Synchronizing ZipForms Desktop on Multiple Computers
Every so often I do a tech tip that inevitably helps others in the real estate community. This is one of those times.
ZipForms is a great tool that most of use now to create and fill out the various contract documents associated with a real estate transaction. ZipForms Online is the online version, which by most standards, I would find perfect for what I need to do, but there’s something about the online version I don’t like, which is why I’ve been using the desktop version.
The desktop version is installed locally on your hard drive which allows you to work offline. As connected as I typically am, I decided that blowing $60.00 every month on a mediocre wireless access card through one of my cell providers wasn’t a great use of my money, considering that I’m usually near a WIFI hotspot.
Even with that in mind, there are certain limitations to the online version of Zipforms that have nothing to do with Zipforms, and everything to do with the internet connection that you’ve joined for the time being. Sometimes coffee shops just don’t have the bandwidth I need to get my contracts written. I tend to work much faster than an internet connection can accomodate, so being able to do the meat of the work offline, create my digital packages to send to my clients, then connect and send is much more efficient.
The Problem
ZipForms desktop is fantastic when it comes to offline editing of files. It’s not fantastic when you’re someone who not only uses multiple applications on one computer, but multiple computers. I have a desktop at home, a Windows based laptop, and now, a MacBook Pro. The desktop version stores all of the information about your transactions on the computer you’re using, not on the internet, so you cannot access a contract written on one computer on the other…unless you employ the following tool…
Microsoft has a great synchronization tool that allows you to choose a folder, or set of folders on one computer that can be synchronized through the internet to another set of folders on another computer.
ZipForms Desktop stores all of your transactions, clauses, templates, etc., in the same folder on each computer, so it’s quite simple to setup synchronization between those folders to ensure that all of the changes you make in one transaction are nearly immediately available on all of the other computers involved.
Getting Started
Before you can sync files over the net, you’ll need to create a Windows Live Login. I know, this is probably one of many options on the internet, but to date, it’s the most reliable I have used, and even though it’s a Microsoft product, which I typically cringe at, it works.
Head over to http://login.live.com and create an account if you don’t already have one lingering around from years past. Once you have an
What Does It Mean: Upside Down In Your Home
No, it doesn’t literally mean that you’re upside-down. It’s a financial term that describes the relationship between the value of your home and what you still owe on your home mortgage.
When you borrow money, you usually have to have something to secure that money against, so the bank has a way to recover their money if you don’t pay your payments on time. Usually, it’s the item you’re purchasing.
When the bank loans you money on a house, they do so based on the current value of the house, with the assumption that you will pay back the loan in full, over time, regardless of the value of the home at the time you sell it.
Sometimes your home appreciates (increases) in value, and sometimes, such as in recent years, your house depreciates (decreases) in value.
If your home’s value is less than what you owe the bank, then it is said that you are “upside-down.” There are only a few remedies for this situation, and they depend upon your future plans, and your current financial circumstances.
It’s okay to be upside-down in your home if you plan on staying there long enough to ride out the ups and downs of real estate values. Don’t panic if your home is worth less than you owe. If you can afford your payments and you have a relatively secure job, you can stay.
But, if you are in a financial situation where your income has decreased, your payments have increased, or any other circumstance has caused undue stress on the wallet, it may be time to take a look at your housing options, and perhaps find a less expensive place to live.
If you’re upside-down and you are faced with this situation where you must sell to make the right changes in your life, you are considered a short-sale candidate.
Don’t be overwhelmed, there are thousands of people in your position. You are not alone. Selling homes that are upside-down happens every day. I know, I’ve done it, and it’s called a Short Sale.
It is nothing to be ashamed of. I recently spoke with a client who said that she “felt like white trash,” just because she couldn’t afford her mortgage payments any more. This is so far from the truth.
Whether your home is under $100,000 in value, or over 1,000,000.00 in value, if you’re upside-down and you’re facing financial troubles that will eventually lead to you losing the house, then it’s time to put your ducks in a row and hire a Certified Distressed Property Expert to help you prevent this from happening.
Upside-down simply means it’s going to be a bit more challenging, and will take a bit longer than normal to sell your home. It also means that it will most likely cost you nothing out of pocket in the end.
Don’t give up! There is a solution to being upside-down in your home.
Comparing Consequences: Short Sale and Foreclosure
Challenge: Buy a primary residence with a loan.
After Forclosure: Probably not for about 5 to 7 years.
After Short Sale: More likely 2 years.
Challenge: Borrow to purchase an investment property.
After Foreclosure: You’ll be waiting 7 years before you can do this.
After Short Sale: 2 Years and you’re golden.
Challenge: Borrow money from anyone other than Fannie Mae to purchase a property.
After Foreclosure: Applications ask if you’ve foreclosed. By law, you have to disclose.
After Short Sale: No applications will ask if you have ever sold a house short of what you owe.
Challenge: Maintain Credit Score
After Foreclosure: You’ll be affected by 250 to 300 points for roughly 3 years.
After Short Sale: When you close a short sale, they report the debt as paid for less. This is not as derogatory as a foreclosure, and may only drop your score by about 50 points for a year to a year and a half.
Speak to a debt expert online to find out which route out of the red is going to be the best one for you to take.
Challenge: Sparkling clean credit history
After Foreclosure: This will remain on your credit report for 10 years or more.
After Short Sale: Not reported. They do not report “Short Sale” on credit reports. It will be reported as Paid or Settled.
Challenge: Get a job in the military or other highly secure position in corporate America.
After Foreclosure: Not likely. You blew it dude. Now you have a history of bailing out.
After Short Sale: No problem. Won’t show up on a background check.
Challenge: Stay employed.
After Foreclosure: Disclose that you foreclosed on your property and your employer may catch wind of it, which could lead to termination, especially if you’re in a position that is sensitive to the company.
After Short Sale: Not reported on your credit, so they won’t have a clue.
Challenge: Get a job.
After Foreclosure: Employers can check your credit, and challenge your potential employment due to this type of derogatory mark on your history.
After Short Sale: Not Reported. You’re hired!
Challenge: Avoid a deficiency judgment.
After Foreclosure: If you live in a state that is a non-deficiency state, you may be safe, but if you don’t, you may be on the hook for the difference of what the house brings at auction, and what you originally agreed to pay.
After Short Sale: No deficiency, depending on the type of loan. Part of the short sale agreement typically releases you from all liability.
Challenge: Minimize the amount of the deficiency.
After Foreclosure: The cost of foreclosure increases the amount you’ll be deficient. If your home forecloses, you could end up being on the hook for far more than if you sell short.
After Short Sale: Short sales, unlike bank owned properties, sell closer to market value, thereby minimizing the amount that you would be deficient.
Discipline
An article was recently pushed across my desk which really has made a difference in my life. It was written by Bill Gray, and I’m not sure where the article was originally published, but I’m posting it here so you have the chance to also read it.
DISCIPLINE, by Bill Gray
Over time it has been proven, without a doubt, that those who possess self-discipline are the most successful.
Self-discipline relates to a person’s integrity and moral ways; it becomes an internal compass that leads you toward your goals.
Those with discipline do not need to be told what to do and rarely need a guidance counselor too lead the way. No one tells a person with discipline when to get up, when to go to work, or what to do when they get there. This type of person will set his or her own priorities and schedules and meet their own deadlines.
Self-discipline is more powerful than luck, aptitude, or talent, and provides greater results. Discipline allows you to set your siights on a target and find a way to achieve it. It will wear down th etoughest opponent and help overcome the greatest obstacles.
Discipline is the primary ingredient to economic success. If you lack discipline, your chances of success are slim. Many with outstanding futures and abundant talent have failed when discipline was lacking.
Most unhappiness comes from a lack of discipline. Society makes millions of dollars a year on those who lack self-control. You can inherit a million dollars, but without a disciplined plan you will be no better off in a few years.
We live in a society of abundant “starters” but very few “finishers.”
Bill Gray is publisher of the Arizona Journal of Real Estate & Business and president of the Arizona School of Real Estate & Business.
Market Statistics as of August 24th, 2008
As of now, we have a total of 43,705 single family detached homes on the market. Our total number of residential listings is at 52,542. A total of 1053 properties sold between August 18th and August 24th 2008, which was down from the 1200 that sold the previous week.
The average asking price for this week was $409,037 while the average sales price was $238,943 which was a slight increase over the previous week. It’s time for the market to correct. Prices over the next 12 months are expected to increase gradually, but not at the rate that we would normally expect of our real estate economy.
We’re currently
at an average of 112 days on market with roughly 9 1/5 months supply of inventory overall.