Aventura & Sunny Isles Beach Luxury Real Estate

The big buzz word and trend out there is still the term “short sale.” It seems like every other property for sale falls under the caption “short sale” and a full understanding of the rules and consequences are very unclear. Sometimes to avoid foreclosure, owners are considering the short sale. The short sale definition: a lender allows a property to be sold for less than the remaining balance on the mortgage loan. Sounds simple? Guess again. Basically the short sale is an arrangement between the current owner and the lending bank to accept an offer for less than the total amount that is owed to pay off the property. The lender is “shorted” and this deficiency is the difference between the amount owed and what the bank collects at the short sale. This arrangement can happen in many ways but the definition is still the same. Too many are throwing the term around too loosely taking on other meanings that are just not accurate. Short sale does not mean a property sold under market value, or a foreclosed home, or an owner deciding to lower their price and take less profit. The only way it can be a SHORT SALE is if the lender accepts less and is “shorted.” Most short sales come about when the seller owes more on the property than they can sell it for. At that time the owner tries to make an arrangement with the bank to sell the property for less than is owed. This arrangement differs from bank to bank. Don’t assume anything because each bank does it differently. There are several basic principles that are found common in most arrangements: Short sales are not a “free ride.” The short fall must be accounted for and you do have to show hardship. You should seek advice from knowledgeable professionals. There are attorneys out there specialized in short sales who will guide you through the whole process. The process through the short sale is long and tiring and anything but quick and short. There is much back and forth for the seller as well as for the buyer. Also understand that those working for the bank are not there on the seller’s behalf. They are employed by the lender and their goal is to collect as much money as possible for their employer. Buyers and Sellers need Realtors with short sale experience. This can be a long and arduous road. A Realtor with knowledge can help you expedite your transaction and will also guide you to the ones who will help you the most quickly. Ask questions and have a lot of patience. This is the time for some great opportunities for both sides. Look out for the great deals and take advantage.
by
Susan Koslovsky

Interest rates, discount coupons, returns on your money and sales galore all use that almighty power of percentages to show you what you are saving or getting for your hard earned money. After all, we all love a good bargain and the want to get the most “bang for the buck.” The dollar certainly does not go nearly as far as it used to and it becomes a very strategic numbers game to give you the best edge possible. Whether it be store coupons, rebates or points to redeem for spending, we all need to feel we are getting more than just the dollars we earn. We seek out the best possible ways to invest our money and make plans for our futures accordingly. Be cautious for all the fine print that may include additional costs that will reduce your savings and make sure you really understand what you may have to spend in money and time to actually benefit from the supposedly great deals. The discounts never seem good enough once you factor in inflated prices, time invested, and distances you may have to go to participate in the great deals. After all, do you really need all that “stuff?” But for the savvy investor in both time and money, there are many lucrative possibilities out there for consumer products, investment opportunities, and real estate endeavors. Now unfortunately, for every side there is the “other” side and that includes what you have to pay in the form of percentages as well. Interest rates on credit cards, mortgages, late fees, increased prices, and let’s not forget your time. The rise in the costs of consumer products as a percentage of yesterdays’ amounts can be staggering. Factor in the additional fees everyone charges that most of the time is not disclosed until the very end and you start to realize how much you need the discounts and savings more than ever. Most numerical calculations are always spoken about as percentages to be able to explain the shifts in differences between past and present. It is supposed to give us a better understanding of what is being presented. Those percentages can be confusing, daunting, and often times misleading.Make sure you have a clear picture of the real numbers behind those percentages before you leap to spend or save so there are no surprises or false assumptions. Always remember that the most careful consideration should be given to the percentages of savings or expenditures of time. That my dear readers, is the percentages that should be most carefully examined.
by
Susan Koslovsky

The cycles of our lives take us through many emotional roller coasters as we reach the many milestones on our journey. When you have a family, a circle of friends, live within a community, and extend relationships into the workplace you find you are intertwined in the lives of so many people. Hopefully your core is strong within a tightly woven family structure be that large or small. That is the place from where you draw your real strength and your true passion. It is the place you can always rely on and where you turn for your truest happiness. Now imagine extending beyond your core into your circle of friends, community, and those you work with. Not only does your relationship grow between each other, but you start to share each others’ lives as well. The expression “it takes a village” takes on a whole new meaning. A phone call, an email, an invitation, are all gestures to extend yourself beyond your core to be part of a much bigger circle. We come to rely on our social network as the emotional fuel we all need to move through our cycles of life. After all, what is a wedding celebration or a birth of a baby without those around us to share our blessings? Birthday parties, graduations, and let’s not forget the sadness and tragedies we each must bear at some time or another, all need to be shared with the extended circles in our lives. When these opportunities present themselves jump in and take part whenever you possibly can. Accept an invitation, show your enthusiasm for someone else’s joy, and lend a kind word to ease your friend’s sorrow when necessary. Think twice about saying no and hesitate less when it comes to saying yes. Be part of the cycles of life of your family, your friends, and your community around you. Enjoy each others’ celebrations, feel great about each others’ blessings, and be there to comfort when the time comes. You cannot live your life as an island nor should you. The richness and satisfaction will fill your life with lots of smiles and good feelings. Just think about what it will do for all the others around you who also feel blessed to have you in their lives. Here’s to many cycles, celebrations, and as few moments of sadness as absolutely necessary.
by
Susan Koslovsky