Jeff Firnstahl, Distressed Property Expert

Robo-Signing Settlement

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 09:18:37 GMT

If you have been following the news, you know that there has been an exciting development in the world of real estate.

In February, the government settled with five major banks in what has come to be known as the Robo-Signing Settlement. Worth $25 billion, this settlement has created incredible opportunity for distressed homeowners who are in danger of losing their homes to foreclosure.

If anyone you know may need our expertise, please have them visit our website www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com for a copy of our recent report entitled “The Robo-Signing Settlement: How it can help you stay in your home!”

And then contact us for a confidential consultat

Jeff Firnstahl

Team Firnstahl

Real Estate Services

Phone: 763-587-7200

www.FreeMovingTruck.com

www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com

"Your referrals are always appreciated!"

**Who do you know that is falling behind on their mortgage payments or struggling to keep their house? Please tell us and we can help them!

PS: Should you know anyone looking to buy or sell, please do two things, first, tell them about us and second, hit reply and tell me about them. Thanks!

Free help for avoiding foreclosure

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 09:24:50 GMT

For millions of homeowners, trying to balance a budget while maintaining a mortgage that is more than the value of a home is becoming nearly impossible.

Add the threat of scams, con-artists and people who are willing to take advantage of vulnerable homeowners and the scale continues to tip the wrong way.

As a team of Certified Distressed Property Experts (CDPE) our first priority is to help distressed homeowners find a way to tip the scale back in their favor and bring some balance back to their lives.

If you or someone you know has found themselves under the weight of an unmanageable mortgage, visit our website www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com for a copy of the report entitled, “Is Your Mortgage Out of Balance with Your Budget?”

Then, contact us for a free, confidential consultation.

Team Firnstahl

Real Estate Services

Phone: 763-587-7200

www.FreeMovingTruck.com

www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com

"Your referrals are always appreciated!"

**Who do you know that is falling behind on their mortgage payments or struggling to keep their house? Please tell us and we can help them!

PS: Should you know anyone looking to buy or sell, please do two things, first, tell them about us and second, hit reply and tell me about them. Thanks!

Is Your Mortgage out of Balance with your Budget?

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 09:12:00 GMT

It can happen quickly.

An expensive car repair, an unexpected hospital visit, a missed week of work – just a few little things and the life you’ve worked so hard to build can feel like it’s tipping dangerously out of balance.

Once the scales turn against you, it can feel like it is impossible to ever tip them back in your favor again. When your financial problems reach the point where they threaten your home, it is difficult to manage the stress. Sometimes it is even difficult to force yourself to seek help.

As a real estate team of professionals who have earned the Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation, our mission is to provide financially-challenged homeowners with options to foreclosure, ensure that they steer clear of scams, and help navigate them through the solution that best meets their needs.

Choose to face the challenge with professionals on your side.

We can help you realign the balance in your financial life and tip the scales back in your favor. Call or email us and schedule your free, confidential consultation. We can work together to make sure you end up ahead.

Team Firnstahl

Real Estate Services

Phone: 763-587-7200

www.FreeMovingTruck.com

www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com

"Your referrals are always appreciated!"

**Who do you know that is falling behind on their mortgage payments or struggling to keep their house? Please tell us and we can help them!

PS: Should you know anyone looking to buy or sell, please do two things, first, tell them about us and second, hit reply and tell me about them. Thanks!

Unmanageable Mortgages Weigh Heavy on Distressed Homeowners

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:09:44 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Andover, MN - March 7, 2012 – “It is amazing how many homeowners go from balance in their financial lives to being held hostage by a mortgage they increasingly can’t afford,” said Jeff Firnstahl with Team Firnstahl Real Estate Services. “One-fourth of all homeowners owe more on their mortgage than their home is worth. Homeowners go to bed every night feeling like the scales are tipped against them,” Firnstahl added.

An entire network exists with the sole purpose of solving the America’s foreclosure crisis one homeowner at a time. As a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE), Jeff says one simple fact is crucial for homeowners in mortgages that are crippling them: “There are options for homeowners in the Twin Cities & surrounding areas! More than at any other time in my career, there are ways to avoid foreclosure without ruining your ability to buy a home in the future.”

A Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) is knowledgeable of the entire landscape of foreclosure avoidance options and is distinctly qualified to negotiate with banks and help financially strapped homeowners regain peace of mind and a sense of stability for the future.

Jeff Firnstahl has developed a free report entitled, “Is Your Mortgage out of Balance with Your Budget” that is accessible from his website, www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com.

The report provides an overview of qualification criteria for the most common foreclosure alternatives, cites red flags for scams, and reminds homeowners why avoiding foreclosure needs to be a top priority.

Jeff Firnstahl

Team Firnstahl

Real Estate Services

Phone: 763-587-7200

www.FreeMovingTruck.com

www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com

"Your referrals are always appreciated!"

**Who do you know that is falling behind on their mortgage payments or struggling to keep their house? Please tell us and we can help them!

PS: Should you know anyone looking to buy or sell, please do two things, first, tell them about us and second, hit reply and tell me about them. Thanks!

Under the Cloud of an Unmanageable Mortgage?

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:54:11 GMT

A lot has probably changed since you bought your home. Home values have tanked, unemployment has spiked and homeownership has taken a turn for the worse.

Millions feel stuck in a home they can’t afford to sell because they owe more on their mortgage than the home is worth. And for many, the mortgage payment is no longer manageable, so they are slipping farther and farther behind every month.

At the same time, scam artists are coming up with new schemes to take advantage of homeowners who are down on their luck.

As a team of Certified Distressed Property Experts (CDPE) our mission is to help homeowners to steer clear of scams and figure out the best option based on their circumstances. The fact is, no one wants to see you foreclose on your home, and more help is available than ever before.

We invite you to visit our website www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com for a copy of our recent report entitled, “Are You Living Under the Cloud of an Unmanageable Mortgage?”

And then contact us for a confidential consultation.

Team Firnstahl

Real Estate Services

Phone: 763-587-7200

www.FreeMovingTruck.com

www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com

"Your referrals are always appreciated!"

**Who do you know that is falling behind on their mortgage payments or struggling to keep their house? Please tell us and we can help them!

PS: Should you know anyone looking to buy or sell, please do two things, first, tell them about us and second, hit reply and tell me about them. Thanks!

Millions Feel Stuck in a Home They Can't Afford...

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:27:12 GMT

You may have read or heard in the news that home values have tanked, unemployment has spiked and homeownership has taken a turn for the worse.

At the same time, scam artists are coming up with new schemes to take advantage of homeowners who are down on their luck.

If anyone you know may need our expertise, please have them visit our website www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com for a copy of our recent report entitled, “Are You Living Under the Cloud of an Unmanageable Mortgage?”

And then contact us for a confidential consultation.

All our best to you in 2012!

Team Firnstahl

Real Estate Services

Phone: 763-587-7200

www.FreeMovingTruck.com

www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com

"Your referrals are always appreciated!"

**Who do you know that is falling behind on their mortgage payments or struggling to keep their house? Please tell us and we can help them!

PS: Should you know anyone looking to buy or sell, please do two things, first, tell them about us and second, hit reply and tell me about them. Thanks!

It's a Sign of the Times!

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:04:08 GMT

Most of us grew up thinking that if we planned well and played by the rules, we’d never have to stand by as our financial lives unraveled.

But upheaval on Wall Street, unacceptable rates of unemployment and plummeting real estate values have taken their toll. Since 2007, 7.9 million homeowners have lost their homes to foreclosure. Current estimates are that one in four homeowners owe more on their mortgages than they could get from the sale of their home. Millions more homes will be lost to foreclosure before this real estate crisis runs its course.

The sad fact is that foreclosure is not an isolated event. For months leading up to the loss of a home, financially strapped homeowners live under a cloud of uncertainty. And then for many years afterwards, the blow to credit gets in the way of buying another home or buying anything on credit. Foreclosure even complicates employment prospects.

The impact of foreclosure is huge and the sad fact is that it’s often avoidable.

As a team of real estate professionals who have earned the Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation, our mission is to provide financially strapped homeowners with options to foreclosure, ensure that they steer clear of scams, and help navigate them through the solution that best meets their needs.

Among the most important facts to keep in mind: the sooner help is sought, the better the options.

These are tough times, but more help is available than ever before. If you or someone you care about is ready to navigate away from the dark cloud of an unmanageable mortgage and realize that hope and blue skies are within reach, contact us today and let’s get started.

Team Firnstahl

Real Estate Services

Phone: 763-587-7200

www.FreeMovingTruck.com

www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com

"Your referrals are always appreciated!"

**Who do you know that is falling behind on their mortgage payments or struggling to keep their house? Please tell us and we can help them!

PS: Should you know anyone looking to buy or sell, please do two things, first, tell them about us and second, hit reply and tell me about them. Thanks!

Unmanageable Mortgages Continue to Cloud Family Finances & Real Estate Recovery

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:40:14 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Andover, MN – February 1, 2012– “The stress of an unmanageable mortgage can cloud everything,” said Jeff Firnstahl, CDPE & Broker of Team Firnstahl Real Estate Services. “With nearly one-fourth of all homeowners owing more on their mortgage than their home is worth, the nation’s overall stress level is in the stratosphere,” Firnstahl added.

Connected to a network of professional committed to solving the nation’s foreclosure crisis one homeowner at a time, Firnstahl’s message to financially strapped homeowners: “more help is available than ever before. Since 2007, 7.9 million homes in the United States have been lost to foreclosure, and my mission is to stem the tide of foreclosures within the Twin Cities & surrounding suburban areas.

A Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE), Firnstahl is knowledgeable of the entire landscape of foreclosure avoidance options and is distinctly qualified to negotiate with banks and help financially strapped homeowners to regain peace of mind and a sense of stability for the future.

Jeff has developed a free report entitled, “Are You Living Under the Cloud of an Unmanageable Mortgage?” that is accessible from his website, www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com.

Upheaval on Wall Street has gotten a lot of attention, but until recently, homeowners have been left to their own devices. Firnstahl is on a mission to change that.

If you’d like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Jeff
Firnstahl, please call Team Firnstahl’s Client Care Manager Brenda Davis at 763-587-7200 or email Brenda at clientcare@teamfirnstahl.com.

Team Firnstahl

Real Estate Services

Phone: 763-587-7200

www.FreeMovingTruck.com

www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com

"Your referrals are always appreciated!"

**Who do you know that is falling behind on their mortgage payments or struggling to keep their house? Please tell us and we can help them!

PS: Should you know anyone looking to buy or sell, please do two things, first, tell them about us and second, hit reply and tell me about them. Thanks!

Tipping the Scales toward Foreclosure?

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:29:06 GMT

This is the time for taking stock and deciding what needs to happen to move into the year ahead with a positive momentum.

If you or anyone you care about has been burdened by a mortgage that’s no longer manageable, you are well aware of how much the stress and uncertainty can cloud a person’s outlook. And the fact that millions of Americans are in this situation right now might not be much of a consolation.

The fact is, there are no easy answers. There are, however, connected, qualified experts who are tapped into the best solutions based on individual circumstances, and are committed to helping financially distressed homeowners to make a fresh start.

That’s where we come in.

Helping clients to figure out their best course of action within a market that’s nothing like any of us have ever dealt with before requires an entirely new level of expertise and training. That’s why we’ve sought out the Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation—the most recognized and respected training on distressed properties in the real estate industry.

We invite you to visit our website for more information at www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com. Please pass along our contact information to someone you know who could benefit from a confidential consultation.

All our best to you in 2012,

Team Firnstahl

Phone: 763-587-7200

www.FreeMovingTruck.com

www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com

"Your referrals are always appreciated!"

**Who do you know that is falling behind on their mortgage payments or struggling to keep their house? Please tell us and we can help them!

PS: Should you know anyone looking to buy or sell, please do two things, first, tell them about us and second, hit reply and tell me about them. Thanks!

A Financial Resolution for 2012

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:51:46 GMT

Millions of homeowners in this country are unable to afford the payments on a home that’s worth less than the amount they owe on their mortgage.

These are people who have played by the rules, made good decisions, and had every reason to believe that the American Dream of homeownership was in their hands.

Unemployment, underemployment and real estate market upheaval has derailed a lot of those dreams. Since 2007, 8.9 million homes have been lost to foreclosure.

Our mission is to keep you and anyone you care about from adding to that statistic.

The fact is, there are options to foreclosure—better options now than ever before.

As a team of Certified Distressed Property Experts (CDPE), we have the training and expertise to help financially distressed homeowners to make a positive fresh start. If you or anyone you care about is faced with an unmanageable mortgage, we can help.

We invite you to visit our website www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com for a copy of our recent report entitled, “Tipping the Scales Toward Foreclosure?”

Jeff Firnstahl

Team Firnstahl

Real Estate Services

Phone: 763-587-7200

www.FreeMovingTruck.com

www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com

"Your referrals are always appreciated!"

**Who do you know that is falling behind on their mortgage payments or struggling to keep their house? Please tell us and we can help them!

PS: Should you know anyone looking to buy or sell, please do two things, first, tell them about us and second, hit reply and tell me about them. Thanks!

Resolve to Face the Facts!

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 08:58:40 GMT

Since 2007, 8.9 million homes have been lost to foreclosure and millions more are headed in that direction.

As a team of real estate professionals who have earned the Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation, our mission is to ensure that you or anyone you care about does not add to that statistic.

The unfortunate fact is that so many homeowners who have played by the rules and never imagined that they could be facing foreclosure are now in a very tough situation.

More than one in four homeowners owes more on their mortgage than their home is worth. On top of that staggering statistic is the fact that millions of homeowners are unemployed, or underemployed and falling further behind every month.

Sound familiar? Rest assured you are not alone.

If you feel that you are headed toward foreclosure, or if you are avoiding facing that fact, the sooner you reach out for help, the better your options.

As CDPE agents, we help distressed homeowners to work through every aspect of the denial and discouragement that accompanies a mortgage which is no longer manageable, and in the process, to move toward financial solvency.

If you or someone you care about is ready to tip the scales back toward financial solvency, contact us today and let’s get started.

Jeff Firnstahl

Team Firnstahl

Real Estate Services

Phone: 763-587-7200

www.FreeMovingTruck.com

www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com

"Your referrals are always appreciated!"

**Who do you know that is falling behind on their mortgage payments or struggling to keep their house? Please tell us and we can help them!

PS: Should you know anyone looking to buy or sell, please do two things, first, tell them about us and second, hit reply and tell me about them. Thanks!

New Year Offers New Opportunity for Financially Strapped Homeowners

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 09:54:41 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Andover, MN – January 4^th, 2012– “Millions and millions of homeowners in the United States spent 2011 under a cloud of uncertainty caused by missed payments on an unmanageable mortgage,” said Jeff Firnstahl of Team Firnstahl Real Estate Services.

Firnstahl’s message to financially strapped homeowners in the Twin Cities market: “the expertise and resources to ensure that 2012 gets off to a far more positive start is close at hand.”

A Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE), Firnstahl is knowledgeable foreclosure avoidance alternatives and is adept at negotiating with major banks and helping financially strapped homeowners to regain peace of mind and a sense of stability for the future.

Jeff’s free report entitled, “Tipping the Scales Toward Foreclosure: Resolve to Shed the Weight of an Unmanageable Mortgage in 2012,” is accessible from his website, www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com.

“As the report point out,” Jeff says, the recovery of U.S. housing market, hinges on huge reductions to the current glut of foreclosed homes, and as such, all major players have taken foreclosure-prevention efforts up several notches.”

“The most important fact for financially distressed homeowners to keep in mind: the sooner help is sought, the better,” Firnstahl emphasized.

For more information contact Team Firnstahl today!

Jeff Firnstahl

Team Firnstahl

Real Estate Services

Phone: 763-587-7200

www.FreeMovingTruck.com

www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com

"Your referrals are always appreciated!"

**Who do you know that is falling behind on their mortgage payments or struggling to keep their house? Please tell us and we can help them!

PS: Should you know anyone looking to buy or sell, please do two things, first, tell them about us and second, hit reply and tell me about them. Thanks!

A Fresh Financial Start for 2012

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:54:44 GMT

An unmanageable mortgage is an unbearable burden.

As we enter into the holiday season, millions of families are fearing foreclosure and not knowing where to turn.

More than 25 percent of homeowners in this country owe more on their home than it’s worth in today’s market. Add to that an unacceptable rate of unemployment and underemployment, and you’ve got a housing crisis with no easy answers.

As a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) it is my mission to help homeowners to avoid foreclosure and to get their lives on a positive path. If you or anyone you care about is faced with an unmanageable mortgage, I invite you to visit my website or forward this link www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com for a copy of my most recent report entitled, “Mortgage Payment Weighing You Down.”

The fact is, more help is available for financially distressed homeowners than ever before. This is no time to go it alone, and the time to contact me about getting on path toward financial stability is NOW!

Sincerely yours,

Jeff Firnstahl

Team Firnstahl

Real Estate Services

Phone: 763-587-7200

www.FreeMovingTruck.com

www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com

"Your referrals are always appreciated!"

**Who do you know that is falling behind on their mortgage payments or struggling to keep their house? Please tell us and we can help them!

PS: Should you know anyone looking to buy or sell, please do two things, first, tell them about us and second, hit reply and tell me about them. Thanks!

Unaffordable Mortgage Payments?

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:49:05 GMT

Unaffordable mortgage payments weighed heavily on a lot of Americans this year. And there’s something about the holiday season that seems to magnify financial burdens and uncertainty.

For homeowners who feel weighted down by a mortgage that is no longer affordable, there would be few more welcome gifts than the opportunity to make a fresh start knowing that they have successfully avoided foreclosure.

We invite you to visit our website www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com and contact us if you know of someone we could help. And please feel free to refer our contact information to others within your sphere.

Sincerely,

Jeff Firnstahl

Team Firnstahl

Real Estate Services

Phone: 763-587-7200

www.FreeMovingTruck.com

www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com

"Your referrals are always appreciated!"

**Who do you know that is falling behind on their mortgage payments or struggling to keep their house? Please tell us and we can help them!

PS: Should you know anyone looking to buy or sell, please do two things, first, tell them about us and second, hit reply and tell me about them. Thanks!

Take action now to turn it around in 2012

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:42:15 GMT

Recent economic upheaval has taken a hefty toll. Looking forward to 2012, it’s impossible to know what’s next and the kind of an impact that an upturn or a downturn at the national level stands to have on your family’s finances.

Regardless of what happens in Washington or on Wall Street, two things are very clear: you are not alone and now is the time to prepare for a new normal.

With a national epidemic of unemployment or underemployment, and 25 percent of the homeowners in the country owing more on their home than they could net for it in today’s market, homeownership for many has become a financial liability. Not being able to make payments on a home that you can’t afford to sell feels like an awful trap, but the fact is, there are solutions—and foreclosing on your mortgage is not one of them.

Loan modification is an option for many and banks are increasingly willing to negotiate short sales. In many cases, they’re offering sizable financial incentives to help financially strapped homeowners to get a fresh start on their lives.

As real estate professionals who have achieved the Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation, it is our mission to give homeowners the gift of a fresh start.

Jeff Firnstahl

Team Firnstahl

Real Estate Services

Phone: 763-587-7200

www.FreeMovingTruck.com

www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com

"Your referrals are always appreciated!"

**Who do you know that is falling behind on their mortgage payments or struggling to keep their house? Please tell us and we can help them!

PS: Should you know anyone looking to buy or sell, please do two things, first, tell them about us and second, hit reply and tell me about them. Thanks!

Team Firnstahl Real Estate Services Urges Delinquent Borrows to Seek Alternatives to Foreclosure

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:27:34 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Team Firnstahl Real Estate Services Urges Delinquent Borrows to Seek Alternatives to Foreclosure

Andover, MN – December 7, 2011– For the 6.3 million homeowners in the United States who are burdened by the stress of being behind on their mortgage payments, the holidays represent a particularly stressful time, observed Jeff Firnstahl with Team Firnstahl Real Estate Services.

Noting that the fear of foreclosure tends to cause many homeowners to go into denial or become frozen into inaction, Firnstahl has launched a campaign at the outset of the holiday season to remind homeowners that they are not alone. A Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE), Firnstahl is tapped into foreclosure avoidance alternatives, is adept in negotiating with major banks. In addition Firnstahl is on top of the full range of schemes that scam artists have come up with to take advantage of homeowners who are in search of solutions to an impending foreclosure.

“For financially strapped homeowners, the gift of a fresh start could be the greatest gift that they could offer their family in the New Year,” Firnstahl said.

“Contrary to popular belief,” Firnstahl said, “banks truly do not want to foreclose on your home and add another property to their balance sheets.” And even though more and better foreclosure options are available now than ever before, the distressed properties landscape is complicated and full of pitfalls. The most important step that a homeowner can take toward finding a solution is aligning themselves with a trained professional who has the expertise and the commitment to help.

For a copy of the free report, “Mortgage Payments Weighing You Down,” that Jeff Firnstahl has prepared to provide distressed property owners with an overview of their options and what they need to watch out for, go to www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com.

For more information please contact me:

Jeff Firnstahl

Team Firnstahl

Real Estate Services

Phone: 763-587-7200

www.FreeMovingTruck.com

www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com

"Your referrals are always appreciated!"

**Who do you know that is falling behind on their mortgage payments or struggling to keep their house? Please tell us and we can help them!

PS: Should you know anyone looking to buy or sell, please do two things, first, tell them about us and second, hit reply and tell me about them. Thanks!

It's Time to Take Another Look at Short Sales

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 10:18:47 GMT

As recently as a few months ago, if you would have told a real estate agent who specialized in short sales that they’d be raving about a lender’s stellar service and rapid approval times—not to mention significant cash incentives for financially strapped homeowners for pursuing a short sale—you’d have gotten some strange looks.

That’s all changed. And it’s changed faster and to a greater extent than most real estate professionals ever could have imagined.

With a glut of bank-owned properties dragging down the recovery of the real estate market, as well as the national economy, major lenders are more eager than ever before to avoid foreclosure. So they’ve sharpened their focus on short sales. Big time.

The biggest lenders in the country have staffed up to ensure rapid processing of short sale applications. They’ve ponied up with cash incentives at closing for homeowners who pursue a short sale. And they’re proactively reaching out to CDPE agents and putting them in touch with delinquent borrowers.

This is big news and the media has not really caught onto it yet. What’s important for you to know is that whatever you’ve read or heard in the past about long lag times and frustrations with short sales is probably no longer the case.

As a team of the CDPEAdvanced community, we're tapped into major lenders and on top of major developments affecting short sales and bank-owned properties. We invite you to visit my website www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com to learn more and feel free to contact us any time at 763-587-7200 or clientcare@teamfirnstahl.com if you or anyone you know is struggling with an unmanageable mortgage.

Jeff Firnstahl

Team Firnstahl

Real Estate Services

Phone: 763-587-7200

www.FreeMovingTruck.com

www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com

"Your referrals are always appreciated!"

**Who do you know that is falling behind on their mortgage payments or struggling to keep their house? Please tell us and we can help them!

PS: Should you know anyone looking to buy or sell, please do two things, first, tell them about us and second, hit reply and tell me about them. Thanks!

Handling the Stress of an Unaffordable Mortgage Payment

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 11:56:32 GMT

Firnstahl

Team Firnstahl

Real Estate Services

Phone: 763-587-7200

www.FreeMovingTruck.com

www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com

"Your referrals are always appreciated!"

**Who do you know that is falling behind on their mortgage payments or struggling to keep their house? Please tell us and we can help them!

PS: Should you know anyone looking to buy or sell, please do two things, first, tell them about us and second, hit reply and tell me about them. Thanks!

Whenever I research the latest foreclosure and distressed property statistics, the sheer number of Americans facing the stress of losing their homes amazes me. It is my goal to help as many homeowners I can either stay in their homes or relieve the burden of their mortgages. Knowing that there are so many that need my help is a driving force for me to continue doing what I do.

In fact, I just released another report that I’ve made available on my website today. It explains the CDPE designation and lists 10 options that homeowners can take advantage of to relieve the stress that comes with owing their mortgage lenders more money than they can afford to pay.

The report also draws a contrast between short sales and foreclosures. Unfortunately, there’s a growing trend of “strategic defaulters” who think it’s smart to let their home go into foreclosure. As any one who follows this blog knows, there is nothing strategic about foreclosure; it’s one of the most long-lasting, negative financial challenges you can go through.

I’m excited about acting as a resource for more homeowners who have questions about what they should do. As always, if you know homeowners who may need my help, have them contact me immediately! Together, we can put them back on the path to financial stability.

Jeff

Missing Mortgage Payments?

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 09:41:38 GMT

Missing Mortgage Payments?

...It’s Not Too Late

Wondering what a homeowner should expect when payments are missed? The most important thing to know is that no matter what stage of default a homeowner is in, there is almost always a way to avoid foreclosure. That being said, the quicker a homeowner does something about the situation, the less challenging it will be to resolve.

First, here’s what a distressed homeowner should expect to happen when payments are missed:

30 Days Late: The lender will attempt phone contact or send a notice in the mail.

60 Days Late: The lender will attempt to make contact by phone and follow up with another letter in the mail.

90 Days Late: The lender will send a letter demanding all past due amounts within 30 days and start the foreclosure process.

120 Days or More Late: The lender’s attorneys will take over and the homeowner will be responsible for their fees in addition to missed mortgage payments and the loan amount due.

Not late yet, but about to be?

Homeowners that are not late but foresee missing payments should communicate this to their lenders as soon as possible. In the past, many banks wouldn’t work with homeowners unless they were one or more payments behind. In light of the mortgage crisis, most lenders who would rather take a proactive stance and decrease their loan losses. They are more willing than ever to work with homeowners to avoid being late.

If you are visiting my website, you or someone you care about may miss mortgage payments in the near future. I can help navigate the process and put you back on a path to financial stability. Contact me today and alleviate the stress that comes with unaffordable mortgage payments.

Jeff Firnstahl

Team Firnstahl

Real Estate Services

Phone: 763-587-7200

www.FreeMovingTruck.com

www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com

"Your referrals are always appreciated!"

**Who do you know that is falling behind on their mortgage payments or struggling to keep their house? Please tell us and we can help them!

PS: Should you know anyone looking to buy or sell, please do two things, first, tell them about us and second, hit reply and tell me about them. Thanks!

Short Sale vs. Foreclosure?

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 12:53:46 GMT

Team Firnstahl Real Estate Services

Phone: 763-587-7200

www.FreeMovingTruck.com

www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com

"Your referrals are always appreciated!"

**Who do you know that is falling behind on their mortgage payments or struggling to keep their house? Please tell us and we can help them!

PS: Should you know anyone looking to buy or sell, please do two things, first, tell them about us and second, hit reply and tell me about them. Thanks!

I get the question from people all the time: short sale or foreclosure, which is the better option? My knee-jerk reaction is always “Are you kidding? Short sale, of course!” This has been mostly because I was always under the impression that a short sale, although still a ding on your credit, was gentler on the score than a foreclosure.

But according to a recent blog post by FICO Banking Analytics, there is no real difference in the affect a short sale or a foreclosure has on your credit score. Both the impact in points and the time to fully recover is about the same for both events.

This put me in a precarious situation. All this time I had lauded the short sale as vastly superior to foreclosure, largely because of its less adverse affects on credit. So I was forced to do further research into which was the better option. In doing so I learned about benefits of a short sale I wasn’t even aware of, and found that the FICO blog was way off.

Each borrower’s credit situation is different, and the way that a creditor reports a short sale to bureaus is different. The reality is that hundreds of thousands of distressed homeowners who have chosen a short sale have experienced a lesser impact on their credit than those who have chosen foreclosure.

In a short sale, a distressed homeowner may be able to obtain another mortgage sooner than someone who has a foreclosure on his or her record. Also, more and more employers pull credit before hiring a potential employee, and a foreclosure can keep you from getting a job. Some employers pull credit reports on existing employees, and a foreclosure may not bode well in certain industries.

These benefits stacked against the negatives of foreclosure, including the embarrassment of public announcement and literally being kicked out of your home, make, in my opinion, short sale the reigning champion.

Now you make the call!

Jeff Firnstahl

You make the call!

Mortgage Relief Fraud: Will You Be the Next Victim?

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 09:41:16 GMT

Mortgage Relief Fraud: Will You Be the Next Victim?

Not if I have anything to say about it!

The FBI reported a jump of 71% in mortgage relief fraud investigations from 2008-2009, and expects this number to have grown in 2010.

That’s why it’s my duty to educate homeowners in my community on the cautions they need to take, and what the government has recently done to protect you from unscrupulous individuals and companies who want to take advantage of their desperate situations.

What you need to watch out for if you are looking for mortgage relief assistance:

1. Upfront fees—just don’t pay them! In fact, they are now illegal!

2. A request to sign over your deed (this only spells trouble)

3. Lots of paperwork without the opportunity for review

4. The claim of government-affiliation

These are just a few red flags you need to be wary of. I’ve created a free report on the homepage of my website that details more of what you need to watch for.

If you are struggling with an unaffordable mortgage and are looking for help, educate yourself. These scammers can be very shrewd and will say almost anything to steal your money.

The Federal Trade Commission has required disclosures of anyone offering mortgage relief services. If you’d like to see an example, check out any of the pages of my website. If a company you are dealing with has not provided these disclosures, please ask why they are not compliant, and proceed with caution!

As a CDPE, you can trust that I have the tools to be in full compliance of FTC regulations, and will always work with your best interests at heart.

If you want viable alternatives to foreclosure, give me a call today. I’m always here to help!

Jeff Firnstahl

Team Firnstahl

Real Estate Services

Phone: 763-587-7200

www.FreeMovingTruck.com

www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com

"Your referrals are always appreciated!"

**Who do you know that is falling behind on their mortgage payments or struggling to keep their house? Please tell us and we can help them!

PS: Should you know anyone looking to buy or sell, please do two things, first, tell them about us and second, hit reply and tell me about them. Thanks!

3 Reasons the Term “Strategic Default” Is Misleading

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 09:24:17 GMT

In a recent study, the Chicago Booth/Kellogg School Financial Trust Index found that a full 36% of Americans would consider “strategic default”—another term for walking away from your mortgage—if they were underwater (owed more on their home than what it was worth).

Now that more than one in four American homeowners is “underwater,” I feel that it’s important for the community to know the truth about strategic default.

The truth is the foreclosure process carries with it credit issues, current and future employment challenges, issues with security clearance and possible debt collections.

That’s why it is vital to explain the 3 reasons why the term “strategic default” is misleading:

1. There’s nothing strategic about defaulting on purpose, especially when you have options like short sales, mortgage modifications, and refinance (just to name a few) that may keep you from foreclosure.

2. The waiting periods to apply for a new mortgage loan are at least five years less in a short sale vs. a foreclosure.

3. A foreclosure will show up on your credit report every time you apply for a home loan, car loan, new job, etc., and will affect your financial situation for many years to come.

If you are underwater and can no longer afford your mortgage payments, you need to create a genuine strategy to avoid foreclosure, helping to provide stability for you and our community.

If you have any questions about what steps you or someone you care about should take next, contact us today!

Team Firnstahl

Phone: 763-587-7200

www.FreeMovingTruck.com

www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com

"Your referrals are always appreciated!"

**Who do you know that is falling behind on their mortgage payments or struggling to keep their house? Please tell us and we can help them!

PS: Should you know anyone looking to buy or sell, please do two things, first, tell them about us and second, hit reply and tell me about them. Thanks!

Solving Your Mortgage Crisis Just Got Easier

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 13:21:21 GMT

5 Steps for a Successful Short Sale

Lenders and the federal government, prompted by the sheer volume of loan modification and short sale requests, have overhauled their systems and programs, making the foreclosure avoidance process much easier than in the past.

If you are considering short selling your home to avoid the financial and emotional fallout of foreclosure, you should be aware of the five steps you should take to increase your chances of a successful transaction.

First, do you qualify?

You must:

1. Have a verifiable hardship, like unemployment, medical bills, or relocation

2. Must have a monthly income shortfall

3. Be insolvent (you have no cash or assets that can be sold to pay down the mortgage), or headed towards insolvency

If you meet these qualifications, follow these five steps to a successful short sale:

1. Contact me so we can identify your servicer, fill out a short sale packet for the lender, and assemble all the required information needed to list your home for sale

2. Gather financial information (i.e., bank statements, pay stubs) from at least the last three months

3. Keep your house in showcase condition for showings, and make as many repairs as necessary and that you can afford

4. Expect the lender, junior lien holders, and private insurance companies to request more paperwork, and try to gather requested information quickly to ensure transaction efficiency

5. Set realistic expectations and work with me, the lender, and the buyer to the satisfaction and benefit of all parties involved

For more information about how the short sale process works, or about any other foreclosure alternatives you may qualify for, call me today. I can help you alleviate the burden that the threat of foreclosure brings, and we can develop a strategy to help you breathe a little easier.

Jeff Firnstahl

Team Firnstahl

Real Estate Services

Phone: 763-587-7200

www.FreeMovingTruck.com

www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com

"Your referrals are always appreciated!"

**Who do you know that is falling behind on their mortgage payments or struggling to keep their house? Please tell us and we can help them!

PS: Should you know anyone looking to buy or sell, please do two things, first, tell them about us and second, hit reply and tell me about them. Thanks!

Changes to Monthly Mortgage Statements

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 11:26:10 GMT

According to Housingwire's "Monday Morning Cup of Coffee", a new rule is being worked on by the Federal Reserve. It's called Regulation Z and would require lenders to show borrowers what their monthly payment would look like if there were interest rate changes. The rate changes would be shown in a table showing how & when the interest rate changes could take effect.

Regulation Z is a great way of informing buyers of potential changes to their monthly mortgage before they finalize a variable rate or payment. This change could help new homebuyers avoid the potential heartache of a short sale or foreclosure when the rate changes to something they possibly can't afford.

Jeff Firnstahl

Team Firnstahl

Real Estate Services

Phone: 763-587-7200

www.FreeMovingTruck.com

www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com

"Your referrals are always appreciated!"

**Who do you know that is falling behind on their mortgage payments or struggling to keep their house? Please tell us and we can help them!

PS: Should you know anyone looking to buy or sell, please do two things, first, tell them about us and second, hit reply and tell me about them. Thanks!

We can't wait to hear more about it! What are your thoughts?

Don't Let Your Credit Score Drop Unnecessarily

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 13:04:32 GMT

Avoiding foreclosure now could make or break your attempts to get a loan in the near future and determine whether you can get affordable interest rates.

That's why I've made this site available for anyone in our community struggling with mortgage payments. Foreclosure alternatives like short sales and deeds-in-lieu allow homeowners to avoid many of the damaging effects of foreclosure. In addition, short sales may have less of an impact on credit scores than foreclosure.

If you need assistance, contact me right away.

I'm here to assist you.

Jeff Firnstahl

Team Firnstahl

Real Estate Services

Phone: 763-587-7200

www.FreeMovingTruck.com

www.TeamFirnstahlHelps.com

"Your referrals are always appreciated!"

**Who do you know that is falling behind on their mortgage payments or struggling to keep their house? Please tell us and we can help them!

PS: Should you know anyone looking to buy or sell, please do two things, first, tell them about us and second, hit reply and tell me about them. Thanks!