Lanette Branch, - Bel Air, MD REALTOR

Hi y'all ---

Just had to pass along this little ditty to all my friends and family. You know who you are...

Did you know that your kids can bowl free all summer long at AMF bowling centers?

No? Didn't know that?

Well...now you do!

Just go to KIDSBOWLFREE.COM and sign your child(ren) up. I did it for my two girls and they've been enjoying bowling since the beginning of May.

The program goes throughout the summer ('til early September) and it's for children 15 and under. There is the option for a family pass (I'm guessing this is how they make money off this deal...) where parents (grandparents, sitters...) can join in the fun as well. It's quite a deal at $24. You don't have to purchase this to take advantage of the 'kids bowl free' option, though.

I've really enjoyed bowling with my girls. I'm imagining those pins are annoying buyers; the kind that want to see all 54 of the hits off the MLS.

This weekend.

Great stress-reliever. I'm averaging nearly 200. BaHa...

Did I mention it was for the entire summer?

Go on over to the site, find a center near you, and sign up, y'all.

Bye for now,

Lanette in Bel Air

FOR RELEASE: IMMEDIATE

DATE: April 27, 2009 / BEL AIR, MD

RE/MAX 1ST ADVANTANGE IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT:

LANETTE BRANCH EARNS PRESTIGIOUS DESIGNATION TO HELP HOMEOWNERS IN DANGER OF FORECLOSURE

Lanette Branch of RE/MAX 1^st Advantage in Bel Air has earned the prestigious Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation, having completed extensive training in foreclosure avoidance and short sales. This is invaluable expertise to offer at a time when the area is ravaged by “distressed” homes in the foreclosure process.

A short sale allows the cash-strapped seller to repay the mortgage at the price that the home sells for, even though it is lower than what is owed on the property. With plummeting property values, this scenario is all too common. A successful short sale can save a homeowner from foreclosure and even bankruptcy. More and more lenders are willing to consider short sales because they are much less costly (for the lenders) than foreclosures.

In the Bel Air area, a huge number of homes are in danger of foreclosing . It is happening in all price ranges and local experts say that even higher-priced “luxury’ homes are not immune.

“I’m pleased to have gained such extensive training in the area of distressed properties; this CDPE designation has been invaluable as I work with sellers and lenders on complicated short sales,” said Branch. “It’s a true pleasure to be able to help sellers save their homes from foreclosure and their credit from its devastating effects.”

Alex Charfen, founder of the Distressed Property Institute in Boca Raton, Fla., said that Realtors® such as Branch with the CDPE designation have valuable training in short sales and can offer the homeowner much better alternatives to a foreclosure which virtually destroys the credit rating. He further detailed that these experts also may better understand market conditions that can help sellers through the emotional aspects of foreclosure.

The Distressed Property Institute opened in January 2008 and provides training for the CDPE -- the premier designation for Realtors helping homeowners in distress and handling short sales. Less than 1% of the nations real estate professionals have attained this coveted designation.

“Our goal is to educate as many people as possible so we can help as many homeowners as possible,” Charfen said.

For more information contact Lanette Branch by phone at 410-893-1349 or 410-258-0663, email at Lanette@BranchSells.com , , or on the web at BranchSells.com.

RE/MAX 1^st Advantage is home base to Realtor Lanette Branch and is conveniently located in Bel Air, Maryland at 1204 Agora Road, 21014 in the Amyclae Shopping Center. Bel Air is the county seat of Harford County and is in close proximity to Aberdeen Proving Ground, BRAC location for military families relocating from Ft. Monmouth, NJ.

Bel Air, Maryland

WEEK 21 - 2009

Here’s the week in review for Real Estate Activity in Harford County’s Bel Air, Maryland

(zip codes 21014 and 21015):

For the week beginning Sunday, May 17th and ending Saturday, May 23rd, the following statistics apply*—

Listings
• There were 24 (47) new listings that came on the market.
• List prices ranged from $129,000 to 550,000 ($139,900 - $679,975).
• 0 (24) are currently under contract and/or sold
• 13 (24) are single family properties, 5 (11) are townhomes , 5 (12) are condos.

Sales
• There were 14 (17) homes sold for the week listed above.
• Sales prices ranged from $150,000 - 695,000 ($147,000 - $575 ,000).
• 10 (10) were single family, 4 (4) were townhomes, 0 (3) were condos

If you’d like more information and/or have any questions about the Bel Air area give me a call or drop me a quick line at Lanette@BranchSells.com. I’m sold on Bel Air and surrounds** I’d be pleased as punch to sell you on Bel Air as well!

It’s a pleasure to be of service,

Lanette Branch, REALTOR

RE/MAX 1st Advantage Realty, Inc.
410-893-1349 Office direct
410-258-0663 Mobile

*Information was obtained from our local MLS-Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, Inc (MRIS) and is believed to be accurate, but should not be relied upon without verification. Accuracy of square footage, lot size and other information is not guaranteed.

**Surrounds includes ABERDEEN/ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, ABINGDON, BELCAMP/RIVERSIDE, CHURCHVILLE, EDGEWOOD, FALSTON, FOREST HILL, and JARRETTSVILLE.

Figures in parentheses are for year 2008.

Selling your home in today's marketplace is hard. Selling your overpriced home in today's marketplace is downright MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE.

You're doing yourself, your home, and your agent a huge disservice by overpricing your home in the current buyer's market. Overpriced homes get shown last, if at all, and they sit un-sold much longer than homes that are priced right. You think that old strategy of pricing higher than your absolute minimum acceptable sales price will work because now you're adding some ‘padding'?

Seriously?

You think that's a good strategy?

Uh...no, it's not.

It's a terrible strategy and it absolutely does not work in today's market. Moreover, you're doing a great thing for your neighbors' agents. You see, by pricing your home too high, you are helping to sell your competition's homes -- hard pill to swallow, but oh-so true.

Today's market is not the market of just a few years ago and your home will sit on the market while the seasons change, the well-priced competition goes to settlement, and the days roll by.

Do yourself a favor and listen to your well-informed, professional real estate professional. This is what we do. As Realtors we research your specific area and give you a price range that reflects myriad factors affecting your home's saleability. We listen to your needs, your wants, and your motivation in order to create a marketing plan specific to your home.

Personally, I spend lots of money out-of-pocket on the marketing of your home and I won't touch your home with a 10-foot pole if you and I are not on the same page when it comes to pricing. Why bother? Why waste time, energy, and MY money? A broke Realtor + a frustrated Seller = 1 Hot Mess.

You want sell your overpriced home? -- change that ACTIVE status to PENDING and then SOLD? Realize the gold mine you have at your disposal. Your agent did the hard work, researched the information you needed to make a decision, and provided that information to you quickly and efficiently, right? Now, the onus is upon you to use that information to make a well-informed decision and price your home right the first time. Don't get caught ‘chasing the market'!

What's ‘chasing the market', you ask?

Well, ‘chasing the market' is...another blog altogether!

Following is a synopsis of my newly revised Homebuyers Workshop. We cover a lot of information in the workshop and it's divided into 13 sections. Hmmm...where are my Triskaidekaphobians?

Agents, feel free to borrow/use whichever portions you need for your own Workshop/Seminar!

Buying a House...It Ain't For The Faint Of Heart

Subtitle: Wimps need not apply

•1. So, you want to buy a house?

•2. Homeownership, it ain't for everyone

•3. It's a mindset, Baby

•4. Choosing a Lender

•5. Whoa! When's the last time you paid that bill?

•6. Choosing an Agent

•7. Finding your dream home

•8. Negotiate to win!

•9. Ready, set, go!...timeline to settlement

•10. Be sure to pencil in The six-hour Home Inspection

•11. Home is...where the mortgage is

•12. Your New Home

•13. The end?