Dean Graziosi

Everyone wants to get the best deal possible on their house, but in a buyers market it can be difficult to know when to stand your ground and when to give in. Especially if your house has been on the market for a long time, it can be tempting to take any offer that is put on the table. However, you don’t want to give too much, or you will come out of the deal smelling like a rotten egg instead of roses. Take these tips into consideration when examining and negotiating real estate deals in a buyers market.

1.      Be willing to give on the little things. If you were planning on taking your appliances with you or selling them separately and the buyer wants to keep them in as part of the deal, go with it. Appliances don’t cost enough to make it worth arguing over, and it certainly should not be a deal breaker.

2.      Be willing to give a little on the asking price. Your asking price is just that, a starting point that you are asking for. It should not be set in stone. If someone makes an offer within five thousand dollars of your asking price, take it. Even within ten thousand can be a good deal if your house has been sitting for a long time.

3.      Be willing to work with the buyer on down payment and closing costs. You can get a much better offer in many cases if you stick to your asking price but make a “seller’s contribution” to the down payment and agree pay the closing costs. This way the buyer has to give up less money to get into the property, which makes them more likely to buy from you.

4.      If your house has been sitting vacant for a long time, you will have a harder time selling it if you don’t budge in negotiations. The longer a house sits, the less it is worth. This is what makes today a buyers market in the first place. Keep in mind this fact, and be willing to give in on negotiations when necessary to get the house sold.

5.      Don’t think you have to give in on everything. If someone wants to pay ten grand less than your asking price, have all appliances included, go with a lower down payment and still have you pay the closing costs, they are going too far. While you should be willing to be flexible, don’t let buyers walk all over you either. Other wise you will find quickly that you have made a deal that leaves you in the hole, all in the name of selling quickly.

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A few short years ago experts were predicting that by 2012 the housing market and foreclosure rates would return to normal. Now that 2012 is almost here, it seems that the predictions were not as accurate as everyone hoped. The down economy is certainly a factor, but this time, there is another culprit in the situation.

The primary reason 2012 is likely to be heavy on foreclosures is due to recent irregularities in the mortgage industry. Specifically, the paperwork was not being handled properly. Low-level employees were rubber stamping documents at an alarming rate.

It would have been impossible for the workers to review the paperwork and get the correct information and signatures in the flash of time they spent on each document. Perhaps they were under pressure to get a certain amount of work done. Maybe they were just poorly trained. For whatever reason, the foreclosure documents were signed thoughtlessly and mistakes were made. Eventually, legal action was taken to halt these foreclosures.

Now the mortgage companies have begun to revamp their processes and clear up these bad practices. They are now meeting with government approval and are getting back in the business of handing out foreclosure notices. By 2012, the big players should be in full swing, working on reclaiming properties from non-paying owners.

The bottleneck could have been avoided with proper training and supervision of all employees at these mortgage lenders companies. Yet, the number of foreclosures overall may not be much different. Instead of coming spaced out evenly over the months, there was a time when the process slowed down, and now there will be a time when the mortgage companies make up for lost time with their foreclosures.

The good news for homeowners is that it gives them a longer period of time to come up with the money to catch up their mortgages. If they have a chance of saving their home at all, they are more likely to do it with this extra time they have been given.

The good news for people who want to buy a home is that there will likely be a glut of REO homes on the market after awhile. Because of this, there will be inexpensive houses for them to choose.

Real estate investors will also see benefits, as they snap up the foreclosed properties, rehab them, and sell them again at a profit. They may have opportunities to buy homes to rent if they prefer. Investors can make the most of this bad situation if they have enough contacts and are good at reselling or renting homes.

It is a good time to raise capital to be ready for the 2012 housing situation. It is the best way for homeowners to keep their homes, potential owners to be ready to buy, and investors to be ready to make the best deals. There is no need to fear what will happen in 2012. Instead, look it as an opportunity, and get your ducks in a row.

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Moving from one place to another can be a difficult proposition. If the move is from one city or state to another, it can be even more trouble to get everything done. Many people will try to shortcut the process by using the same Realtor for both selling their old home and buying another. Here are 3 very good reason s why that is a bad idea.

1. Buyers’ Agent vs. Sellers’ Agent

A Realtor generally works as either a buyers’ agent or a sellers’ agent. At the very least, most Realtors have the bulk of their experience as one or the other. The best move you can make is to get the best person for each job. Your buying specialist will know and help you with all the details of choosing, inspecting, and dealing on a home you are purchasing. The sellers’ agent will know the best ways to put your old home on the market, prepare it for sale and make that kind of deal. Let each expert shine.

2. Knowledge of Location

It is always best to work with a Realtor who has personal knowledge of the city, and especially the state where you want to live. They can then help you find the best neighborhoods, the best schools, and the best areas for transportation. They are more likely to know people who are looking to buy or sell homes in that location than someone who is working from afar.

3.  Knowledge of Local Rules

A long distance move usually entails working with different laws, rules and regulations in buying or selling a home. In selling the home, you will need to be sure you have satisfied all the local requirements for inspections, disclosures, and other paperwork. As a buyer, you will want to make sure you are getting the full rights that are afforded to you in the locale you are moving to. Unless one Realtor works in both locations, it makes sense to use two separate people or agencies.

When to Break This Rule:

 Every rule has a breaking point, and this rule is no different. There are some times when using one Realtor can actually help the move go more smoothly. For example, if you are moving from house to house within a metropolitan area, one Realtor would probably have enough knowledge of the place and laws to guide you well in both areas. Then, a quick move may be easier to accomplish because your one Realtor is orchestrating both the sale of the old and the purchase of the new so that they can happen as close together in time as possible.

Learn about the background, qualifications, and locality awareness of each Realtor before you sign on. In the end, only you can make the decision to use one Realtor or to use two completely separate Realtors for buying and selling your properties in a move.

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