6 Tips for Buying a Home in a Short Sale

By: G. M. Filisko

Published: March 19, 2010

By preparing for a real estate short sale, you can emerge with a great home at a favorable price.

1. Get help from a short sale expert

A real estate agent experienced in short sales can identify which homes are being offered as short sales, help you determine a purchase price, and advise you on what to include in your offer to make the lender view it favorably. Ask agents how many buyers they’ve represented in short sales and, of those, how many successfully closed the transaction. Continue reading

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PRESS RELEASE: NEW TAG TECHNOLOGY FOR REAL ESTATE

Realty Executives Northwest, LLC

Next Step in Evolution of Real Estate: Realty Executives International Launches Microsoft Tag Technology
Realty Executives Northwest, LLC says new marketing initiative marks new era of home buying/selling experience
Winsted, CT and Canaan, CT (Grassroots Newswire) 1/30/2011 — Realty Executives International, Inc. announced the launch of its newest marketing-technology program which offers home buyers and sellers a new real estate search experience through the use of Microsoft Tag technology. Realty Executives Northwest, LLC is one of the first real estate companies in the U.S. to incorporate this new Tag technology into its marketing efforts.

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Vacant Homes: 8 Ways to Make Sure They’re Maintained

By: Mariwyn Evans
Published: September 30, 2010

Living near a vacant home doesn’t have to mean putting up with overgrown grass and unshoveled snow. Does your community use these eight common local laws, programs, and regulations to force owners to maintain vacant homes?

With the foreclosure crisis, you may have noticed a vacant home or two on your block. Rather than see the home free-fall into disrepair, push local officials to take action before the untended house lowers the value of your own home.
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Avoid Foreclosure Rescue Scams

By: Donna Fuscaldo
Published: January 15, 2010

With foreclosure rescue scams widespread as more homeowners fall behind on mortgage payments, be smart if you seek help.

A record high 2.8 million properties were hit with foreclosure notices in 2009, putting even more Americans at risk of facing foreclosure rescue scams. Homeowners who fall behind on mortgage payments need to tread carefully when seeking assistance, since foreclosure rescue scams come in many guises. A day spent researching legitimate options, from a mortgage modification or principal forbearance to a short sale or deed-in-lieu, could keep you from becoming a scam victim.
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Foreclosure Counselors: What They Can and Can’t Do

By: G. M. Filisko
Published: August 4, 2010

Foreclosure counselors can make the difference between losing your home and keeping it. Here’s how they work and how to choose one.

If you’re facing foreclosure, your foreclosure counselor will be a key part of your foreclosure team. As you start looking for one, however, you need to know what exactly they do, what they don’t do, and how to choose one who’s legitimate and qualified.

What a foreclosure counselor does
•    Reviews your finances
•    Helps you establish a budget
•    Explains your non-foreclosure options, such as loan modification, short sale or deed in lieu of foreclosure; helps you navigate the process with any chosen option
•    Advocates on your behalf with lenders and loan servicers
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Attic Insulation Saves You Money

By: Jeanne Huber
Published: September 21, 2010

Add attic insulation to lower heating and cooling costs by as much as $600 per year.

Save about $600 per year by boosting the amount of attic insulation from R-11 to R-49. Depending on the type of materials you use, figure on paying an insulation contractor about $1,500 to insulate an 800-square-foot attic, which pays back your investment in three years. You’ll spend about half that to do the job yourself.

Do you need more attic insulation?

A good, quick way to check if you need insulation is to look across your attic floor. If the existing insulation comes up just to the tops of the joists, then you probably need to add insulation. If you can’t see the joists and the insulation is well above the tops of the joists, you’re probably okay and you won’t recoup the cost of adding more.
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Three Ways to Increase the Value of Your Home

Buyers only get one first look at a property, and they don’t want to use their imagination. They assume the house they see is as good as it’s going to get. If you want your home to sell, step out of your comfort zone and think like a buyer. Here are three ways to help you turn your house into the home of someone else’s dreams. We’ve broken down each category into low-cost, “Basic” tips and tricks, and an “All-Out” blow-the-budget transformation. How far you take it is up to you.
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Find the Best REALTOR® to Sell Your House

By: G. M. Filisko
Published 2010-03-11 16:55:53

Ask detailed questions about their experience and skills to help you find the right agent for your home sale.

Working with the right real estate agent can mean the difference between getting prompt, expert representation and feeling like you’re going it alone when selling your home. Here are 10 questions to ask when you’re interviewing agents.
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6 Tips for Choosing the Best Offer on Your Home

By: G. M. Filisko
Published 2010-02-10 11:32:13

Have a plan for reviewing purchase offers so you don’t let the best slip through your fingers.

You’ve worked hard to get your home ready for sale and to price it properly. With any luck, offers will come quickly. You’ll need to review each carefully to determine its strengths and drawbacks and pick one to accept. Here’s a plan for evaluating offers.
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Home Inspections 101

According to a study conducted by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) in 2001, 97 percent of home buyers who received home inspections believe they received a good value for their money. A home’s history gives it character and charm, but also takes a toll.

Over time, roofs sag, mortar cracks, and furnaces lose efficiency. Beyond this normal wear and tear, older homes can harbor mold, water damage, termites, or other structural threats that can cost tens of thousands of dollars to fix.
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