Bill Williams-Broker,REALTOR

Just because an agent is driving you around in their car looking at houses doesn't mean they work for you. According to real estate law, every real estate agent works for the seller unless you, the buyer, has a specific agreement with the agent to represent you, even if the house you're looking at is not listed by that agent. So before you discuss ANY specifics about purchasing a home, including your income, financial situation or offers, make sure you have a buyer's agreement in writing to ensure that agent is YOUR agent.

It's important that you choose an experienced agent who is there for you. Your agent should be actively finding you potential homes, keeping you informed of the entire process, negotiating furiously on your behalf, and answering all of your questions with competence and speed.

First, find an agent who represents you and not the seller. This is beneficial during the negotiation process. If you are working with a buyer's agent, he or she is required not to tell the seller of your top choice. In addition, he or she is also focused on getting you the lowest asking price.

Also, when you use a buyer's agent, you will see more properties. Not only are they plugged into their Multiple Listing Service, but also they are actively finding homes that are listed as FSBO, or homes that sellers are thinking about listing.

Honesty, Integrity, Patience and Understanding are the qualities people appreciate most in others, and are the qualities you should expect from YOUR agent.
Your agent works for you and should be pleasant to work with, accessible at all times, easy to talk to, willing to LISTEN to you about YOUR needs and never be condescending.
As your agent, I work hard for you and keep you fully informed at all times.

The tax credit raised to $8000 for first-time buyers!
The government is offering tax credits up to $8000 for buyers who have not owned a home in the previous three years. And under this program you NEVER have to pay it back! Use the money for improvements to your home, retirement, or whatever you'd like! Contact me for more information.

What's needed to bolster the economy is not more government help. It's genuine consumer confidence. Yes, unemployment is close to 10% in some areas, but that means 90% of able workers are employed. If a person is employed and has a stable job, this is the perfect environment to look for wealth-building opportunities. The market has many bargains, and real estate has not had such value in a long time. The consumer needs to be thinking about purchases that will appreciate over the years and not look for bargains on things that lose their value over time.

The major hurdle is financing. There are times when a buyer is qualified, pre-approved and even gets approved for a loan for a specific property, but at closing the lender refuses to fund the loan. The lenders are suffering from their own irresponsibility and are now afraid to loan money to individuals more responsible than they.

There a few options to avoid nervous underwriters. FHA and VA loans are still doing well. local credit unions have money to lend and many regional banks that never got into the sub-prime game are stable, growing and willing to do business with qualified buyers. You also have some influence in getting that good loan.

Good financial advisers recommend:

-Having your debt under control. Have low balances and pay them off monthly, and own cars you can pay off.

-Having three to six months' living expenses in an emergency fund.

-Getting a fifteen-year mortgage.

-Financing no more than 80-percent of the value of your home, either with a down payment, equity in the home or a combination of both.

-Keeping your mortgage payments to no more than 25-percent of your take home pay.

You may be able to buy more home by getting more creative or stretching your finances to the limits (others have done that in recent years and look where they are now!). But not having enough money left over to enjoy your home after you move in ruins the whole home-owning experience. Trust me, I've been there.

Help is needed to know where the opportunities are and and how to find them. Consider taking advantage of the current value in the real estate market, but do it wisely.