home: Home Buyers in Sandy, Utah Value Having an Agent on Their Side - 03/12/09 08:29 PM
We recently purchased our first home in the Salt Lake area. In choosing a realtor, we considered several options, but ultimately chose to work with Benjamin Clark based on positive recommendations we'd received.
We weren't very familiar with the concept of an Exclusive Buyer's Agent (EBA) at the outset, but during … (2 comments)
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home: Think the Seller Pays the Real Estate Fees? Think Again! - 02/25/09 06:27 PM
Most Buyers are told that the Seller pays all the real estate fees. This is not exactly true.
That the Seller pays the fees is semantics. Your cash (or loan) to buy the home is what gives the Seller the proceeds with which to pay their agent and other settlement fees. … (3 comments)
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home: Key Details of the $8,000 Federal Tax Credit for Salt Lake City, Utah Area Homebuyers - 02/19/09 01:18 PM
Key Details of the $8,000 Federal Tax Credit for Utah Homebuyers
Buy a home between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009.
Get $8,000 Federal Tax Credit when you file your 2009 Tax Return (or sooner, see below).
This does not have to be repaid. (UNLESS: You sell the home within … (9 comments)
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home: First Time Home Buyers Recommend Hiring a Broker on Your Side - 01/31/09 12:29 AM
My wife and I were looking to buy our first home. We knew the area we were interested in and that was about it.
My wife read about real estate brokers and how they are able to represent the buyer which led us to Ben. Right from the start he was … (4 comments)
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home: Home Warranty Companies Affected by Slowdown: Adjusting Prices/Coverage - 10/17/08 12:01 AM
It seems that the slowdown in the real estate market has Home Warranty companies that service the Salt Lake City real estate market adjusting their premiums and coverages to keep profits up.
Over the past 45 days prices have gone up by about 18% and deductibles (service fees) are up about … (2 comments)
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home: Salt Lake Area Home Buyers Should Seek Professional Representation and Certified Negotiation Expert when Buying a Home - 10/13/08 03:01 PM
The NAR 2006 Profile of Home Buyers showed that:
98% of Buyers believe negotiation skills are "Very Important" or "Somewhat Important" in their real estate agent.
and that:
Buyers give "Negotiation Skills" the lowest satisfaction rating of all agent skills and qualities.
Fewer than 3% of all real estate agents have … (2 comments)
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home: Are Downpayment Assistance Programs Bad? - 10/03/08 02:49 PM
So were (are?) Downpayment Assistance Programs bad?
I don't think DAPs are bad in and of themselves.
But coupled with additional items from the lender's bags-of-tricks, they likely contributed to a number of defaulted mortgages, including some that will continue to default as adjustment dates and balloons come due.
(Click Here … (0 comments)
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home: Exclusive Buyers Agents - A Good Choice when Relocating - 09/16/08 01:57 AM
I was relocating to Utah and needed an agent to help me find a home and navigate the buying process.
Through web searches I contacted several agents and ultimately selected Ben Clark of Homebuyer Representation to help me with my home search.
Ben helped me consider adjacent areas in my search, … (2 comments)
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home: Provo-Orem and Salt Lake City, UT at top of 2008 Best Performing Cities Index - 09/15/08 04:19 PM
The Milken Institute ranks metropolitan areas by how well they create and sustain jobs, wages and salaries and technology.
Their report, dated September 10, 2008 shows Utah's Largest Metro Areas strong atop the list of over 200 Large Metropolitain areas nationally.
Provo-Orem comes in at #1 with Salt Lake City at … (0 comments)
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home: Salt Lake City Real Estate - 2nd strongest metro price increase in the west - 08/26/08 06:39 PM
Salt Lake area home prices (for homes that actually sell) appear to be relatively flat at this time. The good news is that it would appear that Salt Lake still has some cushion considering that the median existing single-family home price "in the West" was $290,600 and Salt Lake came in … (0 comments)
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home: Why fewer housing starts in Salt Lake is a good thing. - 08/19/08 09:44 PM
I know you know this, and I know this, but the media doesn't seem to get this...
Fewer housing starts are a good thing!
(Well, at least for now.)
Remember how builders overbuilt and there was a glut of inventory on the marketplace?
Remember how builders were offering the craziest incentives … (1 comments)
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home: The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 - How First Time Home Buyers can get a $7,500 Refundable Tax Credit - 07/30/08 06:44 PM
The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 was signed today and that could mean you or someone you know may qualify for up to a $7,500 Refundable Tax Credit.
A simple overview of how it works
You are eligible if:
You are a first time home buyer (meaning neither you … (0 comments)
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home: Home Buyers Beware when Choosing a Utah Home Inspector - 07/15/08 02:05 PM
In Utah, all it takes to be a home inspector is to call yourself one.
See Get Gephardt – Worst Home-Buying Fiasco Ever! -
Quotes:
"And guess what, home inspectors need absolutely no qualifications whatsoever in Utah."
"...there is no state agency overseeing home inspectors in Utah. And it appears anyone … (1 comments)
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home: Utah County First Time Home Buyers Want Someone on Their Side - 06/20/08 01:22 PM
We recently purchased our first home in Utah County with the assistance of Benjamin Clark. We had been researching homes and the home-buying process for about a year before we decided the time was right. After reading a lot about the process, it became clear to us that we wanted someone … (5 comments)
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home: Are Home Buyers Being Tricked Into Agency Relationships? - 06/03/08 12:14 PM
CASE:
Buyer does not have an agent.
Buyer sees a home for sale on the internet.
Buyer calls Listing Agent to see the home.
Listing Agent sends an "Associate" to show the home to the Buyer.
Associate asks Buyer if they have an agent.
Buyer says "No."
Associate shows Buyer the home. … (2 comments)
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home: Relocating Home Buyers Seek Out Exclusive Buyer's Agents for Representation - 05/29/08 02:59 PM
Because of my work, I was required to relocate to Utah. As with my previous home search effort in Illinois, I decided to use an exclusive buyer agent rather than a traditional realtor. A traditional realtor normally cannot fully represent buyers since they are legally bound to work for the sellers. … (8 comments)
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home: Zillow's "Zestimate" - Astoundingly Accurate! - 05/16/08 03:31 PM
(Please reread the title with sarcasm. Good.)
Zillow can guestimate Market value within 20% of the actual sold price between 51 and 88% of the time! Yippee!
What this means is that Zillow can guestimate the market value of a $500,000 home within $100,000 more than 1/2 the time! (It's worth … (4 comments)
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home: The Crazy Nicknames We Give To Houses - 04/29/08 12:03 AM
Some of the most memorable homes I've shown are homes that my clients would never buy because of something really unique or bizarre. Still, the house was in some way unforgettable and my day was that much more interesting.
Often when showing homes to clients, we will see a dozen or … (18 comments)
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home: Questions for Buyer's Agents - My Responses - 04/18/08 01:10 PM
I don't know the specific origin of these questions, but Buyers ask them all the time. A wise homebuyer will ask these types of questions to any agent they interview.
Here are my responses to Buyers when I am provided with these questions:
Do you spend 100% of your time representing … (2 comments)
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home: Ummel Case Juror Suggests "Buyers Agents Suck" - 04/17/08 01:57 PM
OK. Those weren't her words. Read this article from The Voice of San Diego (author, Kelly Bennett) and comment if you like.Here are a few quotes from the juror:
"After my seven days of realtor training (sitting in a court room), I may consider not using a realtor in my next purchase … (21 comments)
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