The challenge of accurately appraising a home’s current value in today’s volatile real estate market can be a difficult task to begin with. Add to that the rather nebulous and seemingly ‘subjective’ guidelines provided by the VA, and you definitely have a formula for potential frustration/stress.
I experienced a ‘First‘ in my real estate career the other day. In my 10+ years as a professional agent, an appraisal for one of my listings here in Kitsap County WA came in ‘under‘ value. In other words, an appraiser was sent out to determine if the home they were buying was worth what…
Here’s a really excellent video from WAHomeOwners.com that provides a brief overview of the $8000 Federal Tax Credit Program for 1st Time Home Buyers
In the Gospel according to Luke, we find the following saying: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:31 This verse provides the basis for what many refer to as ‘The Golden Rule‘ or the Ethic of Reciprocity, which states one has a right or expectation to receive fair and just treatment, and…
A while back, I published an article here on SOUNDBITEBLOG entitled “The Art of Offering Less.” It ended up becoming a 3-part series catered towards a Buyers perspective and provided some practical guidance/advice on how to draft offers that were less than the listing price. In the 1st article we identified the market dynamics that…
This morning during the NAR (National Association of Realtors®) Mid-Year Legislative Meeting in Washington, D.C., HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan said that the Federal Housing Administration is going to begin permitting its lenders to allow 1st Time Home Buyers to use the $8,000 tax credit (originally provided in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) as a…
This is the 3rd and final installment in a series entitled “The Art of Offering Less” and deals with the unique nuances associated with tendering an offer that is lower than the asking price. In the 1st article we discussed the market dynamics that tend to encourage or breed low offers. In the 2nd article,…
In our last episode, Bill and Betty Buyer were sitting down with their trusty Agent, Realtor Ron, to draft an offer on their dream home. They had spent the past 3 weekends touring dozens of potential properties, when they finally found just the perfect place!. When it came time to discuss the offer price, Bill…
Just about everyone enjoys finding a bargain. My kids love shopping at the local Value Village over in East Bremerton WA. The last time I was there with my son, Luke, I found a really nice leather dress belt in mint condition for only $2.99 that normally retails for around $50! There is this tendency…
Yeah, I know, not the most glamorous of blog titles, but I need to keep reminding myself the whole purpose behind SoundBiteBlog is to provide helpful, relevant information for my clients and potential clients of residential real estate here in Kitsap County WA. Many of the older, turn-of-the-century homes here in the Bremerton WA area…