Archive for the ‘tips’ Category
Flat Fee MLS or Not? Separating Hype from Fact
What is the MLS?
The Multiple Listing Service is a database of homes for sale. Run by the local Board of Realtors®, the MLS is the traditional method agents use to find homes for their buyers or advertise their listings to other agents. MLS listings include detailed information about the property. Besides address and selling price, a listing generally includes the number and size of rooms, annual property taxes, local schools, selling agent and more. Most include photo’s of the home.
Facts about the MLS:
The Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is the fantastic way real estate brokers provide information to one another. MLS allows each agent to see all properties for sale in a given market, greatly expanding the sales force of all properties.
The Internet now provides MLS property information, in real-time, to brokers, agents, home sellers and homebuyers. The MLS is looked at by potentially thousands of real estate agents in your market that might have a prospective buyer for your home. And, it reaches 90 Percent of the Home Buyers who search on the Internet.
- Benefits of MLS Advertisement: There is one very significant benefit to having your home listed in the MLS listing…EXPOSURE! The fact that your home is for sale will now be known to the hundreds, if not thousands of real estate brokers and agents in your market. To maximize your benefit from this exposure, you will need to be willing to “co-op” a real estate agent, if they bring a buyer to purchase your home. Co-op means that you will cooperate in a commission incentive to the real estate agent. Typically buyer’s agents earn between 2 and 3 percent of the sale price of the home.
- Reach Buyers Searching on the Internet: Another key benefit to listing your home on the MLS is in most areas of the United States, the property appears on websites like MSN HomeAdvisor, Yahoo! Real Estate, Realtor.com, Google.com, Zillow.com, etc. and local state websites. Many of the multiple listing services send their inventory directly to these sites to enable even more exposure for homeowners. Millions of people from all over the U.S. use these various websites to search for homes daily. Recent data shows that the first thing homebuyers do is search the internet, often far in advance of their actual move.
- Global Reach: MLS also reaches the transferee’s moving to your town. In today’s transient society, people relocating from all over the U.S. first find the homes they would like to see on the internet. They supply their “must see” list to the buyer’s agent located in the area they are moving to. When relocating buyers are in town searching for a home, time is limited and every minute counts. Buyer’s agents quickly become critical to the transferee’s home search and relocating homebuyers rely heavily on assistance from a buyer’s agent. Therefore, the MLS can be key to exposing your home to relocating buyers.
Considerations: The MLS is a wonderful way to expand your advertising reach and certainly has value. If your goal is maximum exposure, then MLS is an answer. Contact Why6Percent.com and get started Today!
Thank you for visiting Why6Percent.com. Remember, you can sell your home! You have the ability and there is a buyer for your home. Stay optimistic and remember, the money you save will justify the time, energy and emotion that you will expend!
Pay Less for PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance)
Unless you have a 20 percent equity position in your home, you will have to pony up for private mortgage insurance (PMI). This insurance premium typicallycosts between .5 – 1.5 percent of your loan amount, per year. ($500-$1500/year on a $100,000 loan) The actual costs depend upon how much equity you have, your credit score and whether you opt for a fixed rate loan or for one that adjusts.
2 Ways to Pay for PMI.
Buyers can negotiate with the seller to pay a single premium upfront or buyers can roll the premium into their loan. The downside of rolling it into the loan is that interest will be charged on loan for the premium. The upside is the interest paid is deductible and the buyer will pay less money out of pocket at closing.
The only way to eliminate PMI is to put 20 percent down and apply for 80 percent financing. Waiting is the only other way to get rid of the expense. PMI cancels as you pay down your loan and equity reaches 22 percent of the homes value.
Thank you for visiting Why 6 Percent. Interest Rates remain unchanged today. Good news for home sellers and buyers, alike. Learn more about our flat fee MLS and Realtor.com program for homeowners. Market your home like the pro’s and save thousands in commissions!
InfoBox for Real Estate. Mystery Solved.
InfoBox delivers information that homebuyers want in one sexy, smart, easy to use product.
Buy an InfoBox or InfoTube and remove the mystery about what is behind your front door.
Instant, wireless seller to buyer communication. No software, squinting at tiny screens, internet modems or waiting forever for downloads is required…
Why6Percent.com is changing real estate. Reach millions of homebuyers and buyer agents for a few bucks and save thousands in fee’s and commissions. Why Pay 6 Percent??
PS Check out InfoTube.net for Real Estate Facebook Page. It’s fun, it’s cutting edge and it’s interactive. If you like real estate, you’re going to love this!
Uncle Sam Pays the Tab for New Windows
Does a cold draft blow around your head while you relax in your easy chair? Does the sound of actual street noise drown out the sound of the NASCAR race on TV? If you answered “Yes” to either question…it might be time to replace those old, drafty, ugly, noisy, single paned, aluminum frame windows with some good looking, energy efficient ones.
Why Replacing Your Windows Pays Off…
- New windows improve the curb appeal and increase the value of any home.
- Buyers pay up for new windows. Numerous studies show that home sellers recoop 90+ percent of the costs for window replacement at the time of sale.
- Homeowners realize the energy savings immediately, while increasing comfort.
- Energy efficient windows are a Green home selling feature.
- New models of windows are easy to clean and maintain.
- Improve your view. New glass is so clear it’s just like looking through… nothing at all.
- Maybe Best of All…Uncle Sam Pays for It. The government will pay 30 percent of the cost (up to $1500) to replace the windows in your home through December 31, 2010. And, don’t forget to check out the additional rebates and savings on windows that are being offered in most states, cities and townships.
Tip for a Tight Budget
- Just replace some of the windows. Choose the ones on the front of the home, because they improve the curb appeal. Or, replace the windows that get hammered by the most weather, be it sun, rain, snow or wind.
- Or, Roll the Dice…and, maximize the tax credit by replacing half of the windows in 2010. Then, gamble on an extension of the credit into 2011 and replace the other half.
- Uncle Sam picks up a Third of your bill and smile (:
Practical Advice About Window Replacement
- Use a company that carries a wide range of window brands. Make sure they use their own employee’s (not subcontractors) to do the installation.
- Profit from the Housing Crash. Be a hard negotiator and get at least 3 quotes. You can save Big on labor and materials because the housing market is slow.
- Replacing windows is a big, messy job. Cover up anything important such as electronics and furniture. Sawing and Ripping out windows is dirty business, no matter how good the installer.
Thank you for visiting Why6Percent.com. We have a program for home sellers that offers the MLS, Realtor.com and advertisement on dozens of real estate listing posts for one cheap price…and the seller keeps the commission. Call 1-800-381-9496 or visit http://www.why6percent.com today for the details. You will be happy that you did!!!
Staging Tip to Make Your Bathroom Appear Bigger
We have a totally free, staging tip that everyone can do to make their bathroom appear more spacious and inviting.
Open your shower curtain a little bit… It draws the eye onward and makes the space appear larger.
Thank you for visiting Why6Percent.com The home buying season is heating up across the country. If you don’t have your home listed on MLS, Realtor.com and all the major real estate property websites…you are missing buyers. It’s that simple. Contact us to list on the MLS for $399 and you keep the commission.
10 Towns for Real Estate Steals and Deals
It’s our job at Why6Percent.com to have our finger on the pulse of real estate from coast-to-coast. Recently, we have been telling you to get ready for a big home selling season this spring.
Why? Interest rates are rising. Job losses have slowed to a trickle. Factory and Industrial output is up for the first time in years. And, we feel that the Fed is holding back information, for now, on the job creation that is happening as we speak.
So, where are the best real estate deals in the country?? We have identified 10 cities that are offering up Trump-type deals of a lifetime. CLICK HERE to see where the action will start first.
If you haven’t placed your property listing on the MLS, Realtor.com, Zillow, Google, MSN, Military.com and all the other major real estate websites…you are missing buyers. Go to the Why6Percent.com website and sign up NOW!!Don’t wait a minute longer. Tax Credits, Rising Rates and Gutted Home Prices are creating a stir among buyers early this spring. You snooze…you lose… And, we certainly don’t want that.
Pent Up Demand for Housing Explodes This Spring
Depending on where you live, you may have never experienced a winter like this one. I know I haven’t. Week after week, snow, rain, mudslides and/or freezing temperatures have pounded the country. With only 1 state out of 50 snowless, it’s easy to see why no one is attending Open Houses… Fortunately, with February nearly over, the crocus will soon appear and we predict that homebuyers will hit the streets enmass.
Home Sellers Get Ready. The nasty, record setting winter certainly put a halt to home sales, but the upside is the pent up demand it created. People who expected some typical, nice days to tour homes after the holidays, have found themselves stuck inside with nothing to do but watch HGTV and dream about buying a home. We predict these stir crazy buyers will hit the streets at the first opportunity.
$8000 Reasons to Motivate this Spring. The $8000 tax credit for homebuyers expires in 43 Days. To cash in on the lucrative tax credit, buyers must be under contract for a home before April 1st or they forfeit $8000 grand!! That’s a lot of motivation to get serious in a hurry.
Cheap Money. The Fed and Mortgage Bankers all acknowledge that interest rates will increase this spring and continue moving upward through 2010. Buyers know that if they snooze they lose the chance to lock in a cheap, fixed rate loan and risk pricing themselves out of their dream home, entirely.
Get Ready. Get Set. Sell. Home sellers should prepare for a surge in buying activity this spring that has not been seen in several years. Make every second count now by deciding on your selling strategy. Agent? FSBO? FSBO, combined with the power of the MLS? Whichever you chose or want to pay for, make sure you use the internet for all it’s worth. And, get to know your local home market like the back of your hand.
Why6Percent.com will make sure you are ready when the buyers show up. Place your property on InfoTube.net for FREE exposure to thousands of buyers each week. Advertise your home listing to every buyers agent and on every real estate website with our cheap, flat fee MLS listing, and keep the commission. Either way you chose, act now. You can’t afford to wait until the buyers are looking. This is what you’ve been waiting for.
Share Your Property Information and Idea’s
InfoTube.net announced some recent updates to it’s website that make it easier for homeowners to share information and property details on the internet.
Share Your Property Information with One Click
InfoTube.net has provided a direct “Share” link on every home listing. The “Share” link automatically feeds your property listing to all major sharing websites such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc. If you use social networking or RSS feed websites, simply select where you want your property listing posted and click. It’s that easy. (The Share Link can be located under the “Email Seller” link on every home listing.)
Sellers and Buyers Communicate, Learn and Get Advise
InfoTube.net for Real Estate has an Offical Facebook and Twitter page where you can post pictures, questions, idea’s or funny real estate stuff you want to share. Become a Fan and Contributor Today.
Thank you for visiting Why6Percent.com!! If you haven’t placed a FREE property listing on InfoTube.net, please do so Today. Without InfoTube.net you miss buyers, exposure and the free assistance that is available to you. InfoTube.net, combined with the MLS, provides a one-two punch for a knock out home sale!!!
Free Cash & Reduced Costs for Home Improvements
Now is a great time to make home improvements, repairs or take care of past due maintenance. If you are selling your home, improvements will certainly make your home sell faster and for more money. If you’re not selling a home, rebates, lower material and labor costs, and cheap financing provide perfect timing for sprucing up your residence.
Through 2010, homeowners who install energy efficient windows, insulation, roofs, doors or heating and air systems can apply for a 30 percent (up to $1500) tax credit for each product they purchase.
Even better….homeowners can receive a 30 percent tax credit through 2016 (with no spending limits) when they purchase green, energy saving products such as solar systems, geothermal heating pumps, small wind systems, residential fuel cells or micro turbines. For complete details, visit the Energy Stars Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency website.
Thank you for visiting Why6Percent.com. Advertise your home on the MLS, Realtor.com, Google, MSN, Zillow and most major search engines for real estate for 6 months for only $399. Why Pay 6 Percent??????