home buyers: SPOOK-TACULAR News for First-Time Home Buyers! - 10/31/12 03:49 AM
Does buying your first home in the Greater Rochester Area seem downright SCARY?
Does the thought of applying for a mortgage make you SQUEAMISH? Does the prospect of searching for the perfect home make you QUAKE IN YOUR BOOTS? Does the potential of having the deal on your dream home fall through cause a SHIVER TO RUN DOWN YOUR SPINE? Give me a call! I specialize in helping first-time home buyers feel more comfortable about the home buying process. I'd love to sit down with you for a first-time home buyer consultation to explain the entire home buying process and how I … (0 comments)

home buyers: Why it Pays to Have a Buyer Agency Relationship! - 10/26/12 08:10 AM
In a previous post, I answered the question, "But, Why Should I Sign a Buyer Representation Agreement?" As promised, I'm now going to highlight some benefits a buyer receives by becoming a Buyer's Agent's client.
Many people don't realize that, according to New York State law, if you don't have a buyer agency relationship with an agent, he or she automatically works for the seller. Even if you call an agent to show you a listing that's not theirs, unless it's specifically discussed that you'd like to work with them as a Buyer's Agent, you're still only considered their customer, not their client. They can … (0 comments)

home buyers: Why They Are Saying to Buy A Home Now: A Re-Blog from Steve Harney - 06/21/11 04:09 AM
I love sharing insights from blogger Steve Harney, because he really has his finger on the pulse of the national real estate market. In this post, he shares links to articles from four media organizations, all of whom advocate purchasing a home in the current market.
The best news? Contrary to what he states, prices are not falling in our area, they're remaining stable. That means it's a fantastic time to buy in the Rochester area! 
 
Why They Are Saying to Buy A Home Now
by The KCM Crew on June 14, 2011
Despite what appears to be a non-stop wave … (2 comments)

home buyers: Is Buying a Home Really More Affordable Than Ever? The Numbers Don't Lie! - 03/22/11 08:58 AM
I recently received the following flyer in my e-mail from Chris Koch at Family First Credit Union, a mortgage professional I work with on a regular basis.

I'm sure you've heard it said many times, as I have, that buying now with low interest rates does end up saving you money. This flyer is great because it shows a real life example of just how much you can save each and every month. On a $150,000 mortgage, you can pay over $550 less per month than you would have paid in 1990. That's amazing!
Now really is a fantastic time to buy … (3 comments)

home buyers: When You're Buying a Home, Don't Be a TAILGATER! - 11/27/10 04:46 AM
Have you ever been driving along, minding your own business, when another car comes flying up behind you and starts riding your back bumper? Sometimes, they're so close you can't even see their headlights. What do they think they're going to do, push you out of the way?
Of course, being the rational human being that I am, I always do one thing when I'm being tailgated... SLOW DOWN. Yes, it actually is the safe thing to do. If I have to stop quickly and they hit me, it's safer to be going slowly. But let's face it, that's not really why … (3 comments)

home buyers: Attention Rochester-Area Home Buyers! Next Seminar Announced! - 02/21/09 03:59 AM

 
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home buyers: Everything I Need to Know I Learned from The Money Pit - 01/05/09 01:40 PM
Have you ever seen the 1986 movie The Money Pit? In it, a young couple, Walter and Anna (played by Tom Hanks and Shelley Long), purchase a seemingly gorgeous house that ends up wreaking havoc on their finances, their relationship, and their sanity.
I had seen the movie years ago, but just watched it again for the first time since starting my career in real estate. It was certainly interesting to see this movie through a Realtor's eyes! While I found it absolutely hilarious, I also couldn't resist writing down some lessons that can be learned from the couple's experiences in … (11 comments)

home buyers: What Do You REALLY Want in a Home? A Great Resource for Buyers! - 10/21/08 12:17 PM
I recently stumbled across some useful resources for home buyers. I was having a meeting with Tracy Martinez from Five Star Bank to plan the home buying seminar we're holding in November, and she mentioned that Freddie Mac's website had some great forms for buyers. She printed them out so I could take a look, and I completely agree! These forms could definitely help buyers narrow down the most important features of their dream home.
The Wants vs. Needs worksheet focuses on helping buyers rate the importance of various features of a home from "very important" to "do not want". The … (8 comments)

home buyers: Next Rochester-Area Home Buying Seminar Announced! - 10/01/08 08:37 AM
I'm excited to announce that Tracy Martinez from Five Star Bank, Marty Sample from M&M Home Inspections, and I will be presenting a FREE Home Buying Seminar on Monday, November 10th at 7 p.m. at the Perinton Community Center, located at 1350 Turk Hill Road, Fairport, NY.

The seminar is focused on educating first-time buyers about everything that is involved in the purchase of a home and how to best prepare for their home search.
Here are just a few of the included topics:
The mortgage process Finding the right home Submitting a purchase offer The role of the attorneys The importance of home … (0 comments)