Jennifer Stauter

I've been told by my friends that I should write down & share my real estate experiences. The following experience really happened about 5 years ago. Jen Stauter www.HomeTeam4u.net

Ghostly Disclosures

I arrived for my 6:30 PM listing appt - it was just starting to get dark outside. I had listed & sold these folk's previous house & helped them buy their current house in the Town of Sun Prairie.

We went into the dimly lit living room to chat about getting their house sold. Upon filling out the real estate condition report - we hit the question about are there any other defects in the house to disclose to a potential Buyer.

Mr. & Mrs. Seller looked at each other and paused. * Having been in this business for a long time - I know a look & a pause is never good.

Mr. Seller says to me, "Do you believe in ghosts?" He did not wait for my answer when he responded, "You better - because we got some here. Do we need to disclose them?"

Knowing the rules on "ghost disclosures" in Wisconsin only requires brokers to disclose a haunting if it has an effect on the physical condition of the property - I asked them to tell me about their experiences to see if something needed to be disclosed or not.

I was told sometimes when they were talking on the phone - another voice other then the person on the line would begin talking to them. Whenever the "phone spirit" was on the phone - it manifests itself as a certain bird outside - this bird sits on the deck & tries to get in the house.

As I'm listening to this I'm starting to feel like I'm in an episode of Paranormal State. I keep listening & the Sellers keep talking.

They had a fire in the basement of the house. The Owners are sure that "Jack" caused the fire. The Owners claim a man-spirit, named "Jack" lives in the basement & that they have seen him. He did not like that they were renovating the basement so he started the fire. During the fire clean up, the cleanup workers discovered old bullet holes in the basement walls. The Owners think that "Jack" must have been murdered in the house.

Hmmm... still listening & nodding... the Seller keeps talking.

Next, they tell me about their bon fires in the backyard. Usually, they see spirits running in the backyard at the bon fires.

Ok - that is enough info for me. We decide it would be best to disclose that the Seller feels the house is haunted. Who knows if it is or isn't, but if the Seller is telling everyone that it is haunted - we might as well disclose it.

A few days later, we got the house on the market. I was set up to do an open house - during the day 1 -4 pm. I arrived for my open house & wasn't thinking about the house being "haunted".

As I was sitting in the living room - the place started to feel dark. So I opened all the heavy, purple, velvet curtains to let more light in. At that point, I remembered the "ghosts".

I decided to keep busy so I started doing some paperwork until open house attendees arrived. Shortly, thereafter I started to hear a banging noise from the basement. So being curious I went down to the basement. I could not find the source of the banging.

Just then the phone started to ring. When holding open houses - I do not answer the Seller's phone so I let it ring. 3 separate times the phone rang & I could hear the message that was left on the Seller's old style answering machine. It was just strange static.

At this point, I decided I was going to go outside on the deck so I was out of the house. It was daylight so I did not see any "spirits" in the backyard. I ended up spending my entire open house on the deck as no one came to the open house.

Later, I told the owners about my experience. They thought "Jack", the basement spirit, was playing tricks on me.

This house was creepy. I don't know if all the ghost stories spooked me or if "Jack" was playing tricks on me. In the end, we did not need to worry about all the ghostly disclosures because the Owners decided that they wanted to stay in the house.

It was a good day. Headed out to the suburbs to take some staging photos of a condo.

All started easy - no problems. I ring the door bell - no answer. So I use the key box on the door to get inside the condo. Started taking pictures & mentally staging the house. Then out of nowhere a person comes down the steps. She needs to get her car out of the garage - so I follow her to the garage & move my car out of the way. It is wet, muddy, & snowy so I tell this person - I will just go out through the garage when I'm done so I don't track mud through the house.

I finish up. Slide my feet in my lace up Lug shoes so they are half on - good enough to get to the car. I hit the button & start to head out the garage door. To my surprise, the garage door is really fast & is too far down so the sensors kick it back up. Score: Garage Door 1 ~ Realtor 0.

Thinking this is just a fluke - I head back to hit the button again. I hit the button & start to run - I start to realize that I am dodging snow/mud piles on the garage floor- the world's fastest garage door beats me again. Score: Garage Door 2 ~ Realtor 0.

Clearly, this is not going well...but not being a quitter, I decide to try again. I sit down- pull my socks up, put my feet all the way into my Lugs (wishing they were track shoes), tie them tight. I stand up - plan my route - avoid the mud/snow piles & run like the wind. Ready, set, go - I hit the button & start running fast - I'm going to make it go, go go! Holy crap that door is fast - I keep going... I attempt to jump the garage door sensor and... splat I land butt first in one of the snow/mud puddles I was avoiding. Score: Garage Door 3 ~ Realtor 0. At this point, I'm feeling pretty wet, muddy and defeated... and then I noticed the neighbor across the way was watching me and smiling.

Make it a good day! :-)

This happened several years ago... it was a normal day.

I had a full day of showings scheduled with some First Time Buyers.

We hopped in the car & headed out to a suburb of Madison.

First house was a lovely bi-level with a nicely manicured yard.

As usual, I opened the door using the key box - rang the bell once for good measure and in we went. It was summer - all of the windows shades were shut likely to try to conserve energy - at any rate the house is dimly lit.

We view the kitchen, walk out & check the deck, yard then to the living room. So far this house has potential! The clients start thinking about how to arrange their furniture in the living room while I head to the bedrooms to open them up and get lights on.

I head down a long hallway toward the bedrooms - I notice that all 3 bedroom doors are shut... this is never good.

I knock on door one - no answer - I walk in turn on the lights & open the blinds.

Next, door two - I knock - no answer - I walk in turn on the room lamp & open the blinds.

On to door three -- I knock - no answer - I open the door and walk in & flip on the lights without really looking in the room. I head to open the blinds - then out of the corner of my eye what do I see... a big, hairy man butt straight ahead of me.

Ahhh... I realize there is a very large naked man sleeping on his stomach in this room. My fight or flight reflex kicks in & I run like the wind to get the heck out of that room.

Ok, deep breath... back to the living room. I inform the clients that someone is sleeping in one of the bedrooms so we should skip viewing that room. The clients really, really like the house & want to see the whole house so they have a full picture so they can feel comfortable writing an offer.

I let them know that they will get a full picture that will be scared into their brains of a big, hairy man butt.

Undeterred, they head to the bedrooms. They check out the first two bedrooms and of course they are perfect.

On to door three... I decide I need to wake this man up. So I start pounding on the bedroom door - bang, bang, bang! I shut my eyes open the door & let the clients in - they quick scan the room & we head back to the living room.

At this point, these first time buyer's eyeballs looked like they were going to pop out of their heads. Just as I'm thinking it was time to head out Ms. Buyer says, "Don't you think you should go make sure that man is ok? If he didn't hear you knock - he could be dead."

Oh crap. If anybody knows me - they know I could never go in to the medical field as I do not like blood or dead things. Now, I'm supposed to check on big, hairy butt man to see if he is dead.

How to do this without touching this man? I go to the door & try some more banging - he doesn't wake up. I flash the lights on & off - he doesn't wake up. So I decide to grab a large basket of dog toys to gently throw at the big, hairy butt man.

First toss is a rib squeaky toy... bombs away. He doesn't wake up. Next shot is a chew toy - he still doesn't wake up. I decide to try one last tennis ball before I go in & shake big, hairy butt man. I wind up & toss the tennis ball - direct hit! Big, hairy, butt man starts to move & grunt. Yea! He is alive! Boo! He is waking up. I run down the hall & out of the house with the clients on to the next house.

I never did get a complete view of big, hairy butt man's face & he never saw me. So if you know anyone that mentioned that they went to sleep & then woke up with the lights on, blinds open & had a bed full of dog toys - now you know what really happened.

Jen Stauter ~ www.HomeTeam4u.net

IRS Guidance for Filing for the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit

Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, qualifying taxpayers who purchase a home before Dec. 1 receive up to $8,000 or $4,000 for married individuals filing separately. The IRS recently released additional information to help homebuyers understand the ways they can file to claim the $8,000 first-time homebuyer credit for 2009 home purchases.

For people who recently purchased a home (closed or took up residence in new construction) or are considering buying in the next few months, there are several different ways that they can get this tax credit even if they've already filed their tax return. The Treasury Department encourages taxpayers to explore these options to maximize their credit and get their money back as fast as possible. "The new credit can get money in the pockets of first-time homebuyers quickly," said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman.

People can claim the credit either on their 2008 tax returns due April 15 or on their 2009 tax returns next year. The filing options to consider are:

1. File an extension. Taxpayers who haven't yet filed their 2008 returns but are buying a home soon can request a six-month extension to October 15. This step would be faster than waiting until next year to claim it on the 2009 tax return. Even with an extension, taxpayers could still file electronically, receiving their refund in as few as 10 days with direct deposit.
2. File now, amend later. Taxpayers due a sizable refund for their 2008 tax return but who also are considering buying a house in the next few months can file their return now and claim the credit later. Taxpayers would file their 2008 tax forms as usual, and then follow up with an amended return later this year to claim the homebuyer credit.
3. Amend the 2008 tax return. Taxpayers buying a home in the near future who have already filed their 2008 tax return can consider filing an amended tax return. The amended tax return will allow them to claim the homebuyer credit on the 2008 return without waiting until next year to claim it on the 2009 return.
4. Claim the credit in 2009 rather than 2008. For some taxpayers, it may make more financial sense to wait and claim the homebuyer credit next year when they file the 2009 tax return rather than claiming it now on the 2008 tax return. This could benefit taxpayers who might qualify for a higher credit on the 2009 tax return. This could include people who have less income in 2009 than 2008 because of factors such as a job loss or drop in investment income.

The IRS reminds taxpayers the amount of the credit begins to phase out for taxpayers whose modified adjusted gross income is more than $75,000, or $150,000 for joint filers. Taxpayers can claim 10 percent of the purchase price up to $8,000, or $4,000 for married individuals filing separately.

IRS.gov provides more information, including guidance for people who bought their first homes in 2008. To learn more about the overall implementation of the Recovery Act, visit www.Recovery.gov.
From the IRS news release IR-2009-27: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=205416,00.html

Legal Hottips - April 20, 2009

Chapter 2

She and He decided to forgo their Realtors advice and go with Uncle B's 3^rd cousin from his first marriage for their mortgage. He was almost family..... right? What could go wrong?

It was a new day! He and She set up an appointment with their Realtor on Tuesday at 10 AM. In the meantime, He decided that he was going to do some house shopping on the Internet. He looked for several hours at every website known to man. Finally, He found a house that seemed to be too good to be true. To see the house all He needed to do was fill out an online survey - he had already filled out a bunch of those surveys so he figured - what the heck. He finished up the survey & pressed the info send button. All of a sudden his screen went black - then a message started to flash on his screen - You have downloaded the Too Good to Be True Virus. Your hard drive is now fried. Ha...Ha! Oh no thought He, She is going to kill me. He decided that he'd better go to bed & figure out a plan in the morning.

The next day He and She decided to go to their Buyer consultation meeting. Their Realtor sat them down in her office. The atmosphere was very relaxed.

All of a sudden He's phone started to ring - it was another Realtor calling to follow up on He's Internet inquiry. He quickly got rid of the call & put his phone on vibrate.

Time to get started! Their Realtor went through the entire buying process and really got to know them and what they wanted in a house.

As time went by, it had become clear to everyone in the room that something was up. He's phone was vibrating almost non-stop. Their Realtor told He it must be something important He should take the call. He answered... it was another Realtor calling him back again. He finally fesses up to their Realtor & She that he had contacted several other agents via the Internet and He didn't realize that they all would call him.

Their Realtor smiled and said - this is the perfect time for me to tell you about Buyer Agency. In most cases, a Realtor can be of better service to you when you are in Buyer Agency with them. Being in buyer's agency allows an agent to work for your interests and to try to achieve your goals. Negotiating for you to get you the best price is one of the best reasons. He and She decided Buyer agency seemed like a good option & signed a 6 month contract with their Realtor.

Now said their Realtor - let's get the process started. Tell me about the house that you want? She said we need a house with 3 bedrooms so we have plenty of room for kids and we need a big yard. He said I want a 2 car garage. Their Realtor said let me find several houses for you to check out. Their Realtor gave He and She several houses choices to go through - their task was to bring the list down to 3 houses that they ‘really" wanted to see. After a while they were able to get the list down to 7.

Something was starting to come clear. She wanted a house that was ready to move in and He wanted a foreclosure or fixer upper. Their Realtor said - ok I think we need to find the happy medium... we need to find a house with solid bones, but it needs to look like the Brady bunch lived there... that way He has projects to stay busy and She can move right in - does that sound workable? He looked at she they both smiled ear to ear - that was the answer! Their Realtor told them to drive by the houses on their "see" list and call her in the morning to set up appointments.

He agreed to let his Realtor call other agents from now on. No more filling out Internet website information. He just hoped his computer would work when he got home....

A few days later it was time to do some showings. He brought his Dad who bought his last house in 1973. Things haven't changed much since 1973 right?

Will He's Dad help or hinder their home buying process?

Find out in Chapter 3!