Thursday, June 17, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
Working with multiple agents....
Did not quite work for me.
I started thinking that was the best way to get more accomplished, see more properties, and figure out who was really going to work out best for my needs. The first agent I found through a house-search site didn't work with me for very long, and we only got out to see properties one time. After discouraging me from selecting homes that were on Short Sale, three of the properties we ended up seeing in our first and only visit (selected by the agent) were short sales too. I didn't quite understand it. Then it would take a long time for the agent to communicate with me, or respond to emails or calls. That didn't last very long.
The second and third agents were better stories, but ended up not working out either because of experience (lack thereof), and they were not working as fast as I wanted things to go. I realize now, after being with another agent for a couple of months, that part of the issues were my own lack of patience and knowledge about house purchasing, but on my behalf I can say that my current agent team (there are two) works faster and seems more efficient. It is a good idea for them to work together, so when one is busy with another showing or open house, etc., the other can communicate with me about new properties, go on viewings, etc. The challenge here is to have a successful three-way communication chain of sorts.
Then there are the other agents. Lately, I've been discovering that agents who work directly with banks and their REO properties are pretty eager to sell. They generally work with one lender who works with the bank that has the REOs. This is a good team, however. If they seem to like you, it is my feeling that a buyer can have a better opportunity to get a given property. The advantage -one of the main ones- is that you can find out about properties for sale before they are listed in the MLS system. Since these days by the time a property is listed, it often has already 3-10 offers, it made no sense to me, and I would get upset that my agents were not being efficient. Now, I understand these sellers are receiving offers before the properties get posted. I am not sure how legal all these is, but seems to be fair game. At least for the seller agents and for the banks. The ones that would suffer are 1) the buyers - who don't get access to the same properties at the same time, and 2) the realty agents - who don't know about the properties until they get listed in the MLS.
I started thinking that was the best way to get more accomplished, see more properties, and figure out who was really going to work out best for my needs. The first agent I found through a house-search site didn't work with me for very long, and we only got out to see properties one time. After discouraging me from selecting homes that were on Short Sale, three of the properties we ended up seeing in our first and only visit (selected by the agent) were short sales too. I didn't quite understand it. Then it would take a long time for the agent to communicate with me, or respond to emails or calls. That didn't last very long.
The second and third agents were better stories, but ended up not working out either because of experience (lack thereof), and they were not working as fast as I wanted things to go. I realize now, after being with another agent for a couple of months, that part of the issues were my own lack of patience and knowledge about house purchasing, but on my behalf I can say that my current agent team (there are two) works faster and seems more efficient. It is a good idea for them to work together, so when one is busy with another showing or open house, etc., the other can communicate with me about new properties, go on viewings, etc. The challenge here is to have a successful three-way communication chain of sorts.
Then there are the other agents. Lately, I've been discovering that agents who work directly with banks and their REO properties are pretty eager to sell. They generally work with one lender who works with the bank that has the REOs. This is a good team, however. If they seem to like you, it is my feeling that a buyer can have a better opportunity to get a given property. The advantage -one of the main ones- is that you can find out about properties for sale before they are listed in the MLS system. Since these days by the time a property is listed, it often has already 3-10 offers, it made no sense to me, and I would get upset that my agents were not being efficient. Now, I understand these sellers are receiving offers before the properties get posted. I am not sure how legal all these is, but seems to be fair game. At least for the seller agents and for the banks. The ones that would suffer are 1) the buyers - who don't get access to the same properties at the same time, and 2) the realty agents - who don't know about the properties until they get listed in the MLS.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
House Buying
I think this is it. After looking for a house for a little over three months -- or is it four?-- I think we are close to finding the starter home we have always dreamed of.
Not really. One of the first agents I worked with told me, "better to buy the worst house in the best area, than the best house in the worst area." So the property that I hope comes through for us kind of falls somewhere along those lines. I loooooved the area. Tree-lined streets, well manicured gardens, no trash, no graffiti. No noise! The place will require a bit of work, and I may have to take a good amount of that on my own. Thankfully I have learned to paint, to sand, to tear down and to hammer, among other things. At least the basics, I say, that might save me a few hundred dollars in the end.
Say a prayer that this property comes through, if this is what will be best for us. It is on a street named after a saint, so I am asking that saint to intercede on our behalf. It would be quite appropriate, I think, and it is also a beautiful name. I won't disclose the details. I won't give the place or address away. Not believing in this sort of thing, I prefer being cautious. Lest the powers that be feel compelled to not make it happen. :)
Not really. One of the first agents I worked with told me, "better to buy the worst house in the best area, than the best house in the worst area." So the property that I hope comes through for us kind of falls somewhere along those lines. I loooooved the area. Tree-lined streets, well manicured gardens, no trash, no graffiti. No noise! The place will require a bit of work, and I may have to take a good amount of that on my own. Thankfully I have learned to paint, to sand, to tear down and to hammer, among other things. At least the basics, I say, that might save me a few hundred dollars in the end.
Say a prayer that this property comes through, if this is what will be best for us. It is on a street named after a saint, so I am asking that saint to intercede on our behalf. It would be quite appropriate, I think, and it is also a beautiful name. I won't disclose the details. I won't give the place or address away. Not believing in this sort of thing, I prefer being cautious. Lest the powers that be feel compelled to not make it happen. :)
Friday, February 12, 2010
Tragic day today when an Olympic athlete who had his whole life ahead, and a very promising for that matter, ends it in a matter of seconds. Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili crashed during training on a track apparently made too fast and too dangerous. Just yesterday during a workshop about the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People we discussed the competitive nature of many societies. When is a competitive nature healthy? Under what circumstances does it make us better people, under which ones is detrimental?
The frailty of the human body is not something we like to recognize very often. Sports that seriously risk the lives of competitors should be reevaluated. Seeking to make the games more attractive, more daring to garner larger audiences and consequently higher monetary payoffs is not justified. These games as any other sport should highlight the human spirit, and respect the sanctity of the lives of all participants.
The frailty of the human body is not something we like to recognize very often. Sports that seriously risk the lives of competitors should be reevaluated. Seeking to make the games more attractive, more daring to garner larger audiences and consequently higher monetary payoffs is not justified. These games as any other sport should highlight the human spirit, and respect the sanctity of the lives of all participants.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Long Week
A very long week at work, with mostly 10 and 12 hour days. Feeling tired and hungry. Also fighting a head cold that I hope won't last more than another day or two. I think my body's resistance lowered as I pushed it through a rough week, and it just couldn't take it. Haven't been eating well either, and I am certain that didn't help. With all the stress of work, and adjusting to the long schedule, preparing meals has not been a priority. Add to that the fact that I was a bit sick the last couple of days with indigestion, and it is easier to understand that I'm now fighting this cold. So, instead of typing on this blog, I'll go to see what I can quickly prepare, at 10:21pm, to nourish my system. Happy dreams everyone. Or no one.
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