home: "Beware the Appraisal"
- 05/15/19 07:28 AM
The sun is shining and the spring real estate market is here. We are definitely enjoying a seller’s market, and the time it takes to sell homes is much improved.
You’ve decided to sell your home, so you do all the things you need to get it ready for the market and select a Realtor®. You have always been very proud of your place, like most homeowners, and you probably like to think it’s worth more than it is, like most homeowners. The agent has done his homework, and says your home’s market value is $300,000, but you were certain it would … (2 comments)
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home: “Is Your Seller Negotiable?”
- 04/16/19 06:50 AM
Seems like a reasonable question, right?
You get an appointment, take your well qualified buyer to the property, show them all the features and foibles, and after assessing the decision come to a decision to make an offer. There may be some concrete reasons for asking for a reduction, and besides, everyone likes to get a deal! Your agent (or you if you don’t use one) approaches the seller and asks “we would like to make an offer, and would like to know if you’re negotiable”. You have now earned the right to ask the question. You gave him good news with … (6 comments)
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home: The Most Effective Method to Make a Low Offer on a Home
- 08/15/18 07:16 AM
It's individual characteristic to need an incredible arrangement for anything you purchase. Not at all like a television or a couple of shoes, getting a smoking hot arrangement on buying a house takes somewhat more work than section coupons. The best house seekers realize that a critical advance in getting an excellent method on a home is influencing a low-ball to offer.
You can't just make an offer of 20 percent off the asking cost and expect achievement, said Lucas Machado, who is the leader of House Saints LLC and has finished almost 100 land exchanges in three years. "Toward the … (0 comments)
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home: First Time Home Buyer | 10 Tips for Buying Your New Home in 2018
- 07/08/18 05:48 AM
Maybe your rent or lease is coming due and you are thinking of becoming a first time home buyer. Now is a great time to buy a home and own your very own home. Buying your first home is a very exciting time in your life. Depending on which state you live in, you might also be surprised to know that there are grants and incentives to help you with your down payment as well. I have recently seen first time home buyer grants and down payment assistant programs ranging from several thousand dollars up to $15,000. Having been a real … (4 comments)
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home: Does Smoking in a home affect your ability to sell it?
- 03/24/18 07:09 AM
What affect does SMOKING have on one's ability to sell their home? Lets take this Manchester NH area home that was listed as a FSBO. The parents had moved to Florida and the Son and daughter decided to sell their parents home on their own.
That was last fall that I first saw the home. I had a new buyer i was working with looking in this area, and they did not mind a fixer upper. The picture is the wall in the Bedroom where a picture was removed.
How I wish this was a scratch and sniff blog so you … (1 comments)
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home: "Let’s visit how not to find and agent."
- 03/21/18 06:58 AM
Instead of talking about how to find an agent, let’s visit how not to find and agent. Here are nine things you might want to consider avoiding:
The agent is a relative or best friend. Unless you know they have the experience and knowledge to handle your most valuable asset, you might want to go elsewhere. Hiring cousin Bubbles who is fresh out of school and needs a listing is a recipe for disaster and family feud.
Cheaper Commission. The old adage is “if I would give away my money so easily, how easily would I give away yours?” Realtors® are supposed to … (25 comments)
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home: What's not to love about working with past clients?
- 02/15/18 06:38 AM
We are asked to share a transaction that was special to us - what we LOVED about it and share what we learned from the transaction without compromising confidentiality.
When I read the contest rules there were several transactions that come immediately to my mind. Here is one of them:
Kathleen Daniels Loves Working with Past Clients
I enjoy working with all of my clients. When past clients call upon me to buy or sell a San Jose home, it means more to me than mere words can truly express. It means they trust me to provide them with the … (0 comments)
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home: Here's a Little Feedback for You ...
- 06/13/17 12:16 PM
To agents giving me feedback: Of course this house is dated! If it were not dated I'd price it at the average price of a 5 bed 3 bath home in Bent Tree, which is currently $334,087. I promise you it would look like new if you spent $114K on a makeover! Please tell your clients there are no $335K homes selling for $210K anywhere but in their dreams. This is a solid home worth the work, so stop whining about it. You called me!
… (6 comments)
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home: The Grinch and the Great Wazoo
- 05/16/17 06:53 AM
So you found your Realtor®, and you found a buyer, and you have arrived at an agreement that is blissfully acceptable to you as the seller, and the buyer. Does that means the property is sold, because that is the definition of market value in real estate school. A willing and able seller agrees with a willing and able buyer. Not so fast! You still might have to deal with the Grinch and the Great Wazoo.
I’m not saying all home inspectors are bad. Most are very capable. However, if you have the inspection done by the Grinch, you won’t like it. … (2 comments)
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home: Nine “No-No’s” In Picking Your Agent
- 04/18/17 06:13 AM
Instead of talking about how to find an agent, let’s visit how not to find and agent. Here are nine things you might want to consider avoiding:
The agent is a relative or best friend. Unless you know they have the experience and knowledge to handle your most valuable asset, you might want to go elsewhere. Hiring cousin Bubbles who is fresh out of school and needs a listing is a recipe for disaster and family feud.
Cheaper Commission. The old adage is “if I would give away my money so easily, how easily would I give away yours?” Realtors® are supposed to … (4 comments)
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home: Why Is Our Market Lagging?
- 03/21/17 05:55 AM
In our small county where several months ago, everyone was bemoaning the state of the real estate market, and complaining about being stuck with their home, we are witnessing a miracle!
Real values are up, days on market are down! Happy day! But inventory is very bad??? I can't explain it. Is it the culture of the people in the area. This county went big for Trump, so it's not presidential aftertaste. Our local economy seems good if not awesome.
What is causing this? Check the chart below.
Pickens_02_2017_Market_Report
… (1 comments)
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home: “Expired Again?”
- 09/25/16 11:17 PM
I’ve never had a personal home that expired while on the market, but I’ve been through it with clients enough to understand the disappointment, financial concern, and frustration they endure.
There are generally three reasons why listings expire: asking price, condition, and agent (poor marketing). I personally think that unique qualities of the home also make it necessary to find buyers with those same unique tastes, which may take time.
There is a high probability that price is most significant factor. Many sellers spend months trying to squeeze out another $20,000 from a sale, but in the process end up taking less while … (9 comments)
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home: No Call News
- 05/25/16 10:53 PM
What happened to the dreaded "no call list"? That's all we heard about a few years ago. Now it's a joke!
Actually, in all fairness, it's not a human being calling me anymore. It's some moronic computer offering to stop calling me if I don't want to be called.
There is a federal register of people who don't want to be called. The computer could cross reference that list in milliseconds, rather than call in the first place.
It was just another government idea with no plan for enforcement.
… (7 comments)
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home: "Was Your Thoroughbred Once a Pony?"
- 03/12/16 12:30 AM
I didn't know whether to laugh or wind my watch!
I have a little 3/2 ranch on a crawl space listed. It's like those "shotgun" homes many grew up in during the '50's with kitchen/dining/living in one end and bedrooms down a long hall in the middle. It's priced well, so it's drawing traffic from every strata of the market.
An agent showed it, so I obviously thanked her and asked for her thoughts. Her response stunned me. "It shows well and is well priced, but did it start out as a mobile home?" HUH??? It had never even occured to me that … (1 comments)
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home: What Should You Do If Your Home Isn’t Selling?
- 01/24/16 04:35 AM
It can be very frustrating to put your home on the market, expecting a fast sale, only to find that after six months you’re still waiting for an offer. What can you do?
First, determine if it’s a result of timing. You may have started worrying too soon. If it has been only a month and you haven’t gotten a bite, not to worry. The time a home stays on the market is related to the market’s strength, which varies regionally. According to The 2003 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, two-thirds of all homes sold in the … (3 comments)
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home: The Listing Agreement ... Watch the Details!
- 01/09/16 09:29 PM
Now that you’ve chosen a real estate professional to sell your home, you’ll need to work together to complete a listing agreement. This legally binding contract authorizes a broker and his or her real estate professionals to find a buyer for your home, according to the conditions specified in the contract. Depending on the type of listing agreement, you can expect to see most of these terms detailed in the document. In Georgia, we are fortunate that the agreement has been simplified by putting most of the moveable parts on the front page, but here is an overall recap of what … (2 comments)
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home: Strategies for Selling a Vacant Home
- 01/07/16 11:59 PM
Consider these two scenarios:
A) Robert has accepted a job in another state. Although his home has not sold, Robert must leave soon because his start date is in a few weeks.
B) Diane built her dream home across town. She expected her present home to have sold before completion, but it is still on the market.
Both Robert and Diane are concerned about having to leave their unsold homes vacant. They know that a vacant house can imply that the owner is desperate for a fast sale, and that it can be targeted for vandalism.
What can be done? Homeowners like Robert and Diane … (3 comments)
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home: Old House? New House? Weigh the Options ...
- 01/07/16 11:52 PM
Maybe it has something to do with a childhood home we fondly remember. Many of us long for old homes built with solid construction, quality craftsmanship and beautiful details. We wax poetic and wistfully recall the hand carvings, plaster walls and eyebrow dormers of homes we’ve known. On the other hand, how do the old homes we admire compare with newly minted models—and what should we consider before deciding which to buy?
Typically, old homes sit on generous plots of land in or near town. The neighborhoods are established and usually more central to schools and shopping. Mature trees and plantings … (1 comments)
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home: Interest Uptick
- 01/04/16 10:31 PM
We now have an entire generation, born since the middle ‘80’s, that believes they are entitled to mortgage rates just above free. Ironically, they were actually born when mortgage rates ran as high as 18%! During the Carter administration, if you had a 7% mortgage, you were not only lucky, you were considered to be a financial genius. That would now be considered highway robbery. They were stunned when the federal rates went up a quarter percent recently.
They will likely wait around for rates to go back down. They also waited around for all the cheap houses to disappear before starting … (0 comments)
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home: Laryngitis and Listings
- 12/09/15 09:34 PM
I’ve had laryngitis for a couple of days. I only had it once before in my life, and that was in high school. It’s rather inconvenient, especially for someone who supposedly talks to work.
Since I’m not contagious, I decided to go ahead with a prelisting appointment.
I found out that I learn more when I talk less! I asked a few questions, got the answers I needed, answered a few questions, and by the end of an hour they were lauding how much experience I had!
… (3 comments)
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The sun is shining and the spring real estate market is here. We are definitely enjoying a seller’s market, and the time it takes to sell homes is much improved.
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