If you’re single and on the “dating scene”, there’s no better aphrodisiac than homeownership!
According to a recent survey by Trulia of 1,000 single people, more than a third of women and 18% of men stated that they’d rather date a homeowner than a renter. (more…)
Typically foreclosures – or real estate owned (REO) properties – are a very good buy. They’re priced to sell, and buyers are likely to get a great deal IF you and your real estate agent are knowledgeable about the procedures and pitfalls you’re likely to face.
It happens all too often. Buyers aren’t aware of how different REO’s are from typical homeowner re-sales. Here are some things to keep in mind: (more…)
Continued from “Buying a Small Business in 2012, Part One”.
You’ve now identified a business opportunity and completed a tour of the business facility. The seller’s answered your initial questions and provided you with business financial information. Once you review the income statements, balance sheets and tax returns, you can decide if you want to make an offer. There are two ways to communicate the offer to purchase the business. You could choose to utilize a contract or binding agreement or you could utilize a Letter of Intent or non-binding agreement. A contract must be written by an attorney and immediately binds you and the seller, and will require submission of earnest money. You’ll include certain contingencies in the contract that must be satisfied and the contract’s highly definitive. (more…)
You may be wondering if 2012 will be a good year to purchase a small business. Can small businesses generate profit in a difficult economy? These are fair concerns and certainly require the small business buyer to move forward with adequate caution. If you’re determined to own a business, you can find what you’re looking for by establishing specific search parameters and purchase criteria.
1. Research Well Performing Businesses
First, complete the necessary research to identify a short list of business types that perform well in a weak economy. Determine if franchise opportunities provide a greater chance of success. Franchises historically have a higher start-up success rate and give you a proven business system, training and name recognition. You’ll have to decide if you want to start a business from the ground up or purchase an established business. The established business will cost more however, you get to avoid the painful start-up period and you can see current and past performance. (more…)
With apologies to the Addams family,
They’re creaky and they’re spooky,
Overgrown and sooty,
They’re altogether pukey,
My REO lis-tings.
They smell and reek of urine,
Seem moldy and all furry,
They really are unnerving,
My REO lis-tings.
So get your rubber gloves on,
Your tetanus injection,
We’re going to go and check on
My REO lis-tings!
Okay, so REO listings aren’t the only scary listings, are they? I used to carry a bath towel draped over my shoulders when showing one listing in Dunwoody. The owner’s cat liked to lurk in the drop ceiling of the basement and every time I went down the basement stairs when showing the place, the cat would leap out of the ceiling and claw my shoulder. A couple of bloody
blouses later and I learned – be the first one down the stairs to spare any prospective buyers from attack and protect myself with the “towel shawl”. (more…)
There’s a great old comic strip about real estate closings. It shows a long narrow boat, like the crew boats you see pictures of rowing up and down the Charles River in front of Harvard and MIT in Boston. In the comic strip, there are at least 8 rowers (sometimes 10 or 12), but they’re dressed in business suits and “business casual” attire. In addition to their oars, they have briefcases and computers with them, along with 6’ levels and several file folders. The “coxswain” (the guy facing backward at the front of the boat with the megaphone) announces, “PREPARE TO CLOSE!” The rowers count off with military precision, (more…)
There are so many things that Realtors and their customers need to be aware of when dealing with HUD properties. And if your buyer is purchasing a HUD property and utilizing FHA financing, there’s even more to consider. The following tips will help you get to a successful closing.
Be sure to check out the HUD class we’re offering that discusses all of the changes that went into effect in October. The class is tomorrow (Oct. 11) at 10am inAtlantaor you can take it on Friday (Oct. 12) inWoodstockat 10am. Use the promo code “HUD“ to take the class for free. See details below. (more…)
Homeowners who choose to go the “green” route with their homes are starting to reap the benefits. Where green building was once a seldom heard term, it is now common place for homeowners to use these techniques to improve their home’s efficiency.
If you are thinking of adding green technology to your home, make sure to check into the many tax credits that are available to both home owners and buyers. The two main green building tax credits currently available are: (more…)
It goes without saying that you and your real estate agent want to attract serious home buyers, but your marketing may instead be attracting Lookie-Loos.
Serious buyers want to find a home. They have criteria, a price, and a moving date. They’re usually represented by a REALTOR®. They’ve eliminated homes on the Internet and have your home on the short list. They’ve been pre-qualified by a lender, and are ready to make an offer on the right home.
A Lookie-Loo is a person who is not seriously in the market to buy a home. This could be a nosy neighbor, an open house junkie, or someone who thinks they’re serious when they’re incapable of making a realistic offer.
In determining your marketing strategy, your REALTOR knows what will work to get serious buyers coming to see your home, and what filters will discourage people who will waste your time. (more…)
Who has $200 to $1,000 to spare these days? The Georgia Real Estate Commission is cracking down on a variety of “falsifications”, and you could receive a fine of thousands of dollars for committing only ONE of the following:
To most Georgians living in neighborhoods, the Memorial Day weekend takes on a special meaning: The opening of the community pool. On the other hand, some homeowners need only step into the backyard to lounge by the pool.
But does having a pool on your property help or hinder when it comes time to sell your home? The answer is neither simple nor straightforward. Truthfully, investing in a pool can benefit one homeowner while not adding an ounce of value to the next. (more…)
When searching for a location for your business, one of the most viable options is a commercial lease. Rather than having to pay financing on a purchased property, a lease allows you access to a space, so that you can immediately begin doing business. The type of lease you choose could greatly affect your business in the future, though.
There are several different types of commercial real estate leases available: Net lease, modified net lease, and gross lease otherwise known as a full service lease. (more…)
I attended a real estate technology conference recently and sat in on a presentation about mobile real estate tools and resources by Chris Smith from Tech Savvy Agent. He shared several really good apps that can help sales associates streamline their business.
Here’s a few of the apps that I thought you’d find most helpful. Leave a comment and let me know which apps help you be a more efficient real estate agent. (more…)
Have you ever driven by a property for sale and seen multiple “rider” attachments to the FOR SALE sign? Sometimes there are so many, they drag on the ground.
There may be a rider for the agent’s OTHER phone number, a rider for a special web site set up for the property, a rider that says, “Reduced”, one that says, “Must See Inside” and any number of other quick little messages to tempt potential buyers inside.
Over the years, I’ve compiled my own interpretations of what these various sign riders really mean when you decode the “agent-ese”. Here are some of mine, and feel free to add yours to the list: (more…)
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Ann Bone (bio) Offering advice, one question at a time. |
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Glen Curry (bio) Your go to guy for insurance. |
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Dana Eskridge (bio) Relocation and foreclosure specialist. |
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Tisha Gay (bio) Delivering the hottest marketing trends and ideas to help you. |
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Dan Hinson (bio) Your business and commercial brokerage specialist. |
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Judy Jones (bio) Metro Brokers' own mortgage guru. |
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Eddie Krebs (bio) Providing advice on the latest real estate tech. |
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Kevin Levent (bio) Providing insight into industry trends. |
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Fran Stiakakis (bio) Dedicated to agents getting the most from their broker. |
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Brenda Waters (bio) Guiding agents through their real estate careers. |
What Are We REALLY Saying About Our Listings? (Puffery de-Puffed)
September 26, 2011Humor? Yes, whether they realize it or not, agents repeatedly use certain words or phrases to present their listings in the best possible light. We call that “puffing”. Puffing is legal and useful. Have you learned the true meaning of “puff” words? Below are some of my favorites, along with my interpretation of what those terms really mean. Add your favorites to the list! (more…)
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