New Guidelines on Short Sales Make Selling Homes Easier for PCS Military Members

Moving is a regular part of a military member’s life. After you receive your PCS orders to move to San Antonio or to any other area, one of the primary concerns you may have would be selling the home you will be leaving behind.

It could be tough selling a home, selling a home underwater is even harder. A home is underwater when the home’s appraised value is lower than what the homeowner still owes the bank. Meaning if the homeowner sells the home, all the money would be given to the bank, plus extra cash to pay off the loan for the home.

Some military homeowners opt to do a short sale for their underwater home. But in order to qualify for a short sale, a homeowner must either have a hardship or has been delinquent in paying their mortgage. A military homeowner is faced with a problem if he or she does not fall under the two categories.

Some military homeowners, in order to be qualified for a short sale, deliberately default on their mortgage payments to fall under the delinquent category. They do this at the expense of jeopardizing their credit score, which is puts them between the a rock and a hard place.

But with the recent changes rolled out by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, it is now possible for military homeowners to qualify for a short sale even if they have no hardship or are current with their mortgage payments.

As long as their home was bought on or before June 30, 2012, and their mortgage is backed by GSE, they have the chance to qualify for a short sale. Take note however, that the home’s sale price is still subject for approval.

This recent change will certainly help many military families sell their homes easier, especially if they need to PCS move to San Antonio.

Then, the Real Estate Muses can help you find your home in San Antonio.

How To Avoid Identity Theft During Your PCS Move to San Antonio

When it comes to identity theft, anyone can be a victim. But the odds are greater if you are a military member since you are always on the move when you receive your PCS orders.

When a military member makes a PCS move to San Antonio or anywhere else in the world, they are most probably going to give away their personal information to apply for new accounts or even for medical check-ups or applying for a new driver’s license. They will have to fill out paperwork and forms asking for their Social Security number, driver’s license number, contact information, and date of birth. Each time the military member moves, they leave a trail of personal and identifying information in each place they move to, making them easy target for identity theft.

Some people think identity theft only happens online, but this is not so. Here are some of the signs that you are a victim of this crime:

• getting unauthorized charges on your credit card
• companies or collection agencies calling you regarding purchases you never made
• bills being mailed to you for accounts you did not open
• letters of denial from credit companies that you did not seek credit from
• bills and bank statements not arriving in your mail
• your credit card being denied authorization even if your card is in good standing

There is another way you can prevent identity theft happening to you or your family and this is through monitoring your credit report annually.

By law, the three major credit bureaus are required to give individuals a free credit report. Take note, though that they do not send it automatically so you have to request one from them.

The three major credit bureaus have formed a centralized way to contact them through the website AnnualCreditReport.com or through the phone number 1-877-322-8228.

Identity theft can happen anytime and anywhere, not just online, so make sure you vigilantly monitor your credit report annually or after your PCS move to San Antonio.

Visit us at www.realestatemuses.com.

Useful Hotel Suggestions While Looking for a Fort Sam Houston Off-Post Housing

If your military family has received orders for a PCS move to Fort Sam Houston, you will need temporary lodging as you look for your perfect San Antonio home.You will probably opt to stay in a hotel in the San Antonio area.

Here are a few suggestions to help you make the most of every penny you spend on your hotel reservation for your family:

1. Determine if your hotel reservations is non-refundable. If possible, opt for a hotel reservation that offers some flexibility so that you don't lose money should you change or cancel your reservation.

2. Make sure to read the hotel cancellation policies and make sure you understand them.

3. After booking your hotel, you will receive a confirmation. Print out the confirmation to bring with you to the hotel. Delete the email only after you've completed your stay to ensure that you are correctly billed by the hotel.

4. For a better chance to get a preferred room location, check in early.

5. Hotel prices differ depending on the time of the year. To get a better rate, check your hotel options online as soon as you get your orders for a PCS move to San Antonio.

Looking for off-post residence near Fort Sam Houston could take quite a while. Based on the market and your financial abilities, you're stay in a San Antonio hotel will probably be longer than a family vacation. It will be less stressful if you can find a decent deal. And if you follow our suggestions, it will also be less stressful on your checkbook.

Find a home near Fort Sam Worth here.

Sports & Fitness Facilities in Fort Sam Houston

1. Central Post Gym
Bldg 961 Patch Rd
(210) 221-3593
Hours: Monday-Friday, 5am - 7pm

The newly remodeled Central Post Gym is a great and easily accessible place for MWR patrons and Service members to work out. It has a half court for basketball, functional fitness workouts, free weights and 67 pieces of cardio equipment.

Fitness Programs:
The gym offers High Energy Cycling class every Monday-Friday from 11:45am - 12:30pm. Patrons will be able to avail of spin classes and other fitness training in the future.

2. Fitness Center on the METC
Bldg 1369 Williams Way
(210) 808-5709
Hours: Monday-Friday: 5am-9pm
Saturday-Sunday: 12-9pm
Federal Holidays: 12am-9pm

This Fitness Center on the Medical Education and Training Campus (METC). Is a  44,000 square ft facility which features 150 pieces of new workout equipment, cardio equipment, weights, personalized TV monitors, an indoor track, 2 full-size basketball courts, and a gym. The goal of the Fitness Center is to provide a fun fitness environment to keep patrons motivated as they work out for their fitness goals.

It also has men's and women's locker rooms, saunas, and a fitness juice bar which serves fruit and drinks, power shakes, smoothies, fat burners, muscle builders, and snacks.

Fitness Programs:
Active duty, retirees, as well as DoD civilians can avail of the Fitness Center’s equipment orientations and free personal training. Improve your cardio workout with weekly classes like aerobics, zumba, power cycling, circuit training, and an abs class.

Fitness Center on the METC is also home to the Sports Office which includes sports programs like Joint Students' Intramural Sports and Special Events, Intramural Sports, Varsity Sports and the Service Member Adaptive Reconditioning Program.

3. Jimmy Brought Fitness Center
Bldg 320 Wilson Rd
(210) 221-1234
Hours: Monday-Friday: 5am - 9pm
Saturday & Sunday: 8am - 7pm
Federal Holidays: 8am - 5pm

The Jimmy Brought Fitness Center is a 68,000 square ft facility which opened in 1993 and features:

- Cardiovascular & Cycling Room
- 2 Regulation Racquetball Courts- 25 Meter Indoor Pool- 3 Court Gymnasium (seats up to 2,000)- Aerobic Room- Personal Trainers- Therapeutic Massages- Men's & Women's locker rooms- Dry Saunas- Fitness Juice Bar

Fitness Programs:
The facility features the latest exercise equipment. There are weekly aerobics and water aerobics classes available for patrons.

A variety of fun runs as well as duathlons and triathlons are hosted annually. These runs can be participated in by teams or individuals.

Visit us at http://realestatemuses.com/ to find a San Antonio military relocation specialist.