Real Deal

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 not...

BE SMART AND CREATIVE If you are buying or selling your home recently, you probably have noticed the uncertainties in the market.   Is it a good time to buy or even sell?   Well, you must have a very good and aggressive agent on both sides; but you have to be smart as well and willing to suggest or cooperate with your Realtor ®.    I, myself have difficulties adjusting to this surprisingly turn of trend no matter what the situation is.   Regardless of our friends and families’ advice; it’s teamwork between you and your Realtor®. Looks like short sales nowadays are easy to sell in the market but of course takes too long.   But it’s all worth the wait if short sale is successful.   Standard sales looks like there are lots of inventories out there and snail motion kind of thing.   This means reduce prices and just accept the first offer that comes in.   Not an ideal scenario for you.   Once your house is entered in MRIS (agents...

NEW FHA PROGRAM DISCLOSURE: I am not a loan officer but I can recommend ones that I’ve worked all through the years !!  Well, just saying because my article is all about the new FHA Program.  This is currently the latest buzz in the housing market after issues of increasing interest rates, strict mortgage loan guidelines and government shut down which created cold feet again among potential buyers.  Some people wants to buy but they somewhat had foreclosures, short sales, bankruptcy, judgments, collections or other negative impact on their credit even just plain collections.  THIS IS GOOD NEWS!!! This is called “THE NEW FHA BACK TO WORK PROGRAM.”  It basically allow borrowers to purchase a home through FHA financing who had a foreclosure, short sale, bankruptcy, judgments and collections within 12 months or later shortening the waiting period.  Here are the key factors for eligibility:  Twelve months have passed since the borrower’s hardship ...

LIGHTS CAMERA ACTION!   While looking for a home, have you ever stepped in a house where it looked like the seller hired an interior decorator and staged it like a model house?   You were so impressed and asked your Realtor® to immediately prepare an offer although the house next door is exactly the same as this one and even priced lower.   Sounds and feels familiar?   I just attended an intensive training on staging last week so I can offer more value to my clients especially the sellers.   I always believe as long as the property is clean and well arranged, it should do the job and sell.   Well, not really; Staging is using your timeframe and budget to prepare a house for sale so it will sell faster and get the best price.   In staging, the seller is the star, Realtor® is the director and potential buyers are the audience.   The star and the director should work as a team so they can portray their roles, execute their best and get ...

There is still confusion as to what real estate agents can do for you and where do you start. I found a very good article about Realtor® role especially on today’s market and make sure you are working with one and not just a real estate agent.   What’s the difference? Not everyone with a real estate license is a Realtor®. They have to be a member of the National Association of Realtors® and bound by stricter education requirements than the law requires and not only by that law but by the higher standards of the Realtor® Code of ethics. Your Realtor® is committed to protecting your interests throughout the entire transaction with integrity, honor, professionalism and expertise that meets the high standard set by the Realtor® name whether you are a seller or a buyer.   They have access to more and more sophisticated tools to help sellers market their properties to the right target market, help buyers find just the right home and make the entire process run smoothly. ...