Sunday, May 18, 2008

Finding a Good Realtor

There are a lot of good Real Estate Agents out there who really do care about the success of your transaction and they just happen to get paid for it, too. It is when Agents get greedy and put the money before the person that they start to go “bad.”

Unfortunately the bad guys have fostered a bit of a bad reputation on the group as a whole, leaving the good guys in a position to have to work extra hard to prove their goodness and worthiness of your business. A good agent never puts the money first and sincerely is motivated by being a part of putting you in your new home and the impact that has on you.

So how do you find that “good apple”? It starts with a phone call. You have found a house you would like to see while browsing a website or set your sights on a certain company for one reason or another. You call an agent from that company to show you a house. Upon that first meeting, scrutinize the agent as much as the house! First off, if he rubs you the wrong way, don’t call him again. I am completely against putting agents to work and not getting them paid, but this first meeting is a freebie. Further, you owe it to yourself to find someone that no only doesn’t repel you, but whose company you actually enjoy! You are potentially going to be spending a lot of time with this person so set yourself up for a pleasant experience. Call someone different each time until you find one who appeals to you.

The day you meet the guy who appeals to you, start asking questions. Conduct an interview. Your Realtor is the biggest asset you have in this huge step you are about to make. Ask how long he’s been selling houses, does he like it, what does he like about it, ask about the philosophy of his company, what kind of pets he has, whatever. There isn’t really any right or wrong answers in most cases, but the WAY he answers is what you’re gauging. Is there a trust forming? If so, this is probably your guy. Start sharing a little bit about yourself with him, and what you are trying to accomplish. If you feel he has a good understanding, compassion, and has some good ideas to move forward, let him start looking for the houses and be sure to call him again when you need help.

To take it a step further, you will really get your Agent to bend over backwards for you if you sign a buyer’s agency agreement with him. This tells him that you understand that you are his top priority and to show your appreciation you are going to work with him and only him and whether it takes you three weeks or three months to find you a house, when you buy a house he will get paid for his time and resources spent. Now you’ve got two parties, mutual respect and enjoyment, house shopping together, negotiating together, and meeting challenges together. You have found your “good apple” and paved the way to a happy, successful transaction.

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Feng Shui Experts Meet Tampa Homes

Feng Shui is a three thousand year old Chinese tradition that is focused on maintaining the balance and optimal flow of Chi or energy in one’s home. Feng Shui experts have raided the homes in Tampa, Florida and what they have to say is astonishingly remarkable.

In Feng Shui, in order for a house to receive the most optimal flow of Chi, various factors have to be considered such as the location of your home, its design, and where your home is facing. There also has to be a balance of all the elements used in a home or surrounding a home in order for it to experience a sense of peace, contentment, and even success.

Fortunately, you can find great homes that receive optimal flow of Chi in Tampa. Tampa is known for its wonderful and beautiful natural resources that surround the area. Each of the houses in Tampa is located in a great parcel of land which faces the beauty of the sun and the beach in all angles. It is this type of landscape that is well suited to receive optimal flow of Chi into one’s house. The area that surrounds each home in Tampa is already naturally a good place to garner Chi and this is a good factor for ultimately choosing a home. When a home is surrounded by wonderful energy, you can harness that energy and build a home surrounding it.

Tampa, in general, already has all the elements abounding it that is necessary to attracting Chi. The water element is provided by its wonderful beaches and serene lakes. The wood element, for instance, is provided by the plush scenery that can only be seen in Tampa, its beautiful gardens and parks and its amazing beachside palms. The fire element is provided by the gentle warmth of the sun that shines upon Tampa Bay. All these elements are found in moderation in Tampa, which is not only stunning but essential for harnessing the optimal flow of positive energy.

When one proceeds inside the homes of Tampa Bay residents, Feng Shui experts are instantly pleased with what they see. In Feng Shui, the entrance to a home has to be designed in a way that Chi or life force energy is welcomed from the most favorable direction. Entrances to Tampa homes are greeted by the beauty of what the city has to offer, more than enough direction to foster good energy.

Once inside the homes abounding Tampa, each and every room nurtures positive energy. The home offices are situated in an area where it is directed to receive achievements financially and career-wise. The bedrooms are strategically located in an area that corresponds to health, love, and marriage.

Though in Feng Shui, it is understood that each house’s optimal flow of Chi differs, generally speaking, the majestic aura of Tampa Bay itself, is much to owe for the generous positive energy that abounds the families of Tampa Bay. It is this life force that is responsible for the wonderful characteristics of the people in Tampa. Families in Tampa are happy, healthy, and financially stable, all due to the natural Chi that already resides in this great city.

Saturday, May 03, 2008

Renters worried about Foreclosure Threats

RealtyTrac, an online tracker of real estate released that foreclosure was up 57% in January since last January. These numbers only increase the fears of recession and the mortgage meltdown. Many renters are scared that they will be evicted from there homes with no warning or time to find a new home. This forces people to find affordable housing as quick as possible and can really hurt there financial situation because they have to move there stuff to a relatives house or storage until they can find a new place to live.

In most states the lenders like the bank and the landlord do not have to notify the tenant of the foreclosure and the tenant usually only finds out that they have to move just a few days or weeks before they are evicted. This creates a huge financial problem for the tenant and can sometimes screw up the life and credit of a normal good working person. This is because the cost off the eviction will total thousands and not too many people can spare that much money. When the tenant is evicted they usually will have to pay a fee just to be able to rent another property. Many landlords are starting to offer a plan called “keys for cash” where they will give you some money if you get evicted to help you out, but you should not care if your landlord offers this “plan” because the money is usually nothing more than a few hundred dollars.

Foreclosures are not just happening in the urban areas, today there are an increasing number of foreclosures in rural and suburban areas. The number of foreclosures is rising so high that the real estate market is going into meltdown leaving tenants out of luck with almost no warning to the problem.

Congress is voting on a new law that could allow make it so even after a rented property is foreclosed the tenant still has up to 6 months to move out. It passed the House of Representatives in November of 2007, and would not take effect until mid to late 2008, that’s if it becomes a law. Many are opposed to this law especially the lenders because they do not want to become a landlord just because that person rented the property out.