Roberta Soares

Thank you to the "too busy" listing agent for not answering your phone, returning your messages and for not taking care of your client!! Yeesh!

I had a gentleman contact me who wanted information and to see one of your listings. He found your ad on craigslist and tried calling you, but could not reach you. He found me via my website and called me. I even tried calling you to get information but I only got a recording that lead me back to your closed office since it was the weekend. The number on the listing said it was your home number, apparently not. I was able to leave a message and over the weekend left two messages and here we are 3 days later and still no call back.

So I then called your client, the seller, to get answers to my questions. She was gracious and accomodating and apologetic for your delinquency. She answered my questions and offered as much information as possible about her property. She also admitted to me that she was "not impressed nor happy with your service " or rather lack of. That you, as her agent, "had not contacted her in 3 months".

I did show your listing to my client, the client that could have been yours and I must admit, I'm thankful he does not like your listing. I would have been disappointed for you to get a commission when you really haven't earned it!
You know, I'm seeing many listings come on the market with remarks that say, " Agent must be present and perform duties in order to get selling agent commission", well, I feel the same must be said for the listing agents. If you are not available to answer your phone, the least you can do is return your messages anndddd......most important attend to your clients. The client who hired YOU to sell their property. You, too, are under contract to perform your listing agent duties.

Again, Thank you to you the agent/s who think that only a name will sell property. Although the internet has changed the way we do business, Sellers and Buyers in today's world still expect a professional to do their job and can see right through the disguise.

If you would like more information on Bellingham Homes for Sale or are in need of a hard working and professional Realtor contact Roberta at 360-303-3898.

Hot deals. Rock bottom prices. Make your money stretch farther.

Most buyers these days are looking for a deal/steal in real estate. Whether you are an investor or first time home buyer, it's hard to pass up some of these prices. With prices low, rates low and inventory high, this is the Perfect Storm for real estate. Short Sales and Foreclosed or Bank owned homes, in some states, are a large part of the inventory and are a major competitor to un-distressed homeowners. Yes, it's true that the price is right on these homes, but there are stipulations that buyers should be cautious and aware of. What's that old saying " If it's too good to be true, it probably isn't".

Short Sales

• First, a Short Sale is a transaction that depends on the sellers creditor/lienholders agreement to accept less than the amount owed on the property in order to satisfy the sellers obligations at closing.
• 3rd Party Negotiators - A person designated to work with and negotiate with the lenders. It can be the listing agent, attorney's or other 3rd party negotiating co's.
• A short sale transaction is a timely process. Usually you won't receive any communication from the lienholder for an avg of 30-90 days. This 30-90 days does not include all the other time involved in counteroffers, negotiating, or waiting for the lienholder to get their BPO's back ( broker price opinions). These BPO's will help the lienholder determine fair market value of the property and if the offer they have received is a fair offer or not. So the lienholder can come back and refuse an offer or counter an offer. So this means more time involved.
• Also the lienholders are often unwilling to cover a buyer's closing costs.
  Bottomline: If you are in a rush to purchase, this kind of transaction may not be ideal for you.

Foreclosed/Bank Owned/REO/ HUD homes

I lumped these together because they all operate the same. You are not negotiating with a homeowner or person, but rather with Management Companies that have been hired by the banks and government to represent them. Essentially, your transaction is just a number. Really. There are thousands of these transactions closing in every state and the best way to monitor them is by transaction number.

• Offers are usually submitted as "bids" into a computerized system which will either accept the offer depending on price or kick it out if too low. The response time for this is about 2-4 days.
• All correspondence is done via email or fax to the Asset Mgmt co.
• If you are going to perform an Inspection, first know that the inspection is for informational purposes only. The utilities will have to be turned on through another Mgmt Co. and the charges for the utilities are billed to the prospective buyer.
• These homes are usually sold " AS IS" meaning the banks will not pay for any repairs that the home may need. Most of these Bank Repo's are in need of some sort of repair and would not pass an FHA or VA appraisal and inspection.
  True story: Had a recent FHA buyer who had a transaction going on a HUD home. The home's roof had Moss on it and did not pass appraisal. The buyer himself went out in the cold rain to spray wash the roof of this home so that it would then pass appraisal. It passed, but he also took a chance to do what was necessary in order for the roof to meet the appraiser's conditions.
• Also, if the buyer is not ready to close on the agreed upon closing date and requests an extension, the extension will cost the buyer $25/day and no less than a 15 day extension.

So again be cautious and be aware when looking at these hot deals out there. There will be hoops and hurdles to jump through, but if you have a good Realtor, time, stamina and the home is in good condition, you could just get yourself a sweet deal and a sweet home.

Also, a sidenote about the buyer I referenced above, because of his determination and having a tenacious Realtor to walk him through this obstacle course of a sale, his new house payment is less than what he had been paying in rent.

If you would like more information about Bellingham Homes for Sale or Short Sales and Foreclosures, feel free to contact Roberta or call me direct at 360-303-3898.

I relearned a valuable lesson this morning. I was confronted with a door to door salesgirl. She was all of 8 or 9 years old selling chocolates in our neighborhood for a school fundraising.

I was impressed with her vigor and motivation. She was across the street when I first noticed her, I was out on my porch talking with a neighbor. She heard us talking as she was walking up the walkway to another home. Without any further thought, she came running towards us. First words were, " Would you like to buy some chocolates? She immediately saw an opportunity and pursued it. Live bodies. No second guessing herself, no fear of rejection, just the pursuit of her goal, to sell her product.

She opened her box and displayed her wares, about 8 different varieties of chocolates. She was even selling samples of each of these chocolates for .25 a sample. Very effective. Usually, I can't resist chocolate and, of course, today was no different, but.....I could not resist her. I was so taken with her forthrightness, her pursuit, her immediacy about seizing the day and the opportunity.

It's no different in real estate or life for that matter. We too have to seize those opportunities when they present themselves; the cold calls, the neighborhood meetings, the marketing, the tip given to us by a fellow colleague or friend, the follow through..... just as this little salesperson pursued her sale, we too must pursue ours. And with that same vigor and motivation, that thrill of the pursuit and then the reward of the sale.

I found a dollar and purchased immediately as did my neighbor. Even had to sample a few!!

Carpe Diem!!

For more information about Bellingham Homes for Sale or Bellingham Real Estate feel free to contact me direct at 360-303-3898 or email me at 360-303-3898.

I am motivated to assist you with selling your home or purchasing your new home.