Joe's Real Estate Blog

Short Sales are Taking over the Market

Joe Bryski (Keller Williams Premier Realty) — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 08:12:49 -0800

We continue to see home prices drop every quarter and this can be linked to a couple key items:

Short Sales/Pre-Foreclosures - These homes have no equity and they MUST SELL! Therefore they can be priced below homes that are at market value.
Foreclosures - Every-time I turn on the news or hear something in the office it is all about the abundance of foreclosures on the market. We have never seen anything like this before and it will continue to grow.
Too Much Inventory - There are just too many homes on the market. Last stat I saw was there was 12 homes for every 1 buyer.

What can I do if I am thinking about selling? Well you first need to determine if you want to sell or you need to sell. If you want to sell it may be time to just wait it out, but keep in mind you will get a great deal on the next home you buy as well. If you need to sell, we offer a ton of creative real estate solutions.

We can get a Rent to Own buyer in your property and get you full market value you in 12-18 months. If you need to sell quickly we can purchase your home on terms. Whatever your needs we can solve it for you.

Pioneer Press Short Sale Article

Joe Bryski (Keller Williams Premier Realty) — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 11:00:27 -0800

I was fortunate enough to be interviewed on a recent article for the Pioneer Press. It was a great article with some other agents in the area talking about some of the challenges they have faced with Short Sales. I truly feel we are just on the brink of a "Short Sale Tsunami!" It is important to know both as a consumer and a real estate agent that there are a lot of options available.

Check out the article:

http://www.twincities.com/ci_7354616?IADID=Search-www.twincities.com-www.twincities.com&nclick_check=1

New article about Vaccant Homes

Joe Bryski (Keller Williams Premier Realty) — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 09:44:38 -0700

TwinCities.com has reported that the vacant property numbers have hit a record number this past quarter. To no surprise this is a result of a record number of foreclosures, over leveraged properties, and inability of buyers to qualify as they once were able to.

"As of June, 14,262 homes were in the foreclosure inventory in Minnesota, about 1.6 percent of outstanding home loans, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. "

These numbers will continue to rise over the next several months which in turn means bad news for home sellers and great news for buyers/investors. If you do not have a creative way to sell a home right now you may be in trouble. We have diversified our business to adapt to this changing market. We have programs for buyers and sellers to move properties quickly.

To read the rest of the article visit:

http://www.twincities.com/ci_7292784?IADID=Search-www.twincities.com-www.twincities.com&nclick_check=1

Make Tons of Money with Craigslist.com

Joe Bryski (Keller Williams Premier Realty) — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 09:39:24 -0700

We have been marketing our properties on craigslist.com for over 12 months now and we have generated well over 1,000+ leads. The key to making a successful ad is to make sure you put something the reader wants to know about in the title and then capturing their attention and getting them to come to your website. The best catch phrases we have used are:

"Best Price in "

"Look no Further"

"Priced Below Market Value"

"Pre-Foreclosure"

"Rent to Own-Buy Now Pay Later"

Our whole goal is to capture their attention with a catch phrase to even look at the link. From there you need to deliver a powerful message to have them go to your website. I have also experimented with using different symbols to get my ad to stand out such as:

* * * * * ** ATTENTION BUYERS ** * * * * * * *

~~~~~~~NEW LISTING~~~~~~~~~~~

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!STOP AND LOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

These usually get flagged rather quickly so I tend not to do that any more. The longer you can stay on craigslist the better!

Its Time for some light humor

Joe Bryski (Keller Williams Premier Realty) — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 10:13:23 -0700

This is my office manager's dog "Pork" the Pug. He shows us that no matter how hard you try sometimes you just can't get going any where but he does not give up. Sometimes we need a little humor to brighten our day so hope you enjoy and this puts a smile on your face for a Happy Friday!

How do You price your home to sell?

Joe Bryski (Keller Williams Premier Realty) — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 11:27:02 -0700

At any given time, three general factors affect the sale of your house: the current real estate market, the location of your property, and the competition - other houses like yours competing for the same buyers. These three factors are always in flux. For example, interest rates rise and fall; neighborhoods lose or gain cachet; similar houses suddenly arrive on the market; and the pool of active buyers changes. No one can control these factors, and you cannot wait until all the conditions are absolutely perfect to sell your home. Smart sellers don't put themselves at the mercy of these factors - they maximize conditions to their advantage.

Let's review the three factors mentioned above: market, location and competition.

Market
Packaging will make your property stand out from the competition whether the market is booming or not. In a buyer's market (where there are more houses than buyers), preparing your home is the best way to make it memorable and easy for buyers to recall at the end of a long day of house-hunting.

Location
We've all heard it before, "location, location, location" is important. If your house is in a less-than-ideal location, you can't move it. If that's the case, try to make the most of it. Turn your house into the most appealing house in that location. Remember that if your house doesn't stand out, another will, and it will get top dollar.

Competition
When a number of houses with similar features are on the market, yours needs to shine. If two houses are similar in structure or layout, buyers will choose the one that feels as if it could be their home.

Now that you have considered the above factors, how do you decide how to price your house?

Well, there isn't an exact formula to arrive to a magic number, only a price range. Why? Because houses are a commodity subject to the laws of supply and demand, and market conditions keep changing. Prices rise when there are more buyers than sellers; they decline when there are more houses for sale than buyers. The availability of mortgage money also affects sales, but ultimately what the buyer feels about a house is what determines the price he'll pay. While the buyer determines the selling price, you establish the listing price of your home.

When you put a house up for sale, there is a high probability that the asking price will be lowered. The key is knowing when to lower and how much to lower. Keep in mind that timing is everything. If you have had your house on the market for some time and as a last minute effort decide to lower the price, it may not do you much good.

It is during the first two weeks when your home will get the most traffic. This is when the home is fresh on the market and in its peak sale time. If you wait too long to bring down the price, the current buyers will have already seen the house and won't necessarily show new interest.

That doesn't mean that another group of buyers won't come along, but buyers are bunched in price ranges. Therefore, in order to grab the attention of the next price range of buyers, you would probably have to make a significant reduction.

To arrive at a realistic listing price, research your competitor's pricing. Find out what similar houses have sold for recently as well as what "comparables" haven't sold to give you a good idea of the price buyers are and are not willing to pay for houses similar to yours. Remember, a buyer will be looking at a number of houses with similar features and amenities.

Usually the specific features in your house will determine its price range. For example, a three-bedroom, one-bath house in a certain neighborhood will sell for less than a three-bedroom, two-bath house in the same neighborhood because buyers are willing to pay more for a second bathroom.

Pricing your home can be very emotional for the entire family. How do you put a dollar amount on memories? Many sellers are offended if the market value of their house does not reflect their emotional attachment. However, you need to consider that buyers won't pay for your memories - they don't qualify as a feature.

Don't overprice your house - that usually backfires. As mentioned above, the first two weeks a house is on the market is when the most serious pool of buyers arrive ready to buy. They've done their homework. They won't buy a house that's overpriced. If a buyer is interested in your home, they still have to secure a mortgage. In order to obtain that mortgage, your home has to come back appraised at the asking price. An example would be if you were selling your home for $100,000 but the appraisal came back at $95,000. In this case, the deal would fall through or you would have to lower the asking price to match the appraisal.

If this happens where the deal falls through and your home has come out of escrow or, it stays for sale on the market longer, the chance of it taking longer to sell has greatly increased. So, if you are the seller of a house, make sure you either get an appraisal first, or work with a qualified real estate agent who can guide you into an appropriate asking price.

Finally, it's your responsibility to price your house so that it will sell quickly and profitability

MN Real Estate Foreclosure Auction

Joe Bryski (Keller Williams Premier Realty) — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 08:24:23 -0700

This past weekend our state of MN had a foreclosure real estate auction of over 300+ homes. Opening bids started at $5,000 and up. The convention center was packed and full of buyers ranging from "Flip this House" cult followers to Seasoned Savvy Investors. Everyone knows there is money to be made at this point with real estate. Our philosophy is to by low and sell low. The key to our success is to make sure we can find homes low enough and that comes from finding your own deals. When an auction hits you are now competing with everyone average Joe on the street. There is a real since of control when you are the first to find the deal and you can decide if you want to act on it or not. I am including a link to the article about the foreclosure auction below. Feel free to check it out and let me know what you think.

http://www.twincities.com//ci_7244397?IADID=Search-www.twincities.com-www.twincities.com

8 Rent to Own Properties Available NOW!

Joe Bryski (Keller Williams Premier Realty) — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 08:28:41 -0700

RENT TO OWN!

No Qualifying!

(Scroll down to see all listings available)

Rent to Own with Lake Frontage

391 E Horseshoe Dr., Shoreview, Minnesota 55126

Enjoy lake living! Great neighborhood steps to Lk Owasso. Semi-private neighborhood lake access. New kit w/bamboo flr & maple cab. New carpet in 3 BRs, deck & gas frplce. Xtra garage & huge yard! Potential 5th BR expan.

Rent is $2,000 per month on a RENT TO OWN basis with a purchase price of $318,000 and a term of 12 months. Small downpayment is necessary.

Click here for more pictures and details

3 Bedroom/2 Bath Home With Private Lot Of Mature Trees

2964 Greenbrier St., Little Canada, Minnesota 55117

Private Home w/ Awesome Yard! Highlights Include; 3 Bedrooms on Main Level, Gleaming Hardwood, Main Floor Whirlpool, Beautifully Tiled Family Room, Deep Lot with Mature Trees, and Huge Lower Level Waiting to be Finished. PRICED TO SELL!

Rent is $1,650 per month on a RENT TO OWN basis with a purchase price of $229,900 and a term of 12 months. Small downpayment is necessary.

Click here for more pictures and details

4 Bedroom/2 Bath 2 Story Single Family Home Close to The River

709 Stewart Ave., St. Paul, Minnesota 55102

Spacious 2 story that could be converted into a duplex! 1,400+ Square feet and 2 car garage.

Rent is $900 per month on a RENT TO OWN basis with a purchase price of $165,000 and a term of 12 months. Small downpayment is necessary.

Click here for more pictures and details

3 Bedroom/2 Bath Family Home With
Finished Basement

3232 Scott Ave. N., Golden Valley, Minnesota 55422

Charming Home! Freshly Painted, Wide Open Kitchen and Living Room w/ Hardwood Floors. Walk out your Back Door and Enjoy Your Professionally Landscaped Yard w/ Huge Deck! Enjoy 3 Bedrooms on Main, Lower Level Family Room w. Fireplace! This Home has it All!

Rent is $1,300 per month on a RENT TO OWN basis with a purchase price of $265,000 and a term of 12 months. Small downpayment is necessary.

Click here for more pictures and details

5 Bedroom/2.5 Bath 2 Story Single Family Home With Full Basement

3103 Selkirk Dr., Burnsville, Minnesota 55337

Built in 1967, 2 story full unfinished basement, 4 BR, 2BA upstairs - refinished hardwood and all new trim and doors... 2500 sq. ft finished.

Rent is $2,300 per month on a RENT TO OWN basis with a purchase price of $320,000 and a term of 12-36 months. Small downpayment is necessary.

Click here for more pictures and details

SOLD

Nicely Updated Starter Home in Turn Key Condition with 2 Car Garage

2955 Arthur St. NE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55418

Nicely Updated Starter Home in Turn Key Condition. Hardwood Floors. New Roof, Furnace, A/C, Appliances, Electrical, and Flooring. Finished Basement. Large Fenced in Back Yard w/ 2 Car Garage. Great Location and Neighborhood!

Rent is $1,050 per month on a RENT TO OWN basis with a purchase price of $179,000 and a term of 12 months. $169,000 if traditional real estate transaction. Small downpayment is necessary.

Click here for more pictures and details

3 Bedroom/2 Bath Family Home In Great Location

7209 111th Ave., Champlin, Minnesota 55316

Spacious rambler on beautiful lot with pond view. Walking paths. Newly painted & neutral carpet thru out. Beautifully finished FR & den dwnstairs plus 3rd room to use as you like. Great family neighborhood.

Rent is $1,525 per month on a RENT TO OWN basis with a purchase price of $220,000 and a term of 12 months. Small downpayment is necessary.

Click here for more pictures and details

Picture Perfect 2 Bedroom/1 Bath Townhome With Private Deck

6705 Gretchen Lane N, Oakdale, Minnesota 55128

Picture Perfect Home! 2 Large Bedrooms, Walkout to Private Deck and All Your Living Facilities on the Main Floor! Updates include; New Carpet, Fresh Coat of Paint, and New Tile. Convenient Location. Great Starter or Investment Home.

Rent is $1,000 $950 per month on a RENT TO OWN basis with a purchase price of $160,000 and a term of 12-18 months. Small downpayment is necessary.

Click here for more pictures and details

Awesome Home with Tons of Updates!

14 E 46th Street , Minneapolis, Minnesota 55419

Everything you need all in one! Completely updated and renovated throughout. 2 bedrooms 1 bathroom with low monthly payment. You can finish off the basement yourself and build your own equity

Rent is $1,200 per month on a RENT TO OWN basis with a purchase price of $180,000 and a term of 12-18 months. Small downpayment is necessary.

Click here for more pictures and details

SOLD

Fabulous Pulte Homes Townhome At Waters Edge in Hugo

5158 Farnham Dr. N., Hugo, Minnesota 55121

New construction without the wait! 2 level town home w/ unfinished walkout basement, 2 bath, end unit overlooking woods! Includes all appliances and many upgrades! Plus, fitness center, pool and clubhouse is included!

Rent is $1,250 per month on a RENT TO OWN basis with a purchase price of $210,000 and a term of 12 months. Small downpayment is necessary.

Click here for more pictures and details

SOLD

3 Bedroom 3 Bath Split Level Home in Woodbury

1896 Lamplight Dr.,Woodbury, Minnesota 55125

Rent to Own Oppurtunity in Woodbury. Monthly rent starting at $1,550. Hardwood floors, fireplace, and open floor plan make this home complete.

Click here for more pictures and details

SOLD

Brand New 2 Bedroom 2 Bath Townhome With Loft and Gourmet Kitchen

2580 136th St. W., Rosemount, Minnesota 55068

Brand New Townhome available April 15th. This 2 Bedroom 2 Bath home with a loft is being built now and you can be the first to live in it. Open gourmet kitchen connected to the dining room. Laundry room is on the bedroom level and a oversized 2 car gargage with a work area. Upgraded appliances and an awesome deck.

Click here for more pictures and details

NOTE: We have many new properties that we are negotiating and will be up on this page as soon as arrangements are complete. Please check back often as properties come and go quickly.

If you would like to arrange a showing of any of our homes, or if you would just like some more free information, send me an email - click here

I can be reached by telephone at 651-379-6336

Thank you for your interest!

Warmly yours,

Joe Bryski

MNRent2Buy.com
3555 Willow Lake Blvd. Suite #100
Vadnais Heights, MN 55110
651-379-6336

What is a WholeSale?

Joe Bryski (Keller Williams Premier Realty) — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 08:26:30 -0700

Have you ever come across a property that someone just wants to get rid of that has some equity? We typically see this with estates, pre-foreclosures, divorce and more. What do you do? You can list it and make your 3.3% commission. If you want to make even more money on that transaction here is a scenario:

Lets say you find the property and market value = $200,000

The repairs are at = $30,000

The owner will take = $150,000

Your commission listing it at 3.3% = $5,000

What if you took that property and shopped it our to any investors for $160,000 (non MLS). Now you have created a $10,000 commission. There is no buyers agent commission. The homeowner is cashed out quickly and you look like a hero. These wholesale opportunities do not happen very often but when they do it is important to think outside the box.

Keep in mind that I am looking at this from an investors standpoint vs. a realtor. I am very upfront with all the clients I work with and let them know what I plan on doing. I have no secrets when working with clients-just solutions.

Making Money Through Investments

Joe Bryski (Keller Williams Premier Realty) — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 08:44:31 -0700

More and more, people are turning to real estate as a viable investment option. The market is flooded with homes and if done right, purchasing property for the purpose of investment can provide a lucrative return.

Here is some helpful information specific to real estate investing:

Creating Positive Cash Flow Through Rentals

No matter what kind of real estate you decide to invest in, obtaining monthly rent from tenants is critical to your success. Whether you are looking at a pre-tax or after-tax, you will require rental income. The best way to ensure you receive your monthly income on time is to do everything possible to secure quality tenants. Ways in which to do that include thorough credit checks, verification of employment, and past rental history references.

Tax Deductions

Tax incentives for people who invest in real estate can make a huge difference in the tax rates. To offset wage income, deductions for rental property can often be used. In addition, tax breaks enable investors to turn a loss into a profit, which is a huge benefit.

Specific items investors can get tax breaks on include:

Deductions for actual costs incurred for financing, management, and ongoing operations and maintenance of the rental property, which include some of the following examples: Real estate taxes, Insurance, Interest payments, Maintenance and repairs, Property management fees, Advertising

These expenses can be deducted from your adjusted gross income when you determine your personal income tax. Keep in mind that these deductions cannot exceed the amount of real estate income you receive annually.

In addition to the deductions you can receive for operating expense, you can also receive depreciation breaks. Over time, all buildings deteriorate, although at different levels of severity depending on what the structure is made of, the geographical location of the property, etc. These so-called "losses" can be deducted regardless of the property's current market value. Since depreciation is a non-cash expense, you aren't really spending any money. Therefore, when working with the tax codes, it can get a little confusing and tricky. The best advice is to work with a qualified tax advisor to help you through this process.

Growing Your Equity Through Real Estate

Investing in real estate is complex and you need to know what you are doing, but in the long run, it's well worth the efforts made. The return on investment for real estate opposed to other types of investments such as CD's or bonds is usually greater.

The secret to investing in real estate is the equity. When you first purchase a property, you should determine how much equity you want to achieve. Once you reach that desired amount, you should either sell the property or refinance. You need to do your homework and seek professional advice before venturing into these kinds of endeavors.

There is a lot of hype and info-commercials about buying homes at sheriff's auctions or foreclosures. Some seek to make a living through fixing these homes up and reselling them. This has been beneficial to some, but many dabblers have been burned by inexperience. Once again it is important to seek professional advice when venturing into these waters.

Determining Your Leverage

Probably the most important factor when determining a solid investment is how much equity you're purchasing. Equity is the difference between the actual property value and the balance currently owed on the mortgage loan, therefore, the more equity in the property, the better.

Lease Options Revisited.

Joe Bryski (Keller Williams Premier Realty) — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 08:42:50 -0700

I have had some questions come up about how this deal is structured. An ideal situation for a lease option is finding a property that is vacant. You know if the property is vacant someone is paying the mortgage on that just to have an empty property. They may or may not need their money out of that property to move. If they do that makes it a little more tricky. If not you can ask "have you ever thought about doing a rent to own?" Of course you need to be honest and ethical about everything that can happen in that scenario but you have to be able to explain the benefits as well. "Well Mr. & Mrs. seller I can understand you are concerned about having tenants in your property, as I would be too, But do you really want to continue making 2 mortgage payments each month?"

Then you will need to cover how long the term is. It is different for every buyer. Someone may only need 6 months to clear up their credit. Some may need 2 years it really depends on the situation. There is no cookie cutter way to do this. Every situation will present a new list of challenges and it is our job as professionals to solve any challenges that come up.

Can't Sell? Have You Tried a Rent to Own????

Joe Bryski (Keller Williams Premier Realty) — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 08:06:27 -0700

Let's face the facts:

Homes are taking longer to sell
Lending is getting harder to come by
Bank owned properties are driving the market down
There is too much inventory!

If you want to sell a home fast listen up. There is a untapped resource of buyers out there that are great people but do not have credit for one reason or another. You can capture that market by selling properties on terms like a rent to own. You can look like a hero with having options available for your Sellers in a buyers market.

This is how it works:

Secure the property for a rent to own
Market the property with signs, craigslist and other agents
Screen the buyers (we use a lender and credit restoration company to ensure they will be able to purchase within 12-18 months)
Collect option fee ($3,000-$5,000)
Draft up paperwork and close by the end of the month
Close the property at the end of the term

Obviously there are some details involved within each step but it is a great alternative if a home is not selling on the MLS for one reason or another. Our goal is to make a win-win situation for the buyer, seller and ourselves.

Short Sales, Short Sales, Short Sales Are Everywhere!

Joe Bryski (Keller Williams Premier Realty) — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 09:54:54 -0700

I have come across so many short sales in the past few months I dind't even know what to do! I have done a few before in a non systematic approach. I had one of two options: I could tell the clients I can not help them, or I can roll up my sleeves and become an expert in short sales. I chose the later of the two. I have devoted my business to help others that have no other options. These are the best clients you will ever have and they will do anything for you. I will admit there is a lot of time and effort that goes into negotiating a successful short sale but the reward is great. I am currently taking any short sale leads and paying out a referral fee for a closed transaction.

Our process goes like this: Remaining Balance + Commissions = List Price (to establish market time). Every 2 weeks we will reduce the home by 10% until we get an offer. This may seem a little outside the box, but you cannot do anything until you get an offer.

Once an offer is received the fun begins. I will begin digging through countless auto-tele-prompters and Idiotic operators that do not know what "loss mitigation" is. Most of this work we try to have done upfront prior to an offer but that is not always the case.

We by no means are perfect but we continue to educate ourselves everyday and get better and better! Education is key when dealing within a "Niche" market.

Here is how we structure our Rent to Own Deals!

Joe Bryski (Keller Williams Premier Realty) — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 10:57:21 -0700

Here is how we do it. We sell you the property "Rent To Buy."

That means that you are buying the property from us. We lease the property to you for a specific period of time, usually 1-2 years depending on your situation, and during that time you have the option to buy it from us at a price that we both agree upon when you first move in.

You will also pay a "Lease Option Fee" when you move in and buy the house from us. This money will apply to the purchase price of the home and will reduce (usually eliminate) your down payment when you eventually take out a 30 year mortgage with a bank. The minimum "Lease Option Fee" that we accept is $2000 plus the first monthly lease payment. So if the monthly lease amount is $1050 and the "Lease Option Fee" is $2000, you will need $3050 to close the deal and move into the house. Make sense?

Each property is different and has a different "Lease Option Fee" amount. When you register online, just tell us how much you have for the "Lease Option Fee" and we will try to only send you houses that fit those specifications.

For example, if you have $5000 for the "Lease Option Fee," don't ask for the list of $10,000 "Lease Option Fee" properties... it will just disappoint and frustrate you. We encourage you to be realistic about what you can afford, so your payments don't stress you out.

It is our goal to help you eventually qualify for a mortgage and refinance the house, pay us off and put you on the deed. Remember, you do NOT have to qualify for a mortgage now.

We work with a very good, very reputable, very understanding mortgage brokerage... they are "good people" and we'd like you to talk to them. Now, don't misunderstand... we don't expect you to be able to qualify for a mortgage right now... after all, that is probably why you tracked me down and are listening to what I have to say.

What we want to do, is find out how soon you will be able to qualify... for some people, it may only be a few months... for others it may be a year or two years or five. It doesn't matter to us how long it takes, but we don't want to put you into a program that doesn't give you enough time to get on track financially so you can get a loan when the time for that finally comes.

Our mortgage broker is excited about doing your prequalification for a mortgage because they know that they have a good chance of getting your business down the road when you are finally able to take out a loan. They are not going to be nasty to you like so many other mortgage brokers, just because they can't do a loan for you right now... they're like us... in it for the long term.

So that's the first thing we are going to ask you to do... it's a quick phone conversation that takes maybe 20 minutes... you don't even have to go meet with them... and they keep everything 100% confidential.

And by the way, there is nothing that we haven't seen before... you're not going to shock us, no matter how bad your current situation. Remember, there were over 1 million bankruptcies in the United States last year alone... and a lot more people than that have bad credit. Our mortgage broker will just ask you a few questions about your income and your job (or lack thereof), they'll pull your credit report to see if there are any surprises, and then, they'll be able to tell us exactly how long you are going to need before you can get a bank loan.

Just a side note... and this is for maybe 10% of you out there. Sometimes, we discover that you qualify for a home loan right now... you may have thought that you had bad credit, but it turns out after we look at your credit report that the bad things on your credit that you thought were so bad, didn't matter as much as you thought.

If this happens, it's very cool because now your options open up... you can buy virtually any home on the market that is within your price range. Of course, we would still be happy to sell you one of our homes, but we also want to give you the opportunity to see what else is available out there.

What we will do is connect you up with a real estate agent... someone who works with buyers as their main job... someone who isn't pushy, will take the time you need to help you find a property and will hold-your-hand through the process. We look very hard for good agents to connect you with... real pros. This agent will either meet with you in person and sit in front of a computer with you and pull you up listings or email you or they will snail mail you the listings. Whichever you prefer.

But remember... that's only going to be for about 10% of you who are reading this page. What we REALLY do is work with the other 90% of you... that's our expertise.

After you talk to our Mortgage Broker, we will send you an official "Buyer Registration And Qualification" email. You are now officially registered as one of our potential buyers... and remember... all this is FREE and there is absolutely no obligation.

Pre-Foreclosures!

Joe Bryski (Keller Williams Premier Realty) — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 10:40:29 -0700

Are you having a hard time finding great deals? We have deals for every type from investments to rent to owns to full blown re-habs. Our speciality is working with sellers that need to sell fast. We have a full service team dedicated to get you out of you property asap! If you are falling behind with payments, in foreclosure, need to get out.

let us know and we can help

www.mnbuyers4you.com

www.wewillpurchase.com

Understanding Your Credit Score

Joe Bryski (Keller Williams Premier Realty) — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 08:45:49 -0700

Sometimes being approved for home buying can be difficult however, there are things you can do to be approved.

One of the greatest obstacles with home buying is having less than perfect credit. Credit is a huge advantage when buying a home so if you do have bad credit, before you start into the home-buying phase, take time to get copies of your credit report from the three main reporting agencies and cleanup discrepancies. Keep in mind that this effort can take years so be prepared to spend some time getting it in order.

There are things you should know before you venture out to buy your home:

· Payment history - No matter what type of loan you apply for, one of the first things any lender will look at is your payment history. If you have made payments on time and even paid off loans early, that's a bonus.

· Create a budget - This is highly recommended and will help you prepare for a home loan as well as keep you on track once you've purchased your home. If at any time you run into a problem and start to fall behind in payments, it's very important to contact your lender to let them know. In almost every case, the lender will gladly work with you to keep you from losing your home.

· Credit Counseling - Sometimes people set up budgets with the best intentions but then slip off their schedule. There are credit counseling services that can help by setting up payment plans to help you stay on budget or get you out of debt. Lenders don't want you to lose your house no more than you want to lose it. Not all lenders will work with credit counseling services, but it's always an option to ask for.

· Bankruptcies, tax liens, and foreclosures can haunt you for years. Most stay on your credit report for up to ten years and can have a negative impact on purchasing a home. However, if you stay up to date on payments for two to three years after running into one of these situations, with a strong letter of explanation and the proof that you've been working to stay on target, lenders will work with you. It may take a little more work, but it is possible.

· Debt Consolidation - This is another option for reducing your debt to buy a house. In this case, the balance of your debt remains the same but companies are willing to lower interest rates, which do two things - they help lower your outgoing monthly payment and, they lower the overall balance you will be paying. If you have a lot of debt and need to bring your debt to income ratio down in order to qualify for a house, this might be a consideration. The normal ratio is what's called "28/36",meaning lenders believe you cannot spend more than 28% of your gross income for housing expenses and that the total amount of debt payments cannot exceed 36% of your income for a normal 10% down payment loan.

· Flexible Guidelines - Lenders are becoming more and more flexible as a way of getting people approved for home loans. The way they do that is by allowing a greater percentage of monthly income to be used toward the mortgage payment.

· Pay-off Options - If you plan to pay off some of your debt prior to applying for a home loan, consider going after the ones with the highest balances first. Although it's nice to pay off credit cards, available credit puts a person in risk of recharging after the home loan goes through and may actually hurt you in the approval process.

· Near Pay-off or Minimum Payment- If you are close to having a loan paid off, often times a lender will overlook this debt when looking at the ratios. In addition, lenders don't look favorably at loans where only the minimum payments are made.

· FHA Changes - Recently the Federal Housing Administration, FHS, has created new mortgage programs for potential homebuyers. This means that single-family closing costs can be 100% financed where the borrower doesn't have to come up with so much money to close the deal.

· First-time Homebuyers - There are new programs with the Federal National Mortgage Association, Fannie Mae, to help first-time homebuyers, which allow for slightly more debt when qualifying for a loan, and raise the percentage of gross monthly income that borrowers can spend on housing payments.

· Affordable Interest Rates - This helps more people qualify when buying a new home or larger home, as well as lenders providing more attractive mortgage offers.

· Computer Programs Rate Borrowers- A computerized system called "credit scoring". This new way of assessing one's ability to qualify for a loan still relies on the same information but this new systems helps determine who will default on a loan. To do this, a numerical score is assigned to each factor and then calculated.

The bottom line is getting your credit in order and asking your lender for options.

Pre-foreclosure Investments!!!!!

Joe Bryski (Keller Williams Premier Realty) — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 09:06:34 -0700

We have been working on developing a large inventory of pre-foreclosure properties in the Twin Cities which offer a great chance to buy low. This market will make investors millionaires if they are dedicated and they can use a buy and hold strategy. We have never seen prices so low before! Check out some of our inventory:

Eagan: 4BD/3BA 2,112 Sq. Ft.---------------------$239,900 (Tax Value $288,100)

Blaine: 2BD/2BA 1,412 Sq. Ft.---------------------$134,900 (Tax Value $153,600)

Maplewood: 4BD/3BA 2,170 Sq. Ft.----------------$249,900 (Tax Value $267,800)

St. Paul: 3BD/1BA 876 Sq. Ft.----------------------$149,900 (Tax Value $186,300)

St. Paul: 3BD/1BA 1,374 Sq. Ft.--------------------$114,900 (Tax Value $158,300)

Apple Valley: 2BD/2BA 1,722 Sq. Ft.---------------$149,900 (Tax Value $169,200)

Minneapolis Duplex: 2 Units each w/ 2BD/1BA----$279,900 (Tax Value $289,500)

Our inventory grows daily and prices drop all the time!!!! Let us know if you want more info or would like to receive FREE updates on Distress properties!

* * * Top Producer 7i Users * * * I finally found you!

Joe Bryski (Keller Williams Premier Realty) — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 09:38:24 -0700

I have been looking for other people I can speak with on a high level with using Top Producer. I have taken my business to next level by incorporating the principals of the "E-Myth" into Top Producer. I have recreated the wheel a dozen times but it now seems as though it works. I have built action plans for everything from expired campaigns to listings (Over 100+ items) to call follow up. I am very curious to hear what others are doing on a very high level. We have also put together a series of auto-responders to follow up with leads. Let me know what others are doing to succeed on a high level.

Kind of Scary Report from a Year Ago

Joe Bryski (Keller Williams Premier Realty) — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 07:42:57 -0700

Talk about having some foresight on where the market is heading. This report was done over a year ago and is very accurate for today's economy. They talk about consumers using there homes like an ATM machine and over-leveraging their budgets. Keep in mind this report was done prior to the abolishment of sub-prime lending as well so things have changed even more drastically.

Tips to Make Your Home SELL for Top Dollar

Joe Bryski (Keller Williams Premier Realty) — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 08:12:02 -0700

Before selling your home you should take a fix-it inventory of your house to see what needs to be done to prepare the house for sale. After all, you may be okay with the worn spot in the carpet in the den, but your buyer may not.

Fix-ups don't have to be expensive. Below are a couple suggestions that you can handle when you're pressed for time and money. It's always best to take care of these as soon as possible, before you're ever considering the sale of your home.

* BATHROOM: This room is the one that can be rejuvenated for the least amount of money. A new medicine cabinet, for instance, with better lighting and larger storage capacity can give your bathroom a complete new look. Cost:$150 or less.

The shower is for more than just keeping the dirt off. It also provides a wake-up call, gives you relaxation and a place for pure, hot satisfaction. A new shower head can do wonders. You may find that in one house the water pressure is so high that it can literally throw you up against the wall. Or, perhaps worse yet, a water pressure so low that you have to run around in the shower to get wet. A replacement shower head complete with four settings) may cost $39 or less and takes less than 10 minutes to install.

If you're in a 25 to 30-year-old home, more than likely you have those pseudo-chrome-plated towel racks that are more fitting to a gymnasium than a home bathroom. Towel racks run as low as $10 and can help you refit the whole look.

With these few changes in the bathroom, this part of the house is ready for when you want to sell, and you'll even get a chance to enjoy the new look before you hand over the keys to new owners.

* PAINTING: Applying anew coat of paint to the interior can do wonders for the look and feel of your house. Painting is one of the most inexpensive makeovers, yet one of the most effective. A couple of cans of good paint run about $50. Additional equipment (brushes, rollers, drop-cloths, etc.) will cost between $30 and $50, and, in a day, you've given one of your rooms a complete new look.

Every homeowner ought to budget the time and money to paint the exterior on a regular basis. Painting your house every two to three years keeps the exterior in good condition and provides you with the opportunity to inspect more closely the parts of the house you normally would not get access to on a regular basis, such as the eaves and overhangs.

While it would be difficult to paint the whole house for under $200, try attacking the trim first. With a couple of cans of paint, you could probably take care of the shutters and door. A fresh coat of paint on these items does wonders for the look of the rest of your house. In addition, who says you have to paint the whole house at once, anyway?

These are just a couple of things you can to spruce up your house. You'll be surprised at how a quick fix here and there will make your house look almost new again!

October News Letter

Joe Bryski (Keller Williams Premier Realty) — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 10:34:25 -0700

My latest Newsletter is now out. Highlights of the letter include dealing with contractors, how to create more open space, and what to do with a home when a family is going through a divorce. Each month I send out a valuable news letter FREE to anyone that wants one. Please check out our site at http://www.joebryski.com/ to sign up.

Here is the link for our latest newsletter:

http://www.joebryski.com/custompages_newsletter.php?id=2347698&page=1

How to Generate Tons a Traffic Through Craigslist!!!!

Joe Bryski (Keller Williams Premier Realty) — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 07:50:50 -0700

As most of you know craigslist.com has become a cult phenomenon pretty much over night. We have been advertising our listings on craigslist for about a year a now and we have generated well over a 1,000 leads! The best kept secret when creating a link to craigslist is to make sure you have a call to action. You need to have the prospect go to your site. We include several hyperlinks with hot buttons such as "rent to own, free list of foreclosures, free pictures." We have found a ton of success by adding pictures to each listing. Prospects have a tendency to scan for picture ads. We have ton of listings on our website so once they are there it is our goal to keep them there to look at other listings. I have included a couple of our craigslist links to show:

Click Here

When Should I Sell????

Joe Bryski (Keller Williams Premier Realty) — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 07:39:32 -0700

With the recent changes in the market conditions I often am asked, "when should I sell?" The answer is simple, do you want to sell or do you need to sell? When you are thinking of selling there is a lot of preparation and emotion that goes into the transaction. Not to mention that you will be in competition with tons of other homes and foreclosures. If you are in the "want" to sell demographic, expectations need to be in line. Price is more important than ever. If the home is over priced we will know very quickly with the lack of activity. Buyers know that they are in control and have their pick of the litter when it comes to homes. You can expect a lower offer unless the home is priced right from the get go. That is why choosing your agent to represent your sale is more important now than ever. The days of the "part time" agents are over.

How to Make your Kitchen Sell Your Home!!!

Joe Bryski (Keller Williams Premier Realty) — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 07:56:18 -0700

More than likely, the majority of people looking at your home will have to cook. Therefore, the one room they will look at with the most scrutiny is your kitchen.

Not only is the kitchen the one room that is the hub of activity in preparing meals, eating, and even sorting mail, the kitchen has long been a place for people to just "hangout." Some people say the kitchen is the heart of the home.

A recent study shows that as high as 85% of buyers consider the kitchen to be a huge deciding factor in their buying decision.

Even if you don't have the time or finances to do a complete kitchen overhaul with custom cabinets, ceramic tiles, and granite or marble countertops, there are some things you can do to spruce up the kitchen that won't cost you a bundle of money. These changes will greatly add value to your kitchen and to the sale of your home.

Put on a fresh coat of paint. Stay with neutral colors and use a satin or semi-gloss finish for easy clean up.
Consider new counter tops. You would be surprised at how many quality materials there are to choose from that are not expensive. If you have a harvest gold or avocado green countertop from the 1970's, this small investment will make a huge difference.
Create a backsplash. Using tile or even Stone It (a product sold at most home improvement or retail chains. This is a spray stone-like material that comes in colors and can easily be sprayed on for a wonderful effect), you can change the entire appearance of the areas above the stove and sink.
Sinks and faucets. Now is a great time to change out the chipped or stained sink with a new one, complete with new faucets, which come in a wide variety of materials and colors. Stainless steel sinks are highly recommended for two reasons. First, they look great, and second, they are the best choice for keeping bacteria down.
Don't be afraid to accessorize. If you have a small wall area above the countertops, add some nice wallpaper. If the hardware on your cabinets is old and dingy, add new hardware. If your curtains are outdated, hang a fresh, fun pair of curtains to allow a lot of light into the room.
Remove the clutter. Although empty counters aren't very attractive, neither are countertops that are so cluttered with all the latest technology that the buyer can't even envision their own things in the kitchen. Keep it neat and organized.
Let as much light into the room as possible. This will provide a nice cheery atmosphere. If your kitchen goes out onto a patio or deck, make sure the outdoor area is also neat and that there is a nice view from the kitchen to the outside.
Show off functionality. For example, if your kitchen has a nice desk for paying bills, show it off. If there are other special features such as a trash compactor, or chilled wine rack, make sure those are pointed out as well.

Make sure all your appliances are clean and in good working order. Don't think someone will bypass looking in the oven, because they won't.
If someone is getting ready to come through your house or if your agent is getting ready to host an open house, start baking. The fragrance of fresh baked bread or goodies will add a nice homey feel to your home the minute buyers walk into your home.

Before you put your home on the market, look around the kitchen and make sure it's what you would look for in a home. If not, make appropriate changes.

A hot item in kitchens today is stainless steel. The gourmet look of stainless steel stoves, refrigerators, and sinks is appealing to many homebuyers. Now you probably can't go out and buy all new appliances, but if you have other types of appliances, then consider changing out your hardware with stainless steel or even use stainless steel accessories. If you are in the market for new appliances, you can buy new stainless steel models but make sure the buyers know they are coming with you. This will at least show the potential buyer what the kitchen could look like if they wanted to add stainless steel themselves.

If you own an older home, you probably have one of three designs:

· The Galley · The L-Shaped · The U-Shaped

These designs were all created from the "work triangle" concept where all appliances are positioned within steps from each other. This idea was first conceived back in the 1950s based on information from stay-at-home moms.

By 1990, the designs of kitchens started to change based on lifestyle change. More and more couples starting sharing the cooking duties, families started eating more pre-packaged or frozen foods, and people needed better storage and space.

Because of these changes, multiple workstations are now being incorporated in kitchen layouts, getting away from the traditional triangle. This new design allows more people to work efficiently in the kitchen.

Keep in mind that there are still things you can do to make your kitchen more functional. You can add a center island for more counter space, have shelves built on the wall, install under-counter lighting, etc.

To bring life into your kitchen, you should avoid certain things such as:

· Dark corners in cabinets. To avoid this, add glide-out shelving or Lazy-Susans. · Obstructive doors. This would include cabinets, refrigerators, stoves, and dishwashers when the door is open, another area or cabinet is blocked.) P

· Poor lighting. One huge selling point in any kitchen is good lighting. If you have little to no natural lighting in your kitchen, you can add in good fluorescent or recessed lighting.

All rooms in your home are important when you decide to sell however, the kitchen is by far the most important room and should get some extra attention.

New Article about Local Mortgage Fraud

Joe Bryski (Keller Williams Premier Realty) — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 09:49:19 -0700

This is a new article that just came out today in the Pioneer Press. This is an example of what to really watch out for in the real estate industry. There are a lot of people that will take advantage of people in a distress situation. Rent to Own properties are a way to solve credit challenges buyers may have. Our program is different. We offer a credit assessment to figure out how we can get you to purchase the property at the end of the term. We work hand and hand with a credit repair company to make sure that you can qualify. Our goal is to make sure that this is a win-win situation for both the buyer and seller. To hear more about our rent to own program visit:

http://www.mnrent2buy.com/

Pioneer Press Article:

http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_6989050?source=rv&nclick_check=1

Joe's Real Estate Blog

Short Sales are Taking over the Market

Pioneer Press Short Sale Article

New article about Vaccant Homes

Make Tons of Money with Craigslist.com

Its Time for some light humor

How do You price your home to sell?

MN Real Estate Foreclosure Auction

8 Rent to Own Properties Available NOW!

RENT TO OWN!

No Qualifying!

Rent to Own with Lake Frontage

3 Bedroom/2 Bath Home With Private Lot Of Mature Trees

4 Bedroom/2 Bath 2 Story Single Family Home Close to The River

709 Stewart Ave., St. Paul, Minnesota 55102

3 Bedroom/2 Bath Family Home WithFinished Basement

5 Bedroom/2.5 Bath 2 Story Single Family Home With Full Basement

SOLD

Nicely Updated Starter Home in Turn Key Condition with 2 Car Garage

3 Bedroom/2 Bath Family Home In Great Location

Picture Perfect 2 Bedroom/1 Bath Townhome With Private Deck

Awesome Home with Tons of Updates!

14 E 46th Street , Minneapolis, Minnesota 55419

SOLD

Fabulous Pulte Homes Townhome At Waters Edge in Hugo

SOLD

3 Bedroom 3 Bath Split Level Home in Woodbury

SOLD

Brand New 2 Bedroom 2 Bath Townhome With Loft and Gourmet Kitchen

What is a WholeSale?

Making Money Through Investments

Lease Options Revisited.

Can't Sell? Have You Tried a Rent to Own????

Short Sales, Short Sales, Short Sales Are Everywhere!

Here is how we structure our Rent to Own Deals!

Pre-Foreclosures!

Understanding Your Credit Score

Pre-foreclosure Investments!!!!!

* * * Top Producer 7i Users * * * I finally found you!

Kind of Scary Report from a Year Ago

Tips to Make Your Home SELL for Top Dollar

October News Letter

How to Generate Tons a Traffic Through Craigslist!!!!

When Should I Sell????

How to Make your Kitchen Sell Your Home!!!

New Article about Local Mortgage Fraud

3 Bedroom/2 Bath Family Home With
Finished Basement