Hi Friends,

I changed the banner and the tagline for the site. My goal is to add more information on the site that will benefit home owners in South Jersey. Please let me know what you think of the new banner.

Here is the full photo which was taken by my wife Katrina at the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge:

Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge Sunset

Hurricane Irene is coming to NJ soon!  Are you ready?  I received this email from Mike Wrigley at Liberty Public Adjusters.  I hope this information is helpful.

Best wishes and stay safe!

Matt

For more information about Liberty Public Adjuster, go to:

www.LibertyPublicAdjusters.com

Hurricanes are strong storms that cause life- and property threatening hazards such as flooding, storm surge, high winds and tornadoes.  Preparation is the best protection against the dangers of a hurricane.

Know the Difference

Hurricane Watch—Hurricane conditions are a threat within 48 hours.  Review your hurricane plans, keep informed and be ready to act if a warning is issued.

Hurricane Warning—Hurricane conditions are expected within 36 hours. Complete your storm preparations and leave the area if directed to do so by authorities.

What should I do?

_ Listen to a NOAA Weather Radio for critical information from the National Weather Service (NWS).

_ Check your disaster supplies and replace or restock as needed.

_ Bring in anything that can be picked up by the wind (bicycles, lawn furniture).

_ Close windows, doors and hurricane shutters. If you do not have hurricane shutters, close and board up all windows and doors with plywood.

_ Turn the refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting and keep them closed as much as possible so that food will last longer if the power goes out.

_ Turn off propane tanks and unplug small appliances.

_ Fill your car’s gas tank.

_ Talk with members of your household and create an evacuation plan.  Planning and practicing your evacuation plan minimizes confusion and fear during the event.

_ Learn about your community’s hurricane response plan. Plan routes to local shelters, register family members with special medical needs as required and make plans for your pets to be cared for.

_ Evacuate if advised by authorities. Be careful to avoid flooded roads and washed out bridges.

_ Because standard homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flooding, it’s important to have protection from the floods associated with hurricanes, tropical storms, heavy rains and other conditions that impact the U.S. For more information on flood insurance, please visit the National Flood

Insurance Program Web site at www.FloodSmart.gov.

What supplies do I need?

_ Water—at least a 3-day supply; one gallon per person per day

_ Food—at least a 3-day supply of non-perishable, easy-to-prepare food

_ Flashlight

_ Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)

_ Extra batteries

_ First aid kit

_ Medications (7-day supply) and medical items (hearing aids with extra batteries, glasses, contact lenses, syringes, cane)

_ Multi-purpose tool

_ Sanitation and personal hygiene items _ Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address,

deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)

_ Cell phone with chargers

_ Family and emergency contact information

_ Extra cash

_ Emergency blanket

_ Map(s) of the area

_ Baby supplies (bottles, formula, baby food, diapers)

_ Pet supplies (collar, leash, ID, food, carrier, bowl)

_ Tools/supplies for securing your home

_ Extra set of car keys and house keys

_ Extra clothing, hat and sturdy shoes

_ Rain gear

_ Insect repellent and sunscreen

_ Camera for photos of damage

What do I do after a hurricane?

_ Continue listening to a NOAA Weather Radio or the local news for the latest updates.

_ Stay alert for extended rainfall and subsequent flooding even after the hurricane or tropical storm has ended.

_ If you evacuated, return home only when officials say it is safe.

_ Drive only if necessary and avoid flooded roads and washed-out bridges.

_ Keep away from loose or dangling power lines and report them immediately to the power company.

_ Stay out of any building that has water around it.

_ Inspect your home for damage. Take pictures of damage, both of the building and its contents, for insurance purposes.

_ Use flashlights in the dark. Do NOT use candles.

_ Avoid drinking or preparing food with tap water until you are sure it’s not contaminated.

_ Check refrigerated food for spoilage. If in doubt, throw it out.

_ Wear protective clothing and be cautious when cleaning up to avoid injury.

_ Watch animals closely and keep them under your direct control.

_ Use the telephone only for emergency calls.

Liberty Public Adjusters LLC

Call Us First For ALL Your Property Loss Needs

Phone: (609) 289-1169

FAX: (855) 246-8246

Email: MWrigley@LPAdjusters.com

www.LibertyPublicAdjusters.com

The adjuster and advocate for the property owner

Commercial or Residential

No fee consultation

No upfront costs

We get the property owner paid for their loss

Fire, Smoke, Wind & Water, we handle it ALL

Licensed in New Jersey and Pennsylvania

Available 24/7 to handle your claim

Call Us FIRST!

609-289-1169

 Michael H. Wrigley

Liberty Public Adjusters LLC

800.223.7010 Office
609.289.1169 Cell
855.246.8246 Fax

In an article published in THE STREET, we learn that some of the largest lenders are taking more of a shine to short sales as an alternative to proceeding with foreclosure.

That is good news for distressed homeowners who have a lot to lose in a foreclosure, including a death-blow to their credit and the prospect of not qualifying for a mortgage in the next decade.  A short sale will blunt some of the credit hit and a person will at least be eligible for government backed mortgage products in two years.

Banks are finding out the hard way in places like New Jersey that the courts are on to their many faceted games meant to reclaim homes quickly and efficiently through foreclosure.  With the ghost of robosignings past haunting their current efforts the banks know that foreclosures will not come easy in the Garden State, though they will come eventually if homeowners bury their heads in the sand.

The question is, why would a bank prefer to short sell a house rather than just foreclosing  and owning it outright.  Simply there are a few reasons.

First, as I stated above, the courts in New Jersey are slow to move toward foreclosure.  NJ has one of the strictest tenant anti-eviction laws in the country, how do you think the courts feel about people getting kicked out of houses they own?

Second, the Banks have no interest in owning a bunch of empty houses across the country.  They know that these properties are invitations for squatters, damage, theft of copper pipes and wiring and well, general mayhem.  The state law is a bank which owns a property must maintain that property and many of the towns I work in hold them to it.  That is $$$ flying out the window.

Thirdly, a short sale provides some money to the lenders/investors so they can move on to better investments with at least something.  In a world where I lost 10% of the value in my retirement account over the past three days I guess getting 80 cents on the dollar now instead of 50 cents later is still a good deal.

Why would a distressed homeowner short sell instead of riding it out until the bank finally takes the place?

Is that a day you want to live? The day the sheriff’s officer comes to tell you to get out or go to jail?  Some days are just a disaster, when you want to go back to bed (and probably should to cut your losses) and read Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible Very Bad day to compare your last few hours with old down-on-his-luck Alex.

If it were one day then maybe waiting around would be worth it.  But this day from hell has friends who also want to crash at your place.  There is “the day your boss and former boyfriends/girlfriends read that your house is up for Sheriffs sale”, which might happen a couple of times for good measure.  Another day will be, “strange people snooping around your house day” to evaluate the investment or as representatives of the lender, great people to have around your kids, trust me.  A bunch of other days will be “scam artist menagerie day” as every snake oil salesman within 50 miles comes to offer you illegal too good to be true plans to beat the banks at their game.  Remember these lenders are playing with House (and Senate) money.  If they can get bailed out by the Federal government they are not going to fall for unemployed used car salesman guy’s foolproof ideas.

Also consider what I wrote above, 2 years and you could be back in the game.  Manage your money right, get some money together to put down.  OK, maybe 2 years is a little too soon to get back on that horse.  How about 3? 5? 7?  With a short sale instead of a foreclosure you have that option.

In the end it pays to look at all of your options.  I am a real estate attorney who thrives on helping distressed homeowners get out from under a weight that may crush them if they do not act and act decisively.  My best days are helping people restart their lives.  I encourage you to call me at 856-385-7081 for a free phone or in person consultation.  So much to lose if you don’t act and quite a bit to gain if you are willing to face this chapter of your life with a little help.

Jim Schroeder

www.southjerseyshortsaleattorney.com

Welcome to the most current Housing Trends eNewsletter. This eNewsletter is specially designed for you, with national and local housing information that you may find useful whether you’re in the market for a home, thinking about selling your home, or just interested in homeowner issues in general.

Please click on this link to view the Housing Trends JULY – 2011 Newsletter http://haviland.housingtrendsenewsletter.com

The Housing Trends eNewsletter contains the latest information from the National Association of REALTORS®, the U.S. Census Bureau, Realtor.org reports and other sources.

Housing Trends eNewsletter is filled with local and national real estate sales and price activity provided by MLSs and the National Association of Realtors, U.S. Census Bureau key market indicators, consumer videos, blogs, real estate glossary, mortgage rates and calculators, consumer articles, and REALTOR.com local community reports.

If you are interested in determining the value of your home, click the “Home Evaluator” link for a free evaluation report:

http://haviland.housingtrendsenewsletter.com/dispContent.cfm?loadid=2&loadtype=0

Sound decisions can only be made with accurate and reliable information, and I am happy to be a trusted resource for you. Thank you for the opportunity to provide you with this monthly eNewsletter, and I look forward to answering any questions you may have and to the opportunity to be your REALTOR® in the future.

Sincerely yours,

Matthew Haviland
Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Shore
200 Tilton Road, Suite 5 Northfield NJ 08225 609-484-9890 132 | 609-338-3773 matt@SJHouses.com
You are receiving this email because you have signed up for and activated your personalized Housing Trends eNewsletter. If you no longer wish to receive emails about the latest issues of your newsletter, Email at matt@SJHouses.com to unsubscribe.

Welcome to the most current Housing Trends eNewsletter. This eNewsletter is specially designed for you, with national and local housing information that you may find useful whether you’re in the market for a home, thinking about selling your home, or just interested in homeowner issues in general.

The Housing Trends eNewsletter contains the latest information from the National Association of REALTORS®, the U.S. Census Bureau and Realtor.org reports, videos, key market indicators and real estate sales statistics, a video message by a nationally recognized economist, maps, mortgage rates and calculators, consumer articles, plus local neighborhood information and more.

Please click here to view the JUNE -2011 Newsletter Housing Trends eNewsletter.

If you are interested in determining the value of your home, click the Home Evaluator link for a free evaluation report.

If you are looking for a good ladscaper call Michael Angerman at 609-653-1937.  They are great local landscapers that do a show up on time and get the job done right.  Their website is:  http://www.angermanlandscaping.com/

Are you having difficulty making your mortgage payment because you have lost your job or because your employment income has been reduced?

Are you looking for work but need short-term assistance to help you keep your home until you can find it?

Or are you making your mortgage payments without a problem now but have arrearages due to a recent period of unemployment or underemployment?

Help may be available through New Jersey HomeKeeper.

New Jersey HomeKeeper provides financial assistance to New Jersey homeowners who have a track record of making their mortgage payments on time  but are now at risk of losing their homes to foreclosure as direct result of unemployment or underemployment. Proceeds may be used to cover arrearages and/or a portion of the homeowner’s monthly mortgage payment, including property taxes, property insurance, and mortgage insurance. Homeowners may be eligible for up to $48,000 in assistance for a period of up to 24 months.

New Jersey HomeKeeper is funded through a federal grant from the United States Treasury’s Hardest Hit Fund awarded to States most impacted by unemployment and underemployment.

Please fill out the form at https://sjhouses.com/new-jersey-home-keeper to receive eligibility information and an application form.

You may have seen in the news 50 layoffs at Borgota, 80 at the Taj Mahal and 50 at Trump Plaza.  What this means is that our economy and unemployment is not going to get any better any time soon.  Most likely real estate prices will continue to decline.  If you are concerned about how the ecoonomy will effect your home’s value please call me at 609-338-3773.

Best wishes,

Matt

Please forward this to anyone you know who would benefit:

1.  Take advantage of buyer’s market and buy while prices are low

2.  More inventory to choose from including foreclosed properties and below market prices.

3.  Low interest rates

4.  Financing as low as 15% down payment and rehab financing for investors (on select properties).

5.  Increased return on investment compared to other investment options.

6.  Passive income – more monthly cash flow.

At the Haviland Group we are here to help you be successful in investing in real estate and to increase your wealth.

Please attend our free classes and events below.

_____________________________________________________________________

The Millionaire Real Estate Investor Workshop Thursday April 28th.  7 PM.

Based on the best selling book, The Millionaire Real Estate Investor, this workshop goes through a systematic approach to investing in real estate.

To register: http://mrei.sjhouses.com/

____________________________________________________________________

Winning With Foreclosures – Buying Foreclosed Properties Class, Thursday May 12th, 7 PM

Learn the ins and outs of buying foreclosed properties including short sales and bank owned properties.

For More Information And To Register: http://foreclosure.sjhouses.com/

____________________________________________________________________

Foreclosed Property Best Buy Bus Tour, Saturday May 21st, 9 AM to 12 PM

View today’s best buys in real estate on our bus tour of foreclosed properties.

For More Information And To Register: http://bustour.sjhouses.com/

Best wishes,

Matthew Haviland ~ Your Trusted Real Estate Experts For Life

P.S.  Please let us know if you know anyone who would benefit from attending these events.

The Haviland Group at Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Shore

Your Real Estate Consultants For Life

Office:  609-484-9890

http://havilandgroup.net/

200 Tilton Road, Suite 5

Northfield, NJ 08225