Making homes affordable...
If you have a mortgage that is backed by one of the government agencies (Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac), The federal government has launched a new website with online tools that will allow a homeowner to determine if they are eligible to participate in the "Making Home Affordable" loan modification and refinancing program.
The website is: http://makinghomeaffordable.gov
It shares information about how this program works and who is eligible for assistance. This is the same $75 billion program you may have heard of recently in the media.
You should have the following available:
Information about your first mortgage, such as your monthly mortgage statement.
Information about any second mortgage or home equity line of credit on the house.
Account balances and minimum monthly payments due on all of your credit cards.
Account balances and monthly payments on all your other debts such as student loans and car loans.
Your most recent income tax return.
Information about your savings and other assets
Information about the monthly gross (before tax) income of your household, including recent pay stubs if you receive them or documentation of income you receive from other sources.
It may also be helpful to have: A letter describing any circumstances that caused your income to be reduced or expenses to be increased (job loss, divorce, illness, etc.) if applicable.
We as Realtors, are committed to helping homeowners avoid foreclosure. We hope you will forward this information to anyone who may need it, and feel free to call or email us if we can further assist you in any way.

Foreclosure: Is There an Option?...
Foreclosure rates continue to rise in most areas of the country and metro Atlanta has been one of the areas affected the most. And it is expected that this trend will continue for the foreseeable future.
The truth is there are life circumstances that can contribute to a family losing their home to foreclosure, many of which have nothing to do with the current economy. Divorce, job change or loss, illness, a death in the family, all are traumatic life changing circumstances.
Currently, many homeowners are “upside down” in their homes, i.e. they owe more than their home is currently worth. They need to sell due to an unfortunate life circumstance but cannot do so without having to bring cash to closing to settle their mortgage debt, which they are not in a position to do.
Given these realties, the demand for creative pre-foreclosure solutions has risen dramatically. And in an effort to avoid accumulating real estate and bad loans on their books, mortgage lenders have become more and more willing to work out a compromise on the pay off, a Short Sale, where the lender agrees to accept less than what is owed as “payment in full”. The difference in the impact of a Short Sale versus a foreclosure on a homeowner’s credit is significant.
Dale and I have recently completed extensive continuing education courses on Short Sales and have become members of a network of Realtors known as America’s Home Rescue in order to be able to consult with folks that may be affected by life circumstances that, through no fault of their own, may be facing foreclosure and need to sell their home.
In many instances, a Short Sale may be a viable solution but most homeowners are not aware the Short Sale is available to help them though their difficult situation.
Should you know of anyone that may be facing foreclosure or has been affected in some negative way by an unavoidable life changing circumstance, please consider referring them to The Randal Group.
We would be glad to consult with them about their options.
Thank you.

Our good and faithful friend...
Our good and faithful friend Morgan passed away yesterday.
Despite being showered with all the love in the world and the best efforts of Dominique Rouvet, DVM, at North Hills Animal Hospital and Derek Duval, VMD at Georgia Veterinary Specialists, he was unable to overcome the breathing difficulties caused by his collapsed trachea.
Unwilling to allow his suffering to continue, we made the very difficult decision to have him euthanized yesterday afternoon.
He is now at peace.
"I have sometimes thought of the final cause of dogs having such short lives and I am quite satisfied it is in compassion to the human race; for if we suffer so much in losing a dog after an acquaintance of ten or twelve years, what would it be if they were to live double that time?"
Sir Walter Scott

New Year’s Resolutions For Success
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), philosopher, poet and public speaker, wrote this a long time ago, but his thoughts are still timely for today, especially when we think about making New Year’s resolutions:
To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children.
To earn the approbation of honest citizens and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others.
To give one’s self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition.
To have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived…
This is to have succeeded.
Wishing you every success in 2009!

Take a Siesta!...
When setting goals and planning our future, we sometimes fail to look far enough ahead. Consider the following story:
An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna.
The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The Mexican replied, "Only a little while." The American then asked, "Why didn't you stay out longer and catch more fish?" The Mexican said, "With this I have more than enough to support my family's needs." The American then asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?" The fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, then stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life."
The banker scoffed, "I'm a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing; and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats. Eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. You would eventually open your own cannery and control the product, processing and distribution. You could leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then Los Angeles, and eventually New York where you will run your ever-expanding enterprise."
The fisherman asked, "But, how long will this all take?" To which the American replied, "15 to 20 years." "But what then?" asked the fisherman. The banker laughed and said, "That's the best part. When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions." "Millions? And then what?" The American said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."
So . . . what are you working for? The IPO or the good life? Stop working toward "someday," and appreciate your success on this day.
Take time to enjoy the siesta!

Ten Tips for your Fall/Winter Home Maintenance Checklist...
The weather outside is changing (and the fall colors are gorgeous!), and now is the time to run a check of your home.
Listed below is a simple checklist of ten items to ensure your home is ready for winter.
1. Replace heating and air conditioning filters and set your electric thermostats for winter weather.
2. Fireplace - Check to ensure gas light is working and flu is clean.
3. Sprinkler system - drain the system to ensure water doesn't freeze pipes, and change programming to ensure system is shut-off.
4. Windows - Check caulking to ensure water tight. For wooden windows- open and close all windows to ensure they don't get "stuck" over time.
5. Clean gutters of all debris, winter is typically the wet season in Atlanta.
6. Repair any missing paint, shake or shingles.
7. Check all hand rails and balusters to ensure tightly fit to structure.
8. Check your dryer vents and clear of any debris.
9. Check hoses on toilets and washer (both cold and hot) to ensure no leaks or replacement needed.
10. Cover outside water values after shutoff and drain of system.

Top Ten Seller Sins...
1. Priceaphobia: The fear that a property will sell for less than a premium price. Price and greed combine to form a drug like addiction to unrealistic expectations. Researchers are split in attributing this to heredity or stupidity.
2. Shagitis: A burning sensation due to the realization that a home is not a castle when placed for sale. Shag carpet is not coming back. Get over it and have it replaced. Halloween is one day a year. Orange counters are ugly every day of the year. Hire a home stager.
3. Pet Addiction: The feeling that everybody loves your pet as much as you do. Symptoms include scripts such as, "His bark is worse than his bite". Or, "The cat must like you to nestle in your lap". Or, "Don't put your finger in the cage".
4. Photorea: A need to keep dozens of old photos hung to distract a buyer's attention from the real property. A variation of this virus includes 'childhood incrementalism'. Monthly photos of the first born that are in chronological order as a buyer ascends the stairs.
5. Pack Rat Plague: Doll collections, old Coca Cola bottles, Civil War rifles, WWII bayonets, mounted swordfish, big game taxidermy, high school trophies, college dioplomas,10k race medals, Toastmaster ribbons, bronze baby booties, salt & pepper shakers, and Grand Canyon placemats. Prepack these items.
6. Additionism: What was the seller thinking when they enclosed the garage? Probably not the same thing a prospective buyer is estimating. Cold winter cars, hot summer sun, faded auto paint, and remodeling funds. Bigger is not always better.
7. Fried Fish Fetish: If you can smell it, you can't sell it! What do cigar smoke, kitty litter boxes, piles of backyard pet poop, and baby diapers have in common? Shorter visits and fewer breaths by agents and buyers.
8. 'As-Is' ism: If a stubborn seller says, "The buyer can take it or leave it as-is"; they usually won't. Buyers 'horribilize' defects. A broken doorbell symbolizes electrical problems. A cracked window means a faulty foundation. Water stains come before roofing problems and future floods.
9. Color Blindness: Webster's dictionary defines a real estate tour as, "Agents caravaning from house to house making fun of decorating disasters". Most color schemes are ephemeral. Navajo white, white washed cabinets, and flocked wallpaper are out. Less is usually more.
10. Audio Selectivism: The ability of a seller to hear only what they want."The buyer must be confused". "The appraiser was in a bad mood". "My neighbor said I wasn't asking enough". There is a difference between hearing and listening.
By: Paul Pastore