Real Estate 411: May 2006 Archives

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May 25, 2006

Concerns About Growing Agent Population

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Concerns About Growing Agent Population

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Home sales may have stalled across California, but that hasn't stopped more people from wanting in on the action.

The California Department of Real Estate reported Wednesday that the number of licensed real estate agents reached an all-time high of 495,000 in April. The state now boasts a licensed agent for every 52 adults, the department reported.

On May 11th new legislation was passed in the State Assembly to require more education for new agents prior to issuing a license. This is great news for consumers. The rising numbers of newly licensed agents has meant more poorly trained, inexperienced agents have been inserted into the marketplace. Consumers, anxious to save commission dollars when hiring an agent to sell their home have become increasingly aware of the shortcomings many of these agents have in the areas of experience, expertise, resources to market a home correctly, and the ability to negotiate on the client's behalf. There's a big difference between "the learning" and "the doing" and home sellers who've taken short cuts in hiring a newbie agent because they’re willing to “work on the cheap” are paying dearly for those mistakes now with the changes our market has undergone.

Request a copy my free Agent Selection Guide before you interview and hire an agent to sell your home. Included in the guide are 13 key questions you must have answers to before you hire an agent and 22 agent selection factors that cut through the hype and expose an agent's true level of experience to help you select an expert agent to sell your home. Order your copy here.

Read the entire article on the growing agent population and what's being done to address concerns.

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Jeff Hoffman is the President of Hoffman Realty Group, Inc. and has assisted thousands of sellers and buyers during his real estate career. He is the creator of a powerful home selling system designed for the home seller not the real estate agent. To learn more about this amazing program visit Smart Seller Listing Home Marketing System

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The Ultimate Guide to Worry-Free Home Selling

Want the inside secrets of selling your house or condo quickly? And for top dollar? Jeff Hoffman knows how to make that happen. For over 18 years Sacramento Valley home sellers have relied upon his tips for solid advice on all aspects of selling a home. Now '18 Notorious Home Selling Problems & How I Solved Them' gives you practical, step-by-step information, how to avoid the traps and pitfalls that so many home sellers routinely face when selling their homes. Check it out here.

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Posted by Jeff at 6:19 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 13, 2006

Tips for Coping with Rising Mortgage Payments

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Tips for Coping with Rising Mortgage Payments

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As interest rates drift upward, many home owners are faced with growing mortgage loan payments. Here are 4 excellent tips to help you cope with an increasing monthly payment

1) Think creatively on that home-equity line. Some borrowers are saving interest on a month-to-month basis by shuffling balances from their home-equity lines to credit cards offering zero-interest deals. This works, but only if the borrower is vigilant about reading the small print and shifting the money back at the right time.

2) If you've borrowed a lot on a home-equity line of credit, replace it with a fixed-rate second mortgage. You can lower your rate slightly, eliminate the chance that a rate rise will increase your costs, and set a fixed term so you're not paying for those home improvements forever.

3) Mortgage bankers who want customers back are offering home-equity credit lines with interest rates of prime plus zero or even below prime. They might get a borrower over the hump.

4) Borrowers who took out an option mortgage might consider using the option of making interest-only payments while they shop for a better loan. They won't be building equity, but they won't be hurting their credit score either. If you're buying a home and looking for a new loan, shop for a fixed-rate deal.

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The Ultimate Guide to Worry-Free Home Selling

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Posted by Jeff at 6:07 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

May 4, 2006

Home Buyer Advantage Program - Sacramento & Co 5/04/06

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May 2, 2006

The Emotions of Buying and Selling

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The Emotional Effects of Simultaneously Buying and Selling

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Selling a home, especially in today's shifting market, can leave sellers feeling a bit unnerved when they think about hanging the 'For Sale' sign. It's even more intense for bridging homeowners -- those who decide to simultaneously sell one home and buy another -- and as anyone who's ever done it can attest, the process can send even the savviest of homeowners into a whirlwind of exhilarating highs and frustrating lows

RealEstate.com recently surveyed 550 bridging homeowners (who had completed the process within the past five years) to better understand their unique challenges. The findings shed light on how emotionally taxing the process of selling and buying can be. Read the entire story here

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The Ultimate Guide to Worry-Free Home Selling

Want the inside secrets of selling your house or condo quickly? And for top dollar? Jeff Hoffman knows how to make that happen. For over 17 years Sacramento Valley home sellers have relied upon his tips for solid advice on all aspects of selling a home. Now '18 Notorious Home Selling Problems & How I Solved Them' gives you practical, step-by-step information, how to avoid the traps and pitfalls that so many home sellers routinely face when selling their homes. Check it out here.

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Posted by Jeff at 5:37 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack