Chris Farkas Bellingham Blog: Chris Farkas (Exit Realty Associates)

Mississauga, ON (Grassroots Newswire) – As a 30-year veteran in the real estate field, Tami Bonnell continues to lead the way when it comes to her vast knowledge and understanding of the industry.  From her background in mergers and acquisitions to her countless speaking engagements, her passion is relentless and EXIT Realty is proud to have her on their team.
 
“Tami Bonnell’s leadership goes above and beyond the call of duty”, commented EXIT Realty Corp. International Founder and CEO, Steve Morris, “She commands the absolute respect, reverence and esteem of every EXIT Realty associate at all levels of the corporation throughout North America.  She sets the tone and tempo for our leaders and radiates an example of the finest quality as a clear pathway for others to follow.”
 
Since becoming President of the US Organization for EXIT Realty Corp. International, her focus is on growth and profitability for Regions, Brokers and Agents. Bonnell has been featured several times in major industry publications, including Real Estate Magazine, Bay State REALTOR® and Frog Pond Communications. She is a much sought-after international speaker, addressing thousands at events such as RISMedia’s Leadership Conference in NY, Inman News Conference in San Francisco and the Top 500 Power Brokers at The National Association of REALTORS® Convention, and regularly speaks at Women’s Council of REALTORS® meetings across the country.  “Tami is a relentless communicator, her experience naturally comes through and there is nothing artificial about her” says Jeff Lobb, EXIT Realty Trainer and Technology expert, “She has a very logical approach and the innate ability to motivate people to take action.”
 
At EXIT’s Annual Convention in Washington DC, this past October, Bonnell was presented with the Leader’s Leader award for her hard work, dedication, knowledge and professionalism.
 
"In my forty years in real estate I’ve had the opportunity to know and work with many executives and leaders.  Tami Bonnell speaks boldly from her heart with strong convictions about what she believes is needed to improve our industry and works harder that anyone I have ever known.  Her heart, vision and a strong work ethic earns my utmost respect," said Bob McKinnon, EXIT Realty’s Senior Regional Consultant.
 
Ms Bonnell’s upcoming speaking engagements include an address to the Women’s Council of REALTORS® in New York in March entitled “Prepare for Change”.

 

Here in the Pacific Northwest, or the Pacific Northwet as a friend of mine called it, we inspectors see many decks that have some decay present. If the structural lumber is pressure treated then often that will be okay. However the flat surface wood decking boards will frequently have a soft/decayed surface that can even be unsafe. I have known people to step on a deck and go right through -- one leg hanging lower than another.

The flat surfaces are the most exposed and, when rain hits, the water will soak into the wood. And, over time, that causes rot. Carefully cleaning as required, and treating the deck surface, can help prolong the decking boards. When you see vertical cracks in the decking, rain will soak in and that will cause rot quite rapidly. When you see moss and algae, that is a sign that rot will not be far behind.

Speaking of rot not being too far behind. Here are a couple photos that are typical.

  

Wood will rot at moisture levels of twenty percent and above so, needless to say, keeping exterior wood from rotting in the northwest takes careful planning and maintenance.

Thanks for stopping by,

Steven L. Smith

Frost-free hose bibbs are designed to drain when the water is shutoff. It will run out past the valve and by draining all of the water, the hose bibb is not so prone to freezing. The point where the water is really shutoff is inside the home or the wall where it is warmer.

The whole purpose of these hose bibbs is defeated when hoses are left on the faucets. I cannot tell you how many times, at inspections, I have turned on the water and found that the water was rushing out from inside the wall. Problem -- ruptured hose bibb.

Bottom line: For a frost-free hose bibb to be frost free, it needs to lose the hose in freezing weather.

 

Thanks for stopping by,

Steven L. Smith

There is an old saying, "the law is for the lawless".  Many people in Washington state facing foreclosure will benefit from this new law (especially families where there are children involved and new schools have to be found sometimes) but for those who exploit the system, it puts more sand in the machinery.

Please click on article below defining the new law our governor has just signed:

http://www.raincityguide.com/2009/06/19/longer-waiting-period-to-evict-tenants-after-foreclosure-in-wa-state-effective-july-26-2009-and-free-legal-aid-for-wa-homeowners-facing-foreclosure/

I am interested in anyone's take on this and what effect positively or negatively it will have.

It's the Internet age, and more and more homeowners are searching the Internet to find out how they can save their home if they’re in foreclosure. One strategy I’ve been asked about several times is the “Produce the Note” strategy. Some articles have been written that have led many homeowners to believe that this strategy is the “silver bullet” to delay or stop foreclosure, or even get your mortgage wiped out completely so you own your house free and clear.

The “Produce the Note” strategy requires the lender to prove it has the actual authority to foreclose, by requiring it to produce the original promissory note. The goal is to make certain that the foreclosing lender is, in fact, the owner of the note. There is only one original promissory note for your mortgage that has your signature on it. This is the document that proves that you owe the debt.

During the lending boom, many mortgages were sold off to other lenders or servicer or sliced up and sold to investors as securitized packages on Wall Street. In the frenzy of turning these over as fast as possible to make the most money, many of the new lenders did not get the proper paperwork to show they own the note and mortgage. This is the key to the strategy—Lenders are foreclosing on homeowners, but don’t have the proper paperwork to prove they have a right to foreclose.

Sounds pretty simple--If they can’t produce the original promissory note, then you don’t really owe the debt, right? In Washington State (and other non-judicial foreclosure states), that’s not necessarily the case.

Judicial Foreclosure vs. Non-Judicial Foreclosure

In a judicial foreclosure state, the bank must sue the borrower and go to court in order to foreclose. The “Produce the Note” request is done as part of the lawsuit. Washington is a non-judicial foreclosure state, meaning that the lender doesn’t have to take you to court in order to foreclose. You can request that the bank produce the original note, but they’re likely to disregard the request completely, leaving you with only one other option--File a lawsuit against the lender and request that they produce the original note. This could become very time consuming if you try to do it yourself, or expensive if you use an attorney. I don’t recommend filing a lawsuit without the help of an attorney. Also, this strategy is more effective when your loan has been sold off on the secondary market. If it hasn’t, then your lender most likely has the original note and can easily produce it.

My Own Experience With Lost Promissory Notes

I have been in situations with my own properties where original promissory note was lost. I've worked with notes from private lenders and seller carry-back notes, and these non-institutional lenders sometimes lose the original note. The seller carrying back a note may scan the original note and Deed of Trust into their computer then discard the originals, not realizing that they were supposed to keep them. When the note is being paid off and the lender cannot produce the original note or Deed of Trust, the escrow company just has them sign and notarize an "Indemnification of Lost Deed of Trust and Original Note". Then everything is fine.

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Authored by David Monroe, licensed real estate associate and Pre-Foreclosure and Short Sale Specialist.
Access Seattle area short sale help and foreclosure resources including selling in foreclosure, and 8 Ways to Avoid or Stop Foreclosure.

Copyright (c) 2009 by David Monroe (Masterpiece Properties, LLC).
Can the "Produce the Note" Strategy Really Stop Foreclosure?