Have you ever seen ads for pricing your home…”Free service, just sign up and receive your free home analysis.”  Did you wonder what the catch was…whether you’d really get the free analysis?

Well, most of these sites direct your inquiry to an agent who has purchased a zip code, city or county, as an ‘exclusive’ arrangement for obtaining leads.  That’s right - the e-mail or call you’ll get will be from the agent who made this deal with the site owner.  No problem…if you’re OK with that but if you thought you we’re not going to be on an agent’s radar, not so good?

Most any Broker will give you a “CMA,” (comparative market analysis) for your home.  Some will require you let them visit your home and they’ll come armed with their ’sign here’ listing agreement.  Others will e-mail it to you and follow up to try to get your listing.  Hardly ever will you get an e-mail with the info you requested and no strings attached.  Now the home visit is important as whatever amenities you might have could add to the value…things like granite counter tops, ceramic baths, new appliances, etc.

I remember years ago, working with one of these sites, and the surprise and alarm the homeowners displayed when I called. (A very watered-down description of their reaction.)  I cancelled the service as I felt it violated the homeowner’s goals.

Many of these sites host tutoring seminars aimed at teaching the agents how to sneak up on these unaware home owners.  Clever stuff, this?

Here’s what we do here but before I get to that, here’s what you should know about this game:  Realtors don’t get paid to do these evaluations…unless you’re willing to pay them?  Realtors often do a lot of work for nothing and they, much like yourself, don’t like to work for nothing…right?  Realtors are concerned that they’ll do this work for you and find you’re really not ready to sell but were just curious about what your home might sell for…if you were going to sell it.  Or, they’re concerned that they will give you the data you need and you’ll then call some other Realtor to sell your home.  Could happen, right?  So, what’s the answer, how do you get what you want without paying for it or being hassled to list your home with a Realtor you don’t even know?

Simple solution, call us…no obligation on your part…straight forward honest ‘CMA’ will be done for you.  And, when we visit your home, we do not have anything for you to sign.  You’ll get the info you asked for within 24 hours.  We feel that if we treat people with dignity and respect, providing this service without a ‘hitch,’ when they’re ready to sell they’ll get back to us.  So, fear not, no funny stuff, just good and accurate service you can depend on!

So if you’re considering the sale of your home, check it out ASAP…most industry sources feel that a lot more foreclosures will come in the next few months, putting  additional downward pressure on home prices.  Also, in this part of the country, home sales are the highest between now and July.  Again, check it out…can’t hurt to be informed?

Buyers have only two weeks to identify the home they want and get a purchase offer in place, in order to get the govt. tax break.  Why pass on a $6,500 (buyers who have not bought a home in the last five years) to $8,000 check or tax credit from the govt.?  This is big…get your share.  You have to have a signed deal before the end of this month and a close date by the end of June.  The clock is ticking and we know we can find the home you want within the next two weeks.  Give us a call and take advantage of our ‘cooperative search’ process, whereby you also get extra cash when you close on your new home.

Any stories you care to share with our readers?  We’d love to hear from you.  Just click on the title of this post and a comment box will open.

Ed (651-770-5000)

  So on 4/30/2010 this Birdie flys away and takes with it the $8k/$6.5k tax or cash benefit. 

  You won’t miss it, will you?  Buyers still have time to find the home they want and nail

  down this huge govt. hand out!

We can find the home you want in less than 30 days, so hang with us and we’ll get you there in time.  The housing inventory is exceptional, you name it and it’s out there for you.  Best part is; the deals are unreal and you’ll probably never see it better in your lifetime!  Add to this, the rates that continue, at least for now, at record lows…and…the FHA203k program to help you with the cash you don’t have…to make repairs and improvments.  That means you can get a short-sale or foreclosure property that needs some fixin and appliances - to look like new before you move in!  Seriously, if you can buy, BUY NOW!   http://money.cnn.com/pf/loan_center/index.html

FHA is still at 3.5% down, and up to 6% for closing cost request from sellers.  Rates are still just over the 5% mark but all indications are, we’ll see a serious rate increase starting soon.  Don’t let it happen to you…Buy Now!

Home ownership declined some in 2009.  With some of the older short-sales and REO’s getting sold, we’re hoping for an uptick in the traditional home sales.  While some markets report slight price increases, this may still be a ’skewed’ result due to the lower priced, distressed stuff going away.

Many pundits see the market prices dropping even further due to the expected glut of homes that were held back from short-sales, as the owners tried to qualify for mtge payment reductions and/or, principal reductions.  So few have been able to qualify and of those that have, over 35% are back in the soup within months, failing to carry out the plan.  These homes will show up next.  How many, is anyone’s guess.

Another move by the FED, that will no doubt have a serious affect on the market, is their decision to stop buying mortgage-backed securities.  This could result in rate increases and diminish the ability of buyers to qualify for loans, or, limit their ability to buy the house they want?

We have been helping buyers get outstanding deals and rates throughout this housing mess.  We can help you too.  Give us a call to discuss the possibilities.

If you’re ‘upside down’ in your equity position and wonder whether you should jump on the ‘HAMP’ band wagon, or sell or short sell, give us a call and we’ll fill you in.  There’s a lot to learn and it won’t cost you a dime to get this info.

If you’re interested in selling but question whether this is the time to try, call us…we’ll give you all the market info you need to make a decision that serves your best interest.  No charge here either!

We work with a lot of investors to help them meet their goals, both on the buy and the sell side.  If you’re an investor who could use some help, give us a call…can’t hurt to talk?

 We love to hear from ourt readers.  If you’d like to comment on this or any other post, just click on the headline and a comment box will open for you. 

This mess will end.  Mean time, let’s work together to get you where you want to be!

Our best to all of you!

Ed (651-770-5000)