Andy here, your local Real Estate agent in Westlake, OH. I just wanted to touch base with you and pass along my weekly update with tips to help your life as well as wish you…

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

 

Included this week is:

* A personal Thanksgiving Letter from Andy Morris
* How to Save $100 a Month on Your Electric Bill?
* How to Survive and ENJOY Black Friday and Save Big $$
* Never Give up, guy loses both his legs and start body building.
* My Lender Sold my Loan. Is that a good thing? What happens now?
* Business Spotlight: The person Andy Morris sends his clients to if they need help with Bankruptcy or Foreclosure defense.
* Your Homeowner Insurance Won’t Renew because you are behind on your mortgage payments?

If you have any pressing real estate needs or questions, then you can reach me at 216-324-6637 (cell) or, go to my website RTServe.com.

A personal Thanks Giving Letter from Andy Morris

Dear reader,

In spite of a difficult of economy, it is important to keep an inspired outlook.

I reflect on the Bible in the book of Acts about Paul and Silas. They were jailed in a foreign town for their spiritual service to others. Yet after being severally beaten and while spending the night forced to stand in a cold cell, their wooden stocks cutting into their necks… they sang praises to Jesus. They exhibited unusual thankfulness in the face of unimaginable physical adversity.

What happened as they sang these praises? If you know the story, a miraculous earthquake allowed for physical freedom for them and spiritual transformation for their jailor and his family and friends.

Psalms 20:3 says “God inhabits the praises of HIS people.” It is easy to be overcome in our thoughts by what is going on in the physical world… this is true even if you have fantastic personal prosperity (which compared to other areas of the world- even the unemployed and sick here in America are wealthy beyond imagination)… Whether pain or prosperity fill our vision… either way it is the physical world. Even prosperity brings it’s own set of anxieties. Pure praise is a focus that elevates us past the anxieties of the world that weigh us down.

By the way… from a purely selfish (non spiritual) perspective thankful people get more… I know in my house a complaining child gets much less favor in the moment of complaining than a joyful and thankful one. So from this perspective alone it is important that we cultivate these things in our life so that we can project gratitude and joy to the people around us.

I am thankful to God for the following:
1) Much business increase
2) My wife and children in my house
3) Incredible health and protection we have enjoyed this year
4) People rallied around us as we went through several major life changes this year and I discovered both me and my family being cared for in ways I never expected… Thank you.
5) Great friends. Great mentors. Great coaches. Great trainers. All who encourage and inspire me.
6) 3 agents joined our Realty Trust Services team this year and that is blessing.
7) At the beginning of the year we didn’t have any children permanently with us. At the end of the year it appears we will have 3 children permanently with us…
8 ) For everyone reading this newsletter who has participated in my life and made it better one way or another.

I would be interested to know what you are thankful for? Let me know and I will included it in my next newsletter.

I wish you all the best,

Sincerely,

Andy Morris

P.S. This comunication is something that I hope to be one in a string of many. I have been remiss in not staying in contact with many people that I have done business with or have been friends with for a long time. However I plan on changing that. Both in calling you, visiting and otherwise corresponding.

P.P.S.For years I have focused almost entirely on the niche of helping people in what ever way I could who were going into foreclosure. Often times that meant negotiating with their lender to do a short sale. As an agent, I focused exclusively on short sales turning down all but my closest friends if they requested help selling or buying a home and it wasn’t a short sale. With my extensive experience solving the most difficult real estate problems, I became aware that this has prepared me for selling all kinds of residential real estate at the very highest level. My company motto says it all: “Cutting Edge, Comprehensive and Conscientious Real Estate Solutions”

How to Save $100 a Monthly On Your Electric Bill

Money is tight for many. And this tip was forwarded to me by a friend so I thought I would pass it on. This only works if you have an electric hot water heater. It is claimed you could save as much as $100 a month on your electric bill.
This money-saving tip is simple: install a hot water heater timer.
The biggest reason I procrastinated on installing it is that I thought it would be so hard to do.  I was thinking I would have to hire an electrician and spend hundreds of dollars getting the timer installed.
Or I would mess it up, blowup the hot water heater, and flood the house. No way, it is so easy.
Here are the steps to do it. It’s really easy:
Go buy the timer at Home Depot or online, here’s a link to a timer on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Intermatic-T104R-24-Hour-Dial-Switch/dp/B000TKDLE8
Mount the timer to the wall.
Obviously turn off the power to the hot water. Use the breaker in your electric panel.
Once you’ve confirmed that the power is turned off on the hot water heater, then run the power supply that ran into the hot water heater into the timer (There will be instructions in the timer box.)
Run the power from the timer to the heater.
Set the time to turn on and off.
It’s really a simple job. It just takes a little bit of time to make sure you get that power turned off. That is the most important part of this entire job.
Tip: Set the timer to turn on at 5:00PM and turn off at 11:00PM.
That’s it. Please send me an e-mail about how much money you saved in your electric bill this month. Don’t stop from doing this because you think it’s tough. Just do it and save. Maybe even take somebody special out to dinner with the savings!

How to Survive Black Friday, Enjoy Yourself, and Save Big $$

Okay, I have a confession to make. I have really enjoyed shopping on black Friday in times past. It is exciting to get up early in search of a great deal. It also brings out my competitive aggression.
So here’s the steps that I recommend to have an absolute blast shopping on black Friday. It’s actually a six step plan to make sure you get most of your Christmas shopping:
Know what you want before you get started: The most important thing is make sure you exactly what you want and need. If you don’t have a detailed plan on what you are buying and how much to spend, then you’ll be kicking yourself later.
Even if you’re spending the money on household goods, make sure you know exactly what you want.
Make a list of all the people your shopping for this year.
Plan your budget and make sure you don’t spend too much.

Plan your battle map. It’s not just the budget and the list of exactly what you need, it’s exactly where you are going and what you are buying in each location.
Timing is extremely important in getting the best deals. Make sure you show up at the right store at the right time. For example: if you know you’re trying to get the girls bike at Toys “R” Us and there is only a limited supply, then you probably want to show up bright and early.
Make a list of the stores in the exact order you want to shop them.
Decide what car you want to drive. You want to make sure you have enough room to carry all your goodies.
Plan on substitutes: Hmm, a Crockpot might be just as good for Uncle Willie as a blender
Just make sure it’s the same type of product idea or the same type of family.
Make sure you get a return receipt because Uncle Willie might not like that Crockpot you bought and might need to return it.
How are you going to carry all your goodies: You want to make sure you don’t go crazy carrying all the good deals you got that day and it ruins the entire trip.
Do you want to go green? Bring along bags that you can re-use.
Maybe bring along a kid stroller that you could store all your goodies in.

Make sure you eat. Nothing ruins Black Friday more than a headache or stomach ache. Hey, you should be having fun!!
Eat a light breakfast even if you head out at three in the morning.
Plan when you are going to meet for lunch.

Plan your breaks. When are you going to meet up with your shopping buddies to compare deals?
Exact times, and places.
Tell each other about the amazing deals.

The Early Bird gets the worm: Yes, it’s true. Especially on black Friday.
If you really want the deals, leave at 3 or 4. I do like my sleep so I have never gotten up earlier than 5 for this event.
Black Friday shopping is a blast.
The Christmas Spirit is in the air.

So go enjoy Black Friday, and e-mail me about the amazing deals you got!!! Hope this list helps you in your battle plan.

Never Give Up: Guy Loses both legs and starts Body Building.

This is a great story that I saw the other day in the news, and I had to share with you.
We all know the mottos about never giving up and continuing to push. Yet, sometimes with our busy life we forget about how truly blessed we are.
You have to check it out because:
At 17 Tyler Carron lost both is legs in a Car Accident.
At 21, he was named to USA Hockey’s National Sled Hockey Team.
He also Body Builds proudly on his two Prosthetic Legs.
Check out the story in The Denver Post
http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_15725427
Or Google: Ft. Collins bodybuilder without legs an inspiration.

My Lender Sold my Loan. Is that a good thing? What do I do now?

I recently received a question: “My loan was just sold. I was making payments to CitiFinancial and they sold it to Nationstar. Is that good or bad?”

Here is the answer. It’s neither good nor bad. In fact, I don’t think your loan was sold. You see, most loans were packaged up and sold to Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or Wall Street.

In this instance the loan was more than likely packaged up and sold off. When digging further about the original lender was, it was a company called First Magnus. (First Magnus declared bankruptcy in 2007 and was afterwards closed.)

The Stop Foreclosure Institute has negotiated short sales on loans that were originally with First Magnus. The last one was sold to a large Wall Street Firm and securitized.

That means James’s loan could be owned by anyone. More than likely it is owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. If not, then it was probably sold to a Wall Street Firm.

The owner of the loan hired CitiFinancial to act as their front man. That means Citi collected the payments, handled escrows and accounting, and manages debt collections and foreclosures.

More than likely Nationstar did not buy the loan. Instead whoever owns the loan hired them to act as the front man instead of Citi.

So frankly this is nothing to worry about, it just means you send your check to a different bank then you received your mortgage from.
Don’t you worry, they still want their money!
Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property and never pay the bank another penny. Send me an e-mail at andy@rtserve.com I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at 440-427-0123.

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Westlake OH loan modification kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your bank. E-mail me for a copy.

Business Spotlight: Attorney Eli Tamkin Cleveland Ohio Bankruptcy and Foreclosure defense expert

I recommend Attorney Eli Tamkin to all my clients if they need any help defending a foreclosure or need to file bankruptcy. What I have noticed about Eli that makes me a raving fan is the following:
1) He aggressively defends his clients. Quite simply he astounds me with his persistence and boldness and that is how I want my clients taken care of.
2) He is a bankruptcy expert and a practicing attorney for over 20 years
3) He is accessible. This is rare for attorney but it is important for your own peace of mind. This is something you won’t find at in a bankruptcy mill.
4) Along the same line, he will listen to you and take the time to understand your particular needs. Again you won’t likely find this type of legal assistance at one of the high volume bankruptcy mills.
5) He is affordable. Call him up and interview him… His rates won’t hurt your pocket book and his excellent and conscientious representation will be well worth whatever you pay.
6) He is located near the bankruptcy courts making him available for last minute emergencies that occasionally come up in court situations.
7) He has advanced computer technology that will save you time and reduce human error in filing and completing bankruptcy paper work. He actually pulls directly from your credit report so that you don’t have to worry if if you forgot to tell him about one of your creditors. You can rest assured your paperwork will be taken care of.

I have seen Eli use mediation to cancel a sheriff sale after it happened. I know for a fact that he has gotten this to happen on more than one occasion. He really can work miracles.

If you are in need of his services call him at 216-333-1294. Eli offers a free very useful booklet entitled “10 important facts about bankruptcy and foreclosure that even many attorneys don’t know and can’t tell you.” Which you can request here.
Business Website: http://tamkinlaw.com
Contact Info: 216-333-1294
E-mail: emt@tamkinlaw.com
Address: 850 Euclid Avenue, Ste. 1012 Cleveland, OH 44114
 

Your Homeowner Insurance Won’t Renew Because You Are behind on your mortgage payments?

My team at The Stop Foreclosure Institute recently received a question from Tim. Here is Tim’s Question.

“I have an elderly friend who recently finalized a loan modification through her lender. The mortgage company shows on their website that the mod has been processed and the new terms are in effect.

However, since foreclosure proceedings were begun before the mod was approved, her homeowner’s insurance holder will not renew her coverage policy, since the local Clerk of Courts records show that the loan is in a foreclosure process.

The mortgage company has not sent the Clerk of Courts notice that the foreclosure case is closed. What can she do to avoid losing her insurance coverage?”

An elderly person almost loses their home to foreclosure and manages to save it at the last minute, only to find out her insurance company wants to kick her to the curb?

Give me a break! That’s pathetic. If I had my insurance with that company, I would fire them immediately!

Here is my suggestion. The first thing your friend should do is to contact the State Insurance Commissioner and the State Attorney General.

Insurance is highly regulated. There are things that insurance companies are allowed to charge more money for and things that they are not allowed to charge.

I doubt that paying your mortgage late is one of them. More than likely, the insurance company is breaking the insurance regulations of the state.

(This is one of the things we use when negotiating short sales. We have studied to learn all the rules and guidelines. When a lender doesn’t follow a short sale guideline, we will report them to the appropriate agency.)

If that doesn’t work, then I would recommend your friend contact the local media. That is a dastardly thing for the insurance company to do. I’m sure that the general public would agree as well. I think the media would like the story.

Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property and never pay the bank another penny. Send me an e-mail at andy@rtserve.com I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at 216-324-6637.

Searching for that perfect home? Here are a few that might meet your needs:

$136,800	3	3 (2 1)		2	1582	0.160ac(Public Record Auto)	1998	SingFm
33979 Harding Ave North Ridgeville  44039   : Andrew W Morris* : Realty Trust Services, LLC : 440-427-0123 : 440-427-0123 : Open Floor Plan! Spacious Colonial! Move In With Little To Do! All Appliances Remain! Enjoy The Large Private Fenced Lot With Fire Pit And Deck! Well Cared For And Now Ready For A New Owner To Enjoy! Price contingent on short sale
(2)   #3167014

				Garage-# of Car
$159,900	2	2 (2 0)		1	1260	0.150ac(Public Record Auto)	1939	SingFm
19664 Laurel Ave Rocky River  44116   : Andrew W Morris* : Realty Trust Services, LLC : 440-427-0123 : 440-427-0123 : This great colonial has loads of old world charm. Hardwood floors through out. Built-in leaded glass cabinets in dining room. Updated kitchen & baths. New furnace 2010. Screened porch. Brick patio. Living room has woodburner with working gas logs and vent. 1st floor den & computer room. Near 90, shopping, bus, middle school, library and much more.
(1)   #3180269