Should You Sell Your Property as a For Sale By Owner?

Thousands of homeowners ponder the question of whether or not to sell privately. This is a question that gets a lot of attention on the internet, and also spawns an enormous amount of erroneous information. Many people want to sell their own properties, but are afraid of "hidden" problems that may rise up to cost them money, or cause them grief. Fear is the number one reason that people are willing to pay a Realtor to sell their home. Unfortunately, this fear is often unfounded, and all too often promoted by someone with a vested interest in taking your money to sell your property.

For some time now, many articles that pretend to promote selling privately, while in actual fact, they are designed to discourage you from taking on this task.

Obviously, such articles do not come right out and say "Hey don't do it!", but instead they tell you all of the seemingly bad stuff that "could" happen if you dare try it. They paint such a grim picture of selling privately while "encouraging" the reader, that nobody would try it if they chose to follow the advice of such articles.

This article will cover, albeit briefly, the reasons that many people should, or should not sell on their own. I will try to dispel the immense amount of misinformation on the subject of selling privately, and in the end, hopefully, you'll be in a better position to choose for yourself whether or not to sell privately.

In my opinion, selling privately is not for everyone, but most people can do it easily enough, and succeed.

First some basics. You've probably heard the term FSBO. This acronym to describe the term For Sale By Owner.

First question. Do you need a license to sell privately? To the best of my knowledge, no license is required in any American state or Canadian province in order to sell property privately. In fact, your right to sell privately is protected by law.  I will suggest that you check with your lawyer.

I am not a lawyer and therefore cannot give you legal advice.  So check with your lawyer before you do anything.

How much time will it take to sell my property? I am NOT going to try and tell you how long it will take for you to find a buyer who will transact a sale. I will talk about the time it takes to market a property on your own in order to give you a sense of what sort of time commitment you'll need to make to do it correctly. The answer, surprisingly, is very little time, about an hour or two a day at most. In fact, once you've taken the time to set up your sale, which is something I will talk about in another article, it will take little or no time at all, unless you're showing your property to a prospective buyer.

What is the general process of selling a property privately? In many ways it's exactly the same as selling with a real estate agent. Here is the process of selling a property, privately or not. First, the property is advertised to let the public know that it's available for sale. Prospective buyers inquire about the property, ask questions, and arrange a viewing appointment. The prospective buyers come and see the property, sometimes more than once. If they like the property, they make an offer in writing on a legal form. You (or your agent) and they (or their agent) negotiate the terms of the offer, the price, and closing date. Then once everyone has agreed, and all parties have signed the offer, everything goes to the lawyers so they can do their stuff to effectively convey title, and exchange monies etc..

It seems pretty straight forward, and usually it is. First you'll have to market the property, show it to prospective buyers, and negotiate the terms of the sales agreement. Once the agreement has been signed by both the Seller and the Buyer, then your lawyer will do the rest for you. Also, don't forget to get contact information for the Buyer's lawyer. Your lawyer may need this information to begin the process with the other attorney.

More articles will follow.  One thing to consider when selling FSBO is to provide financing for the prospective buyer.  You can become the bank and take back the mortgage.  You can provide financing with a mortgage note or trust deed for a short period of time, then sell the note for cash.

Please read the articles on our blog for more information.  Click here to email us with your questions.

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Need Cash Now, Selling FSBO We can help sell your Mortgage Note or Trust Deed visit http://htxt.it/xaq7 for more information.

Consolidate Your Debts

Are you facing difficulties in paying back the loans
because you have two or more pending debts? If your answer is yes, then
debt management is the solution for you. It is a process which
reorganizes your debts to more affordable repayments terms. It clubs
your multiple high interest unsecured loans, into a single loan with
lower interest rate.

Various financial aid consultants are
deployed by the lenders, who negotiate with your creditors on your
behalf. An expert from financial institute selected by you meets your
creditors and makes an arrangement after which, you just need to pay
certain amount to the institution and not directly to creditor. The
amount paid by you includes fee waivers and discounts on debts owed by
you. This service is also open for bad credit history holders. After
the loan consolidation, you just have to make a single monthly payment,
which covers for all the loans which get consolidated.

You can
ask for quotes from various lenders if you want to get this service.
The quotes are provided free of cost and they enable you to explore the
difference between costs of debt management options provided by
different loan providers. This management is offered to you keeping in
mind, your financial situation and credit status.

With the help
of a proper research about the financial institutes offering this
service, you can certainly spot competitive interest rates. With the
help of this management, you will no more have to face harassment from
different lenders, as you will only be dealing with a single loan
provider.

In order to strike the suitable deal, you can switch to
the Internet. With the help of on line mode, you can come across various
financial institutions and lenders providing you with this management.
You can make comparisons between different terms and conditions offered
by different lenders and then select a suitable deal.

Debt
management helps you to settle your scattered debts and multiple
financial obligations. It is an affordable way to deal with your debt
problems.

If you are holding a mortgage note, you can sell a mortgage note and get cash now.

If you have a mortgage note you can sell your mortgage note for cash now. We have buyers that want to purchase your mortgage note. We can close in 2-3 weeks. Click here to email us for more information.

Technorati Tags: mortgage notes, trust deeds, real estate, financial planning, fsbo, divorce, get cash now, mobile home, bankruptcy

Bankruptcy or Foreclosure, Which Is The Best Option

In the past, "Foreclosure" and "Bankruptcy" were considered two of society's dirty words. Today these terms are viewed by many as relief from Financial Black holes that can not otherwise be escaped. In the current economy, inundated with bad mortgages, many of which stem from predatory lending practices, coupled with credit card debt spinning out of control, bankruptcy and the loss of ones home have become common place. For many homeowners, a decision needs to be made as to which of these terms is the lesser of two evils.

For homeowners whose debt has spun out of control, and whose income does not cover expenses, foreclosure and or bankruptcy are options that may be inevitable. However, which of these terms truly is the lesser of two evils?

Should a homeowner file for bankruptcy, they may be able to eliminate all of their credit card debt, medical bills, court ordered judgments and even electric and gas bills. With the assistance of a bankruptcy discharge, they may then be able to stay current on their mortgage. However, many people are even more concerned about their credit score. They may ask, "Will we be able to obtain future financing?"

Should a homeowner rather, opt for foreclosure, they will certainly loose their home, but do they really want to keep it in this market where the house may be worth far less then what is owed. If a homeowner opts to walk away from their house, they may own other investment property, and be able to live in a multi-family house, or they may simply want to rent and not deal with all the hassles of homeownership. "If something breaks, let someone else fix it, repair it, deal with this problem".

Neither option is an easy choice. A bankruptcy will remain on your credit for 10 years, while a foreclosure will only remain for 8 years, but many credit counselors report it has twice the negative impact on your credit score compared with a bankruptcy. It will be extremely difficult to obtain a new mortgage for many years after you have lost a home to foreclosure. Many homeowners may see foreclosure as a better option then simply obtaining the financial relief that the Bankruptcy Laws provide. What many do not realize is that a foreclosure may be even a darker mark on their credit then a bankruptcy. As a result, it may be even more difficult with a foreclosure on their record to obtain subsequent housing. Many mortgage lenders look at a foreclosure more seriously than they will a bankruptcy. As a result, a former homeowner may not qualify to rent the apartment or house they want, even though they may be able to afford it now that the mortgage obligation is gone.

One of the key factors to keep in mind is that when you file and receive a discharge of your debt in a bankruptcy, even if your credit score is lower, you are still a better candidate to receive future financing and in very short order. The reason is simple. After your bankruptcy discharge, you do not owe anything to anybody. Additionally, creditors realize that you can not file for a new bankruptcy for another eight (8) years, and as such can not walk away from any new debt that you may incur as a result of credit extended to you by a new creditor, be it landlord, credit card, or other financing option.

Now it should be pointed out that in many cases, you may be so far behind that a foreclosure is going to happen no matte what. If this is the case, it may be in your interest to file for bankruptcy right before the order. The reason is that if the bank sells the property for less then what is owed, the difference (commonly referred to as the deficiency) will be discharged. As a result, the bank will often sit on a foreclosure order for some time before they act upon it, so as to not loose more money. In the meantime, a homeowner can possibly short sell their house and move on with their life.

Based upon the foregoing, if you are facing a financial crisis that may end in either foreclosure or bankruptcy, consult an attorney to explore what your best option may be. The right decision may save you years of restricted credit in the future.

If you have a mortgage note you can sell your mortgage note for cash now. Click here to email us for more information.

Technorati Tags: mortgage notes, trust deeds, real estate, financial planning, fsbo, divorce, get cash now, mobile home, bankruptcy

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Check Your Credit Score Before You Apply For A Mortgage

Bad credit or good credit, the process of obtaining a mortgage has changed. Even if you are simply trying to refinance your existing mortgage, you may be surprised at how different things are. Of course your credit score always played a significant role in determining what kind of loan you can apply for, but nobody could have predicted what you need in order to get a mortgage today.

in the past, banks were eager to lend money to people who were interested in buying a new home. They would barely look at your income and sell you loans that were more than you could afford - virtually regardless of your credit history. A credit score of around 680 points would have been considered good credit and allowed you to get preferred rates and the best plans.

Today, just a few months later, things have changed dramatically and it is nearly impossible to get a mortgage without excellent credit. The good news is that along with those changes, it has become increasingly easy to increase your credit score.

Before you try to get a new home loan, the very first step is to access your personal credit information to find out where you stand on the credit score scale. You can then use this information to remove the errors that are common to credit reports, quickly increase your score, and then get approved for the loan you need.

You can also think about owner financing with a mortgage note. Click here to contact us for more information.

Technorati Tags: mortgage notes, real estate, credit score, refinance, bankruptcy, financial planning, divorce, get cash now

More information on

More information on selling your property in a difficult market. Complete article at http://htxt.it/I70M

More Selling your Property in a Difficult Market

The Spring 2009 Real Estate Season is peculiar. It is a buyer's market but with only a few buyers around.  Those that are looking, and able to buy, are fearful of making a mistake. Lots of mistakes: buying too high, buying a house that doesn't comp out, buying too soon, missing the bottom.

It is impossible to time the market. Money managers can't do it and neither can we in the real estate business. This is because we only know where the bottom is when it has passed when you're no longer in it!

So with such overwhelming pressure on the price, what options does a seller have to keep the value of his property in tact?

Here, in NJ real estate, when there is a large supply and fewer buyers, it is unwise to keep dropping the price. That simply creates a price war that no-one can win. Instead, understand that buyers will be comparing all the options in their price point as analytically as they can find tools. The strategy to shore up value is to focus on the beauty contest and offer tools of comparison that enables your property to stand out. Clearly and cleanly.

The Beauty Contest

Your home must look its best. All the stuff we know - freshly painted, neat and tidy, clean and in perfect condition. PLUS,

• Open spaces in each room. Buyers need a place to stand to see each room and then see room for them to move into.
• How does it work? If they were to buy this house, where would they eat, play, work, sleep, rest and relax, etc.
• Depersonalized. More than personal photos, certificates and trophies, put away anything that is completely specific to you the homeowner, as opposed to a wide group of buyers.
• Photos. The last and most important part of the beauty contest is the pictures. You must have beautiful photos of the inside and outside of your home, taken from the right angle, with the right lighting so that the house looks great...online! 85% of all home searches start online, and the more photos you show, the better your home stands out against the competition.

 Tools of Comparison

Buyers, with lots of choices, will compare and contrast options by price point, as carefully and analytically as they can. Make sure you offer them information to make the best comparison possible. The more information you can provide here, the more in control you are of the story being told to the buyer. information to have available, on hand, with the realtor's brochure, floor plan and comps is:-

• Illustrations of the home being located in a "Great Neighborhood "
• The Cost to Run the home
• Square Footage, amenities including # of closets, level lot, basement & extra spaces (include everything that could possibly be seen as a positive; you just don't know what's going to trigger the "must have it" impulse!)
• Ratio of Asking Price: Assessed Value
• Recent Sales in the Neighborhood  and feel free to offer a paragraph to each listing illustrating how you stack against each sale.

Do not forget to think about taking back the financing with a seller financed mortgage note.  Click here to visit our web site for more information or email us at info@smilingdogenterprises.comTechnorati Tags: mortgage notes, trust deeds, refinancing, get cash now, divorce, financial planning

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Just update our blog with new info on selling property in a difficult market http://htxt.it/U8rl Happy Mothers Day

Selling your Property in a Difficult Market

If you listen to the media hype, you're probably thinking that you need to hold onto your home until the economy bounces back; that you'll never offload your house in this market. While it's true that sellers in some regions are finding it tough to sell right now, there are still buyers out there looking for a home.

The first step you need to take to ensure a successful sale of your home is to hire a reputable listing agent. While many people try the For Sale by Owner route first, most discover that selling a home is time consuming, complicated, and requires more specialized knowledge than they have.

Many homeowners who try to sell their home on their own become overwhelmed with trying to market their property to buyers. After all, it takes more than a yard sign and a couple of balloons to attract large numbers of viable buyers.

A good real estate agent will organize and host open houses for you, taking care of the scheduling, showing buyers around, and answering their questions. For these events, they will likely create professional brochures or fliers that feature the listing details of your home, as well as highlight the property's best features. This gives buyers something to bring home with them, and will make a positive impression.

In addition to traditional marketing methods like open houses, today's agents will also develop a solid advertising campaign for the internet. With over 80% of buyers starting their home search on the web, listing your home on the Multiple Listing Service and on other reputable websites is an important step in getting your home noticed. Thousands of agents and potential buyers will be able to access details and photos of your home from the comfort of their living room.

Having a web savvy agent is absolutely vital in this market, but you also want an agent who has been in the industry for a few years-particularly one who has experienced the ups and downs of the housing market. He or she will be able to provide insight and practical advice about how best to go about getting your home sold in a difficult market.

With your listing price set and marketing campaigns in place, a realtor will also help you negotiate with buyers to get the best price possible. Agents are trained and skilled in the art of negotiation, and will make the entire transaction much smoother for everyone.

Successful sales are possible even in slow markets like this one, but it's important to have an ally with know-how to guide you along the way.

Do not forget about seller financing with a mortgage note. We can help you with selling a mortgage note or creating one to take back financing. 

email for more information or visit our blog

Technorati Tags: mortgage notes, real estate, divorce, bankruptcy, financial planning, mortgage, refinance, fsbo

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We just posted a new article on our blog regarding selling a home using FSBO http://htxt.it/RLfL

Things to consider when selling your home FSBO

If you're opting to sell your own home rather than using a realtor, it's important to take a systematic, proven approach to your sales campaign. The market is very different to what it once was, and you should focus on how to sell a house during recession. This article outlines 3 areas that are crucial to a quick house sale.

1) Your Pricing Strategy

It's not wise to aim for big profits in the current market. Unless you live in a particularly unaffected area, you're going to find that the only way to sell your own home is to ask at or just below market value. Don't be scared of this, as chances are buyers will run the price up. In fact, with a good marketing campaign your price can be risen quite high through buyers competing with each other.

2) Your Advertising Campaign

It's absolutely imperative that your advertising is targeted to wards the right market. Let me say now that the majority of serious buyers at the moment are property investors. Families are not exactly in a position to buy. Keeping this in mind, you need to write your sales copy and headlines to appeal to these investors. Write about how much profit they'll make in 5 years time when the market returns to normal.

3) Your Property Presentation

A very popular trend over the past few years has been "home staging". That is essentially where you move your old furniture out and hire some up-market household items to ive your place an expensive feel. Though this strategy can work well, I think many buyers are now weary of it. Instead, just de-clutter your home of excess "stuff", and go for an airy and open feel. Concentrate on your bathroom and kitchen especially.

You should also consider taking back the mortgage with a mortgage note!

Visit our site for more information or email mortgagenotes@smilingdogenterprises.com

Technorati Tags: mortgage notes, trust deeds, get cash now, divorce, forclosure