NEW BROKER INCENTIVES

 Attention Brokers: (Effective on bids submitted on or after 12/01/2011)
A broker bonus is being offered in eight market areas:  Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee, and Kentucky.  The following conditions must be met in order for the selling broker to receive the applicable broker bonus.

• The preliminary bid must be submitted on or after December 1, 2011.
• A loan commitment letter from a lending institution must be received with the signed Sales Contract if the purchase is to be mortgaged; or, if paying cash, a certification letter must be received from a financial institution stating sufficient funds are available to complete the purchase.
• The words “Broker Bonus” must be written or typed at the top of the signed Sales Contract.
• The selling broker must complete and sign the HUD Notification regarding the broker bonus sales initiative.
• For all properties that close up to 34 days of contract acceptance, the selling broker will be eligible for a $600 bonus*.
• For all properties that close within 35 to 39 days of contract acceptance, the selling broker will be eligible for a $450 bonus*.
• For all properties that close within 40 to 43 days of contract acceptance, the selling broker will be eligible for a $300 bonus*.

*Exclusions apply
Excludes:  Hard-to-sell properties
The selling broker will not be eligible to receive a bonus for any property advertised by the Asset Manager (AM) as hard-to-sell.
Note:  The Atlanta Homeownership Center will not consider any appeals submitted by the selling broker for properties that fail to close within the aforementioned timeframes.  No exceptions.

Aged Inventory

Good Morning!  Yesterday, news came in from Pemco that they want their aged inventory moved ASAP.  At Remax United, we strive to sell all of our HUD properties as quickly as possible but occasionally a property does tend to go stale on the market.   With that said,  We have two properties that I would like our followers to keep fresh in their mind when considering property for yourself or clients.  

1. 199 Courthouse Road, Temple GA (Paulding Co)  priced to sell at $64,000!!!  Originally appraised in March of 2011 at $80,000.  This is an FHA INSURED property (Move in ready!!!)  Check out the link...
199 Courthouse Rd Flyer
This ranch style home offers three bedrooms, two baths, privacy fenced back yard all on a level .46 acre lot.  This home was built in 2005 so all major systems are still within their useful lifespan.  It has maintenance free vinyl siding and vinyl windows.  The double entry garage  has an automatic opener and leads directly to the kitchen.   BEST OF ALL, HUD IS OFFERING A $500 BROKER BONUS ON THIS PROPERTY IF WE CAN GET IT SOLD IN UNDER 30 DAYS! 

2. 85 Pine Hill Drive, Carrollton GA (Carroll Co) Priced to sell at $56,000!!!  Originally appraised in March of 2011 at $70,000.  This home is an FHA INSURED WITH ESCROW PROPERTY (repair escrow is $4,400).  Check out the link...
85 Pine Hill Dr Flyer
This property is a three bedroom, two bath split level on a partial basement with vinyl siding.  The home was constructed in 1975 and built to last!  The double carport is kitchen level entry. A huge selling feature on this property is the detached 2 car garage that sits out back.   Dont miss your chance at this steal of a deal!  THIS PROPERTY ALSO QUALIFIES FOR THE $500 HUD BROKER BONUS IF WE CAN GET IT SOLD IN UNDER 30 DAYS!

If you have any questions,  as always, we are here to help!
HAPPY SELLING!
West GA Team
Remax United ~ REO Benchmark

New requirements for your Pemco contract packages

Hi all,

Quick update in procedure for our buyers agent followers.   Pemco just announced new contract package requirements and I want you all to be up to date and on top of things.  So,  from this point forward, when submitting a Pemco contract, you will need to include the original contract package plus an extra copy of the signed sales contract page, as well as the original earnest money check payable to HUD and a copy of the earnest money check.  This new procedure is from today forward.  Best of luck and keep selling those West GA HUD team Pemco properties!

NEW INCENTIVES!!!

Transitioning into M&M III has been tough...with three asset companies instead of one in the area, with a new nationwide website to locate and bid on HUD properties(http://www.hudhomestore.com/) and with many new local listing brokers learning the ropes and trying to get systems in place to get this thing off the ground. Finally, finally finally...things are starting to move in unison. New properties are coming on the market daily, and going under contract at the same speed. The prices are coming more in line with what is actually happening in the local markets. Buyers are coming out of the woodwork looking for a deal and they are finding plenty! Sadly though, many agents found themselves frustrated through the transition and threw in the towel. For those who didn't and for those willing to give it another shot....HUD wants to compensate you for your troubles. Beginning April 1, 2011, Pemco has announced the following sales incentives... SALES PRICE BROKER BONUS $25,000-$75,000 $500 $75,001-$150,000 $750 $150,001 and up $1,000 the fine print... 1. Only properties won on hud homestore after 4/1/2011 are eligible for the bonus 2. You must write or type "BROKER BONUS" on the top of your sales contract 3. "HUD notification of broker bonus" form found on the forms tab at http://www.hudpemco.com/ must be included with your contract package 4. Your contract must close within 30 days of contract execution. Now that #4 might sound like the kicker but past experience tells me that Pemco and Fearnley Calif will probably give "Special attention" to these files to make sure their end of the process doesnt hold up the file from closing ASAP. We saw this "special attention" before when the tax incentives were in place. Files flew through the title department at FCPW and closings happened in record time. We are hoping for the same cooperation with this incentive and I'm sure we wont be disappointed. I hope agents keep in mind the true intention behind the HUD program which is to put owner-occupying buyers into homes at affordable prices. The bonus is just that, "A Bonus" for doing what we are already passionate about. Happy Selling!

Now What???

I cant count how many times that I have gotten a call from a buyer or selling agent with the following statement "Hey, I won the bid so now what?". HUD properties are homes owned by the national government. So dont think our lil'ol Georgia GAR contract is acceptable. It's not. HUD has their own sales contracts, addendums and method of doing things. Selling agents need to know that right off the bat. You can not bully your way through the system. That will not get you anywhere. Remember the saying "you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar". Everyone at the asset management, field service management, listing broker company and closing agents offices are working like crazy to get a huge flow of properties through the system. Patience is the key to success. I know the feeling of "my deal is the most important deal to me" and I sympathize. There are hundreds of other deals out there that is most important to someone else too.

Here's the process:

Once you win a bid, the selling agent has 48 hours to get the signed contract, addendum, prequalification letter and earnest money to the Asset Manager. Then the asset manager has to review the package for errors. Just so you know, local listing brokers are more than willing to review your contract package before you send it off. This would prevent delays once it gets to the Asset Manager and speed up the amount of time it takes to get the contract package back. If there are errors in the package, the selling broker is notified by email or fax and given 24 hours to correct the errors. If the error does not get corrected, your contract will not be signed. Once the package is complete with no errors, it is signed off on by the Asset Manager and dated. The package is then emailed back to the selling broker. It is at this point that a selling broker should notify the buyer that the contract is binding and forward the contract package email to the buyer for their records, as well as to the lender. The Asset Manager will send a copy of the contract package to HUD's designated closing attorney so that they can finalize title work on the property and clear outstanding Homeowners association dues etc.

Once you have your binding contract package, you can send in a request for permission to activate utilities so that you can do a home inspection. During winter months, there is a fee associated with this request so that the Field Service Manager can re-winterize the property after your inspection is complete. Activating utilities for inspections is the buyers responsibility. HUD does not do this for you. You may keep the utilities on for three days to conduct inspections and then they have to be shut back off and notify the Field Service Manager that this has been done. If all is satisfactory with the inspection, then your lender can begin getting the loan paperwork in order for closing.

Once you have a clear to close from the lender, the selling agent can contact the closing attorney and schedule the closing. You must schedule and have the lender send in the package by five days ahead of the desired closing date. The reason behind this is the listing broker will be notified of the pending closing and will have to reinspect the property for condition compared to condition at contract. The closing attorney will have to prepare closing documents and send them to HUD for review and approval. Once everything is complete, the selling agent will be send a preliminary settlement statement for your closing.

On closing day, the buyer will need to bring their drivers license and a certified check payable to HUD for any money due from the buyer at closing. The documents will all be signed and the property will transfer to the new buyer. HUD does not provide keys to the property. The selling agent will open the property after closing and remove the padlocks on garage doors and crawl spaces. The buyer will need to install new locks for their home.

I hope I was able to answer most questions about "NOW WHAT?" but if you still have a question, feel free to call. : )

When to bid

HUD properties are offered on the market in phases depending on the condition of the property. There are three standards of condition. These conditions are based on FHA standards for a property to be inhabitable under a new FHA loan.

1. Insured - The property is in a good enough condition that FHA would insure a new loan on it as it sits.
2. Insured with Escrow - The property is not in a good enough condition where FHA can insure it as it sits, but with minor repairs (less than $5,000), it will be.
3. Uninsured - The property is not in a good enough condition where FHA can insure it as it sits, but with extensive repairs ($5,000-$35,000), it will be. Note: FHA typically will not insure a home at all with unpermitted conversions or repairs in excess of $35,000. On these properties you will notice posted "203K eligible - NO".

With that said, let me explain the bidding process. Prior to a property listing, an FHA approved appraiser visits the property and performs an FHA appraisal to determine the current value and condition of the property then categorizes it into one of the three condition states above.

Insured (I) and Insured with escrow (IE) properties are placed on the market in a thirty day EXCLUSIVE bid period. This bid period is exclusive to owner-occupant buyers or HUD approved non-profit organizations and government entities. During the first 10 days of this bid period, no bidder can win the property. After day 10, all bids are opened and reviewed. If there is no acceptable bid at that time, the property remains available to bid on a daily status (bids opened daily and reviewed) for 20 more days. Should the property not receive an acceptable bid during that time, then it moves to a bid period called EXTENDED. During the extended bid period, the property is on a daily status and is available to all bidders including investors.

Uninsured (UI) properties are handled a bit different. They come on the market in a Lottery phase for 7 days. During this lottery, the property is available for HUD approved non-profit organizations and government entities only. Occassionally, lottery properties will also be offered to "GOOD NEIGHBOR NEXT DOOR" (GNND) buyers as well. This ONLY occurs when the property is located in a revitalization area in an effort to place "good neighbors" (teachers and emergency response personel) in a struggling community. These buyers qualify for a 50% discount on HUD properties located in "revitalization areas". Once the 7 day lottery period ends, the property is then offered in an EXCLUSIVE bid period of just 5 days. All bids are considered after the fifth day. If there is not an acceptable bid at that point, the property moves to the EXTENDED bid period and is open to all bidders including investors on a daily status.

All owner-occupant and investor bidders must bid through a HUD-registered Realtor. If you are not already working with a Realtor, the West GA HUD Team would love to help. : )

Who pays the Realtor?

This question has been asked millions of times by first time home buyers. So let me just throw the answer out there for all to see and know. Realtors work for commissions and the commission is typically paid by the seller. The commission is a percentage of the sales price. If there is no sale, there is no pay.

The seller signs a listing agreement with a Realtor when they decide to sell their home. Part of this agreement is terms for paying the Realtor's commission at the closing of the sale. When a buyer offers on a property and they have their own Realtor representing them, the agents split the commission (usually 50/50). Each agent is responsible for representing their own client through the transaction in exchange for half of the pay.

The list agent's job is to list and market the property to buyers and other Realtors. Then negotiate on the sellers behalf to get as much money as possible for their property as quickly as possible with as little work as possible from the seller. They receive commission at closing for performing those duties.

The buyer agent's job is to narrow the selection and show properties to potential buyers, negotiate on the buyers behalf to get as much house for the money as possible as quickly as possible in the best condition as is possible for the buyer. When closing occurs, each agent is paid 50% of the agreed upon commission on the property from the seller's proceeds.

Specific to HUD properties, HUD pays up to 6% commissions. They offer 3% of the purchase price to the listing agent and 3% to the selling agent. Believe me when I say, both agents earn every penny of their commission in every transaction.

Larry and I attended a great training class today that was hosted by Pemco and covered M&M III changes to the industry. We were fortunate enough to meet representatives from Ofori, Home Telos and HUD as well as see some familiar faces of our Pemco friends. What a great idea to host a panel of experts for a question and answer session! The class was most entertaining with Drew Prosperi from Pemco hosting the majority of the training session. The class really got me thinking about how the public in general has viewed HUD in the past, and that is what I want to blog on today.

WHAT IS HUD?
HUD owned Real estate is NOT low income, or section 8 rental property. A HUD home is the result of a foreclosed FHA insured mortgage. Once these properties foreclose, the lender is able to file an insurance claim with FHA for their loss and receive payment in exchange for the property. Then HUD brings the property to a marketable condition and puts it up for sale through Realtors like ourselves. We get many calls a day from customers looking to rent or lease purchase HUD homes. HUD will not rent or lease the properties. They are offered strictly for sale.

WHAT'S THE BENEFIT TO BUYING HUD?
Plenty! Besides getting a whole bunch of house for a little bit of money, other benefits include...

1. A HUD home is put on the market at the current appraised value. Dont miss the benefit of this small statement. HUD properties are appraised before they are listed. When you choose a HUD home, you know it is worth the asking price up front. FHA loans are required to use this appraisal for your loan. Unless you are doing conventional or 203K financing, you will not be required to purchase a new appraisal. That saves you money.

2. HUD properties offer special $100 down-payment financing through FHA. If you are obtaining an FHA loan on properties other than a HUD, FHA typically requires a minimum of 3.5% of the purchase price as a down payment. HUD properties are exempt from the 3.5% down-payment for a limited time to help move inventory off the market and clients into homes. The HUD property down-payment requirement on an FHA loan is as little as $100. You may elect to still put money down if you choose. Lenders may also choose not to participate in the $100 down payment program so ask your lender are they in or are they out!

3. HUD will pay 3% of the purchase price in closing costs for you. No need to haggle back and forth. They offer it up front. If you need it, use it!

4. HUD pays the attorney fee. Part of the process of purchasing a home is going to an attorney's office for closing. HUD has a contracted attorney office in place to close all HUD transactions. If you use this attorney, HUD pays their fee. You do have the option of using your own attorney if you choose but this will be at your expense. Something to keep in mind though - If you are obtaining financing, the attorney represents the Lender, not you, so you are just as well to allow HUD to pick up the tab and use the attorney they have in place.

5. Owner- Occupant preference. HUD properties are offered to purchasers intending to occupy the property as their primary residence first. The properties are offered for 30 days exclusively to owner-occupant buyers. Should the property remain available after the 30 day period, it will then become available to investors to bid.

6. Clear Title. HUD issues a clear title at closing. Any outstanding leins are satisfied and current year taxes are prorated. Every buyer is offered title insurance with post conveyance coverage which insures you that the property is yours fair and square. There are no stipulations where a previous owner can take the property back. Once purchased, you own that home.

Where do you find HUD properties?
HUD homes are in every neighborhood, every city, every state in the United States. You can search the nationwide site at www.hudhomestore.com or search local listings on our website by county or by map link at www.westgahud.com

The West GA Hud Team has recently joined RE/MAX United REO Benchmark and we are very excited about this change. This will allow us to be more involved in our community with our office instead of working remote from Atlanta as we were before. HUD as a whole has undergone transition over the past few months and lots of buyers and agents alike are in the dark about how to seek out and get HUD properties under contract with the new system. First off, in case you haven't heard, HUD has a new nationwide HUD listing website. This is a great idea. Regardless, if you are searching California or Florida, Texas or Maine...HUD's new one stop shop will hook you up. The site is www.hudhomestore.com. All Realtors who wish to sell HUD owned property will have to register on this new site prior to bidding. As with all new sytems, the bugs are still being worked out so be patient. It's a masterpiece in the making. Under the new HUD system the state of Georgia has three different marketing companies, Pemco, Home Telos and Ofori. Each of these has multiple local listing brokers which is where we come into play. RE/MAX United is contracted with Pemco and Ofori to sell HUD homes in the west GA area. I am hoping to be diligent in posting to this blog as a useful tool for buyers and local agents. Wish me luck!