Nancy Stemmle

Earlier this year Home Buyers were given government incentives like income tax credits to entice them into buying homes...it seemed to be very effective.

Now that these incentives are no longer available, should you consider buying a new home? The answer is a resounding yes!

For first time homebuyers interest rates could not be better. Even though they have inched up from the 3.99 they were at, rates at 4.5 are out there for those who qualify.

On Friday November 12, 2010, The Toledo Blade wrote a piece in the Home Section about owning a home that gave you some tricks to consider. One of the first things they mentioned was obtaining the services of a buyers agent to help you along. Certainly in this age of the internet, much shopping is done before even looking inside the first house. BUT the most important thing a buyer needs is a professional Real Estate Agent looking out for that buyers' needs, not someone representing the seller. Even if you are considering a For Sale By Owner home, you need professional assistance.

Todays home buying process requires savy financial assistance as well. Lenders, appraisers and underwriters are not representing you as a home buyer. ONLY YOUR REALTOR IS DOING THAT!!!

So, as the Blade article mentioned do these things. Shop online for area and price and create a wish list of what you really want in a home. Prepare your financial "resume" to see what you can really afford.

Then go to my site and fill our your personal search. You will start getting homes that fit your criteria right away in the privacy of your own home or office.

When you're ready call me to start visiting the homes you want and learn first hand the "mountains" of paperwork you'll need to know as the process goes forward. My goal is to make it easy and fun!!!

Yes they are...actually since all the "media hoopla" on the foreclosure crisis more people are asking me about short sales and how they work.

The answers to this question can be tricky. When they are executed properly, a short sale can give the potential buyer a better "deal" then they can get with a foreclosure.

Many short sales are very nicely kept homes where the owner simply could not keep up with his or her mortgage and had to compromise with their bank to move on.

One of the main keys to completing a short sale is having a Realtor that is familiar with the process and can guide you through without too many "dramas". Take my word for it, NOT ALL REAL ESTATE AGENTS CAN DO THIS SUCCESSFULLY. Many agents, shy away from short sales because they are very time consuming, take longer than regular sales, and sometimes don't come to fruition.

The Lohman Team is committed to seeing thru the short sale process. We have several short sale listings and have successfully closed several short sales in the last year.

We have a CDPE trained agent to answer questions when they arise. We meet regularly to discuss ways to speed up the process and go over any bank changes that may happen.

Visit my site for short sales or to set up your own personal home search.

The key to buying or selling a short sale property takes patience and the right Realtor

It would be our pleasure at the Lohman Team to help you with all your real estate needs. We buy and sell homes in Toledo, Sylvania, Perrysburg, Monclova, Maumee, and surrounding greater Toledo. Feel free to call us anytime.

Nancy Lohman Realtor®419-360-4735 Bob Lohman Realtor® 419-360-4437

Nancy Stemmle Realtor® 419-867-3898 Kim Iott Realtor® 419-466-8926

Remax Preferred Associates

While I am quick to admit, housing prices have fallen in the last year or so and there are a lot of folks who, usually no fault of their own, are losing their homes to foreclosure, I'd like it if our local media could occasionally focus on some of the more positive things going on.

While last Sunday's Toledo Blade article showing many homes that have values below their mortgages, NOT ALL of these folks have to move. Some may even be able to wait til home prices stabilize before they need to do anything.

It has been my experience, at least lately, that banks have taken a new approach to those homeowners who are forced to sell and have "underwater" mortgages. Short Sales have become a way of life and, frankly, a good thing for both parties.

A short sale can help the seller get out from under his mortgage and bruise his credit less than an outright foreclosure would.

A short sale can help a buyer purchase a home at a great price!

A short sale can help a bank not have to foreclose and add yet another home to their inventory!

So for those of you who thought a short sale was a "dirty word", you might want to modify those feelings and at least partially consider this for your home.

I would also like to point out that that same Toledo Blade ran a picture titled SUBDIVISION UNDER WAY IN SYLVANIA TOWNSHIP with a caption about new homes being BUILT AND SOLD in this market.

I wonder if they considered putting this on the front of the section instead of the "gloom and doom" article!

For "underwater sellers' The Lohman Team has 2 full time Realtors who specialize in these types of sales and can help you decide what is the best approace you can take.

For "smart buyers" we have 4 full time agents ready to show you the best values out there and help you navigate thru the red tape of buying a short sale or foreclosed home.

Call me 419-392-3772 for information on homes for sale in the Toledo metropolitan area.

Click here to visit my site and check out mortgage rates and special features.

Nancy Stemmle The Lohman Team Remax Preferred Associates