Archive for the ‘House’ category

Unscrupulous Realtors

July 27th, 2011

As a real estate agent I am horrified with some of the things that other agents do to make a sale. I began my career after having a couple of these agents literally lie and deceive me on the sale of a home myself and decided that someone needs to be out there for buyers and sellers that will handle their clients fairly and honestly.

Now that I have been in the business for ten years I am outraged at what I see out there and want everyone to be sure their agent is really being upfront, honest and handling your transaction the way you deserve to be handled.

I have seen homes that should be on the market, open to all buyers and their agents being held back by the list agent while they tried to get their own buyers to have first shot at making an offer on the home. This goes for a recent encounter of an agent that lists hundreds of foreclosed homes for the banks and keeps some of the homes from being actively on the multiple listing system in hopes their own team members can procure a buyer and double dip. They have held these homes from other buyers and agents for up to thirty days. If the bank knew this kind of business was happening with their foreclosed homes they would lose the privilege of listing hundreds of homes and making thousands of dollars. This is a disgrace to the business and honest agents.

Agents have produced false documentation on repairs that were to be made on a home but the repairs have actually not been made but receipts produced showing the repairs have been made. Imagine being the buyer, finding out months or years later that a repair that was to be made was never actually done. This type of behavior is an embarrassment to all of us in the business. These agents continue to act this way and I have personally run into the same agent over the course of many years continue to falsify documents, mis-represent homes and documents.

When you go to hire a real estate agent do not think that just because they are a huge known agent with a large team that your transaction is being handled with the utmost care and with complete honesty. Unfortunately, some of these bigger agents bully their way through a transaction and do not seem to care how many rules they are breaking. Be particular, pick wisely and watch out for this type of behavior.

Nancy Niblett is a highly successful Real Estate Agent specializing in the Chandler area. She credits her success to hard work, integrity and honesty. » Read more: Unscrupulous Realtors

Real Estate – Getting the Right Home

July 4th, 2011

When you are in the market for real estate, you want to find the right home to meet your lifestyle and fall within your budget. It may seem somewhat overwhelming at first. It may seem like there are homes for sale everywhere. Some are easy to rule out, but there will most likely be a long list of homes left for you to consider. There are ways to make the search for your new home easier.

Before you begin looking, the most important step in your search is to sit down and decide exactly what you are looking for. How big should it be? How many bedrooms and bathrooms? Do you want a big back yard or are you looking for a condominium? Are you concerned with local schools or are you looking for a dog park close by?

Once you have made a good list of what you need in a new home, then you must decide on your price range or budget. Consult an experienced mortgage broker to find out what you can afford.

It’s easier to go through a real estate agent. They can guide you through the entire process including referring you to a good mortgage broker, assisting you in the search, helping you evaluate your options and negotiating the purchase. With your list and your budget information, the realtor will know exactly what to show you. The more specific you can be, the easier your search will be. With a real estate map, you can pick neighbourhoods that fit your lifestyle needs and narrow your search!

If you are going to look on your own, there are more ways to find real estate listings than just looking in the local newspaper. You might look for a kiosk that carries real estate listing magazines. You can also look online, as this can save you a lot of time and money and eliminate some possibilities before you begin your journey. Both will give you the specifics of square footage, number of rooms, bedroom and baths, information about the area and the asking price. You might also want to look for power of sale or home auction opportunities. This may be a way to find something more affordable.

Whether you are looking for a new home in the city or one of the towns in the surrounding area, the real estate map will be invaluable. You don’t want to waste time driving around lost. If you have made an appointment to see a home, you don’t want to keep other people waiting. They may become impatient and have to leave for other appointments. You don’t need to learn real estate or become a master of it to buy your dream property; rather all you need to do is find the right real estate agent!

Buying a new home is one of the biggest purchases that most people will ever make. » Read more: Real Estate – Getting the Right Home