real estate: Should I Have My House Appraised Prior To The Listing?
- 09/11/09 08:13 AM
This is one of the most popular questions I get when meeting with sellers when they are preparing to put their homes on the market. The answer is, it depends.
Appraisals cost between $400 to $700 in our area. Most of the time your REALTOR'S® market analysis will provide you with much of the same information as an appraisal.
When an agent comes over to talk to you about selling your home, they will most likely, have a market analysis of the current market conditions in your neighborhood and the nearby surrounding areas. They will compare what homes, similar to yours, listed for … (61 comments)
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real estate: Time Is Running Out For First Time Home Buyers!!
- 09/10/09 03:50 AM
First off let me say that I am the queen of procrastination. I am not getting on to you, but I know human nature and I am here to tell you, time is running out. I can't tell you how many research papers I did the night before they were due in school. I made my believe I did my best work "under pressure".
Well, the same for you if you are a first time home buyer and you would like to take advantage of the potential $8000 credit, time is a wasting. You need to take action and take it now!! You have, … (5 comments)
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real estate: The Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate Market What Does The Future Hold
- 03/19/09 03:36 PM
This is such an excellent analogy of why buyers and sellers should not wait to sell or purchase right now. Bill explains this in an easy to understand logical way. Bill wrote it for his market in Massachusetts, but it applies to all buyers and sellers no matter where they live.
Great job Bill.
Working as a Metrowest Massachusetts Realtor one of the questions I am asked most often is when I think the market will turn around? While I don't pretend to have a crystal ball or a magic hat and certainly am not an economist, it is easy for … (1 comments)
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real estate: Top Ten Things I Learned About Real Estate in 2008
- 12/29/08 06:23 AM
Top Ten Things I Learned about Real Estate in 2008
10. Not All Mortgage Companies now approve all Title
insurance companies. ****
9. Just because your client is approved for their loan
today, doesn't mean they will be approved for
the same loan next week.
8. Historically low rates can still get lower.
7. Not everything the media says is true.
6. Well qualified consumers know it is a good time to buy real estate.
5. Listings are still selling if they are staged, priced correctly and listed with a REALTOR ®
4. This market can be a great time … (94 comments)
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real estate: Cold Calling and Public Relations In Real Estate . . .
- 11/18/08 02:56 AM
In the olden days when I was a newer younger agent, I moved from a traditional broker to RE/MAX with my friends. You know, if your friends jump off the cliff are you going to jump too - I could just hear my Mother's voice and the obvious answer was, well sure!!
So here is a funny story about cold calling in real estate. It is long, but I think you will enjoy it. This is also the reason I am as polite as possible to telemarketers.
The market was changing then, people were scrambling left and right to stay in … (11 comments)
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real estate: How to Really Measure Success in Real Estate
- 09/22/08 12:40 PM
I have always been blessed as an agent in my area in terms of being "successful" . Many REALTORS® have different ways of calculating success. Some will count how many homes they sold at the end of the year, others will use their income as the gage for their success. I gage my success in a different way. For me, it is the relationships that I establish that will hopefully last a lifetime.
Many of my clients are first time homebuyers. I am honored to be involved in a person or couple's first home purchase. It is a milestone in their life that … (28 comments)
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real estate: Hey, Check Me Out,
- 08/30/08 04:16 AM
Well, not really ME in particular. I am talking about where you can go to check folks out that may come into your home to do work or if you are shopping for a home, you may want to check the sex offender registry.
We all want to protect our families, no question about it. In the past, people have bought homes only to find out that a criminal or sex offender lives right down the street. That could be unnerving to say the least. However, it is up to YOU to find the information and make the final decision.
It … (2 comments)
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real estate: A Tough Call . . .
- 08/30/08 03:52 AM
I received a phone call from some parents trying to help their daughter who is behind on her condo today. That is a pretty common thing in our current market these days. She is in arrears on her payments by 5 months. They have talked to the bank about listing the condo as a short sale and called me up.
I have never met these folks before but I could hear the anguish and frustration in their voices. They have paid some of their daughter's mortgage payments for her, enough to keep her in the condo. She is still in arrears though. It … (20 comments)
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real estate: Market Statistics July 2008 Germantown Maryland
- 08/20/08 07:01 AM
Here are the market statistics for July 2008 for the 20874 zip code of Germantown. As you can see there are 70 pending sales. The volume change from last year at this time is about -28%. However, time on the market has decreased. The majority of homes sold in 20874 sold between 1 and 30 days.
Numbers are low, but buyers are still out there looking for homes. The key is pricing your home correctly.
Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, Inc. ZIP Code Statistics - <$100K to >$5M Format
ZIP Code: 20874 Germantown, MD From: 07/01/2008 to 07/31/2008 Statistics generated on: 08/07/2008
… (1 comments)
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real estate: Getting the Contract is Only Half the Battle
- 06/26/08 09:48 AM
In our industry you must as they say, "Roll with the Punches". Dutifully you have marketed, staged and priced your listing. Your seller listens to everything you say.
You are getting good traffic, good feedback and viola a contract. Oh that nice sweet contract . . OR is it?
You, as the listing agent - in my area, do your due diligence by qualifying the buyer, calling the lender, reading over the lender letter. Sometimes you get one that is really a pre-approval and other times, well, let's just say it is not.
I talk to the lender and sometimes it … (8 comments)
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real estate: Doing the Same Thing, Only Different . . . .
- 06/22/08 04:35 AM
Here at AR we all work in the same industry. Real Estate. Whether we are the agents, lender, title folks or inspectors, we are all part of the same, mostly happy, family.
I have read several articles recently about events that happen to us on a daily basis, but what sort of interested me was how different some of the customs are in different areas?
I thought it would be fun to just tell some of the customs and protocal in my area and would like for you all to tell me how it is done in your area to compare just … (9 comments)
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real estate: Giving it Away, Knowing your Value . . . .
- 06/04/08 02:14 AM
The last couple of days I have had new clients in town looking for a short term rental so they can take their time shopping for a home.
We have looked at a few places and found one for them to move into so they can get settled. One of the things the client asked me to do was drive them over to a rental they found on Craigs List. Typically I would not do that since the property was not listed in our MLS system, but we were in the neighborhood so I did.
The owner of the home came and … (18 comments)
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real estate: Super 2008 Memorial Day Meme . . .
- 05/28/08 08:14 AM
Hi, I was just tagged by Kathy McGraw for this Meme, who was tagged by Jason Sardi. Never been Memed before, this ought to be good . . .
I didn't know what this meant at first, but like all things I am willing to get involved! This Meme was started by Mary McKnight of RSSpieces so here goes;
1. Who is your favorite musical artist? Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton - can you say Yardbirds?
2. Who is your favorite artist? Tarkay, Rothko, plain and simple, bright colors - love that!!
3. Who is your favorite blogger? I … (19 comments)
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real estate: Lovely Updated Detached Home
- 05/14/08 04:04 AM
… (0 comments)
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real estate: 4013 Jeffry St. Silver Spring, MD 20906
- 04/03/08 07:27 AM
… (2 comments)
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real estate: Take your clients to a "Safe Island"
- 04/01/08 03:06 AM
Taking your clients to a Safe Island is easy and you will reap the benefits through out the transaction.
Safe Island was taught to me, and millions of other agents, by Floyd Wickman during the Sweathog era. Can I get an amen for the Sweathog era! Safe Island is the process of addressing the real estate process for your clients.
This is one of the best tools to reduce anxiety for your clients or potential clients. When you get a call from a prospective buyer and they are coming to the office for their Buyer presentation appointment, explain this on the phone to … (14 comments)
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real estate: Look Mom, No Cavities!
- 04/01/08 02:41 AM
Look Mom, no cavities! Remember the dreaded trip to the dentist as a kid? I went to the dentist yesterday for my twice a year cleaning and routine maintenance. I have a GREAT Dentist. DR Fran Watson, in Rockville Maryland. If you are looking for a dentist, run to her.
Again, yesterday no cavities! I know my dentist is different than most dentists. It is an experience to go and see her. A good experience.
Dr Watson's office is not like other dental offices. When you arrive, you are greeted by Nicole, one of the best receptionists ever. The waiting room is a … (9 comments)
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real estate: Yes I am Relevant!!
- 03/07/08 12:35 AM
Yes I am Relevant!
With technology coming at us from every angle, it makes me wonder, am I relevant to the transaction? Of course I am!!
There have been many posts about how the real estate agent will soon go the way of the Dodo bird. Gen X and Gen Yers are so tech savvy that they don't really need us. They have the internet and all of its information needed to purchase or sell a home.
Not so fast. I will tell you that I am not the most tech savvy person, far from it, but a majority of my clients … (8 comments)
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real estate: Choosing your first REALTOR(R)
- 03/05/08 12:05 PM
So you are thinking about buying your first home and you are not sure where to start? The first thing you should consider is the agent. This is the person that is going to be your advocate and will represent and guide you through the transaction. Get referrals from friends and family that have purchased and sold real estate. Look on the internet; see if anyone appeals to you.
When you make your initial call to the agent ask them if they do a buyer consultation prior to looking at houses. You will want to work with an agent who does … (2 comments)
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real estate: Now What are you going to do?
- 03/01/08 02:11 AM
Now what are you going to do?
This is a question that several people asked me back in 1990-1991. You see, I had joined the real estate forces back in 1987- 1988, during a seller's market at the ripe age of 24. I thought," Wow, this is the easiest job on the earth - a lamp post could do it!" Then the market shifted and did I learn why not everyone did it. Even in my struggles, and there were many, I guess I just sort of was "blissfully ignorant"? The thought of doing something else never occurred to me? I … (18 comments)
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This is one of the most popular questions I get when meeting with sellers when they are preparing to put their homes on the market. The answer is, it depends.
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