No Comments!
I've had no comments on any of my postings. It is a little frustrating that no one seems to find my input of any value.
The Real Estate market has been slow. I do have a house in escrow, however the loan end has been giving my client some headaches. They were going for a USDA financing and the government didn't fund it for enough or long enough and the mortgage company had to pull it and change it to FHA.
This of course added expenses to both the buyer and the seller, including a new FHA approved appraisal.
Then, lo and behold, USDA has money again. So we are back to this.
Hopefully we will get it funded before they run out again.
My broker, Terri has a few houses in escrow. I was talking to the agent that I am working with and she stated that she has ten homes in escrow. Her office is in Tulare, a larger and growing community. (I've known agents to exaggerate to make it seem they are doing well.)
I've been driving school buses to supplement my income while the market is slow. I drove my last trip for this school year this past week and will have the summer off.
I enjoy driving, but would rather be working on real estate.
Showing posts with label Real Estate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Real Estate. Show all posts
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
Real Estate Agents
Most Real Estate agents are honest and straight forward in their dealings with their clients...that's you.
People choose their agents by various means.
Some choose a friend. Some choose one from what they heard about them from their friends. Some use the one their family has used for years.
Some take the time to go to the Internet and see if they can find anything good...or bad...about the agents.
Some go and interview the different agents and use a gut feeling as to whom they want to use.
And some look to see who will cost them the least to sell their house.
So how are you supposed to choose your agent?
Any combination of the above works pretty well.
You can also just walk into an office and use who ever has the floor at that time. "has the floor" means that their are enough agents working in the office that time frames are assigned to each agent that they can have whoever calls or walks in asking for an new agent.
You need to feel comfortable with your agent. Don't just take their word that they are doing things for you. You are the boss, they are your employee, via contract, and make sure that they are a REALTOR! (Realtor is now a registered trade mark not just a name!)
A 'Realtor' is an agent that has registered within their area Real Estate area and pays a fee to say that they are a 'Realtor' and lives by the guidelines that they promise to live by.
As a Realtor we owe our clients, that's you, a fiduciary duty. That means we represent you...not ourselves or anyone else. That we are acting on your behalf and make certain that you understand your contracts, disclosures, offers, and anything else that comes up regarding the sale or purchase of the property you are involved in.
So get to know your Realtor. Ask them questions. They should be open and honest and willing to answer your questions.
People choose their agents by various means.
Some choose a friend. Some choose one from what they heard about them from their friends. Some use the one their family has used for years.
Some take the time to go to the Internet and see if they can find anything good...or bad...about the agents.
Some go and interview the different agents and use a gut feeling as to whom they want to use.
And some look to see who will cost them the least to sell their house.
So how are you supposed to choose your agent?
Any combination of the above works pretty well.
You can also just walk into an office and use who ever has the floor at that time. "has the floor" means that their are enough agents working in the office that time frames are assigned to each agent that they can have whoever calls or walks in asking for an new agent.
You need to feel comfortable with your agent. Don't just take their word that they are doing things for you. You are the boss, they are your employee, via contract, and make sure that they are a REALTOR! (Realtor is now a registered trade mark not just a name!)
A 'Realtor' is an agent that has registered within their area Real Estate area and pays a fee to say that they are a 'Realtor' and lives by the guidelines that they promise to live by.
As a Realtor we owe our clients, that's you, a fiduciary duty. That means we represent you...not ourselves or anyone else. That we are acting on your behalf and make certain that you understand your contracts, disclosures, offers, and anything else that comes up regarding the sale or purchase of the property you are involved in.
So get to know your Realtor. Ask them questions. They should be open and honest and willing to answer your questions.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Spring is here!
Spring has come!
The hills and fields are beautiful and green with colors of white, violet, blue, yellow and orange mixed in the greens with the blooming of the wild flowers. Birds are soaring, the Finches are being playful, children are outside enjoying the warmer weather before it gets too hot, neighbors are trimming their lawns, cultivating their gardens, adding fertilizer to encourage growth.
I enjoy Spring most of all because it is the renewing of life. I enjoy it. The air is cleaner from the rains that we have had. Skies are clear blue. You can almost see the Sierra Nevada and their snow capped peaks.
I know that to some spring means allergies. For one that has been fortunate enough to not suffer from this affliction I say to you...I'm sorry and I hope you find relief.
Real Estate has been going slowly. I've lost three clients that had listed their homes or were going to list. One decided that they didn't need to move, another decided to help a friend and rent even though they are still moving and the other had sticker shock when they found out what they could list their house for in comparison with its neighbors.
When you get ready to list your home you should take a look at the market. Pick up fliers from the local agents, look in the Real Estate section of the local news papers, go on the Internet to one of the many sites that will help you see what is for sale in the local market.
You should also talk to your local Realtor.
Your Realtor is here to help you understand the trends and what your house can sell for. If you don't know a Realtor, invite several into your home to seek what they would list your home for. DO NOT go for the agent who says they will get you 10% more or higher than everyone else. Even though this may sound good for you, they will be advising you to drop your price within a few months. (Even though price reduction is a common practice, it should be because the market is reflecting a need to lower your asking price, not to just bring it down to where your competition to sell is already listing.)
Check with the local Real Estate Board, for the Coalinga area you would contact the Fresno Association of Realtors. They will provide you with a list of registered Realtors.
Take note I have said "Realtors" and not Real Estate Agents. A Realtor is a registered trademark that we in the Real Estate Business can only use if we have registered and promised to keep the by-laws and requirements of the National Association of Realtors.
So the term Realtor is now a registered trademark and cannot be used by Real Estate agents unless they register.
It is another way of assuring you, our clients, that we will be honest with you in either selling, listing our helping you buy your home.
Call me. I am a registered Realtor and so is everyone in my office. I hope you read this and my other postings and that I can help you sell your home or help you buy one.
The hills and fields are beautiful and green with colors of white, violet, blue, yellow and orange mixed in the greens with the blooming of the wild flowers. Birds are soaring, the Finches are being playful, children are outside enjoying the warmer weather before it gets too hot, neighbors are trimming their lawns, cultivating their gardens, adding fertilizer to encourage growth.
I enjoy Spring most of all because it is the renewing of life. I enjoy it. The air is cleaner from the rains that we have had. Skies are clear blue. You can almost see the Sierra Nevada and their snow capped peaks.
I know that to some spring means allergies. For one that has been fortunate enough to not suffer from this affliction I say to you...I'm sorry and I hope you find relief.
Real Estate has been going slowly. I've lost three clients that had listed their homes or were going to list. One decided that they didn't need to move, another decided to help a friend and rent even though they are still moving and the other had sticker shock when they found out what they could list their house for in comparison with its neighbors.
When you get ready to list your home you should take a look at the market. Pick up fliers from the local agents, look in the Real Estate section of the local news papers, go on the Internet to one of the many sites that will help you see what is for sale in the local market.
You should also talk to your local Realtor.
Your Realtor is here to help you understand the trends and what your house can sell for. If you don't know a Realtor, invite several into your home to seek what they would list your home for. DO NOT go for the agent who says they will get you 10% more or higher than everyone else. Even though this may sound good for you, they will be advising you to drop your price within a few months. (Even though price reduction is a common practice, it should be because the market is reflecting a need to lower your asking price, not to just bring it down to where your competition to sell is already listing.)
Check with the local Real Estate Board, for the Coalinga area you would contact the Fresno Association of Realtors. They will provide you with a list of registered Realtors.
Take note I have said "Realtors" and not Real Estate Agents. A Realtor is a registered trademark that we in the Real Estate Business can only use if we have registered and promised to keep the by-laws and requirements of the National Association of Realtors.
So the term Realtor is now a registered trademark and cannot be used by Real Estate agents unless they register.
It is another way of assuring you, our clients, that we will be honest with you in either selling, listing our helping you buy your home.
Call me. I am a registered Realtor and so is everyone in my office. I hope you read this and my other postings and that I can help you sell your home or help you buy one.
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