Albuquerque Real Estate Blog

Government To Push Lenders To Do Short Sales

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:42:00 GMT

The Treasury Department spent 2009 pushing banks to modify mortgage payments so that distressed homeowners would not be displaced. Next month, the government will start a program encouraging owners and banks to sell some of those same homes.

The program, scheduled to begin April 5, focuses on transactions known as short sales, in which a lender allows a homeowner to sell a house for less than, or short of, what is owed on the mortgage.

But even before the program has begun, it's receiving mixed reviews from real estate agents, some of whom say it will give owners incentive to sell, and others who believe banks don't have the capacity to pursue more of the labor-intensive sales.

Typically, owners seek short sales to lessen the credit damage that comes with a foreclosure. Banks have resisted the approach because it not only requires added administrative work to analyze details such as the owner's finances and property values, but also is a guaranteed loss.

Meanwhile, more than 5 million U.S. households are behind on their mortgages, and a government-sponsored program in which banks reduce monthly payments has, by all accounts, foundered.

Source: San Francisco Chronicle, Robert Selna (03/10/2010)

Red Truck On the Move - NM Business Weekly Update

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 01:00:00 GMT

Dopslaf joins Keller Williams

FEATURED in New Mexico Business Weekly on Monday, February 15, 2010

Deanna Dopslaf, a residential real estate broker specializing in short sales and military relocation's, has joined Keller Williams' Westside office. She had previously been with Coldwell Banker Legacy.

Dopslaf, 41, is also president of Southwest Foreclosure Alternatives, a counseling service for “underwater” home owners. She is one of two certified default resolution specialists in New Mexico.

Most residential real estate brokers avoid short sales because they take months to close and commissions are far from certain. Dopslaf has made distress sales and foreclosure counseling her niche in the Albuquerque residential real estate market.

“CB is a great company, but this move was purely a business decision,” Dopslaf said. “CB has a special arrangement with relocation companies and the moved allowed me to not have to compete. Keller Williams doesn’t have such an arrangement.”

Dopslaf said Keller Williams’ training programs and entrepreneurial culture that allows brokers to build their own businesses was part of the attraction for the move.

Dopslaf was the subject of New Mexico Business Weekly profile in January.

10 Home Features Buyers Want

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 01:00:00 GMT

Home designers and builders speaking at the recent International Builders Show in Las Vegas say that buyers are seeking cost-effective features and rejecting things that don’t have lasting value.

“It's all about family togetherness – casual living, entertaining and flexible spaces," says Carol Lavender, president of the Lavender Design Group in San Antonio.

Paul Cardis, CEO of Avid Ratings, which conducts an annual survey of buyer preferences, identified these must-haves in new homes:

1. Large kitchens with islands
2. Energy efficiency, including energy-efficient appliances, super insulation, and high-efficiency windows.
3. Home offices
4. Main-floor master suite
5. Outdoor living space
6. Ceiling fans
7. Soaking tub in the master suite and/or an oversize shower with a seating area
8. Stone and brick exteriors rather than stucco or vinyl
9. Community walking paths and playgrounds
10. Two-car garages, but three-car garages are even more desirable

Source: MarketWatch, Steve Kerch (01/30/2010)

4 Reasons to Sell Now

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:00:00 GMT

Selling a property in this tough market can seem like a challenge. Here are four factors that actually make this a good time to post a For-Sale sign.

Sell low and buy low. Because all property values are down, the loss on the property a home owner sells is really only a paper loss because the next property he buys also will be a bargain. If he buys smartly, when prices come back up in a few years, he’ll be in better shape.
Down-payment help is widely available. While nothing-down loans have disappeared, it is easy to find down-payment assistance for lower-income and first-time home buyers. Programs vary all over the country, but one good way to find them is to search online for “down-payment assistance programs” and the name of your region.
Your uncle has money to share. Besides the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit and the $6,500 move-up credit, there are an array of energy tax credits that can make home improvements pay off in cash.
Good help is available. Really talented real estate practitioners, contractors, and designers are available and eager for business.

Source: McClatchy Tribune, Kate Forgach (02/07/2010)

Red Truck Featured in New Mexico Business Weekly

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 01:00:00 GMT

FEATURED in New Mexico Business Weekly on Friday, January 8, 2010

Short sales avoid foreclosure, keep Dopslaf in business

New Mexico Business Weekly - by Steve Ginsberg Special to NMBW

Deanna Dopslaf can identify with the growing number of homeowners who are facing mortgages they can’t pay. Her own home in Rio Rancho is worth $100,000 less than when she bought it in 2006.

Dopslaf’s own experience in the tumultuous housing market gives her insight and compassion that she applies as president of Southwest Foreclosure Alternatives, a counseling service for under-water home owners. She is also a real estate broker at Coldwell Banker Legacy, specializing in short sales.

Most residential real estate brokers avoid short sales because they take months to close and commissions are far from certain. Yet, Dopslaf has made distress sales and foreclosure counseling her niche in the Albuquerque residential real estate market. She is one of two certified default resolution specialists in New Mexico.

“I enjoy helping the people; I feel a kinship with them because of the situation with my own home. In a moment’s notice, I could be exactly where they are sitting,” Dopslaf, 41, said. “About 70 percent of troubled homeowners wait too long and ignore their circumstances. They are paralyzed by fear, but need to act fast. For those who address it, they have more options, including a short sale.”

Should I Buy a Home Now?

Thu, 24 Dec 2009 10:40:00 GMT

I'm often asked if this is a good time to buy a home. Some clients are concerned that home prices may fall further than they have already. They are assuming that the best course of action is to wait for the bottom in the market and then buy. The problem with this approach is that you don't know where the bottom is until you see it in the rear view mirror, meaning until you've missed it!

Home prices are one factor in determining your cost of ownership, but so are interest rates and financing availability. Even though interest rates have gone up in the last six months, they are still near historic lows. Since your monthly mortgage payment is a combination of paying down your principal and paying the interest owed, if home prices come down a little further but interest rates up, it could cost you even more to service a mortgage on an identical home!

While a home is a major investment, it is also the center of your personal life. It's important to live in a home that reflects your taste and values, yet is within your financial "comfort zone." To that end, it may be more important to lock in today's relatively low interest rates and low home prices, rather than to hope for a further break in prices in the future.

Please give me a call if I can be of any assistance in determining how much home you can afford in today's market.