Columbia SC Homes for Sale by David Patterson

While conducting my Sunday Afternoon blog reading, I noticed a disturbing trend.

Erica Ramus and Gail Tassey had submitted almost identical blog posts in reference to today's telephone activity. It made me a little nervous. Do we have a rising trend of potential home buyers using an old strategy to enter and purchase homes OR is this just coincidental?

OR.......EVEN WORSE............Could this be a SAFETY WARNING of future criminal activity?

Whatever the case...we should sit by the fireplace and chat about Rules of Engagement.

Let's get something out of the way immediately! Attention Potential Home Buyers!

When you call a real estate agent and ask them to meet somewhere, that's not the safest request for us to fulfill. If your family member receive a call from someone saying..."I know you don't know me..... But, you really should meet me at this place........... RIGHT NOW!"

You can't tell me that you're okay with that family member fulfilling the request.

That's what you're doing when you ask agents to become POP-TART^TM Agents.

Hey, Real Estate Agents! You are not providing professional services when you operate under POP-TART^TM circumstances. Your goal should be to educate your potential clients about the correct starting point for purchasing a home.

For us members of Generation X, Ricki Lake was our Phil Donahue. After appearing in the 1988 cult classic "Hairspray", Ricki Lake experienced an 11-year run as a syndicated talk show host. Through her inquisitive approach, Ricki educated her viewers on topics such as health, finances and safety. If she didn't know how to capture an audience and ask the right questions, this show could not have lasted for ten years.

How does this relate to real estate? If you don't know what questions to ask, you might not find or purchase the "perfect home" for your current situation.

Anyone can ask......How many bedrooms or bathrooms? Do you want brick or vinyl? These are important questions. However, there are others that are/should be factors in the home buying process.

Here are my Top 10 Questions to Answer BEFORE shopping for a home:

1. Do you understand your rights as a first time home buyer?
2. What are your expectations of a real estate agent?
3. What is your target date for being in your new home? Why is this date significant?
4. Do you have a home to sell or a rental lease to resolve?
5. What down payment are you prepared to make on a home?
6. Have you set aside funds for earnest money, inspections and other pre-paid expenses?
7. What is your desired maximum monthly payment?
8. Would you consider a neighborhood with covenants, restrictions and/or regime fees?
9. What do you like about your current residence?
10. What would you like to have in your new home that is not in your current residence?

Homebuyers are always looking for shopping tips. I have two quick pieces of advice.

•1. Don't waste gallons of gasoline by driving neighborhoods without a plan for success.

•2. Hire an agent with Ricki Lake tendencies. Don't try to make them a POP-TART^TM.

(This is Part 3 in a series discussing the different phases of the home buying process. This is an attempt to share the steps towards a successful home buying experience.)

(Alternate Title -- Yes Virginia! It IS Better to Give [not take] - A Christmas Update)

If you recall, I wrote a post about Black Friday and how Friday, November 28 2008 earned its name.

Well...I am glad to post this story on my blog.

I have no words to do this story justice. Therefore..........

JUST CLICK HERE......WATCH THE VIDEO and remember Ephesians 6:12

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Merry Christmas to Every Little One of Us!

This post is actually targeted at a non-member of the ActiveRain community. However, EVERYONE might be able to benefit from this information.

This anonymous individual left the following comment on my When Co-Signing a Mortgage Goes Wrong II post...

"My father in law told us that he co-signed a mortgage for a friend. We are now suspecting that the friend is in default on their payments. What happens to and who is responsible for that mortgage when my father in law passes away. Does his estate, which will go to his two sons, become responsible for that mortgage?"

I spoke with my personal real estate attorney Mark Thomas with Thomas Law Firm, LLC.

(SIDE NOTE: If you aren't closing your Columbia, Lexington or Irmo real estate transactions with Mark, you might as well go to Vegas and roll dice on the crap table!)

Mark sent me the following response......

"...most people confuse note and mortgage - here is my best answer
for each:

1) If he co-signed, he is responsible for payment of the loan, and any
default will harm his credit, and could be a claim on the estate.

2) signed the mortgage - means he is a co-owner of the home, and will be
listed in the foreclosure action by the bank. If he did not sign the note,
his involvement ends there..."

When someone obtains financing to purchase a home, the home buyer will sign two sets of documentation. Let me make clear the difference between two documents.

In simplest terms, a borrower signs a promissory NOTE which promises to repay the borrowed money. A borrower signs a MORTGAGE to pledge the purchased home as collateral. Hence, when the note is not been paid according to the terms of a particular agreement, the MORTGAGE is used to foreclosure the property.

Hence, ALL SIGNERS of the NOTE are responsible for REPAYMENT!

ATTENTION ANONYMOUS COMMENTER.......Mark Thomas and I do not represent you or your Father-in-Law. Therefore, the opinions expressed are solely from a "generally speaking" perspective. Mark and I do not know the full extent of your Father-in-Law situation. Hence, we can't (nor are we attempting) to give you real estate or legal advice. However, we are encouraging your father-in-law to seek Legal Counsel!

Hopefully, this post will make someone think twice about co-signing any binding document.

Happy Holidays!

Upon my return from measuring a new listing, I took a moment to make my Online Social Networking rounds. While reviewing my Direct Messages on Twitter, I came across a new "Thank You for the Follow" message from @andreajares. She is a real estate reporter for the Fort-Worth Star Telegram.

While reviewing her profile, I noticed her last "tweet"..............

"From CNN: The U.S. entered a recession in December 2007, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research."

The date peaked my curiousity! It moved me to rub the WikiAnswers Crystal Ball.

"All Knowing WikiAnswers Crystal Ball.........How long does the average recession last?"

Just like the infamous Magic 8 Ball, it spat out something very concise.

"Eight to Sixteen Months.....oh wise....... handsome...powerful Real Estate Broker!"

OK. OK. I made up the "handsome" part.

As a Mathematician by nature, I started working the numbers...and...What did I find?

If you agree with the NBER finding, accept the W.A. Crystal Ball prediction and add the two calls on this morning about one of my listings, then we could be closer to the end of this recession than the consistent bad news would have us to believe.

Can you say Spring 2009? Though Spring 2009 is not December 1, 2008, it isn't January 1, 2010 either.

I would rather be IN a recession than to be STARTING a recession.

For those of us that wish things were better....IT IS WHAT IT IS!

Let's focus our energy on doing the right things to beat "Doom" and "Gloom" and use our online voice to spread sound advice and positive energy throughout the world.

Who knows.....our efforts might just pull us out of this thing called a recession!

3 John 1:2

While sitting with my family during this Thanksgiving holiday season, I decided to address my boredom by perusing some non-real estate blogs. Unfortunately, my search made me aware of some disturbing and disheartening news.

According to a New York Post report, an unidentified man, believed to be a Walmart employee, was trampled by early-morning Black Friday shoppers at the Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream, NY.

About one hour later, the Walmart employee was pronounced DEAD!

NOV. 29, 2008 UPDATE -- Shootout at the O.K. Corral? (nope just your local Toys 'R Us!)

Now....if you are a professional shopper or someone that lives for the RETAIL Christmas season, the following questions might seem stupid. However, I am not an expert in the retail arena. Therefore, please bear with my ignorance.

Question 1: What was so important about Black Friday Walmart prices that would create an environment conducive to ending the life of someone trying to put food on his table during this holiday season?

Question 2: What is the justification for allowing our priorities to be dominated by a passion for unbridled consumer consumption?

Question 3: Will this incident have a profound, permanent impact on your view about what is important during this or any time of year?

As I have said many times during 2008, this year has been one of the most challenging, disappointing and, at times, sad years during my time on this dying planet called Earth.

I don't like hearing about death and dying. I ESPECIALLY don't like to hear about senseless deaths.

Attention Walmart Shoppers! Please help me understand why this event must happen. By no means am I being judgmental. It's hard to judge what you don't understand. However, I need to understand the reason why people would act in such a way that would jeopardize someone's life.

I am especially anxious to hear from those that participated in Black Friday Shopping before 7am. What is so important about shopping at this time that creates the environment for chaos, frustration, rudeness and, eventually, death?

If I could have three Christmas wishes, one would be to bring peace to this grieving family. The second would be to help our country defeat this "consume by any means necessary" mindset.

The third would be reserved for discussion between my Maker and me.

If I have offended, I apologize. Charge it to my ignorance and not malice aforethought!