Never Assume and Text!

18. May 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Uncategorized

Texting is a great way to communicate only after both parties agree! The reasons to use voice until texting is agreed upon may surprise you.

1. Not everyone has text on their cell phone.

2. OK your now saying how dumb would that be to have a cell phone today without text. Well maybe that would be dumb but is it dumb to assume the other party has text and send an important message without speaking to them first.

3. As a REALTOR I have watched deals fall apart and some never get the chance to come together because it was assumed when someone left a message on their cell phone to please call them back A Text Reply Qualified As a Call Back! Well many times a question got left unanswered and that person who thought they answered lost out on income or the home they really wanted.

4. Now this may surprise you after reading the first 3 and Assuming this blog is dumb……………..Pay Attention Now  Not every phone number is attached to a cell phone………… Business people still have phones on their desks. At least once a week someone asks me did you get my text and the answer is no. Lesson here is ask by voice if the number is a textable one before counting on a text to deliver important information.

5. Important information is better conveyed by voice as you can confirm it is understood.

To sum this up texting is a great communication tool, however the age old theory on the word ASSUME still applies:)

Vacation in Virginia Beach!

03. May 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Real Estate

The Wall St Journal reported May 2nd 2012 that sales are up on Vacation Homes, And that people are buying them somewhat close to home. They actually had a map with purchase zones one of which was New Yorker’s buying down the coast in places like Virginia Beach and Miami Beach. I myself can back that up as I close on one Friday for a couple in N.Y. Buying a condo 2 blocks from the beach. Have you thought about a Vacation Home in Virginia Beach? Prices have come down significantly and interest rates make owning a beach vacation home a reachable goal for many. So come on down……………………. Contact a Local Lender or Realtor today. Summer is comming with more entertainment at the beach then any I have seen in any other resort town.

April 27th Wall Street Journal………………

29. April 2012 · 3 comments · Categories: Real Estate

“STUNNED HOME BUYERS FIND THE BIDDING WARS ARE BACK” The Real Estate market is picking up! This may have ups and downs shifting with the release of bank forclosures in bulk. However what concerns me more is interest rate.

The News continuously talks about the Feds keeping interest rates to banks low………………………….

That does not mean that banks will keep mortgage rates low!

Use this Amortization Calculator   to see the difference 2% makes on any given amount of a home loan. This exersize should show people who are wating to buy the biggest reason not to. If your in the Tidewater area here is a local lender,

If you are in the Tidewater Area and would like to speak to a Realtor clik here. If you are anywhere else and would like to be reffered to a local Realtor or Lender. go to www.grapevinerefferals.com

The bubble has popped and we are back to a realistic market. You decide pay off someone else’s home paying rent or invest in your own future by paying off you own home and choose a home now. When you’re in your 30′s and buy a home you get to spend your 60′s in a paid off home. If you rented for 30 years you helped someone else retire comfortably. Give it some thought and play with the Amoritization Calculator Above.

Don’t Let Fear Stop You From Buying A Home!

10. April 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Real Estate

Many people today assume they do not qualify to buy a home, Simply because of what they hearon the news.

Fact is many who think they can’t actually can! Do not count yourself out until you have spoken to a local lender.

I have had several people become clients after telling me they wish they could buy but they would not qualify.

However after I had them speak with a lender more than half actually qualified and the others were guided on how to

fix the credit issues so they could in the near future.  Fear is nothing more than Cancer to Success always remember

 that if you never ask you never get, and there has never been a better time to invest in a home.

So please visit www.ChooseaHomeNow.com and lets go shopping. 

 

 

Your Home Must Appeal to a Buyers Senses!

02. April 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Real Estate

Making your home make sense!

Some quick tips for getting your home sold in this market – following your senses as if you were a buyer:
1. Take advantage of Online Target Marketing! 
2. Sight – Curb appeal – Have a Clean well manicured yard, free of clutter, and a little color in the flower beds help to make a good impression.  Also check to see if your front door and window trim could use a coat of paint.  You’d be surprised what a difference these little changes can make. Keep personal items in each room to a minimum, and pack away most of the knick knacks.  Neat, clean and uncluttered rooms are so much more visually appealing to a potential buyer. And remember rule #1 your property must stand out on the web! Online Target Market Your Home today.

3. Feelings – Most importantly, price your home right, according to the market, otherwise potential buyers won’t even “feel” like going to see your home.
4. Taste – During open houses, having a tray of cookies and bottled water is a nice touch and leaves the potential buyers with a positive impression.
5. Listen – Pay attention to feedback when selling try to keep emotion in the closet and use a business head to compare your home dollar to dollar with the other similar priced properties.
6. Smell – A bad odor is a turnoff, whether it is pets or smoke or food, etc.  Make sure there is no odor,  a nice soft fragrance. (citris for example)
7. Touch – Organize your closets and clean out the drawers.  Potential buyers, at least the serious ones, will want to look in closets and drawers to make sure the house will serve their needs.
8. Sound – A quiet house is perfect for viewing, but some soft backgroung music is nice, as well.
9. One more “sight” hint – make sure your agent is marketing your all over the internet to insure it is seen by the most possible potential buyers.
10. MOOD! – Most important choose an agent who answers the phone, and be willing to show your home with minimum notice. Nothing agrivates a potential buyer more than not being able to see a home when they have the time.
If your home is anywhere between the Virginia Beach Oceanfront and Suffolk’s Nansemond River
If you need a good Realtor and your not in Virginia go to: www.grapevinereferrals.com to be referred to one.
Looking forward to another good year,
Thanks for reading my thoughts, and I love being shared on facebook or twitter.
Don Maclary

Dangers of Fence Sitting…..

22. March 2012 · 1 comment · Categories: Real Estate
Not to keep harping on the same song like a broken record, but people who have any interest in buying, really should be aware of the current movements in the market and in the mortgage industry and get off the fence. 
Here is an important piece of the interest rate puzzle that everyone should be aware and most are not.  The Fed has guaranteed that it will continue to lend to the banks at the same rates for a couple more years. (this is not the rate you will be offered by the bank).  This does not mean the banks will use that money to lend to borrowers at the same rates for a couple more years.  In fact, all indications are pointing to rates slowly going up already.
No one has a crystal ball, however, experts are seeing rates climbing in the next few weeks or months. Anytime you can get a home loan under 5% is an awesome time to buy. Recently high 3s and low 4s have been locked.
A difference of one percentage point can make a fairly considerable difference in a monthly payment, and a huge difference in the amount you pay over the life of the loan.
The moral of the story is: Stop waiting…stop thinking….talk to a Realtor or Local Lender  to start the process today.
At this point in time….haste does not mean waste.
Procrastination may actually cost thousands Click here to see how much.

Shortage of Townhomes For Sale in Virginia Beach?

17. March 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Real Estate

With interest rates so low and clients looking for townhomes in Virginia Beach priced between 130K and 185K they are selling before you can get in and see them. If you or anyone else you may know has a townhome for sale, Please have them contact me. Most of the ones availabe are bank owned and run down or newly flipped by an investor. I would like to put 3 or 4 nice townhomes in the Online Target Marketing program in the next two weeks. if interested please call 757-216-9501 or use the referral form

If you are a buyer looking for a home? Please visit: www.ChooseaHomeNow.com

Thanks for stopping by:)

Don Maclary

Realtor ABR* at William E Wood and Associates

Early Bird Opportunity Now Through April 15th!

10. March 2012 · 1 comment · Categories: Real Estate

Over the next few weeks we will experience the perfect storm for home purchases………………….

Interest rates are way down………………………

Selection is up but rapidly shrinking as we get closer to a seller’s market……………

It has been a very busy start to the year but the nest few weeks are Spring Break weeks……………

Many of the active lookers ar busy with kids and vacations, less shoppers reduces the number of bidding wars

Yes bidding wars the market is hot right now.

 If your a Buyer pick one before April 15th!

If you are interested in Selling your Home list it by April 15th.

Spring is not really house season, It is down payment money season.

And for first time home buyers please visit www.chooseahomenow.com and

ask to be referred to a loan officer who knows the programs available.

Home ownership is more affordable than you would imagine today.

You owe it to yourself to at least call and gather some information (757) 216-9501 or  relocationrealtor@cox.net

Basic Home Staging

28. February 2012 · 1 comment · Categories: Real Estate

Keep It Simple….that is the key. Keep your furnishings, wall hangings and accessories at a minimum…very simple

 

Go through each room in your home, and pack up all personal items, knick knacks, etc. Each room should have the minimum amount of furniture in it, and a minimal amount of things on the walls, tables and floors. Allow potential buyers to imagine their own belongs there instead of being distracted with too many of yours.

 

Keep kitchen and bathroom counter tops clear and sparkly clean.

 

Make sure the house is clean and smelling good. You don’t need to have the newest and nicest of everything. Just make sure what you do have is clean and neat.

Set it up and contact www.chooseahomenow.com to put it on the market.

Who Wants To Buy A House?

23. February 2012 · 4 comments · Categories: Real Estate

Most People Do but think for all the wrong reasons they can’t.

I am helping many new 1st time buyer’s realize their Dream. When they thought after hearing all the Negative News that it would either

A- Be impossible to qualify for a loan ( I have two buyer’s closing on a home in the next 7 days who thought they would never qualify)

B- Need to much money down ( The same two closing this week never imagined it to be in their budget )

C- Would not be able to make the house payment if the did qualify ( Many are finding out the payment is less then their rent was )

So that said Who wants to buy? Call and find out how easy the process can be with the right group of people to guide you.

If you are out of the area we can reffer you to a Realtor in your area that can help ypu through the process.

Don’t miss out on home ownership because you you just did not ask for help!

Every dollar paid in rent goes into someone elses retirement fund………….Rent never goes away! A mortgage does…………………………Become a home owner

It is much easier than you may think! www.ChooseaHomeNow.com

Thank you for reading this post and please tweet this to your frinds or post on facebook to help kill the negative media.

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