The webinar included up-to-date information the new modification and short sale programs being offered as part of HAFA.  The new process is intended to:

• Streamlined short sale rules
• Intended to speed up the short sale process
• Incentivizes borrowers and lenders to work together to avoid foreclosure
• In effect April 5, 2010 – Dec. 31, 2012
• Borrowers receive preapproved short sale terms from the lender PRIOR to putting the home on the market

This exclusive training was made available to associates of Watson Realty so that they can better serve and inform buyers and sellers faced with purchasing or selling a home subject to a short sale. 

If you are an agent and do not have access to short sale or real estate training to assist you with taking your career to a new level, contact me for a confidential discussion about your career.

Homeowners and buyers interested in short selling should also contact me to discuss your personal situation.

It is our belief that maintaining a strong internet presence is crucial to our success and with that in mind we feel that freely providing this valuable service will benefit both our agents and our customers world-wide.

Our new agent’s sites are fully customizable and allow agents to choose from several themes that match their business personality. Agents will be able to add their professional designations to their pages; they are able to update and optimize content and will have complete use of company created banners and promotions. Additionally each agent’s site has an IDX search feature which will allow visitors to search for real estate in every Watson Realty market with all inquiries going directly to the agent.

Company sponsored agent websites are just one of the many reasons buyers, sellers and real estate agents enjoy being a part of the Watson Realty family.

April volume was up an extra 10% in volume and units as a result of the 1st time home buyer $8,000 tax credit which expired April 30, 2010.

The number of contracts was also enhanced by the giant open house promotion in the state of Florida in mid-April in which Watson Realty held close to 1,000 homes open during that weekend. The giant open house promotion gave the potential buyers an opportunity to personally visit many available properties to help in their decision process.

May’s written and closed business will show a nice increase, but not the same high percentages as a result of the end of the $8,000 tax credit.

Watson Realty Corp. will be focusing on extra efforts to facilitate the many details necessary to close the April sales prior to the expiration of the tax incentive June 30, 2010.

There are some concerns for first time buyers who submitted contracts on short sales which are dependent on approval from the mortgage holder for the closing to take place in a timely fashion.

We feel the market has stabilized and this is a great time to purchase a home as values are similar to 2000-2002 coupled with favorable interest rates.

If you have ever considered moving up, this is a great time to make that decision to find that home of your dreams while we have exceptional value

About Watson Realty Corp., REALTORS®
Watson Realty Corp. (www.WatsonRealtyCorp.com) has been a trusted name in real estate since 1965. Watson Realty is a full-service real estate company with more than 1,200 sales associates and 40 residential sales offices throughout Northeast and Central Florida, as well as St. Marys, Georgia. Services include Watson Mortgage Corp., Watson New Homes Division, Watson Title Services, Watson Title Services of Northeast Florida Inc., Watson Commercial Realty Inc., Watson School of Real Estate, Watson Referral Realty Inc., Watson Property Management, Watson Maintenance Services and Watson Relocation Services. Watson Relocation Services has offices in both Jacksonville and Orlando.

Watson Realty Corp. reports outstanding written sales of $82,953,731 volume for the week of March 8-15, 2010, which represented 418 transaction sides or 58 transactions per day. This is the highest one-week volume the company has shown since July, 2007.

 We feel a large part of the increase in volume is a result of the buyers taking advantage of the $8,000 first time buyer tax credit. In addition, the company has placed an emphasis on reaching out to our past customers, holding open houses, working the neighborhoods, and speaking at Civic organizations and Homeowner Associations to reach centers of influence. We want to spread the message that this is the time to buy!

The best quote we have heard is “This is the beginning of the end of the economic cycle.”
We look forward to the State-Wide Giant Open House program on April 10th and 11th to further stimulate buyers and help to continue this excellent sales volume.

About Watson Realty Corp., REALTORS®
Watson Realty Corp. (http://www.watsonrealtycorp.com/) has been a trusted name in real estate since 1965. Watson Realty is a full-service real estate company with more than 1,200 sales associates and 39 residential sales offices throughout Northeast and Central Florida, as well as St. Marys, Georgia. Services include Watson Mortgage Corp., Watson New Homes Division, Watson Title Services, Watson Title Services of Northeast Florida Inc., Watson Commercial Realty Inc., Watson School of Real Estate, Watson Referral Realty Inc., Watson Property Management, Watson Maintenance Services and Watson Relocation Services. Watson Relocation Services has offices in both Jacksonville and Orlando.

Congratulations Mary Lou Lee!

Watson Realty Corp. further predicted:

“The public is going to look back at 2009 and say that this was the greatest opportunity in the last 50 years to own the real estate of their choice at the best value and the most competitive interest rates.”