Cora Carleson's Blog

Timing is EVERYTHING!

Cora Carleson (Remax Dynamic of the Valley) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 12:57:22 -0700

Foreclosures have a time frame. Depending on the asset management company that is being used, of course, but if you can follow the time frame, you can get a really nice house. I am working on a deal now where a couple is looking at a foreclosure that has been on the market 14 days. If they wait and make an offer on day 15, chances are the price of the house will go down. However, the price of the house is good, and may get snapped up in the 24 hour period. What to do?

All these decision are yours as a consumer, you can get advice from your agents, but ultimately your decision. So do some research with your agent. Figure out the price per square foot, is it really a great deal, what about the neighborhood? How much work needs to be done on the house for it to be financeable?

Then, logically and with as little emotion as possible, calculate your offer. If the house is $135,000 and its value is really $150,000 and needs very little work, snap it up TODAY! However, if its value is $140,000, wait – just that extra day – and see what it’s dropped to. That one day could make a $10,000 difference for you. If it’s snapped up by someone else – then there’s something else out there for you, keep looking and have your Realtor stay in touch with the listing agent – it could come back on the market! Stranger things have happened, especially in this market! Happy House Hunting!

Three Steps to Winterizing Your Home

Cora Carleson (Remax Dynamic of the Valley) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 15:13:12 -0700

I have this really great State Farm agent, she's my daughter-in-law! She sends me things like this all the time, great useful info, that I thought you would enjoy too! read below.....

Use the next few months of moderate temperatures to feather a cozy, energy-efficient nest that withstands wintry conditions. Even if you live in a warmer climate where snow and ice are rare or non-existent, you can take preventative measures now to keep your utility bills in check, raise your comfort level and prevent costly home repairs down the road.

1. Increase your efficiency

The problem: As the temperature dips, your utility bill climbs. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that heating accounts for 31 percent of the average home’s annual utility use.

The fix: You can save as much as 20 percent on your home’s energy costs by installing an energy-efficient furnace with properly sealed ducts. (Sealing ductwork alone can save you up to $140 a year.) Plus, making your home more energy efficient can earn you some tax credits. Other ways to increase efficiency include:

Have a professional clean and test your heating system before winter begins.
Install a programmable thermostat.
Change furnace filters monthly.

2. Improve your comfort

The problem: A drafty house makes you chilly, and lets warm air slip out.

The fix: ENERGY STAR notes that properly sealing and insulating a home improves comfort and saves up to 10 percent on annual energy costs. Use these tips to get started:

Apply caulk around windows, doors, pipes, vents and electrical outlets and seal foundation cracks with hydraulic cement or polyurethane foam.
Check for drafts by holding a lit incense stick in front of windows that may not be airtight. If drafts are found, cover windows with film and seal.
Add more insulation as needed.
Adjust ceiling fans so blades turn in a clockwise direction to push warmer air down into a room.

3. Prevent ice damage

The problem: State Farm experts estimate that each winter 250,000 homes experience damage due to frozen pipes.

The fix: First look for places where cold air can get in. Then:

Add insulation to pipes located on exterior walls and in crawl spaces and attics.
Disconnect garden hoses so water won’t freeze in the faucet or pipe.
Clean gutters and downspouts to direct winter precipitation away from foundations. Note: Cleaning gutters does not prevent ice dams.

Find more winter-proofing tips at statefarm.com. And check out ENERGY STAR’s interactive room-by-room energy-saving tool.

Not Just Selling, Helping

Cora Carleson (Remax Dynamic of the Valley) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:39:56 -0700

I have found myself lately helping people who are really messed up with their mortgages. No, I don't always get a sale from this, but that's okay. There are some people that are just really in a mess right now and don't know the best way to get out.

Yesterday, I met with a gal who wanted to see an inexpensive home that I have listed. When I got to the house, she let me know that she had to sell another home first, then as we talked, I discovered that she was upside down. What do we do now. There are many options and just sitting down and counseling with them all the options is a good idea. Sometimes, you can figure out pretty early, you are not going to make a sale off of this client. But you can help them. We as have a responsibility to the public, and even tho it's hard for us to make a living right now - we have to help as much as possible.

So, easy tips for those in need:

1) have them contact their bank and see what they can do

2) explain short sale, deed in Lew, and foreclosure to them

3) have them see a loan originator and discuss what a short sale, or foreclosure would do to their credit.

4) direct them to Consumer Credit Counseling, have them stay away from the companies that say they can do if for your. CCC is the best way to go.

5) be encouraging and let them know that this too will pass and they will be back on track with their lives.

I never thought I would do so much counseling in my real estate career - but it's all part of the job.

Wow, What a Deal

Cora Carleson (Remax Dynamic of the Valley) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:13:55 -0700

So how low can you get your house payment if you need say a 3 bedroom 2 bath home with a double garage.......really low! I bet you will never guess......

Recently, I was lucky enough to help a young woman purchase a home using 3 different types of lending, all working together.

These three lenders, Rural Development, Alaska Community Development (HOP) and Cook Inlet Lending, all were fantastic!

My client got an amazing mortgage using these three lenders together. It’s wonderful how this can work for you as a consumer. However, there are few things that you need to know:

1) You’ll need to have good credit and a good job. If you are not sure, call me and I will get you in touch with a lender so you can check.

2) You must meet certain income criteria

3) It is a lengthy process, so be patient, lots of hoops, but none insurmountable.

4) Some of these programs have repayment schedules if you sell before a certain amount of time. Make sure you understand the program.

But once that is out of the way, house hunting is just around the corner. Use these programs, they are out there, they do work! Let me know and I will be happy to help you!

HINT: she bought a home for $187,000 and her payment including taxes and insurance was $516.00 per month!

Are You Experiencing Short Sale Blues

Cora Carleson (Remax Dynamic of the Valley) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:13:55 -0700

I read this on Realtor Magazine today, I have this for the last several months. Buyers just want to wait until these become foreclosures - it's easier that way: read below.

Short Sales Lose Appeal Among First-time Buyers

Daily Real Estate News | Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Short sale transactions are becoming less popular among first-time home buyers. Buying a home in a short sale transaction may offer a huge bargain—sale prices average 27 percent lower than non-distressed properties—but more first-time home buyers say the processing delays aren’t worth the trouble.

Among first-time buyers, their short sale purchase share dropped to 39.7 percent of all short sale transactions in August—posting a three-month drop and reaching its lowest share ever recorded for first-time home buyers, according to the latest Campbell/Inside Mortgage Finance HousingPulse Tracking Survey. In November 2009, first-time home buyers’ share of short sales had reached a peak of 54.1 percent of all short sale transactions.

With bargain deals, why are short sales losing their appeal? Buyers are complaining that short sale transactions take too long to close, with approval times often taking several months after a buyer even submits an offers. Some buyers frustrated at the delays are placing offers on multiple properties, planning to close on whichever one is approved the fastest. The average time on market for short sales is 16.6 weeks, and the majority of that time is spent waiting for short sale approval, the HousingPulse Tracking Survey found

You Do Know You Are the Last Person I Want To Hear From...Right?!

Cora Carleson (Remax Dynamic of the Valley) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 23:42:55 -0700

Oh, I am with you on that! You hesitate to answer, because you have heard it all before! But, what if it's that military couple moving up or that out of state REALTOR who wants to send you a client! Telemarketers - Scheeeesh!

Via Brenda Mullen-ABR, e-Pro-210-807-0819 Selling San Antonio TX Area Real Estate (Smart Moves Realty):

You Do Know You Are the Last Person I Want To Hear From...Right?!

I am quite sure that I am not alone on this, but telemarketers drive me NUTSO. When I get a phone call from a local, unknown number, I am hoping that number one, it's another agent with an offer for my listing or number two, a potential buyer calling me about helping them find the perfect home, or even number three, a potential client wanting me to list their home.

The absolute LAST person I want to hear from is another person trying to SELL me the latest and greatest marketing that they got going on. Good God! I am with my friend today and of course I get a call and (usually if it's an OUT of STATE number, I will let my voice mail get it because if I hear one more time from folks that can get me to the top on Google, I am going to vomit!), but this is a local number so I think to myself, gotta be one of the above or heck even a wrong number.

Hi Brenda...I'm so and so from somewhere, have you got a minute....sigh...eye roll "not really" what can I do for you? I would like to come by your office and show you all this handy dandy marketing that can help you do better...yada yada and such and so on.

Look, I get it. I know you have to try, but do you realize that you are the VERY LAST person I want to hear from today or any other day? As Realtors®, we get SOLD to more often than anybody out there. It just gets me so crazy. I don't want your marketing gadget, gizmo or your solution to make sure that I make hundreds of thousands of dollars (spending money on your stuff) or whatever. This is why I don't go door knocking or cold calling to folks to sell them Real Estate...I blog, have a website and I will send them mail that they are perfectly able to throw away if they want, but I ain't calling them unless they call me, because I know without a doubt that I would be the LAST PERSON they were hoping to hear from today.

Hi...do you want to sell your house? Well....no....I was planning to stay a while, but ummm thanks...Oh no, but really, if you just let me visit with you I can show you all the benefits to selling now as opposed to selling when you need to...Again..no...well do you know anybody who would want to sell their home...

Goodbye

Would you like more information about San Antonio Texas Real Estate Market or do you need to buy a home or sell your home in Bexar or Guadalupe County? Call Me, Brenda Mullen Realtor® Smart Moves Realty at 210-807-0819 or send an e-mail at brenda.mullen@sbcglobal.net.
--

Follow Me at These Cool Places

Brenda Mullen
Realtor®, ACRE®, ABR®, ePro®

Smart Moves Realty - Helping You Find Home
17156 I-35 N
210-807-0819
brenda.mullen@sbcglobal.net
http://www.findurwayhome.com

VA, Still a Good Deal for Buyer and Seller!

Cora Carleson (Remax Dynamic of the Valley) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:11:12 -0700

Yesterday, I went to a four hour class on VA loans. I know, that sounds really REALLY dull, but it actually was quite interesting and it when much faster that I anticipated, (although I did take my knitting!)

The Denver office of VA came to our little Valley to give us just a hint of what goes on at VA and how to make things go smoother for our past and present military guys and gals. I know that active military usually know their benefits, but veterans don’t always. So if you are a veteran, you might be entitled to things that you just didn’t know about.

Here are some of the TRUE FALSE questions that they talked about yesterday.

1) Member of the Reserves and National Guard are eligible for WA home loans.

a. TRUE, there are some limitations on time of service so make sure you prequalify with a great loan originator

2) A veteran may reuse the entitlement for VA home loans over and over again.

a. TRUE, sometimes you can even have 2 VA loans a time.

3) VA appraisers are to list all problems a buyer may find in a house.

a. FALSE, this is the job of the home inspector. If you are a VA buyer, get a home inspection. The appraiser finds the value of the home, the home inspector finds the discrepancies with the home.

4) Repairs required by VA have to be paid for by the seller.

a. FALSE, either party can pay for repairs, it’s not required for the seller to pay. This is negotiated by your very own qualified REALTOR!

5) Most lender close VA home loans without VA approval of the credit package before closing

a. TRUE, 99% of the VA loans are automated and approved thru an automated approval system.

6) Processing VA home loans is difficult because of the “red tape”

a. FALSE! VA loans are simple and are very beneficial to our military past and present.

If you are a vet, here are some interested facts for you:

1) there is no mortgage insurance with a VA loan

2) changes are coming in the reduction of costs for the VA funding fee! Yippie!

3) there is no loan limit on a VA loan

4) You can purchase multi unit property with a VA loan, up to a 7 plex!

5) There are grants available to home remodels for disabled veterans to make life a little easier

6) A spouse is eligible for a VA loan under certain circumstances.

There is much more on www.va.gov with helpful ways to get the home of your dreams. Remember, call a REALTOR to help you with the process and make sure that they are familiar with VA loans, benefits and allow them to direct you to a VA loan originator who can get you the benefits you deserve.

To all of the Military personnel out there, past and present, thank you for your service. And to the wives and husbands of military guys and gals, a special thanks to you. I know the sacrifices that you make and they usually go unnoticed!

Have a great TODAY! There will never be another one like it! The weather here in Wasilla Alaska is cloudy but the colors of the leaves are fantastic! I wish I could send you pictures!

Cora Carleson – Remax Dynamic of the Valley – Wasilla Alaska

What Good is an Old Home Inspection?

Cora Carleson (Remax Dynamic of the Valley) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 12:46:15 -0700

I have many clients who are listing their homes with me that have old home inspections from two years ago when they purchased the home. They always ask, “should we include this in the listing?”

I bet you cannot possibly guess what my answer is……….YES!

Here’s my moto: Disclose, disclose, disclose! The more information you have not disclosed, the more it can be used against you later in a law suit. It is much better to disclose the information and allow the buyer the opportunity to make a qualified decision about the purchasing and being happy with their decision than to hold back information.

It’s very simple, you have an old home inspection, you go thru it line by line and describe what repairs were done, if anything! It’s that simple! I, as your trusted REALTOR, will make it part of the listing AND require that these additional documents are signed by the buyer.

Now “anyone can be sued for anything at any time” blabbity blah blah – however, the fact that you disclosed, and have the buyer’s signature is HUGE!

So don’t worry, disclose! You may loose a buyer or two but the right one will come along and you will have done the right thing to protect yourself and the buyer.

Just a little “Cora Comment”!

Enjoy the day – not frost here yet in lovely Wasilla AK

REAL ESTATE 101

Cora Carleson (Remax Dynamic of the Valley) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:03:33 -0700

Just to test your real estate savvy, let’s take a little test. It’s not as much fun as those in Cosmo or GQ, but might be interesting. AND I will give you the answers right away, no waiting for the “next issue”.

True or False: I can sell my own home on Craig’s List!

TRUE – However, can you protect yourself and your asset? Using a REALTOR will help with negotiation and deal with the process. MOTO: Ask a Doctor to perform surgery; ask a REALTOR to sell your home.

Yes or No: What if I don’t like my REALTOR, can I fire them:

Yes – I wouldn’t go all “Donald Trump” on them, but if you are not currently in contract on the sale of your home, or the purchase of a home, you can cancel your listing contract or your buyers representation agreement under these conditions:

Failure to perform

Misrepresentation

Illegal activities

True or False: I need to have all the repairs make to my house before I call a REALTOR.

False: Determine for yourself what is more important,; do you want top dollar for your house, or do you just need to move quickly and don’t have time or money for repairs? It’s when you want both of these things that it gets tricky!

Yes or No: Should I spend a lot of time on the internet looking at homes before I go “hunting” with a REALTOR?

YES! This type of “hunting” isn’t with a gun it’s with KNOWLEDGE! Knowing what you want and weeding out those that you don’t is a huge help when it comes to home buying. It saves time and money. It helps you with price ranges, neighborhoods, commutes – you can eliminate so much just by spending a few hours on line first.

Let’s pick this up tomorrow – how are you doing so far? If you get them all right, there may be a cookie in it for you! (don’t count on it)

Enjoy the day! – Cora Carleson, Remax Dynamic of the Valley, Wasilla Alaska

Doggie Clean Up

Cora Carleson (Remax Dynamic of the Valley) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 20:26:58 -0700

In my career as REALTOR, I never realized there were companies who would clean up after Fido!

I remember when I was a kid, my mom would pay my sister and I to clean up after Botika, the family Cockapoo. We would be paid "a penny a pooh". Sometimes that seemed a little skimpy when dealing with a Cockapoo's pooh, and I have to admit that there was a time or two when I cut in half, with the shovel, a pooh-into-two to increase my profit margin. But now we have companies that do it for you - for more than copper change mind you - but very worth it.

I the Mat-Su Valley we have Alaska Pet Services LLC, 337-POOP, or www.337POOP.com they have done a home that I sold and did a nice job too. The couple that sold the home were elderly and may have forgotten that dog pooh in the backyard. Needless to say it smelled a bit "doggish" when the new owners moved in after the snow melted away. Alaska Pet Services was there to help - thank you soooooo much, and if you have puppies, Persian kitties, or other pooping pets - A PENNY ISN'T GOING TO CUT IT ANY MORE! Call them. I you need help selling your home or buying a new one, call me, Cora Carleson 907-982-5700.