As part of our relationship with Tanner Contractors, the 518LIST Team from Keller Williams Realty Capital District and Steve Field from Metrocities Mortgage will be hosting a table at the Great NorthEast HomeShow this weekend, Fri Sat and Sun, the 6th, 7th and 8th.

Hundreds of local companies will be exhibiting their products and services in the Times Union Center and Empire State Plaza. Where else can you get home improvement ideas, attend free seminars, comparison shop and most importantly talk to the experts? You can’t find this much information any place else! See you at the Great Northeast Home Show!

Tickets
Tickets are sold in three locations during the show: Empire State Plaza concourse, Times Union Center box office lobby and in the Times Union Center upstairs box office. Each tickets is a two part ticket which allows you entrance into both buildings. Tickets are $8 each. Children 14 and under are free when accompanied by a paid adult. Each paid admission ticket is entered to win one of the many door prizes. Hold onto your stub and check at the show office to see if you have won.

I encourage any of you in the area to attend. It’s the best tradeshow of it’s kind for homeowners in the Northeast and is extraordinarily well attended both by the public and vendors every year.

Call me at 518-724-5823 if you have any questions.

CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTION AND MORE INFO

By Junior Hitlall – Benchmark Home Equities

Should you talk to a mortgage professional before house hunting?

Absolutely! Even if you haven’t so much as picked out houses to visit yet, it’s important to see your mortgage professional first. Why? What can we do for you if you haven’t negotiated a price, and don’t know how much you want to borrow?

When we pre-qualify you, we help you determine how much of a monthly mortgage payment you can afford, and how much we can loan you. We do this by considering your income and debts, your employment and residence situations, your available funds for down payment and required reserves, and some other things. It’s short and to the point, and we keep the paperwork to a minimum!

Once you qualify, we give you what’s called a Pre-Qualification Letter (your real estate agent might call it a “pre-qual”), which says that we are working with you to find the best loan to meet your needs and that we’re confident you’ll qualify for a loan for a certain amount.

When you find a house that catches your eye, and you decide to make an offer, being pre-qualified for a mortgage will do a couple of things. First, it lets you know how much you can offer. Your real estate agent will help you decide on an appropriate offer, but being pre-qualified gives you the confidence to know you can follow through.

More importantly, to a home seller, your being pre-qualified is like you walked into their house with a suitcase full of cash to make the deal! They won’t have to wonder if they’re wasting their time because you’ll never qualify for a mortgage to finance the amount you’re offering for the home. You have the clout of a buyer ready to make the deal right now!

You can always use the calculators available on our site to get an idea of how much mortgage you can afford — but it’s important to meet with us. For one thing, you’ll need a Pre-Qualification Letter! For another thing, we may be able to find a different mortgage program that fits your needs better.

By Larry McGann – Sprire Home Inspections, NY
http://www.spireinspections.com

What is a home inspection?

A home inspection is a visual inspection of the componets of a home from the roof to the foundation.

What does it include?

The structural inspection takes in the roof material, the siding, doors windows, the drainage around the home, the interior condition, plumbing, electrical heating/cooling system, the attic and insulation, the basement and the type and condition of the foundation. The Standards of Practice from National Associations websites can offer full details.

Why do I need one?

A home inspection is usually ordered when a purchase contract is written on a home for sale. A home is our biggest investment other than our children. It is wise to have a trained licensed home inspector help identify potentially costly repairs that may be needed.

If you are planning to sell your home, a home inspection can give you the opportunity to make repairs that will put the house in better selling condition.

How much will it generally cost?

Cost varies from inspector to inspector as well as house to house. As well as from region to region.

Why can’t I do it myself?

You can do it yourself if you feel confident that you will be able to identify the issues a house may have. He or she knows how the home’s systems and components are intended to function together, as well as why they fail.

Can a house “fail” an inspection?

In my opinion a house neither passes of fails a home inspection. It is an educational process of the condition of the home. What a buyer does with the information given them on an inspection report is when the terms pass or fail seems to come out.

Does that mean I can’t buy it if there are any problems revealed?

No, a home that has problems can still be purchased, but the buyer/seller are aware of additional expenses that maybe necessary.

—

Technorati Profile

Our foreclosure database is really cool, but check this out.
I’ve been hard at work with Steve Field from Metrocities mortgage to come up with something even cooler and we’ve done it.

What would you say to public access to any MLS in the country?
Access the same data that agents and brokers use for actively listed properties no matter what state you are in.
How’s that for something new!

Check out AnyStateHomeSearch.com and let me know what you think.

PS: Just to be clear, you can still search for foreclosures in any state by typing a zipcode into the box in the header of this blog, or by picking a state from the dropdown box above, but if you’re looking for active MLS listed property, check out the anystatehomesearch site as well.

My buddy in Texas Robert Russell has this to say noting that NY is set to experience some pretty heavy job loss…

NEW YORK – Only five metropolitan areas in the U.S. will escape job losses this year, according to a forecast released Saturday by the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

New York is expected to take the biggest hit as thousands of jobs are lost on Wall Street. Big financial firms are slashing workers as they cope with bad debt. Other companies have gone under, like Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., which filed for bankruptcy in September.

The New York area is expected to lose 181,000 jobs in 2009, the report said. Consulting company IHS Global Insight produced the report for the group.

The Los Angeles area is expected to see 164,000 lost jobs, in part because of the huge drop in home prices that has punctured the California economy.

After New York and Los Angeles, the Miami area is expected to see the greatest loss, with a decline of 85,000 jobs. Chicago and the surrounding area are next, with losses projected at 80,000.

For myself and my team at Keller Williams, we are expecting our best year ever.
Keller Williams Capital District is the fastest growing brokerage in the area, and our numbers are MASSIVE even in this economy. The Capital Region is blessed with a real estate market that does not experience the wild ups and downs that you might see elsewhere in the country.
There is mortgage money to be had at fantastic rates and prices are pretty stable even with a little correction.
I say it’s going to be a great year!

Matt

Mortgage Rates Are at an All Time Low And Yes ! Banks are Still lending Money

By: Kevin Mullaney – Loan Officer – Aamtrust Mortgage, Burnt Hills NY

If you watch the news you are well aware of the financial difficulties that are facing this great nation. Many homeowners are facing foreclosure and some are having difficulty making their payments. Due to recent job cuts and layoffs this news is even more daunting. These times are very difficult for those of us in the real estate business and taxpayer alike. However, banks are still lending money on home purchases and refinances. And the greater majority of homeowners are paying their mortgages, selling their homes and refinancing.

The sub-prime mortgage crisis has deeply affected us all, either directly or indirectly. Nationwide banks have changed their underwriting guidelines to insulate themselves from risky-borrowers. The pendulum has swung and the market has shifted toward tighter regulations and guidelines. The good news is if you have good credit, steady income and you have saved some money for a down payment, you can qualify for a mortgage. Further buyers are in a unique position to purchase a home at a great price and get a very low interest rate.

The days of sub-prime loans are behind us and now lenders have created stricter regulations and the entire mortgage business has evolved accordingly. Since July, 1st of 2008 anyone who originates a loan for a broker must be authorized by the New York State Banking Department, this includes various back round checks performed by the F.B.I. and New York State Police. This type of regulation is needed in a profession that is so prone to fraud.

A mortgage broker’s role is to arrange a loan for their client but also advise them of the ramifications of doing so. If a client comes into our office here at Aamtrust mortgage and we feel they should continue to rent, we are bound by our duty to advise them to do so.

Since sub-prime loans are no longer available, buyers are opting for FHA loans. Again these newer guidelines are there to better protect borrowers and ensure they are truly credit worthy. For the real estate professional and potential home buyer, a close relationship with a mortgage broker is essential in this more difficult lending climate. It will save you a lot of time and take the guess work out of what you or your clients qualify for. Not to mention the potential pitfalls that may arise in the home buying process.

In conclusion, mortgage rates and housing prices are low and banks are still lending money. For those of us in the capital district home values are still holding strong. We are all looking forward to the Nano-Tech facility that is currently in development.

If you are a home buyer or seller remember that real estate is a local economy.

About Aamtrust Mortgage: We are a full service brokerage.

Convenional, FHA and VA loans. In house attorney, title and processing.

Make your next closing as stress free as possible. 518-256-7205

Are you an agent or a broker in any state considering a look at Keller Williams?
Call me today and I’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have with absolutely no obligation and I’ll give you a copy of “The Millionaire Real Estate Agent” at no charge.
If you think that Keller Williams may be a good fit for you and I’ll make the choice easy.
A FREE TESTDRIVE!

Technorati Profile

2008 has not been very kind. We experienced falling homes values and turmoil in the financial lending that turn the Real Estate Market on its ear.

The positive light at the end of the year is the current lending conditions are looking better. For buyers the opportunities to buy are wide open. As for sellers, I advise you to look at the big picture and remember that even though you feel like you are losing on your present home sale, you stand to make up the difference and more on the buying side of the transaction. If your moving up in price range you will most likely be in a much better equity position than you are now, and with interest rates the lowest level in history, you really can’t go wrong if you have at least a 3 to 5 year time line that you will stay in your new home.

In case you had not heard, on Tuesday the Federal Reserve lowered its key interest rate to .25% — the lowest level ever (noted by MSN). This will trickle down to all types of loans, credit cards and school loans.

For you as a homeowner looking to move up, buyer or an investor this means the time to buy is now. If you are not in the market to buy you should be. In the words of Donald Trump, “Buy, Buy, Buy, now is the time to Buy”. House prices are there lowest in our area and the fed just cut rates. 30 year fixed at 5%. Pool your money, borrow from your family talk to your accountant, what ever it takes, get in the game now!

(reprinted email courtesy of my friends at the Castle Coalition)

Friends:

Susette Kelo and Jeff Benedict, author of “Little Pink House: A True Story of Defiance and Courage,” will appear on Hannity tonight between 9 and 10pm EST on the Fox News Channel. As you know, Susette’s little pink house – along with the homes of her neighbors – were seized through eminent domain in a landgrab sanctioned by the U.S. Supreme Court. New London promised to put a glitzy new private development project on the land, but now, nearly four years after the ruling and $78 million in taxpayer money spent, literally nothing has been built on the land; it remains vacant, the neighborhood bulldozed.

We hope you can tune in tonight to hear about Susette’s courageous battle that sparked a nationwide property rights movement.

Best,

Christina Walsh
Director of Community Organization
Institute for Justice
901 N. Glebe Road, Suite 900
Arlington, VA 22203
(703) 682-9320
www.ij.org
www.castlecoalition.org

P.S. HELP THE CASTLE COALITION RING IN 2009! Forward this message to your friends. If you recruit five new members, you’ll be entered in a drawing to win one of 10 prizes from our Freedom Market! They can join here: http://www.castlecoalition.org/join/. Be sure your friends enter your name next to “referred by” on the second registration page.

by Jeanne Heran – Attorney at Law for 518list Magazine

In recent years you could put a sign in your window or just whisper to your friends that you may sell your home and you’d start getting calls and stage whispers about who has been looking to buy your home…
and how much they’d be willing to pay….

Those days are gone and the value of a great realtor cannot be overstated.
Additionally, the real estate community has been hit with economic hardships and many who purchased in recent years can no longer afford the home they purchased. So, in comes the SHORT SALE…!

A “short sale” is when your bank, recognizing that you are behind in your payments allows you to pay the bank an amount less than you owe them. Banks do not want your homes and will accept less within limits. Obviously, you will not be able to get any of the proceeds from your sale but you do avoid a possible foreclosure and ruination of your credit. The relief factor is great and you will be ready to purchase a home you can afford and be comfortable with its new smaller monthly payments.

The short sale process can be a fairly long and cumbersome one, so being upfront about your situation can allow you to avoid weeks of wasted time. Your attorney, with authorization, can help you negotiate the sale in combination with the realtor who has sold your home for you. It is helpful to speak with and inform your counsel as soon as possible so that the process can begin early and not hold up the sale terms for long periods of time.
This will work for you in the marketplace. This team of experts working for you can take the burden from you at a time when the stress of payments that are increasingly difficult to pay wears you down.

The process starts with you providing the bank with a packet that your attorney can help you prepare along with the help of the realtor that sold your home and together you can work it through.. It involves disclosing your financials and the hardships you’ve endured to date to your attorney and then your counsel will present them to the bank to explain why your case should qualify for this “short sale treatment.”.

The bank in turn will then appraise your home and start to negotiate or accept your counsel’s offer to them. The sooner you sit down with your attorney to start the process the smoother it will be. Your home does not need to be under contract for you to do this.

If you have any questions about this
process I can be reached in my office
at Jeanne M. Heran, Esq.
(518) 783-6047
in Latham, New York
or at JHeranlaw@aol.com or
contact Sylvia or Matt at
Keller Williams Realty
Capital District. 724-5823

So what is a buyer’s agent anyway?
To answer that, let’s first start with seller’s agents. Every agent that has a sign out in front of someone’s home or a sign on some land, represents the seller of that property. Period.
If you approach them and make an offer to them, even if they write up the offer for you, they represent the seller and not you. Their job is to defend the list price and they are obligated to disclose everything they learn about you to the seller!

A buyer’s agent on the other hand enters into a contract with YOU to help you find and secure a home. We represent you, negotiate on your behalf, and owe our fiduciary responsibility to YOU and not the sellers of the property you wish to buy.

How can you represent me free of charge?
A sellers agent enters into a listing contract to sell a home for a homeowner. They are paid a commission based on the sales price to do so.

Out of that commission, the listing contract also says that they will offer a portion of that commission to any other agent that brings a buyer for the property.
So for instance, let’s say “Realty America” has a home for sale in Saratoga. If they find a buyer (you) for the house – they are paid the whole commission on the sale.
If a buyer’s agent (like me) brings a buyer to them, they pay me a portion of their total commission and they keep the remainder.
The seller pays the same amount either way. The difference is only in what the seller’s agent get’s to keep for themselves.
If you think about it, it’s obvious why a sellers agent would want you to come directly to them. If you let them write your offer, they don’t have to split the commission with anyone.
That’s one of the reasons why agents sit at open houses. If you walk in the door without representation and agree to let them write up an offer for you, they “get both sides of the deal” as they say in the industry. It’s legal, and common for homes to get sold that way, it’s simply not in your best interests as a buyer to let it happen in that fashion..

If you use a buyer’s agent, or “Buyer Broker” we represent YOU. The homebuyer. We are required by law to get you the best price and terms we can. We are specialists in the homebuying process. This higher level of professional service has resulted in an average 5% additional savings and a much greater satisfaction for homebuyers.
Even more importantly, I’m a buyer’s agent with years of experience that works for Keller Williams!
Even agents at our company with 15 or 20 years of experience or more take advantage of Keller University’s many classes and seminars to hone their already formidable skills on a weekly basis.
For my clients, it’s important where I work, because they know that even with over 12 years in the business myself, I will not hesitate to reap the benefits of the experience of others.
I have immediate access to over 120 outstanding Keller agents right here in the Capital Region with hundreds of years of combined experience. If one of my clients needs something unusual, I can get instant answers from commercial and industrial specialists, farm and rural property specialists, whatever I and my clients need in addition to my own, not insubstantial, knowledge and experience.

I’d like to apply for the job as YOUR Ambassador for your next home or investment property purchase.
Call me at 518-724-5823 to schedule a no obligation wants and needs analysis. No matter what state you are in, I can find you outstanding representation. Call me today!

Matt Landry – 518LIST.COM
Associate Broker, Keller Williams Realty Capital District
518-724-5823

If you are buying or selling a home anywhere in the US, we can help you. Call today and we’ll put you in touch with a qualified KW agent ANYWHERE in the US!
(518) 724-5823

“Matt seemed to pick up on exactly what
kind of home we were looking for in
no time. His flexibility, knowledge and
superior
people skills became assets in our quest
for a new home. We could not have done
it without him.. .
Thanks!”

—
Jeremiah and Peg Sweeney
HOME BUYERS

“As a listing agent, I had the good fortune
recently do a deal with Matt at
518LIST.COM.
Matt is a professional from beginning to
end. He always answered the phone and
completed all tasks way beyond even
what I expected.
Matt knows the Real Estate market and is
honest in his dealings.
I hope that I get more listings that Matt
can sell! My sellers were thrilled and I
know his buyer was as well…
He left no stone unturned. One can count
on Matt and 518LIST!”

—
Barbara Huba
SELLER’S AGENT

“Sylvia from 518LIST is always handy to
answer our real estate needs, even though
we bought our home through her several
years ago. She helps when ever we
needed answers to questions even years
later! It is great to have an agent for the
times when you’re not in need of buying
or selling but just for advice.”

—
J&W Fredenburg
HOME BUYERS

By Matt Smith – Ace Home Inspections
518-727-7091

Energy prices are on the rise and most of us are unable to do anything about it except, complain and continue to write that monthly check. Most of us have heard of renewable energy sources, but reflect upon it’s options for a minute.
Usually, these conversations are shared in jest or small talk. The reality is that most people do not have a comprehensive understanding of greenhouse materials and their functions.
A green house is a home that uses resilient building materials and proficient design towards making energy. Eco-friendly and green house systems are accomplished by harnessing the natural resources provided by the nature such as, wind and sunlight. While the field is still in an infant stage and seems to be esoteric there are many systems available for home owners. There are many incentives to going green and harnessing what Mother Nature provides us, such as tax deductions, government assistance, the ability to rid ourselves of paying rising energy cost and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, thus providing for a better environment.
First, are the ever popular solar panels. There are 3 different types: roof mount, which are the most popular, pole mount which are sections of panels hoisted in to the air on a pole that is secured in the ground and ground mounts which is a large panel attached to a mounting system in the ground.
So, how does this all work? Well, first off we need to understand how a conventional system operates. In short, your house is supplied with AC (alternate current) power which goes into your meter outside you house which measures kilowatts, which is how you are charged for power. Obviously, the meter spins faster as the demand for power is increased. Households in America function on AC power.
A PV (photovoltaic) system harnesses the power of sunlight and transfers it in the form of DC (direct current) which cannot be used by households in America. So, an inverter intercepts the DC before it come into your house and transfers it to AC.
Operating a whole house solely on solar panels is quite overwhelming and very expensive. Most systems are installed with the intent of complementing your power source from a local supplier. This greatly reduces the demand for using electricity from the power company. When these systems are used in unison the PV system actually causes the meter to spin backwards, thus reducing you kilowatt value. When this is all put together you have what is called net metering.
Another, solar power popularity involves the heating of water. Solar panels are installed outside of a home, usually on the roof. Most models are the direct-gain type, consisting of flat panels in which water circulates. Other types use dish or trough mirrors that direct sunlight on a collector tube filled with water, brine or other heat transfer fluid. A storage tank is placed indoors or out. Circulation is caused by natural convection or by a small electric pump. At night, or when insufficient sunlight is present, circulation through the panel can be stopped by closing a valve and/or stopping the circulating pump, to keep hot water in the storage tank from cooling. Depending on the local climate, freeze protection, as well as prevention of overheating, must be addressed in their design, installation, and operation.
How much does something like this cost? Well, it definitely varies based on some factors such as amount of panels and panel types. A typical home uses 9,400 kilowatts a year. So, a typical 4 kilowatt (270 square feet of panels) PV system cost $34,000. While that is undoubtedly a lot of money NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) is kind enough to give generous incentives in the amount of $16000 just for installing a PV system. Also, income tax credits help reduce the price another $7000 on top of the $16000. NYS has a $5000 cap limit and the federal limit is $2000. Now that $34000 dollar system becomes $11000. This is still a lot of money, but it will pay for itself over a period of 10-15 years. Now on a system that can last up to 30 years your are getting 15 years of free power! If $11000 is a lot to come up with, then the government is again there to help. NY Energy Smart loan fund program provides interest rate reductions on loans for energy efficient projects and renewable technology. Interest rates can be lowered by %4 for up to 10 years..
Another additional benefit to using solar generated power systems is, whatever power is not used by the consumer is fed into back into the local suppliers lines and is purchased by the power company. Now, do not expect any checks to be coming in the mail, but credits to your account will be made.
If PV systems seem like a financial burden on people there are still ways to save energy and reduce your power bill.
An inexpensive way to save money is, using CFL’s (compact fluorescent lights). These lights have a %75 less demand for energy and last up to 10 years, compared to conventional bulbs which last approximately a year. These light bulbs are widely available at hardware stores and require no extra parts to install. Imagine if every light bulb in your house was replaced using these CFL’s, you would save %75 just on your lighting bill!
Also, when choosing appliances, furnaces, boilers, windows, office equipment and air conditioners pay particular attention to energy star labels. These products are designed to help reduce the demand of energy and increase their efficiency.
All in all, a collaboration of many different systems and energy star products will render amazing differences in your energy bill and may even eliminate the need for consumers to write that check every month. There are many incentives and new technologies designed specifically to help reduce our electric bill, so take advantage today and break free of the bear hug the power company has on all of us. Next months article I will discuss the benefits of wind generated systems and how it functions.

“Nice job on selling that rehab at 5 Oliver, Matt.
I originally bid on that bear when it was REO and never thought it would sell for more than 159K after rehab in that area – and that was when the market was still liquid! … I am definitely impressed.”

—
Presley Acuna
REAL ESTATE BROKER
Presley Acuna is a Licensed Broker and owns Acrobat Properties. He sent us this email after we sold this house in 30 days for 188.9k for another investor.

“It was a delight to work with you. I hope we’ll have the chance to work together again soon!”

—
Robin Caruso, Closing Coordinator
Wein Young Fenton and Kelsey, PC
Attorneys and Counselors at Law

“Sylvia from 518LIST.COM helped us find and buy the retirement home we needed. She assisted us through the process of buying a home, which was as smooth as it could be! We are now in a home we LOVE!”

—
N&W Walsh
HOME BUYERS

Over the past year there has been an increased awareness of Radon Gas as related to the real estate community. During this coming year we may recognize an increased concern about new sources of radon that the public will be learning about through the media. The EPA , NYS DOH and other related organizations are researching new sources which have not been recognized in the past, in addition to taking steps to ensure that Congress, the media, and the general public are aware of the seriousness of exposure to radon gas. This push is based on a recent report released to the EPA by as well as a growing concern among medical professionals regarding the negative impact that radon is having on our health.

According to The National Academy of Sciences, Radon is considered a Class A carcinogen1, The US Surgeon General has identified that Radon Gas causes lung cancer and exposure to radon is the second leading cause of death due to lung cancer in our country today. The EPA believes that approximately one-third of the radon-attributed deaths could have been avoided if radon concentrations in homes were responded to at 4 Pico curies/liter (pCi/L) EPA action threshold and mitigated to less then 2 pCi/l.

According to the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technicians ( AARST), with exposure at the lowest current acceptable level, a typical homeowner whose house tests at 3.0 pCi/l receives exposure equal to annual dose limit for non-nuclear workers at a nuclear power plant. At a higher exposure level, a retiree whose house tests at 20.0 pCi/l receives exposure higher than the NRC’s absolute annual dose limit for nuclear workers. In the Capital Region of NYS radon levels of this magnitude and higher are present in both resale homes and new homes.

What this means to the real estate community is that the issue of radon is not going to go away. In fact, recently identified in upscale homes is the radon which emanates from some granite counter tops. Recently a new home with a granite finished kitchen tested in excess of 100 pCi/l in the kitchen and the counter was emanating 4000 pCi/sf from the surfaces, while the environmental radon was 6 pCi/l in the basement.

As most home buyers look to their real estate professional for guidance we believe your knowledge of this issue is critical. Homebuyers from areas where radon awareness and regulations are higher than in the capital region are now routinely asking for radon testing as a contingency. Since radon testing disclosure is required by state law, now more than ever, real estate professionals need to be aware of what radon is and why proper testing following EPA guidelines is so important. It is also critical to remember that New York State requires that anyone, home inspector or laboratory, analyzing radon test data, must be properly licensed by the State of New York

If you would like further information concerning radon issues, you can reach us at 518-885-3488 and/or you can also go to the EPA website, www.epa.gov/iaq/radon. Upon request, I am also available to provide training regarding this current and critical issue.

1. (Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation VI Report 1999, pa.gov/iaq/radon/beirvi.html)

Stanley P. Liebert, NEHA 101469RMT, Quality Assurance Director, CMT Laboratories, NYS ELAP 10853

Looking to sell your home faster?
Then sell your house with more confidence!
“The door knob needs to be jiggled and the door will open fine.” “The floors slope, but it is an old house and it has been fine so far.” “The air conditioning worked fine last year.” These are some of the comments made by people trying to sell their home. Comments like this are often made by people who have become accustomed to their homes present condition. While these conditions may be acceptable to the existing owner, it certainly may not be acceptable to potential buyers. Minor issues such as faulty door knobs, windows that stick and lights not in service, can compound quickly and deter buyers, especially, if the homes list price does not take these items into account.

In a slowing real estate market, selling your house can undoubtedly be frustrating, so why not consider a pre-home inspection to help give you more confidence in selling and also give buyers more confidence in making you an offer!
A pre-home inspection encompasses all that is performed in a home inspection when the home was purchased, such as examining: Roof/attic, gutters, chimney, exterior, lot/grounds, plumbing, electrical, furnaces, A/C units, foundation, hot water tanks, basement/crawlspace, radon testing, pest inspections and many other home components. These reports allow the seller to determine the functionality of their home’s components before it goes onto the market. Thus, allowing the seller and realtor to make an informed decision on the listing prices, make necessary repairs and take control of the sale.

A pre-home inspection also eliminates last-second price negotiations and the possibility that the buyer might become nervous regarding a sale once the buyers’ inspector uncovers a needed repair, which could jeopardize the entire purchase.

A guaranteed pre-inspection is an effective selling tool, encouraging buyers that what they see is what they get. It eliminates the buyer-beware attitude and expedites negotiations between the buyer and seller. Some larger companies often put a sign next to the “for sale” sign indicating that the home has been pre-inspected, which often acts as a stimulus to potential buyers.

Often driving down residential streets, lawns are littered with “for sale” signs boasting such slogans as: “reduced price”, “area specialist”, “5 bedrooms” or every buyer’s favorite, “motivated seller.” All of these catchwords can be those of frustrated sellers who are having a hard time selling their home. How often do we see a sign stating that the home has been pre-inspected? Most likely never, or if we have they are few and far between.

Selling your home is no longer an easy task. With current market conditions, there must be a way to attract buyers. You must market towards drawing the attention of buyers to your home instead of the one for sale down the street. This can become very difficult, especially if you lives in a neighborhood where homes are very similar in layout, design and parcel size.
Say for example there are two houses; both are roughly the same square footage, similar in layout, same amount of acreage and similar in age. If they are both priced the same then what will attract a buyer? A pre-inspection performed on one of the houses may uncover that the roof is nearing its useful life expectancy and that the hot water tank is about to go. This allows the seller to make adjustments to the price accounting for needed repairs. The price is now lower than the one down the street, thus making it more attractive to buyers. This is not to say that maybe the un-inspected house has the same problems, but was not uncovered until the buyers’ inspector performed their inspection. This will definitely slow down the process of the sale, particularly if the buyer has reservations about repairs in question. The pre-inspection acts as a great marketing tool and gives the seller a much needed boost in confidence. The pre-inspection report acts as an effective bargaining tool for the seller the same way it does when the buyer hires an inspector.

Statistics show that those who elect to obtain a pre-inspection sell their homes up to two times faster than those who do not. If you are having a hard time selling your house, or would like to sell it quicker, then a licensed New York State home inspector should be your next call – and remember, if you list your home with the 518list team, you’ll get up to $75 off the cost of your pre-inspection!
A typical pre-home inspection can range from 1 ½ – 3 hours and can range in price from $250-$500. These numbers are dependant on the size of the structure and what type of additional testing is going to be performed, such as: radon, mold, pest and lead.

In the end a pre-inspection is beneficial to both the buyer and seller, because it allows both parties to make informed decisions on price negotiations. This then makes the entire process of buying a home; which once seemed so dreaded, a more pleasurable process. It’s a buyer’s market so don’t wait till you have a buyer in hand to find out there’s a deal-breaking defect in the home.
Knowledge is power!

Matt Smith
Ace Home Inspections of Upstate NY
NYS LIC# 16000038000
Contact:
AHIOUNY@yahoo.com
518-727-7091

“518LIST.COM over-delivered what they promised and enabled a fast sale of my investment property!
Their market knowledge and marketing expertise helped me sell fast and move on to my next project quickly. I would highly recommend their services to ANY home seller. They were proactive, honest and reliable and I will certainly use them again when my next house is ready to sell. I look forward to working with them again.”

—
Frank Stramiello
HOME SELLER

“I was introduced to Matt at
518LIST.COM while he was working with my friend, Jeremiah Sweeney, and his mother, Peg. I am a first time home buyer and it was very comforting to know I was working with people my friends trusted.
Matt was very interested in helping me find a house that best suited me and my needs and was very patient throughout the entire process.
He was very knowledgeable and was available anytime I needed to get in touch.
It was a pleasure working with him!”

—
Dr. Nicole L. Alexander
HOME BUYER

“I had a terrific time learning about real estate with my agent Sylvia Elkin from 518LIST.COM.
She had patience and an understanding of what I needed for my first investment in real estate.”

—
Chris Knooze
New Investor

“Sylvia from 518LIST handled the sale of my home with her great negiotiating skills.
There were a few problems but she was able to find ways to overcome them”
—
C Biscone
HOME SELLER

Does it matter where an agent or broker works to their clients? I mean, all agents use the same MLS and offer essentially the same “product” right? They all have the same sorts of tools available to them, right? So what difference does it make to a customer where their agent works?
It makes a difference because of the quality and availability of support, training, and technology infrastructure. And it makes a difference because if your agent loves where they work and are successful in their career, they’ll do a better job for YOU.

What makes Keller Williams different?
For starters, Keller uses an “agent-centric” business model.
Most companies are built on a “broker-centric” model.
The fact is, many companies want agents to think their success is “dependent” upon them or the “size and strength” of the “company”, but that is far from the case.

So what makes us agent-centric in real terms?
Just look at the magazine you’re holding in your hands or at my website, or my business cards.
Although, I’m a Keller Associate Broker, it’s MY brand that is being promoted. The menu of services I’ve created for buyers and sellers and my method of doing business is my own and not dictated by the company I work for. These are freedoms I did not enjoy at any of the brokerages that I worked for previously and are an essential part of building my own business, not promoting someone else’s.
Even at the most supposedly agent-oriented companies, you may find oppressive practices. The company may restrict the use of your own name in promotions or require a dominant use of theirs. They may restrict the structure or compensation of your personal sales team. They may even restrict your income paths to strictly sales and direct all other financial opportunities toward the company.
Conversely, KW’s model and culture not only supports agent and team branding, but it is encouraged and emphasized!
At Keller Williams, we believe the company is best served by building the agent’s career first and putting the agent’s image ahead of the company’s. Keller is also a “no-brainer” for whole real estate companies. We’ve already seen multiple local real estate companies close their existing businesses to re-open as keller “teams”.
The brokers get to run their businesses with the same level of control they had as owners and can still have all their old agents as team members but with the enormous benefit of having Keller run the back end. They get to concentrate on actual business and customer service. They have less expense and they have access to services and training for their agents that they never could have provided on their own. They effectively get to run a business within a business.

Second, at Keller I’m not dependent only on real estate commissions to live! How many agents can say that? All of us at Keller can!
I have input in how money is spent at the company – as does every Keller agent. I have access to the books, and I share in the actual profits of the business. My clients are better served because every agent in the company is willing to help each other and act as a team. We all benefit if the company does well and in profit sharing we have what amounts to a retirement plan.
Every agent at our market center has a vested interest in seeing every other agent thrive. We are truly a team and not individual competitors like you see in other real estate companies.
Most companies give lip service to teamwork. At Keller teamwork is part of the business model, not a catch phrase.
Keller Williams is the ONLY national real estate company that offers profit share that is funded by the owner rather than the agents! Profit share is a gift that all KW members have available to them for helping the company grow!

Training is also a vitally important component of the company. Most training at other firms is directed at new agents and is focused on building the brand of the company with a secondary focus on making sure agents stay within the law, within company guidlines, and don’t run afoul of state regulations.
At Keller we truly are learning based. The education is continual for even the most seasoned agents at the company. More importantly the depth and quality of the resources available to us is staggering.
Keller Williams believes so strongly in agent career, business and life training that Keller Williams University was formed as a tangible extension of the company’s ongoing commitment to the agent’s learning and growth. These educational programs are focused on the personal productivity, sales skills, and career development of our people.
Our customers are served because even the most experienced agents at Keller are constantly in training.
KW is the only national real estate company that does not out-source their training. KW International has built a true university of training modules that are taught at each market center by the experienced Agent Leadership Council on an ongoing basis
and are available to all agents without cost!

As with all businesses, the real estate business is experiencing massive change. The trends are clear. Successful companies will treat their people as stakeholders, give them a say in the company, and will share the profits. The agents benefit by having a true career path, and their customers benefit by working with the best trained and most highly motivated agents in the industry.

If you are an agent or broker and would like to learn more about how Keller Williams can help you grow YOUR career. Call Matt Landry and Paul Nuzzi at 518-724-5823.

From the Mortgage Fraud Blog

Louis LaDonna, West Islip, New York, was charged in a 13-count indictment with scheming to defraud lenders out of approximately two and a half million dollars from the late fall of 2006 through the spring of 2007. Judge James Hudson set bail for LaDonna at $75,000 cash or $250,000 bond.

LaDonna, operating out of his home as LaDonna Properties, allegedly inflated the value of single family houses in West Islip, Lindenhurst and North Babylon and procured “straw buyers” with fake documentation overstating their incomes to qualify for no down payment mortgages. LaDonna’s buyers made two or three payments to the lender before walking away and leaving each home in foreclosure.

Marie Poulard, 50, East Quogue, New York and Frank Spindel, 49, Miller Place, New York, were arrested by district attorney detectives Monday and Tuesday, December 8 and 9, 2008 respectively, and charged with first degree grand larceny, a class B felony. According to Suffolk County District Attorney Spota, the couple swindled a now-defunct mortgage lender, American Brokers Conduit of Melville, into $1.2 million dollars in loans (a first mortgage of $927,000 and a second mortgage of $247,000) to buy a 1.4 acre property in East Quogue with a pool and tennis court.

See the rest

This article reprinted from Feb 2009 518LIST Magzine  – by Al Tanner, Tanner Contracting

As the saying goes: Water-water everywhere. 97% of the Earth’s water is in the oceans. 3% of the water is fresh and 2.7% of that is ground water. Only 1% of fresh water is available for human use.

Proper usage and conservation of this 1% has become a priority for the home industry.

Well water is susceptible to a host of contamination issues and should be tested for bacteria prior to transfer.

A proper operating septic system will ensure no pollution enters the ground water table and well.

50% of homes with basements will experience a water issue. The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) reports the #1 reported problem is wet basements. 5% of all basement floods are due to water intrusion from the water table. The remaining 95% of water problems are caused by water intrusion from rain and snow melt. Any water that falls within 10 feet of the foundation is a potential for problems and must be diverted away.

Conditions that can cause leaking into the basement are improper grading, gutter system failure due to clogs, improper installation of gutters and /or lack of maintenance to the entire gutter system. Other intrusion avenues into the home are through damaged or missing shingles, lack of ice and water shield and improper flashing. Additional factors to consider when attempting to identify a cause for interior water leaks are improperly installed air conditioners, blocked air conditioning unit drainage lines and clogged window wells. Leaks around plumbing fixtures, toilets, caulking, loose connections, drains, dryers venting indoors, bath and kitchen vents not installed properly can also be culprits. Moisture must be vented from crawl spaces and out of unheated attics.

Home construction methods currently emphasize an airtight building envelope with an interior moisture barrier. A lack of proper air exchange can raise the humidity level above the condensation range. This will allow moisture to be absorbed into sheet rock, household furnishings, carpet, and stored bedding and clothing. An additional concern is carbon monoxide gases not venting properly.

Signs of excess moisture can be seen by looking for sweating water pipes, peeling or blistering paint, condensation and ice inside windows, mold on ceilings and walls and moisture on basement floors. Fungus growth is the result of moisture. Mold is a fungus and mildew is a certain type of mold. Black mold grows on sheet rock.

Wood will decay at 20% moisture. Mold and fungi growth starts at 16% moisture. 35% of homes have active mold growth. 50% of that mold is hidden.

Mold sampling is performed with a swab or an air sampling monitor. Both samples are sent to a lab for analysis.

It has become especially important to do a comprehensive test on indoor air quality issues. A carbon monoxide detector, natural or propane gas detector and moisture meter are a must when inspecting a home for the client and residents’ sake. Radon and mold testing are strongly suggested when encountering basements below grade.

Additionally, thermal imaging has come into use to help detect hidden moisture, mold and rodent infestation.

Thermal imaging is accomplished with a hand held imaging camera. Thermal images are displayed on the imager LCD usually along with a digital image. A thermal imaging camera does not see through walls. It displays the differences in temperature.

Wind infiltration, missing insulation, warm blooded rodents and insects can be detected behind sheetrock. It is not uncommon to “see” a squirrel in the ceiling insulation. Wet areas show up particularly well. Thermal imaging is gaining popularity as an additional home inspection tool. A separate report should be generated as well as an additional fee charged for this service.

All problems are more easily solved when they are discovered early. Air and water issues are something that everyone is going to be concerned with as homes become more energy efficient.