Picture yourself in a new home this winter season

This winter, spend your holidays in a brand new home. This beautiful house comes with 4 Large Bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, an eat-in-kitchen with modern appliances, and a full finished basement. The lot's square footage is 4,000. This house is also close to shopping, restaurants, transportation, and it's located right in the heart of beautiful Uniondale, Long Island. Listing price: $379,000. For a private viewing and serious inquiries, just call Iva at 516-884-6928.

MORTGAGE HOLIDAY

FREDDIE MAC AND FANNIE MAE HAVE SUSPENDED FORECLOSURE from November 26 to January 9, due to the holiday season. So, there's still some extra time to determine what options there are, if any, to stop a home from foreclosing. Options could include:
1) Short Sale
2) Modifying Mortgage Loan Terms and Conditions

The last choice any homeowner wants is foreclosure. Hopefully you're not on the brink of that category, but in case you are, see what other alternatives you may be qualified for, like the two options that I previously mentioned.

-iva
516-884-6928

***Holiday Decor and Gift Giving for the Thrifty Shopper***

I want to talk to you today about holiday decorations and Christmas gifts for less. Unfortunately, we are in an economic challenge, so it's going to be a bit tighter in the wallet for more than just a few of us this holiday. But with that said, there are plenty of cheap and affordable options to look into for your home and shopping needs this winter.

'Tis the season to be jolly (and frugal). There are plenty of places that you can go and shop around to beautify your home this holiday season. Let's begin with the house decorations. Decor ideas like a X-mas tree, Hanukkah accessories, Kwanzaa arts & crafts, etc. can be found all over; you just have to look around for that special bargain, and they are out there, trust me. Also, don't forget about internet specials, because online shopping might just save you a few cents and dollars too.

The Home Depot comes to mind as one of those stores that you can explore for holiday decorations. The website for online shopping is user-friendly, with a lot of advertising for intenet specials such as price reductions and free shipping. For Hanukkah, you can purchase draydel light sets for $12.74; menorahs ranging from about $23.00 to $11.00; and Hanukkah candles for as low as $7.50.

Christmas shopping for that holiday tree? If you don't have a tree yet, and if you're anything like me, then you probably prefer the plastic tree over the real deal. Hey, that's okay, because
#1: it's cheaper and less stress on the wallet, and
#2: I could use it over and over each year, and it looks just as pretty as the real thing!

I got my plastic tree from BJ's (price-club) for about $169.00. To me, it was a pretty good investment, because as I said before, it can be re-used again and again until you want to throw it out. It's easy to assemble, and it looks great once you dress it up with your personal accents. Hopefully you can find something that's lower than that price I just mentioned. Depending on the size of tree that you prefer, there are definitely a lot of trees that are way lower than $169.00.

Just browsing on www.Kmart.com I found tree prices from $30 to about $300. It's all up to you and your wallet. How big is your home or apartment? What area of the house were you thinking about putting the tree? Whatever your answers are, you could still make it a Christmas-sy atmosphere, and hopefully that will brighten your day ;-)

Last but not least, I cannot forget about Walmart. Needless to say, it's been reported that many more Americans this winter are looking for the more cost-effective goods to get more for their money. As a result, Walmart has been the solution for the bargain shopper. But for Kwanzaa, I didn't see much inventory for Walmart's online store. The only results to come back after searching the entire website were books and educational literature about the Kwanzaa holiday. That was a little disappointing, but on a brighter note, I'll make a suggestion to check out www.ebay.com

It seems like the inventory for ebay is endless, so you're bound to fulfill those Kwanzaa decor needs by browsing around and see what's out there without emptying those pockets.

I know that this blog has been, for the most part, about internet shopping for the holidays. Of course nothing beats actually going into the store and seeing and touching the inventory before you choose to purchase the product. I'll be in the stores too, but it's also to know that you have the option to shop right at your fingertips.

But even if you don't have the funds to do any of this, I hope that you enjoy this holiday season, and may you be surrounded with friends and family to keep you cheerful and rich with love.
-iva

Let's Talk About F H A

Let's talk about FHA loans. Have you ever heard about FHA loans? Do you know what a FHA loan really is? Do you have an idea what it can do for YOU?

OK, so let's talk about it. I'll start by mentioning what the abbreviation "FHA" stands for because some people may ask, "What does it mean?" FHA stands for Federal Housing Administration. This administration was developed by the US Government, as a way to provide more of an opportunity for homeownership.  I beleive that everyone deserves a home, and as a real estate consultant, I highly recommend the FHA loan for any ready, willing, and able buyer.

What's most appealing about the FHA loan is that it's a type of financing, "backed" or guaranteed by the government.  In other words, if a borrower defaults or stops paying on his/her mortgage loan, the bank/lender is NOT and will not lose any of its money.  That's because the FHA loan must come with mortgage insurance for the banks' security against past due mortgages.  

Let me share that my favorite reason why the FHA loan is so valuable, is that a customer's credit rating doesn't have to be through the roof, to attain the FHA loan!   This means that FHA loans are closing for borrowers with less than a 600 credit rating.  Believe it or not, I know people who have closed on homes, and their score wasn't the highest (maybe a 560 or lower).  The lowest a mortgage representative may be willing to work with is a credit rating of 530 or 550 for some companies.  With that said, there may be exceptions that would apply, because every applicant is different, with individualized circumstances.  Let's face it, pretty much everyone is feeling the financial crunch right now, and some are asking themselves if they could ever get that credit score back up to where it used to be.  You should contact your local mortgage lending office to find out any additional details or exceptions which may apply to you.  

FHA loans are also known for lower down payments, compared to other loan requirements.  Buyers must have at least 3% money down, in addition to other closing costs.  For Nassau and Suffolk counties, the loan limit for a single-family residence is $729,750, and that's a great limit for real estate in Long Island!  There are a plethora of single family homes that close for well under $729, 750, especially in this type of market.

Needless to say, you have to know (or at least have a strong idea of) your credit rating.  Is it "Good," "Fair," "Poor," or "Excellent" ?  If you're reading this, then I hope that your credit score is Excellent.  But if it's not, know this: to have a positive credit report, it's important to budget your personal and family expenses, and of course, pay those bills on time.  For many of us, including myself, I know that being disciplined and timely with all of those bills can be daunting and easier said than done.  However, it's key to having a sturdy credit report, so that today's lenders can work in your favor.       

The last component I want to write about is your debt-to-income ratio before you are approved for that FHA loan.  Generally speaking, lenders will approve a loan request if the applicant's debt-to-income is under or around 40%.  In other words, if half or more than half of your monthly income is consumed by paying off credit cards, auto-loan payments, or other creditors, then your debt-to-income ratio is too high to meet the FHA loan standards.  It's important to bring down that debt and keep it down for as long as you can.  Just remember that the lower your household's debt-to-income ratio is, the better.

   

My consulting is in the interest of YOU.  My compassionate service is customized to fit your needs, assessing any and all options if you are my client.  My objective is quality service as a realtor.  Just make sure that your mortgage representative has your interest at heart too.   

Can a Modified Loan Keep YOU in Your Home?

From CNNmoney.com, this article is so notable because it speaks to so many homeowners today, who are struggling to come up with their mortgage payments amidst this economic crisis.



I just want to say, that I really don't like using the terms, "crisis" or "struggling" because as a real estate agent, I try to stay as positive as I can be. The news that we watch everyday does a great job of constantly feeding our negative emotions, to the point where all we beleive is negativity, doubt, and empty thoughts. My advice to anyone reading this is to just continue to stay positive, because negative emotions will only break you down and weaken you. Although these times are tough, I purposely turn off the news sometimes when I hear information that will make me sad or worry; it might be confused for being ignorant, I know. Yes, ignorance can be blissful sometimes, but it's just my tactic for maintaining a positive vibe. And, I think that we should all do this from time to time, just to keep our heads up.



Moving onto the article that was forwarded to me, found on CNN's website, Citigroup has recently implemented a newer, proactive approach for customers that are current with their mortgage payments. Their loans are going to be modified to a more affordable monthly requirement. Citigroup, Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, and IndyMac Bank, are some of the banking institutions that are assessing ways to prevent many of these mortgage issues from happening. Again, this offer is only available to consumers that are still current and paying their mortgages on a timely basis.



The program is known as the "Citi Homeownership Assistance Program," whose goal is to assist "..borrowers in areas of steeper-than-usual falling prices and higher-than-average unemployment," says CitiMortgages CEO Sanjiv Das. New York was not a listed area, but some states that are being targeted include: Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan, Nevada, and Ohio. I hope some of the New Yorkers get to take advantage of this program, but the article didn't mention if it would be open or not to the Big Apple.



Here are some numbers:



The article states that timely borrowers can have their payments reduced up to 40% or less of their income. (The article didn't state whether or not Citi would go according to your salary before or after taxes). Interest rates will be lowered, and the overall timeframe of the loan is to be extended, if or once the borrower decides to utilize this program.



The expectations are high for the number of homeowners that will be assisted and relieved with this current option. I appreciate the high projections because it signifies positivity, on the surface. "Hundreds of thousands" are expected to take full advantage of this resource. But on another note, says senior economist Jared Bernstein, "help is needed by the millions."



My personal prediction is a bright one; I wish for a forecast that will shine on all of the homeowners that are on the edge of losing one of their most biggest investments of a lifetime. It may sound a little bit naive, sure, but the message that I want to bring today, is to have faith. Hold on, and keep continuing to beleive that help is right around the corner because one day, that opportunity for help will be knocking on YOUR door. You just better be there to answer it !!!!!!!



"got hope?"



-iva

Senator McCain

One last thing that I want to mention: I really appreciated Senator McCain's speech last night. It was sincere and genuine, and he was well spoken. Overall, my opinion is that his presidential ticket was tainted many ways that I won't go into right now, but I will say that the speech Senator McCain gave last night shows that he is a respectable, honorable man, with leadership qualities. His address last night was humbling and poignant, and it proved that he's strong enough to give credit where credit is due. I know that this may be vague and a little bit too generalized, but I was really moved by his words last night too. Although he was defeated, for him to still call President Obama, and congratulate him on a job well done, speaks volumes. And that's what it should be about: unifying for the better good, and the interest of the majority.



Right now, what's at the forefront of American minds is our economy and its fate; and that's why President Obama was elected. He symbolizes change that we are betting on and beleive in; there's no where to go from here but in the upward direction !!!!

A Historic Moment for the USA, and a Change is Finally Here

President elect, Barack Obama, won the election last night, and I don't even know where to begin on how I am feeling this very moment. I didn't go to bed until about 1:00AM last night, way after my normal bedtime, because I was watching the coverage and listened to both speeches from Senator McCain and President Obama. To be honest and real with you, I felt so elated, overjoyed, emotional, thankful, and just simply happy all at the same time. And as an African-American, this is a historical moment for our culture, our people, our history, and most of all, the HUMAN RACE. This moment marks a time in history, and it symbolizes that America truly has come a long way. It's a joyous feeling that I have right now, and it's like being on cloud nine, and I expect to have that feeling for the next 4 years of his presidency. My heart was pounding, and the tears started to roll down my face when the President projections were announced in Barack Obama's favor. It was great!!!!! I stood in line yesterday morning, and it was so wonderful to witness the crowds, the record numbers of voters, coming out, standing in line; some for the very first time. Others were already "seasoned" and established voters, but yesterday's crowd definitely signified a movement. My mother and I went together, saw some familiar faces in the crowd. And last night, it was proven that we have a democracy that can reflect what the governed really want to see in their government: a competent legal entity, that is truly for the people that are being governed instead of being out for self. This is what our people (and not just people of color) fought for, died for, shed blood for, and it's finally happening. Dr. King, Rosa Parks, Coretta Scott King, Malcolm X, Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, to name a few, would have been more than delighted to see this finally come to pass. And I know that this was said before by one of my favorite artists, Jay-Z: "Rosa sat so Martin can walk, so Obama can run, so our children can fly." Such a profound statement, and it's true. My nephews and nieces can finally know that they can truly be anything they want to be, if you put your mind to it. I got choked up when I began to think about my father and grandparents not being alive to see this phenomenal event. It felt better than New Years !!!!


2008 is definitely an unforgettable year in my book !!!!!
:->

feel the heat?

We are now seeing gas/oil prices drop considerably.  I've been driving to and from work, and I want to scream as I see the prices reduce on a daily basis for regular fuel, literally from 2.89 to 2.83, and the lowest I have seen thus far has been 2.81 a gallon!!!!  I'm loving it right now.

But many homeowners purchased oil this past summer at a time where oil prices were much higher, and it felt like gas was at least $6,000 to fill up your tank----OK, I know that it wasn't that high, but you know exactly what I mean.  It was breaking EVERYONE'S wallet, right?  

Now, some people are calling it the best time to purchase heating oil for your house.  Unless you bought some already, know the difference between fixed and capped rates for your heating oil.  Basically, a fixed rate with your heating supplier is just that: the price doesn't go up, and it doesn't go down.

Capped means that the rate for your oil cannot and will not go above a certain level.  But the rate can fluctuate from time to time.  Do some personal research on your own and determine which one is best for YOUR home.  Check out sites like Con Ed and Home Depot, to get some extra tips on fuel efficiency too!

   

a businesswoman saves a homeowner from foreclosure

this article is a breath of fresh air to me, compared to the horriffic and sad stories that usually populate our media and news stories each day.



Mrs. Marilyn Mocklin is a heroic woman for doing an act of kindness that is often unheard of in this day in age. For many people, this is a rare act of kindness; but to Mrs. Mocklin, it's only natural to do good for a fellow person in need, including buying a house for a total stranger.



She bought a foreclosed home at an auction for $30,000.00 and gave it back to the original homeowner, offering a payment plan to be arranged between Mocklin and the original homeowner, Tracy Pottsboro, until the outstanding debt on the house has been resolved. The house was up for auction, and Tracy was sure that she was never going to see her home again. There was emotional attachment to this property that was now on the auctioning block. Tracy says that she attended the auction as a way of closure, to say goodbye to a home that really meant a lot to her and family. When Tracy was crying over the loss of her house, Mrs. Mocklin noticed this and simply asked her, "is it worth it?" And naturally, Tracy replied, "Yes," [the house is worth it]. That was enough for Mocklin to bid on the house until she finally won out of all the other bidders in the auction process.



When i first read this story, i was so pleased and shocked at the same time. To be honest, i know that many of us do nice things for others from time to time, but this act of kindness really stunned me. Needless to say, Mrs. Mocklin didn't have to do what she did to assist Tracy with her foreclosure crisis. But she did it anyway, and there's someone who can say that she was saved from this foreclosure epidemic that has hit so many Americans already. Because of a perfect stranger's kind heart, Pottsboro can still call her house a home!!!!

Link: http://video.aol.com/video-detail/foreclosure-angel-stranger-buys-foreclosed-house-at-auction-and-gave-it-back-to-owner/3234154403/?icid=VIDURVHOV12

Link: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/SmartHome/story?id=6118522







Sources: ABC News and http://www.aol.com/

Cape with a BIG back yard

Quiet area, nice and spacious backyard, this cape comes with so much, at a great price. ASKING $289,000 !!!!!

Also close to Hofstra University, restaurants, banks, stores, and transportation.
Call 516-884-6928 for more information.

Cape in Uniondale minutes away from Hofstra University

44 Cunningham Ave

Uniondale, NY 11553

ASKING: $399,999

Cape in Uniondale, close to transportation, stores, and schools. Minutes away from Hofstra University. House includes 2 bedrooms on first floor, 2 bedrooms on second floor. Top it off with a full finished basement and private garage. Two full bathrooms, plus an eat-in-kitchen.

Serious inquiries call me at 516-884-6928

DON'T give agents a bad name

I came across an article in Newsday , speaking about a man posing as an agent for a vacant property in Roosevelt. According to reporter, Kieran Crowley, the so-called agent rented the house for $1000.00 per month to the unknowing tenants. The fake professional was finally caught when the real owners turned up at the front door.

Just so you know, people typically don't pose as real estate professionals to swindle innocent people and scheme them out of money. A true realtor, like me, really cares about serving people and helping them find a home, and hold on to that home. But to be safe than sorry, this story proves that whether someone is a tenant, a buyer, or a seller, it's important to personally verify information before doing business.

a little piece of me!

Hi bloggers and visitors,





My name is Iva, and I am from Hempstead, Long Island, NY. I want to start my blog by giving you all a little piece of me! So, I'll start by saying that I was born and raised in Long Island, went to Hempstead public schools, and then attended Hofstra University (Class of 2006!) through the New Opportunities at Hofstra (NOAH) program. Initially, I wanted to be a pediatrician, so my major was Community Health. Unfortunately, that path didn't work out the way I planned it. I still graduated, but now, I am a realtor with an interest in serving others throughout the Nassau, Suffolk, and Queens areas. I wasn't always interested in real estate, but I developed a yearning for it when I wanted to purchase my own house, and I thought the greatest way for me to learn about houses was to earn my real estate license; so, here I am!





On a personal note, I generally stay to myself, and I tend to be a shy person until you REALLY get to know me. Not to sound cliche-ish, but once comfortable, I'm very friendly and approachable. Hobbies are reading books and magazines, going to the movies, dining out with family, and hanging out with friends. Feel free to post any comments, questions, or responses that you may have. It's greatly appreciated, and I look forward to the dialogues. Happy blogging,



-iva