With the recent signing of the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, it’s an ideal time to buy a new home. If you are a first-time homebuyer and close on a home before December 1, 2009, you could receive a tax credit of up to $8,000.
With historic low interest rates, you’re now closer than you think to achieving the dream of homeownership. Call Heidi Rose today at 274-9210 for your next step….
Monday, June 29, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Help for Homebuyers! in Edmond Oklahoma or anywhere!
Seven steps to buying your home
1. Define your needs.
Congratulations on your decision to purchase a new home! It is important to select a professional real estate agent to work with you before you begin house hunting, so that your agent can help you define what kind of home and neighborhood would best suit your desires and needs. The finer the details on your wish list, the more effective your home search will be. To further define your needs, you may want to divide your lists into negotiable and non-negotiable items, so your agent can operate with some flexibility when scouting for homes on your behalf.
2. Get preapproved.
Now that you know what you want in a home and neighborhood, you need to find out what you can afford. The best way to do this is to get prequalification or preapproval for a home loan. Your real estate agent can refer you to a mortgage broker to begin the process. In most markets, preapproved buyers are preferred by sellers over those who are prequalified. Your preapproved status lets the seller know:
You have gone through an extensive financial background check.
A lender is willing to do business with you.
The likelihood of unexpected obstacles regarding financing is minimal.
3. Let the house hunting begin!
Now you are ready to embark on your home search — an endeavor that can prove overwhelming if not approached with some forethought. The most efficient route is to allow your real estate agent to do the initial scouting for you. Using your wish list as a guide, he or she will alert you of new and existing listings that have strong potential. If these listings pique your interest, your agent will arrange home tours at your convenience. Many agents send alerts via email — sometimes as often as daily, depending on the available inventory in your market. Let your agent know how you’d like to receive these alerts, whether by phone, email or fax.
You also can do some research on your own. Read local real estate publications, contact your local neighborhood associations, visit the local chamber of commerce, surf the Internet, or drive around your favorite neighborhoods. While these methods certainly can lead to your dream home, it’s important to note that 82 percent of home sales are the result of agent connections.* That means it’s more likely your agent will find your dream home through being in the real estate business than you driving around on the weekends.
* National Association of REALTORS®
4. Make an offer.
When you’re ready to make an offer on a home, your real estate agent will help you determine the offer price by reviewing recent sales of homes similar in size, quality and amenities. With your input, your agent will draft a written contract that outlines what needs to be done by both parties to execute the transaction. If the seller accepts the offer, the document becomes a binding agreement, so it is imperative that you carefully review it with your agent and speak up if anything is not clear to you. It’s important to note that if the seller changes any aspect of the offer, it is not a binding agreement until the buyer agrees to the seller’s changes.
5. Strike a deal.
Sometimes, you get lucky and the seller accepts your offer as is. However, in most instances, the seller will make a counteroffer. This is where your real estate agent’s experience in negotiations will be invaluable. Keep in mind almost everything is negotiable when you are buying a house. This can give you a great deal of leverage in the buying process — that is, if you have adequate information and you use it in an appropriate manner.
Some items you may negotiate:
Price
Financing
Closing costs
Move-in date
Repairs
Appliances and fixtures
Landscaping
Painting
Remain in close contact with your real estate agent so you can quickly review any changes from the seller. Remember: Bargaining is not a winner-take-all deal. It is a business process that involves compromise and mutual respect.
6. Prepare for the closing.
When an offer becomes a binding agreement, your real estate agent will help you tackle the checklist of action items that you, as the buyer, have agreed to perform prior to closing. Depending on how the responsibilities are divvied up in the agreement, this is typically when you will:
Conduct a home inspection.
Get an appraisal and finalize your financing.
Secure title insurance.
Shop for a home warranty.
Having these procedures done in a timely and professional manner is a must, as any delays could threaten a successful closing. A first-rate real estate agent should be able to serve as your “one-stop shopping” referral source for service providers. Your agent also should serve as your advocate, helping to coordinate activities and making sure the vendors have access to the property to perform their jobs.
7. Close the deal.
Congratulations! The moment you’ve been anticipating has arrived. The closing is where home ownership is legally transferred from the seller to the buyer. It is a formal meeting that most parties involved in the transaction will attend. Closing procedures usually are held at the title company’s or lawyer’s office. The closing officer will coordinate all the document signing and the collection and disbursement of funds.
In advance of your closing date (24 hours at minimum), your lender will send a final closing statement that outlines your closing costs, if applicable. Your real estate agent will review this document with you to ensure its accuracy, as well as help you gather any necessary documentation that you’ll need to bring to closing.
1. Define your needs.
Congratulations on your decision to purchase a new home! It is important to select a professional real estate agent to work with you before you begin house hunting, so that your agent can help you define what kind of home and neighborhood would best suit your desires and needs. The finer the details on your wish list, the more effective your home search will be. To further define your needs, you may want to divide your lists into negotiable and non-negotiable items, so your agent can operate with some flexibility when scouting for homes on your behalf.
2. Get preapproved.
Now that you know what you want in a home and neighborhood, you need to find out what you can afford. The best way to do this is to get prequalification or preapproval for a home loan. Your real estate agent can refer you to a mortgage broker to begin the process. In most markets, preapproved buyers are preferred by sellers over those who are prequalified. Your preapproved status lets the seller know:
You have gone through an extensive financial background check.
A lender is willing to do business with you.
The likelihood of unexpected obstacles regarding financing is minimal.
3. Let the house hunting begin!
Now you are ready to embark on your home search — an endeavor that can prove overwhelming if not approached with some forethought. The most efficient route is to allow your real estate agent to do the initial scouting for you. Using your wish list as a guide, he or she will alert you of new and existing listings that have strong potential. If these listings pique your interest, your agent will arrange home tours at your convenience. Many agents send alerts via email — sometimes as often as daily, depending on the available inventory in your market. Let your agent know how you’d like to receive these alerts, whether by phone, email or fax.
You also can do some research on your own. Read local real estate publications, contact your local neighborhood associations, visit the local chamber of commerce, surf the Internet, or drive around your favorite neighborhoods. While these methods certainly can lead to your dream home, it’s important to note that 82 percent of home sales are the result of agent connections.* That means it’s more likely your agent will find your dream home through being in the real estate business than you driving around on the weekends.
* National Association of REALTORS®
4. Make an offer.
When you’re ready to make an offer on a home, your real estate agent will help you determine the offer price by reviewing recent sales of homes similar in size, quality and amenities. With your input, your agent will draft a written contract that outlines what needs to be done by both parties to execute the transaction. If the seller accepts the offer, the document becomes a binding agreement, so it is imperative that you carefully review it with your agent and speak up if anything is not clear to you. It’s important to note that if the seller changes any aspect of the offer, it is not a binding agreement until the buyer agrees to the seller’s changes.
5. Strike a deal.
Sometimes, you get lucky and the seller accepts your offer as is. However, in most instances, the seller will make a counteroffer. This is where your real estate agent’s experience in negotiations will be invaluable. Keep in mind almost everything is negotiable when you are buying a house. This can give you a great deal of leverage in the buying process — that is, if you have adequate information and you use it in an appropriate manner.
Some items you may negotiate:
Price
Financing
Closing costs
Move-in date
Repairs
Appliances and fixtures
Landscaping
Painting
Remain in close contact with your real estate agent so you can quickly review any changes from the seller. Remember: Bargaining is not a winner-take-all deal. It is a business process that involves compromise and mutual respect.
6. Prepare for the closing.
When an offer becomes a binding agreement, your real estate agent will help you tackle the checklist of action items that you, as the buyer, have agreed to perform prior to closing. Depending on how the responsibilities are divvied up in the agreement, this is typically when you will:
Conduct a home inspection.
Get an appraisal and finalize your financing.
Secure title insurance.
Shop for a home warranty.
Having these procedures done in a timely and professional manner is a must, as any delays could threaten a successful closing. A first-rate real estate agent should be able to serve as your “one-stop shopping” referral source for service providers. Your agent also should serve as your advocate, helping to coordinate activities and making sure the vendors have access to the property to perform their jobs.
7. Close the deal.
Congratulations! The moment you’ve been anticipating has arrived. The closing is where home ownership is legally transferred from the seller to the buyer. It is a formal meeting that most parties involved in the transaction will attend. Closing procedures usually are held at the title company’s or lawyer’s office. The closing officer will coordinate all the document signing and the collection and disbursement of funds.
In advance of your closing date (24 hours at minimum), your lender will send a final closing statement that outlines your closing costs, if applicable. Your real estate agent will review this document with you to ensure its accuracy, as well as help you gather any necessary documentation that you’ll need to bring to closing.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Real Estate Sellers Helpful hints!
Just came across this article and liked its content and wanted to share with anyone looking to sell. If I can help please call me!!! 513-6212.
Emotions Sell!!
3 simple, steps to setting the scene and getting the sale
by Sandy Dixon,
The old adage that ‘location, location, location’ sells a house may still hold true, however just as significant to the buying decision is ‘emotion, emotion, emotion’. The human mind loves images and emotion and buyers in particular, are extremely visual when it comes to deciding on the ideal property to purchase. It frequently happens that if buyers do not like the appearance of a property at curbside, they will refuse to even look inside. So it is crucial that agents and sellers have a detailed strategy for showcasing the property.
Capturing the interest of buyers can be as simple as creating visual ‘cues’ or scenes both inside and outside the property that will trigger a positive response to what they are seeing. The key to success is to make certain that the setting presented is relevant to the majority of buyers and will both capture and maintain their interest.
So where do you start? It’s as simple as 1-2-3… PLAN-POSITION-PROMOTE.
#1 Plan:
Educate sellers upfront. Providing ‘full service’ means offering professional advice, suggestions and remedies when needed, to your sellers. If you are uncomfortable discussing topics relating to cleanliness, clutter or style, provide the services of a real estate stager as part of your listing package. Their expertise in preparing homes for sale and consulting with sellers can be invaluable and timely with regard to staying ahead of the competition
Stay true to the function of the space. Buyers get confused when rooms are not used for their intended purpose. If it’s a dining room, make certain there is dining room furniture and not office, game or toy related items taking over the space. Master bedrooms need to look like master bedrooms and secondary bedrooms should not take on the function of a storage room.
Net it out. Sellers tend to lose their objectivity after living in a home a long time. They become oblivious to what surrounds them. It is imperative, if buyers are to envision themselves living in the property, that the seller’s ‘imprint’ be removed. In order to eliminate sensory and visible overload, everything that is not used on a daily basis, is obsolete or redundant (multiple tables, chairs, etc.) should be removed from all rooms---and don’t forget the outside of the property. Remember that first impressions are lasting!
#2 Position:
Ambiance is the goal. Freshly painted walls, sparkling windows and light fixtures, carpets that are cleaned, uncluttered surfaces and fresh scents all contribute to creating a positive first impression. However, going one step further and creating a ‘call to action’ by adding some well thought out props will help the buyers feel connected to the property and envision themselves living there.
Top props for setting inviting scenes:
Fresh flowers near entry, on dining room table or on bedside table
One or two books on a chair or ottoman, bedside table or on a chaise lounge overlooking a pleasant view
Teacup and saucer w/napkin on a chair side table or on a tray that can be placed on an ottoman or bed
Bath salts and candles on a tub surround
Afghan draped across a chair near a fireplace
Bowl of fresh fruit on kitchen counter or table
Bottle of wine and glasses on a tray by a fireplace
Full place settings (placemats, napkins, dinnerware) on dining tables---inside and outside.
Soft background music
Game board set up on table in family room
Vignettes tell a story. A vignette is a ‘mini scene’ or themed arrangement and is used frequently to create a specific mood. They are quite useful when it comes to helping buyers see the potential of a property. A vignette can be as simple as a music stand with sheet music opened and a violin propped up against it---and don’t forget to have soft, classical music playing in the background. More frequently vignettes are comprised of one or two chairs, a small table in between with a lamp, a couple of books and some greenery. For an added burst of color and texture, an area rug can be added to the arrangement. If there is a view to highlight, position one or two chairs, ottoman, floor lamp and greenery along with two wine glasses and bottle of wine to visually help the buyers imagine relaxing and enjoying the view. Bottom line, determine the best features of the property and set the stage to highlight them.
#3 Promote:
Photos and virtual tours: Emotions can also be triggered with eye-catching visuals in your marketing materials. Include the scenes you’ve set in various areas inside and outside the property.
Open houses: (both broker and public). Have a fire burning in the fireplace in the fall and winter; open windows and patio doors to let the outdoors in whenever possible. The sound of water coming from indoor and outdoor fountains elicit a comfortable and inviting feeling to visitors.
Computer program or cue cards: If the property is challenged with a confusing floor plan or has rooms that can be used in a variety of ways, S-P-E-L-L is out for the buyers! Use ‘cue’ cards in those areas to suggest the multiple uses for a room and post the cards where they are easily visible in the room. A more dramatic and highly effective tool would be to use a computer program to draw one or two possible remodeling floor plans and attach to the door of the problem room. Buyers can’t make changes mentally and tend to think remedies might be impossible until they see potential layouts visually laid out for them.
‘Seeing is believing’ and ‘what you see is what you get’ both address the fact that our visual intake has a direct effect on our emotional assessment of things, which in turn, determines the actions we take. The National Association of Realtors statistics show that the longer a home is on the market, the less it sells for…which should send a strong message to sellers. Take action upfront and do everything possible to help buyers not only see the best features of the property, but to emotionally see themselves living there.
Remember…emotion sells!
Emotions Sell!!
3 simple, steps to setting the scene and getting the sale
by Sandy Dixon,
The old adage that ‘location, location, location’ sells a house may still hold true, however just as significant to the buying decision is ‘emotion, emotion, emotion’. The human mind loves images and emotion and buyers in particular, are extremely visual when it comes to deciding on the ideal property to purchase. It frequently happens that if buyers do not like the appearance of a property at curbside, they will refuse to even look inside. So it is crucial that agents and sellers have a detailed strategy for showcasing the property.
Capturing the interest of buyers can be as simple as creating visual ‘cues’ or scenes both inside and outside the property that will trigger a positive response to what they are seeing. The key to success is to make certain that the setting presented is relevant to the majority of buyers and will both capture and maintain their interest.
So where do you start? It’s as simple as 1-2-3… PLAN-POSITION-PROMOTE.
#1 Plan:
Educate sellers upfront. Providing ‘full service’ means offering professional advice, suggestions and remedies when needed, to your sellers. If you are uncomfortable discussing topics relating to cleanliness, clutter or style, provide the services of a real estate stager as part of your listing package. Their expertise in preparing homes for sale and consulting with sellers can be invaluable and timely with regard to staying ahead of the competition
Stay true to the function of the space. Buyers get confused when rooms are not used for their intended purpose. If it’s a dining room, make certain there is dining room furniture and not office, game or toy related items taking over the space. Master bedrooms need to look like master bedrooms and secondary bedrooms should not take on the function of a storage room.
Net it out. Sellers tend to lose their objectivity after living in a home a long time. They become oblivious to what surrounds them. It is imperative, if buyers are to envision themselves living in the property, that the seller’s ‘imprint’ be removed. In order to eliminate sensory and visible overload, everything that is not used on a daily basis, is obsolete or redundant (multiple tables, chairs, etc.) should be removed from all rooms---and don’t forget the outside of the property. Remember that first impressions are lasting!
#2 Position:
Ambiance is the goal. Freshly painted walls, sparkling windows and light fixtures, carpets that are cleaned, uncluttered surfaces and fresh scents all contribute to creating a positive first impression. However, going one step further and creating a ‘call to action’ by adding some well thought out props will help the buyers feel connected to the property and envision themselves living there.
Top props for setting inviting scenes:
Fresh flowers near entry, on dining room table or on bedside table
One or two books on a chair or ottoman, bedside table or on a chaise lounge overlooking a pleasant view
Teacup and saucer w/napkin on a chair side table or on a tray that can be placed on an ottoman or bed
Bath salts and candles on a tub surround
Afghan draped across a chair near a fireplace
Bowl of fresh fruit on kitchen counter or table
Bottle of wine and glasses on a tray by a fireplace
Full place settings (placemats, napkins, dinnerware) on dining tables---inside and outside.
Soft background music
Game board set up on table in family room
Vignettes tell a story. A vignette is a ‘mini scene’ or themed arrangement and is used frequently to create a specific mood. They are quite useful when it comes to helping buyers see the potential of a property. A vignette can be as simple as a music stand with sheet music opened and a violin propped up against it---and don’t forget to have soft, classical music playing in the background. More frequently vignettes are comprised of one or two chairs, a small table in between with a lamp, a couple of books and some greenery. For an added burst of color and texture, an area rug can be added to the arrangement. If there is a view to highlight, position one or two chairs, ottoman, floor lamp and greenery along with two wine glasses and bottle of wine to visually help the buyers imagine relaxing and enjoying the view. Bottom line, determine the best features of the property and set the stage to highlight them.
#3 Promote:
Photos and virtual tours: Emotions can also be triggered with eye-catching visuals in your marketing materials. Include the scenes you’ve set in various areas inside and outside the property.
Open houses: (both broker and public). Have a fire burning in the fireplace in the fall and winter; open windows and patio doors to let the outdoors in whenever possible. The sound of water coming from indoor and outdoor fountains elicit a comfortable and inviting feeling to visitors.
Computer program or cue cards: If the property is challenged with a confusing floor plan or has rooms that can be used in a variety of ways, S-P-E-L-L is out for the buyers! Use ‘cue’ cards in those areas to suggest the multiple uses for a room and post the cards where they are easily visible in the room. A more dramatic and highly effective tool would be to use a computer program to draw one or two possible remodeling floor plans and attach to the door of the problem room. Buyers can’t make changes mentally and tend to think remedies might be impossible until they see potential layouts visually laid out for them.
‘Seeing is believing’ and ‘what you see is what you get’ both address the fact that our visual intake has a direct effect on our emotional assessment of things, which in turn, determines the actions we take. The National Association of Realtors statistics show that the longer a home is on the market, the less it sells for…which should send a strong message to sellers. Take action upfront and do everything possible to help buyers not only see the best features of the property, but to emotionally see themselves living there.
Remember…emotion sells!
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