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Pardon The Interruption, Back To Real Estate...

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Auto & Home & Life Insurance throughout North Carolina

  In only 5 years in this biz, I dare say I've learned a lot and have a lot of growing and learning to do along the way.  I do certain things extremely well, other things I hope I get better at.  One of my faults, at times, is I love writing.  I tend to write or want to write about anything I can if only given the forum to do so....I was given the forum, AR arrived, I've done so.

Too often, I lack the mental discipline to focus entirely on what this forum is about and that leads me into tangents and subjects that tend not to offer others who may in fact read my posts anything other than whimsical writings of a sometimes wise-soul.  Sorry for that.  Actually - you know what, I'm not.  I write because I love to write, I hope along the way to learn from mistakes, grow because I put 'myself' out there, and am smart enough to realize what we do for a living affects other people.  What we do is important.  What we do, in a bunch of different capacities, involves somebody's roof over their head.  Our role is simple, doing our job as we would want it to be done on the other side.  Whether you are religious or not is of no importance, The 'Golden Rule' is an Awesome Philosophy To Live & Die By...

I'm getting off track here.  Shocking, I know!  Rates have risen above what they once were.  If you are looking for a 30 year mortgage with a fixed rate that starts with 5, be prepared to pay heavy for it in the form of 'Discount Points.'  If you are looking to buy a home with no money down, you better have the credit scores and be able to not only document your income....but your rental history as well.  Creative Financing will always be a reason to implement the services of a Mortgage Professional, but it will never replace Common Sense Financing that the same Mortgage Professional should be able to provide as well.  When bidding out for our services, my advice to the consumer is simply this...Trust not only the character but the content of whom you are talking with, make sure they have that one ingredient that separates them from the rest.  That isn't necessarily product (though some have what other's don't.)  It isn't necessarily rate (though some will give you what other's won't.)  It's about two things in my mind, two things to look for:

PASSION & INTELLECT

Buying a home is rarely a bad financial idea in any market (I'm going to get heat for that one, I know).  Refinancing your home is another story.  If you have used or plan on using your home as an ATM Machine, bad financial idea.  Find somebody who is passionate enough to care about your needs not only today, but 5 years from now.  Find somebody who is smart enough to lead you to the direction you should go.  Find somebody who lives, breathes, and appreciates, LIFE first....and their work one step behind.  Folks, it isn't the easiest time getting involved in a market like Real Estate, but always know Real Estate rarely is an easy market.

Live Well, Breath Steady, & Turn The Lights Off When You Go To Bed!!!

 

Comments (11)

Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

Buying your own home is always a good time...I believe that as well. Bottom line, I'm not giving my money away to someone else's mortgage, I won't have to worry about my "rent" going up, I have tax breaks, I don't have to worry about the "rental" getting sold.  Click!

Jun 13, 2007 02:52 PM
Jason Sardi
Auto & Home & Life Insurance throughout North Carolina - Charlotte, NC
Your Agent for Life
Click Away Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman.  You typically make perfect sense and make me smile, thank you for your take!
Jun 13, 2007 03:03 PM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE
The click was for turning off the lights?
Jun 13, 2007 03:31 PM
Marie Kletke
iNet Realty - Long Beach, CA
Broker - Long Beach Real Estate

Hey, Jason

Nice blog!  By the way how did you get that animated picture on your profile.  I think it is sooo cool.

Oh.  Ah.  Mmm, what were we talking about again?

Jun 13, 2007 03:37 PM
William Johnson
Retired - La Jolla, CA
Retired
Hi Jason, NO HEAT-you are absolutely Correct. If people waited till it was opportune, they would have lost fortunes along the way. Real Estate is about the bundle of rights, not about the when. Held properly and buying correctly insures years of best decision benefits, not the least of which are the tax benefits and ownership rights. Well done. No Heat!
Jun 13, 2007 06:31 PM
Matthew J Blum - (retired from the business)
Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Jason great post.."When bidding out for our services, my advice to the consumer is simply this...Trust not only the character but the content of whom you are talking with, make sure they have that one ingredient that separates them from the rest"

Jun 13, 2007 08:09 PM
Jason Sardi
Auto & Home & Life Insurance throughout North Carolina - Charlotte, NC
Your Agent for Life

Celeste - I get it now:-)

Marie - I simply went to ask.com, typed in the word to illustrate what I was looking for, in this case 'Consumer' and clicked on Images and searched until I found something I liked.  Ah, I think we were talking about Real Estate:-)

William - Well put sir. 

Matthew - Thank you!

Jun 14, 2007 12:21 AM
Rob Robinson- Lehigh Valley PA
Bertrum Settlements (Title & Abstract) - Allentown, PA

I agree with you Jason.  I'm somewhat surprised by a few blogs that creep into AR announcing the rates are rising..as if were the end of the world.

The rates have been low, real low for a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG time.  I originally thought they would soon make their way to the 7+ % area and stay for awhile.  Now I'm thinking they will go higher and into the 8% range.

Please note that 8% is NOT a bad rate on a 30year loan to buy a house.  Many people have lived through the 10%, 11%, 14% times.... houses still sold....real estate does not go away....life is good.....

I wish the Mortgage Brokers and Media would start getting a message out to the consumer to LOCK IN NOW !!!I believe the public in general may think rates will drop as they tend to not follow the trends and markets as closely as Mortgage Brokers and Realtors.

Jun 14, 2007 02:21 AM
Jason Sardi
Auto & Home & Life Insurance throughout North Carolina - Charlotte, NC
Your Agent for Life

Hey Rob,

We have been a tad spoiled haven't we?  Those who are 'waiting' to do something may be in for a not so pleasant surprise.  Playing the market can be a volatile game indeed.

Jun 14, 2007 02:47 AM
Rob Robinson- Lehigh Valley PA
Bertrum Settlements (Title & Abstract) - Allentown, PA
The difference between 6.1% and 8.1% is a chunk of change over 30 yrs.
Jun 14, 2007 03:49 AM
Jason Sardi
Auto & Home & Life Insurance throughout North Carolina - Charlotte, NC
Your Agent for Life
That's a fact Rob and the higher the loan amount, the more the chunk of change it is.
Jun 14, 2007 03:56 AM