Patty Manzi’s Tri-Valley Real Estate Blog

I found a great feature today on my Comcast phone service and wanted to share ! 

Lately I have been getting recorded debt collection calls at my home phone number for someone I do not know.   The recorded call sounds something like this:  “Hello, this call is for {John Doe}.  If you are {John Doe} please press 1.  If you are not {John Doe} please press 2.”  At first I was just hanging up thinking they had the wrong number but soon the calls started coming 6 times a day or more.  I tried pressing “2″ like the recording said and it took me to a second recording with a phone number to call.  I called the number and got a voicemail that said to leave all of my contact information at the tone, followed by a message that said the voicemail box was full and not accepting messages.  This happened multiple times!  Arrrrgghhhh!

So I called Comcast and asked what I could do about this.  Comcast has this lovely little feature called “Call Screening”.  Pick up the phone and dial *60, this takes you to a menu where you can turn call screening ON, then enter the phone numbers you want permanently blocked.  You can add up to 12 numbers.  Once the call screening feature is enabled if you receive a call from another number you want to block, you simply press #01# and it automatically gets added to your call screening list.  The caller will hear a message that says that this number is not accepting calls.

I like this feature Comcast! 

March 14: Spring Ahead!
Daylight Saving Time (DST) begins for most of the United States at 2 a.m. on the second Sunday of April. States which do not observe DST include Hawaii, a portion of Indiana, and most of Arizona (with the exception of the Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona).

I’ve had many discussions with people lately about why banks take so long to do a loan modification or a short sale on a property.  What I learned today from a major lending institution answers that very question. 

With this institutions loans there are three parties.  There is the Customer (borrower), the bank, and the actual investor who “owns” the loan.  80% of these investors are Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, FHA and over $2,000 private investors. 

When a borrower contacts the bank for a loan modification, the bank may not own the loan so they have to go back to the original investor.  The investor doesnt have the same urgency to modify the loan as the borrower.  They are trying to protect their assets in an attempt to lose the least amount of money and want to know that the borrower has exhausted every effort to pay the loan. 

So while it may seem the bank isnt trying to help, or is taking a very long time, it can actually be the investor that is holding up the decision making process. 

I was talking with someone yesterday who commented they were happy they didnt own any Toyota stock, and with all recalls and problems Toyota is having, they must be losing money.  They went on about how this could be even more devestating for our economy and more people could lose their jobs.  Although I dont share the same doom and gloom attitude, I did consider the consquences for a moment. 

Then this afternoon, while driving my Toyota Camry Hybrid, I heard on the radio that Toyota sales are up 50% in the first 8 days in March over the first 8 days of last month.  Due to the incentives and financing deals people are still buying Toyotas, in spite of all the negative press Toyota is receiving. 

So I guess with all things, Real Estate included, its all about attitude of the person hearing the news that determines how the data is perceived. 

Did you know that every rose color carries its own meaning? Take a look at the list below to see the significance of some of their various hues in your Valentine’s Day life.

Red roses are classic and a popular choice since their message is an unmistakable expression of love. The color red symbolizes enduring romantic love and passion.

Pink roses symbolize joy or thankfulness and are employed to express your gratitude towards your beloved for loving you. They are also expressions of gentility, happiness and appreciation.

White roses signify innocence and girlhood. They also symbolize impeccable love, silence, reverence and humility.

Coral roses are an ideal choice for the more passionate as they reveal desire and passion.

Orange roses speak of desire, fascination and enthusiasm. They are good choices to hint your interest in going ahead with a new relationship.

Yellow roses are not for romantic purposes. They signify ’congratulations,’ joy, gladness and delight, caring, ’Welcome back,’ and ’remember me’. They can also suggest jealousy.

Lilac or Lavender roses say love at first sight.

Peach roses portray feelings of gratitude, admiration, sociability, success and friendship.