I don't know if there's been a full moon recently but the amount of incorrect information regarding different aspects of the real estate buyer has been off the charts in the last week or so. In most instances, the blog writer will correct their blog when pointed to the correct information; others will leave it up and not approved reader comments telling them that their information is wrong.
Case in point: Last week, information was posted here on Active Rain regarding short sales and our military members. The writer was incorrect, comments to her blog gave her the correct information (including links to government websites) and she pulled her post. The blog where she got her information is still up and the author hasn't approved comments - which doesn't surprise me.
Cindy Jones is my go to when it comes to military housing questions. She posted a great blog entitled A DoD HAP Sale Is NOT A Short Sale. Cindy serves the Northern Virginia area and the military community.
Both Tucson, AZ and Las Cruces, NM are military communities with Davis Monthan Air Force base in Tucson and White Sands Missile Range just over the Organ Mountains from Las Cruces. It is our duty as REALTORS® in a town with military bases in or close by to know what is going on as far as home buying with our military members. Just as with regular, non military home buyers, things are changing daily. In the last few years, Washington has passed legislation protecting our members from foreclosures. There is a different process when it comes to short sales. It's a different world. When mis-information starts to spread, we must must must get on the phone and get the truth. Or, as in my case, I surfed to Cindy's website and her blog.
Housing rules and regulations change at the drop of a hat. That's why I like being an 'information junkie'. I follow all sorts of real estate related organizations on Twitter - National Association of Realtors ®, my state and local associations as well as trusted resources.
AGENTS: If you are reading something that just doesn't sound right, don't just surf to another site for a different opinion. Let's face it - chances are that if you surf to 10 different sites, you're going to get 10 different stories. Find the agency that will have the correct answers!
HOME BUYERS: The same goes for you. If you are a military member and curious about home buying, go to the VA website. Seek out a REALTOR® that has experience in working with military homebuyers. I've been very lucky in that I've had the honor of working with military families here in Tucson.
Personally, it's in my clients best interest to stay up to date. I read through a lot of blogs on a daily basis. It gives me a leg up on the competition to say, "Well, that was true yesterday but here's what happened this morning."
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