If you’re thinking of buying a Signal Mountain home, now is the time to take advantage of this buyer’s market.

Back in the “good old days,” (a few years ago) it was easier to qualify for a loan, with one-page loan applications, stated incomes and “no doc” (no documentation, meaning nothing had to be proven) loans. There were amazing loan programs, like 125% loan on the purchase price with no down payment.

Now, buying Signal Mountain real estate is more burdensome. No more “no doc” loans; lenders want every piece of documentation you can come up with. So then, why is it the best time to buy? And what does this have to do with your real estate team?

Although the current loan situation isn’t ideal, it’s worth the effort to find a home you can afford. Here are two reasons:

• First time homebuyers tax credit – this is a big one. If you can get into escrow by April 30 and close by the end of June, you can qualify for the $8,000 ($6,500 for existing homeowners) federal incentive.

• Mortgage rates – It might be hard to get a loan, but it isn’t hard to get a loan with low interest rates. Unbelievably, many are still waiting, hoping the mortgage rates will go down further. Stop waiting for that to happen.  It’s not going to be long before they’ll be going back up – not down.

This doesn’t include the incredibly low prices for many homes, as well as the huge housing supply. “Slim pickings” doesn’t apply to our current housing market.

With all these incredible opportunities, it makes sense that your team – the people who represent you – knows what they’re doing. In this day and age, your dream team doesn’t just need knowledge; they need experience.

At a minimum, your dream team should consist of:

• Your real estate agent who needs to be able to guide you to the best housing opportunity available for your area.
• Your lender (who is actually supposed to be helping you) who should be able to build a loan package that fits your specific needs and budget. As well, that loan package must stay within the lender’s guidelines to make sure your loan application is successful.

The more you know – and the more your team knows – the better the chance you have of buying the home of your dreams, at a price you can afford, with a low interest rate, before the April 30 deadline. By July, you could be sitting pretty with your own piece of Signal Mountain real estate and a cool $8,000 in your bank account!

Putting together your dream team?  I’d be honored to have the chance to interview for the position of your knowledgeable, experienced real estate agent.  Call me at 423-488-1882 or email me at travis@travisclosehomes.com today.

Keyword/Tag: Signal Mountain real estate

Links:

First-time homebuyers tax credit

http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/

Mortgage rates

http://www.mortgage-x.com/trends.htm

low prices for many homes

http://www.usnews.com/money/articles/2010/01/26/home-prices-stabilize-further-but-more-drops-may-be-in-store.html

Recently, I came across a show on the Bravo network. Three high dollar real estate agents push million dollar deals in the City of Angels, Los Angeles, California. I can’t say that it reminds me of when I was a new Signal Mountain real estate agent.

Called Million Dollar Listing, the show is a “docu-series” with three young stars:

• Josh Flagg graduated high school in 2004, stepped into high-end residential real estate, made several record sales and became one of Los Angeles’ best agents.
• Madison Hildebrand graduated from Pepperdine University, sold his first home to a celebrity and now sells homes as high as $20 million.
• Chad Rogers got his real estate license at 18, rose through the ranks and is currently working for a prestigious real estate brokerage.

What does all of this have to do with being a Signal Mountain REALTOR? Nothing – and everything. Watching the show, I can’t help but think, “If these young bloods can sell a $20 million dollar house in Beverly Hills, in this economy, we can certainly sell $350,000 homes here.”

Okay, so they’re selling to a lot of celebrities. And, yes, people in Beverly Hills and the surrounding counties are famous for their big wallets. I also have to admit that it might be easier to sell a house with fifty natural selling points (huge pool with pool man, beautiful grounds cared for by landscapers, two-ton chandeliers, stables) than it is to sell an average house that has five selling points.

Having said all that, however, when times get tough remember that we have a beautiful city. We have beautiful homes for sale, nice neighborhoods and great communities. We have a lot of selling points to show off, at more affordable prices.

If you’re looking for a beautiful home, even if you’re not a celebrity, I can help. Call me now at 423-488-1882 or email me at tclose@realtycenter.com .

Keyword/Tag:  Signal Mountain REALTOR

Links:

Million Dollar Listing

http://www.bravotv.com/million-dollar-listing

Selling points

http://designmindsathearthandhome.blogspot.com/2009/06/selling-points-for-first-time-home.html

Great communities

Link to the page on your website that talks about your great communities or link to:

http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/what-makes-a-great-place/five-ways-to-a-great-place

It doesn’t matter if you’re buying or selling a home, consulting an experienced Signal Mountain real estate agent is a smart move. Here are five steps to finding your perfect agent:

1. Ask about experience

Although many new Signal Mountain real estate agents are good at what they do, ideally, you want to work with an experienced expert. Someone with extensive experience can efficiently get through the process and streamline the fine details.

1. Confirm costs

Before getting in too far, find out if you are both on the same page when it comes to costs. Make sure to outline everything in writing ahead of time. This way you eliminate surprises in fees later.

1. Discuss turnaround time

Find out whether or not your Signal Mountain real estate agent can find or sell a property within the timeframe you desire. Many factors can affect such turnaround, but it’s good to discuss these details in the beginning to help you get a feel for your agent’s track record.

1. Inquire about online listings

These days, 80% of home buyers start by viewing listings online. Make sure your agent has the capability to show you homes online and showcase your home for sale online. If not, this may be a sign that their office is not up to date.

1. Check availability

Learn about your agent’s schedule. If he or she is splitting real estate time with another job, you need to know that upfront. This will help you determine whether or not this agent has the commitment you’re looking for.

Finding the right Signal Mountain real estate agent can take some time.  It’s worth the effort to secure the most capable person for the job.

I’d love to have the opportunity to interview for the job as your real estate agent.  Call me today at 423-488-1882 or email me at tclose@realtycenter.com .

Keyword/Tag:  Signal Mountain real estate agent

Links:

Extensive experience

http://www.credit.com/mortgage-course/find-realtor/choose-realtor/

Outline everything in writing

http://www.womenspersonalfinance.net/2006/10/five_questions_.html

Agent’s track record

http://www.moneyanswerguy.com/2009/01/24/how-to-find-a-good-realtor/

If you live in a smaller place like a Signal Mountain condo, you may be ignoring a very important part of your home. Worse, your home may not even contain this significant piece of technology. It’s small, it seems insignificant, and it can save your life.

It’s the smoke detector, and paying attention to it can literally mean a difference between life and death. Many people have them, but don’t take care of them. Others don’t have them at all, thinking a Signal Mountain condo is small enough they would notice a fire if it started. Here are a few “to-dos” and tips to taking care of your smoke detector:

• First and foremost, if you don’t have one, get one! For that matter, it’s always best to get a smoke detector for as many rooms in the house as needed. Check the manufacturer’s guidelines to find out how far your particular brand can sense smoke and buy accordingly.

• Use the “test” button! Every smoke detector comes with a button to test whether it’s working or not. If it doesn’t beep when tested, the batteries should be replaced. If you replace the batteries and it still doesn’t beep, replace the detector.

• If you’ve had a smoke detector for more than ten years, replace it! Even these handy gadgets run down and lose sensitivity.

• Change the batteries bi-annually. For many, it works to remember to change them on the day Daylight Saving Time begins and the day it ends.

• Keep your detectors clean! Vacuum all the little particles that can clog up the sensors and make the detector inoperative. If you do this once a month, the chances of them failing are much less.

• Replace smoke detector batteries any time the detector chirps.

• Always pay attention to the manufacturer’s guide when installing, testing and cleaning.

Although these tips may seem common sense, they’re also easily forgotten. Taking care of the smoke detectors in your Signal Mountain condo can literally be the difference between life and death.

If you’re looking for a condo with important safety features, I can help! Call me at 423-488-1882 or email me at tclose@realtycenter.com for more information.

Keyword and Tag:  Signal Mountain condo

Links:

Get a smoke detector:  http://www.consumersearch.com/smoke-detectors

Daylight Saving Time:  http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/faqs/qdaylite.htm

Replace the batteries:

http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4780147_replacing-smoke-detector-batteries.html