About Saint Tammany Parish, LA

Home Selling Checklist - The Process Of Selling Your Home

Once you've made the decision to sell your home, it's time to think about what comes next. Throughout the process, you may find it beneficial to have a checklist to help guide you in some very important choices that you will be making in the coming months.

Interview Several REALTORS®

A REALTOR® is a person who you will enlist to help with the selling of your home. Just like no two homes are alike, no two owners are alike and each has different needs when it comes to real estate. The REALTOR® that you ultimately choose will have access to your home at any time and will be responsible for marketing it to potential buyers. As such, you should choose someone that you feel comfortable with and will do the best job for you. The only way to know which REALTOR® this will be is to speak with more than one, ask plenty of questions and get a feel for how they do business.

Get An Appraisal

When you list your home for sale, an appraisal will be helpful for a number of reasons. As the seller, you may wonder why you would need to have your home appraised, but here's why. As a seller, you do not want to overprice or underprice your home. If you ask for more than the home is actually worth, lenders won't likely grant a loan even if you find a willing buyer. If you price your home too low, not only will you be taking away from your own profit, but potential buyers may wonder what's wrong with the home that it's priced so far below market value.

With an appraisal, you can list your home with the knowledge that you need to make sure the price is right. If you want to advertise the home as a bargain, sell it somewhat below the appraised value. Buyers will know they are getting instant equity in the home and lenders will see the investment as a good one.

As a final thought to choosing an asking price, note that your REALTOR® will require a commission and possibly other fees in connection with listing your home on the market. It's perfectly acceptable to ask the REALTOR® for a written summary of these fees, as opposed to just a mention of them in the contract, and how much they will be. With this information, you will know exactly how much money you will have left in your pocket from the sale of your home.

Decide How Quickly You Want To Sell

Believe it or not, your schedule could greatly impact the listing price. If you are in a hurry to sell, you may find that a competitive asking price will help you to get the cash you need much quicker. A price that reflects the higher end of a buyer's budget may take some time to sell, so consider these factors when pricing your home.

Make Time For Updates

Your REALTOR® will offer advice as to what needs updated, repaired or changed in order to maximize the potential of your home. When a buyer looks at a house, they are looking at the cost, needed repairs or upgrades, decor, etc. Once your REALTOR® does a walkthrough and explains what, if anything, needs updated, you will commit to an asking price and sign the listing agreement.

Field Offers

As a seller, you are probably already aware that potential buyers will make an offer that could be less than your actual asking price. Most REALTORS® will tell you that if you ask for 'X' amount of dollars, buyers will probably offer you 'X' amount instead. That's the name of the game, and you will need to decide whether or not your asking price is firm or negotiable. If an offer comes your way, you will always have the option of making a counteroffer or simply rejecting the deal altogether.

As a final thought to the negotiation process, keep in mind that buyers typically offer less than they are actually willing to pay initially. Most offers are time sensitive, which means you may have to make some quick decisions. Of course, your REALTOR® will be there to guide you through every step of the process and will likely offer an opinion as to whether or not an offer is fair in the current market.

Close The Deal

When the price is right and you agree to the terms, it's time to say goodbye to your former home and hello to a brand new life. Letting go is not always easy, but moving forward is a part of life. If you still live in the home, most contracts will require that you move within 30 days. If you no longer live in the home, most buyers will want to move in immediately.

Celebration in the Oaks Nov. 20 - Dec. 30, New Orleans City Park. Lighting displays, entertainment, rides, Santa visits. 483-9415.

Broadmoor High Arts & Crafts Festival Nov. 20-21. Baton Rouge, 10100 Goodwood Blvd. 35th annual show with handmade items, art, food and Santa Claus. (225) 926-1420

Highland Games of Louisiana Nov. 21, Jackson. Celebration of Scottish culture with a fiddle competition (Fri) and the games (Sat) featuring traditional athletic events, dancing, a children's village, a bagpipe competition, British car exhibition and sheep-dog demonstrations. (225) 634-7397, www.lahighlandgames.com

North RampART Festival Nov. 21, New Orleans, La. This year the 3rd Annual North Rampart Festival is taking it to the street, North Rampart Street! We will be showcasing more than 20 local artists and food vendors, as well as famous New Orleans musicians. For more information, www.northrampartmainstreet.org or 504-256-4848.

Camp Moore Living History Encampment Nov. 21, Tangipahoa, Camp Moore Confederate Museum and Cemetery. Civil War re-enactment at the largest Confederate training camp in Louisiana. (985) 229-2438

New Orleans Po-Boy Festival Nov. 22, New Orleans, Oak Street and South Carrollton Avenue in Riverbend. The sandwich is celebrated with music, po-boy contests, children's activities, an auction and a history venue, exploring the orgins of the local favorite. For more information visit http://www.poboyfest.com.

St. Andrew's Day Nov. 28, Bacchanal Wine Shop, New Orleans. For only $5 guests will be treated to face-painting, future-telling, and a scavenger hunt. There will also be a bagpipe-led procession. For more information, visit www.nolabulls.com. or call (571) 265-9723.

Louisiana Indian Heritage Association's Fall Powwow Nov. 28-29, Lamar-Dixon Expo Center Building, Gonzales. The family-friendly event features intertribal dancers, craftsmen and other participants from regional tribal heritages - such as Houma, Choctaw, Alabama-Coushatta - as well as from areas across the nation. For more information click here.

Saturday, November 21st

Camellia City Market

when:Nov 21, 2009 at 8:00am

where:Slidell, LA from:Camellia City Market

category:Clubs and Organizations .

Sunday, November 22nd

Sunday Morning Worship Service

when:Nov 22, 2009 at 8:00am

where:Slidell, LA from:Christ Episcopal Church Of Slidell

category:Religion and Spirituality .

Sunday Bible Study

when:Nov 22, 2009 at 9:30am

where:Slidell, LA from:First Christian Church Of Slidell

category:Religion and Spirituality .

Sunday School

when:Nov 22, 2009 at 9:45am

where:Slidell, LA from:Pearl Acres Baptist Church Of Slidell

category:Religion and Spirituality .

Sunday Morning Worship Service

when:Nov 22, 2009 at 10:30am

where:Slidell, LA from:First Christian Church Of Slidell

category:Religion and Spirituality .

Sunday Morning Worship Service

when:Nov 22, 2009 at 10:45am

where:Slidell, LA from:Pearl Acres Baptist Church Of Slidell

category:Religion and Spirituality .

Sunday Evening Bible Study

when:Nov 22, 2009 at 5:00pm

where:Slidell, LA from:Pearl Acres Baptist Church Of Slidell

category:Religion and Spirituality .

Monday, November 23rd

Thanksgiving Break

when:Nov 23, 2009 All Day

where:Slidell, LA from:Slidell High School

category:Schools and Libraries .

Tuesday, November 24th

City Council Meeting

when:Nov 24, 2009 at 6:30pm

where:Slidell, LA from:City of Slidell

category:Government and Politics .

Thanksgiving Break

when:Nov 24, 2009 All Day

where:Slidell, LA from:Slidell High School

category:Schools and Libraries .

Wednesday, November 25th

Wednesday Worship Service

when:Nov 25, 2009 at 5:30pm

where:Slidell, LA from:Christ Episcopal Church Of Slidell

category:Religion and Spirituality .

Wednesday Bible Study

when:Nov 25, 2009 at 7:00pm

where:Slidell, LA from:Pearl Acres Baptist Church Of Slidell

category:Religion and Spirituality .

Thanksgiving Break

when:Nov 25, 2009 All Day

where:Slidell, LA from:Slidell High School

category:Schools and Libraries .

Thursday, November 26th

Thanksgiving Break

when:Nov 26, 2009 All Day

where:Slidell, LA from:Slidell High School

category:Schools and Libraries .

Friday, November 27th

Godspell

when:Nov 27, 2009 at 8:00pm

where:Slidell, LA from:Slidell Little Theater

category:Arts and Entertainment .

Thanksgiving Break

when:Nov 27, 2009 All Day

where:Slidell, LA from:Slidell High School

category:Schools and Libraries .

Saturday, November 28th

Camellia City Market

when:Nov 28, 2009 at 8:00am

where:Slidell, LA from:Camellia City Market

category:Clubs and Organizations .

Godspell

when:Nov 28, 2009 at 8:00pm

where:Slidell, LA from:Slidell Little Theater

category:Arts and Entertainment .

Sunday, November 29th

Sunday Morning Worship Service

when:Nov 29, 2009 at 8:00am

where:Slidell, LA from:Christ Episcopal Church Of Slidell

category:Religion and Spirituality .

Sunday Bible Study

when:Nov 29, 2009 at 9:30am

where:Slidell, LA from:First Christian Church Of Slidell

category:Religion and Spirituality .

Recognizing Predatory Mortgage Lenders

A predator is defined as one that preys on others, which is why some lenders have fittingly earned the title as predatory mortgage lenders. Excessively high interest rates, questionable and/or hidden fees and high pressure tactics used to direct borrowers to a larger loan than they may be able to afford are trademark characteristics of a predatory mortgage lender.

Prey Verses Predator

When it comes to obtaining a mortgage, the rules of the jungle often apply. If you aren't careful, you may find yourself in the grasp of a questionable foe. If you are someone who has had past credit problems or simply find yourself struggling to obtain a mortgage, it may seem like a good idea to sign on with any lender who can close the deal.

But wait, jungle etiquette suggests that you should be knowledgeable of your surroundings and always look before you leap. Before making a quick decision on a loan that nobody else would approve, ask yourself whether or not the deal is a good one for you.

Measuring Up

If you suspect that you have been subjected to a predatory mortgage lender, look at how they measure up to other lenders. Were you charged fees up front and, if so, how much were they and what were they for? Do the lender's interest rates compare to current market rates or do they exceed them? When reading the fine print, do you notice fees that were never mentioned before but have now suddenly appeared in the paperwork? An honest lender has nothing to hide and will not surprise you with unexpected costs.

Who's At Risk

To put it simply, anyone is at risk for dealing with a predatory mortgage lender. This likelihood increases, however, if the homebuyer lacks the proper knowledge in how to identify an unscrupulous lender who preys on the misfortune of others.

Individuals who are especially vulnerable include those that have been turned down by other lenders and have little or no hope of obtaining a conventional loan. This may include individuals with severe past credit problems, accounts in collections, first-time homebuyers with little or no credit history and the elderly who have difficulty understanding the loan process or reading the fine print.

When it comes to obtaining a home loan, the process can be both exciting and confusing. There is a lot of paperwork to be signed, details to be worked out and numbers to be crunched. Your REALTOR® can help to steer you toward a lender that will help you to get the best value for your dollar. For more information contact Nakisha Brisco 504-301-7183 or visit www.PinkSkyListings.com.

Shopping For The Best Home Loan

Finding the perfect home is a task, but shopping for the best home loan can be even more tedious. With so many lenders promising low rates, closing costs and little or no down payment requirements, it's often difficult to know which way to turn. Luckily, there are several steps that you can take to find the right lender for your individual needs.

Assess Your Situation

Do you know what your credit score is? If not, you should. Most lenders rely on this triple digit number to determine both your creditworthiness and interest rates. If you have excellent credit, you can probably work with almost any lender. If you have severe blemishes in your financial past, however, finding the right lender may require a little more footwork.

How much money do you have for a down payment? If you are on a budget, you will need to choose a lender that can help to get you into a home with a minimal down payment. Knowing where you stand will give you a good idea as to which lender you need to work with.

Compare Rates

As is the case with anything in life, it pays to shop wisely. Because a home is the largest investment that most people will ever make, it stands to reason that comparison shopping is a must. As you speak with various lenders, ask about their rates, loan terms, qualification process and down payment requirements.

Interest rates change often, which means locking in your rates when they are low can save you a bundle of money. Because there are so many lenders competing for your business, you will be greeted with plenty of appealing offers, including low rates, closing costs and down payment requirements.

Demand The Best

You are the one buying the home, so you should be the one to choose the length of your loan term. With the exception of a situation where payments are simply unaffordable, it's up to you to decide how long you want to pay for a house. Many homebuyers prefer a longer loan term to keep the payments low, while others want to get the home paid for as quickly as possible with a shorter term. It's important to keep in mind that the longer you pay for a home, the more money you will end up spending in interest.

It's a good idea to talk to your lender about their willingness to accommodate your needs. If you're in doubt about which lender to choose or are new to the area and need a little guidance, ask your REALTOR® for a referral. He/she knows the business and will be more than happy to assist you in making your dream of home ownership become a reality. For more information contact Nakisha Brisco 504-301-7183 or visit www.PinkSkyListings.com.