Linnea's Blog

Single Story Home for Lease- Frisco, TX

Linnea Lavell (RE/MAX First Realty II) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:53:54 -0500

Residential Rental in Frisco, TX 13050 Galaxy
Frisco, TX 75035 Price: $1,100

Main Features:

Residential Rental,3 Bedrooms,2 Bathrooms,Interior: 1640 sqft More Info: http://listings.realbird.com/Real_Estate/Residential-Rental--in-Frisco--TX/Frisco/TX/D5D7C5C3/21723.aspx

Well maintained single story 3 bdrm 2 bath home in Creekside at Preson Sub-division. Frisco ISD.Â Open floor plan, formal dining, eat-in kitchen, walk-in closets. Community has walking/biking trails, picnic area.Â Won't last long.
Property is listed by RE/MAX First Realty (each office independently owned and operated)

Foreclosure Seminar

Linnea Lavell (RE/MAX First Realty II) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 13:57:00 -0600

Due to weather conditions, Free Foreclosure Seminar: Learn Your Options scheduled for March 6, at 6:30 p.m. will be cancelled. The seminar will be re-scheduled for a future date.

Learn How To Avoid Foreclosure

Linnea Lavell (RE/MAX First Realty II) — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 12:07:51 -0600

Worried about paying your mortgage?

FREE SEMINAR: Learn Your Options

If you are having trouble making your mortgage payments or are receiving default notices please plan to attend this free seminar Learn what steps you can take to avoid foreclosure.

Speakers will include representatives from the following industries:

Mortgage Lending
Title Company
Credit Counseling
Real Estate

The seminar will be held March 6 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at RE/MAX First Realty II, 2831 Eldorado Parkway, Suite 108, Frisco, TX. Registration is suggested. For more details or to register contact Linnea Lavell at linnealavell@remax.net or 214-280-5900.

Going Green

Linnea Lavell (RE/MAX First Realty II) — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 15:36:16 -0600

The concept of making your home environmentally green is growing in popularity as more home owners realize that they can also put a little more green back in their wallets by making some changes.

You don't have to make all the changes at one time but as a need comes up, take the initiative and make the change. When a light bulb burns out, replace it with a compact flourescent bulb. They cost a little more but will save an average of $30 or more over the lifetime of the bulb. Look for the ENERGY STAR symbol on the package. ENERGY STAR qualified bulbs use about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer.

As you do routine maintanence and replace items look for the ENERGY STAR symbol for an efficient replacement. You may also be eligible for tax credits by updating windows, doors, appliance, etc. (more information on tax credits can be found www.energystar.gov). Seal air leaks to eliminate drafts throughout the home. Add insulation to block heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer.

There are many ways to go green and help the environment. Even though we have only touched on a few, you can see that it is not that difficult to think green and start becoming more environmentally friendly. In addition to the ENERGY STAR website, your local power provider or home improvement store can also provide information on ways to go green. All it takes is a little initiative for everyone to be more environmentally friendly.

Complexities of Employee Relocation

Linnea Lavell (RE/MAX First Realty II) — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 14:43:20 -0600

Technology has dramatically changed the speed of business. It has enabled global openness. Its knowledge based workforce has become a capital asset. Deploying such talent to the right place and project has become a never ending challenge.

The relocation of corporate families has always been a time consuming and often frustrating experience for corporations and their employees. Relocation is just one of the responsibilities of a Human Resources Department and requires extensive knowledge of everything from Real Estate, to Moving and Storage, to Relocation Tax Implications.

The Partnering of Professionals

Many corporations outsource their relocation management to reduce fixed costs, while adding specialized skills and geographic expertise. The goal is to maintain productivity, employee loyalty, control costs and ensure a smooth transition for the employee.

Relocation management companies provide the employee with a single contact (Relocation Specialist) to assist the transferee with all aspects of their relocation. The specialist will review the corporate relocation policy with the employee, contact the movers, realtors, temporary housing providers, as well as, answer questions or concerns that the transferee may have about their relocation. Each relocation is unique so the Relocation Specialist will review the individual needs of the transferee and their family to make sure nothing is overlooked.

The Relocation Company works with partners at origin and destination that can best meet the needs of the transferee. Communication is imperative between the service partners and the relocation company to make sure everything goes smoothly for the transferee. One small change such as a closing date being delayed by one day can create issues for everyone. Good communication can alleviate delays, frustration and stress for the transferee. The transferee needs to be focused on their family and their new job in their new location.

To learn more about relocation services, email us at linnea@lavellrealty.com

News From HUD

Linnea Lavell (RE/MAX First Realty II) — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 09:57:45 -0600

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced an incentive program for owner occupied properties in Texas that utilize FHA financing with a full price or higher offer for a property. The program is also available to owner occupied properties who obtain an FHA Repair Loan (203K). The incentive program applies to homes listed on or after November 30, 2007. Similar programs are available in other states, check with your local Realtor to see if your state offers this or similar programs. If you need help finding a Realtor in your state, let me know.

Charitable Donations-Good for the Soul, Good for the Wallet (Taxes!)

Linnea Lavell (RE/MAX First Realty II) — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 11:44:03 -0600

One of the best ways to show thankfulness during the holidays is by making a donation to your favorite charity or local non-profit organization. You can make contributions in your own name, or you can "give the gift of sharing" by making a donation in honor of someone else. If you have children, this is an excellent way to demonstrate the true meaning of the season with your actions and show them what causes are important to you.

If you do not have a lot of extra cash, donate household goods, clothes, toys, books, CDs or even an old car (many non-profits will take an auto even if it is not in running condition and will even come pick it up). Another way you can make a contribution is to donate your time. Many companies now support their employees who donate their money and time by matching employee contributions which makes your contribution worth twice as much.

You can feel good about donating your money, time or possessions to share with those less fortunate than yourself this holiday season and it may just benefit you at tax time as well (check with the charity of your choice and your tax advisor to be sure).

Wishing everyone a Happy Holiday Season.

Happy Holidays!!

Linnea Lavell (RE/MAX First Realty II) — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 11:32:19 -0600

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my clients, customers and service providers for your business and allowing me to assist with your real estate needs. I wish you and your family peace, joy and togetherness this holiday season.

Is Rent to Own Right for You?

Linnea Lavell (RE/MAX First Realty II) — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 14:25:35 -0600

Is Rent to Own right for you?

Are you thinking about a rent to own deal? If so, you probably know a little bit about how this type of real estate transaction works. And when it comes down to it, you need to make sure that you know what rent to own is all about before you move forward. If you do not, you could find yourself in a bad position, or looking for a way to make a change sooner than you had expected. Luckily, once you learn about rent to own, you will be well on your way to deciding whether or not this is going to work to your advantage.

Deciding if rent to own is right for you can be a hard thing to do. After all, there are many pros and cons that you need to look into. But when you think about it, rent to own is just like any other real estate transaction. There are some reasons that you may want to move forward with rent to own, but at the same time, there may be some things that are holding you back. You need to weigh these against each other, and from there, decide on what wins out.

Rent to own may be right for you if you do not have a lot of cash, but still want to own sooner or later. With a rent to own deal you do not have to pay closing costs or a down payment; in this regard you are working more like you are renting a property. This is a great deal because you can one day own a home, but you will not have to spend a lot of up front cash. This alone is one of the main reasons that rent to own real estate has become so popular as of late.

But at the same time, you need to realize that rent to own can sometimes be difficult to deal with. For instance, if you do not know a lot about rent to own real estate, it would be very easy for a landlord to take advantage of you. Additionally, when you are in the renting stage you may be responsible for some things that go on in the house. These are all details that you need to touch on before you sign a rent to own agreement.

Rent to own may be just what you have been looking for. Learn the pros and cons before you make up your mind so that you can get the best deal possible.

Working with your Lender to pay your Mortgage

Linnea Lavell (RE/MAX First Realty II) — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 11:50:34 -0600

Working with your Lender to pay your Mortgage

Working with your lender to pay your mortgage is something that you will do every month. In other words, you will get a statement from your lender telling you how much you owe, and from there you will pay it. But when it comes down to it, there is another way that you may have to work with your lender in order to pay your mortgage. This is when you have slacked off to the point that you are getting yourself in trouble.

If you have missed a few mortgage payments there are a couple of things that you can do. First off, you can attempt to hide from your lender and hope that things get better on its own. As you can imagine, this is a dumb idea and one that is not going to get you very far. Your other option is to get in touch with your lender the second that you find yourself having problems with your mortgage payment. This is the best bet because when you let them know that you are having problems, they know that you are not trying to dodge them. Remember, foreclosure is not a fun process for either party. Your lender wants to avoid foreclosure just as bad as you. But if you hide from them, you are not giving them much of a choice when it comes to this.

You may be surprised to find out how much your lender can help you if you ask. If you have found yourself late on payments, or about to miss one altogether, ask your mortgage company what they can do to help you out. They may be able to let you slide for the time being, or set up your payments later in the month so that you can collect more money. Either way, you need to stay in touch with your lender so that you do not get too far off track.

You should strive to never miss a single mortgage payment. But if you find yourself in trouble, do not run and hide. Instead, get in touch with your lender and ask them about how they can help. There is a good chance that they will work with you to repay your mortgage.

Is A Short Sale Payoff Right For Me?

Linnea Lavell (RE/MAX First Realty II) — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 11:38:15 -0600

Is a Short sale Payoff right for me?

Until you know what a short sale payoff is, there is no way of saying for sure whether or not it is right for you. Generally speaking, a short sale allows the owner to close on a piece of real estate that is worth less money than the debts that are secured by it. If this sounds confusing, you are not alone. When it comes down to it, a short sale payoff is not something that most average people ever look into. But with that being said, you may want to consider what it is all about if you find yourself in the position to do so.

With a short sale, a lender will agree to receive less money than they are owed so that a property can be sold, and their note can be secured. In many cases, you will hear this type of transaction referred to as a pre foreclosure sale. But really, no matter what you call it, there are many details that you should become familiar with.

In order to move forward with a short sale payoff, you need to convince the lender of several details. In other words, a short sale is not something that anybody and everybody can do. You will need to work with your lender in order to determine if this is something that you can do.

The most important detail is that the sale price that has been contracted must be higher than what the lender could sell for after the foreclosure process. Of course, the lender will do their own analysis of the market in order to determine if this is the case.

Your lender will most definitely want a detailed explanation on why you are interested in a short sale payoff. Once again, this stems back to the fact that this is not a traditional way of doing business in the real estate industry. You cannot look into a short sale payoff just because you think that this is something that would benefit you. For instance, you may need to show proof that a short sale payoff is needed. This can include anything from divorce to losing your job and much more. You need a valid reason for looking into a short sale payoff if you expect to have the chance to go through with this process.

A short sale payoff may be right for you, but until you talk things over with your lender, there is no way of knowing for sure if this will work out.

Several Texas Cities Make the List of "Fastest Growing Cities in the U.S."

Linnea Lavell (RE/MAX First Realty II) — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 16:40:59 -0500

According to a report by the Census Bureau this summer, Texas has twelve of the top 50 "Fastest Growing Cities in the U.S." McKinney (#2), Denton (#9) and Ft. Worth (#11) are right here in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex. This is fantastic news for our area. We are looking forward to welcoming the new transferees to the Metroplex.

Over the past twenty-five years, I have worked numerous families in various aspects of relocation (both domestic and international). Relocation can be one of the most stressful times in a person's life. There are so many details that need to be done and so many people involved (i.e. movers, realtors, lenders) that it can be overwhelming. One key in not getting overwhelmed is to find someone who understands the process and will take the time to explain everything involved. During a relocation, the last think you want to do is make an unwise decision because you were stressed out and not thinking clearly.

When I work with a relocating family, I listen carefully to what their wants/needs/goals are and put a detailed plan together that helps meet those goals. They may have a family member with special needs so I will help them find resources at their new location that meet these needs. They may have a pet that they need to relocate so I put them in touch with a pet relocation company or provide information on airline guidelines for transporting pets. Maybe it is an elderly parent that they need to relocate with their family (I personally had to relocate my Mother a few years ago to live with us). These are just a few examples of how I work with my clients to make the transition to a new city easier.

I have also worked with several companies (large and small) helping with their relocation policies/procedures. Sometimes a company just needs help finding a rental for an employee which I will gladly arrange for them.

Relocating to a new area can be exciting, adventurous and very scary all at the same time. To make the transition as smooth as possible, try to work with professionals that have experience and understand the process. If you or someone you know needs more information or assistance with a relocation, please feel free to contact me at linnealavell@remax.net