Michigan Real Estate Blog

When you are selling a higher-priced home, the buyers you are dealing with are probably more experienced and won’t be first-time home buyers. As experienced buyers, they know the process and might not need a real estate agent to walk them through the sale. When you list your home as FSBO, you can save money on the commission, but sellers still need to be willing to work with buyers’ agents. Watch this Expert Real Estate Tips video for more FSBO advice from experienced FSBO sellers.

7 tips to help you speed up your home sale. Interview with Paige Martin (owner of www.houstonproperties.com and Houston Realtor with Martha Turner Properties) and Carrie Pacini (CEO of http Walks through some of the most success real estate tips from www.houstonproperties.com

Home sellers don’t have to get stuck with selling their home with a traditional real estate agent or broker. They can try listing the home themselves as “For Sale By Owner.” Selling a home yourself can be tricky, but with more people using the Internet to search for and buy homes, websites like FSBO.com can help make the job easier. Watch this Expert Real Estate Tips Video to learn more about “For Sale By Owner.”

Making a bid on a home for sale requires researching comparable houses to ensure a reasonable price. Bid on a home for sale with tips from a licensed agent in this free video on real estate. Expert: Richard Blake Bio: Richard Blake is a licensed real estate agent that has closed more than 20 times the number of transactions per year than that of the average realtor for the last three years. Filmmaker: Christopher Rokosz

Buying a foreclosure or short sale is basically the same as buying any property on the housing market. You may be able to get a good deal on a foreclosure or short sale if the market is full, but the market value and property value in your area will drive the pricing and financing the loan. Watch this Expert Real Estate Tips video for more information about short sales and buying a foreclosure.

A guide and tips on how home owners can to prepare their property for sale.

Short sale real estate involves the lender taking a lower purchase price than the current mortgage. Learn how to short sale real estateusing the real estate tips in this free video. Expert: Richard Blake Bio: Richard Blake is a licensed real estate agent that has closed more than 20 times the number of transactions per year than that of the average realtor for the last three years. Filmmaker: Christopher Rokosz

Closing on the sale of the home you are buying requires meeting with your loan office to finalize loan details. Close on the sale of a home withtips from a licensed agent in this free video on real estate. Expert: Richard Blake Bio: Richard Blake is a licensed real estate agent that has closed more than 20 times the number of transactions per year than that of the average realtor for the last three years. Filmmaker: Christopher Rokosz

Anyone can sell their home themselves and make a better profit than if they would have used a Real Estate agent.  However, often times your worst enemy is yourself.  Humans have a natural instinct to sabotage our own work and this is true in the for sale by owner game also. Here are some tips on how to be successful at selling your house.

1.       Keep A Positive Mind – If you’ve done your homework, priced your home right, learned everything you have to do at closing you are ready to sell your home yourself.  Be confident it that.

 Now is the time when negative individuals are sure to come to you with horror stories about themselves or people they know whose sale by owner attempts were a disaster.  They may try and convince you that it’s too hard to sell your house yourself or that you’re not ready. Don’t buy into it. If the stories they tell seem true bear in mind that those people obviously did not properly prepare to sell their home and that you are prepared.

 It is a little scary the first time you sell a house yourself but you must remain confident, and appear to be professional to all interested buyers. If you’re not confident the at least act as thought you are. One of the key steps to selling your home yourself is to stay in control of the situation.  Showing a lack of confidence or nervousness now will open the door for a buyer or his agent to take control of the situation. You can’t allow that.

 2.       Talk Like A Pro – One of the keys to a good sales person is to continually put the focus on the buyer. You do not want to talk about what you did in the house but rather what they can do. “You will love the pool”. “Here is where you can do your laundry”. Help them see themselves as the home owners.

 Listen very closely to the questions they ask, and try and figure out what it is the really want to know before answering. If they ask you if there is a park nearby, find out if they have kids or grandkids first. You may assume that they are hoping for a park, but in reality may not want to live near a park for fear of the noise. Once you know what they’re looking for you can answer accordingly. “Yes, there is but the children in this neighborhood are very well behaved and you can barely hear the park.”

3.     Look Like a Pro – When doing a sale by owner, or FSBO, property sale you do not want to show up to sell your home in your sweatpants and a dirty T-shirt.  Buyers may already be a little concerned buying directly from the owner, if they stop by to see the home and you have to stop mowing the lawn to show the property and are covered in sweat, you’ll make it worse.

This also goes back to them not seeing you as the home owner but as the person that is here to help them buy the property.  Dress nice but not like a high dollar trial lawyer.

 4.       Think Like a Pro – If you’ve done your research, you should know all the correct steps for selling real estate. Use that knowledge to think like a pro. Get yourself geared up before each showing. Remember that you know the house better than anyone else, you can answer any questions they have and that you are here to sell your house and that they are ready to buy it. And if they choose not to buy it then someone else will. Keep that confident thinking throughout the process.

5.       Act Like A Pro – A professional real estate agent is helpful, provides guidance to the buyer and never does the hard sell. Always greet your buyers with a handshake, get their first names and you their first names often in your conversations. An old trick to getting prospective buyers to find you relaxing.

  When they are looking at your home start them off in by doing an initial walkthrough to the key features of the house but quickly allow them the freedom to explore the home unsupervised so that they can talk freely.  During your initial walk ask a few questions about them, like where they are living now etc, items you can make small talk about.  Let them know where you will be if they have any questions.

 Make sure they leave will any printed information that you have about the house, especially where they can reach you if they have any questions. Always be polite and never be defensive about any flaws they find in the home. It’s not personal, don’t react like it is, it is simply part of the buying process.

Vist this site for some tips  how to close the For Sale By Owner Real Estate deal.

Short sale real estate references selling property for less than the balance owed on the mortgage loan. This type of transaction is occasionally offered to borrowers who have become delinquent on their home loan and can no longer afford mortgage payments. In order to avoid the expense associated with foreclosure, banks allow borrowers to sell their house at a reduced price.

Entering into short sale real estate contracts is a lengthy process. Oftentimes, borrowers enlist assistance from a real estate lawyer, realty agent, or short sale specialist. However, borrowers must obtain approval from their lender before listing their home as a short sale property.

Not all banks engage in short selling. Those that do require borrowers to prove they are financially insolvent and unable to fulfill their financial obligation. Short sales are generally reserved for borrowers who do not possess home equity and owe more than their home is worth.

In some instances, banks will grant short sale approval to borrowers who possess home equity and are current on loan payments. Borrowers facing financial challenges due to the death of a spouse, divorce or terminal illness might qualify for real estate short sale.

The first step involves contacting the bank′s loss mitigation department. Loss mitigators usually attempt to qualify borrowers for loan modifications to help them remain in their home. If short selling is an option, borrowers must submit financial and real estate documents to their assigned loss mitigator.

Although short sale protocol varies by lender, most require the same financial documents. Short sale packets consist of legal forms, financial records and a letter of hardship. These documents can be your ticket to financial freedom.

Take time to review the information, fill out every form, double-check everything twice, have a real estate attorney review the documents, and make certain to return the packet on time. Do not lie or exaggerate information. Providing false financial information in a real estate transaction is a federal offense which carries a penalty of jail time and expensive fines.

The short sale hardship letter could very well be the most important letter you will ever write. Hardship letters give borrowers the opportunity to explain circumstances that caused them to become delinquent on their home mortgage loan.

Letters of hardship should be written in chronological order, outlining events that caused financial problems. It is important to list any action taken to overcome financial challenges. If you discontinued cable TV and cut up credit cards, state these facts in the hardship letter.

Once short sale approval is obtained, borrowers are required to sell their property within a specified timeframe. Most lenders require borrowers to have a prequalified buyer in place before authorizing a short sale transaction. Others grant borrowers’ time to list their property through a realtor. If the property is not sold by the deadline, lenders commence with foreclosure action.

One lesser known option for selling foreclosure short sale real estate is to seek out private investors. Many real estate investors are familiar with short selling and can assist throughout the process.

Before signing short sale contracts, be certain to inquire which type of short sale agreement is offered. Some mortgage lenders hold borrowers responsible for the deficiency amount of the sale price and loan balance. If borrowers are unable to pay the amount in full, lenders obtain a court authorized judgment which remains on credit reports until restitution is paid in full.

Other banks accept the sale price as payment in full and do not hold borrowers responsible for the deficiency. This is referred to as Payment in Full without Pursuit of Deficiency Judgment. Obviously, this is the preferred short sale real estate option.

Many people are entering into for sale by owner real estate agreements than ever before. With property sales at an all-time low and millions of homes for sale, the real estate market is oversaturated making it difficult to sell properties for profit.

Listing property as for sale by owner real estate allows homeowners to reduce the sale price to attract buyers. FSBO offers benefits to both seller and buyer and saves both parties thousands of dollars in realtor commissions. However, property owners who choose this option should become educated about the process. Otherwise, they could place their property at risk.

The Internet offers a wealth of for sale by owner tips, information and resources. Sellers can download real estate contracts, order FSBO education kits, locate real estate lawyers, and join real estate networking groups to share tips or connect with potential buyers.  Numerous websites exist where sellers can list FSBO real estate for a nominal fee.

It is important to determine property value before placing a ‘for sale by owner’ sign in front of your home. Property values are determined based on location, condition, amenities, and sale price of comparable homes in the area. It is best to hire a professional real estate appraiser to obtain an accurate assessment.

A home inspection is required to locate potential problems and provide time to make necessary repairs. Home inspections are required before closing can occur, so it is best to hire a home inspector before listing the FSBO realty.

Take time to become familiar with real estate contracts. Learn how to negotiate terms of the sale and understand legalese of closing and settlement documents. It is best to retain the services of a real estate lawyer to review for sale by owner real estate contracts and ensure they are legally binding and properly executed.

At present, real estate is a buyer’s market. It is important to prepare the home and make it better than other homes for sale in the area. This might involve deep cleaning, repairing or replacing broken items, or painting the interior and exterior of the house. Remember the exterior is the first thing buyers see, so take time to make the outside shine.

One for sale by owner tip that might expedite the sale of your home is to host a yard sale. Not only can you sell items no longer needed, you can inform visitors the home is for sale.

Create informative flyers to hand out to visitors. Include pictures and details of the house, along with the sale price and contact information. Talk to everyone who arrives at the yard sale and ask them to let others know about the property sale.

Consider offering a finder′s fee to generate excitement about telling others about your home. Be prepared to show the house to interested parties. One couple used this strategy and sold their home on the spot during their yard sale. If it can happen to them, it can happen to you.

Selling real estate without a realtor can be overwhelming. Keep in mind it is not necessary to do everything alone. Hire professionals to perform various tasks. If you do not understand contracts, hire a real estate attorney. If you don’t have time to paint, hire a painting company. If you dislike cleaning, hire a cleaning crew.

For sale by owner real estate places everything in your hands. If you invest time in becoming educated about the FSBO process before listing your property, you can save yourself a lot of stress and money. Education is the key to selling your home, so don’t skimp on the process. Otherwise, you could learn a painful and costly lesson.

If you are currently in the market to purchase Austin real estate, you may be one of the many buyers who are considering the purchase of a condo for sale. As with any property, there are advantages and disadvantages to owning a condo. In most cases however, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. Condo owners enjoy low-maintenance living, often with resort-style amenities which are typically only offered in more upscale single family home and golf course communities. Condo communities also usually have a ‘condo association’ which takes care of building and common area maintenance, as well as security on the property. If you are considering the purchase of one of the many Austin condos for sale, below are a few tips to help make the decision-making process easier.

Research the Location

One of the first things you will want to do is research the location. Location is extremely important to ensuring your new Austin condo will retain its resale value. If you purchase an Austin condo in a neighborhood that is already popular, you are almost ensuring the resale value and if you purchase in an up & coming neighborhood, you will likely do just as well. The latter is always a riskier strategy for purchasing an Austin condo for sale.

Avoid Cookie Cutter Austin Condos

Unless you plan on living in your new condo for the rest of your days, it is also important to avoid purchasing a condo without any unique features. These are referred to as “cookie cutter” because they look the same as a thousand other condos on the market. When purchasing your Austin condo, look for something that makes it stand out such as an amazing view, luxury items such as granite countertops or hardwood floors, or environmentally friendly or ‘green’ features like bamboo floors or recycled glass countertops. Anything that can make the condo unique will help its resale value in the future.

Old vs. New

Though it may always seem like a good idea to purchase a brand new Austin condo, instead of an existing condo for sale, this may not always be the case. You have to consider that it is more difficult to resell a condo in a brand new community if many of the units are still vacant. Though new condos are more likely to have the latest upgrades and amenities, an older condo may offer more appeal due to its location or the fact that the community is already established.

Condo Association

You must definitely find out what kind of condo association the community has. Find out what types of restrictions the community has as far as parking, guests, etc. It is important that you can live within the community rules to ensure a happy existence in your new Austin condo.

Following these tips should help you make the decision about whether or not buying a condo is the right choice for you.