South Florida Real Estate Blog

The Tello Team is proud to announce that a great annual event is back in Coconut Creek! The Junior Bass Tournament is back, and registration is happening right now!
This is a wonderful event for the young fisherman in your family! All youth from 12 to 17 are invited to register, however they must be accompanied by an adult who is 18 or over.
Tournaments will be held on the following dates and locations:
February 19 – Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek
April 15 – Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach
March 18 – Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek
Fishing begins at first light, and will run until 1:00 pm. Trophies and prizes will be awarded at each tournament. The angler compiling the most points in all four tournaments will win Junior Bass Angler of the Year.
Don’t forget to register your fisherman now! Good luck from all of us at the Tello Team!

Goodbye 2011, hello 2012! The past year has been filled with events which have happened throughout our country (both good and bad), as well as events in the lives of Pembroke Pines homeowners. Some of us have experienced hardships, some have experienced joys such as the birth of a child or the purchase of a new home. All of us have experienced memories – memories that will stay with each and every one of us for a lifetime.

All of us at the Tello Team would like to thank each and every one of you for being a part of our lives throughout 2011. During this past year, you have touched us in so many ways, and you will stay in our thoughts for years to come.
Thank you for making some great memories from all of us at the Tello Team.

We hope we can become a part of your lives and your memories in 2012, and for years to come!

Many of you have heard of Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives (HAFA), and know that it is a part MHA (Making Homes Affordable), which is a plan developed by the Obama Administration to assist Pembroke Pines homeowners in avoiding foreclosure. Do you really know what HAFA is all about?
If you are no longer able to own a home, or are simply finding that home ownership has become unmanageable, HAFA may be the answer. Through HAFA, you won’t owe any more for the property after leaving, and you will be free from the threat of foreclosure.
You may be eligible to apply for HAFA if you meet all of the following guidelines:
• You live in the home or have lived there during the last 12 months.
• You have a documented financial hardship.
• You have not purchased a new house within the last 12 months.
• Your first mortgage is less than $729,750.
• You obtained your mortgage on or before January 1, 2009.
• You have not have been convicted within the last 10 years of felony larceny, theft, fraud or forgery, money laundering or tax evasion, in connection with a mortgage or real estate transaction.
Are you ready to take the next step? Do you need more information on HAFA, or any other program that may help you avoid foreclosure? Contact the Tello Team today, and let us show you how we can help. Call us today at 954-237-0600.

We came across this interactive map in the New York times and thought you might find it interesting.
It makes it easier to track county-by-county population changes in Florida. Only two Florida counties saw a population decrease over the 10 year period, however both Broward and Mami Dade experienced modest population gains.

http://projects.nytimes.com/census/2010/map?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=thab1

Make it a great day!

A very common question in real estate that comes up during this time of year is “Should my home be taken off the market?” This is a wonderful time of year to keep your home on the market! Potential buyers love seeing homes that are decorated for the holidays, as it gives them a “warm feeling” and makes the home feel more personable to them. They can imagine themselves living in that home, which leads to a sale!

It can be very tough to decide whether or not to keep your home on the market during this time – especially with all of the children’s plays and pageants, social gatherings of family and friends, shopping, decorating your home, and so much more going on during this hectic season.

Here are some great reasons to keep your home on the market this holiday season:

1. In many cases, homeowners take some time off work during the holidays. That time off can definitely lead to some showings! Your home will look like a picture postcard to potential buyers!
2. Buyers during the holiday season are much more serious about purchasing a home. They may not have children, or their children are grown – which means that moving during the school year isn’t an issue. Finding that perfect home however, is what matters most to them!
3. A family that is relocating due to a job may not have a choice – they MUST look during the holidays. They may be starting that new job in their new location at the beginning of the new year. Offering to allow them to see your home could lead to a quick sale!
4. If you do get an offer, you will have the opportunity to arrange the terms of the sale to suit your needs. If moving during the holidays is not an option for you, simply select a closing date of your choice. Most sales do not go to closing until 30-60 days after the offer is made, so this is normally not an issue!

Do you have questions on how the Tello Team can assist your with the sale of your home? Contact us by calling 954-237-0600 or simply send us an email! We’d love to assist you with the sale or purchase of your next home!

The Thanksgiving holiday is over, and we have conquered the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. What’s next on the list of special things to do this season? Holiday lights!
For the past several years, Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek as offered a beautiful display of holiday lights – and they will not disappoint in 2011! The 16th edition of the drive-through light extravaganza began Friday, November 18, 2011, and will run through Monday, January 2, 2012. The three-mile route includes dozens of static and animated light displays and illuminated trees.
Why not take some time out of your busy schedule to relax and enjoy the beauty of the Holiday Fantasy of Lights. The extravaganza will be available to all from 6 pm until 10 pm nightly, including holidays. For admission fees and more information, please visit www.holidaylightsdrivethru.com.
The Tello Team wishes you a very happy holiday season!

A foreclosure can have a huge impact on your credit score – dropping your score anywhere from 175 – 300 points. Those points can take years to build back up.
If you are able to sell your home as a short sale, the impact on your credit score still exists, but it’s not as harsh. There are ways to reduce the impact on your credit score to lessen the effect.
1. Contact your lender. They will try to help – we are confident they will try to help. Work with your lender on negotiating a short sale, and don’t miss making any payments on your mortgage. This will greatly impact your credit score not being so adversely affected.
2. As part of the negotiation process, ask your lender to report the sale as “Paid As Agreed”.
3. Selling your home as a short sale may present you with the opportunity to purchase another home in approximately 18 – 24 months. That time frame for a foreclosed property owner ranges from 24 – 72 months.
Ready to talk? Contact the Tello Team today to see how we can assist you at 954-237-0600! We are ready and willing to help you and your family with all of your real estate needs!

Several organizations recently came together to make some changes to HARP 2.0 (Home Affordable Refinance Program). These organizations – FHFA (Federal Housing Finance Agency), Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac – made the changes with one goal in mind; to attract more eligible borrowers who can benefit from refinancing their home mortgages.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have helped approximately 9 million homeowners refinance their homes, with approximately 10% of those through HARP 2.0. HARP 2.0 is very unique, in that it allows a homeowner who owes more on his home than it is worth to take advantage of low interest rates and other refinancing options.

With the changes that have been made, borrowers will have an opportunity to eliminate certain risk-based fees, and utilize HARP 2.0 to refinance into shorter-term mortgages. Borrowers who owe more than their homes are worth will be able to reduce the balance owed on their homes much faster by taking advantage of our currently low interest rates and shortening the term of their mortgages.
Need more information on how HARP 2.0 can help you, or how to refinance your home? Contact the Tello Team today to see how we can assist you at 954-237-0600! We are ready and willing to help you and your family with all of your real estate needs!