Thanks for coming back! Hope you’re finding value here. Please feel free to request an appointment to discuss your residential real estate needs, or to see homes. I’m committed to your success! Mark Hall of Vancouver, Washington tells the story of a client who didn’t return her calls when it was critical to stay in touch. [...]

If you’re in danger of foreclosure, one possible remedy is a short sale, where the mortgage lender agrees to accept less than is owed. These are complex transactions, but new measures that go into effect next April might make them easier. Meanwhile it remains a slow process, and lenders prefer loan modifications to short sales. [...]

In general, home buyers “have a negative view of buying foreclosures,” but an article at CBS Moneywatch.com says real estate investors, trade-up buyers and renters have a strong interest in buying foreclosures, so they’re still a big part of the housing market. The article provides an interesting set of statistics. For example, 24% of homeowners [...]

Texas is using $23 million in federal stimulus money to finance rebates for replacing older appliances with newer ones that are energy-efficient. According to the Austin Statesman, “rebates will range from $45 for room air conditioners to $1,600 for some heat pumps. Consumers can also get a $75 rebate for recycling the older appliances.” More [...]

A Move.com survey suggests that “17.7 percent of Americans want to take the plunge and finally become first-time home buyers.” That’s actually a big percentage, more than half the adults who don’t own a home, according to Baltimore Sun’s Real Estate Wonk. 15.7 percent consider buying an investment property a priority. One driver for homebuyer optimism [...]

As you might have guessed, those “reality shows” about real estate on channels like HGTV are not particularly real. Given that, is there something you can learn from them? Read more in the Chicago Tribune. ” ‘House Hunters’ is house candy,” [Chicago Realtor Eric] Rojas said. “It’s not realistic. It’s directed. You don’t learn anything about buying. [...]

Selling a home below the current moertage amount create a “short” sale. This minimizes the damage to the seller’s credit and minimizes the financial loss of the lender, as well as minimizing the fall of the local market prices. Good for all, right? Except it takes a long time, and many buyers can’t or won’t [...]