Posts Tagged ‘buy a home’

Bullish Signs for Housing Sales

Friday, May 29th, 2009

Although all the news about real estate, housing and lending isn’t particularily bullish, there are some compelling new motivations for buying now.   Rising interest rates, Inventory Decreases and the $8000 tax credit which expires December 1.

  1. Interest rates are soaring, as the dollar falls.  Economists predict that the low rates we saw only a month ago, aren’t likely to return anytime soon.   In April, 30 year fixed rate mortgages averaged 4.5 percent.  Last week, rates hit 4.98 percent.  And, this week, Bankrate.com is quoting 30 year fixed rates for prime borrowers at just over 5 percent.  Note: An increase of only 1/2 percent in interest rates raises the mortgage payment for a $170,000 loan by $52/month, $624/year or $18,720/over the life of the loan.
  2. The deadline for qualifying for an $8000 tax credit is rapidly approaching.   Although, the December 1st deadline may seem a long way off, in real estate terms it really isn’t.  A lot of people are sitting on the sidelines, waiting to see if prices will drop another 1 or 2 percent over the next 6 months.   Lenders are already warning us that when all those buyers rush into the market in August or September, the backlog in loan applications will mean a wait of 60-90 days to close an average loan.  Note:  Given that the average buyer in this market looks at over 30 homes, over a 3 month period, buyers who don’t want to miss the boat on their $8000 gift, should get serious now.

For those buyer’s hoping to time the market perfectly, we think their ship may be sailing by.    Home inventories are dropping, prices are stabilizing, interest rate increases erase potential gains made by a further fall in prices and $8 grand is on the line, if the December 1 closing deadline can’t be met.   Serious buyer’s should jump on board now, before they find out that the ship has sailed and they missed the boat!!

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net homes for sale or rent website.  Sellers can place a free property listing, download legal forms, print brochures and more.   Buyer’s can search for great deals on property from the privacy of their own homes and benefit from dealing directly with the owner or builder.  Check advantage of FREE today!!!

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What to do if Appraisal Comes in Below Sales Price

Thursday, May 7th, 2009

Finally, the house is under contract.  The inspections are done.  Repairs have been negotiated.  Everyone is ready to move…then, the buyer’s appraisal comes in below the agreed upon sales price. 

Don’t Panic.  It’s Not the End of the World.  Read this helpful article about how to keep the deal alive.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net homes for sale and rent website.   Place a Free Property Listing or Search our database for great deals found no where else on the web.

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Home Buyer Gives Good Advice to Home Seller’s

Thursday, February 12th, 2009

So, my husband and I are now in the market for a house! It’s very cool, because it’s definitely a buyers’ market, as it was when we sold. Being on the other side of the equation gives me a whole new perspective, of course, and I’ve been trying to look critically at the houses that we have been seeing so I can pass on my observations to you all, as you are staging and selling your houses. I know that you have lost a bit of leverage, since there are so many houses on the market right now, but there are still things that you can do to help your house stand out. And frankly, I’ve been a little amazed at how some of the sellers whose houses we’ve seen haven’t done those things.

First and foremost, and this may sound like a little thing (but it’s not): Keep your infotubes full! I cannot stress this enough. When we are driving around and see a house that’s for sale, we immediately stop to look for “words.” If the InfoTube is empty, our immediate reaction, fair or not, is “They don’t really want to sell this house.” A neglected InfoTube could be just an oversight, or it could be a sign of greater neglect. Either way, we don’t even consider those houses. So, if you are still in the house you are selling, for goodness sake, keep that InfoTube full! And if you’re not in the house, make sure that your agent keeps the tube full. It makes a difference. Remember, I am now your potential buyer, and you’ve already lost me!

Depersonalize, please! I consider myself to be a fairly sophisticated buyer–one who is able to look beyond the stage at the bones of the space, but many potential buyers just see what they see. They see the pictures, not the walls behind them. They see the carpet, not the floor underneath. Make sure that what these buyers are seeing is the most tastefully generic stage you can possibly set. We went into a lovely home last weekend–2300sf, soaring ceilings, lovely staircase, immaculately kept. It truly was a lovely home. We didn’t like the layout; it wouldn’t work for us, so we passed. But the people who live there and are trying to sell have written off a large portion of their potential market. There were family photos all around the house and a lot of art–everywhere–that was very personal to them, because it was all religious art. Whether the art was Christian, Islamic, Hindu or Zoroastrian, it makes no difference. Many people will walk into that house and walk back out because they can’t see beyond the stage. I’m not saying you have to be Peter and deny your religion, but you do have to be sensitive to the fact that not all buyers will believe the same things you believe, and many might actually be put off.

As we continue our search, I will continue to bring reports of what I’m seeing out there. I hope that this new phase in our lives will help to focus your resolve as sellers as you get your house sold!

For more information, or to order a copy of I CAN Sell This House: Secrets to Selling Quickly in a Buyers’ Market.

A BIG thank you to Jennifer taking the time to talk straight with home seller’s as she continues her search for a home.   If you are looking for a home, please check out the home listings on Infotube.net.  Seller’s can post property listings for FREE on the site, so the inventory is fresh and constantly changing.

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Buying a Foreclosure is Pure Torture

Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009

If you think that banks or lenders are like desperate seller’s, who are willing to do anything in order to find a buyer for their home, think again.

Picture Your Serious Offer Here.  Banks are completely under staffed in their REO and loss mitigation departments.  Buyer’s and their agent’s report a wait of up to four weeks or more, before a file is assigned to a negotiator, who may or may not, open the file and start to process the offer.  

My Way or the Highway.  In addition to understaffing problems, lenders adhere to a strict checklist of requirements.  If one item is overlooked or missing from their checklist, the file is routinely placed back on the bottom of the pile, where it can take weeks to resurface again. 

Don’t Call Us, We’ll Call You.  Lenders are famous for being non-responsive to offers, even if they are at full asking price.  As a practice, banks hold offers and wait for better ones to come in, before responding.  If you find yourself in a “multiple offer” game, be extremely patient.  With a little luck, you may hold the winning bid, as other buyer’s drop out due to anger and a lack of patience.

Real Sellers Take Solice.  While these cash ready buyers are pulling out their hair in frustration, both buyer and agent are powerless in communicating with or motivating the lending giants.  If you are selling a property, you can easily give yourself a huge advantage by responding to offers in a timely manner, extending courtesy to prospective buyers, and by providing access to and information about your home when ask.   

Get Ready, Get Set, Stop.  Buyers seeking a foreclosure need to accept that both they and their agent’s are in powerless positions.  Anyone who attempts to play the distressed property game, needs to accept that their efforts to buy a home will be futile, unless they have all the time in the world and the patience of Job. 

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net, a free homes for sale website.  Check out our home listings, seen no where else.  Find great deals, minus the insults and hassels.

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What Help Can a Real Estate Attorney Provide?

Wednesday, November 19th, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Real estate contracts are legally binding, and often, complex documents.  Whether you are selling by owner, with an agent, or are preparing to sign a contract to purchase, hiring a lawyer can prevent disputes or surprises later on.

What will an Attorney Charge?

  1. The typical fee for reviewing a real estate contract is $250.00 for an average residential sale.  
  2. Attorney’s can also perform a title search, procure title insurance and close the sale, for as little as $500, or as much as $1500, if the sale is more complicated.

What Legal Services Should Be Included?

  1. An attorney will review the contact and terms to ensure that they are clear, legal and enforceable.
  2. They will explain all technical terms and may suggest improvements, if necessary.
  3. An attorney will look for clauses that are problematic and will make suggestions to correct the situation, before a problem occurs.
  4. A lawyer will outline the rights and responsiblities of all parties to the contract.
  5. They will explain who pays for what, and what will happen if something goes wrong.
  6. In most states, your attorney can hold escrow monies and disburse funds at closing.

Tip:  Whether buying or selling, you should have a lawyer review any legally binding documents BEFORE you sign them.   If you find yourself in a situation where you must sign a contract before you consult an attorney, write the following phrase into the special provision section.  Have all parties initial the change, then, see a lawyer as soon as possible.

“Contract is subject to approval by buyer’s/seller’s attorney.”

In conclusion, a lawyer can be an invaluable asset when buying or selling a home.  Their expertise can go a long way to ensure a legal, smooth sales transaction.   

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net.  Please let us know if we can answer any questions for you.

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Show Off Your Home on the InfoTube.net Homepage

Wednesday, August 20th, 2008
InfoTube homes for sale

InfoTube homes for sale

InfoTube.net showcases Featured Home Video Tours on its Homepage. 

The user submitted Video Tours rotate on the home page in random order, with a new video appearing upon each visit.   Video’s are also uploaded to YouTube, one of the most heavily trafficked sites on the web, automatically.

“Thousands of visitors begin their search on the InfoTube home page,” said Tommi Crow, President, “this is an ideal time for home sellers to showcase their property in a high traffic location.”  Because the service is new, only a few video’s are in the space right now.   “The timing couldn’t be better for seller’s to enhance their listing with video, and spotlight it on our home page” said Crow.

Video is the future of real estate marketing, so grab your digital camera and show us what you Love about your house.  You have nothing to lose and a lot of additional exposure to gain.

Thank you visiting InfoTube.net and good luck on the sale of your home.

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