By Tom Branch, on November 22nd, 2010 Another short sale closed! The sellers avoided foreclosure, the buyers purchased a nice home at a discount, and the lender did not have the losses involved with a foreclosure.
 Copyright 2010 - Imaged2Sell Many people feel that the nation’s economy rises and falls with the housing market. While this is often true, we believe the current housing crisis is a direct result of the economic downturn and massive job loss across the nation.
In the Short Sale community, the vast majority of homeowners did not get a bad loan or buy more house than they could afford; they’re just good, hardworking Americans who fell on bad times.
All indicators point to Short Sales being on the real estate horizon for the foreseeable future, at least through 2012, and maybe longer. Industry experts see another wave of distressed homeowners surfacing when the once popular Pay Option Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs) begin to adjust in the coming months.
These mortgages allowed the borrower to essentially “pick a payment” that fit their budget in order to get into the house they wanted to purchase. These loans have the potential to negatively amortize and the rate will adjust upward – it’s just a matter of time. Pay Option ARMs were widely used in California and will begin adjusting soon.
We encourage homeowners across the United States to get educated on the options available should they become financially distressed. Short Sales are a great tool, providing relief to all parties.
Just remember to choose a REALTOR® with a proven Short Sale track record to negotiate on your behalf. Making the right choice can mean the world of difference to your financial future.
By Tom Branch, on November 13th, 2010 The Federal Bureau of Investigation has issued a Fraud Alert titled, “The Verdict: Hang Up – Don’t Fall for Jury Duty Scam” on the FBI website.
 Licensed from iStockPhoto According to the Fraud Alert, “The scam’s bold simplicity may be what makes it so effective. Facing the unexpected threat of arrest, victims are caught off guard and may be quick to part with some information to defuse the situation.”
The scam starts with a phone call claiming there is a warrant out for your arrest. The caller claims to be a jury coordinator. If you protest that you never received a summons for jury duty, the scammer asks you for your Social Security number and date of birth so he or she can verify the information and cancel the arrest warrant. Give out any of this information and bingo; your identity was just stolen.
The fraud has been reported so far in 11 states, including Oklahoma , Illinois , and Colorado . This scam is particularly insidious because they use intimidation over the phone to try to bully people into giving information by pretending they are with the court system.
The FBI and the federal court system have issued nationwide alerts on their web sites, warning consumers about the fraud.
Source: FBI Website
By Tom Branch, on November 10th, 2010 I was talking with my spouse last week and she related that someone she knows has been diagnosed with Stage IV cancer and likely has less than a year to live.
 Licensed from iStockPhoto She’s a younger woman, in her mid to late 40’s, and while the cancer may be treatable, she has decided not to undergo treatment. While this surprised me, what came next left me speechless.
Not only has she decided not to seek treatment, but she has decided not to tell her long-term partner or her family. Having been at my spouse’s side while she fought Stage III cancer, I can’t imagine turning down treatment and I would fight it with all I had in me. I also can’t imagine trying to do it alone.
This revelation really got me thinking though. If I was terminal with no chance for recovery, would I want to burden my spouse and family with it? Would it be fair not to tell them only to have them find out later? Would not telling them make it any easier in the short- or long-term? A week later I’m still pondering these questions.
What would you do?
By Tom Branch, on August 7th, 2010 
I opened my mailbox the other day and saw an envelope marked, “Gulf War Review – Information for Veterans who served in Desert Shield and Desert Storm.”
My mind flashed back. I was a 30 year old First Sergeant from Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, Texas being sent to support another wing that was deployed. Rather than a huge troop transport loaded with people, there were two of us (plus the aircrew) flying in a KC-135. The KC-135 is a tanker used to refuel other aircraft, but we were hauling cargo into the classified location. After flying for 26 hours and half-way around the world, I remember walking off the aircraft onto the tarmac–what a strange mixture of apprehension and excitement.
Our wing was one of the few to lose an aircraft and three of her six crewmembers. I remember attending a non-denominational gathering to remember those we lost and to give thanks for the three who were saved. I can still see it in my mind’s eye. It was a bright, sunny morning. The air was calm, it was quiet, and there wasn’t a breeze. It was eerie, almost like nature knew we were mourning the loss of friends and fellow airmen. As the third name of the deceased was read, the breeze picked up and three little birds flew into the large tent where we were gathered. The crowd noticed and a low murmur broke out. It was like our friends had new wings and had come to let us know they were okay. We left that gathering with a renewed spirit.
It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years this August. I opened the envelope and found a poster honoring Gulf War Veterans along with an 11-page newsletter primarily dealing with the 12 major health issues faced by Gulf War veterans and what the Veterans Administration was trying to do about them. I consider myself among the lucky-alive and healthy.
By Tom Branch, on June 18th, 2010
Via Jim & Maria Hart ~ Charleston, SC Real Estate (AgentOwned Realty):
Do you remember the last thing you had copied, either for yourself or someone else?
You probably do. It could have been someone’s driver’s license for your client file, a HUD statement, an earnest money check, tax returns for a mortgage broker, or a contract. How about your insurance card at the doctor’s office or your social security card for a job you just accepted?
These are just a small sample of what we copy on a daily basis. But did you know that the copy machine keeps a digital image of every single thing that it copies?? They’re all stored on its hard drive, ready and waiting to be re-viewed by whomever looks for them.
I don’t know about you, but to me, that it S-C-A-R-Y.
My uncle sent me this YouTube video the other day which explains everything clearer that I can. It’s a piece that CBS News did on April 25, 2010. It is a couple minutes long, but you’ll be glad you checked it out. Or maybe not.
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We proudly serve and sell real estate in and around all of Charleston, SC. If you are thinking about purchasing or selling your home in Charleston, Johns Island, James Island, Folly Beach, Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island, West Ashley, Mount Pleasant, Isle of Palms, Sullivans Island, North Charleston, Hanahan, Summerville, Goose Creek or other surrounding areas, and more importantly, want to work with a local area expert, contact us at your earliest convenience.
Jim and Maria Hart
Realtors®/ AgentOwned Realty
(843) 364-9845
hart@agentowned.com
Copyright © 2010 by Jim and Maria Hart (AgentOwned Realty).
By Tom Branch, on May 31st, 2010 
After watching the media reports over the past few weeks, I’ve been amazed at some of the stories.
There was an apartment complex whose management company forbid a veteran from displaying the American flag in his window because some of the other tenants might find it offensive. They were going to evict him if it was not removed.
There was a Florida Condo Association who was going after a Medal of Honor recipient because he put his American Flag out every day. While there were rules against the display of the flag there is a Federal Law preempting those kinds of rules just as there is a law that allows owners to install small dishes and antennas for television reception.
There are plenty of other examples but for the sake of brevity I will not go into them all.
The media reports had me down. I attended the Liberty Fest in Farmer’s Branch over the weekend. It renewed my spirit to see so many people out paying respect to America’s greatest national resource-the men and women who proudly serve and protect her.
I was on active duty in the US Air Force for over 21 years. I did combat tours in Desert Storm and Desert Shield. That flag means everything to me. When the National Anthem plays and the Flag is hoisted I still get tears in my eyes. I wish all Americans could share my love for this country and the freedoms that we have. Freedom of speech, the freedom to bear arms, the freedom against unreasonable search and seizure are just a few of the many freedoms we have as Americans.
Those freedoms are not free. They have been bought and paid for with the blood of soldiers, airmen, marines, and sailors who have given the lives defending this nation.
Ronald Regan said it best, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”
On this Memorial Day, take a minute to reflect of the great many freedoms we have as Americans and commit yourself to defending those freedoms in whatever way you can.
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