Real Estate Tips

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Real Estate Buyers Beware: Get Representation… You Need Representation by Elaine VonCannon

It is the buyer’s right to seek an agent, and it is in their best interest to do so.

For Sale by Owner
When a potential buyer sees a For Sale by Owner property he or she should contact their realtor before contacting the For Sale by Owner. And when the buyer makes an offer on the For Sale by Owner Property he or she needs representation on the sale. The buyer always needs representation for many reasons.

Home Inspections
Most buyers do not know to ask for home inspections, what they cost, or who to call to do one. If there is work to be done on an inspection report, a buyer should negotiate, and a REALTOR has skill and experience at this.

New Home Sites
New home site buyers need to hire a REALTOR to look out for their interests, too. Remember, the site agent is there to protect the builder’s interest and therefore everything will be geared towards what benefits the builder, not the buyer. When registering at a new home site, be sure to include your agent’s phone number, name, and company.

Dual Agency: The Listing Agency
When a REALTOR chooses to represent the seller AND the buyer, this is considered dual agency. A buyer’s rights are not emphasized in these circumstances. Bringing a REALTOR onto the buyer’s side equalizes the sale, and gives the buyer much needed experience and professional advice.

Earnest Money Deposit
When the buyer makes an offer on a For Sale by Owner – who makes the Earnest Money deposit? How does a buyer obtain the deposit back if the contract falls through? A REALTOR will place the money in an escrow account.

Buyer’s Broker Agreement
A buyer’s broker protects the buyer’s interest in the transaction. In Virginia, the seller pays the commission, so by law the listing agent and the selling agent have to protect the seller’s interest. So, if you select a buyer’s broker to work with you on the home purchase, you will be represented in the sale.

Cost Analysis
In order to prevent overpaying for a home, a REALTOR will do a cost analysis for a buyer, to determine if the home is priced correctly. This is the same kind of analysis an appraiser would do, using comparable sales which have closed in the last three months in the area.

Escalation Clauses
Escalation clauses are applicable in markets where there is very little inventory and it is a fast selling market. The escalation clause will give you a competitive edge in procuring the home that you want when multiple offers are presented on a property. An escalation clause is not a standard feature on contractual sales.

Home Owners Association
The buyer needs to know the time frame for the Home Owners Association (HOA) packet. A buyer may be caught in buying into an HOA with high hidden fees if the timeframe is missed when he or she can exercise their right to void the contract. This will vary from state to state.

Disclosures & Disclaimers
If there has been any structural damage to the home or adverse environmental problems with the home they must be disclosed. An example of this would be asbestos wrapped pipes. If not, then a disclaimer will accompany contract. Laws on disclosure/disclaimer vary from state to state.

Well and Septic
In rural areas, where well and septic are used instead of city water, they are applicable as conditions of the contract. There are time frames for these inspections also, which vary from state to state.

Termite and Moisture
Clean termite and moister letters vary from state to state and from the timeframe that needs to be adhered to in the contract. The majority of lenders require a clean termite and moister letter prior to closing. The REALTOR in your area would know these timelines.

Referrals
If you are moving into an unfamiliar geographic location, ask your real estate agent if he or she can refer you to an agent in the area you are moving to. A REALTOR obtained through referral will help in relocating and purchasing your new home.

Select an Agent Carefully
Each For Sale by Owner buyer needs to interview a REALTOR and select one who is comfortable approaching For Sale by Owners and working with them. Do not let For Sale by Owners or new home site agents dissuade you from using an agent. He or she may say that you will pay less for the home purchase. In reality, a REALTOR’s professional advice may save you from taking a property that could become a nightmare, or help uncover a hidden jewel. Remember, if you’re searching for a home you still need a realtor, to look out for your end of the sale. Get representation on your side.

About the Author

Elaine VonCannon is a REALTOR with RE/Max Capital in Williamsburg, Virginia, and she manages investment property as part of her business. Elaine is also an Accredited Buyer’s Representative as well as a Senior Real Estate Specialist. She has helped numerous clients invest in and make money on property in Southeastern Virginia.

Not All REALTORS Are Created Equal: 10 Tips for Finding One by Elaine VonCannon

I have seen home buyers and sellers less than satisfied with REALTORS who were not providing them the level of service they felt they deserved. If you take the time to find a good match, you may find your search for a home to be a rewarding experience. Here are some tips on evaluating a REALTOR.

1. If you are a seller, select a REALTOR who will advertise your property individually and distinctly.
2. A REALTOR must have a hot, up-to-date web site that changes to reflect the market.
3. Take into account the busy lifestyle of today’s professionals. Consider that most people use the internet to search for homes. Understand a REALTOR’S presence on the internet is crucial to their effectiveness.
4. If paying commission is a huge point with you, find a REALTOR who will be flexible.
5. Use a REALTOR with a national presence in the real estate market. Analyze the REALTOR’S web site as an indicator of this.
6. Choose a REALTOR with experience. If they are newly licensed, ask if the REALTOR is in a mentor program.
7. Check the REALTOR’S license by visiting your state’s department of occupational professionals web site. You can determine if the license is in good standing, read about any complaints or investigations, and see how long the REALTOR has been licensed.
8. Find a REALTOR who will research and obtain information from the source. This includes visiting a tax office or courthouse to research things like zoning or mapping topography of a home site.
9. Ask your REALTOR if they have access to more than one Multiple Listing Service (MLS) – if this is applicable in your area. Access to more MLS means increased opportunities to sell you property to qualified buyers or find the home that meets your criteria.
10. Open houses are not the way to sell homes, so do not be dazzled by a REALTOR who hosts them frequently. Often open houses attract neighbors and people not yet ready to buy.

If you take the time to find out more about the REALTOR you expect to use, you could land yourself a dream home, or a nice net gain on the home you are going to sell.

About the Author

Elaine VonCannon is a REALTOR with RE/Max Capital in Williamsburg, Virginia, and she manages investment property as part of her business. Elaine is also an Accredited Buyer’s Representative as well as a Senior Real Estate Specialist. She has helped numerous clients invest in and make money on property in Southeastern Virginia.

No Hotel Loan for You! by Cameron Brown

Meeting the requirements to get a decent hotel loan from your local lender can be difficult but not impossible. Let’s face it, what lender wants to put money up for a roach infested dump in downtown Detroit? You’d have to get a separate loan just for the insurance.

Most lenders will only finance hotel properties that are “flagged”. In other words, most banks, public and private lenders will only provide hotel loans to individuals who are starting a franchise under certain major hotel/motel chains such as Best Western, Hilton, Super 8 and other well-established hospitality brands; Sid’s Sleep Shack need not apply. In addition to being a virtual nation-wide brand, the particular establishment in question needs to show a profitable operating and occupancy history.

Even if you want to build a new hotel/motel from the ground up, forget about starting your own brand; most lenders will only provide hotel loans to build the same “flagged” hospitality companies as they will for the purchase of an existing property. Besides having a well-known flag, getting a hotel loan for a new property is possible provided it is well located and can be provided with strong management.

Lenders reserve the best hotel loan rates and terms for properties that are well cared for, attractive, and have pleasing amenities like pools, wireless internet, cable, and complimentary continental breakfast buffets.

Hotel loan terms will, of coarse, vary from lender to lender, but most banks and other investment capital institutions provide 5, 10, or 20 year loan terms for amounts up to $2,000,000. These loans can carry an interest rate ranging from 7% to 8% and typically carry a recourse clause, although some lenders are more flexible than others in this regard.

Just a brief note on recourse loans; this type of loan hold your personal assets liable in the event you default on the hotel loan-seriously bad news if your franchise doesn’t turn out to be as successful as you originally thought. This is the lender’s way of protecting its assets by separating those who are serious about the hotel business from those that just want to try something new. If you’re not familiar with the details of this loan, you should either educate yourself thoroughly first or look around for a non-recourse loan. The terms of a non-recourse loan simply hold the hotel, or whatever else you spent the loan funds on, liable in the event you default.

If you’re planning on borrowing over $2,000,000 to build or buy a larger hotel/motel, the interest rates may be a little better, although not much. Interest rate lows can be more favorable by up to a half percentage point, while to current ceiling is still hovering around 8%. With a larger hotel loan comes a longer loan term, usually 20 to 25 years. One boon of a larger loan is that most institutions offer limited recourse in the event of a default.

Meeting hotel loan requirements can be difficult, after all, this is unlike any other kind of real estate loan and as such has its own rules, terms, and procedures. If you think the hospitality business may be for you, make sure you choose a lender who will take the type to answer questions to your satisfaction. With how the market is these days, there are plenty of lenders out there competing for your business. Take your time and choose carefully from the several loan products they offer; if you’re not satisfied, move on. The hotel business can be both challenging and rewarding. Depending on your location, service, and financing, it can be a great way to build long-term wealth.

About the Author

Cameron Brown is a client account specialist with 10x Marketing - More Visitors. More Buyers. More Revenue. For information on hotel loans , visit Security National Capital .