CENTURY 21 Agents: Smarter. Bolder. Faster.

The $26 Billion Foreclosure Settlement.  What is it and who qualifies?  For complete information on this topic go to the National Mortgage Settlement website at

http://www.nationalmortgagesettlement.com/help

Don't be scammed by phony settlement assistance.  This site provides all of the details, phone numbers and links you need.  For additional information or personal assistance, please contact our office to speak with an Agent or our Wells Fargo Mortgage Consultant.

Don't assume that only big-budget home renovations will produce valuable results. Plenty of inexpensive upgrades — like these — can pay off when it comes time to sell.

1. Add a fresh coat of paint. At about $30 a gallon, paint is one of the least expensive ways to spruce up your living space. Add paint in neutral, earth-tone colors to bring out the best in each room.
2. Explore energy updates. Evaluate your home’s energy efficiency by going to the U.S. Department of Energy website. There, you can get tips to make improvements that buyers will appreciate.
3. Fix minor plumbing and electrical problems. It’s worth your while to take care of these problems before a potential buyer uncovers them during a home inspection.
4. Add storage. Lack of closet space can be a deal breaker for some buyers. Adding a DIY wire or laminate system to all closets will give them the appearance of being more spacious and organized.
5. Let light in. Ditch dark and heavy drapes for simple wood blinds and/or upholstered cornices. Update or add lighting fixtures — wall lights, lamps, ceiling fans with lights — to give the rooms a bright, more updated look.
6. Give kitchen appliances a facelift. Mismatched appliances can make a kitchen look outdated — but that doesn’t mean you need to replace them. Many appliances can be updated with new doors or face panels.
7. Don’t neglect the bathroom. Simple fixes can make a bathroom look more modern in no time. Get a new shower curtain, switch out the old toilet seat with a new one and replace drab or damaged flooring with vinyl tiles.
8. Update your front door. It’s the first part of your house that potential homebuyers see. Give it a fresh coat of paint and consider switching out your current lock-and-handle set for a sturdy, more modern piece of hardware.
9. Power up. Rent a power washer — it’s less expensive than hiring someone to do it — and thoroughly clean your house’s exterior.
10. Curb appeal. When it comes to your yard, definitely sweat the small stuff. Clean up clutter and have it hauled away or store it in the shed. Get rid of weeds and add some in-season plants and flowers to your walkway or in pots on your front porch. Make sure to mow your lawn as needed — potential homebuyers frequently drive by unannounced.

Mortgage Servicers are increasingly opting to bypass the foreclosure process and are turning instead to short sales. Not only does this help with the recovery of the housing market, but a Short Sale is also is less damaging to the Seller's credit score and ability to qualify for a future home purchase. Here's an excerpt from an article posted today on HOUSINGWIRE.com:

Mortgage servicers contending with attorney general investigations and extended foreclosure delays turned more to short sales in the past year.

In August 2009, short sales accounted for 8% of all liquidations of distressed properties. That number grew to 25% by the middle of 2011, according to research from Moody's Investors Service

"To reduce their expenses and mitigate the high loss severity on liquidated loans, servicers are increasingly opting to bypass the foreclosure process and liquidate properties more quickly through a short sale," Moody's analysts said.

These transactions also do less damage to a borrower's credit score, dropping it between 50 and 200 points compared to an REO sale, which can slash the FICO score for the borrower as much as 400 points.

Borrowers who manage a short sale can buy a new home between one and two years as well, according to researchers. Those whose homes sell through REO must wait between five and seven.

"We can attribute the stabilization of average loss severities in part to a rising number of liquidations through short sale, which by reducing liquidation timelines, foreclosure expenses, and legal costs, can reduce the losses incurred on defaulted loans," Moody's said.

While the economic news around the world is quite grim, we're proud to report that Century 21 and parent company, Realogy, want to be part of the solution.  Realogy, in a formal request to President Obama, has proposed a White House Summit on Housing to seek recommendations from Real Estate Business Leaders to help stimulate a sustained housing recovery. Here's a letter from Century 21 President and CEO, Rick Davidson explaining the proposal:

Dear CENTURY 21® Broker:

Earlier this morning our parent company, Realogy, issued a press release announcing the Company's formal request to President Obama calling for a White House Summit on Housing. Realogy asked the President and his Administration to seek recommendations from real estate business leaders to help stimulate a sustained housing recovery.

"Housing has an enormous impact on our nation's GDP and given its substantial influence on all aspects of the economy, we believe it warrants special attention from the White House," said Realogy CEO Richard A. Smith. "The key to the proposed White House Summit on Housing would be its emphasis on bringing together real estate business leaders to make actionable recommendations designed to stimulate the growth necessary for a sustained recovery in housing, which would have an ensuing positive effect on job creation and the broader U.S. economy."

"We believe that frontline business operators from the residential real estate industry would add a valuable perspective to the process, and this summit would give the Administration the benefit of unfiltered, real-time market feedback from business leaders who are residential brokerage operators, real estate franchisors, homebuilders, mortgage lenders and other related industry groups," added Smith.

In his letter to the President, Smith concluded by stating, "Your leadership on this issue would bring together the top business minds of the residential real estate industry at a time when practical business experience may very well offer the guidance necessary to stimulate housing, and thus, the U.S. economy."

We are proud of Realogy's continued leadership on national housing issues, and hope you appreciate the Company's efforts on your behalf.

Sincerely,



Rick Davidson
President & CEO
Century 21 Real Estate LLC

CENTURY 21 wins the Inman News 2011 People's Choice Innovator Award!  Presented during last week’s Inman Real Estate Connect Conference in San Francisco, CENTURY 21 was recognized as a standout in real estate-related technology.  CENTURY 21 Agents - Smarter,  Bolder,  Faster, and committed to serving the needs of the next generation of home buyers and sellers through the delivery of superior innovations!

Century 21 was the first national real estate franchisor to implement a new search functionality related to a National Association of Realtors policy governing the indexing and display of Internet Data Exchange (IDX) information by real estate franchise organizations.

This year Century 21 launched @C21 - Home Matters, a company blog. Century 21 this year also launched a redesigned website, a new version of its iPhone app and a suite of apps for other platforms, including Android, BlackBerry and Palm devices.

We're proud to be the Brand everyone is talking about!  

Read the full article at:   http://www.inman.com/news/2011/07/28/2011-innovator-awards-winners

We are proud to introduce our new Short Sale Division.

The economy has taken a toll on all of us. Some of us are facing challenges we never imagined in terms of mounting mortgage debt or possible foreclosure. Our experienced Short Sale Team provides valuable advice, explains the many options available and helps homeowners make choices that are in their best interest.

Visit our  Short Sale web site for more information and important resources.