Sarah Palin as done by Tina Fey on SNL

Whether you’re a Sarah Palin fan or not you have to admit Tina Fey really nailed the impression perfectly. I’m not sure what Palin found so hilarious if she really watched the Saturday Night Live skit with the sound down, as she claims, but I did find it pretty darn funny with the sound up. Enjoy…

“Free credit report dot com baby?”

Ok, I admit it. I absolutely love the FreeCreditReport.com song! You know, the one where the guys are driving down the road singing about how they could have been driving a nice car had they checked their credit report through FreeCreditReport.com. The song is catchy, but the offer is quite misleading.

Well I’m shopping for a new car, which one’s me? A cool convertible or an S-U-V. Too bad I didn’t know my credit was whacked, so I driving off the lot in a used sub-compact. F-R-E-E, that spells “free”, credit report dot com baby. Saw their ads on my TV. Thought about goin’ but was too lazy. Now instead of lookin’ fly and rolling phat, my legs are sticking to the vinyl and my posse’s getting laughed at. F-R-E-E, that spells “free”, credit report dot com baby…

There is nothing free about FreeCreditReport.com. I learned this the hard way. So I’m trying to save you the headache by letting you know that you really have to read the small print with this “deal.” When you sign up to receive your free credit report you are actually signing up for “Triple Advantage,” a ripoff program (my opinion) that charges your credit card $14.95 every month if you don’t cancel the program within the first 7-days. How many people remember to cancel the Triple Advantage program within 7-days? Probably very few. And then you get your credit card bill and you’re left wondering how a free credit report could be so costly.

So enjoy the song and commercial, but don’t get ripped off by this company. You are entitled to a FREE copy of each of your credit reports every year from the 3 credit agencies. You can monitor your own credit without paying for this Triple Advantage program. All 3 credit agencies make it simple to contest items that appear on your credit report. You don’t need to waste about $180 per year for someone to tell you what you can read for free.

To order your credit reports…

1. Experian – Click and order your FREE report now
2. Equifax – Click and order your FREE report now
3. TransUnion – Click and order your FREE report now

Difference between a black bear and Grizzly

Q: How do you tell the difference between a black bear and a grizzly bear?
A: When you see the bear, climb a tree. If it climbs up the tree and kills you, it’s a black bear. If it knocks the tree down and kills you, it’s a grizzly bear.

Cocktail party discussion

At a cocktail party, one woman said to another,
‘Aren’t you wearing your wedding ring on the wrong finger?’
‘Yes, I am. I married the wrong man.’

Pasco County High Schools

Anclote High School
Principal: Monica Ilse
1540 Sweetbriar Drive
Holiday, Fl 34691
(727) 246-3000 In-district Phone #: 63000
Fax #: 727/246-3091

Gulf High School
Principal: Steve Knobl
5355 School Road
New Port Richey, Fl 34652
(727) 774-3300 In-district Phone #: 43300
Fax #: 813/794-3391

Hudson High School
Principal: David LaRoche
14410 Cobra Way
Hudson, Fl 34669
(727) 774-4200 In-district Phone #: 44200
Fax #: 813/794-4291

James Irvin Education Center
Principal: Rick Saylor
35830 State Road 52
Dade City, Fl 33525
(352) 524-5700 In-district Phone #: 45700
Fax #: 813/794-5791

Land O’ Lakes High School
Principal: Ric Mellin
20325 Gator Lane
Land O’ Lakes, Fl 34638
(813) 794-9400 In-district Phone #: 49400
Fax #: 813/794-9491

F. K. Marchman Technical Education Center
Principal:Shelia D. Bryan
7825 Campus Drive
New Port Richey, Fl 34653-1211
(727) 774-1700 In-district Phone #: 41700
Fax #: 727/774-1791

J. W. Mitchell High School
Principal: Jim Michaels
2323 Little Road
New Port Richey, FL 34655
(727) 774-9200 In District #: 49200
Fax #: 727/774-9291

Moore Mickens Education Center
Principal: Steve Cox
38301 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
Dade City, Fl 33525
(352) 524-9000 In-district Phone #: 4900
Fax #: 352/524-9091

Pasco High School
Principal: Patrick Reedy
36850 State Road 52
Dade City, Fl 33525
(352) 524-5500 In-district Phone #: 45500
Fax #: 352/524-5591

Ridgewood High School
Principal: Randy Koenigsfeld
7650 Orchid Lake Road
New Port Richey, Fl 34653
(727) 774-3900 In-district Phone #: 43900
Fax #: 813/794-3991

River Ridge High School
Principal: Maria Swanson
11646 Town Center Road
New Port Richey, Fl 34654
(727) 774-7200 In-district Phone #: 47200
Fax #: 727/774-7291

Harry Schwettman Education Center
Principal: Mimi Foster
5520 Grand Boulevard
New Port Richey, Fl 34652
(727) 774-0000 In-district Phone #: 40000
Fax #: 727/774-0091

Sunlake High School
Principal: Angie Stone
3023 Sunlake Blvd.
Land O’Lakes, FL 34638
(813) 346-1000 In-district Phone #: 61000

Wesley Chapel High School
Principal: Andrew Frelick
30651 Wells Road
Wesley Chapel, Fl 33545
(813) 794-8700 In-district Phone #: 48700
Fax #: 813/794-8791

Wiregrass Ranch High School
Principal: Ray Bonti
2909 Mansfield Blvd.
Wesley Chapel, FL 33543
(813) 346-6000 In-district Phone #: 66000
Fax #: 813/346-6091

Zephyrhills High School
Principal: Gerri L. Painter
6335 12th Street
Zephyrhills, Fl 33542(813) 794-6100 In-district Phone #: 46100
Fax #: 813/794-6191

Please let me know if this list of Pasco County High Schools contains errors. Thank you!

Is this market starting to awaken?

The real estate market appears to be picking up the past few months in the Tampa Bay area. While I would never call the market healthy or active there does seem to be a little more life to the monster. Most of my personal listings are currently under contract or teetering on the edge of a sale. Buyers are out and about and my phone is ringing.

Where were you when the world stopped turning?

Today marks the 7th anniversary of the Sept. 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon and most significantly, our American homeland. They say that history repeats itself so it is wise to pay close attention to the lessons, both pleasant and painful, that historical events present to us. Tune them out and you slip into denial. How can you learn and grow from that which you deny?

Alan Jackson wrote one of the most beautiful songs about 9/11. He asks us to reflect on where we were that dreadful morning when the attacks began. I’ll share the song lyrics first and then a YouYube video so you can hear the song along with see some of the images of 9/11 that a great many people are trying to deny or forget. While it is unhealthy to dwell or focus too much on the horrific events of that morning, it is even more dangerous to block them out of your head as if they didn’t happen at all. History does indeed repeat itself for those that didn’t learn the first time around.

Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day
Out in the yard with your wife and children
Working on some stage in LA
Did you stand there in shock at the site of
That black smoke rising against that blue sky
Did you shout out in anger
In fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cryDid you weep for the children
Who lost their dear loved ones
And pray for the ones who don’t know
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below

Did you burst out in pride
For the red white and blue
The heroes who died just doing what they do
Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself to what really matters

I’m just a singer of simple songs
I’m not a real political man
I watch CNN but I’m not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love

Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day
Teaching a class full of innocent children
Driving down some cold interstate
Did you feel guilty cause you’re a survivor
In a crowded room did you feel alone
Did you call up your mother and tell her you love her
Did you dust off that bible at home
Did you open your eyes and hope it never happened
Close your eyes and not go to sleep
Did you notice the sunset the first time in ages
Speak with some stranger on the street
Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow
Go out and buy you a gun
Did you turn off that violent old movie you’re watching
And turn on “I Love Lucy” reruns
Did you go to a church and hold hands with some stranger
Stand in line and give your own blood
Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family
Thank God you had somebody to love

I’m just a singer of simple songs
I’m not a real political man
I watch CNN but I’m not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love

I’m just a singer of simple songs
I’m not a real political man
I watch CNN but I’m not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love

The greatest is love
The greatest is love

Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day

If you’ve never listened to this song it is well worth your time. It’s a wonderful song even without the powerful and emotional message, but when you really listen and think about the meaning behind the song it is hard not to get choked up.

Buyers are Liars?

This is one of those hush-hush behind the scenes industry phrases that is never supposed to be heard by the general public. But I have a different philosophy and I think honesty is almost always the right policy. So let’s talk about what this statement means and why almost all seasoned (and even green) Realtors have yelled it out, while simultaneously pulling their hair from their heads.

To begin with it must be understood that residential real estate is a straight commission profession. We get paid if and only if we sell a home. It doesn’t matter how many houses we show, how many contracts we negotiate and submit, or how many properties we have listed. If we don’t sell we don’t earn a single cent. It is sink or swim in this business. Most sink fast.

So we’re off to a rocky start from the beginning. Only salespeople know what it’s like to work long hard hours for FREE in hopes of someday getting paid for their work. Most other jobs are rather secure in that the employee has a pretty good idea of how much their paycheck will be at the end of the week. In real estate nothing is sure. Getting paid is the most uncertain aspect of our jobs.

Imagine being in this situation….

You’re a Realtor working with a young married couple from New York. Showing houses to them is a pleasure for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, it is always nice to know you have buyers that absolutely MUST buy a home soon because their company is relocating them to Florida. If you exceed these buyers’ expectations you have a sure paycheck. And paychecks are good. Would you agree? In addition to seeing green at the end of the tunnel, you’re also having a pretty good time with these guys. They’re fun, friendly and seemingly loyal.

After showing about 12 houses to them over several days you know you’re close to writing an offer. Many of the homes you’ve shown them have really been nice and from your market knowledge these buyers can’t find a better deal anywhere.

So the 3rd day comes and you wake up bright and early feeling confident that today is going to be the day you go under contract with your New York buyers. As you make your pot of morning coffee you’re tossing around ideas for closing gifts. Should you give them a gift certificate to a quality Italian restaurant? Or maybe a gift basket with wine, cheeses and other snacks. Well, there will be time to make that decision as most closings happen 30 – 45 days after the effective date. But it’s fun to think about anyways.

But something strange happens when you call Mr. and Mrs. Buyer this morning. Mr. Buyer says they’re going to have to pass on getting together today because Mrs. Buyer doesn’t feel well. She started feeling sick last night and it “just might be the flu.” Better give them a few days to handle this unplanned setback.

As a skilled Realtor you know these things happen and it doesn’t do any good to allow yourself to get frustrated. Real estate is a virtual roller-coaster ride of emotions and finances and only those with a strong stomach can survive.

So you wait a few days and call Mr. Buyer to see how the wife is recovering. Straight to voice mail. After leaving a brief, yet upbeat message you decide to not be pushy and wait for them to call you back. After all, you feel you have quite a bit of rapport with these buyers and you don’t want to ruin it by being insensitive to their health problems.

Several days go by and Mr. Buyer hasn’t called. You call again and leave a message – this time saying, “I hope I haven’t done anything to scare you off or offend you,” even though you know that isn’t in the realm of possibility. You’ve gone above and beyond with these buyers and surely they realize this. There is nothing to worry about.

But the phone never rings. And none of your emails or subsequent calls are ever answered. Your stomach drops as you realize what you thought was a sure sale is clearly not such a sure thing. Several days of trying to make contact and nothing.

So you call Mr. Buyer back, but this time you hit *67 to block his Caller ID from identifying who is calling. He picks up…and stutters and stammers a bit as he is clearly caught off guard with this unplanned and unexpected phone call. “Hi Mr. Buyer. This is Chris O’Connor with Charles Rutenberg Realty. I haven’t heard from you in over a week so I just want to touch base and see where you and your wife are at with the buying process. We looked at some great homes and I saw the excitement in your eyes on several of those homes. I have bad news about the house on Elm Street. I just noticed in MLS that it is under contract, so it looks like that one might have slipped away, but the 4-bedroom home on Sycamore is still showing active and it looks like they dropped the price another $10,000. Have you and your wife talked this week while she has been recovering her health? Are you still looking to buy a home?”

Mr. Buyer proceeds to stick a dagger in your heart by sharing with you the following:

Mr. Buyer: “My wife and I actually found a house and are under contract already.”

Realtor: “You bought a house this week while your wife was sick? I thought you were working with me as your Realtor? What happened?” What did I do?”

Mr. Buyer: “It really wasn’t you. It was more us.”

Realtor: “What do you mean? What does that mean? If I didn’t do anything wrong why did you allow me to work so hard for you and then you bought a house without me?”

Mr. Buyer: “Well, we didn’t really plan it that way…it just happened.”

The above scenario isn’t really make-believe. It happened to me a few years ago. I thought these buyers and I had total rapport. I spent the better part of a week showing them houses in the heat of the Florida summer. Not only did I show the husband and wife, but they brought along about 4 other family members.

Long hours. Wasted time. Gas money. Frustration.

And when all is said and done these buyers bought through another agent. Who was this agent? In this case I didn’t investigate and find out, but much of the time the other agent is a family member that has a real estate license, but works a full-time job somewhere else. They don’t have the time to drive their brother or cousin around to look at houses. So they deceive a full-time Realtor, together as a team, and then ultimately deny that Realtor a paycheck. They use the Realtor.

This is commonplace in the world of real estate. Hence the phrase, “Buyers are Liars.” Working with buyers is the most difficult part of real estate because there really is no means to achieve buyer loyalty. As a Realtor you have to look at each buyer and make a judgment call. Knowing that we might get burnt by a buyer we try our best to screen them before showing them houses, but even after concluding that a particular buyer is a good, honest and ethical person…another burn.

Obviously, not all buyers are liars. In fact the majority are just like you and me. The moral of this story is to treat people how you would like to be treated. The Golden Rule applies in just about all arenas of life, and real estate is no exception. If you’re a potential home buyer show your Realtor some loyalty. This is a hard enough profession. If you’ve been treated right by your Realtor return the favor and maintain loyalty. Any Realtor can show you any house in MLS. There is no reason or benefit to calling all the signs yourself. Find a knowledgeable Realtor and stick with them. In the end you’ll develop a relationship with your Realtor and succeed in negotiating the best deal. And you’ll probably feel good about being honest.

Welcome to CallChrisToday.com!

Finally. I’ve been searching diligently for a new domain name for the past year or so and finally I think I’ve found the perfect fit. Some of my clients may remember my web address as www.YourGulfCoastAgent.com, but after a while I came to the realization that this was just too hard to remember or type into the address bar. With 18 letters only a trained athlete could muster the energy to visit my site. Ok, I’m exaggerating a bit!

Then I made the switch to an even more ridiculous domain name: www.MyFancyBlog.com. Sure, go ahead and laugh. Can you imagine how silly I felt telling people my web address and email address over the phone? Hey, it’s a catchy web site name, but for a Realtor it is never good to have your clients laughing at you from the start. Ok, you can stop laughing now. Seriously. Stop. Thank you. That fruity domain, along with www.YourGulfCoastAgent.com, are conveniently redirected right here to www.CallChrisToday.com.

My new domain, as you have probably deduced, is simply www.CallChrisToday.com. It is pretty easy to remember, in my opinion, but only time will tell. Oh, I have it committed to memory, personally, but we’ll see if my existing and future clients feel the same.

www.CallChrisToday will be quite different than my past sites. This site is technically a Blog, but designed to appear more like a newspaper. Are you familiar with Blogs and Blogging?

According to Wikipedia:
A Blog (a contraction of the term “Web log”) is a Web site, usually maintained by an individual, with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. “Blog” can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.

www.CallChrisToday.com is a Blog, created and maintained by yours truly, which focuses on real estate in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. In other words you’ll be able to find articles of interest to both buyers and sellers here. People attempting to sell their home as a “For Sale by Owner” (FSBO) will also have a great deal of helpful information available here.

By virtue of being a Blog this entire site is interactive. This means that anyone can leave comments for me and the other readers. For people new to Blogs, this is the very purpose of a Blog. Blogs are meant to be an online journal or chronological record of events or thoughts, but with the added bonus of being interactive.

But there is much more to life than real estate, so you can expect to see a wide variety of articles and posts at www.CallChrisToday.com. Sometimes I ramble and this section, “Chris’s Corner,” is where you’ll find my profound (and not so profound) ramblings about this and that. (primarily that)

So kick off your shoes and stay a while. You’ll need to create a free account if you want to post comments. And I do hope you’ll post comments. It will get mighty lonely around here if I end up talking to myself. And you don’t want me to be lonely now do you? I didn’t think so. See the “register” link up at the top right next to the weather? Click that link and create an account. It takes a few seconds and then you’ll be a certified www.CallChrisToday.com member and you can brag to all your friends!

College Admission Essay – Hilarious!

This is an actual essay written by a college applicant. The author, Hugh Gallagher, was admitted to NYU.

Essay: In order for the admissions staff of our college to get to know you, the applicant, better, we ask that you answer the following question: Are there any significant experiences you have had, or accomplishments you have realized, that have helped to define you as a person?

I am a dynamic figure, often seen scaling walls and crushing ice. I have been known to remodel train stations on my lunch breaks, making them more efficient in the area of heat retention. I translate ethnic slurs for Cuban refugees, I write award-winning operas, I manage time efficiently. Occasionally, I tread water for three days in a row.

I woo women with my sensuous and godlike trombone playing, I can pilot bicycles up severe inclines with unflagging speed, and I cook Thirty-Minute Brownies in twenty minutes. I am an expert in stucco, a veteran in love, and an outlaw in Peru.

Using only a hoe and a large glass of water, I once single-handedly defended a small village in the Amazon Basin from a horde of ferocious army ants. I play bluegrass cello, I was scouted by the Mets, I am the subject of numerous documentaries. When I’m bored, I build large suspension bridges in my yard. I enjoy urban hang gliding. On Wednesdays, after school, I repair electrical appliances free of charge.

I am an abstract artist, a concrete analyst, and a ruthless bookie. Critics worldwide swoon over my original line of corduroy evening wear. I don’t perspire. I am a private citizen, yet I receive fan mail. I have been caller number nine and have won the weekend passes. Last summer, I toured New Jersey with a traveling centrifugal-force demonstration. I bat .400. My deft floral arrangements have earned me fame in international botany circles. Children trust me.

I can hurl tennis rackets at small moving objects with deadly accuracy. I once read Paradise Lost, Moby Dick, and David Copperfield in one day and still had time to refurbish an entire dining room that evening. I know the exact location of every food item in the supermarket. I have performed several covert operations for the CIA. I sleep once a week; when I do sleep, I sleep in a chair. While on vacation in Canada, I successfully negotiated with a group of terrorists who had seized a small bakery. The laws of physics do not apply to me.

I balance, I weave, I dodge, I frolic, and my bills are all paid. On weekends, to let off steam, I participate in full-contact origami. Years ago, I discovered the meaning of life but forgot to write it down. I have made extraordinary four course meals using only a mouli and a toaster oven. I breed prizewinning clams. I have won bullfights in San Juan, cliff-diving competitions in Sri Lanka, and spelling bees at the Kremlin. I have played Hamlet, I have performed open-heart surgery, and I have spoken with Elvis.

But I have not yet gone to college.

How to Create Curb Appeal Before Selling

You hear the word tossed around a lot in real estate circles. You hear it mentioned on home-selling programs on HGTV and other networks. But what exactly is “curb appeal,” and why should you care about it when selling your home?

In this article, we will start by answering this fundamental question. Then we will take a closer look at the elements of curb appeal, and how you can use them to increase your chances for a quick sale! But first, a definition.

What is Curb Appeal?

Let’s start with a basic definition, just so we are on the same page. Curb appeal is the first impression people get when pulling up in front of your house. It is their perspective from the curb, literally. It’s the first and most powerful impression your house will make on potential buyers, so it’s a topic you should take seriously.

Curb appeal encompasses many things, each of which we will discuss in more detail. These elements include your landscaping (lawn, shrubs, trees and flowers); your home’s entryway; the doors and shutters; and the overall appearance of the home (paint, structural integrity, etc.).

When potential buyers pull up in front of your home, they will try to imagine themselves in it. They will also imagine pulling up to the house after work each day, inviting friends over, etc. Will the house give them a sense of satisfaction and joy when they pull up to it? Will they be proud when they have guests over? Or do they have a negative impression right from the start?

You can rest assured that all buyers will go through this mental (and sometimes verbal) checklist when they first visit. It may happen in a flash, mostly on the subconscious level. Or it may happen over a span of fifteen minutes, as the buyers stand out front waiting for their agent to arrive. But it will certainly happen. And as the saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression.

Take the Test

We will get to the specific tips and techniques in just a moment. But first, I want to teach you a simple but effective way to assess your current level of curb appeal. Take a notepad out in the street in front of your house. Now imagine you’re a buyer, and you’ve just pulled up in front of the house in your agent’s car. Remember, it’s not your house — it’s just one you’re thinking of buying.

On your notepad, write down anything that catches your eye in a bad way. The grass is turning brown, the windows are dirty, the bushes look shabby, that sort of thing. Be as specific as possible. Draw a sketch if necessary. For instance, if there’s a particular area of the lawn than needs attention, or a certain part of the facade that needs painting, write those details down.

When you have finished your list, it will serve as your plan of attack for improving your curb appeal. Prioritize the items by putting the most noticeable items at the top. This will be important later on, when you divide your list into (A) things that must be done and (B) things to do if time allows.

Curb Appeal Essentials

The notepad test will be more effective if you know what to look for. So review this list of curb appeal tips before and after you create your list.

- Start by assessing your lawn. The grass should be green and healthy (unless it’s winter). If your lawn has problems such as brown patches, you need to address those problems right away. Turning a lawn around can take time, depending on how severe the problems are.

- Is the exterior paint chipped or faded? If so, give it a fresh coat. It’s relatively inexpensive, and it will do wonders for that critical first impression we talked about.

- When evaluating the paint, pay particular attention to the shutters, doors and trim. Sometimes you can get away with hosing them off. Other times they simply need to be painted. If the doors and shutters are painted different / contrasting colors, you may want to standardize them.

- Planting fresh flowers can really brighten up a yard. Healthy shrubs can do the same, and they don’t cost much either. If you don’t have a green thumb, enlist help from a friend of family member who does.

- The windowpanes should be spotless, and the frames around them should be free of dirt, chips and defects.

- Lighting can be used for aesthetic and safety reasons at the same time. If you have potential buyers coming by in the evenings, light up the walkways and entry. Consider using decorative lighting to illuminate landscaping features, trees, etc.

- Do you have vinyl railings, shutters or storm doors outside your home’s entryway? If so, give them a good washing. You would be amazed at what a little elbow grease can do for these areas. It’s quick, easy and affordable — all you need is a hose, a bucket and some concentrated car wash liquid.

Create a Plan of Attack

The key here is to avoid taking on too much work at once, or spending too much money. You need to strike a balance of cost versus gain. If you bite off more than you can chew and create a long list of improvements, you could delay your ability to show the property. Start small. Using the notes you created earlier (when standing in front of your house), create a checklist of all the projects you feel are necessary.

Next, prioritize your projects by level of importance. Organize the list by things that must be done immediately, things that can wait, things that aren’t a big deal, etc. That way, if you run out of money or time, you’ll have the most important items out of the way first. And remember to start with the lawn! Making the grass greener is a gradual process, so start that right away.

Conclusion and Going Forward

Let’s summarize some key points. Curb appeal is essential when selling a home because it gives buyers a good first impression. On the other hand, if they get a bad first impression when pulling up to the house, they will carry that negativity into the house with them. This is not something you want.

Do what is necessary to improve your home’s outward appearance, but don’t take on so much that you postpone the listing / showing of the property. And get help where you need it, if you’re not handy with a certain project. All of your efforts will pay off in the end.

About the Author: Brandon Cornett is the publisher of the Home Buying Institute, which also features a section on landscaping tips and ideas. For more advice on this subject, visit the landscaping section at www.homebuyinginstitute.com/landscaping

10 Things You Must Do Before Buying a Home

by Brandon Cornett

Buying a home is often the largest personal finance transaction a person makes in his or her life. So it’s critical that you make the right preparations and do the proper research. Regardless of unique situations and special circumstances, there are ten things you must do before buying a home.

1. Study the home buying process.
This will allow you to make better decisions and act confidently. Home buying lingo is a big part of this, so be sure to read through a few home-buying glossaries before you get into the thick of things.

2. Obtain your credit report.
Get a copy of your credit report and review it for errors. You can get copies from all three credit bureaus at once by visiting www.AnnualCreditReport.com. Mortgage lenders will review your credit with a fine-toothed comb, so you should do the same … before they review it.

3. Fix credit errors quickly.
If you find an error on your credit report, go to the company’s website where the report came from (TransUnion, Equifax or Experian) to contest it. It can take time to clean up an erroneous credit report, so get started as soon as you spot the error.

4. Check your debt-to-income ratio.
Mortgage lenders like to see a borrower’s debt at (or below) 20% of net monthly income. If your debt exceeds 20% of your net monthly income, try to pay it down for applying for a mortgage loan. You’ll have an easier qualification process and will likely qualify for a better rate.

5. Determine your budget.
Use an online mortgage calculator to get an idea of how much you can afford to pay each month, and what that equates to in terms of a home price. This will give you a budget to work from, which will help you weed out the homes that are beyond your comfort zone.

6. Start saving your cash.
This is one of the best things you can do before starting the home buying process, for a couple of reasons. First of all, mortgage lenders like to see that you have some cash reserves on hand. Secondly, you’ll need cash reserves for any unexpected fees or costs that might arise (which is common).

7. Get pre-approved for a loan.
During pre-approval, a mortgage lender will review your credit, finances, debt, etc. and conditionally qualify you for a certain amount of mortgage. Sellers will take you more seriously if you have a pre-approval letter, and the process also helps identify any problems with your credit or other qualifying factors.

8. Avoid new lines of credit.
Try to keep your financial situation as “stable” and favorable as possible. It’s a good idea to pay down some debt (see item #4 above) and to save up some cash. But the worst thing you can do is take out a new loan / line of credit. At best, this could make the qualification process take longer. At worst, it could tip the debt scales into the “greater than 20%” zone, which will make it harder to get a loan.

9. Validate the asking price.
It’s called an “asking price” for a good reason. No asking price is set in stone, and everything in real estate negotiable. So don’t accept an asking price as being reasonable until you validate it through careful research. Compare the home / price to recent sales in the area. Your real estate agent can provide a comparative market analysis (CMA) to help you with this step.

10. Get a home inspection.
It is never — I repeat, never — wise to skip the home inspection. A house is a sizable investment, and the last thing you want is to find a bunch of things wrong with it after you’ve taken ownership. Home inspections are very affordable, and you cannot put a price on the peace of mind you’ll have as a result of your inspection.

About the Author: Brandon Cornett publishes the Home Buying Institute, a website full of advice on mortgages loans, house hunting, credit scores and more. Learn more or contact the author by visiting www.homebuyinginstitute.com

Home Moving Made Easy – Top Tips for an Easier Relocation

Homeowners in the United States sell their homes and move, on everage, every five to seven years. That’s a lot of moving, and it can be a stressful time for anyone. But by preparing for your next move, you can greatly reduce the stress involved and simplify the entire process.

Here are some tips on how to do that:

1. Get the Right Materials

Some moving companies will come and pack up your belongings, if you pay for that service. But if you’ll be doing your own packing, you will need to obtain the following supplies:

Boxes *
Packing tape
Black markers for labeling
Scissors
Newspaper or newsprint for cushioning
Moving blankets (for high-value furniture items, mirrors, etc.)
A pocketknife (they always come in “handy”)
Some plastic storage bins (Rubbermaid, Sterilite, etc.)

* You may be able to get some boxes from your local supermarket, if you go in and ask the manager on duty. This works 90% of the time. You can also buy boxes (include specialty items like wardrobe boxes) from your nearest U-haul rental place.

2. Get Rid of Items You Aren’t Taking

A garage sale is one of the best things you can do before moving. It’s a way to purge your home of unwanted items you don’t plan to move with you. You can also donate unwanted items to your local Goodwill drop-off. The sooner you do this step, the easier your packing will be.

3. Label Boxes Appropriately

Many people think they can remember which items are in which boxes after they reach their move destination. But this rarely works. On the outside, a box is a box. So you should label each box with its contents, being as specific and thorough as possible. It’s also a good idea to put the room in big letters at the top (kitchen, master bedroom, etc.). That way, you or your movers will know where to put things on move-in day.

4. Back Up Computer Files

Before shutting down and packing up your computer, it’s a good idea to back up your files. In the unfortunate event that your computer was damaged during transit, you would at least have all of your important files.

Make back-ups of computer files and determine how you will move this delicate equipment.

5. Make Use of Luggage Items

Don’t just throw those suitcases in your car empty. Pack them with as many clothes as you possibly can. The same goes for duffel bags and other luggage items you might have. It will save space and reduce the number of trips when loading and unloading.

6. Segment Your Most Needed Items

Make a list of things you’ll need during your move — clothes, toiletries, medications, pet foods, etc. Pack these items separately into an “Open First” box (if you’re only moving locally). If you’re moving long distance, keep these items with you (as opposed to putting them onto the moving truck).

7. Choose a Reputable Mover

When researching moving companies, ask friends or family if they can refer a mover they have used. Check to see if the mover is a member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Ask the moving company if they have any complaints filed against them, or just check their BBB record online.

8. Conduct a Room-by-Room Check

Before your final departure from the home you’ve leaving, give each room a final once-over for forgotten items. This is especially important for out-of-the-way areas like basements, tool sheds, attics, etc.

9. Unpack in Room-by-Room Fashion

Before you begin unpacking in your new home, be sure to move all of the boxes to their destination rooms (kitchen, master bedroom, etc.). You did label those boxes, right? Properly positioning boxes prior to unpacking will reduce confusion as well as clutter.

About the Author: Brandon Cornett writes for M&M Moving, an Austin, Texas mover that does both local and interstate moves from their headquarters in Austin. Learn more by visiting www.mmmoving.com

Mortgage Loan Rates – 5 Things a Home Buyer Should Know

by Brandon Cornett

Buying a home requires plenty of homework (no pun intended). There are new concepts to grasp, unfamiliar terminology to learn, and plenty of decisions to make along the way.

The mortgage loan interest rate is one of the topics that confuse a lot of home buyers, especially the first-time buyers who are new to the process. So in this article, I’ll explain how an interest rate gets applied to a home loan, and how it affects you as the borrower.

5 Things a Buyer Should Know

1. The rates offered by a lender will vary from one person to the next. It’s largely based on a borrower’s credit score. The higher your score, the better the rates you’ll be offered when applying for a loan. This is why you see so much fine print on the advertisements of mortgage companies — there’s a lot of variance involved. So when they offer a “teaser rate” in their marketing materials, it may or may not apply to you.

2. The interest rate is one of four factors that will determine the size of your monthly mortgage payment. Collectively, these factors are referred to with the acronym PITI. The ‘P’ stands for the principal amount you borrow. The first ‘I’ stands for the interest you pay on the loan. The ‘T’ is for taxes on the home. Lastly, the final ‘I’ is for insurance (i.e., the homeowner’s policy you are required to have before closing.)

3. In order to qualify for the best rates on a mortgage loan, borrowers need a higher credit score today than they needed just a few years ago (a 750 or higher in many cases). If you’ve been watching the news lately, you can probably guess why. The subprime mortgage mess of 2007 – 2008 has led to tougher restrictions on lenders. In turn, the lending institutions have tightened up on their loan criteria for qualification, rate assignments, etc.

4. Every buyer should study the key differences (and pros and cons) between adjustable and fixed-rate home loans. With an adjustable mortgage, or ARM, the interest rate will typically start out low for an introductory period. This period commonly lasts for three to five years, after which the loan will adjust or “reset” to a higher rate. In many cases, this increase can be significant and will therefore lead to a bigger mortgage payment each month.

5. For buyers who plan to remain in a house longer than three to five years, the fixed-rate mortgage is usually the best option. As the name suggests, this type of loan will carry the same level of interest for the entire time you’re paying it (regardless of what the economy does). This offers a level of financial certainty, which for many borrowers is all the reason they need to choose this option over the ARM.

Clearly there is much more to learn about interest rates, as they apply to buying a house. But I hope the points I’ve made above give you a better understanding of this subject. I recommend you learn more about each of the items covered above, particularly the pros and cons of adjustable versus fixed mortgages. Being an educated consumer is the first step toward success in the real estate world.

About the Author: Brandon Cornett publishes a home buying blog that has offered house buying tips and advice since 2006. To learn more about this and related topics, visit the author’s blog at HomeBuyingInstitute.com

What to Look For When Hiring a Home Inspector

The report your inspector provides will be critical to you making a well-informed home-buying decision. So when hiring a home inspector, look for a trusted advisor – not just someone you found in the Yellow pages.

No matter how busy you are, you should attend all inspections of your future home. It is your big chance to get a professional introduction to the circuit breaker panel, air-conditioning system, water heater, and other systems you may soon own.

Additionally, inspectors are not required to move furniture or look under carpets, so it is possible for even good inspectors to miss something. While you probably don’t want to move furniture around to see what the sellers are hiding-imagine the liability if you knocked over the entertainment center in your quest to look behind it – you can certainly flip back the throw rug to see if it’s covering cracked tiles.

In the end, an extra set of eyes can only help.

Never be too busy to read the inspection report. As you read the report, remind yourself that there are no perfect homes (even if it is new). It is almost certain to have some wear and tear. It is the inspector’s role to report everything that is not perfect about the home.

Many agents say they are amazed by the number of home buyers who look at the home inspection as a hurdle to jump over rather than a valuable new source of information about the property they are about to purchase.

Potential buyers should be reasonable about the repairs they ask the seller to make. In my opinion all repairs for health and safety issues are reasonable.

Use the health and safety rule to decide which items on the inspection report is worth asking the seller to repair. If the repair list is long with trivial items the seller is less likely to consider the real important repairs.

Inspections do not include opening walls to see what is going on inside hidden parts of the home; the inspector may suggest based on what can be seen from the outside further investigation. This will cost (typically the buyer) more money but it could be a good investment and provide a good basis for further negotiations.

Remember, the owner and Realtor are required to disclose all information regarding the home; even new items found during the investigations of a potential buyer.

About the Author:
Have questions about buying a home? Find the answers in First Time Home Buyers Tips from Michael Mizuno. Michael is a local resident experienced with the communities in the Greater Sacramento area and a licensed Realtor.

Florida’s existing home sales remain level in July 2008

ORLANDO, Fla. – Aug. 25, 2008 – Single-family existing home sales rose in Florida for the first time in more than two years: While only six more homes sold in July 2008 than in July 2007, it could indicate stabilization in Florida’s housing sector, according to the latest housing statistics released by the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR).

Ammendment 5 Off Nov. 4 Ballot

The Florida Supreme Court ruled this afternoon to uphold the circuit court’s decision to remove Amendment 5 from the November ballot.

The courts’ ruling ends a long and arduous fight to help provide property tax relief to Floridians. The court’s main consideration for removing the amendment from the ballot was the language in the amendment’s summary which said education funding would be held harmless. According to the amendment, funding would only be held harmless for the first year and then would leave education funding in the hands of the legislature.

Stay tuned for any new developments.

It’s Who You Know!

According to the 2007 National Association of Realtors Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers you better know someone that will buy your home or you have very little chance of selling it as a “For Sale By Owner.” Only about 5% of FSBO’s succeed in selling their homes to buyers they didn’t previously know. In other words you have about a 95% chance of failure. Not good odds. How many endeavors would you undertake if you knew you had a 95% chance of failure? Then why waste precious time trying to do the impossible and sell your home in a way that has repeatedly proven to be unsuccessful?

The reality is that most homes are sold through Realtors utilizing the Multiple Listing Service. And most FSBO’s would use a Realtor if they didn’t have to pay high commission rates. Knowing this I created the FLAT FEE LISTING where sellers can literally save thousands of dollars.

Dear Secretary of Agriculture:

Honorable Secretary of Agriculture
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir;

My friend, Ed Peterson, over at Wells Iowa, received a check for $1,000 from the government for not raising hogs. So, I want to go into the “not raising hogs” business next year.

What I want to know is, in your opinion, what is the best kind of farm not to raise hogs on, and what is the best breed of hogs not to raise? I want to be sure that I approach this endeavor in keeping with all governmental policies. I would prefer not to raise razorbacks, but if that is not a good breed not to raise, then I will just as gladly not raise Yorkshires or Durocs.

As I see it, the hardest part of this program will be in keeping an accurate inventory of how many hogs I haven’t raised.

My friend, Peterson, is very joyful about the future of the business. He has been raising hogs for twenty years or so, and the best he ever made on them was $422 in 1968, until this year when he got your check for $1000 for not raising hogs.

If I get $1000 for not raising 50 hogs, will I get $2000 for not raising 100 hogs? I plan to operate on a small scale at first, holding myself down to about 4000 hogs not raised, which will mean about $80,000 the first year. Then I can afford an airplane.

Now another thing, these hogs I will not raise will not eat 100,000 bushels of corn. I understand that you also pay farmers for not raising corn and wheat. Will I qualify for payments for not raising wheat and corn not to feed the 4000 hogs I am not going to raise?

Also, I am considering the “not milking cows” business, so send me any information you have on that too.

In view of these circumstances, you understand that I will be totally unemployed and plan to file for unemployment and food stamps.

Be assured you will have my vote in the coming election.

Sincerely Yours,

Jim Smith

I need a raise!

REALTOR: “I have to have a raise in my commission,” the agent said to his manager. “There are three other companies after me.”

MANAGER: “Is that so?” asked the manager. “What other companies are after you?”

REALTOR: “The electric company, the telephone company, and the gas company.”

Free legal advice to troubled homeowners

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – July 10, 2008 – Florida homeowners facing foreclosure have access to a lawyer and free legal advice through a program offered by the Florida Bar and Florida Legal Services. 
 
According to Florida Legal Services Inc., 77,000 state homeowners are in foreclosure, making Florida second in the nation only to California. And many others are at least 30 days past due on their mortgage payment, which places them at risk of having their loans foreclosed.
 
Florida Legal Services and the Florida Bar Association have partnered in establishing a toll-free hotline – (866) 607-2187 – that consumers can call. They’ll be asked a few initial questions about their situation to ensure accurate placement, and then be sent to a free attorney. The attorney will then negotiate with the lender on behalf of the client to keep the home from being foreclosed.
 
“I applaud Florida Legal Services and the Florida Bar for offering this public service,” says Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson. “Any effort that helps families keep their homes in this uncertain economy is beneficial.”
 
More than 10,000 Florida attorneys have volunteered their services in the program, according to Florida Legal Services Inc.