The Romero Team's Blog

Stay Positive

10/24/2008 4:51:00 PM

Sometimes all we see is work and we don't take the time to take care of ouselves. There's no doubt that real estate is in changing times. The most important thing for you to do for your success is to take control of your environment. I'd like to submit a few suggestions that I've picked up over the years that have done me a lot of good.

As I mentioned...it comes down to controlling your environment. What are your goals? Do you think it makes sense to surround yourself with information, content and people that are consistent with your goals? of course it does! For example, if your goals are positive-minded and growth-oriented, yet you spend an hour a day reading negative-minded media coverage because you want to "stay informed", what effect do you think that has on your goals?

If you think it has no effect, think again. The way we spend out time and the information we feed ourselves is just as important as the way we feed our bodies. If you eat junk, you eventually get sick. Spend your time doing things and interacting with people that are like-minded and drop activities that waste your time or get you off track. At any moment during any day, you should be able to ask yourself "Is what I'm doing right now helping me reach my goals... or is it not"?

Your Car is a Powerful Tool
If you're like me, you spend quite a bit of time in the car. Many of you work differently. I understand, but I have clients follow behind me. Ilisten to cds that are educational. i listen to interviews with brokers in the Star Power network. I listen to interviews with successful real estate investors. Your car can teach you a lot, and it can be a powerful tool in keeping you on track and focused throughout the day.

Stay Educated
Realtors are replete with resources at our disposal. Realtor.org has thousands of fantastic books you can read for free. There are seminars all over the world on every subject you can imagine. And I've personally found the top real estate brokers to be, on the whole, very gracious with their time and amazingly friendly people. Talk to people. Network. If you want to learn how to grow your business in a slow market, try talking to poeple who are doing it. You will be amazed at what you can learn when you ask.

Visualize What You Want
You've heard this before, but do you do it? Do you know what kind of car you're working for? What kind of house you want to buy? What kind of Rolex you want to wear? Do you have pictures of them that you look at often? Do you think it's corny and a waste of time to feed yourself information like this on a constatnt basis...information that you find motivational and inspiring? Don't skip steps. Get pictures.

With the negative, cynical world out there on our doorstep, it's easy to think you don't really have control of your success. It's easy to believe that whatever is wrong is the market's fault. It's not the market's fault. The fact is that success has nothing to do with the market, and failure has nothing to do with the market either. Success and failure come from the integrity and ingenuity of your plan and the intensity with which you pursue your goals.

A Matter of Timing

10/24/2008 4:49:00 PM

Buying your home can sometimes involve tricky timing. There are a lot of factors involved sometimes. For this reason, home buying is almost always stressful! This is where your agent earns their commission. For example, you may have found the perfect house and are thinking about making an offer, but you feel pressured to make a decision when all you want to do is go home and think about it. Perhaps your agent tells you that another buyer is expected to make an offer later that day, so you shouldn't hesitate if you really want the house. What should you do? Trust your agent! Your agent can’t tell you what to do, but it’s important to understand in a situation like this what your agent’s role is and what it is not.

It is natural to feel some pressure from even the most easy-going real estate agent--and some misgivings about actually taking that next step and making an offer. If you really like a certain house, there is always the possibility that someone else will feel the same. Whether your local market is active or slow, it is a safe assumption that another offer is likely to come in...the seller, after all, does have a professional agent working full time to procure any and all offers possible. Perhaps you can afford to wait, and “sleeping on it” is an understandable choice, but moving as quickly as possible will minimize the possibility that the house will go to another buyer. Again, your agent cannot tell you what to do in a case like this. You’re the boss. But if we’ve heard another offer is expected, we are obligated to convey this to you.

In a slow market, many buyers understandably feel they can take all the time they want to write an offer and feel justified in writing very low offers with idea that you are the only buyer this seller has to deal with. Unfortunately this is rarely the case. In a slow market that has not yet become educated and adapted pricing appropriately, many deals may close at significantly lower prices than list price. But in a market like ours today, sellers know the market is slow. If they’ve decided to sell, they know what they’re in for, and if they’re serious about selling, they price their home appropriate to the market. In other words, homes sell for what they’re worth.

A slow market in other words does not necessarily equate to a significant discount off the list price, because the list price is in all likelihood pretty close to where it should be anyway. This is where I always come back to saying “trust your agent”. Here’s the thing, if you don’t trust your agent, you need to be working with someone else anyway. If you do trust them, then take them at their word. If they say another offer is expected, it is, and if they say that if you like the home you should probably make an offer right away, you should.

Real Estate Blogging Tips

10/22/2008 4:21:00 PM

According to NAR…last I read anyway, about 8% of Realtors are actively blogging. I’m confused by this number because my personal experience with Realtors is that they are creative and aggressive in finding new and effective ways to reach new clients, and blogging has been the single most effective and low cost way I’ve found in years of creating new business for my team. However, since this is a blog, and most of you reading this are Realtors, I’d wager it’s a safe bet that most of you reading are within that 8% group…so hopefully me writing about blogging is appropriate and helpful for you.

To date as I say, blogging has been a fantastic source of new business for me and my team, so I wanted to direct you to a few great articles that have been recently published that I feel offer some information that is particularly valuable to anyone running a business blog. Most of us know about blogging, for example, but we don’t all necessarily know some important specifics that we can use to really drive home impressive results. No one wants to spend the time maintaining a blog site without getting traffic and leads. Here’s a few things I have found very helpful:

1. Google wants your pictures!: from Kinetic Blogs, the blog host we use ourselves for our business blog. This is a great tip having to do with adding pictures to your site. There’s a way to do it that will help you get a lot more love from Google, and there’s a way to do it that will have no effect on traffic at all. Good info.

2. Does Having Lots of Web Pages in Google’s Index Equate to Success?: another one from Kinetic. I’m a big fan of these guys. This one was just published yesterday (as of this writing), and it offers some really succinct advice on how to get the most out of you blogging efforts. A lot of people who take their online presence seriously spend a lot of time on things that don’t really help.

3. 24 Things to do When Stuck for a Topic to Blog About: this one is a must read in my opinion. One of the biggest time wasters we as Realtors have when it comes to blogging is sitting down and just thinking of something to write about. Our business is real estate. We’re not necessarily writers, and we don’t necessarily want to spend a lot of time doing this. We want to get content up and interact with clients. This article is something to print out and keep next to your computer, so you can always have a supply of great article ideas.

Just some thoughts I wanted to share. Again, I’ve found blogging to be a godsend for our business, but it’s always good to streamline and make the most use of your time. Anything that will help you get better results in less time is welcome as far as I can tell! I hope these articles help a bit, and I’d love to hear what you think!

How to Get Rich

10/22/2008 4:17:00 PM

The Devil’s in the details…

Everyone’s heard of the Law of Accumulation, right? It says that the little things add up over time to produce big results. In other words, the little things matter. Tiny decisions that you make every day actually matter. It's like a snowball rolling down a mountain. It starts very small but eventually builds momentum to the point that it is unstoppable. After you have that momentum going, it’s difficult to change course.

Get Educated...
Knowledge is paramount. No one becomes an expert all at once. This is a prime example of the law of accumulation. Education and expertise gets build brick by brick. Small, daily steps you take toward increasing your knowledge make you a more powerful force in your marketplace…daily. It’s imperceptible at the start…but remember the snowball…after a few years of this you can become unstoppable.

In this world of instant gratification, this is a hard sell. But it’s how it’s done. Bottom line, we all know there are no short cuts. The more you know, the more you can grow.

Saving money is another great example of this law. A large fortune starts small, with imperceptible amounts being added, and added, and added…and added. Most millionaires in the US are first generation rich. Did you know that? Trust fund kids, rock stars and lottery winners are the ones we all hear about, but they are by leaps and bounds the extreme rarities of financial success. The vast majority of rich people built their fortunes over the course of one lifetime by using the Law of Accumulation. Save money no matter what. Every time you get paid, pay your savings account before anything else. Perhaps this will, at first, require you to cut some of your expenses. So be it. Read The Richest Man in Babylon.

Get Into Sales...
The third area where the law of accumulation applies is in the area of experience. You'll find when you examine your life critically that everyone is in sales. Perhaps this is a pretty easy point to get across. We’re all sons or daughters, we’re all professionals, we’re all lovers, actors…and we’re all salespeople. We sell ourselves…or FAIL to sell ourselves at our job, to our family and to our friends. Sales is a fact of life. Addressing this phenomenon head on is advisable and will most definitely get you fantastic results. If you apply what you learn over time and become an expert in sales, you will get better results at all your work. Who wouldn’t want that? When I say to get educated, please include sales as part of your education.

It all adds up…
Over time, the decisions we make add up. They bring us to where we are. What we do with our time creates ripples that last our entire lives. The more time you spend watching TV or otherwise killing hours is not entirely useless, but consider it’s impact before you indulge. Just like junk food…there’s nothing wrong with eating a candy bar. But if you eat another one tomorrow, and another one the day after, the effects add up over time to make you an out-of-shape fool. It’s easy to make bad decisions one at a time, but as soon as you start thinking “what effect will this have if I continue to do this each day for the next 5 years?” you can easily start to make better decisions. Small, good decisions over time are what make you rich. There’s no magic to it at all.

How to get rich

10/22/2008 4:15:00 PM

How to Get Rich The Devil’s in the details… Everyone’s heard of the Law of Accumulation, right? It says that the little things add up over time to produce big results. In other words, the little things matter. Tiny decisions that you make every day actually matter. It's like a snowball rolling down a mountain. It starts very small but eventually builds momentum to the point that it is unstoppable. After you have that momentum going, it’s difficult to change course. Get educated… Knowledge is paramount. No one becomes an expert all at once. This is a prime example of the law of accumulation. Education and expertise gets build brick by brick. Small, daily steps you take toward increasing your knowledge make you a more powerful force in your marketplace…daily. It’s imperceptible at the start…but remember the snowball…after a few years of this you can become unstoppable In this world of instant gratification, this is a hard sell. But it’s how it’s done. Bottom line, we all know there are no short cuts. The more you know, the more you can grow. Pay yourself first… Saving money is another great example of this law. A large fortune starts small, with imperceptible amounts being added, and added, and added…and added. Most millionaires in the US are first generation rich. Did you know that? Trust fund kids, rock stars and lottery winners are the ones we all hear about, but they are by leaps and bounds the extreme rarities of financial success. The vast majority of rich people built their fortunes over the course of one lifetime by using the Law of Accumulation. Save money no matter what. Every time you get paid, pay your savings account before anything else. Perhaps this will, at first, require you to cut some of your expenses. So be it. Read The Richest Man in Babylon. Get into sales… The third area where the law of accumulation applies is in the area of experience. You'll find when you examine your life critically that everyone is in sales. Perhaps this is a pretty easy point to get across. We’re all sons or daughters, we’re all professionals, we’re all lovers, actors…and we’re all salespeople. We sell ourselves…or FAIL to sell ourselves at our job, to our family and to our friends. Sales is a fact of life. Addressing this phenomenon head on is advisable and will most definitely get you fantastic results. If you apply what you learn over time and become an expert in sales, you will get better results at all your work. Who wouldn’t want that? When I say to get educated, please include sales as part of your education. It all adds up… Over time, the decisions we make add up. They bring us to where we are. What we do with our time creates ripples that last our entire lives. The more time you spend watching TV or otherwise killing hours is not entirely useless, but consider it’s impact before you indulge. Just like junk food…there’s nothing wrong with eating a candy bar. But if you eat another one tomorrow, and another one the day after, the effects add up over time to make you an out-of-shape fool. It’s easy to make bad decisions one at a time, but as soon as you start thinking “what effect will this have if I continue to do this each day for the next 5 years?” you can easily start to make better decisions. Small, good decisions over time are what make you rich. There’s no magic to it at all.

September market statistics

10/20/2008 2:49:00 PM

Close More Deals by Listening More and Talking Less

10/20/2008 2:27:00 PM

Close More Deals by Listening More and Talking Less

Getting the listing is dependent on many factors of course, but this short piece is about the value of listening. I don't imagine this will be a hard sell to anyone reading this. We all know it's important, but do we do it? One of the most dramatic and helpful things you can sometimes (and it's one of my personal favorites) is to simply shut up. A brief pause in communication gives breathing room and get yield very good results.

Shutting your mouth for a bit and letting the conversation breath has many good benefits.

Shut up!
First, you don't want to interrupt your client, and talking constantly kind of puts you in this position by default. Also, fear of silence communicates insecurity; and it often is a fair assessment. We fill up the dead space because we're really not sure where the appointment is headed, so we talk and talk and talk...to make sure we get our points across. A well-rehearsed presentation makes good, effective use of words and leaves plenty of room for the client to talk.

Second, giving your client plenty of time to talk and listening to them carefully communicates that you actually care about what they're saying. If there's anything that a potential client wants it's to be cared for and understood. This takes time.

Additionally, pausing and letting the conversation "breathe" as I call it communicates confidence, AND you will actually be able to better understand your clients needs. Many listings expire and withdraw for the simple reason that they started off poorly to begin with. If expectations are better addressed up front, it makes for a smoother and more beneficial listing experience. Misunderstandings yield resentments down the road. Selling a home is stressful enough, and the client deserves your absolute attention up front and for the entire duration of the listing.

Be inquisitive
My favorite question is "How do you mean?" Real estate coach Howard Brinton has a technique he calls "going three deep". It's invaluable. When a buyer says they want a basement, don't ever just take this piece of information at face value? Follow up with "How do you mean?" "Is your main goal to have the extra storage space, or is it something else?" "If a home otherwise meets everything you need but it doesn't have a basement, do you want me to not bother you with it?" These questions add invaluable information, give you a deep understanding of what your client wants and most importantly...they can really reveal their deepest motivations for why they want to or have to move. Get on board with "going three deep". It makes your client feel like you really care, and it gives you the information you need to really give them impressive service.

Real Estate Search…How Many of You Use Your Phone?

10/20/2008 2:24:00 PM

During a recent "Business Technology & Information Systems Forum" speakers like Errol Samuelson, President of REALTOR.com were talking about consumers using their home computers less and less. The idea is that everyone is using portable devices more and more to the point that Realtors ought to start considering making their sites mobile compliant. The report is that most consumers are starting to use their mobile device as their primary source of data. Not a pc.

Other speakers included J. Lennox Scott, Chairman and CEO of John L. Scott Real Estate in Seattle, WA, and Keith Garner of NAR's Center for Real Estate Technology, who presented a detailed review of mobile technology (WiMax, Mesh networks), including accessibility and speed.

I am somewhat familiar with WiMax already. It looks like a technology that is going to be widespread over the next few years. It's already releasing in DC and one other city I believe this summer. It's basically omnipresent high speed data access for an entire geographic area. It turns an entire city into a "hotspot" in other words. Very cool.

Please tell me what you think...are you using a mobile device as your primary access to the internet? Do you suggest Realtors make any changes to their sites as a result?

Election Cheat Sheet - Arizona Election Propositions

10/20/2008 12:39:00 PM

An Election Cheat Sheet - Propositions.
Print it out, and mark your choices here - take it to the polls, and you don't have to spend as much time deciding there.

Proposition 100 - Real Estate Sales Tax

A Yes vote changes the state constitution to prohibit charging sales tax on the purchase of a house or land.
A No vote leaves the constitution alone, and allows politicians to charge a sales tax on house or land any time they want.

     Realtors like Prop 100, Taxpayers like it, Local School boards hate it (They would get part of the money), Politicians hate it.

Proposition 101 - Health Care

A Yes vote prohibits laws that restrict choice of private health care systems or private plans.
A No vote keeps things the way they are.

     This one is real muddy. Apparently some insurance companies are proposing the adoption of a standard health care system in the state and nationally - tying in with proposals on National Health Care. If any of you have better information - I'd love to hear it, and I'll pass it on.

Proposition 102 - Same Sex Marriage

A Yes Vote changes the Arizona Constitution to define marriage as ONLY One man & One woman.
A No vote leaves the Arizona Constitution the way it is. Current law prohibits same sex marriage - but it's not in the constitution.

Proposition 105 - Registered Voters decide Tax Increases

A Yes Vote says that on any kind of Tax Hike, or increase in any fees MUST be passed by a majority of all Registered Voters - even if they don't vote.
A No vote says that a majority of people who actually go to the polls and vote will count.

    This is a cute little game. City, County, and States hide increases in taxes and fees in hopes that a low turnout will let unpopular increases pass. Local/State government CAN'T let this one pass. They will fight it, drag it through the courts, and -if all else fails- put a really twisted up bill next election that negates this one. But still, it's cute and makes sense.

Proposition 200 - A REALLY, REally Dishonest Payday Loan Bill

A Yes Vote prevents the controls already passed by the Legislature to regulate the "Payday Loan" industry from taking effect in 2010. It allows the industry to continue charging 400% on the people foolish enough to use the services.
A No Vote allows the legislation that has already passed to take effect in 2010 - and LIMITS interest rates to 36% - Regulates the Industry.

Don't get suckered into letting the Payday Loan industry to continue cheating our citizens. This is a definite NO Vote! The Arizona Attorney General calls this the most dishonest bill he has ever seen.

Proposition 201 - Sue Contractors & Homebuilders

A Yes Vote makes it much easier for a homeowner to sue contractors & homebuilders - and eliminates arbitration and easier ways to settle problems.
A No Vote leave the laws the way they are.

This law is VERY complicated, will increase lawsuits, and appears to support a strongly Unionized Construction Industry. I have many friends who have had major problems with Contractors, and were not able to get satisfaction. But this may be overkill. If you have more knowledge on this one - share it with me, and I'll pass it on.

Proposition 300 - Give the Legislators a Raise

A Yes Vote raises their salary to $30,000 a year.
A No Vote keeps their salary at $24,000 a year.

Originally, the job of Arizona Legislator was a "part time" job - about 6 months a year. Salary was low. Now, it's considered "full-time", although most of them have other jobs or are self employed. Everyone has mixed feelings about it - but $30,000 isn't huge as far as "professional" careers are concerned. And we don't exactly want to have them fishing for "supplemental income" among the lobbyists....

Running Your Business Like a Business

8/19/2008 4:27:00 PM

The path to building a truly successful real estate practice is to “run your business like a business”. But what does that mean?

Most of us don’t spontaneously know how to run a business. We have to learn.

But it’s not necessarily easy. Most businesses fail, or so we’ve heard. I’d submit that the reason so many Realtors ignore the business end of things is either because of ignorance or fear. On some level, we’re all afraid of failure. It’s just the way it is. But getting educated about business and addressing the issue head on is the only way to be successful. It doesn’t happen on accident. You stay in this business on purpose. You know what they say about people who fail to plan…they plan to fail. And whether you’ve addressed this or not…and whether you agree with me or not, if you’re in real estate, you are in business. Look at a few facts with me and tell me what you think.

Why Will Your Businesses Fail?

Every operation has weak points. What are yours? Don’t want to think about it? Well, your competition doesn’t have any problem thinking about it and telling the world. Be introspective sometimes. It gets said over and over again that most businesses fail in the first couple years. It’s no different in real estate. What doesn’t get said as often is that there’s always a specific reason it happens. A book I highly recommend that talks about this is E-Myth. It shows you why, specifically, businesses fail and how you can take steps to dodge the bullet.

Another thing that doesn’t get said as often is that most businesses with a proper, written plan, a well thought-out idea and that are executed by an experienced entrepreneur succeed. That’s right! Success is predictable and duplicable. It’s not guaranteed of course, but you can most certainly take very specific steps to ensure your odds of success in business are greatly enhanced. I felt like writing this for the simple reason that so many of the Realtors I talk to just don’t have a written business plan. It’s NOT a good idea.

Why Will Your Businesses Succeed?

This is an equally important, more fun question. Wouldn’t you agree? What are you good at? One commonality of most successful businesses is that they create unique, definable value for their customers. Do you do this? Or are you just driving buyers around, hoping they write an offer soon? Have you thought about it? What do you do better than anyone else? Think about it and write it down. Put it in your business plan…accentuate your skills and make sure your market share knows about it. Take classes to improve this skill even more. Be the best at something.

Run Your Business Like a Business

Budget. Lead with revenue. Invest in your business. Too many of us in this great business are still living paycheck to paycheck. It doesn’t have to be like this!

Get Educated

As Realtors, we’re all familiar with the dreaded, state-mandated CE classes we “have” to take every couple of years. Here’s a great idea: quadruple it. This is what I do. Instead of 1 monotonous bore-fest every couple years, I go to two conferences each year. I pick what I want to study. I earn designations. I meet fantastic top achievers. I’ve made some great friends this way. I make a lot of money and get referrals this way, not just real estate referrals either. This is how I met my CPA. It’s how I met a guy I am potentially partnering with on a large apartment building investment. And a funny thing happens, I never have to pay attention to whether I have met my CE requirements or not. I’m too busy having fun and networking. It’s another funny thing: when you do four times the CE, you know four times as much as virtually anyone else in your market. Do you think this creates an advantage? Just a thought.

Important News for Investors Who Own an LLC

8/19/2008 4:18:00 PM

I’m a fan of Diane Kennedy for many reasons. Bottom line, she’s an accomplished CPA and author worth listening to. The reason for this post is that the secondary mortgage market is making some significant changes.

If you own a property that has been in an LLC in the last 6 months, you might not be able to refinance it. Ever. This of course could throw some significant kinks into your investment plan. Some of it’s over my head. I’m not a CPA mind you. But there are new ways to maintain liability protection while retaining your freedom to refi as appropriate for your needs.

I personally plan to contact Diane about her “Trust Sandwich” tactic. It’s really not as funny as it sounds. It’s simply an implementation of trusts coordinated with your existing LLC that enables you to keep many of the same benefits you enjoy now, along with some additional estate planning and other bonuses you may like. Anyone holding property in an LLC, I recommend addressing this concern. I am. Currently I am not aware of anyone competently arranging the legal structures for this specific issue, for the simple reason that these changes have only happened in the last few weeks. Diane Kennedy’s company saw this coming and has a solution up and running. If there are other ways to address this problem that come to my attention I will make sure you know about them.

It’s noteworthy that I am not affiliated with Diane’s company in any way. She wouldn’t know me from Adam. I’m sharing the information because it’s pretty important to the majority of property investors out there.

4 Things Lenders Have Done Recently That Make Me Laugh

8/19/2008 4:16:00 PM

1. A husband and wife were buying a home with me. The wife wrote a check for earnest money from their joint checking account. Both their names were on the check. The husband was the primary. The wife’s name was under his. Since the wife wrote the check and was not the primary on the account, the underwriter required the husband to write up a gift letter, donating the earnest money to his wife, in order to validate the funds. What a waste of time.

2. An FHA appraiser inspected a home for one of my buyers. She crawled up into the attic (first time I’ve ever had an FHA appraiser ever do this) and saw a bird’s nest sitting next to a truss. She reported back that the financing would not be approved until the nest was removed. I thought “why didn’t you just pick it up and take it down with you if it’s so important?” Because of this contingency the seller, who was out of state, had to hire a vendor to go out to the home and remove the nest. Then, of course, the appraiser had to schedule a second visit out to the home to “verify” that the nest was gone. Ridiculous. This ordeal delayed my buyers’ closing by three weeks.

3. Lender hadn’t procured a receipt from buyer’s homeowners insurance prior to closing, which really should be a big deal, but the deal won’t close without it. She got on the phone and got a copy sent over. The underwriter didn’t like the way it was worded. Do over. The underwriter didn’t like the second one either. It said they had coverage, but it didn’t explicitly say “paid”. Do over. The third one also did not meet the underwriter’s approval because the insurance agent had written “paid” on the receipt. The word “paid” evidently is only permissible if it’s typed. The fourth receipt met the underwriters approval. This process turned a 40 minute closing into one that took almost 4 hours. The poor sellers were just sitting there. They were very gracious. So were my buyers, but NO ONE was happy.

4. We had to sign a Lead-Based Paint Disclosure verifying the home did not have lead-based paint on the property. This is a standard disclosure on homes built before 1978, but recently many lenders are requiring them on all homes, even brand new ones. The last several homes we’ve closed have been built 20+ years since lead-based paint was banned, but OK…what’s one more disclosure going to hurt? I mean, let’s just pile it on.

Moral of the story: if you’re buying a home, put your seatbelt on and expect weirdness from your lender. It’s not your loan officer’s fault. It’s not your Realtor’s fault. It’s just the way it is right now. They are inventing new disclosures and contingencies to financing every day. I would not be surprised if they start requiring blood samples to verify identity.

A Few Tips Regarding Inspections

8/19/2008 4:13:00 PM

When selling your home, the buyers will probably have a home inspection performed. This is should be expected, as it’s one of the most common contingencies. Few buyers skip this. Depending on the disposition of the buyers and their inspector, your potential buyers may produce a very sizable list of repairs to request from you. I’ve noticed an increase in this type of activity lately. Even if this list is presented as a list of “demands”, take a deep breath and realize that you don’t necessarily have to make all these repairs. Many of these items are probably negotiable. Your purchase agreement probably contains language such as “all systems shall be in good condition” or “Seller shall repair any latent defects”, etc. In other words, there is some wiggle room here Some buyers will make requests that are not necessarily reasonable. For example, if there’s a leak under the kitchen sink, they may request a whole new sink (it’s happened)! Buyers sometimes get intimidated by what happens at the inspection. One example which happens fairly often is that the inspector will say something, like the furnace, is “near the end of it’s useful life”. In other words, it’s old…not broken. In fact, you may very reasonably get several more years out of it. But the language spooks the buyer, and as a result, they ask for too much. This isn’t a result of anyone not doing their job; it’s simply a normal part of a negotiation to purchase a home. But you most likely are not inclined to replace a furnace just because it isn’t new, and your agent can assist you in preparing a response that will put things into perspective. Do not get fussy with your buyer at this point. It’s an understandable reaction when presented with some rather trite “demands” from a skittish buyer, but retaliation will not sell your home. Let’s take this deal and make it stick. Starting all over again in today’s market is almost never a good idea. One last thought: agree to make repairs that are reasonable, and then get them fixed correctly. This isn’t the time to shortcut anything. Use only licensed contractors, and get everything in writing. The buyers will most likely want copies. Make the repairs in short order, and remember that your buyer may be planning on a reinspection. Believe me, the last call you want to get is one that comes from your agent two days before closing, telling you that the repair that your trusty friend made for you has to be torn out and done over again. Agree to reasonable repairs, use licensed contractors who will stand by their work, and close on time. That’s always nice!

30 Top Realtors Under 30

8/19/2008 4:11:00 PM

The real estate market (this will come as a surprise to no one) is not the same as it was a little while back. Many of us Realtors are in a downturn. Bring it on! One thing we’ve noticed in our industry is some decrease in the overall numbers of Realtors. This is part of the market correction. Not only are prices coming down, but the number of Realtors is coming down also. Many pros will assert that this is a good and natural part of our business.

Even when business was booming, it always took skill, tenacity and a willingness to roll with the punches to rise to the top. Each year, Realtor.org publishes a “30 Under 30”, showcasing an exceptional bunch of Realtors who are out there doing it and making it big. Check out this article here:

http://www.realtor.org/rmomag.nsf/pages/featurejune08_30U30?OpenDocument

What we’ll see this year is that, as always, you can succeed in any market. But we’ll also see a great example of young professionals who have proven themselves especially adept at taking advantage of the unique opportunities presenting themselves to us at this time. A downturn requires creativity and adaptation. Let’s take a look at these trendsetters, learn something new and apply it to our own businesses. After all, success can and ought to be duplicated

The End of Down Payment Assistance

8/7/2008 5:36:00 PM

Last week I wrote that this was coming. I mentioned how down payment assistance programs like Nehemiah might go away. Well, it’s been passed into law now. For buyers and sellers who do not know what I’m talking about…here’s the run down:

For a long time it’s been quite the norm for a buyer to ask the seller of a home to cover part of their closing costs, if not all of them. A buyer would often even ask for down payment money to come from the seller. The idea is that the buyer wanted to get into the home for as little money down as possible. Who can blame them, right? Nehemiah, Ameridream and other non-profit organizations were formed for the purpose of gifting money to a buyer.

See, most lenders aren’t keen on having a seller give money to a buyer as part of a real estate transaction for quite obvious reasons. So what Nehemiah and other non-profits do is accept a “gift” from the seller. I mean, a seller may not be able to give the buyer of their home money, but they can give money to someone else if they want, right? And then of course, for a fee, Nehemiah in turn gives the buyer the money the seller gave them. Since the buyer received money from Nehemiah, not the seller, the bank is OK with it (pretty short-sighted of them, wouldn’t you say? The short-sightedness of lenders is the topic of another post though), and the buyer is as happy as can be because he gets to buy a house without spending any of his own money. And the seller is fine with it because it gets their home sold, and it doesn’t really cost them any money, because they just bumped the sale price of the home up to cover what they gave to the buyer.

See this is part of the problem, and it’s part of why banks have never wanted sellers to give money to buyers in a real estate transaction to begin with. If the seller is giving the buyer $5k and in turn selling a $200k home for $205k, it puts a inflated comp into the marketplace. Not to mention the fact that the lender just put out $205k for a $200k home.

DPA programs have been touted as a godsend from the beginning. They’ve talked about how they make homeownership possible for people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to buy a home. The only problem, as I see it, is that these are the majority of the people who are losing their homes now.

Companies like Nehemiah (I’m only using Nehemiah as an example. There are several other companies that do DPA; they are just one of the biggest) are raising kane about this now of course, now that their programs have been cut. They say that 40% of FHA deals (a very popular loan program) use down payment assistance. This represents about 300,000 home purchases. The conclusion they draw is now that DPA programs are illegal, these buyers will be unable to buy homes, and that this huge segment of buyers are now out of luck. I don’t agree with this conclusion at all. Just because someone uses DPA doesn’t mean it’s the only way for that person to have bought a home. They have the option to get the home with no money down.

Imagine you went to the store to buy a new computer and you had the money to buy one no problem. But when you got there, you saw the store had a promotion going where you could get the computer you wanted with no money down and zero percent financing for 6 months. Would you do the financing deal and just pay later? I would do the no money down. But if the deal hadn’t been available, I still would have bought the computer. That’s the point.

And further more, they don’t ever seem to mention that the vast majority of foreclosures right now are from DPA deals. In other words, this “essential” down payment assistance that “makes homeownership possible” for so many of us doesn’t really translate into a lot of actual homeownership…not if these people are losing their homes a year or two later. To me, that doesn’t really count.

I felt from the beginning that this law would eventually pass, but I was getting quite sick of people just talking and talking about it. I kept hearing that DPA was going to get the boot, but then it kept falling into the backdrop. But eventually all good things must come to an end. I’d assert that in this case it’s more like all kind-of-ok things must come to an end. I don’t mean my comments to be completely negative about DPA. Those programs were helpful on occasion. The problem is that they had become the norm. I scarcely had a buyer come into my office that would even consider putting down money on their home. I mean, why should they? And I couldn’t argue with them. It had become so commonplace. I’ve not ever been a really big fan of down payment assistance programs for this reason.

So the point is, if you want to buy a house these days, you’re gonna need to be able to come up with at least a little money to put down. It looks like FHA down payments will go up to 3.5% as well. People have been buying and selling real estate successfully for decades before these DPA programs were around. It’s worth making the obvious comment also that foreclosures have never been such a problem until now either. We’ve never had so many foreclosures as we have now, and most of them come from DPA deals. Are we really going to cry about this any more?

Inspirational Blog you should read

8/7/2008 5:34:00 PM

My goal for this post is to turn you on to a blog I subscribe to and that I think you should subscribe to also. It’s a simple idea…just posting inspirational and motivational ideas, but the writer does it consistently and with quality. I think you’ll find it beneficial to visit every so often. I talked to the author in a forum a few months back and ended up subscribing to his blog. I have found the content to be consistently good and I find myself telling people about the posts there quite often. Here are a two of the newer posts that I found particularly cool:

1. The most motivational and inspiring videos on YouTube “YouTube is not only a place to watch funny videos, it can also be a tool you can use to motivate and inspire yourself. Here is a collection containing eleven of the most motivational and inspiring videos on YouTube.” I’ve wasted my share of time on YouTube. Ha. This article directs you to some worthwhile content.
2. 9 ways you can take advantage of this terrible economy “All right, we get it… Gas prices are high; the real estate market isn’t good, stocks are down, and many banks are in a mess. The media keeps drilling it into our heads like we had no idea. Despite their negativity this may actually be an excellent time to better your life…” I especially agree with #1, #3 and #6. Check it out!
We can always use a few good words in our day. These articles come from a blog called http://lyved.com. I’m not affiliated with this site at all. I just am a fan. I’ve found myself sharing the articles with people I talk to often enough that I just wanted to tell you all about this directly. Have a great day!

Weekly Market Watch

8/7/2008 5:32:00 PM

Bryan Sheets Weekly Market Watch

Branch Manager, CMPS

www.mortgagearizonainc.com Office: 623.594.7600

Cell: 602.339.7998

30 year Fixed…………………………6.375%

5 year ARM…………………………6.125%

Jumbo 30 year Fixed………………6.5%

FHA / VA 30 year Fixed………….…6.50%

Is the US the Only Housing Market Having Trouble?

6/26/2008 3:23:00 PM

The Economist reported today that the US is not the only country with housing issues at the moment. Home prices in Spain and Ireland are both experiencing an increase in inventory that they are having trouble selling off quickly enough. Home prices in Spain are still going up however, while Ireland is experiencing some price cuts.

New Zealand has been an investor’s dream in recent years. Their boom does not seem quite over. With prices up 82% over the last 9 years, appreciation is very solid. Similarly to what has happened in the US, home price increases have significantly outpaced wage increases. In other words, housing is getting too expensive. This is a strong sign of speculation-driven pricing.

In Singapore and Hong Kong, the booming Asian economy has brought mostly good, solid real estate activity.

Success in Real Estate is Rare

6/26/2008 3:17:00 PM

What do top Realtors have that others don't? Is it luck? Is it skill? Is it a good business plan? The nation's top Realtors that I've met with have, with amazingly little variation, reported to me that it's all of these things. Yes, luck is part of building a successful business. But from what I've learned, luck comes much easier to those who work hard. There is a phrase that I've taken to heart over the past few years. It's in Latin:

Amat Victoria Curam

It means "Victory favors those who take pains." Success in real estate...success in any business, is hard work. I could string a bunch of well-known phrases that apply here. OK, maybe just a few:

1. The only place that success comes before work is the dictionary.

2. If you want to have more, you must first be more.

3. If you want to earn more, you must first learn more.

4. Success lies on the far side of failure.

These truisms confront us anytime we read an article like this. We all know we're supposed to have written goals. We all, for the most, part cringe when we hear this mantra reiterated yet again. Yet, how many readers today can produce a current written set of goals right now? If you can, it is likely you are one of the nation's top producing agents. How is this statistical fact supposed to sit with us? For most of us, we understand the concept but still, for some reason, don't follow through and ACTUALLY DO THE WORK.

Success comes rarely. There are many gurus out there who will tell you that "You can do it", that "All you need to do is buy this book...listen to this cd...follow this program" etc, etc. We all know this is not the answer. Remember that only one person in a hundred becomes wealthy. Only five out of a hundred will ever reach financial security. This means that the odds of you being successful are stacked against you 19-1. So what's a Realtor to do?

You have to get serious. Everything counts. Everything.

1. Written goals. Written business plan, updated regularly
2. Follow your plan
3. Aggressive education. Absorb everything. Take a minimum of twice the CE that your state requires.
4. Network. Attend conferences. CRS, NAR conferences, Star Power conferences. Meet the players and learn from them.
5. Read. Biographies of successful people. Books on finance, investing and of course real estate
6. Prospect. Don't get me started
7. Subscribe to my blog and send me referrals

The last one is optional but will surely be appreciated

You get the picture. I hope. There simply aren't any areas that you can skip. The biggest misconception I've come across is that there seems to be an idea that there is some kind of magic when it comes to success. There isn't. There is only hard work, diligence, perserverance and an absolute love of competition coupled with an inability to accept defeat. Most people, candidly, have everything it takes to get to the top of their game. It's just a matter of deciding...are you ready to turn it on? When you are, just follow through. No magic, just work

MORE PEOPLE ARE FLIPPING, IT COULD BE FOR YOU:

6/26/2008 3:14:00 PM

If you have ever had your eye on ‘flipping’ houses there are a lot of things to think about. Sure you have seen all those other people on TV and you know it is a lot of hard work. It takes some start up capitol, often times more than you expected. Old or slightly used houses can be like treasures at the bottom of the sea. They look perfect and beautiful at first sight but bring them up to the surface and you realize they are going to need more painstaking polish than you had hoped. Still, once you put so much time and effort in to getting the treasure, you are sort of stuck with it then and have to follow through. No doubt there have been many heartbreaks, and broken wallets, along the road of buying houses to turn and sell for profit.

As there are risks to match every investment or business venture, this is can be a fantastic one on which to bank. The possibilities are really endless. There is usually real estate available to match almost every budget. There are homes in need of some sprucing up with new appliances, to homes which need a great deal of renovation. You have creative control when in comes to how to get the job done. Maybe you are a handy carpenter or electrician, or you love interior design. Perhaps you know people who do, or are interested in supporting small local businesses in the area to do the work. You decide who does the work, and how much money and time you have to invest. It is your work, and your profit.

We can’t leave out the fact that you are doing something great for the communities you choose to work in. Houses that are run down, either inside or out can really diminish the value of the neighborhood. That is bad for everybody. Plus, you are saving land and precious resources and a wonderful way of life.
Mark carefully exactly where you are capable and the job at hand at each site. There are many terrific reasons why this could be an amazing and profitable venture.

IS YOUR CLIENT YOUR NEXT TWELVE CLIENTS THIS YEAR?:

6/26/2008 3:12:00 PM

If you have ever seen the TLC series, Flip That House, or Flip This House, you may have begun to notice a popular trend in home buying. TV and magazines are popping up every where articling the ins and outs of remodeling entire houses to sell them for profit. Home improvement has really gotten big! In a report released by the NAR, nearly one third of homes sold in 2007 were purchased as either vacation homes or investment opportunities. This is an exciting trend for real estate, not to mention for the earth, as options and opportunities for buying and selling broaden while recycling and reusing land and materials.

There is a very wide range of people who may turn entrepreneur, having the resources to embark on this interesting and profitable type of investment. Contractors and businesses of all kinds have taken the plunge. Individuals and families have the same opportunity to turn the profit for themselves. TLC's Flip This House details the professional affairs of an independent family who have taken on buying, restoring and reselling as a full time family business. The extent of who, and to what lengths, a buyer may serve this type of undertaking should not be underestimated in the eyes of realtors.

Flipping, as it is called, could really be viewed an awesome fruition of the American Dream. It provides anyone who has some resource, and determination, the chance to work for themselves, make a profit, and provide homes for families. It also gives new meaning to the relationship a realtor has with a client. It is no longer just about clients spreading the word to friends and family, who may buy another house in ten or fifteen years. Chances are this sell will be the first of six this year for him.

Goodbye Mandy & Michael

6/26/2008 3:05:00 PM

A few thoughts about how important pets are in your life. I just recently put my 15year old dog to sleep as well as my 18 year old cat a couple of months ago. These pets were part of my family and gave so much in just being there. They were there when business was good and when it became a challange. So yesterday I went to the Phoienix Humane Society www.azhumane.org and found this lovely 1 year old cat. She will be with me for a long time and keep me focused and motivated, got to keep selling to buy cat food and kitty litter. Bless the little critters

Goodbye Mandy & Michael

MONEY TALKS

6/13/2008 5:09:00 PM

Buying a new home is a big decision and you are probably ready to go all out in preparation. It can never hurt to be prepared with a preapproval for a loan before you start looking into actual houses on the market. Being preapproved gives you the advantage of knowing for sure what you are able to afford. Most of us believe we have a pretty good idea of what we can afford, still it is usually the lender who has final say. No one wants to find themselves in love with a house only to have a banker step in front and say no. A preapproval empowers you with the knowledge that every house you consider can be yours for the taking. It also gives your bids more weight with the seller, who knows the money is behind your word.

However, don’t be in a rush to accept an offer from a lender. Remember it is a two way street. You don’t have to accept the deal they give you right off the bat. It is a wise move to consult with a realtor before you start looking at houses, and even before you have started talking to your bank. A realtor will be able to give you options in lenders you may have not considered. He or she can also advise you of the quality of the loan you have been offered. If you have been turned down before, there may be another lender your realtor has worked with that will be able to help. It is always better to consult the professionals before giving into offers that may result in being beneficial to the lender, but landing you in a sticky situation in a few years.

ARE YOU IN A SLUMP TOO?:

6/13/2008 5:07:00 PM

The National Association of Realtors reports that existing home sales are down in March. The NAR and their chief economist, Lawrence Yun, suspects sales will stabilize within the next few months before a notable improvement in the second half of the year.

This may be a comfort to those out pounding the pavement but finding potential buyers stuck behind the bushes. You are not alone, and this too shall pass. Still it is hardly news to anyone with half an eye on the economy. There are many factors at play in the rising and falling of home buying. One fact is always present, buyers are there, they are simply a little more or less mobile. Some people are afraid these days due to the ever present talk of foreclosures happening all across the country. Some may not be sure they will be able to sell the home they currently own. There have been some drastic variances in the way lenders in different areas of the country have approached the new laws. Perhaps a potential buyer was turned down for a loan recently and believes it is not possible. It could also be that some are skeptical of new lower rates, in line with what has happened with borrowers in the past five to ten years.

Talk upfront everyone you work with about what misgivings they may have. It may save a client from backing out after working hard, or even create a prospect where they themselves thought there was no potential.

THE GREENER CURB

6/13/2008 5:05:00 PM

Want to sell your home fast this spring? Make your grass green! Grass is usually the largest surface area from the curb to the front of your home. It could possibly make or break the first impression of a potential buyer. Instead of begging your realtor to bring clients by at night, make use of the sun. Grass may seem like something easy to overlook, but the house with the greenest grass stands out miles above the rest.

Hiring a lawn care service to the job is always an easy option, but you are not tied to the expense to improve the appearance of your yard. There are many easy do it yourself type helps at any convenience store. For instance, if you have a dog chances are you have found mysterious bald or yellow spots littering your lawn for as long as Fido has been a member of the family, or maybe just as long as the neighbors’ dogs found out how tasty your flower bushes are. When dogs eliminate in the yard it kills the grass in that spot. Luckily there are products designed especially for the problem. You don’t have to redo the whole yard, just apply to the problem areas.

YOU COULD SELL BY AUCTION

5/20/2008 4:30:00 PM

For those of you who are considering, or are in need of selling your property, there is a method of selling which may have escaped you; Auction! Auction is a great way to sell a property quickly and, in a lot of situations, get the best offer. There could be many questions about who chooses auction, and why it is the chosen.Most all real estate can be sold by auction. Here are some factors which can help you determine if it is right for your situation.

Perhaps you saw the home sold at auction in the movie Happy Gilmore. In the movie the property was seized by the IRS as a result of accidental tax evasion, and auctioned off as a means of retrieving the lost revenue. Auction is often chosen as being the most efficient way to turn property into cash as soon as possible. For some people the need to sell their property fast comes from some desperate situation like this, or a death in the family, divorce, or sudden move. However, the possibilities for choosing to sell fast are really limitless. As an example most can relate to now, in many areas the market is currently a bit sluggish. Perhaps your property has already been listed for quite some time, maybe even about to expire.

Another factor to consider is the property itself. If there are a lot of properties in your area which are similar to yours, and the market is slow, there may not be enough competition to raise a fair price. Then again, if your property is unique in some way, whether by structure, amenities, or location, auction may raise competition, even in a slow market. Properties which stand alone in a certain area are difficult to appraise, so often the best way of getting the best price is auction.

A realtor is the most effective resource you can have to help you determine if auction is the best method of selling property in your situation. He or she will have perspective on your property as it relates to the current market, and help you choose the best method of sale for your personal situation.

SUGGEST AUCTIONS FOR EMERGING MARKETS

5/20/2008 4:25:00 PM

An auction can be just the kick off you were hoping for to start an outpouring of sales in that new housing addition, or condominium development. There are a number of them going up in my neck of the woods. Unfortunately the slow market has delayed building for some, and they sit empty and half done. Similarly, a neighborhood of condos which had been being rented, each went up for sale. They have been on the market for almost two years yet stand with less than fifty percent sold. This situation has given over to yet another problem for both the buyers and sellers. The first of the condos sold for one price, and the next for thousands less, and the next for thousands less than that. The actual selling price for these properties will speak louder than the asking price, and buyers will expect a deal from now on. This situation costs the initial buyers into the neighborhood thousands of dollars in lost equity, and it costs the sellers, either in by lost revenue in sales, or by maintenance of empty properties.

If these properties had been sold initially by auction each one could have brought a fair price, and fewer could have been left open. It is always difficult to appraise a new development. This includes a standing development that has never gone to sale. An appraiser will always appraise, but can not answer for what the market will actually bear. An auction answers all of these questions and sells much more efficiently. An auction is also an excellent advertisement. Especially when a market is saturated, it helps to add bells and whistles to an event. This is particularly important for real estate which is long standing but only recently for sale.

Talk to those builders and sellers of new neighborhoods and developments about the pros of selling by auction in this market, and move those properties fast!

Weekly Market Watch

5/20/2008 4:24:00 PM

Weekly Market Watch

Bryan Sheets Branch Manager, CMPS
http://www.mortgagearizonainc.com
Office: 623.594.7600 Cell: 602.339.7998

30 year Fixed………………………….5.75%
5 year ARM……………………………5.25%
Jumbo 30 year Fixed…………………7.00%
FHA / VA 30 year Fixed……………5.875%

525 W. Granada Rd, Phoenix AZ 85003

5/9/2008 3:49:00 PM

Historic Tudor & Updated Treasure
Type: Single Family Home
Location: 525 W. Granada Rd. , Phoenix, AZ 85003
Bedrooms: 3, Bathrooms: 1 full, 1 half
Price: $600,000
Description: This is a beautiful 1930 Tudor home on a quiet and picturesque street located in the charming Willo Historic District of Central Phoenix. The bright spacious kitchen that has been completely remodeled features a complete array of custom cabinets, breakfast room, the original swinging door, country sink, along with appliances including refrigerator, dishwasher, disposal and microwave. The dining room and the living room both have stunning coved ceilings. The focus of the living room is the fireplace, while the original double hung windows in the living room, breakfast room, kitchen, bedrooms and bath have etched glass. Step down into the tiled family room which is brightened by three sets of French doors. The master bedroom has a large walk-in closet and entrance to a bath shared with the family room. The second bedroom features a large closet and built-in bookcases. You will enjoy wood floors throughout the house, while two bedrooms are framed with crown molding. The third bedroom provides a great place to retreat with its desk/credenza unit and original door. The main bathroom is unbelievably stunning with its original door, window and colorful green, black and white tiles. The garage has been converted to a guest house with approximately 200 Sq Ft of space, which includes its own bathroom with glass block shower enclosure. The exterior features of the home include a covered brick patio, gas barbeque and fire pit, storage room behind the guest quarters, lovely green lawn and mature trees. The current owners have updated the property three times, converting a charming historic Tudor into a timeless treasure. Call our office at 602-252-4191 to arrange your personal showing ............................................................Directions: Go north on 7th Ave. past McDowell Rd to Granada Rd. Make a right and go east to the property at 525 W. Granada Rd. .............................................................List Of Features: 1930 Brick Tudor ~~ 2 Bedrooms ~~ 1.75 Baths ~~ 1,859 Sq. Ft. ~~ 3/4 Master Bath ~~ Master Bedroom Walk-In Closet ~~ Fireplace in Living Room ~~ Firepit ~~ Formal Dining Room ~~ Breakfast Room ~~ Dishwasher ~~ Disposal ~~ Microwave ~~ Refrigerator ~~ Washer & Dryer Included ~~ Inside Laundry ~~ Cable TV Available ~~ High Speed Internet Available ~~ Family Room ~~ Guest Quarters - Sep Entrance ~~ Covered Patio ~~ Yard Watering System-Front & Back ~~ Slab ~~ Brick Construction ~~ Painted Finish ~~ Comp-Shingle Roof ~~ Refrigeration ~~ Gas Heat ~~ Ceiling Fans ~~ Wood Fencing ~~ Historic District

REINTRODUCING SMALL TOWN REAL ESTATE

5/9/2008 3:43:00 PM

Presenting homes or other real estate for sale in very small or rural towns these days can be challenging. Many are moving from such places for bigger cities, leaving these towns looking and feeling much forgotten. Occasionally it is exactly what a buyer is looking for, but not only is that increasingly more rare, it also poses hurdles to actually reach closing. When a young family or couple dream of charming antique small town life but find that the reality is very old run down houses with very little amenities they will often turn away. Trying to cater to that old fashioned small town sensibility can be your down fall when actually trying to land the sale.

Selling real estate in rural areas may attract new and different types of buyers than may be expected, or once thought. For example, many elderly couples are not that excited about living in one of our fancy new retirement villages. The quiet and secluded environment may be exactly what the doctor ordered for those able bodied late in life. Older people looking for a new home may simply want something smaller, and resale value isn’t high on their list of priorities.

Then don’t discount the young fast paced businessperson. There are a number of government loans and grants available for improving real estate in rural areas. It is possible to cash in some extra help starting up that exciting new trend of flipping houses for a profit.
Many prospective buyers are totally unaware of the possibilities for homes and land in those areas that are more desirable than they seem on the surface.

IT’S A GREAT TIME TO BUY; IT’S A GREAT TIME TO SELL:

5/9/2008 3:42:00 PM

If you are thinking about buying a new home now is a great time to buy and sell. Buying a house, or any kind of real estate, is a very large investment. Most of us are willing to wait for the perfect time. We want to sell when prices are running high, and buy when prices are on the low, just like anything else.

Here is why you don’t need to wait. Predicting the fluctuation of the real estate market leaves even the experts baffled. It is not really in step with other markets, it’s its own animal. So waiting to buy or sell until the market is in your favor runs the risk waiting far longer than you may have anticipated.

Still, here is the clincher. People in the market for a new house often times need to sell the one they currently live in first. This just makes good financial sense for most of us. Renting out the current house is an option, but finding a renter, actually obtaining rent from the renter and maintenance can all be costly endeavors. However, selling the current house provides a ready down payment for the new house. The result, most of us are selling a buying in the same market, whether the market is running hot or cold.

After selling your home while the prices were running high, it may be a difficult task to camp out in the woods for possibly the next ten years until the prices are low again to buy a new house. It all evens out in the end. Be savvy in negotiation, use a Realtor and you can get a good price to buy or sell in any market. For more in depth information on this and other interests in buying real estate check out www.realestateabc.com .

U.S. POTENTIAL AS A SECOND HOME

5/9/2008 3:40:00 PM

Here is where that foreign language you were forced to learn in high school pays off. In a press release from Washington on April 11 news that over 100,000 homes in the U.S are sold to overseas clients annually. Buyers from Europe, South America and even Africa are looking to invest in a second home on US soil.
The press release was an announcement of the NAR’s intention to join with SIMA, the Salon Immobiliario de Madrid. SIMA is Europe’s largest exposition of homes and resorts and the NAR is hoping to educate more people on the options in U.S real estate.
In a study done by the NAR in 2007 it was found that about 18 percent of all real estate agents had at least one client purchase a U.S. property from overseas.

That is a significant chunk! And with the NAR’s involvement with SIMA this year we could expect these numbers to keep rising. American land is still a coveted investment around the world and affordability is increasing with the value of the U.S. dollar on the low. News will easily spread from SIMA in Europe to further reaches around the world. There are no limits to potential buyers! Many of the wealthy around the world do learn English as a second language, but it wouldn’t hurt to brush up on your second language to latch on the influx of new buyers.

PEOPLE WITHOUT MORTGAGES AFFECTED BY HOUSING CRISIS TOO

4/23/2008 3:12:00 PM

I’ve been seeing on the news a lot lately that we are in a housing crisis. It seems more and more people are losing their homes. These foreclosures are mostly due to unfair lending practices. A few years ago people were buying up houses left and right with mortgages from lenders offering “subprime” loans. As if it was difficult to deduce from the name, “subprime” are not the best. Many of them offer to good to be true rates for an extended period of time, but include pending spikes which could turn out to be much higher than the buyer ever expected. Now five or six years after the start of the housing boom those spikes are kicking in and lenders are demanding the money they have coming to them.

More and more information about such lending practices is becoming available and widespread. The foreclosure stories of many home buyers are reaching the surface and warning future buyers to choose their lenders, and loans very carefully. Sadly, though, these problems do not only affect home buyers, they also affect business and rental properties.

What this means is that you don’t even have to have a mortgage to be affected by this crisis. You may be renting from a person or company that has just been found not to be able to keep up with their mortgage payments. It is standard procedure for banks and lenders who wish to foreclose on a property to remove all tenants as soon as possible in order to resell. Many all ready have received notice to vacate their homes, even though they are responsible renters. Unfortunately, paying your rent on time will not safe guard you from this kind of disaster.

It is an incentive to take control of your own future. Owning your own home has many benefits, namely putting that rent money to good use by saving it for your own equity. Don’t let some one else’s foreclosure affect your home and family. Find a licensed Realtor to introduce you to a responsible lender and be in charge of your own home

PEOPLE WITHOUT MORTGAGES AFFECTED BY HOUSING CRISIS TOO

4/23/2008 3:12:00 PM

REALTORS ARE THE HEROS OF THIS CRISIS

4/23/2008 3:11:00 PM

There is a housing crisis underfoot. Foreclosures abound, and with everyone getting booted out of what they thought they owned, you may be wondering if there is anyone around not spooked out of buying. Don’t tread lightly! Instead of allowing this bad press to ward off potential real estate buyers, stand proudly as the ones with the solution. In a day when so many just nearly escaped foreclosure, their neighbors lost their homes, or were ordered to vacate their homes because of a land lords inability to pay, it is easy to feel like hiding in the shadows believing everyone is too intimidated to buy right now.

Realtors are the way out for many coming from unfortunate circumstances such as those were are all experiencing across the country right now. No need to cower or to approach timidly. For many it is a great opportunity to say, “I told you so! Now follow me!” For others it is an opening to really exercise your hard studied skill.

Painstakingly researched lenders and understanding of loans will pay off with the potential to turn this crisis around into another housing boom. The future holds a much clearer perspective from the public of the great advantages to working with a Realtor.

PROPERTY OWNERS THINK GREEN

4/23/2008 3:08:00 PM

Landlords, here are some great tips for making your rental properties more energy efficient and eco-friendly. Some investment in putting these tips to work will save you money in the long haul, as well as attract a very large new population of potential renters when you advertise all you’ve done to make their new apartment earth and body friendly.

We all have heard of the great energy saving options in appliances, like stoves, microwaves, and light bulbs. Energy saving windows are a huge plus for everyone, not just the green at heart, because of the way they dramatically improve the ability to control indoor temperature. Did you know there are also eco-friendly options for paint? Brands like American Pride and Safecoat come in every color. You or your workers don’t have to suffer the fumes or lose valuable time airing out the space before showing it off or letting renters move in.

While we’re talking green, plants, plants, plants! We all know the beautifying effect of greenery, but did you realize the awesome air purifying effect of plants? Plant all around the outside, but don’t forget inside too. Plants make a space feel lovely, and help every one breathe easier too.

For more ideas and tips on how to make your property more energy efficient go to www.idealbite.com/, where you can even sign up to have tips sent weekly to your email inbox.

ONE RENTING WOE

4/15/2008 3:47:00 PM

There are some advantages to renting. As many renters are aware, many large and expensive responsibilities which concern owning and maintaining a property belong to the owner. However, landlords and property owners are largely not responsible for the actions or damage caused by pets

You may be considering renting a property for you and your furry best friend, as are fifty percent of renters, according to the Insurance Journal. Pets, especially dogs and exotic animals are responsible for some of the worst daily damage to property, not to mention the possible threat to other people. We all love our pets and it is difficult to imagine that precious friend has the capacity to hurt anyone. Still, sometimes other people don’t know how to treat animals and may provoke a side of your friend you have never seen before.

More and more it is easier to find a rental property which allows pets, to the delight of every animal lover, but take precaution. It may be your landlord’s problem if the roof starts leaking, but if your puppy ruins the carpet, seems to attack or even bite a neighbor, that lawsuit will be on your hands. Get renters insurance. Most renters insurance will cover you if you are ever sued for the damage done by you or your pet while residing in a rental property. Renters insurance protects you and your neighbors.

TWO CENTIMETER ROADBLOCK TO SALES:

4/15/2008 3:45:00 PM

As the season turns to spring selling property faces new obstacles in many parts of the country. The obstacles to which I refer can be a devastating deterrent to prospective buyers whether they are tiny or enormous, whether they are dead or alive. I am talking about bugs, insects, creepy crawling, or lying on their back their presence usually has a powerfully negative affect. A potential buyer could be in the one home that fits all their needs as far as location, layout, price, and then, within the toilet bowl floats three tiny cockroaches. Suddenly, the thousands and thousands of relatives these tiny three cockroaches have come sckimmering through his or her mind, and where they might of come from, and what holes let them in the house. Your perfect buyer then subconsciously feels a tiny bug crawl up his sleeve and can’t run away fast enough.

Take care of the bugs before the bugs take care of business for you. There are at least two ways to keep insects out of the house to begin with. The first is routine lawn maintenance. You might consider doing this anyway for curb appeal. Keep high and bushy vegetation at a minimum directly surrounding the house. Trees with branches hanging over the house, overgrown vines and untrimmed bushes are cushy harbors for all types of bugs, and rodents to hide and eventually borough their way through to the house. The second is a chemical lawn treatment which can be applied to the surrounding yard. The chemical can be found at most home improvement stores or in the lawn and garden section, and works sort of like an insecticide. It keeps bugs from even coming near the house.

If the bugs are already in the house there are the run of the mill, mostly inexpensive options found at your neighborhood Wal-Mart or the like. Of course there is always the exterminator, notably more expensive but usually more effective. With any of these options take care that the job is not done when the poison or trap is laid. Many poisons cause bugs to come out of hiding and die right in the middle of the kitchen floor or in sinks and so on. Check in advance of showing the property that any dead insects are cleared away.

YOU MAY BE LEGALLY BOUND TO YOUR NEW NEIGHBORS:

4/15/2008 3:44:00 PM

Those of you in the market for a new home may or may not have heard of something called a homeowner’s association. Many who own currently, or have owned previously, more than likely have belonged to a homeowner’s association. It is possible you were completely unaware that you belonged. This is an aspect of owning a house that is often taken for granted, or completely overlooked when considering buying a new home. Usually the homeowner’s association is a formality instituted by the contractor of a neighborhood or subdivision. It’s purpose is to maintain, and enforce, certain guidelines and covenants created in order to ensure the vision of aesthetics and quality originally intended for living in that particular area. In older neighborhoods many of these ideals may have gone to the wayside and its homeowners association may have lost vigor.

Today, however, there are good reasons for taking a particular look at the homeowners association in a neighborhood when considering whether or not to buy. These days more subdivisions which offer maintenance free living are becoming available. This was an amenity which previously has been attributed mainly to condominiums. This could be of particular interest to senior citizens, as it very well may largely increase your options. In new neighborhoods and subdivisions such as these homeowners associations are usually still very much on top of things, which can be a great benefit.

Yet homeowner’s associations usually come at a price. There is a fee attached which is often figured in to your mortgage payment when you apply for a loan. The fees can vary pretty widely, anywhere from $25 a year to $200 a month, or more, depending on location and services offered. Also, you may not like the covenants set forth by the homeowners association in a particular neighborhood. When you buy the house you are automatically bound to the homeowners association, which is a legally binding contract. Check out all the fine print before you decided.

CONSIDER WHAT TO INVEST IN YOUR INVESTMENT

3/27/2008 11:13:00 AM

Thinking of a remodel? Remodeling your home, either from time to time for maintenance or just before the home is put on the market, can greatly increase the likelihood of a higher return on your investment. This, of course, depends somewhat on what the improvement entails. For example, if you spend $10,000 to have your mansion professionally repainted fuchsia; chances are not high that you will see a large return.

In a cost vs. value report done in 2005, published in Realtor Magazine by the National Association of Realtors, the significance of improvements, and more specifically, particular improvements significance, was outlined. It's not a universal code. What sells varies from country to country, and region to region. You may be surprised to learn that, in general, turning that bedroom into a top-notch master suite is not as likely to bring as large a return as a midrange kitchen remodel. Further, in the Midwest, that kitchen remodel may bring about 73 percent return, whereas new siding on the exterior brings anywhere from 96-98 percent return. On the whole, updated siding has the greatest capacity to increase the value of your home.

Remodeling should always be done for the right reasons, being a costly and time consuming endeavor. What might sell could even change over time, so make the improvements that you and your family want to live with. Just make them! A well maintained and updated home will always have the highest value.

PARTICIPATE IN HOME OWNERSHIP FOR EVERYONE: RUN FOR HOPE

3/27/2008 11:11:00 AM

Nominate yourself for the HOPE awards! According to a press release from Washington, March 5, the distinguished panel of judges to consider applications for the HOPE awards encourages self nominations! That means you have the opportunity to stand for the work you are doing, encourage others to do the same, and gain a step up with awards that could truly benefit your career.

The H.O.P.E. stands for Home Ownership Participation for Everyone. It is an award program which honors people, either as individuals, organizations, or agencies, for their effort in expanding opportunities for affordable housing for minorities. If you have made homeownership for minorities a focus in your career in the past year, you may be considered for this prestigious award.

Increasing the ability for minorities to buy and own real estate expands the market for each and every community. It is a noble and worthwhile pursuit, in its own right. In addition, the HOPE awards provide outstanding opportunities for your career, including capital and notoriety nationwide.

Recipients of the 2008 HOPE awards win $10,000! Winners also get media coverage nationwide and an opportunity to speak at a minority housing symposium. Winners are recognized at the HOPE awards gala in May 2009.

The deadline for applications is December 5, so act now! Sara Weis is this year’s contact. She can be reached at 202-383-1013.

INTEREST IN LIFE TIME SATISFACTION

3/18/2008 2:55:00 PM

Help your clients find reasonable loans. With the large rate of foreclosure in this country fear of mortgages may be what is holding a buyer back. Making sure you are working with a network of quality lenders that are willing and able to help people in all ways of life is abundantly important to this end. Working with a buyer as they are shopping for a mortgage will help them to see you care about their long term satisfaction with their investment. Mortgages can be life-long investments just as homeowners can be life-long clients. Helping a buyer understand the loan they are considering from the beginning will prevent them changing their mind about their purchase, and you, a couple of years down the road.

If a client bought a home through you a number of years ago and then runs into financial despair with his mortgage, it would behoove you both to be his advocate still. There are many resources available for you to refer your client, once again bringing confirmation of your name and worth of your position to another’s lips.

There is a website, http://www.nw.org , which can help a client look up a counseling agency near them. HUD approved counseling organizations can be reached at 800-569-4287 or TDD 800-877-8339. Or refer them to the national number, growing ever so popular- 888-995-HOPE.

MORTGAGES AN ISSUE FOR EXISTING HOMEOWNERS TOO

3/18/2008 2:54:00 PM

MORTGAGES AN ISSUE FOR EXISTING HOMEOWNERS TOO

People looking to buy a new home are also shopping for a mortgage. All such shoppers should be savvy that there are a lot of mortgage options. Loaning money is a popular way of making money, off you. Many loan offers may sound too good to be true, then, as the saying goes, they probably are. Still, customers for new mortgages are not the only ones who should be reading the fine print.

Almost 2.2 million people have faced or are in the process of foreclosure, according to The Center for Responsible Lending. Many home owners today may be facing the same danger and not even be aware of it. These tragedies often happen because people currently paying off mortgages don’t realize that soon their mortgage payment will spike beyond their means.

The sooner a homeowner realizes they will not be able to cover their mortgage payments, the better the chance they have at fixing the problem. Check your mortgage loan, and check it again. Is it a “subprime” loan? Have you been paying interest only? Does it have an adjustable rate? Have you been choosing your payments which sometimes total less than the interest? These are some of the warning signs that your mortgage may be set to increase soon. If you foresee these new higher payments are more than you can afford, there is a number you can call, 888-9995-HOPE. They will help you understand your options to avoid foreclosure. Or check out the website, www.hopenow.com

DIFFERENT WAYS AND NEEDS FOR DIFFERENT BUYERS

3/11/2008 9:29:00 AM

The listing can be the beginning of a sale. I’ve read a lot of them. They all point out a property’s particular ‘good points;’ but what exactly are the ‘good points?’ A big back yard may be just what a young family is looking for, but just a backache to an elderly couple. The older couple may look right past the listing for a home which reads BIG BACK YARD is bold print, never realizing it is single level home in perfect condition, in a quiet neighborhood.

It is a good idea to assess a property as a whole and determine to whom it will most likely be a dream home, but don’t let the children’s room wallpaper fool you, maybe this house would suit an older couple right down to the ground. It is entirely possible an older couple will have read every listing in print and picked out the houses they want to see before they come to you.

There are a multitude of possible buyers for every piece of property. Use listings with an open mind, both in reading them and writing them. Consider the assets to boast, and the assets to keep in your pocket.

POSSIBLE PITFALLS IN THE BUSINESS OF FINDING A LOAN

3/11/2008 9:28:00 AM

Today’s market gives consumers a lot to contend with. Credit cards are the most notorious ‘under-cover’ collectors of fees and rising interest rates so high you don’t know what hit you. I need a credit card, but looking into all the tiny paths and tunnels of things like APR’s, daily periodic rates, introductory purchase rates compared to standard purchase rates, minimum monthly fees and so on, of each and every offer I get in the mail can be overwhelming. Loans are tricky business, and it’s my responsibility to pick a fair and reasonable loan, even if it the loan on my credit card is just to put gas in my car because I won’t be able to pay for it until the end of the month.

Giving yourself or your family a roof over your head could possibly be much more important than buying gas for the car right now. It will also be much more expensive. Once in the market for a new home, you may be overwhelmed to find how many different loans, and lenders are available. Be aware, they are not all created equal!

Unfortunately there are many people and companies selling home loans at highly unreasonable cost to the buyer through a multitude of ways. Often these loans are sold because of flashy advertising, which might promote guaranteed approval, no credit checks, or zero money down. These sound like great deals, especially if you are unsure of your credit, but they could be a disguise for an endless trap of fees and debt.

Never enter into a mortgage agreement without the guidance of a trusted Realtor. Official Realtor’s have the advantage of working with many different people and their lenders. They likely will have heard of the companies you are looking into for your loan and will be able to head you in the right direction.

A REALTOR: YOUR MOST VALUABLE ASSET

3/4/2008 5:03:00 PM

A REALTOR: YOUR MOST VALUABLE ASSET:

Congratulations! You’ve decided to buy a new home. You are probably aware that this is a pretty big undertaking, and likely one of the largest investments of your life. Not to worry, your Realtor is trained and certified in the in’s and out’s of what can be a very complex process.

A Realtor is required to adhere to the Realtor’s Code of Ethics, and is on your side to the end. A Realtor has all the information and know how that you need to make a truly informed and intelligent purchase in the real estate market today.

Of this savvy professional’s capabilities are extensive access to resources, which include but are not limited to, available properties that may not be listed, qualified lenders, banks and mortgage companies, community information on zoning, utilities, schools and more, responsible and professional inspectors, all for your protection in making most informed decision possible.

A Realtor provides the truth in a competitive marketplace in terms of conditions, pricing, and financing. Strategies and conditions of negotiation differ from one transaction to another; your Realtor is knowledgeable in all these areas and will guide you through the process.

In all buying and selling of real estate a Realtor is singularly your most trusted advocate. Based on those who have bought and sold before, you and your Realtor will form a life-long relationship as an advocate in all your real estate endeavors.

A NEW WEBSITE CAN HELP NAIL THE LOCATION OF THAT PERFECT HOUSE

3/2/2008 4:38:00 PM

A NEW WEBSITE CAN HELP NAIL THE LOCATION OF THAT PERFECT HOUSE:

Looking for the perfect house for a customer? The neighborhood is just as important as the actual property, if not more so. A new web site, neighborhoods.realtor.com/ , is an excellent new tool for realtors and buyers alike to check out a community. Instead of focusing on all the important individual aspects of a neighborhood, such as it?s proximity to schools and shops, nail the community?s psychographic character and chances are everything the customer is looking for will be there. Realtor.com?s neighborhood web site includes character information on area residents.

Is your customer a Big Fish, Small-Ponder, or in a Fast Track Family? Use neighborhoods.realtor.com/ to find out where others just like them are living. They have already done the research and chose that neighborhood; chances are your customer?s perfect home is next door!

INSPIRING THE ALL TOO NECESSARY DIRTY WORK

2/25/2008 4:03:00 PM

INSPIRING THE ALL TOO NECESSARY DIRTY WORK:

Walking through a home and making suggestions for sprucing the place up for the market, can seem like an overwhelming or daunting task for already hard working clients. If this looks like the case for your client, here are five fast and easy ideas to help them. Allowing a few extra minutes at the house on the initial walk through, or before potential buyers arrive can really help a client see you as a member of their team, motivate by expression of the significance of small changes, and find a buyer fast!

1. A great way to begin is by referring them to this website, http://www.housekeepingchannel.com . This site is loaded with great perspectives on the most important things around the house to keep clean for excellent visual appeal. Also found here are easy tips on how to clean the hard clean, like rust stains in the bathtub.

2. Clean a window! Tell a client to clean the windows and you may get a nod, clean one window that is next to another, or half of one and you'll get a wow! Not only will they appreciate the help, and see first hand how hard you are willing to work for them, they will see a pristine example of the major effect small efforts around the house greatly improve its appearance.

3. What may be a sensitive issue in the partnership you have with your client are unpleasant odors. Pointing out an offending smell may end up offending your client. An easy way to deal with the issue is prepare to do it yourself. Come to the house with a candle (or candles depending on the situation), in tow. Candles are the best way to remove odors because the flame actually burns out particles in the air, without leaving a heavy perfume. The soft glow also offers a warm and inviting presence to the room.

4. Carry in a bottle of brass polish and cloth, either to your first walk through, or a few minutes before potential buyers arrive. Rubbing down that front door handle or knocker can have the same effect as cleaning a window for your client, and really make one of the buyer's first impressions sparkle.

5. Bring a potted plant or flower. It is easy to keep a really nice plastic, or cloth plant around to bring as a prop to a house you are trying to sell. Plants are always a great addition, either to hide a particular eye sore anywhere, or simply be lovely.

These small points of effort could never be enough to make a house the shiny clean glossy photo all buyers are looking for these days, but they can help motivate clients when they see you make a room magically bright with a few slight turns of your hand!

Increased new loan limits

2/25/2008 4:02:00 PM

INCREASED LOAN LIMITS CAN MAKE YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE:

Many of you who have been dreaming about buying a new home, today is your day! You may have heard about the economic stimulus package which was signed into effect February 13, 2008. The package allows Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Federal House Administration to increase their loan limits. Now hundreds of thousands of you, who may have thought you couldn't get a loan for the home you wanted, just might!

"While such an increase will not solve the full range of housing challenges, it will play a vitally important role in improving the nation's economy and making the dream of homeownership more attainable for thousands," said Richard Gaylord in a Washington press release of the new economic stimulus package. Gaylord is president of the National Association of Realtors, which is the leading advocate for homeownership and affordable housing.

In a study by the NAR the increase in FHA loans could singularly help nearly 200,000 people refinance their current mortgages, decreasing the number of foreclosures, and help addition 138,000 people achieve the dream of owning their own home!

Further NAR research shows lenders such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac increasing loan limits means nearly 500,000 can refinance, and 300,000 could be granted the power to buy a new home!

What this means for you? Put in a loan application for that house you've had your eye on! Loan limit increases are only temporary at this stage, so get out and take advantage of them while they last!

Afordable condo in Tempe AZ

2/23/2008 3:17:00 PM

1133 E. Redmond Dr # C, Tempe Az 85283 (edit/delete)

Lovely Townhouse Condo In Tempe
Type: Condo
Location: 1133 E. Redmon Dr. #C , Tempe, AZ 85283
Bedrooms: 2, Bathrooms: 1 full, 0 half
Price: $150,000
Description: This is a lovely ranch style townhouse condominium in the vibrant city of Tempe. The living room is brightened by a large window facing the front of the property. Wood laminate flooring covers the room that also features vaulted ceilings, exposed beams and a ceiling fan. The dining room and kitchen also have the same flooring. The dining room has a ceiling fan light, and features arcadia doors leading to the back parking area. The kitchen has plenty of cabinets, a small pantry and an array of appliances including a stacked washer/dryer. One bedroom features arcadia doors leading to the patio, the other bedroom has a large window. Both bedrooms have carpeted floors. The property has a storage shed and a two-vehicle carport. There is also a sparkling community pool and spa. Call our office at 602-252-4191 to arrange your personal showing.

Phoenix Az, Mountain Views

2/23/2008 3:15:00 PM

Spacious Home With Mountain Views
Type: Single Family Home
Location: 1830 E. Latona Rd. , Phoenix, AZ 85042
Bedrooms: 4, Bathrooms: 2 full, 1 half
Price: $399,900
Description: This spacious home is in a secluded South Phoenix neighborhood with great mountain views. It is very well maintained and looks like new. The kitchen is a cook's dream. Tons of maple cabinets surround the black granite-look island with double sinks. The black and stainless steel appliances include a stove, microwave and dishwasher. There is also a desk along the wall. Entertainers will love the open flow from the kitchen into the dining area and family room featuring a chandelier, bow window and entertainment niche. You could also retreat to the formal living room with its exit to the covered patio. Top of the line tile is featured throughout the house in the foyer, kitchen, halls, baths, laundry room and family room. The master bedroom features an exit to the patio, a bath with separate shower and tub, and a walk-in closet. An additional bedroom was constructed from the third garage bay, but could easily be converted back to a garage. The exterior of this home features a covered patio, portable water feature, and lovely desert landscaping

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PEOPLE WITHOUT MORTGAGES AFFECTED BY HOUSING CRISIS TOO

REALTORS ARE THE HEROS OF THIS CRISIS

PROPERTY OWNERS THINK GREEN

ONE RENTING WOE

TWO CENTIMETER ROADBLOCK TO SALES:

YOU MAY BE LEGALLY BOUND TO YOUR NEW NEIGHBORS:

CONSIDER WHAT TO INVEST IN YOUR INVESTMENT

PARTICIPATE IN HOME OWNERSHIP FOR EVERYONE: RUN FOR HOPE

INTEREST IN LIFE TIME SATISFACTION

MORTGAGES AN ISSUE FOR EXISTING HOMEOWNERS TOO

DIFFERENT WAYS AND NEEDS FOR DIFFERENT BUYERS

POSSIBLE PITFALLS IN THE BUSINESS OF FINDING A LOAN

A REALTOR: YOUR MOST VALUABLE ASSET

A NEW WEBSITE CAN HELP NAIL THE LOCATION OF THAT PERFECT HOUSE

INSPIRING THE ALL TOO NECESSARY DIRTY WORK

Increased new loan limits

Afordable condo in Tempe AZ

1133 E. Redmond Dr # C, Tempe Az 85283 (edit/delete)

Phoenix Az, Mountain Views