Update on "You Can't Fix Stupid" - 02/29/12 05:02 AM
I contacted the MLS yesterday. They are investigating the matter but seem reasonably sure that my claim is correct. It is strictly against their compliance rules. The wholesale diabursement of what is intended to be proprietary information is bad enough, but there are security issues as well. What if the agent has a lockbox with a code, and the code is posted? One of my pet peeves is agents that post community gate codes. Ours once turned up on the bulletin board at the fire department, and traffic back to the fishing lake skyrocketed! What if you have a security code … (3 comments)

"I Can't Tell You How Much I Love Your Home ... Really I Can't" - 02/28/12 05:53 AM
             It never ceases to amaze me what I see when showing homes. Some folks' idea of chic is pretty bizarre. Getting some education in staging can allow you to council with sellers about what they think is "cool". Or hire a staging professional if you need more help, but don't be afraid to tell them what they need to know. Sometimes it's as simple as "get rid of the junk", although you might want to substitute "clutter". Sometimes it takes a total home lobotomy.
           
            Here are some of the biggest staging mistakes, according to professional home stagers.
… (0 comments)

"You Can't Fix Stupid Part II" - 02/28/12 05:01 AM
I got a call last week from a builder friend who was looking for property for his client. The builder is hard working and honest. The property he asked about was a sixty acre tract, but they only wanted about ten. Of course, they only wanted to pay the sixty acre price for ten. That's where my radar started beeping.
I investigated the listing, and found that I knew both the listing agent and the seller since we had all worked together at one time. The seller was willing to divide if the buyer would pick up the associated costs. I … (4 comments)

"You Can't Fix Stupid" - 02/27/12 05:29 AM
I was showing homes to a client last week. He seemed to be unusually well prepared for every home he saw. It was puzzling me how he came up with so much detailed information so quickly. He seemed to have all the information I could provide before I could even provide it. He even asked me once what MLS area we were in ... why would he care? However, I was hesitant to ask how he was getting his information.
As the day went on and we became more comfortable with each other, he finally told me.
As he put it, … (226 comments)

Interest Rate? Mortgage Rate? - 02/26/12 06:10 AM
On January 25th, Fed Chairman Bernanke announced that interest rates were going to be held at the current rate through the end of 2014. He was specifically speaking about the federal funds rate which is the rate the Fed lends money to banks. Most consumers assume that interest rates and mortgage rates are the same. Of course, interest rates do have an influence on mortgage rates but there are many other factors that impact mortgage rates. Mortgage loan officers will quickly tell you that mortgage rates change frequently. In fact, they change multiple times per day. Currently, we have some of … (1 comments)

Buying with your Buddy? - 02/22/12 04:03 AM
Friends often share holidays, vacation together and are there for all the important moments in life. So, why not buy a home together?
            An increasing number of consumers are considering joint ownership. Such as transaction makes sense, as it can help those who may not have been able to afford a home on their own, it gives each owner a real estate investment, and it can even strengthen the friendship.
            But the opposite could happen as well. Friends can feud over the most trivial of things, placing the long-term housing investment at risk.
            Here are some tips … (4 comments)

Which Mortage ... 30 or 15? - 02/20/12 04:58 AM
One important decision homebuyers face is whether to secure a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage or go for a 15-year one, which carries a lower interest rate.
            “All things equal, a 15-year mortgage allows you to pay off your mortgage twice as fast while saving a significant chunk of money on interest,” explains Mark Crosby, a mortgage expert in Wilmington, Del. Still, “I think the 30-year mortgage is a logical choice for most people because it has more advantages.”
            For starters, mortgage payments are less expensive with a 30-year mortgage, enabling more consumers to qualify for home purchases. “With a 30-year … (2 comments)

"Hello ... Anybody Listening?" - 02/14/12 06:18 AM
I loved my mother, but she was not the most optimistic person in my life. From the time she was 52 years old, she proclaimed every year that this would be her last Christmas. Well, by the time she was 83 she was finally right about her prediction. Being a little theatrical might have played into her performance as well.
 
For the most, I think I took after dad, who was not a wild-eyed optimist, but tended to see the proverbial glass as half-full. For the last four years, like most other real estate practitioners, I’ve been trying to see … (3 comments)

 

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