Buying, Uncategorized

BEYOND THE DOOR | BUYER’S AGENTS

The Value of a Great Buyer’s Agent goes beyond the time and money you save, it also includes peace of mind that all the boxes are being checked by a professional that deals with the boxes on a daily basis.

“Time is more valuable than money. You can get more money, but you cannot get more time.”

– Jim Rohn

THE VALUE OF A GREAT BUYER’S AGENTS

Check out my Podcast on Behind the Door (Buyer’s Agents)

What to look for in a Buyer’s Agent!

  • Not just years experience, but volume as a Buyer’s Agent | Some agents pride themselves as a listing agent (ratio should be no less than 40% Buyer’s Agent Experience)
  • Relatable Buyer Stories | Can they give you stories about past buyer transactions that show you they know their stuff?
  • Systems | A Great Buyer’s Agent has done this so many times they have a process (checklist) of what needs to be done and when!
  • Able to answer your questions | Are they open to answering all your questions and even “what would you do” based on your own history with buyer’s agents?
  • Can they express what their value is to you as your Buyer’s Agent? | If their value is all generic that could apply to any Buyer, then they don’t know you and your needs!

Post NAR Settlement

So we are still getting used to the ramifications of the lawsuits and the proposed NAR Settlement and awaiting for a definitive answer on everything we are being told, as to all the changes. There is one thing that seems to be more than probable as remaining and that is Buyer Broker Agreements–The Agreement between the Buyer’s Agent and the Buyer(s). This agreement is a very important document and if you are thinking of buying a home in the near future, I recommend asking to see this document well prior to wanting to see homes. While you are at it, ask to see all the documents you are going to be requested to sign either by the Brokerage you are thinking of using and by the State Real Estate Board you are in.

In the end a Great Buyer’s Agent is worth every dime and then some…like peace of mind that all the boxes are checked…

HAPPY HOME BUYING

Here is my YouTube Video Beyond the Door (Buyer’s Agent)
1031 Exchange, Buying, Sell, Uncategorized

1031 Exchanges & Tax Filing Deadlines

There are a lot of rules with 1031 Exchanges but there is ONE Huge rule that many people don’t talk about and it could disqualify your entire 1031 Exchange…

“The Best Way to Predict the Future is to Create it.”

– P. Drucker & A. Lincoln | National University.
Check out my Podcast on 1031 Exchanges & Tax Filing Deadlines
Some Things That Can Mess Up Your 1031 Exchange!
  • Thinking that Holidays and/or weekends don’t count–THEY DO COUNT SO GET YOUR CALENDAR OUT! The IRS does not care that you don’t know how to count 45 days or 180 days or that you were sick or it was a weekend…or even Christmas!
  • Not making sure that you can close on the right amount of properties in time.–AGAIN THE IRS doesn’t care that you found something in your due diligence that disqualifies all of your choices that you made in the first 45 days!! HINT: Get under contract while you are under contract to sell your 1031 Exchange Property, do your Due Diligence and submit your properties by the 45th day with confidence that you can close on time!
  • Deciding to File your Tax Return for the year you did your 1031 Exchange BEFORE YOU COMPLETE YOUR EXCHANGE!! — NEVER DO THIS! Why this is rarely talked about is beyond me! But, I think that unless you deal with 1031 Exchanges as a CPA and a Realtor (which I am both) you forget this little but VERY IMPORTANT RULE. If your 180 days starts around mid-October (again get your calendar out!) then your 180 days ends around April 15th of the following year. If you file your tax return before April 15th and you have not finalized your 1031 Exchange Closing you just BUSTED your 1031…trust me that is not a good thing!!! So be sure to extend and then be sure to file by the extended due date after you finalize your 1031 Exchange!!!!
  • Thinking you can decide you want to do a 1031 Exchange on the day or after closing of your property you are selling! OMG get your qualified intermediary figured out BEFORE you even put the property you are selling on the market! Know who your team is, Realtor, Title, and QI. Have conversations with all of them, know their qualifications ask questions and then keep at it until you have a game plan. Having bad representation is not an excuse for missing deadlines or doing the 1031 Exchange incorrectly. The IRS is very unforgiving on this, if you want to play in the big leagues of 1031 Exchanges you need to know as much as your representatives and be on top of it!
  • Not reading and knowing the HOA rules that require the property to be owner occupied for a certain amount of time before it can be rented. WOW, I have seen this one Bust a 1031 and/or cost the investor a lot in penalties because they had to keep the tenant and pay the monthly HOA fines. [Real Life Situation–Agent/Buyer did not read the HOA documents that said the Buyer needed to occupy the property for 2 years before it could be rented. The Seller didn’t disclose this information either. The Seller had a tenant with a lease in place. On the close of escrow the HOA sent a letter to the new buyer (part of the 1031 Exchange) we know you have a tenant, you must pay us $400 a month for violating our policy of not being owner occupied AND as you know you cannot terminate the lease as per the Arizona Revised Statues…have a nice day (ok maybe they didn’t say that last part–but it was a big mess, PS I was not involved in any part of that transaction!)

There are so many things that can be done with a 1031 Exchange like combining it with a Section 121 (and no I am not going to go into details-you need to talk to your CPA!!) Doing a 1031 Exchange is not for the faint of heart for any of the participants, lots of rules, unforgiving of mistakes, and a lot of money on the line if your 1031 gets busted!

Here is a YouTube Video about the 1031 Exchange Concerns
Buying, Sell, Uncategorized

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO SELL YOUR NEXT HOME?

You may not like the real answer, but it may make the decision easier!

Never complain and never explain

Benjamin Disraeli-The 19th UK Prime Minister
Check Out My Podcast on When is the Best Time to Sell and/or Buy?

Some Questions to Ask Yourself When You are Thinking of Buying or Selling Your Next Home!

  • Do I love my neighborhood?
  • Am I ok with the time that it takes to get to the things I do daily or often?
  • What am I most dissatisfied with my current home that brings up the question in the first place?
  • Are any of the issues that concern me temporary?
  • What would my ideal home have, be located, include or not include?
  • Can you envision yourself in the new home and does it excite you?

If You Are Ready for the Next Step…Here are Some Questions to Ask Yourself to Have Ready for your Agent!

  • Where do you ideally want to be located?
  • How far in minutes from the things you do daily or often?
  • Single Family, Condo, Patio Home/Town Home?
  • HOA or No HOA?
  • How many parking spots do you need on a daily basis and for guests?
  • How many pets do you have or want to have and their size?
  • Is your family size changing in the near future?
  • Do you need a gas stove or is an induction stove your ideal?
  • Do you want a pool? Private, Community, or NO Thank you!
  • Guarded, Gated, or None of the Above?
  • Approximately what do you want to spend per month? (not just what you qualify for)

Talk to your agent and let them know while you may qualify for a certain amount that doesn’t mean you want to necessarily spend that amount.

Also, it is important to separate your “wishes” from your “deal breakers” and let your agent know which is which. Sometimes, one persons wish is another persons deal breaker, so if it not a deal breaker, bring it up and then immediately say it is NOT a deal breaker.

When you get the list of homes, also ask for the criteria used to create the list so you can double check that there isn’t more or less than what you want! And Do NOT Hesitate to tell your agent you want to change the criteria if you aren’t finding what you want. Expanding a couple of blocks one way or the other, or being ok with a den instead of a bedroom can open up a whole set of options!

Here are some ideas on the Buying and Selling Decision!
Buying, Uncategorized

HOW TO FIND THE BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT FOR YOU IN A NEW CITY

The best Real Estate Agent may not be the one with the most reviews!

Good fortune is what happens when opportunity meets planning.”

Thomas Edison
Check Out my Podcast on How to Find the Best Real Estate Agent for you in a New City!!

Some Questions to Think About Before You Call A Real Estate Agent!

  • What price point do I want to be in?
  • Do I want community living or single family home?
  • Do I want or not want a pool and/or spa?
  • Do I want it to be super walkable?
  • How close to Restaurants and Shopping?
  • How close to friends, family and/or work?
  • HOA or no HOA

You want to figure out what your ideal home would be like! You may not get 100% of what you are looking for, but you have a better chance of finding it if you are more specific than a 3 Bedroom/2 Bath in the City. You want to be able to articulate the most ideal scenario. When it comes to price point you want to be in a range and when looking exceed the range a little in case you are able to negotiate a lower price.

Some Questions to Write Out Before Interviewing Real Estate Agent!

  • What is the temperament I would prefer in an agent?
  • Are they available to block out a day or two at a time to show when you are in town?
  • Will they do FaceTime previews with you while you are out of town?
  • Have they had out of town Buyers before?
  • What did they find to be the most challenging?
  • Do they feel the Buyers enjoyed the experience?
  • What will be the driving arrangements when you are in town?

Working with out of town Buyer’s takes some organization! The schedule needs to encompass timing limitations and possible new home build hours, possible traffic, breaks in between to eat and drink, etc. it takes a lot of flexibility as well. So you want an agent that seems like they are up to the task and hopefully have done it successfully before.

Here are some ideas on how to find the right Real Estate Agent for you when you are moving to a new city!
Buying, Uncategorized

Are Higher Interest Rates Good For Buyers?

It may seem paradoxical but it may be true!

“Buy land, they’re not making it anymore”

Mark Twain
See how higher interest rates allow some buyers to buy that otherwise would not be able to when interest was low! Check out my PODCAST!

Some little known positives about higher interest rates!

  • Buyer’s have less competition to buy a home
  • Seller’s more likely to accept a contingency
  • Seller’s less likely to ask for an Appraisal Guarantee
  • Seller’s more likely to pay Closing Costs
  • Seller’s less likely to ask for Post Possession
  • Buyer’s have more homes to choose from

When Interest rates are low, everyone is buying, including cash buyer’s…why? Because they aren’t earning money keeping it in the bank, and the real estate prices are historically going up in a low interest rate market, so it’s a win-win for cash buyers to buy. This trend reverses itself when real estate prices go down substantially, and then those investor’s with cash start buying again when the sentiment is that the real estate market has hit a bottom. Investor’s tend to stay out when the market is stable and interest is high.

What it was really like when interest rates were low…

  • Seller’s receiving multiple offers on the first day!
  • Seller’s only taking offers for 24-48 hours and only if you saw the property!
  • Seller’s asking to stay in the property after closing for free for up to 6 months!
  • Buyer’s offering sometimes 25% or more over list price and then guaranteeing the Appraisal Gap before even knowing what it would appraise for…
  • Seller’s laughing at a contingency offer and then tossing it in the trash
  • Seller’s dictating everything from title company, buyer paying all closing costs (including those normally paid by seller’s), and when closing would be, denying homewarranties…
  • SELLER’S ARE IN CHARGE WHEN INTEREST RATES ARE LOW!

Here are some ideas on getting the Seller to help reduce your interest rate!!

Buying, Uncategorized

BUYING A HOME WHEN YOU HAVE PETS

Why our Pets have a big impact on the next home we buy!

“A pet is a part of the family, no matter what anyone else says”

Me
Know your pet lifestyle! Check out my PODCAST!

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF WHEN YOU ARE BUYING A HOME

  • If I don’t have a pet today, will I maybe want one in the future?
  • If I have one pet today, will I maybe want more than one in the future?
    • What type of pet would I want in the future and what would the adult size be?
  • Have you considered the various factors of your pet like
  • Have you considered the various factors of your pet like

HAVE YOU CONSIDERED THE VARIOUS FACTORS?

  • Where would the relieve themselves (inside options?)
    • Where would we go for walks
    • Are there other similar pets to play with
    • Do they need room to play on their own outside or is direct supervision OK?

HOA’s and other Rules

Unfortunately, when you live in a Condo and/or have an HOA there can be restrictions on the type, height, weight, and other limiting characteristics for the type of pet you may have. I actually came across and HOA that said NO Birds. In the end it wasn’t worth the fight with the HOA, it was just easier to move on and buy another home. But, if pets are a big part of your life, you may want to consider a NON-HOA home for your next purchase. You will however, have to abide by the City rules, mostly related to leash laws and noise rules and regulations. So think through your pet plans before finding yourself in a tangled web of fines and/or litigation.

Puppies now, but not for long…things to think about with your next move!
Buying, Uncategorized

Condo Life

Why Condo Life is Fun! (and when)

“The secret to success is getting what you want. [The secret to] happiness is wanting what you get.”

Dale Carnegie
Scottsdale Arizona Camelview Optima

Check out my Podcast on “Condo Living”

The Pros of living in a Condo!

  1. Socialization with neighbors
  2. Possible walkability to restaurants
  3. Not responsible for things like landscaping, pool maintenance, outside storm issues

    The Cons of living in a Condo!

    1. Pesky neighbors
    2. No private yard
    3. HOA Fees that may increase or have assessments due to underfunding or under accounted for expenses

    What makes an awesome Condo!

    1. Concrete or sound proofing walls, floors, and ceilings
    2. Lot’s of areas for gatherings, BBQ Grills, Outdoor Patio’s, Pool & Spa, Indoor Clubhouse, walking paths, dog runs, and rooftop entertaining. (Think options!)
    3. An HOA that is financially sound and well run and financials that seem strong. A steady increase in HOA dues and not a jump. Surprisingly, those HOA’s that charge a fee when there is a sale and those funds go into the improvement of the building, are also a good sign.
    4. Walk-ability to whatever you love! If you love baseball then maybe a Condo that is right next to the Diamondbacks Stadium is for you. If you like Shopping then a Condo next Scottsdale Fashion Square may be your ideal condo. Or maybe you are a Capital Grille fanatic (like me) there is a condo within walking distance of there, too!
    Buying, Sell, Uncategorized

    Low Appraisal! What are your options?

    It is not as simple as you think…

    We are what we repeatedly do.

    Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.

    Aristotle
    What goes into an Appraisal

    Check out my Podcast on “What to do with a Low Appraisal”

    If you are thinking that your only options on a low appraisal is to agree or get out, then you would be sadly mistaken! There are a lot of different options that I would consider (and so have my clients) as a win/win on a low appraisal. Let’s consider some scenarios:

    1. Scenario 1-The Appraisal Is Just Not Making Sense! So you look at the details and the bedroom count is wrong, the square footage is wrong, the contract price you agreed to is wrong, the Loan Type is wrong (FHA instead of VA or Conventional), the comps are in an area so far away in another city that you are wondering what the heck is going on with this appraiser!! First of all go through everything in detail and make detailed notes and gather your back up to prove your side. Sometimes, an appraiser is going so fast that they miss a Counter Offer or maybe there is a discrepancy in the listing and the county records on the square footage or they just get your file confused with another. Stay calm and request a reconsideration and document all of your findings without using the words “the appraiser was wrong”. Saying the appraiser was wrong will not get you anywhere and they will read everything you submit. So start by saying that you appreciate the time and effort they have put in for your appraisal, but that you noticed that the Contract Price was for $725,000, however, the Counter Offer #3 notes the Contract Price agreed upon as $750,000. Or that you noticed that the loan was for a FHA loan, however, the Buyer will be getting Conventional financing. You get the idea, the more nuanced you can be, the further it will get you.
    2. Scenario 2-The Renegotiation! So you have looked through the appraisal and either you agree with the appraisal or the time needed to get a reconsideration done isn’t enough to close on time, or you tried the Reconsideration to no avail; Now is time to Renegotiate! Have the Seller Offer to buy down some of the interest and ask the Buyer to put the down payment partially to the under appraisal portion of the home. This option can be done in conjunction with coming down on price as well, but first find out how much buying down the maximum amount of interest will cost and provide in a return on investment. You must know this FIRST before negotiating a further buy down. If an agent tells you otherwise, ask them about their previous experience doing this, my guess is never or they wouldn’t try to get you down on price first.
    3. Scenario 3-Commissionectimy! So sometimes a buyer is only putting the minimum amount down and there isn’t anything that can be done to lower the interest. In addition this works on smaller appraiser issues like $5,000 or so. What I do is tell the Buyer’s agent that I am willing to match them dollar for dollar in reducing the commission to get the deal done, then depending if there is a short fall ask the Seller for the difference. A Seller will be impressed that the two agents are already doing their part to make the deal happen.

    So in summary there are a lot of options and they are NOT mutually exclusive. I have done all of these on just one home in some cases and got the deal done! Sometimes, only 1 or 2 of the options get it done, and sometimes both parties have to part ways…but before you do that give it your best shot to get past a low appraisal!!

    Buying, Uncategorized

    Is it a Buyer’s Market? Not Quite…

    We appear to be in a Balanced Market!

    Never Judge Your Clarity by Someone Else’s Response

    Starting Over the TV Series

    Check out my Podcast on “Balanced Real Estate Market! What is that?”

    Right now we are all hearing that buying a home just isn’t possible, interest is too high, prices are too high or too low, the economy is bad, who knows what will happen in the future…So there may be some truth to all of these statements, but there are work arounds!

    So when interest rates go up, lending tends to not be as tight, it’s the old supply and demand. Also, Seller’s are more apt to help buy down the interest in a Balanced Market! This is an awesome trend that is going on right now. Talk to your Lender about this one before you put in an offer to see what the maximum amount a Seller can contribute to you!

    So prices being too high or too low, may not really be an issue if you are selling a home and buying a new one. In addition, Seller’s are more inclined to accept your contingent offer in a Balanced Market, giving you time to get your current home sold. But, be prepared to be a Seller who knows how to sweeten the pot for the right Buyer.

    So the economy is bad and who knows what will happen in the future…so some day prices will go back up and the economy will get better. History tells us that there are ups and downs in real estate, but except in very rare cases is a home purchase deemed to be worthless, even if it’s only worth the land due to some unforeseen condemnation.

    So if you are in the market to change your home, don’t be afraid, there are deals to be had and Seller’s are more reasonable than they have been in the last couple of years.

    Watch this short Video on the New Balanced Market!
    Buying, Sell, Uncategorized

    Ideal Agent

    What makes the Ideal Agent? Money or Attributes?

    “Never do or don’t do anything because of FEAR”

    Author 7th Heaven Episode Unknown
    Question everything you want to know from an Agent!
    Click the link above and Checkout my Podcast!!

    So when you are considering an Agent to help you in your next real estate transaction, what do you think is important to you? Write those traits down and then put them in order of importance. When you write down your order of importance, go from top to bottom and ask this question, “If this was the only attribute that they had would that be ok?” Probably not, but let’s put them in a group. Then look at the list again from bottom to top and ask this next question, “If this was the only attribute that they did not have would that be ok?” This will obviously garner a different result. You will soon find what is truly important to you!

    What do I think is the top attribute? For me, I think communication a) Timing–maybe you have a job and you can only talk after 7pm does your agent understand that? b) Method–So you are super busy and you prefer texting but your Agent wants to email all the time and you daily get hundreds of emails so you don’t see it. c) Content–Is the information you need done concisely or is there a story every time.

    There's No Better Time Than NOW!!

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