Sandra Nixon

Browsing Realty Trac and some other site a client had enlightened me to, I had decided to type in my own street name to see if anyone in my neighborhood was behind on their mortgage. Then it dawned on me "How embarrassing this is for homeowners". I found that one of my neighbors down the street was in foreclosure....WOW......quite surprised because you'd never know by the way they decorated for Christmas and smile whenever you see them.

Then the worst part of what I discovered was how these sites let you click on a map to see where the house is located. So I clicked on the map and it almost appeared that the little red dot seemed to be sitting right in front of my house......................OMG.

I was so mad I wanted to complain but didn't know who to complain to.

Much of this is very upsetting. These sites actually tell you how much the people owe, how far they are behind, etc.......along with making the public think it's your home because the map is incorrect.

Anyway, can someone explain to me why "privacy policies" are not enforced with people's mortgage delinquencies?

Especially in today's troubled economy, I think that thousands of people shouldn't have the fact that they are behind on their mortgage plastered all over the internet. Enlighten me please!

We all know that when inputting a listing alot of the details are multiple choice within the MLS system.

Recently I sold a house and upon inspection we realized there were no AC vents in the house, nor is there a unit to be found. However, the listing said 3 Zone AC.

This particular home is over 4000 sq. ft and only a few years old. So we were all under the impression there was AC. And, of course, we are in the dead of winter with snow all over the place so it's not something we focused on while looking at the house.

Long story short, the listing agent made a mistake when entering the info in MLS. She accidentally clicked the wrong button...................there is NO air conditioning.

Well because of the price and size of this home the buyers now want a credit to install 3 zone AC in a 4000 sq. foot house.

Needless to say the listing agent is a mess over this error she made. She's a great Realtor for many years and this was an honest mistake, but the buyers feel the house was misrepresented in the listing and don't want to have to shell out over $20,000. after they close to install it themselves.

All parties involved in this are very good people, but it's an unfortunate thing!

SO BE CAREFUL WHEN CLICKING THOSE BUTTONS TO PUT IN YOUR LISTINGS!

In the past year I have had 3 separate clients who started out searching for homes with the criteria as follows: At least 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, good schools, close to commuter transportation, and NO OIL TANKS!

All three clients ended up purchasing homes with oil heat.

Obviously, there appears to be alot of misunderstanding and confusion about oil tanks.

One mistake home buyers make is listening to what we call "Arm Chair Experts". Arm Chair Experts can be family, friends, and co-workers, who feel that they are knowledgeable enough in home buying to give you advice. The fact of the matter is, if you really want to be knowledgeable, listen to the experts. The first person that knows more about real estate than anyone, should be your Realtor. Make sure that your Realtor has many years of experience, and ask them about the fears and warnings you are being barraged with by your family and friends.

An experienced Realtor has put many years into selling homes, attending inspections, and learning what's good and not good.

As far as cost between Gas and Oil heat, that would depend on when you are purchasing. There are times when the cost of Oil has risen above Gas, and visa verse.

The stories you might have heard about Oil are the homes that have "Underground Oil Tanks". There is nothing wrong with purchasing a home with an "Above ground Oil Tank".

Underground tanks today are slowly becoming extinct. When purchasing a home today, it would be wise to include in your inspections, an "oil tank sweep". This is when a company will come to the property and sweep the grounds with detectors to make sure there are no hidden tanks underground.

If a house does utilize and consist of an underground tank, they usually are insured and inspected regularly by their oil company. So in purchasing that property you will be assured that the tank is free of leaks and working properly. However, you will want to get an estimate on either removing the tank and placing one above ground, or switching to gas. Even though tanks are insurable now, it really isn't in your best interest to leave it underground.

There are two ways to deal with switching - have the tank removed, or abandoned. Abandoned means, having a certified company come out and drain it and fill it with sand. This, of course, will include inspections to make sure it's done properly and a certificate will be issued.

Underground tanks are not good because if it leaks and gets into the soil, it can be a catastrophe. The law states that once a leak is detected you have 2 hours to notify the DEP (Department of Environmental Protection). This of course, can be a very lengthy and costly process. If the leak travels to neighboring yards, it can be devastating. And your homeowner's insurance policy does not cover this. It can run into hundreds of thousands of dollars.

So NO you should not purchase a home with an underground oil tank and leave it underground.

With that being said, purchasing a home with an above ground tank is fine. Especially today. Companys have developed Steel Enclosures.

So don't pass up the home of your dreams because "someone told you" to stay away from oil tanks.

It reminds me of another misconception in buying a home - everyone requests "central air". Did you know that with central air comes forced hot air (heat)? Did you know that for people with allergies or asthma, this is not the best. Baseboard heat is the best heat you could have for health reasons. Just another tid bit that people don't realize.

Atlantic City, New Jersey is a name known by all. Where casinos, restaurants, hotels, and big name celebrities come to mind. Imagine owning a piece of it!

While many are suffering from the economy and the housing crises, this is the perfect time for making wise investments. With home values at an all time low, as well as interest rates, the "rule of thumb" was, and always will be....your best investment is Real Estate. Especially now!

Think of the game Monopoly! As Bruce Watson expresses "The Monopoly board is like a time capsule of 1930's Atlantic City, reflecting the values and neighborhoods of the time. But if the game were designed today, would it look the same?"

With all the money invested already, and it's reputation, Atlantic City will never die. Therefore, owning a piece of it can only be an asset.

There are various price ranges surrounding the most sought after spots. With a lot of investigation, you may be able to find out "who" and "when" these areas will be considering expansion into other neighborhoods. If you hold ownership to one of those smaller homes that fall into a sought after area............you've done well.

In comparison to the board game, Daily Finance uses this analogy:

Yellow Properties Turn Green

Vermont Avenue is another surprise. The most expensive residential property within the Monopoly streets is a $1.2 million triplex that propels Vermont, one of the bargain-priced light-blue properties, into the top echelon of Atlantic City real estate. Neighborhood Scout has determined that Atlantic City's Pacific/Rhode Island Avenue district, which includes all three light-blue properties, is among the city's most valuable areas, a fact confirmed by Realtor Jose Sinclair, who notes that the city has chosen the neighborhood for a major rehabilitation.

The yellow properties -- Atlantic Avenue, Marvin Gardens, and Ventnor Avenue -- are among the game's biggest surprises. Marven Gardens (as it's actually spelled), a neighborhood outside Atlantic City, is woefully undervalued in the game. With a median house price of over $437,000, the real-life yellow properties are more than twice as expensive as most of the Monopoly neighborhoods.

Some of Monopoly's streets no longer exist: Illinois Avenue is now Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and St. Charles Place was torn up to build the Showboat casino, which fronts on States Avenue. (The Showboat charges some of the city's highest room rates: up to $469 a night.) And while few properties are available for development on Park Place, it's still possible to spend the night at the intersection of Park and Boardwalk, where rooms at Bally's Casino top out at a bracing $319 per night.

So when you think of Atlantic city today, don't just think of fun, think "investment"!

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