Don’t forget to bulldoze your house

A recent Ohio man had enough from his bank and bulldozed his house before the foreclosure.  Now, some may say that this is a controversial move.  In fact, 1 out of 1 persons in a recent poll said that it was the wrong thing to do.  Of course, that one person would be me.  So what led up to such a horrible action?

phoenix short sale

Why bulldoze when you can short sale?

Well, it turns out that he fell out of luck with the IRS, and as a result he fell out of luck with his bank.  I can certainly feel sympathy for the guy.  According to the story at http://www.wlwt.com/news/22600154/detail.html, he had an offer that would have allowed him to pay his debt off in full.  The bank decided that they could get more money at a foreclosure auction, and they decided to move forward with the foreclosure process.  Certainly the greed here was a major factor.

So what do we learn from this story?  Well, this guy is probably going to face some major jail time.  I can’t speak of Ohio laws, but in Arizona, we sign a contract stating that we will do our best to maintain the property’s value.  Last I checked, only in Michigan does scraping a house improve the property’s value.

The best thing to do if you’re facing a looming foreclosure is to avoid jail time.  That means that you should seriously consider a short sale instead of bulldozing your house.  Remember, you learned that lesson here.

Bicycle Cellar

This week’s featured business is Bicycle Cellar, run by John Romero. They have a great website at www.thebicyclecellar.com.

What does your company do?

The bicycle cellar is a commuter support facility offering secure bike parking, showers, lockers, towel service, bike rentals, bike related retail and service.

Why did you start in it?

It was an opportunity to contribute to the community through cycling, helping people green up their lives and improve their quality of living, through cycling.

Who do you serve?

The bicycle cellar serves the cycling community and anyone whom is interested in using the bicycle as vehicle, using less gas, emitting less carbon and saving the planet.

Discounts/opportunities for people that come from this site

2 for 1 bike rentals for anyone who finds us through your website.

What do you do outside of this business?

We participate in and support cycling events including charity rides and competitive events.

Any interesting stories?

One of our newest members, an avid cyclist, actually accepted an employment position in Tempe, moving from Colorado, based on knowledge of our facility, which allowed him to commute to work without the need to purchase a car!

To learn more about The Bicycle Cellar, please visit www.thebicyclecellar.com or call them at  480-219-7225.

ABC news says to walk away from your home

There’s a very interesting article from ABC news that suggests it’s ok to walk away from your home.  This is certainly controversial advice.  While some may want to stick it to the lenders, it is better in the long run to short sale your home.  FHA recently stated that they will allow you to purchase again immediately to take advantage of this market.  If you do go through the foreclosure route, you will be effectively out of the market for at least 3 years per FHA guidelines.  You can read this article here: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/mortgage-defaults-expert-brent-white-tells-borrowers-walk-away/story?id=9802435

There is also a big lesson in this story.  Do NOT touch your retirement to placate the lenders.  The banks cannot touch your retirement in a short sale or a foreclosure, so why ruin your future?  As long as we are working towards your short sale, they will not foreclose on your home.  I hope that this provides some insight into the business, and if you need help, I want to help you.

In true community spirit…

I’ve created a Featured Business page.  As a member of the Tempe Chamber of Commerce, I’m trying to promote Tempe businesses.  This is a real opportunity to feature your business.  If you’d like to participate or recommend a business, please email me at steve@occasiorealty.com.

Gorgeous Short Sale – 8234 W Beaubien Dr, Peoria – $179,900

Short SaleModel shape with lots of ceramic tile and wood flooring in all the right places, vaulted ceilings, custom lighting and window treatments, pebbletec pool with waterfall, park-like backyard with corner lot, living and family rooms, eat-in kitchen with microwave, light oak cabinets, breakfast bar, plant shelves, entertainment nook, wood blinds, ceiling fans, rounded corners, master with separate tub and shower, walk-in closet, 3 car garage with opener and shelving, RV gate, grass and desert landscaping with sprinklers, much more!

Phoenix Business Journal thinks I’m an Authority

I was recently quoted in the February 1 print edition of the Phoenix Business Journal.  This paper is the industry source of all business news in AZ, and so I am excited that I was given the opportunity to express my views of the short sale world.  For those of you with a subscription, you can view the article here: http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2010/02/01/story7.html

It’s unfortunate that my name was not before the fold, so to speak.  Here’s the part I was honored to contribute:

Steve Trang, a Realtor with Occasio Realty in Tempe, said having someone waiting in the wings for a short-sale deal is not always bad, because it can expedite the process and keep the home from going into foreclosure. He said lenders always can turn down suspicious offers.

Anyway, it’s always great to see all your hard work pay off.  If you have any short sale questions, I would be happy to answer them for you.