Linda Jamail Marshall's (lindamarshall) Blog

Things to Know Before Buying Your First Home

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 23:58:19 -0700

Houston Innerloop and Heights First Time Buyers will find this excellent blog article of great interest. It was contributer via Palos Verdes Homes-Realty by Frank Fountain and Heidi Mackenbach Palos Verdes Estates, CA Linda Jamail Marshall,Broker,ABR,QSC,RECS,ACRE www.LindaMarshallRealtors.com Things to Know Before Buying Your First Home in Palos Verdes 1. The cost of owning a home is more than simply the purchase price. There are several monthly fees and expenses in addition to your monthly mortgage payment that you need to be prepared for. This includes insurance, property taxes, utilities, and maintenance. However, the costs associated with owning your first home are bearable. 2. Programs are out there for first-time buyers. A significant down payment is never a bad investment- it gives you instant home equity and a lower monthly payment. But, if you can't manage to get a larger down payment, you don't have to give up your dream of home ownership. There are many federal, state, and local programs dedicated to helping first-time homebuyers with down payments, interest rates and loan terms. 3. Foreclosures and short sales can be great deals but proceed with caution. Many homebuyers have gotten great deals on these types of homes. However, buying a foreclosure or short sale can come with some red flags. Most of these homes are sold "as-is." Since maintenance isn't always a top priority for homeowners facing foreclosure, these properties may need a significant amount of work. With short sales, transactions are lengthy and more complicated than a typical home purchase. 4. Getting pre-approved for a loan gives you more buying power. Before you begin your house hunt, be sure you have a pre-approved letter which proves that a lender has offered you a specific mortgage. This is important because it establishes your maximum purchase price, shows sellers you're serious about buying, and if you get pre-approved by several lenders you can compare interest rates and terms to find the best deal. 5. School districts can affect property value. Even if you don't have kids, buying a home near good school districts can help your home's resale value. The most important aspect of a home's value is the neighborhood it's in. If you cannot afford these neighborhoods, look for fixer-uppers in the area. They may need work but they will have built-in property value. 6. Do your homework to help make a competitive offer. Before you make an offer on a home, crunch the numbers to figure out the property's market value. Have your agent do a comparative market analysis where he or she will compare the home you want to buy to recently sold homes in the area with the same square footage, construction, age, etc. The analysis will show you what buyers were willing to pay for similar homes in your neighborhood giving you a good starting point. Both top producers within their company and within the Palos Verdes Board of Realtors, Frank and Heidi provide a real estate background of excellence to their clients. Contact us today to get started. Visit Palos Verdes Homes and Real Estate for more information about us and search current listings in the South Bay area. Palos Verdes Current Listings Search Homes for Sale in Palos Verdes Learn more about Frank Fountain and Heidi Mackenbach, your Palos Verdes Realtors Find out what your home is worth Why to select us to help you sell your Palos Verdes or South Bay home Home moving assistance Frank Fountain DRE # 01193674 Phone: 310.990.9652 Heidi MackenbachDRE #1071319Phone: 310.971.0970 Peninsula and South Bay Information Palos Verdes Community Links and Information History of Palos Verdes Palos Verdes Real Estate Palos Verdes Fast Facts Rancho Palos Verdes Real Estate Rolling Hills Estates Real Estate Rolling Hills Homes For Sale Redondo Beach Homes For Sale Hermosa Beach Real Estate Manhattan Beach Real Estate San Pedro Real Estate Torrance Real Estate Linda Jamail Marshall, Broker,ABR,OSC,RECS Innerloop Houston Tx. Specialist 2011-2012-2013-2014 FIVE STAR Agent Texas Monthly Magazine 2003-2011,2013 Top 1% Buyer Agents Houston Association of Realtors 713-523-4600, marshallrealtor@gmail.com

Our Sellers Are Electing NOT to Respond to Your Offer.....

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 23:53:26 -0700

Houston Innerloop and Heights Buyers will find this excellent blog entry of great interest and a precursor of how the Summer will playout. Contributed via Sally & David Hanson WI Realtors Luxury\Short Sale\CDPE\ABR\e-Pro\REDS Brookfield, WI Linda Jamail Marshall,Broker,ABR,QSC,RECS,ACRE www.LindaMarshallRealtors.com Bring on the Sellabrations...the Buyers are Out ...the Buyers are Out ! It was an exciting weekend with multiple offers on several well priced properties.....and as you browse through MLS you see the "Active with Offer" indicators everywhere...HURRAY !!! Homes all dressed up and ready to sell...priced at appraisable prices...ARE selling....a wonderful welcome to spring...and a boost in recovery to the market. Along with the wonderful offers....written by agents and buyers who understand that some homes...even those recently listed ....ARE priced to SELL and not to sit....and with that in mind, got out their pens and put their money where there House is...or will be....and wrote an offer like they meant it. Then......there were some offers....where both buyers and agents used the "plucked from thin air" price approach....an insult to the Sellers....an effort to steal...despite the agent being that multiple offers would be presented. Yes, yes...we know...the agent is "just the messenger"....they have to write what the buyer demands. One offer was especially low....on a property that had not been on the market less than a week....maybe the agent didn't get the message we left...So I emailed again....politely and professionally...."Did you know that there are multiple offers on this property that will be presented tomorrow ? The contract indicated that the agent was a Buyer's agent...."Yes...." he replied promptly..."They wrote for what the property was worth." Hmmmm....I checked the agent's sales production in MLS....one house sold in the last year....outside of the four county area at a very low price....With multiple offers, the Sellers elected not to respond to the offer and chose one that was well written with a solid price supported by documented financing and earnest money. Everyone is entitled to their opinion....best to assist the buyer with the facts...comparable homes that have sold...Whether you work under contract with a buyer as an agent...OR you are a Buyer working with an agent...thin air prices are not the buying mode of the day. Just as a Seller may examine the sales record of an agent who will list a home...it's a good idea to learn the experience of an agent that is writing an offer. Some People Are MIS-READING this BLOG...ALL OFFERS ARE ALWAYS PRESENTED - the Response is the CHOICE OF THE SELLER....On with the Blog... If you really want to own/sell a home.....why risk insulting the Seller....losing a house you really want to call home...Take the advice of an agent that has successful experience.....and live happily ever after. If you are looking to live happily ever after in southeastern Wisconsin...call the Hansons...we are proud to be your ambassadors to the state we have called home for a lifetime....and know you will too. Sally K. & David L. Hanson, ABR, CDPE, CSS, e-Pro,ILHM, REDS Linda Jamail Marshall, Broker,ABR,OSC,RECS Innerloop Houston Tx. Specialist 2011-2012-2013-2014 FIVE STAR Agent Texas Monthly Magazine 2003-2011,2013 Top 1% Buyer Agents Houston Association of Realtors 713-523-4600, marshallrealtor@gmail.com

Pigs Get Fat, Hogs Get Slaughtered!

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 00:28:08 -0700

Great analogy that transcends areas and types of property. Houston Heights buyers and sellers should pay attention to this story. Linda Jamail Marshall,Broker,ABR,QSC,RECS,ACRE www.LindaMarshallRealtors.com 713.523.4600 Pigs Get Fat, Hogs Get SlaughterThis idiom, as defined by usingenglish.com, is used to express being satisfied with enough, in contrast to be greedy and having it become your undoing. This is a lesson which many sellers and buyers of real estate in Lancaster, PA have had to learn.I have looked back over two deals which have gone south because the seller was a hog (metaphorically, not actually). I represented the buyer in both situations.In the first deal, I had been working with my buyers for a period of time and this home was everything they wanted. Our offer was accepted and the inspection contingency fulfilled. We were waiting to move forward when the appraisal was completed. One problem, the property appraised $15,000 lower than our offer. It was a split-level and finding comparables was quite difficult. The seller was not willing to budge. We were under contract at $335,000 and he would take no less than $325,000. My buyers said, “No, thank-you!” I checked to see what this home sold for and noticed it closed at $315,000. This seller learned a $5000 lesson at a minimum.The second deal was under contract for $232,500. The inspections noted some concerns regarding the age of the heating system and some work that needed to be completed. In trying to negotiate a suitable arrangement, my buyer basically stated, “I will be satisfied if I can get $5000 towards repairs.” Again the seller was unwilling to budge. This home later sold for $214,000, a $13,000 decision.If you are a seller of real estate, it is important that a good, strong offer in your hand is often one you need to negotiate to keep together. Do not learn the lesson, “Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered!” An agent who places your interests as his first priority. Cal Yoder Your Homes for Sale in Lancaster Agent Keller Williams Realty Lancaster 1630 Manheim Pike Lancaster, PA 17601 Office Phone: 717-735-1145 Cell Phone: 717-413-0744 You can find great local Lititz, PA real estate information on Localism.com The Living in Lancaster Group - Cal Yoder 717.413.0744 is a proud member of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network, a free online community to help real estate professionals grow their business.Linda Jamail Marshall, Broker,ABR,OSC,RECS Innerloop Houston Tx. Specialist 2011-2012-2013-2014 FIVE STAR Agent Texas Monthly Magazine 2003-2011,2013 Top 1% Buyer Agents Houston Association of Realtors 713-523-4600, marshallrealtor@gmail.com

Lots of Showings But No Offers, applies here in Houston Heights

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 01:20:34 -0700

Lots of Showings But No Offers, applies here in Houston Heights Tom Branch, Broker in Plano Texas gives us excellent advice and he aptly points out in this blog article. "Show me a home with lots of showings but no offers and I'll argue its simply overpriced or not properly prepared. Lowering the price is one way to overcome this issue but it may not be the only way." Greetings from Innerloop Houston Heights Texas Linda Jamail Marshall,Broker,ABR,RECS,ACRE,QSC. www.LindaMarshallRealtors.com "I had lots of showings but no offers." I hear those words time and time again as I talk to sellers with recently expired listings. Most of the time they blame their agent for not generating an offer. One of the primary roles of a listing agent is to market the property and drive traffic into the home. In my opinion it starts with great photography and getting all the details of the property into the marketing machine. When I look at many expired listings I see poor or no photos and incomplete or minimal details available online. Most of the time the sellers of those properties are not complaining about a lack of an offer but a lack of showings as well. Show me a home with lots of showings but no offers and I'll argue its simply overpriced or not properly prepared. Lowering the price is one way to overcome this issue but it may not be the only way. Purchasing a home is an emotional decision. While the marketing may be driving traffic in the door, the home may not create the emotion needed to generate an offer. Creating emotion means appealing to the senses--sight, smell, and sound. New home builders model homes are a great example of the ability to create emotion. They appeal to all the senses. While many sellers may be able to recreate the look of a new home model, many people should consider professional staging. In the Dallas market, the cost is often under $300 for a few hours of a stager's time. $300 is nothing compared to your first price reduction and can make the difference in getting the property sold. Locally, the first part of 2012 has seen a return to a seller's market with less that 3.5 months of inventory of homes under $500k. Homes that properly prepared, show-ready, and priced correctly are flying off the market. If you're on the market and getting lots of showings but no offers, it's not marketing... Photo Copyright 2009 The Branch Team Origianlly posted at http://www.thebranchteam.com/wordpress/2012/03/18/lots-of-showings-but-no-offers/ Tom Branch and Gina Branch, The Branch Team with RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs, service the greater North Dallas suburbs including Dallas, Plano, Allen, McKinney, Frisco, Lewisville, and Carrollton. While Gina concentrates on traditional listings and buyer/tenant representation, Tom specializes in assisting distressed homeowners to avoid foreclosure. Tom and Gina have published two books (Achieving Rock Star Status and The Field Guide to Short Sales) and are available for speaking engagements in the greater Dallas - Fort Worth Metroplex. Subscribe to The Branch Team Blog. Copyright 2009-2012 - The Branch TeamThe Branch Team - Texas Real Estate Broker 547597 | Team Members are Texas Licensed Real Estate ProfessionalsTom Branch - National Mortgage Licensing System 341963 Important Notice: The Branch Team with RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs is not associated with the government, and our service is not approved by the government or your lender. Even if you accept this offer and use our service, your lender may not agree to change your loan. If you stop paying your mortgage, you could lose your home and damage your credit rating. All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Properties subject to prior sale or rental. Linda Jamail Marshall, Broker,ABR,OSC,RECS Innerloop Houston Tx. Specialist 2011-2012-2013-2014 FIVE STAR Agent Texas Monthly Magazine 2003-2011,2013 Top 1% Buyer Agents Houston Association of Realtors 713-523-4600, marshallrealtor@gmail.com

Do Your Buyers Hear What You Hear in Houston Heights listings

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 01:19:31 -0700

Do Your Buyers Hear What You Hear in Houston Heights listings A Houston Heights Sellers can benefit from a wonderful insightful article via Karen Bernetti about "further staging your home down to even the sounds". She points out "You can try masking the street noise or the sound of your neighbor's barking dog by introducing other sounds, always taking into consideration your selling season. Water falls and oscillating fans contribute a welcome feeling of coolness on a hot summer day, while crackling fires add a feeling of warmth and relaxation when it's cold. And a bubbling water fountain or soft wind chimes can offer the feeling of peace and tranquility in any season. " Greetings From Innerloop Heights Houston Texas Linda Jamail Marsshall, Broker,ABR,QSC,RECS,ACRe www.LindaMarshallRealtors.com Do you hear what I hear? Buying decisions are emotional. Marketers have studied this for years and one thing we know for sure, if we want to stimulate the buying response, we need to tap into buyers' EMOTIONS. Home sellers can tap into the emotions of their prospects, simply by employing a little psychology and appealing to the 5 senses. In Love at First Sight I shared how to trigger the buying response by appealing to buyers' sense of sight. EVERYTHING a buyer sees AND EVERYWHERE a buyer looks in your home has the potential to stimulate a positive [or negative] emotion. In Common Scents I discussed how the way a house smells can either attract or repel your home buying prospects. Today I will share how to engage buyers' sense of hearing. So what does your house sound like? If its something you've never thought much about, then now is a really good time to consider - what will your buyers hear [and possibly be distracted by] when they enter your home? Is your home peaceful and tranquil? If you live on a quiet country road where all you can hear are the birds singing off in the distance - then do what you can to maximize this wonderful selling feature. Avoid playing loud or distracting music and keep the TV off while your house is being shown. Do you live on a busy street with cars and trucks whizzing by at all hours? Do you live near railroad tracks or an airport? Even though you might have grown accustomed to it, traffic noise can be a huge turn off to potential buyers. Your Realtor might even suggest pricing your house lower to reflect this negative feature. Even if your house is priced appropriately, there's still more you can do to overcome this obstacle. Jeannette Fisher, author of the book Design Psychology for Redesign and Home Staging offers some suggestions..... You can try masking the street noise or the sound of your neighbor's barking dog by introducing other sounds, always taking into consideration your selling season. Water falls and oscillating fans contribute a welcome feeling of coolness on a hot summer day, while crackling fires add a feeling of warmth and relaxation when it's cold. And a bubbling water fountain or soft wind chimes can offer the feeling of peace and tranquility in any season. Playing music can also help to mask the unappealing noise around you, but be sure you consider your target buyer's taste when making your selection. Playing soft background music can relax and lift the spirits of your prospects as they hum along to a familiar tune. If you have a spa in your house, you may want to consider playing a CD of the sounds of the rainforest to convey the feeling of a luxurious tropical escape. But don't get carried away. Avoid playing loud music which can be jarring and too much of a distraction. In my next post I will be discussing ways to engage the sense of touch..... Karen Bernetti is a Real Estate Stager, Former Realtor®, Author, Speaker, and Owner of Staging4Smooth Transitions - specializing in assisting seniors with their downsize moves. Karen is also the Co-creator of the Ready2Sellin30Days® System - an innovative, interactive, multi-media educational program designed to teach do-it-yourself homeowners EVERYTHING they need to know about preparing a home for sale during tough economic times. Visit www.Ready2Sellin30Days.com to learn more. Stay up to date on all the latest real estate staging and home decor trends with The Home Sale Success with Karen & Ann Blog! Sign up here to receive The Home Sale Success with Karen & Ann Newsletter! Call 860-302-0333 for more information. Linda Jamail Marshall, Broker,ABR,OSC,RECS Innerloop Houston Tx. Specialist 2011-2012-2013-2014 FIVE STAR Agent Texas Monthly Magazine 2003-2011,2013 Top 1% Buyer Agents Houston Association of Realtors 713-523-4600, marshallrealtor@gmail.com

A HUGE Lesson for a Listing Agent AND Expensive!

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 01:45:17 -0700

Heights buyers and sellers will greatly benenfit from this timely article by Paula McDonald who is located in the Woodlands, Tx. She points out: I know this is long but the IMPORTANT MESSAGE IS THIS: If you are a listing agent and arranging repairs for your Seller, be careful and make sure you are using bonafide, certified and licensed contractors!KNOW YOUR CONTRACTS! There is no excuse for any agent in this business to NOT know the content of a contract.Be prepared to pay for the correct repairs using the correct contractors at YOUR cost if you are having to do the repairs all over again. You told your Seller you would take care of the items and the contract clearly states using licensed individuals. A HUGE Lesson for a Listing Agent AND Expensive! We are down to the wire with a closing this week. This has been a long escrow period yet everything on my Buyer's side has been smooth as silk. Her Lender has kept everyone in the loop and the communication has been great. So we are down to the final week and the agreed upon repairs per the Amendment are just not right. The receipts that were provided are generic at best and upon further investigation, the contractors are NOT licensed. My Buyer of whom is extremely thorough and has every right to be did some investigation and did indeed verify through the state that the electrician and the plumber were not licensed. The electrical and plumbing issues were both safety related which now really raises some concern. Through our investigation we discovered that the Sellers have moved out of state and therefore the Listing Agent has been given the task of arranging the contractors and making sure the repairs were done. The Listing Agent told me that she took the Amendment to the house and showed it to the contractors so they could complete the work. Here are the concerns: The Amendment will say something like this: "Per the Inspection Report in Exhibit A. item I. G. Electrical panel repaired and or replaced." Unless the contractor has the ACTUAL Inspection Report which clearly shows the item and explains fully the repair needed, the contractor will have NO idea what to do. The Listing Agent is now the one responsible for making sure that the contractors SHE hires are properly certified or licensed. She has had the Amendment for the repairs for 2 months and waited until the week before closing to get them done. In Texas, we have a new clause in our contracts. It clearly states that ALL repairs by the Seller shall be done prior to closing and to be performed by persons who are LICENSED! If not completed properly or at all the Buyer can extend the closing up to 15 days in order for them to be done properly. When I mentioned this to the Listing Agent, her comment was and I quote, "Oh, well I used an OLD contract that did not have that in it." OMG! First of all, I prepared this contract and YES it is in there. Secondly, we are ALL responsible to use current, up-to-date contracts! She then continues to dig the hole deeper by saying that in all the 20 years she has been doing real estate, she has NEVER asked for license numbers from any contractors. Furthermore, she says that my client is anal and being difficult! Really? Now this agent clearly is finding her panty hose in a twist for sure! Rather than admit she did things incorrectly, she continues to try and get out of this mess by putting the blame on everyone else. Sometimes we just have to stand up and admit that we are wrong and make it right. My client has every right to want the work done on their future home done correctly and safely. No question about it. And they do have the right to ask for the extended closing period of which the other agent is against as she put it. I know this is long but the IMPORTANT MESSAGE IS THIS: If you are a listing agent and arranging repairs for your Seller, be careful and make sure you are using bonafide, certified and licensed contractors! KNOW YOUR CONTRACTS! There is no excuse for any agent in this business to NOT know the content of a contract. Be prepared to pay for the correct repairs using the correct contractors at YOUR cost if you are having to do the repairs all over again. You told your Seller you would take care of the items and the contract clearly states using licensed individuals. I don't know how this will pan out but will keep you posted! Paula L. McDonald ~ REALTOR® Broker ~ Managing Principal 9595 Six Pines Drive, Suite 8210 ~ The Woodlands, TX 77380 ~ 936-203-0279 Selling The Woodlands real estate and surrounding areas! Paula@ChevauxGroup.com Copyright 2011 Paula Hamilton~McDonaldLinda Jamail Marshall, Broker,ABR,OSC,RECS Innerloop Houston Tx. Specialist 2011-2012-2013-2014 FIVE STAR Agent Texas Monthly Magazine 2003-2011,2013 Top 1% Buyer Agents Houston Association of Realtors 713-523-4600, marshallrealtor@gmail.com

Karma, Baby! Karma!

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 23:44:14 -0800

Mike Cooper shares with us a lesson in Real Estate Karma. As always he offers wonderful advice and observations that my Heights Houston clients can utilize or appreciate. Linda Jamail Marshall,Broker,ABR,RECS,ACRE,QSC www.LindaMarshallRealtors.com Karma, baby! I'm firm believer in sowing and reaping. That's one of the main reasons I rarely stay mad very long when someone does something that dings me. That's also why I couldn't wait to get back to office to write this blog. Yesterday, I wrote a blog about a customer who was using multiple agents to get into a house. She called this morning complaining that the other agent, who was graciously carting her around, had not found anything. I told her I couldn't help her. I explained that I would not work with someone who was using multiple agents. I shared how we get paid, and I tried to help her understand that the other agent also deserved a paycheck. So, I declined her request. She called back later. Apologized for using multiple agents and asked if I would pick up the search again. Ironically, I had just done a search for my second customer of the day, and I had found a house for this lady in the same neighborhood. I told her I had two customers ahead of her, but I would be in the area after lunch and I would call her then. I went to my second showing appointment, and bang, this multi-agent woman's car was parked in front of it. She was inside talking to the listing agent. So much for being loyal, but there was a fly in the ointment this time. I had called the listing agent earlier and told him I would be up there after lunch and would like to show his property to my second customer. My second customer was late, so it gave me a few minutes to go in and see what was going on. When I walked inside, the woman looked stunned to see me. I'm sure she didn't think I would just show up out of the clear blue. What she didn't realize was that I was there to show this house to my second customer, not her. When I walked in, the listing agent said, "Ah, there you are. Let's get started." He didn't realize that I had set up an appointment for my second customer and not for this lady. I had told this woman about the unit, and I promised that I would show it to her after I met with my second customer. She was impatient and jumped ahead and was filling out a contract. But, because I was the procuring cause, the listing agent passed the contract on to me. He was a true professional. About that time, my second appointment showed up. I was in a different vehicle this time, so customer # 2 didn't realize I was already there. I went out and told her that someone else was filling out a contract right then, but there was another home right down the street that met her criteria. I went back in and asked the listing agent if he minded if I went down the block to look at another house while the customer read through the contract, and he was fine with that. I met customer # 2 at that house down the street, and she fell in love with it. It's a much better home, and I'm thrilled that she loved it. We're doing a contract on that one at 5:00 pm today. So, I'll get commissions on both houses. Karma, baby! Karma! 1. Buying your first home in Winchester VA 2. What to look for when buying a foreclosure in Winchester VA 3. Short Sale inventory in Winchester VA 4. Winchester, VA - The best bedroom community for the Washington, D.C. area 5. Passion is contagious - Infect somebody! 6. Winchester, Virginia is a great place to buy a house at great discount! 7. This simple electrical test could save your life. 8. Turn setbacks into springboards 9. Reduce your mortgage by pre-paying principle and eliminating interest 10. What can I do to sell my home more quickly? ******************************************************************************** Give me a call for all your real estate needs, and let's make something amazing happen. Mike Cooper @ Cornerstone Business Group, Inc., 888-722-6029 Real Estate Sales and Property Management (Disclaimer: All grammatical mistakes, punctuation breakdowns and misspellings are purely for your amusement and entertainment. Feel free to cackle.)Linda Jamail Marshall, Broker,ABR,OSC,RECS Innerloop Houston Tx. Specialist 2011-2012-2013-2014 FIVE STAR Agent Texas Monthly Magazine 2003-2011,2013 Top 1% Buyer Agents Houston Association of Realtors 713-523-4600, marshallrealtor@gmail.com

Mr. & Mrs. Seller, I Have Already Reduced My Commission 50%! And You Want More?

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 23:36:11 -0800

Excellent information, and I have to agree with Bob Miller's comments below. We all understand why that's not an accurate perspective, but it's our job. It's not the sellers job to understand how we're paid, what marketing expenses are, how many ways comission is split, and so on. If someone asks me a question about cutting comission, I take it as a sign that I didn't do my job correctly. I didn't explain the value of my services, the complexity of the transaction, or the number of people that get paid from those funds. Responding with some gentle education and improvements in your listing presentation will get you much farther than delivering a smack down. Let's face it - if sellers don't understand what we do and why we're worth it, it's our fault. And, there is probably an agent out there who will take the listing for much less. Linda Jamail Marshall,Broker,ABR,RECS,ACRE,QSC www.LindaMarshallRealtors.com Mr. & Mrs. Seller, I Have Already Reduced My Commission 50%! And You Want More? I heard this request again yesterday! It usually begins something like this. “My house has lost so much and you want me to sell for even less. I have this much invested and I NEED this much. You need to reduce your commission.” My response. You know Mr. & Mrs. Seller, I also feel your pain. My home is worth less than one-half of what I paid for it 6 years ago. However, the bank has not reduced its principal or interest rate. So I can understand how you feel, now that your home is worth one-half as well. But because you home is worth one-half, my commission has reduced by one-half. However, did my costs decrease by one-half? No! Unfortunately almost all my costs have increased, especially the cost of gas to show buyer’s your home! I know times are tough if you are a home seller. But trust me, times are tough for me your Realtor® as well. I am working much harder, and making less than half of what I made a few years ago. That is not your fault and it is not my fault either. Let’s just sign the contract Mr. & Mrs. Seller, so we can get your house sold and move on with your lives. Join Active Rain Can he sell it? Yes he can! 352-547-1074 Bob@bobtherealtor.net Bob the Realtor Linda Jamail Marshall, Broker,ABR,OSC,RECS Innerloop Houston Tx. Specialist 2011-2012-2013-2014 FIVE STAR Agent Texas Monthly Magazine 2003-2011,2013 Top 1% Buyer Agents Houston Association of Realtors 713-523-4600, marshallrealtor@gmail.com

Home Seller Etiquette in Houston Heights

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 12:43:53 -0800

Home Seller Etiquette in Houston Heights excellent article provided to us by regular blogger Amy Boehm Boerne, TX Greetings from Innerloop Heights Houston Texas Linda Jamail Marshall,Broker,ABR,RECS www.LindaMarshallRealtors.com Spring Break is a few weeks away and the norm for our business is people start looking for their new home, whether they are up sizing, downsizing or relocating. So here we are with all these new listings, which is wonderful! In the past I have blogged about different things you can do to make a home more attractive to a buyer, but one thing that I have not addressed is YOU! We love our Sellers, but there are a few etiquette rules we need you to know. The first and most important is when you receive an appointment for your home to be shown, please leave. I know you know your home better than anyone, but the buyers want to see themselves in the home. This will be a little hard if they feel that they are being stalked by the home owner. They will not feel comfortable to open cabinets, closets and make comments to each other and their agent as well. So now is the time for you to head out to the local Starbucks or take your pet for a walk. Second, your comments about your home could be used against you! The buyer might not appreciate that the next door neighbor has the cutest little dog that greets you every morning as you go out to get your paper or that the teen on the end of the street has nightly parties and you can't wait until you move. You don't mean to say things that could be taken negatively, but it happens. Third, we know that sometimes you really don't get the notice that you needed to get your house in order, you were out at Little League or over at Grandma's when the call came and there was no way to get to the house and get it picked up before the appointment. So this is when you just have to have an agreement with everyone that lives in the house that the basic clutter is picked up and everything has had a quick wipe down before you ever leave. Think about how you feel when you walk into a cluttered home, do you see the house or the clutter? And remember throwing everything into drawers, cabinets and closets really doesn't work:) The buyers will be opening those too. The best case scenario is to get rid of all the clutter that you don't need on a daily basis, pack it up, give it away, store it somewhere until you move. Pack up out of season clothes and extra toys. All of these things will help your home seem bigger and more inviting. Remember the goal is to sell your home, not necessarily to live your most comfortable life. Hopefully it will be short term. The best advice I can give you is to remember once you put your home on the market, it is no longer a home, but a House For Sale! Amy Boehm The Boehm Team Realtor, ABR, CRS, ALHS, CLHMS Keller Williams Realty Linda Jamail Marshall, Broker,ABR,OSC,RECS Innerloop Houston Tx. Specialist 2011-2012-2013-2014 FIVE STAR Agent Texas Monthly Magazine 2003-2011,2013 Top 1% Buyer Agents Houston Association of Realtors 713-523-4600, marshallrealtor@gmail.com

Woman's Day Gives Bad Real Estate Advice, Heights readers beware

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 12:37:21 -0800

Woman's Day Gives Bad Real Estate Advice, Heights readers beware Great article provided to us from Leslie Ebersole, REALTOR® Chicago's Western Suburbs Saint Charles, IL Greetings from Innerloop Heights Houston Texas Linda Jamail Marshall,Broker,ABR,RECS www.LindaMarshallRealtors.com We tend to rely on so many of these standard publications. I just came across an article called 10 Things Your Real Estate Agent Won't Tell You published on womansday.com. Ms. Sarah Stebbins, a free lance writer, seems to have cobbled together negative bits and pieces from other works, including the The Home Buying Kit For Dummies. I am disappointed that a respectable organization like Woman's Day would publish this inaccurate and misleading article. Some of unpleasant and just plain offensive lines: "An agent who wants to make a quick sale might not share information a buyer could find unappealing about the neighborhood, like an office building going up on the street, or a registered sex offender who lives a few houses down." "Moe Veissi, president of the National Association of Realtors and a broker in Miami, suggests asking realtors about area schools, crime statistics, parks, hospitals and whatever else is important to you..." "Still, it’s a good idea to ask directly about upcoming construction projects and the proximity of sex offenders before closing a deal." Brokerages offer agents a bigger cut of the commission if they sell in-house listings, says Tyson." It’s common for a listing agent to let other brokers at his firm know about a “hot new property” before posting it in the multiple listing service....He gets a better commission split if he lines up an in-house agent.” My comment on the article: Ms. Stebbins you apparently have credentials as a magazine editor (Martha Stewart Weddings and Instyle) and freelance writer (Glamour, Women's Health), but your lack of understanding of the role of a professional Realtor® is astonishing. We all have bad experiences with people in every job, from physicians to accountants to dog groomers, but respectable professionals rarely make the mistake of condemning entire groups based on a few bad experiences. In this difficult housing market, with millions of homeowners still struggling to make tough decisions, it is discouraging that a respected publication like Woman's Day would publish such a one-sided and negative article. I will comment on just a few of the issues raised:I don't know a single firm in the Chicago metro area that pays agents more to sell in-house listings. At the suggestion of the IL Association of Realtors®, most firms do separate long term (10 years in IL) record keeping fees from sales commission. The record keeping cost is the same regardless of the sales price of the house, and should not be variable the way commission is.I sincerely doubt that Moe Veissi suggested you ask a realtor (sic) about schools and crime statistics: by law we are not allowed to provide many types of information. And what exactly is a Realtor® supposed to know about hospitals? Ms. Stebbins, if you ever want to talk to real clients -- rather picking over the bones of other people's work -- I could give you the names of 100s of agents and brokers who would happily give you many, many clients to talk to. And could you let us know if you work for free, as a free-lance writer? Or do you, too, work on commission? Finally, Realtor® is a trademark of the National Association of Realtors® and is not interchangeable with the term real estate agent. This post was written by Leslie Ebersole of Baird & Warner Real Estate.Use or reproduction of the material published on this site is expressly prohibited without the express written permission of the author. My Email leslie.ebersole@bairdwarner.com My Mobile (630)945-7935 Linda Jamail Marshall, Broker,ABR,OSC,RECS Innerloop Houston Tx. Specialist 2011-2012-2013-2014 FIVE STAR Agent Texas Monthly Magazine 2003-2011,2013 Top 1% Buyer Agents Houston Association of Realtors 713-523-4600, marshallrealtor@gmail.com

Why Don't Most Realtors Get Business from Blogging? Applicable in Houston Heights Real Estate

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 12:32:13 -0800

Why Don't Most Realtors Get Business from Blogging? Applicable in Houston Heights Real Estate Excellent article from CATHY BUREAU, MBA, GREEN, EcoBroker, SFR San Antonio, TX - Real Estate Broker San Antonio, TX Greetings from Innerloop Heights Houston Texas fLinda Jamail Marshall,Broker,ABR,RECS,ACRE www.LindaMarshallRealtors.com They don't blog. They don't blog well (or consistently). Now for the long answer..... 1. Only quitters are losers. Every successful person has failed experiences but the ones who rise above it become stronger. 2. Your mental position is everything. The Little Engine That Could says it all. That may be the best book of all times to share with your kids. It sets the life stage. I share these two life truths to set the stage since I know there are online marketing neigh sayers reading. I have over 10 years of marketing experience, a BBA (Marketing) and a MBA (Strategic Marketing), but it doesn't take a MBA to be successful, just follow successful people (see my dad's comment below), the MBA just creates a faster learning curve. I started blogging in May 2011 and did what I always do, I find people that are better than I am, then emulate. Some blog as a hobby. Some blog long-winded pointless stories. Some blog inspirational or funny thoughts, which are fun to read. Some are informative. Some blog to be a celebrity. Some just like to be cantankerous who have a chip on their shoulder (my least favorite). But my very favorite bloggers are the ones who either set the example of quality marketing (Anita Clark & Dick Greenberg) or serve as online coaches providing great advice & tips (Rebekah Radice, Tammy Emineth, & Craig Daniels to name a few). The bottom line, I like "Results Driven People." Here are a few things I've learned that you can tweak to suit your own personal style. 1. Hyper-local posts rock! Chamber web site Visitor Bureau Read the newspaper on or off line Subscribe to journals Find anything related to your city that promotes your city & blog it Read bill boards 2. Market Reports Go for Hyper-local. Use graphs, charts, or tables to drive your point home or clear up any confusion. If you are in a strong market, compare to the national and show how much better your market is. 3. Community Reports Pick 5-10 communities & blog them regularly Include photos & videos Write about schools Write about religious institutions. (I'm not Jewish but I will be blogging on a Jewish community that was developed by the Jewish council located across the street. Very interesting project.) 4. Post to other blogging or social media platforms Social media is communication, which is language based. Not everyone speaks the same language. Facebook & Twitter users are generally Gen X & Y. Linked in is generally Boomers. Google+ Blogger, and Pinterest are relatively newcomers so early adopters generally Gen X & Y are drawn to these platforms. Tumbler is a quasi-blogger site, more like Pinterest in that it used photos. All this being said, they all have one thing in common - nothing. If you want to be multi-lingual, then use as many as you can. At the highest level we are professional marketing people, so be one. Learn about cutting edge opportunities to be a good listing agent. If they just wanted a sign in their yard they could go to Home Depot to do that. If they wanted to be on the internet only then they could just use FSBO.com. Don't wait until you have it all figured out, just do it and learn along the way how to make it work better. 5. Reach out to your clients about your blogging Your friends & family want to help you. Tell them about you. Tell your clients. I always mention in my monthly newsletter that I blog and many of them read and share what I write. Show you are not just about selling, but like me, that you care about people and your community. 6. Optimize your search engine. I'll just hand you over to Tammy's blog How to Use Internal Linking to Boost Your SEO Just a thought to share and why I'm always striving to improve.... My dad used to tell me, "Cathy, if you want to know where you'll be in 5 years, then take a look at who you're around today" - a wise man that I didn't always acknowledge when he was alive. He always worked hard to be #1. He has letter after letter from his supervisors and even one from the base commander thanking him for this or that saying he was top notch. I found some amazing things in his briefcase when he passed, including my 2nd grade home made birthday cards. Kinda cool that my construction paper cards were mixed with the base commander accolades. I can feel him smiling now. Oh, just for fun.... Here are my mom and dad when I became the first child to obtain a 4 year degree in my family. WHEN YOU ARE ARE READY TO BUY OR SELL A HOME... CALL CATHY BUREAU YOUR MOST VALUABLE REAL ESTATE ASSET Thanks for reading my blog! I would love to assist you with the purchase or selling of your San Antonio, or surrounding area Texas home. Please contact me, CATHY BUREAU, GREEN Home Realty, Realtor®. I am ready to exceed your real estate needs! CATHY BUREAU Broker/Owner MBA, REALTOR, GREEN, SFR, ECOBROKER, SOLARAGENT (210) 560-1891 Direct www.GreenHomeRealtySA.com Did you enjoy reading my blog? Then... This is to advise you that you are using copyrighted and protected material on your website/blog. Your illegal use of any articles derived by Cathy Bureau or Green Home Realty. This is original content and I am the author and copyright holder. Use of copyright protected material without permission is illegal under copyright laws. You may print one copy for your own records not to be distributed without specific written permission. You may re-write the post to include excerpts with a link to the original content. You must credit the material specifically to me, as author, and my website. GREAT BLOGS THAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED: Not ALL Realtors are the Same The San Antonio River Walk - Everything You Ever Wanted to Know Lennar Homes Provides Solutions to the Sandwich Generation New Homes in San Antonio, Texas - How to Choose a Builder San Antonio Home Buying Made Easy Understanding Net Zero - KB Homes Rent Versus Buy - The Real Cost of Renting! Does "Average Days on Market" Affect Sales Price?Linda Jamail Marshall, Broker,ABR,OSC,RECS Innerloop Houston Tx. Specialist 2011-2012-2013-2014 FIVE STAR Agent Texas Monthly Magazine 2003-2011,2013 Top 1% Buyer Agents Houston Association of Realtors 713-523-4600, marshallrealtor@gmail.com

It's the little things...

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 12:26:38 -0800

It's the little things... Richard Yates brings us another excellent article that I wanted to share with Heights Real Estate readers. He points out "Just doing one little thing "Better" will make a "Big" difference. " Greetings from Innerloop Heights Houston Texas Linda Jamail Marshall,Broker,ABR,QSC,RECS,ACRE www.LindaMarshallRealtors.com It's the little things... It's the little things that can make a big difference. When writing a blog post, The Title plays a key role in whether or not we attract the attention and interest of a reader. Our goal for every post written is to get the reader to "click". If you're reading this sentence, YOU clicked. ;-) The first sentence and paragraph of a post may determine if the reader will continue reading. The proper use of "Keywords", short-tail and long-tail, makes a big difference in being ranked higher by Google. Check out The Essentials for Effective SEO Blogging, after you finish reading this post. "Links" can be very beneficial in directing readers to other preferred posts and websites. If you're a member of ActiveRain, look at the "Links" option on your AR Sidebar and add appropriate Links. Turn a picture into a link to direct a reader to a more preferred site, like I did with the picture of Links. I decided to have it open in a "NEW" window, because I want you to keep reading this post. Since you're already focused on your ActiveRain Sidebar, click that little downward facing arrow in the Tags Box on YOUR Blog. Check out the tags that you use the most often and determine if you need to re-Tag some of your posts. I do! My three most frequently used Tags are: ActiveRain, Real Estate and Realtor. What are yours? When completing the description section for a YouTube Video to improve SEO, begin with a link to your most preferred website. BUT, be certain to begin it with http:// or it will NOT become a link. Read more... As Real Estate Agents, doing the little things will also make a big difference. Showing up on time and keeping commitments are measurements of dependability and efficiency. Most agents have a lot in common, but the things that separate and define us, are the "Extra" and "Extraordinary" things. There are lots of little things that can make a big difference, but trying to do too many of the little things, all at once, appears too difficult. Just doing one little thing "Better" will make a "Big" difference. If you like what you read, please Subscribe. Linda Jamail Marshall, Broker,ABR,OSC,RECS Innerloop Houston Tx. Specialist 2011-2012-2013-2014 FIVE STAR Agent Texas Monthly Magazine 2003-2011,2013 Top 1% Buyer Agents Houston Association of Realtors 713-523-4600, marshallrealtor@gmail.com

Why Your Market Report Stinks and how Heights Buyers and Sellers should take note

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 12:17:49 -0800

Why Your Market Report Stinks and how Heights Buyers and Sellers should take note Philip Faranda has given us another excellent bit of advice. Heights buyers and sellers will want to take advantage of market analysis interpretaion. Greetings from Innerloop Heights Houston, Texas Linda Jamail Marshall,Broker,QSC,ABR,RECS,ACRE www.LindaMarshallRealtors.com 713-523-4600 After a discussion of market reports in a real estate discussion group geared at forwarding the industry, I am prompted to revisit what makes a market report good or bad in terms of consumer response. First, if what you produce gets no consumer response, you need to change what you write. If what you do works, keep it. Consumers basically want to know three things from a market report, and the more simply and elegant it is presented, the better. They want to know If the local market is up or down. What prices are these days. An example of what is available or recently sold. To the above points, you should add your thoughts. Commentary, as well as an example of a home, are crucial. Market reports with too many graphics and charts-especially in the absence of thought out commentary- lose most people. One chart or graph might be useful, but only if you interpret it intelligently. Otherwise you have peacock plumage that makes most consumers eyes glaze over, is useless to search engines and doesn't even make you a better source of knowledge. I'll explain. When I do a market report, I simply write what the median sale price is for that period in the locale, the number of closed sales, the number of homes under contract the amount of available inventory, and my thoughts on the meaning of the data. A light month that has lots of pending sales is no big thing. A heavy month with few pending sales means we blew all of our ammunition. There are hundreds of variations. But after writing market reports for a locale I have the trends and data down cold. No software chart generator implants knowledge in your brain the way producing commentary does. Explaining the data, prices results and trends positions you as the go- to authority for a marketplace. It has gotten to the point where if I am speaking with a consumer in Peekskill, for example, about what I see, I can tell them what I think, why I think it, and what that means for them without hesitation. That makes an impact. Moreover, charts are a yawner for search engines. If you do a search for "Ossining Real Estate" on Google, there are 5 images on page 1 from my blog. 4 of them are houses. One is a chart. Nobody clicks on the chart. They click on the houses. Consumers want to see homes. So I post images of homes I have either listed or sold. That makes the numbers come alive. Homes resonate with consumers. Graphs alone don't. Google spiders respond to words. MLS or software generated graphics don't make sthe same splash with Google or consumers. It isn't rocket science. The basics, 5-10 sentences on the meaning of the basic data, an example of a home for sale or sold by you, and then your home search close by as a call to explore further. It works. Fewer peacock feathers, more thought from you. ______________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to J. Philip's Real Estate Blog by Email In 2012, I Will Sell a Home for US Veteran Facing Hardship Pro Bono We Are Westchester County & Metro New York Real Estate. Reach Phil at (914) 723-8900. J. Philip Faranda, Broker-owner, J. Philip Real Estate, LLC. Vice President, Empire Access Multiple Listing Service. I am one of New York's premier short sale REALTORS, serving Westchester, the Hudson Valley & Metropolitan New York. Free MLS Search! Register for a Free Listingbook account and search the MLS like an agent. I am hiring agents. We offer outstanding support, marketing resources, and pasta. All content/images, unless noted, are the property of J. Philip Faranda & may not be used without permissionLinda Jamail Marshall, Broker,ABR,OSC,RECS Innerloop Houston Tx. Specialist 2011-2012-2013-2014 FIVE STAR Agent Texas Monthly Magazine 2003-2011,2013 Top 1% Buyer Agents Houston Association of Realtors 713-523-4600, marshallrealtor@gmail.com

Buyers' Attitudes in Houston Heights Can Bring Better Deal

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 00:49:57 -0800

Buyers' Attitudes in Houston Heights Can Bring Better Deal Heights buyers will benefit from this excellent article via Ricki Eichler,Broker,GRI,ABR,TAHS,ePRO your Texas Hill Country connection Kerrville, TX Greetings from Innerloop Houston Texas Linda Jamail Marshall,Broker,ABR,RECS,QSC,RECS www.LindaMarshallRealtors.com 713.523.4600 Yesterday I received a contract on a home I own. It is a beautiful house with lots of amenities. I have received 3 offers in the recent past for this home. Every time before, the offers have been less than the asking price, one was even a low ball offer. And everytime, the buyers have had things to say about the house that needed updating or they intended to remodel and wanted to save money to do the updating. This sort of negotiating does not work very well. I had emotional ties to this house just like my sellers have with their houses. It was a negative from the beginning with each of these contracts. Yesterday, however, was completely different. The buyers actually loved my house! They wanted it very much and were dreaming of living there. The difference in their attitudes toward my house made me want to sell it to them. I came down on the price to make sure they could have it. I have learned a negotiating tactic through my own experience. I will use this from now on. Never again will I go in to a seller or listing agent and say, "The buyers need to remodel and this is the reason for the low offer." That is starting out with a negative. Today I understand this so much better from my own experience. I never knew what a difference the buyer's attitude could make. It does! Ricki Eichler Real Estate, your Texas Hill Country connection www.reretx.com 953 Main Kerrville, TX 78028 (830)257-2520Linda Jamail Marshall, Broker,ABR,OSC,RECS Innerloop Houston Tx. Specialist 2011-2012-2013-2014 FIVE STAR Agent Texas Monthly Magazine 2003-2011,2013 Top 1% Buyer Agents Houston Association of Realtors 713-523-4600, marshallrealtor@gmail.com

How dare you sell my neighbors Heights house that fast. Who do you think you are?

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 00:45:21 -0800

How dare you sell my neighbors Heights house that fast. Who do you think you are? Excellent information for Houston Heights Sellers via Scott Godzyk, One of Manchester NH's Leading Brokers. Greetings from Innerloop Houston Texas. Linda Jamail Marshall,Broker,ABR,RECS,ACRE,QSC www.LindamarshallRealtors.com 713.523.4600 An interesting thing happened, I listed a home less than 2 weeks ago, there was 2 other homes for sale on the street. Within 7 days we had multiple offers and under contract in 7 days. The neighbor came running over as i was changing the sign to "Sale pending" In a huff she asked "How could I have sold it so quickly? Why did it sell over her house that has been on the market for 5 months? What kind of agent am I? and Who do I think I am??? Well I told her, I am one of the Best Listing Agents in the area. The lady responded with "Aren't all agents the same?" Simply put... NO... I take great pride in my work. I strive to provide the Best customer service possible.It starts with Buyers and Sellers knowing there is a difference and they do have a choice. Making the best choice possible is no accident. Selling your home quickly and at the Best price possible, also is no accident. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET A HOME SOLD IN TODAY'S MARKET 1. PRICING THE HOME CORRECTLY: One of the most important things that can help you sell your home is pricing it right. . List prices need to be priced at or near market value. The simple truth is over priced listings are one of the only segments of the market that are not selling. A great agent will study the recent sales, study what is on the market and use trends and comparables to place a value on your property. 2. CHOOSING THE RIGHT LISTING AGENT: As a home owner in this market you need every advantage you can to get your home sold. It starts with choosing the right agent. a. Using a Full time agent whose sole job is to sell homes. b. Using a Full service agent who will guide you through each step of the selling process. Discount brokers often equal discount services. c. Using a Local agnet who knows your neighborhood and is readily available when you need them is a must. Out of town agents can leave you high and dry in your time of need. d. Using a well experienced Listing Agent can give you the advantages you need when selling your home. Not all agents are created equal. Choose only the best. 3. GETTING A BUYER TO SEE YOUR LISTING: Before anyone can view your home, they have to know it is for sale. Using an agent with an extensive marketing and advertising program is the best start to get your home the exposure it needs and deserves. Some agents whose sole marketing plan is placing a sign in your yard and placing the home in MLS is not a sound marketing plan. 4. GETTING YOUR HOME READY FOR A BUYER TO SEE IT: A listing agent can guide a buyer to your front door, but the can not make them go inside. You need to prepare your house for sale. a. THE EXTERIOR: Your lawn should be mowed, bushes trimed, debris, toys or belongings picked up and removed from the yard. In the winter shovel your walk and driveway, sand and or salt and knock those icicles off your roof. Make sure your scrren/storm door is in working order, it is the first thing they will touch and a storn door with a missing handle or off it's hinges will drive buyers away. b. THE INTERIOR: Remove anything from your house you are not using, often called "decluttering". Clear off the counters, bureaus and floors. Make sure walls are free of marks or holes. Freshly painted walls in a neutral color are always a plus. Make sure all faucets and toilets run properly, no drips, no leaks and the toilets should not always run. Clean your carpets, remove pet items and during showings your poets should be taken out of the housel 5. BUYER AGENTS: Once I get the buyer to see the home, they love the interior and it is priced right. The torch gets passed to the Buyer Agents to make sure they inform and educate their buyers about current market conditions. Buyers need to be making better first offers. Offers should be accompanied with pre-quailification letters and forget the low ball offer if there is a lot of interest in a home. With the amount of homes on the market sharply decreasing and sales continuing to rise there is more competition for homes among buyers. The days of 'Low Ball" offers is near over for owner occupantsThere was a bit. Most buyers are learning the hard way losing their dream home by making a low offer. It is important to have an experienced buyer agent who can inform you of local trends and values. IN CONCLUSION: There is a lot of behind the scenes work going on to get a house on the market, marketed, get an offer, go through the buyers mortgage process, appraisal, inspections and get to the closing of the home. If you did not notice most of these steps, I did a great job. With the decrease in Listings, there is pressure on Listing Agents to provide more service. For agents who have been providing a great service to their clients throughout the last 4-5 years they are being rewarded as home sellers and buyers talk, they let each other know who did the great job or who dropped the ball. As you see it is no accident a home sells. It is through the hard work of the agent. It does not take magic to turn your "For Sale" sign into a "Sold" sign. it takes a full time Local Agent who specializes in Listing homes like yours. If you need to sell your home and you owe more than your house is worth, i may be able to help. I specialize in working with home owners to get your home sold. There are many options such as a short sale whcih may be able to help you.Please try and avoid out of state or out of town agents and companies that make "out of this world promises". We are local agents with experience who never charge any up front fees. WE GET RESULTS!!!If you need to sell a home in New Hampshire I can be that agent for you. I strive to provide the best personal and professional service through each step of the selling process. We stand by you through every step in selling your home. TOP 5 TIPS For Buying a Bank Owned Home TIPS AND ADVICE For buying a Short Sale Should a Buyer Use more than 1 Agent to help then buy a home? Why dont Home Owners just sell their Homes before they get FORECLOSED ON? Are Buyers waging WAR on SELLERS? Do you owe more than your house is worth Who the Heck Priced That House? THE TOP 5 MYTHS about Todays; REAL ESTATE MARKET THE TOP 5 WAYS to know if "NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY A HOME." THE "SECRETS" to getting a SHORT SALE approved ONE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE'S LEADING AGENTS FOR SHORT SALES AND BANK OWNED HOMES... If you are Looking for a Real Estate Agent you have come to the right place. Scott Godzyk is a Full Time and Local agent ready to serve all of your Real Estate needs through each step of the buying or selling process. We are proud to be locally owned and operated. If you owe more than your house is worth, If you are behind in your payments, I may be able to help. Call me to find out how you may be able to sell your home at no additional cost to you. Scott Godzyk is the Owner/Broker of The Godzyk Real Estate Services located in Manchester NH. With 25 years of Real Estate experience Scott specializes in Listing and Selling Bank Owned Homes, Short Ssles, Residential Properties, Condominiums, New Construction and Investment Properties. Scott services the counties of Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham and Belknap. To contact Scott Godzyk please call 603-661-2121 or email sctprop@aol.com. his website is www.ScottSellsNH.com. If you have enjoyed reading my blog, please subscribe by clicking below http://activerain.com/action/blogs_admin/subscribe?subscribed_agent-id=226993 Copyright 2008-2011, All rights reservedLinda Jamail Marshall, Broker,ABR,OSC,RECS Innerloop Houston Tx. Specialist 2011-2012-2013-2014 FIVE STAR Agent Texas Monthly Magazine 2003-2011,2013 Top 1% Buyer Agents Houston Association of Realtors 713-523-4600, marshallrealtor@gmail.com

Common Scents great advice for Houston Heights Sellers

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 00:39:33 -0800

Common Scents great advice for Houston Heights Sellers Karen Bernetti offers excellent advice to sellers which will be us great use to Houston Heights clients as well. Greetings from Innerloop Heights Houston Texas Linda Jamail Marshall,Broker,ABR,RECS,QSC,ACRE www.LindaMarshallRealtors.com 713.523.4600 Home sellers can create spaces that appeal to prospective buyers by employing a little psychology and by engaging the 5 senses......You see, our brain takes all the sensory data it receives and transforms it into feelings and those feelings can be either overwhelmingly positive or overwhelmingly negative. The clever use of design elements in a home for sale can help sellers engage the senses of their prospects and thus trigger the desired positive emotional response. Last week in, Love at First Sight, I discussed ways sellers can engage the sense of SIGHT to elicit desirable feelings in home buyers. Today I'll cover the sense of smell. Buyers react very emotionally to what they smell and this fact is often overlooked and minimized by home sellers. The scent of a home can trigger strong emotional reactions - either creating uplifting, harmonious feelings or causing prospects to walk away (and not tell you why). Engaging the sense of smell is a powerful yet misunderstood and often misused tool. The first and most important thing sellers can do is to identify and eliminate the odors in their home that buyers might find offensive. This is often hard for home sellers to do because we tend to grow so accustomed to the way our home smells, that we don't even notice it. Enlist the help of a friend who you trust will be honest and ask your friend to tell you what he/she smells the moment they walk into your home. Common pet odors can be a huge turn off to buyers. Since no one will find your pet as charming as you do, consider relocating your pet while your home is on the market. If that's not possible, thoroughly clean litter boxes, crates and other areas where your pet(s) spend the most time. Odors can get trapped in carpets, upholstery and draperies, so consider getting these professionally cleaned. Musty odors can cause buyers to assume a moisture or mold problem exists. Other strong odors could indicate a plumbing issue or a pest infestation. Identifying the root cause of these kinds of issues can be quite difficult so consider getting a pre-sale home inspection. The odor will not go away until the problem is addressed. Avoid the use of artificial air fresheners, scented candles and incense - your prospects could be allergic and they might be very suspicious of what you're trying to cover up. Avoid cooking smelly and unusually spicy foods while your home is on the market as these offensive odors can often linger for days. Enlist the help of Mother Nature - open windows as often as you possibly can to allow plenty of fresh air to circulate through your house. Use aromatherapy as an effective tool to eliciting a positive response to your home by spraying essential oils mixed with water (these work much better than chemical deodorizers). Remember: the scent of sage can cause the feeling of euphoria while chamomile and lavender can have a calming effect. Marine scents (think salty sea air) can refresh us while spice and wood scents bring warm thoughts. The scent of something baking in the oven can also create a warm and nurturing feeling. If you're going to bake cookies to make your house smell good while it is being shown - leaving a plate out to share with your prospects will surely make them feel welcome! Stay tuned....in my next post I will share how sellers can best engage the sense of hearing. Karen Bernetti is a Real Estate Stager, Former Realtor®, Author, Speaker, and Owner of Staging4Smooth Transitions - specializing in assisting seniors with their downsize moves. Karen is also the Co-creator of the Ready2Sellin30Days® System - an innovative, interactive, multi-media educational program designed to teach do-it-yourself homeowners EVERYTHING they need to know about preparing a home for sale during tough economic times. Visit www.Ready2Sellin30Days.com to learn more. Stay up to date on all the latest real estate staging and home decor trends with The Home Sale Success with Karen & Ann Blog! Sign up here to receive The Home Sale Success with Karen & Ann Newsletter! Call 860-302-0333 for more information. Linda Jamail Marshall, Broker,ABR,OSC,RECS Innerloop Houston Tx. Specialist 2011-2012-2013-2014 FIVE STAR Agent Texas Monthly Magazine 2003-2011,2013 Top 1% Buyer Agents Houston Association of Realtors 713-523-4600, marshallrealtor@gmail.com

“We did not get the house!” I told my buyers

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 00:25:03 -0800

“We did not get the house!” I told my buyers Absolutely excellent advice for buyers who are shopping in the Heights Houston Texas, where the inventory is down 20%. Compliments of Cal Yoder Keller Williams Realty Lancaster Good morning from Innerloop Heights Houston Texas. Linda Jamail Marshall,Broker,ABR,QSC,RECS,ACRE www.LindaMarshallRealtors.com 713.523.4600 “We did not get the house!” I told my buyers“We did not get the house!” I told my buyers. I was disappointed for them and to be honest, for myself, as well. You see this is the third house we have placed an offer on and the third house we did not get.My buyers were not happy. We ended up in a competing offer situation and lost out. I told them, when we learned there was another offer, “Give your best offer, the one in which you say after all is said and done, I can live with not getting it because I left it all on the table.” Of the three houses, this is the one they did want. The other two would have been fine if the seller had sold it at the price my buyers were willing to pay. But not this one, they were truly disappointed.Buyers of real estate in Lancaster, even when facing disappointment, do not lose hope in the process. Just be diligent in following the process: Get pre-approved. Find a good agent. Get serious about seeing houses and learn value. When you find a home you like, do not hesitate to place an offer. Rely upon your agent to determine a fair price. When faced with the disappointment of not getting a home you like, “Learn from it.” Use an experience like this to motivate you and make realistic price offerings on homes you like. An agent who places your interests as his first priority. Cal Yoder Your Homes for Sale in Lancaster Agent Keller Williams Realty Lancaster 1630 Manheim Pike Lancaster, PA 17601 Office Phone: 717-735-1145 Cell Phone: 717-413-0744 You can find great local Lititz, PA real estate information on Localism.com The Living in Lancaster Group - Cal Yoder 717.413.0744 is a proud member of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network, a free online community to help real estate professionals grow their business.Linda Jamail Marshall, Broker,ABR,OSC,RECS Innerloop Houston Tx. Specialist 2011-2012-2013-2014 FIVE STAR Agent Texas Monthly Magazine 2003-2011,2013 Top 1% Buyer Agents Houston Association of Realtors 713-523-4600, marshallrealtor@gmail.com

Heights buyers should be aware There is no “round to it” clause in a Real Estate Contract.

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:23:29 -0800

Heights buyers should be aware There is no “round to it” clause in a Real Estate Contract. via Mary Douglas, your Mountain Broker-Associate and REALTOR® United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, CO GREETINGS FROM INNERLOOP HEIGHTS HOUSTON TEXAS LINDA JAMAIL MARSHALL,BROKER,ABR,RECS,ACRE,QSC WWW.LindaMarshallRealtors.com Via Mary Douglas, REALTOR ®, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado (United Country Ponderosa Realty): There is no “round to it” clause in a Real Estate Contract. TIME is the essence of a real estate contract. Dates and deadlines are in place for the benefit of the buyer; allowing the buyer ample time to apply for financing, inspect the property and the title documents, negotiate replacement or repair of any unsatisfactory items disclosed by an inspection, obtain and review an appraisal, survey and all loan conditions, among other things. It can be a little overwhelming for some and it does require a bit of time. Most buyers don’t mind these deadlines because they want to buy their new home. They’re excited about it and they are making their plans, like: What to pack and what to give away or sell When they will close on their new home, Where the furniture will go, When to hire a moving van, or get all their friends together to help When to schedule time off from work for the closing and moving When to change their address How to change their utilities over What color of paint they will buy for their new bedroom When they will register their children at their new school, EXCETTERA… Deadlines are in place for the benefit of the seller; as we move through the process, they know if the buyers have any objections regarding inspections items, condition of title, appraisal...etc. As each objection date passes they are closer to closing and They are making plans too, like: What to pack and what to give away or sell When they will close on their new home, Where the furniture will go, When to hire a moving van, or get all their friends together to help When to schedule time off from work for the closing and moving When to change their address How to change their utilities over What color of paint they will buy for their new bedroom When they will register their children at their new school, ECETTERA… Both Buyers AND Sellers are planning this new part of their lives. Time is of the essence. I, of all people do not like to be pushed, I don’t want to push clients, lenders or title companies into unreasonable time frames, either. I like to allow enough time for everyone. Going through a real estate transaction isn’t always “relaxing”- there will be plenty of time to relax after the closing. Neither a lackadaisical buyer nor a seller has the luxury of moving those deadlines into a timeframe of when they can “get around to it.” It’s a detailed business with dates and deadlines. There is no ‘round tuit’ clause in the Real Estate Contract! *************************************************************************************************** Mary Douglas, your Mountain Broker-Associate and REALTOR® United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, CO www.marydouglas-redfeatherlakes.net 800-531-2195 “A Day in the Mountains will always soothe your city soul” I specialize in the Red Feather Lakes area, Crystal Lakes and Glacier View Meadows Subdivisions, if you are interested in buying or selling your mountain home, please give me a call, I’m here to help you. The information contained in Mary’s blog is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and the opinions and views expressed in these articles are solely those of the author. Website: www.marydouglas-redfeatherlakes.net Dear Readers, who are not members of Active Rain. If this post does not accept outside comments, it is only to avoid unwanted spam - Please feel free to email me any time, I appreciate hearing from you! Would you like to know more about the Livermore/Red Feather Lakes area? Want more exposure for your home or property? More exposure for your business or event? Let me know, I'm always looking for blog topics and I love to showcase my listings on Active Rain! Browse through all the Colorado listings or focus in on some wonderful mountain properties in Livermore or Red Feather Lakes! I'd appreciate the opportunity to work with you - Don't forget to ask for Mary! Donate to the American Red Cross to help survivors of the recent Storms in the area of your choice. There is no “round to it” clause in a Real Estate Contract. TIME is the essence of a real estate contract. Dates and deadlines are in place for the benefit of the buyer; allowing the buyer ample time to apply for financing, inspect the property and the title documents, negotiate replacement or repair of any unsatisfactory items disclosed by an inspection, obtain and review an appraisal, survey and all loan conditions, among other things. It can be a little overwhelming for some and it does require a bit of time. Most buyers don’t mind these deadlines because they want to buy their new home. They’re excited about it and they are making their plans, like: What to pack and what to give away or sell When they will close on their new home, Where the furniture will go, When to hire a moving van, or get all their friends together to help When to schedule time off from work for the closing and moving When to change their address How to change their utilities over What color of paint they will buy for their new bedroom When they will register their children at their new school, EXCETTERA… Deadlines are in place for the benefit of the seller; as we move through the process, they know if the buyers have any objections regarding inspections items, condition of title, appraisal...etc. As each objection date passes they are closer to closing and They are making plans too, like: What to pack and what to give away or sell When they will close on their new home, Where the furniture will go, When to hire a moving van, or get all their friends together to help When to schedule time off from work for the closing and moving When to change their address How to change their utilities over What color of paint they will buy for their new bedroom When they will register their children at their new school, ECETTERA… Both Buyers AND Sellers are planning this new part of their lives. Time is of the essence. I, of all people do not like to be pushed, I don’t want to push clients, lenders or title companies into unreasonable time frames, either. I like to allow enough time for everyone. Going through a real estate transaction isn’t always “relaxing”- there will be plenty of time to relax after the closing. Neither a lackadaisical buyer nor a seller has the luxury of moving those deadlines into a timeframe of when they can “get around to it.” It’s a detailed business with dates and deadlines. There is no ‘round tuit’ clause in the Real Estate Contract! *************************************************************************************************** Mary Douglas, your Mountain Broker-Associate and REALTOR® United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, CO www.marydouglas-redfeatherlakes.net 800-531-2195 “A Day in the Mountains will always soothe your city soul” I specialize in the Red Feather Lakes area, Crystal Lakes and Glacier View Meadows Subdivisions, if you are interested in buying or selling your mountain home, please give me a call, I’m here to help you. The information contained in Mary’s blog is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and the opinions and views expressed in these articles are solely those of the author. Website: www.marydouglas-redfeatherlakes.net Dear Readers, who are not members of Active Rain. If this post does not accept outside comments, it is only to avoid unwanted spam - Please feel free to email me any time, I appreciate hearing from you! Would you like to know more about the Livermore/Red Feather Lakes area? Want more exposure for your home or property? More exposure for your business or event? Let me know, I'm always looking for blog topics and I love to showcase my listings on Active Rain! Browse through all the Colorado listings or focus in on some wonderful mountain properties in Livermore or Red Feather Lakes! I'd appreciate the opportunity to work with you - Don't forget to ask for Mary! Donate to the American Red Cross to help survivors of the recent Storms in the area of your choice. Linda Jamail Marshall, Broker,ABR,OSC,RECS Innerloop Houston Tx. Specialist 2011-2012-2013-2014 FIVE STAR Agent Texas Monthly Magazine 2003-2011,2013 Top 1% Buyer Agents Houston Association of Realtors 713-523-4600, marshallrealtor@gmail.com

How NOT To Flash A Chimney, Or A Roof helpful in Heights Houston Texas

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:59:07 -0800

How NOT to flash a chimney, or a roof helpful in Heights Houston Texas Provided via Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia Greetings from Innerloop Heights Houston Texas Linda Jamail Marshall,Broker,ABR,RECS,ACRE,QSC www.LindaMarshallRealtors.com So often, more than seeing something flashed correctly, I see how not to flash a chimney, or a roof. Roof tar does not flashing make! Period. It's great UNDER "stuff," like shingles, or vent covers, and when under it is long lasting. But it is not intended to be installed (my word is "gooped") over "stuff!" But it does inspire song! Please, feel free to sing along. It's best to bob your head too... I SEE A RED CHIMNEY AND I WANT IT PAINTED BLACK, NOT ONLY IN THE FRONT, BUT UNDER AND IN BACK! I LIKE TO GOOP MY STUFF ON TOP OF EVERYWHERE... GOOPING BUMPS AND CRACKS, ALL OVER, I DON'T CARE! NAH, NAH, NAH, NAH, NAH, NAH, NAH, NAH, NAH, NAH, NAH, NAAAAAHHHH. Well, you get the idea. And just in case the gooping on the outside didn't do enough, there is always inside! Thank goodness for the universal nature of poly foam -- the other white goop! This poly foam is placed just under the edge of the roof line in that second photo. Perfect! My recommendation: it can get frustrating, but never buy a home without a home inspection! Many people would look at this and think it is okay! IT IS NOT! And a home inspector would know that. I do have fun though. And making up songs along the way doesn't hurt! Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia www.jaymarinspect.com Linda Jamail Marshall, Broker,ABR,OSC,RECS Innerloop Houston Tx. Specialist 2011-2012-2013-2014 FIVE STAR Agent Texas Monthly Magazine 2003-2011,2013 Top 1% Buyer Agents Houston Association of Realtors 713-523-4600, marshallrealtor@gmail.com

Why Having a Sitemap is an Important SEO Tool

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:52:34 -0800

Tammy Emineth again points out one of her super helpful entries. I felt it would be of great interest to Innerloop Heights area reader. Linda Marshall,Broker,ABR,RECS,ACRE,QCS wwwLindaMarshallRealtors.com Why Having a Sitemap is an Important SEO Tool A Sitemap is a snapshot of all the pages on your website. It's a file or page on the site that compiles a list of URLs of every page, post or blog on your website. Why is this important? Several reasons actually. Human-wise it's a helpful page for readers to go to if they want to find a particular page without searching through other blogs, posts or your menu. This is especially helpful for sites with blogs since the archives only give you dates, not articles or posts. This is especially helpful for search engines to crawl your entire site quickly and efficiently. It's basically showing a list of all the pages the search engines should crawl in a standard format that's easy to read. Sitemaps are one of the only pages in which having over 100 links on the page is a good idea.(Typically this is not a good idea and it's always smart to check the number of links you have per page - Google stops looking at the links at around 100) An XML Sitemap is even better if you can add it. WordPress sites have plug-ins that allow for an automatic XML Sitemap and will add your posts every time you publish them without you manually adding them. This is also a great way to submit a sitemap to search engines for easy crawling. This is just the type of format that the Sitemap is written in and it is best done through Google's Webmaster Tools. Do I need a Sitemap? In most cases search engines learn about the pages of your site by following links that lead from one page to another. This may be enough but if your site contains many pages and those that lead from one link to another and another, search engines may not be able to find them all quickly. Sitemap files enable you to resolve these problems. How do I create a Sitemap? You can create a page on your site and simply paste in every URL of your site in list type format. If you don't have an XML capability you can do a Sitemap like I have done here - Better Homes and Gardens Las Vegas Sitemap. Or you can create the XML Sitemap by putting the file in the root catalog of the HTML server of your website with this type of URL structure: http://yourwebsite/sitemap.xml. There are many online resources available that will help you to create a sitemap file automatically. Google's Rules for creating a Sitemap Having a Sitemap is a good idea for search engines and for eaiser crawling. Yes, letting your pages be found naturally is better but this is not a manipulative tactic but one that Google and others appreciate and find useful. If you're interested in creating one, take a look at the link above for more specifics on how to create one on your specific platform and the rules behind a good one. Tammy Emineth is an expert in custom content and original articles for blogs, website, press releases and more. Contact me anytime and feel free to subscribe to this blog to stay up to date on my latest blogs and informative information. Email me or contact me for Real Estate Website Marketing and SEO Content Writing.

The information contained in this blog is believed to be true and correct and while every effort is made to assure that the information is as accurate as possible, the author of this blog, and its comments disclaim any implied warranty or representation about it's accuracy for any particular purpose. All information is copy written and the property of Tammy Emineth. Linda Jamail Marshall, Broker,ABR,OSC,RECS Innerloop Houston Tx. Specialist 2011-2012-2013-2014 FIVE STAR Agent Texas Monthly Magazine 2003-2011,2013 Top 1% Buyer Agents Houston Association of Realtors 713-523-4600, marshallrealtor@gmail.com

The camera as a note taking tool for Heights homes

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:45:20 -0800

The camera as a note taking tool for Heights homes Charles Buell, Seattle Homes Inspector reminds us about some very helpful points involved with actually viewing and documenting homes as we go thru. Greetings from Innerloop & Heights Houston, Texas Linda Jamail Marshall,Broker,ABR,RECS,QSC,ACRE www.LindaMarshallRealtors.com All of my note taking during inspections is done by camera. Very rarely do I ever write anything down. I photo everything from data plates to just general reminder pictures that tell me what kinds of floors there are and what the driveway and roof is made of. I have found that there is almost nothing I can’t create a record of photographically. Sometimes I have to resort to “symbols” to designate what I want to be reminded of. Like squeaks in the floor. For this I simply photograph my voltage tick-tester lying on the floor and that is my reminder. Sometimes though, it is difficult to photograph things that “move” that should not be moving. A “still” photo will not necessarily remind me that the thing moves. This is common with improperly supported gas lines or barrier railings. For these kinds of items I typically will take a “still” photo and then a short video clip of the offending item. Sometimes when I revisit these videos while writing the report I have to howl with delight as to how well the video conveys what the still photo had no clue of. The video will work for “sounds” as well---how do you, after all, photograph a bathroom exhaust fan about to digest itself? Here is a picture of a stair barrier railing from a recent inspection. As you can see it is a good distance to the ground from the top landing. As you can see from the still photo---it pretty much looks like a normal acceptable barrier. It is perhaps not acceptable by current regulations but nonetheless adequate for its day. Here is a 7 second video of the same stair barrier. It communicates the issue quite dramatically don’t you think? Charles Buell, Real Estate Inspections in Seattle * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Click on the Rose to check out: AHA!---A Forum of Landmark Proportions---your Group PS, for those of you that are new to my blog (or for some other "unexplained" reason have never noticed)all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor. My WORDLESS WEDNESDAY pictures and some selected POEMS & STORIES. Linda Jamail Marshall, Broker,ABR,OSC,RECS Innerloop Houston Tx. Specialist 2011-2012-2013-2014 FIVE STAR Agent Texas Monthly Magazine 2003-2011,2013 Top 1% Buyer Agents Houston Association of Realtors 713-523-4600, marshallrealtor@gmail.com

The ‘Way Home’ Following Foreclosure in Houston Texas

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 12:57:59 -0800

The ‘Way Home’ Following Foreclosure in Houston Texas Tanya Busch has provided us with some very timely advice about people experiencing credit issues. We have seen foreclosure here Innerloop Houston, but not nearly to the amount in other metropolitan areas like Atlanta. She points out" Realistically, you will need to spend at least a couple of years saving money and paying bills. Two years at the same job in Maine with stable income is usually the minimum requirement for any lender. It is also of key importance that you make absolutely sure you do not miss payments of any kind.Your FICO score will have suffered enough after a foreclosure (often 100 – 150 points). To demonstrate that you are fully capable of handling the substantial debt of a Maine home loan, you need to spend a convincing amount of time making consistent on-time payments for all your bills. In the meantime, you should expect to rent a home. The regular payment of that rent will be a key part of the story you will be demonstrating. " Greetings from Innerloop & Heights Houston Texas Linda Jamail Marshall,Broker,ABR,QSC,REC,ACRE www.LindaMarshallRealtors.com Losing a home to foreclosure is a truly disheartening experience for too many homeowners these days in Lewiston-Auburn or Augusta Maine. It’s an unfortunate outcome for many otherwise model citizens: typical hard-working adults who fall victim to circumstances which are sometimes simply beyond their ability to control. It can happen for any number of unforeseen reasons: illness, divorce, or simply the repercussions of the larger economic forces in Central Maine that cause a job loss or closure of a business enterprise. Whatever the cause, when a foreclosure happens the immediate problem is “‘Where do I live now?” quickly followed by “How long will it be before I can buy a home?” Our Central Maine and Southern Maine real estate offices at The Maine Real Estate Network are no strangers to this question; but the good news is that a foreclosure is an obstacle that can be overcome. The realistic news is that it will usually take time – and although ‘eventually’ is not a word that typically fosters optimism, it is one that describes “the way home”. At The Tanya Busch Team, our goal is to build long-term relationships so we are always happy to provide assistance even if the outcome isn’t an immediate sale with us. So please don’t hesitate to contact us with your Maine real estate related questions! To buy a home after a recent foreclosure you have three possible routes. The first is the shortest: it is appropriate only to those whose financial future is already strong, and who are willing to pay a high price. The risk that loan officers must attach to anyone with a foreclosure in their recent past is substantial, and to compensate for it, expect any proposed offer to combine a smaller mortgage (made possible by a more substantial down payment: possibly 20% or more) with a high interest rate. For the vast majority of people, the second way to buy a home in Central Maine is the most common. It’s the one that involves substantial repair to your financial profile. The guidelines that mortgage officer’s follow are understandable: they read your financial history in order to predict the future: will you repay a new 30-year mortgage? Will your payments be late? To make sure the right answers are apparent, do the obvious: reestablish the kind of credit story that makes the foreclosure look like a one-of-a-kind bump on an otherwise smooth road. Realistically, you will need to spend at least a couple of years saving money and paying bills. Two years at the same job in Maine with stable income is usually the minimum requirement for any lender. It is also of key importance that you make absolutely sure you do not miss payments of any kind. Your FICO score will have suffered enough after a foreclosure (often 100 – 150 points). To demonstrate that you are fully capable of handling the substantial debt of a Maine home loan, you need to spend a convincing amount of time making consistent on-time payments for all your bills. In the meantime, you should expect to rent a home. The regular payment of that rent will be a key part of the story you will be demonstrating. It is in this area that there exists a third possible pathway: the lease option. It is an additional wrinkle that can shave time from the gap between a foreclosure and buying a home. While not easy to find, if you come across this opportunity, it’s a good option to consider. A lease-option can be a handy way to get one foot back into the Central Maine home ownership arena while taking the time you need to rebuild your financial history. With a lease-option, you sign a contract with a seller to buy a home at an agreed-upon price within a specified period. This can allow time to reestablish your financial footing as you get back to work, save some money, and pay bills. Since this is a binding legal contract, it is wise to seek the help of a real estate agent experienced in complex or creative solutions or a real estate attorney. Contact me if you would like to discuss this or have other questions about how to buy a Lewiston-Auburn or Augusta Maine home in the future. Connect with The Tanya Busch Team online to get all of the latest insider information and news. Tanya Busch Search 1000's of Maine Homes For Sale Here The Tanya Busch Team The Maine Real Estate Network (207)689-9880 www.TanyaB.comLinda Jamail Marshall, Broker,ABR,OSC,RECS Innerloop Houston Tx. Specialist 2011-2012-2013-2014 FIVE STAR Agent Texas Monthly Magazine 2003-2011,2013 Top 1% Buyer Agents Houston Association of Realtors 713-523-4600, marshallrealtor@gmail.com

Baby Boomers Helping Their Children With The American Dream seen here in Houston Heights

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 12:46:32 -0800

Baby Boomers Helping Their Children With The American Dream seen here in Houston Heights Larry and Sheila Nassua provide us with an excellent and timely article with so many of us going thru a rough time but still wanting our childrent to be able to purchase their first home. Greetings from Innerloop Heights Houston Texas Linda Jamail Marshall,Broker,ABR,QSC,ACRE,RECS www.LindaMarshallRealtors.com Baby Boomers Helping Their Children With The American Dream Larry and Sheila, Realtors with Charles Rutenberg Realty are experiencing something here on Long Island that may be happening throughout the country. Some Baby Boomer's are now willing to provide financial support and are helping their children or grandchildren buy their first home or condo. They know that times are tough, and they want to make sure their family does not miss out on the opportunity to fulfill their dreams of home ownership. Whether it's the help with a down payment, giving money towards the purchase or buying it outright for them, the trend seems to be ongoing. Currently Larry and Sheila are working with a young school teacher whose parents are giving her the down payment for a co-op. We are also working with a couple who lost their jobs and are relocating back to Long Island and with the help of their parents, are buying a small house. Another first-time home buyer is moving from his parent's home. They are buying him a condo so he can finally be on his own. (Wonder whose benefiting more from this one!) According to a survey from Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, "one in five baby boomer couples have already given at least one of their children the means to purchase a home, either buying it outright, furnishing the down payment or co-signing the loan". Of course, this isn't the case for everyone. Times are tough and Baby Boomers are having difficult times also. However, we are seeing a nice segment who are able to help their children with the American Dream. We are hearing from the Baby Boomer parents that they feel they are in a better position to buy a home for their children and feel that home ownership is still one of the best investments you can make ~ and who knows, these Baby Boomers may be looking to their families for assistance someday also! The importance of owning a home goes much further than the economy as it is still all about supporting the American Dream. So whether you're a Baby Boomer, First Time Home Buyer or Seller, Thinking About Selling Or Buying A Home On The North Shore Of Long Island...Do Contact Larry And Sheila At 631-805-4400 If you would like to purchase a home for your children on Long Island, or sell the one you are currently living in, please contact LARRY AND SHEILA to help you with your Real Estate goals at 631-805-4400. http://www.suffolkexperts.com Email: sheila@suffolkexperts.com All content, including text, photographs and images, remains the exclusive property of Suffolk Experts. Only with written permission of Larry & Sheila may anything be used by others. All information is believed to be accurate but is not guaranteed. Suffolk Experts and Larry & Sheila make no representations as to accuracy, completeness, correctness, suitability or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, delays in information, any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. If you or anyone you know is considering to sell their existing home on The North Shore Of Long Island, or is purchasing their first home, dream home, step-up home, or retirement residence, we would appreciate the opportunity to serve them, and we can also recommend a relocation professional in the destination of choice outside our Long Island area! Linda Jamail Marshall, Broker,ABR,OSC,RECS Innerloop Houston Tx. Specialist 2011-2012-2013-2014 FIVE STAR Agent Texas Monthly Magazine 2003-2011,2013 Top 1% Buyer Agents Houston Association of Realtors 713-523-4600, marshallrealtor@gmail.com

3 Reasons You Should Never Dispute Your Credit Online

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 12:33:20 -0800

3 Reasons Heights Buyers Should Never Dispute Your Credit Online Excellent advice for Houston Heights Buyers via Ron Cook Killeen Texas. He instructs us to, never dispute errors online if you want them permanently removed. If you are going to dispute items on your credit report, do it in writing, and do it by certified mail with a signed receipt. Greetings from Innerloop Houston, Texas Linda Jamail Marshall,Broker,ABR,QSC,RECS,ACRE www.LindaMarshallRealtors.com Historically, the function of Credit Bureaus first began as collection agencies and they only gathered negative information. Then, Fair Isaac & Company developed the FICO scoring system to improve the credit reporting system. Today, the credit rating-system uses both positive and negative information of consumers’ payment histories to provide a risk-grade rating that estimates your credit worthiness. I was recently consulting a couple that had previously disputed some items online directly on the credit bureaus websites, and I thought it might make an interesting topic to share. I highly recommend you NEVER use their online dispute systems. It's like the fox watching the hen house and I'll explain why. Reason #1: As most of you know, one factor you have on your side when disputing credit is time. The legal thirty-day limit is not a lot time for a credit bureau, creditor, or collection agency to properly investigate a dispute. The Credit Bureaus online dispute system is set up in such a way that when you use it, it makes their job not only that much easier but cost efficient. The information you put into their limited dispute fields falls right into their electronic verification system. Reason #2: This one is probably the most obvious. You have no proof or paper trail. Any attorney would advise you that much of credit repair is about good records and paper trails. Reason #3: When the Fair Credit Reporting Act was amended, they put in a section for "Expedited Dispute Resolution" Section 611a(8) the on-line dispute system. It reads as follows… "…the agency shall not be required to comply with paragraphs 2, 6 and 7 with respect to that dispute if they delete the tradeline within 3 days.” Paragraph 2 requires the CRA to forward your dispute and all related documentation you provide to the furnisher. They rarely forward the documentation. Paragraph 6 requires the CRA to provide you with written results of the investigation. Paragraph 7 requires the CRA to provide you with the method of verification on request from the consumer. What they are doing is… The Credit Reporting Agency (CRA) can delete a disputed trade line for 30 days, then, the trade line can reappear when the furnisher (creditor or collector) reports it again in the next cycle. That is because the CRA is not required to tell the furnisher you disputed it thanks to section 2 being omitted. This is sometimes called a “soft delete” and it is not permanent. Furthermore, you lose your rights to request "Method of Verification" (MOV) so you lose this powerful tool in the dispute process thanks to Paragraph 7 being omitted. Finally, another powerful tool we use often is the five-day written notice of re-insertion. Essentially, what that means is that if a credit bureau is going to re-insert a previously deleted item, they must inform you in writing five days prior to re-inserting it. I have rarely ever seen them give that notice. That five-day notice is only required if the credit bureau takes longer then 45 days to complete. IF it is deleted via the expedited system, often completed in three days, the five-day written notice is no longer required. In Summary, never dispute errors online if you want them permanently removed. If you are going to dispute items on your credit report, do it in writing, and do it by certified mail with a signed receipt. Linda Jamail Marshall, Broker,ABR,OSC,RECS Innerloop Houston Tx. Specialist 2011-2012-2013-2014 FIVE STAR Agent Texas Monthly Magazine 2003-2011,2013 Top 1% Buyer Agents Houston Association of Realtors 713-523-4600, marshallrealtor@gmail.com

Bottom Line Is ~ Price It Right in Houston Heights And It Will Sell!

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 02:47:28 -0800

Bottom Line Is ~ Price It Right in Houston Heights And It Will Sell! A timely article via Larry & Sheila Nassau/Suffolk LongIsland This is the time of the year when inventory manifests itself. I have multiple buyer clients who are waiting for new listings to come up, that said, if it is priced right then there are people to buy it. Good Monday morning from Innerloop Heights Houston Texas Linda Jamail Marshall,Broker,ABR,RECS,ACRE,QSC www.LindaMarshallRealtors.com Bottom Line ~ Price It Right And It Will Sell! It's so easy really...Price It Right And It Will Sell. Six little words, but many homeowners here on The North Shore Of Long Island can't or don't want to listen. Case in point, let's talk about homeowner Joe. Joe is a young professional who purchased his home at the top of the market. Unfortunate as that is, no one had a crystal ball, his house is worth less than when he purchased it. Joe has a good job, he's single, he doesn't "have to sell", but nevertheless, he would like to move to a different area. We know what he spent for the house, we sold it to him, and we know what it's worth in today's market. Joe considered all our advice, but wanted to list his house slightly higher than what he paid for it. We told him it would be a waste of time, and although he trusts our judgement, knowledge and experience, he insisted on his listing price. Although we do not like to take an over-priced listing, and have actually walked away from them, we felt that Joe was a previous loyal client and decided to take his listing, with the understanding that he will keep it at this price only for a short while, and then we'll talk again. Many homeowners on the North Shore of Long Island are still a little slow to accept the concept that pricing is key to getting a house sold. We would go as far as to say that if you don’t price it well to begin with, it is most likely that it will eventually sell at a lower price, and the time on the market will be noticeably longer. If a house does not sell quickly, it will probably have multiple price reductions before it does sell. Bottom Line Is...Price It Right And It Will Sell! All content, including text, photographs and images, remains the exclusive property of Suffolk Experts. Only with written permission of Larry & Sheila may anything be used by others. All information is believed to be accurate but is not guaranteed. Suffolk Experts and Larry & Sheila make no representations as to accuracy, completeness, correctness, suitability or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, delays in information, any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. If you or anyone you know is considering to sell their existing home on The North Shore Of Long Island, or is purchasing their first home, dream home, step-up home, or retirement residence, we would appreciate the opportunity to serve them, and we can also recommend a relocation professional in the destination of choice outside our Long Island area! Linda Jamail Marshall, Broker,ABR,OSC,RECS Innerloop Houston Tx. Specialist 2011-2012-2013-2014 FIVE STAR Agent Texas Monthly Magazine 2003-2011,2013 Top 1% Buyer Agents Houston Association of Realtors 713-523-4600, marshallrealtor@gmail.com