home buyers: Where the Internet is Killing Us - 04/03/11 07:28 PM
Used to be back in the day....
Agents and their clients, hopefully with the help of a good lender, would make a determination of a reasonable price range in which to search for a new home. A price range that the buyer not only could afford, but felt completely comfortable in as far as their soon-to-be new monthly payment was concerned. Then the agent went to work sorting through homes in that price range. Perhaps the agent would peek to see what was hiding slightly beyond the upper boundary, something that might still be had within the comfort zone with a bit of skillful negotiation.
Flash forward … (37 comments)

home buyers: "Pending" Status - What Does That Mean in the Northern Nevada Market? - 04/03/11 02:18 PM
Increasingly, prospective Northern Nevada home buyers are beginning their property searches on the Internet. This is a good thing for the most part. Many buyers feel more comfortable and in control getting a feel for the market in the comfort of their own homes before spending time venturing out to contact a Realtor® and actually look at houses. In particular, buyers new to our area can get a feel for the different Reno and Sparks neighborhoods they may be considering in terms of home sizes and types, nearby amenities, and price ranges by spending some quality time online. I have even had buyers call me … (0 comments)

home buyers: Stupid Short Sale Games - 03/18/11 12:14 AM
**********WARNING: SNARKINESS ALERT! PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK!***********************
To my comrades in arms: this is addressed to those of you out there that are buyers' agents, at least some of the time. Are you tired of the games certain listing agents play with their short sales or is it just me having a crabby spell? Play along with me here for a moment....
 
It is hard enough to convince buyers to look at short sales. Most of them have read scary stories in the paper or had friends with bad short sale experiences and don't want any part of it. Unfortunately, short … (31 comments)

home buyers: Do You Believe in Bad House Vibes? - 03/08/11 01:00 AM
House vibes. Do they exist? Do you feel them? Do your clients comment on them?
There is no doubt in my mind that you can walk into some houses and feel warmly received, even if no one is there, even if they are empty. There is a sense of calm, of welcome, of good will. On the other hand, some places get your hackles up the minute you walk in the door.
I was out with some clients last week, and happened to overhear the wife whispering to the husband "lots of arguments in this room." She is a very intelligent and … (8 comments)

home buyers: Not Too Motivated To Sell? Buyers Can Smell You a Mile Away! - 02/13/11 12:15 PM
I received an email from some out of town clients yesterday wondering why one of the homes they found was so expensive compared to others in the area. Predictably, it was a FSBO. "Gee," they said. "This house looks really nice, but the price! Ouch! Why do you think it is so expensive? Is there something really special about it? Do you suppose these people aren't very motivated to sell?"  
Bingo! Ding-ding-ding! We have a winner!!! I think you just hit the nail on the head. These people very likely are living in yesterdayland, when their house was actually worth that price. It … (10 comments)

home buyers: Strategic Leasing - The Newest Foreclosure Scam? - 02/12/11 03:43 PM
A new wrinkle has appeared in the struggle between delinquent homeowners and their lenders. Dubbed by some "strategic leasing", this latest ploy of homeowners in the attempt to foil their lien holders is based on the recently passed Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act. In a nutshell, two neighbors get together and essentially trade homes. Each is given a long term lease at close to market value rent (probably far, far below their current mortgage payments). The concept is that any purchaser of the home in a foreclosure sale, either on the courthouse steps or as a subsequent REO, will be subject to … (6 comments)

home buyers: FHA "Anti-flipping Waiver" Extension - It's Official - 01/30/11 12:52 PM
Despite hints from officials and much Internet chatter, lenders have been cautious about the extension of the FHA anti-flipping waiver. So I was pleased to receive a notice from the HUD mailing list announcing that the extension became official on Friday, January 28th.
Here is the text of the announcement, in part:
In an effort to continue stabilizing home values and improve conditions in communities experiencing high foreclosure activity, Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Commissioner David H. Stevens today extended FHA's temporary waiver of the agency's 'anti-flipping rule.'  The extension announced today is intended to accelerate the resale of foreclosed upon homes … (5 comments)

home buyers: Real Estate in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, BWI - 01/29/11 09:59 PM
I promised earlier in the week to write a bit about the state of the real estate market here in the Cayman Islands. So today, as my vacation winds to an end and I start the inevitable "wouldn't it be fun to have a place here?" fantasy, I am back with my report.
Just as in the states, the Cayman Islands real estate market has declined over the past couple of years. Compared to home though, and especially if, like me, "Home Means Nevada", that decline has been modest. According to the Cayman Island Real Estate Brokers' Association, as quoted by a local … (0 comments)

home buyers: How Do I Get My Earnest Money Back? - 01/26/11 10:02 PM
Earnest money is often a source of mystery to buyers. How much is enough? What happens to it? And most importantly, how do I get it back if things don't work out?
At the time an offer to purchase a home is written, several things are required to travel along with it on its journey to the listing agent and their clients. One of these is a preapproval letter from your lender. Another is a copy of the check for the earnest money you will put down as a deposit on the purchase. The amount is totally up to you, but that … (5 comments)

home buyers: Nevada Rural Housing Authority's Home At Last(TM) Loan Program For First Time Buyers - 01/20/11 12:41 AM
Are you a first time home buyer who feels that you may have trouble qualifying for a normal loan? Are you willing to consider purchasing in a rural area? The Nevada Rural Housing Authority's Home At Last (TM) program may be the answer to your prayers. Through the sale of tax-exempt bonds, this program has provided both down payment assistance and low interest rate loans to over 700 first time buyers throughout the State of Nevada. I am working with some clients right now that are about to close escrow on their first home using funds from this program. It has provided them … (2 comments)

home buyers: Radon in Northern Nevada - What You Don't Know CAN Hurt You! - 01/14/11 11:14 PM
Did you know that January is National Radon Action Month? The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (UNCE) Service is working hard to educate the public on this potentially deadly threat through its Nevada Radon Education Program, providing information and test kits at various locations throughout the State. There is also a wealth of information on their website.
Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that forms naturally from the breakdown of uranium in soil. It is more prominent in rocky areas rich in granite and shale, but can be found anywhere. Under ordinary, open-air conditions, radon quickly disperses and is not … (0 comments)

home buyers: Money is Kinda Tight, Can I Just Skip Most of These Inspections We Asked For? - 01/13/11 11:24 PM
The answer to your question is a definite "maybe". Sorry, but we need to ascertain a few things.
First of all, technically yes, you can waive in writing any inspection that you requested in our original offer. Recall the conversation we had when we wrote it up: it's always better to ask for any and all inspections up front and then waive them later if you decide they are unnecessary. The rationale for that approach is that contingencies can't be added once the contract is accepted.
The way to think of this is in terms of inspecting in layers, like peeling back … (11 comments)

home buyers: Nevada's New Energy Consumption Evaluation Form - 01/03/11 09:08 PM
Starting the first of the year, a new form reared its ugly head on the Nevada real estate scene. It is officially called the Seller's Energy Consumption Evaluation Form, and either a completed copy or a signed waiver is required on almost every sale of residential property in the State. There are a couple of very specific situations that are exempted, but they probably don't apply to anyone who is reading this post (sorry), and no, banks are NOT exempt (but will almost certainly demand the waiver, just as they currently do with the Seller's Real Property Disclosure form).
The new form … (0 comments)

home buyers: Buyer's Remorse - Is It More Likely in this Market? - 11/27/10 12:56 PM
Buyer's remorse...that ugly moment when the exhilaration of the successful negotiation wears off and the "OMG, I'm going to be paying for this house for 30 years" or "What the *&^% was I thinking??"  sets in. I think all buyers have a smidgen of it, it is a very normal reaction. But after recently reviewing our results for the year, I found myself musing on the two (or maybe three) buyers who totally freaked out and bailed on their transactions.
My gut feeling is that this is a more prevalent problem in our current economic climate. The recession may be (officially) over, but … (8 comments)

home buyers: Break Out the Champagne, the Sellers Accepted Our Offer!!! Uh, Hold That Thought... - 11/25/10 07:49 PM
It's a buyer's market right? That's what the media keeps telling us. Relentlessly. And it is true, at least based on months of inventory. But being a buyer in this market isn't the cakewalk it initially appears to be.
As 2010 winds down, I have begun to review our numbers for the year. One thing that jumps out at me, more than any year I can remember, is the number of our buyers' escrows that didn't make it to the closing table.
Out of 21 accepted offers and opened escrows for buyers represented by my partner and I, only 8 have resulted in new … (6 comments)

home buyers: Attention Demanding Buyers! This One's For You - 10/01/10 02:38 PM
I know you buyers feel like you are in the driver's seat right now, but a word to the wise:  be careful how far you push it. The following parable may be instructive.
Once upon a time there was a kind and gentle lady who lived in a rural home with the love of her life. They were very happy there, far from the craziness of the city. Then one day tragedy struck; the lady's beloved was diagnosed with cancer and died within a matter of months. Totally grief-stricken, she began to see her isolation as scary and threatening rather than … (8 comments)

home buyers: Tell Me What You Want, What You REALLY REALLY Want: Letter to a Client - 03/14/10 07:57 PM
Dear Mary,
We have been working together for many months now to find you a new home. I'd like to share some thoughts that have been running through my head lately. I've chosen to do so in a letter, so that you can't interrupt me to object, correct, or rationalize; you can do those things the next time we are together! What I want is for you to just listen to what I have to say and reflect on it a bit, keeping in mind that my motivation is solely to help you define where you are headed on this journey.
… (2 comments)

 
Hhc-lvonbilke-11-09

Linda Humphrey, CRS, Broker/Owner HHC Realty

Reno, NV

More about me…

Humphrey Home Connections Realty, Reno, Nevada

Address: 719 Caughlin Glen, Reno, NV, 89519

Cell Phone: (775) 287-4665

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Observations on home and investment property purchase and sales in the Reno, Sparks, and other Washoe County areas. In addition, reviews of local businesses, area activities, and day-to-day life are highlights


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