#TipsForHomeSellers:#Negotiating Offers

It's called a buyer's market for a reason, the buyer's have the power.  If you have your home for sale, and you receive an offer, here are some things to consider before making your decision:

-Your 1st offer is almost always your best offer, so try to make it work

-If you are not happy with the offer, take into consideration your monthly expenses (mortgage payment, taxes, insurance, utilities, HOA, etc) How much more will you spend on the home if you don't try to negotiate this offer?

-Be realistic about what is selling in your neighborhood/area that is the most comparable to your home, and take into consideration

-Do Not consider comps thar are more than 6 months ago, 3 months is the preferred.  (totally different market 6 months ago)

-Even if you receive an offer close to asking price, will your home appraise?  And if it doesn't, are you prepared to sell it at appraised value?

For more tips on selling your home, go to: http://www.greenvillerealestategirl.com/

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"A year from now, you'll wish you had started today."
-Karen Lamb

Multiple Offers On Short Sales/Foreclosures

Nothing is more disappointing than working with a buyer, especially first timers, that finds the perfect house, and they think because it's a foreclosure, they're getting a heck of a deal. (You can definitely get an awesome deal on a foreclosure, but I'm not talking about good deals.) I call the listing agent to see if there are any other offers on the table, and there are. So I advise my clients to make there highest, and best offer, so we do not get in bidding war, and they do not lose out on their "perfect home". I guess it is experience that gives me the ability to know these little details, but isn't that why people have a Realtor helping them? Because they don't know everything about what they are doing when purchasing a home? This scenario has happened to me twice now, on multiple offers, with two different first timers. (I think they now get it) but look at how much time and energy we wasted on other offers because they would not even offer asking price.


Maybe I need to sharpen my skills with getting them to understand why I know what I am talking about. I even suggested they call some past clients of mine that made 3 offers on foreclosed houses and didn't get any of them because they did not bid at least asking price. My advise to buyers when looking, and considering an offer, on foreclosed homes would be to have your agent call the listing agent, if they don't do it already (which they should) and if there are other offers on the table, offer close to asking price, especially if you are asking for closing costs.

For more info about buying foreclosed/short sale properties, go to: http://www.greenvillerealestategirl.com/


'Nothing good comes in a hurry'

Lindsay Saunders, Realtor and REO Specialist

Keller Williams Greenville Central Partners

864-607-0479

Saunders@kw.com

http://www.greenvillerealestategirl.com/

Mortgage Modification Program

Although I don't really agree with the whole mortgage modification idea, I don't think that the homeowners that are applying for a loan modification should have to go up against fraudulent companies. I feel that the loan modification is just delaying the inevitable which is not good for anyone. I cam across an article that was explaining how the FTC is kicking around the idea to propose a ban on all mortgage relief companies from charging an upfront fee. The link for the article is below.
http://rismedia.com/2010-02-08/ftc-proposes-rule-that-would-bar-mortgage-relief-companies-from-charging-up-front-fees/
I had a seller/friend who called me because she was several months behind on her payments, was having a difficult time finding work, and had little to no money. I had discussed her options with a short-sale, and thought that was what we had agreed upon. Until she called me the next week to tell me she had received a letter in the mail that stated she could modify her loan, and get out of delinquency, for only $400. I'm not going to go into the details, but to make a long story short, she went ahead with the $400 modification. Guess who called me last week??? Apologizing for the mistake she made and how she lost the $400 because they couldn't help her, etc, etc, etc. Really?? Who is going to modify a loan for someone who doesn't have a job or income??
If you, or someone you know, is facing foreclosure, or is behind on payments, you have options available that can sometimes stop your from destroying your credit. I am an REO certified specialist, and I can help you decide what is the best option for your situation. Not to mention, sometimes Realtors have investors who may come buy it straight from the bank, and give you cash for your keys. It's happened to me.
Not in SC? I can help anyone, anywhere, buy, or sell, real estate.

Lindsay Saunders, Realtor and REO Certified Specialist

Keller Williams Greenville Central Partners

864-607-0479

Saunders@kw.com

www.GreenvilleRealEstateGirl.com

Serious Sellers Need to List their Homes NOW!!!

Stop kicking tires!!!! If you are thinking about selling your house, you need to list it now to take advantage of the stimulated buyer market that will soon expire in April. Although you may not be able to sell your home for what you want to get out of it, or what you may think it is worth, however, it could be worth even less if you wait. As the buyer pool dries up in April with the expiration of the tax credit, we will start to see interest rates go up. Not to mention the millions of houses that are referred to as "shadow inventory" that have been foreclosed on, and the banks have not released. But you better believe that when on bank starts to release those "shadow" properties, all the banks will start to release them. Do you know who foreclosed in your neighborhood? Or in your area?? Don't find out the hard way. Click below to read more about our nations housing inventory.

http://rismedia.com/2010-02-08/number-of-for-sale-homes-increased-2-9-percent-in-january-2010-according-to-ziprealty-housing-report/


I can help anyone, anywhere, buy or sell, real estate.


"Be the person you want other people to be"

-Gandhi

Lindsay Saunders, Realtor and REO Certified Specialist

Kelle Williams Greenville Central Partners

864-607-0479

Saunders@kw.com

http://www.greenvillerealestategirl.com/

"Green" Cleaning Tip #1

Most of us have no idea the horrible, harsh chemicals, that we not only clean with, but also inhale and put into our bodies. There are quite a few less expensive, and "eco-friendly" ways to clean, not only our homes, but our clothes, bodies, etc. Think that "Green" cleaning is expensive? It can be, if you go to Whole Foods, or other natural grocery stores, and buy the products on their shelves. However, one of the best, inexpensive, disinfectants is Vinegar!! Not to mention it's a great fabric softener! And you can drink it!!! I know most people don't like the smell of vinegar, but I would much rather smell vinegar for an hour than fill my home, and family, full of harsh chemicals and carrcenogens, wouldn't you?? We have been brain washed to think that unless it's full of chemicals, it doesn't disinfect, or completely clean. So wrong!


Top 10 Worst Cleaners!

-Drain Cleaner
-Oven Cleaner
-Toilet Cleaners
-Spot removers
-Silver/metal polishes
-Furniture Cleaners
-Cleansers/Powdered Cleaners
-Window Cleaners
-Bleach
-Liquid Cleaners

Not to mention all of these go back into our water!!!! There are a lot of great companies out there that you can get highly concentrated products from, in the mail, that are environmentally friendly and much less expensive than your common household cleaners. The one that I use, and really like is MellaLuca. They use little, to no, water in their products, because, why should they charge you for the water, and dilute their product, when you are going to use water in the bucket, toilet, or washing machine anyway??

For more information about being "Green", go to: http://www.greenvillerealestategirl.com/

Looking to buy or sell??? I can help anyone, anywhere, buy or sell, property.

The Earth does not belong to us, we belong to the Earth.

-Unknown

Lindsay Saunders, Realtor, REO Certified Specialist

Keller Williams Greenville Central Partner

864-607-0479 Direct

Saunders@kw.com

http://www.greenvillerealestategirl.com/

Double-Dip in Housing Market

For over the last year, all we have heard is mostly negative information regarding the housing market conditions, and finally, the media has decided to share some positive information regarding the so-called "recovery" of the housing market. However, if you look deeper than the surface of the matter, you will see what is "recovering" will soon dip down again.




Let's take a look back at 2006, which was the biggest year in history for real estate in the United States. It was also the biggest year for 3-year, and 5-year ARM (Adjustable Rate Mortgages). Well, we all saw what happened when the 3-year ARMs hit in 2009, so what does that leave for the 5-Year ARMs in 2011?? One would think that will all the chaos of 2009 when the 3-Year ARMs reset, that those homeowners with the 5-Year ARMs would refinance. One problem is that a lot of those homeowners carrying the 5-Year ARMs don't know they have them. The other problem is that those who know they have them, and want to refinance, are having a hard time refinancing due to the constriction in the mortgage market. This storm is far from over. So, what does this all mean?? You are going to see a slight upswing to the market in the next couple months, but we will see another dip in the market, and yet another decrease in home values.



If you are thinking of selling your home, as a professional, I would highly recommend you talk to a Realtor about what you need to do to sell now, instead of waiting, and watching, property values decrease even more. I would rather take a 10 percent loss than a 20 percent loss, wouldn't you???



For more information, go to www.GreenvilleRealEstateGirl.com.

Not in South Carolina, I can help anyone, anywhere, buy, or sell, property.



"Life is hard. It's even harder when you're stupid."

-John Wayne

Lindsay Saunders, Realtor and REO Certified Specialist

Keller Williams Greenville Central Partners

864-607-0479 Direct

Saunders@kw.com

http://www.greenvillerealestategirl.com/

HUD is Tightening UP-BIG TIME!!! BUY NOW!!!

Changes are coming to FHA, and they're not favorable to ease of home buying. There is no set date yet, but here's the short story:


Upfront MIP(Mortgage Insurance) will increase from 1.75% to 2.25%

Update to FICO scores and LTV maximums (620 minimum marketable, but down payment may increase to 5%)

Seller contributions will be reduced from 6% to just 3% to be in line with conventional markets

Increased audits of FHA lenders

As in so many things, the government appears to be attempting to regulate and stimulate the marketplace at the same time, without regard to consequences.


Thinking of buying, or selling??? Don't wait for the Government to make more regulations to the market they have tried to stimulate.



"The only competition worthy of a wise man is with himself"

-Anna Jameson



Lindsay Saunders, Realtor, REO Certified Specialist



Keller Williams Greenville Central Partners



864-607-0479 Direct



Saunders@kw.com



http://www.greenvillerealestategirl.com/