This topic has been on my mind a lot recently – we are told as bloggers we should write about what we’re thinking. So here I go !
For the most part we as realtors are caring and loyal, we are here just like everyone else trying to get by and make a living. Most of us do not have those RED HORNS and GREENTAILS like so many think we do.
We are faced with daily challenges like everyone else.
I lost my home in the Valley Center Paradise fire, having just moved to the area 6 weeks previously. My family and I and our 2 dogs ran from our home at 2am on Sunday morning Oct 26th 2003, with nothing more than our nightclothes.
Two years later we finally recieved partial payment on our home insurance (it was’nt much believe me after attorneys fees over 2 years) But it was enough to put a down payment on a home.
Sept 2008, our home is now in foreclosure – I thought long and hard about admitting that realtors make mistakes also. There are so many realtors out there who are loosing their homes - it does happen to us – after all we’re only human.
We were not frivolous – we just bought a home for our family and like thousands of others were misled. We should have understood the consequences of the loan.
But should these loans ever have been allowed ?
I am tired of the stress just like you who might be going through challenges.
I am tired of asking people who I think should know - what is the right thing to do short sale or foreclosure? - no one has an answer.
Because this home has emotional ties with the loss of our home in the Paradise fire that night is on my mind constantly.
I am so grateful my family and I have survived this and will continue to do so – it has been a learning experience, but because of this we are stronger, more compassionate and caring to others.
I do know that I am becoming an expert on foreclosures and short sales having gone through this myself.
So if you are looking for some advice let me know, at the very least I can share with you what I have learnt from my first hand experience.
Filed under: 1, Real Estate News, Valley Center | Tagged: fire loss, foreclosures, homes in foreclosure, homes in shortsales, loss of home in fire, north county homes for sale, paradise fire, san diego homes in shortsale, San Diego Real Estate, sandiego homes in foreclosure, shortsales, valley center homes for sale, w
Joanna,
Yes, even us Realtors are human and subject to the same pitfalls and challenges as everyone else. There certainly are people out there that think just because we are so close to the real estate and financial challenges facing the nation that we somehow are immune to it. Your story sure is evidence that IT AIN’T SO. Here in STL, we are seeing our fair share of Realtors and Realtor / investors losing their homes and investments. We are lucky in that our percentages of foreclosures and short sales are far less than other parts of the country and especially CA. but it’s happening here too.
In my humble experience, I have been told that a short sale is usually better than foreclosure, as a short sale will impact a homeowner’s credit far less than a foreclosure. Don’t know if that’s true where you are, but it seems to be here.
San Diego is one of my favorite places on this planet, but would rather be practicing real estate here in STL now. All this “mess” is cyclical–It will get better. The scary thing is knowing that this will happen again, in some fashion in the future.
Best of luck with your home challenges. Thanks very much for visiting our blog; St. Louis Real Estate Voice.
Best Regards,
Art Wagner