Karen's Perspective

Negotiating for Your Dream Home

Guest Post

If you are looking to buy a home right now, you’re in luck. The national housing market is in a slump that has given new meaning to the term “buyer’s market.” Property owners are looking to shed properties, often stagnant, often stupendous, for pennies on the dollar. It is important to remember a few things when you’re buying a home. Here are a few tips for the prospective home buyer:

Look at the deal from the seller’s point of view. The more you can find out about the seller, the better off you’ll be. If it is obvious that the seller is looking to shed the property ASAP, for example, if the furniture has been completely moved out, you’ll have a much better chance of making a deal. Try meeting with them face to face or, if that’s not possible, glean as much information as possible from their real estate agent.
Just because you find one home you like doesn’t mean you should get attached to it. Real estate agents often pick up just how committed you are to the property they’re showing you, so don’t come across as overly committed to one house. If you find one you like, keep looking for others that strike you as well. If you go into a negotiation with no other options, you’re much more likely to cave to the demands of the seller.
Don’t buy the leather furniture and big screen TVs until after you’ve closed escrow. Purchases, whether big or little, stack up on your credit card and will ultimately hurt your credit. Have patience to wait until you’ve closed the deal to buy those amenities. If you find a deal you’re afraid will be gone before the ink is dry, consult with the store about putting an item on hold for you.
Finally, before you begin serious negotiations, make sure you have your paperwork in order. Ask your real estate agent or broker what sort of papers you will need to close the deal and get those together. If you’re applying for a mortgage, generally you will need that year’s W2 form, a copy of the most recent year to date pay stub, three most recent statements for deposit accounts, stocks and bonds, and name, address and account numbers of all deposit accounts including checking, savings, stocks and bonds.

Ryan works for Austin Tx homes for sale and Buttercup-Creek homes for sale and loves writing about real estate.

01 / 20 / 2012
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The Internet Goes on Strike

You may have noticed that Wikipedia and others have taken down their sites today in protest of a bill before Congress to censor the internet. Watch this video to get an idea of what this censorship could mean to you.

01 / 18 / 2012
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What is a QR Code and How do They Work?

You may have noticed these square boxes popping up everywhere. I’ve started using them on our marketing and, turns out, I love them. What are they and how do they work?

QR (quick response) codes are like barcodes for smartphones, full of useful information. If you have a smartphone device, simply download your very own QR reader. Anytime you see a QR code, hold your device over it, give it a few seconds to read the code, and a wealth of information about the product the QR code is used for will be displayed.

Have you used one yet?

01 / 16 / 2012
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How to Respond with a Counter Offer

When negotiating to buy or sell a home, you will, at some point, be in the negotiating process – the offer and counter offers.

Most people understand what an offer is. As a buyer, you make a decision what you’re willing to pay and you make an offer to the seller. As a seller, you receive an offer from your potential buyer and then have three choices – accept, reject or counter.

What is a counter offer?

During the negotiations, you are not required to respond after receiving an offer. Typically, the offer states a time frame for your response, after which the offer automatically expires. Most often, rather than accepting or rejecting the first offer, the seller will instead make a counter offer.

Counter offers are a normal part of the buying/selling process.

01 / 12 / 2012
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Real Estate Investing

Closing Costs

“Closing costs” are various fees charged by those involved with the transfer of property from the seller to the buyer. Some fees are paid by the seller; some are paid by the buyer. Who pays what is always negotiable.

Closing costs are fees paid to transfer property ownership. These fees are for items such as: title policies, recording fees, inspections, courier charges, any fees that lenders charge. The amount of these fees depend largely upon where you live.

Closing costs can range from one to eight percent of the home’s cost, though they are usually about three to five percent of the total purchase price.

Do not ignore closing costs as part of the cost to buy or sell a home.

What the Seller Typically Pays

01 / 11 / 2012
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The Essential Handbook for Buying a Home

I was thrilled last night to receive this review of my book from Yolanda M. Johnson-Bryant of Literary Wonders! on The Author’s Hideaway.

If you haven’t yet read my book on buying a home, I hope you will. And, when you do, please let me know what you thought and how it helped you.

Monday, January 9, 2012

REVIEW – The Essential Handbook for Buying a Home by Karen Rittenhouse

Date: 12/31/11

Title: The Essential Handbook For Buying a Home

Author: Karen Rittenhouse

ISBN 10: 0983775249

ISBN 13: 978-0983775249

Pages: 143

Publisher: Southeastern Investments, LLC

Cover: Paperback

Reviewer: Yolanda M. Johnson-Bryant – Literary Wonders!

Rating: 5 Stars

The Essential Handbook for Buying a Home by Karen Rittenhouse is a great tool for first-time homebuyers, those who have previously owned a home and those who currently own a home.

In the current down turn in the housing market, homeowners and potential homeowners need to be armed with as much information as possible to help them decide if owning a home is really for them and if now is the time to own one.

Rittenhouse’s book includes information that most real estate agents and lenders won’t necessarily tell you. For instance, there are opportunities available that will allow a buyer to lease a home before they buy, but many potential buyers may not get this information unless they know to ask.

01 / 10 / 2012
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Self-storage: Choosing, Packing and Organizing

Self storage is not only about choosing the right storage facility. Storing things in an arranged manner is important. Whether you are moving or are settled in your new home, self-storage services are indispensable. These services can be utilized during a home or an office relocation.

Often, homeowners have to stay in a temporary accommodations while their new property is being renovated or painted. Whatever the reason to rent a self storage unit, browse and do research on what different storage companies are offering. Here are a few things to take good care of while considering a self-storage unit:

01 / 09 / 2012
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Guest Post

Real Estate Coaching and Training

For those of you who, somehow, may not be aware that we offer real estate coaching and training, the following is a shameless plug.

This letter was written by our newest student in Raleigh and I just had to publish it.

Dear Doubting Thomas –

My name is Mark Bynum and I am a new member to TriadMasterMind.com. I have currently been with the group for a whopping total of 3 days. In those three days, I have had access to their website and my first one on one mentoring session with my mentor, Coach Fred.

I wanted to take a moment to tell you a little bit about my journey to this point and what I’ve found so far. I have wanted to invest in Real Estate for many years, but never thought it possible until approximately two years ago. At that time, I finally got fed up with dreaming about investing and decided to get started.

Like many others, I had an insatiable appetite for knowledge on how to do this business correctly. Likewise I started spending thousands of dollars trying to gain knowledge. I attended many “guru” events and bought many courses from people who boasted they could deliver all I needed to get going for only $1999 – $15,000. I’m sure you get the picture. Needless to say, I did get some good information, but never enough information that I felt would work for me here in North Carolina.

01 / 08 / 2012
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Keeping Your Home Warm this Winter

Baby, it’s cold outside. Time to put a big, cozy warm blanket around your house. Following are some tips to help you stay warm this winter by keeping the heat where you want it, inside!

Heating unit – Hopefully, you had your heating unit serviced last fall so it’s functioning now at optimum level. If not, have it serviced now because we still have several cold months ahead of us.
Pipes – Double-check insulation around exterior pipes that are exposed to freezing weather to be certain they’re insulated and that water cannot seep under the insulation. Tape and repair loose or damaged insulation. Add more anywhere it’s needed.

01 / 05 / 2012
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Planning for Your Future

One of the most important steps you can take toward success is to make a plan. You must know where you’re going to determine how to get there. You must have a written plan so you can modify what’s working and what’s not and to be able to see the difference.

Get started today. Write out your goals for the next 1, 3, 5 and 10 years. Doesn’t have to be fancy. Just dream. No, you won’t know the “right” answers because you don’t have a crystal ball. But dream. In 1 year do you still want to be at your same job? In your same home? With the same person? In 3 years? In 5? When do you decide that what you’re doing now is/isn’t working?

What year do you think you can be financially free? When I did our first outline, I put 15 years = retired. If you don’t write down what you see today, you won’t know (1) if you hit it accurately (2) if you’re able to move faster than you anticipate (3) if you’re not moving fast enough and need to make adjustments.