Category — foreclosure

The amount of foreclosures in North Carolina is falling fast. 

Foreclosures fell 14.9 percent in April from the same period last year, according to RealtyTrac Inc.  North Carolina had as many as 3082 foreclosures in April, making 34^th in the nation in foreclosures. 

There were 342,038 foreclosure filings nationwide, which affected one in every 374 US households.  Nevada, Florida, and California posted the top foreclosure rates last months.

May 13, 2009

Dear Coldwell Banker® Brokers/Owners:

During the first week in June, I am heading to Washington DC to meet with key members of the House and Senate as well as the media to have a dialogue on the critical issues still facing the real estate industry. As many of you would agree, the $8,000 first time homebuyer tax credit has been a good start and there have been some positive signs in our economy recently. But to fully pull real estate and the economy out of its current state, our government needs to do more. And in order for me to make the strongest impact possible while in Washington, I need your assistance.

During the week prior to my meeting (the four days that follow Memorial Day, May 26-29), all Washington DC representatives are expected to be back in their home offices, and will be working. I am proposing we initiate a “Coldwell Banker Legislative Week” during this time, in which Coldwell Banker brokers nationwide meet with their local representatives and discuss what else needs to be done with the housing market to truly mend the economy.   

So between now and then, I’m asking that you please reach out to your local representative and set up a face to face meeting during these four days. Call their local office and ask for the person who coordinates the representative’s schedule. If you cannot get an appointment with the representative, ask for a meeting with their chief of staff. Also, if you are asked why you want to meet, let them know local real estate affects the national economy and Coldwell Banker would like to present suggestions on how to remedy the real estate market. (As a side note, please put your political beliefs aside regardless of your support for the representative – this is about real estate which affects us all.)

In terms of what you should be communicating in your actual meeting, I will be recording a Webinar by the middle of next week, that will highlight our message points so you’ll know what to say and what questions to ask. We will e-mail you access information for the webinar by early next week, as well as make it available on CB Works once complete.

We have created an email address electedofficial@coldwellbanker.com as a place to gather all feedback – we ask that you send us a brief report to this address highlighting whom you met with and what was discussed. When we distribute details about the webinar, we’ll also include a “fill in the blank” form for reporting back what was discussed that you can just forward to the electedofficial@coldwellbanker.com e-mail address.

If you’re unsure about the contact information for your representatives, there are two websites that you can visit for all necessary info:

• Congress: to find your local representative and make an appointment, please visit:

https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

• Senate: this site will take you to individual senator Web pages and their respective contact info:

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

I understand there is a short window of opportunity for us to complete this and not all of you will be able to secure an appointment. Even if you can only secure a brief or future appointment or hold a phone conversation, please inform us anyway. Just know that even if you are unable to secure any type of appointment, the message is logged with the representative, so you are still making a difference no matter the outcome. But do whatever you can to make these meetings happen during the Memorial Day week as this is a perfect chance to showcase the national power and influence of the Coldwell Banker brand. 

I look forward to reading all your feedback. If you have any questions in the meantime, feel free to e-mail me and I’ll be happy to respond.

Let’s make the Coldwell Banker voice heard!

Regards,

The US Senate has recently approved a version of the latest foreclosure-prevention plan. 

The bill will protect mortgage companies from lawsuits if they adopt federal loan modification programs.  It has been said that this will help homeowners with a second mortgage to refinance their property. With the implementation of this bill, renters of distressed properties will be given a 90-day grace period before they have to move.  This bill will extend through 2013 and also includes the increase of deposit insurance by the FDIC from $100,000 to $250,000, which has already been put into effect.  The House and the Senate must now reconcile their versions of this bill and present it to the Obama Administration.