The New Tax Stimulus Bill as it Relates to Real Estate Explained in English

Thanks to Don McClure from Bank of America who shared this great information with me regarding some exciting news for those considering buying their first home; or for those buying up if they’ve been a home for some time.
Tax Credit for Homebuyers
First-Time Homebuyers (FTHBs): First-time homebuyers (that is, people who have not owned a [...]

FHA Condo Approval UPDATE

Looking to purchase a condominium or townhome for yourself or for an investment property? Before you do, please check with your REALTOR and lender to make sure the community meets the Federal Housing Administration’s guidelines for resale purposes/considerations in the future. Here’s the latest news about new FHA rules.
This update contains the temporary changes to [...]

Good news! Banks can’t negotiate REALTOR Commissions in Short Sales

In the world of preforeclosure sales-often referred to as short sales-banks have put REALTORS® into a difficult dilemma: either cut commissions they’ll be willing to pay to approve a sale as THE third party to a transaction, or walk away from the deal. Let’s start at the beginning…
A completed short sale is a real estate [...]

What does a Full-Service REALTOR® Do Representing Sellers?

As a REALTOR®, I’ve seen all kinds of “service” or lack of such that real estate agents offer to their clients.
There are several levels of listing agents and I’ll discuss some of those types of service levels with which I have experienced on transactions.
Limited Service: There is the limited service agent who will place a [...]