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12 Steps to Take to Sell in ‘12: Step 5
Gather Your Paperwork
By Liz Rainey – Agent/Relocation Specialist
In planning your sale, you can get a great head start by pulling together the necessary paperwork ahead of time.Disclosure Documents: Your agent will provide you with this form, in which you are legally bound to disclose any problems that you know of in the house. This includes [...]
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12 Steps to Take to Sell in ‘12: Step 4
Find the Right Agent
By Jen Ross – Real Estate Agent/Relocation Specialist
There are several key things to be aware of when getting ready to list your house for sale, among them, finding the right agent is first.
Interviewing agents can be like screening for a babysitter: you need to find the one you feel most comfortable with [...]Categories: Uncategorized -
You May be Out Over $600 in Deductions…
By Greg Iverson
Mortgage Banker – Envoy Mortgage
A very important tax benefit disappeared at the end of December that could cost homeowners thousands every year in lost tax deductions. This tax benefit was for homeowners who pay private mortgage insurance premiums as part of their monthly mortgage payments.
Many homebuyers in recent years have taken advantage of [...]Categories: Uncategorized -
12 Steps to Take to Sell in ‘12: Step 2
Study the Local Market
By Elaine Medve – Agent
When contemplating selling your home and putting it on the market, it is imperative to educate yourself as to what is happening in the marketplace. This is a major decision that can be quite stressful, and having realistic expectations makes the entire process go smoother. We don’t have [...]Categories: Uncategorized -
Agent Roundtable – Will the Decline in Home Ownership be Permanent?
Last week it was reported that analysts are estimating that home ownership in the United States will drop to below 60% (Source). If this were to evolve from a trend into a permanent change, it would be a radical departure from our history as being a nation which greatly valued home ownership.
Therefore, do you see [...]Categories: Uncategorized -
Agent Roundtable – Are We Becoming a Nation of Renters?
Last week it was reported that analysts are estimating that home ownership in the United States will drop to below 60% (Source). This of course signals that we are gradually becoming a nation of renters as opposed to homeowners, despite our history of including home ownership as a core pillar of the American Dream.
So, are [...]Categories: Uncategorized -
Agent Roundtable – Why Buy Now?
Last week it was reported that analysts are estimating that home ownership in the United States will drop to below 60% before long (Source). This of course, would be a far cry from the all-time high of 69% that was seen in the previous decade. With this in mind, we asked a few of our [...]
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Proposal Could be Detrimental to Housing Recovery
From Greg Iverson
877.907.6907
Federal regulators are currently determining whether or not to require would-be homebuyers to come up with a 20% down payment in order to qualify for a loan to buy a home as a part of the Housing Reform Act of 2010. Believe it or not, this was standard practice years ago. One would [...]Categories: Uncategorized -
2011 Derby Party a Huge Success!
Upper End Properties was thrilled to sponsor the 2011 Derby Party to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri.
Hundreds participated in the festivities, many donning derby hats and sipping mint juleps.
Aside from delicious classic derby food, such as cheese grits, the highlight of the event was the dice rolling game. Participants were given the [...]Categories: Uncategorized -
Special Fannie Mae HomePath Buyer Incentive Offer
By Greg Iverson
(636) 751-1068 – greg.iverson@upperendproperties.com
There’s great news from Fannie Mae: Buyers may be eligible to receive up to 3.5% in closing cost assistance through June 30, 2011 as part of the HomePath buyer incentive.
To be eligible for this incentive, the following qualifications must be met:
- Buyers and/or selling agents must request the incentive upon [...]Categories: Uncategorized -
Details on Fannie Mae’s HomePath Program
By Greg Iverson
(636) 751-1068 – greg.iverson@upperendproperties.com
With the rise in the number of foreclosed properties in the last few years, lenders have been scrambling to find ways to finance them for new buyers. Historically, it has been very difficult to finance foreclosures due to the below average condition they are oftentimes in. Lenders want to see [...]Categories: Uncategorized -
Could You Use Some Down Payment Assistance?
From Greg Iverson
(636) 751-1068 – greg.iverson@upperendproperties.com
Beyond Housing offers a down-payment assistance program to aid those who may have difficulty in coming up with the funds necessary to put money down on a home.
The non-profit organization was founded 30 years ago with the mission to help low-income families establish economic independence. As part of this, they [...]Categories: Uncategorized -
Upper End Helps Raise over $1,200 for Friends of Kids with Cancer!
The event at The Post was a huge success! We raised over $950 for Friends of Kids with Cancer and sold over 30 tickets for our Cardinals outing ($300 will go to the charity).
Approximately 50 people came out. They consisted mostly of young professionals who support Friends of Kids with Cancer.
The night not only raised [...]Categories: Uncategorized -
Proposed “Safe” Mortgage Rules Could Reduce the Number of Borrowers Eligible for Home Financing!
From Greg Iverson
(636) 751-1068 – greg.iverson@upperendproperties.com
The most recent Dodd-Frank Act requires banks to hold 5% of the credit risk of mortgages that are bundled together and sold as mortgage-backed securities in the secondary mortgage market. The thought behind this is simple: banks won’t be tempted to make risky loans if they’re required to have some [...]Categories: Uncategorized -
Is a Condo Right for You?
From the Desk of Cory Spielberg:
cory.spielberg@upperendproperties.com
If you have ever lived in a condo or apartment (also known as a multi-family building) you have experienced the ever-prominent noise problem.
If well built, and most of the higher end condos are these days, there shouldn’t be any issues with noise. However, in newer buildings it is often [...]Categories: Uncategorized -
Creativity, Networking are Keys to Sparking Deals
From Jen Ross
jen.ross@upperendproerties.com
Recently, I have been able to get 2 houses under contract that were not on the market.
One had expired in November and then been rented in U City, so I called the agent to ask if the lease term was coming up, and it was! She let my buyer and me into the [...]Categories: Uncategorized -
The Real Estate Market isn’t that Bad… in Certain Areas
From the Desk of Cory Spielberg:
(314) 726-6442 – cory.spielberg@upperendproperties.com
Supply and demand, that old economic go-o still very much holds true. I spent the weekend in Des Moines, Iowa and enjoyed having conversations with several real estate investors, agents and others. It was as if nothing negative was going on.
My cousin just bought a house in [...]Categories: Uncategorized -
6 Tips for Increasing Your Home’s Value
By: Betsy Kerner
(314) 517-8966 – betsy.kerner@upperendproperties.com
I just returned from a Spring Break trip with my family and I have a little Spring Fever. I also love Spring Cleaning. I know it sounds crazy but it makes me feel “together.”
I came across a great article with 6 Do-It-Yourself Updates That Can Increase Your Home’s Value.
First of [...]Categories: Uncategorized -
High Rental Rates Should Lead to More Sales
From Beth Sprunt
(314) 494-5122 – beth.sprunt@upperendproperties.com
Usually the number of homeowners increases each year due to population growth, but due to the “Great Recession,” this hasn’t been the case over the past five years.
As Lawrence Yun explains in March’s Realtor, even though the US population grew by 13 million, the homeownership percentage dropped by 3%.
According [...]Categories: Uncategorized -
Cookie Cutter? Not in U City…
From Liz Rainey:
(314) 749-3956 – liz.rainey@upperendproperties.com
I get the pleasure of working with clients who are relocating to St. Louis from all across the country. There are many communities in St. Louis from which to choose, and one of my top picks is University City, or U City as it is called by locals.
U City is [...]Categories: Uncategorized -
Be Cautious When Deciding on a Lender
From the Desk of Mike Weiss:
(314) 323-0198 – michael.weiss@upperendproperties.comSo many delays and issues are occurring in today’s lending culture. The never-ending trail of documentation feels like you will never give them enough information to approve your loan. It is so important to use a reputable lender and not the flash in the pan guy [...]
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Rates Dropping Amidst Turmoil in Middle East and Catastrophe in Japan
From Greg Iverson
(636) 751-1068 – greg.iverson@upperendproperties.com
Mortgage rates took a sharp dip last week hitting a three month low according to a market survey. The cause is most likely the devastation going on in Japan: the world’s third largest economy.
Investors appeared to shed equities due to fear of the catastrophe. When this happens, investors typically will [...]Categories: Uncategorized -
Some Quick Sales, Locally!
From: Jen Ross
jen.ross@upperendproperties.com
As we have transitioned from Winter into Spring, it has become quite clear that the market is taking a turn for the better.
Throughout February, everything was moving very slowly because there was such a low level of inventory. Yet, since the beginning of March that has all changed. While a healthy [...]Categories: Uncategorized -
The Local Market is Thriving!!!
From the Desk of Mike Weiss:
(314) 323-0198 – michael.weiss@upperendproperties.comDespite what you have may have heard from some other agents, the real estate market in St. Louis is not dead – in fact, it is thriving!
I currently have multiple listings receiving tons of attention and several showings a week in what is supposed to [...]Categories: Uncategorized