buyer: Staging Your Home
- 04/01/07 12:08 PM
I can't tell you how impressed I was with the foresight of a delightful young couple who were referred to me by their Real Estate Agent. This was a first for me.. This couple had just recently bought a condo and their intention was to live in it for a few years and then upgrade to something bigger. Now we all know that staging usually happens prior to listing a home to sell. This time it was different. On the advice of their Real Estate Agent, I was to consult with them on which upgrades would best benefit the condo at … (0 comments)
buyer: Get Rich Quick Seduction
- 04/01/07 11:53 AM
If you're selling real estate I know you're getting what I'm getting " those "get rich quick" e-mails from someone promising some miracle if you just wave a magic wand over your cell phone. Let's face it. These promotions are seductive. We all want the short-term solutions and Cliff Notes that get us results without much sacrifice. It's a particularly sexy notion when it comes to making money in real estate. Whenever I get these e-mails, I can just picture myself at the computer making a couple of entries and, voila, there are suddenly seven figures in my account. Many of … (1 comments)
buyer: Credit Tips
- 04/01/07 11:25 AM
Unfortunately, there is always advice going around that may not be the best in your personal situation. Or advice that is out of date. In most cases, it is not a good idea to close any credit card accounts. A big portion of your credit scores are based on your credit history. When you close a credit card account, you cut yourself off from that history. The credit scoring models look at it as though you believe that you can't handle having all those accounts open. The urge to 'Charge! Charge! Charge!' is more than you can handle so you must … (2 comments)
buyer: Personal Choice or Added Value?
- 04/01/07 11:14 AM
I had an interesting conversation recently with a national reporter who was exploring the differences between how professional developers and individual homeowners approach home sales. Her premise was that developers have less of an emotional attachment and are more prepared to accept the market price, and by and large, that's true. A major difference is whether the home was built with an eye to personal taste or to resale. Developers build to sell, so they're careful to include features that more than pay for themselves. Individuals focus on their own tastes without a regard to resale.Being in the very high end … (3 comments)
buyer: Check Fraud
- 03/31/07 07:10 PM
EnlargeCheck Washing Keeping your personal paperwork private is very important. Most of identity thefts occur because of thieves going through your trash. Another trick is checking your mailbox to find outgoing checks that you may write to pay your bills. Checks can be stolen and then "washed". The payment amount and payee can be changed and a check with your own signature can be cashed for whatever amount the thief chooses. Of course, this is very worrisome to anyone who pays their bills by check and doesn't take them to the post office. There is one of the simple remedies that can help you … (3 comments)
buyer: Identity Theft (Protect Yourself)
- 03/31/07 07:03 PM
During the holidays, shopping malls are busier and people seem to have less time to get all that they need to do completed. Unfortunately, there are thieves who will count on the fact that you may not be paying as close attention as you might need to be. I received the following link from a friend. It is currently posted on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/ It shows a sheriff's detective giving instruction on avoiding being robbed and having your personal information stolen and used for identity theft. And the money in your wallet being lost could be the least of your problems if your … (1 comments)
buyer: Late Payment Credit Score
- 03/31/07 06:54 PM
On Line Bill Paying: I have many clients who pay their bills on line as a matter of their daily schedule. Others are very fearful of paying any bills or doing any banking on-line. Recently, one of my clients had a hiccup in the payment of her mortgage. Her credit score dropped from over 800 to 722! That is a really big hit to the credit scores, especially since her credit report is literally perfect. Fortunately, this doesn't affect her refinancing the home loan as Fannie Mae will allow one late payment in a 12 month period without severe interest rate increases on … (2 comments)
buyer: When Foreclosure are on the Rise "Know Your Rights"
- 03/31/07 06:47 PM
Recently, the National Association of Realtors issued a press release voicing the organization's concern "-over the rising rate of defaults and foreclosures occurring in many areas around the country." It was an attempt to warn consumers to steer clear of exotic mortgages and predatory lending practices. Although the warning is an important one, it does very little, literally, to help homeowners avoid the common trap of digging themselves deeper and deeper into debt, and comes far too late for the millions of individual homeowners and families who are already facing foreclosure. Over the years, when it comes to foreclosure, I have come … (1 comments)
buyer: Investors and a Bull Market
- 03/31/07 06:34 PM
First of all, let me make this perfectly clear, I am NOT against investors. Real estate investors play a vital role in our market. I do have a problem with speculators, those that add no value between time of purchase and sale. Speculators as I am defining them are those that purchase pre-construction property with the idea that when the property is complete that they will list and make a profit. These speculators have no intention of living in the property or renting the property out. Just like stocks, housing is suppose to be a long term investment 3-5 years. What … (0 comments)
buyer: Right or Wrong "Shopping an Offer"
- 03/31/07 06:18 PM
When I began my real estate career, I happened to be one of the lucky new agents who had an excellent in-office trainer/coach. She focused on topics as we came to them in our real-world practice such as agency, disclosure, representation requirements, contracts, negotiation, integrity, professionalism, and ethics. I was taught that when a listing agent receives an offer, the terms and conditions of the offer are kept confidential. Those terms and conditions are not divulged to other agents within the office, other agents outside of the office, to other buyers - the terms and conditions are not divulged to anyone other … (1 comments)
buyer: Buyers in a shifting market
- 03/31/07 06:07 PM
As the real estate market continues to normalize, you'll no doubt hear banter (possibly supported by statistics), that smart agents are pursuing buyers now, because that's where the money is. As listings sit for 30, 60 and 90 days the trend is for people to focus on buyers and whenever there's a shift in a tight market, we see this phenomenon. But in truth, there are only a handful of agents in the country who've built their success on buyers. And they've done so because " for them " it's a valid business-building strategy that allows them to dominate the market. … (2 comments)
buyer: Stress of moving
- 03/16/07 02:58 PM
Did you know that moving, death, and divorce top most people's list of stressful events? Death and divorce frequently result in a move, effectively doubling the stress load. Here are some things you can do to minimize stress when you sell your home: * Choose a real estate agent who communicates clearly and frequently, keeping you up to speed on every step of the process. * Price your home accurately for market conditions. Homes that sell quickly leave their sellers wondering if they set the price too low while sellers whose homes sit on the market unsold wonder if they'll ever find a … (0 comments)
buyer: Offer and Counter Offers
- 03/16/07 05:14 AM
Offers and Counter Offers Many of the offers real estates submit for prospective buyers aren't exactly what the sellers want. The price may be lower than they are asking or there might be terms included in the offer that will require negotiation. What happens after the offer is submitted?The seller's real estate agent will present the offer to the sellers, along with the buyer's qualifications. If the sellers accept the offer, then a purchase agreement is written and signed by both parties. If the sellers counter the offer, the next action is initiated by the buyers when they make a response, … (2 comments)
buyer: Determining A Price Range
- 03/16/07 05:04 AM
Determining A Price Range If you are working with a real estate agent to find a new home, the agent will probably ask a lot of questions about your income, liquid assets, and debt situation. The real estate agent needs such information to help you determine your price range.Whether you are buying your first home, or moving up, your agent can give you solid advice on how to maximize your buying power. With so many mortgage alternatives available, you may find that you can buy more than you thought. Your individual situation might make some types of mortgages or financing more … (0 comments)
I can't tell you how impressed I was with the foresight of a delightful young couple who were referred to me by their Real Estate Agent. This was a first for me.. This couple had just recently bought a condo and their intention was to live in it for a few years and then upgrade to something bigger. ;)
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