Ed McKeown

ROBO SIGNING Settlement Can it help me ?

Ed McKeown — Wed, 02 May 2012 17:57:00 GMT

The Second Largest Settlement in History: How it save you from foreclosure!

The news has been abuzz in the past few weeks about the historic Robo-Signing Settlement reached between the government and five major lenders. The settlement raises lots of questions, but for homeowners who are in danger of losing their home there is only one:

Can this settlement help me stay in my home?

The answer: Possibly! But regardless of whether you meet the specific eligibility requirements for this settlement, it is important to remember one thing:

YOU HAVE OPTIONS!

As a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) I am uniquely qualified to help determine your eligibility and answer any questions you may have about the settlement. Call me or email me and set up your free, confidential consultation. Let me help you figure out the best foreclosure alternative option for you.

EdMcKeown

570-242-8518

edmckeown@kw.com

Is Your Mortgage out of Balance with your Budget?

Ed McKeown — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:14:00 GMT

Is Your Mortgage out of Balance with your Budget?

It can happen quickly.

An expensive car repair, an unexpected hospital visit, a missed week of work – just a few little things and the life you’ve worked so hard to build can feel like it’s tipping dangerously out of balance.

Once the scales turn against you, it can feel like it is impossible to ever tip them back in your favor again. When your financial problems reach the point where they threaten your home, it is difficult to manage the stress. Sometimes it is even difficult to force yourself to seek help.

As a real estate professional who has earned the Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation, my mission is to provide financially-challenged homeowners with options to foreclosure, ensure that they steer clear of scams, and help navigate them through the solution that best meets their needs.

Choose to face the challenge with a professional on your side.

No matter where you live in the Pocono area, call and see if there is an option for you.

I can help you realign the balance in your financial life and tip the scales back in your favor. Call or email me and schedule your free, confidential consultation. We can work together to make sure you end up ahead.

Ed McKeown

570-242-8518

edmckeown@kw.com

www.edhelpshomeowners.com

Avoiding Foreclosure Homeowners Need Help.

Ed McKeown — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:27:00 GMT

Avoiding Foreclosure

It’s a sign of the times!

Most of us grew up thinking that if we planned well and played by the rules, we’d never have to stand by as our financial lives unraveled. As so many of us have learned this is not the case and find ourselves struggling to keep up with mortgage payments and bills we thought we would never have trouble with.

But upheaval on Wall Street, unacceptable rates of unemployment and plummeting real estate values have taken their toll. Since 2007, 7.9 million homeowners have lost their homes to foreclosure. Current estimates are that one in four homeowners owe more on their mortgages than they could get from the sale of their home. Millions more homes will be lost to foreclosure before this real estate crisis runs its course. In the Pocono area we are also going through the same housing and economic slide as much of the country. Stroudsburg, East Stroudsburg, Tannersville, Saylorsburg, Effort, Albrightsville, Bushkill have had more than their share of foreclosures and a lot of the time they homeowner walks away without contacting anyone besides the bank that would not help.

The sad fact is that foreclosure is not an isolated event. For months leading up to the loss of a home, financially strapped homeowners live under a cloud of uncertainty. And then for many years afterwards, the blow to credit gets in the way of buying another home or buying anything on credit. Foreclosure even complicates employment prospects.

The impact of foreclosure is huge and the sad fact is that it’s often avoidable.

As a real estate professional who has earned the Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation, my mission is to provide financially strapped homeowners with options to foreclosure, ensure that they steer clear of scams, and help navigate them through the solution that best meets their needs.

Among the most important facts to keep in mind: the sooner help is sought, the better the options are for a dignified exit and a path that is better than foreclosure.

These are tough times, but more help is available than ever before. If you or someone you care about is ready to navigate away from the dark cloud of an unmanageable mortgage and realize that hope and blue skies are within reach, contact me today and let’s get started. I am committed to helping you!

Ed McKeown

570-242-8518

edmckeown@kw.com

www.edhelpshomeowners.com

Avoiding Foreclosures

Ed McKeown — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:14:00 GMT

It’s time to take another look at short sales

As recently as a few months ago, if you would have told a real estate agent who specialized in short sales that they’d be raving about a lender’s stellar service and rapid approval times—not to mention significant cash incentives for financially strapped homeowners for pursuing a short sale—you’d have gotten some strange looks.

That’s all changed. And it’s changed faster and to a greater extent than most real estate professionals ever could have imagined.

With a glut of bank-owned properties dragging down the recovery of the real estate market, as well as the national economy, major lenders are more eager than ever before to avoid foreclosure. So they’ve sharpened their focus on short sales. Big time.

The biggest lenders in the country have staffed up to ensure rapid processing of short sale applications. They’ve ponied up with cash incentives at closing for homeowners who pursue a short sale. And they’re proactively reaching out to CDPE agents and putting them in touch with delinquent borrowers.

This is big news and the media has not really caught onto it yet. What’s important for you to know is that whatever you’ve read or heard in the past about long lag times and frustrations with short sales is probably no longer the case.

As a member of the CDPEAdvanced community, I’m tapped into major lenders and on top of major developments affecting short sales and bank-owned properties. I invite you to visit my website www.edhelpshomeowners.com to learn more and feel free to contact me any time at 570-242-8518 or edmckeown@kw.com if you or anyone you know is struggling with an unmanageable mortgage.

Selling Your Home in the Pocono's?

Ed McKeown — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 01:14:00 GMT

Note that this information is outdated.

Don't listen to the doom and gloomers telling you it is a bad time to sell. This is a good time to sell and can be very beneficial to your family. There are buyers looking for homes and I know since I have buyers who are currently looking for homes. You can get your home sold now. Listing with the right agent is a factor. Not every home sells, even nice ones may not sell, call me and let me see if I can help you. You have to make the call!

www.poconohomesite.com

If you are behind on your mortgage or think you can not sell because you owe more than it is worth, I can help visit www.edhelpshomeowners.com or call me 570-242-8518.

Ski houses are not just for "Winter"

Ed McKeown — Sat, 01 May 2010 13:23:00 GMT

Note that this information is outdated.

Pocono Ski area homes are not just for skiing, they are near lakes and water parks,near Golf Courses Too! When your coming to the Pocono's give me a call. You will want to stay a while, you will love the Poconos .Don't worry skiing will be back next year, enoy the spring!

You Don't Have to go into Foreclosure

Ed McKeown — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 13:03:00 GMT

If you are in trouble with your finances and you are falling behind on mortgage payments, don't wait for the inevitable to happen. There are options to save you from foreclosure. There are many reasons we fall behind and usually it's not through fault of your own. Job loss, disabilities, a death in the family among other reasons could leave you under water. Getting out of the situation before the foreclosure process starts is the best way to go. I am trying to educate people on the ways to PREVENT FORECLOSURE, some of you don't know about.

One option is to seek help from a financial counselor. They know how to help you stay in your home through loan modification or other means, possibly you may fall into certain government programs that are available to you. Some of these services are run by not for profit companies who will work with you through this process. they evaluate your situation and then see what programs match your needs. Try talking to your mortgage lender first and see if they will help you with a loan modification. On my community referrals page is one such non profit that I know has helped many people in this situation. Home Counseling Services of America, tell Jaqui that Ed recommended their services and please let them know everything, your concerns and your needs and what you have tried until now. They have helped so many and if you need help, you must make the call. 570-992-6500.There are other services out there and be careful when selecting one, they are not always what they seem to be. Do not sign your deed over to anyone or sign any agreements that you don't understand without consulting an attorney.

One other option is sell your house. If you can no longer afford your house you may have to let it go, get into a more affordable situation before you loose a home through foreclosure. Banks do not want to use this process and only do it as a last resort. If you think you can't sell because you owe more than the house is worth, there is something called a Short Sale. With the help of a Real Estate Professional, trained in the Short Sale process you may be able to sell your home and get out of a bad situation for you and your family. You won't walk away with any money on the sale although you can get a fresh start without having a foreclosure on your record. The system the banks use is not an easy one to navigate and you cannot use just any agent or company for a successful Short Sale.

If You or anyone that you know needs help please call me. If you know someone who is not paying their mortgage, please do not hesitate to make the call for them. So many times I find out about a family who lost their home to foreclosure and when I ask what they tried or why didn't they sell they say they did not know they had an option. That hurts me when I hear this, I feel like I'm not doing my job, even when I never even knew them. YOU DO HAVE OPTIONS TO PREVENT BEING A FORECLOSURE and I can help. Call me at 570-242-8518, or ask at the Front Desk for Ed, 570-421-2890. www.poconohomesite.com

Why would you rent if you don't have to? I'll give you 11 Great reasons to buy a home and Ditch the Landlord!

Ed McKeown — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 04:41:00 GMT

1. Quality of life – a home provides stability and security for you and

your loved ones.

2. Pride of home ownership – it’s your personal haven and you’re

your own landlord. Besides you'll love it.

3. Historically low interest rates – around 5.5 percent in the U.S.

4. Tax Credit – U.S. government provides a special $8,000 incentive

for qualifying first-time buyers. This is almost over.

5. Appreciation potential – your home investment can grow in value.

6. Equity buildup and debt pay down – homeowners enjoy an

average net worth of approximately $184,000 vs. $4,000 for renters.

7. Leverage – where else can you buy an investment of this magnitude

with 5-10 percent down? Maybe even less.

8. Tax deduction advantages – property tax and mortgage interest

write-offs. The benefits here are tremendous.

9. Tax exemption – up to $500,000 per couple or $250,000 per person

on sale of a primary residence in the United States. This alone is a great

reason to upgrade to a better home.

10. The real cost of renting – at $800 per month, with the average

6 percent rental increase per year, you will pay $126,536 over a 10-

year period but have zero ownership of the property. Most pay more than that.

11. Even when the tax credit ends the cost of owning a home is at an all time low.

Home Buying Guides

Ed McKeown — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 13:32:00 GMT

Note that this information is outdated.

Whether your looking for the first time or not we have what you need to be informed before you buy. Just ask and I'll send it to you. Market reports too!