http://www.houselogic.com/blog/why-home-ownership-matters/refinance-underwater-mortgages/" target="_blank">Refinancing Underwater Mortgages a Baby Step at a Time
Fannie- and Freddie-required fees hinder many home owners’ efforts to refinance. A new bill aims to give up-to-date but upside-down borrowers a fair shake. Readhttp://www.houselogic.com/blog/why-home-ownership-matters/refinance-underwater-mortgages/">Read>
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Monday, January 24, 2011
ICS’ Madelon Belaska Tops At Notre Dame Girls’ Math Contest
Immaculate Conception Grade School in Columbia kicked off their 2010-2011 academic competition season Jan. 15 with a strong showing at the Notre Dame High School sixth and seventh grade girls math contest. Sixth grader Madelon Belaska placed first over-all by correctly answering 49 of 50 questions. Lauren Schmidt placed first of the seventh graders with a 47 / 50, while fellow seventh grader Hope Drennan placed third with a 43/50. The ICS team overall placed third of the 14 teams from nine schools participating.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
FREE MONEY....who wouldn't like that
For those of you who are just thinking about buying or selling a home in the next 2 months.....DON'T miss an opportunity. The tax credits will soon be expiring- make sure you get the opportunity to see if you qualify. Call me today for more info
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Home sellers need to be creative
Home sellers need to be creative
They can make offer to buying prospects
BY JIM BUCHTA
MINNEAPOLIS -- The home seemed to have everything: a big master suite, a wine chiller and views of a pond. The only thing missing was a buyer.
So after a cash buyer looked at it twice, but never got around to making an offer, the owners decided to take matters into their own hands. They wrote a purchase agreement -- including a hefty price reduction, a closing date and the seller's signature -- and presented it to that prospective buyer in hopes of signaling just how anxious they are to make the deal work.
"We have to be creative, aggressive and think outside the box," said Dave Lodge, the listing agent for the property, located in Maple Grove, Minn. "It's another way to address the market today and the lack of buyers."
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Reverse purchase agreements -- unsolicited offers that get written by sellers for prospective buyers -- are rare in today's market, but agents say that the strategy could be the next weapon in the ongoing battle to get prospective home buyers to take notice.
The approach is just one of myriad tactics sellers are using to attract buyers, who are now comfortably positioned in the driver's seat. For some buyers it's no longer enough to have a vacation or appliances dangled in front of them. Buyers simply have too many choices and not much incentive to make a decision quickly.
This was the first time Lodge tried the approach, at the suggestion of a colleague. His clients, two young sisters, have been trying for several months to sell a townhouse that belonged to their deceased mother. Already Lodge had done everything he could to attract a buyer. The house is staged, he started holding open houses during the week and he has suggested several aggressive price reductions.
Then, a well-qualified out-of-town buyer looked at the townhouse a couple of times. She offered great feedback, but months later, no offer. Her agent continued to keep in touch with the listing agent. Not closing the door gave hope to Lodge and his clients that her interest would turn into a purchase agreement. But it didn't happen.
With no other prospects in sight, Lodge and his clients decided that if the buyer wouldn't make an offer, they would. So they wrote an offer, complete with a quick closing date and an unsolicited $10,000 price reduction on top of a $20,000 price reduction earlier in the month.
"We were trying to get her to make a decision," Lodge said. "Say, 'Yes, I'm going to buy,' or let my client move on and not worry about this offer."
Her agent was pleasantly surprised.
"It was very impressive and very proactive," said Katherine Pedrick, a sales agent at Coldwell Banker Burnet.
Pedrick said she never had encountered a reverse purchase agreement before. The strategy definitely captured the attention of her client, who still was considering the offer at this story's deadline.
Ken Johnson, vice president of Burnet's Minnetonka office, said that he often recommends this strategy to agents who have listings that are "market-worn," but have had serious buyer interest. It's particularly effective in situations where a prospective buyer has looked at the property two or three times, but just won't take the next step.
Such lack of motivation is pervasive in this market. Many buyers are apprehensive about making an offer in a market where prices continue to fall. Buyers also are waiting to see if mortgage interest rates, which recently dropped to multigenerational lows, will keep dropping. And many have deep concerns about the short-term health of the economy and their own job security.
Nicci Brown, a mortgage consultant at Edina Realty Mortgage in Champlin, Minn., said that sellers have used this strategy in other down markets and predicted it will become more popular as buyers feel less confident about the market.
"Two to three years ago (sellers) had people standing in the street waiting to make an offer," she said. "With that missing today, they don't know where to start."
An offer from the seller eliminates the guesswork for a prospective buyer. It's the sellers who reveal how much they are willing to cut the price, the closing date and other terms, though a written offer doesn't preclude additional negotiation.
*article taken from the Bellevielle News Democrat January 12, 2009
They can make offer to buying prospects
BY JIM BUCHTA
MINNEAPOLIS -- The home seemed to have everything: a big master suite, a wine chiller and views of a pond. The only thing missing was a buyer.
So after a cash buyer looked at it twice, but never got around to making an offer, the owners decided to take matters into their own hands. They wrote a purchase agreement -- including a hefty price reduction, a closing date and the seller's signature -- and presented it to that prospective buyer in hopes of signaling just how anxious they are to make the deal work.
"We have to be creative, aggressive and think outside the box," said Dave Lodge, the listing agent for the property, located in Maple Grove, Minn. "It's another way to address the market today and the lack of buyers."
_krdDartInc++;
document.write('');
Reverse purchase agreements -- unsolicited offers that get written by sellers for prospective buyers -- are rare in today's market, but agents say that the strategy could be the next weapon in the ongoing battle to get prospective home buyers to take notice.
The approach is just one of myriad tactics sellers are using to attract buyers, who are now comfortably positioned in the driver's seat. For some buyers it's no longer enough to have a vacation or appliances dangled in front of them. Buyers simply have too many choices and not much incentive to make a decision quickly.
This was the first time Lodge tried the approach, at the suggestion of a colleague. His clients, two young sisters, have been trying for several months to sell a townhouse that belonged to their deceased mother. Already Lodge had done everything he could to attract a buyer. The house is staged, he started holding open houses during the week and he has suggested several aggressive price reductions.
Then, a well-qualified out-of-town buyer looked at the townhouse a couple of times. She offered great feedback, but months later, no offer. Her agent continued to keep in touch with the listing agent. Not closing the door gave hope to Lodge and his clients that her interest would turn into a purchase agreement. But it didn't happen.
With no other prospects in sight, Lodge and his clients decided that if the buyer wouldn't make an offer, they would. So they wrote an offer, complete with a quick closing date and an unsolicited $10,000 price reduction on top of a $20,000 price reduction earlier in the month.
"We were trying to get her to make a decision," Lodge said. "Say, 'Yes, I'm going to buy,' or let my client move on and not worry about this offer."
Her agent was pleasantly surprised.
"It was very impressive and very proactive," said Katherine Pedrick, a sales agent at Coldwell Banker Burnet.
Pedrick said she never had encountered a reverse purchase agreement before. The strategy definitely captured the attention of her client, who still was considering the offer at this story's deadline.
Ken Johnson, vice president of Burnet's Minnetonka office, said that he often recommends this strategy to agents who have listings that are "market-worn," but have had serious buyer interest. It's particularly effective in situations where a prospective buyer has looked at the property two or three times, but just won't take the next step.
Such lack of motivation is pervasive in this market. Many buyers are apprehensive about making an offer in a market where prices continue to fall. Buyers also are waiting to see if mortgage interest rates, which recently dropped to multigenerational lows, will keep dropping. And many have deep concerns about the short-term health of the economy and their own job security.
Nicci Brown, a mortgage consultant at Edina Realty Mortgage in Champlin, Minn., said that sellers have used this strategy in other down markets and predicted it will become more popular as buyers feel less confident about the market.
"Two to three years ago (sellers) had people standing in the street waiting to make an offer," she said. "With that missing today, they don't know where to start."
An offer from the seller eliminates the guesswork for a prospective buyer. It's the sellers who reveal how much they are willing to cut the price, the closing date and other terms, though a written offer doesn't preclude additional negotiation.
*article taken from the Bellevielle News Democrat January 12, 2009
Friday, January 9, 2009
Baby News
Yes, it is true. Josh and I are expecting our first child and we could not be happier. I never thought I would get so excited when the time came for us..... however it is an amazing experience so far. We went to the doctor on Tuesday and hod our first ultrasound. We actually were able to see the heart beating.....WOW. I cannot explain the emotions that I have experienced so far; but I hope everyone has this opportunity in their life.
We are about 8 weeks now so we won't find out it it is a he or she for another 6-8 weeks. The suspense is driving me mad.....but on the other hand it is something else to look forward to!
Hope everyone had a SUPER Holiday season and is having a GREAT 2009 so far!!!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!
Greetings!
Thank you so much for participating in our Home for the Holidays Light Decorating Contest. We are excited that you have taken the time to decorate your house with so many beautiful lights and spread Christmas cheer! Please go to my website, www.MandyMcGuire.com, for the Ballot. Send you a copy to your friends and family too!. Officially, voting begins on the 7th, so make sure to get this to as many people as you can.
Voters can either email me mandy.mcguire@century21.com with their votes (they don't need to fill in the ballot) just have them email your name and address and all their info (name, address, email, etc.). The reason we are asking for their info is so that we make sure everyone is only voting once, could you imagine the number of emails we'd get if we didn't! It'd be like American Idol voting. Voters can also drop off or mail their ballot to our office at 103 S. Main Street in Columbia.
Don't forget about the party on Sunday, December 14, 2008 from 4-7. We are offering a FREE photo with Santa for each toy you donate to Toys for Tots or you can donate $5 and we will go get a toy for you. We will have home baked goodies, refreshments, Christmas music, and lots of fun! Prizes to be delivered after the party from 7:15 - 8:30 p.m.
Hope to see you on Sunday & GOOD LUCK- May the best decorated home win!!
On behalf of all of us at Century 21 Advantage, thank you again for participating!
Thank you so much for participating in our Home for the Holidays Light Decorating Contest. We are excited that you have taken the time to decorate your house with so many beautiful lights and spread Christmas cheer! Please go to my website, www.MandyMcGuire.com, for the Ballot. Send you a copy to your friends and family too!. Officially, voting begins on the 7th, so make sure to get this to as many people as you can.
Voters can either email me mandy.mcguire@century21.com with their votes (they don't need to fill in the ballot) just have them email your name and address and all their info (name, address, email, etc.). The reason we are asking for their info is so that we make sure everyone is only voting once, could you imagine the number of emails we'd get if we didn't! It'd be like American Idol voting. Voters can also drop off or mail their ballot to our office at 103 S. Main Street in Columbia.
Don't forget about the party on Sunday, December 14, 2008 from 4-7. We are offering a FREE photo with Santa for each toy you donate to Toys for Tots or you can donate $5 and we will go get a toy for you. We will have home baked goodies, refreshments, Christmas music, and lots of fun! Prizes to be delivered after the party from 7:15 - 8:30 p.m.
Hope to see you on Sunday & GOOD LUCK- May the best decorated home win!!
On behalf of all of us at Century 21 Advantage, thank you again for participating!
Monday, December 1, 2008
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Holiday Light Decorating Contest
Century 21 Advantage
For Columbia & Waterloo
“Home for the Holidays”
Find your Clark Griswald, pull out those Christmas Lights and start decorating! To enter the contest you can call or email Mandy at 618.558.1350 or mandy.mcguire@century 21.com by 5:00pm on December 5th. Judging will be by public ballot and open to anyone who wants to vote between December 7-14th. Call our office 618.281.7621 or visit my website www.MandyMcGuire.com for a ballot. Make sure you turn it in by 7pm on Sunday, December 14th. Prizes will be delivered to winners between 7:15 and 8:30 on the 14th!
PRIZES are...
Visa Gift Cards for 5 winners:
1st Place $125
2nd Place $100
3rd Place $75
4th Place $50
5th Place $25
*and a sign will beplaced in your yard for “braggin rights” in your neighborhood
December 14th 4-7 pm at 103 S. Main St in Columbia we will be collecting TOYS FOR TOTS and Santa will be available for pics. Visit our website or call for more info....
www.century21advantageonline.com or 618.281.7621
************
If your home is currently Listed with another brokerage company, we are not soliciting your listing but merely spreading old fashioned Holiday cheer!
Century 21 Advantage
For Columbia & Waterloo
“Home for the Holidays”
Find your Clark Griswald, pull out those Christmas Lights and start decorating! To enter the contest you can call or email Mandy at 618.558.1350 or mandy.mcguire@century 21.com by 5:00pm on December 5th. Judging will be by public ballot and open to anyone who wants to vote between December 7-14th. Call our office 618.281.7621 or visit my website www.MandyMcGuire.com for a ballot. Make sure you turn it in by 7pm on Sunday, December 14th. Prizes will be delivered to winners between 7:15 and 8:30 on the 14th!
PRIZES are...
Visa Gift Cards for 5 winners:
1st Place $125
2nd Place $100
3rd Place $75
4th Place $50
5th Place $25
*and a sign will beplaced in your yard for “braggin rights” in your neighborhood
December 14th 4-7 pm at 103 S. Main St in Columbia we will be collecting TOYS FOR TOTS and Santa will be available for pics. Visit our website or call for more info....
www.century21advantageonline.com or 618.281.7621
************
If your home is currently Listed with another brokerage company, we are not soliciting your listing but merely spreading old fashioned Holiday cheer!
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