Homeowners who have fallen behind on their bills are often in a state of stress and high anxiety, with worries of foreclosure, bankruptcy, and repossession creating a sense of paralysis. This can often lead them to postpone taking any useful step towards saving their homes until it is too late and the possibility of recovering financially is almost nonexistent. The inability to move towards a goal of stopping foreclosure, though, is often caused by any number of irrational fears, all of which may be overcome.

One of the most common fears affecting everyone, but heightened in foreclosure victims, is the fear of rejection. This fear has to do with humans’ affiliation needs, such as the need to feel appreciated, loved, or accepted. Homeowners may often be afraid to pick up the phone and contact their mortgage company because they worry about the possibility of being told there is no help for them. Instead of calling the mortgage company, people suffering from this fear often accept the foreclosure as inevitable and resign themselves to the possibility that they will have to lower their standard of living after losing their home.

Closely connected to the fear of rejection is the fear of looking foolish or making a mistake. In this case, homeowners may fear calling their bank to discuss plans to avoid foreclosure because they feel they do not know enough about how foreclosure works in order to speak intelligently about options to stop the process. They may feel their negotiating skills are not strong enough and that the bank’s representatives will take advantage of them and laugh at their misunderstanding of foreclosure, or that they will mistakenly agree to a program that is not in their best financial interests.

Another very common fear is that of people; it is actually very possible for homeowners working in large cities and living in modern suburbs to feel very anxious when speaking with people they do not know. Combined with a fear of looking foolish or being rejected, being irrationally afraid of people can cause homeowners in foreclosure just to avoid dealing with their financial troubles at all. Even in such specialized situations as calling a mortgage company for help to stop foreclosure , many homeowners may feel uncontrollably anxious and have a problem initiating contact.

Several other fears, including those of failure and success, can have lasting impacts on homeowners attempting to save their homes. The end result of any of these fears, or a combination of them, is often that foreclosure victims procrastinate until the justified, rational fear of losing their home and being evicted is so immediate that it overcomes any of the irrational fears. Irrational fears, though, create psychological problems because there is no actual danger present. After all, the possibility of the bank turning down a repayment plan is nothing compared to the eventual pain of being evicted from a home.

Unfortunately, irrational fears often feel very real, even though they are not grounded in any concrete danger, and most often lead to avoidance behaviors instead of positive change. For example,homeowners who wait until the last minute to seek help can avoid the possibility of being rejected or failing, while homeowners who project blame for their financial hardship into a spouse, boss, or other person do not have to take responsibility for fixing the mortgage and become victims of the outside world.

The more homeowners engage in avoidance behaviors to hide from their irrational fears, the more adept at avoiding pain they will become. And the higher their sense of fear and the more fears they have, the more they will justify their avoidance behaviors as actually being productive. In effect, people create problems for themselves which are only symptoms of the real anxiety-producing fears, but they work on solving these symptoms instead of getting over their fears. This helps create neurotic spirals and reinforces the irrational fears and avoidance behaviors while giving homeowners an excuse to avoid taking any meaningful step to stop foreclosure on their properties.

Confronting and getting over these irrational fears as quickly as possible is one of the most important actions homeowners can take to ensure they have the best chance to save their homes. While a fear of losing a home is entirely justified if the owners have not paid their mortgage for a few months, fearing just picking up the phone and talking to the lender to discuss possible mortgage modification options is irrational. Controlling anxiety is such situations is most vital and the first step is simply recognizing these fears when they begin to manifest themselves in avoidance behaviors and high anxiety symptoms

Information on this blog courtesy of Nick at http://www.foreclosurefish.com/

Each with their own private residential elevator, garage for 2-3 cars. Natural gas generator ready. Private rooftop terraces with covered outdoor SUMMER KITCHENS. The Venetian will be delivered completely finished - every detail! (A fresh new concept with all the ‘decorator ready’ properties out there!)

Some offer a fireplace, butler pantry, wine cellar. All offer sound attenuated walls … Seven models to choose from. All are four stories, with numerous balconies, private terraces and courtyards. Rooftop Jacuzzis are optional… Endless views of Coral Gables (and of the Biltmore)… several overlook the Venetian Pool. Designer Italian Kitchens (Miele, Sub-Zero,Wolf). Natural stone flooring and counter-tops. Impact glass. Prewired for electronic control.

Townhouses in urban hubs are highly coveted … THOSE IN residential neighborhoods such as Coral Gables are rare, making the Venetian Coral Gables a unique investment opportunity and lifestyle choice… surrounded by landmark edifices and multimillion dollar homes. Visit WWW.VENETIANCORALGABLES.COM for a preview. Contact Vicki Restivo @ restivo.v@ewm.com for additional information.

Sienna Villas is located just across from the Miccosukee Golf and Country Club, perfect for avid players. Residents also take advantage of the marked path around the course for walking, running, roller-blading and bicycling. A few miles down the road is the area of Horse Country for those who enjoy riding. Listed at just $260,000, this Townhouse is a Spectacular deal. Own this Spacious 3 Bedroom, 3 Bath home in Sienna Villas and enjoy everything Kendale Lakes has to offer.

Located at 1200 Holiday Drive, adjacent to the Harbor Beach Marriott, Coconut Grove Residences holds the distinction of being Ft. Lauderdale newest Condo located directly on the Sand. Coconut Grove Residences is a 12-Floor direct Oceanfront Building offering only 64 luxury residences. 13 Floorplans are offered in units ranging in size from 1,465 square feet - 5,195 square feet (1 Bedroom with 1.5 Baths - 3 Bedrooms with 3.5 Baths).

Coconut Grove Residences Amenities include:

• 5-Star Concierge/Management Services
• An 8-seat private Movie Room, which can be reserved via your SMART panel
• Cardio Room
• Beautiful freeform Pool
• 11 Oceanside Cabanas
• Key Operated Elevators

The completion of Coconut Grove Residences was delayed for a few months, but the pending Contracts finally started closing. Between December 20, 2007 and April 9, 2008, there have been 9 closed sales through Brokers of units in Coconut Grove Residences. Their final sales prices ranged from $940,500 - $3,800,000. Per the MLS, 10 units currently have pending contracts, with list prices ranging from $1,428,900 - $6,200.000. Per Tax Records, many of the units are still Developer owned.

27 Units are currently listed for Sale, priced between $1,100,000 and $6,385,000. Click here to search Coconut Grove Residences for Sale and other Ft. Lauderdale Waterfront Condos for Sale.

Featuring Marble Flooring, Italian Cabinetry, Granite Counter tops, floor to ceiling sliding glass doors that open onto modern glass and aluminum terraces, SMART technology, spacious custom-designed Kitchen areas, walk-in Closets, beautiful Oceanfront views and more, these Residences are truly the epitome of Ft. Lauderdale Luxury Condo living!

If you’re wondering what SMART Technology is, “SMART Building technology provides a seamless integration between a touch-screen access control panel and a lifestyle management concierge which includes services such as medical and dental, amusement and vacation planning, turndown service, room and massage services, as well as valet and security. Coconut Grove Residences is the first Fort Lauderdale Beach building to offer this technology and comes ready to communicate with the entire home from anywhere in the world. Individual owners can choose to integrate all household systems such as motorized blinds, lighting, audio, video, security, air conditioning, Internet and satellite.”

At Coconut Grove Residences, 2 Pets are allowed without weight restrictions and Leasing is allowed once yearly.

While there are some Condos that allow Leases and some that allow Pets, there are many that don’t. Here in South Florida, we have many non-local Homeowners who live primarily in other States and Countries. In “Season”, when it’s cold in other locales, we are home to numerous vacationers. I’ve found that many South Florida condo Buyers whose primary residences are located elsewhere are very interested in the ability to rent their Condos while they are away and Investors are, of course, interested in this as well, so Condos that allow Leasing can definitely be a benefit! There are currently 2 Coconut Grove Residences units listed for Lease, priced at $4,300/mo. and $6,500/mo.

On a similar note, according to a 2007 Survey conducted by the National Association of Realtors, Florida leads the U.S. as #1 in home purchases by International Buyers, holding 26% of the national total of all International Home Buying transactions.

Coconut Grove Condos are located conveniently close to Las Olas Restaurants, Boutiques, Art Galleries, Jazz Clubs, and more, Ft. Lauderdale’s Riverfront, downtown Ft. Lauderdale, and Ft. Lauderdale Beach Shops and Restaurants.

Ft. Lauderdale offers many phenomenal Waterfront Condos for Sale. Please contact me if you would like information about purchasing or renting a home at Coconut Grove Residences or another Ft. Lauderdale Oceanfront Condo.

I currently have 4 baby Moustache Parakeets (parrots) currently in the nest. I will begin the hand-rearing process in early May, and recommend extra attention and handling for these birds as babies to keep them tame as they mature. Moustache Parrots make excellent pets and can learn to talk. These babies are being offered at $350 per baby when at 2 to 3 feedings per day. The photo to the upper left is of the adult male Moustache Parakeet.

I also have several baby Green Cheek Conures, including Cinnamon Green Cheek Conures, and a clutch of 9 eggs that should be hatching soon. The Cinnamon Green Cheek conures produced from this clutch will all be female, as it is a sex-linked characteristic and the father is a visual Green Split to Cinnamon. These baby Green Cheek Conures are offered at $125 and Cinnamon Green Cheek Conures at $175 at 2 to 3 feedings per day.

Coming Soon will be White Bellied Caiques at $800 each. The parents, as shown to the left, have just started to lay eggs for their second clutch this season. Their first clutch produced 3 eggs and all 3 hatched and are now in their new homes.

If you are interested in any of these birds, please feel free to call me. I am located in Broward County, Florida.

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Cynthia Bendheim earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida State University and a Juris Doctorate from Nova Southeastern University School of Law. She is a member of the Realtors Association of Miami-Dade County.

Darin Haughie has resided in Florida for 34 years. Prior to joining EWM, he served for 20 years with the U. S. Coast Guard. Haughie earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business management from the University of California. He is a member of the Realtors Association of Miami-Dade County.

Astrith “Milena” Lopez relocated to South Florida from Colombia 14 years ago. She earned her degree in business administration and marketing from Miami-Dade College and will be attending Florida International University to further her studies in business administration. Lopez is a member of the Realtors Association of Miami-Dade County.

Madeline Martinez is a native of Newark, New Jersey, having moved to Florida 33 years ago. Prior to joining EWM, she worked at Bowman Foster Ashe Elementary School in Miami. Martinez earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Nova University. She serves as vice president of the PTA at Vineland Elementary School and is a member of the Realtors Association of Miami-Dade County.

Roxana Martinez has been active in the real estate industry having worked as an administrative assistant at Codina Group, as well as working in the commercial real estate division at Barnett Bank. She relocated to Florida 40 years ago from Denver, Colorado. Martinez earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Florida International University, with a major in marketing and a minor in international business. She is a member of the Realtors Association of Miami-Dade County.

Natalia Perez-Abreu has been in the real estate industry for two years and is a member of the Realtors Association of Miami-Dade County. She is a native of Barranquilla, Colombia and has lived in Florida for 14 years. During her spare time, Perez-Abreu is involved with the Homeowners Association of the Isles at Bayshore.

Alexandra Restivo moved to Florida 17 years ago from New York City. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature, Italian and psychology from University of Miami and is fluent in Italian. Restivo is a member of the Realtors Association of Miami-Dade County.

The world is becoming one large unit where everybody has similar problems. Nobody’s going to fix the price of fuel; those days of cheap fuel are gone, and gone forever.

But with the price of real estate dropping (some say correcting), maybe now is the time to start looking to move to a location that is much closer to your daily destination. With downtown Miami being such a major destination , the Biscayne corridor would be a wonderful place to consider moving to.

It is loaded with unheard of bargains in condos, houses and investment opportunities. Besides saving time on the road, you would be adding to your quality of life. With access to parks (Margaret Pace Park has it’s volleyball, basketball, tennis courts, grassy areas, bayview promenade and sitting areas for example) and museums, American Airlines Arena, Carnival Center, Miami Beach and much more.

Condos such as 1800 Club, Quantum, Opera House, and Blue are just a few that would be a convenient alternative to the laborious suburban commute. Key Point is a wonderful gated community directly on Biscayne Bay offering serenity and beauty just a stone’s throw from downtown Miami. Miami’s northeast communities offer alot of homeowners the advantages of a convenient location. Now that the prices are more affordable, it’s a good time to consider such a move.

In April of 2006, price per square foot in the zip code 33137 was averaging $404. This past March 2008, the same zipcode was averaging $288. To buy a home now in this zip code would be 29% cheaper theoretically, while the price of commuting has gone through the roof.

Price per square foot is down, and price per gallon is up; think about it. If it costs twice as much to drive, and 29% less to own, it’s a no brainer. Your pocket is happier, your family is happier because there’s more quality time rather than alone time behind the wheel, and you are happier. Because metro Miami is an internationally desirable location, your investment is also likely to reflect that in the long run. This major correction in the market will soon be over. When it is, don’t be caught with the “should haves”. If the market can correct itself, so can we.

961 WEST COUNTY CLUB CIRCLE, PLANTATION, FLORIDA >>>>> REDUCED TO $279,900 <<<<<< A perfect starter home for family fun and entertaining . Country Club Estates is a charming, established Old Florida neighborhood located 4 miles from downtown Fort Lauderdale and near all major freeways (TPK, I95, I595). Enjoy gorgeous golf course views or relax pool side under a covered screened patio. This property is located on Country Club Circle and faces the Fort Lauderdale Country Club which recently completed a $4.8 million renovation. Truly a bargain at $279,000!

• 3 bedrooms, 2 baths
• Carport
• 1,590 sq ft living area
• Private lushly landscaped back yard
• Refinished oak floors in bedroom areas
• Tiled common areas
• Vaulted ceilings
• Freshly painted
• No work needed!

EASY TO SHOW…. contact listing agent lomonaco.m@ewm.com or visit www.residencemiami.com for additional photos.

While I was up there I decided to check out a townhouse that was for sale in the same complex that I had purchased a townhouse for my son (he is a senior) a year ago. The property was in great shape and they where asking $15,000 more than the purchase price of of the one I bought a year ago.

I thought to myself, it would be great for them to sell it for that price, but thinking I knew the market (that is South Florida market) I thought it would never sell for that price. I called a colleque of mine at EWM that has some children attending at the University and thought she might be able to get a great deal. The next day she called me to find out some more information about the unit, to my surprise it sold for only $5,000 less than the asking price.

Moral to the story….. don’t assume and sometimes the best investments are in college towns near the University. So if you have kids going or are at the University, why pay rent? Purchase a property and get those tax deductions!