Archive for the ‘General’ Category

Tax Deductions for First Time Homeowners

Thursday, January 14th, 2010


Tax Deductions for First Time Homeowners

By: Chris Castillo

If you are looking to buy a house you may want to know what tax deductions you receive as a first time homeowner.

There are several standard deductions you receive as a homeowner. To deduct expenses of owning a home, you must file Form 1040 and itemize your deductions on Schedule A (Form 1040). If you itemize, you cannot take the standard deduction.

Now your first question may be what does the IRS define as a home? Your first home may be a house, condominium, cooperative apartment, mobile home, houseboat, or house trailer.

If you took out a mortgage (loan) to finance the purchase of your home, you probably have to make monthly house payments. Your house payment may include several costs of owning a home. Generally, your real estate taxes and home mortgage interest are included in your house payment. The only costs you can deduct are real estate taxes actually paid to the taxing authority and interest that qualifies as home mortgage interest.

Real estate taxes are the annual tax on the value of real property. You can deduct the tax if it is based on the assessed value of the real property and the taxing authority charges a unique form rate on all property in its jurisdiction.

Home mortgage interest is the interest you pay on a loan secured by your main home or a second home. The loan can be a first or second mortgage, a home improvement loan, or a home equity loan.

Generally, you can elect to deduct state and local general sales taxes instead of state and local income taxes as an itemized deduction on Schedule A (Form 1040).

Deductible sales taxes may include sales taxes paid on your home (including mobile and prefabricated), or home building materials if the tax rate was the same as the general sales tax rate.

*Note that if you elect to deduct the sales taxes paid on your home, or home building materials, you cannot include them as part of your cost basis in your home.

Here are some expenses, which may be included in your house payment that cannot be deducted:
- Fire or homeowners insurance premiums.
- FHA or other mortgage insurance premiums.
- The amount applied to reduce the principal of the mortgage.

You cannot deduct any of the following items:
- Insurance, including fire and comprehensive coverage, and title and mortgage insurance.
- Wages you pay for domestic help.
- Depreciation.
- The cost of utilities, such as gas, electricity, or water.
- More settlement costs.
- Forfeited deposits, down payments, or earnest money.

Note that you can deduct some of these items if you operate a home business. For example, you are allowed to use depreciation on your personal residence if you have a home office.

Author Resource: Chris Castillo is committed to providing free real estate tax related information on the web. Get more information concerning real estate taxes at www.real-estate-owner.com

Article From RealEstateArticles4U.com

Technorati Tags: First Time Home Buyer, Tax Deductions

Remove Bankruptcies, Charge Offs, Repossessions And More: How To Get Them Off

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009


Remove Bankruptcies, Charge Offs,
Repossessions And More: How To Get Them Off

By: Jay Delgado

In this article I am going to share some tips with you that will help you remove some items from your credit report, even if they are yours.

The credit reporting agencies are bound by the laws of the FCRA and FDCPA to report accurate information. Your name, address, date of birth, SSN etc. all need to be correct.

Also the three credit bureaus are obligated (as well as your creditor) to verify any information that you dispute to be not valid within a 30-day time frame. Thirty days!

Ok, with the above in mind let’s get to work.

First off, I would advise reading up on the above reverenced laws in order to facilitate an effective campaign and also grab some of these laws verbiage so you can insert them into your dispute letters.

Get your most recent credit reports from the three credit bureaus and go through them noting any negative information that you believe to be inaccurate. 30 day late, bankruptcies, charge offs, repossessions, they’re all coming off (as I am going to show you how) so stick with me here.

OK, now you are going to have to write a letter (no not some form letter you got off the internet) that is different and creative. State why the item is not yours (maybe it isn’t) maybe you had your identity stolen or your ex obtained credit in your name without your permission, so put that in there. By the way the last sentence is known as IDENTITY THEFT. Quote the laws that say they have to remove it because of this.

Challenge the bureaus to validate the debt within the 30-day time frame or have it removed. A well-written letter is powerful and any claims you put in it as grounds for removal, the bureaus have to prove otherwise or remove it. Simple as that!

So now you wrote your letters (with some nice legal verbiage) and put the items that you are claiming are not yours in there as well.

The next little trick I am going to mention works like a charm, don’t ask me to explain why, but I’ve had success with it and when I started doing this on letters it increased my success 10 fold. Notarize your letters, that’s right, go to a notary and have the letters notarized.

Now take the letters, include a legible copy of your SSN and drivers license, address them appropriately to each of the bureaus and send them out certified mail return receipt requested.

The 30-day time frame will begin from the time they sign for it. Hold on to these receipts because you will need proof you sent them if you don’t get your response back within thirty days. (This is another letter you can write to have the items removed because of failure to validate the debt in 30 days)

You should start to get responses back within 30-45 days and I know you will see some items removed and some items will come back as verified.

Do not worry you can just do another round, same process over again.

In about three rounds you should have a pretty clear report and I am most sure that the bankruptcy you said wasn’t yours is off of at least two of the three if not all.

Keep it up, respond back with some better-written letters in response to theirs and always quote some laws.

Between the laws quoted, notary and the simple fact that they only have 30 days to respond (to about a billion other dispute letters) you can clean your report if you stick to it.

I guarantee it! O yea, it does not hurt to simultaneously dispute on line as well.

Author Resource: J Delgado is an expert in helping individuals restore there credit. To find out more about having foreclosures, bankruptcies, late payments and other derogatory items removed from your credit report contact him at creditexpert@scrubyourcredit.com

Article From RealEstateArticles4U.com

Technorati Tags: Charge Offs, Foreclosures, Removing Bankruptcy

Getting Ready for an Open House

Saturday, September 12th, 2009


Getting Ready for an Open House

By: Paige Martin

An open house can be a wonderful way for a seller to advertise their home for sale to many people in a very short period of time. It’s also an opportunity to showcase the finer points of the home in a way that pictures just can’t capture. However, before hosting an open house, it’s important to keep a few things in mind.

The first thing to consider is when you hold your open house. Most open houses take place on weekends when potential buyers have the time to stop by the property and check it out. It’s also important that you schedule your open house around nice weather, if possible. Most people will want to stay in their own homes if it is raining but will be more likely to tour other peoples homes on sunny and warm days.

Make a List of the Needed Repairs

Then make a list of all the things that need to be done before the open house. This includes making small repairs, clearing clutter that will detract from the space, and taking down personal items such as photographs.

A buyer needs to be able to envision themselves in the home and the potential for making it their own. If there are kid’s toys lying around, and pictures of people that they don’t know on the walls, it will be much harder for them to picture the house as their own.

Another advantage to de-cluttering and putting away personal items is that the emptier a space is, the larger it appears and this is true even for the walls.

Make sure Your Home is Clean

It’s then important to remember that a dirty home is not an attractive home. Dust on the shelves and dirty carpets and floorings do not make someone want to bring in their own personal items.

Before the open house, make sure that every surface has been given a thorough cleaning, the furniture is all polished and that all floors have been cleaned. It can also be a good idea to give dingy walls a clean look by giving them a fresh coat of paint. If you decide to paint the walls, be sure to allow for plenty of time for them to dry and to get the fresh paint smell out of the house.

Coffee and Fresh Cookies add a Nice Touch

Lastly, brew a pot of coffee or bake some cookies. Not only will these provide refreshments for the potential buyers but they will also bring an inviting scent into the home.

Author Resource:> Paige Martin is award winning Houston realtor. Her website features 500+ pages of data and lists all MLS Houston Townhomes for sale. Paige is a member of the Houston, Texas, and National Assoc of Realtors.

Article From RealEstateArticles4U.com

Technorati Tags: Open House

How To Deal With Roofing Problems

Sunday, August 23rd, 2009

How To Deal With Roofing Problems

By: Kris Koonar

A leak in the roof of the house could be any homeowner’s worst nightmare.

It is true; no one would like to have a leak in the roof. It is very hard to locate the origin of the leakage as it shows up far away from the place where it originates.

It is a pain at times, to find the leak. A leak in the roof could destroy precious pieces of furniture and ruin the whole look of the house. They could also cause damage to the structural integrity of the house. It could damage the sheathing and the framing of the house.

The life of any type of roofing is not more than 20 years. It is very essential to fix the roofing problem before it gets out of hand. Do not ignore a leak as it will definitely grow and cause more problems.

Various solutions have come up to deal with roofing problems.

If the roof of your house does have a problem do not panic. It is necessary to carry out the procedure calmly. The Internet is a great place to find out solution to roofing problems. You can also find tips, on how to prevent leaks. The Internet is also a good place to look for roofers. You could also enquire about roofers with your neighbors, families or friends.

Select an appropriate roofer and check if he/she is factory-certified. These roofers are trained at a factory and are known well for their work. It is important to carry out a small research before hiring a roofer. It is better to hire a local reputed roofer well known for his quality work. You also need to make sure the worker is well insured with workers’ compensation fund. This way you will not be liable for any accident the worker may have in your house.

While roofing, you have to make sure that the workers abide by certain building codes laid on a national, state or local level. If these codes are not followed, the local building inspector may ask you to tear down the whole thing and then rebuild it. This will increase your expenses to repair.

Another important factor to remember is the ventilation. There has to be enough ventilation in the attic to ensure a long life of the roof. Improper ventilation of the attic can damage the roof and the structure of the house.

Every roofing material has a manufacturer’s warranty for any defects in the material. The conditions of the warranty will differ for products of different manufacturers. Warranty provided by the contractors is different from that provided by the manufacturers.

The contractors will mostly provide guarantee on repairs made by their employees. It is good to have guaranty/warranty from both the manufacturers and the contractor. It is good to carry out financial background check on the manufacturers and the contractor, as they are susceptible to dissolve licensee within 5 years.

Author Resource: Classic Metal Roofs serves Southern New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts Metal Roofing Market.
Article From RealEstateArticles4U.com

Technorati Tags: Roof repair

Concrete Floor Sealers

Thursday, August 20th, 2009

How and Why to Buy a Concrete Floor Sealer

By: April Kerr

If you either already have concrete flooring installed or you are thinking of doing so, you should make sure that you seal it so that it will stay looking in top condition. If it isn’t sealed and gets walked over, furniture dragged on etc., your beautiful concrete floors could end up damaged.

This is perhaps not quite so important in your garage but if you have gone to the expense of having the concrete etched in your home then sealing is essential.

Using a concrete floor sealer will make sure that if liquid and chemicals get spilled on it, these substances won’t be absorbed. Everyday life can easily cause your floors to crack and chip but you can prevent this happening if you follow these steps:

For the best results you should aim to have your concrete flooring sealed whilst they are new. If you don’t seal them straight away, they won’t be protected from spills and dirt. When you concrete floor becomes stained it’s very difficult to resolve the problem.

Before you seal your concrete floor, make sure that it is level and there are no cracks. If there are cracks and chips, repair them with a repair compound. Doing this will also help prevent damp setting in which is a major problem in basements.

The concrete should also be level and any cracks, chips or hollows should be filled in with a repair compound. By repairing cracks, not only will your give your concrete floors a much better appearance, you will also prevent damp which is a particular problem in basements. If you have had to use a repair compound, make sure you allow it to dry properly before sealing.

When you go out and buy a concrete sealer you will notice they come in two types: penetrants and film formers.

Penetrating sealers such as silicates, silanes and siloxanes are used to seal exterior concrete which is subject to frost and corrosion. For interior concrete you would use the film-forming sealers. As the name suggests, these sealers create a film over the concrete which gives it a shine.

However, it’s not as simple as just going to your local DIY store and asking for a film-forming concrete sealer; there are three main types to choose from:

  • Acrylic sealers can be either water or solvent based and are cheap and easy to use. Normally you would only use them outdoors because they offer a good protection against water and UV light. The major drawback of acrylic sealers is that they aren’t very hard wearing because they are thinner so need to be applied more frequently.
  • Epoxy sealers make the ideal choice for concrete floors as they are hard wearing and last for a good length of time. They come in either clear or tinted finish so think about what appearance you want before you buy.
  • Polyurethane sealers come in water or solvent based forms and are thicker than acrylic which makes them stand up well against chemicals and abrasion. The only problem is that when it comes into contact with water, foaming and bubbling can occur. However if you allow the polyurethane to cure for a couple of days you should be OK.

After you have repaired any cracks and chips in the concrete you can then apply the sealer. Epoxy sealer is said to be the best type for sealing your concrete floor. Make sure you buy enough sealer by calculating the size of your room first before you start to apply the sealer.

Author Resource: April Kerr often writes articles for FinerLiving.net, a DIY site, which has articles relating to acid stained concrete floors and concrete floor sealers.

Article From RealEstateArticles4U.com

Technorati Tags: concrete floor sealer

Tips for Buying Building Insurance

Thursday, August 13th, 2009

Tips To Having Adequate Buildings Insurance

By: Tom Jones

It is very important that your building or for that matter, any property is adequately insured.

The sum insured is the maximum amount that an insurer will pay the policyholder in the event of any loss. But a common mistake people make is that they believe that the sum insured must be the present market value of the property which is actually not the case.

In fact it should be the rebuilding cost that will be required if any loss occurs to the property. This cost can be higher or lower than the market value. The rebuilding cost of properties built years ago in the less popular areas of UK will be much more than their market price.

Around 40% of the properties in UK are not insured adequately. This means that in the event of any loss, the insurance companies will not pay the entire amount of the claim. To ensure that your risk is fully covered, the rebuilding cost must be calculated by a professional surveyor.

However, some insurance companies calculate the sum insured based on some decided factors such as age, condition, type, style, improvements done or the area. The rebuilding costs will increase annually based on the index value of that year, the basic requirement is that the cost for the first year is calculated correctly.

You must always remember that there are certain terms and conditions or clauses attached to every buildings insurance policy. Your claim may not be considered if these conditions are violated. Some of these conditions are stated below:

Tenants not permitted by the Insurer:

There are certain categories of tenants who are not permitted by the general insurers and mortgage lenders. Many tenants such as students, tenants on benefits and multiple sharers violate the rules of the buildings insurance policy.

Injury, death to any outsider such as postman, council employee or meter reader etc. are not included in the policy. Damage to the adjacent property is also not covered. But some insurers include these risks with some additional premiums.

Liability Cover:

Generally, the policy does not cover the persons you employ at your property like a painter, a gardener etc. If you want to cover these risks, then some additional premium will have to be paid.

Insured Events:

The main and foremost common factors which cause damage to the property should always be included in the policy terms. Following are the main perils that can cause damage to the property.

  • Smoke
  • Theft
  • Aircraft
  • Explosion
  • Fire
  • Malicious damage
  • Subsidence
  • Storm or flood
  • Impact
  • Burst pipes or leakage of oil
  • Lightening

Some of the insurers also cover a loss caused by the tenants which is a very good option for property owners who have let their properties.

Rent Loss:

You will incur a loss of rent along with losses of the property should some damage happen to the building. Some buildings insurance policies also include the option of covering the loss of rent in case the damage renders the property inhabitable. It is generally 20% of the sum insured but some insurers also offer up to 30%.

Author Resource: If you’re looking for a quote on building insurance visit Swinton.

Article From RealEstateArticles4U.com

Technorati Tags: Building Insurance

Controlling Your Home Water Quality

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

Be In Control Of Your Home Water Quality

By: Art Stanley

The truth is many of us don’t spend much time thinking about the quality of our drinking water. Often we are lulled into a false sense of security that our water quality is top-notch, while in reality there may be alarming amounts of contaminants in our residential water supply.

For home owners with a well, the issue of water quality is more prevalent than those supplied by municipal water. Well owners are generally more aware of the need for some vigilance in monitoring water quality, especially those located near potential sources of run-off including agricultural run-off. Well owners should be testing their water on a regular basis (at least 4 times a year) and they must take special care to have the water tested for micro-biological contamination (bacterial and viral pathogens) regularly too.

Micro-biological contamination, most commonly bacterial pathogens such as e.coli and coliform can be a major cause for concern as these pathogens can do great harm to your health. The presence of either of these pathogens simply must not be tolerated and you must take action to ensure your water is free of contamination by killing these organisms before they get a chance to infect your family.

Traditional disinfection has been done by adding chlorine (usually chlorine bleach) to the well and waiting for a period of time while the bacteria is killed in the well. This process is cumbersome and in addition must be done on a regular basis as new pathogens are introduced into the well water. The other draw back of this method is that chemical disinfection can create harmful byproducts which in themselves can be harmful to your health.

Those supplied with municipal water should not think that they are necessarily immune from water quality problems. A quick search of stories related to boil water orders alone issued by municipalities will convince you that the ultimate responsibility to ensure your own water quality rests in the end with you.

The chemical-free way to ensure that your water is completely safe is to use Ultra Violet light (UV) to kill all bacterial and viral pathogens in real time (as you use the water) and around the clock. UV is a time-tested technology, completely safe, absolutely effective and environmentally sound. There is no better way to ensure safe drinking water, and no more cost effective method per unit volume.

UV systems are available in a wide range of sizes to suite the smallest residence to the largest. Maintenance is minimal (change a lamp once a year) and the system is ready to work for you all year, without the hassle of buying, storing and using harsh chemical treatments.

UV is the environmentally superior option as no byproducts are produced and there is never any risk of chemical overdosing in water treatment. UV is the future of safe, sustainable water purification and this is proven by the number of municipalities now installing UV as a primary disinfection technology to serve their customers.

Author Resource: Ready to tap into safe drinking water at home? Visit UVshack.com to see some of our best selling systems. For a limited time we are offering FREE shipping too!

Article From RealEstateArticles4U.com

Technorati Tags: drinking water, uv water purification

Google Maps on Your Real Estate Website

Saturday, July 25th, 2009

How to Add Google Maps
to Your Real Estate Website

By: Michael LaPeter

Google Maps have been around for a while now, but there still aren’t very many real estate agents who use them on their personal or farm real estate websites.

Whether you’re focusing on a neighborhood or a subdivision, you can quickly and easily use Google Maps to create a useful, local resource that you can provide to your farm or use to attract buyers interested in the area.

Local, accurate information from a human, whether in the form of Google maps, single property websites, or hyper-local sites, is one of the best advantages we can provide as real estate agents, and it’s one of the hardest areas for national conglomerates and huge search sites to break into.

It’s easy to get started using Google Maps
You can use the the place-mark pins as I have in this example, or you can draw shapes on the map for subdivisions or bigger buildings. You could make a “buyer’s tour” for out of town buyers, perhaps highlighting desirable (or especially undesirable) areas, and including points of interest with your own personal commentary.

Why not have the first point start at your office?

  1. To get started, sign in or create a Google account then Google “Google maps” and click the first result to go to their map section.
  2. Then click “create new map” near the top left corner, and start plopping down points of interest. After you put down a point, you can add details into You can put in links to things such as your MLS listing, single property websites, etc.
  3. Once you’ve created your map, you can then embed it on your site or link to it by clicking “Link” near the top right corner and cutting and pasting the code they provide. You could also add the same Google map to your single property websites for maximum exposure. Either way, they’re an easy and effective way to show you’re a local agent.

While there are more advanced ways to integrate google maps into your site, those methods usually involve the assistance of a professional web developer.

I’d suggest getting started with the above method first, to decide what aspects you like about Google Maps. Then, you can save more time and money when you decide to work with a professional web developer.

Along with Google Maps, don’t forget to also add plenty of high quality photos to the rest of your site, as this can also help buyers get a great sense of a local area.

Author Resource: Michael is an active real estate broker and writes frequently on real estate marketing. Michael is also the founder of Bold Virtual Tours, a web 2.0 marketing tool that lets real estate agents create stunning virtual tours and single property websites easily. He also writes on the Real Estate Marketing Blog there.

Article From RealEstateArticles4U.com

Technorati Tags: Real Estate Websites and Google Maps

Insulation Buying Tips

Friday, June 26th, 2009

Basic Insulation Buying Tips

By: John Morris

Insulation is the process of enclosing or covering an object with a material that serves as a barrier and reduces (or blocks) the flow of energy, specifically heat. It is essentially used for the following reasons:

  • To reduce heat energy losses.
  • To prevent nearby objects from heating up.

Below are some examples where insulation is typically used:

  • On appliances - stoves and ovens, refrigerators and freezers, water heaters, water pipes, etc.
  • On industrial applications.

When done properly, insulation can provide indoor comfort (by keeping your house cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter) and energy efficiency.

Determining and buying the insulation that is right for your household can be a challenge. Below are some helpful hints on how to go about buying the perfect insulation for your home.

What to Insulate

The first thing to consider is to identify where the insulation will be installed or used. A personal inspection of your home may be sufficient, but it is still best to let the qualified people (such as your contractor) do the job.

    Depending on your (or an expert’s) findings, your household might need any or all of the following insulation:

    -Wall/cavity wall insulation. Cavity wall insulation prevents your house from being exposed to rapid temperature changes outside. Studies show that heat loss due to un-insulated walls can reach as much as 50%, and cavity wall insulation could possibly prevent 70% of this from happening.

    -Loft/roof insulation. Because hot air rises, heat loss through the roof can reach as much as 25%. This can be greatly reduced with proper attic or loft insulation.

    -Duct/pipe insulation. Leaky ducts or pipes can contribute to an increase in your heating (or cooling) costs. They can also burst (or freeze), so it is also important to have them properly insulated.

    -Water cylinders/storage tanks. Hot water cylinders and cold water storage tanks also need to be insulated to prevent them from being exposed to intense cold or heat.

    What to Use

    Traditional insulating materials that are commonly-used in the households are the following:

      -Fiberglass/fiberglass mats/mineral fiber. Fiberglass is the most common and versatile type of insulating material that is made from molten glass and spun into microfibers.

      Usually pink or yellow in color, fiberglass comes in 3 forms:

      • Rolls - blankets of insulation that may or may not have vapor barriers, which prevent condensation in cold areas that could result in damage (such as mold).
      • Batts - similar to rolls but come in lengths ranging from 4 to 8 feet.
      • Blown - these are loose insulation that can be ‘blown’ into walls or ceilings.

      -Cellulose. Another insulating material that is commonly used in households is cellulose. It is a fibrous material made from scrap or recycled paper (like newsprint or cardboard) that is shredded and treated with chemicals that would make it resistant to fire and insects. It is then applied (poured or blown-in) into place, either as loose-fill or wet-sprayed with the use of a machine.

      -Rock wool. As the name implies, rock wool is an insulating material that is made from rock. Manufactured similarly to that of a fiberglass (with molten rock replacing glass), rock wool can be in the form of a hollow brick or a porous concrete block.

      -Synthetic insulation. Synthetic insulating materials are manufactured in several forms, some of which are the following:

      • Polystyrene foam - usually as rigid, pre-cut boards.
        Polyurethane foam - usually as boards or foamed ‘insitu’ (”in position”).
      • Spray-on expanding foam - similar to that found in aerosol cans, it can completely seal and insulate even the smallest areas in the house by ‘expanding’ up to as much as 2 to 4 times the original size when applied.

      Deciding on the right material to be used for installation largely depends on the area that requires installation. Below are some of the standard insulating materials that are recommended for the specific areas in your home:

      -For loft or roof insulation

      • *Mineral wool quilt
      • *Blown mineral wool
      • *Blown cellulose fiber

      -For duct or pipe insulation

      • *Mineral wool mat
      • *Pre-formed split foam insulation
      • *Foil-faced fiberglass insulation
      • *Vinyl-faced insulation
      • *Ridged foam insulation

      -For wall insulation

      • *Blown-in cellulose
      • *Fiberglass (batt and roll) insulation

      Check with an Expert

      Aside from your personal considerations, the key to finding the perfect insulation for your home is to consult a professional who is knowledgeable in this field. It is still best to check with an expert, who could provide you with several options that would best suit your needs.

        Insulating your home may add to your household expenses today, but in the long run, it will not only save you money (by lowering your utility bills); it will also protect you and your property.

        Author Resource: For more great insulation information and resources check out: http://www.insulationhq.info

        Article From RealEstateArticles4U.com

        Technorati Tags: buying home insulation

        FSBO - Discover Why Realtors Can Make You Money

        Saturday, May 9th, 2009

        For Sale By Owner (FSBO) - Why to Use a Realtor Anyway

        By: Gerald Meyer

        For Sale By Owner (FSBO) is just as it sounds, a homeowner trying to sell their home without the assistance of a Realtor.

        Can you do this, sure!

        Typically, are FSBOs successful? No.

        About 80% of all FSBO’s end up listing their homes with a Professional Realtor.

        Here’s why:

        1. I do not have the time to make appointments during the day or during normal business hours.
        2. How do I know if these potential buyers can qualify for my home?
        3. I am not aware of the legal documentation that should accompany a contract.
        4. How do you pick a Title Company, and who is suppose to pay their fees?
        5. What if the Buyer backs out of the contract?
        6. Can I sell my home for market price without using a Realtor?
        7. What coverage do I have if the Buyer sues me a year after closing?
        8. Is it worth having a home inspection before putting the house on the market?
        9. Who does the home warranty really protect?
        10. Will I really be saving the real estate commission if I try to sell myself?

        These are some of the many questions that homeowners have to ask themselves before embarking on this endeavor without a professional.

        What some homeowners don’t realize is that most Realtors do care. This is our livelihood. We want to sell your home for the highest possible price; our commission is based on sales price.

        So when we say the house is overpriced, it is!

        Our goal is to have a smooth transaction, and you be happy with the outcome so the next time to have to buy or sell, you think of us.

        Still, anyone can put a sign in the yard and try to sell their home, and some may actually get it sold in a reasonable amount of time. But as with any profession, if you decide to take on the role yourself, you are opening yourself up to potential risks.

        Licensed Realtors are just as such, a licensed professional who is capable of guiding you thru the process and assessing the transaction with the least amount of risk possible.

        We help get your home sold in the least amount of time, for the highest possible price. We ensure that the buyers are qualified to purchase the home and walk you thru the closing process step by step.

        Some FSBO’s think that since they have sold houses before in other states, that it will be a walk in the park anywhere. Not so. For example, Texas is one of the most demanding states when it comes to selling real estate. We as agents, are required by law to have all of our ducks in a row before even placing the house on the market. Here’s a few things we’re required to do:

        1. Checking the mortgage balance to see if it the seller is even in a position to sell at the current market.
        2. Verifying ownership.
        3. Does the property have clear Title.
        4. It this a saleable property, what work needs to be completed prior to listing.
        5. What is the current market price to allow a quick sale.

        In closing, just know that there is a Realtor out there for each situation. From leases to commercial property, we are licensed to assist with all your real estate needs.

        Author Resource: Leanna Meyer is with Re/Max Cross Country and can help you find Flower Mound, Lewisville, and Dallas Texas Real Estate.

        Article From RealEstateArticles4U.com

        Technorati Tags: For Sale by Owner, FSBO, Realtors