Assuming that your purchase is in line with the market value of homes in the area, yes, an experienced Realtor could possibly help. The first step is to take a good close look at the appraisal and check to see if the comparable properties used by the appraiser are good choices compared to any other possible comps for the area. Next, check that the appraiser used reasonable adjustments and had the correct facts about the comparable properties. If either better comparables are available or if … (19 comments)
In the late 1880′s, labor organizations began to lobby various state legislatures for recognition of Labor Day as an official state holiday. The first states to declare it a state holiday in, 1887, were Oregon, Colorado, New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. Then in 1894, Congress passed a law recognizing Labor Day as an official national holiday. Today, Labor Day is observed not only in the U.S. but also in Canada, and in other industrialized nations. While it is a general holiday in the United States, its roots in the working class remain clearer in … (14 comments)
If you want to sell your Florida home and move on to a new one quickly, here’s how to get your goal accomplished: First, make the outside of your home attractive. Drive-by prospects are more likely to be interested in winter if lawn is cut and there are no toys or miscellaneous objects in the yard. Flowers near the entry are a plus. If one or more rooms are a loud or unusual color, repaint them in beige or a more neutral color. Remove wallpaper. Stage the inside of … (12 comments)
realtor: Should I buy a short sale?
- 01/20/11 12:18 AM
Q: Friends have told me that there are some great deals to be had right now in homes offered as a short sale. What is a short sale? Should we be wary of one? A: In a short sale, a buyer pays less than the amount a seller owes the lender. There are more cases of 'short selling' in markets where home values are dropping as in many areas of the country today. Typically, when a homeowner can't pay his mortgage because he has suffered some sort of hardship -- loss of a job or divorce for example -- he simply sells his home. … (14 comments)
realtor: The Long and The Short Of It
- 06/28/10 04:54 AM
Markets go up, markets go down. Sometimes we see it coming, sometimes we don't. It all depends on what both consumers and businesses are buying, and when. How can we tell if and when real estate will recover?
We need to ignore short-term fluctuations, like the spike in home sales last November, when buyers thought the first-time tax credit would expire. Then sales rates dropped significantly when Congress extended the tax credit and removed that original sense of urgency.
We need to pay attention to long-term forecasts instead. Consider that home ownership increases by roughly 1 million each year. … (7 comments)
realtor: Take A Guide On Your Hunt
- 05/03/10 12:19 AM
There are two apparently attractive options for buyers scoping out a deal. One type is the "short sale," where sellers have made an agreement with their lender to sell the home for less than they still owe on the mortgage. The second type is the REO (bank-owned) home, which has fallen back into the hands of the lender after the sellers defaulted.
While these properties may be appealingly priced, buyers need stomach and smarts to take proper advantage. If you're considering a short sale purchase, focus only on those with a price pre-approved by the lender. Otherwise, you may be … (1 comments)
realtor: Don’t Try This Alone
- 04/02/10 12:32 AM
When you hear that someone managed to sell a home without representation, it's likely that the sale was to a family member, close friend, or a tenant who was already renting and living there. These exceptional cases are not the norm, and there are powerful reasons why it is so difficult to make a sale "by owner."
The biggest roadblock is that For Sale By Owners (FSBOs) aren't included in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) that licensed agents and organizations use. Even if a FSBO does manage to make it into the MLS, since the offer of compensation is … (23 comments)
I doubt most people want to be considered average, though there is probably nothing inherently wrong with being so. Of course a high school grade of C is average, which puts a different perspective on things. Being middle of the road and being part of the status quo is the route many take in their jobs, politics, and lifestyles. Being average is, well, being part of the crowd and therefore like most others you are compared to...including being a … (7 comments)
realtor: What can a Realtor® do for you when you want to sell your home?
- 12/26/08 02:15 AM
First, a Realtor® can sell your house faster and for a higher price than you would get by selling it on your own. According to the National Association of Realtors, in 2007, the average price of a home sold by the owner was $180,000. The average price of a home sold by a real estate agent was $240,000. Here are some of the reason for the difference: A professional agent is familiar with the prices of similar homes in your area and can help you adjust the asking price higher or lower. Either way, the property will sell faster if the price … (4 comments)
Q & A: My Appraisal Came in Low, Can My Realtor Help?
;)
;)
;)
