home buying tips: It's Not a Car - Some Home Buying Advice is Just Wrong
- 11/09/11 12:36 AM
I clipped this from the Times-Picayune because I wanted to be sure home buyers realize that not all of this is true (or it shouldn't be, anyway). While the advice might be really relevant to buying a car, some of it misses the mark when it comes to home buying.
Know the home-court advantage: While we have definitely helped buy and sell more houses than the average person, I can assure you that we do not know what you are thinking, nor have we taken any classes to read you and sell you. If you are working with a … (42 comments)
home buying tips: Are You on the Same Page as Your REALTOR®?
- 08/31/11 04:05 AM
One of the perks of choosing to work with a great buyer’s agent is that they have the chance to get to know you and find out all of the little things that make you swoon when you see a house. Finding a home for you that has everything you were searching for and more is what they do, day in and day out….watching the market, checking out the hot new listings, previewing homes that might work for you and suggesting properties that might not seem to work on paper but have the right stuff.
So, it’s a little discouraging to me … (3 comments)
home buying tips: No Documentation = No Mortgage
- 06/02/10 01:57 AM
There was some interesting information in CityBusiness last week about how fishermen, shrimpers and others in the industry are being financially impacted by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Everyone is trying to determine how those who have effectively been put out of business or had their business adversely impacted should be paid. However, according to the article, “sloppy and sometimes fraudulent histories of tax reporting among members of the fishing industry could deny many what they consider fair compensation”. Cash income that was never claimed, poor bookkeeping that doesn’t provide the necessary information…these things may come back to … (5 comments)
home buying tips: But I Thought That Came With The House!
- 05/12/10 03:31 PM
There is nothing more disheartening to a home buyer or seller than to have a dispute arise right before closing about what is actually included in the sale of a house. Usually, this comes up during the final walk through when the buyer discovers that an item they thought was part of the contract has been removed by the seller. Most sellers are not trying to be underhanded when they move out of a home, but often they don’t realize what is actually in the Louisiana purchase agreement that the buyer expects to find when they take possession of their new … (27 comments)
home buying tips: Buying a Home in New Orleans? Why You Need a Buyer's Agent
- 04/05/10 12:34 AM
A couple of years ago, I listed a house for my neighbors. Nice, nice people who had lived in Algiers for decades, raising a family, including their daughters who were friends with my husband growing up. A lot of history was involved in their choice of me as their agent. After it had been on the market for awhile, a friend of mine decided to take a look and ultimately choose to put an offer in on the house that ended up being accepted. That’s when things got a little uncomfortable. Not for the seller or the buyer, but for me … (12 comments)
home buying tips: A House or A Home - What Are You Looking For?
- 03/12/10 12:13 PM
You don't have to look far to find opposing views on whether or not this is the "best" time to buy a house. Some folks say that with rates as low as they are and inventory high, it's a great time to buy. Others say that even if rates rise, prices will drop to offset them so that will have little impact. Still others say that we haven't seen the bottom of the market yet and that a large number of foreclosures are still to come, which could have the effect of depressing prices even further if they hit the market … (11 comments)
home buying tips: Home Buyer Etiquette | Dos and Don'ts When Touring Homes for Sale
- 01/14/10 06:23 AM
I met with a seller this week who was upset. Not with me, but with a family that had viewed their home with the kids in tow. Apparently, during the showing no one was watching the 4 year old as she darted from room to room, touching and moving things all along the way. The owners were forced into the role of babysitter to protect their belongings from sticky little fingers because neither the parents nor the agent was paying attention. Unfortunately, this happens all too often.
Before you begin your West Bank home search, here are a few … (49 comments)
home buying tips: Tired of Cookie Cutter Homes? Consider Buying a Historic New Orleans Home Instead
- 01/02/10 02:07 AM
After Katrina, with the city in turmoil and everyone uncertain about the future, my family seriously considered relocating to another state. We even started looking for houses in a couple of locations that appealed to us because they were close to family and possible jobs. The one thing that stood out to me when house hunting was that most of the homes were pretty much the same from neighborhood to neighborhood. There seemed to be about a half dozen floor plans that all looked the same from the outside and were all finished the same on the inside. I mean, … (16 comments)
home buying tips: New Year's Resolutions for Home Buyers and Sellers
- 12/30/09 06:22 AM
Yep, it’s that time of year again when we all decide that we are going to lose weight, quit smoking, start exercising and become more organized. Calendars and planners are flying off the shelves as everyone tries to start the New Year off on the right foot, hoping for an improvement over last year. Whether it was a good year or not, we always want more, more, more and the beginning of the year is the time that we plan out our paths for the next twelve months. While making my own list of resolutions, I put together some suggestions for … (11 comments)
home buying tips: Home Ownership | Are You Ready?
- 11/23/09 02:25 PM
Owning your own home is what we have all been told is the American Dream. It brings to mind a picture of a neatly manicured lawn, flower beds in bloom and a white picket fence.
But what many first time home buyers forget is that you will no longer have a landlord to call when something breaks or needs to be repainted. In addition to paying your mortgage each month, there are other costs that you need to budget for when deciding how much you want to spend on a home. What do home buyers need to budget for? … (13 comments)
home buying tips: Sorry, But You've Been REJECTED!
- 03/17/09 01:41 AM
The headlines and newscasts keep repeating doom and gloom for the real estate market from sea to shining sea. Obviously they missed the breaking news that all real estate is local and not every seller is ready and willing to take a rock bottom price for their home. This week, I received an offer on a great home for sale in Harvey. I have a motivated seller who has looked closely at the market and what homes are selling for in the neighborhood. He then made a deliberate choice to price his home lower than any of the others in order … (8 comments)
home buying tips: My Agent Can't Help Me...Can You?
- 12/22/08 04:17 AM
I got a call yesterday from an out of town buyer, "Joe", who wanted to know about his rights after an inspection. He is being transferred to NAS JRB New Orleans and had written a purchase agreement on a West Bank home. As it happened, the inspector uncovered some items that the seller had not disclosed. Joe had several questions about how to handle this situation and wanted my advice on how to proceed.
Unfortunately, I could not help him.
Since he already has an agent who showed him property and wrote his offer, I referred Joe back to … (24 comments)
home buying tips: Does Your Agent Have A Client Bill of Rights?
- 05/03/08 12:27 PM
Today required a trip to the urgent care center for my 12 year old son. He has a small abscess on the corner of his mouth that started out looking like a pimple. Nothing worth an emergency room visit, but he was uncomfortable enough to need to see a doctor. When you are 12 and you can't eat pizza, it's time to go to the doctor.
As we were waiting in the exam room to see the physician, I noticed a Patient Bill of Rights posted on the wall, outlining the center's goals for how all patients are to be treated. I … (16 comments)
home buying tips: Don't Just Call the Name On the Sign
- 04/30/08 02:05 PM
With several homes for sale on the West Bank of New Orleans, I get a lot of phone calls from potential buyers looking for information. They are driving around a neighborhood, see a sign, grab the cell phone and call from right in front of the house.
What's wrong with this? Too many times, when I ask if they are working with an agent, the response is "No, I'm just calling the names on the signs of houses I like". Let me get this right...what you are doing is driving aimlessly (wow - have you seen gas prices lately?) and contacting a bunch … (17 comments)
home buying tips: Your Offer's Been Accepted! Now What?
- 03/18/08 10:39 AM
Congratulations! You've found a home on the West Bank of New Orleans that you love and negotiated an acceptable price and terms to make it your own. What happens next? Well, a lot of things will happen very quickly, which is why finding the right West Bank agent to guide you through the sale process is critical. The following is a basic overview of the steps to get you to a successful closing.
Deposit Once your offer has been accepted, you will need to immediately pay the agreed upon deposit to the listing company. Many sellers are now requiring that these funds … (12 comments)
Are these your thoughts when you have a showing scheduled? Buyers seem to be hesitant, if not downright reluctant, to keep appointments when it is raining. I know that it is not always convenient to get in and out of the car in the rain and to remove your wet shoes when entering a home. As a matter of fact, these things can be a real chore. But what if they had a list of incentives to keep those appointments?
I clipped this from the Times-Picayune because I wanted to be sure home buyers realize that not all of this is true (or it shouldn't be, anyway). While the advice might be really relevant to buying a car, some of it misses the mark when it comes to home buying.
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