are in the business of lending money, not owning homes.  The more money they have tied up with a property that they own, the less they have to lend out.

How Does A Short Sale Help Me?

• It helps you avoid a credit-destroying, and an emotionally draining foreclosure process.
• Avoiding a foreclosure will help save your credit.  Typically a foreclosure will drop your credit score up to 300 points per loan.
• You avoid having a foreclosure on your credit report anywhere from 10 to 15 years, which affects your future purchasing power and interest rates.
• It could help you avoid a deficiency judgment from the lender after the foreclosure, as they try to recover their loses. 

I’ve Already Received My Foreclosure Notice.  Is It Too Late For A Short Sale?

• The short answer is no.  There are a few variables, though, that can affect the foreclosure timeline.
• A qualified Realtor, or better yet, a Certified Distressed Property Expert, can help you extend the foreclosure timeline up to 6 months, and in many circumstances up to 7 or 8 months.
• A home sale can be done and approved, up to the day of the bank sale, or auction of the home.

I Haven’t Missed Any Mortgage Payments.  Can I Still Do A Short Sale?

• Oftentimes, the lender will not consider a short sale if there have not been any missed payments.  That issue can be overcome if we can show a compelling reason (hardship) why the payments have been made, and why the payments are going to stop in the near future.
• We would need to show how the payments were made, and where the money came from.  If the payments were made with your credit cards, by borrowing from family members, or even if the money came from retirement accounts, as an example, it would help build the case.  This will not guarantee that the lender will accept the short sale, however, there are instances where they have done so.

How Do I Pay The Realtor Commissions, Taxes And Other Expenses Associated With A Home Sale?

• The homeowner doesn’t pay any of the expenses associated with the sale of the home, such as commissions and other closing costs.  Those expenses are paid by the lender.  They are, however, included as part of the total shortfall that the owner would be responsible for, if the bank is successful with a deficiency judgment or promissory note.
• The bank may ask the homeowner to reduce the lender’s loss by making a payment, if the homeowner has any “extra” money in savings accounts, etc., or by signing a promissory note.
• In December 2007, President Bush signed into law, the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act, which eliminates the capital gain income tax that used to be levied on the forgiven portion of the primary residence’s sale.  The tax is still in effect for second homes, and investment properties.

To speak confidentially with the Dave Handley about your options simply contact me now. 231-633-4677

Traverse Area Association Of Realtors

I really like our area real estate board. The Traverse Area Association of Realtors TAAR does a great job with the Multiple Listing Service. Technology has changed the way we sell real estate. Here at Flat Rate Realty Grand Traverse we depend on our local board to get our listings out on the web. The internet has changed so much so fast including the way real estate is bought and sold.

Tips To Sell Your Home

15 Tips That Will Help Sell Your Home
When you put your on the market, and prospective buyers come to see it, they usually decide whether they like it or not within the first two minutes. So the first impression means a lot. Even before they get to the front door. So making your home as presentable as possible is a great way to help you get the best price and a fast sale. Here are fifteen easy things you can do to make a great first impression with buyers. These are just cosmetic changes, with minimal investment required.

Curb Appeal
Cut back overgrown shrubs and trees. This has three benefits. It makes your landscaping look manicured and well maintained, it exposes more of the house to view from the street, and it lets more light into the house.
Neat landscaping, fresh cut lawn, and flowers along a clean swept walkway make a great first impression.
Fresh paint can do more for curb appeal than almost anything. If you can’t paint, then at least touch up gutters, window frames and shutters. Paint the front door.
Kitchen
The Kitchen is the most important room in the house. Make sure it is bright, clean, and attractive.
Remove any appliance that you keep on the countertop. Less clutter makes the counters look larger.
Replace any loose or missing tiles.
Bathroom
Repair any dripping faucets.
Use special cleaning products to remove stains, calcium deposits and lime on sinks, bathtubs and toilets.
Living Areas
If you have a fireplace, clean it out and put new logs in it to make it look inviting.
If you do any painting, avoid off-beat colors. Stick to conventional white or earth-tones outside, and easy to work with beige or pastels inside.
Make sure every light switch in the house works.
Replace all burned out light bulbs, and use brighter bulbs.
Make sure wood and linoleum floors are clean and shiny.
When Your Home is Shown
Keep draperies and shades open to let in light. This will also make the room appear larger.
Neatness makes a room look larger. Don’t clutter. Remove some items for the showing, if possible.
At Flat Rate Realty Grand Traverse part of our job is to be as helpful to our buyers and sellers.

Houselogic new site to view

I am impressed with the new web site the National Association of Realtors has launched Houselogic is a site that is full of very usefull information.
What is HouseLogic.com?
HouseLogic is a free source of information and tools—from the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®—that can help you make smart and timely decisions about your home.
What kind of information can you find on HouseLogic?
With content covering home improvement, maintenance, taxes, finance, insurance, and even ways you can get involved in and enrich your community, HouseLogic can help you increase and protect the value of your home by helping you make confident decisions.
At Flat Rate Realty Grand Traverse we think this is a really great site with lots of real useful information.

Thank You Corporate Title and Traverse Area Association of Realtors

Big Thank you to Corporatate Title http://www.corporatetitle.com/ and Traverse Area Association of Realtors for the seminar yesterday on the new  RESPA Good Faith Estimate forms and changes. Maura Snabes of Corporate Tialte and Mr. Corbin of Bank of America did a great job explaining the new rules that are taking effect. The bottom line it will help consumers. A standard format is always a good thing and this may lead to competion and lower prices.
Flat Rate Realty Grand Traverse we make it our business to be prepared for success. At Flat Rate Realty having knowledge to help our buyers and sellers is important to us.

Intermediate Lake 1.3 Acre Building Site

Ideal waterfront building site. Sensational Intermediate Lake 1.3 Acre Parcel. Part of the world class Chain Of Lakes. Features sand beach and sand bottom, level dry site. Perks! Ready to build your dream home. Search and See All The Waterfront Lisitings. Call Flat Rate Realty Grand Traverse for your personal tour. 231-264-0222

Do You Think Big Snow Is Comming?

The weather channel is a buzz big storm with lots of snow headed our way. Okay, so I might be a skeptic. I’m not so sure we are going to the amount of snow the weather man says. It seems to me the more thye predict the less we get! We shall see. At Flat Rate Grand Traverse we like snow it great for business in our area especially the ski slopes.