Jennifer S. Fisher's Real Esate Blog

Vintage European beaches

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 09:08:37 -0700

Thought this was pretty cool on Vintage Euro Beach vacations - http://www.bbc.com/travel/gallery/20110728-vintage-european-beaches

BRING ON SOME FOOTBALL - 2011 NFL team-by-team schedule -

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 19:17:43 -0700

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/2011-NFL-team-by-team-schedule-041911?GT1=39002

Rhossili midsummer skinny dip organisers claim record

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 13:05:08 -0700

thought we could laugh - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-13838216

Why has everything become a costly milestone event?

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 11:24:32 -0700

It's so true and yet so obnoxious. What happened to getting back to basics? Why does it all have to be so outlandish. To me its ridiculous but they are right you don't want your kid left out.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-13809134

Needed to laugh - Road Rage

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 10:16:17 -0700

http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/clips/p008r23c/fawlty_towers_road_rage/

4 jobs everyone should have

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 08:10:59 -0700

Have you worked these jobs? I have a few - http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-2523-Job-Info-and-Trends-4-jobs-everyone-should-have/?SiteId=cbmsnhp42523&sc_extcmp=JS_2523_home1&gt1=23000

Great time to buy and sell!!

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Tue, 31 May 2011 08:25:35 -0700

Mortgage rates drop to 2011 lows - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38770102/

Happy Wednesday

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Wed, 25 May 2011 14:16:19 -0700

With all the devastation around us and my family in KS and MO its just a day to be thankful for what we have. Hope you all have a fantastic Wednesday.

10 top turnaround towns - WORTH A READ

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Mon, 23 May 2011 08:54:25 -0700

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2011/real_estate/1104/gallery.10_turnaround_towns/?source=cnn_bin&hpt=Sbin

Giving Back to our Community - Dallas Preston Road Red Day

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 20 May 2011 15:16:58 -0700

Our video dedicated to our services we provided on Red Day -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_Azd-1kA4g&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Rise - Fall - how about some buyer's

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Thu, 19 May 2011 09:08:29 -0700

Home prices drop nationally, rise in D-FW area

http://www.dallasnews.com/business/residential-real-estate/20110510-home-prices-drop-nationally-rise-in-d-fw-area.ece

America's CEOs: Jobs outlook better, but ...

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Mon, 16 May 2011 08:44:09 -0700

Looks like we got some positives and or at least things are starting to look up a tad - http://money.cnn.com/2011/05/15/news/economy/thebuzz_ceos_economy_survey/index.htm?source=cnn_bin&hpt=Sbin

Millionaires who owe no federal income tax

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Mon, 09 May 2011 15:26:42 -0700

I wanna be in the I don't owe crowd.................................

http://money.cnn.com/2011/05/09/pf/taxes/millionaires_income_tax/index.htm

Weird but true: College degrees

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Tue, 03 May 2011 08:56:32 -0700

Thought this was interesting - http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-2504-College-Internships-First-Jobs-Weird-but-true-College-degrees/?SiteId=cbmsnsl42504&sc_extcmp=JS_2504_spotlight&gt1=23000

Why gas is so expensive, when oil isn't

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 08:12:41 -0700

Prices are about to kill me - http://money.cnn.com/2011/04/21/markets/oil_gas_prices/index.htm?hpt=T2

Lost decade? We've already had one

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 08:54:54 -0700

http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2011/04/20/lost-decade-weve-already-had-one/?section=money_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fmoney_topstories+%28Top+Stories%29

Almost half of households in U.S. owe no income taxes

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 08:47:14 -0700

They need this .... I know the government doesn't but the people do.... http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/04/17/3006982/almost-half-of-households-in-us.html#storylink=omni_popular

Why Owning a Home Rocks

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 08:10:44 -0700

Homeownership has been part of the American Dream for centuries, and it's no wonder why. It rocks.

First, owning a home is an investment. No, it's not a sure-fire way to get rich-quick. It is a long-term investment. Over the course of many years, even through times of economic upheaval, you can build wealth over time.

An average appreciation rate during normal times is around 6.5 percent a year. That means if you buy a home for $100,000, in just ten years you will have a home that could feasibly sell for around $174,000.

During that time you build equity, as well. Equity is the value of your property minus what you owe. So even if you still owe $60,000 on your home after 10 years, you will now have $114,000 in equity. Many homeowners use this equity to take out loans to use for home improvement projects, such as adding on new additions.

Owning a home also comes with less tangible benefits. Studies have shown that it creates a sense of community, motivating community involvement. And family stability is manifested through higher graduation rates and lower crime rates.

When you own a home, you take control of the creation of your surroundings. You can paint, make updates, and style the home to your liking -- all things not possible with most rentals.

You have even further stability when you have a fixed-rate mortgage. A fixed-rate means your rate will never increase. This means you will know the cost of your mortgage for the life of the loan. There won't be any surprises, which is what caught many homeowners off guard during the sub-prime mess. And there aren't any worries about the cost of rent going up each year. You can budget for life!

Don't forget about those great tax breaks, such as deducting your mortgage interest, and tax credits, such as money back for making energy efficient upgrades!

And of course, just think of all the fun times you can have with your family and friends. Memories will be made that will last a lifetime!

Match.com sued after alleged sexual assault

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 15:02:05 -0700

Don't you think when dating online you have some accountability to make sure that you are dating legit people begins anyone can be anything online and through the world wide web. I would assume if dating online there is a certain amount of risk that one takes. The sexual predator registry is a public on line service wouldn't that be something you would check. I am asking as I don't have the answer to that so I am curious to public opinion.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-20054184-71.html?tag=cnetRiver

Texas Legislature - School Info

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 11:21:09 -0700

Wonder when they are going to straighten out this mess hey have created? http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/04/12/2995977/state-school-districts-have-yet.html

As economy slows, jobs recovery continues -

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 12:34:23 -0700

http://money.cnn.com/2011/04/11/news/economy/hiring_recovery_in_face_of_slowdown/index.htm?source=cnn_bin&hpt=Sbin

The perfect market times!

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 15:41:58 -0700

Most sales are done April, May and June. They are the hot times so why wait. If you or anyone you know wants to buy or sell have them call Rocking The House at 972-588-8090!

Ga. woman cleans purse, finds winning ticket

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:00:43 -0700

WE AT ROCKINGTHEHOUSE.COM AND REAL ESTATE FELT YOU NEEDED A LAUGH OR A DREAM OF POSSIBLE GOOD LUCK -

http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/04/06/2980324/ga-woman-cleans-purse-finds-winning.html#ixzz1Ir33S4Z9 -

McDonald’s wants to fill 50,000 openings in a day

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 10:27:58 -0700

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42412605/?GT1=43001

Finding the ideal Realtor doesn't just happen by accident. It takes some research on your part.

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 12:22:49 -0700

Finding the ideal Realtor doesn't just happen by accident. It takes some research on your part. An important rule of thumb is to shop for the Realtor first, the house second.

First, you want to talk with several Realtors from several companies to learn about the different options they offer. If you aren't completely satisfied with what one has to offer, talk to another. The important thing is that you want a Realtor who will represent you to get the best home for the best money if buying, and if selling, provide a smooth transaction for the best offer.

One proven method for finding a qualified agent is by using referrals. If you have a friend or family member who recently had a positive experience while shopping for a house or selling their home, get the realtor's name and number.

However, even if you meet with a referred Realtor, you should make sure that Realtor is right for you.

Keep in mind that the real estate market has two very distinguished sides - the buyer's side and the seller's side. If you are selling your home, you are represented by a listing agent while if buying, you are represented by a selling agent, also known as a buyer's agent. The selling agent seldom lists a lot of homes and focuses primarily on people buying homes. These real estate agents are the ones that sell homes on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), by the listing agent.

In most cases, an agent is on one side or the other, although some do split their time between the selling and buying sides.

One question is what happens if you find the perfect Realtor to help you buy your home. They have the same focus and priorities as you, they are very professional, and exactly what you've been looking for. Great! Now what happens if this Realtor has a house for sale - the ideal house - everything you want? The bottom line is, this Realtor is working for the seller of that home to ensure the seller gets the best deal. Should you use this Realtor or find another one?

Unfortunately, this situation sets up the potential for a conflict of interest. Since the Realtor is under contract with the homeowner, they have an agreement to use their negotiating skills in selling the home. This can be done, but it's a little tricky. If you should run into this situation, the agent would become more like a transaction facilitator than that of an agent and could work on behalf of both parties, however, this is not the ideal situation and should be considered carefully to ensure both seller and buyer, get the best representation.

Keep in mind that even when you find the "perfect" Realtor, there can, and will, be challenges. Very seldom does the sell or purchase of a home go flawlessly. So be prepared to be met with obstacles and be patient as the Realtor works them out.

WHAT YOU SHOULD EXPECT FROM YOUR REALTOR

Working with a reputable Realtor is a huge advantage. Unfortunately, there have been many horror stories of first-time homebuyers being promised the greatest deal ever only to discover that the "Realtor" isn't even licensed or qualified to sell homes.

Although many people are successful in finding the perfect home on their own, most aren't. A qualified Realtor knows and understands the industry and therefore knows how to negotiate the best deal for you. Their role goes beyond just helping the buyer find a nice home. They also act as a "sanity check" to ensure right decisions are being made and things are in order before, during, and after the deal.

Realtor's areas of expertise include:

Advertising

The Realtor can advertise properties if you're selling your home, for the buyer, the Realtor can show you listings on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) as well as other media.

Marketing Strategies

Based on accurate information and specific properties, a Realtor will create marketing strategies.

Open Houses or Home Tours

The Realtor will hold a minimum of one, possible two open houses.

Recommendations

Throughout the process, the Realtor should be open to making recommendations and offering information.

Documentation

This covers the negotiations, contract, handling appraisals, closings, etc.

Keep in mind that when you decide to work with a Realtor, you aren't just working with one, you're working with thousands. Realtors network together, which strengthens the position of both seller and buyer. If you're buying a home, you won't just be looking at houses being handled by your Realtor, but the whole network of Realtors, thus increasing your odds of finding exactly what you want at the price you need.

A good Realtor will help you in setting up appointments with lenders as well as meet you at the appointment. They can offer great expertise in this area and will be a huge assistance. Once you locate your home, your Realtor can help you locate housekeepers, gardeners, and babysitters. Their work doesn't stop as soon as the closing is done. Good Realtors will remain in contact with you over the years should you ever decide to sell.

Additionally, below are some important guidelines you should follow when selecting your real estate agent:

Talk with your friends, neighbors, and co-workers who recently sold in your area.
Whom did they work with, and were they happy? Would they use this agent or company again?
Go to open houses in your area and observe the listing agents. Do you like the way they are marketing the house? How knowledgeable are they about the house and the market? Are you comfortable with the answers they have to your questions? Are you impressed with their professionalism?
Take note of SOLD signs in your area. This is a sure indication of an active, successful agent.
Interview at least three agents. Try to find out as much about each as possible. Because you will be working closely together, you want to be absolutely certain that you are comfortable with your agent's style of doing business.

Here are some very important questions to ask your agent

1. What are your qualifications, experience, and education?

2. How long have you been selling real estate? How long in this area?

3. What is your track record? How many houses have you sold in the last three months? Will you supply three references from these sales?

4. How will you find buyers for my house? May I see a marketing proposal? Are you connected to a relocation network?

5. What if I'm not satisfied with your service?

Make sure you ask these questions to ensure you are working with a good agent.