With the huge number of homeowners facing foreclosure, it is true that your lender does not want your home. In fact, mortgage lenders are also victims in this crisis (believe it or not) as well. Your problem has become their problem!

With 8 homes in every 1000 currently in foreclosure (and many, many more on their way), banks are in no hurry to take your home. They will run themselves out of business if they were to take back the homes of all their high risk mortgages. Most lenders are willing and eager to find a way to keep you in your home. The key is to act sooner rather than later so you have as many options available to you as possible. Don’t let fear keep you from contacting your lender to see if there is a workout plan available to you.

Homeowners who have one big mortgage payment and 5 smaller credit card bills make the mistake of sending in money to these credit card companies and others. After all, if there are six people calling and demanding money, making five happy means fewer calls for you and fewer headaches in the short run.

In the long run, this is a critical mistake!

At some point you will need some money to save your home. Many options exist to stop a foreclosure; but they all require at least one month’s mortgage payment.

So start saving some money for your lender. After all, if you stop making your credit card payments, they give you a bad entry on your credit report. If you can’t work out a loan program with your lender, they will take your home.

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Best Buyer’s Broker Realty is an Exclusive Buyer Agent specializing in Long Island real estate (Nassau and Suffolk properties) and neighboring Queens County properties.

We don’t take any seller listings (yet we have more homes for you to see than most agents) and never have any potential conflict of interest like other agents who also represent sellers. We represent buyers only, 100% of the time. We can show you more homes for sale because we have access to MLS, FSBOs, Exclusives (homes that agents try to keep secret), foreclosures and homes not on the market that may be of interest to you.

We are not your traditional real estate agent. Our goal is to advise and protect home buyers and help them obtain the lowest price and best terms on their dream home. Call us at 516-887-6901 to see how we can help you save time and money. Or visit our sites at www.bestbuyerbroker.com or www.bestbuyersbroker.com

Can filing for bankruptcy help homeowners facing foreclosure? Apparently, not much.

For most people, trying to negotiate changes in their loan with help from a housing counselor or lawyer is a much better option. While bankruptcy judges can reduce or eliminate certain kinds of debt, they aren’t allowed to alter the total amount owed or interest rate of primary mortgages. A 1993 Supreme Court decision bars judges from altering first mortgages on primary homes, though such changes are allowed on loans for vacation homes, motorcycles, boats and other kinds of property.

Consumer advocates say this is unfair, while mortgage lenders say it benefits the vast majority of borrowers who don’t fall into bankruptcy.

Filing for bankruptcy might help if your financial problems stem from a mix of sources, like overwhelming credit card debt, medical bills and skyrocketing mortgage payments. If reducing or eliminating most of your other debts puts you in a position where you can pay your mortgage, then bankruptcy might be be of help.

However, keep in mind, you could spend years trying to get your credit back in shape because a bankruptcy filing is a serious blemish on your credit record. And that can translate into big problems next time you need to borrow money.

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Best Buyer’s Broker Realty is an Exclusive Buyer Agent specializing in Long Island real estate (Nassau and Suffolk properties) and neighboring Queens County properties.

We don’t take any seller listings (yet we have more homes for you to see than most agents) and never have any potential conflict of interest like other agents who also represent sellers. We represent buyers only, 100% of the time. We can show you more homes for sale because we have access to MLS, FSBOs, Exclusives (homes that agents try to keep secret), foreclosures and homes not on the market that may be of interest to you.

We are not your traditional real estate agent. Our goal is to advise and protect home buyers and help them obtain the lowest price and best terms on their dream home. Call us at 516-887-6901 to see how we can help you save time and money. Or visit our sites at www.bestbuyerbroker.com or www.bestbuyersbroker.com

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Faced with plunging property values and rising defaults, lenders are charging borrowers higher mortgage rates and adding fees. Not all of these added costs are set in stone, however. If you’re looking for a loan, vigilant shopping and a little haggling can go a long way toward landing a better deal.

Here are some fees you need to watch out for:

Application Fees

Just because an ad says “no application fee” doesn’t really mean there’s no fee to get the loan. Fees paid outside of closing typically include an application fee, an upfront property appraisal fee, and a credit check. They might be disguised as something like a “document processing fee” or “doc fee.”

Risk Adjust Rates

Getting deemed a risky borrower is no longer just a matter of a low credit score. Lenders now consider other risk factors. Buy in an area that has seen values drop precipitously and you can expect a higher interest rate.

Down Payment Penalties

The days of zero down on a mortgage are over. Without a down payment of at least 20%, prospective homebuyers will undoubtedly get hit with a higher interest rate and need to pay for more points. (Each point usually amounts to a fee of about 1% of a mortgage.)

Also, if buyers can’t put 20% down, they’ll need to get private mortgage insurance, which typically costs 0.5% of the loan. Shopping around for lenders with more-favorable points and insurance charges can help lessen the blow.

Closing Costs

Closing fees amount to 2% to 5% of a home’s price. Location plays a big role, as taxes and other requirements vary by state. Some states require expensive attorneys to oversee the closing process, while others allow a title agent or escrow officer.

Ask potential lenders for a good-faith estimate of closing costs. Then check in weekly with whoever is handling the closing to see whether there are any changes in either lender or third-party fees.

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Best Buyer’s Broker Realty is an Exclusive Buyer Agent specializing in Long Island real estate (Nassau and Suffolk properties) and neighboring Queens County properties.

We don’t take any seller listings (yet we have more homes for you to see than most agents) and never have any potential conflict of interest like other agents who also represent sellers. We represent buyers only, 100% of the time. We can show you more homes for sale because we have access to MLS, FSBOs, Exclusives (homes that agents try to keep secret), foreclosures and homes not on the market that may be of interest to you.

We are not your traditional real estate agent. Our goal is to advise and protect home buyers and help them obtain the lowest price and best terms on their dream home. Call us at 516-887-6901 to see how we can help you save time and money. Or visit our sites at www.bestbuyerbroker.com or www.bestbuyersbroker.com

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Many experts consider the bailout a short-term solution, but in the long-term, you could be paying for it in a least three different ways. Money Editor, Stacy Johnson, explains… (video runs 1:21)

So what do you think? Think we’re all going to be paying for this bailout in even more ways? We’d love to hear your opinion.

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Best Buyer’s Broker Realty is an Exclusive Buyer Agent specializing in Long Island real estate (Nassau and Suffolk properties) and neighboring Queens County properties.

We don’t take any seller listings (yet we have more homes for you to see than most agents) and never have any potential conflict of interest like other agents who also represent sellers. We represent buyers only, 100% of the time. We can show you more homes for sale because we have access to MLS, FSBOs, Exclusives (homes that agents try to keep secret), foreclosures and homes not on the market that may be of interest to you.

We are not your traditional real estate agent. Our goal is to advise and protect home buyers and help them obtain the lowest price and best terms on their dream home. Call us at 516-887-6901 to see how we can help you save time and money. Or visit our sites at www.bestbuyersbroker.com or www.bestbuyerbroker.com

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