Parkland Florida Realtor Michael Citron Quoted In Sun Sentinel For Housing Strategies For 2012
Parkland and South Florida Realtor Michael Citron was quoted in yesterday’s Sun-Sentinel article entitled: South Florida housing strategies for 2012. It appears that the housing market collapse is fading away bringing a stronger and more stable market in the coming months and years, especially in more stable communities like Parkland, Florida.
Home sales in Parkland and South Florida are on the rise, as the real estate bottom nears. But, the shadow inventory of bank foreclosures soon to hit the market and less than stellar job market could prolong the recovery. Sun-Sentinel reporter, Paul Owers, provides a guide to help both buyers and sellers, and homeowners “underwater” on their current mortgages in 2012:
Sellers:
DO: Consider selling early in 2012, before foreclosures hit the market
DON’T: Try to attract buyers with cars, cash or most other incentives
Underwater Borrowers
DO: Plan now if you’re considering a short sale
DON’T: Think you’re necessarily stuck with an underwater mortgage
I was quoted in the Sentinel article giving advice to potential buyers in 2012:
DO: Write a letter to the seller, explaining why you want the home
DON’T: Sound desperate or let the seller know how much of a mortgage you’re approved for
If you’re writing to a lender, be sure to explain that you’re pre-approved for a mortgage and can close quickly, Broward County (and Parkland) real estate agent Michael Citron said. If the seller is the existing homeowner, go into more personal detail. “If the home has a pool, tell them that you hope your kids can learn to swim in that pool,” Citron said. “A regular seller wants to know the buyer will appreciate the house as much as they did.”
If you are thinking about selling or buying a home, it has never been a better time to make a move in real estate for 2012. To read the complete Sun-Sentinel article, please click here It is a honor and privilege to be considered as a local real estate expert. I look forward to working with the Parkland and South Florida community for all of your real estate needs in 2012.
Know the neighborhood. Know the value. Know your hometown agents: The Parkland Parrot Real Estate Team. If you are interested in buying or selling real estate in Parkland or South Florida and are looking for experienced local Realtors, please do not hesitate to contact the Squawk at 954-609-0591 or send us a message here.
Chinese Drywall Settlement Could Cost Chinese Firm 1 Billion
Finally, the end looks near for the Chinese Drywall issue that has hit many states, particularly Parkland and South Florida. Chinese Drywall manufacturer, Knauf and its Chinese affiliate Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin, recently agreed to a settlement that would give cash to help replace the Chinese Drywall in affected homes.
The settlement will cost approximately $600 million to $1 billion. According to NBC Miami, the company will cover all of the necessary Chinese Drywall repairs on all 4,500 houses that were affected. Among the homes affected, 55% of the homes are in the State of Florida. There are thousands of homeowners, mostly in the South, affected by the installation of tainted Chinese Drywall.
Attorneys for the plaintiffs said that Knauf knew that the Chinese Drywall that they installed in homes was defective and neglected to tell customers. Chinese Drywall gives off a foul odor. It also corrodes wiring and metal in appliances and causes health problems. Settlements have been reached with other Chinese Drywall manufactures and more should follow.
This is great news for many Parkland and Florida homeowners that have been dealing with the Chinese Drywall saga for many years. This news will also help stabilize the overall Parkland and Florida real estate market as more and more homeowners will receive settlements in order to finally remove the Chinese Drywall in their homes. As a result, homeowners, and their families, will soon be able to enjoy their homes that they had built. We will continue to provide the Parkland community with updated information on the Chinese Drywall court proceedings.
Know the neighborhood. Know the value. Know your hometown agents: The Parkland Parrot Real Estate Team. If you are interested in buying or selling real estate in Parkland or South Florida and are looking for experienced local Realtors, please do not hesitate to contact the Squawk at 954-609-0591 or send us a message here.
Parkland Real Estate Agent Michael Citron Helps Negotiate Successful Short Sale
It is a pleasure to announce that the Parkland Parrot Real Estate Team just successfully help negotiate a short sale for a client of ours in the Cypress Head community. Bank Of America agreed to accept almost $500,000 less than was was owed and gave my client a full release for the deficiency.
Our client was ecstatic to be able to successfully short sale his Cypress Head home in Parkland, Florida and now be able to move on with his life. The government implemented the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives (HAFA) program which is in place to help homeowners settle their mortgage debt without going through a foreclosure. The goal of this program is to help homeowners sell their properties through the short sale process and settle their mortgage debt if they owe more on the mortgage than what the home is actually worth. With the help of this program, the short sale process is streamlined and also offers financial assistance to help with relocation. In particular, our client in Cypress Head was even given $3,000 from this program in moving costs.
On Bank Of America’s website, here is the qualification to be eligible for the HAFA program:
1. The property is your current principal residence, OR the property has been vacant or rented out for less than 12 months, and you have not bought another principal residence during that time.
2. The amount you owe on your first mortgage for your property is equal to or less than:
- $729,750 for 1 unit
- $934,200 for 2 units
- $1,129,250 for 3 units
- $1,403,400 for 4 units
3. You owe more on your home than it’s worth
4. Your current mortgage was taken out on or before January 1, 2009
5. You are experiencing a hardship (such as a job loss, divorce or medical emergency) and are unable to afford your current home loan
It is a great pleasure for our team to be able to help someone in need and get them on to the next step in their lives. In particular, this stressful situation was handled with the utmost professionalism and care. Our short sale clients truly understand that we have their best interests in mind and are here to help throughout the entire process. We were able to close this transaction in only 4 months, where most short sales take approximately 6-8 months to get done.
If you know anyone in Parkland or South Florida who is “underwater” on their home, tell them to give me a call directly at: 954-609-0591, so I can help answer all of their questions and concerns and provide them with pertinent short sale information.
Know the neighborhood. Know the value. Know your hometown agents: The Parkland Parrot Real Estate Team. If you are interested in buying or selling real estate in Parkland or South Florida and are looking for experienced local Realtors, please do not hesitate to contact the Squawk at 954-609-0591 or send us a message here.
Heron Bay Parkland Homeowner Asked To Remove 911 Flag From Home
Richard Wentz, a retired New York Police officer that lives in Heron Bay, was recently asked to take down his commemorative 911 flag from his home. Wentz lives in The Fairways At Heron Bay community and was told by the association that he must remove the flag or risk being fined or possibly sued. Patricia Favata, president of the The Fairways At Heron Bay Board of Directors, claims that neighbors have complained that Mr. Wentz is breaking the rules of the association that state that a homeowner can only have one flag on their property. Mr. Wentz currently boasts two flags: one regular U.S. flag and another special flag for the victims of 911.
Wentz is a true American hero that ran into Tower 1 of the New York Trade Center and helped pull out people before the building collapsed. Wentz also lost 43 friends and colleagues that day, and the inside of his Heron Bay home is a shrine to the lives lost at the World Trade Center. Mr. Wentz now is fighting cancer, which he says he received from breathing in all of the particles and debris during the cleanup of Ground Zero.
I hope that Mr. Wentz’s fellow homeowners in the Fairways at Heron Bay come together and voice their concerns to the Board Of Directors on the treatment of a formed New York police officer and hero. I am sure that everyone can come together and allow Mr. Wentz, as well as other Heron Bay homeowners, the right to display their support for the victims and heroes of 911.
I also want to let our readers know that the Parkland Parrot Real Estate Team has no affiliation with the Heron Bay Homeowner’s Association. We have received several emails from Parkland homeowners, as well as people from around the country, voicing their concerns. If you would like to contact the association regarding this issue, please call Benchmark Property Management at: 954-344-5353. Again, I hope that Mr. Wentz can keep is flag posted proudly in front of his Heron Bay home. I look to the Fairways At Heron Bay association to allow him to keep the flag up and, if necessary, amend their rules and regulations regarding this issue.
Know the neighborhood. Know the value. Know your Parkland hometown agents: The Parkland Parrot Real Estate Team. If you are interested in buying or selling a home in Parkland or South Florida and are looking for experience local Realtors, please do not hesitate to contact us at: 954-609-0591 or send us a message here
Del DeMarino (left), had to take less money for his Coral Springs home because of foreclosures and short sales nearby. His real estate agent Michael Citron is helping him deal with a difficult market. 
