All of my note taking during inspections is done by camera.Very rarely do I ever write anything down.
I photo everything from data plates to just general reminder pictures that tell me what kinds of floors there are and what the driveway and roof is made of.
I have found that there is almost nothing I can’t create a record of photographically.Sometimes I have to resort to “symbols” to designate what I want to be reminded of.Like squeaks in the floor.For this I simply photograph my voltage tick-tester lying on the floor and that is my reminder.
Sometimes though, it is difficult to photograph things that “move” that should not be moving.A “still” photo will not necessarily remind me that the thing moves.This is common with improperly supported gas lines or barrier railings. For these kinds of items I typically will take a “still” photo and then a short video clip of the offending item.Sometimes when I revisit these videos while writing the report I have to howl with delight as to how well the video conveys what the still photo had no clue of.The video will work for “sounds” as well---how do you, after all, photograph a bathroom exhaust fan about to digest itself?
Here is a picture of a stair barrier railing from a recent inspection.As you can see it is a good distance to the ground from the top landing.
As you can see from the still photo---it pretty much looks like a normal acceptable barrier.It is perhaps not acceptable by current regulations but nonetheless adequate for its day.
Here is a 7 second video of the same stair barrier.
It communicates the issue quite dramatically don’t you think?
Charles Buell, Real Estate Inspections in Seattle
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The ‘Way Home’ Following Foreclosure in Houston Texas
Tanya Busch has provided us with some very timely advice about people experiencing credit issues.
We have seen foreclosure here Innerloop Houston, but not nearly to the amount in other metropolitan areas like Atlanta.
She points out" Realistically, you will need to spend at least a couple of years saving money and paying bills. Two years at the same job in Maine with stable income is usually the minimum requirement for any lender. It is also of key importance that you make absolutely sure you do not miss payments of any kind.Your FICO score will have suffered enough after a foreclosure (often 100 – 150 points). To demonstrate that you are fully capable of handling the substantial debt of a Maine home loan, you need to spend a convincing amount of time making consistent on-time payments for all your bills. In the meantime, you should expect to rent a home. The regular payment of that rent will be a key part of the story you will be demonstrating. "
Losing a home to foreclosure is a truly disheartening experience for too many homeowners these days in Lewiston-Auburn or Augusta Maine.It’s an unfortunate outcome for many otherwise model citizens: typical hard-working adults who fall victim to circumstances which are sometimes simply beyond their ability to control. It can happen for any number of unforeseen reasons: illness, divorce, or simply the repercussions of the larger economic forces in Central Maine that cause a job loss or closure of a business enterprise.
Whatever the cause, when a foreclosure happens the immediate problem is “‘Where do I live now?” quickly followed by “How long will it be before I can buy a home?”
Our Central Maine and Southern Maine real estate offices at The Maine Real Estate Network are no strangers to this question; but the good news is that a foreclosure is an obstacle that can be overcome. The realistic news is that it will usually take time – and although ‘eventually’ is not a word that typically fosters optimism, it is one that describes “the way home”.At The Tanya Busch Team, our goal is to build long-term relationships so we are always happy to provide assistance even if the outcome isn’t an immediate sale with us. So please don’t hesitate to contact us with your Maine real estate related questions!
To buy a home after a recent foreclosure you have three possible routes. The first is the shortest: it is appropriate only to those whose financial future is already strong, and who are willing to pay a high price. The risk that loan officers must attach to anyone with a foreclosure in their recent past is substantial, and to compensate for it, expect any proposed offer to combine a smaller mortgage (made possible by a more substantial down payment: possibly 20% or more) with a high interest rate.
For the vast majority of people, the second way to buy a home in Central Maine is the most common. It’s the one that involves substantial repair to your financial profile. The guidelines that mortgage officer’s follow are understandable: they read your financial history in order to predict the future: will you repay a new 30-year mortgage? Will your payments be late? To make sure the right answers are apparent, do the obvious: reestablish the kind of credit story that makes the foreclosure look like a one-of-a-kind bump on an otherwise smooth road.
Realistically, you will need to spend at least a couple of years saving money and paying bills. Two years at the same job in Maine with stable income is usually the minimum requirement for any lender. It is also of key importance that you make absolutely sure you do not miss payments of any kind.Your FICO score will have suffered enough after a foreclosure (often 100 – 150 points). To demonstrate that you are fully capable of handling the substantial debt of a Maine home loan, you need to spend a convincing amount of time making consistent on-time payments for all your bills. In the meantime, you should expect to rent a home. The regular payment of that rent will be a key part of the story you will be demonstrating.
It is in this area that there exists a third possible pathway: the lease option. It is an additional wrinkle that can shave time from the gap between a foreclosure and buying a home. While not easy to find, if you come across this opportunity, it’s a good option to consider. A lease-option can be a handy way to get one foot back into the Central Maine home ownership arena while taking the time you need to rebuild your financial history.With a lease-option, you sign a contract with a seller to buy a home at an agreed-upon price within a specified period. This can allow time to reestablish your financial footing as you get back to work, save some money, and pay bills. Since this is a binding legal contract, it is wise to seek the help of a real estate agent experienced in complex or creative solutions or a real estate attorney. Contact me if you would like to discuss this or have other questions about how to buy a Lewiston-Auburn or Augusta Maine home in the future.
Connect with The Tanya Busch Team online to get all of the latest insider information and news.
Baby Boomers Helping Their Children With The American Dream seen here in Houston Heights
Larry and Sheila Nassua provide us with an excellent and timely article with so many of us going thru a rough time but still wanting our childrent to be able to purchase their first home.
Baby Boomers Helping Their Children With The American Dream
Larry and Sheila, Realtors with Charles Rutenberg Realty are experiencing something here on Long Island that may be happening throughout the country.
Some Baby Boomer's are now willing to provide financial support and are helping their children or grandchildren buy their first home or condo.
They know that times are tough, and they want to make sure their family does not miss out on the opportunity to fulfill their dreams of home ownership.
Whether it's the help with a down payment, giving money towards the purchase or buying it outright for them, the trend seems to be ongoing.
Currently Larry and Sheila are working with a young school teacher whose parents are giving her the down payment for a co-op. We are also working with a couple who lost their jobs and are relocating back to Long Island and with the help of their parents, are buying a small house. Another first-time home buyer is moving from his parent's home. They are buying him a condo so he can finally be on his own. (Wonder whose benefiting more from this one!)
According to a survey from Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, "one in five baby boomer couples have already given at least one of their children the means to purchase a home, either buying it outright, furnishing the down payment or co-signing the loan".
Of course, this isn't the case for everyone. Times are tough and Baby Boomers are having difficult times also. However, we are seeing a nice segment who are able to help their children with the American Dream.
We are hearing from the Baby Boomer parents that they feel they are in a better position to buy a home for their children and feel that home ownership is still one of the best investments you can make ~ and who knows, these Baby Boomers may be looking to their families for assistance someday also!
The importance of owning a home goes much further than the economy as it is still all about supporting the American Dream.
So whether you're a Baby Boomer, First Time Home Buyer or Seller, Thinking About Selling Or Buying A Home On The North Shore Of Long Island...Do Contact Larry And Sheila At 631-805-4400
If you would like to purchase a home for your children on Long Island, or sell the one you are currently living in, please contact LARRY AND SHEILA to help you with your Real Estate goals at 631-805-4400.
All content, including text, photographs and images, remains the exclusive property of Suffolk Experts. Only with written permission of Larry & Sheila may anything be used by others. All information is believed to be accurate but is not guaranteed. Suffolk Experts and Larry & Sheila make no representations as to accuracy, completeness, correctness, suitability or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, delays in information, any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use.
If you or anyone you know is considering to sell their existing home on The North Shore Of Long Island, or is purchasing their first home, dream home, step-up home, or retirement residence, we would appreciate the opportunity to serve them, and we can also recommend a relocation professional in the destination of choice outside our Long Island area!
3 Reasons Heights Buyers Should Never Dispute Your Credit Online
Excellent advice for Houston Heights Buyers via Ron Cook Killeen Texas.
He instructs us to, never dispute errors online if you want them permanently removed. If you are going to dispute items on your credit report, do it in writing, and do it by certified mail with a signed receipt.
Historically, the function of Credit Bureaus first began as collection agencies and they only gathered negative information. Then, Fair Isaac & Company developed the FICO scoring system to improve the credit reporting system. Today, the credit rating-system uses both positive and negative information of consumers’ payment histories to provide a risk-grade rating that estimates your credit worthiness.
I was recently consulting a couple that had previously disputed some items online directly on the credit bureaus websites, and I thought it might make an interesting topic to share. I highly recommend you NEVER use their online dispute systems. It's like the fox watching the hen house and I'll explain why.
Reason #1: As most of you know, one factor you have on your side when disputing credit is time. The legal thirty-day limit is not a lot time for a credit bureau, creditor, or collection agency to properly investigate a dispute. The Credit Bureaus online dispute system is set up in such a way that when you use it, it makes their job not only that much easier but cost efficient. The information you put into their limited dispute fields falls right into their electronic verification system.
Reason #2: This one is probably the most obvious. You have no proof or paper trail. Any attorney would advise you that much of credit repair is about good records and paper trails.
Reason #3: When the Fair Credit Reporting Act was amended, they put in a section for "Expedited Dispute Resolution" Section 611a(8) the on-line dispute system. It reads as follows…
"…the agency shall not be required to comply with paragraphs 2, 6 and 7 with respect to that dispute if they delete the tradeline within 3 days.”
Paragraph 2 requires the CRA to forward your dispute and all related documentation you provide to the furnisher. They rarely forward the documentation.
Paragraph 6 requires the CRA to provide you with written results of the investigation.
Paragraph 7 requires the CRA to provide you with the method of verification on request from the consumer.
What they are doing is…
The Credit Reporting Agency (CRA) can delete a disputed trade line for 30 days, then, the trade line can reappear when the furnisher (creditor or collector) reports it again in the next cycle. That is because the CRA is not required to tell the furnisher you disputed it thanks to section 2 being omitted. This is sometimes called a “soft delete” and it is not permanent.
Furthermore, you lose your rights to request "Method of Verification" (MOV) so you lose this powerful tool in the dispute process thanks to Paragraph 7 being omitted.
Finally, another powerful tool we use often is the five-day written notice of re-insertion. Essentially, what that means is that if a credit bureau is going to re-insert a previously deleted item, they must inform you in writing five days prior to re-inserting it. I have rarely ever seen them give that notice.
That five-day notice is only required if the credit bureau takes longer then 45 days to complete. IF it is deleted via the expedited system, often completed in three days, the five-day written notice is no longer required.
In Summary, never dispute errors online if you want them permanently removed. If you are going to dispute items on your credit report, do it in writing, and do it by certified mail with a signed receipt.
It's so easy really...Price It Right And It Will Sell. Six little words, but many homeowners here on The North Shore Of Long Island can't or don't want to listen.
Case in point, let's talk about homeowner Joe. Joe is a young professional who purchased his home at the top of the market. Unfortunate as that is, no one had a crystal ball, his house is worth less than when he purchased it.
Joe has a good job, he's single, he doesn't "have to sell", but nevertheless, he would like to move to a different area. We know what he spent for the house, we sold it to him, and we know what it's worth in today's market. Joe considered all our advice, but wanted to list his house slightly higher than what he paid for it. We told him it would be a waste of time, and although he trusts our judgement, knowledge and experience, he insisted on his listing price.
Although we do not like to take an over-priced listing, and have actually walked away from them, we felt that Joe was a previous loyal client and decided to take his listing, with the understanding that he will keep it at this price only for a short while, and then we'll talk again.
Many homeowners on the North Shore of Long Island are still a little slow to accept the concept that pricing is key to getting a house sold. We would go as far as to say that if you don’t price it well to begin with, it is most likely that it will eventually sell at a lower price, and the time on the market will be noticeably longer. If a house does not sell quickly, it will probably have multiple price reductions before it does sell.
Bottom Line Is...Price It Right And It Will Sell!
All content, including text, photographs and images, remains the exclusive property of Suffolk Experts. Only with written permission of Larry & Sheila may anything be used by others. All information is believed to be accurate but is not guaranteed. Suffolk Experts and Larry & Sheila make no representations as to accuracy, completeness, correctness, suitability or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, delays in information, any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use.
If you or anyone you know is considering to sell their existing home on The North Shore Of Long Island, or is purchasing their first home, dream home, step-up home, or retirement residence, we would appreciate the opportunity to serve them, and we can also recommend a relocation professional in the destination of choice outside our Long Island area!
“Our agent is on vacation ….Can You Show us some houses ?” Asked the buyer.
Sally and David Hanson have written about a very important subject that Buyers should take notice of. I wanted to pass along to my Heights buyers as well.
I have been in this situation several times where buyers do not understand the implications of what they are asking.
We could show you houses…but if we show you the house, we are also your agent for the houses we show you. It is better for you to decide to who you want to work with and stay with one agent.The buyer said that they had another agent who had shown them a few houses but they really didn’t feel he was listening to their needs and that he understood what they wanted. He did not know the areas they had chosen based upon their commute to work….they were not comfortable with him and had no buyer agency contract.
We explained our qualifications and sent them information about the areas and about our experience in real estate and suggested that he and his wife discuss who they would like to have represent them in the purchase of their home.
It would not be fair to either the present agent or to us to shop with more than one agent. When buyers ask us questions like this, we tell them that it would be like if they went to work and at the end of the week expected a paycheck. Instead of getting paid, the employer paid the person in the next office instead of paying them. They laughed…but this illustration made it clear to them that working with one agent and evaluating their background and experience in addition to how they felt the “personal chemistry” fit their needs helped them choose the agent who worked best for them and with them.
If you are looking for a home in southeastern Wisconsin, we invite you to call us, test our chemistry and interview us for the honor of being your agent for one of the largest purchases you will ever make. We are agents for a lifetime, and proud to be of service.
Sally K. & David L. Hanson, ABR, CDPE, CSS, e-Pro,ILHM, REDS
Why Are Heights Buyers and Sellers Willing to Shoot Themselves in the Foot Over Relatively Small Dollar Amounts?
Excellent article about home pricing from Chris Ann Cleland, Associate Broker, Northern VA. this is very timely info as we are coming up to the historically "high selling time"
Why Are Buyers and Sellers Willing to Shoot Themselves in the Foot Over Relatively Small Dollar Amounts?
This was a question I was asked by a close friend of mine the other night. I was recounting the tale of another negotiation between buyer and seller gone wrong. On a home in the $400,000 price range, they were stuck over $5,000. This is something I am used to seeing, so I guess I consider it normal. Not being in real estate, she just laughed and went on that if you are spending that much money, what's another $5,000?
If you were negotiating to buy a home, at the market interest rates we are seeing in early 2012, you are essentially arguing over adding another $30 a month to your mortgage payment. A mortgage payment in the $400,000 price range with a 5% or less down payment would almost certainly have you well into the mid-$2,000's for a payment. So what's another $30? Is it worth losing the home over?
Sometimes you have to stop the back and forth that gets you in the mindset of "winning" and look at the big picture. And the big picture will often include looking at the monthly picture. Are you really winning if you lose your dream home over $30/month extra in your mortgage payment?
Make logical decisions based on facts when you are negotiating for your home purchase. Don't get caught up in feeling like you have to win. That's a dangerous mindset from which to make decisions when it comes to buying a home.
Chris Ann Cleland, Associate Broker- Licensed in Virginia, GRI, SFR, Northern Virginia Short Sale Specialist. Affiliated with Long & Foster, 7526 Limestone Drive, Gainesville, VA 20155. To contact Chris Ann, call 703-402-0037 or email chrisann@LNF.com. Or you can visit her website: www.nvarealestate.net.
Header is a photo of Braemar in Bristow, VA during one of the blizzards of the 2009-2010 winter season.
Location, location, location....check, check, check applies especially to Innerloop Houston
Ann deVane provides very timely and useful advice about LOCATION being the primary consideration when considering real estate. This applies double for higher density more ecclectic type areas like Innerloop Houston, Texas.
Greetings from Houston Heights this Sunday morning.
As the spring season IS upon us, and homes seem to be disappearing much more rapidly than in past months it bears remembering...location, location, location. You can change anything about the inside of a home, but you can never change your location. the only thing to compensate for a poor location is PRICE.
The first location is the town - pick a good one. What are the factors that will help appreciation over time? A thriving economic center. Access to a good education. Access to good medical services. Access to transportation - major expressways or train lines to major city centers. (jobs). Recreational activities. These are all things that contribute to appreciation over time, and make a good bet for selecting a town to live in.
The second location is the neighborhood within the town. This can be a tricky one. But you can do your homework and drive by and through the neighborhood. Do so in the morning, do so in the evening. Realtors can't tell you whether there are kids in the neighborhood, but a perceptive eye can spot a jungle gym. Make the commute from work as if you live there before you make an offer. You may find that it's more than you bargained for, or maybe there's a bus stop on the corner and it's precisely what you were looking for.
The third location is how the home sits within the neighborhood. Is the home located on a busy street? Close to a house of worship that doesn't have anywhere for overflow parking? Overlooking a bus barn? Close proximity to a train "track" rather than station. Or possibly a cell tower or high tension wires in your neighborhood? Make sure you do your homework.
You can get a great deal on a home that has an objection. Simply be prepared that when you sell your home that you will not be able to command the same price as neighboring homes. So long as you have no issue with a particular objection, and understand this premise, this option might make sense, particularly if the first two locations are good ones.
Good advice to be the lowest home in a neighborhood of greater value rather than the highest home of a lower valued neighborhood. Your resale will be better with the former, as opposed to being over improved and more difficult to get your money out in the latter.
OK, How do you get clients when you do not have any?
Most of the folks in the office will tell you that open houses, blogging and doing rentals are waste of time.
My guess is that the folks giving this advice have another source of family income or they would have been out of the business fast.
The agents that do really wellNOW may not use these methods NOW, but my guess is they built their current referral based business on these methods.
Open houses:In my first two years of business I did 25-30 open houses per year for other agents. We survived on the commission from buyers that I met.
Be prepared. Know the house you are in, know the community amenities and schools and have the comps with you and be able to explain them.
Don't be pushy,but tell the folks that if they will sign in with an email address that you would be happy to send them more info on the property you are holding open as well as set up an automatic search for them that will send info on other properties that might be of interest....and promise not to spam or annoy them.
Your first responsibility is to represent the house that you are holding open....but when we do an open for another agent we make it clear that if visitors are not interested in that property, that we are going to try and gain that person as a client.
Listing agents understand this and have never objected...after all, I am doing this for free so that they can go play golf or enjoy some other frivolous activity. You may not get a prospect in the first 5 opens you do...but you will get them.
We figured out that we average $80/hourdoing open houses.Including all the ones where no one showed up.
It all averages out and if you can get the folks searching on your website...it can pay off years later.
We sold a $750k home a couple years ago to a guy I met THREE years ago at an open house.
Last year we sold his property that he moved up from after he decided he hated being a landlord,...price? $415K.
When we do open houses for other agents now, we are very particular.We want a property no more than 2 turns off a major street and we want it to be in first time home buyer price range.
We have found that your chances of getting a new client are best with first timers.....once people are 40 years old, they already know 25 real estate agents.
Folks who are in their 20s and 30s do not....after the open house, they just know you baby.
Put up lots of signs...use balloons (man I hate balloons, but I use them) be laid back, friendly and ask intelligent questions like: "What sort of home were you hoping to find here?"
Yeah, it may sound dorky but that has been my best opening question.....if they tell you, you can now explain how the house they are visiting either does or does not meet their criteria.
If it does not, you will know what other homes in the area will....BECAUSE YOU ARE PREPARED.
Now as our broker says after every meeting: "Go sell something"
Follow Jan and Steve at the places below
Jan and Steve Bachman are full time Realtors® with RE/MAX, specializing in Homes for Sale in Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William and Arlington Counties.
16. List it as a four bedroom instead of a three. When the buyers get there... SURPRISE! Only three!
15. Paint the entire inside bright yellow with a Sponge Bob theme throughout.
14. Get three giant angry dogs and leave them loose during showings.
13. Require one full week's notice for showings.
12. Draw three outlines of bodies with police tape across them on the living room carpet.
11. Stay home for the showings and sing show tunes to the buyers and their agent the entire time they are there. Remember to sing loudly and out of tune.
10. Boil a few dozen eggs right before the showing so the entire house smells like farts.
9. Have a bunch of friends over before the showing. Have each of them hide in a closet and scream each time a buyer opens the closet door.
8. Put the wrong keys in the lock box.
7. Stay home for the showing and follow the buyers around and tell them all the reasons you hate living there.
6. Do #7 again, but make sure you just ate something really garlicky and talk very close to them.
5. Leave a note on the table that says to be careful in bedroom four, but don't leave a reason why.
4. If it's during the summer, lay out during the showing wearing only a purple speedo and a swim cap. Oh, make sure that you have your Def Leppard CD cranked up too.
3. Put up an old spooky picture on the fridge. On a post-it note below it write: RIP Aunt Mildred. You will be missed when we finally move. We hope you enjoy haunting the new owners for the next 150 years.
2. Leave a note for the buyers asking them to "please excuse the mess" in the attic. Go on to explain just how hard it is to remove all of the black mold, but you're almost there.
1. Stay for the showing, put on your helmet made out of tin foil, and sit on the couch and stare at the TV the entire time without moving or blinking. (The blinking part is very important!)
Okay, that's all I can think of today. Hope you laughed. Time to get back to work!
Whether you are buying, selling, downsizing, or relocating to Fort Wayne...
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.
support and are helping their children or grandchildren buy their first home or condo. 
Reason #1:
or don't want to listen.
We could show you houses…but if we show you the house, we are also your agent for the houses we show you. It is better for you to decide to who you want to work with and stay with one agent.
$5,000. This is something I am used to seeing, so I guess I consider it normal. Not being in real estate, she just laughed and went on that if you are spending that much money, what's another $5,000? 
12. Draw three outlines of bodies with police tape across them on the living room carpet. 
3. Put up an old spooky picture on the fridge. On a post-it note below it write: RIP Aunt Mildred. You will be missed when we finally move. We hope you enjoy haunting the new owners for the next 150 years. 
;)
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