Debora's Says it was a Good Day at the Office - Touching Story

Today was the best day I have had since I got my Real Estate License. I am sure you are thinking that I must have sold a house or got a fabulous new listing, but neither happened. In fact it was a fairly quiet day as I covered the rental desk at the office. Until one couple that walked in the door asking about a little rental house we had. They had been told by their bank that their home was being foreclosed on & they needed to be out by the end of the month.

As I explained our rental policies to them they started telling me their story and things were not adding up. They had owned the home for 12 years and never missed a payment, but for the last 5 months he had been out of work for medical reasons and missed the last three. I have my short sale & foreclose certification so I know there are were several different options open to him & asked if he had tried any. He said that they had called the bank & was told that nothing could be done, even though he had some money to give them and was going back to work on Mon so he could start making payments again. He also said that the person at the bank had been very rude & told them to get out of the house by the end of the month. I asked if he had received anything in writing about the foreclosure and he said no, just what he had been told on the phone.

Now lots of bells were going off in my head, if he was telling the truth something was very wrong. Banks don't want to own homes, but they are very overwhelmed and sometimes if you don't know the right questions to ask or who to ask them to you can feel like you are running into walls every time you call. So I suggested that they call the bank again, told him who to ask for & how to explain his situation. I also told him if he was not able to get help to call me back and I would see what I could do. He left saying he would try, but did not seem hopeful.

A few hours later as I was driving home, my mind already on dinner & what I needed to do with the kids, my phone rang. The voice on the other end said "I had to call & tell you thank you for saving my home". It was the man from earlier in the day. He had called the bank & gotten help. He was sending in money for some of what they were late on and the bank was letting him pay the rest over several months in with his regular payment. As long as he stayed on track everything would be fine. He said that he would not have questioned what the bank had told him if I had not told him to try. He was very thankful that I took time to help him even though there was nothing in it for me and he would never forget that.

So while I did not sell a big house or get that great new listing I helped someone stay in the home they loved. He said I did not get anything out of it but he is wrong, I got the best day I will ever have in Real Estate.

Debora Chilson

Becky Hancock Realty

334-477-3051

www.enterpriserealty4sale.com

Southern Winds Subdivision Enterprise, AL

Living in Southern Winds is a Delight

Southern Winds is a new community off Freedom Drive (previously Headless Horseman Rd) in Enterprise. It’s a great location. It is a couple of minutes off Highway 84. It takes me 5 minutes to get to stores in Enterprise and 20 minutes to get to Dothan.

Southern Winds has all craftsman style homes which makes it unique to Enterprise. Sidewalks, custom street lights and custom street signs add to the charm. The streets are lined with magnolia trees. Each lot has at least one magnolia tree on it, bringing uniformity and Southern character to the subdivision.

It is interesting to me to see people from other neighborhoods walking and jogging in Southern Winds. They tell me it is because they love the peace and quiet of the neighborhood. On Christmas morning this past year, my husband and I were pleasantly surprised to have four deer in our backyard. I guess they enjoy the peace and quiet of Southern Winds too.  

Southern Winds has homes ranging in size from 1600 square feet on up. On the backside of the subdivision, on Charleston Drive, there are eight executive townhomes for rent. They have 3 bedrooms, 2 ½ baths, double garage plus an office.

I would love to have new neighbors. Come experience the Southern charm of Southern Winds.

Shawn Reeves

VALLEY STREAMS Neighborhood Just off Shellfield Road

The next time you turn up Shellfield Road towards the Army heliport Shellfield. Take just a few minutes to turn right on Wellston. There is no pomp and circumstance or grandiose entry to this quiet little neighborhood of four streets. As you turn on the Bradford Pear tree lined street, you will turn right on West Kingswood. The yards are all well maintained and all look pleasing to your senses.

As the road turns you pass by a two story home that Jim and Lori live in with their family. They had a pleasant surprise a couple of years ago. Twins! A surprise since they had teenage girls. As you slow to the stop sign, there is Justin’s house. We are all so happy for him and his achievements. He is in graduate school at Auburn and has just gotten engaged. That will be a beautiful wedding.

There are more beautiful, well maintained homes, as you pass George’s house, he built a detached garage to house his pride and joy corvette. The next street to the left is Wentworth. There are not that many houses on this little stretch of our neighborhood. Then you turn left back on to Wellston, you’ll notice more quiet areas of the quaint little piece of heaven we have. On the right you see where Angel and his family live, their daughter is a freshman at Auburn and they have definitely been showing their sprit this year.

As you are slowing to stop at another stop sign, on this corner you will see Bill’s house. He sets the standard for the lawn care. If he mows, we mow. If he fertilizes, we fertilize. He sets the bar for our lawns quite high. Just when you think you are about to head out of our neighborhood the way you came in, you must opt to turn right on to Inglewood. You will most likely see Tyler’s dad in his garage working on his latest project, who knows what it will be next, another jeep, motorcycle, or a car. He is always busy.

As you make the bend around the street, please watch out, you never know when you will find one of our residences walking. And depending on what time a day you are coming through our beautiful area you might find James leaving to have his lunch at the Good to Go, as he does on a daily basis. Your tour of this quiet little area of our great town is just about done as you pass Ashleigh’s house. She is bound to be playing at the college level next year after she graduates from Enterprise High School. We just don’t know if she will be playing volleyball or basketball, or maybe even both.

At the stop sign you will turn right. You are now back on Wentworth, and just about to pass my home on the left. We moved here in 2001 when my husband was transferred here to Fort Rucker. He is retired now and we have continued to make Enterprise and especially this neighborhood our home. As my neighbor, Norman and I were just talking, we love our neighborhood. It’s quiet and has not been tarnished in any way. Houses come available for sale occasionally, when we lose one of our friends to a transfer for their job or the military comes a calling. We invite you to come and tour the home; you will fall in love with it and will want to make your home here. Welcome to our neighborhood and to our family. I know you are going to be as happy as all of us are.