North West Territories

Don't you love it when you are right. Especially when it it to your client's benefit.

I recently listed a home for a couple that had remodeled it. The husband was a general contractor and licensed plumber and elctrician so I should not have been suprised to see the fantastic job they had done. The home was in a small mill town located in my area and home prices are low to begin with. Not much over $100k. The area has seen some hard times but recently has become one of those areas where people are looking to buy because they know they can buy so cheap and then renovate and have a great home for not much money. Many of these homes have never been updated and were originally built in the 1930's when textiles were king. They usually sell around $80k.

In advising my clients, I told them this was truly a great home and the rennovations were excellent. I advised a price and they laughed. They said no one would pay that in their area. I put it on the market for a lot less than I thought it should be but it was what my clients wanted and they stood to make a good profit. 12 hours later we had three offers and all three were over asking price. They were shocked and delighted at the same time.

I told them this was one of those times I really enjoyed saying "I told you so!" They laughed and asked if I would be willing to list another property for them. Of couse I will.

Todd Pierceall
Prestige Properties
www.prestigeproperties4u.com

As Realtors we often see the partners programs and receive information on the "Official" whatever for The NAR. I am here to tell you , in my experience, one is definitely lacking!

And the offender is, PITNEY BOWES! I have a mail station from Pitney Bowes, you know, supposed to make postage cheaper and quicker. It has been a six month nightmare. The machine never works right, the billing is confusing at best, calling customer service takes forever, and it is actually expensive. I pay $21.35 just to have this little machine in my office. Now how is that cheaper than stopping by the post office which is right beside the bank where I make deposits everyday?

Anyway, does anybody else use a Pitney Bowes machine? I would like to hear about it before I throw this through the nearest PB office window.

Thanks

Todd Pierceall
Prestige Properties
www.prestigeproperties4u.com

Just a curious sort of blog today. I want to hear about some good April Fools jokes that agents have carried out that are real estate related. I always love this day as I play pranks on family and friends, but I have never done anything that was business realted. If you have what did you do and what was the result? Give me some good ideas.

Thanks

Of course we all love closings because that means we get paid. Why is it that I also hate them so much? Probably because there are so many people invilved the chance for human error is great and usually occurs. One would think with all the check lists and educated people revewing and rereviewing these files that errors would be kept to a minimum. Oh how I wish.

I guess you have figured out by now I have just finished one of those nightmare closings. It seemed nothing went right. I guess I should be proud that none of it was my fault and my clients thought I was wonderful for keeping it all together but I feel like I just got run over. Hey, but I got paid.

Closings, a love hate relationship!

Todd Pierceall
Prestige Properties
www.prestigeproperties4u.com

Well, actually 102% financing is available through a home-loan program offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). An excellent article in the Personal Journal section of today's Wall Street Journal describes the program in detail.

USDA financing is not just for buying farm property. In Southeastern North Carolina, homes throughout the coastal counties may be purchased with USDA financing of 102% of the appraised value! In the Wilmington area, all of Brunswick and Pender counties as well as parts of New Hanover county qualify.

In the Wilmington area, homebuyers with household incomes of less than approximately $70,000/year (effective January 1, 2009) may qualify for the USDA program. Note that the gross incomes of all household members 18 and older are included in the income limit. Depending on household's other major debt obligations, an annual income of $70,000 may permit the purchase of a $225,000+ home. In Southeastern NC there is a large selection of new and pre-owned homes available to USDA-qualified buyers.

If a program sounds to good to be true, it usually is. However, the USDA offers a great program. To see if you qualify, click here.

If you have excellent credit, and will be purchasing a $300,000-$2,500,000 home in the Wilmington, North Carolina area in the next 90 days and would like an agent who will work exclusively for you on your side of the transaction, call us at (877) 505-4321 or contact us via the link on this page.

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