The Brainerd Lakes Real Estate Blog

Helping make real estate dreams come true     Consider before you ignore or outright refuse a very low purchase offer for your home. A counteroffer and negotiation could turn that low purchase offer into a sale. When you receive a low offer on your house, the best response is to counter with a price you're willing to accept. Image: Keith Brofsky/Photodisc/Getty Images You just received a purchase offer from someone who wants to buy your home. You’re excited and relieved, until you realize the purchase offer is much lower than your asking price. How should you respond? Set aside your emotions, focus on the facts, and prepare a counteroffer that keeps the buyers involved in the deal. Check your emotions A purchase offer, even a very low one, means someone wants to purchase your home. Unless the offer is laughably low, it deserves a cordial response, whether that’s a counteroffer or an outright rejection. Remain cal...

Helping make real estate dreams come true   By using gas and electric stoves more effectively, you can save an average of $30 per year. Image: Electrolux Spending less money on utility bills doesn’t mean you need to rush out and purchase a whole new suite of Energy Star appliances. With occasional light maintenance and good habits, you can greatly improve the energy efficiency of your large kitchen appliances—up to about $120 annually—without sacrificing convenience. Refrigerator/freezer Energy-efficiency experts tell us to focus our efforts on the biggest energy hogs in the house, and that ...

Seven Steps to Speedy Short Sales - Jorge - ShametheBanks.org Helping make real estate dreams come true Have you received a Notice of Default on your property? What are your plans? Do you plan to walk away or do you want to try a Short Sale which has much less damage to your credit and helps you save face? You need a plan of action and if you want to buy some time, stay in the home until it sells and save up some money - then contact: Kathleen Lordbock REALTOR/Staging & Short Sale Specialist Keller Williams Realty Brainerd Lakes Don't just walk away - there is hope, there is help!

Helping make real estate dreams come true Have you received a Notice of Default on your property? What are your plans? Do you plan to walk away or do you want to try a Short Sale which has much less damage to your credit and helps you save face? You need a plan of action and if you want to buy some time, stay in the home until it sells and save up some money - then contact: Kathleen Lordbock REALTOR/Staging & Short Sale Specialist Keller Williams Realty Brainerd Lakes Don't just walk away - there is hope, there is help!

Keller Williams Family Group News | LinkedIn "Mortgage lenders are apparently being swamped by the demand for homebuyers to close on their home loan by June 30th, which is the current expiration date of the home buyer tax credit. Therefore, the U.S. Senate has voted for a proposal that would extend the tax credit again. Usually, it wouldn't take over two months to close on a home loan. But, it's not normal circumstances right now. In today's world of mortgage finance, every bit of the home buyers information has to be verified and reverified and the home valuation code of conduct is also having to be adhered to by appraisers. Therefore, it's taking much longer to close and time gets stretched out. According to the National Association of Realtors®, there are 180,000 buyers who made the April 30th deadline to have their valid contracts signed. However, without another tax extension, many would not make the last deadline to close by June 30th. So, through...

Helping make real estate dreams come true   Why is the number of short sales rising? Due to the recent economic crisis, including rising unemployment, and drops in home prices in communities across the nation, the number of short sales is increasing. Since a short sale generally costs the lender less than a foreclosure, it can be a viable way for a lender to minimize its losses. A short sale can also be the best option for a homeowners who are “upside down” on mortgages because a short sale may not hurt their credit history as much as a foreclosure. As a result, homeowners may qualify for another mortgage sooner once they get back on their feet financially. Contact me at - 218-829-0339 or email: KLordbock@kw.com Have you received a Notice of Default on your property?  What are your plans?  Do you plan to walk away or do you want to try a Short Sale which has much less damage to your credit and helps you save face? You need a plan of action and if you wa...

Helping make real estate dreams come true   In the last few months, I have met many folks who might be facing foreclosure who are too scared to open their mail,  refuse to contact their lender, and deny the reality of their situation. If you are having trouble making ends meet and making those mortgage payments, know that you have options. BUT... you have many more options available to you if you do not wait until the eleventh hour.   Facing up to your situation now is in your best interest. Then you can move ahead on dealing with it. Call me and we can discuss your situation and you can decide your next plan of action. 218-829-0339 KLordbock@kw.com Have you received a Notice of Default on your property?  What are your plans?  Do you plan to walk away or do you want to try a Short Sale which has much less damage to your credit and helps you save face? You need a plan of action and if you want to buy some time, stay in the home until it sells and...

Helping make real estate dreams come true   Dangerous Listing Strategies in a Short Sale The growth of short sales (i.e. circumstance where mortgage debt exceeds the fair market value of the house and necessitates the lender discounting the mortgage to effectuate a sale) has reached epidemic portions in Minnesota and throughout the country. As a result, real estate agents are dealing on a regular basis with the myriad of problems associated with short sales. One of the more frustrating aspects of implementing a short sale involves identifying and opening a dialogue with the appropriate representative of the lender in an effort to discuss, negotiate and ultimately secure a discount on the mortgage balance sufficient to effectuate a sale. Between the frustration of talking to voicemail, other than a live body, and the co...