Buying vs. Renting
I've rented, and I've bought homes. I could have used a calculator like this 15 years ago to "compare the advantages and considerations of owning vs. renting a home." (Ginnie Mae.gov website)
Click here: http://www.ginniemae.gov/rent_vs_buy/rent_vs_buy_calc.asp?Section=YPTH
Friday, September 28, 2007
What Drives You To Look For A Home?
Do you drive by a home because the real estate sign in the yard catches your eye? Did you see the address in the Nickel Saver or Columbia Basin Herald and decide to drive by? Was there a yard sale you went to where the house had a For Sale sign on it? Or were you combing through CraigsList.org and saw some real estate that you were interested in?
Just exactly where do consumers go shopping for a real estate company or agent first, and most? And why?
There are all kinds of options:
- yard signs
- internet postings (craigslist.org, online newspapers, etc.)
- newspaper ads
- nickel saver
- a friend told you
- you walked into a real estate office
- you drove by a vehicle with a realtor's phone number on it and called
- you received a certificate for a free Home Market Analysis and redeemed it
- you were already friends with a realtor . . . . .
Agents want to know the mind of the buyers and sellers so we can give you the best customer service possible. How can we help you?
Just exactly where do consumers go shopping for a real estate company or agent first, and most? And why?
There are all kinds of options:
- yard signs
- internet postings (craigslist.org, online newspapers, etc.)
- newspaper ads
- nickel saver
- a friend told you
- you walked into a real estate office
- you drove by a vehicle with a realtor's phone number on it and called
- you received a certificate for a free Home Market Analysis and redeemed it
- you were already friends with a realtor . . . . .
Agents want to know the mind of the buyers and sellers so we can give you the best customer service possible. How can we help you?
Whose turn is it to fill out the Seller Disclosure Statement?
It's always the Seller's responsibility to fill out this form, and every seller must fill one out.
Why? It is for the Seller's protection, and it is also for the real estate agent's protection. It's about liability.
What if the Seller doesn't know about whether or not a certain condition exists on his or her property, like if there are any known problems or repairs needed on the property? A seller is to fill out the form to the best of their ability. You can research the information by finding out more from the title insurance records or calling City Hall, or just by looking through your property for those items.
Also, if you want to sell your property on your own, a "FSBO" (For Sale By Owner), it is Washington state law that you give the Seller Disclosure Statement to your buyer.
You learn something new every day, hm?
Why? It is for the Seller's protection, and it is also for the real estate agent's protection. It's about liability.
What if the Seller doesn't know about whether or not a certain condition exists on his or her property, like if there are any known problems or repairs needed on the property? A seller is to fill out the form to the best of their ability. You can research the information by finding out more from the title insurance records or calling City Hall, or just by looking through your property for those items.
Also, if you want to sell your property on your own, a "FSBO" (For Sale By Owner), it is Washington state law that you give the Seller Disclosure Statement to your buyer.
You learn something new every day, hm?
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Be direct, but be careful
I like it when buyers and sellers are direct with me. I like to cut to the chase and find out exactly what is on their minds, and I enjoy it when I can be direct with them, but in my experiences in life, I have also learned that it is important to carefully weigh my words before speaking.
My broker has learned how to do this too. He weighs his words. You can tell that he's thinking about the right thing to say so that he gets his point across and also so he can be direct. This is a good combination in one's personality.
What do YOU prefer as a buyer or seller, from a real estate agent? Do you prefer that I tell you that a wall needs to be painted? Or do you prefer to be the one who tells me?
Be direct, but be careful. A good motto!
My broker has learned how to do this too. He weighs his words. You can tell that he's thinking about the right thing to say so that he gets his point across and also so he can be direct. This is a good combination in one's personality.
What do YOU prefer as a buyer or seller, from a real estate agent? Do you prefer that I tell you that a wall needs to be painted? Or do you prefer to be the one who tells me?
Be direct, but be careful. A good motto!
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
When does vacant land have water and sewer?
When it's "stubbed" to the property.
I found a very helpful gentleman in the engineering department at Moses Lake City Hall today. I let the kind folks there know that I was a new real estate agent and that I needed to know if water and sewer were on the property of the vacant lot I'm listing. I also needed to know if the City of Moses Lake was the service provider of the water. I didn't know there was more than one water provider in the city limits, did you?
The gentleman gave me two maps, one of the water pipeline, and one of the sewer pipeline under the street near the lot. Each pipeline was designated with a color and the letter S or W. I found out later, when I contacted the company that services the water supply, that the water was indeed ON the property, and that the sewer was stubbed up TO the property, but might be ON the property as well.
The lady in the planning department was helpful too. She let me know that since the land is zoned R2 within city limits, a single-family residence or duplex can be built on the property. Manufactured homes are okay too. However, city ordinance determines that the manufactured home must be brand new, double wide, and must have a garage. All these laws are fascinating to me!
I need: a 3BR home with about 1600-1800 square feet (sf), and a big area to park a boat and SUV, in a neighborhood not too far from the Nelson Road firehouse. (2-3 miles max)
I have: two listings in waiting... vacant lot, and soon, a country home with acreage
I found a very helpful gentleman in the engineering department at Moses Lake City Hall today. I let the kind folks there know that I was a new real estate agent and that I needed to know if water and sewer were on the property of the vacant lot I'm listing. I also needed to know if the City of Moses Lake was the service provider of the water. I didn't know there was more than one water provider in the city limits, did you?
The gentleman gave me two maps, one of the water pipeline, and one of the sewer pipeline under the street near the lot. Each pipeline was designated with a color and the letter S or W. I found out later, when I contacted the company that services the water supply, that the water was indeed ON the property, and that the sewer was stubbed up TO the property, but might be ON the property as well.
The lady in the planning department was helpful too. She let me know that since the land is zoned R2 within city limits, a single-family residence or duplex can be built on the property. Manufactured homes are okay too. However, city ordinance determines that the manufactured home must be brand new, double wide, and must have a garage. All these laws are fascinating to me!
I need: a 3BR home with about 1600-1800 square feet (sf), and a big area to park a boat and SUV, in a neighborhood not too far from the Nelson Road firehouse. (2-3 miles max)
I have: two listings in waiting... vacant lot, and soon, a country home with acreage
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Real Estate Rookie
Having always enjoyed helping people and looking inside all kinds of homes, and having the real estate and legal background experiences I enjoy on my resume', I decided, with the awesome support of my husband, to become a real estate agent.
I've had my license for about six weeks now and LOVE working with the professional and fun (and smart!) group of men and women at Gary Mann Real Estate in Moses Lake, WA.
I just got my first paycheck today! I sold my first home, a split-level, to a family from a neighboring town. I have a lot of irons in the fire, so to speak, and am looking for just the right home and right piece of land to fit the families who are asking for my help. I've had many jobs in my life, and I can say, without a doubt, this is one of the most fun and challengings jobs I've ever had. (Aside from the publishing assistant job I had working in Tukwila several years ago.)
I started this real estate blog because it didn't seem that there were very many rookie real estate blogs in my area, and I want to be able to share real estate from a rookie's point of view and be an encouragement to others who may be going through the same experiences I'm going through, and be helpful to others. Like my broker said to me today, "I like asking you questions in the staff meeting. You have a perspective that is different from the experienced agents." I thought that was very thoughtful of him.
In the meantime, I'll also share some generic thoughts with you on what is for sale in the Moses Lake market. Of course, you can always find out at our website, and even check out the pictures of homes online (internet shopping is great, isn't it?). Just do a search on Gary Mann Real Estate. (Is it okay to post the website here, or is that spamming?)
I need: duplex in good condition for local investors
I have: (my first two listings are coming up soon...a vacant lot, and a country home with acreage)
I've had my license for about six weeks now and LOVE working with the professional and fun (and smart!) group of men and women at Gary Mann Real Estate in Moses Lake, WA.
I just got my first paycheck today! I sold my first home, a split-level, to a family from a neighboring town. I have a lot of irons in the fire, so to speak, and am looking for just the right home and right piece of land to fit the families who are asking for my help. I've had many jobs in my life, and I can say, without a doubt, this is one of the most fun and challengings jobs I've ever had. (Aside from the publishing assistant job I had working in Tukwila several years ago.)
I started this real estate blog because it didn't seem that there were very many rookie real estate blogs in my area, and I want to be able to share real estate from a rookie's point of view and be an encouragement to others who may be going through the same experiences I'm going through, and be helpful to others. Like my broker said to me today, "I like asking you questions in the staff meeting. You have a perspective that is different from the experienced agents." I thought that was very thoughtful of him.
In the meantime, I'll also share some generic thoughts with you on what is for sale in the Moses Lake market. Of course, you can always find out at our website, and even check out the pictures of homes online (internet shopping is great, isn't it?). Just do a search on Gary Mann Real Estate. (Is it okay to post the website here, or is that spamming?)
I need: duplex in good condition for local investors
I have: (my first two listings are coming up soon...a vacant lot, and a country home with acreage)
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