As you begin your home search it is now, more than ever, important that you begin your home search with a Realtor(r). You can be sure of getting the best advice, information and experience by picking your Realtor(r) carefully. A good Realtor can make the home buying experience smooth and enjoyable, while a bad one can add stress. Here is my short list for home buyers on how to choose a real estate professional.
Start with a Realtor(r) Not all agents are....
Choose an agent that has experience representing buyers.
Choose an agent that is familiar with the area your looking in.
Choose an agent that understands financing.
Choose an agent that is serious about their craft.
Choose an agent you like.
Choose an agent that understands today's market conditions.
Start with a Realtor(r) I know this may surprise many of you but not all real estate professionals are Realtors(r). For years now clients, agents and the public have thrown around the "REALTOR" term as if it is interchangable with "real estate professional" . The fact is a REALTOR(R) is bound to a Code to Clients and Customers, the Public and other REALTORS(R)
Choose an agent that has experience representing buyers. Some of you may be saying "duh.. don't you all? Truth is while we can handle all aspects of real estate transactions, some agents specialize. Just like doctors are specialists, some agents are just listing agents while others work with only investment clients. I personally enjoy working with both sellers and buyers. I have found that representing buyers helps me remind my sellers where the buyers are coming from.
Choose an agent that is familiar with the area your looking in. I am licensed to practice real estate all over the state of Washington, but I couldn't tell you the first thing about Lacey, WA. I can tell you I have a great Realtor(r) friend that lives down there. The point is there are a fair amount of real estate professionals out there, so for your home purchase find one that lives, works, plays in the area your looking to live.
Choose an agent that understands financing. Imagine a buyers agent that works closely with lenders and ensures that the contract is written in a way to give you(the buyer) the best possible advantage from a lending point of view. That is what having a real estate agent that understands financing is all about. I am a licensed loan officer in the State of Washington. This gives me a clear understanding of what is to be expected from underwriters and processors. I am able to help my buyers wade through the mass of misrepresentations that are out there in the marketplace.
Choose an agent that is serious about their craft. I don't want to knock on part-time agents. I do think that even a part-time agent can provide their clients 5 star service. The emphasis is commitment to providing their client with great service. Often times clients choose an agent out of obligation(i.e family member, friend). I would ask that my friends choose to work with me. It's not because of my friendship, rather it's because I take my job seriously. I believe the best thing for my friends in choosing representation is someone that will ensure their interests are held above mine in the transaction.
Choose an agent you like. Nothing is worse that riding around in a car with someone you have nothing in common with. Of course your not going to be BFF's, but it is worth it that you enjoy the personality of the agent that is representing you. Of course, the other points will take higher priority, but if you don't like the agent, no amount of professionalism will improve the enjoyment of the relationship. Personality goes a long way!
Choose an agent that understands the market. Again another duh!! The fact is if you have answered yes to the above 6 items. Chances are you are working with someone that understands the market. It doesn't hurt to ask questions like; "Where do you see the market headed in the next 6 months, 2 years, 10 years etc." A exceptional agent has this information at their fingertips.
In conclusion home buyers need to begin their search with a REALTOR(R) Take some time to identify the best agent for the job.
My sister Kerri keeps a police scanner on in her kitchen. Last night I received this email from her:
I don't always "hear" things on the scanner in the background but for whatever reason picked up on this right away jotting notes from the initial call about 10:15 p.m. by a 15-year-old saying his father had shot himself. He and his 11 year old brother and 13 year old cousin were in a back bedroom waiting for the police and ambulance to arrive. The mother was out of town. I jotted down the address and then Googled it. Came up as a listing of a gorgeous log house on the market for $800,000+. It was weird to be looking at pictures of this beautiful home overlooking the lake and picturing those frightened boys in the house. The dispatcher said the boys' grandpa was on his way from the "Coeur d'Alene area." Then the dispatcher said neighbors were on the scene and were with the boys in their car in the driveway. The neighbor had gone into the house and "saw blood and the gun but didn't touch the body."
Just a very sad real life drama. Those boys' lives will forever be marked by what life was like before their dad and uncle killed himself and after. So say a little prayer for the boys, they've been through more trauma in the last 90 minutes than anyone should ever see.
WhenI read the email, my first thought was that this was possibly another distressed homeowner who had come to the end of his rope. I looked up the home and saw that it was built at the height of the upswing in prices, and it's current assessed value was half of what it cost new. That's a tough spot to be in.
A wise man once told me to treat everyone I come in contact with as if they are distressed, and more than 50% of the time I will be correct. That was 5 years ago, I bet today I'd be right a much higher percentage of the time. The holiday season is especially hard for those struggling and feeling beaten down by life. Let's all be sensitive to those around us.
Are you feeling desperate, alone or hopeless? Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), a free, 24-hour hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Your call will be routed to the nearest crisis center to you.
Call for yourself or someone you care about
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A network of more than 140 crisis centers nationwide
Available 24/7
Janna Rankin Scharfprovides a superior level of real estate services to home buyers and sellers in Coeur d'Alene and Kootenai County, Idaho. Visit www.JannaScharf.com to search for homes in the Coeur d'Alene MLS for anywhere in spectacular North Idaho.
No matter how grand or modest your real estate dreamsmay be, you can turn to me in confidence. Give me a call today and let me know what I can do to be of service to you!
Sammamish WA Bank Owned homes stats for October 2009
Active: 6
Pending: 0
Sold: 1
Other: 0
Total: 7
Bedrooms
Bathrooms
Square Feet
List Price
Selling Price
DOM
Minimum
3
2.50
2,110
$329,900
$320,000
14
Average
4
2.93
3,196
$596,214
$320,000
43
Median
4
2.75
2,740
$495,000
$320,000
30
Maximum
5
3.75
5,320
$924,950
$320,000
80
Total Dollar Value
$320,000
Average DOM Breakdown and Average % of List Price received on Solds by Market time:
0-30 Days
31-60 Days
61-90 Days
91-120 Days
120+ Days
No. of Listings
1
0
0
0
0
Breakdown %
100.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Avg SP % LP
97.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Some of the best deals in Real Estate are REO or Bank Owned Real Estate. Banks are in a hurry to sell a home and they intentionally price it 20% below the market. A Bank Owned home is property that goes back to the mortgage company after an unsuccessful foreclosure auction. You see, most foreclosure auctions do not even result in bids. After all, if there was enough equity in the property to satisfy the loan, the owner would have probably sold the property and paid off the bank. That is why the property ends up at a foreclosure or trustee sale.
Foreclosure sales begin with a minimum bid that includes the loan balance, any accrued interest, plus attorney's fees and any costs association with the foreclosure process. In order to bid at a foreclosure auction, you must have a cashier's check in your hand for the full amount of your bid. If you are the successful bidder, you receive the property in "as is" condition, which may include someone still living in the property. There may also be other liens against the property.
Since what is owed to the bank is almost always more than what the property is worth, very few foreclosure auctions result in a successful sale. Then the property "reverts" to the bank. It becomes an REO, or "real estate owned" property.
If your looking for a detailed list of REO(Bank owned real estate) Properties Simply sign up to receive Sammamish WA Bank Owned Propertiesupdates.
Much talk has come out about the NEW tax credit for owners of existing homes. The new tax credit now extends it's tax credit to current homeowners. The new law signed by president Obama has extended and expanded the homebuyer tax credit. The new credit was signed into law November 6th, 2009
Revised Home Buyers Tax Credit
Valid: November 6, 2009 – April 30, 2010
First-time Buyer - Amount of Credit: $8,000 ($4,000 if married filing separate)
First-time Buyer- Definition for Eligibility: may not have had an interest in a principal residence for 3 years prior to purchase.
Current Homeowner – Amount of Credit: $6,500 and $3,200 if married filing separate. (There was no provision for this in the original plan.)
Current Homeowner - Definition for Eligibility: Must have used the home sold, or being sold, as a principal residence consecutively for 5 of the previous 8 years.
Termination of Credit: Purchases after April 30, 2010.
Binding Contract Rule: So long as a written binding contract to purchase is in effect on April 30, 2010, the purchaser will have until July 1, 2010 to close.
Income Limits: $125,000 for single (up from the original $75,000); $225,000 for married (up from the original $150,000). Additional $20,000 phase out.
Limitation of Cost of Purchased Home: $800,000. (There was no limit specified in the original plan.)
Purchase by a Dependents: Ineligible.
Anti-fraud Rule: Purchaser must attach documentation of purchase to tax return. There was not such a requirement in the original plan.
To see if you qualify for the new extended and expanded government tax credit contact your local Realtor(R) to determine how to move up in a down market!
Get ready for the largest Ski(Snowsports) Swap on the Eastside. This coming weekend November 13th(5pm to 9PM) and 14th(8am to 6PM) at Newport Senor High School in Bellevue WA, marks the 24th annual Snowsports Swap. You will find 10,000 square feet of winter sports heaven.
You can expect to find major savings on all types of snowsports gear. In addition to all the used gear you would expect to find at the ski swap, you will find steep discounts on new stuff as well. Gerk's Alpine Hut, Liquidation Sports will be there and Bellevue Ski & Snowboard School plus many more! Entry and parking are free.
Can this event get any better. Yep! you can bring your old stuff and sell it for cold hard cash(maybe they cut checks...not sure.) In addition the purpose of this snowsports swap is to provide volunteer and learning opportunities for students. Students volunteers learn about setting up a small business. Also the event is a Newport PTSA fund raiser. The PTSA uses funds from this event to support the teachers of Newport High School with textbooks, learning aids and much more.
Plan on attending the largest ski(snowsports) swap on the Eastside in Bellevue WA! For more information please visit Newport Snowsports Swap
Newport High School, Bellevue (Factoria),
Washington. 4333 Factoria Blvd (128th Ave) SE Bellevue, WA
98006
To most of you that aren't dependent on spell check you already knew that. The point I am trying to make is when you hire a Realtor(R) you are hiring their team. I have learned that the service on my transactions is only as good as the team I surround myself with. With the many aspects of one real estate transaction, even the best Realtor(R) can lose track of a tiny point that, left unattended can turn into a major issue.
Early in my career I didn't recognize the importance of a good escrow closer. It cost me money but more importantly it cost me my integrity. In a nutshell what happened was that the lender didn't get loan documentation to escrow in time to review that the loan was for more that the buyer wanted to borrow. They had more funds that they wanted to put down on the new home purchase. Some how this wasn't communicated to the lender. No this may not have been "my fault" but it was in my care and keeping because I am their REALTOR(R) This could have easily been avoided by clear communication as throughout the transaction.
My grandfather always said to me, "Surround yourself with others that can do it better than you" So I have worked to assemble the best of the best on my team. I am very proud to work with them they help my buyers and sellers have a 5 star transaction!
My Team!
Tawni van Wageningen - Accredited Staging Professional, REALTOR(R) and Partner
As we step through the "Great Recession" it's important for agents to be on guard for Scams. We owe the public as REALTORS(R) to ensure the product being offered is not only owned by the individual signing the contract, but our duty to ensure there aren't leans on the property that may trigger a short sale.
The point I am making seems so simple. Of course, my seller owns the home he or she is listing. Why else would the person be speaking with me and going through a listing agreement, and seller satement and countless open houses and execution of an offer and purchase agreement if the person did not own the home.
The cold hard facts are that there is a recent Massachusetts case where the putative seller had placed the property in a trust, where he was the trustee, prior to listing the home. As an individual, he did not own the home. The relevant documents were signed, the buyer applied, and was committed for, a mortgage. The title examination revealed an owner other than the person listed as seller on the purchase agreement. The transaction did not close.
This may seem totally ludicrous to most ActiveRainers. It didn't strike me as properly defensible either. The buyer certainly had rights against the seller for fraud and deceit. He did not, however, have the right to compel a conveyance from the seller. Each piece of property is, on its face, unique and spefific performance could not be granted against a non-owner.
There are ways to guard against this heinous result as follows:
1. Prior to taking a listing, the listing agent can do a simple owner search. In most states, this can be done online from your computer. If you don't know how to access your registry online, ask you title company or title attorney to teach you. You can find out from the juimp whether you are dealing with the proper owner.
2. After the initial documents are sign, the buyer agent can ask his or her attorney, or title company, to confirm the ownership of the property right away. This is a relatively simple process, but it can save heartache and expense in the future.
There is nothing more frustrating in law than having a right wihout a remedy. Being able to sue a seller for deception is one thing, but it doesn't get the buyer the property he or she has set their signhts on. Go the extra mile to make sure that the record title is in the name of the seller. Anything short of that is not acceptable.
My business partner and I were previewing a home in Point Loma today and decided it was too beautiful of a day not to make a quick run up to Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, pay our respects to her uncle and appreciate the view for a quick minute while in the area. (Phenomenal view of downtown San Diego)
How lucky were we to drive into the cemetery, and find out that directly across from where we were going they were filming a scene from an upcoming movie "I AM THE MAN". This movie is a tribute to Michael Monsoor, Navy Seal, Delta Platoon.
Monsoorand his Platoon were sent to Iraq in April 2006 to train Iraqi Soldiers. During the time in Iraq, Monsoor and his troops were often encountered by insurgent forces. On September 29, 2006 an insurgent threw a grenade on to a roof top where Monsoor, some of his platoon and several Iraqi soldiers were positioned. Monsoor threw himself on to the grenade and took the blast. In doing so, Monsoor saved the lives of his troops as well as the Iraqi soldiers. He died 30 minutes after taking the blast. (This is an actual photograph of Monsoor in Iraq)
On April 8, 2008, President Bush presented Monsoor's family with Michaels's Medal Of Honor.
While we were on our visit to the cemetery, directly across from the place in the cemetery where a portion of this film was being shot, we were able to speak with one of the assistants that ran across to get the guy mowing the lawn to wait while they shot their scene. He let us know what the film was and that everyone in the film is either active Military or family of military. There are no actors, no big names. Just a dedication to a man who risked his life for the safety of others. A man fighting for our freedom. Admirals, Captains and Lieutenants and retirees showed up for this shooting to honor this hero.
Today we watched the mock funeral of Monsoor. We watched the casket be carried to his grave site by Naval officers, with a flag covering the casket. We watched as the flag was foldedand presented to the family. The lone bugler playing taps, the 7 gun salute as well as an honored F18 aerial flyover. As the tears streamed down my face at this mock funeral, in the middle of a cemetery where hundreds of men and women are buried that fought for our country, I was reminded of how grateful I am that my son Jason came home from Iraq and how grateful I am to every man and woman that have died for and continue to fight for our freedom.
As Veterans Day approaches, remember those that have served. Remember those that still serve. You enjoy all of the freedoms today to read this post and write your posts because of these men and women.
BOORAH! THANK YOU AMERICAN SOLDIERS!
Making the Home of Your Dreams A Reality. As your Agent of Possibibility it is my intent to make your home buying or selling process a smooth one!
Please feel free to subscribe to my blog or contact me at 619-838-4408.
Average DOM Breakdown and Average % of List Price received
on Solds by Market time:
0-30 Days
31-60 Days
61-90 Days
91-120 Days
120+ Days
No. of Listings
2
0
0
0
0
Breakdown %
100.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Avg SP % LP
102.06
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Some of the best deals in Real Estate are REO or Bank Owned Real
Estate. Banks are in a hurry to sell a home and they intentionally
price it 20% below the market. A Bank Owned home is property that goes
back to the mortgage company after an unsuccessful foreclosure auction.
You see, most foreclosure auctions do not even result in bids. After
all, if there was enough equity in the property to satisfy the loan,
the owner would have probably sold the property and paid off the bank.
That is why the property ends up at a foreclosure or trustee sale.
Foreclosure sales begin with a minimum bid that includes the loan
balance, any accrued interest, plus attorney's fees and any costs
association with the foreclosure process. In order to bid at a
foreclosure auction, you must have a cashier's check in your hand for
the full amount of your bid. If you are the successful bidder, you
receive the property in "as is" condition, which may include someone
still living in the property. There may also be other liens against the
property.
Since what is owed to the bank is almost always more than what the
property is worth, very few foreclosure auctions result in a successful
sale. Then the property "reverts" to the bank. It becomes an REO, or
"real estate owned" property.
If your looking for a detailed list of REO(Bank owned real estate) Properties Simply sign up to receive Issaquah WA Bank Owned Propertiesupdates.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
Janna Rankin Scharf
pay our respects to her uncle and appreciate the view for a quick minute while in the area. (Phenomenal view of downtown San Diego)
Naval officers, with a flag covering the casket. We watched as the flag was folded
and presented to the family. The lone bugler playing taps, the 7 gun salute as well as an honored F18 aerial flyover. As the tears streamed down my face at this mock funeral, in the middle of a cemetery where hundreds of men and women are buried that fought for our country, I was reminded of how grateful I am that my son Jason came home from Iraq and how grateful I am to every man and woman that have died for and continue to fight for our freedom.
;)
;)
