My New Blog

Have you heard this term?  Upside down is a concept used most often in the car business.  Cars are turned over much more than homes and sometimes people trade them in and hear they are upside down.  This simply means they owe more on the car than the trade in value.  The same can happen in your home. 

Many people have bought at the top of the market and put only a small amount down or none at all.  This is leading to more and more upside down situations. 

3 Dollar Gas is here again and probably going higher!  There is little we can do to control the incredible market forces behind our current gas situation. 

Besides considering a smaller car and very organized trips, you may want to think about your commute.

Commuting times are also longer with more and more traffic. 

When you make your next move you may want to consider commuting less and living closer to your job.  The benefits can be enormous.  Consider these.

- Cost savings on gas, maintenance, and overall wear and tear on your vehicle

-Saving time!  Wow. This is the most valuable!

-Saving the environment.  Every little bit counts

Considering your commute can save you money and time.  Which in turn may allow you to have a better quality of life and saving our planet.

Hiring an agent can be stressfull.  Here are some tips on finding a good one:

1. Look for a genuine Realtor.  A Realtor is a member of the National Association of Realtors.  They have are help to a hirer ethical standard than non members

2. Look for a recommendation from friends and other trusted sources. 

3. Look for a member of the Council or Residential Specialists.  They represent 4% of all Realtors and do approximately 28% of all business.

4. Look for a niche agent. Find an agent that can tell you all the particulars about the neighborhoods and subdivisions you want to live in.

5. Look for an Accredited Buyer's Representative.  They have gone through extra training on Buyer Agency.  You want a good Buyer's Agent to represent you.

There are countless pieces of advice for hiring a good agent.  These  are just the top five.

Motivation is key to buyers' and sellers' mentality.  Whatever deadline or life change that is forcing a move will manifest itself closest to the date of the change. 

When buying or selling keep your motivations close and and Realtor closer.  Your Realtor will work in your best interests to get the job done but must be informed of your motivations.  Otherwise, they may be working against you by default. 

Pick a Realtor you can trust and let them in.  Don't keep secrets that could hurt you if not confided in your Realtor.