Real Estate Networks

As a Professional Home Stager serving the Orlando and Central Florida area, I have ample opportunity to view homes and observe what to do, and what not to do to sell your home. Below is a list that outlines the three biggest things you need to be aware of when preparing your home for a sale.

1. De-Personalize-Remove all items of a PERSONAL, RELIGIOUS, or POLITICAL nature. This means family trees come down, as do flags, framed pictures of the last supper, all of the framed family photos as well as pet photos. Your wedding photos, baby’s photos and last year’s family reunion all need to be packed up and stored until you reach your new home.

This is done to remove any negative feelings that could be stirred up by religious or political items. Remember, these things are near and dear to your heart, but they may not be to the potential buyer. It is best to keep these items tucked away as to not hurt your own chances to sell your home. You don’t want to be remembered as “That house that had all Jewish stuff in it.” This is an example, by no means am I putting down the Jewish people. Again, remember, it may be your home now but the point is for a potential buyer to come in and feel at home so they will make an offer. The same holds true for personal memorabilia. As much as you are proud of your child’s soccer abilities, the buyer doesn’t want to see that, nor do they want to see your wedding pictures and your six-year-old child’s baby photos. They don’t want to feel that they are visiting your home, but rather they could envision moving in and feeling at home themselves.

2. De-Clutter- I cannot stress this enough-cluttered homes look messy and dirty, even if they are not dirty! Clutter is an overabundance of stuff that usually doesn’t have a proper home and therefore gets shoved wherever it will fit. Do remove all personal toiletries from the bathroom counters as well as any prescription medication and cleaning products. This room should feel like a spa soothing and relaxing, not counters covered in toothpaste, kids bath toys, makeup and perfume bottles. Sadly, this is what I see a lot of!

Do not use a guest bedroom or office as a dumping ground! Streamline and remove anything that does not belong. Nick-knacks are what I think of immediately when I think of clutter. Tiny figurines, kitchen counters filled with canisters, appliances, dishes, plants all taking up valuable counter space. Clutter will kill your sale every time. Statistically 93% of buyers cannot see beyond bad décor, clutter, dirt, poor color choices and the like. Literally box stuff up, throw stuff out and try to make your home look more like a model show home for a few weeks rather than the really lived-in look.

3. Curb Appeal- Really I should have listed this one first because if a buyer doesn’t like the look of the outside of your home, there is a good chance they are not booking a showing to come inside! Sometimes less is more, so if you have lots of bushes and trees making your home look dark, creepy and unapproachable, you might want to call a tree service to cut them all back. Likewise, if you have not greenery your home will look boring and bare. Invest in 2 large urns and fill them with colorful flowers. You can have some cascading down the side. I recommend having one on each side of the front entry door and if you can, place a filled urn on either side of the garage.

Make sure your grass is cut well and edged and that all hedges are trimmed and even. If your grass is looking less than green try planting some grass seed all over and water well with Miracle Grow fertilizer. In less than 2 weeks new green grass will grow through. If it is a burnt patch, get out the green spray paint! I’m not kidding. In addition to this if you have a porch, add a park bench or 2 wicker chairs and a small table in between creating a cozy ambience. Don’t be afraid to use lots of colorful flowers and remember to water religiously!

Part of curb appeal is not just landscape but it is also the appearance of your home. Pay attention to the condition of the paint on your front door, shutters, and garage door. If it needs to be repainted, sand it and give it a fresh coat! You could also add a simple but stated wreath to the front door and of course a welcome mat.

**One Last Tip!** When having your Realtor take photos to display for the website and/or MLS, ask to check them out before they are posted. Sadly, the majority of photos I’ve seen are less than enticing. You want to look for photos that are light, bright and show the warmth of your home. I see photos of shower doors and small corners of a bedroom and terrible yard photos. You might think, well my home shows better than the photos so who cares. Well, you might care if you knew 75% of all homes purchased were viewed online first! What does this mean? You’d better have some darn good photos to get those buyers in for a look!

Karla Davis is the President of Florida Home Staging & Redesign. She is a Home Stager, Professional Organizer, Interior Re-designer, as well as Public Speaker. She specializes in Staging and Organizing homes, office spaces and has over 10 years of experience and success within inside/outside Sales and Marketing. Karla is also the wife of Author, Paul Davis and is currently writing two books of her own. Karla’s life mission is to positively transform the homes and lives of everyone she meets.

Please contact Karla for your Home Staging, Interior Redesign, or Professional Organizing needs at:

Karla Davis
Florida Home Staging & Redesign
Professional Home Stager
P.O. Box 684
Goldenrod, FL 32733
Tel: (407) 284-1705
mailto:Karla@FloridaHomeStager.com Karla@FloridaHomeStager.com
FloridaHomeStager.com FloridaHomeStager.com

Home Staging for the Serious Seller!

activerain.com/floridahomestager activerain.com/floridahomestager

Weather can affect the business of doing real estate. With the east coast typically getting hammered with snow and ice this time of year, most Agents view bad weather as lost revenue. They cannot meet as easily with buyers and sellers. All appointments have to be cancelled and moved. Poor weather conditions can be just the right opportunity to jump-start your production!

If you change your mindset, you can win the game. Poor weather has a tendency to keep people at home rather than work. It is the perfect opportunity to call all your past clients or even cold call sphere. If you increase your prospecting time during a winter storm, you will dramatically increase your leads and appointments for when the storm is over. You will get more contacts per hour for the same amount of time invested in prospecting.

You can also call FSBOs and expireds during the storm. You will accomplish two things with this technique. The first is more of them will be home due to the weather; you will get higher contacts per hour than normal, thus saving you time. You will also be proving to them that you are still working when most Agents are not. It shows that you are willing to do what it takes to get the job done. In the case of the FSBO, they are off the market. No one can drive by or see the property. You can simply show them that their home will always get exposure with you. The weather will increase your competitive advantage over the FSBOs and other Agents in the market.

If you can get around safely, keep your listing appointments. It shows commitment, initiative, and preparedness – three things the seller clearly wants from all Agents. The evidence of commitment comes when you show up when the entire world has stopped. When you get a date and meet it when most would not. Initiative is shown when you figure out a way to be there. You had to go through hardship to accomplish the goal. You show preparedness through being ready for the unexpected situation. Be ready for poor weather that will come year after year. During my career in sales, I took a lot of listings in the three or four days a year Portland shut down for weather. I knew I could get around because I was prepared. If the client was motivated, I was there with no competition for a few more days!!!

Bad weather is a golden opportunity to generate business. Don’t be like the coffee and donut bunch who will sleep in late. You only have a few bad weather opportunities a year to really set the table for the quarter. Go to your battle stations and call your past clients, sphere, expireds, and FSBOs. Don’t miss the opportunity to really jump-start your production.

Dirk Zeller is an Agent, an Investor, and the President & CEO of Real Estate Champions. His company trains more than 250,000 Agents worldwide each year through live events, online training, self-study programs, and newsletters. He’s the widely published author of Your First Year in Real Estate, Success as a Real Estate Agent for Dummies®, The Champion Real Estate Agent, and over 300 articles in print.

You can get more information by visiting realestatechampions.com/realestatetraining_articles/ma.asp Realtors- Have A Drive To Succeed, realestatechampions.com/ Coaching And Tools For Realtors, realestatechampions.com/365club/default.asp Online Training For Realtors

The close location of Charleston to John’s Island makes attractions in Charleston more lucrative. The most famous vacation spot in the Charleston area is Myrtle Beach and the Grand Stand. The Grand Strand is the beach area and it includes a variety of shops, restaurants, and fishing opportunities. This area covers over sixty miles of white sand beaches where families come from all over the nation to enjoy the summer weather.

The most visited hub on the Grand Strand is Myrtle Beach. With a variety of sporting opportunities, Myrtle Beach offers visitors tennis courts, on-shore and off-shore fishing, over one hundred golf courses, and ocean swimming. Along with sporting activities the beach allows visitors to shop at outlet malls and specialty shops, visit night clubs, or enjoy live musical theatre.

In 2008 Myrtle Beach will open its latest tourist attraction Hard Rock Park. Licensed by the same owners who have opened up Hard Rock Cafes around the world, the Hard Rock Park will be an amusement park centered around a rock and roll theme. The feature attraction will be Mount Rockmore, a spin-off of the Mount Rushmore with four busts including John Lennon, Elvis Presley, Bob Marley, and Jimi Hendrix. The amusement park will have a variety of roller coasters and restaurants. The feature roller coaster is Led Zeppelin: The Ride, a roller coaster built by B&M to the music of Led Zeppelin’s Whole Lotta Love. The coaster will stand 155 feet tall, feature six inversions, and spiral over the existing lagoon and will run along the side of the park next to George Bishop Parkway.

Another famous restaurant in the Myrtle Beach area is The Medieval Times Restaurant & Tournament. This dinner event is a two hour show and dinner in which customers are dined with set meals, which they are asked to eat without utensils, while they watch knights perform different medieval shows and sporting events. The customers are split into six different color teams according to their seats within the establishment.

Murrells Inlet has earned the name of Seafood Capital of South Carolina because of the abundance of seafood that lives within the areas waters. This seafood has allowed local restaurants to provide their customers with the freshest seafood in South Carolina.

For more information on briarscreek.com Johns Island real estate and the many attractions available including the finest briarscreek.com South Carolina golf, please visit briarscreek.com Briars Creek.

Have you filed bankruptcy since you bought your home? Are you now looking to take advantage of lower interest rates by refinancing your home? You will probably soon realize how much more difficult it is to finance or refinance a home after a recent bankruptcy. It is not impossible though. There are many companies online that will help you refinance your home.

Here are some tips to consider when refinancing after a bankruptcy:

Even though interest rates have dropped, you may not be able to get a lower interest rate than when you bought initially - If you had decent or good credit when you bought your home originally, even though interest rates have lowered recently, you may not be able to qualify for an interest rate any lower than you had when you bought your home originally. With a recent bankruptcy, your interest rate is going to be quite a bit higher than before. There are many mortgage calculators available online that will help you analyze your current payment and interest rate and tell you if it is better for you to refinance your home or not.

Watch out for pre-payment penalties - Even if you can qualify for an interest rate that is lower than what you currently have, make sure you don’t get yourself into a loan with a pre-payment penalty. If you have a loan right now free and clear of any pre-payment penalties, it would be a big mistake to lock yourself into another loan for 6 months to 3 years or more. If interest rates drop again or you need to move, you will have to pay about 6 months of payments or interest in order to get out of the loan with a pre-payment penalty.

Beware of predatory lenders - There are many lending scams on the rise, make sure you are dealing with reputable mortgage lenders. Watch out for signs of shady lending practices.

Shop around - Get loan offers from at least 3 lenders. This is a good rule of thumb with any bad credit loan. When you can get multiple loan offers, you can compare interest rates and fees. Make sure you do not accept the first loan offered to you.

See our list of recommended after bankruptcy mortgage lenders online by visiting,
abcloanguide.com/lessthanperfectcredit.shtml Recommended After Bankruptcy Mortgage Refinance Lenders.

Carrie Reeder is the owner of
abcloanguide.com ABC Loan Guide, an
informational website about various types of loans.

Utah home buyers, are you ready to buy a home, refinancing your current mortgage, or finally get that home equity loan? If you are looking for a Utah Mortgage you need to watch interest rates from the Fed closely, because changing rates could make a huge impact in your home loan options. Interest rates are the biggest affect the type of mortgage available to choose and affect when it’s smart to make a change.

What is the best type of Mortgage, and how do you find a mortgage in Utah? Here are some answers.

A fixed-rate mortgage is a wise choice when interest rates are rising, because it locks in the current rate and you are protected from future rate hikes. For falling rates, an adjustable-rate mortgage or (ARM) becomes better, since its interest rate changes over time (usually every one, three, or five years), which helps you to benefit from lower rates.
Many people choose an ARM even when rates are still rising because the initial interest rate on an ARM can still be much lower – many times as much as 2 percentage points lower than a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage loan. This means until mortgage rates have increased a full two percentage points you’ll pay less.

There are also fancy ARMs that are hybrids, which for a certain time period have a fixed rate, and then will become adjustable. If you are only planning on staying in your home for a few years hybrid ARMs can be the right choice. Long-term trends however, are difficult to predict.
Many times a change in the interest rate trend will make it wise to switch to a different type of mortgage. With falling rates, you can save money by moving from a fixed-rate to an adjustable-rate mortgage. This will allow you to benefit from the lower rates. If interest rates look set for a ongoing rise, switching from an ARM to a fixed-rate mortgage can lock in a lower rate. This will protect you from paying a higher mortgage payment. You may even want to try a cash-out refinancing to borrow enough to pay off credit card debt , which charges a much high interest rate than the mortgage. Just make sure that any closing costs related to refinancing don’t offset its benefits.

These are just a few good ideas to follow when you are considering buying a new home, refinancing your existing home or if you need an equity loan for remodeling. If you would like more information you can visit www.utmortgagelender.com

I believe 80% of people who are facing foreclosure can be turned around and put back on track! Most of these borrower just need to refinance to a lower fixed rate and pay off bad debt. Anyone can refinance! Refinance means paying off old high interest loan with a new loan that has lower interest rate. When you refinance you can pay off your mortgage, credit cards, auto loans, college loans, anything you want.

“You are not locked into that high interest loan! You have a choice!”

So you made a mistake and bought into those Option ARMs or your credit was bad last time you financed the loan. You can get out of that mess! Just refinance, refinance, refinance! There are many programs out there from no credit to excellent credit. Full documentation to no documentation and no verification of income whatsoever. It’s out there! You just need to find it. Shop around and compare rates and options.

1. Know Your credit scores
Check your own credit history and scores. This is a must! You need to know what’s going on with your credit and you need to know right now!

2. If you have equity in your home you should refinance! Example, You have a $200,000 loan but your home is worth $250,000. If you want to keep your credit history you should refinance. You can take some cash out to help with payments if you’re unemployed. If you have credit cards and other loans try to pay them off by refinancing/cashout. Get rid of all that bad debt!

3. Compare Rates From Top Refinance Lenders. No Fees. Get Free Quotes! Borrowers who shop around get best terms and pay lowest closing costs. There are many good websites that offer free quotes from 2-4 lenders. The best thing to do is apply at two or three websites and compare quotes.

4. Ask Ally if your deal is good! Get free advice and tips at rmdirect.net

Ally Lee is an ex- rmdirect.net/index.html Mortgage Broker that exposes mortgage industry rip-offs and provides free information and advice at rmdirect.net rmdirect.net

Thousands of Britons move abroad from the UK every year, and many of them choose France as their new home. While France is only a short distance away, literally just across the Channel, there is a world of difference between these two countries and lifestyles — enough of a difference to make thousands bid farewell to their native country and start a new life in “La Douce France”.

It is not only the weather which attracts ex-pats. If you choose the south of France to be your new home and buy a property there, you’ll find yourself in a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and warm summers. But many people also opt for other parts of the country, such as the south-west, which are less pricey and less crowded.

Many people who relocate to France want to trade in a life of drudgery in the grim, cold and unfriendly north for a relaxed and easy-going sunny French lifestyle. It is a surprise for many to find that it is possible to live a good life in France for much less than it would cost you to have a similar lifestyle in the UK.

Many things are said about the relationship between the British and the French, and a lot of it is based on historical issues. Often Britons and Frenchmen have a distaste for each other, but they do not know exactly why. This outdated attitude, based mostly on history should not influence you.

France is a wonderful country, and you will find that its inhabitants are among the friendliest people in Europe. Of course, true friendship grows with mutual understanding and you should do your share in building a good relationship, such as learning to speak French. Especially in more remote areas you will find that being able to speak the language, or even just knowing the most important words and phrases, will take you a long way and make life much easier.

Mingle with the locals, don’t isolate yourself. In other areas which are popular among British expats, such as the Costa Blanca in Spain, they’re known to form their own communities and very often have little or nothing to do with the local inhabitants. This is not a good situation and will certainly not help to integrate foreigners into the local community.

France truly is a country with many opportunities. In fact, it’s more like a few countries in one. If you are still at the stage of checking out which area of this vast country would suit you best, you would be well advised to check out independent promoters of seymour-james.com/ property for sale in France. This region has much to offer. If you decide to buy a property in France, relocating to the south west will allow you to live the good life to its very fullest.

Seymour-James Marketing promotes seymour-james.com/about french property for sale. In particular, property for sale in Bordeaux, Arcachon, the Gironde and further afield into the Charente, Lot-et-Garonne and the Gers.

There is one thing about taking loans and credit from banks or from home equity companies, it is not a pleasant occasion and in many cases the borrower feels like he is asking for a favor or for someone to help him out, which is definitely not the case, since these businesses live of the interest and monetary calculations of giving these loans to people in need.

The one most important thing to keep in mind is that research and options are always open to the borrower, there is no reason to be under stress or to make any fast decisions, you must consider the best terms you get, and the terms that are suited for you, in order to accept and take a home equity loan from one company or the other.

Looking for a home equity company is not a big deal, and while you are at it, look for a few of them and write down the contact numbers, after the initial contact has been established they will probably want your business more that you will want theirs. You can make a list of what your needs are and how do you plan to pay the loan back before even contacting the loan companies.

The one thing you should check is the home equity loan rate, because this is not the same at all the home equity loan companies, and you will be amazed at the differences you can find from one to the other, so don’t make the mistake of only approaching one home equity loan company, go for a few and listen to what they can offer you.

Home equity loan comparison will lead you into a negotiation with the companies and then you will be able to get a deal that will eventually be as close as possible to the terms that are good for you, you can try and pressure the loan company for better deals since they always have a difference in price that they keep, some of it to cover their own expenses and commissions and some is intended for the negotiation process.

There is no shame in home equity loan rate comparison and you can also inform the companies that you are dealing with that you are doing the loan rate comparison, you should also keep track of any changes that the home equity loan makes when it lowers its offer, make sure that it is not setup to look as if the total price is down but points are up, or that there are other hidden, or one time, costs that suddenly add to the final tab.

Bottom line is that the borrower can take advantage of the situation on the market and the competition, reveal his cards to the companies he is dealing with and ask for the best terms he can get, once you are satisfied try not to wait too long, shop around a little more and than make the deal, there is no point in looking for better things than what you set out to do.

Taking loans is never easy, but it is a part of life, and in many cases a distinct part of growth and advancement, you can make your loan financially reasonable and construct a plan to pay them back wisely. Learn how to get the most of home equity loans and

The federal government wants you to own your own home. In fact there’s $200 million available right now to prospective first-time home buyers. President Bush signed into law the American Dream Down-Payment Initiative (ADDI) also known as The American Dream Act. The act helps first time homebuyers with down payment and closing costs, usually the biggest hurdles in the way of a first time home purchase.

The American Dream Act is known as a government home buyer program. Buyahome-no-money-down.com shows there are four primary way for a home buyer to purchase a home with no money down.

Lender provided financing is simply what is stated. Some lenders provide 100% financing, while others provide 103% financing, where the lender actually includes the down payment in the lender originated loan.
Some government agencies such as Fannie May and FHA provide what Buyahome-no-money-down.com shows as a Flex 97 mortgage. Those mortgages allow the buyer to finance 97% of the purchase price and get creative with the down payment. Creative sources such as “a gift from a family member; a loan secured by a marketable asset (such as a certificate of deposit, a 401(k), the cash value of your life insurance, or other real estate); or a loan or grant from a nonprofit or government agency.”

A federal or private grant is the second option Buyahome-no-money-down.com shows to prospective home buyers. The American Dream Act or ADDI provides those types of grants.

Here’s how the program works: You must be a first time home buyer, but that doesn’t mean you haven’t ever owned a home. By definition under the act, a first time home buyer hasn’t owned a home for three years prior to the purchase. So even if you have owned a home before now, you may still qualify.

ADDI provides down payment, closing cost and home rehabilitation assistance, if needed, up to $10,000 or six percent of the purchase price of the home, whichever is greater. To apply contact your local HOME administering agency or the state in which you live.

ADDI is an example of federal assistance, but there are private charities providing gift assistance much in the same way. Those are known as Down payment Gift Assistance programs. Those involve the seller to participate.

Home sellers usually include some negotiating space in their selling price. In a gift assistance sale, the seller agrees to a higher price for the home, and basically, gives a portion of the proceeds back to the buyer to cover down payment or closing costs. Law prohibits sellers from

LIVE THE AMERICAN DREAM

giving home buyers down payment funds, so the gift assistance programs step in to “work around” those laws.

For example, you find a home you want to purchase for $250,000. The seller needs at least $200,000 to pay off his mortgage, so he is asking to make $50,000 profit. But, the seller is also willing to settle for only $25,000 profit. The seller enrolls the home in a gift assistance program at the value of $250,000. The gift assistance program sets aside the $25,000 down payment plus a participation fee. (Homebuying.about.com shows fees are usually 0.75% of the home’s selling price.) The buyer then secures a loan for $225,000 from a lender, expecting a $25,000 down payment. At closing, the gift assistance program wires the $25,000 already set aside, to the buyer as down payment. The seller basically cut his profits in half to give the buyer $25,000 cash down to satisfy the loan from the lender. But, keep in mind, the seller’s bottom line was $225,000 to begin with. From the seller’s perspective, his home actually sold for $225,000, while the buyer purchased a $250,000 home.

Buyer-Seller Negotiated No Money Down Real Estate Financing:

Buyahome-no-money-down.com lists three options for a home buyer under this category. An assumable mortgage allows the buyer to simply assume payments of the current owner’s mortgage. Purchasing Subject to a Mortgage allows the buyer to make the monthly mortgage payments but the original owner is still liable in case of default. If you find a seller willing to finance, the seller agrees to accept all or part of the purchase in the form of monthly payments.

Now time to get creative. A lease option or more commonly known as rent-to-own is one option you’ll find at Buyahome-no-money-down.com. Basically, the seller carries the mortgage and allows the buyer to take possession of the home, while making monthly payments toward the purchase price. The details will have to be negotiated. Some sellers only allow a specific time period for rent-to-own, and some only apply a portion of those payments toward the purchase price. A warning; however, for the buyer: Some sellers require the buyer to find their own financing within a specified time period. If the buyer’s financing isn’t approved, some seller’s force the buyer to forfeit all previously made payments.
And finally, get really creative! Buyahome-no-money-down shows some sellers and lenders allow the ” use a gift from a family member; a loan secured by a marketable asset (such as a certificate of deposit, a 401(k), the cash value of your life insurance, or other real estate” as the down payment.

Nick Rian is an award-winning journalist. His journalism credits include awards from the Associated Press, Wisconsin Broadcaster’s Association and The Milwaukee Press Club. He is a graduate of the Indiana University School of Journalism. You can read more of Nick’s articles at smarthomefinancing.com Smart Home Mortgage Loans and get more information about home equity loans and second mortgage. Look for more information for no money down financing at smarthomefinancing.com/Refinance.shtml MortgageRefinance Rates or 1-refinance.com/ #1 Refinance if you would like to speak to a loan officer or real estate professional.

© 2006 Copyright Smart Home Financing

I do not profess to “know” what the real estate market will do in the next year or two, but I would like to share some information with you that might help you in making decisions regarding buying or selling property in today’s market. The following information relates to the types of mortgages that are currently being taken out by those who are currently purchasing or refinancing homes.

Statistical surveys of the mortgage market shows that the percentage of adjustable rate mortgages comprised over 60% of the loans obtained in the last fiscal quarter. Even though the traditional 30 year mortgage is still very low in terms of historical comparison, buyers and homeowners that are currently buying or refinancing are electing to go with the adjustable rate almost two thirds of the time. Does that mean that they expect interest rates to go down even more, or is it because they can no longer afford the fixed interest rate, and believe that obtaining the adjustable rate is better than not buying or refinancing at all?

What exactly are the these types of mortgages consumers are obtaining? According to the National Association of Realtors brochure, [Help Your Client Avoid Predatory Loans] “…Specialty mortgages often begin with a low introductory interest rate or payment plan—a “teaser”—but the monthly mortgage payments are likely to increase a lot in the future. Some are“low documentation” mortgages that come with easier standards for qualifying, but also higher interest rates or higher fees. Some lenders will lend you 100% or more of the home’s value, but these mortgages also present a big financial risk if the value of the house goes down.”

The real estate values in the previous five years have been largely impacted by interest rate reductions. As mortgage rates have declined, home prices have dramatically increased, with home prices doubling in the last five years. By far, the majority of the loans originated in the last five years were 30 year fixed rate loans. However, within the last 12 months that has dramatically changed.

And in several real estate markets, as corrections are taking place, the pendulum has swung the other way and many markets experienced a 17% rise in foreclosures in the third quarter of 2006 according to a report from RealtyTrac.

For further analysis or information regarding market trends, please contact me at (909) 348-0471 ext. 131 or visit my website at nefcortez.com nefcortez.com for foreclosure lists.