Real Estate news

The Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 has extended the tax credit of up to $8000 for qualified first-time home buyers and established a tax credit of up to $6500 for qualified move-up/repeat home buyers (existing home owners) purchasing a principal residence.

$8,000 First-time Home Buyer Tax Credit at a Glance

· The $8,000 tax credit is for first-time home buyers only. For the tax credit program, the IRS defines a first-time home buyer as someone who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase.

· The tax credit does not have to be repaid.

· The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000.

· The tax credit applies only to homes priced at $800,000 or less.

· The tax credit now applies to sales occurring on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010. However, in cases where a binding sales contract is signed by April 30, 2010, a home purchase completed by June 30, 2010 will qualify.

· For homes purchased on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before November 6, 2009, the income limits are $75,000 for single taxpayers and $150,000 for married couples filing jointly.

· For homes purchased after November 6, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010, single taxpayers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with incomes up to $225,000 qualify for the full tax credit.

The $6,500 Move-Up / Repeat Home Buyer Tax Credit at a Glance

· To be eligible to claim the tax credit, buyers must have owned and lived in their previous home for five consecutive years out of the last eight years.

· The tax credit does not have to be repaid.

· The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $6,500.

· The tax credit applies only to homes priced at $800,000 or less.

· The credit is available for homes purchased after November 6, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010. However, in cases where a binding sales contract is signed by April 30, 2010, the home purchase qualifies provided it is completed by June 30, 2010.

· Single taxpayers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with incomes up to $225,000 qualify for the full tax credit.

Lynn Rawlinson, Associate Broker

Coldwell Banker Towne Realty

Montgomery, Alabama   334-467-5727

Price per Square Foot in a Home

The question I came upon this week, was someone wanting information on Price per Square Foot in Housing Values. I think that is an excellent question. So I thought I would share it with you also. Real Estate Agents and other Industry experts know about this and use this to determine listing price, estimated value, market value, selling price, and other factors .

Price per Square foot is usually referred to as Heated and Cooled Living Space. Not a Garage or an attached Storage room which is not Heated and cooled. It is not the Square foot under roof, it does not include porches. It is the heated and cooled area of a home ( Living room, Dining Room, Kitchen, Bedrooms, Bathrooms, ect.)

So when you hear or read under roof, that means everything under the roof, including overhangs and such. Which is a false price per square foot. But it does sound better when advertising, especially on a home with an exceptional amount of porch area or a huge oversized garage.

As a consumer, you may only look at the price of a home in comparing with the other homes you have seen. But as Real Estate agents and appraisers look at homes based on Price of Square foot in comparison as to what similar homes in the area sold for in the last few months.

Agents who is looking at certain areas, know the price per square foot average in a neighborhood. And know the average square foot home for that neighborhood as well.

Lets take for example one neighborhood has homes that range from 1600 - 1800 square foot in size. Now these homes are all similar in features. Now say the homes that have sold in this neighborhood in the last 3 months ranged in sales price from $105. - $110. per square foot. So an 1800 sq. ft home could have sold between 198,000 - 189,000. A 1600 sq ft home would have sold between 176,000 - 168,000. If I were doing a listing in this neighborhood, I would need to know the Square footage of the home to be sold, know how anxious the seller was to sell, and what condition the overall home was in compared to the other homes that sold previously, plus the desirability of the area to determine the price -(Something is only worth what somebody is willing to pay for it). Several Factors are involved in determining the price. It is not only about what Mr. Smith and Mr. Jones got for their home a year ago.

I hope I have answered some of your questions concerning this topic. If I have not, please feel free to email or call me, as I will be more than happy to help.

Thank You for Visiting.

Please check out my web sites

www.tricountyhomepages.com

www.LynnRawlinson.com

Lynn Rawlinson, Realtor, Associate Broker, ABR, CSP

Coldwell Banker Towne Realty

334-467-5727

FND14U@AOL.COM

lynn.rawlinson@tricountyhomepages.com

'Stimulus' and 'Stability' Equal Help for Homeowners

Here is an overview of some benefits of the Economic Stimulus Plan for 2009 and the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan that may impact you.

Stimulus Plan - Tax Credit for Homebuyers

The $787 Billion stimulus bill is made up of tax cuts and spending programs aimed at reviving the US economy. Although the package was scaled down from nearly $1 Trillion, it still stands as the largest anti-recession effort since World War II. One of the major benefits of the plan is a tax credit for new homebuyers. According to the plan, first-time homebuyers who purchase homes from the start of the year until the end of November 2009 may be eligible for the lower of an $8,000 or 10% of the value of the home tax credit.

It's important to remember that the $8,000 tax credit is just that... a tax credit. The benefit of a tax credit is that it's a dollar-for-dollar tax reduction, rather than a reduction in a tax liability that would only save you $1,000 to $1,500 when all was said and done. So, if you were to owe $8,000 in income taxes and would qualify for the $8,000 tax credit, you would owe nothing.

Better still, the tax credit is refundable, which means you can receive a check for the credit even if you have little income tax liability. For example, if you're liable for $4,000 in income tax, you can offset that $4,000 with half of the tax credit... and still receive a check for the remaining $4,000!

The tax credit starts phasing out for couples with incomes above $150,000 and single filers with incomes above $75,000.

The tax credit is applicable to any home that will be used as a principle residence. Based on that guideline, qualifying "homes" include single-family detached homes, as well as attached homes such as townhouses and condominiums. In addition, manufactured or homes and houseboats used for principle residence also qualify. Buyers will have to repay the credit if they sell their homes within three years.

While details are sketchy - we will expect to get some clarity soon as to an additional tier of conforming loan amounts which had been first established in 2008. This tier of home loans are those greater than $417,000, and with a maximum that depends on the area, but is not greater than $729,750. These loans would be eligible for rates that are slightly higher than conforming loan rates, but less expensive than the standard "jumbo" loan rates.

Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan

President Obama unveiled his plan to help stabilize the housing market and keep millions of borrowers in their homes. The Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan includes two initiatives to help struggling homeowners. One is a refinancing program for homeowners with less than 20% equity in their homes, or who owe more than their home is worth. The second program attempts to lower monthly payments for homeowners at risk of losing their home. Many of the plan's details are still being worked out and will not be announced until March 4. Here is an overview of the plan's main components.

Refinancing Initiative

Under current rules, those families who own less than 20% equity in their homes have a difficult time refinancing and taking advantage of the historically low interest rates. This initiative is open to homeowners who have conforming loans which are guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and who owe up to 5% more than their home is worth.

According to the plan, "credit-worthy" or "responsible" homeowners can refinance their mortgage into a 30- or 15-year, fixed-rate loan based on current market rates. The refinanced loan, however, cannot include prepayment penalties or balloon payments. For many families, this low-cost refinancing may help reduce their mortgage payments by up to thousands of dollars per year.

As with the rest of the plan, details about this initiative will be released at a future date--including what, if any, credit score requirements will be included.

Stability Initiative

This initiative aims at providing help to individual families as well as entire neighborhoods by helping reduce foreclosures and stabilize home prices. It is intended to help homeowners who are struggling to afford their mortgage payments, but cannot sell their homes because prices have fallen significantly.

The goal of this initiative is simple: "reduce the amount homeowners owe per month to sustainable levels." To accomplish this, lenders are encouraged to lower homeowners' payments to 31% of their income by lowering their interest rate to as low as 2% or by extending the terms of the loan. In addition, lenders can also lower the principal owed by the borrower, with Treasury sharing in the costs.

Homeowners who are current on their mortgages but are struggling can still apply for this program. As such, this is one of the few programs designed to help homeowners who may face delinquency soon, but are current at the moment.

This initiative also includes a number of additional elements and incentives, including an extra incentive for borrowers to keep paying on time. The initiative will provide a monthly balance reduction payment that goes straight towards reducing the principal balance of the mortgage loan. As long as a borrower stays current on his or her loan, he or she can get up to $1,000 each year for five years.

Since the focus of this initiative is on helping families and neighborhoods, investment properties do not qualify.

Lynn Rawlinson, Realtor / Associate Broker

Aronov Realty, Prattville Alabama

Cell # 334-467-5727    

Calling all Renters...

ATTENTION, We are in a Buyers Market. Sales Through Out the Whole Area.

Where are you?

The Interest Rates are Down. There are Twice as many homes to chooses from. Sellers are more than willing to negotiate. Home Prices are Down. Lenders have done away with all those crazy loans. So why is it you are waiting, and all the while, still continuing to rent and throw your money away?  It may not get any better than this. If you passed by a gas station that was a dollar a gallon cheaper than everywhere else, would you stop and fill up your tank? Or would you just drive right past waiting on something better?

For a couple of days last week, the interest rate was 5.5%. It has not been that low in a long while. It has since gone up to 6% or a hair below. Now is the time to get with a lender and to lock in on that low rate while you are searching for that dream home. With the interest rate this low, you can now afford so much more house for your money. The longer you sit on the fence deciding is allowing for the interest rate to creep up higher, giving you less and less house for your money. Do not believe that the interest rate is going to stay this low or is going to continue dropping. If you are waiting on this, you just may miss your chance.

Right now there are at least twice as many homes on the market for sale. That is a very good thing for the buyer. 2 years ago, homes were snatched up within 2 weeks or less of being listed. Thus giving the buyer no choices. They had to take what they could afford and what was available in their time frame. Not today. The buyer can look and look until their hearts desire to find that perfect one. This is no longer like fighting over the last Cabbage Patch doll at Toys R Us at Christmas Time. There is plenty to choose from. It can't get much better than this.

With all the homes on the market now, the seller who needs to sell, just can't stick to his guns to get the price he wants. Every Seller I know needs to sell and they needed it sold yesterday. 2 years ago it was a sellers market and you could not get them down in their price. Today most are willing to negotiate, just to get it gone. Most have already reduced their price, just to get the buyers looking. And they are continuing to do so quite regularly, making your new home, now much more affordable. Giving you more home for your money. Plus they are now more willing to do the repairs and the cleaning before hand. And this also saves the buyer time and money. Remember, you can ask for anything you want in a contract. Say you do not like painting. Negotiate to get the seller to paint if needed.

Lenders have done away with all those crazy loans that have gotten us in this mess in the first place. You can now feel confident about the loan you will get. Get the secure Fixed rate loan. The only thing that may increase is your taxes and insurance. Which is something you can depend on to increase anyway. But you will have the security of knowing your monthly payment amount, same as you do your rent. And Rent increases too.

So tell me again, Why are you renting? You are not receiving the tax break at the end of the year. You can't claim rent on your taxes. You can't do what you want with the home. You can't upgrade. Heck, if you plant a flower in the yard, you can't take it with you when you leave even. Why pad the owners pocket? You can develop equity in ownership. Home Values will eventually increase, it is a given. People have got to have a place to live. And we are always increasing in population. Think about it. The housing market is up and down. It always comes back.

I hate it for the sellers right now. But it does wash. If you have to sell your home, chances are you are buying another one. So if you sell at a discount , you also buy at a discount. And besides it was a sellers market for way too long. It is the buyers turn now. They have had a long wait and it is finally their turn. The housing values had just climbed extremely too high, in most cases they had increased at least 7% a year or more for every year we were in the sellers market. And home values had gotten way out of hand and just became too unaffordable for the common buyer. Now they are back to where they should be. And most of today's, first time buyer's can now afford a really nice home for about the same monthly payment as they were renting for, to begin with. Who knows, you may even qualify for a brand new home. But if you don't talk with a lender and a Real Estate agent, you will never find out. Wouldn't be nice to be in a Brand New Home with that Brand New Smell? Just imagine it. To be the first owner.

If you are thinking about buying a home or it has crossed your mind, don't sit on the fence to long and miss you chance. This is your time. This is your opportunity. It is time for you to go for the gusto. Get that perfect home at an affordable price and sleep peaceful at night, knowing it is all yours to do what ever you want. 

Just give me a call, I will help make you home ownership dreams a reality. I will walk you every step of the way. Inform you of everything you will need to know, to help you make the best decisions. And we will negotiate like crazy to get you the best deal.

Lynn Rawlinson, Realtor, Associate Broker,

            Accredited Buyer Representative

Direct Number #334-467-5727

Email: fnd14u@aol.com

Coldwell Banker, Towne Realty

www.tricountyhomepages.com

www.LynnRawlinson.com

Striving to be YOUR REALTOR FOR LIFE

What is a Home Owner Association and do I want a home in a neighborhood that has one?

 The Home Owners Association in certain neighborhoods is usually enacted by the developer before he starts the project. The developer does not want the home values to go down in the neighborhood while he or other builders are still building there, so he put restrictions on the homeowners. By making it where he controls certain things that pertain to the look of the neighborhood.  So it is usually stated that the builder/ developer controls the home owner association until he has built out at least 70% of the lots or what ever he has so stated ahead of time in writing. Then he turns over control to the home owners to carry on the association. If no one steps up to control it, it could be disbanded. Or you can participate and your voice will be heard as to what you want done.  It is not all laid out on one person. You get to nominate people and jobs. Meetings are announced in advance. So attend them if it matters to you. It is always good to know what is going on.

 The Home Owners association usually charges a monthly fee to the home owners and can be paid either biannually or annually, not always monthly. This fee is used towards the maintenance of the entrance of the neighborhood. If they neighborhood contains any common areas( areas that are used by all the residents) such as parks, picnic areas, ponds, pools, fishing areas, tennis courts, golf courses or what ever can be used by the people. Most of the big items will have additional fees or a higher annual HOA fee. But it benefits those who wish to live there or use the facility.

Your typical HOA restrictions may be, fencing requirements or guide lines, Storage building Types allowed. Maybe rules as to painting exterior of the home,  No Antennas, No Clothes Lines,  No Parking in the street,  No cars up on blocks, No Trash in the yards, Yards must be maintained, Cutting of trees may have to be approved.  But these are all things that need attention in order to keep the neighborhood values up.

Have you ever lived in an area that you wished to sell, and you wanted to direct the buyers to come a certain way, so not to pass by an unsightly property? Or would you like it if your neighbors painted their shutters and trim a neon blue just to make your place harder to sell. What if your neighbors hardly ever cut their grass, and had all kinds of trash in their yard ( cars on blocks, old tires, and all sorts of other things).  Well HOA are formed to prevent just these things from happening. You may think that it is o.k. if your neighbor has a 30 - 40 foot Radio antenna. But all these things combined, just bring down the look of the neighborhood. Buyers are riding by, looking to see just what kind of people live there, and are not noticing the homes, for the yards.

Homes are appraised based on the other homes around that one.  And your neighbors home could very well lower the value of yours, when it comes time to sell. And some people do not want that to happen. So they want to be in a neighborhood that governs every ones actions. And most people, that live in that neighborhood, you will find , genuinely care about their home and yard and want it to be a nice place.

Now like out in the country or older neighborhoods, where you do not have any HOA's, you see a mix of everything. Because anything goes, there are no rules, no regulations. You can not control what your neighbor does in their own yard.  They can have several old junk cars, trailers, boats, tractors and anything they feel like leaving there. No one can tell them what type of fence to put up. So you see, a mix of chain link, privacy fence, Barb Wire, Hog Wire, Split Rail, or any type they wish to pay for or is given them. You may ride by and see their underwear hanging on the clothes line for days. Most people there, just do not care or are incapable of such.  They do not wish to have all those rules. It is their home, they paid for it, and they will do what they want with it. And they have that right.

But you as a future home owner must make a decision as to what you want. Do look over the HOA agreement before deciding to purchase to make sure this is something you can live with.  Different neighborhoods have different rules and charge different fees to cover the expenses needed for the common areas or entrances. Some are more elegant than others and require a bigger expense to maintain.  But remember the look and feel is what made you interested in the first place. And it will be your friends, loved ones and possibly colleagues coming to visit you.

I want to thank all of you for visiting my blog,If you have any Real Estate Questions, Please ask, others wish to know also. Please also check out my web site for further buying or selling info.

And come back again as it gets updated regularly

Lynn Rawlinson, Associate broker, Realtor,ABR, CSP

Aronov Realty, Prattville

678 McQueen Smith Rd N.

334-467-5727      email: fnd14u@aol.com

LynnRawlinson.com

www.tricountyhomepages.com

Ever thought you may want a home in the country? Would it be nice to live outside the city limits?

 Rural Properties maybe just what you are looking for. And if you are, you will want to know about this loan.

USDA Rural Housing Program

100% Financing

6% Seller Concessions

No MI

This is not available to all properties. You must check to see where it applies. And you must still meet the approval process. I am not a lender, so I will not pretend to know all the details about this loan.  I just know that I have a few listings on my web site that may be eligible.

One of them being 1338 County Rd 43 in Prattville, Alabama. Listed at $165,600. A 3/2 on 4 Acres 

102 % Financing Available No Monthly Mortgage Insurance

Here is what it would look like for a Home priced at $244,900

Purchase Price :                               $244,900.

Estimated Closing Cost and Prepaids      $6,600

2% Funding Fee                               $4,898

Total Cost of Home                           $256,398

Less Seller Paid Closing Cost (Negotiable) - 6,600

Less Loan Amount( Including 2% Funding Fee  - 249,798.

Total Estimated Monthly Payments with Taxes and Insurance ....About $1,756 mo. Depending on current interest rate (this changes)

Cash From Borrower to Close         = Zero ( Priceless)

Talk to your lender. See if they provide this loan. For more information on this loan type, you can contact : 

Richard Behr

Equisouth Mortgage, Inc

Tel: 334-409-9300

Fax: 334-409-9370

Cell: 334-315-2610

I am not affiliated with this lender in anyway.  I just know for a fact that this company offers this loan.

Just a Thought: This may or may not be the loan for you.

Wouldn't be great to buy a home.  And Not have to use the money you have in the bank. Use that money instead to update the home or purchase items for the home rather than use it for the down payment. Or just keep it for a rainy day. Your Kids may want a Pony.

Thanks for Visiting my Web Site.

www.tricountyhomepages.com

Lynn Rawlinson, Realtor, Assoc. Broker, ABR,CSP

Aronov Realty

678 McQueen Smith Rd N

Prattville Alabama 36066

email: lynn.rawlinson@aronov.com

#334-467-5727

The Press makes the Market look bad for Everywhere.

And that just is not So.  Some areas are doing just fine.

And the Montgomery Area is Lucky to be one of them.

Now really is a good time to buy.  The interest rates are still low. You can find them hovering around 6 1/4 to 6 1/2 percent.  The over priced values of most homes have now fell enough to bring them within means.  And the combination of a good sales price along with the low interest rates, makes these homes now affordable.  You can get a lot more for your money.

The buyers have quite a bit more to choose from these days, which makes shopping around worth while.  There are more than the average foreclosures on the market for those that want to build equity by doing their own repairs. And there is still a loan for that (FHA 203K).  And some bank foreclosures may not even need repairs.  If you choose your home sensibly, you may have equity already in your purchase at the closing table.

Buyers still in most cases, get to claim their Interest Paid on their mortgage loans, making it a great tax deduction. If you are renting, that is not even a possibility.  You are just buying your landlords home for them. And you are building their equity up.

Most lenders have now gotten away from those crazy, unbelievable loans that have put homeowners in despair. As long as you stay with a Fixed loan, you are doing good. 

Sellers are more out to negotiate now, with it being a buyers market. Thus creating a better deal for the buyer.  The buyer now can better negotiate for the seller to pay their closing cost, along with most of the pre-paids. This saves the buyer alot of money at the closing table, and making the home much more affordable.

Their are still a couple of 100% loan types available. The Ameridream - Has the seller paying the buyer's down payment, and you still can negotiate the closing cost. The Rural Development program is available for some areas. That is 100% loan and no PMI - extremely affordable.

So tell me, Why are you still Renting - Throwing your money away?  Or Why are you in a home you can not afford? One which you may have purchased with one of those crazy loans. Lets get rid of that, and get you in one, where you are comfortable with the payments. Homes are still selling. And buyers are still buying. People will always need a place to live. The Real Estate Market always bounces back.

Remember in the late 80's when the interest rate was way out of control? Somewhere between 14 - 18% Hardly no one could afford to buy. The interest rate put the house payments way up there. Sellers had to get creative in order to sell their homes, like buying down the interest rate so the buyers could afford to buy. But the market all came back. And at the moment we have great interest rates. So that is no longer the case.

As the interest rate rises, even slightly, could mean the difference between a buyer being able to afford a new home or not. The current interest rate can change drastically over a short period of time.  Why wait, if you are even considering the purchase of a new home. Now is the time to Buy.

Thanks for visiting my Web Site : www.tricountyhomepages.com

check back as we update regularly.

If you should have any questions or want more information on anything pertaining to Real Estate, don't hesitate to call or e-mail. Thanks

Lynn Rawlinson, Realtor, Assc. Broker, ABR, CSP

Coldwell Banker Towne Realty

fnd14u@aol.com (email)

334-467-5727 Cell

www.lynnrawlinson.com

Fixer Uppers :

More Space for the Money

Housing Prices have come down. But in the case of big Families needing more room. You may be thinking on the lines of a fixer upper to get a home within your budget that also has the needed square foot. That is not that bad of an idea. But it will require more work, patience and time.  But it still can be done.

There is still a loan out there  available just for this purpose. But not everyone offers it. The FHA 203K. And conditions still need to be met for this one to take place. The main thing is, Will the home meet appraisal once the repairs are made? The home must be able to appraise for the cost of purchase and the cost of repairs combined. You can find this out from a Computer Generated Analysis of recent comparable sold within the area in the last 6 months. Any Realtor can provide you with this information. You take the information from that, giving you average price per square foot sold. And then take what it will cost you for all repairs total and the asking price and divide that by the amount of square foot living space in the home you are interested in and see if it comes out to be a little less.  If so, you are doing good so far.

 The Lender will have An FHA Inspector  come out and inspect and tell you exactly what needs to be done and may give you his estimate on what it will cost for those repairs to meet FHA standards. You will need to have estimates from professionals for the repairs needed and add about 10% - 15% for a possible increase. Contractors will never know what they will find until they get in there to actually do the work. Contractors try to give you their best estimate, but all in all it is still a guess until the work starts. So be prepared.

If the repairs will stay within the budget, the lender may grant the loan. Check with your lender and see what the current limit is for repairs. It may be a 35,000. limit. And in that case, you would not want to choose a home that requires repairs in excess of that limit. You must stay within the limits.

If you can qualify for this loan, you will close on the home and the repair money will be put into an escrow account and held until the work is completed and it is inspected. So, the contractors you choose to do this work need to be notified of this and can expect payment after the fact. So many, may want 1/2 up front for materials and the rest at completions. So you will have to do your homework to find those that can wait. It will also seem a little difficult to get everyone there as quickly as possible to get the job done in a timely manner so everyone may get paid.  Contractors do not like it when you hold up there money, and they have completed what they needed to do, but the next guy hasn't, so you can't get the inspection off, to get everyone paid. And they will be calling you almost daily. That is where patients comes in.

But all in all this is possible and I have done them. They can turn out to be a headache. But when you actually get moved into the home, it is a good feeling. Especially knowing you got the home, that met your families needs at a price you can afford. 

 Thank you so much for visiting my web site. I hope you have found it useful. Please return back often, as it is updated. If you should have any questions, please let me know, as others would be interested also.

Lynn Rawlinson, Associate broker, Realtor

Coldwell Banker Towne Realty

fnd14u@aol.com

334-467-5727 (cell) available anytime

www.tricountyhomepages.com

www.lynnrawlinson.com

Have you considered the Move to Prattville?

Prattville is Growing!

  New business is steadily opening up in Prattville.  It might be a smaller city on the outer skirts of Montgomery, But Prattville seems to be striving to provide their folks with all the Shopping and restaurant choices the bigger cities provide.

  I moved to Prattville back in the early part of the year of 1980. And then Prattville was so small, that everybody knew everybody. Our choice of shops and restaurants were very slim. Since then the population has more than doubled. And our choices have grown extremely well over that.   I was a kid back then, and in order to get a job, I just about had to drive to Montgomery. Now kids here have the luxury of quitting a job and walking across the street and going to work for somebody else.

  Prattville folks are really enjoying the new shopping center on the south side of Cobbs Ford road near the exit of 179 and I65. With the brand new Target, Home Depot, Books a Million, Pet Smart and other shops. The outer new Restaurants like Olive Garden, Road House, Jim n Nick's BBQ, CiCi's Pizza and other various places to eat. Soon to come Mello Mushroom and IHOP, will be a big hit also. And whatever else they will fit in there.

We are all awaiting the Grand Opening of J.C. Penny's, Best Buy, and Publix. I especially love Publix's Birthday Cakes. I have talked with so many people who have said, when they open, that they will no longer need to drive to Montgomery.  I am personally still waiting on a Khols. But now I hardly ever have to drive to Montgomery, so that does save me a tremendous amount of Gas. Which these days is way over priced. And most likely will stay that way for quite some time.

  I apologize if I have spelled any of the listed business's names wrong. This is actually not an advertisement for any of them. And I am in No Way affiliated with any of them. Other than I shop or eat there and spend money there.  I am a Real Estate agent that loves the town or city ( we are a city now) in which I work, live and play.  I could ride you through so much of this area and reminisce about so many things from my experience of living here from the short past 28 years. But I do not wish to bore you with all of that either.  What I am looking to do is encourage you, if you are looking to move to the Montgomery area, is to consider making the move to Prattville. At least take the time to look around and do some research and compare the two cities. I believe you would be real satisfied to set down roots here. We are just minutes from Montgomery. And it well worth it.

  Give me a call or shoot me an e-mail. I would love to show you around. Please check out my web site for additional information on Prattville. I plan to add more to it soon.  So do check back. I believe Prattville will prove to be the perfect place. And I would love for you to give me the chance to show you. I won't just show you a house. I will show you a whole city and a lifestyle, because that is what you will be looking for.

Thank You So Much for Reading my Blog.

Lynn Rawlinson, Associate Broker, Realtor

Coldwell Banker Towne Realty

334-467-5727 (cell, available anytime)

Email : fnd14u@aol.com

www.tricountyhomepages.com

www.LynnRawlinson.com

Deciding on Selling your home, should raise the question on whether to paint or not to paint.

   I am still showing way too many homes that really need to be painted. Just this week, I showed a home that had such loud colors in the kitchen, it yelled at you. It caused the potential buyers to run. If you should have, Blue or Green formica counter tops you really need to paint that kitchen to tone down that a bit. The real suggestion would be to replace those counter tops. You could have someone come in and replace that worn out or out dated formica for little of nothing, rather than give up the extra dollars you could have received at the closing table. Any loud colors in the home need to be replaced with something neutral. A beige or a light tan is still the number 1 choice. White may pass, but a beige will sell a lot faster.

Paint will add value believe it or not. The  value is in the offer. A buyer may want to change the color or add color, but with a neutral, it is not something that needs to be done immediate. So it stops the buyer from low balling the price quite so much. Neutral will at least go with any furniture or any decorate items.

Fresh paint make the home look so much cleaner. And it helps extremely with a vacant home. Most buyers do not want to paint before they move in. They would much rather paint after they get settled and have had time to decide on how they wish to decorate.

Believe me for a 20 dollar gallon of paint, 20 dollar gallon of kilz and 10 dollars worth of brushes and a good weekend, it could bring you much closer to a signed contract which is priceless.

Many times, you may be able to find a painter who will do the job  for you for a good price. Make sure to get some names and numbers of others that have used the painter in the past. That way you can check on the quality of his or her work. You do not just want anyone one coming into your home. And you want them to back their work up. If you paint straight over a gloss finish, your paint could peel. And you surely do not want to be stuck with a tacky job like that.

Remember, you can not cut corners to save money while painting. It all comes back to haunt you. Be sure and tape out your work. Be safe and use a good primer. And do not buy the cheapest paint on the shelf. It will require more paint to coat. And you really just get what you pay for in the end.

The colors you have in your home may have worked extremely well with how you decorated it. But to the majority of the buyers out there, IT JUST WON'T FLY. Stop loosing those buyers over something as simple as Paint.

Thank You So Much for visiting my web page. Check back often as I add more on a regular bases. And should you have any particular subject that you would like discussed, just let me know.

Lynn Rawlinson, Realtor

Associate Broker, Coldwell Banker Towne Realty

Your Local Real Estate Professional

www.tricountyhomepages.com

cell# 334-467-5727

Specializing in the Prattville - Millbrook area

Curb Appeal Can Mean Everything when it comes to Selling your Home.

   Have you ever been driving down the road, then noticed something that really turned your head? Well that is what needs to be done with the front of your home. It needs to turn buyers heads. If the front of your home does not look appealing to buyers, they are going to just keep on driving. Sometimes that even happens when they have made an appointment. You think that They just didn't show, but they did. They just did not stop. The Buyers thought they had seen all they needed too. They just judged a book by it's cover. And it did not matter How nice your home looked on the inside. The outside did not get them to the door.

     Today's market is really tough for sellers. It is not like it was a couple of years ago, when homes were barely advertised for sale and they sold quickly. Today a seller must work to get that home sold. Especially if they want top dollar for it. Yes a Realtor can just keep throwing advertising dollars at it and keep dropping the price until a buyer excepts it. But it is so much better if the seller and the Realtor work together to get top dollar. And by working together a seller must be willing to clean up, fix up, and make beautiful. Because buyers today and every other day want the most for their money. Same as every other consumer. But today there happens to be too much of a larger selection and too few of  ready, willing and able buyers.

If you have been needing to repaint that trim and those shutters, do not think that the next buyer can do it. Get it done. It adds to the curb appeal. Make sure to replace all rotted or soft wood, if needed. If it just could use a good cleaning, then clean it. What have you wasted a weekend? That may have just been the trick to get the buyers in to see the home. Clean the windows also. Make the home shine.

It can be a good idea to have the yard professionally done. Trimmed, edged, weed eaten. Spruce up the flower beds with new mulch. Make sure to water often to get that grass green. Check into a lawn maintenance service for weed killer and fertilizer. Add some color to the front door by adding an arrangement of colorful flowers in season. Remove the hoses from the front yard or hide them when not in use. Remove all the children toys, place them out of site. Pick up all the trash, and get rid of everything that does not belong. Remove any dead bushes or plants. If the mail box looks faded, cover it with one of those pretty magnets or mailbox covers of flowers or lady bugs or something nice. Replace any blown outside lights. If you have a gas light out front that is faded, repaint that. Your driveway  and sidewalks may need pressure washing, if you have stains or it is dirty. You will be amazed at how much pressure washing helps to beautify the yard.

You want to make the home as warm and inviting to buyers as you possibly can. And you have got to get the buyer through the door. So invest an little time and effort. It may require a little money. But in the long run it is worth it. And most of this, you can do yourself.

Make sure to add a splash of color here and there, if your yard is lacking that. You could always buy a few six packs of annuals to add color. If your ground is too hard to plant them in certain area's, put them where you want them and spread pine straw around to conceal the containers. No one will know they are not planted. Just make sure to water them often. This idea works great around mail boxes, Gas light poles, and other various places.

If you need more ideas, just shoot me an email.

Thanks for Visiting!

Lynn Rawlinson

Associate Broker, Realtor, ABR, CSP.

 Your Real Estate Pro for Life!

www.tricountyhomepages.com

email: lynn.rawlinson@tricountyhomepages.com

cell number 334-467-5727

 Email : fnd14u@aol.com

Person Property Verses Real Property

Is it Real or is it Personal?

If I leave it will it add value?

I have chosen this subject to talk on this week, simply because many sellers have the false belief that leaving their personal property adds value to their home. And many do not even understand what is personal property. And most of them are not even aware that their personal items do not add to appraisal value. An appraiser will not appraise personal property. Lenders only lend based on appraisal value.

  Lets first discuss what is personal property. Personal Property is any item not affixed to real property. The Real Property is the Home or Land which is considered Real Estate. Personal Property can be several things; Refrigerator, furniture, curtains, lawn mower or any other numerous items.

So many times, sellers want to let their furniture stay with the property in order to get more for the home. But a lender does not lend money for personal property. So the buyer can only get the loan for the appraised value of the home. And since the appraiser does not appraise anything not affixed to the property, personal items are not included. These items in NO WAY increase value. The Buyer would have to pay for these items out of pocket. And in most cases, this does not happen.

Leaving a Refrigerator, does not add value, but by advertising that it stays with the home may be an incentive for the buyer to buy if the buyer does not have one.

You may be selling your Farm House or Acreage and you may no longer need your tractor where you are going. The Tractor does not add value by leaving it. But could be an incentive to the future buyer. Or you may just ask them if they would like to purchase it on the side. If not sell it to someone else.

Most sellers throw in their curtains, because they know where they are moving too, most likely the new home will have different size windows and they will not fit. Most buyers assume the curtains will stay. But that is not always the case. In most cases they are not fixed to the home and the seller has the right to take them if they so choose. Blinds on the other hand are fixed and they stay.

If it is screwed down, bolted down,wired in, plumbed in, cemented in or planted in the ground, it must stay. This even goes for plants. Once a buyer has seen the landscape, the seller can not go out there and dig up the plants and take them with them. A seller must state their intensions up front as to what does not stay. And the seller may be responsible for replacing that item with a comparable item.

Take for instance a chandelier. You the seller have installed a special one that means a great deal to you. Maybe it is an antique or passed down from family or what ever the reason. You can advertise that the chandelier does not remain with the property and will be replaced. This must be made known to the buyer up front. And the replacement must be operable. It must be able to pass a home inspection. And this really needs to be done before the appraisal to avoid conflict.

My suggestion to anyone wishing to sell their property and still maintain possession of fixed items just go ahead and replace those items before you ever list the property. This will avoid all future problems. And assures you, that you can keep those items that mean so much to you. And any items you wish to sell, have a yard sale or sell it yourself. Your Realtor, really has no way of selling personal property for you. They are not in that kind of business. They have to work with Lenders and Appraisers and deal with Real Property only. And FOR SALE BY OWNERS, Remember everything needs to be in writing. So if you are planning to take something, make sure to have the buyer sign something stating your intensions in advance. It is extremely hard to make something verbal hold up in court. That is why Realtors have so much documentation, to avoid conflicts.

Thank you so much for visiting my web site.. If you should have any question as to what is Real or Personal property and you need to know before you sell, e-mail me. I will send you an answer back quickly.

Lynn Rawlinson, Assoc. Broker, Realtor, ABR., CSP

334-467-5727

lynn.rawlinson@tricountyhomepages.com

www.lynnrawlinson.com

In the last segment I wrote about Preparing your Home to Sell. Staging takes place after that is complete. Staging is simply taking a Cold looking Home or room and creating a Warm Atmosphere. It is creating a look and or a feeling for the potential buyer. It can be accomplished in an assortment of ways. The intensity in which you need to stage a certain property or particular room depends deeply upon the type of buyers you are going to attract, the property and it's location.

   Let me give a few examples and see if you follow where I am going with this. And to make this a little harder for me, I am going to choose a room you probably have never even thought of. The Garage. Yes you can even stage a Garage. The garage is a special feature to a home. Maybe even most important to the man of the family. If the property for sale has a Garage you should not overlook that feature. And do not expect it to just sell it's self.

Here in this area, Fishing is very big here. So many people have boats or wish to one day have one. So even if the home is empty and you have already moved near by, you could still be able to store your boat in the Garage of the property you are trying to sell. It puts in the mind of a potential buyer that wants a boat, that their future boat will fit in that garage. And to a fisherman that is a strong feeling.  That also goes for younger people who enjoy other activities on the water.  If the property has an oversized Garage consider adding a  few items like a knee board, inner tube, skies if you have those available. If you are in serious need of selling the home, Hang a sign on the boat or jet sky and say " Buy this House and the Jet Sky comes Free" Say you do not live by the water but you are out in the country. How about a 4 wheeler out in the garage. You Live near a Golf Course, put your Golf Cart in there. Do You See Where I am Coming From? You have appealed to the buyers interest. Maybe you think, I do not have any of those things. But you have a deep garage that fits a full size truck and you have that. Most buyers want to know their vehicle will at least fit in the garage. There are so many tiny Garages that hardly fit anything. It helps to show it fits. Buyers do not have imagination, so it helps to create it for them.

Now lets take something easy. The Master bath. Do you have a garden tub or a jacuzzi? If so, then lets decorate it. This time lets appeal to the female buyer. How about a couple of candles, some bath soap, maybe a fancy towel. It is more than likely going to be used mostly by a female, so you would want to decorate to their liking.

You really do not have to spend a lot of money to stage a home. And mostly homes that are vacant need staging the most. Because without things, there isn't really anything to set the mood for the buyers. Something to really show the buyers what it would feel like or could feel like if they bought that home.

It can be as simple as setting a baseball, bat and glove in the corner of one of the spare bedrooms to create the feeling of a little boys room. Or a couple of Baby Dolls in the corner of the other room to show it as a little girls room. Thus this would appeal to a younger family. Can you now imagine how much this has warm these two empty bedrooms up, just by adding these couple of little trinkets?

If you are going to list your home for sale and you think there is the possibility that you may move before this home is sold. Consider a Realtor that provides home staging for their buyers that need or request it. It is a perk that not all Realtors provide. And it really can help a home sell. It especially helps a vacant home sell. It will look better in pictures. It creates imagination in buyers. And it appeals to their emotions and that is what drives them to buy. It is not all price tag. A home is a life style.

I stage homes all the time to get them ready to sell. It is an added incentive for my clients.  I do this in order to help people sell their homes in the quickest time possible and get top dollar for their homes. I offer advice as to how to stage the home while the seller is still in the home. And I stage Vacant properties as needed. Staging works. You really do not have to use that much money and you may already have most of the items needed that you could work with. Just invest a little thought into it. What did you really enjoy about the home when you lived there?  Or what appealed to you most about the home that made you decide to purchase? What do you think the buyers will like? What are the homes special features?

I hope I was informative enough on this subject. If you still  have any unanswered questions, please feel free to comment to this post, email me or pick up the phone and call. I will be happy to answer anything I can for you all. In today's market, sellers need all the help they can get. Thank You so much for logging onto my web site and I hope you will return again shortly.

Lynn Rawlinson, Realtor, Assc. Broker, ABR, CSP

Your real estate professional. Coldwell Banker Towne Realty

334-467-5727 (cell)

Fnd14u@aol.com (e-mail)

Before you actually list your home for sale. It would be beneficial to you to do a walk through of your home and look at it as if you yourself were thinking of buying. It would be even better if you could get someone else's personal opinion also.

   There are so many homes on the market that competition is so tight right now. That in order to have your home sell in a reasonable amount of time it needs to shine in it's best light.  In other words " Look it's Best".  You live in the home and you have grown accustom to the repairs that are needed and you may think nothing of them.  But to a buyer, they see everything and they are looking at what their dollar will buy them and they want the most for it. They do not wish to take on a new purchase that is in need of repairs when they already have to spend a big chunk of money, just getting moved in.

   If you as a seller will invest to get those tiny repairs taken care of before you actually list the home it would be of great benefit. First try walking around the outside of the home and inspect it thoroughly. How do the windows and screens look? Are the gutters or down spouts in need of repair? How does the wood trim and shutters look? Make a written note of everything you see wrong with the outside, and then look closely at the landscaping. Do the bushes need trimming, Does the privacy fence need some boards replaced, do the beds need fresh mulch? Look closely at the front door. Is it inviting? Could it use a fresh coat of paint? What does the mailbox say you? Are the numbers displayed clearly? Buyers will need to find you easily. And they need to like what they see, when they do pass by. They are judging the book by it's cover, as we all do. And many will not come in if they do not like what they see, they will just keep driving. Curb Appeal is everything. These are all things that need to be taken care of before the home is listed. Advertising that the repairs are in the process, Does not sell the home. It can cost you buyers. Buyers want to see a home that is move in ready.

   Next you need to inspect the inside of the home. Are all the Lights and fans working properly, are they dusted? Are all the plumbing fixtures and appliances spit shined and polished? How do the walls look? A fresh coat of paint can really sell a home. You do not want any loud colors. Your little girl may love that Hot Pink room, but your buyers will most likely not. They may not even have children. You have to stick to what appeals to the majority. Stick to colors that are neutral. I call it Realtor Tan. Because that is what we suggest to go with everyone's furniture. Buyers do not want to have to paint before they can move in. They may have never painted before.  Your home may not require paint, it may just need to have the marks cleaned from the walls, window seals and base boards. If your home has wall paper, what condition is it in? Is it pealing at the corners or seams? Most buyers do not even like wall paper, and they surely do not want to deal with the hassle of tearing it down. The design may not be appealing to them. Make sure all closet doors slide easily and are on the track. Replace any broken or torn blinds. Clean the curtains.  Have the carpets shampooed if needed. Don't just try to hide the stains, clean them. Buyers look under throw rugs, they want to see what is hidden. Make sure all windows and mirrors shine.

   Next you need to de-clutter the home. Get rid of everything that is not needed. Take down all personal photos. You do not want the potential buyers so busy studying who lives their rather than imagining their own selves living there. Clean out all closets. You should be able to open them and see the full width of the closet. Clean off shelves and organize. This includes the pantry and laundry room as well. Don't forget the linen closet. You do not want buyers to see that your home is busting out the seams with stuff. Make it look big and roomy. What is the first thing your eyes land on when you first enter a room? That is what they see. That is your focal point. Try to make it warm and inviting. What does the inside of your garage look like? Can you get your car in it? Well, you need to be able to. Organize that as well. You may need to rent a storage space to store your extra stuff in until you get the home sold. So you may need to consider comparing prices. But in the long run this will make your home sell faster, thus saving you expenses elsewhere, and bringing you the most profit from the sale.

   I know it is hard to look at your home as a buyer would, especially since you have lived there and become accustomed to everything around you.  I also know it is hard for friends or family to say what needs to be improved upon. They do not want to offend you. They care about you. But this is serious business. And it needs to be done and done right in order to make you a profit. It all depends on How much work you are willing to do, and how much you may be able to afford. But every home out their needs some work in order to make it more sellable. Yours is not the only one.

  I'll tell you what I'll do, and I will do it for free. If you live in Prattville, Millbrook or Montgomery, Call me. I can set up a time that is convenient for both of us and I will come out and take a look at your home. I will do a walk-thru with you and make notes of everything I see that needs to be done. And when I am through, you can take it or leave it, it will be strictly up to you. I am not going to hold back. I believe sellers need to know what a buyer is looking for, and their perception of things. Just call me on my cell #334-467-5727 and you will get an honest opinion.

  Think about this for a minute. If you were out looking to buy a used car, maybe for your daughter or best friend. Would you feel more comfortable taking a test drive in one that has the kids car seat, toys, last week mail, drink cups and trash all in the floor board? Or would you rather be in a freshly washed, waxed, vacuumed and detailed car? You see anytime that you have something big to sell that you need the most money from, It has got to be clean. And it has got to be done right.

How does this home sound? Just listed, Needs some TLC. Bedroom has a cracked window. Some Screens are missing, There is rotted wood at the bottom of the door frames and  outside trim. Bath room sink has a slow drip and the toilet runs. Needs paint and carpet. The home smells of pet odor.  only 150,000.

Or try this on for size: Lovely home in move in condition, freshly painted. Has great curb appeal. Well Maintained. Only 160,000.

Which one do you wish to see?

Thank you for visiting my blog, I hope you found it helpful. If you have a certain topic you would like to know more about just e-mail me and I will get the new blog on just as quick as I can. And if you like, I can even send you a reply when It is posted.  I am striving to be helpful to my readers. As always I welcome your comments.

Lynn Rawlinson; Realtor, CSP, ABR, Associate Broker

#334-467-5727 (cell)

#334-277-2411 (Office: Ask for Lynn)

fnd14u@aol.com   (E-mail)

  Are a lot of people bidding on Hud Homes, was the question I was asked this week. So lets talk about that today.

  Yes. Buyers are looking at Hud Homes for Various Reasons. Ordinary people like you and I with Jobs to go to everyday are looking at Hud Homes. Not to live in themselves, but to make an investment. They are thinking of fixing them up and renting them out in order to add to their monthly incomes. Companies like Aronov Realty and Century 21 and others handle Rental Properties thus relieving the owners of having to market, stress over lease agreements, collect rents, and just deal with renters personally. So this makes the job easier. You just find the property, one which would benefit you to fix up. And then hire a company to start the rental procedure. Then you sit back and collect your added income. And since it has become harder for people to get qualified for loans now, the rental market is booming.

The average person looking to buy a home to live in is looking at Hud Homes for the opportunity to have equity already in their purchase. Thus increasing the resale value. If they can find one in reasonable shape they have just made their buying dollars go further towards a home that is either bigger or newer or just has more of what they want. And they possibly know  people to make the repairs or do the updating for them at a deal. This giving them added value.

Hud Homes are selling. And the ones in good locations with relatively no major repairs are snapped up pretty quick. Wether you are thinking of purchasing for an investment or personal home there is plenty to choose from right now. You can search all Hud owned properties at www.hooksvanholm.com  and you can search all VA owned properties at www.ocwen.com if you are interested in any of them, just give me a call #467-5727 or send me an e-mail. I can answer any of your questions about the process.  I have the keys and I can show you any of the ones listed in the Tri-County area. I am an Approved Realtor by both of these Companies.That is something that must be, before you can place a bid.  If you are thinking about it, Call me, we will discuss it and see if this is for you. 

Please Keep sending the questions or any Subject you would like to hear more about. Anything that pertains to Real Estate, I will try to get it on-line for you as soon as I can. Thanks Again for Reading my Blog. I hope you found it informative. And if you have suggestions on ways to improve , I will gladly welcome those suggestions as well. Have a Great Week!

Lynn Rawlinson, Associate Broker, Realtor, ABR, CSP

Cell#334- 467-5727

E-Mail fnd14u@aol.com

Are you thinking of leaving the rental market behind and start building equity in a home? One that you can make your own and update as you see fit. Maybe Barbecue on your back patio, plant flowers in your yard? Now is a very good time. Rates are still low and there is Plenty of Inventory to choose from.

Buying a home can be an incredible big step for the first time buyer. Many of today's Buyers are very Internet Savvy. And are most likely get a lot of questions answered via the net.  But  as a first time buyer, most important, you need a Realtor that can answer all those questions and inform you of what's now and what's next. Your Realtor should really be able to take the time needed to inform you in such a way that you feel comfortable thru the entire buying process step by step.

Our Jobs as Realtors, are not to just open doors.  Not everyone will possess the patients needed in working with the first timers. Yes most qualified agents can get the home sold, but only a few have the availability to create a comfortable environment for you and make this an enjoyable process.

Not all area markets are the same. Most area's even within the  same state can differ drastically. So you will need to have local information. Do Not Rely on all the information you get from the Internet. For one example: We are not experiencing the same terrible housing slump that South Florida and California are experiencing. So it would be a major mistake to extremely Low Ball that first offer to purchase on that dream home you just found and you want real badly. That would most likely cost you that home. A Realtor can explain the Current Local Market condition to you and help you determine a more suitable offer. Information needed would be Days on Market, How long the home has been Vacant, Current area recent sold prices, amount of comparable properties available, and other info. to determine a more suitable offer price.

Rely on your Realtor. Inform them on what you need. And not just what you need in a home but your needs also as far as  financing and possession.  The more in tune your Realtor is about your needs the better they can help you. Believe me , no matter what it is, a good Realtor has dealt with it before. You will not have been the first.

The first step to take would be to contact a lender. See what you can be pre-approved for. Check and compare interest rates among a couple of different companies. See what types of loans they have to offer, find out which one will best suit your needs. If you need help with this ask a Realtor. They can point you in the right direction.

Once you have the pre-approval. You can then begin to separate the must haves from the wants to determine where to begin looking for that dream Home.  Your Realtor will try to find that home with everything you need. Price will determine if you get everything you want.

Try to look at your life from tomorrow prospective. Will anything change about your lifestyle in the next 2 - 5 years. Try to accommodate for that in your home selection. Maybe you do not need something right this moment but you may need it in the next couple of years. Plan for that now if possible. For one example: You may have toddlers now, but do you want them in a certain school district when they come of age? That is only in a couple of years. Or with the prices of gas rising, Do you need to be closer to your work? There is a lot to think about when deciding on a Home Purchase

While looking at properties, try to look at the major components that would be costly to repair or replace. Roof, Hot water heater, AC/Havc, Are there structural problems with the property? There are a lot of homes in the Montgomery Area that have structural issues. Do you know what to look for? Look for zigzagging cracks in the walls above or below windows and above doors. Do the doors close easily?? Check for major cracks in the outside brick work. In the older homes with wood flooring, is the floor seem level to you all the way through? Structural Repairs can mount into thousands of dollars. Do not be afraid to request a structural report should you see something out of the ordinary. Be sure to have this done if what you see, concerns you.

Check the landscape of the yard. Water Runs Down Hill. It is a good idea that when you find something you are interested in, to actually see it when it is raining, and again, just after a rain for water drainage issues. Then you will know what kind of water issues you may have to deal with before you buy. Look at the way a roof is designed, you may be able to determine if the home will need gutters. Where is the water pouring off the house at?  Not all instances will you get the chance to know this. But if you can and you have the time, Don't let a little rain damper your spirits in going out and looking at homes. That can be the best time to actually look.

Buying a Home for the first time is very exciting. But do not get so overwhelmed that you do not put enough thought into the process. Trust your biggest investment to a professional for all the help and incite they can give you in purchasing a home that you will be happy with.

 If you have a subject in particular, that you would like for me to discuss. Please feel free to call me at 334-467-5727 or e-mail at: fnd14u@aol.com

 or just comment below. I will get it on as soon as I can. Remember, if you want to know, others do too.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks ..............Lynn Rawlinson, Associate Broker

 Seller's have  came to me and said, " I have my home listed and it is not selling fast enough, Why?"

There is a reason for that. Let me ask you, "Is your home advertised sufficiently enough to bring a buyer? Is it made available to all potential buyers? Are you happy with the way it is marketed?

Can you find it in print in many local places? Do you have a sign? Is it noticeable? Is it  on the Web? How many sites are you on? I provide over 70 sites for my listings. How many is your home listed on?

Even if the home is advertised enough, and it still has not sold. It is what is commonly known as a Market Reject.  The Buyer's Market has rejected this home because it is simply more than they wish to pay for this particular property. Buyers know what a property is worth to them and they know when one is over priced.

It does not matter what an appraiser has appraised it for or what the home sold for down the street. It only matters at what price is a buyer willing to pay for your home.

If you can not or will not sell for less than your listing price, then you just need to take your home off the market and wait until property values have increased. And stop wasting all of your Realtors money and time on advertising something that is not going to sell.( At least no time soon)  Just a reminder, other sellers are in your shoes. And you will most likely be thinking of buying another one. So you will get a deal on that property. It will all wash in the end.

 Maybe  you could try putting it on the rental market, but remember you will have wear and tear to contend with, especially when the tenants have moved out and you will still assume any costly repairs needed as they arise.

If  you just Have to sell,  then you should know the drill. You have 2 options.

1. Lower the price drastically but not obscene, and it should sell quickly by gaining attention.  Or

2. Lower the price slowly and gradually until you get a buyer. This grasps every possibility of getting the highest and best dollar amount for your property. But this only works if you have the time or the money.

Either case will work. It is up to you to decide to pull the band aid off quickly or slowly hair by hair. It's your call.

This is the only way to sell it. It Hurts, but it is true.

If you are worried about loosing the home to foreclosure, That is another Issue. And Immediate Action needs to be taken. A Short sale may be possible to Help You. Talk to your Realtor. Nothing hurts your credit like a Foreclosure. And that needs to be avoided. You definitely do not want that to happen.

 If you have a subject in particular, that you would like for me to discuss. Please feel free to call me at 334-467-5727 or e-mail at: fnd14u@aol.com or just comment below. I will get it on as soon as I can. Remember, if you want to know, others do too.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks ..............Lynn Rawlinson

There are different types of Foreclosed properties. Hud, Va, Bank Foreclosures. Most require that you be pre-approved with a lender up front , Some will require that your lender meet their approval.  Many may require a certain amount of EARNEST Deposit, but usually not more than $1,000. You will need a Realtor to show and help you purchase these homes. As with Hud,  it is required to submit your bid on-line.

 New Hud listings are available on Friday. They are open for a 10 day bidding period. The bidding period will close at Midnight Sunday night. On Monday they go through them all and determine which bid nets them the most money.  If No bids are acceptable, the home stays on the market and if it is accepted, the winning bid will be posted on-line that afternoon.

Hud would really like to see someone purchase the home, Clean and fix it up, and move in it. So Hud first offers the home for bid only by owner occupants, thus giving them first shot at it. But if the home does not sell, it is then open to everyone including Investors. Then it may become where you bid daily.

A Foreclosed home still  needs to sell for as much as it possibly can. It is a misconception thinking they are  going to just give the home away. So most buyers think they can bid low, In that case the home just stays on the market and is open to bid once again, maybe a little lower in price or maybe a not.

Once a bid is won. The purchaser must complete a contract acceptable to the seller. Much of the time, certain details will need to be rewritten or added to the contract. So you may need to get with your Realtor and amend the contract and resubmit it to them.  That is not uncommon.

The buyer is still entitled to a home inspection, even though they may provide you a property condition report. The one they provide was done for them to determine a sales value based on condition. Your inspector may find other items in need of attention. And it is suggested that you still obtain one.

Mostly when a Bank or Lender has the home for sale. The home may have fresh paint, new carpet, and maybe a new roof or mechanical systems. Whatever they felt the home was in need of to make it move in ready, also making the home more sellable. Some of these could easily go FHA loans, because they look so good. Your Realtor would know more by looking at the home. These homes can be ideal for buyers to find, especially those that are in no position to make the repairs themselves.

You are not allowed to store items in or make repairs to the home, until the home has closed and then you can take possession. And if anyone is caught doing otherwise, there are serious repercussions.So since you can not make repairs ahead of time, it is in your best interest to go with a conventional loan, if the home is in need of repair. Conventional Loans are more flexible in what they lend money on, making it more possible to close these homes that do need repairs.

The majority of these Foreclosed Hud or Va homes have some kind of Damage or are in need of Repair. Some more than others. You have to remember that the previous owner did not have the money to pay the payments, therefore they did not have the money to keep the home up either. Also there may have been Anger over loosing the home after paying on it for so long,  or They may have tried to salvage some money out of it. So don't anticipate the home to look it's best when you go out to view them. Some buyer's are disappointed when they go out and look for the first time. Repairs can be costly if you can't do the work yourself. So this may be over whelming. But if you are in a position to do some repairs, this could save you money. And it's nice to do a little as you go, and make the house your own. But you will have to determine if is is beyond your capability.

There is also that little item called Right of Redemption. The previous owner has a 1 - 2 year Right of redemption. That's for them to come up with all the cash now owed on the home in it's entirety, including legal fees, repairs, and all cost that have been acquired since the process all started. That is just too much for anybody. So that may be almost impossible. Sometimes these homes take so long to actually reach the market that the Right of Redemption has already expired. You can check on this through your Realtor.

Most of these Foreclosed Properties will take longer to get closed. Anticipate 45-60 days and you should not be disappointed. Some may take even longer. Some will require a specific closing attorney is used. They will set the day and maybe even the time the closing takes place. You have to remember that the seller is now a company, not a individual. So it gets buried under mounds of paperwork of legalities and procedure in various departments.

Buying a Foreclosed Property may not be for everyone. But there are certainly quiet a few on the market. And to a person that can invest in these particular properties, either as a home owner or investor and make the needed repairs if necessary, this may spell Opportunity.

If you have a subject in particular, that you would like for me to discuss. Please feel free to call me at 334-467-5727 or e-mail at: fnd14u@aol.com  or just comment below. I will get it on as soon as I can. Remember, if you want to know, others do too.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks ..............Lynn Rawlinson, Associate Broker

Are you drowning in your home? So many reports are talking about how bad the market is. Foreclosure rates are up. We are in or heading for a recession. But what you don't hear is the fact that homes are still selling.

In our tri-county area, we are not being effected nearly as bad as most area's. We have been very lucky so far.  But Foreclosures have doubled here. And it is still the possibility for a lot of people.

How many advertisements are you hearing about, that pertain to trying to help this situation and try and prevent it? If you think you may have to deal with this situation soon, please call, You have options. Foreclosure really hurts (credit, financially, stress). But there are options. First the home owner has to come to terms with the fact. Then they have to act.  If they can act fast enough, the more options they have. An owner should talk to their lender or the one who holds the loan in order to determine if they can make other arrangements. These lender's do not want to Foreclose and loose money. They want to see you make your payments.  Ask about attaching those missed payments onto the back of your loan without penalties or at what cost. Ask about Refinancing, Is that an option? If you can't negotiate to fix the problem thru them, then maybe a Quick sale or Quick Payoff can be obtained to help Sell the home quickly to avoid foreclosure. A Realtor has a much better chance at selling the home more quickly than a For Sale By Owner. A quick sale or quick payoff can make the sales price more attractive to a potential buyer, and move the property quickly.

If the process has exceeded that point, Obtain Legal Advice on what's best. But don't just sit there and think the problem will magically disappear. Because it won't. A Foreclosure will haunt you like a stain in a $40. White Shirt. But if Pre-treated, it is not so bad.

My business is helping people with all their Real Estate needs. In a Crisis like this you need me the most. I can't help if I don't know. And I need to know this, while it is still just a thought or a might. Many people are glad they seeked help. And still many others waited until to late, and it just could not be prevented. Don't be the one that waited to late. This is not an easy road to go down. But if you are on it, you need help.

 If you have a subject in particular, that you would like for me to discuss. Please feel free to call me at 334-467-5727 or e-mail at: fnd14u@aol.com or just comment below. I will get it on as soon as I can. Remember, if you want to know, others do too.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks ..............Lynn Rawlinson, Associate Broker

Today, the Market is getting such bad press. But in this area the same amount of homes are still being sold. The interest rate is still very good. They change almost daily, but are staying realatively around the 6% mark. Yes the lenders have made it tougher to get a loan.  But this has not hurt the buyers with descent credit that can stay within their means, get a loan. 

 There is an abundent supply of homes on the market for Sale, making this a Buyers market for almost every price range of home, especially in the $150,000 + Price Range. This making them more negotiable in Price, and very desirable for the potential buyer.

There seems to be a swarm of younger 1st time home buyers at this time. The younger generation first time buyers are so internet savy that they practically find their home themselves before contacting an agent. So if your home is not plastered all over the internet, you are missing out on a lot of potential buyers.  With all these 1st time buyers shopping the market at this time. Makes this still a good sellers market for the 100  to 150's price range of home. Because this is the price range that most fall under.

Homes under 100,000 are  almost impossible to find and are swooped upon quickly. Making these homes the most desirable. So First Times buyers in this price range would need to have an agent in place looking and checking the market daily to locate these homes for them or they will have been sold and lossed to another buyer who has an agent working for them.

While most buyers these days are locating their home via the web, there are still buyers out their that find theirs thru print media  ads or yard signs, but these days, that is realativley few. How many people pass by your house in a day?

A good agent knows they have to reach the entire market. The more people you reach through advertisement the better your chances to get a buyer.

Buyers, your agent can work for you at no cost. Most sellers are willing to pay the buyers agent for them. An agent is going to work for their client to get the desired results ( A Closing) because, truth be it, and agent doesn't get paid until it closes.  And an agent doesn't get repeat business if they did not do the best possible job for you the first time around. The saying " 10 people tell 10 more" It is true.

Lynn Rawlinson 334-467-5727

 If you have a subject in particular, that you would like for me to dicuss. Please feel free to call me at 334-467-5727 or e-mail at: fnd14u@aol.com  or just comment below. I will get it on as soon as I can. Remember, if you want to know, others do too.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks ..............Lynn Rawlinson, Associate Broker