Mortgage Refinance: You Have to Think Long-Term
When it comes to a mortgage refinance, it’s less about how much you’ll spend and more about how long you’ll stay. Read
Avoid Home Equity Loan and Refinancing Scams
Home equity loan and refinancing scams can cost you more than money—these scams can cost you your house. Read
Making Home Affordable: The Refinance Option
The Making Home Affordable program offers financially stable homeowners the chance to refinance mortgages to lower rates. Read
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Smart Refi!
Thursday, September 22, 2011
How To Save On Energy Cost around Your Home
How to Inspect Windows, Doors to Stop Air and Water Leaks
Inspect windows and doors regularly to stop air leaks and water seeps that create high energy and repair bills. We’ll show you how. Read
Seal Air Leaks Around Windows and Doors
Seal air leaks around your windows and doors to prevent wasting precious home heating and cooling energy that costs you money. Read
Attic Air Leaks: How to Find and Seal Them
Even if your attic floor is filled with adequate insulation, seal air leaks around pipes and other openings to prevent waste of energy and money. Read
Air Leaks in Your Basement? How to Spot and Seal Them
Seal air leaks in your basement to stop the loss of your home heating energy. Read
Conduct Your Own Energy Audit
A do-it-yourself energy audit can teach you how to be more energy efficient and make you a more-educated consumer should you decide to hire an expert. Read
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Languages
Hello, eveybody. Sorry that I haven't been very active. I have been concentrating on my career, Real Estate. If you watch the news or evesdrop on a conversation at work or in a bar, you probably know that nationwide we have an economic problem due to sub-prime mortgages. I recently went to Las Vegas to attend a friend's wedding. I met some of his family from all over our great country. Once they found out that I am a Realtor, the discussion immediately turned to real estate. Their are good and bad things about the current market that I face in my business. Those that want to suceed by working hard are doing great. My office consists of about 90 agents. I would say that about half of that number are working full time. My company has 10 offices with over 700 total agents. We are doing fine. In fact we are doing about the same dollar amount as last year. Last year was our second best year as a company. Our competitor has had to close and merge some of their offices. So when I run into people and they ask me about the real estate market, I tell them that it is good. They don't believe me, but they don't understand that real estate is "local". Things that happen in California aren't necessarily what is happening in Missouri or any other state. Here in St. louis, I could even say that certain suburbs are doing better than others.
The good about this market is that those that are inventive or are willing to work hard will suceed. The bad about the market is that yes, we will see a slight devaluation of our properties. The devaluation is due to the amount of foreclosures in your neighborhood. Those foreclosures are due to people who bought a house with no means of actually paying for it. So be patient and take advantage of the devaluation in the market. When your house gets re-assessed for taxes, your taxes will probably be less. If you have a high mortgage rate, consult your realtor and lender and see if it is the time to refinance. If you need a Realtor, give me a call. I can help you even though you don't live in St. Louis. Take care and think glass half full.
The good about this market is that those that are inventive or are willing to work hard will suceed. The bad about the market is that yes, we will see a slight devaluation of our properties. The devaluation is due to the amount of foreclosures in your neighborhood. Those foreclosures are due to people who bought a house with no means of actually paying for it. So be patient and take advantage of the devaluation in the market. When your house gets re-assessed for taxes, your taxes will probably be less. If you have a high mortgage rate, consult your realtor and lender and see if it is the time to refinance. If you need a Realtor, give me a call. I can help you even though you don't live in St. Louis. Take care and think glass half full.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Buyer's & Seller's: Please read!
Dear Buyer's & Seller's of real estate,
I need to impart some of my knowledge that I have been taught or have learn myself to you. I have been a realtor for 3 years and starting my fourth. I want to start this blog with a true account of an experience that I recently had with a prospective buyer. This buyer was a lead given to me by my company. She was what we call a website lead. She was looking for a condo. She wouldn't give me much information at the beginning. She wanted to look at a condo in Bridgeton. I met her at the condo and I answered any questions she had for me. I asked her if she wanted me to be her Realtor, and she answered that she would think about it and call me. No hard sell on my part, I wanted her to feel comfortable with me and to trust me. She calls me back and we start looking at condos. I later find out from an email from her that she has been doing the same thing with other realtors. She decided to use someone else, for what reason I don't know. So to all you buyer's and seller's, the lesson here is that if you want to shop for a realtor that you want to use there is a better way to do it. I will tell you how I would go about it
Call all the realtors that you want. Ask to meet them at their office or at your home and conduct an interview with them. Ask them any questions. If you are a buyer, sit down with the realtor and conduct a search of available properties that are available and see how the realtor reacts with you. If you are a seller, ask the realtor how they would try to market your home. Ask them things that are important to you and watch to see how they answer you. Did they listen to you? How did they answer your questions? Do you trust them? As a realtor, I am committed to trying to help any one I meet with 110% effort. All that I ask is that the prospective buyer or seller gives me the same committment and loyalty. If they decide not to use me, please explain why. Also, if we, realtors ask you if you are working with any other agents, don't lie. I would not lie to you, so don't lie to me. Thanks.
I need to impart some of my knowledge that I have been taught or have learn myself to you. I have been a realtor for 3 years and starting my fourth. I want to start this blog with a true account of an experience that I recently had with a prospective buyer. This buyer was a lead given to me by my company. She was what we call a website lead. She was looking for a condo. She wouldn't give me much information at the beginning. She wanted to look at a condo in Bridgeton. I met her at the condo and I answered any questions she had for me. I asked her if she wanted me to be her Realtor, and she answered that she would think about it and call me. No hard sell on my part, I wanted her to feel comfortable with me and to trust me. She calls me back and we start looking at condos. I later find out from an email from her that she has been doing the same thing with other realtors. She decided to use someone else, for what reason I don't know. So to all you buyer's and seller's, the lesson here is that if you want to shop for a realtor that you want to use there is a better way to do it. I will tell you how I would go about it
Call all the realtors that you want. Ask to meet them at their office or at your home and conduct an interview with them. Ask them any questions. If you are a buyer, sit down with the realtor and conduct a search of available properties that are available and see how the realtor reacts with you. If you are a seller, ask the realtor how they would try to market your home. Ask them things that are important to you and watch to see how they answer you. Did they listen to you? How did they answer your questions? Do you trust them? As a realtor, I am committed to trying to help any one I meet with 110% effort. All that I ask is that the prospective buyer or seller gives me the same committment and loyalty. If they decide not to use me, please explain why. Also, if we, realtors ask you if you are working with any other agents, don't lie. I would not lie to you, so don't lie to me. Thanks.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Rain Rain Everywhere
WOW! We have gotten about 9 plus inches of rain last Tuesday. Also, we received about 12 inches of snow about 2 weeks ago. I think that Mother Nature is drying to correct our lack of precipitation in the last year. I use to work at a driving range in the Valley Park, Kirkwood area that is affected by the level of the Meramec river. This saturday the river is expected to crest over 43 feet. Normal river levels are around 10-15 feet below the level of the land on both banks of the river. This is a lot of water. There will be and already has damaged a lot of property along both banks upstream and downstream. So those of you in the area, be safe. Don't try to think that you can be stronger than water. It doesn't take much to wash a car off a road or carry a human body off.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Innsbrook Estates & winter driving
I went out to show a house at Innsbrook Estates yesterday. I gave myself a little over an hour to make the appointment ( I like to get to my appointments a little bit early). I will admit, I do have a lead foot, but it took no time to get there. The couple that I met were wonderful and I enjoy showing them property. I don't know if they are going to use me as their agent, but I hope that they get the house I show them. They really liked it and the location of this chalet. Another thing, if you are driving in an area that you don't know, don't try to outsmart yourself by taking what looks like a shortcut on the map. I tried this and I drive a forward drive sedan. The roads that weren't paved in Innsbrook weren't plowed. I almost got stuck (how embarassing would that have been since I was showing homes). So lesson learn and I do miss my SUV. If gas prices were lower, I might trade my sedan in for a new SUV.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Winter driving in St. Louis
As a former SUV owner, I loved driving in the snow. The weather we had yesterday was not snow, it was freezing rain and sleet. It doesn't matter what kind of car you own, you will slip and slide if you travel too fast and have to suddenly slow down. Be considerate to your fellow drivers and don't think that your SUV can't slip and slide with the best of them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
