Real Estate Agents

Buyer’s Inspections Before Purchase

When purchasing a home, whether you’ve done it numerous times or if it is your first, the most important thing to do is get all your inspections.  The benefit’s far out way the cost.  If you uncover a major defect during this process you will consider this money well spent. I actually recommend, when I’m listing a home, for the Seller to get a home inspection so that they are aware of any defects and they can either disclose them at sale and/or fix them prior to sale.  When I lived in California I had a pest inspection done every year on my residence.  For a nominal fee, this inspection kept me abreast of any changes in the home with termites or water issues and when I eventually sold, my home was in perfect condition. A home inspection will also lay the groundwork for any additional inspections that you may want to invest in.  Be sure to hire a professional that is a member of  ASHI or American Society of Home Inspectors.  After the inspection you should get a printed report, hopefully with pictures, that will explain any defects that are found.  With this information you can decide if their are additional inspections that you would like to obtain, like HVAC,... 

Another Band-Aid Suggestion From A Bank!!!

If you are 100K plus underwater in your homes value…do you think it would be a good idea to further encumber the property? Aurora Bank thinks so. I was on a call with a client when she contacted her bank yesterday to see about what options would be available for her to stay in her home. She is four months behind in her payments…equaling around $10,000. We went down the usual path of talking about a loan modification (which she does not qualify for as her husband recently lost his job), and forbearance…which she was considering. After all of that, the customer service agent told us that she had another option to become current. They (Aurora) have a third party lender who would lend her the money at I think he said 15% interest so she could become current and “save her home from foreclosure”. WHAT!!??? I almost fell off my chair! Even the suggestion of further encumbering the property is ludicrous. Additionally, she can not afford her payment now…what is the “third party lender” thinking? How do they think they will ever get their investment back? Of course I see Aurora suggesting this as they get some of the back payments and can avoid foreclosing on the home. For awhile... 

WHoooooHoooooo! Another RE Bar Camp!!

IT’S COMING!!! Another RE Bar Camp. I will not go into the reason it is called RE Bar Camp…but just know this is a really exciting day for all those in the real estate industry…and also a really unconventional way to learn. A LOT. In ONE day! This is a sharing, teaching, learning, socializing, free-form day of classes. Which by the way…is comprised of unknown specific subjects! What? One may ask? How can a full day of learning NOT be “planned”. Easy. These super-brain-social-media folks have perfected the process. When the literally HUNDREDS of folks arrive the morning of the event they check in and see a large white board divided into rows and columns. Each row is assigned a time. Each column is assigned a room. Anyone can be a presenter and everyone is a collaborator. So…folks just take the initiative to write the subject they want to share on the board in one of the spaces. Maybe you know a lot about making Flip Videos…lead a session. Are you a TWITTER MASTER? Share what you are doing. Do you know something about making Facebook fan pages successful? PLEASE…do tell! How about blogs? Have you figured out a way to get your blog out there resulting in additional business?... 

$500.00 Move-In! Exceptional Value..Exceptional Home!

Yes, only $500.00 to move into a brand New Home! And it’s not a dinger either. This 1605 sqft home is loaded with upgrades. Upgrades like granite counter-tops. Tile floors in the kitchen, baths and utility rooms. The blinds are already installed. And get this…the home comes All Appliances. A beautiful Side by Side Refer, Built-in Range, Dishwasher and Microwave. And get this..a Washer and dryer!! The home comes with blinds too. This 3bed/2bth single level home is ready and waiting for you.  How much? Just $139,990. Remember, you can move in for $500.00 Snowbirds, why rent a space year after year? You can own a brand new home. Buy now while they are priced so low. These prices and incentives will not last. First Time Buyers, close on this home before April 30th and you may qualify for the $8,000 tax credit. Put your tax return to work for you. Contact Michael Manning at 602-738-8236 for more info. My e-mail is michaelbmanning@cox.net or michael.manning@phoenixpowersearch.com  See a video of this home. http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=judy.eldc&target=ALBUM&id=5431123299653348625&authkey=Gv1sRgCPHRxYTd6PPITQ&feat=email  

WHAT IF there was a simple fix to the short sale fiasco? What am I missing?

I do not normally re-post other agents blogs…but I am making an exception today. This agent’s solution is too simple for the government to actually consider it…but WHAT IF? Via Amy Jones (Chandler, Arizona RE/Max Excalibur): I’ve been thinking…  could there be an easy fix to the short sale industry mess? What if sellers were required to have an approval from their lender PRIOR to listing their home for “short sale”?  What if the lender ordered the BPO establishing the sales price that the lender would accept PRIOR to the seller listing the home?  What if the lender issued a letter indicating the sale was approved and that the lender would accept $xxx for the sale PRIOR to listing the home? What if a real estate agent could not list a home without the short sale approval letter in hand? What if a buyer knew exactly what a lender would accept for a sales price? What if buyers and sellers were no longer wasting their time on a short sale that will never close at the price listed in the MLS? What if real estate agents could go back to actually marketing homes with reasonable response times to move the inventory? Could it be this simple? Just wonderin.  

A New Company, A New World and an Avatar!

WOW…I am  REALLY on a steep learning curve with a GREAT company! I recently made a HUGE change by moving my real estate license to a  firm that is very new to Arizona. After much due diligence and prayer I left my last company where I have been selling real estate for over 17 years and made the move. The company is called eXp Realty, LLC. They are a TRULY progressive, technically forward, green company. What is so different? Well…for one they have a virtual office in TELESPACE. It is SO COOL. I can go there any time of the day or night and take classes, get questions answered and generally network and learn with other eXp agents from many states around the country. It is very common for the President and CEO to be available to help with questions as well as having access to some truly “BIG BRAIN” IT folks. Since they are as technically forward as they are…they can help with a wide variety of technical issues. The first time my husband saw me working while in the virtual world he said, “You gave up FARMVILLE for your New Years resolution…now what game are you playing?” I explained to him that this was my new office and I am in a class….in real time…participating... 

Not a Short Sale..Not a Bank Owned, A Brand New Build For $500.00 Move-In!

No kidding. I know a builder who is competing with short sales and foreclosures and winning. You can get in for $500.00 with a PITI payment of only $903.87 per month, including HOA! A 1321 sqft single level home will cost $129,990. a 1767  sqft home only $137,900.  These  new homes are not dingers either. They are energy efficient, using Low E-Windows, 13 seer A/C units, Water-saving Plumbing Fixtures and Tile Roofs. 9′ ceilings, cultured marble vanity-tops, and raised panel interior doors are some of the upgrades included. Great kitchens include microwaves, deluxe dishwashers, spacious pantries and oak cabinets. You get a large pool-sized lot, a covered patio, a door into the garage from the side, front and rear hose bibs. All the options you might want are already included. I only mentioned some of them. Oh, did I mention that they come with a Side by Side Refer, Washer/Dryer and a 40″ LCD TV? So, $5,000.00 in incentives, An $8,000.  tax credit, Side by Side Refer, Washer/Dryer and a new Big Screen TV. Low move-in (less the rent) and low monthly payment, again less the rent. What are you waiting for? Homes ready to move into now. Michael Manning EXP Realty, LLC 602-738-8236  

So Your Offer has Been Accepted: Action Steps Following Accepted Offer

Order your home inspection immediately. Per the contract there is a specific number of day inspection period which begins on the date the purchase offer is accepted. You and your agent will have pre-determined the inspection period and listed it in the purchase offer. I can give you the name of two different inspections companies that I have dealt with in the past. HouseMaster 480-345-8570 Ecospec Home Inspections 602-332-7132 Home inspection companies will generally do an overview of the home. Making sure things work such as appliances, toilets, hot water heaters, fixtures, HVAC units etc. They are not specialty contractors.If you wish to have specialty inspections performed such as roofing, pool, lead based paint, radon gas etc. you will need to contact a specialty inspection company and/or a specialty contractor to have these types of inspections performed. Again remember to make arrangements for these inspections immediately following your offer being accepted and that they have been completed within your inspection period. I have an additional list of contractors and inspectors that I can provide you with if you wish, feel free to contact me anytime. Contact your lender if the... 

Hang Your Christmas Lights in Arizona

As I was driving along the other day I wondered where the idea of Christmas lights came from. Each year thousands of people spend countless hours preparing their homes with strands of lights and extensive decorations to ring in the holiday season. So I went on a quest to share the origins of Christmas lights with our EXP Realty travelers and home buyers, and share some of the excellent displays of holiday cheer in my neighborhood. Originally the custom was to decorate a Christmas tree with lights, but it wasn’t until the 1960s in the U.S. when tract housing become increasing popular that lining the eaves of homes with lights grew in popularity. Back in the 17th century a tradition of using small candles to light up the tree started. It took a couple of centuries before the practice grew in popularity and spread to Germany and Eastern Europe. Initially the candles were melted against the tree or attached with pins. Later in the 19th and 20th century candle holders were used and later lanterns which held the candles. With the advent of electricity Christmas tree decoration was ready to take a big leap. Towards the end of the 19th century; 1882 to be exact, Edward Johnson an assistant... 

Central Phoenix Charm

This home has it all, it even has quest quarters. This is a must see for all home buyers. It is a charming home in one of Phoenix’s most sought after historic districts. This is a three bedroom two bath home that has character and class. The back patio area between the main home and the guest area and detached shed is landscaped beautifully. It has a perfect central location for a professional’s downtown office. There are huge separate detached storage areas. The yards are beautifully landscaped with lots of mature trees. North/South exposure. For more detailed info on this property please visit the Flex-MLS link:http://www.flexmls.com/link.html?oy7ku84eqo9,12  

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