Realty Agent Professionals Team

Single Story For Sale in Spanish Acres

Scott McClain — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 05:27:00 GMT

Lowest Price in Neighborhood!

• 2,414 sq. ft., 2 bath, 4 bdrm single story - MLS® #7313603 $289,000 - Great Price!

Spanish Acres, Dunedin - Meticulously maintained subdivision model house in highly desirable Spanish Acres neighborhood of Dunedin, Fl. This home has so many upgrades you will think it is brand new which include:
Double-Paned Argon Gas Insulated Windows
12 SEER Rheem A/C with Florida Power Approved Ductwork
New 12" Attic Insulation
New Benjamin Moore Paint
Oversized Indoor Laundry
Ceramic Tile & Parquet Wood Flooring
Brand New (never used) stove and refrigerator
Newer Dishwasher (under warranty)
Over Stove Convection/Microwave
158' Deep Well Operating the Rainbird Sprinkler System
Contiuous Concrete Curbing for Landscaping
Hurricane Rated Garage Door and Opener
New Counters
The large master suite features a walk-in closet and a master bath that has a sunken tub that makes showering a breeze even for the tallest of persons!
The guest bedrooms feature oversized closets with one of them even sporting a walk-in closet for that extra storage that we all seem to desire!
A formal dining room and a large family room off the kitchen that you could choose to use as your formal dining room instead and would make entertainiing a breeze!
The home has a large wrap around screen enclosed back patio that is accessbile from both the main home and a private sliding glass door from the master suite.
The extra large living room measures a full 27' x 18' and comes complete with a wood burning fireplace, cathedral wood beamed cielings offering room for any large screen televisions with room to spare! Never feel crowded in your home again!
And with all that you get this home at the lowest price in the neighborhood!
Just minutes from shopping, beaches and all the modern conveniences. Don't miss this great opportunity to own a home that is ready for you to move right in!

Property information

2 Story For Sale in Hunting Creek

Scott McClain — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 04:28:00 GMT

Aggressively Priced for Quick Sale

• 2,188 sq. ft., 2 bath, 5 bdrm 2 story "Only 3 Years Old!" - MLS® #7311032 $274,900 - Make Your Offer!

Hunting Creek, New Port Richey - Enjoy the views of the waterfront bird sanctuary in this two story home built in 2004 that is like new. A quiet and safe neighborhood in with great schools makes this an ideal Pasco County Florida home. With four bedrooms upstairs including the master suite in the rear of the upstairs that has a magnificent view of the sanctuary (see pics) and a full master bath complete with a his/hers sink, a raised garden tub and a separate shower stall as well as a HUGE walk-in closet. The fifth bedroom is located in the downstairs and could be used as a guest bedroom or alternatively as an office.

The large kitchen offers a breakfast area, pantry and a cooking island with all the modern conveniences including a complete water treatment system. A formal dining room and a large open living room make this home roomy, comfortable and bright. The layout perfect for entertaining and offers plenty of space. The spacious and roomy floor plan is all you could ever desire!

This great home is conveniently located close to shopping and schools in a well kept newer neighborhood of New Port Richey. The current owner states the neighbors are all just great! The home also features a metered sprinkler system and a security system.

Don't miss out on this great home that is aggressively priced to sell! Call today for any easy appointment so you can fall in love with this home and neighborhood too!

Property information

Find your kid...with a Fish!?

Scott McClain — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 11:02:00 GMT

Get your snook license, your boat and your fishing pole and you might just be able to feed your child a fish that has been spawned, tagged and released into the wild if you hook one of them. If your child gets lost and you have had snook lately just give MOTE Marine Aquaculture Park a call and ask them if they can locate your child! Ok, ok they may not volunteer to track your child but just be careful if you eat Snook! It may have a small tracking device embeded in it.

According to a report on News Channel 8 on the morning of Sept. 5, 2007 MOTE Marine has tagged and released thousands of tiny snook into four Sarasota, Florida creeks in an effort to learn more about the snook's life journey.

After spawning thousand of these tiny fish and then tagging them with a stainless steel rod that is approximately 1/25" in size MOTE Marine Aquaculture Park has released them into the wild in Florida creeks. The spawning is apparently the first "successful" attempt to do so. According to the marine biologists at MOTE the snook population has declined due to overfishing and loss of habitat due to building projects.

I don't know if this link will work after today to view the video report but if you visit this link you might get to watch the entire 2:17 long report:

http://tbo.com/video/xml/MGBR7RTSD7F.html

Florida Governor Crist Launches Tax Reform Website!

Scott McClain — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 11:56:00 GMT

Have you wondered what the hoopla regarding the upcominig tax reforms are all about? Trying to figure out what it means? What breaks would YOU, as a homeowner get? How much, if anything does the new changes affect your wallet?

Well, here are a few sources, provided directly from the governor's office.

Attached to this blog you will find the press release package that Gov. Crist released a few months ago. I would suggest that you take the time to download (You will need Adobe Reader - Get it Here ) and read that package as it will help you understand the math and estimate what the changes would mean to you.

After reading the attached press release and if you feel that you like what you see then visit the tax reform website just launched to find out more and to sign up to show your support for the amendment.

Here is an excerpt from the YesOn1Florida.com website:

Constitutional Amendment: Super-sized Homestead Exemption

On January 29, 2008, voters will be able to vote on a constitutional amendment which will affect their property taxes in 2008
Current Save Our Homes and $25,000 exemptions may be replaced with an exemption up to $195,000
At a minimum, it will double the current $25,000 exemption
Homeowners have a choice whether to request the new exemption
Or stay with the 3% cap of Save-Our-homes

New homeowners - as well as current homeowners who want to move - will see an immediate and substantial decrease

Constitutional Amendment: Other Exemptions

Low-income seniors will receive a minimum $100,000 exemption on their homestead property
Affordable housing and working waterfronts will also be taxed based on the income from the property
The first $25,000 of tangible personal property will be exempt

Total property tax levies in Florida have more than doubled in the last nine years (FY 1997- FY 2006)

Growth of 42 percent in just three years
Almost three times as fast as the combined growth in population and inflation
Current fiscal year likely to have the largest increase in recent history

Many local governments have treated lower millage rates as a tax decreases

Homeowners have actually seen a significant tax increase
Drastically increasing property values create skyrocketing tax burdens unless local officials significantly reduce the tax rate

Spending is growing because local officials cannot resist spending from increasing revenue bases

Average budget growth of 38 percent from fiscal year 2005—fiscal year 2007
Outpacing growth in population and inflation
Decreasing Floridians ability to pay

Visit the Vote On 1 website to show your support at:

http://www.yeson1florida.com/

The 9 Steps to Home Ownership

Scott McClain — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 02:57:00 GMT

The Basic Steps Towards Home Ownership

Step - 1 Make the Decision to Buy

It seems obvious, but it's good to note that the first step to buying a house is making the decision to buy. Consider the reasons you want a new house and write them down. Determine how long you want to live in the new house - does buying still make good financial sense? Can you afford a house that will meet your list of requirements? A good rule of thumb is your mortgage payment should not exceed 1/3 of your net monthly income.

Step 2 - Seek Professional Guidance

We would like to schedule a time to meet with you to hear the reasons you want to buy a house and your plans for the future. We'll talk about neighborhoods, schools, economic factors liable to affect the market today and tomorrow, as well as how you would like your house and neighborhood to grow with you.

At this time, we will also help you get pre-qualified for a mortgage loan. Pre-qualification is a written statement from a loan officer indicating his or her opinion that you will be approved for a mortgage loan up to a certain amount. The fact that you are pre-qualified will help us when we are negotiating the deal.

Step 3 - Begin the Hunt

After our initial meeting, we will search all our resources for houses on the market that fit your criteria. We will preview these houses to eliminate the duds. Then, we will schedule appointments to tour the houses at times convenient to you.

As we tour houses, we will point out positive features and negative features. We will ask you to tell us what you like and what you don't like. You'll probably amend your "wish list" as we tour houses, some things will become more important and others less important. With this new information, we will refine our search criteria to narrow in on the house of your dreams.

Step 4 - Know the Market

Our knowledge of the local market is an essential factor in the house search. We will let you know when the market in a particular neighborhood is "hot" and requires immediate action or when the market is "cool" and allows for thoughtful consideration.

As we tour houses, we will let you know when the asking price has negotiating room and when the house is "priced to sell". My unique market knowledge will keep you a step ahead of the "house hunting competition".

In a "seller's market". It is not unusual to see multiple offers on a property, full-price offers and even above-price offers. On the flip side, during a "buyer's market" there are more houses for sale than buyers. This gives us more negotiating room as houses are taking longer to sell.

Step 5 - Find Your Dream House

We are confident we'll find your dream house. When we do, we will put together the purchase offer tailored for your needs including appropriate contingencies (such as obtaining financing, favorable home inspection, clear title, etc.).

The offer is normally presented with "earnest money". This is a cash deposit made to a home seller to secure an offer to buy the property. The amount is applied to closing costs. If the seller accepts the offer, generally closing is held 30 to 60 days from the offer date (generally dependent on the turn around time of your mortgage financing).

Step 6 - Negotiate the Deal

It is not uncommon to receive a counter offer when the initial purchase offer is submitted. Don't let this discourage you. We will discuss the counter offer and decide whether or not to accept the counter offer, submit our own counter offer, or reject the counter offer and move on. Market conditions will play a role in how aggressively we negotiate the deal. We will also work within your limits. Emotions can lead to buyer's remorse. It is better to set limits prior to negotiating an offer and stick to these limits.

Step 7 - Get a Loan

During the closing period, you will be working with your mortgage lender to close the loan. Since you pre-qualified for the loan before starting your home search, you will be that much closer to the end. We will gather the necessary property information your lender will need to close the loan.

Step 8 - Close the Deal

You will receive a "Good Faith Estimate" of closing costs at the time the loan application is submitted to the lender. The estimate is based on the loan officer's past experience and may not include all the closing costs. We will be glad to review the "Good Faith Estimate," answering questions and highlighting missing costs and estimates we believe to be low.

Step 9 - Move In

Congratulations! It's time to move into your new house and make it your home. Enjoy this exciting time. We will give you a checklist to help you remember the numerous details that will make your moving day a pleasure.

Price Reduced on 2327 Curlew Ave in Joe Pat

Scott McClain — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 21:28:00 GMT

Joe Pat, Clearwater - Announcing a huge price reduction on 2327 Curlew Ave, a 2,328 sq. ft., 3 bath, 5 bdrm single story "SPLIT-BEDROOM". Now MLS® #7248281 $359,900 - LUXURIOUS LIVING.

Property information

Price Reduced on 2327 Curlew Ave in Joe Pat

Scott McClain — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 14:46:00 GMT

Joe Pat, Clearwater - Announcing a price reduction on 2327 Curlew Ave, a 2,328 sq. ft., 3 bath, 5 bdrm single story "SPLIT-BEDROOM". Now MLS® #7248281 $379,900 - LUXURIOUS LIVING.

Property information

Single Story For Sale in Joe Pat

Scott McClain — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 15:11:00 GMT

LOCATION! LOCATION! LOCATION! LUXURY

• 2,328 sq. ft., 3 bath, 5 bdrm single story "SPLIT-BEDROOM" - MLS® #7248281 $389,900 - LUXURIOUS LIVING

Joe Pat, Clearwater - DON'T MISS THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR A GREAT BUY ON A RURAL SETTING IN A SUBURBAN ENVIRONMENT! LIVE IN THE COUNTRY WITHOUT THE DRIVE! Luxurious home with the most unique location that features many new updates, extremely large corner lot with mature landscaping, large oaks, a detached concrete block workshop that could easily be converted into an in-law suite. Enjoy the warm summer days relaxing by the large in-ground pool or enjoy a game of basketball on the court. Relax in the shade of the garden patio where the prior owner used to hold wedding ceremonies. The large corner lot is just under ¾ of an acre providing a large amount of open space with lush landscaping, large oak trees and a great deal of other exotic plants and landscaping. This home has a great deal of updates from the roof & new skylights that were replaced in 2001, new kitchen appliances updated in 2004, new a/c replaced in 2001, windows replaced in 1999, privacy fence in 2005, new hot water heater in 2006, new washer in 2004, new dryer in 2005 and new paint outside in 2006. The home also features a beautiful fireplace in the informal dining room as well as a formal dining room, formal living room, family room and a den that could easily be converted to a fifth bedroom (This room is actually the 5th bedroom as it does have closets already). Just short of walking distance to the Countryside Mall and a short drive to local beaches and airports this home has a unique location that just cannot be beat. The finished back sun room offers approx. 300 sq. ft of living area (not heated) but is well enclosed for even more comfort and enjoyment. Call today to see one of the most uniquely located homes that offers luxury, comfort and convenience.

Property information

Open House in Joe Pat on Saturday

Scott McClain — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 10:59:00 GMT

Joe Pat, Clearwater - We invite everyone to visit our open house at 2327 Curlew Ave on August 25 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

Property information

3137 Carlos Dr in Spanish Acres is Sold in just 78 days!

Scott McClain — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 02:54:00 GMT

Spanish Acres, Dunedin - The single story at 3137 Carlos Dr has been sold in 78 days!

Another fine job done by Realty Agent Professionals Team!

We sold a Dunedin, Florida home in just 78 days!

If you would like to find out more about how Realty Agent Professionals Team can assist you with your home sale in todays market feel free to Contact Us to discuss how placing your home into a marketing plan that exposes your home to more buyers in a shorter period of time will get your home sold too!

Property information

Price Reduced on 2327 Curlew Ave in Joe Pat

Scott McClain — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 17:40:00 GMT

Joe Pat, Clearwater - Announcing a price reduction on 2327 Curlew Ave, a 2,328 sq. ft., 3 bath, 5 bdrm single story "SPLIT-BEDROOM". Now MLS® #7248281 $389,900 - LUXURIOUS LIVING.

Property information

The Elevator is Broken...Please Take The Steps!

Scott McClain — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 13:19:00 GMT

The Elevator is Broken...Please Take The Steps!

It's simple logic.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) -

log·ic [loj-ik] –noun

1.	the science that investigates the principles governing correct or reliable inference.

2.	a particular method of reasoning or argumentation: We were unable to follow his logic.

3.	the system or principles of reasoning applicable to any branch of knowledge or study.

4.	reason or sound judgment, as in utterances or actions: There wasn't much logic in her move.

5.	convincing forcefulness; inexorable truth or persuasiveness: the irresistible logic of the facts.

6.	Computers.

logic. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Retrieved August 02, 2007, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/logic

A man was walking down the street when a friend approached him and asked "Hey, where you going?". The man replied "I am going down to the college to take a course in logic." The friend asked "Logic? What's logic?" to which the man replied "Well, do you own a weedeater?" The friend responded with "Yea, I own a weedeater." The man stated "Then that means you have a yard right?" to which the friend responded "Yes, I have a yard." The man said, "Well that means you have a house right?" The friend replied "Yes, I have a house." The man said, "Well that means you have a wife right?" The friend said "Yes, I have a wife." The man retorted "Then that means you are a heterosexual right?" to which the friend responded "Yes, I am a heterosexual." "Well", the man replied, "That is logic!". The friend was so amazed by this reasoning that he stated "WOW! That is really cool! I think I will go sign up for that logic course too!

So the friend headed down to the college to get signed up for the course when another of his friends approached him and asked where he was headed. The friend responded that he was going to the college to sign up for the course in logic. His friend asked "Logic? What's logic?" to which the friend asked, "Well, do you own a weedeater?" and his friend responded with "No, I don't own a weedeater." The friend exclaimed "Well, then you must be one of them homosexuals!"

It's funny how sometimes our clients think that they have chosen the best course of action for their real estate needs and have placed blinders on that are fogging their vision of the proper and logical steps that they might need to take to best accomplish their goals in real estate.

A buyer that insists that they do not wish to speak to any lenders until they have found the home of their dreams basing their pricing on nothing more than the cost of the mortgage and not taking into consideration other factors that will affect the amount of monthly costs for owning the home such as taxes, insurance (homeowner's and/or private mortgage), the amount of interest, closing costs etc, etc.

Educating a buyer that is thinking in this manner can sometimes be challenging and even daunting and we MUST as REALTORS® take the time and effort to ensure that the buyer can be not only approved for the funds but to also ensure that they understand all the ramifications and costs involved with purchasing the home but to also keep the home after the sale and maintain it as well.

Allowing a buyer to preview homes that might eventually be well out of their price range can have some very damaging effects to both the buyer and the REALTOR. For instance, showing a buyer a home in the $500,000 price range to only find out later that the buyer's income and debt ratios will not support anything more than say $250,000 will waste everyone's time (including the sellers and the listing agents) and the buyer will find that, in most cases, the difference in the style, quality, location of these two different price ranges will never satisfy that buyer and they will be disappointed with any homes you show them in the price range that their ratios will support.

Unless the buyer is a cash buyer they will need to get approved at some point anyhow. So the logical thing to do is to take the proper steps in the order that they should be taken to ensure that the least amount of time, effort and stress are properly utilized.

It's simple logic...make sure they don't leave out everything in between the decision to buy a home and finding the right home. The right home is the one that the client can logically support without becoming a slave to the home. If after making all the necessary payments to ensure that they keep the home in good standing they cannot afford to fix the transmission that went out, repair the a/c that broke or take the children to the dentist then they can't afford the home.

Make sure and ask if they own a weedeater and ensure that they don't think it means they are a homosexual if they don't!

THE ELEVATOR IS BROKEN MAKE SURE THEY TAKE THE STEPS!

So you had a bad day?

Scott McClain — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 18:28:00 GMT

If you don't laugh out loud after you read this you are in a coma! This
is even funnier when you realize it's real! Next time you have a bad day
at work ... think of this guy:

Rob is a commercial saturation diver for Global Divers in Louisiana. He
performs underwater repairs on offshore drilling rigs. Below is an
E-mail he sent to his sister. She then sent it to radio station 103.2 On
FM dial in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, who was sponsoring a worst job Experience
contest.

Needless to say, she won.

Hi Sue,

Just another note from your bottom-dwelling brother. Last week I had a
bad day at the office. I know you've been feeling down lately at work,
so I thought I would share my dilemma with you to make you realize it's
not so
bad after all. Before I can tell you what happened to me, I first must
bore you with a few technicalities of my job.

As you know, my office lies at the bottom of the sea. I wear a suit to
the office. It's a wetsuit. This time of year the water is quite cool.
So what we do to keep warm is this: We have a diesel powered industrial
water
heater. This $20,000 piece of equipment sucks the water out of the sea.
It heats it to a delightful temperature. It then pumps it down to the
diver through a garden hose, which is taped to the air hose. Now this
sounds like
a darn good plan, and I've used it several times with no complaints.
What I do, when I get to the bottom and start working, is take the hose
and stuff it down the back of my wetsuit. This floods my whole suit with
warm water. It's like working in a Jacuzzi.

Everything was going well until all of a sudden, my butt started to
itch. So, of course, I scratched it. This only made things worse.

Within a few seconds my butt started to burn. I pulled t he hose out
from my back, but the damage was done. In agony I realized what had
happened.

The hot water machine had sucked up a jellyfish and pumped it into my
suit. Now, since I don't have any hair on my back, the jellyfish
couldn't stick to it. However, the crack of my butt was not as
fortunate. When I scratched
what I thought was an itch, I was actually grinding the jellyfish into
the crack of my butt.

I informed the dive supervisor of my dilemma over the communicator. His
instructions were unclear due to the fact that he, along with five other
divers,were all laughing hysterically.

Needless to say I aborted the dive.

I was instructed to make three agonizing in-water decompression stops
totaling thirty-five minutes before I could reach the surface to begin
my chamber dry decompression.

When I arrived at the surface, I was wearing nothing but my brass
helmet. As I climbed out of th e water, the medic, with tears of
laughter running down his face, handed me a tube of cream and told me to
rub it on my butt as soon as I got in the chamber. The cream put the
fire out, but I couldn't poop for two days because my butt was swollen
shut.

So, next time you're having a bad day at work, think about how much
worse it would be if you had a jellyfish shoved up your butt.

Now repeat to yourself, "I love my job, I love my job, I love my job."

Now whenever you have a bad day, ask yourself, is this a jellyfish bad
day?

May you NEVER have a jelly fish bad day!

BUYER'S AGENT - WHY EVERY HOME BUYER NEEDS ONE

Scott McClain — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 18:24:00 GMT

WHY SMART BUYERS USE A BUYER'S AGENT

"Why Do I Need A Buyer's Agent?"

Buying a home is probably the most important purchase you'll ever make. Do you want to go it alone?

Until a few years ago, home buyers had no choice. They decided up a home to buy and negotiated the contract without representation.

Traditionally, all residential real estate agents represented the home seller. That was the true meaning of the "listing agent" who put the home up for sale, as well as the agent who found the buyer. That agent - who helped the buyer find the right home- actually worked for the seller. Under that traditional system, all agents were legally bound to represent the seller and the buyer had no representation.

Now Buyers Have A Choice

Buyers no longer need to represent themselves during the home search and purchase while all agents represent the seller. Smart home buyers today can receive undivided confidential representation by choosing a "buyer's agent."

In fact, 71% of home buyers surveyed in a recent Gallup poll for the National Association of Realtors said they would use a buyer's agent next time they purchased.

At last, you don't have to buy a home alone. Now you, like the seller, can have someone on your side looking after your best interests.

"How Can A Buyer's Agent Help Me?"

A buyer's agent usually owes certain duties to their home buyer, such as are, confidentiality, full disclosure and accurate accounting. These responsibilities are defined by state laws, the REALTORS® Code of Ethics, general principles of agency and court decisions.

That's the legal definition. But what does a buyer's agent actually do for the home buyer? Like other agents, a buyer's agent will show the buyer available homes, point out the property's features, provide financing information and submit the offer to purchase the property.

But that's not all. As your representative, a buyer's agent will share valuable and essential information with you if the agent knows it, such as:

whether the seller would accept a lower price
The seller's reason for selling and timetable
How long the home has been on the market
Strengths and weaknesses of the property
Past sales information (when available)

Most important for many buyers, you can ask a buyer's agent for advice and assistance in setting your offering price and structuring the other terms of your offer. What's more, you'll have peace of mind knowing an advocate is working on your behalf to help you buy at the best possible terms. A buyer's agent's goal is to help you buy the home you want - and at the right price.

"Who Needs A Buyer's Agent?"

If you want to make sure you buy smart, you need a buyer's agent. If you're a first-time buyer, if you're relocating or unfamiliar with the local real estate market, if you're buying for investment and want negotiating assistance, or if you need to purchase anonymously, you'll be best served by a buyer's agent who puts your interests first.

Also, if the real estate professional helping you find a home is a relative, close friend, or business associate or you previously were the agent's home-selling client, chances are you'd expect the agent to represent your interests and should establish a buyer agency relationship. Or, if you just want to get the best value in a property and an agent, you owe it to yourself to be the most knowledgeable buyer you can be.

"What Can A Seller's Agent Do To Help Me Buy?"

Without a buyer's agent, you're really on your own. Keep in mind, the seller's agent is actually working for the seller and is the seller's legal representative. Yes, the seller's agent can offer buyers some services, including a diligent search to find the right home, an explanation of available financing, calculation of monthly payments, estimation of settlement costs, presentation of your offer to buy.

What a seller's agent cannot disclose information not in the best interest of the seller such as an opinion of the home's real value or what price and terms the seller would accept.

By law, the seller's agent must negotiate on behalf of the seller and may not withhold from the seller information that could strengthen their bargaining position. That means you, as the buyer, should be careful not to disclose to the seller's agent any financial or personal information that could be used against you.

"What Will A Buyer's Agent Cost Me?"

Perhaps the right question is, "What will it cost me if I don't use a buyer's agent?" Purchasing a home without representation is possibly the biggest financial mistake you can make.

A buyer's agent can guide you each step of the way to prevent costly errors. Failure to find out about defects in the property or the actual value to if the property can, of course, be an expensive mistake. And failure to negotiate a contract that works for you can cost you plenty. With a buyer's agent, you can ask for and receive advice and assistance in selecting the best property and determining an offer price.

"Who Pays The Buyer's Agent's Fee?"

That depends. Surveys show in most instances buyer's agents are paid like seller's agents; that is, buyer's agents generally receive a share of the sales commission built into the list price. Many listing agreements between home seller and seller's agent indicate whether the sales commission will be split between the seller's agent and a buyer's agent. That's because most sellers are prepared to pay a commission simply to get their home sold. They aren't concerned whether its a s seller's agent or a buyer's agent that shares the commission.

There are, however, other ways buyer's agents may be paid. Be sure you understand from the start - before you commit to a relationship with a buyer's agent - how the buyer's agent will be paid.

Remember, the question you really need to ask yourself is: "Can I afford to buy a home without a buyer's agent?" For most home buyers today, the answer is "NO!"

"What Is An 'In-Company' Situation?"

Sometimes the home a buyer wants to purchase is listed by the same agent who is representing the buyer or by another agent from the buyer's agent's real estate company. That case, the buyer's agent's ability to fully represent either the buyer or the seller may be limited. The resulting relationship goes by different names in different parts of the country- for instance, "designated representative," "transaction broker," "facilitator," or "disclosed dual agent," State statutes and common law determine how an "in-company situation" is handled.

If an "in-company situation" occurs, it must be properly disclosed to both buyer and seller who then give written informed consent to modify the agency relationship. Each state may vary in what is specifically required of the agents.

In some states, an "in-company situation" can exist where different sales associates of the same brokerage firm each fully represents exclusively the interests of their own client- the buyer or the seller-in an in-house buyer-agent transaction.

Be sure to ask how your buyer's agent handles in-house listings. An "exclusive buyer's agent" has no listings and thus avoid the limitations of an "in-company situation."

The Bottom Line

If you want an agent to fully represent your best interests, if you want help evaluating a property, if you want someone to negotiate to get you the best price and the best terms, if you want to purchase a home in what's becoming the most popular way to buy, you'll want to enlist the aid of a buyer's agent.

Note: The laws of agency relationship differ from state to state and are continually evolving. Your real estate professional can explain local agency rulings. Be sure you understand and are comfortable with the choices involved when you engage the services of an agent.

IT'S MAGIC! THE INCREDIBLE INVISIBLE HOME!

Scott McClain — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 18:23:00 GMT

IT'S MAGIC! THE INCREDIBLE INVISIBLE HOME!

"MY HOME IS NOT GETTING ANY SHOWINGS!"

Your home has been on the market for three months. Not a single visitor has come to view it. You really want to sell your home but don't really "need" to. You have given the home curb appeal. You have updated the kitchen completely with the best cabinets and granite countertops. The bathrooms have been completely modernized. The roof and a/c were just replaced the month before you placed the home the market. You put the best Brazilian Cherrywood floors throughout the home. The home is immaculate. It's better than brand new! You are convinced that the first home buyer that comes to your beautiful home will surely fall in love and make a full price offer even if your agent did suggest strongly that your home would most like bring a lower price than what you are insisting it should sell for.

The other homes in your neighborhood have not had near the updates or upgrades recently and yet you know they are getting showings - in fact, John and Jane Smith, across the street just went under contract! So you are asking yourself, "Why isn't my home getting any visitors? Is my home really invisible? Unfortunately for you, that might just be the case. So how did this happen and what are the dangers?

"BUT MY NEIGHBORS ARE GETTING SHOWINGS - AND CONTRACTS!"

With the advent of the age of technology and recent surveys done by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) showing that 80% of the homes buyers are starting their search for their next home on the internet it must be understood how important it is, now more than ever, to start your home's pricing exactly where it should be when you begin marketing the home.

When a home buyer visits a web site, gets daily notifiers directly from an agent and the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) the basic criteria they are searching for are the only homes that they will see during that search. For instance, if a buyer is searching for a 4 Bed, 3 Bath, 3 Car Garage home and is not willing or able to go above $350,000 on the purchase price then that is the minimum number they will search for in the home features and the maximum number on price they will search for on the price. An example is shown below as a buyer would use at Realtor.com:

Notice that in this case it is already showing how many properties are going to be available using the criteria described above. If the homes in your area, as nice, or not as nice and upgraded as your own are selling for a much lower price when they click that search button your home will not show up in the results of the 58 homes that will show up in the search example above.

Your buyers are fishing in the right pond but are only going to be looking for the fish that they can afford to catch - therefore making your home completely invisible to the home buyers and you will most likely see all your neighbor's homes sell long before yours does.

"WHAT DANGERS HAVE I CREATED BY NOT STARTING AT THE RIGHT PRICE?"

Now, your home has been on the market several months. You've seen several homes in the neighborhood sell. There is seemingly no interest in your home and you still have yet to get your first showing. Your agent has shown you the marketing that is being done and there is no doubt that your home has become invisible to any buyers that might be looking for a home in your area with the style and features that your home provides.

What buyers might have been presented the home through their buyer's agent have lost all interest in the home because it has been on the market for a long period of time and to gain their interest now a drastic move may be necessary. In order to gain their interest back the price will need to be reduced. But to peak that interest and to get them to come to your home at this point you must lower the price below what the market would have bared for the home months ago and now you are forced to ask for less for the home.

Below you will see in a graph the Interest Vs. Weeks on the market results scenario:

As you can see from the graph above that if you start the marketing of your home at the right price to start with you will yield the most profit in a short amount of time. Remember: Market Value is the most amount of money that a buyer is willing to give for your home at any given time.

DON'T CHEAT YOURSELF LATER BY MAKING YOUR HOME INVISIBLE NOW

When you begin the marketing of your home it is important to start with an informed decision. Get advice from professionals who work in the real estate industry full-time and can help you make sure you are not only not giving your home away but that you are also not going to cause yourself, in the long run, to lose potential profits.

Some of the things you should consider strongly doing to determine the correct starting price that you are going to ask for your home are:

Have a REALTOR® do a Comparative Market Analysis on your home
Investigate tax records and property appraiser information for recent sales
Investigate what the prices are at for the current homes that are on the market and how long have they been on the market
Get an appraisal for your home prepared by a licensed appraiser

The value that this can bring can not only net you thousands of dollars but can also save you months of headaches. Don't make your home invisible. MAKE YOUR HOME INVINCIBLE - HIRE A REALTOR TO ASSIST YOU WITH MARKETING YOUR HOME PROPERLY TO GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE MAZE OF MARKETING TO GAIN YOU THE MOST $$$!

Realty Agent Professionals Team

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