Jennifer Brinson

Homework is for parents as well?

Okay, so for those of you with school aged kids, you should know that they get way more homework then we ever received in school. I have a 3rd Grader and a Kindergardner. My 3rd grader Tavian has reading logs, in which we need to complete everynight with minutes read, book read, pages, and date. Then he also gets weekly poems, spelling lists, math homework, and today he had a report for a speech due. My little one, Jaylen just has a simple art project here and there, but we have to go through his Friday folder everyweek and sign off on everything. We have to remember to get a snack to contribute, turn in his party money, and fill in sheets if we can volunteer.

I am a Bad Student!

Obviously all of the homework involves parent review, completing, date deadlines, and follow up. Along with one on one help. I am great at maintaining this with my job nd I think it is great for their education and learning. However I think I am getting a D- for my involvement and keeping up with everything with school. By the time I get home at around 6:00pm or so, I am cleaning, cooking, taking the dog out, and then ready to relax.

Any Suggestions of how I can be more efficient with my kids homework? I want to get on track while they are young before it gets worse!?

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

When building a home you need your own agent, not the builders agent!!

Okay so I learned this first hand when I built my own home in February 2007 in Lakeville, MN . My husband and I had been attending open houses for about a year, as I was crazy about looking at homes. So one day when we ended up in a great new model home we knew we couldn't afford, the builders agent made a couple suggestions to get us more to our price point. For one, there were discounted lots with a not so great view. It was a substantial discount and the biggest way to get in that home without going with a lower priced home and getting all the fetaures we needed closer to our range. It just so happen to be a lot with a view of the mobile home park adjacent to the area. Now these were over four hundred thousand dollar houses at the time, so the neighborhood was a nice one itself. In fact the mobile home park is nice as well, very quiet and nicely kept with heavy retsrictions. However, it is what it is.

Negotiating...

Second of all, looking back at the particular questions I had in negotiating my own terms, and personal questions of opinion in features and what to do, and what not to do...do you think that agent had my best interest, or the builders and his own commission? My personal feeling looking back is that I thought I was getting a great deal, but I could have definitely done better, or even bought a different house had I had a professional to get advise from.

You need a Great Professional NOT a Great Friend!

Now the agent is a great guy personally, do not get me wrong, but everytime I get a client looking to build a new home, the first thing I do is refer them to their own competent agent! Clients do not need great people or friends, but great representation for themselves in this particular situation. There is the notion out there that you get a better deal without your own agent as you have more room to negotiate. Who could not think that with all the incentives being given for using their own lenders, and posting signs that say " your real estate agent needs to be present when viewing".

YOUR best interest!

Believe me, work with your own real estate agent who has your interest, not the builders!!

I talk to a lot of clients that have gone to other mortgage companies to be told that they can get approved, and then what their terms are, then to go find a home. Is it that simple? Sometimes I wonder why these professionals even bother being in the business. While over 70% of Minnesota Brokers did not renew their licenses over the last year, there are still more to come. It's no wonder why buyers are so hesistant and scared to purchase these days. Nobody is walking them through the process of what to expect, step by step. Nobody is teaching clients why their credit matters so much, how much money they may need, and what to expect over the next couple years. My goal is to educate my buyers, make sure they fully understand these important things, after all, do the terms even matter if a client is not being put in the best program that meets their personal needs vs. a general 5 minute rate quote conversation and 15 minute approval?

First: Buyers Get Pre-Approved! This is not a 5 minute conversation as mentioned above. Share your complete situation, including all of your goals within the next few years. Believe it or not, there are still several programs that may fit your needs, and you need to make sure you are getting the one that suits you best!

Second: Let your loan officer guide you through all the expectations from start to finish, including time frame, costs, changes from your current situation. Ask questions!! If you are not being told the answers to these, do not settle. Work with someone you can trust and count on. This is after all, your biggest asset. I sit down with most of my clients and educate them on what to expect.

Third: Communication is key. I would love nothing less than a daily update from my client as to how their home search is going and what new questions they may have. Of course, this rarely happens, but feel free to do so. Vice versa, make sure that your loan officer is in regular contact with you. I send regular updates to all my clients and let them know what is happening. I am also available via cell phone at all times, returning voice mail promptly.

Fourth: Relax! If the people you chose to work with are doing their job, you have nothing to worry about! Don't forget this is a fun time in seeking out wonderful features for you and or your family!