One of the highlights of my job is having the opportunity to help people buy their first home! I like to spend approximately 10-20 minutes on the phone to gather some information from the customer. The buyer will probably know all of this information by memory. Here are some questions that I generally ask: PERSONAL INFORMATION: Name Address for the past two years/name and phone number of landlord Social security number and date of birth Name and address of his/her employer for the last two years Income: hourly, weekly, monthly or annual Current Rent payment Bank account numbers and balances OTHER... [more...]

Every time I sit at a dining room table with a potential client, the main topic of discussion is always pricing. As a Certified Residential Specialist, I have learned and employed about three methods of determining price on a regular basis. Being a specialist in the Hyde Park and surrounding areas, I have a strong pulse on the local market. I have accurately priced so many local homes, that I have sold them in hours, days and weeks, versus other agents who look at months and years. It is not uncommon for one of my listings to sell in less than a week if I can work with my sellers to understand... [more...]

The Number 1 Question I have been asked in the last month as a Certified Residential Specialist is: “Is it the right time to buy Real Estate and why?” Usually the very next question is “Where should I invest?” and that second question is for another blog topic! To answer this question, for me, a well seasoned Accredited Buyers Representative, is second nature. [more...]  Read More →

The Number 1 Question I have been asked in the last month as a Certified Residential Specialist is: “Is it the right time to buy Real Estate and why?” Usually the very next question is “Where should I invest?” and that second question is for another blog topic! To answer this question, for me, a well seasoned Accredited Buyers Representative, is second nature. [more...]  Read More →

Mortgage Rates have fallen: For 10 of the past 13 weeks mortgage rates are now averaging 6.11%, the lowest since January. Six months ago, the average rate on a 30-year fixed loan was 6.67%. The average for this year is 6.44%. A new deduction for private mortgage premiums: The write off is limited to 2007. It applies only to mortgage insurance issued after 2006, so current homeowners are not eligible. In addition, the deduction phases out for marrieds whose AGI’s are more than $100,000 and for singles with AGI’s over $50,000. [more...]  Read More →

Hello and thanks for visiting my brand new Blog! I’m anxious to help you answer all of the questions you might have about purchasing or selling your single largest asset, your home! This blog was designed with you in mind! Every day, my buyers and sellers look to me for knowledge of the Real Estate market. Every day they ask questions that help them make decisions about their largest assets. Every day I answer their questions with the years of knowledge, countless hours of education, and practical application I use in my full-time every day Real Estate practice of buying and selling homes. ... [more...]