John Juarez, DRE 01223788 CDPE, ePRO, SRES 's Blog

5 Absolute Do Not's When Purchasing A House

Wed, 15 May 2013 07:07:23 -0700

George Souto, a mortgage professional in Middletown, CT has posted some sage advice for those who are going through the home buying process.

FAMOUS LAST WORDS: “But I need a washer, dryer and refrigerator for my new home. I bought the appliances on a credit plan and they will be delivered to my new home as soon as escrow closes.” Problem is…escrow is now in doubt of closing.

Via George Souto (George Souto NMLS# 65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages Connecticut):

As much as we blog about what not to do when purchasing a home, and as much as we warn and advice Borrower when they are applying for a mortgage on what not to do until they have Closed on their loan. Guess what, they still do it. There are several things that a Borrower/Buyer should not do while they are in the process of purchasing a house, But there are 5 Absolute Do Not's When Purchasing A House. The 5 Absolute Do Not's When Purchasing A House below are so important that anyone one of them can easily bring a Loan Approval and Closing to a screeching halt. The 5 Absolute Do Not's When Purchasing A House are:

DO NOT go out and buy a new car, or furniture or ANY other large purchase. The new payment could disqualify you from being able to qualify for the mortgage.

DO NOT stop making payments on your bills such as credit cards, student loans, car payments, rent, utilities, etc.

DO NOT apply for new credit cards while your mortgage is being approved. This could lower your credit score, and if your credit is checked again before the Closing you may no longer qualify.

DO NOT make large deposits or withdrawals that you can not document.

DO NOT quit your job, even if it is for a better one. A change in jobs will mean that you will have to produce 30 days worth of paystubs for the new job, and this could delay your Closing.

As I stated above, there are other Do Not's, but these are the BIG Do Not's, these are the 5 Absolute Do Not's When Purchasing A House. These can not be said enough, or blogged enough about. When a Borrower/Buyer is in the process of purchasing a house, they almost need to hear these 5 Absolute Do Not's When Purchasing A House on a daily bases.

I don't want to close this blog on a negative, so I am going to end it with one BIG "Do". When purchasing a home, if there is ANY doubt on whether to do something or not, CALL your Loan Originator and ASK. The few minutes that it takes to make a quick simple phone call, could save hours of delays and problems later on, or worst, the mortgage being denied.

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Info about the author:

George Souto is a Loan Officer who can assist you with all your FHA, CHFA, and Conventional mortgage needs in Connecticut. George resides in Middlesex County which includes Middletown, Middlefield, Durham, Cromwell, Portland, Higganum, Haddam, East Haddam, Chester, Deep River, and Essex. George can be contacted at (860) 573-1308 or gsouto@mccuemortgage.com

Staging FAQ's-Boca Raton-What Should I Do When My House is Being Shown?

Fri, 03 May 2013 21:15:40 -0700

If Kathy Streib, a Home Stager in Palm Beach County, Florida, worked in your neighborhood you would hire her and be delighted with the results. Here she has set down some great advice for sellers. After all, once you have hired Kathy to stage your house to make it look fabulous you don’t want to screw it up by not keep it looking that way.

Via Kathy Streib-Home Stager-Palm Bch County South Florida - 561-914-6224 (Room Service Home Staging):

Staging FAQ’s- Boca Raton- What Should I Do When My House is Being Shown?

When you have your house on the market you’ll want to take advantage of every showing.
Having a checklist of what you need to do can help you for those times when you get that last minute call that your house is being shown.

There are things you can do to keep your house ready for showings but there are always last minute items that you will need to do.

1. Ditch the dishes! If there are dishes in the sink, put them in the dishwasher or if that’s full, put that last minute morning juice glass in your fridge until you have time to clean it.

2. Make sure all of your lights are on and your window coverings open.

3. Take a quick trip around the house and pick up papers, shoes, toys, pet water bowls,etc.

4. Empty all waste baskets.

5. Run your kitchen disposal! If you have the time throw in some ice cubes, a lemon peel or baking soda and vinegar.

6. Make sure all of the beds are made.

7. Bathrooms- hide your personal items; give the counters a quick wipe down and fold the towels.

8. Do not burn candles!

9. Turn off your computers and if possible put them out of sight or locked up. Remove and hide personal papers.

10. Hide, remove, lock up your jewelry and medication.

11. Laundry- No one wants to see it! Don’t leave it sitting in piles on your washing machine.

12. LEAVE! Let your Buyers see the possibilities of the house without your presence.

These are 12 easy tips you can do when your

house is being shown.   Now...bring on the Buyers!



Check out my about.me profile!

Room Service! Home Staging
Palm Beach County Home Stager

561-914-6224   Kathy@MrsHomeStaging.com
www.MrsHomeStaging.com

Buying a house? Top 10 Dos & Don'ts for getting the loan CLOSED!

Fri, 03 May 2013 20:50:18 -0700

Kristen Ueckert, a Realtor in Keller, TX has put together a terrific list of what a home buyer should not do during the escrow process before the loan and purchase close. Why? Because a change in FICO score and debt ration caused by new debt can scuttle a loan. Also, because a beneficial job change at a higher income makes the conservative underwriter suspect that you are unstable. Also, because a large deposit to your bank account will cause the underwriter to make the borrower prove that the money has not been borrowed because that would also change FICO and debt ratio.

So…for those who think they need the special financing deal from the appliance super store to put those new appliances into the new house…NOT UNTIL THE ESCROW IS CLOSED!!!

Via Kristen Ueckert, 817-422-3322 Keller, Texas! (Ueckert Realty LLC):

Lenders LOVE to fly through a smooth lending process just like home buyers do and just like agents do. Lenders encourage you to plan ahead and then stick to the plan through closing so the deal doesn't grow legs and walk away.

Here are the top 10 Do's and Don't during the loan process that I hear lenders flutter about saying while helping prep my buyers for a smooth move!

DON'T APPLY for any NEW credit! Until you MOVE!

DON'T MAX OUT or over-charge existing credit cards!

DON'T CLOSE accounts! Until. You. MOVE!

DON'T CONSOLIDATE DEBT to one or two cards!

DON'T CHANGE OR QUIT your job!

DON'T make LARGE deposits into checking or savings!

DON'T make any LARGE purchases! NOT. ONE!

DON'T CO-SIGN on any loans! Until you MOVE!

DO stay current on existing accounts!

DO call an EXPERIENCED REPUTABLE loan officer!

And the BONUS of the list: Call an experienced Realtor®, like me, to make a smooth move!

p.s. Did you know not one time, ever, has a BUYER paid me? BUYER representation with Ueckert Realty costs a buyer NOTHING. ZERO. ZIP!

38228 PASEO PADRE PARKWAY #18, FREMONT, CA. FOR SALE

Fri, 03 May 2013 17:36:29 -0700

38228 Paseo Padre Parkway #18, Fremont, Ca. is the newest listing for the Medford Team.

This Fremont condo is a 1 bedroom and 1 bath, second floor property in the sought after Parkmont area of Fremont. The Parkmont Elementary School has an Academic Performance Index of 953 out of 1000.

Clocking in at 750 sq. ft., this condo has a full kitchen, living room, dining area, second vanity outside the bedroom, balcony and an assigned carport plus additional open parking. The community includes a pool and attractive greenbelt.

Kitchen appliances will stay for the new owner. The community laundry is also convenient.

This condo meets the real estate imperative of being well located. It is within walking distance to the Fremont BART station, Washington Hospital, shops, services, and restaurants. It will be a short walk to the eagerly expected new Fremont Whole Foods Market when it opens later this year. It is also a short drive to Hwy. 880 and Hwy. 84.

Priced at $250,000.

The condo will be held open this coming Saturday and Sunday, May 4^th & 5^th, from 1-4 p.m.

There will be ample time to view and evaluate this Fremont condo before offers are due Monday, May 13^th, by 8:00 p.m.

TRACKING LOCAL NEWSPAPER HEADLINES REGARDING OUR REAL ESTATE RECOVERY

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 22:04:48 -0700

It is time to throw away recycle my stack of recent newspapers. Before I do that I want to post some headlines that have been carried in my local newspaper since the beginning of this year.

January 17^th – Housing Prices Surge in Bay Area – December’s median of $470,000 is 24% improvement over year ago.

January 18^th – And The Survey Says, Silicon Valley Is Back – reporting on a Milken Institute survey citing Santa Clara County as the best performing metro economy in the nation. Austin, TX; Raleigh, N.C.; Houston; and Washington, D.C. rounded out the top five.

January 24^th – Office Space Boom Time – 2013 forecast by a well known local commercial real estate firm is upbeat for commercial real estate in Silicon Valley.

January 30^th – Home Price Gains Accelerate – Rising sales, low supply push S.F. area housing up by 12.7% in December

January 31^st – High-End Home Sales Hit Record In California – 697 residences sold for more than $5 million; previous high – 491 according to a DataQuick report. Overall, 26,993 homes sold for more than $1 million in California in 2012.

February 7^th – Homebuyers Dealing In cash – DataQuick reports that a record number of cash transactions took place in the East Bay, Peninsula and South Bay. More than a quarter of all homes in Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Alameda, and San Mateo Counties sold for cash in 2012. A Realtor is quoted as saying that “There’s tons of cash coming in now from China, India and Russia”.

February 7^th – House Money – Front page, above the fold headline reporting that rising home values have brought home equity lines back into vogue giving a boost to borrowers and to the Bay Area economy. Experts say this trend is an indicator of increased consumer confidence.

February 13^th – Foreclosures Dip As Banks Adjust-ForeclosureRadar says Bay Area default notices hit lowest level since 2006.

February 15^th – Single-Family Home Prices Up 24% - the median price for a single-family home in the nine-county Bay Area was $435,000, a 24.3% increase from the previous January according to DataQuick.

February 21^st – Pre-Crash Prices For Homes Return – A Zillow report shows a drop across the Bay Area in homes that are underwater. Zillow predicts continued growth in prices in 2013 followed by a leveling off in 2014.

March 13^th – Region’s Foreclosures In A Free Fall – According to ForeclosureRadar, foreclosure sales in the East Bay and South Bay were at their lowest levels in six years in February.

March 15^th – Home Sales Flexing Muscle – another front page headline. Months of double-digit gains push prices to near their pre-crash levels.

April 3^rd – Outnumbered And Outbid – a large, front page headline accompanied by a photo of a couple with their child and their Realtor. The gist of the story is that challenges face home buyers who are competing for a limited amount of inventory in this very strong sellers’ market. Non-cash, non-investors are especially frustrated.

April 26^th – Home Prices Start To Zip Past Peaks – another front page, above the fold headline accompanying a story about the real estate recovery in the Bay Area. According to Zillow, 35 of 185 ZIP codes in five counties have regained or surpassed their bubble-era peak home value or are within 1% of doing so.

So…prices are rising; inventory is limited; home ownership is still sought by many; interest rates will never be lower; buy now or you will pay more later.

While it may not be true everywhere that readers are seeing this post the real estate market is very hot in the San Francisco Bay Area.

2542 VILLAGE DR., UNION CITY, CA. – TOWNHOUSE STYLE CONDO FOR SALE

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 07:57:13 -0700

The newest Medford Team listing is a townhouse style condo at 2542 Village Dr., Union City, Ca.

This gorgeous home is in Union City’s beautiful Alvarado Village. This 1,389 sq. ft. floor plan is rarely on the market– last available in 2009! The kitchen is upgraded and includes granite counters, new sink and faucet. You will find one half-bath downstairs and two full baths upstairs. Also upstairs are three bedrooms and the laundry room. There is a large rear patio accessed through the living room and the garage. A bonus is a two car attached garage. The development has many upgrades – siding, roofs & more. Close to city facilities and Hwy. 880. Walk to Alameda Creek – it’s all here!

Regular sale – not REO or short sale! List price is $399,950.

Come to the open house on Saturday and Sunday, 4/27 & 4/28, from 1-4pm and view this lovely home.

The sellers have asked that offers be submitted by 8:00 p.m. Monday, 4-29.

22140 PROSPECT ST., HAYWARD, CA. FOR SALE

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 10:15:49 -0700

The home at 22140 Prospect St., Hayward, Ca. has just been listed by the Medford Team and is ready for a new owner. This turn-key home is not an REO…not a short sale.

Here’s your chance to own a beautiful home on Hayward’s historic, prestigious Prospect Hill! Completely upgraded, this home hearkens from the past but has its sights firmly fixed on the future! New kitchen, baths, paint, flooring … it’s all here! Wood-burning fireplace.

Three bedrooms and two baths. Nicely sized at 1,579 sq. ft. on a 6,000 sq. ft. lot.

Listed at $429,950.

Open Sunday, March 17^th from 1-4.

36749 PORT SAILWOOD DR., NEWARK, CA. FOR SALE

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 17:28:37 -0700

The home at 36749 Port Sailwood Dr., Newark, Ca. is listed FOR SALE by the Medford Team.

This is the four bedroom model at Cedar Glen in Newark. This house has just been refurbished and waits glowingly for Realtors and their clients to visit.

New kitchen & baths, granite counters, flooring, paint & more. Soaring vaulted ceilings, atrium, and wood-burning fireplace - everything you’re looking for! Tremendous commute access! Walk to stores and the lake at Newark’s Lakeshore Park.

With 4 bedrooms and 2 baths in 1,654 sq. ft. on a 3,915 sq. ft. lot, this home will sell quickly.

List price is $519,950.

There will be an open house on Sunday, March 17^th, from1-4.

DUPLEX FOR SALE: 1407 GORDON ST., REDWOOD CITY, CA.

Sat, 09 Mar 2013 14:18:52 -0800

The Medford Team has listed the duplex at 1407-1409 Gordon St., Redwood City for sale for $750,000. The property is well-located, just off Woodside Road near downtown Redwood City and convenient to Hwy 101 and Interstate 280.

The front unit – 1407 Gordon St. – has 2 bedrooms and 1 bath and a 2-car garage.

The rear unit – 1409 Gordon St. – has 2 bedrooms and 1 bath and two uncovered off-street parking spaces.

Both units are currently rented.

This property is an excellent investment opportunity. It also offers the potential to live in one unit while renting the other or, perhaps, an in-law arrangement.

Priced at $750,000.

In this fast-moving market, we do not expect this property to be on the market for very long so buyers should act quickly before the opportunity has passed.

The property will be open Sunday, March 10^th, 1-4. This will be the only showing opportunity.

Selling Your Home? Don't Forget the Home Warranty!

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 19:02:43 -0800

Gary Duda, a Realtor with RE/MAX Action Real Estate in Richmond, VA has written a post advising that buyers should have a home warranty to protect against certain system failures in the house that they are buying. That is excellent advice in every state and in every market.

Via Gary Duda (RE/MAX Action Real Estate):

If you want to save some money and help make your home more marketable, don’t forget to sign up for a home warranty when your Realtor lists your home. Your Realtor will be able to assist you in this process.

Some home warranty companies such as First American Home Warranty offer “FREE” seller coverage during the listing period. Payment of the home warranty occurs at closing, and if a listing never closes, there often isn’t any money collected. With First American, the only money a seller would be out of pocket during the listing period would be for the deductible for a service call.

Seller coverage is an upgrade and some features such as HVAC systems are considered optional coverage items that have additional costs. Once you have signed up for the warranty, you are covered during the listing period. If any covered item breaks down, simply call the warranty company and pay their service fee deductible. This is especially handy for covering home inspection items. First American charges a deductible per “trade” call meaning if there are several electrical items to be covered, there is only one deductible charged.

Home warranties are also a great way to have peace of mind and budget protection.

The cost of a home warranty varies by company and so do services so read the fine print carefully. In Richmond, Virginia First American starts as low as $365 for basic coverage with a $60 service call fee. There are upgrades to cover additional items such as HVAC for sellers and other items for buyers. Whichever warranty you purchase, make sure you understand the coverage you are getting.

Gary Duda
Broker/Owner
RE/MAX Action Real Estate
11551-D Nuckold Road
Glen Allen, VA 23059
804-521-5601
804-938-5777 cell
www.dudahomes.com
www.garyduda.wordpress.com - blog
www.joinremaxaction.wordpress.com Realtor Blog

GIVE YOURSELF! GIVE BLOOD!

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 21:33:16 -0800

In the San Francisco Bay Area, blood donations do not keep up with the need for blood needed for medical procedures. We are importers of blood.

Across the nation, winter storms and worse – Super Storm Sandy – have created obstacles for those who would donate and for those who are running blood drives.

For those of you who can, I urge you to donate. It is a simple and quick procedure. What else is there that you can do that can so easily provide life saving help to a victim of accident or disease.

I am a regular donor and have been for years. For me, it is payback for the time when I needed a blood transfusion as a result of an auto accident.

I have a distant cousin whose child, a lovely three-year old boy, has just recently been diagnosed with leukemia. One of the first medical procedures that he received included a blood transfusion. That's Eli on the right, there.

Call your local Red Cross or community blood bank and find out how easy it is to give gift of life. And then, become a regular donor!

HOW MANY OFFERS DO YOU REALLY NEED?

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:05:47 -0800

How many offers do you really need to sell a house? That is a question that I pose to sellers and to listing agents. The correct answer is: one! You need the right offer…the best offer…whatever that is…highest and best price…price and terms that are satisfactory…whatever defines best in those particular circumstances.

Easily said but not easily accomplished! That one right offer may not be the first offer. In fact it may never come. That is an issue for another post. This post is about PRICING.

One approach to pricing is to price below market in an attempt to create a buyers’ frenzy which results in multiple offers and a final price that is satisfactory. There are markets in which that strategy can make sense. This is not that market!

We have a severe imbalance of supply and demand. There are simply not enough houses for sale to satisfy the strong demand from buyers. The result is a strong sellers’ market in which multiple offers are common and many homes are selling for over their asking price

Since multiple offers are the order of the day, what do you think under-pricing a home yields? Even more offers! I have seen all of our listings attract multiple offers of late. We do not under-price. If anything, we are aggressive in our pricing. Our Team priced a recent listing at about 10% above the most recent comparable sale in the same complex. We received seventeen offers. The property is in escrow for 22% higher than the list price and 34% higher than the most recent comp!

Would it have made sense to have under priced that property? We probably would have gotten more offers. Did we need more offers? Would the highest and best offer have been the same one? Who knows? We have a happy buyer who obviously wants the property and we have a seller who is thrilled.

STATISTICS DON'T TELL THE WHOLE STORY

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 06:34:37 -0800

Here is a weird statistic that we are now seeing. We see reports of sales prices increasing in the face of falling sales.

Prices are up but the number of sales is down in many areas. Houses are selling so quickly and strongly that there are literally not enough houses to sell! The first glance impression is that the market is declining but the truth is that houses are not coming on the market fast enough and in adequate numbers to keep pace with the level of sales in previous periods even though the buyers would buy them if the houses were available.

In other words, it appears that sales are falling when the truth is that everything that comes on the market is selling super quickly with multiple offers and at ever increasing prices.

Sellers are thrilled! Buyers are frustrated!

This is what a buyers' market looks like.

How to Buy a Home in a Seller's Market in Carlsbad California

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 20:34:50 -0800

Jeff Dowler, a Realtor in the Southern California city of Carlsbad, has offered some advice that is true, true, true for serious buyers. Of course, if you are not a serious buyer you do not need to take Jeff's advice. You will also not be successful in your attempt to buy a home in this fast moving, sellers' market.

Via Jeff Dowler ~ Carlsbad Homes for Sale ~ 760-840-1360 (Solutions Real Estate (CA DRE Lic. # 01490977)):

How to Buy a Home in a Seller's Market in Carlsbad California

No doubt you have some sense the Carlsbad real estate market has been getting more competitive for some time. It's true elsewhere as well.

So how do you compete as a buyer in the Carlsbad real estate market when prices are creeping up, there are multiple offers on many homes, and time on market for most properties is dropping?

Get Pre-Approved

We keep saying this but it amazes me how many buyers just don’t do it. If you don’t have a current pre-approval from a reputable lender that has looked at credit scores, assets, debts and income, you are very likely not going to be successful.

With many properties you don’t have days to wait to get your pre-approval…other buyers submitting offers already have them.

Why in the world do you want to shop for a home when you don’t know (1) how much you can afford, and (2) if you can even get pre-approved (lending guidelines are still tough and not everyone who wants to borrow money can)?

Have Your Proof of Funds Ready

Whether you are a cash buyer or not, having a proof of your funds (POF) for the down payment and closing costs gives you a competitive edge. It has to be current, and a promise of funds from great Aunt Tilly when it’s time to close won’t cut it.

Know What You Want

If you haven’t figured it out, you are going to waste valuable time. If you are not sure, that’s fine. No point rushing into buying something when you are not sure. But if you do want to buy, you had better have a good idea of what you want (based on your needs, not a pipe dream) and where you want to live.

Make a Clean Offer

The more terms and conditions you add to your offer the less competitive it will be. Be prepared to close as quickly as possible. And chances are you will have a tough time getting closing costs covered. Consider a strong deposit with your offer, too. Standard practice varies but in my area 1 – 3% works well.

Don’t Lowball

It’s a little hard to say how LOW a low ball offer is, but given where many homes are selling (sales prices versus asking price), in general you can expect, based on recent averages in Carlsbad, to pay 97% of the asking price, and many homes are selling at asking and above. There are, of course, exceptions – short sales, REOS and resales in poor condition or tough location issues such as major roads, train tracks, the freeway and mixed use areas. And homes that have been sitting on the market may offer more opportunity to bid lower.

Work with a Knowledgeable REALTOR

You need to be working with someone who knows the local market conditions, what’s selling and not, and who knows how to strategize an effective offer and can negotiate well.

Can you go it alone and go directly to the listing agent? Sure, if you want. But will you get the best price? No. And does that person care about your interests versus the sellers? Likely not.

Do Your Due Diligence

Get to know the areas you are interested in as well as possible. Spend time in the neighborhood. Check out the schools if they are important to you. Figure out the commuting routes, and access to amenities you want and need.

Be Prepared to Make Your Decision Quickly

If you need to think about it for a day or two you may lose out. The day you see the right property is probably offer day. When you snooze you lose. Be of the mind set that you HAVE to move quickly. And be prepared to lose a home if you can't or simply aren't ready.

Any other ideas to share?

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ALL ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA RELOCATION DUDE

If I can provide more information about Carlsbad homes and real estate for sale and surrounding areas, the housing market in general (or locally), or otherwise assist you, friends or family in a home search or sale, please contact my mobile office or text me at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JeffDowlerSolutions@gmail.com

Serving Carlsbad (including Aviara, La Costa & Carlsbad Village), Encinitas (including Leucadia & Olivenhain), Cardiff, Solana Beach, Del Mar, La Jolla, Rancho Santa Fe, San Marcos (including San Elijo Hills), Oceanside, Carmel Valley, Escondido, and San Diego

Carlsbad Breaking News ~ Oceanside Breaking News ~ Encinitas Breaking News

All content ©Copyright by Jeff Dowler. All rights reserved.

FREMONT,CA. MARKET REPORT FOR 2-28-13

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 11:32:27 -0800

The Fremont, Ca. market report will look pretty familiar to reports for prior months and to reports from other San Francisco Bay Area markets and markets in many areas across California and across the country.

Inventory remains woefully short. Buyer interest remains strong driven by record low interest rates and prices that are well below the high-water point of a few years ago. The resulting imbalance of the traditional supply/demand equation has created a very robust sellers’ market. Multiple offers are the order of the day. Many properties are selling very quickly with prices often exceeding the expectations of the sellers. Buyers are turning to aggressive tactics in their attempts to get their offers accepted. Cash offers, offers without contingencies for property condition or appraisal, and offers of free rent-back to sellers are not uncommon. Low ball offers are definitely not part of the recipe for success in this market!

As you can see from the statistics above, the current inventory is only a fraction of what it was at the end of 2011. While the number of listings has increased since the end of 2012, we know that the year-end typically is the low-point of listings and the increase is not meaningful. In fact, the current level of listings is about one-third of what we would call average for the area.

Inventory is the problem and a quick fix is not expected.

5 Reasons Why Your House Won’t Sell

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 12:47:35 -0800

Sellers: Successfully selling a home entails much more than just sticking on the price you want and listing it for sale.

Beth Atalay, a Realtor, Broker and CDPE, in Clermont, Florida has made some great points to share with home sellers who are wondering about why their house is not selling, not getting shown or not receiving offers.

Via Beth Atalay, Broker, CDPE (Cam Realty and Property Management):

5 Reasons Why Your House Won’t Sell

Most Realtors work really hard to get listings as they say “you must list to last”. Finding homeowners ready to sell their home and list with us is very exciting both for the Realtors and the homeowners.
Realtors look forward to getting a commission check and homeowners look forward to selling their house. Unfortunately, listings don’t always produce same results. Some never make it to closing table! Here’s a list of 5 Reasons Why Your House Won’t Sell;

1. Your house won’t sell if it’s overpriced- No matter what part of the country you live in, number ONE reason why your house didn’t sell is because it is priced higher than it’s market value. If there are active listings in your immediate area similar to your house with lower asking price, they will sell before yours. If you were the buyer looking to buy a house and it’s between two houses with similar characteristics but one is priced $20,000 higher than the other, would you buy the one that’s priced lower or pay $20,000 higher?
If your house has been on the market for 30 days and hasn’t been shown, it’s overpriced!! It’s time for a drastic price reduction..not $500.00, not even $5000.00!! Meet with your Realtor and review all the Active, Pending and SOLD comps in your area and price yours accordingly. If you can’t reduce the price, perhaps you should think about taking your house off the market for 6-8 months and start fresh with a realistic price.

2. Your house won’t sell if it can’t be shown- Your house should be available to show any day of the week at any time a potential buyer would like to preview your house. I’ve seen showing instructions that read “can only show Wed and Fri between 2-5pm” or “no showings until further notice” Buyers are not going to wait around, there are other homes they can preview and possibly buy. I’ve written a post titled Houses That Can’t be Viewed will not be Sold.
House that is listed for sale must be available to show, no workarounds!

3. Your house won’t sell if it’s a secret listing- There are actually secret listings just as there are secret Realtors. It is very important MLS listing has the correct information on your house for sale. Correct zip code, correct city, correct number of bedrooms and bath. Tax Records does not always have the correct data on single family homes and if the listing agent is importing data from Tax Records into MLS, potential buyers will not be able to view your house online. For accuracy, ask for a copy of the MLS sheet from your Realtor.
Listing the house in MLS is not enough marketing to get your house sold. Your listing Realtor must advertise the listing on different websites as well as print media. Most buyers start their search online, be sure to choose a Realtor who is going to advertise the listing on multiple sites.

4. Your house won’t sell if it doesn’t show well- This includes, broken windows, weeds that take over the house, toys all over the house, garage filled with clutter, kitchen counter you can’t even see, finger prints on appliances, pet odors, dogs running around during showings, homeowners being present during showings, rainbow wall colors throughout the house are just some that contribute to your house not showing well. Buyers are looking for a home that is move-in ready. If your house is not listed as “Handyman Special” it must be in immaculate shape.

5. Your house won’t sell if photos are less than acceptable- No photos of dogs, unmade beds, toilets, dishes in the sink. There’s no excuse to have only 1 photo of the house that was taken five years prior to listing. Pictures worth a thousand words!! Get those potential buyers visit your house.

Sometimes even overpriced listings get traffic due to marketing, great photos as well as MLS description of the listing and Public Remarks but not enough to get your house SOLD!!!
Don’t let your listing show up on the list of “Expireds”, take action now so you could move forward. These are the top 5 Reasons Why Your House Won’t Sell! Can you identify with any of them?

Looking to sell your house in Clermont, Minneola, Groveland and Winter Garden areas? Give me a call at 407-929-1852 or visit my website at www.wheretoliveinorlando.com

Beth Atalay, Broker/Owner

Cam Realty and Property Management

407-929-1852
www.wheretoliveinorlando.com BethAtalay@Gmail.com
Your Orlando Agent - Where to Live in Orlando

38500 PASEO PADRE PARKWAY #311, FREMONT, CA. IS FOR SALE

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 21:04:23 -0800

The newest Medford Team listing is 38500 Paseo Padre Parkway #311, Fremont, Ca.

This one bedroom, one bath condo is on the third floor of a complex that includes a pool, carport for one car plus additional open parking, a location that is close to the center of Fremont and convenient proximity to BART and freeways.

This condo features new carpet, a modern and pleasing paint scheme and a balcony with a view of the nearby pool.

There will be an open house on Saturday, Feb. 2^nd, from 11-3.

No Sunday open house for this one since there is a Super Bowl featuring the San Francisco Forty Niners that needs to be watched.

Offers are due by 6:00 on Feb. 6^th.

Expect Multiple Offers!

Top 10 Do’s and Don’ts When Listing Your Charlotte Home

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 18:50:13 -0800

Debe Maxwell of Charlotte, NC is a Realtor pro! Her tips, while not an exhaustive list, are excellent. Preparing your home for sale and merchandising your home properly when it is on the market are important keys to a successful sale.

Via Debe Maxwell - Search Charlotte Homes for Sale - Charlotte NC Neighborhoods (iCharlotteRealEstate.com Savvy + Company Real Estate):

Top 10 List of Do’s and Don’ts When Listing Your Charlotte Home for Sale

If you’re thinking of listing your Charlotte home for sale, you’re probably thinking about what you must do to do to get it SOLD. Here is our top 10 list of do’s and don’ts when listing your Charlotte home for sale:

Do’s when listing your Charlotte home for sale

DO clean and de-clutter. What may look like a normal, lived-in to you may not be appealing to your potential buyers.

DO check your home for ‘general’ maintenance work that needs to be addressed and take care of it NOW. I suggest to my sellers to have a pre-inspection done BEFORE you list your home for sale. Things like replacing broken or worn hinges, tightening doorknobs, etc. are little things that buyers are going to notice. I know I sound like a broken record but, put yourself in the shoes of the buyer–they will think, “If the seller hasn’t taken care of the little things, what about the BIG things?   Address it now so when the buyer has their inspection, the list will be very short!

DO repair sheetrock cracks and water stains from previous leaks. You don’t want to give potential buyers the idea that you still have plumbing or roof issues.

DO take the time to stage your Charlotte home for sale. This can significantly shorten the time it takes to sell, as well as raise the asking price.

DO hire a professional Realtor® who also hires a professional photographer to snap pictures of every room of your house.

Don’ts when listing your Charlotte home for sale

DON’T spend a lot of money on major upgrades unless you have to. While you may have to replace a water heater that’s on its last leg, you don’t have to replace the carpet if cleaning it alone will revive it.

DON’T be stuck on your price. The Charlotte real estate market is ever-changing. Having a set price may make your home become ‘stale’ on the market.

DON’T use an ‘online’ estimate service or your tax appraisal to determine your home’s value. Your real estate agent will compare your home to those in the neighborhood that have sold, to give you a FAR more accurate estimate.

DON’T go heavy on the smelly stuff! So many sellers use plug-ins or heavily-scented sprays to clear pet or cooking odors from their home. The best thing to do is boil an apple with some cinnamon just before a showing. It makes your ‘guests’ feel at home and is not offensive to your guests.

DON’T be the elephant in the room; meaning, don’t be at home when your buyers come to tour it. Vacate the property during showings–it is NEVER wise to be there to ‘show‘ the home. If you are present, it causes them to feel that they need to move through your home quickly, which drastically reduces the chance of them buying your home.

Preparing and putting up your Charlotte home for sale can be a difficult task, especially if you’ve lived there for a long time. However, following these tips can help make the process a little easier.

Thinking of selling your Charlotte home? I can help you prepare it for the market so that it sells faster and for more money. Call me today at (704) 491-3310 or email me at SavvyBroker@me.com.

©Debe Maxwell | Savvy + Company Real Estate | Top 10 Do’s and Don’ts When Listing Your Charlotte Home for Sale

Read more: http://www.icharlotterealestate.com/top-10-list-of-dos-and-donts-when-listing-your-charlotte-home-for-sale/#ixzz2IuXwrgLD



Charlotte NC Homes for Sale

(THE best Charlotte home search available - no kidding!)

Charlotte NC Real Estate Agents

Debe Maxwell, CRS/Realtor®/Broker
Broker@TheCharlotteScoop.com
Phone (704) 491-3310



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Buying a Home? Tips to keep things moving Forward!

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 12:48:11 -0800

Excellent advice from Sandra Paulow of West USA Realty, in Pinetop, AZ. We give our buyers similar advice but it is well worth repeating. Lenders want perfect borrowers and perfect houses for collateral. Any question in regard to the borrowers or the collateral can lead to problems and potential deal failure.

Via Sandra Paulow, Associate Broker, GRI, REALTOR® (West USA Realty):

Good Sunday Morning Everyone!

I saw an article a few days ago that talked about how Buyers make mistakes during the loan process when they are buying property. I thought it made some good points but perhaps needed to be expanded a bit. Below are tips to keep things moving forward in today's challenging market. Lending is tough enough without making mistakes that could lead to disappointment.

1) Don't change or quit your job. If you qualified for your loan based on the income you are currently earning, do not change or quit your job if at all possible. The funding bank will verify your employment again, often while you are signing papers at the Title Company.

This applies even if you are moving to a different area and a different job, and your new job pays higher than your existing job. If you change midstream during the loan process you could jeopardize your loan being funded because lenders look for longevity on the job, in addition to the income from that job.

Note: If you are relocating with a company and your job is assured, this may not be as critical. But for those who are changing location as well as companies, do your best not to make that change until your sale has closed and your loan has funded.

2) Don't make any large purchases. You may need a new car, furniture, or appliances for your new home. However, you do not want incur any new debt of any kind. This could make a mess of today's tight ratio standards for income & expenses. If you have to sleep in a sleeping bag for a couple of nights, that is preferable to losing your loan approval.

3) Do not open any new credit accounts. We all get offers of credit daily but don't take any of those offers seriously at this time. It could open the door for a raised eyebrow with your loan underwriter who will check and recheck your credit report throughout the loan process. After the sale closes is soon enough to consider those offers.

4) Do not close out any bank accounts, transfer large sums of money from one account to another, or make any undocumented deposits.Any changes in your bank balances or cashing out of investments funds could raise a red flag with your lender. Depositing large sums without any tracking can also raise a red flag. Be sure to get the advice of your loan officer if you need to make changes to the places your money is kept. It may be okay if the money is documented and disclosed that the account you are liquidating is the money you are using for your down payment. However, if you are just moving money around it can raise questions about why and where that money came from.

The main thing to keep things moving forward is not to make any major changes to your employment or financial situation. Lenders are very fussy about things being constant throughout the transaction. Changes raise red flags and can cause a perfectly qualified buyer lose out on a home because they didn't know that such changes could change the outcome of the process.

If you need a guide to help you with the purchase of a home, call me. I can get you started an help you keep things on track throughout the home buying process.

Thanks for reading, until next time.....

SANDRA PAULOW, Associate Broker, GRI, SFR, REALTOR®

(928) 242-0300

Smart people know smart people! Your Business & Referrals are important to me.

SUCCESS WITH SANDRA

From Contract to Closing "EXPERIENCE" makes the difference.

Sandra J. Paulow, Associate Broker, GRI, SFR, REALTOR®

CHRISTMAS BRUNCH AT THE LOS GATOS MEADOWS - 2012

Tue, 25 Dec 2012 11:28:14 -0800

My Aunt Dee moved to the Los Gatos Meadows in 2010. She moved from the home in which she had lived since she and her late husband bought it new in 1940. She lived there by herself for over thirty years after the passing of her beloved husband.

She is a celebrity of sorts at the Meadows. She is 104 years old. She is the oldest resident at the Meadows. She lives in a studio apartment with a view overlooking the putting green and garden between her residential wing and the main building. She also has a view looking over the main building to the Los Gatos hills in the distance.

We joined her for the annual Christmas Brunch served at the Meadows for residents and their guests. My wife and I; my oldest daughter with her husband and two daughters; my youngest daughter; my cousin, Barry, with his wife and their son and daughter were all in attendance. My cousin, Bill, who lives in Palm Springs, could not join us but his two daughters did. That was special because Kristi recently moved to our area from Southern California - her boyfriend joined us also - and Karen was visiting from Nashville where she is establishing her medical practice. We were all treated to a filling meal, a gift exchange and wonderful company. The Christmas Brunch is well attended and we had to make reservations for our large group. We had a reserved table in the library/lounge/meeting room which is converted to accommodate diners when the dining room is over-booked.

My Aunt misses her little two bedroom, one bath house that she called home for many years but she knows that, at this stage in her life, she is where she needs to be. She has professional staff making sure that she gets her meds in the proper dosage and at the proper time. Meals are provided three times daily in the community dining room. She does have small electric range and microwave in her apartment so she can prepare simple dishes when she feels the desire to do so. She is surrounded by a community of friends and care providers who are in contact with her on a daily basis. Her family is also in frequent contact and she values the phone calls and visits by all of us. She is in good health and mobile although she condescends to use a cane when going out.

She is in a good place. We are all fortunate because she is a special part of our family.

THE ENGLISH ROSE TEA ROOM – PLEASANTON, CA.

Sat, 22 Dec 2012 11:47:46 -0800

My wife joined my two daughters and two granddaughters for tea at The English Rose Tea Room, 163 West Neal St., Pleasanton, Ca. 94566, for tea today. It is not the first time that they have enjoyed a visit to The English Rose Tea Room and I am sure it will not be the last. They all enjoyed the tea, decorations, excellent service and ambiance but the greatest enjoyment for the adults was to see the joy in the faces of the children.

The English Rose Tea Room continues with Christmas teas on Saturdays through December 29^th and, also, Tuesdays through Fridays. There are several serving times each day.

HOLIDAY LIGHTS CONTEST IN THE IRVINGTON DISTRICT, FREMONT, CA

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 16:35:02 -0800

The Irvington Business Association has started a new Holiday Tradition. Last year, IBA President Jesse Schaa proposed a Holiday Lights Competition. The contest was popular and it returned for an encore this year.

The contest was open to both residential and non-residential entries. Prizes are generous: $250 for first prize and $100 for second prize. To be eligible the lighting display must be in the 94538 zip code – generally, the historic boundaries of the Irvington Township.

Last Saturday evening, the judges cruised the Irvington area aboard a 1958 vintage bus and took in the joyful sights of holiday lights while enjoying hot cocoa and cookies.

The decision of the judges is in!

First Place:

4106 Adams Ave. – Harry and Cindy Parker

Second Place:

41689 Maywood St. – Cindi Hennings

Click here to see photos. Click the link that comes up on the Irvington Lights page and drive by the many locations that were contest entrants and see the bright lights.

LAS POSADAS – MISSION SAN JOSE – FREMONT, CA

Sun, 16 Dec 2012 10:25:21 -0800

Las Posadas is a tradition the has been repeated since 1982 in Mission San Jose,Fremont, Ca.

Sponsored by the Fremont Cultural Arts Council and the Committee for the Restoration of the Mission San Jose, Las Posadas recreates the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem complete with the refusal of the innkeeper to give them shelter. The evening ends with entertainment and light refreshments hosted by a local business.

The schedule for 2012 is:

· Friday, Dec. 14 - Meet at 6 p.m. at the Mission (43300 Mission Blvd.) and carol to Von Till Law Office, 152 Anza St.
Entertainment: Anza St. Troubadours

· Saturday, Dec. 15 - Meet at 6 :30 p.m. at the Old Mission Museum, 43300 Mission Blvd.
Entertainment: TBA

· Sunday, Dec. 16 - Meet at 6:30 P.M. at the Dominican Sisters Convent, 43326 Mission Blvd.
Entertainment: Jim Burris

· Monday, Dec. 17 - Meet at 6:30 p.m. at Mission Coffee, 151 Washington Blvd.
Entertainment: Kristen del Rio, soprano

· Tuesday, Dec. 18 - Meet at 6:30 p.m. at Holy Family Motherhouse, 159 Washington Blvd.
Entertainment: First United Methodist Church.

· Wednesday, Dec. 19 - Meet at 6:30 p.m. at The Cheese Taster, 43367 Mission Blvd.
Entertainment: Sharon Xavier de Sousa, soprano

· Thursday, Dec. 20 - Meet at 6:30 p.m. at Better Homes & Garden Realty, 43430 Mission Blvd.
Entertainment: Band of Gold

· Friday, Dec. 21 - Meet at 6 p.m. at the Mission Museum, 43300 Mission Blvd, and carol to the Museum of Local History,190 Anza St.
Entertainment: Center Stage Singers

We took our granddaughter to the first evening of Las Posadas this year. The evening was cold but the threatening rain held off. The procession from the front of the Mission to Von Till’s Law Offices went off without a hitch. The entertainment provide by the “Anza Street Troubadours” – Steve and three of his guitar playing friends – was a good natured, old-fashioned, song fest of familiar Christmas carols. My granddaughters were delighted and actually sang along. They were especially taken by the “Twelve Days of Christmas” in which the men and women sang alternating verses. Ella, the 6-year old, asked if she could take the song sheet with her so that she and her sister could sing the song at home.

Las Posadas is not a big production which is part of the charm of the event. For a down-home activity that is in the spirit of the season and totally family friendly, I heartily recommend it.

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS IN FREMONT, CA.

Sat, 15 Dec 2012 20:32:23 -0800

Christmas lights can be found in many neighborhoods in Fremont, Ca.The homes on Cripps Place transform the neighbor hood into Crippsmass Place with decorations and the joy of the season.

Reeder Court has for many years been a destination visited by those who love to drive the neighborhoods and look at Christmas lights.

We took our granddaughters to view the displays of holiday lights and plywood cutout characters on the courts running off of Nicolet Avenue – Asquith Place, Wellington Place, Nicolet Court and Cripps Place. The girls insisted that we park and get out so that could get a better look at the displays.

In another part of Fremont, you can visit the outdoor show at Crossroads Church. It really is a spectacular show. For a sample, go to the webpage of the Crossroads Church. Wait on the opening page until the Christmas Light Show page displays. Click on the page for show times and a preview that will knock your socks off.

A HOLIDAY SEASON ANNOUNCEMENT THAT I CAN DO WITHOUT IN THE FUTURE

Sun, 09 Dec 2012 20:32:20 -0800

Here is a Holiday Season announcement that I can do without in the future.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have announced that they will suspend evictions for occupants of foreclosed 1-4 unit properties again this year-end.

Fannie Mae will forbear from evictions from Dec. 19^th through Jan. 2^nd.

Freddie Mac will hold off from Dec. 17^th through Jan. 2^nd.

After that…

Folks will need to find a new place to live because evictions will resume.

How would you feel if you were living in one of these foreclosed properties? Would you be in a mood to celebrate the Season of Joy? Would you have Happy Holidays? Would you celebrate with optimism for the New Year? Would you be looking for a new place to live?

Yes…I will be glad when the phenomenon of eviction moratoria and foreclosure holidays are over. I will be glad when homeowners are not losing their houses across the United States.

Yes…I will be glad when this sad chapter in our history is closed.

John Juarez, DRE 01223788 CDPE, ePRO, SRES 's Blog

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A HOLIDAY SEASON ANNOUNCEMENT THAT I CAN DO WITHOUT IN THE FUTURE

Debe Maxwell, CRS/Realtor®/Broker
Broker@TheCharlotteScoop.com
Phone (704) 491-3310