Archive for the Homes Category

Could the Media be “Padding” the foreclosure numbers??

February 7, 2008 by debbie.

IT’S TRUE……there are more foreclosures going on right now….BUT….I was recently reading information that I felt compelled to share.  Please check out some valuable information at:  http://localism.com/article/161500/Imagine-that-the-Media-Using-Inflated   This article and the link it provides makes one really go “hmmmmmm”.

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Top 10 Ways Sellers Can Guarantee Their Home Won’t Sell:

February 7, 2008 by debbie.

1. Be casual, not serious, about selling.
A sage once quipped, “Money is only important when you don’t want something enough.” Real estate expert R.L. Brown said that if half of the 58,000 sellers in

Maricopa County removed their for-sale signs we’d be at normal inventory levels. Actions speak louder than words in this market. Discretionary sellers should wait for a less competitive environment. 2. Price it wrong.
A home properly priced is half sold. No amount of full-color ads, glossy fliers, multiple photos, virtual tours, agent luncheons, Goodyear blimps, pom-pom girls or

Saint Joseph statues will compensate for a wrong, timid retail price. 3. Ignore your agent.
Attorneys believe if you represent yourself, you have a fool for a client. Doctors don’t self-diagnose. Professionals use professionals. Even though many people believe they’re experts on raising kids and real estate, full-time, career pros usually know what’s best. Listen to them very carefully. 4. Micromanage the marketing.
If you sold cookware in college, carts in California, or carpeting in

Cranston, it does not qualify you to second-guess your agent. If you had a real estate license years ago, save your stories about the “good old days” for your children. You can share your concerns and timelines, but leave the details to the listing pro. 5. Reject staging suggestions.
Someday shag multi-colored, sculptured carpeting will come back. Whitewashed cabinets, Navajo white walls, linoleum flooring, lots of personal photos, and Elvis paintings on black velvet need to go. Now. 6. Let Fido loose.
I recently entered a house and had two frisky, friendly black Labs run up to sniff me. Unfortunately, I had light-gray dress slacks on that day. Both wet stains lasted for hours. Until that day I didn’t realize dogs enjoyed chewing the tassels on expensive loafers. 7. Talk to the buyers.
Life gets lonely at times. Why not ask the buyers where they grew up? Or how much they qualify for. Tell them about the vacant rental next door. Maybe they could babysit next weekend! Why not share war stories, horror movies or meatloaf recipes? 8. Sell personal items.
Wow, maybe the buyers want to buy the patio furniture, rotary lawnmower, or life-size statue of Saint Anthony. You have only four more boxes of Girl Scout cookies to sell. Why not ask for a donation for the March of Dimes, the Humane Society, the local PBS station? Remember the saying, “loose lips sink ships.” 9. Discount that smell.
My house doesn’t smell of pets, baby diapers, curry powder, garlic, fried fish, coconut incense, cigars, manure, mulch, dairy farms or low tide. The buyer must be confusing my castle with a tract home. 10. Dismiss feedback.
What do buyers know anyway? They can’t possibly mind my barbed wire fence, heavy-duty rebar, backyard bomb shelter, airport runway views, lights from the power plant, hum from the high-voltage lines, railroad tremors, scorpion skeletons, termite mud tubes and pet snakes. What are they thinking?

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“House Jacking”………A REAL Problem!

November 29, 2007 by debbie.

House Jacking are 2 words that have become quite “notorious” in Southeast Missouri in the past few weeks.  It’s a scheme that I am sure happens nationwide, however, in my area of the country, this scheme is being reveled!  There has been extensive news coverage on our local television channel and, with due cause, many consumers have become very wary of lenders & appraisers.  You fill find some very interesting news video clips at:  www.kfvs12.com scroll down on the left hand side under “video News Clips” to find the House Jacking Part 1, 2 & 3 stories.  As real estate professionals, we need to be informed of such practices so we can not only protect our customers, but also protect the ethical side of our profession!

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Changes in the Housing Market

August 28, 2007 by debbie.

It seems like recently everywhere we turn we hear negative reports about the housing market.  This flames of the fire are fanned constantly by the media!  If it weren’t for BAD news they’d have no news at all.  I heard from a couple reliable sources that over the past couple of weeks a major lender in the housing market was about to close it’s doors, however, the fed stepped in an “saved the day” by pumping in several billion dollars……….NOW if that lender would have shut it’s doors, then “yes” we would have a major crisis…..but they didn’t. 

I do think many lenders have over extended themselves and wrote loans that shouldn’t have been written, we will be seeing those houses in the foreclosure market in the near future…..but back on the positive note.  We live in a fairly stable part of the nation and not that much has really changed around here.  One large change that I have seen is homes seem to stay on the market for a much longer time.  Again because buyers are “running scared” with all the bad press from the media.  Interest rates are still good—providing your credit is good.

My husband has always said my cup is “half full”….maybe I’m just looking on the bright side, but there’s just no sense in everyone pushing the panic button. 

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I JUST HAVE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE!

August 15, 2007 by debbie.

I was reading an article from the online version of the Southeast Missourian www.semissourian.com/front this article was from the associated press regarding home mortgages:  http://asap.ap.org/stories/1653714.s I have been working in the real estate industry for a few years now and I can personally say there were several years where buyers would come to the closing table with little or NO money out of their pocket……as a matter of fact, I have seen buyers receive money at the closing table.  I don’t think those days are entirely gone, however, I do feel it is becoming a rarity.  Once again, so much depends upon a buyer’s credit score. 

John Q. Public is very “under educated” about the impact their credit scores will have on their future ability to purchase high ticket items, such as a home.  This education needs to be started very early on, however, the sad thing is children learn from their parents, being uneducated financially seems to be “genetic”.  It would be great if there were classes on the high school level to teach young people how to manage money and also the good & bad aspects of having credit cards….”teachers-make sure the students are AWAKE during these classes—-it will have a high impact into their adulthood”.

The other day I was driving a young man around in my vehicle and showing him houses….I do not work with people unless I know they have the ability to obtain a loan.  This young many simply blows me away……he is so very responsible, a real credit to his upbringing.  I don’t think he is much more than in his possible early 20’s and he has the ability to buy a nice home.  He did not “come from money” but rather he has been sensible and responsible.  Somewhere along the line he figured out he better pay his bills on time to keep his credit scores up.

At the same time……I realize many individuals go through difficult times in their lives and are not always able to make monthly payments, sometimes bankruptcy occurs….it happens and I have no “stones to throw” at them.  Pick yourself up and start over again…….it can be done……if you learn from the experience you will then be a better person.

Any thoughts or comments?

Debbie

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