Lake in the Hills - 4 bedroom home priced to sell at 294900!  419 Prides Run - Excellent condition, gorgeous back yard with loads of professional landscaping and pool!

To visit, call Mary McDonald at 847-989-2462 or visit http://www.McMary.com and click on "featured listings"

 

Newer 4 bedroom home in Sterling Ridge backing to common area - amazing price of 399,000!

394 Sterling Circle - completely spotless and move-in ready.  To visit, call Mary McDonald at 847-989-2462 or visit http://www.BuyCaryAreaHomes.com and go to "featured listings"

Brittany Woods - three car garage - finished basement - backs to open area - newer roof and siding!

Listed at 319,900 this weekend!  Hurry!

Call Mary McDonald at 847-989-2462 to tour this home or visit http://www.BuyCaryAreaHomes.com and click on featured homes!

A recent seller had originally been approached when they were not on the market by and agent and her buyers - As they were not going to have to pay the listing side of the sale they agreed to a price.  The only problem was that the buyers said they would attempt a bridge loan as they had a home to sell but really wanted the sellers' home.  One extension request followed another and finally the sellers were frustrated because their home was "invisible" to the market and this buyer had the advantage.  Finally they listed their home and underpriced it by nearly 10K in order to attract attention and as well because after so many months of waiting for the buyers to get their bridge loan, the home's marketing price had fallen anyway.  Within the first 2 weeks they received an offer that was very close to their asking price and therefore much higher than the original buyers were going to offer with a buyer eager to close within 3 weeks.  While they have to rent, they are thrilled that they can now enter this market as buyers and will rent until they find the home that will suit their family.  In this scenario it really made sense to underprice their home slightly in order for it to stand out!

 

 Yesterday the REMAX hot air balloon was available for tethered rides at the Elgin townhomes at Elgin's River Park Place.  However after an hour, winds picked up and the rides had to be stopped in the interest of safety.  In lieu of the tethered rides, guests are invited to enter a drawing for a free ride for two on the balloon.  Agents, to register your clients this builder is making it easier than ever in honor of your relationship with your clients.  Simply visit http://www.ElginRiverParkPlace.com and print the client registration form -- complete and fax it to the number at the top of the form.  Do this even if your clients have yet to visit the properties as it will protect your relationship even if they visit without you! 

For those Remax agents (other agents too but it is a Remax balloon so not sure you would want to) who care to take advantage of this - invite your clients!  I am representing a builder in Elgin, IL who is opening up the model townhomes across the street from the Grand Victoria Casino and the river in the downtown Festival Park area.  On November 10th from 2:00-5:00 pm (weather permitting) the first 75 guests who tour the models can cross the street to the park with their ticket for a tethered ride in the world famous Remax hot air balloon.  For a virtual tour of these properties visit the Elgin River Park Place Townhomes! 

In a class yesterday I joined a seasoned agent for lunch whom I had just met.  He asked how I am interpreting this market and my response was that it was the only market I have known so I wasn't feeling it perhaps as strongly as agents who, when they joined, joined in a stronger market.  He, on the other hand, had seen this market before so too felt he was able to weather it.  Something I haven't tried yet but have questions about is how often have some of you approached your sellers about offering a wrap around mortgage to a buyer who otherwise would not be in a position to give a conventional mortgage?  If the seller can afford to continue to carry the mortgage does this approach make sense?  Do they need to put the home in trust and assign beneficial interest to the buyer in order to avoid the buyer getting home owner's insurance in the new name?  Is this practice increasingly popular? 

In a recent report by the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents, Mary McDonald, Broker Associate and member of The Mary Opfer Team at RE/MAX Unlimited Northwest was named among the Nation's Top 5 Home Staging Professionals. 

The report highlighted the effects of Home Staging on buyers and warned buyers and their agents to be aware of the emotional draw to properties that have been staged for sale.  The report illustrated how working with an buyer's agent who is unfamiliar with home staging can lead to selecting a home to purchase based solely on emotion.  While the report's intent was to encourage buyers to work with the association's member agents, it exposed critical reasons why both buyers and sellers should choose an agent who is very familiar with and embraces Home Staging.  Read the complete (short) article at  http://www.McMary.com/HSTop5

 

 

Last October I began a "relationship" with an internet buyer who clicked onto my website which resulted in a sale 9 months later.  She had asked me to compare this home to others in the neighborhood....why was it listed so high, might I visit it and take inside photos, measure for furniture...be sure to get a shot of the driveway's angle as well as the depth of the back yard....and don't forget the neighboring yards....are there pools and playsets and might that suggest loud children in the summer?  Did all that....then continued "talking" for months.  As she was from Florida, we didn't get to meet live until Mother's Day weekend this year.  Because her home had finally sold (she had also called me to refer her a new listing agent in FL at one point) she was ready now to buy.  She mentioned that she had a friend in Real Estate but that this "friend" didn't know the Cary market I sell in and she was only in that weekend....needed answers.  Ultimately what I learned after the closing, when her friend in Real Estate filed an arbitration, was that in fact she had been working with her all along and in fact had taken the same inside photos of the same home -- and had even walked her through the home over the holidays while she was in visiting her family.  In fact I had been used and her friend had been discarded.  I of course had every right to defend my efforts but saw that any decision to award compensation would be a tough one....so waived compensation allowing it to be turned over to the "friend" who in my opinion had been wronged.  I told the client that while I worked hard for her and ulitimately for my family, that my integrity was not for sale for any price and most certainly not for the stated commission on the sale of this home. 

Why is it that people seem so willing to use Realtors?  One wouldn't dream of making an appointment with an attorney or a physician with no intention of paying for the service.  Too bad we can't post a sign on our cars reading that "Payment is due at the time of service".  There are so many people I have met who would be described as "really great" by their friends and family but who are willing to "take" from a Realtor.  Is it because they put us into a category of people for whom they just don't have respect?  Anyway, here's the bright side.... We learn from every experience so I am more grateful to those who really do appreciate what we do and am willing to work very hard for them.  As well, for some Realtor designations one needs to have represented a given number of buyers and sellers....so this counts as one more, albeit for free!  Thoughts?

100FT of Riverfront on the popular Fox River.  One of the best river lots - high and dry and deep!  Home needs some work but property is worth it!  Visit http://www.McMary.com for a virtual tour and more information