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Showing posts from 2015

HOME BUYERS AND SELLERS BEWARE!!!!

HOME BUYERS AND SELLERS BEWARE!!!! Buying and selling your home is not just an event.  It’s a process, and with this process you have to watch your back, be very vigilant and careful not to trust anyone unless you know them and have proven record they are really in the business and directly involved in the process of buying and/or selling your home. BEWARE!! I just received a call from my daughter who just purchased her house few weeks ago.  Her friend been in the same process of buying a home called her in panic and asking for help as they were about to settle in a house that they put an offer over a month ago.  They were at the settlement table and comes the moment that they need to give them a certified check for the down payment and closing costs.  Per buyers, funds have been wired a month ago.  Everybody looked at each other with that “who has it” look on their faces.  Nobody has it.  After few questions, they learned that buyers received an email instructing them to wire the

MARAMING SALAMAT!!

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MARAMING SALAMAT!! Pwede po ba akong magsulat ng column sa Manila Mail about Real Estate, kasi po many of our kababayans are having difficulties with the present real estate situations.  Yung column ko po might help them. (Can I write a column in Manila Mail about Real Estate given the present market situation so that would help our fellow Filipinos)?  That was my first conversation with Tito Bert when I decided to write for Manila Mail at the height of Real Estate market chaos.  It was sometimes in Sept. of 2008, right after I quit my full time job and ready to do full time business of my own. I submitted my first article and I passed Tito Bert’s standards.  From that time, I have to spend at least two hours twice a month to submit my article even when I’m on vacation.  I missed some issues due to internet access problems when I was overseas.  I tried my best not to miss any issue believe me.  From that time, a lot of Filipinos call me asking questions from simple to complex is

YES, THERE ARE STILL SHORT SALES

YES, THERE ARE STILL SHORT SALES Yes, there are still short sales and foreclosures. As a member of the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors, we are always required to attend important classes especially on issues that affect the public on home ownership.  Although short sales and foreclosure are issues which have been lingering for the past seven years, there are still homeowners who choose to ignore it. Last April was my last short sale that I settled with the lender.  I thought I’m done because of real estate market stability we have right now.  Just a month ago, I had four listing appointments and all short sales.  What is going on?  Reality check, there are still a lot of homeowners who were not able to bounce back on their equities.  They used to be in ARM (Adjusted Rate Mortgage) or with loan modification for up to 5 years and now back to previous interest rate.  Now, they don’t have a choice but to do short sales.  The key is to come out and seek for help as soon as

THE ART OF NEGOTIATIONS

THE ART OF NEGOTIATIONS      “You don’t get what you deserve; you get what you negotiate.”   In today’s competitive business environment, being skilled negotiator is more important than ever aside from being skilled at what you do best.   Negotiation is an art that you can use every day in your life be it personally or professionally.   Once you learn this art especially in Real Estate, you’ll have fun with it.         I just attended a course to be a Certified Real Estate negotiator last month.   It’s a three part class and 16 hours each.   I have been doing negotiations for years since I started my Real Estate career in 2006 especially during the height of short sales when you think of almost impossible transactions and countless negotiations with the banks and lenders.   I never rest on my laurels and always strive for improvement to hone my craft regardless.   You always have to learn something new and be a master; it’s been my professional goal in order to succeed.   Most
SUBMITTING AN OFFER Finally!!! After searching and viewing multiple houses straight from work, on weekends, joy rides around specific neighborhood and looking for open houses; you found you’re “DREAM HOUSE”.   THIS IS IT!! You’re so excited and asked the Realtor ® to submit an offer. Wait, how much will be my offer?   Is it too much or too low?   Oh Lord, now you are confused and stressed out. I always tell my clients, buying a home should be a pleasing and rewarding experience.   It should not be like a battlefield where you don’t trust anybody and feels like fighting from the numbers and all parties involved.   That’s why you have a Realtor ® and trusted lender to walk you through the process.   Leave the stress and worries to them.   They are professionals and know how to deal with these situations.   What I always do before I suggest an offer price to my clients; I orient them with the factors to consider before putting those numbers on the paper.   In this case both of you

BUYING HOME 101

BUYING HOME 101      “Hi!   I saw this house for sale that I really love and I would like to put an offer, can you help me out?”   When I get these types of calls during first year in Real Estate, I jumped for joy!   Wow! It’s going to be easy, all I need is to write an offer on the buyer’s behalf and the rest will follow.   Well, wishful thinking and you have to be careful.   Even if you buy in cash; buying a house needs a lot of preparation and it’s a process.   Unless you are a professional investor who knows real estate in and out, then you should be fine.      First thing first:   Most of us need financing.   Take care of your credit report and history for at least three years; better yet, since you stepped in American soil. You have a stable job, been here in the US and filed Income Tax Returns for at least two consecutive years.   Those are the basic and a professional loan officer or bank will help you out in case you have special cases.   Try to save as much as possib

SOLD YOUR HOUSE IN SHORT SALE?

SOLD YOUR HOUSE IN SHORT SALE ? I’M BACK!!! I know you missed me; I mean my column but here I am providing you with updated information in Real Estate once again.  It’s been a while and changes have been overwhelming but don’t worry, I’m here by your side.  Let’s start with homeowners whom under unfortunate circumstances sold their homes through short sales.  Are you or any of your friends and families one of those? It’s time to rise and shine!!  I’m sure now you moved on by renting for a while.  Well, it’s time to buy again.  This has been a part of my plan when my clients did short sales.  I told them before; short sale is something that is not under your control, maintain a good credit history and report; in three years, we will meet again on a brighter side of your life.  After two years of short sales, you may want to start filing your documents together and start planning.  Look at your credit scores and history making sure nothing derogatory on your records for the last