Lynn Larson

...and more good news to get out to your clients/potential clients,

For the first time in nearly three years, home prices nationwide rose slightly month-over-month, according to a key indicator of the housing market. However, home prices remain well below their already-distressed 2008 levels.

According to the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index, housing prices in the nation's 20 largest metropolitan areas rose 0.5% in May compared to prices in April, led higher by price gains in the nation's most resilient housing markets of Cleveland, Dallas and Denver.

While housing prices month-over-month increased, the pace of annual declines remains at a steep 18% compared to a year ago. However, the pace of annual declines has now recovered moderately over a period of four months from a near 20% decline annual pace reported earlier this year.

While quite hesitant, economists said that it seems that there's been enough data to show that the housing market is at least recovering and quite possibly bottoming in some parts of the nation.

Some of the most troubled metropolitan areas of the nation continue to suffer from month-over-month home price depreciation. Phoenix, where home prices plunged the most since the boom of 2007, saw home prices fall 0.9% in May. Annually, Phoenix is down 34.2% from a year ago.

Las Vegas saw a steep 2.6% decline in housing prices in May, bringing the one-year change for that market down to 32%. Las Vegas housing prices are down 53.4% from the 2007 peak -- barely trailing Phoenix's peak-to-trough drop of 54.5%.

The places were home prices actually appreciated during the month were in metropolitan areas where home prices never plunged that much in the first place: Boston, Denver, Dallas and Cleveland. The Ohio city saw home prices appreciate by 4.1% in May, with a year-over-year change remaining at a negative 6.2% from a year ago. Dallas remains the most resilient housing market, with housing prices down a relatively modest 4.1% from a year ago.

"The index really is pointing to a fundamental improvement," said Abiel Reinhart with JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Shares of some of the nation's home builders - Lennar (LEN: 11.29, -0.58, -4.89%), Toll Brothers (TOL: 19.2, -0.1, -0.52%), Centex (CTX: 10.25, -0.028, -0.27%), and Pulte Homes (PHM: 10.58, -0.02, -0.19%) - were either moderately lower or unchanged in Tuesday trading. They were up considerably on Monday after the U.S. Commerce Department's better-than-expected June new home sales data.

Get excited!

If you have mold in an area less than 10 feet wide you may be able to remove it yourself. You can take the following steps if it seems like it a small area particularly in a bathroom or a kitchen area.

1) Wear a face mask, goggles, and rubber gloves. (do not touch the mold)

2) Seal off the area and open windows and seal off the all ac and heating vents.

3) Wash it with regular soap then add some bleach and re-wash it again.

4) After it dried you can wash it again with borate based cleaning solution.

If you have mold that covers a larger area or need to have it identified or cleaned by a professional or would like more information you can go to: www.epa.gov/mold.

The answer is YES!

For the first time in 5 years Pre-owned homes sales are up and the number of newly listed homes are down according National Association of Realtors.

We are recovering from the slowest housing market that we have seen in the last 70 years.

Practicing good seller's etiquette

Let's face it: When your house goes on the market, you're not only opening the door to prospective buyers, but also sometimes to unknown vendors and naïve or unqualified buyers. As with any business transaction, there is an expected protocol to how sellers, buyers and their respective agents interact. Should you find yourself in a sticky situation, alert your agent so he or she can address and remedy the problem.

The aggressive agent
When your agent puts your house on the market, typically all promotional materials state clearly that your agent is the primary contact for buyers and buyers' agents. However, sometimes a buyer's agent will contact a seller directly to try to either win over their business or cut the seller's agent out of the deal. This is not reputable behavior and you should report it to your agent immediately if it happens to you.

The unscrupulous vendor
Have you ever started a business or moved into a new house and suddenly found your mailbox full of junk mail? Unfortunately, this also can happen when you put your house on the market. When you sell your home, it necessitates all kinds of new purchasing decisions and less-than-ethical vendors are keenly aware of this. Though MLS organizations enforce rules on how posted information is used, some companies have found ways to cull information from various sources to produce mass mailing lists. If you find yourself regularly emptying your mailbox of junk, let your agent know. He or she can tap the appropriate sources to prompt an investigation into the matter.

The naïve buyer
Yard signs, Internet listings and other advertisements can generate a lot of buzz for your home. Some prospective buyers - particularly first-timers - will be so buzzed to see your home that they'll simply drop by. If this happens, no matter how nice these unexpected visitors are, it's best not to humor their enthusiasm by discussing your home or giving an impromptu tour. Instead, politely let them know that your real estate agent is in charge of scheduling tours and provide them with the agent's contact information. If you attempt to handle these surprise visits on your own, you might inadvertently disclose information that could hurt you during negotiations down the road.

10 Questions to Ask Your Realtor about Selling a House

1. Are you a full-time professional real estate agent? How long have you worked full time in real estate? How long have you been representing buyers? What professional designations do you have?
   Knowing whether or not your agent practices full time can help you determine potential scheduling conflicts and his or her commitment to your transaction. As with any profession, the number of years a person has been in the business does not necessarily reflect the level of service you can expect, but it is a good starting point for your discussion. The same issue can apply to professional designations.
2. Do you have a personal assistant, team or staff to handle different parts of the purchase? What are their names and how will each of them help me in my transaction? How do I communicate with them?
   It is not uncommon for agents who sell a lot of houses to hire people to work with them. As their businesses grow, they must be able to deliver the same or higher quality service to more people.
   You may want to know who on the team will take part in your transaction, and what role each person will play. You may even want to meet the other team members before you decide to work with the team. If you have a question about fees on your closing statement, who would handle that? Who will show up to your closing?
3. Do you have a Website that will list my home? Can I have your URL address? Who responds to emails and how quickly? What's your email address?
   Many buyers prefer to search online for homes because it's available 24 hours a day and can be done at home. So you want to make sure your home is listed online, either on the agent's Website or on their company's site. By searching your agent's Website you will get a clear picture of how much information is available online.
4. How will you keep in contact with me during the selling process, and how often?
   Some agents may email, fax or call you daily to tell you that visitors have toured your home, while others will keep in touch weekly. Asking this question can help you to reconcile your needs with your agent's systems.
5. What do you do that other agents don't that ensures I'm getting top dollar for my home? What is your average market time versus other agents' average market time?
   Marketing skills are learned, and sometimes a real estate professional's unique method of research and delivery make the difference between whether or not a home sells quickly. For example, an agent might research the demographics of your neighborhood and present you a target market list for direct marketing purposes.
6. Will you give me names of past clients?
   Interviewing an agent can be similar to interviewing someone to work in your office. Contacting references can be a reliable way for you to understand how he or she works, and whether or not this style is compatible with your own.
7. Do you have a performance guarantee? If I am not satisfied with your performance, can I terminate our listing agreement?
   In the heavily regulated world of real estate, it can be difficult for an agent to offer a performance guarantee. If your agent does not have a guarantee, it does not mean they are not committed to high standards. Typically, he or she will verbally outline what you can expect from their performance. Keller Williams® Realty understands the importance of win-win business relationships: the agent does not benefit if the client does not also benefit.
8. How will you get paid? How are your fees structured? May I have that in writing?
   In many areas, the seller pays all agent commissions. Sometimes, agents will have other small fees, such as administrative or special service fees, that are charged to clients, regardless of whether they are buying or selling. Be aware of the big picture before you sign any agreements. Ask for an estimate of costs from any agent you contemplate employing.
9. How would you develop pricing strategies for our home?
   Although location and condition affect the selling process, price is the primary factor in determining if a home sells quickly, or at all. Access to current property information is essential, and sometimes a pre-appraisal will help. Ask your agent how they created the market analysis, and whether your agent included For Sale by Owner homes, foreclosed homes and bank-owned sales in that list.
10. What will you do to sell my home? Who determines where and when my home is marketed/ promoted? Who pays for your advertising?
    Ask your real estate agent to present to you a clear plan of how marketing and advertising dollars will be spent. If there are other forms of marketing available but not specified in the plan ask who pays for those. Request samples or case studies of the types of marketing strategies that your agent proposes (such as Internet Websites, print magazines, open houses, and local publications).