Buying A New Home?

You bought your first home! You were feeling like you were on Cloud 9.

You had so many great ideas on your Pinterest board to make this place your own. From the cubbies for coats and boots to the chalkboard walls in the kids rooms.

But now several years have gone by and nothing has changed.

Your space is feeling cramped and tight and you are dreaming of a new home.

But how could you swing it?

Everyone knows this market is nuts!

Your current home would be sold in a heartbeat and finding a replacement would be impossible!

Prices have gone up so much, it wouldn’t make sense to buy a new home.

Does this sound like you? If so, we need to talk.

I’ve got systems and strategies for helping sellers become buyers, even in a market as crazy as this one. Just like playing chess, each move is calculated and planned Check mate!

What If?

The “what ifs”.

They are sneaky, pervasive and plentiful.

Especially when you have experienced something traumatic.

“What if I had gone another way home, what if I hadn’t said those hurtful words, what if I had made a better choice.

Did you know the what if’s can haunt you even when things turn out okay?

You nearly had a head on collision and your mind will still bring up the what if’s even though you are unscathed.

It’s very difficult to stay out of the rabbit holes of what if’s and there is nothing good to find there.

So when those nasty “what if’s” show up in my head space I kindly ask them to leave for I am blessed beyond measure and have no time for them.

Being Tall

I was the tall kid.

And it didn’t real phase me until fifth grade.

That’s when I suddenly realized I was taller than most of the boys and nearly all of the girls.

I felt like I stuck out like a sore thumb. I just wanted to be short and tiny like all my friends. I struggled finding jeans that didn’t look like I was wearing capris all the time. I hunched down and tried to hide.

The worst was picture day when we had to line up by height. There was only one boy taller than me. One girl and I constantly argued about who was shorter. Who would stand next to Matt, me or her?

It was humiliating. And so pointless. As if I had control over my height.

My daughters are tall - go figure.

And I have yet to hear any of the negative soundtracks that played in my mind on repeat from them. I’m so grateful, maybe being tall is now cool.

And I love being tall now, though I still struggle finding jeans that are long enough.

Things to Think About

Have you inherited a certain skill or talent from a long lost relative?

Well, let me tell you a little story and then I would love to hear yours.

We recently visited Galveston, Texas and I always knew that I had family history in that part of the country. Back in the 1860’s one branch of the Schayers immigrated to the United States through the port at Galveston from Germany.

So while on our trip I did a little Googling.

And while I did learn a bit about my Texas ancestors, I learned something amazing about my great grandfather.

Milton Schayer was born in Colorado but moved with his family to Galveston when he was 10. He came back to Colorado after the horrendous 1900 flood and hurricane that pretty much destroyed the city.

But here’s the part that got me, in his short biography online I found this: “Milton wrote a weekly syndicated column titled Things to Think About, which appeared in the Jewish News in the Rocky Mountain Region, and a number of East Coast newspapers.

“Things to Think About”…. I would say that just about sums up the things I like to write about!

I feel a kinship with this man who I never met, my grandfather’s dad. And I hope that he would find some of the things I write about to be thought-worthy.

With gratitude.

Just Say Sorry

Have you ever been the recipient of an apology that sounds something like this: “I’m sorry, but…”

Okay, this is not actually an apology.

The “but” nullifies the sorry.

Because an apology like this is riddled with excuses. Don’t be this person.

If you are going to say sorry, say it. No strings attached. Because a sorry with a BUT is worse than no sorry at all.

Just my two cents.

Strange Foods

Don’t knock it till you try it!

I lived in England for 6 months back in 2000 and that was when I discovered this lovely dish - jacket potatoes.

This one, my favorite, is filled with a mayonnaise salad of tuna and corn.

I know, I know, it sounds really gross but I can guarantee you it is absolutely delish!

Tell me about some of your favorite (or strange) foods.

What If I Mess Up?

I have a deep, innate fear of “messing up”.

Whether its breaking something, forgetting something or missing something, I do what ever I can to make sure I don’t goof up.

This probably comes from being the oldest child of four and having a highly cautious personality to begin with.

From time to time, Bill will need me to operate this thing, which literally makes my heart start to beat faster.

What if I crash into the house?

What if I put it in the wrong gear and break it?

What if I can’t stop the darn thing?

“It’s just like driving a car” he says. Ugh, not even close!

But, as time has gone on, I have gotten a little more comfortable with the basic operation.

What’s something that makes you scared and nervous to try or do?

Truth Does Matter

Does the truth matter? I still think it does. But society today seems to promote another message.

It’s okay to lie as long as its just a little lie.

And we have become so skeptical.

It used to be that photographic evidence was indisputable. Now, I question everything I see. Hmmm, that looks Photoshopped.

Even videos can be altered and we all know “creative editing” can distort and pervert reality.

So what does one do?

Well to start with, I think it’s okay and important to ask questions. I also use my intuition, “does this feel right?” And lastly it’s imperative to build relationships and communities founded on trust.

It’s okay to demand the truth be told. It’s okay to hold yourself and others to honesty.

As the great Winston Churchill said, “The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end there it is.”

Yes, there it is. And it matters.

Earnest Money

Show me the money!

Let’s talk about earnest money. When a buyer makes an offer on a property, earnest money is tendered shortly there after.

If everything goes as planned, the earnest money is applied towards the purchase price at closing.

However, sometimes the wheels fall off the bus! Sometimes a buyer might decide to cancel their contract, typically this is because of inspection items.

If this happens, and the buyer cancels before their specified deadlines, their earnest money is 100% refundable.

So, when might the earnest money be non-refundable? Only if a buyer passes their loan approval deadline and cannot or will not close.

This is very rare and in 700+ transactions have only had a handful of buyers end up losing their earnest money.

Questions? Please leave them in the comments or DM me

This Music Knows Me

Have you ever felt a certain song or musical artist just connected with your soul?

Like the order of the notes was somehow linked to your DNA?

That from the moment you heard it you just knew it was something special.

Maybe even made just for you?

This is how I feel about the band Jamiroquai. From the very first rift in the very first song I knew this would be a band that I would love forever.

Its like the music KNOWS me.

I know that sounds weird but I cannot describe it any other way.

I would love to hear about the music in your life that makes you feel the same way.

Here’s a hint - if you own a box set (you young ones might not know what I am talking about) then that is probably your answer!

*Side note* I was lucky enough to see them in concert in Denver about 15 years ago. Since then the lead singer has been permanently banned from the US for driving too fast!

HOPE

I hope I get the job.

I hope I make the grade.

I hope I win the lottery.

I hope I can buy a house.

Here’s the thing. Hope is not a strategy. The things in life worth having take action, determination and effort.

You have to want what ever it is you hope for.

I want the job.

I want the grade.

I want to win the lottery. (don’t we all )

I want to buy a house.

And then you have to put the wheels into motion.

Tune up that resume.

Study hard for your test.

Buy more lottery tickets.

Meet with a lender and find out what you can afford for a home and then LISTEN to what they tell you to do and not do.

You don’t have to do this alone. I hope (no want) you to reach out if I can help in any way.

Read This One

You’re going to need your super readers for this one!

When I meet with sellers they often tell me about some of the repairs they never got around to… can you relate?

They suggest offering a credit to the buyer at closing to address these items. While that might work for things like flooring, its a weak place to work from regarding negotiations.

Think about it - you’ve already told the buyer to offer you less. And in my experience if a repair costs you $1000, the buyer will want $1500 to deal with the hassle.

Each situation is specific, and when we meet together I will give you the best advice possible to get your home ready to go on the market.

Learn From Someone's Mistake

You know how you can sometimes learn from someone else’s mistake?

Well here’s an opportunity for you.

I recently heard about a home that sold “off market”. This is a home that is sold privately, no Realtors involved.

Apparently the seller (lets just call her Jane) did not want to pay real estate commissions so she sold it herself.

There is nothing inherently wrong with this, however, while Jane saved herself the commissions she cost herself over $200,000 in the purchase price.

Had she called a local Realtor they would have helped her price her home accordingly, in line with fair market value. Jane ended up selling her home for WAY under market value.

Your home is likely your most valuable asset. Don’t leave it to chance, fate or your best guess. Get some expert and professional advice so you don’t end up like Jane.

When In Doubt, DISCLOSE!

The sellers property disclosure, your friendly form.

Did you know the number complaint with the division of real estate is non-disclosure by sellers?

What does this mean in plain English. “We bought a house from Mr and Mrs Seller and they never told us about the roof leak, the cracked foundation, the flood in the basement, fill in the blank.”

So how do sellers avoid this unpleasant situation?

There is this handy form we use in real estate called the Sellers Property Disclosure. This form is your opportunity to air all your homes dirty laundry.

Sometimes I have sellers balk at this form, they feel reluctant to fill it out.

But think of this form as your get out of jail free card.
The save your bacon form.
The keep you out of hot water form.

You can’t hide things from the new buyer!

Just picture this. New buyer moves in and who should saunter over, but Karen from across the street.

“Oh welcome to the neighborhood! I was just saying to my husband that I didn’t think anyone would buy this home with the moldy attic and all.”

Your neighbors know everything! And if something is wrong with your house the buyers are going to find out eventually.

It’s best to be as thorough and accurate as possible with the disclosure. It will protect you in the long run and keep you out of trouble.

Yes, you might have to make some repairs, but I can promise you it will be a lot cheaper than a lawsuit and attorney fees.

When in doubt, DISCLOSE!

Forever Grateful

I really love my job. I know lots of people feel that way but for me there are so many gratifying aspects of real estate.
And testimonials like this are what keep me coming back on the hard days.
If we have worked together in the past just know that I value our relationship and your trust in me. I am forever grateful.
With gratitude.

Invest in YOU

“We are all on the stairs, my friend; some of us are going down, some us are going up!” - Mehmet Murat ildan

Where are you going?

Why not head in the direction that invests in YOU!?

Did you know that 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing?

With rates so low it’s worth looking into the pros and cons of homeownership.

I would love to talk with you more.

Things To Consider About Selling Your Home

Hold or Sell..

Should I stay or should I go?

Here are a couple of things to consider if you are thinking about selling your home.

1. If you’ve bought your home within the past 12 months you might not have enough equity in your home to end up ahead.

2. If you’ve not lived in your home for at least 2 years you might be subject to prorated capital gains even if it was your primary home.

3. If you’ve had a significant life change (divorce or death of a loved one) most experts would say not to make any changes to your living situation for at least 6 months if possible.

4. If the market is trending downward (not the case in today’s market) and you can stay put it might be a good idea to do so.

   If none of the above apply to you and your home no longer fits your needs give me a call, I’d love to help.

What Would You Do?

In January of 2016 the Powerball jackpot got up to $1.59 billon. That’s 12 zeros….

If you are anything like me you might daydream about what you would do with your winnings.

Pay off all of your family members homes.

Go on vacation - like all the time.

Donate to your favorite charities.

Pay it forward and bless complete strangers. Buy an island or a yacht.

And then you hear about the curses of winning the lottery. How good fortune turns to ruin.

But when I really started thinking about it there is only one thing I would really want that the lottery could give me, because truth be told, I love my life and I am blessed.

If money were no object, we would home school our kids and we would travel as much as possible. And the rest? I would give it away to help as many people as I could.

By train, plane and automobile. There is so much of the world I still want to explore.

If you won the Powerball what would you do

"Real Estater"

I was called a “real estater” the other day.

Not Realtor, not real estate agent, a real estater.

And it reminded me that there are still so many people who don’t fully understand what I do. I mean lots of people think all I do is open doors and go out to lunch with my clients!

Whether I am working with a buyer or seller my hope is that I am brining years of experience and connections to the table.

• Recommending pre-listing repairs for the biggest bang for your buck.

• Connecting you with experts in their fields for pre-purchase inspections.

• Coordinating with the title company to resolve unreleased liens.

• Brainstorming with the lender when we have an issue on the appraisal.

• Inside knowledge on things like well depth/quality or feisty HOA’s.

• Negotiating on your behalf when inspections items come up.

• Accurate pricing for the maximum return on investment in the shortest amount of time.

• Getting you the winning offer when you are competing against many other buyers.

• And sometimes being a shoulder to cry on, real estate can put you through the ringer.

With gratitude.

Become Wealthy

5 things that will make you wealthy by Dave Ramsey one more from me.

1. Have a written budget. You have to have a written game plan with money or you’re going to lose.

2. Get out of debt. When you don’t have any payments, do you know what you’ve got? MONEY!

3. Live on less than you make. In the house of the wise are choice food and oil, but a fool devours all he has. Proverbs 21:20

4. Save and invest. 100% of people who don’t save money don’t have any money saved.

5. Be generous. Follow the 7 Baby Steps and you can be outrageously generous!

And 6 - Buy a home! Long term renting will not create wealth (actually it will but for your landlord). It can be scary but its one of the BEST investments you can make for yourself. And you don’t have to have 20% down - that is an old wives’ tale. And remember the interest rate on rent is 100%.