About Tooele County, UT

We've all had one. The one that's in a "bad" location. Or the condition is horrible. Or the lot is shaped funny. Can't be financed. Seller unreasonable on price. There could be any number of reasons why a property doesn't sell.

We had a listing on just such a property. It's in the Pine Canyon area, kind of between Tooele and Stansbury Park. Not really a bad location, as properties on the market here are few and far between, and when they come up, they're gone! Lot's of open space and horse property, mostly 5 acre ranchettes and old family farms. So, why was this one listed for over two years?

We inherited this listing from an agent who was retiring, and referred us to the sellers. It had been overpriced the whole time he'd had it. It was a triangle shaped .67 acre lot in the land of 5 acre parcels. It had been extensively remodeled, with all new flooring, paint and appliances and 1700 sq ft. Sounds great,doesn't it? A steal at $149,900.

Oh, did I mention it was a double wide trailer that had previously been moved? I've traveled the Country a fair amount, and have seen extensive areas where this product is prevalent, and yet there seems to be a stigma here in Utah against these homes. It's become so difficult to get financing on even new ones, so you see where we were on this one. It's not that people don't want to live in them (we don't have tornados!), you just can't get a loan.

Luckily, we had sellers that weren't just amazingly realistic to their situation (once we'd explained their reality), they were incredibly patient with the process. We actually had it "sold" three different times, but never got it closed. It was just that property that couldn't be sold. When the last lender that had been making loans on this product bailed out, we explained to our sellers that they were destined to be landlords forever. Not the worst thing in the world, as the rental market in Tooele County is strong.

We agreed to release them from the listing, and parted on very good terms, good enough that when their tax notice came, they called us to help with the appeal. They'd gotten hammered on the valuation, and we got them some good comps to use to appeal.

Not long after that, we got another call from the sellers. They'd been approached by a person who said they were interested in their property, but they didn't have a good feeling about these people. They were looking for advice and help. It turned out that their "blink" was correct.As it happens, there was some hanky panky with these people. They had a history of entering into "seller finance" deals with sellers with little down, then trashing the property and defaulting.

But, our good karma began to pay off. During our investigation of the other people, we were approached by another party that was interested in the property. They knew we'd had it listed, and were still in contact with the sellers. They understood the shortcomings that the property had, had cash, and wanted to proceed. In ten days we went from nowhere to closing. We closed this morning on a property that couldn't be sold.

What's the lesson here? I can think of two obvious ones. First of all, don't burn bridges. Both us and the seller could have been bitter over a long, unsuccessful listing. They could have felt we weren't doing enough. We could have felt that the property wasn't worth our time. Neither thing took place.

Finally, never give up. There's very little that can't be accomplished through a simple refusal to quit. No, it may not be quick, and it certainly isn't always easy. But, the good things never are! If I've learned anything in this difficult time, it's those two things! Hang in there!

Published Wednesday, October 12, 2011 9:43 AM by Chris & Berna Sloan

The world is run by the people that show up. That's always been the case whether you're talking about the PTA, the youth soccer league, the Utah Association of Realtors or politics. Especially politics. While the rest of the world is consumed by which Republican talking head will take on President Obama, who's really making the decisions that will affect your day to day life? It's simple. Follow the 80/20 rule.

You know the rule. 80% of the work is done by 20% of the people. Or in our line of work, 80% of the volume is done by 20% of the agents (or is that really 10%!). However, I'm talking about Tooele County politics. In our case it's a 90/10 rule. So, what do I mean? Sad but simple.

As the Chair of a prominent political Party in Tooele County, people stop me daily. The question is simple, but my answer isn't. "Who's going to be the GOP nominee for President?" My answer is always the same. "I don't have the slightest idea, in fact I haven't given it much thought" They are always shocked to hear this. How can the Party Chair not follow politics? I will shoot back at them. Who is the Chair of the Tooele City Council? Who Chair's the Grantsville Planning and Zoning commission? Who sits on the Stansbury Park Improvement District Board? Who is your School Board member?

90% (that number again!) can't answer any of these questions. It boggles my mind that all these people can tell me who placed 8th in the Florida straw poll, but don't know who runs the entity that is going to raise their property taxes in the next couple of weeks. Or the elected officials that are dealing with huge revenue shortfalls and are looking at laying off public employees. How about the folks that are running a local water district in this, the second driest State in the Union?

We just had municipal primary elections in Tooele and Grantsville a couple of weeks back. Each of those cities was paring the field down from 12 to 6 candidates for 3 seats. At first I was excited about the fact that so many people were interested in serving the public. Then I talked to a few that didn't really understand the "job" the were applying for. Then you get some dropping out. You get more that don't show up to the one opportunity for a meet the candidates night. A couple don't even go to the trouble to buy any signs, so no one knows they are running. In Tooele, that means we end up with six "serious" candidates, just what need for the November general election. The problem is that 12 filed, meaning we have a Primary, at a cost of $18,000! But, that's a different rant...

The whole point of the original rant is this. On Primary day, 9% of eligible voters in Tooele and 10% of voters in Grantsville turn up to vote. 90% of the public will have 10% of the public make the decisions that will start taking affect on their daily lives very soon. Tooele's City Council meets every other week. They always have a full agenda, not that anyone besides the 6 members of the public that show will know...

As a Realtor, I know how important these elections are. Knowing building ordinance changes, or as we call them here, "the pretty codes", can affect my ability to make a living. It also affects the quality of life in my town. Getting the sidewalk on the road to the elementary school means a bit more to me that the issue of taxing the ultra rich, a club I'll never belong to. Before you yell, yes I do understand the issue and how it will affect me. But, I gotta tell you, knowing the sewer treatment plant downstream is working right because my City has smart folks running it sure makes me sleep better than knowing who the President is playing golf with.

I sleep better because I put those people there, Berna and I. We registered to vote. We attended the events to get to know the candidates, and we pushed the button. Us and the rest of the 10%. On second thought, stay home everyone. My vote was 10 times as meaningful because of everyone that stayed home. Now that I think about it, who WAS the 8th place person in the Florida straw poll?

Networking, rubbing elbows, wine and dine, schmoozing, or just plain talking with people. It is all the same. I always joke with my friends and acquaintances that I just don’t like people and yet I am in sales? Why you ask have I been in some form of sales since my first job? I honestly don’t know. I started selling hamburgers at the Jefferson District Park in Fairfax County, VA at the ripe old age of 14 (back when you had to have your parents and principals permission to work) then moved on to floral sales, graduated college and started selling kitchens and baths, then furniture, scrapbook stuff, Tupperware and the natural progression to homes, right?

I have been a REALTORÒ for about 3 ½ years and some days I love it and some days I don’t so much. It happens to everyone when you see your neighbor’s house for sale and think to yourself, you idiot, why isn’t it MY sign in front of their house. Well my thought is, it’s one of two reasons. 1. They just don’t want to have a business relationship with you (which I can respect) or 2. They just forgot you were in the business.

I just experienced the “just forgot you were in the business” with a client and friend. I am working on getting my website up and running and my colleague and I met with a web designer yesterday who we are very impressed with. But in the process of having this meeting and getting a Facebook business page up and running (yes, I am slow) my client/friend said, “If you ever need any help with a web site or anything just let me know”. Well, duh, when I first met Brian he had a fantastic website up and running for another organization we were involved in. I was very impressed with his work! But it went back to the “he is my client, he is buying a house” I completely forgot what he does for a living! So here comes the guilt on my part. I will apologize to him later that I forgot. However how easily did I forget what a friend does for a living? If it happens to me, I know it happens to bunches of people I associate with and talk with every day. People just don’t think I am still in the business or just plain don’t know! SHAME ON ME!!!

I have always said I don’t want people to see me coming and say, “quick, go the other way, she is going to talk real estate again” but ya know what, I may just about be over that. If I were going to hire a REALTOR Ò I would want to hire me. I need to make sure everyone else know that too! I am sarcastic, have a dry sense of humor, quick witted but I will work my butt off (I need to work a little off) for you and get you what you want, not what I think you want but actually what you want!

So the leaf is turning (its fall you know) and I am going to promote myself and remind everyone that I am a working REALTOR Ò and that I do want their business. I will work hard for them and the decision to hire me will be the best one they could make!

Overlake is a planned unit development about 30 miles west of Salt Lake City in Tooele County. The home construction in this community began with an idea for a walking community. The developer was interested in bringing back a sense of community where neighbors would socialize and families would walk together and meet at the park to watch their kids play.When the community concept was developed they were sure to include green space.There are parks throughout the development; grass areas as well as playgrounds. Overlake also offers a 18-hole golf course that is open to the public. The community is centered around an amazing ball park and playground. During the spring and summer months it is not unusual to find 2 baseball games a night being played.

There are two neighborhood schools in Overlake, Overlake Elementary School (K-6) and Clark Johnson Junior High School (7-8).

Overlake also has a small commercial area.There are physicians’ offices, child care, a hair salon, an elder care facility as well as churches and the county hospital.

Overlake’s housing options are townhomes and single family homes; there is something for everyone’s budget. One unique aspect of the neighborhood is that all garages must either be side loading or a front recessed garage.All the homes have a front porch and the landscaping in the front yard must be completed on newly constructed homes.

The townhomes typically have 1-3 bedrooms with 1-2 baths, some with basements some without.Most of the townhomes have yard maintenance included in their Home Owners Association fee, so it can be a maintenance free lifestyle!

The single-family homes range in size from 3 bedroom 2 bath up to 5+ bedrooms. Most of the single-family homes sit on lots ranging from .15 acres up to .26 acres.

Homes are still being built in Overlake so depending on which area of the community you would like to live in you can choose from an established single-family home, town home or new construction.

Buy a Home With No Money Down In Tooele County

Can You Buy a Home With No Money Down In Tooele County? Yes ! Start looking for a house today while you still can, and while 100% financing is still available.

The most well known and efficiant 100% mortgage is called a Rural Housing Loan and is still available in some Utah Communities.

Most Tooele County Homes will qualify.

Even those more expensive homes like Golf Course Homes in Stansbury Park, or Ranchettes in Grantsville or Erda that allow horses and give a growing family room to play and the family dog room to run.

No matter whether you are a first time home buyer, or a family looking to move into a larger home for your family there are a number of financing programs that can help you buy a Home With No Money Down in Tooele County.

Our friend and associate Doug Walker from City 1st Mortgage blogged about Rural Housing Loans and 100 % Financing available for the purchase of New Homes, Short Sales, Foreclosures, Pre Foreclosures and normal listings in Tooele City, Grantsville Utah, Erda, and Stansbury Park.

Some of what Doug says is:

Fannie and Freddie got out of the 100% financing business, but we can still count on other government programs for that. The federal government helps buyers in more rural areas under the USDA Housing program, or Section 502 loans. If you buy a home in a qualified "rural" area, you can finance a home purchase with zero money down. The Rural Housing program obviously has geographic limitations - namely, less developed areas. Some are not as far away from civilization as you think. There are 2 - 3 communities within 30 minutes of downtown Salt Lake City that qualify - Tooele, Eagle Mountain and the west side of Lehi and Saratoga Springs. Read entire article

So, if you want to buy a Home With No Money Down in Tooele County, you need to do a couple of things.

1. Find out how much home you can afford and get pre qualified for that amount. You can call Doug Walker, your own lender ( if they know about Rural Housing Loans), or call Berna @ 435-840-5029. Tell her you want to Buy a Home With No Money Down In Tooele County.
2. Start searching Tooele Homes For Sale to find some homes in your price range you would like to see.
3. Call Berna. Give her the list of houses or condos you would like to visit and when the best times for you are.
4. Continue searching for and looking at Homes you can buy with no money down.
5. Find the house you want at the price you can afford and ask Berna to "get er done".

If you want to search for pre foreclosures to buy, click on Short Sales in Tooele.

To look at Foreclosed Homes, stop by Tooele Foreclosures, and see all of the Bank Owned Homes , HUD Homes, and REOs as soon as they are listed on the MLS.

Hope this helps.

If you have questions about Buying a Home With No Money Down in Tooele County, call us @ 435-840-5029.