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Steve Spray

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Buyers/Open Houses

10-15-09
Steve Spray

I'm hosting an Open House this Sunday for one of my Sellers. However, in my humble opinion, Open Houses are very quickly losing their effectiveness for Sellers. With multiple pictures of most homes being published on the internet, potential homebuyers can view the houses being held open in advanced of the published Open House date. Oh well, I'll catch up on my reading on Sunday.

I do suggest, however, that Buyers, that I represent, not attend Open Houses for the following two basic reasons:

•1) It's in their interest to not have the listing agent be able to see what motivations them. Even subtle facial expressions can give away the buyer's preferences and indicate what is important to them. Little things can make all the difference when in the middle of a negotiation to purchase a property.

•2) Why wait until Sunday to see the property when I normally can get them into the property prior to the Open House. Differences in timing of even a few hours, can sometime make or break a deal. So, why put yourself at a competitive disadvantage by waiting until other buyer have the chance to see the property at the Open House.

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My New Web Site

10-02-09
Steve Spray

I'm putting together a consumer friendly website for home buyers in the Franklin County, PA area. It allows potential buyers to search all available homes in Chambersburg, PA through our Multiple Listing service. The inability to obtain accurate, current, and complete information about houses in Chambersburg has historically frustrated the buying public. Additionally, I'm including links to some of the most commonly used loan programs (VA, FHA, PHFA, etc.). http://SteveSpray.net What did that old commercial say? "Try it, you'll like it!"

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1st Time Home Buyer Tax Credit

10-01-09
Steve Spray

After showing a few houses in Chambersburg, PA this past week, it dawned on me that there are many first time home buyers that still don't understand the "First Time Home Buyers' Tax Credit" being offered under this year's Federal Government's stimulus program.

As an example, I was showing a lady, who was much my senior, a home that would be perfect for her. When I mentioned the tax credit to see if she thought she was eligible she said, "I did own my own home some years ago. So, NO - I'm not a first time home buyer." She did not understand that to be considered a first time homebuyer you only could not have owned a home for the last three years.

But time is running out. Unless the current incentive is extended, a buyer will need to have settled on their new home by November 30th of this year to take advantage of the tax credit of $8,000. And since it does take several weeks to process a mortgage, as we say in the industry, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!

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