Philadelphia Real Estate Helpful News and Views

Senior Healthcare - In Home Healthcare

  

** I wrote this blog when I was working with seniors and helping them with their finances by doing Reverse Mortgages.

Okay, so I just know that if my momma had to be moved into a nursing home, it would literally kill her.  She has been in that same house since 1959 and it's simply her comfort zone.  But, if I had to take care of her myself, I couldn't work and help my family out.  So, the answer, is IN HOME HEALTH CARE.

Now I know she has "LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE", but it really isn't going to be that big of a help, because obviously in-home care is extremely expensive.  So I would really be stuck between the proverbial rock and a hard place. If I were independently wealthy, I could just pay for it myself, but unfortunately, like so many other out there, it would break the back of my family's piggy bank.

A heartbreaking story, isn't it and it occurs way too often in this day and age and especially in this economy. But, there is GOOD NEWS; there is HOPE!

My momma owns her house outright and she's over the age of 62.  So literally, in this case, a REVERSE MORTGAGE would literally save her life.  I could put her home into a reverse line of credit and use that money to help offset what costs her insurance wouldn't cover. 

In my travels, I have run into similar stories, even in my short amount of time in this field.  A lady taking care of her sister after a massive stroke, a daughter who can take care of her father at night but must work during the day... and sometimes adult day care is not an option.

This is one reason I went into this field - no not for my momma, but to provide solutions to the vast and growing amount of seniors who truly need some form of financial security and help.

I hope if you run into anyone in your travels who is in need of help, you'll remember that the FHA reverse loan is a great option for those that need it!

And remember, if you have any questions or need help with either real estate or Reverse Mortgage, please contact me as I understand both sides.

 

Warmest Regards,

Linda K. Mayer,

Realtor, Office Manager  

License # 01767321

A Realtor you can Trust!

(626) 824-8927 Cell

(909) 670-2711 Direct

LindaKMayer@live.com

Linda's Website

 

 

 

I met a man who sold a house
He sold a house just like a mouse
Just like a mouse who sneaks around
He sold the house without a sound.

(OK, as a poet I am lacking... but stay with me here) And how did he sell the house without a sound? The story is rather odd, yet to me it was so telling I asked him if I could blog about it.

Blog? He had that look on his face... My business partner chimed in and said "blab, she wants to blab about it all over the internet." He shrugged his shoulders and said he didn't mind.

All day long yesterday I thought about his story, there are so many lessons, each time I think about it I think of yet another lesson. Let me get right to the story here.

He told me he sold a house at a tag sale... I love tag sales at listings I have. Let me do the open house on the same day you do your tag sale (We call them tag sales in CT, some may call them yard sales, garage sales, you get the point.)

A few years back he heard about a house, a couple who could no longer live in their home due to age and illness. The family had told the accountant they just wanted to get rid of the home because mom and dad were hoarders. The man I  met bought the house with all the contents in it. Bought it for a very low price I might add.

18 dumpsters later....

It took 18 dumpsters ... but the house was in good shape! He held tag sales there while cleaning it out. He was not intending to sell the house, but someone who came to the tag sale offered him what they thought was a low price for the house.

IT WAS $100,000 MORE THAN WHAT HE PAID FOR IT JUST A FEW MONTHS EARLIER!

He took the money and ran. I mean, who wouldn't? So here is what ran through my mind.

Why didn't the family speak with a Realtor? He said because they were too embarrassed, didn't want to deal with it, on and on. That cost the owners $100,000.

Why didn't the family just hire someone to come in and clean the house out when the parents moved out? Did they have the resources to do that? Yes they had the resources, but felt it was too much trouble.

OK, now I am just shaking my head here in total disbelief. The moral to the story? I think there are many.

• Clean it up, clean it out.
• Speak to a Realtor if you are thinking about selling.
• Tag sales are a great thing, hold a tag sale and let your Realtor hold an open house at the same time.

I don't know about you, but I am still shaking my head here! I am sure I can come up with more lessons learned. It is a fantastic story. Will this gentleman use a real estate agent when he wants to sell another house? You bet, he knows this happened only because someone else didn't want to, he's no dummy!

I met a man who sold a house....

Andrea Swiedler, Realtor® Liddy Adams, GRI, Broker Associate

Cell: 203.460.1775  Email: andrea@andreaswiedler.com 

Swiedler & Adams, we know real estate!

Search Homes for Sale in Litchfield County CT.

 

Prudential Connecticut Realty, New Milford & Litchfield, CT

Swiedler & Adams

Call me at 203.460.1775

© Andrea Swiedler, 2009 - 2011

 Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest. - Mark Twain

Here is the email I just receive from Jorden Albright, CEO of Picnik. I signed the petition to save Picnik and I posted it to Facebook and to Twitter. Please do same if you have not. Many people have. Please read below and go to their Facebook page and LIKE it! Let' all pull together to save this great product......Google, don't be the Ants in our Picnik!

When you get this letter, please post it as I have and include that line in the Title.

It will roll through Google and make a big IMPACT!

~~~~~Google Picnik WAVE ~~~~~Google Picnik WAVE ~~~~~Google Picnik WAVE~~~~

Please join me....we have started to make a difference. Reblog this and get the word out. Let's save Picnik.

I will do a graffic tomorrow! See email below and act now!

 

Hey, Picnik-ers!

Today, the number of signatures is over 800! Really, WOW! Thank you guys so much! I just wanted to let you know that I recently started a Facebook page for my organization called "Saving Picnik". I'm asking you to please like it. With numbers increasing every time I refresh the page, we have the potential to save Picnik!

You can like "Saving Picnik" here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Saving-Picnik/281715701881836?sk=wall#!/pages/Saving-Picnik/281715701881836


Sign the petition here: http://signon.org/sign/dont-close-picnik?source=s.em.cr&r_by=499952&mailing_id=1751

Thank you guys so much! Make sure you continue to share the petition and the Facebook page.

"Google, don't be the ants in our Picnik."

--Jorden Albright

 

If you are like me you have enjoyed the tools available in the Picknik on-line photo editor for the last few years.  Today while uploading a photo for some edits I was greeted with the following message:

 

No more ants marching or grass growing while your photos upload.  No more crazy hats for Christmas or Dracula Fangs for Halloween.  For those of us who have wanted a quick photo collage for a post Picnik was one of the quickest ways to get it done. 

If you have a library of photos on Picnik make sure you follow the instructions for downloading the files.  Sorry Picnik I'm sorry to see you go.

A few quick edits to make the annoucement seem less sad.

 

                No Hassle-No Pressure-Just Straight Talk About The Northern Virginia Real Estate Market

If you are interested in learning more about the Northern Virginia Real Estate market including Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William Counties give Cindy Jones and CJ Realty Group, Inc a call at 703-346-2213. 

Military Relocation Specialist serving military families relocating to and from the Pentagon, Fort Belvoir, Quantico MCB and all of the Military District of Washington installations. 

Check out www.varealestatetalk.com and www.cjrealtygroup.com for more information.

 

Licensed in Virginia

 

Help! I just got a pink slip, how am I going to pay my mortgage???  You may be entitled to some help, mortgage forbearance, or more to the point, deferring payment for a period of time. Of course you will have to repay the amount, and it won't be tacked on to the end of your loan. Rather when you get back to work you will have to pick up your mortgage payment again plus an additional amount to repay the amount that wasn't paid. They may also report your mortgage as delinquent and you should check on their specific policy on this.

If you find yourself unemployed (if your spouse/partner is on the mortgage too, but they are still employed, they still may give you a reduction or accept no payments for a time) you need to make sure you have a Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac loan. If you are unsure, call your loan servicer and ask. The guidelines rule out assistance if you financed with an FHA, VA, or USDA Rural Housing mortgage. The home must also be your primary residence.

There are very specific rules and regulations. I strongly urge you to contact your loan servicer to find out if you qualify, and always a good idea to discuss loan forbearance with a real estate attorney to understand how it will impact you later on down the road. For some the program will help to keep them from losing their home. The initial time frame allowed is 6 months, in some cases it can be extended up to 12 months.

What is the first thing to do if a job loss is threatening your mortgage payment? Contact your loan service provider immediately, don't wait until you haven't made a payment. Ask if Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac owns or has guaranteed your mortgage. If the answer is yes, have them explain the mortgage forbearance program to you, go over the long term effects and ramifications with you. I also suggest you may want to speak with a real estate attorney to understand how this program might affect you in the long run. The initial time frame allowed is 6 months, in some cases it can be extended up to 12 months. This forbearance policy becomes mandatory for Fannie Mae loans on March 1, 2012, and for Freddie Mac loans is it February 1, 2012.

If you lose your job in Connecticut and have a Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae mortgage there is hope.  Contact your loan servicer to find out if you can participate in the loan forbearance program and save your home. If you don't qualify, if this isn't for you, give me a call to discuss a short sale of your home.

Andrea Swiedler, Realtor® Liddy Adams, GRI, Broker Associate

Cell: 203.460.1775  Email: andrea@andreaswiedler.com 

Swiedler & Adams, we know real estate!

Search Homes for Sale in Litchfield County CT.

 

Prudential Connecticut Realty, New Milford & Litchfield, CT

Swiedler & Adams

Call me at 203.460.1775

© Andrea Swiedler, 2009 - 2011

 Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest. - Mark Twain