For example, if you recently purchased a home in a Irmo SC Subdivision,  your first step is establishing a budget of funds available to spend. Second step, is deciding which are the most important places to start? Do you go with the aesthetic items, the safety items, or the energy efficiency ones? See if you can agree on this one and budget the upgrades.

Where do you get the Vendors is the next big item? It is best if you can check with some people in the trades on whom they like if they do not have a vested interest in them. Friends that have had good experiences can be a valuable source for referrals. It is easy to check references and history on the Internet now.

Next, get all estimates in writing. Find out about rebates, warranties and tax savings for appliances and other improvements. Check out any special financing for cash or no interest credit for major purchases.  It is best if you can do some of the work before you move in if that can be arranged for convenience.

What are the risks about buying land in an unincorporated area? The first risk is financing. Many lenders are hesitant to loan money to by houses or land. Land has some additional risk to it that Lenders consider. If you are retiring most people lose their primary source of income which is from their job  or business. Depending on your savings, Social Security, and any pension plans or other investments you are considered more fixed in income with some risks associated with pensions and investments. Some pensions are going away and there is fear about Social Security and Medicare benefits being cut back.

Buying land in today’s marketplace and holding or building is questionable. There is a great deal of uncertainty. Lenders are not to interested in loaning money for speculation. If you are loanable they may loan now if you plan to build. If you sold another home and realized a sizeable tax free profit, you can go it alone with your own cash. That is a nice feeling, but may cause you some pain if you build and don’t like your new surroundings and can’t sell.  You may be interested in Columbia SC Subdivision Homes for sale.

Here is the big risk. You buy land and before or after  you build someone decides to put a junkyard, chicken farm, some Industrial waste plant, prison, or trailer park near your home. This could effect your desire to reside there and make it difficult to sell. Just because you think you have the heaven you were waiting for, may create hell on earth. Be careful in your Golden years, as gold does not always rise in value.

So what can the seller do? They can rent out the house, do a Lease-Option, go By Owner, or use a Flat Fee Listing Company. Each has its pluses and minuses. For some, renting is too much of a hassle and they must sell to get another house. A Lease option has the same drawbacks and the chance of the person with the option of getting a mortgage may not happen. By Owners can save the most commission, but mistakes and length of marketing may be a negative.

Enter the Flat Fee Broker. The Seller can maintain the By Owner option, and be listed on their local MLS, local agent sites, national Real Estate Sites, have local MLS security lockboxes; get professional assistance and photography options for a fee rather then a commission. Imagine on a $200,000 saving $11,500 or more in commissions with this service.  That would pay a significant amount of a mortgage payment in their next purchase. They could be more competitive in pricing their homes, give agent incentives that bring buyers, or offer closing costs. Their location, and condition of the house doesn’t change with the full service commission, just what they will net.

Flat Fee Pricing in Real Estate will become more commonplace as Sellers search a viable option to sell their homes with similar exposure that is most effective.

Don’t get to down by going under the house. Both can be major problems that need to be diagnosed and addressed. Ask the Inspector questions when you are unclear. That is their job. It is your responsibility to be your own Advocate in the process. Issues that are not disclosed can come up in your Home Inspection and identified for repairs or seller concessions.

Make sure you are clear about the Inspection contingency in the contract. Time lines and protocol for addendums are spelled out in your contract. Not meeting deadlines are potentially costly in repairs that could have been mandated due to the Inspection. In some contracts failure to agree on items identified on the Inspection can void your contract. As a result, don’t be too picky or you might be looking for a new house.

Make sure you understand safety or energy concerns that can be addressed when you move in. Some energy savings can more then pay for the inspection over the time you are in the house and with tax credits. Safety features are especially important for security purposes, and the elderly or children. For a few dollars major injuries or break ins can be avoided.

Regarding offers, they are knowledgeable about what the seller paid for the house, the seller’s mortgage balance, price changes, days on the market, comparables in the area, and the better locations, schools, and condition of houses that is most marketable. They recommend advice regarding the seller paying closing costs and the fee for warranties. They are skillful in writing contracts favorable to you.

Protection, Help in getting the best deal, and using the REAN not only is the service free to you, but we pay you a rebate up to $6000 for using our services.

Rea Inc. Our parent company started using Buyer Agency 18 years ago because they thought Buyer’s and not just sellers needed representation in this complex world of Real Estate. We try to be the objective voice on the individual’s most expensive purchase typically in their lives.

Experience the difference with REAN, where Our Principles come Before Our Profits.  Consider as a seller a Columbia Flat Fee Real Estate Sale or a Columbia Home Buyers Rebates.

Columbia, SC – We are amazed at how many people list for full commissions and have no clue that their agent put no photo or one photo of their house on websites. Other then physically being in the home, photos are the best way to show off your home. You can insist on multiple photos on websites. If the agent resists, get a new agent. Slide shows are effective as well as virtual tours.  Columbia Real Estate have sold homes never seen live where only photos were viewed. In the digital age, if you are skilled, you can provide the photos. Make sure you monitor to make sure they are on the MLS and other sites. You can pay a professional photographer if the agent doesn’t provide this valuable option. Take outside shots of the neighborhood if there are attractive features. People buy neighborhoods and not just homes. Ponds, tennis courts, pools, trees, golf courses, water, docks, play grounds, trails, are all selling points. Label the photos to impact further.

Signs are a big winner in Columbia SC neighborhoods with signage if they get drive by traffic, especially with Columbia SC Rent to Own or Columbia SC Lease Option properties. The sign should be tasteful and not taken down if you receive a contract until you close. Remember never allow an agent to put a contract pending or sold on the sign as deals fall through and this stops people from calling. Get a 24-hour info-line option that describes the house and has a caller ID to follow up on calls to the Info-line. We have sold many homes with this feature. It is more effective then flyers then run out or get wet. It allows tracking 24/7/. You can show enthusiasm with features through your voice that does not come through with flyers. Write out a script to not overlook important details yourself for the recording.

Before entering such an agreement make sure the value of the house is there via a Realtor market analysis or an appraisal. Make sure that the seller has title and there are no liens on the property. It is important to have insurance as a prerequisite for the deal with all closing costs being paid by the Homeowner. Of course you want an attorney to close the deal with title insurance protecting you and a survey. It is best that you physically go to the house to check out the condition and location to determine what the house is about. I don’t suggest doing blind deals. Next you want to find out the financial capability of the Homeowner to determine the likelihood of their servicing the debt. People have credit challenges for a variety of reasons and getting loans from banks are much more difficult today.

Also, consider a Columbia SC Rent To Own scenairo or Columbia SC Lease Option.  A good place to advertise to secure these types of loans is on the Internet. Craig’s list is one venue to put an ad under Real Estate loans. State your terms specifically to attract those people that you find most desirable. There are many people looking to borrow and fewer investors to lend. You are in the drivers seat and can dictate the terms you feel most comfortable with.

As far as tax consequences, interest income is not subject to social security. Depending on when you structure the deal you can even have balloon payments at a certain time, or in intervals reducing the principal and risk. I strongly advise always having a first lien position to avoid possible foreclosures and getting shut out at the closing table.

What is wrong with this picture? Many new residents begin to settle in, and so does reality. Higher Property taxes, Home Insurance, Hurricane and Flood Insurance awaits you. Add to that Condo and Homeowners dues, golf memberships and fees as well as assessments, and we have the recipe for a not so sunny adventure. Homeowners now selling their homes in many parts of the country are not realizing the profits they once did. There homes are taking longer to sell in most cases but they are still heading south. Some that could afford it have the agony and the ecstasy of having 2 homes. The agony comes in if they want to sell in a tight Buyer’s market.  We’ve seen this in the Columbia SC Real Estate Market.

Where does the problem come in? Many people, myself included, often think that a place you visit that seems so idealist is the same as living there. Not necessarily so. Some retirees to Fantasyland soon realize they don’t like the heat, lack of seasons, expenses, tourists, the drivers, the density, the homeowners associations, and assessments that await them. The beautiful ocean now becomes an ominous body of water during the hurricane season and the yearly fear factor becomes reason for unsettling. Now here comes the problem. You paid top dollar and trying to sell now becomes difficult to impossible. Your hard-earned retirement nest egg now becomes scrambled, as you might have to sell for thousands of dollars less then you bought.

What can I do to avoid this dilemma? Don’t buy initially is my suggestion. It is better to rent and test the waters. Try to find out as much as possible all the negatives before you get trapped by all marketers touting Shangri-La. It is not the same as buying. It is a better test then none at all.

Broker Bob Mandel, The Real Estate Advocates Network- Columbia SC Real Estate Your Agent of Change Where Our Principles Come Before Our Profits

If you have to move flexibility is the key. In Columbia Real Estate You must try everything possible to make it happen. You know the basics: get an inspection, clean, de clutter, and fix. And get a flat fee Broker that allows you to price the house below your competitors. If you have some time to market yourself, get an appraiser to help you determine a price. Be prepared to lower the price, offer closing costs, agent bonuses, and allowances for repairs or updating. Whatever it takes to move on if you have to. You must get it out of your head that you will not sell at a loss. If you can afford to lose and move on you can make it up. Staying is not an option is the key to selling. Regardless of your initial sales price be prepared for lower offers. Remember, do not take it personally, this has to be a business decision.

If you don’t have to move, consider renting, lease options, or owner financing if you are able. How much do you want to move? This is the classical risk and reward scenario. If you can’t sell, consider making some renovations or adding on to your home. Be careful about over improving and consider if the improvements will make you want to stay and enjoy your home.

Broker Bob Mandel, Real estate Advocates Network

Our Principles Come Before Our Profits