There were 94 properties scheduled for Sheriff's Auction for Elkhart County in the month of March, with 46 of those properties cancelled leaving 48 that were actually taken back. Of those 48, Elkhart had 24, Goshen 13, Bristol 4, Nappanee 3, Millersburg 2, with Middlebury and NewParis with 1 each.
There were only 2 properties that had less than $50,000 owed on them. One was in Elkhart and the other was in Goshen. And, there were only 2 properties that were owed more than $200,000 on them, both were in Elkhart.
Right now, there are 169 properties scheduled for Elkhart Counties Sheriff's auction for April, and 139 scheduled for May.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
My Morning Drive
This morning, I had an appointment all the way over in Warsaw. Sometimes, when I make a trip like this, I have the radio off or down low-relax, and let the thoughts flow about whatever comes to mind. You can call it alone time, God time, my good friend and pastor Mark would probably call it a form of meditation. Anyway, I thought that I would share some of those thoughts from today.
*What do you think would happen if everyone turned off the news for a week? No CNN, no MSNBC or Fox news or local news. How do you think that would effect every ones attitude right now?
*What if Christians ACTUALLY prayed, instead of just saying they are going to do so?
*What if I actually prayed for the people I disagree with? Better still, what if I prayed to help me better understand the person I disagree with instead of praying that the other person change their view?
*What if I only complained about something if I had a solution to that complaint?
*What if everyone started praying for our leaders to succeed rather than to hope that they fail. What kind of impact would that have?
*What kind of impact would it have, if I truly appreciated all of the time I get to spend with the people that I love? How would that effect everyone around me?
And then my mind started wandering to Tiger baseball and the season at hand, but that will be a post for another time.
*What do you think would happen if everyone turned off the news for a week? No CNN, no MSNBC or Fox news or local news. How do you think that would effect every ones attitude right now?
*What if Christians ACTUALLY prayed, instead of just saying they are going to do so?
*What if I actually prayed for the people I disagree with? Better still, what if I prayed to help me better understand the person I disagree with instead of praying that the other person change their view?
*What if I only complained about something if I had a solution to that complaint?
*What if everyone started praying for our leaders to succeed rather than to hope that they fail. What kind of impact would that have?
*What kind of impact would it have, if I truly appreciated all of the time I get to spend with the people that I love? How would that effect everyone around me?
And then my mind started wandering to Tiger baseball and the season at hand, but that will be a post for another time.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
St. Joseph County Foreclosures 3/26
In St. Joseph county Indiana, 49 homes were scheduled for sheriff's auction with 6 being canceled at last count for a total of 43 going to the sale. Of the remaining 43, 3 had more than $200,000 owed on them with two of those three being businesses in Walkerton and Mishawaka. The remaining property is out in New Carlisle.
There were 7 properties listed for the auction that had less than $50,000 owed, all of which were in South Bend.
In all, 31 properties are from South Bend, 7 from Mishawaka, 2 from Lakeville, and 1 from New Carlisle, Walkerton and Granger.
There were 7 properties listed for the auction that had less than $50,000 owed, all of which were in South Bend.
In all, 31 properties are from South Bend, 7 from Mishawaka, 2 from Lakeville, and 1 from New Carlisle, Walkerton and Granger.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Scammers Target Troubled Borrowers
This article is from the Wall Street Journal, James R. Hagerty (3/11/09)
Scam artists are proliferating, attempting to make money off troubled borrowers interested in taking advantage of President Barack Obama's foreclosure-prevention plan.
The firms charge fee for what they tell borrowers will be quick and effective negotiations with banks. In most cases, the firms take the home owners' money-often more than $1,000-and do nothing.
The Federal Reserve recently issued this advice for people seeking to modify their mortgages:
*Work only with HUD-approved nonprofit counselors. (see www.hud.gov)
*Don't agree to pay a fee before you are provided with the promised service.
*Beware of people offering "guaranteed" results.
*Don't sign blank forms or documents you have not read.
Scam artists are proliferating, attempting to make money off troubled borrowers interested in taking advantage of President Barack Obama's foreclosure-prevention plan.
The firms charge fee for what they tell borrowers will be quick and effective negotiations with banks. In most cases, the firms take the home owners' money-often more than $1,000-and do nothing.
The Federal Reserve recently issued this advice for people seeking to modify their mortgages:
*Work only with HUD-approved nonprofit counselors. (see www.hud.gov)
*Don't agree to pay a fee before you are provided with the promised service.
*Beware of people offering "guaranteed" results.
*Don't sign blank forms or documents you have not read.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Helping Kids With Cancer Smile
Prudential Realty's national charity is called "The Sunshine Kids" which is a nonprofit organization to help provide positive group activities for kids with cancer. Every year Michiana's local Prudential offices, Prudential One Realty, sponsors a dinner auction benefit to raise money for local Sunshine Kids to go to camps and to take trips to help take their minds off of the treatments that they are receiving. This years auction benefit will be on Saturday, May 16, at the Mishawaka F.O.P.. The event will be from 4p.m. until Midnight and will include an Auction, live entertainment and a polish buffet.
This year, I have the honor and privilege of being the auction chairperson. The tickets are $30 each and there will be a cash bar. Local auctioneer, Jason Kaser, has volunteered his time to do the live auction portion which will feature weekend vacation packages to Chicago, dinner with a local mayor, various electronics and other exciting items. There will also be a silent auction, tip boards and raffles.
If you would like more information about this event, to donate or to purchase tickets to it, please feel free to call me on my cell phone at 574-370-8156 or email me at BarrySkalski@sbcglobal.net Below is a news clip about a Sunshine Kids event that was in Las Vegas. It was not our local kids that went, but you'll get a better idea about what this is all about.
This year, I have the honor and privilege of being the auction chairperson. The tickets are $30 each and there will be a cash bar. Local auctioneer, Jason Kaser, has volunteered his time to do the live auction portion which will feature weekend vacation packages to Chicago, dinner with a local mayor, various electronics and other exciting items. There will also be a silent auction, tip boards and raffles.
If you would like more information about this event, to donate or to purchase tickets to it, please feel free to call me on my cell phone at 574-370-8156 or email me at BarrySkalski@sbcglobal.net Below is a news clip about a Sunshine Kids event that was in Las Vegas. It was not our local kids that went, but you'll get a better idea about what this is all about.
Monday, March 16, 2009
February 2009 Numbers for Southwest Lower Michigan
Hot off of the press, here are the numbers that my board office just released for the month of February for Southwest Lower Michigan.
Total units were -37% from 167 in 2008 to 105 in 2009. The Hartford/Lawrence area (+67%) and the Dowagiac/Cassopolis area (+22%) were the only areas that showed gains over last year. The Coloma/Watervliet area was the largest downturn at -77%. Other notible downturns were Bridgman/New Buffalo (-71%), Edwardsburg/Cassopolis (-62%), Berrien Springs/Eau Claire (-60%), and the markets of St.Joseph/Lakeshore and South Haven/Bangor/Covert were -47%.
Other numbers: Days on the market is -15% over last year, from an average of 142 in 2008 to 117 in 2009. Average sales price has dropped from $181,292 in 2008 to $125,126 in 2009 which is -31% from last year. Dollar volume has dropped from $30,275,711 in 2008 to $13,226,874 in 2009 which is -56% over last year.
Total units were -37% from 167 in 2008 to 105 in 2009. The Hartford/Lawrence area (+67%) and the Dowagiac/Cassopolis area (+22%) were the only areas that showed gains over last year. The Coloma/Watervliet area was the largest downturn at -77%. Other notible downturns were Bridgman/New Buffalo (-71%), Edwardsburg/Cassopolis (-62%), Berrien Springs/Eau Claire (-60%), and the markets of St.Joseph/Lakeshore and South Haven/Bangor/Covert were -47%.
Other numbers: Days on the market is -15% over last year, from an average of 142 in 2008 to 117 in 2009. Average sales price has dropped from $181,292 in 2008 to $125,126 in 2009 which is -31% from last year. Dollar volume has dropped from $30,275,711 in 2008 to $13,226,874 in 2009 which is -56% over last year.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
My Economic and Real Estate Recovery Plan
I have been a little hesitant to post this, but it has been on my mind for the last week or two, which is probably why I have not posted as much lately. I've been trying to think of the right way to present this, as I keep getting urged from people around me that I should speak up about how we might be able to get out of this economic/housing situation.
So first, I want to say, that this is not meant to replace any current programs out there that have been floated by our government. I think that there are some very good programs that have been started with the stimulus bill that was passed. I also think that there were a few things in that stimulus that should not have been a part of it.
Second, I do think that the new plan to help stop foreclosures could work, as long as the banks buy into it.
So, kind of the same thing with this, people would have to buy into it. The agents and business people I talk with (Democrat and Republican) seem to like what I am about to propose that our government look at doing. Now that the disclosures are out of the way, here it goes.
To fix the economy, job creation and real estate recovery must go hand in hand. My plan to create jobs, would be through energy independence. I would accomplish this by giving every new start up "green" business 100% exemption from taxes of any kind for the next 2 years. It seems a little radical, but, it would enable small business to avoid a huge barrier and empower them to hire employees and invest capital in research and development. For existing companies that chose to invest in "green" technology, they would get a partial tax break depending on the amount of their business is dedicated towards it. I think this would lay the foundation for a large employment and education "boom" in this country as people would need to be retrained as the old style blue collar jobs have gone away and probably are not coming back. This would create a new kind of blue collar job. Also, this would strengthen our national security by lessening our dependence on foreign energy.
The real estate side of things, I feel, can be fixed by smart lending. A few years ago, the mistake was made by letting people with bad credit history buy a house with zero down with a low interest rate. Since then, lending has went the opposite direction as a knee jerk reaction. We need to get back to sensible lending practices again. Zero down programs are not the problem. Giving zero down to people with bad credit is a problem. People with a credit score of 720 or higher and good debt to income ratio's should be able to buy a house with zero down and get a good rate. They have proven over time that they pay their bills on time and are responsible with their credit. People with 719 down to 660, should be able to by a home with 2% down and an interest rate slightly higher-say 1/2 point higher. People with 659 down to 600 should be able to buy with 5% down and a point or so higher for an interest rate. This will allow the people that should be buying to buy, and make it more difficult for others to buy, which is how it should be. I have known people that earn close to 7 figures a year that have 600 credit because they don't pay anything on time. It is not fair that they get the same or better rate than a person does making $80,000 per year that has a 790 credit score.
To fix foreclosures, in addition to what the government has already started, I would do a temporary moratorium on foreclosures for 6 months for the unemployed. After 6 months, they would have to make 1/2 mortgage payments for 3 months. At 9 months, they would have to make 3/4 of a mortgage payment monthly. After 1 year they would be back to having to make a full mortgage payment. All missed payments and monthly shortages would be put onto the back of the loan. This would give people enough time to find another job or get the necessary job training to get another job. It would slow up the glut of houses hitting the market and keep people in homes.
These are some radical ideas, but they could work, I think. Let me know what you think.
So first, I want to say, that this is not meant to replace any current programs out there that have been floated by our government. I think that there are some very good programs that have been started with the stimulus bill that was passed. I also think that there were a few things in that stimulus that should not have been a part of it.
Second, I do think that the new plan to help stop foreclosures could work, as long as the banks buy into it.
So, kind of the same thing with this, people would have to buy into it. The agents and business people I talk with (Democrat and Republican) seem to like what I am about to propose that our government look at doing. Now that the disclosures are out of the way, here it goes.
To fix the economy, job creation and real estate recovery must go hand in hand. My plan to create jobs, would be through energy independence. I would accomplish this by giving every new start up "green" business 100% exemption from taxes of any kind for the next 2 years. It seems a little radical, but, it would enable small business to avoid a huge barrier and empower them to hire employees and invest capital in research and development. For existing companies that chose to invest in "green" technology, they would get a partial tax break depending on the amount of their business is dedicated towards it. I think this would lay the foundation for a large employment and education "boom" in this country as people would need to be retrained as the old style blue collar jobs have gone away and probably are not coming back. This would create a new kind of blue collar job. Also, this would strengthen our national security by lessening our dependence on foreign energy.
The real estate side of things, I feel, can be fixed by smart lending. A few years ago, the mistake was made by letting people with bad credit history buy a house with zero down with a low interest rate. Since then, lending has went the opposite direction as a knee jerk reaction. We need to get back to sensible lending practices again. Zero down programs are not the problem. Giving zero down to people with bad credit is a problem. People with a credit score of 720 or higher and good debt to income ratio's should be able to buy a house with zero down and get a good rate. They have proven over time that they pay their bills on time and are responsible with their credit. People with 719 down to 660, should be able to by a home with 2% down and an interest rate slightly higher-say 1/2 point higher. People with 659 down to 600 should be able to buy with 5% down and a point or so higher for an interest rate. This will allow the people that should be buying to buy, and make it more difficult for others to buy, which is how it should be. I have known people that earn close to 7 figures a year that have 600 credit because they don't pay anything on time. It is not fair that they get the same or better rate than a person does making $80,000 per year that has a 790 credit score.
To fix foreclosures, in addition to what the government has already started, I would do a temporary moratorium on foreclosures for 6 months for the unemployed. After 6 months, they would have to make 1/2 mortgage payments for 3 months. At 9 months, they would have to make 3/4 of a mortgage payment monthly. After 1 year they would be back to having to make a full mortgage payment. All missed payments and monthly shortages would be put onto the back of the loan. This would give people enough time to find another job or get the necessary job training to get another job. It would slow up the glut of houses hitting the market and keep people in homes.
These are some radical ideas, but they could work, I think. Let me know what you think.
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