Saving money and going green are both hot topics right now.  So, I’m sure you’ve already heard the tips to turn off water while brushing your teeth, turn off TVs and computers and swap out old light bulbs for the new energy-saving versions.

Here are 10 new ideas to help you save money and make your Brooklyn home greener.

Swap stuff.  There are hundreds of online sites where you can get furniture, books, CDs, DVDs and even a place to stay for free by swapping stuff with other people.  And, I’m not just talking about Craigslist.  Two of the most popular and easy to use swap sites are  Paperbackswap.com and SwapaDVD.com.

Recycle your cell phone.  According to the EPA, if the 100 million cell phones no longer being used by Americans were recycled, enough energy would be saved to power more than 18,500 homes for a year.  Give your cell phone back to its manufacturer or donate your cell phone to charity.

Recycle other electronics.  Keep old TVs out of landfills by taking them to a safe e-cycling facility.  Return iPods to Apple for recycling or sell them for parts.  Take e-waste to stores like Best Buy and Staples that have recycling programs.  You’ll save money by not having to pay to dispose of the electronics.

Wait until May to buy a new TV. New government standards take effect May 1, 2010. Energy Star-labeled televisions will be at least 40% more efficient than comparable models — a significant savings.

Eat foods that are in season. It’s healthier, less expensive and better for the environment.  Oh, and one more big plus:  the food tastes so much better!

Install a water filter. Bottled water isn’t any healthier than tap water, and all that plastic waste is terrible for the environment. It’s also expensive!  If you use a water filter in your Brooklyn home, you can get great-tasting, clean water while reducing your waste and saving money.

Turn down your water heater. You won’t notice the temperature change, but your water heater won’t work as hard and won’t use as much energy.

Plant a vegetable garden. If you don’t have the space to plant a garden, plant a tree or put some plants outside. Find vegetables and plants that grow well in your area for the best results.  Ask your local garden center for that information.

Use green cleaners. There’s no reason to use harsh chemicals to clean your home. Use biodegradable cleaners that are safe for the environment or make your own green cleaners.  Use old towels and T-shirts instead of disposable wipes and paper towels to cut down on waste and save you money.

Check your insulation. Adding insulation to your home will cost money initially, but you’ll quickly earn it back plus more by saving long term on your heating and cooling bills. Skeptical? Start out by insulating your attic and keeping track of your energy savings.  It averages out to about $116 a year in savings.

Want more tips to save money and make your Brooklyn home greener? I can help you turn your house green and cash in on your pot of gold.  Call me Charles D’Alessandro your Brooklyn Realtor® with Fillmore Real Estate at (718) 253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected] for more information.

What is the meaning of Ground Hog day?

What is the meaning of Ground Hog day? Well the answer is well known as,  Groundhog Day, celebrated across the  Canada and the United States on February 2, is purely a North American tradition. It is based on a belief that on this day (February 2) the groundhog, or woodchuck, comes out of it’s hole after winter hibernation to look for its shadow. If the shadow is seen, the groundhog foretells ’six more weeks of bad weather and thus a lingering winter. But if no shadow is seen the ground hog stays above ground and spring is near.

In the National Lampoon movie “Ground Hog day” Bill Murray’s character wakes up every morning only to find he is repeating the same day, every day Ground Hog day. He goes on to change one thing each day, to break the cycle, and create change and make the next day turn out differently.

Have you ever answered the question, How are you doing, or in Brooklyneze (How you doin) with the answer SOS JUST A DIFFERENT DAY! This to me is a choice, every day to repeat the day before. Most of us make our New Years resolution only to be  quickly forgotten. February 2nd is Ground Hog Day and it is a time for this Brooklyn Realtor to make a small change, a change that will impact me in a big way going forward.This change could be as dramatic as changing your career, or as simple as committing to wearing a smile on your face, saying good day, please and thank you to the people in your life. Today is the day to take that first step!

Anything to  make the day just a little different than the day before. So, “Ground Hog Day”, February 2nd, just one small change. NO MORE SOS. It is a different day! Make one change, big or small, just one little change. I promise it will grow on you, and make your life a better place to be.

If you want to join this movement, I would love to hear what changes are being made,  Start today, share the changes you will make this Ground Hog Day! Leave you comments on this page  or email Charles D’Alessandro  your Brooklyn Realtor® of Fillmore Real Estate at [email protected]. I look forward to your changes.

Charles D’Alessandro

[email protected]
tel 718 253-9600
fax 718 253-9573

If you’re thinking of selling your Brooklyn home, and you expect that the total amount you owe on your mortgage will be greater than the selling price of your home, you may be facing a short sale. A short sale is one where the net proceeds from the sale won’t cover your total mortgage obligation and closing costs, and you don’t have other sources of money to cover the deficiency. A short sale is different from a foreclosure, which is when your lender takes title of your home through a lengthy legal process and then sells it.

1. Consider loan modification first. If you are thinking of selling your home because of financial difficulties and you anticipate a short sale, first contact your lender to see if it has any programs to help you stay in your home. Your lender may agree to a modification such as:

· Refinancing your loan at a lower interest rate

· Providing a different payment plan to help you get caught up

· Providing a forbearance period if your situation is temporary

When a loan modification still isn’t enough to relieve your financial problems, a short sale could be your best option if

· Your property is worth less than the total mortgage you owe on it.

· You have a financial hardship, such as a job loss or major medical bills.

· You have contacted your lender and it is willing to entertain a short sale.

2. Hire a qualified team. The first step to a short sale is to hire a qualified real estate professional* and a real estate attorney who specialize in short sales. Interview at least three candidates for each and look for prior short-sale experience. Short sales have proliferated only in the last few years, so it may be hard to find practitioners who have closed a lot of short sales. You want to work with those who demonstrate a thorough working knowledge of the short-sale process and who won’t try to take advantage of your situation or pressure you to do something that isn’t in your best interest.

A qualified real estate professional can:

· Provide you with a comparative market analysis (CMA) or broker price opinion (BPO).

· Help you set an appropriate listing price for your home, market the home, and get it sold.

· Put special language in the MLS that indicates your home is a short sale and that lender approval is needed (all MLSs permit, and some now require, that the short-sale status be disclosed to potential buyers).

· Ease the process of working with your lender or lenders.

· Negotiate the contract with the buyers.

· Help you put together the short-sale package to send to your lender (or lenders, if you have more than one mortgage) for approval. You can’t sell your home without your lender and any other lien holders agreeing to the sale and releasing the lien so that the buyers can get clear title.

3. Begin gathering documentation before any offers come in. Your lender will give you a list of documents it requires to consider a short sale. The short-sale “package” that accompanies any offer typically must include

· A hardship letter detailing your financial situation and why you need the short sale

· A copy of the purchase contract and listing agreement

· Proof of your income and assets

· Copies of your federal income tax returns for the past two years

4. Prepare buyers for a lengthy waiting period. Even if you’re well organized and have all the documents in place, be prepared for a long process. Waiting for your lender’s review of the short-sale package can take several weeks to months. Some experts say:

· If you have only one mortgage, the review can take about two months.

· With a first and second mortgage with the same lender, the review can take about three months.

· With two or more mortgages with different lenders, it can take four months or longer.

When the bank does respond, it can approve the short sale, make a counteroffer, or deny the short sale. The last two actions can lengthen the process or put you back at square one. (Your real estate attorney and real estate professional, with your authorization, can work your lender’s loss mitigation department on your behalf to prepare the proper documentation and speed the process along.)

5. Don’t expect a short sale to solve your financial problems. Even if your lender does approve the short sale, it may not be the end of all your financial woes. Here are some things to keep in mind:

· You may be asked by your lender to sign a promissory note agreeing to pay back the amount of your loan not paid off by the short sale. If your financial hardship is permanent and you can’t pay back the balance, talk with your real estate attorney about your options.

· Any amount of your mortgage that is forgiven by your lender is typically considered income, and you may have to pay taxes on that amount. Under a temporary measure passed in 2007, the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act and Debt Cancellation Act, homeowners can exclude debt forgiveness on their federal tax returns from income for loans discharged in calendar years 2007 through 2012. Be sure to consult your real estate attorney and your accountant to see whether you qualify.

· Having a portion of your debt forgiven may have an adverse effect on your credit score. However, a short sale will impact your credit score less than foreclosure and bankruptcy.

Note: This article provides general information only. Information is not provided as advice for a specific matter. Laws vary from state to state. For advice on a specific matter, consult your attorney or CPA.

Charles D’Alessandro
Fillmore Real Estate
[email protected]
tel 718 253-9600
fax 718 253-9573

Contact Me

Brooklyn Real Estate Blog Freddie sees mortgage rates hitting 6% in 2010

Hours worked by all REALTORS® (nationwide): 40 per week

Gross personal income by hours worked: $51,900 (median for 40-59 hrs.)

Percent of business generated by REALTOR® personal web site (all REALTORS®):

* Zero: 36%
* Over 25%: 12%

Real estate experience of all REALTORS® (median): 10 years

REALTORS® by gender: Male 40%; Female 60%

Formal education of REALTORS®:

* Some college: 34%
* Associate degree: 12%
* Bachelor’s degree: 26%
* High school graduate: 8%
* Graduate degree and above: 10%
* Some graduate school: 8%

Sides per agent: For all REALTORS® in 2008, the typical brokerage specialist completed 7 transaction sides or commercial deals

Median tenure at present firm (all REALTORS®): 5 years

REALTOR® affiliation with firms:

* Independent contractor: 82%
* Employee: 6%
* Other: 12%

Source: 2009 National Association of REALTORS® Member Profile

Charles D'Alessandro Fillmoore Real Estate

Brooklyn defies labels. It is at once funky, elegant, down-to-earth, exclusive, serene, a little wild, and much more. Here in New York City’s most populous borough, you can turn a corner and step into a completely different world. While this sounds exciting, if you’re a newcomer to the area this can often be confusing. It becomes even more so if you’re a home buyer looking for the right home and the right neighborhood. This is when an experienced Brooklyn, New York Realtor comes in handy.

Brooklyn is made up of a mosaic of different neighborhoods, each one distinct and offering a different set of features. A small-town feel and historic homes dominate in Brooklyn Heights, for example, while Downtown Brooklyn is faster-paced and offers high-rise housing options.

The right Brooklyn, Realtor not only facilitates the actual buying process, but is constantly by your side from the time you start looking to the time you close and even beyond. Your Brooklyn, Realtor should be able to give you in-depth insights not just on the homes you’re looking at themselves, but also on the neighborhoods you’re considering. While it’s always advisable for you to conduct your own research, nothing beats the insights that a seasoned professional can provide. With the right Brooklyn, New York Realtor to guide and advise you, the process of finding, buying and moving into the right home becomes much simpler.

Explore the abundance of Brooklyn real estate options with the support and guidance of Brooklyn, Realtor Charles D’Alessandro. No one knows the borough better.

Charles D'Alessandro Fillmore Real Estate, Brooklyn N.Y.

I am often asked what is the key to  success as a  Realtor. Prospecting for leads such as cold calling for sale by owners, handing out business cards to everyone you meet, networking becomes your life.   These are some of the things that come to mind, as well as knowing your market like the back of your hand. I also think working with a company like Fillmore Real Estate is a huge boost. Fillmore Real Estate has been selling real estate  in Brooklyn, New York for over 40 years, which will give any real estate agent instant name recognition.  The number one key to any Realtor’s success starts with your name!   My name is Charles D’Alessandro, I am a Realtor with Fillmore Real Estate. I say this proudly. My brand is me!  My product is me! I have spent over 23 years building my reputation selling Brooklyn real estate, one client at a time, one appointment at a time, one transaction at a time. I work for referrals! I find that if I work with the end result in mind being a referral from the parties involved, I could never go wrong.   Someone once taught me, “If you take the money out from the situation, the answer is clear”.  Referrals are the ultimate prize.  The key to success is to be a professional,  be consistent, know your stuff , and follow the golden rule. Do Unto Others As You Would Have Them Do Unto You!  Try it! You will like what it brings, Success!

by  Charles D’Alessandro of Fillmore Real Estate

To learn more about me and how I can help you achieve your real estate goals, read my Brooklyn Real Estate newsletter .

It’s fall 2009, the leaves and the mercury are beginning to fall.  With the real estate market thawing out a bit and the interest rates staying at a steady low. Buyers are shopping for the next best deal, are you as a Realtor prepared?  In the past years with prices on the rise and sales happening at record paces the only thing a real estate agent really had to know was: if a buyer didn’t buy today, the price would be higher tomorrow. In today’s real estate market there is caution, buyers and sellers are able to research and find much of the same information agents have.  Yes, its a very transparent world. So as a Realtor are you prepared?  A good Realtor is priceless to the process.  A good Realtor should strive to improve everyday by research and education (not just how to sell and fancy closing lines). Realtors must study technology, as well as research the market trends and keeping up with mortgage options.  The Realtor of today and of the future is here to consult as well as help interpret the information with their clients.  This takes hard work and commitment  to be the best you can be. So I guess what I’m saying fellow Realtors: the public expects and deserves more!  The product you are selling is you!  Are you the best you can be? Do you choose to be just  a Real Estate Agent or a Real Estate Professional?

by Charles D’Alessandro and Brooklyn Real Estate Sales

To learn more about me and how I can help you achieve your real estate goals, read my Brooklyn Real Estate newsletter