Karla's Blog

I Won't Bug You!

Karla Woods (Collins Realty, Inc.) — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 11:03:14 -0500

LOOKING FOR A NEW HOME?

ARE YOU GOING FROM WEBSITE TO WEBSITE TO GATHER THE INFORMATION YOU NEED? WHY NOT LET ME DO THE WORK?

I have access to listing information that the general public cannot get to. I'll be happy to provide you with valuable information that will help you with your home shopping. NO OBLIGATION. NO UNSOLICITED EMAILS. NO PHONE CALLS TO YOU UNLESS YOU SPECIFICALLY ASK TO BE CALLED.

YOU tell ME how you prefer to communicate:

Automatic and Anonymous: If you want to simply receive email notifications about listings that meet your needs, go to: New Listings Notification and sign up. You'll receive the info with no obligation. I won't send you anything except the listings you've requested. If at some point, one of those listings looks good to you and you want to visit the home, email or call me and I'll make arrangements to take you inside the home.

E-mail Consultation: If you want an email consultation regarding purchasing real estate, just send an email to karla@stocktonadvantage.com and tell me what type of information you're looking for. I'll do my best to provide it to you - quickly!

Phone Consultation: If you would like a phone consultation, call me at 209-922-9915. Or, send me an email with your phone number and I'll call you on my dime! (karla@stocktonadvantage.com)

Appointment: If there is a home in the Stockton, California area that you would like to tour, or if you would simply like a consultation to help determine if buying is right for you, give me a call and we'll set up an appointment.

MORTGAGE RATES DROP - LOWEST LEVEL SINCE APRIL!!

Karla Woods (Collins Realty, Inc.) — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 15:30:34 -0500

Mortgage rates fell for the seventh time in the past eight weeks. They are now at the lowest level since early April. According to the research I have done, it does not appear that rates will continue to drop. In fact, it is possible that they will begin to rise.

What does this mean to the Stockton home buyer? NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY!!! There is currently a tremendous supply of inventory in the San Joaquin Valley, but it is no longer increasing. The number of listings is only around 30 more this month than last month, compared to previous monthly increases in the hundreds. Prices are stabilizing. The number of available homes is stabilizing. BUY NOW before mortgage rates increase and inventory declines.

Moving Checklist...

Karla Woods (Collins Realty, Inc.) — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 12:25:17 -0500

'Resourceful' is just another word for ‘prepared'.

I work hard to give you everything you need for a successful, enjoyable real estate transaction.

I’m happy to provide you with a few of the tools you need to prepare in the pages below.

Once you’ve armed yourself with a little bit of knowledge and are ready to act, get me on your side for a smoother, faster, less stressful transaction.

I look forward to working for you!

Karla

Moving Checklist

Planning is key!

The logistics of relocating can be crazy, in order to help keep things straight it is good to have a "Plan". Having a plan in place can assist in preventing unexpected problems from arising and to reduce the overall stress of moving. There are many items to consider in the move from departure to destination. For example, you may need to find a job for your partner, arrange local housing, schooling, medical and banking facilities, transportation and much more. Here are a few items that you may find useful

Request this checklist of items to remember when moving by clicking HERE, then scrolling to bottom of article and following simple instructions.

Six Simple Steps To Ensure a Smooth Home Purchase

Karla Woods (Collins Realty, Inc.) — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 12:22:45 -0500

Six Simple Steps to Ensure a Smooth Home Purchase

Buying a home can be an emotional, time-consuming, and complex process. There are a few things that you can do to help make the process go as smooth as possible:

1. Check your credit.
Before you apply for a home loan, regardless of your credit, it's a smart idea to obtain a copy of your credit report from the three major credit bureaus and review the information. If there are errors or things that need to be addressed, it's easier to address them before you have found a house, than after you have found a house and are trying to close your loan.

If you know that there are a few blemishes on your credit, let your lender know what they are, why they are there, and why you are a still good credit risk. Lenders look at your credit to determine how likely you will pay back the loan. If you had extenuating circumstances - like a loss of a job or medical bills - let them know so that they understand that it is not likely to happen again in the future.

2. Get approved before you buy.
An approval means that a lender has reviewed your credit history, verified your assets and employment, and has approved your loan before you have found a home to purchase. As long as the home appraises for at least the purchase price, the loan should close.

Getting approved also gives you an advantage over other buyers. Your firm approval makes it easier for you to negotiate on the price of a home, than a person who is not approved or is pre-qualified.

While getting pre-qualified may sound official, it is really just getting an idea of what you can afford. Its having a person plug in a few numbers that you give them - your monthly income and your monthly debt - and getting an approximate payment calculated. From the payment, the calculator can approximate the house price range that you can afford. No information is verified. Because your assets, income or credit is not verified, a pre-qualification has little value when purchasing a home.

3. Find a great buyer's agent.
Traditionally real estate agents represent the sellers in a transaction. When you are not working with a buyer's agent, they are less likely to negotiate the best price or contingencies for you.

A buyer's agent's job and fiduciary responsibility (meaning legal duty) is to you, the buyer. Before working with an agent, establish if they are a buyer's agent or a seller's agent. After spending a lot of time with a Realtor, it's natural to feel like you're a team. But if they are not negotiating for you, then they are not on your team.

For the remaining 3 steps, simply Click HERE, scroll to bottom of article and download full report!

Real Estate Articles for Home Buyers & Home Sellers

Karla Woods (Collins Realty, Inc.) — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 12:03:45 -0500

Home Buyer Reports

Be sure not to pay too much for your home!
Whether you are buying your first home or your fifth, the process of buying a home is a detailed, time-consuming venture... Read More
Ensure A Smooth Home Purchase
Buying a home can be an emotional, time-consuming, and complex process... Read More
Avoid the Most Common Buying Errors
Shopping for a new home is an emotional experience. It’s also time consuming and comes with a myriad of details... Read More
Things To Keep In Mind When Buying Your First Home
Many renters are starting to think about purchasing a home of their own. Several factors should be considered when purchasing a home... Read More
Home Seller Reports
Determine the Right Selling Price for Your Home
When you’re selling your home, the price you set is a critical factor in the return you’ll receive...
Read More
Selling Your Home: Where do you begin?
Now that you're selling your home, you'll need to look at it as if you were buying it all over again...
Read More
Avoid the Most Common Selling Mistakes
There are some common errors that can be avoided when you are selling your home. I want to make sure you are well informed...
Read More
The Sweet Smell of a Successful Sale
Remember that potential buyers want to imagine themselves calling your house their home...
Read More
The Best Way to Sell Your House...Get Lost!
When you are showing your home, the best thing you can do is to make yourself scarce...
Read More