Yes, you can pay less real estate commission on the sale of your home. Regardless of which state you live in, all real estate commissions are negotiable. Real estate agents prefer you to pay the "standard" fee of 7%, but times are different.
This latest recession/depression has put a big hurt on real estate agents and brokers. With home sales down many agents are not selling as much as they used to. Life on easy street has changed for many of them.
How much does an agent make on a sale?
A typical listing agent will split the real estate commission 50% with the selling agent. So, on a $200,000 home the "standard" commission of 7% would be $14,000. So, your listing agent gets half, or $7,000. Now the listing agent doesn't get to keep this full amount unless they're also the broker. Often, the agent and broker will split 50/50, or each getting $3,500. Many agents will sell one house a week. That's $182,000 a year! Now, if they both list and sell your house they make double. Not bad for a little bit of work, huh? dallas homes for sale
How do you find an agent that will negotiate?
First, look for agents at smaller real estate companies, or even better yet, independent owner/brokers. They're much more likely to reduce their fees. Also, agents at the bigger real estate companies will be under more pressure from their brokers not reduce their commissions.
Start making a list from the internet or yellow pages of all the local real estate agents in the area. Then get on the phone and ask them a few questions, such as:
"How long have you been selling real estate?" "How many houses do you sell a year?" "What is the average length of time it takes you to sell a home in my neighborhood?"
By asking these questions, you're letting the agent know that you're qualifying them over the phone, and that you're in charge. dallas homes for sale
Next, ask if their real estate commission is negotiable. If they respond with a "no", thank them for their time and move on to the next call. Don't waste your time or theirs arguing.
If their response is a "yes" or a "maybe", let them know you'll be conducting face-to-face interviews in the next week. Get their cell phone number, so you'll be able to reach them easily.
When you've finished your list set up appointments with the ones you feel most comfortable with. Give them your address, so they can present a marketing plan for your property. Also, let them know you expect them to submit their best offer as far as a commission is concerned.
When you meet with the agents do not sign a contract or make a commitment on the spot. Many agents will try to "close the sale" and walk away with a listing. Tell them you haven't finished interviewing all the agents and you'll get back to them. Be honest with them if someone else is offering a lower commission rate.
It's ok to go back and forth negotiating with agents on a commission rate. They're used to negotiating, just not with their inflated commissions! dallas homes for sale
Choose the agent who you feel has a reasonable real estate commission, and one who will do the best job of selling your property for the most money. Good luck!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Foreclosure Homes - Preventing Such Unfortunate Fate
As a homeowner, the worst thing that could happen to your house is for it to become one of the many foreclosure homes for sale in the market today. Although there are unforseen circumstances that could cause you to lose your home, it would not hurt to be prepared. dallas homes for sale
Avoiding foreclosure altogether is actually simple if you know what to do. Consider the following:
Sorting Out Finances
A sure-fire way of preventing foreclosure is to make sure that you are managing your finances well. For starters, you should always prioritize your mortgage payments and make sure that you are aware of any increases or adjustments in your mortgage dues. Check the terms of your mortgage loan agreement in order to avoid being surprised.
If you are unsure, talk to your mortgage lender. If you also think that there will be changes in your financial situation, inform your lender at once so that you can ask for the loan terms to be modified.
In addition, you should make sure that all your records, particularly your mortgage payment receipts are in order. It will serve as proof of your reliability and responsibility when you are speaking with your lender regarding a possible loan modification. dallas homes for sale
Ask for Help
Having a problem with your mortgage obligations is not something that you should ignore. If you have done everything you can do to prevent foreclosure but still faces it, maybe it is time that you seek help. You might want to ask your family, friends, financial institutions or even the government for assistance. There are currently foreclosure prevention programs which you can take advantage of. All you have to do is to admit that you are in over your head and need help.
If worse comes to worst, you can always choose to sell your home. You could easily find a buyer especialy since foreclosure homes are quite hot right now. You may not to get to keep your home, but you get to maintain a good credit history.
Avoiding foreclosure altogether is actually simple if you know what to do. Consider the following:
Sorting Out Finances
A sure-fire way of preventing foreclosure is to make sure that you are managing your finances well. For starters, you should always prioritize your mortgage payments and make sure that you are aware of any increases or adjustments in your mortgage dues. Check the terms of your mortgage loan agreement in order to avoid being surprised.
If you are unsure, talk to your mortgage lender. If you also think that there will be changes in your financial situation, inform your lender at once so that you can ask for the loan terms to be modified.
In addition, you should make sure that all your records, particularly your mortgage payment receipts are in order. It will serve as proof of your reliability and responsibility when you are speaking with your lender regarding a possible loan modification. dallas homes for sale
Ask for Help
Having a problem with your mortgage obligations is not something that you should ignore. If you have done everything you can do to prevent foreclosure but still faces it, maybe it is time that you seek help. You might want to ask your family, friends, financial institutions or even the government for assistance. There are currently foreclosure prevention programs which you can take advantage of. All you have to do is to admit that you are in over your head and need help.
If worse comes to worst, you can always choose to sell your home. You could easily find a buyer especialy since foreclosure homes are quite hot right now. You may not to get to keep your home, but you get to maintain a good credit history.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Houses for Sale in Dallas - 5 Powerful Tips to Help You Sell Your Home Faster
If you are a seller of a single family home, new home, luxury home or condo for sale in Maryland, then there are techniques that you can employ to ensure that your real estate offering stands out where others fall flat. The real estate market is a tough one to function in presently - and every trick of the trade can benefit you if employed properly. Implement the following tips to maximize your chances of converting your home for sale in Maryland into the next home sold in Maryland.
Tip #1: No Pressure Applied
Houses for sale in Maryland are loaded with high-pressure sales agents. Do not be one of them. Instead, graciously greet prospective buyers, offer to answer any questions that they may have - and then leave them alone in the house. You want them to envision themselves living it. You want them to be able to communicate openly and freely - as if you were not there. So, don't be. Make yourself available without producing any type of pressure on the buyers.
Tip #2: Make the Property Comfortable
Properties, especially condos for sale in Maryland, are often left at uncomfortable temperatures when unoccupied. Take the time to show up before appointments and get the temperature set correctly. Make the interior of the property feel like home. Make it invite the prospective buyers to stay a while and enjoy how it makes them feel. Worry about the utility bills another time. dallas real estate
Tip #3: Create an Enticing Mood and Ambiance
Luxury homes for sale in Maryland should represent luxury to prospective buyers. Take the time to set the scene for them before they arrive. Put on some soft music. Light the fireplace. Set a chilled bottle of champagne on a table near the fireplace - and make sure to leave them alone to enjoy it! Use noise-dampening devices like water fountains to make the buyers feel relaxed and at home. That's the whole idea!
Tip #4: Don't Blast Your Buyers with Loud Scents
New homes for sale in Maryland should smell fresh already. In older homes and/or condos, it's alright to use some type of scents in the air, but make them mild and pleasing - never loud. It's best to let fresh air circulate throughout the unit, unless the weather outside will not permit it. Also, skip the open windows if there is a lot of noise outside. It's a good idea to simmer some spices or even bake some cookies for your prospective buyers. Whatever you use to please their noses, just make it mild and discrete. dallas real estate
Tip 5: Feed Them!
People love to eat - so feed them! You don't have to hire a professional caterer, but you can certainly entice them to visit longer by offering some finger sandwiches, soft drinks, water, desserts and the like. Remember, the goal is to make your prospective buyers feel at home in every way that you can. Treat them well and encourage them to visit as long as they care to - with no pressure.
As in all locations across the country presently, there are many new homes, luxury homes, condos and other homes for sale in Maryland. You don't want to have a home for sale; you want to sell your home. So, take the time to use professional techniques and entice your prospective buyers in every way.
Tip #1: No Pressure Applied
Houses for sale in Maryland are loaded with high-pressure sales agents. Do not be one of them. Instead, graciously greet prospective buyers, offer to answer any questions that they may have - and then leave them alone in the house. You want them to envision themselves living it. You want them to be able to communicate openly and freely - as if you were not there. So, don't be. Make yourself available without producing any type of pressure on the buyers.
Tip #2: Make the Property Comfortable
Properties, especially condos for sale in Maryland, are often left at uncomfortable temperatures when unoccupied. Take the time to show up before appointments and get the temperature set correctly. Make the interior of the property feel like home. Make it invite the prospective buyers to stay a while and enjoy how it makes them feel. Worry about the utility bills another time. dallas real estate
Tip #3: Create an Enticing Mood and Ambiance
Luxury homes for sale in Maryland should represent luxury to prospective buyers. Take the time to set the scene for them before they arrive. Put on some soft music. Light the fireplace. Set a chilled bottle of champagne on a table near the fireplace - and make sure to leave them alone to enjoy it! Use noise-dampening devices like water fountains to make the buyers feel relaxed and at home. That's the whole idea!
Tip #4: Don't Blast Your Buyers with Loud Scents
New homes for sale in Maryland should smell fresh already. In older homes and/or condos, it's alright to use some type of scents in the air, but make them mild and pleasing - never loud. It's best to let fresh air circulate throughout the unit, unless the weather outside will not permit it. Also, skip the open windows if there is a lot of noise outside. It's a good idea to simmer some spices or even bake some cookies for your prospective buyers. Whatever you use to please their noses, just make it mild and discrete. dallas real estate
Tip 5: Feed Them!
People love to eat - so feed them! You don't have to hire a professional caterer, but you can certainly entice them to visit longer by offering some finger sandwiches, soft drinks, water, desserts and the like. Remember, the goal is to make your prospective buyers feel at home in every way that you can. Treat them well and encourage them to visit as long as they care to - with no pressure.
As in all locations across the country presently, there are many new homes, luxury homes, condos and other homes for sale in Maryland. You don't want to have a home for sale; you want to sell your home. So, take the time to use professional techniques and entice your prospective buyers in every way.
Friends in High Places
You have friends in High Places
The Saints have been speaking to us, vulnerably sharing their stories, to help us walk our path to the Father. We pray they have touched you, as they have us. Some of the Saints we have written about, we had to write about them. We felt a persistent gnawing inside to share their stories, their lives.
We have spent almost a lifetime studying about the glories of our Church. We have gone on Pilgrimage at least once a year since 1976, and sometimes three or four times a year. And it has been a glorious journey of faith. We always tell young couples planning to marry, "First you have to meet the family; because your love is part of a whole. Her/his life began centuries ago, with their families who are here and have gone before." And so it is with us Catholic Christians. Our family dates back to the time of Jesus our Brother and Mary our Mother. As one travels through our history, they will surely find our cousins, the Saints who have gone before us, making our spiritual life what it is today. They fought the good fight and we have a Church today!
We have had a love affair with Mother Church and all her children for the past thirty years, and it has grown to such a degree, we hunger to meet more and more of our ancestors, the Saints. Over the past thirty years, we have lived from pilgrimage to pilgrimage, studying, preparing, journeying to lands across the seas to our heritage. Once we began our journey, one journey grew into another and then another; and we were hooked.
At one point in our lives, Penny and I were driving down to San Diego, California, to call on some accounts, back when we were still in the world. It was a long drive, over three hours, and we usually spent the time praying the Rosary. However, on this one day, I was somewhat concerned. All of our friends in Westlake Village were buying up real estate in Southern California. It was a good investment. We didn't have any money to do that, because we spent most of what we had, each year, going on pilgrimage.
I remember saying to Penny, "You know, honey, we're not putting anything away for a nest egg for ourselves, or for our grandson. What are we leaving him?" She didn't answer me. But that night, after we had finished calling on our accounts, I turned to Penny, "I know what we're giving our grandson, as well as us and our Church. We're giving him heritage. These Saints, whose lives we study, they're our family. They're our brothers and sisters in Faith. These are Role Models, whom he can fall back on."
Super Saints
Going down memory lane, I recall how we came about coining the phrase "Super Saints." It began with our teaching First Holy Communion Class at our parish in 1975. One day I got the idea to tell the little ones a story each week on the Saint whose Feast Day it was. We took the "S" of the Superman symbol, and added another big S to it, and wrote it on the blackboard. Then we proceeded to tell the little people stories of the Saints. We never thought they paid any attention to us or the stories. They always seemed like they were not there with us. But then at Parents Nights, their parents would tell us how the children had shared with them about St. Michael, or St. Francis or St. Anthony or one of the many Saints we had researched.
The Super Saints had gone over big with the little people! And now, almost thirty years later, that is the title and concept of our most popular television series on EWTN, Super Saints.
We want to end article book by sharing with you how important our family - the Saints, are to you and to me. You are possibly just now beginning to realize how fortunate you and we are to be Catholic, to have these brothers and sisters, not only to fall back on as Role Models, but to tell your children about. They want to be part of your life! They want you to consider them as family, your family. There is no situation in your lives that you may encounter, no problem, that you can't dig into this collection of relatives the Lord has given you, and find one to whom you can relate your problem, and nine times out of ten, help you to resolve the problem.
Everyone needs a hero! There are a whole series of Hero Saints for boys and girls. There are Saints to help you with their studies, through a rough exam. There are Saints who can help them with Chastity, with that rough time of growing up.
We are all called to become Saints! There are Saints for married couples, to model your relationship after. There are even Saints to help you find the right husband or wife, or vocation. We have Saints whom we can petition Jesus to intercede with the Father for conception and delivery of children. There are even Saints to help us find lost objects and lost souls.
For us, the most exciting part of our lives is to be able to go to the places of the Saints, to relive their lives, to get inside of them, and feel their spirits. The second most exciting part of our lives is to be able to bring the marvels of these beautiful brothers and sisters in Christ back to you, so that you too, can share a little of their lives in your life. They are there for us; they are waiting for us. We can ask for their help. They know how to get to Jesus. Remember, they are His very best friends. You know how people ask for your intercessory prayer for any number of petitions they may have? And you pray for them? Just think about asking someone who is right up there with Jesus and Mary, in the in-club. Make use of the power the Lord has given to the Saints. Remember, you truly have friends in High Places. God bless you. We love you! dallas real estate
The Saints have been speaking to us, vulnerably sharing their stories, to help us walk our path to the Father. We pray they have touched you, as they have us. Some of the Saints we have written about, we had to write about them. We felt a persistent gnawing inside to share their stories, their lives.
We have spent almost a lifetime studying about the glories of our Church. We have gone on Pilgrimage at least once a year since 1976, and sometimes three or four times a year. And it has been a glorious journey of faith. We always tell young couples planning to marry, "First you have to meet the family; because your love is part of a whole. Her/his life began centuries ago, with their families who are here and have gone before." And so it is with us Catholic Christians. Our family dates back to the time of Jesus our Brother and Mary our Mother. As one travels through our history, they will surely find our cousins, the Saints who have gone before us, making our spiritual life what it is today. They fought the good fight and we have a Church today!
We have had a love affair with Mother Church and all her children for the past thirty years, and it has grown to such a degree, we hunger to meet more and more of our ancestors, the Saints. Over the past thirty years, we have lived from pilgrimage to pilgrimage, studying, preparing, journeying to lands across the seas to our heritage. Once we began our journey, one journey grew into another and then another; and we were hooked.
At one point in our lives, Penny and I were driving down to San Diego, California, to call on some accounts, back when we were still in the world. It was a long drive, over three hours, and we usually spent the time praying the Rosary. However, on this one day, I was somewhat concerned. All of our friends in Westlake Village were buying up real estate in Southern California. It was a good investment. We didn't have any money to do that, because we spent most of what we had, each year, going on pilgrimage.
I remember saying to Penny, "You know, honey, we're not putting anything away for a nest egg for ourselves, or for our grandson. What are we leaving him?" She didn't answer me. But that night, after we had finished calling on our accounts, I turned to Penny, "I know what we're giving our grandson, as well as us and our Church. We're giving him heritage. These Saints, whose lives we study, they're our family. They're our brothers and sisters in Faith. These are Role Models, whom he can fall back on."
Super Saints
Going down memory lane, I recall how we came about coining the phrase "Super Saints." It began with our teaching First Holy Communion Class at our parish in 1975. One day I got the idea to tell the little ones a story each week on the Saint whose Feast Day it was. We took the "S" of the Superman symbol, and added another big S to it, and wrote it on the blackboard. Then we proceeded to tell the little people stories of the Saints. We never thought they paid any attention to us or the stories. They always seemed like they were not there with us. But then at Parents Nights, their parents would tell us how the children had shared with them about St. Michael, or St. Francis or St. Anthony or one of the many Saints we had researched.
The Super Saints had gone over big with the little people! And now, almost thirty years later, that is the title and concept of our most popular television series on EWTN, Super Saints.
We want to end article book by sharing with you how important our family - the Saints, are to you and to me. You are possibly just now beginning to realize how fortunate you and we are to be Catholic, to have these brothers and sisters, not only to fall back on as Role Models, but to tell your children about. They want to be part of your life! They want you to consider them as family, your family. There is no situation in your lives that you may encounter, no problem, that you can't dig into this collection of relatives the Lord has given you, and find one to whom you can relate your problem, and nine times out of ten, help you to resolve the problem.
Everyone needs a hero! There are a whole series of Hero Saints for boys and girls. There are Saints to help you with their studies, through a rough exam. There are Saints who can help them with Chastity, with that rough time of growing up.
We are all called to become Saints! There are Saints for married couples, to model your relationship after. There are even Saints to help you find the right husband or wife, or vocation. We have Saints whom we can petition Jesus to intercede with the Father for conception and delivery of children. There are even Saints to help us find lost objects and lost souls.
For us, the most exciting part of our lives is to be able to go to the places of the Saints, to relive their lives, to get inside of them, and feel their spirits. The second most exciting part of our lives is to be able to bring the marvels of these beautiful brothers and sisters in Christ back to you, so that you too, can share a little of their lives in your life. They are there for us; they are waiting for us. We can ask for their help. They know how to get to Jesus. Remember, they are His very best friends. You know how people ask for your intercessory prayer for any number of petitions they may have? And you pray for them? Just think about asking someone who is right up there with Jesus and Mary, in the in-club. Make use of the power the Lord has given to the Saints. Remember, you truly have friends in High Places. God bless you. We love you! dallas real estate
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