by Scott Smith on May 10, 2011
Some challenges residents are facing in the Paradise Valley real estate market and all over Arizona is dealing with loan modifications.
Contemplating Hiring a loan modification attorney?
There is more than one source readily available that might say you don’t need the help of an seasoned loan modification attorney to get your loan modification done. Even though it may be technically accurate that you don’t have to hire a loan modification attorney in order to see results, many people find that hiring a legal professional who works specializes in loan modifications results in “quicker, more effective” loan modifications.
The aid of a lawyer will make the loan modification process go a lot easier. Many homeowners never actually get their loan modified when they try to work with their lenders and are told reasons like “you aren’t late on your payments yet”. By picking the right loan modification attorney to help you with your case, you can rest assured that there will not be any “excuses” from lenders when there should be solutions.
Confer With an attorney
The loan modification process is not effortless – and working with lenders is tricky for two main reasons: first, you get different answers from different service reps every time you contact your lender; and second, they are not set up to help you unless you already know exactly what they want. To get the best loan modification deal, you need the help of an experienced law firm just as if you were going through bankruptcy, you would need an experienced bankruptcy attorney.
Fighting for a loan modification is similar to going to court. You might think that you are saving money by representing yourself, but you will get much better results in the long run by hiring a professional.
by Scott Smith on April 25, 2011
Finding a real estate agent to help you search Phoenix MLS
The most important first step in buying or selling your home is finding an excellent real estate agent. Picking the best agent requires some work on your part but considering that this transaction probably represents the most money you will ever spend, it’s important to find an agent who will represent you.
The agent you want representing your interests should have training beyond basic State licensing. You can tell if your agent has more training by the letters after their name. CRS means Certified Residential Specialist and means they’ve taken extra classes about residential real estate. ABR stands for Accredited Buyer’s Representative and if you are buying a home they’ve taken extra classes to represent you in a transaction. SRES means Seniors Real Estate Specialist and they’ve taken extra classes in helping seniors buy and sell.
Check to see if they have any complaints filed by the State Board of Licensing and Discipline.
Once you know they are qualified, check references. Ask for a list of clients and homes sold in the past year with contact information. How long has the agent been selling homes? Are they a seller’s agent and working for the seller or a buyer’s agent and working for you? Some do both. Have their peers given them awards, such as the Realtor of the Year award?
There is an organization called the National Association of Realtors who holds their members to a strict code of ethics that often goes beyond state requirements and they have access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). These realtors have the name REALTOR after their names to show they belong.
Anyone looking for a home in the Phoenix area would want a realtor who had access to the Phoenix MLS.
