home selling: City Commission Just Doesn't Get It!
- 09/27/10 11:41 AM
Well, we thought we had handled this problem. We met with the city commission a few months ago and explained why we as REALTORS can not be held responsible for the weeds and yard work needed in vacant properties. However is seems that another attempt has been made to attack us as a group: Alamogordo City Commission Opinion in the local newspaper. We continually make an effort to make our clients aware of the condition of their yards and properties. This includes but is not limited to, yard work, exterior condition, interior condition, windows, doors, garage, roof, trees, etc. The condition … (0 comments)
home selling: How Come Some Sellers Just Don't Get It?
- 09/20/10 12:52 PM
So how do you handle this situation? Your seller wants to sell his home real bad so he can move/build/retire, etc. He really loves his house but he has to sell. He knows all the "bells and whistles" that make his home unique and the best house in the neighborhood. So he wants to show the potential buyer everything he knows about his home. You know, however, that some buyers want to be left alone while looking at a home so they can get a feel for whether this home really feels like home. They don't care that all the kitchen … (3 comments)
home selling: A Great Time to Buy a Home!
- 03/03/10 11:09 PM
What a great time for home buyers. With the tax incentive, low interest rates and the abundance of homes on the market why would anyone qualified to buy a home sit on the fence. I know there are always going to be those who want to wait for the "right" time and those that always think there is a "better deal" just around the bend. I was showing homes to a client recently and every day he would ask, "Is there anything new on the market that I might be interested in?" He had already viewed 30 homes under $100k! Come … (3 comments)
home selling: Great New Listing in Alamogordo, NM
- 12/15/09 08:46 AM
This is a great home in a great neighborhood. The owners have really gone all out when remodeling this home. Diamond finish walls, new tile, remodeled bathroom and kitchen, wood accents on the front and back patios make this home one of a kind. Contact me if you would like more information on this home or any other home in the Alamogordo, Holloman AFB, Otero County area of New Mexico. ONLY $130,000! 3 BEDROOMS/1.75 BATHS, 1816 SQUARE FEET 1804 CORTE DEL SOL ALAMOGORDO, NM 88310
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home selling: How Important to Ask the Right Questions
- 12/15/09 08:08 AM
When dealing with sellers and buyers in todays market it can not be over emphasized enough to ask the right questions. Sellers are anxious to sell their homes and sometimes will hold back information that would prevent or delay this process. If we fail to ask if the mortgage is up to date, are taxes up to date, are their any liens on the home, and one of the most important questions to ask before closing, "Is there anyone else who has a say in the decision to sell your home?" This question is sometimes forgotten by agents. Then right before … (3 comments)
home selling: New Technology at the Otero County Association of Realtors (OCAOR)
- 12/11/09 03:21 AM
It looks like we are slowly moving into the "Technology Age" here in Alamogordo, New Mexico. We just implemented Paragon Mobile for accessing our MLS with our mobile devices. We just started using ReInsight Mobile with our FNIS MLS and it appears to be working great. We can access just about everything on our mobile phones that appears on the MLS. This will be a great tool when with buyer clients showing homes and they notice the home across the street that is not on our showing list. We can pull the information from our MLS right there and explain why it … (1 comments)
home selling: Gross Receipt Tax in New Mexico
- 12/07/09 04:24 AM
At times we have questions from home owners when we go over the listing agreement with them and we get to the paragraph that discusses the commisson is, "Why do I have to pay the sales tax on your commission?". In that paragraph it states that the homeowner is responsible for the commission and the applicable Gross Receipt Tax. In the state of New Mexico, Gross Receipt Tax is paid by the consumer of certain goods and services. New Mexico is actually one of the few states that charges taxes on services performed. Many home owners misunderstand this tax and think that they … (4 comments)
home selling: Back to Blogging
- 12/02/09 08:07 AM
Well, I took a break from blogging. I haven't been here in a while and I really missed it. Now that the tax credit incentive has been up-dated it is a good time to let everyone know that now is a good time to buy a home. Business has slowed a little bit here in New Mexico. Our numbers are a little lower this year than this time last year. Through November last year we sold 593 site built new and re-sale residential properties. Through November of this year we have sold 525 units. Not too bad but things could definitely improve. … (1 comments)
home selling: Tax Strategy for the New Year
- 10/30/09 05:47 AM
I just attended a Tax Strategy seminar with Sandy Botkin, CPA, Esq., sponsored by the Tax Reduction Institute. What a great seminar! Lots of good ideas on how we can use the deductions the IRS allows to save money on our taxes. This seminar was not cheap but the strategies presented will save more than enough money to pay for the seminar. If you ever have a chance to attend one of Mr. Botkins seminars I urge you to go. There is no reason for any one in business to eat a meal by themselves and not claim it as a … (2 comments)
home selling: First Time Home Buyers
- 10/27/09 11:42 AM
As I write this, Congress is trying to decide whether to extend the first-time home buyers tax credit. As I understand it, NAR is supporting extending the credit through April, 2010, keeping the credit at $8,000 and allowing everyone, not just first-time home buyers, to utilize the tax credit, with certain restrictions. From what I have noticed and read, the first-time home buyers tax credit has stimulated the market quite well. It only goes to follow that if they extend this credit it will help the housing industry and the market all over the country. I know that some critics of this … (2 comments)
home selling: F. (foul) S. (smelling) B. (bad) O. (ogres)
- 09/02/09 02:50 AM
Some real estate agents look at FSBO's as scary, mean ogres who want nothing to do with nasty real estate people! Most of the time, in my experience with FSBO's, these are the do-it-yourself'ers who think they can save money by selling their home themselves. These are the same people who think they can hang a door, install carpet, change their own oil, etc. After futile attempts at some of these tasks they realize that they need a professional. According to NAR statistics, the same is true with FSBO's. After weeks and months of advertising their own home with a simple … (3 comments)
home selling: Open House "Looky-Loos"
- 08/17/09 02:58 AM
I recently held an open house (sellers idea) on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. I had three couples come through, all "looky-loos"! These couples are career open house visitors. We see them every Sunday making the rounds. They usually criticize the home. They will nit-pick every little thing about the home, including the price, and then thank you for allowing them to visit. It is getting to the point where I will not encourage an open house for my sellers and explain that there are better ways to market the home. It is hard to convince some that there is a better way, … (3 comments)
home selling: Skewing the Figures in our MLS
- 08/12/09 01:02 AM
There is a practice in our Association that has our MLS Committee and Chairperson really concerned. Some agents are taking a property off the market and re-listing at a lower price before accepting a contract at the lower price, thus improving their list to sale price ratio. This also improves their days on market data. For example, a home has been on the market for 120 days at $200,000. The listing agent has a buyer who has offered $180,000, 10% lower than the list price, and the seller has agreed to this offer. The listing agent takes the home off the … (6 comments)
home selling: 209 Ascot Parade Alamogordo New Mexico New Construction Home
- 08/05/09 12:12 PM
CHECK THIS OUT! NEW CONSTRUCTION HOME FOR LESS THAN $107/SQUARE FT. WOW! THAT'S RIGHT, THIS ENERGY STAR RATED, New Construction home is listed for less than $107/sq ft! Beautiful and affordable French Brothers beauty with four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a fireplace, stainless appliances, upgraded tile, maple cabinets, bronze lighting and faucets, and solid surface counter tops. The front yard is already landscaped! This home is ENERGY STAR RATED. Save up to 50% on heating/cooling. 2 X 6 construction, plus a 2 year door to door/10 year structural warranty. Don't miss this one! At 2037 square feet, this is a real bargain. ONLY … (0 comments)
home selling: Great Closings!
- 07/20/09 12:28 PM
Just finished a great closing that cost me a lot of time, effort and stress, but was worth every minute of it for my client. First of all, my seller was looking to upgrade into a larger home for their family of 5. We looked at several homes until we found a home that was just right but they had to sell their home first. The homeowner of the larger home was looking to down-size but his home had been on the market for over a year and had decided not to re-list. I asked if he would be interested in swapping homes … (7 comments)
home selling: Can Anyone Explain the Market?
- 07/14/09 02:57 AM
Can anyone explain this market to me? I have a lovely home near the only Golf Course in town. Only 3 years old, beautiful condition, ready to move into. It has been on the market almost 18 months. The price is comparable to other homes in the area. There have been many lookers and it has been #2 on many peoples list but no offers! Now, I have another home in the same vicinity that was on the market for 6 months or so. The day before my listing agreement was to expire I had 4, count them "4", offers come in! We … (0 comments)
home selling: New to ActiveRain blogging
- 07/06/09 03:33 AM
http://www.lebronlittlerealestate.com I am a newbie to ActiveRain blogging. I will try to post a new blog at least once a week. I promise that this blog will be informative, interesting and, sometimes, entertaining. For now, if you are interested in home buying or selling information in south-central New Mexico, contact me. If you are interested in golf, contact me, that is one of my passions. If you home-brew your own beer, contact me, that is one of my hobbies. If you like real blues music, contact me, we have something in common. If you just want to get to know me … (0 comments)
Well, we thought we had handled this problem. We met with the city commission a few months ago and explained why we as REALTORS can not be held responsible for the weeds and yard work needed in vacant properties. However is seems that another attempt has been made to attack us as a group: Alamogordo City Commission Opinion in the local newspaper.
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