Anibal Group LLC RealtyNetWorth.com

Series: ‘MORE TOOLS’ ~ Home economics, budget, mortgage, income taxes

March 1, 2019

SERIES: The ‘Portfolio Approach’ includes access to spreadsheets. I have thousands of spreadsheets I’ve created to assist clients…thousands. To help you organize your thoughts, there a quite a few templates that interact, to assist and give value. Some examples of these ‘multi tab spreadsheets’ would be to assist:

buyers – valuations/ closing costs/ pricing/ estimated time to market, etc.
sellers – valuation/ checklists/ comparing
investors – compare/ value/ track ROI/ tax issues
landlords – rehab costs/ ROI tracking/ management feedback/ tenant interactions
home economics – this is usually the start point for customers / clients. With this tool set, we can do what the mechanic does with a scan tool, what the doctor does with a workup, and what your insurance agent does with their annual feedback form. Lets take a quick look:

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By the time you see these, they’ve no doubt been updated.

One great advantage for you will be that these are ‘live’ and interactive. We can edit formulas/ ‘what if’s/ and make clarifying graphical changes to your taste, in real-time, during a phone chat!

Look at the tab names on the bottom. What can you think up that I can assist with?

IN RELATED SERIES POSTS: I’ll share REAL ESTATE and ENTITY ‘frequently used tools’.

Tools have been created to help assist if you have, had, or are considering any of the below:

… income property?
… a small business or 1099 contract income?
… an entity such as S-Corp, LLC, or Partnership?
… using property as home office, land storage rental, pole barn use, attached apartment for related/unrelated, or VRBO.com style letting?
… college (or other) housing for student/ child?
… providing housing for parent?
… vacation/ seasonal property that may have mixed use?
… relocation related to work?

READ:	topics:	tab:	uses:
READ:	TAXATION
		Notes to us	Post notes/ links/ calculations here for open activity.
INCOME TAXES		Note to you	We’ll post questions/ notes/ links/ calculations here for open activity for your feedback.
		Quick estimates	Quick estimating. Useful at anytime either YOUR situation will change OR tax law OR both.
		Sched C	Track your business income/ expenses
		Sched E	Track your rental income/ expenses
		Miles	Useful for repetitive re-occuring trips re: mileage travel.
		Miles/ Meals	Useful when overnight stays are part of mileage travel.
		Home office	Useful for local mileage and for rentals/ home office deductions.
		1099 info	Sample uses: Keep track of your year to year 1099’s being issued. Share info here if you wish these prepared.

READ:	HOME ECONOMICS
IMPROVEMENTS		Assets	Useful for insurance coverage, for buy/sell tax calculations, and for rentals/ home office deductions.
		SSA_Est.1	Plan your SS payout timing and spousal options during earning and/or payout. Consider using Roth before taking SS.
CREDIT		PswdMgr-Budget	Make passwords easy for you/ hard for others. See your monthy & annual needs. Compare balances to pay down more quickly.
		AlaCarte-TxSvgs-RNW	Preplanning a buy/ sell transaction can save you thousands. Request further information.
		DOCS_Reviews_Tax	Document tracking. Simply copy/paste doc links from YourSpace.
		Parse & total stmts	Copy/ paste your CC or Bk Stmts and easily total payee/ categories. Once setup m akes a breeze of use.

New Tax Law: Planning Now – before end of 2018
New Tax Law: Planning Now
More coming soon!

* Anibal Group LLC does not offer legal advice. This article is not to be considered advice specific to your situation. Most financial decisions should involve advice from a trusted professional of your choice that will advise on insurance, legal, banking/ lending, structural/ property condition, and other transaction significant matters. We can offer referrals for CPA’s and other professionals.

Trusts ~ An estate tool for everyone

February 23, 2019

Anibal-Group-RealtyNetWorth-Dog-In-Lake Once you’ve physically or mentally passed to the next realm, you will leave some situation for family. Complicated interactions, probate and extra taxes may be the gift you leave. Or you may set up a trust.

A trust can greatly simplify things. There are many types used for various situations. The most common is a revocable living trust. It lets you:

specify how your estate will be distributed
can avoid probate – a lengthy, costly & emotional process
minimize arguments

Joint property ownership, or payable-on-death transfers or accounts can also avoid probate. Be careful about the taxation consequences of these.

The cost will vary depending on your situation, but $1,500 to $3,000 may cover the basics of:

your trust
a will
medical directive and
a power of attorney

List out for assigning all of your assets to the trust that you wish to avoid probate. Include wording for any additional assets so they may ‘pour over’ into the trust.

Retirement accounts and insurance policies generally aren’t subject to probate.

While alive, you have control to change, or even revoke it. Revocable trusts don’t require a tax return. This type of trust is part of your estate & won’t offer much tax benefit or asset protection. An irrevocable trust can, but once set up is difficult to alter.

After passing:

Further benefits are clarity and control. You may detail how your assets are distributed to beneficiaries and avoid much family conflict. For younger ones, a trust can outline ages and conditions they receive what part of their inheritance.

Special needs trust:

A special needs trust is a form of revocable trust designed for dependents with disabilities. Social Security allows disbursements without disqualifying them from Social Security, Medicare, or other benefits.

Private or public wishes?

If you use probate things can complicated since probate files are public record, trusts are not. As always, seek legal, tax, and financial feedback from advisors in all areas.

* The above is for informational purposes only. Anibal Group LLC is not offering professional advice & this article is not to be considered advice specific to your situation. Your decisions should involve professionals of your choice re: insurance, legal, banking/ lending, structural/ property condition, and other transaction significant matters. We can offer referrals.

The Best Time Of Year To Sell A Home

February 15, 2019

Do those articles ’Best time to sell’ lack depth to you? … seem to leave out ‘bigger picture’ approach and how/ what to calculate? Simplistic, in fact. ‘Best time’ means many things. Anibal-Group-LLC-RealtyNetWorth-Marketing-Open-House-Signs_3_In-Yard_Open_ForSale_Website-2

For quickest sale?, highest price?, least competition?, most ‘looks’? It depends on your goals what’s best for you. It also depends on what the best features of your property are: eg: retiree target?, waterside?, near summer/winter activities?…or perhaps a college.

There are pluses and minuses at each time of year, the secret is if you must sell now, then your buy/sell/relocate timing needs to match marketing approach and expectations. If you can be flexible, timing moves up your list based on your overall goals. A ‘move-up’ situation differs from a ‘down-sizing’ approach. The time-of-year preference is opposite.

Now locally, Nov-Feb oft have the lowest price, end of May thru early July the highest. If speedy sales are your goal, the data gets trickier and is more dependent of who’d be the typical buyer, eg: family with school children, golfers, skiers, etc. You get the idea.

Nearly every day I ‘pull’ from public & agent-only sources, and build buyer/seller spreadsheet ~ posted to and accessible from YourSpace247. The answer isn’t as simple as the online magazine sites generic data driven (vs human intervention) generalizations.

https://www.zillow.com/research/best-time-to-list-2018-19215/
- ‘.. Nationwide, the first half of May is the best time to list a home ..’

Best month to sell	Best day of the week to list	Why?
First half of May	Saturday	Nationally, homes listed for sale in this window sold almost two we eks faster than average, and for $2,500 more,

Best month to sell

Best day of the week to list

Why?

First half of May

Saturday

Nationally, homes listed for sale in this window sold almost two we

eks faster than average, and for $2,500 more,

https://magazine.realtor/daily-news/2019/03/18/the-best-week-to-list-a-home-is-quickly-approaching
- ‘… During the week of March 31 to April 6, homes are listed, on average, for 6 percent more than at the beginning of the year—an extra $17,000, according to the study. Homes for sale that week also tend to fetch 14 percent more views on realtor.com® than at other times of the year. Further, listed homes sell about six days faster. The homes also see less competition that week; the highest number of homes tend to go up for sale in late spring…’

Property not moving quickly ?

DIY’s for profit ( but not necessarily fun )

Ready to move forward? We formalized ‘Plan’ to help get to ‘Develop’ & ‘Execute’. Anibal-Group-RealtyNetWorth-door-question-chess-1

Plan ~ YourVISION
Develop ~ NetWorthBasics.com
Execute ~ RealtyNetWorth.com
- YourMapSearch | YourDetailedSearch
- Meet & Discuss | Share Wish List

SERIES: Home Care ~ Really Cold Outside? Turn Heat UP, not Down!

January 21, 2019

For home improvement, care, and maintenance tips, follow this series. We’ve ‘been there, done that’.

SERIES: Your net worth strategy includes caring for your home. This pays dividends when you sell, not just now. The ‘Portfolio Approach’ has never made more sense than now.

ITS COLD OUT! Anibal Group LLC. Realty NetWorth_Lake.Shannon.net.winter.2018_12_07

If you have neighbors in older homes they tend to have hot water heat – so exterior pipes! Remind them and anyone else that may have hot water heat that its best in extreme cold to turn heat UP, not down.

The furnace cycles on/off and when off, water stops moving. The temp at the outside wall will be some average of outside air and the setting on the thermostat. e.g.: Set on 65, outside is -5 then that temp could be under freezing! This is especially true near doors, on the windy side of the house, and where pipes pass thru walls/ floors.

Open closet doors.
Allow inside air access to pipes as much as possible.
Move obstruction from near pipes.
Know where the water shut off and/ or well shut off is (and a wet vac should things turn ugly).

SERIES: Your net worth strategy~Another RNW Brokerage Perk: Income Tax Savings.

December 28, 2018

How much you can SAVE on INCOME TAXES using a REALTY BROKER (us) that gives INCOME & PROPERTY TAX ADVICE in the professional service package & offers ALA CARTE BILLING?

SERIES: Your net worth strategy just changed with the tax law changes. The ‘Portfolio Approach’ has never made more sense than now.

Think about if you have, had, or are considering any of the below?

… income property?
… a small business or 1099 contract income?
… an entity such as S-Corp, LLC, or Partnership?
… using property as home office, land storage rental, pole barn use, attached apartment for related/unrelated, or VRBO.com style letting?
… college (or other) housing for student/ child?
… providing housing for parent?
… vacation/ seasonal property that may have mixed use?
… relocation related to work?

Here’s an example of what you could save over using another agent/ brokerage who will not be including or offering taxation perspective in how your deal is structured, financed, the timing, how title is held, and other topics from a taxation perspective.*

Vacation & relocations: Savannah GA. Meeting you where & when you move.

December 1, 2018

Your net worth strategy just changed with the tax law changes. The ‘Portfolio Approach’ has never made more sense than now when you look at your:

Saving for retirement
Property holding(s)
Tax minimizing
Net Worth maximizing

Here’s an example day visit to somewhere you may have considered buying. It could be Savannah GA, or Hilton Head SC, Charleston SC, Myrtle Beach, NC, VA, or Maryland as well. Yes, we broker in MI, FL, and meet clients at all points in between.

CHARITY GIFTS & MATCHING

November 26, 2018

Anibal-Group-RealtyNetWorth-Charities I’ll match your charitable contribution w/up to 10% of our commission.

Simply choose your charity when initiating services.

Currently Supported:

Brightmoor Christian Missions
Wells For The World *
Youth Haven Ranch
Flint’s Eastside Mission
Flint’s Eastside Church of The Nazarene
Flint City Church
Grace Centers of Hope
Beauty for Ashes
Samaritan’s Purse
Life Challenge
Salvation Army
Habitat For Humanity
Detroit Rescue Mission
Royal Family Kids Camps
Your local charity that assists people with basic needs & support.

Like your charity added to my giving list?

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Selling a house: Sellers do you hurt the process?

November 16, 2018

Selling a house ? Its about 1 buyer, not ‘hits’, not ‘showings’. Meet & Discuss

Here’s some of the worst mistakes sellers make.

Pricing too high:
- The big reason I use an in-depth approach model to a pricing range is because I feel is THE Most important aspect of the selling experience. Buyers have had their search app set to send them updates. Overprice and you’ll show up in searches of properly priced homes. ‘Days on market‘ ? What does this mean to you? No other brokerage uses our valuation model OR our approach to prevent the ‘stale’ listing.
Fist impression:
- Flowers, lawn, edging, lights (if eve). If it doesn’t draw the eye away from the next house, buyers have already started to look for reasons they don’t like the inside once they step through the door.
Making the place ‘sell – ready’:
- Selling a house, car, or garage sale items … dirty, and non-functional aspects are over emphasized the potential buyers mind(s). Clean and fix as if you are looking to buy it! This includes emptying storage areas and staging…without clutter. You’re not selling a candy bar – do the work, glean the $’s.
The inspection, do it before the offer(s):
- Sellers that won’t take my word for it should get an inspection up front. Why? You can present it as part of the marketing material and avoid the offers that try and hustle the seller after tying up the house with ‘nit pick’ things that you should have attended to before. Fix it, or disclose it before they write – thank me later.
Taking feedback as a personal attack:
- Why are sellers shocked that buyers also want the best deal? Its numbers. Lets update the valuation spreadsheet, then as dad said ‘tell them what you WILL do, not what you won’t’…. the house is sold, if you want to buy it back, state your price.

My Continuing Education

October 31, 2018

Just finished another years course work. Again, I try to take a curriculum I feel most benefits my clientele. So what kind of classes do I take?

To keep a license active, continuing education is a requirement, both for Michigan and Florida real estate brokers (and agents). Most folks may not realize but we may choose from many different ‘approved’ classes. Anibal-Group-LLC-RealtyNetWorth-NetWorth-Basics-1

Here is some recent completions for MI real estate con-ed / FL real estate con-ed / and income tax con-ed:

MI Green Matters and the Environment 2018
MI House Construction 2018
MI 6 HOUR PACKAGE E: Real Estate Legal Issues & Disclosure 2017
MI 6 HOUR PACKAGE D: Contract Law & Residential Leasing 2016
MI: [LAW] Agency 2015
MI ELECTIVE: Commercial Leasing 2015
MI ELECTIVE: House Construction 2015
MI ELECTIVE: Home Inspections 2015

18 hrs, FL con-ed
Ethics & Business Practices 2017
LAW – Core Law 2017
SPE – Real Estate Specialty Credit 2017

Outside of classrooms, I’ll purposefully engage in ‘real life experiences’ that would tend to enhance skills & knowledge to pass along. This includes recent visits relating current, past, and prospective relo clients that encompassed much of the east coast including Maryland, DC, Virginia, NC, Charleston/ Hilton Head SC, and Savannah GA. Projects included a roof tear off replacement & insulation upgrade. Those 90 bundles went on easier when I was young, the 2 layer tear off ?, no fun!

Buyers beware: Seller occupancy after closing

August 28, 2018

When the seller needs additional time after close and plan post-close occupancy, buyers may wish to consider some ramifications. Will this effect your financing? How about insurance issues? Who will cover costs? … repairs? … substantial losses? Anibal-Group-LLC-All-Over-USA

Definitions:

Use and Occupancy Agreement – Seller to Remain: Principle residence – form/agreement, general in nature.
License for the Limited Use and Occupancy Agreement – form/agreement, more specific in nature for use of subject premises.
leasehold – tenancy and complexity of legal rights and obligations
lease – transfers “possession”, and
license – grants “only the right to use the premises” – a license to use and occupy, and nothing more. As a preliminary matter, it’s probably not a bad idea to refer to and title the agreement between the parties as “a license for the limited use and occupancy” of the subject premises, rather than simply a “use and occupancy” agreement

Questions:

Ask Lender: Will non-owner occupancy effect financing?
Ask Insurance agent:
- House burns down – sellers is living there – post close, who pays?
- House burns down – sellers has not surrendered keys, not living there but has possessions still there – post close, who pays?
- Slip n fall – who pays?
- Do you need landlord insurance?
- Appliances included break, drain or HVAC fail – who pays?
Ask Lawyer:
- For an agreement to cover possible losses
- Word agreement that will not create for seller ‘tenant rights’
Ask Accountant:
- If the seller pays $X/day for more than 10 days overstay, is this rental income?

Critical:

Whether an agreement creates a lease or license may be determined by:
- a) the extent of the parties’ control over the premises;
- b) the language of the agreement;
- c) the intent of the parties;
- d) the duration of the expected occupancy;
- e) whether usage payments are made on a day to day basis;
- f ) whether the occupant is free to leave at any moment.
Limited Use and Occupancy Agreement (may include such items as):
- Seller pays per diem amount of $____ ( Usually at least covers: mtg pyt, ins., taxes).
- Escrow held to be released after surrender of keys and complete removal all items & debris not included in sale. ‘Broom clean’ vacating includes but is not limited to: house/ garage/ attic/ yard/ out-building(s)/ with no trash remaining at curbside. Escrow for potential damage, hold-over, & buyer satisfaction of post move-out inspection $____ (e.g.: 3% of purch. price).
- After _____ days (e.g. 30), per diem occupancy will increase to $____ (e.g. 1.5 – 2X otherwise).
- Seller is responsible for risk of loss during post close hold over & will deliver in good working condition, the property, items included w/ sale, HVAC & plumbing.
- Buyer may enter premises at any reasonable time to inspect property.

Forms:

Use and Occupancy Agreement – Seller to Remain

Links for further reading:

The Pre (/post – to regain occupancy) Closing Inspection for a Home Purchase – http://justrealestatetalk.com/the-buyers-pre-closing-inspection/
Post settlement occupancy agreements: A useful tool, but beware of potential pitfalls – https://federaltitle.com/blog/post-occupancy-settlement-agreements-a-useful-tool-but-beware-of-potential-pitfalls

Please seek you own professional legal, tax, real estate, and insurance advice – not to the reliance of this article.

Michigan Principal Residence Exemption

July 21, 2018

A significant part of any move, relocation, addition of 2nd home, or estate plan involves taxes; income taxes & property taxes for starters. Hence, below is a primer how to not accidentally double your property tax bill, or conversely, overpay if not need be.

Definitions:

Principle residence: Plan to return after ‘short absences’. Assessor will look at: min 6 AnibalGroupLLC_RealtyNetWorth_ 10-24-2018 7-54-05 PM months per yr occupancy, mail, driver license, voting registration, utility usage consistent.

Entities:

Trust will allow PRE to the grantor in most situations. Does not apply to family LLC’s or other entites. A residence that has been transferred into a Limited Liability Company, a Partnership, or some other legal entity will cease to be qualified for the principal residence exemption.

Deadlines:

May 1 for summer tax bill, Nov 1 for winter tax bill.

Scenario #1: 2 principle residences

Both are claimed as principle – one owner/person
- Best to rescind one no matter if it is across town, across the state, or across the country.
Both are claimed as principle – two owners/persons
- What address and filing status (‘joint’ or ‘separate’) do they file on 1040?
- Can you demonstrate per ‘principle residence’ definition above that it is indeed your princ. res.?
- From linked article below: ‘…What if you are husband and wife? State and Federal laws are nothing if not unclear about this distinction. The general approach is that we treat married couples as a single unit. However, … for purposes of the principal residence exemption, if a husband and wife file a joint (MFJ) income tax return, they are entitled to one exemption for their “marital unit.” However, if they file separately (MFS), they may each claim an exemption. Beware, however, that they will still have to demonstrate the “intent” reality discussed above. In most cases, unless the parties are separated, that will be pretty difficult to do….’

Scenario #2: Short term renting our residence

Even though ‘guidelines’ suggest if a property is rented > 14 days per year it is not a ‘principle’ residence, this is inconsistent with recent court rulings and the source law:

‘… Concerned about losing your homestead exemption because you have been renting your home for more than 14 days per year? Fear not, as the Michigan Court of Appeals recently ruled in the taxpayer’s favor on this issue. Michigan’s Principal Residence …’
Per statue: ‘ … the MCA ruled “the PRE guideline provision relied on relied on by the Tribunal is erroneous and inconsistent with the GPTA (Michigan General Property Tax Act – added). Renting one’s home for more than 14 days does not disqualify a homeowner from the PRE.” …’

Scenario #3: Current house for sale, new house already purchased.

State of MI realized homes are not always bought/sold simultaneously. Further, during ‘down’ markets – or slow times of the year – homeowners may wish to time the sales process of the old home. Hence, you may have an ‘on-market’ home still receiving a PRE for up to 3 yrs.

Forms:

Links for further reading:

The State of MI ‘guidelines’ (note, not law) – Principal Residence Exemption (PRE) Guidelines
- How ‘guidelines’ are not law – (e.g. Short term rental of home) – http://www.fraserlawfirm.com/blog/2017/12/michigans-principal-residence-exemption-and-short-term-rentals/
http://michiganestateplanning.blogspot.com/2012/05/michigan-property-tax-personal.html
Estate planning – http://michiganestateplanning.blogspot.com/2018/01/do-tod-and-pod-designations-really-work.html
How to survive a PRE challenge – https://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2015/05/lake_michigan_home_owner_wins.html

Please seek you own professional legal, tax, real estate, and insurance advice – not to the reliance of this article.

My Continuing Education, your benefit.

June 20, 2018

I try to take a curriculum most useful to my clientele. So what kind of classes do I take?

Here is some recent completions for MI real estate con-ed / FL real estate con-ed / and income tax con-ed:

MI 6 HOUR PACKAGE E: Real Estate Legal Issues & Disclosure
MI 6 HOUR PACKAGE D: Contract Law & Residential Leasing
MI: [LAW] Agency
MI ELECTIVE: Commercial Leasing
MI ELECTIVE: House Construction
MI ELECTIVE: Home Inspections
MI ELECTIVE: Residential Leasing
MI: [LAW]: Contract Law

18 hrs, FL con-ed

Investing: then and now

March 29, 2018

In 2012 I’d predicted a real once per generation buying opportunity. Now I have the spreadsheets from client deals to back it up. Further, take a peak at this:

Anibal-Group-LLC-Realty-Net-Worth-A-look-back-at-investment-advice

So, after you re-read the old article from 2012 here:

Real Estate May Be The Buying Opportunity of the Decade

Posted on November 14, 2012

Let me recommend a quick read here:

New tax law – new strategies.

February 27, 2018

Then I invite you to sit down and chat about your portfolio/ homes/ vacation residence/ elder care and college town houses.

Meet & Discuss Further Share Your Buy Wish List

New tax law – new strategies.

February 27, 2018

Standard deduction – way up.
Itemized deductions – far less valuable.
Misc employee exps – gone.
State/local & property taxes capped at $10k total.
Planning point: move expenses to other places or eliminate them because they have less/no value.

LLC’s, S-Corps, Partnerships enjoy new 20% deduction.
Planning point: How you hold your property investments can have a big effect

Extra Reading:

Meet & Discuss Further Share Your Buy Wish List

‘Pocket Listings’ Who loves `em/ who hates `em & why?

January 23, 2018

2020.02.18 update to this article. New National Association of Realtors rules are in place for ‘off MLS’ format. Call for details.

Isn’t everything done best via the MLS? Lets look.

Meet & Discuss Further <|> Share Your Buy Wish List

Loves `em:

Often seller(s) who want a highly controlled, minimally invasive, & best outcome approach to the selling process… a “rifle style”.
The agent/broker who wants to take the time, target the marketing, minimize interference without publishing so much history and pricing data that it works to the buyers, not yours (the seller’s), favor.

Hates `em:

The websites that sell ‘buyer leads’, they need to control the data. (Zillow/ Trulia/ Estately/ Redfin…)
The buyer or buyers agent that wants as much control over the seller and their ‘story’ as possible.
The ‘nosey neighbors’.
The friends that want to know know more about you!
A less than scrupulous agent that wants to put your house on ‘the tour’. In reality your home is a stop on the way to the one they want you to write an offer on.
These are NOT real & qualified buyers of interest. They like the “shotgun style”

Perhaps look at it this way: Do you prefer thousands of curious lookers, or the highest thousands of $’s?

Selling a house? vs. Online dating.

January 17, 2018

Selling a house ? Its about 1 buyer, not ‘# of hits’, not ‘# of showings’.

Meet & Discuss Further

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35 yrs as a Realtor/ Broker, always as an independent, not a franchise. Why?

Those ‘online dating’ sites make you wonder what you are getting.

Wow, lots of lookers! Are they potential/ qualified buyers or just ‘photo surfers’?
Ya, lots of dates – aka: showings. But again ready to act buyers … or just neighbors getting decorating ideas or agents using your house to compare against the one they plan on showing after yours?

Franchises are fine. They have a place. But my clients find when they ask for “Mr/Ms Top Producer”, they really get a group of less experienced ‘specialists’ & ‘processors’, etc. lacking a global vision. Marketing ? Those producers do have their systems, yet are they customized enough to make you feel you are getting:

All the data you need to make a big decision?
‘Drill down’ marketing that will bring out the ones that really truly want your place (and will pay for it)?
‘Property Specific’ (not plug-n-play/ off the shelf):
- Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) that takes more than a few minutes. Most are very over-simplified in methods AND accuracy? See my Zillow reviews.
- Pre-listing ‘to do’ list?
- Custom made mailers?
- Website that shows your property ONLY without distracting ‘click-aways’?
- Web advertising using specific demographics & interests unique to your offering?
- Videos of not only your property but also the area leading to your home?
- ‘Adwords’ on different search and social platforms?
Your very own portal space – feedback and doc’s area to enjoy (or ignore) 24/7.

Summary: Make sure your selling agent/ broker can get past the ‘plug into’ format. Quick-n-easy tools are great for the new agent – often simplistic/ standardized. Are they best for you? Remember what you need. A buyer – 1 buyer to be exact.

Are the 1000 hits and 25 showings qualified and interested? or curiosity seekers? It is the ‘drilling down’ on that 1 unique buyer to get the best price with the least interference, at least in my approach!

‘Short Sale’

January 16, 2018

Short sale? – buyers beware!!

Meet & Discuss Further <|> Share Your Wish List

easy,
quick,
predictable,
a sure possibility of condition of property or title history, etc.
NOT

In fact, here are some excerpts from a disclosure for buyers. I think it says it best:

‘…. If you will be frustrated beyond the savings of a short sale, then consider buying a home not under short sale. In other words, be prepared to be frustrated during the attempted approval period…’

KNOW BEFORE YOU BUY A SHORT SALE

Buyer and seller are advised that to a degree, all short sales are unique. Every transaction will be assigned to a loss mitigation specialist who will proceed based upon the current and ever changing needs and goals of the lender. What works with one short sale rarely is the same on the next.
Buyer and buyer’s agent acknowledge that because we handle multiple transactions, in order to best serve everyone buyer/ buyer’s agent will receive a link to a communications site for updates on the short sale process. Calls made to the office/ agent(s) will most likely not be acknowledged if updates are already posted. Extra calls, texts, & emails do nothing to further the process.
Once lender receives short sale offer documents, the lender may need minimum 40-60 days to approve. After approval, the sale must close at lenders approved time frame, often 30-45 calendar days, but may run 2 weeks to 12 months. It is common to receive no updates, no contact, and no calls from the lender.
Any ‘seller’ funds are usually paid to lender. The seller will receive no cash except for a HAFA short. The seller will bring no additional cash for any closing costs, buyer’s appraisal or home warranty.
Buyer home warranty is recommended by this office, your agent, and the broker, and may be purchased prior to close. The seller may not maintain the property.
Should buyer purchase a professional home inspection (highly recommended), the seller will not agree to any requested repairs. Many lenders are going to require certain repairs as a condition for loans, costs will be borne by buyer.
Buyer must communicate to seller through buyer’s real estate agent only as a courtesy to all involved parties.
Please acknowledge the above _________________

More reading:

a-buyers-guide-to-short-sales/

Your Bigger Picture, and ‘Life Changes’

December 14, 2017

What does that tag line ‘Your Bigger Picture’ on our business card mean exactly? It includes taking a larger perspective on your home sale, first home purchase, vacation home or relocation, and your investment rentals & flips. Anibal-Affiliates-RealtyNetWorth-Lake-Shannon-duck-in-water-1.1

You see, there is indeed a ‘bigger picture’. After this many years in the business I’ve accumulated many stories – good & not so much – of considering a broader point of view. Its not all money. Its not all ‘I want’. Being such a large and potentially emotionally loaded transaction, I really like to mix in some ‘heart to heart’ moments should they possibly help. And really, a caring ear and some outside eyes that have ‘been there/ done that’ may save some heartache later, and hopefully bring some rewards of great ‘future memories’ yet to be made.

The holidays can bring heavy hearts for some. If not you, I still encourage you to make yourself a bit more informed so you might have a bit of empathy to pass along. Hence, I’m posting up an article that has nothing to do with real estate, and yet, many will need to sell and move at a time of ‘change’ such as passing of a loved one. If that’s you or a friend or family member, rest assured I’ll be as patient as possible, and give extra care through the ordeal of a move. Blessings!

When is it time to sell? For everyone its different. Frequently we begin to consider relocating when:

We become ’empty nesters’
We retire
A major change in health of one or more homeowners
Loss of spouse
New opportunities

Really, there is the possibility for great strife in moving, even for young and strong.

Related article:
Assisting with the sale of an Elderly / Retired Person’s home.

Assisting with the sale of an Elderly / Retired Person’s home.

August 25, 2017

When is it time to sell? For everyone its different. Frequently we begin to consider relocating when:

We become ’empty nesters’
We retire
A major change in health of one or more homeowners
Loss of spouse
New opportunities

Really, there is the possibility for great strife in moving, even for young and strong. So much more are the concerns and emotions as the years go by and we have been in one location longer.

Great care needs to be given in how and who assists in the orchestration of relocating those in our circles of great value, that being a mom, dad, neighbor, aunt, uncle, or dear older friend. You should be ready to give acknowledgement to:

Someones increasing physical &/or mental fragility.
Their great reluctance to surrender not only the home but so many personal treasured items that may need to be sorted through, sold, donated, or lovingly adopted by others.

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“The house was a symbol of her independence. She was extremely frightened to let it go,” one person said in helping a senior with her real estate transaction.

Nearly 40 % owners over 65 haven’t moved in over 30 years. “For an older person, a home represents their life story.” its been said. Think of holiday gatherings, dinners, or a wall of photos.

There is destination/ relocation planning, tax considerations, seasonal timing to avoid bad weather, coordination of helpers, the list goes on. This is a time to pick a real estate professional with a skill set that fits the situation, think compassion, some experiences with older persons – perhaps an immediate family member(s), and related wisdom is of extra benefit if not sometimes crucial. e.g.:

In our office one of my assistants is a retired hospice care nurse – has worked with challenging situation involving medical needs and interaction with the children.
My 96 year old mother was recently relocated to a elder care residence after being independent at a Florida condo for many years. We needed to coordinate 3 children in 3 states to assist in the challenging process.
We’ve assisted many clients & their family with referrals regarding estate planning, and income tax planning/ filings.

Here are a few suggestions for the children of seniors who want to assist their parents in making a smooth move:

Show sensitivity when helping seniors sort through their possessions.
Be careful before committing to the sale of your parents’ extra belongings. Instead, your parents might prefer to donate their extra belongings to a charity they respect, such as the Goodwill or Salvation Army.
Consider showcasing certain select items at your parents’ next home. The display can also serve to jog fading memories or to spur conversations with visitors.

Buying a house site unseen. Would you?

July 31, 2017

Yes, I’ve helped folks buy ‘site unseen’. This article is condensed but has some of the basics.

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Online photos aren’t enough!
Here’s my ‘must do’ list:

Use a local buyer agent that is on retainer/ agreement with you, not just the seller side.
- I’d advise using a broker that will give you a referral from a client that used said broker more than once!
Go ‘live’ on your walk thru. Interactive, voice/ video, tour in real time with your agent (broker) ‘on the ground’.
Have an inspector give you feedback. Again, best if your broker/agent is live.
Get your trades person that may do upgrades after purchase to give you pre-offer insights in the same way.
Solicit immediate and local area videos – real time again is great. Good to do this during a busy weekend evening.
View map from above. LOOK for train tracks, land fills, factories, freeways, etc etc…. look look look.
Call: local utility for ‘estimate of usage’ for an idea of how weather tight the home is.