Why Do I work the PreForeclosure Market and Want to Help?
by John Occhi, Hemet CA REALTOR
Mission Grove Realty
As a REALTOR® that specializes in the Hemet - San Jacinto Valley real estate market, I know for a fact that there are many homeowners who have fallen behind in their mortgage and today many are in preforeclosure. Many can save their home from foreclosure if they only know where to turn and who to trust.
Pre-foreclosure is a problem that is very near and dear to my heart - as my wife, Sherri, and I have been dangerously close to losing our home over the past two years. You see, Sherri was diagnosed with cancer 12 years ago.
Last January, my wife's cancer came back with a vengeance. She underwent her 5th round of Chemotherapy in the then 11 years. After 5 stays in the hospital last year we had hoped and prayed that we had beaten the cancer back.
In January of this year, the cancer was back stronger then ever. We tried the Chemo again, for two sessions of the six her doctors had prescribed - but once again, the chemo nearly killed her. We decided enough was enough. Today she is on hospice care, nearing the end. I am by her side almost constantly for the lat year and a half.
Because of this, my real estate production has been minimized - yet I still am on track for having my best year - giving full thanks and the glory to God and then due primarily to the Internet, ActiveRain and the support of my new office n Hemet CA: Mission Grove Realty. However, dying is a very expensive ordeal - and the longer it takes the more expensive it becomes.
I share this in this article because I know for a fact that bad things happen to good people and often times for circumstances that are completely out of our control, we fall behind.
In the past 19 months, we have personally had two NOD's served on us.
So, when I say I know what it is like, believe me - I know. This is why I am so passionate about specializing in this niche market of helping homeowners save their home from foreclosure by sharing my expertise with anyone who can use it.
Perhaps the reason for my calling can be found in the Bible, when Paul writes in Second Corinthians, chapter 1, verses 3 and 4:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
I have taken several steps above and beyond what a REALTOR® is expected to do to help those who want and can use my help.
Early this year, as the Hemet Real Estate market was dramatically changing very quickly, I started to become aware of the Loss Mitigation scams that are being promoted. I researched as much as I could and found that there are some very reputable people and companies out there who are legitimately helping people avoid foreclosure - despite the few who give the entire industry a bad name (thanks to the media - always looking for a story).
Of course, these loss mitigation companies charge a fee for their services - but all the good ones have a 100% iron clad guarantee that if they cannot save your home - they do not charge you for their time or efforts spent on your behalf.
Through my diligence, I found one company in particular that I kept getting drawn to: Freedom Foreclosure Prevention Services (FFPS). I was so intrigued by their program and their integrity that I scraped together the money they wanted to affiliate myself with them and subjected myself to their extensive training and certification process. I am anticipating receiving my certification in the next week or two - it is not a slam dunk process. It takes a strong commitment of time and study along with the desire to make a difference.
However, just offering a service for a fee was not what I had in mind when I decided that I wanted to help people who are in the preforeclosure process. Let me back up to the 1980's and early to mid 1990's.
I worked for a small law firm, stating in 1982, after being discharged from the U.S. Army. I received some extensive hands on paralegal training and worked my way up to office administrator, after my predecessor died of a heart attack I ran the office for another 2 years. I then ended up starting my own business, with a friend - a collection agency.
I hated being on the negative side of every transaction so much that I retaliated and started my own self-help paralegal service. I use to help people with eviction issues - (both landlord and tenant), divorces, bankruptcies, divorces and a number of other fairly simple legal issues (only simple if your name is not on the court papers).
So you see I have a background of helping people to help themselves. This is why I want to help when I hear, "Help me save my house from foreclosure".
My Hemet CA Real Estate business is no different. I have always prided myself of being able to educate my real estate clients so they can take responsibility for making the right decision on any real estate issue they were facing. This not only includes buying a home, selling a home but also includes teaching them to save their preforeclosure home from foreclosure, if and when it becomes necessary.
This brings me to this month.
Being at home in Hemet CA with my wife, caring for her needs and comfort I have a lot of time in front of my computer. In addition to the blogging I have been doing recently, I have put together a book - more of a manual - on how the consumer can avoid the expense of working with a loss mitigation company - such a s FFPS, and do the work of saving their home from foreclosure themselves.
I call the book, "What You Need to Know...About Foreclosure and How You CAN Stop it!" It is probably still a work in progress - right now it is 48 pages. However I published 20 copies from the office copier and distributed several of them today - with plans on dropping off the rest tomorrow.
The book is all about self help. I am not selling anything - it is all about how the reader can help themselves. It may not be a real "How To" book in the traditional sense, in that I don't give detail by detail step on each and every process. Rather my book is intended to educate the reader and stimulate the learning progression of what the different processes are that the Hemet homeowner can take to save their Hemet California preforeclosure home from foreclosure. I do explain in detail the pro's and cons of each alternative.
This really is very hard to obtain information for anyone - in the industry or not, and is therefore by it's very nature very valuable to anyone who is in a preforeclosure situation or expects to be in one soon.
My goal is pure - to allow the homeowner to save their home on their own. Yes, I do stand to make some money, only if they want professional help - but again it is fully disclosed and not the reason for the book. My book is not a sales letter telling them why they need to hire a loss mitigation company like FFPS. It is not a sales letter that screams HIRE ME - I CAN SELL YOUR HOME.
The money I will make amounts to 40% of what ever fee they pay to FFPS. Once I recover my cash output to FFPS, I am planning on donating the balance to a yet to be determined charity that either works with the homeless or the soon to be. More research.
The only other money I make will be if they decide to list their home with me - and then I will make a standard and traditional commission that will be treated like every other commission I make for selling Hemet CA real estate.
I realize there is a great potential for many people from all over the country to read this blog article and many will seek my assistance. If you are a homeowner in trouble - please call and I can discuss your situation personally. I have to tell you at this point, I am not very keen on the idea of sending my book to everyone. Perhaps I am being selfish, but for the time being I have written it and will publish it on demand to meet the needs of my local market.
Well, I have bore more of my personal life and situation here, than I ever have before. It is not for sympathy - all though I do appreciate your well wishes and most importantly your prayers for my wife and I - this is a very tough and very emotional time for both of us. Please don't think that I am special in some way - well my wife thinks so, but I am just like the rest of the population. I struggle with my share of sin every day - I may be chosen as a Saint, but only Jesus was ever perfect. No, I did this to show that I do have a legitimate desire to help - to comfort others through their tribulations as God Himself comforts me every hour of every day and that those who reach out to me will recognize that they are not alone.
This article is primarily to offer my assistance for those in the Hemet - San Jacinto valley and surrounding areas. I can only do so much and I really do need to stay close to my Hemet California home. However, if you are local (I love Google) and would like my help - then call me at (951) 443-6259 and I will personally deliver a free copy of my book to you - with absolutely no cost or obligation of any kind - other than I ask you are nice to me. Remember, I did not get you in your situation; I just want to help you get out of it.
Now Have a Blessed Day,
John Occhi, Hemet CA REALTOR
Hemet CA Real Estate
Other Article Regarding Loss Mitigation and Stopping the Foreclosure Process
What Is A Short Sale?
Loss Mitigation and the Service Provider
9.1 California Families out of 1,000 Have Lost Their Home to Foreclosure
So You Have a Short Sale Lined Up - Who Are You? Step #2
HUD & Loss Mitigation: The Carrot and the Stick
So You Have a Short Sale Lined Up - Now What? Step #1
The NFL and Real Estate Fraud
Foreclosure Filings are Going Through The Roof
Facing Foreclosure? Consider a REALTOR
How do Short Sales Affect the Economy?
If you found any of these articles intersting please explore the rest of my blog at www.HemetRealEstateBlog.Com
Until Next Time, Have a Blessed Day,
John Occhi, ePRO, REALTOR®
DRE Lic No: 01444168
This blog and the contents written here is the intellectual property of John Occhi, Temecula - Murrieta, CA REALTOR® in the South West Riverside County region of the Inland Empire of Southern California. The views and opinions expressed are just that - views and opinions of John Occhi and those who comment. Please note that I am not an attorney or a tax professional and any time I discuss either topic, I suggest you consult with the proper professional for relevant assistance.
I am proud to be a full time REALTOR® who is proud to be a contributing member of the ActiveRain community.
Chris Elizabeth Griffith - Thak you so much, prayer is so very important and such a criticla part of our lives.
Have a Blessed Day,
John
Lorinda Ward Thank you too Loringa for your prayers. I know that is what has kept us going of 12 wonderful years. You have to take the hardship withthe blessings and remember that "If God Brings you to it...He'll see you through it!" No, that doesn't come directly from the Good Book - but Ihave this tee-shirt with this on it and I really love it.
Blessings,
John
Derrick Lewis - Thank you Derrick. I really do appreciate all of the well wishes from my colleagues. My article was more geared for the consumer reader as to why I want to help them. I am hoping that my point is coming across the right way. Well, Google will pick it up and in a few days I should have some local search engine action.
Again, prayer is awesome and I'll continue to take all I can.
God Bless,
John
My thoughts are with you during this difficult time. Best of everything to you and your wife.
Bob Mitchell
ValueList Real Estate Services, Inc.
Bob Mitchell - Thank you and everyone who reads this blog without a comment. I know many prayer warriors just pray and never share this with anyone - so again I want to thank you Bob as well as everyone else who has my wife and I in their prayers.
God Bless to you Bob and everyone else,
John
Missy Caulk - Missy, As usual you are very encouraging and right there with the right thing to say. Thank yo for these very kind words. The "Good News" of course is that Sherri will be home with the Lord...and no one can feel bad about that, now can they?
Thank you again and God Bless to you and yours,
John
John - this is a great way to help others understand what it is you do and why you do it. You and your family are always in our thoughts and prayers. This post was a little long, but very much worth the read! Thanks You John!! B-)
BTW - Let me know when your book gets published or is available, I'd love a copy!! :-)
Brad Andersohn Thanks for the kind words. I guess one of the downsides to being at home in the environment I am, I get long winded - be it on the phone or writing my thoghts. In school, I never had a problem with the required word count for reports and such - it was always that they were too long...what can I say. Maybe, because I'm Italian...I don't know.
God bless my new friend,
John
Hi John,
You really are a mensch (that's Italian for good guy). I am so sorry to hear about Sherri's ordeal. And your ordeal. My wife is Catholic so she'll do what Catholics do, but we'll both pray for your wife.
I've got to come up to Hemet soon. We'll do some deals and help some people.
I'll put you on my PowerTeam.
Bill Roberts
Bill Roberts - I thought mensch was Yiddish for Good Guy and Pisano was the Italian version.
Thaks you for your kind wrods and heartfelt thoughts and prayers - from both you and your wife. I look foward to your trip to Hemet - I wish I cold come closer to you, but I really do stay very close to home. Deals are always good - just not sure what a PowerTeam is - but it sounds good, so we'll check it out.
Thaks again, and God Bless,
John
John, my prayers are with your wife, you and your family. I totally agree that people (good hard working, honest people) fall prey to bad situations and that is what has motivated me to try to help people that are in default or pre-foreclosure or any other situation. I don't mind giving up the time -- as long as the people are honest in their efforts and what they tell me is going on. I know I can't save the world but I can contribute as much as I am blessed to have energy and know how to do.
I too have been there where you are. I lost my husband in 2003 and he suffered for a long time, then right after that my mother who was living with us got worst and had a major stroke that put her in a stage of not being able to eat, swallow, talk, walk, more or communicate (this went on for over a year). then she passed on. I have been struggling every since on how to make a living.
Just before my husband passed on, I took on the responsibility of raising my brother's granddaughter and was in retirement but had to jump right out of that back into the working world. Real Estate is a pleasure for me to do, but helping people is top on my list. Sure, I want to make money but I also look forward to the gratitude of helping someone and they knowing that I am trying to help.
God is the answer and it sounds like you and your wife know this. He will not give you more than you can bare and he said lean on me and I will hold you up. Be still and know that I am God and keep your faith and even if things go more downhill -- God will make a way. These words are not just words -- these are words that I live by and believe with all I have.
Prayer is powerful and you and your family are in my prayers. The answers and solutions and power is in the hand of the Lord. Stay blessed.
Rosemary Brooks - Wow, what can I say. I am deeply moved by your comments and do sympathize with you for your loss - obviously someone who has endured a similiar ordeal will certainly understand my position. You are a perfect example of what God had in mind when Paul wrote the above scripture to the Corinthians, when Paul said,
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
I am a firm believer in God having a plan, and obviously he brought us together for a bigger reason that sharing some short sale notes - God bless you as well,
John
John when I was where you are, I had people jump into my life for no apparent reason at first, but later were the ones that was able to comfort me by showing me through their words that God is a just God and he will not, I repeat NOT, give you more than you can bare. And I can assure you, this is true. This is not like a short sale, you can take that to the bank and cash it in -- because it is working all the time!
I'll share this with you too: My husband one night while I was asleep woke me up having a stroke.... when I finally woke up his eye were rolling around and he was talking softly telling me not to panic and he didn't want me to call 911, that I was a strong woman and all that he needed! Well, I was trying to get up to call 911 anyway and he managed to hold a grip on my arm where I could not get up. You can handle this is all he was saying. He told me he had a dream and saw all of his buddies and family members that had passed on, they were wearing shirts with numbers on them and he said he had a shirt with a number -- and his number came up!!! I don't have to tell you how afraid I was at that point. I panic, and then I prayed so hard, so hard first for him and then I switched it to me, do it for me, please God don't take him. That is why my husband let go of my arm and I was able to get up and call 911.
They said I had made in the 30 minutes that a stroke usually takes to be a massive/fatal stroke! Here's the kicker, when I told my husband about it later on, he told me God saved him for me!! Because he was ready to go!!!! I at first did not understand.
He recovered, but was still not doing all that well. But Later after he passed on, I got it - whole picture. And the tip of this is that he went to visit his parents at my insistance and Id idn't understand why I was persistent that he go visit his parents in Louisiana. He pass on down there. See God wasn't going to put me through witnessing his dealth and that is why he gave me the strength to insist that he go visit his parents. The parents were so grateful to me for letting him come to them before he passed. He was buried in Louisiana. If it had to happen, it was made easier on me by God's decision.
I know that there is a story to tell with every situation. This is mine and this is why I know for sure --- along with other incidents in my life that God is right there, he is the footprints and he is carrying us all. What a power!
I am not a religious nut, I am just real about what I believe and I know the powers that are happening around us is nothing that man can do alone. I give all the praise to God.
Have a blessed day. And John you've got a friend in me for life. Look up my phone number or email and keep in touch with me. I support you to help comfort you in your trying days. Stay blessed.
John-You are in my prayers and I can relate so well with you. It's not easy dealing with sickness and we sometimes take good health for granted.
I too loved the pre-foreclosure market when I sold.....it is a true service! A tough service with heartbreaking stories and other's reality....sometimes quite painful but incredibly rewarding. I think a guide for the consumer is awesome! Especially from you.
My friend Maggie tells me regularly that we are never given more than we can handle.....I agree.....I think it prepares us for the big one....something really phenominal is coming.....I can relate John as the man of my dreams is sick....with Cancer....we struggle....he suffers....but....we both know everything will be ok.
Its amazing how so many of us have commonalities.....you are without a doubt amazing.....just amazing.
Rosemary Brooks I am sorry for the delay - but you just got me all choked up. I know you know how it is - there are all of the best intentions coming your way and sometimes they just overwhelm you and you wish everyone would just go away and leave you alone - so you don't respond to anything, and that is where I was.
There are of course good days and there are those bad days too - unfortunately, the bad seem to outweigh the good these days
I continue to find comfort in my relationship with God and Jesus. It is because of Them that I can open up and share what is in my life. Yes, I do it for my own comfort - but I also do it because the Holy Spirit wants me to, as Paul wrote in Second Corinthians 1:3-4, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all of our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."
Again, thank you for being there Rosemary Brooks!
Now Have a Blessed Day,
John Occhi, Hemet CA REALTOR
Mission Grove Realty
Midori Miller - Thanks you for the kind words - I'm just not sure you are talking about me when you call me "amazing'. The lord in his mercies and grace is what I consider "amazing". I am just a humble bond-servant waiting on my Lord to use me as He sees fit, according to His plan. There is nothing else I can do, really.
Now Have a Blessed Day,
John Occhi, Hemet CA REALTOR
Mission Grove Realty
Rosemary Brooks - Glad you could make it this mornig - Both Gods love and yours are important and not to be taken lighltly. I love you right back, my christian sister.
God Bless
John
John, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. It is comforting to find that you too conduct your pre-foreclosure and short sale business because you sincerely want to help others. I find all too often that this is not the intention of many investors. I too specialize in pre-foreclosure and short-sales. My partner and I have been helping people for several years. We always go above and beyond the call of duty. In fact, we have decided to share our knowledge and expertise with others through training. It has been calling us and my partner and I were suprised at the number of Realtors and Investors who do not know what to do with short-sale in the current real estate market (we are in S. Florida).
I wish you well.
Best wishes,
Trish MacDonald
Ultimate Home Solutions, Inc.
Providing pre-foreclosure & short-sale consulting, training and support.
www.ultimate-hs.com
John, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. It is comforting to find that you too conduct your pre-foreclosure and short sale business because you sincerely want to help others. I find all too often that this is not the intention of many investors. I too specialize in pre-foreclosure and short-sales. My partner and I have been helping people for several years. We always go above and beyond the call of duty. In fact, we have decided to share our knowledge and expertise with others through training. It has been calling us and my partner and I were suprised at the number of Realtors and Investors who do not know what to do with short-sale in the current real estate market (we are in S. Florida).
I wish you well.
Best wishes,
Trish MacDonald
Ultimate Home Solutions, Inc.
Providing pre-foreclosure & short-sale consulting, training and support.
www.ultimate-hs.com
Trish MacDonald - Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I have recently been receivng a l;ot of calls from all over the country and feel a need to start a referral base for short sales REALTORS that can help.
Are you interested?
Now Have a Blessed Day,
John Occhi, Hemet CA REALTOR®
Mission Grove Realty