Clearwater, Florida Real Estate Sales, Buy A Home or Sell A Home in the Clearwater Area

When was the last time you communed with nature? I had the opportunity to explore a hidden gem on the shores of Lake Maggiore recently called Boyd Hill Nature Preserve in St. Petersburg, FL. It is a 245 acre park featuring many walking trails and tons of wildlife viewing. My real estate team has a couple of listings at Banyan Bay in the vicinity and I had passed the signs which led to the park many times without noticing them. I only discovered the nature park after reading a Florida trail guide book I picked up at a yard sale. In my 2.5 hour adventure through the park, I was able to see a Raccoon, an Alligator, Egrets, a Gopher Tortoise, many birds, and an Osprey soar through the sky carrying a fish to its nest. It is a great place to go and escape the city and still see the skyline in the periphery.

The baby alligator photo is courtesy of John Jacobsen. John is a regular participant in the photography contest Boyd Hill Nature Preserve hosts on an annual basis.

CLEARWATER,FLORIDA - One of the best features about living in Clearwater, Florida is the Pinellas Trail. The Pinellas Trail is a 34 mile paved bicycle trail from Tarpon Springs to St. Petersburg. The trail cuts through Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Largo, and Seminole along the way. The Pinellas Trail was converted to a biking and recreational trail from an abandoned CSX Railroad right of way in the 1990’s. It is an ongoing project and the county plans to connect other local destinations to the trail in the future. Whether you are biking, running, walking, or roller blading, it is a great place to get out and enjoy nature and make some friends along the way. Here are some photographs I took while bicycling on the Pinellas Trail.

A short sale is when a lender agrees to take less than what is owed on the mortgage so that the property can be sold. A short sale is a great way to avoid foreclosure and is commonly referred to as pre-foreclosure. The effects on credit scoring from a short sale are far less damaging than a foreclosure.

The road to a successful short sale can be slow, complicated, and time consuming, however can be the best option for a seller who has a negative equity position in their property.

The most important thing to remember is that the bank does not want to lose money. It is necessary to convince the lender that they will lose FAR LESS money by doing a short sale than by foreclosing on the property.

Here are the basic items you will need in your tool box to convince the bank(s) to accept a short sale:

1. Time - It will take time to prepare the documentation and contact the correct department at the bank.
2. Patience & Persistence - Remember “You attract more flies with Honey than Vinegar.” Be calm and patient with the people at the bank. They are not going to make it easy, but be patient and persistent and keep calling until you get to the correct person. Once you get the correct person or department, document everything discussed as well as their complete contact information including an e-mail address.
3. Request a Short Sale Package - The package will detail the process and documents you need to complete to start the short sale process.
4. Prepare a Hardship Letter - The hardship letter is a detailed description of why you ended up in this situation. Be as specific as possible. The more heart wrenching the better.
5. 2 Years of Tax Returns
6. 2 Months Pay Stubs (if employed)
7. At Least 2 Months of Bank Statements
8. Financial Worksheet - This is a list of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. Most lenders will have their own form to complete.

The above list are the basic items you need in your tool box to negotiate with the bank. Of course, it is always best to consult someone who has experience with the short sale process such as a Realtor or an Attorney. Make sure to ask if they have successfully negotiated short sales in the past.