Heidi Hines & The World of Real Estate

CONGRATULATIONS Tim!!

REALTOR Tim Brown Earns Strategic Pricing Specialist (SPS®) Designation

Raleigh, NC – Tim Brown of Wilkinson & Associates Real Estate ERA, Lake Norman office has been awarded the Strategic Pricing Specialist (SPS®) Designation.  This honor is only awarded to real estate professionals that participate in the advanced training program and commit to providing exceptional service to their clients.  Brown has done just that.

Created by JAMM Coaching and Training, the Strategic Pricing Specialist (SPS®) Designation is revolutionizing the real estate industry.  SPS® was designed to help real estate professionals minimize overpriced listings and better assist sellers when preparing to list their home for sale.  This course is the first of its kind and is currently offered exclusively in the Triangle market.

According to Jo Mangum, creator of the program and Founder of JAMM Coaching and Training,Brown has joined a select group of sales associates that have committed to providing excellent service to their clients by giving them sound advice when considering selling their home.  “An overpriced listing will be on the market longer, which translates into less money in the seller’s pocket. Listing homes that are incorrectly priced is no longer an option for today’s real estate professionals”. To better assist today’s real estate professionals, Mangum created this unique program.  “SPS® designees approach pricing as a strategy and have the skills needed to navigate that strategy.  They know how to help sellers understand how agents work, apply market trends and value the process of “how buyers buy” to ensure that they get the maximum return on their investment”.

Saturday, October 6th  in Highland Creek

Highland Creek Golf Club

7101 Highland Creek Parkway

Charlotte NC 28269

10am - 12pm

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We are asking for donations of new or gently used coats, blankets, hats, gloves & scarves for men, women & children in our community in need. 

Currently we have a barrel stationed in the Hines & Associates Realty office if you are not able to attend but would still like to donate.

All donations collected will be given and distributed by Crisis Assistance Ministry.

BALLOONS IN THE BUG CONTEST

“How Many Balloons Fit in Heidi’s Bug?” (Closest Number Without Going Over Wins)

You will get a guess for EACH donated item.  

 Highland Creek Golf Club will give a FREE Greens Fee Certificate for each person that donates a coat. The winner will be the CLOSEST to the correct # WITHOUT going over.  You DO NOT have to be present to win.

WINNING PRIZE

TWO Green Fee rounds of golf from Highland Creek Golf Club _________________________________________

$100 Gift Certificate from Susan Dewar and New American Mortgage

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I attended the 48th annual Festival in the Park in Freedom Park in Charlotte, NC a few weekends ago.  It was a fun filled afternoon of good food, good times and good fun!  As I entered Freedom Park, there must have been thousands of people from babies to toddlers to adults, even dogs!  This festival is considered to be the “Grandaddy” of all festivals in Charlotte NC. 

It’s purpose is to shine a spotlight on the arts, featuring artists, performers and the like, both local and from around the globe.  But this festival had so much more to offer!  Carnival rides and face painting for the kids, entertainers, vocalists, performers, even clowns.  Oh and don’t forget the food!!! 

The scent of food filled the air as tons of vendors offered a variety of food; Greek food, seafood, fresh squeezed lemonade, smoothies, hamburgers, hotdogs, popcorn and more. I even had some muscadine wine and it was absolutely amazing.  In addition to food fine art and crafts, there were several performers singing on stage and numerous vendors offering various products such as jewelry, cookware, handbags and more. 

Attending the Festival in the Park was a great way for me to enjoy the cooler weather and see what Charlotte has to offer all at once.  I had a blast!    

I recall sitting down with some sellers once who were very matter of factly stating, “we want to do a short sale". I was surprised, most sellers aren't that anxious to go down this path. It's usually uncontrollable circumstances that get homeowners to this point.

Anyhow, these particular sellers were misinformed. They thought that because they owed more on their home than what it was worth, that "poof" their lender would just take what they could get. Not true! Homeowners who are eligible for a short sale are usually homeowners who have a documented hardship, who are behind on their mortgage and have been denied any type of loan modification.

The short sale process is a long and complicated process. It can take months to get the transaction completed, for several reasons. Unfortunately, the banks seem to take such a long time in responding to offers that many buyers simply get tired of waiting and so they terminate the contract. This causes the bank to close the file. When we do receive another offer, the process starts all over again. Sometimes we can go through 3 and 4 buyers before we actually get to closing.

Short selling your home can be a better option to just letting the home foreclose. Make sure if you are in this situation that you hire an agent who is experienced in short sales. Look for the CDPE designation, this stands for “Certified Distressed Property Expert", otherwise you may receive poor advice causing all sorts of turbulence for you and your family and you'll be lucky if you get to closing!

For more information from a Certified Property Expert, call Heidi Hines 704-458-4636.

RELOCATION – Moved from Clinton Township, Michigan to Davidson, North Carolina

Hello, my name is Carie Brozowski. I work for TeamHeidi® of Hines and Associates Realty in Cornelius, North Carolina. I recently relocated to Davidson, North Carolina from the State of Michigan, along with my Husband, and three children. My Husband, Scott is an Electrician, and times have been bad up North for the past several years. The economy was in a downward spiral, and he continued being laid off from work, or having his pay cut or hours reduced. I too was laid off from my job in Accounting, and forced to take a night job, as we could not afford childcare for our two youngest children. I began working as a Restaurant/Banquet Manager, and continued to work late nights for the past three years. Meanwhile, my husband took a job with a local hospital as a Dialysis Machine Technician. We had great health insurance, but the pay was horrible, and the hours were bad. He worked the day shift, I worked nights. He was on call on the weekends, and I had to work every weekend and Holiday. We had no time together as a family, and we could not get ahead on our bills...

So I am working at my desk at Hines & Associates Realty in Cornelius, NC one usual afternoon when I hear, “Is Betsy here?”  Well not 2 seconds later my husband has made his way through the offices and is standing behind me with a gorgeous bouquet of flowers.  I was speechless because during our 20 years of marriage he has never surprised me at work, much less with a gift – and it was awesome!!  And the best part is, it wasn’t our anniversary, nor was it my birthday.  It was a regular old Friday, albeit a glorious Carolina blue regular old Friday!

May I vent?? I sent Bank of America an offer on 7/24/2012 and they have not even looked at the offer. Each person I speak to has a different story. Does anyone have a clue??? My seller does not want to lose this house to foreclosure and is contemplating bankruptcy. Doesn’t BOA realize that homeowners can just walk away and leave them holding the bag, and that to go through a short sale is sort of doing them a favor?? If your home is on the market and it’s a short sale or you are in contract to purchase a short sale be patient. I had a seller yesterday ask me why I do this type of work? Calgon, TAKE ME AWAY!!! 7/24/12 Faxed over the following documents: 1. Signed Offer to Purchase 2. Signed Backup Offer to Purchase 3. Hardship Letter 4. Most Recent Unemployment Statements (through 7.23.12) 5. Last Two Bank Statements 6. Last Two years Tax Returns (2009 and 2010) Extension has been filed for 2011 7. Short Sale Third-Party Authorization Form 8. HUD 9. Listing Agreement 7/31/12 Called to confirm receipt of offer and docs. Informed of a new process that beganb the day after I sent docs and that we must call Home Retention Dept at 1-800-669-6650 8/3/12 Customer Relations Manager is the liaison between the Short Sale Department and XXX in the Short Sale Department said we had a 120 day maximum wait period for approval, but should have file opened and assigned within 24 hours. 8/7/12 Sent a request for contract to be examined. We were given a time frame of 1-5 business days. 8/15/12 Spoke with XXX. No Foreclosure Date set. However, this guy did not know how operate the system so he told me to call back to get back in the call rotation. (Wow, can’t operate the phone and he is handling short sales)? 8/23/12 Spoke with XXX around 9AM. Was told that we must update seller financials, as they do not have any information since May 9th, 2012 (which wasn’t TRUE BECAUSE I HAD DELIVERED EVERYTHING TO THEM ON 7/23). He said to have the home owner call the Home Retention Dept. at 1-800-669-0102.

21277 Summerbrook DR Cornelius, NC 28031

$299,900

Single Family Home 4 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms Lot: 0.36 acre(s) More Photos and Additional Info

Photos

                 Interested? See more information or schedule showing

For more information, contact (704) 458-4636

2724 Fishermans Drive Concord, NC 28027

$155,000

Single Family Home 4 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms 1 Partial Bathroom Interior: 1,700 sqft Lot: 0.18 acre(s) More Photos and Additional Info

Photos

                 Interested? See more information or schedule showing

For more information, contact (704) 458-4636

5805 Swanston DR Charlotte, NC 28269

$219,900

Single Family Home 3 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms 1 Partial Bathroom Interior: 2,300 sqft Lot: 0.22 acre(s) More Photos and Additional Info

Photos

                 Interested? See more information or schedule showing

For more information, contact (704) 458-4636

308 S Torrence ST Charlotte, NC 28204

$142,500

Single Family Home 2 Bedrooms 1 Bathroom Interior: 1,050 sqft Lot: 0.24 acre(s) More Photos and Additional Info

Photos

                 Interested? See more information or schedule showing

For more information, contact (704) 458-4636

5805 Swanston DR Charlotte, NC 28269

$219,900

Single Family Home 3 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms 1 Partial Bathroom Interior: 2,300 sqft Lot: 0.22 acre(s) More Photos and Additional Info

Photos

                 Interested? See more information or schedule showing

For more information, contact (704) 458-4636

9401 White Cedar CT Charlotte, NC 28213

$84,900

Single Family Home 3 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms 1 Partial Bathroom Interior: 1,550 sqft Lot: 0.22 acre(s) More Photos and Additional Info

Photos

                 Interested? See more information or schedule showing

For more information, contact (704) 458-4636

11208 Skytop DR Huntersville, NC 28078

$329,900

Single Family Home 4 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms Interior: 3,618 sqft Lot: 0.19 acre(s) More Photos and Additional Info

Photos

                 Interested? See more information or schedule showing

For more information, contact (704) 458-4636

15114 Stonegreen LN Huntersville, NC 28078

$279,900

Single Family Home 3 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms 1 Partial Bathroom Interior: 2,428 sqft Lot: 0.38 acre(s) More Photos and Additional Info

Photos

                 Interested? See more information or schedule showing

For more information, contact (704) 458-4636

8009 Fairmeadows DR Charlotte, NC 28269

$240,000

Single Family Home 4 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms 1 Partial Bathroom Interior: 2,750 sqft Lot: 0.23 acre(s) More Photos and Additional Info

Photos

                 Interested? See more information or schedule showing

For more information, contact (704) 458-4636

1613 Mt Isle Harbor DR Charlotte, NC 28214

$650,000

Single Family Home 4 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 1 Partial Bathroom Interior: 4,253 sqft Lot: 0.76 acre(s) More Photos and Additional Info

Photos

                 Interested? See more information or schedule showing

For more information, contact (704) 458-4636