Foreclosure Property

Absolute Foreclosures - Nationwide Foreclosure Property Listings - real estate foreclosure, bank foreclosure, goverment foreclosure, VA homes, HUD listings Join Today! Your browser does not support script Today's Real Estate News Thu Dec 29, 2005 Normal real estate market creates new winners, losers Perspective: As markets settle, some builders, sellers and lenders could fall Most Home chief to talk about real estate lead tools Real Estate Connect Speaker Profile Consumer confidence ends year with a bang More Americans say jobs are plentiful in December Condo, single-family housing prices heat up west of Boston More buyers move west to find prime real estate deals More Stories... Today's Rates Today Last 30 yr fixed mtg 5.70% 5.74% 15 yr fixed mtg 5.27% 5.34% 5/1 ARM 5.24% 5.29% 30 yr fixed jumbo mtg 5.98% 6.03% 5/1 jumbo ARM 5.42% 5.45% National Average Your Foreclosure Source National Foreclosure Listings Updated Daily FREE 7-Day TRIAL Foreclosures Bank Owned Properties Fannie Mae Listings Freddie Mac Listings REOs Lender Owned Properties HUD Listings VA Owned Properties Government Real Estate Auctions Local Real Estate Auctions Corporate sellers Click on the map below to find foreclosure properties. HOT Deals Properties under $10,000 Properties under $25,000 Properties under $30,000 - ALL STATES - Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Hot Property Listings Foreclosure directory: Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | District of Columbia | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming AbsoluteForeclosures.com is The Source for National foreclosure listings Posted Daily, foreclosure homes, real estate foreclosures, HUD foreclosures, real estate auctions, reo properties, fannie mae, freddie mac, va foreclosures, government foreclosures, and bank owned properties. If you're new to Absolute Foreclosures service, please read Terms and Conditions Not a member? CLICK HERE TO START YOUR FREE TRIAL TODAY Home | Search | FREE Trial | My Account | Auction Search | News | Links | Affiliate | Site Map | Hot Properties

Real Estate Broker Won't

Smartmoney.com: Consumer Action: Ten Things Your Real Estate Broker Won't Tell You Thursday December 29, 2005 3:28 PM ET U.S. Markets close in: :32 Search (choose an option below) Quote Charting Earnings Ratings Competition Financials Profile Key Statistics Insiders Site Search News (Enter Symbol) advanced search SmartMoney Select My Portfolio Tools Maps Stocks Advanced Trading Funds ETFs Personal Finance Autos Career Journal College Planning Debt Management Health Care Insurance Life LTC Insurance Real Estate Retirement Tax Guide Economy & Bonds Small Business SmartMoney TV SmartMoney Magazine SmartMoney University Business Travel Technology SmartMoney Mobile Holiday Survival Guide Select Homepage Stock Screener Market Map 1000 Fund Screener Stock Compare Fund Map 1000 Fund Compare XStream Quotes More... 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Editor's Picks Features Ten Things Real-Life Index Advertisement 4.25% APY with hsbcdirect.com Online Savings. Earn 8X the national savings average and make money into big money. No minimums. No monthly fees. Member FDIC. Email This Story Print This Story Save This Story Send Us Your Comments Add this column to your News Alerts (New!) 1. "Your open house is really a party for me." Hire a real estate broker to sell your home and one of the first things he'll likely suggest is hosting an open house, so potential buyers can casually check out your property on a weekend afternoon. While open houses are promoted as a great way of finding a buyer, a National Association of Realtors study found that their success rate is a mere 2%. No matter. Having an open house serves another important purpose — for the broker. "It gives him a database of clients," says Sean McNeill, an independent real estate broker based in New York City who says that he doesn't like open houses, preferring to match clients with appropriate buyers. "At open houses, you get all kinds of people walking in. Some are [trying] to see how much they should sell their own places for; others just want to get a look at what's out there." All are perfect pickings for a broker looking to increase his roster of buyers and sellers. "Think about it," McNeill says. "The broker is devoting a couple hours of a weekend. He won't do that unless it helps him in a big way." 2. "My fees are negotiable." Brokers like to make it sound as if their fees are engraved in stone, but that's rarely the case — especially in a brisk market, when brokers fiercely compete for properties they can unload fast. This past summer one broker in the Midwest says he lowered his fee by a full percentage point because there was so much demand for good properties that he needed leverage. Indeed, says the broker, who asked not to be named, sellers should shop around for broker's fees. He suggests these negotiating tactics: "If somebody's willing to commit to me for selling one place and buying another, I give a discount. If you're in a particularly desirable neighborhood with a house that will bring a lot of traffic" — say, at an open house — "that can be used, because the broker will use the flow of people to get potential customers. And with some [smaller] brokers, all you need to do is ask and they'll lower the commission." 3. "Think you've had no offers? Actually, there've been several." Legally, the broker you hire to sell your home is obligated to tell you about all offers that come in. In reality, some don't. Perhaps he thinks the offer is insultingly low for you, but more likely, "the broker thinks it's too low for his own purposes. He wants to hold out for a bigger commission," says McNeill. Or else there's an outside broker (or "co-broker") circling your house, and the primary broker is waiting for one of his own clients to make an offer so he can keep the full 6% to himself. "You must be clear with your broker that you want to be informed of all offers," McNeill says. "Otherwise, you may be leaving him to make decisions that you should be making." Check the listing agreement drawn up when you hire the broker; if the promise to disclose all offers isn't listed explicitly, insist that it be added. 4. "I talk about you behind your back." You spot your dream house as you're driving through a neighborhood and call the broker listed on the For Sale sign. That's how a lot of buyers stumble on a broker — who, in turn, happily shows you other houses, asking about your needs, laughing at your jokes. It's easy to get loose-lipped and forget whom you're dealing with: someone else's agent. "Legally, brokers are obligated to provide their sellers with any information that can help them get the best prices for their homes," says Stephen Israel, president of Buyer's Edge, a Bethesda, Md.-based company that represents homebuyers. "If you tell the broker that you're willing to pay $500,000 but want to offer $450,000, they'll pass that on to the seller. They have to." Also, some brokerage companies encourage prospective buyers to get preapproved for loans. While that can make a buyer more attractive to a lender, it also tells a broker whether a buyer can afford a $600,000 house when he's trying to haggle on a $400,000 property. "When somebody asks for [a preapproval], find out who they're representing," says Israel, acknowledging that such details can short-circuit your negotiating leverage. "If they represent a seller — or someone in their office does — they shouldn't have it. The broker may tell you she will be impartial, but how can she be?" 5. "Sometimes I forget whose side I'm on." The past 10 years have seen the proliferation of the buyer broker, agents who are supposed to work strictly in the buyer's interest, helping him get a fair price on a home as well as avoid pitfalls along the way. Unfortunately, things don't always unfold so nicely. While buyers may think they're getting a broker who isn't commission-hungry, many buyer agents are just that: They usually get about 3%, the same amount any broker typically earns when he gets involved with another agent's listing. "Buyer brokers are sometimes too focused on closing the sale and getting that commission," says Max Gordon, an Overland Park, Kan.-based real estate broker and attorney, so it's often in their best interest to see you pay as high a price as possible. Even worse, some brokers who call themselves buyer advocates are actually working for companies that also represent sellers. "Brokerages offer bonuses to buyer agents if they sell an in-house listing," says Israel. A good way to get a broker who has no such conflicts of interest: The National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents, whose Web site (www.naeba.com) can help you find a buyer agent near you who pledges to help you get the best deal possible and has no ties to sellers' agents; many even work on a fee structure rather than on commission. Page 1 | 2 Consumer Action Archive To license this content, click here ADVERTISEMENTS Click here to get your FREE report -- The Motley Fools´ 2 Top Picks. Receive a $50 Hyatt Gift Card.Book online using your American Express Card Get 4.25% APY at hsbcdirect.com. Earn 8X the national savings average. Learn about every move Jim Cramer makes before he acts. Learn options trading at a free workshop in your area! Top 10 Breakthrough Stocks for 2006 Yours Free!. $7 stock trades. Open a Scottrade account with just $500. Apply online FREE Options Tip 1: AVOID an option´s last month.Get 4 more here-free! Learn how to stay connected to your customers. Free guide at: See how Sprint Business has helped the PGA move forward. Capital One High Yield Savings - 4.00% APY. Earn More Now! New! SmartMoney Mobile. Stock quotes, market news and more on your mobile phone. Click here and find out all about The Trump Way to Wealth. Customer Service | Magazine Customer Service | Subscribe to SmartMoney Magazine | Your Profile | Contact Us Corrections | Custom Publishing | License Our Content | Media Kit | Press Room | SmartMoney.com © 2005 SmartMoney. 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home equity loanmay be

Home Equity Loans Home Equity Loans:When Banks Compete, You Win Home Equity Loans Ifyou need to remodel or repair your home, for debt consolidation or for educational expenses a home equity loanmay be the best option available to you. Not only are you able to "tap" the equity in your home, theinterest charges are, in most cases, tax deductable (there are limits to your deductability if the total amountof loans is in excess of 100% of its value). There are a couple of options available to you. You can choose either a HomeEquity Loan , which is a fixed amount of money that is repaidover a fixed number of years, or a Home Equity Line of Credit , where you will be approved for a set amount of money which you will access asyou need it--whether for home improvements or some other use. Accessing your line of credit is as easy as writinga check. Likeall other loans, there are variances in terms, interest rates and the like. A good of comparison for home equityloans is LendingTree , where you submit an easy application and get offers from lenders competing foryour business--all within a few days (a process that used to take weeks!) Here is where you can take advantageof the ability of the Internet to make quick comparisons, saving both time and money. You can find both home equityloans and home equity lines of credit. More information . With interest rates falling considerably this year, this can be an excellent opportunity to restructure your payments,get a better rate than most credit cards and personal loans and work on the process of eliminating your debt load. Home | Your Checklist | Remodel | Refinance | Repair | Maintain Safe & Secure | Organize | Resources | More Links

Selling Home

FCIC: Selling a Home Return to Federal Citizen Information Center Home Page Printer-friendly page -- Life Advice About... Selling A Home This Life Advice section about Home Improvement was produced by the MetLife Consumer Education Center reviewed by the Real Estate Educators Association and the U.S.D.A. Cooperative Research, Education and Extension Service. If you've decided to sell your home, chances are you're caught up in a host of emotions. You may be looking forward to moving up to a new dream house or facing the uncertainty of a major move across country. You may be reluctant to leave your memories behind or eager to start new adventures. Whatever turbulent feelings you're experiencing right now, there are plenty of practical matters that need your attention. Keep in mind the following considerations to help the whole process go more smoothly. Time Becomes Money It's a good idea to place your home on the market as far in advance as possible of purchasing a new one. If you find a new home first and then try to sell your present home, you may wind up with two mortgages. If this does happen, ask your real estate agent or banker about a bridge loan to help you make the double payments. Lenders use the same criteria for offering bridge loans as they use for mortgages. Should you qualify for a bridge loan, beware of the expense; during the term of the loan you must continue to pay both mortgages. Shop around for the best terms. Keep in mind that when people move, sell and buy, there usually is a domino effect. Closing and moving dates have to be coordinated, and the more firmly everyone commits to a window of dates and sticks to them, the better for all involved. Put all agreements about dates in writing, and protect yourself by negotiating financial penalties for failure to comply. Check Your Curb Appeal A home that's visually appealing and in good condition will attract potential buyers driving down the street. Use this checklist to view your property through an outsider's eyes. Are the lawn and shrubs well maintained? Are there cracks in the foundation or walkways? Does the driveway need resurfacing? Are the gutters, chimney and walls in good condition? Do the window casings, shutters, siding or doors need painting? Are garbage and debris stored out of sight? Are lawn mowers and hoses preperly stored? Is the garage door closed? On the Inside Strong curb appeal will lure potential buyers inside, where you have to live up to their expectations. Fortunately, there are plenty of easy improvements you can make to your home's interior without spending a lot of money. Cleaning is No. 1. Your windows, floors and bathroom tiles should sparkle. Make sure you have clean heating and air conditioning filters. Shampoo dirty carpets, clean tubs and showers, repair dripping faucets and oil squeaky doors. Keep your home neat, clean and picked-up at all times. It may not seem fair, but a peek in the oven may be the hallmark by which a buyer judges how well you have kept up your home. Remove unnecessary clutter from the garage, basement, attic, closets and straighten stored items. Also remove any items that might make a statement that would be offensive to others who may not share your same views, beliefs or sense of humor. If your home is crowded with too much furniture, consider putting some things into storage. If a room needs a fresh coat of paint, use a neutral off-white. Think, too, about how your home smells. You may be used to the smell of a pet or cigarettes, but such odors can be a strong turn-off to others. Be certain to remove valuables such as jewelry and other items from view. It might be wise to put these items in a safe deposit box before showing your home. Finally, set a mood for the buyer. Make your house homey with live flowers and fresh guest towels in the bathroom. Place scented potpourri around the house or, on the day you're expecting a potential buyer, pop a batch of frozen cinnamon rolls into the oven for a welcoming aroma. Remember, cosmetic changes do not have to be expensive. In fact, costly home improvements do not necessarily offer a good return on your investment when you sell. It's attention to the basics—anything that says “this home has been carefully maintained”—that will help you get the price you want. Go It Alone Some homeowners decide to sell their homes themselves in order to save the commission charged by a real estate agent. The commission rate may vary, depending on where you live or what agency you choose, but it is generally upwards of 5%. However, handling your own sale means you will be responsible for placing ads, answering phones and showing your home to strangers. What's more, buyers who know you are saving on an agent's commission may offer less for your home, wiping out the financial incentive to do it all yourself. You may decide an agent's commission is a bargain the first time that a would-be buyer shows up unannounced at dinnertime. Also, be aware that a real estate agent probably knows a lot more about the business of selling a home than you do. Here are some of the advantages professional agents offer: They will help you establish a fair asking price for your home. They will promote your home to other agents and list your property in multiple listing services. A multiple listing service is a book or computer database that all real estate agents who subscribe to the service can access. Your home will get exposure to all those agents, one of whom may have the perfect buyer. They will create, pay for and place advertising for you. They will schedule appointments to show your home to prospective buyers even when you are not there. They can weed out buyers who will not qualify for a mortgage. They can refer you to sources for insurance, inspections, legal counsel and financing. They will help you negotiate with the buyer. They can make suggestions to help make your home more attractive to a potential buyer. If you decide to sell through an agent, ask friends and neighbors for recommendations. Talk to several agents before picking the one you want to work with. Taking a walk through your home with an agent should give you a feel for how that person will handle prospective buyers. Ask prospective agents how they plan to market your home. Don't sign with an agent just because he or she suggests the highest asking price. Negotiate the broker's commission prior to listing your home, and sign for a limited period of time—usually three to six months. Setting a Fair Price Naturally, you want to get top dollar for your home. But, at the same time, you don't want to scare off potential buyers with a price tag that's too high. Setting an artificially high price may cause your property to languish on the market for months. Reducing your asking price later on may lead buyers to wonder if there is something wrong with your home. Here are some of the factors to consider in pricing your home. Your location Economic conditions Supply and demand in the local housing market Seasonal influences Local schools Average home prices in the neighborhood Your home's extras -- pool, fireplace, central air, etc. To determine the value of your home, you probably will want the advice of a real estate agent or appraiser. Ask an agent to prepare a market analysis for you, showing the recent selling prices of three neighborhood properties comparable to your own. The agent can help you adjust for the unique features of your own property. Qualifying a Buyer Either you or your agent will want to quickly weed out potential buyers who cannot really afford to purchase your home. A number of factors will help determine whether or not you are wasting your time negotiating a sale. The buyer's debt and credit history The buyer's current income and employment The buyer's cash position and availability of a down payment The length of time the buyer needs before closing on your home How interested the buyer appears to be in your home versus others Seek Legal Representation When selling your home—particularly if you are selling on your own—it's a good idea to be represented by an attorney. Look for an attorney with expertise in real estate transactions. When a potential buyer puts an offer in writing and you accept it, the signed acceptance becomes the sales contract. Your attorney will be present at the actual closing to protect your interests and can assist you with the following elements of a sales contract: The sale price What is included in the sale price -- draperies, carpeting, light fixtures, heating oil, etc. The amount of the down payment The date of closing and possession date Contingencies to the sale--inspections (e.g. structural, lead-based paint, radon), required improvements, legal review of the contract by the buyer's or seller's attorney, etc. The amount and length of the mortgage loan, interest rate and time limits to secure the loan Determining which closing costs are to be paid by the buyer and which by the seller Tax Implications Selling a home can have a major impact on your federal and state tax returns. Check with your tax consultant on the factors that may affect taxes resulting from the sale of your home. For example: Whether you purchased the home or acquired it by gift or inheritance Whether you used your home partly for business or rental Costs associated with selling your home Home improvements or additions, which may help to offset capital gains The sale of your home. In certain cases you can exclude up to $250,000 in gain ($500,000 for married couples filing a joint return) on the sale of property that was your principle residence for at least two years. Generally, you can use this exclusion every two years. Congratulations! You've successfully weathered the logistics of selling your current home, and you're ready to move on to a new and exciting chapter in your life.As you prepare for the coming changes, check out the Life Advice sections Moving and Buying a Home to aid you in this transition. For More Information 100 Questions Every Home Seller Should Ask Ilyce R. Glink, Times Books $14 Life Advice price $11.20 Call 1-800-793-2665 to order and mention reference number 032-02. Price and availability subject to change without notice. The American Bar Association Family Legal Guide Times Books$34.50 Life Advice price $28 Call 1-800-793-2665 to order and mention reference number 032-04. Price andavailability subject to change without notice. How to Sell Your Home in 5 Days William G. Effros, Workman Publishing $14.95 Life Advice price $8.97 The Consumer Bible, 1001 Ways to Shop Smart Mark Green, Workman Publishing $14.95 Life Advice price $8.97 Tips and Traps When Selling a Home Robert Irwin, McGraw-Hill $12.95 PAMPHLETS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT The quarterly Consumer Information Center Catalog lists more than 200 helpful federal publications. For your free copy write Consumer Information Catalog, Pueblo, CO 81009, call 1-888/8-PUEBLO, or find the catalog on the Net at www.pueblo.gsa.gov . A Home for You and Your Family Publication Series, North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, Housing & House Furnishings, Box 7605, Raleigh, NC, 27695-7605 (single copies free). Also contact the Extension Service office listed in the white pages of your phone book. Related Life Advice pamphlets See the following related Life Advice pamphlets: Buying a Home, Moving, Home Improvement, Homeowners Insurance, Renting an Apartment, Enjoying Retirement and When Your Children Leave the Nest. Helpful Links HomeWEB You'll find consumer information on selling a home from this comprehensive real estate and relocation source. Topics include info on real estate agents, marketing your home, financing & mortgages, sales contracts, pricing your home and more. Basically, this is a great place to start, if you're thinking about selling your home. Audrie's Advice Audrie provides a complete check-list for selling your home without an agent and thereby retaining all the profit for yourself. SellYourHomeYourself.com SellYourHomeYourself.Com is a unique site that helps the For Sale By Owner seller save money. On this FSBO web site you'll find all the resources you need to sell a home yourself. * Because the content of newsgroups and Websites changes constantly, it is impossible for us to review it all. We are not responsible for the content of any of the above links. Return to Federal Citizen Information Center Home Page Printer-friendly page --