Seller's can become very anxious in a buyer's market.
Buyers have started to take longer to make up their minds on property choices. Writing a purchase contract isn't just a simple process any more. Or should I say....with so many home choices buyers are seeing more homes before making a final choice.
This means that seeing more homes, offers a wider knowledge base of features and availability for a given price range. Buyers are becoming more educated with the Internet and the simple act of seeing more homes.
Right now it is fair to say that agents are seeing more homes than they did in the past because of buyer demand to see them. The average number of homes shown just a few years ago was, to any give buyer was 6-8 homes. Today I hear agents are showing 25-50 before a buyer makes a decision.
So once a seller gets and offer...they too know that the economy is affecting buyer credit. They want the sale closed so they can move-on to a new home or life. Many times I am the second or third realtor listing the property.
I am hired to get their home sold and in most cases hadn't had an offer before the one on the table now. This morning I had a seller call to check on that status of her sale.
The seller asks, have you heard anything...yesterday were the property inspections. I don't usually hear anything the same day of inspections unless something is wrong. So no news is good news.
The seller turned down this same offer 90 days ago. Then we found the condo that is a dream come true, for the seller. So now the seller can't sign the papers fast enough!
The buyer still has to do the inspections and appraisal.
90 days ago the seller couldn't see the same number as an acceptable sell price. Now the seller would be willing to take another $5000.00 off if they could close tomorrow.
It is the difference between being motivated and not. Buyer's have anxiety and so do Seller's.
How many anxious sellers do you have?
Are YOU a licensed Michigan Realtor or Broker? Want to do more than survive? Thrive in this market, give me a call. Always confidential, just conversation, but could be the best career move you ever made!
It used to be that you could take information and believe it to be factual.
Now you better check. You might not be getting all the information. Michigan's unemployment rate has dropped to 15.1 this past week. That's like saying it rain in the desert for 2 minutes. Nice to have the rain but it didn't really impact the environment or drought much. This unemployment rate is almost 5 points over the national average. People have been struggling with unemployment and making ends meet.
When you ask information it isn't always that people forget they are behind in house payments or they let a car go back to the bank...they are embarrassed. The information is personal and makes them feel like they shouldn't have to discuss this painful topic.
Part of the rapport building process is trust...but that trust will only carry you so far. If a client has a painful secret...they still are not going to share it.
The credit reports usually show all the missteps people have taken financially. Then each one of these missteps has to be reconciled.
While taking clients throught the thumbs up process of getting financing I have helped them keep some of their information personal.
I have made it a habit of letting the lender and client confront these issues without me involved. Letting personal information stay personal. If the lender runs into a roadblock, I'll step in to help the client meet their goal of buying or selling, that's my job.
Helping people understand before they meet with a lend what questions they can expect is another part of my job. The other thing that clients find very helpful is the paperwork checklist. I use a checklist so clients will know what they will need when they meet with a lender.
The checklist helps buyers identify each document that will be needed. They are prepared when they meet with a lender for the first time. I also offer then a questionaire guide to help them ask the right questions for each style loan available in today's market.
Here is an option for buyer's that I have on my website...a Mortgage Calculator...not just one calculator...I have 20 different mortgage calculators.http://www.flexitrealty.com/mortgageinfo/calculator.html You can identify interest, length of payments (years) down payment and purchase with some very interesting variables.
Live in Grand Rapids or West Michigan area, not under contract? Like to sell or buy a home....give me a call. It could save you thousands in your next real estate transaction. Always confidential, Never Pressured.
Great Opportunity to own a stand alone building - Run nearly any business: Electric, plumbing, landscaping, sprinkling, repair. (2) 10'x 14' doors, open warehouse area-nice office- 3/4 bath with shower.
Cozy Bungalow with fenced yard, all updates done, roof,
furnace..see for yourself.
2BR/1BA Single Family House
offered at $79,900
Year Built
1975
Sq Footage
960
Bedrooms
2
Bathrooms
1 full, 0 partial
Floors
1
Parking
2 Car garage
Lot Size
13,266 sqft
HOA/Maint
$0 per month
DESCRIPTION
This is a great starter home or wonderful opportunity for the quiet life if you are down-sizing. A very comfortable low cost home to heat and maintain. The large fenced backyard features a very large private patio. A large area for a garden and a second outbuilding can be used for addition storage, craft area or even an art studio. The inside of this home is as neat as a pin with many updates including carpet and a newer furnace, tastefully finished in neutral colors. The appliances are in like new condition too. The same owner since 1975 and the pride of ownership shows. It is a cozy home close to the expressway so you are minutes from Grand Rapids, Allegan, Wayland. The large lot offer room for toys. Enjoy the quiet life while being close to everything. Come see for yourself how well this home has been maintained. The owner has added a 1 year home warranty with any reasonable offer. Bring your offers with confidence.
see additional photos below
PROPERTY FEATURES
- Central heat
- Living room
- Dining room
- Refrigerator
- Stove/Oven
- Washer
- Dryer
OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES
- Second 2 story barn, use for arts & crafts, extra storage, studio?
Walkout Ranch with an additional 24"x36' finished garage, neat
as a pin!
4BR/2BA Single Family House
offered at $174,900
Year Built
2000
Sq Footage
2,000
Bedrooms
4
Bathrooms
2 full, 0 partial
Floors
Unspecified
Parking
Unspecified
Lot Size
36,075 sqft
HOA/Maint
$25 per month
DESCRIPTION
Hard to find a walkout ranch like this one. It is like knew, four bedrooms, open floor plan situated in a small subdivision with nearly an acre lot. Take a look at the virtual tour with the provided link. Call for a personal tour to see for yourself...you won't be disappointed.
see additional photos below
PROPERTY FEATURES
- Central A/C
- Central heat
- High/Vaulted ceiling
- Hardwood floor
- Family room
- Living room
- Refrigerator
- Stove/Oven
- Microwave
- Basement
- Washer
- Dryer
- Laundry area - inside
- Yard
OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES
- Additional Finished garage, beautiful professional landscaping
Quality Home built to last a lifetime, Oak trim, Hickory cabinets, tile, all the features you expect and more!
5BR/4.5BA Single Family House
offered at $349,900
Year Built
2005
Sq Footage
4,200
Bedrooms
5
Bathrooms
4 full, 1 partial
Floors
Unspecified
Parking
3 Car garage
Lot Size
1 acres
HOA/Maint
$0 per month
DESCRIPTION
No appologies, a quality home, constructed to the highest standards. It costs more to construct like this, you deserve it! This home would cost thousand more to replace. Builder's personal home. Meant to be forever; so they did everything to make a home of a lifetime. Roof truss system specially designed to stand higher loads and create more open space for a massive open floor plan, 9ft. ceilings. The flor system is designed with laminated beams to eliminate sag; creating additional living space. All walls, floors and ceilings have blown-in cellulose insulation, solid core oak doors, library w/solid oak shelves, French doors. The finish detail is exceptional. Add (5) bedrooms, (4.5) baths, large main floor laundry, open kitchen, pantry, snack bar, crown molded 48" natural Hickory cabinets and you have stunning beauty. Down: Family room with gas log fireplace, second kitchen, in-law appartment and walkout patio. High efficiency furnace and water heater, 3 stall attached garage, add a 24' x 36' finished garage w/ overhead door and service door, entertainment sized deck, pvt wooded backyard, UG sprinkling, professional landscaping, mature trees. This home is close to the expressway, shopping, schools, paved roads, come see for yourself. Go to the website for a virtual tour.
Home has nice flow, Updated with new paint and carpet, great starter
3BR/2BA Single Family House
offered at $59,900
Year Built
1915
Sq Footage
924
Bedrooms
3
Bathrooms
2 full, 0 partial
Floors
2
Parking
1 Car garage
Lot Size
Unspecified
HOA/Maint
$0 per month
DESCRIPTION
Solid turn of the century home. Hardwood floors, gas stove, refrigerator, washer / dryer stay. This home has 3 bedrooms with non-conforming 4th upstairs. The 4th could be used for an office or computer room. New garage door. 8 year old roof on home and garage, updated furnace, oversized hot water heater, updated electrical. The home is priced to sell. This is a real opportunity for minimal updating you can gain a great home! One year home warranty is included.
Open Floor Plan, Stunning Hardwood Floors, Two Story Open Foyer
4BR/2.5BA Single Family House
offered at $279,900
Year Built
2005
Sq Footage
2,470
Bedrooms
4
Bathrooms
2 full, 1 partial
Floors
2
Parking
Unspecified
Lot Size
32,400 sqft
HOA/Maint
$0 per month
DESCRIPTION
Beautiful two story home with a stunning two story brick front foyer. The home is located in a low traffic neighborhood yet close to the award winning Forest Hills schools. Easy access to the expressway system and shopping is close too. The home features custom underground sprinkling to keep the professional landscaping looking lush in the summer months.
One thing you will really appreciate the home is in move-in condition. The home is trimmed in natural colors and flows easily from one room to another.
You will also notice hardwood flooring throughout the main level. Just to your left, upon entering the foyer, is a conversation room tastefully decorated. To the right of the foyer is the large formal dining room. You can have a crowd for the holidays and never cramp your style or your guests.
Moving past the open stairway to the upper level is the family room accented with a natural gas fireplace. The 9 foot ceilings add to the open floor plan.
The large eating area is just off the family room and your eyes capture the beautiful cherry cabinets of the kitchen. The main kitchen area has large useful solid surface counter space. All the appliances stay and are in like new condition. Across the snack bar area you have a built-in wall of cabinets and a desk area as well. Just as you would expect this beautiful home has a large main floor laundry area and private entrance from the over sized two and half stall garage.
Also on the main level just off the family room is a private home office, exercise room or study area the choice is yours it is a great space.
This home has many features of home in much higher price ranges. Come see for yourself this home is loaded with extras that cannot be appreciated without a personal tour. Call today...
You might want to think a few things over when moving to another state. It is one thing to invest and another to relocated using an out of state lender.
This just happened during one of my closings this week. The buyer and buyers agent offer an approval letter through a national lender. The lender may be national but the loan officer is local in a branch office.
The loan officer had no idea about Michigan title insurance or this states closing process. The buyer thought he would get a loan, the seller would hand him the keys and that would be that.
The lender wanted more documentation about future employment, outstanding debt and a host of other issues. Buyers many times do not understand that little piece of paper called an approval letter is only good the day it was issued.
The sellers many times do not know the ramifications of a preapproval letter either. It doesn't mean a thing until the credit report, income statements, verification of down money and income.
The buyer had one issue after another with the lender. The loan officer for the lender didn't know many things that would have been customary in his home market but cross state lines and they didn't apply.
The buyers agent had a difficult time communicating with the clients lender as well. Time zone issues, local and state issues that did not match the knowledge base of the lender. This created frustration and delays. The closing was delayed and extended 3 times.
The seller would have abandoned the contract if I had not talked with the lender directly to see what issues were holding up the sale. The lender outlined issues that were specific to the buyer and some that were because of being out of state.
So when you are relocating it makes good sense to check out a local lender. If you are affiliated with a national lender use a local office to help establish your credit in your new community.
Home this gives you a head start in your relocation process.
I was arriving home from an evening appointment...I noticed a couple young men walking, I hadn't seen them in the neighborhood before.
They noticed me right away...and turn into the a cul-de-sac like they were out for a stroll. The cul-de-sac happens to be where I live. I turned and my headlights showed two young men one in camouflage and the other in black. Odd attire for walking.
I slowed to get a look...they turned and walk across the street and head out of the cul-de-sac....they make another turn into a dead-end side street...all seemed eerily bad.
I made a circle and notice on had a plastic bad looking a little heavy with what seemed to be the outline of a "BIG" knife. They continue out of the neighborhood. I decide to check on my wife before calling anyone.
She is fine....I tell her of the events and she heard nothing and seen nothing. All at once an old pickup is parked in the bend of the cul-de-sac. I look, the same two guys exit and run onto my two acre parcel of privacy. I can hear them struggling with something....I ask them to Identify themselves.
Bloody hands go up in the air...and they say hey mister sorry....we are bow hunters and the deer we shot ran about a half mile before we found him here. We didn't mean to scare you or your wife...we just wanted to get our deer!
I laughed and said no problem guys...how big is it? They never thought to ask if they could get it....some people are funny and wouldn't let them. So the miss trust of the situation created a dangerous situation. Being a Vietnam Vet who was in the thick of things my reaction to people sneaking around my home in camouflage or black clothing isn't going to be very positive. But common sense works best before getting out Mr. Smith and Wesson.
Having two guys put up their hands with blood all over them isn't something you would expect in a urban neighborhood either.
It all worked out and I found out one of the bow hunters wanted some hunting land...so I gave him my business card and collected his email to send him property profiles.
Many things go bump in the night...being careful is being responsible to yourself and neighbors.
Are You Watching "Who Goes There?"
Live in Grand Rapids or West Michigan area, not under contract? Like to sell or buy a home....give me a call. It could save you thousands in your next real estate transaction. Always confidential, Never Pressured.
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get it....some people are funny and wouldn't let them. So the miss trust of the situation created a dangerous situation. Being a Vietnam Vet who was in the thick of things my reaction to people sneaking around my home in camouflage or black clothing isn't going to be very positive. But common sense works best before getting out Mr. Smith and Wesson.
Live in Grand Rapids or West Michigan area, not under contract? Like to sell or buy a home....give me a call. It could save you thousands in your next real estate transaction. Always confidential, Never Pressured.
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