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real estate tips: Establishing Daily Priorities - 12/02/10 03:22 PM
Establishing your daily priorities will help you make each day a "10”. I am giving you a tool that I created a few years ago that really enables you to get maximum value from your time. It is our Real Estate Champions Daily Priorities Tool.
Step #1: List the activities that need to be done for the day.
When you are listing activities on the right hand side of boxes, you are brainstorming to get your thoughts down on paper. Just focus on what needs to be done … all of it. Do not let your mind think about importance … (0 comments)
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real estate tips: Determining Factors of a Qualified Prospect - 12/01/10 03:39 PM
1. Strong motivation
Motivation is simply the desire to do something. The stronger the desires on the part of the Buyer, the easier it will be for you to satisfy or even exceed their expectations. The stronger the motivation, the lower the expectations they will have for a property or your service. A low motivation prospect is willing to look for extended periods of time until they find the perfect home. In essence, they are looking for something that doesn't exist in many cases.
Do they want it? Do they have to have it? Those are the key questions to … (0 comments)
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real estate tips: Guarantors of Another's Debt Need to be Very Careful - 11/23/10 01:41 PM
Loan guarantees are likely to be sought in an economy like this one. While the good news is that interest rates on mortgages and many other loans are at all-time lows, the not-so-good news is that credit has been extremely tight and loans are hard to come by. In many markets – certainly the local one here – it has become more difficult to obtain an extension of credit even in such a commonplace matter as a residential lease. Landlords want to see FICO scores; they don't like short sales or foreclosures in an applicant's history; they even want their tenants … (3 comments)
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real estate tips: Extension of "Operation Home Relief" - 11/23/10 01:33 PM
The National Association of Realtors has extended its successful "Operation Home Relief" campaign, which is designed to give military service families a voice by contributing financial counseling and aid to help keep them in their homes. Though launched just last month, the NAR has already matched $20,000 in donations.
The NAR has used this Facebook campaign to promote USA Cares, an organization dedicated to providing aid to help post-9/11 veterans and active-duty military personnel avoid foreclosure.
Through the consumer website, HouseLogic.com, a free comprehensive website about homeownership for homeowners, Operation Home Relief aims to increase awareness, rally support and raise … (2 comments)
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real estate tips: Sellers: Don't Let Emotions Rule - 11/18/10 01:30 PM
It can be easy for the selling experience to become clouded by emotion. A homeowner may have years of memories stored within the walls of a home. They look at a room, and instead of resale potential, they see a baby's first steps and early Christmas mornings. When the time comes to sell, however, the time has also come to sever emotional ties with a house.
Emotions can cloud your reasoning. And they can misguide you during a very expensive and important business transaction. Sellers sometimes overvalue their homes, adding in sentimental value on top of property value. They refuse offers that, while … (2 comments)
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real estate tips: Buyers Interested in Walkability - 11/17/10 05:37 PM
Park the car and put on the walking shoes. Homebuyers are ranking a home's walking distance to schools, stores, neighborhood parks, and more as high on the list of influences to buy a home. Buyers are interested in purchasing a house that allows them to get around without the car.
According to one study of 90,000 homes in the U.S., being able to walk to nearby amenities can increase the value of the home by as much as $3,000 and if there is "location efficiency"—a calculation that measures transportation costs—the number of foreclosures in a neighborhood is impacted. "For a … (1 comments)
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real estate tips: Basic Tips for Rose Gardening - 11/17/10 05:16 PM
Rose gardens are the pride and joy of many homeowners and communities. Caring for them, however, takes time and a few expert tips.
When selecting new roses to plant, you should look for several distinct factors. Buy plants that are at least two years old. And be sure they are both field grown and have buds.
If your new addition is in a tar pot, it is possible to transplant it most times throughout the year. Otherwise the prime time for planting in colder climates is late Winter and early Spring. You can, and should of course, refer to your … (0 comments)
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real estate tips: Sellers' Quick Lawn Fix - 11/17/10 05:11 PM
It's one of the most unsightly and often hard to fix trouble spots for homeowners -- a lawn that has gone to the dogs!
This can be a very difficult problem to handle when it comes to selling your home.
A lot of things can be fixed fairly quickly like a leaky faucet, marks on walls, or a cluttered room. But ugly, patchy, lawn can be a sign of lack of care which conveys a message instantly to potential buyers. And if that poor lawn is in the front yard, an ill impression of the overall home can be … (0 comments)
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real estate tips: Knowledge Is Power When You Buy A House - 11/16/10 12:22 PM
If you are going to spend top dollar for a house, you want a golden goose and not a turkey.
Now, that doesn't mean the house has to be perfect. You are going to spend some money after you move in -- industry experts say an average of $6,000 within the first six months -- but wouldn't you rather focus on new curtains, paint and additional storage than on a furnace or a new roof?
Although sellers cringe merely at the mention of it, and some residential builders continue to set up obstacles to it, you should not forgo a … (1 comments)
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real estate tips: Four Questions Help Determine Improve vs. Move - 11/16/10 12:06 PM
The walls are closing in. Your teenagers are warring over closet space and you long to have a real office room instead of camping out at the kitchen table. What's the best solution? Should you improve the house or move to another?
The answers to four primary questions are a good place to start in the dilemma to improve the house or purchase another. Homeowners who are happy with their current neighborhood and school district (usually the top two owner' priorities) are wise to weigh answers to the following:
1. How long do you intend to keep the house?
This initial … (0 comments)
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real estate tips: Coping With Real Estate Market Change - 11/11/10 01:52 PM
Like calling a nuclear-tipped missile the Peacemaker, real estate market buzz words "stabilizing market," "returning to normal" and "market softening" may send the wrong signal to consumers.
The housing market isn't likely to implode in a mushroom cloud, but words like "normal," "stable" and "soft" are more likely to produce complacent acquiescence when it's time for a more proactive approach to changes in the market.
Experts who have lived and worked through past market shifts take a decidedly more robust "cover your assets" approach to today's real estate market rather than trying to pigeon hole it as typical.
One of those … (0 comments)
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real estate tips: Assistance For Buyers - 11/04/10 03:06 PM
When it comes time to buy a home, you may need to strap on your thinking cap to come up with some creative ways to boost affordability. This can come in the form of assistance programs, special financing, leasing, and mortgage ideas.
Let's take a moment to explore a few of these options.
The first order of business could be to sit down with your family to see what assistance they'd be happy to offer. You may find that a father or grandmother would be more than happy to co-sign on a loan, or even offer you a loan … (0 comments)
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real estate tips: Debunking Credit Score Myths - 11/03/10 03:00 PM
Parents aren't so bright when it comes to what behaviors will impact their credit scores and that could brush off on their kids.
In March, ING Direct bank commissioned Harris Interactive to conduct an online survey of 1,042 parents of children age 17 years and younger.
• The survey discovered more than half, 56 percent, of those surveyed thought bouncing a check or paying a fee for having non-sufficient funds in their bank account would reduce their credit scores.
Wrong.
Credit reports typically don't include information about checking and debit accounts, nor non-sufficient fund issues unless they somehow impact an … (0 comments)
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real estate tips: Clean Homes Show Better--Five Areas To Scrub to Make Yours Sparkle - 10/26/10 02:37 PM
So, here's a question for you. Would you rather walk into a clean home or a dirty one? No, it's not a trick question but it is an important one. You see, when it comes to selling a home, many people forget how important the answer to that question really is. Sellers get busy looking for their new home, preparing the kids for a move, packing up their belongings, getting organized for their new life and relocation so much that sometimes their home that's for sale doesn't get the TLC that's needed to push it to the top of … (1 comments)
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real estate tips: Moving Advice: Moving with Pets - 10/26/10 02:21 PM
Experts agree that pets thrive on routine. But how can that routine be maintained during a move? There are some simple steps that you can take to make the transition from old home to new home easy on you and your pet.
The first step is to visit your current veterinarian. If you are moving out of the area, be sure to request your pet's medical files, this way your new vet will know of any conditions your pet has been treated for and when they'll be due for their next vaccinations. Be sure that if your pet is on … (0 comments)
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real estate tips: Home Warranty Frequently Asked Questions - 10/26/10 02:05 PM
Home warranties are on the rise. Realty Times takes a moment to look at some of the most common questions regarding these products.
What is a home warranty?
A home warranty is a residential service contract giving the homeowner repair and replacement coverage for major operating systems and appliances in a home. These repairs must be due to wear and tear, and not negligence or damage.
How can you benefit from a home warranty?
Repairs to homes are inevitable. And while homeowners cross their fingers in hopes that these repairs are relatively inexpensive, what if an entire system needs replaced, … (0 comments)
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real estate tips: Real Estate Investing: How Will it End? - 10/25/10 01:49 PM
Real estate investing needs a long term vision. As individual investors we save money, purchase real estate and try to increase our portfolio over time, hoping that by the time we retire, if not before, the cash flow from the investments might pay for college for our children and then pay for a comfortable retirement.
Curveballs: Around 40 we decide it is time for us to improve our money management strategies so that we have money available for our retirement. Typically this happens because we can see our parents aging. We choose good investments, great locations, super cash flow, … (2 comments)
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real estate tips: Choosing Your Agent - 10/21/10 11:31 AM
It is recommended that you have a real estate agent help you with your transactions. But how do you know which agent to select? The choice can be difficult, but here are some questions to ask during potential agent interviews.
1. Do you have references from past clients? Ask their past clients if they were pleased with the service the agent provided them. Did they communicate in a timely manner, and were they kind and courteous?
2. What does being an agent mean to you? By asking this question you'll be able to see what their work ethic and business … (0 comments)
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real estate tips: Mortgage Basics - 10/19/10 11:20 AM
Points, fees, and adjustable rates. If you are brand new to the home buying arena, then mortgage terminology can be as foreign as reading Greek.
The famous quote by Sir Francis Bacon rings true for all prospective buyers, "Knowledge is power." Use the following glossary of terms to help you raise your own awareness.
Underwriting: This lender process is used to determine how much of a risk you and your mortgage would be to their company. An underwriter will evaluate such things as your credit, available collateral, as well as your employment and current debts.
Points: Broken into two categories, discount … (2 comments)
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real estate tips: Going on a Financial Diet - 10/08/10 11:16 AM
Many Americans live on a margin, spending more than they earn, using credit to make up the difference, and saving at near invisible rates.
Living past their means, they use credit to buy houses, cars, and merchandise that many experts would suggest they really can't afford. This "good life" is great, until the person is no longer able to make their payments. And as unemployment rates hover over 9 percent (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics), more and more Americans are finding themselves in this predicament and subsequently facing bankruptcy, foreclosure, and even homelessness.
Journalist Laura Rowley, wrote for Yahoo! Personal … (4 comments)
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Miro Fitkova
Boston,
MA
More about me…
Fitkova Realty Group
Address: 1318 Beacon St., Suite 16, Brookline, MA, 02446
Office Phone: (617) 232-3220 x 101
Cell Phone: (617) 921-9952
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