representation: An Equal Level of Representation for Home Buyers - 03/16/09 11:14 PM
Great Article in the New York Times Friday, featuring a good friend and colleague of mine, Ira Freireich of Long Island, NY.
The article points out how many homebuyers are becoming more savvy and aware of how they can get the best level of representation in the real estate transaction: Exclusive … (3 comments)
|
representation: 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)
|
representation: 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)
|
representation: 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)
|
representation: Exclusive Buyer Representation - The Homebuyer's Best (But Little-Known) Option - 11/21/08 12:06 AM
Well, I just ran across a press release from the National Association of REALTORS either from May of 2008, or revised in May of 2008.
It says in the header that the article will discuss agency and representation options the consumer can choose from:
"a variety of business relationships with real … (2 comments)
|
representation: Homebuyer Representation, Inc. - The Homebuyer's "Best Choice in Utah" - 11/15/08 11:56 PM
Homebuyer Representation, Inc. was recently named the "Best Choice in Utah" by NAEBA's Consumer Inquiry Program.
NAEBA is the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents and the Consumer Inquiry Division fields calls from Homebuyers nationwide. After research, most buyers choose to work with an Exclusive Buyer's Agent who will pledge undivided loyalty to … (0 comments)
|
representation: Exclusive Buyer's Agent Makes Homebuying Experience "Stress Free" for Avenues Homebuyer - 11/11/08 06:09 PM
My partner and I had been considering moving to Salt Lake City from the Los Angeles area. We were not sure how to approach looking for a home in an area where there were many locations of interest. We did some research and found Benjamin Clark. We liked what we read … (5 comments)
|
representation: 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)
|
representation: Buying "Small" in Salt Lake - 10/03/08 03:53 PM
With all the plusses that come with more square footage, the smart buyer will look at the additional costs.
Whether you are buying a home as an investment, or planning on living there a long time, there are many reasons some Buyers choose to buy "small" rather than buying "large" homes. … (3 comments)
|
representation: 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)
|
representation: Salt Lake City, Utah Job Market Among the Most Healthy in the Nation - 10/02/08 04:22 PM
The latest Conference Board Press Release (Dated October 1, 2008) shows some areas of the country where the number of available jobs exceeds the number of unemployed. One of those cities (the one at the top!) is Salt Lake City, Utah.
The Conference Board reports that "35 of [the] top 52 … (4 comments)
|
representation: 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)
|
representation: Will Machines Replace Real Estate Agents? - 05/20/08 10:21 PM
A New World
Some websites promote their equivalence to or superiority over the flesh and blood real estate agent. While mathematical computations can be completed much faster by microchips and microprocessors, they lack the same thing Dorothy's beloved Scarecrow lacked: a brain.
Today's Lenn Harley post on Zillow caused me to … (123 comments)
|
representation: 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)
|
representation: Ummel Case Follow-Up - 04/19/08 11:20 PM
I got the chance to correspond with a reporter in San Diego who wrote an article this week about one of the juror's responses following the verdict in the Ummel vs. their Realtor (R) case.
Like many of you, the reporter had not heard of Exclusive Buyer's Agents before we had … (3 comments)
|
representation: Interpreting a Market Analysis - 04/18/08 02:03 PM
A market analysis not only helps a Buyer understand what the market value of a home should be, but it can also be used to help determine which home (say, out of 3 excellent choices) is a better investment. Usually there is a discrepancy large enough to make a fair determination … (3 comments)
|
representation: 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)
|
representation: 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)
|
representation: Salt Lake City - 3rd Best Place to SELL a home - 04/14/08 01:22 PM
Last week Forbes.com put out a picture story about the best places in the United States to SELL your home.
Here's what they said:
The story makes a few interesting statements about Salt Lake's ecoonomy that I thought should be considered by anyone considering a move to the area, as … (10 comments)
|
representation: Utah Leads Nation in Price Appreciation (STILL!) - 02/26/08 06:42 PM
The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight has issued the report we have all been waiting for...
Utah still leads the nation in home-price appreciation!
Of course, these reports are a little behind the times and I wouldn't expect anyone to believe that homes appreciated at 9.7% for January or February. I'm still … (4 comments)
|
;)
Links;)
Archives
