California’s housing market may get some much needed relief with last week’s announcement of the national mortgage settlement reached with the country’s five largest loan servicers.  In the deal, 49 states, including California, agreed to a $25 billion settlement on abusive foreclosure practices.  California will receive a large share of that amount to help struggling homeowners pay their mortgages or assist those facing foreclosure.  Those who have already lost their homes could also benefit.  Relief will go to areas hardest hit by the foreclosure crisis within the first year of the settlement.  Read more details on this settlement and find links to the California Attorney General and National Mortgage Settlement websites.Early this month, President Obama proposed a plan to help struggling homeowners and eligible, underwater homeowners who are current on their mortgage payments to take advantage of historically low interest rates and refinance or modify their loans into safer, more affordable mortgages.  Additionally, homeowners whose homes are not backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would be eligible to refinance their mortgages.  Currently, only Fannie Mae- and Freddie Mac-owned loans are eligible for refinance.  The president’s proposal must first pass Congress.On the subject of programs that provide aid to distressed homeowners, Keep Your Home California, the $2 billion federally-funded effort to help struggling California homeowners, is now connecting with homeowners whether they call, click, text or tweet.  Keep Your Home California also recently redesigned its English (www.KeepYourHomeCalifornia.org) and Spanish (www.ConservaTuCasaCalifornia.org ) web sites and expanded social media efforts, using Facebook and a regularly updated blog.  The redesigned web site, text service and social media efforts greatly expand the reach of Keep Your Home California to homeowners.If you have equity in your home, we will sell your home and get top dollar in this challenging market, go to County Properties Marketing Homes.To find out the value or your home. Click here for a free market evaluation !If you do not have enough equity, and you must sell your property as a short sale we have the expertise to do so also and close escrow in 45-60 days or less. Learn more about mortgage relief options and how to take advantage of our FREE REALTOR (R)  CONSULTATION for loan modification and or selling .  or go to www.ShortSaleRealtors4U.comMore questions we can help you, at County Properties, 25 years of brokerage experience, trust and a Member of the local Better Business Bureau! Want to know what your home is worth? Click here for a free market evaluation !By the way…if you know of someone who would appreciate the level of service in real estate we provide, please call me or have them go to www.CountyProperties.net and I’ll be happy to follow up and take great care of them.