Marla Schneider - Move with Marla

Location, location, location is everything in real estate, but what does that mean?

With some great housing prices out there today and low mortgage rates, 2009 may be the perfect time to an invest in a home. When looking for your perfect home, remember that the location is very important, as property values do not always increase. You should make sure to invest in a community that can hold on to long-term value.

Here are a few questions to ask when purchasing a home.

Is the neighborhood well-groomed? Homes that are nicely maintained and have well kept landscaping keep property values up in a community. Lawns are like welcome mats; neighborhoods with poorly kept lawns and abandoned cars say "keep away."

What about the school system? A strong school district often means higher home prices. Most parents what their children to get the best education available. Potential buyers often get this information on the internet, which is why agents often have links to area schools right n their websites.

What is the crime rate? The lower the crime rate, the higher the home value. You will not find many people who are comfortable living in a high crime rate area. It is important to obtain crime rate statistics from the local police department before you move to a new area.

Is it close to public transportation? A home conveniently located to public transportation can help boost the home's value. Even in the suburbs where people have a garage full of cars, proximity to a bus or rail line into the city is an asset.

What are the population trends? Is the area growing? This may affect later resale value. This information can be found online at U.S. Census Bureau, or through local county or township Web sites.

Are there employment opportunities? Workers move to areas in which they can find jobs, and this has a strong impact on housing markets. You have a job when you move in. What are the prospects for finding another one if you need too? Study employment trends carefully in the area you plan to locate to. This data can be found from the local government or chamber of commerce.

Before you plan your move make sure it is in a worthwhile location. This is not only your home - it is an investment! The Move with Marla Team will make sure you make the best investment for your money. Check out our website or call us today for the best home value in Northbrook.

The price is often right to buy a foreclosed home these days, but should you? These homes, flooding the local market, often offer features not available except in more costly homes. There are also a few things to watch about this type of property sale.

The homes are often owned by banks, or in some cases, by owners if the home is actually in "pre-foreclosure." The banks usually offer foreclosures "as-is," since they have so many homes to sell. As a result, the home might need TLC or major work, depending on how previous owners left the home, how long it has been vacant, and what its fate has been in the meantime.

Unfortunately, former owners often leave the house in poor condition: what they don't steal to resell, they destroy. Sometimes vandals finish the job and even run off with the wiring or the plumbing lines. In a sale with a private owner, you would negotiate the costs to have damage repaired into the price. With foreclosures, you may not have this option. It is crucial to obtain a home inspection, so you can calculate whether your renovation cost plus the price will still put you in a favorable position.

Foreclosed homes take longer to close. If you on a tight schedule to move, you might need to factor in the cost of temporary lodging if you have vacated your previous home while you are waiting. Your new job or the start of your kids' school year won't wait for paperwork to slowly wend its way through the bank. A couple months in a rental might be worth it until you home has closed and renovations are done, but the extra living expenses add to the cost of the home.

A good real professional is invaluable in any transaction but essential when working with foreclosed property. Call the Move with Marla Team today for assistance in buying property in Glenview or any North Shore property.

Before closing the deal on your dream house, it is vital to have it inspected by a licensed home inspector. Your real estate agent can give you a list of inspectors for you to choose from. Do some homework on the inspectors. Check references.

Some states are very strict on the qualifications to be a licensed home inspector; other states are not. A reputable inspector probably will belong to one of two national organizations: The American Society of Home Inspectors or the National Association of Home Inspectors. If your first choice is booked up for while consider that a good sign. Just like good physicians are booked out, such is the case for great home inspectors.

You or your representative should be present during the home inspection. Be prepared to spend several hours in this endeavor. Make sure your inspector checks everything from the roof and attic to the basement and foundation. There are areas in which a home inspector is not qualified to offer an opinion; for those areas, such as the integrity of the foundation, you may wish to invest in a structural engineer to inspect the property. If you cannot be present during the entire inspection, then be sure to be there before the home inspector leaves so he or she can explain what was discovered during the inspection. Many states require a separate termite inspection report prior to closing, so don't overlook that.

Ask that the seller or their agent not attend the home inspection with you. That could stifle free discussion with the home inspector. The seller must give you complete access to all areas of the house, i.e., attic, crawl spaces, etc., so that a thorough inspection can be done. The utilities need to be on.

Get a written report, study it, and follow the inspector's recommendations. Before you close on the house you need to know which defects are serious, what it will cost to fix the problems, and how soon the repairs need to be done. Have your inspector list these in order of priority.

Looking for a home in Glenview or other north shore suburbs? The Marla Schneider Team will walk you through every step of the buying process.

All of us have turned on the TV and at seen the commercials promising help to troubled borrowers who may be late on mortgage payments or facing foreclosure. Many of the ads that flood our televisions, radios, and the internet are scams. Firms typically will charge a large fee of $1,000 or more and promising the borrower they will do the leg work and negotiate new terms with their current mortgage company. Many borrowers are left with no changes on their mortgage and out even more money.

The President's foreclosure prevention program that was just released may even open the door for more scams to flourish, but there is no need for this. Mr. William Apgar, the senior advisor to Shaun Donovan, the President's new secretary of housing and development, states that borrowers should not pay any fees to any third party firm. The government is offering incentives and subsidies to mortgage companies in hopes they will lower mortgage payments to anyone facing foreclosure.

Borrowers are encouraged to also work with their lender directly. Lenders state they see no advantage trying to work with a third party agency, when lenders have programs designed to help the borrower in distress, as well as seeking out an approved non-profit housing counselor for help.

The Federal Reserve is advising borrowers only work with HUD approved non-profit counselors - see www.hud.gov orwww.hopenow.com to find more information about approved counselors or call the mortgage industry's "Hope Hotline" at (888) 995-4673. In addition, they warn that people should not pay any fees until they are provided with the promised service, stay clear of any third party agency that promises "guaranteed results," and should do not sign any paperwork without fully reading it through.

State Attorney Generals have issued warnings about the scams, and have prosecuted some firms who have scammed borrowers. The Federal Reserve and the Federal Trade Commission have also issued warnings. U.S. Senator Herb Kohl is issuing a legislation that would prevent firms from collecting monies until the process is complete. California, Maryland, Iowa, and Florida have already passed laws preventing firms from collecting the fees upfront. Yet, the scams continue and are expected to get worse.

They has already affected many Americans around the country. Why do people fall for scams like this? Jack Guttentag, a professor of finance emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, runs a website offering mortgage help for borrowers. He stated that non-profit counselors aren't always helpful, and lenders don't have staff trained to deal with borrowers needing foreclosure assistance. This pushes the borrower to seek other solutions. The agencies offer them the often unrealistic guarantees they want to hear. The borrowers are led to believe this process will be rapid and they will not lose their home.

In this case, truth may hurt, but so does deceit.

Call the Move with Marla Team today for assistance in buying or selling property in Glenview or any North Shore property.

Buying a home is an exciting time that offers many parallels to dating. You look for the basic characteristics you want in your home. You want spacious ... all brick ... tri-level ... hardwood floors ... 2 car garage with a light commute to work. When you find the perfect package, you are thrilled. Even if there are a few flaws, you hardly notice. You think about what you'll do to the place to make it even better. You can envision your life in this dream home - spending time alone or with friends. You are in love. Everything seems so right, you consider pulling out your checkbook to make a commitment to buy.

But then you start thinking. The kitchen is too small, the yard is too big. Is this the best time to buy? Do I really want to buy at all? What if I lose my income? Maybe I should just keep looking. The love that started to blossom turns to disinterest. Emotions may start to change similar to in a relationship. You may end up rejecting a perfectly nice house for vague reasons.

Real estate agents see this all the time. Potential buyers come through the house and seem so interested that an offer seems inevitable. Then, they drop out of sight without any indication of what made them change their mind.

Unfortunately for the seller, this can be a nerve-wracking experience. They question their agent and themselves. Was the price too high? Is the house in a poor location? Was the buyer turned off by the blue tile in the bathroom? Sellers beat themselves up when people don't follow through on their apparent interest.

It is hard for sellers not to take this rejection personally. The agent will usually inquire to try to get feedback about what cause the buyers to change their mind. If the would-be buyer gives feedback, he may say nothing specific. The initial enthusiasm for it just faded away after he thought about it.

This is even more frustrating for the seller, but the buyer might be experiencing fear of commitment or a range of emotions that might have nothing to do with the house. Neither the real estate agent nor the seller himself can rekindle house passion grown cold much less second guess buyer's motives. The best approach is try to remember that the rejection isn't personal and stay positive for the next buyer.

The Marla Schneider Team can help you sell your Wilmette home or buy your next one. Move with Marla!