By Nobu Hata An article recently came across my Twitterstream from Wired.com which, punditry (and ‘Granted, I live in Manhattan…’ caveat) aside, is a pretty good read. Go ahead, it’s a short one, I’ll wait for you right here. (http://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/11/st_essay_ownership/) Where my and the writer’s opinion splits is that to me, a home DOES have sentimental value. A house is …
Help Home Owners Envision Home Ownership Again
Consumers who’ve been through foreclosure may think their days of owning a home are over. Not true. Share the “5 Steps to Owning a Home Again After Foreclosure” from the November “Foreclosure Resource Guide” now available at the REALTOR® Content Resource. Here’s just some of the information: 1. Rebuild your nest egg. Establish a safety net. Since you’re coming out …
The Buyer You Hate… Is Just Misunderstood. Steps to Help.
By Dave Robison What’s the worst buyer you have ever worked with? I hear it from many agents. “Ohhh, this buyer can’t make up their mind. I’ve shown them a million homes; we have done several offers and they just can’t find that perfect home. I’m tired.” Matter of fact, just Monday, I had a buyer’s agent call on one …
HUD Seeks Public Comment: This Means You
By Nobu Hata The skinny: The Department of Housing and Urban Development is seeking public commentary through Aug. 14 on three “measures” that “reduce financial risk and preserve affordable mortgage financing for responsible consumers.” The measures: 1. Update the combination of credit and down payment requirements for new borrowers. New borrowers seeking FHA-insured financing will be required to have a …
Doctors Make the Worst Patients…
By Crystal Webster …And REALTORS® make the worst clients. Has anyone else had the “privilege” of working with another REALTOR® – or even purchasing a home for themselves? I use the word privilege very loosely. 😉 Some of you may remember, I began looking for my new personal residence back in September. I am pleased to inform you that I …
When to Break Up With a Client: Tales of the Indecisive Buyer
By Brooke Wolford I recently decided to let go of a client. It was a really hard decision for me to have to tell a buyer that I couldn’t work with them anymore. In all, I had to weigh my options. When I had initially starting working with this buyer, it was after a big dispute with another agent in …
The Buy vs. Rent Debate: Why Buying Wins
By Travis Broadwater Even though the federal tax credits have expired, it is still wiser to buy now than rent. Our clients get a tax write off and build appreciation instead of throwing money away each month. Home prices are so affordable today it is a good time to take advantage of the buyer’s market conditions with low interest rates …
Tips to Help Build Buyers’ Trust and Their Credit
By G. M. Filisko, contributing writer, HouseLogic In today’s economy, there’s no shortage of potential buyers, but few have emerged from the recession without a few dings on their credit. Help potential buyers boost their credit with tips from the June “Get Ready to Own” bundle now available at the REALTOR® Content Resource: 1. Know your credit score. Credit scores …
‘Mr. Seller, Tear Down That Wall!’
By Brandon Rodriguez Barriers are never good when selling a house. I know that all the good agents know this and have instructed to their clients the harm this can cause. However, the barriers are still up. One weekend, I scheduled property to show for a client. The list was ready and the phone calls to our Centralized Showing System …
The Practitioner Value Proposition: Data Analysis
By Nobu Hata Trulia. Zillow. Cyberhomes. The mere mention of those words, and their use in such sentences such as “But, insert service here says my house is worth insert marketing-dollar-sucking price here!” strikes fear into the hearts of many a real estate practitioner. We’ve all had the conversation, and for the most part, the majority of us are still …