Kristen Wahl

I just discovered today that one of my rental listings on Craigslist was used as part of a scam! After doing my research, I discovered that the scam has been around for almost a year and has been working its way across the country.

According to an article from a Seattle news station back in March 2008, the common thread through these scams is that the alleged homeowner is "out of state" and "needs someone to either rent or take care of the house immediately." They are also typically posted with a significantly lower rent.

In my case, the rent was listed as $200 less per month. Upon being contacted at the provided e-mail address, the scammer said he was currently in Africa and would not be available to meet in person. He then went on to ask for the prospect's information.

So, with scams like this around, how can renters protect themselves? Here are a few suggestions:

• If the "landlord" asks you for money up-front, walk away. No landlord would do so without your having seen the property or signed a lease.
• If the "landlord" won't show you the property, walk away. A real landlord would have someone available to show it, whether it was a real estate agent, property manager, or even a friend or neighbor.
• Go with your gut. If something sounds fishy, it probably is. There are plenty of other rentals out there; it's not worth risking it.
• It helps to work with a real estate agent who knows how to navigate the process. In the Rochester area, an agent's services are free to buyers and renters. We know what the "red flags" look like and how to make sure you avoid them.

By using common sense, you can protect yourself from these kinds of scams. Craigslist can be a fantastic tool. Just use it carefully!

Clipart from Real Estate Clipart

Looking out the window this morning, I feel like I'm living in a snow globe. The snowflakes have been drifting to the ground constantly for several hours now. Every once in a while, a gust of wind makes them dance in circles. It's beautiful to watch.

The roads, on the other hand, don't look so beautiful. I'm working from home this morning, and in my neighborhood the roads are covered with a pretty hefty layer of slushy snow. I'm thankful that I don't have to go out in it yet. For those of you who do, drive carefully!

And now, to switch topics from Winter Wonderlands to Spring Smorgasbords. I'm guessing I caught your attention with that title. You're probably thinking, "What is she talking about?"

What I'm referring to is that the spring market in Rochester is setting up to be a smorgasbord for home buyers! Between the pent-up demand, historically low interest rates, first-time home buyer tax credit, and affordable prices in our area, there are a million reasons for home buyers (and sellers!) to come out of the woodwork this spring! And I'm not the only one who thinks so!

The Democrat and Chronicle just published an article entitled "Area home buyers act as mortgage rates hit historic low." Sometimes I feel like a broken record telling everyone how great it's going to be this spring, but in this article, other noted area experts said the same thing!

My favorite quote from the article is by Chuck Hilbert, a former president of the Greater Rochester Association of Realtors. Chuck said, "I've been in business for 22 years and I've never seen this before. Right now might be the best time ever to buy real estate." Yes, he said ever.

I'm so excited about spring. Give me a call if you want to take advantage of these historic conditions to get into the home of your dreams!

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Kristen Wahl is a licensed sales agent with RealtyUSA in the Rochester, NY area. RealtyUSA is the largest independently-owned real estate company in New York State. Call Kristen at (585) 455-5524 or visit www.KristenWahl.com to see how she and her company can make the purchase or sale of your home a positive experience!

This is the second of a series of posts aimed at educating first-time homebuyers in the Rochester area about the home buying process. I've worked with many first-time buyers who are interested in becoming homeowners but have no clue where to begin. This series will explain the steps to homeownership, as well as giving first-time buyers tips to help the process go as smoothly as possible!

If you missed it, take a look at my post on the first step of the home buying process, Establishing Financing.

Step 2: Find the Right Home

The first step in finding the home of your dreams is to decide on your desired location and the characteristics you want in your home. You'll want to focus on features such as:

• Style of the house (ranch, colonial, etc.)
• Number of bedrooms and baths
• Garage? Attached or detached?
• Size of the lot
• Basement? Finished or unfinished?

These are just a few examples. See a more complete list of features on Freddie Mac's Wants vs. Needs and Neighborhood Wants vs. Needs worksheets. These are great resources I often recommend to my buyers.

Speaking of wants vs. needs, the next thing you will want to do in your home search is decide which features are most important to you in your future home. Unfortunately, not every home you see is going to have every feature you would prefer, so it helps to figure out which features you can't live without and which are just "icing on the cake". Your agent will also help you determine which features are realistic in your price range.

Once you know what you're looking for, your agent will take you on a tour of homes that meet your criteria. A buyer's agent in the Rochester area can show you any homes in the multiple listing service, not just her own! So, rather than calling the listing agent directly, make sure you inform your buyer's agent about homes that interest you. That way you always have someone there looking out for your best interest.

Once you find the house that's right for you, you're ready to put in a purchase offer. See how an offer is submitted and what it entails in the next segment!

P.S. This is just the tip of the iceberg. I frequently team up with Tracy Martinez from Five Star Bank to offer FREE home buying seminars to Rochester-area homebuyers. If you're interested in learning more, give me a call at (585) 455-5524 to find out when and where our next seminar will be held!

Graphics provided by Real Estate Clipart

As we end the 2nd week in December, here's a snapshot of the market in western Wayne County and an overview of this past week's activity:

	Macedon	Walworth	Palmyra
Active	49	60	28
Average List Price	$171,452	$177,535	$114,840
Pending	8	12	14
Average List Price	$195,500	$160,425	$130,735

Macedon:

• 1 home was listed
• 2 homes expired

Walworth:

• 1 home was listed
• 3 homes expired

Palmyra:

• 1 home expired
• 1 home went under contract

It was a cold, snowy week, and that's reflected in the market activity (or lack thereof). The good news, though, is that the serious buyers are still out there! I held an open house this past Sunday and had 4 parties stop by regardless of the biting wind. So remember, if you're thinking selling your home in the Rochester area, there's still hope! Give me a call; I'd be happy to share more good news about the real estate market!

When is the national housing market supposed to turn around? That depends on who you ask! I pay close attention to what economists are saying about the economy in general and the housing market in particular, and it's obvious no one really knows for sure how things are going to play out. Some noted economists say housing will pick up in the coming year, while others are more skeptical. They do all agree on one fact: there is a ton of pent up demand in the housing market, and eventually, those buyers and sellers that have been waiting at the sidelines have to start moving again!

From my viewpoint, the influx of business I've been experiencing lately bodes well for the Rochester market! This is traditionally a slow time of year, with both buyers and sellers concentrating on the holidays and putting off their housing aspirations until after the first of the year. This week, though, I ended up having more meetings with potential seller clients and a more fruitful open house than I've had in a long time!

Let's hope the upward trend continues, and the early Spring market this year brings more than just crocuses out of hiding!