Call to Action: You Can Help the Housing Market!

Marianne Hatton Hatton Realty Inc.Re/Max Advantage Group Cell: 803-413-9986 Office: 803-771-9999 ext. 3008 Fax: 855-308-9263 hattonm1@aol.com

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I received this from our Board of Realtors and this may be something you could do to help the housing market. Marianne Hatton Limited Call for Action: Calls to Congress Needed on Restoring Loan Limits NAR issued a limited Call for Action this week asking members in a handful of specific states and selected House districts to call their elected officials regarding the restoration of the loan limits. Some members will be asked to call their Representative, some members will be asked to call their Senator, and some members will be asked to make two calls as their state has both a House member and a Senator that serve on key the conference committee that will decide the fate of restoring the loan limits. If you get one of these emails, please make the call(s). The link to our Click to Call Congress system are included in the emails that were sent. If you did not receive an email do not worry. It is likely you did not have a targeted elected official that needed to hear from you. Thank you REALTOR® Party! Hit those phones! Senate Votes To Restore Higher Loan Limits. Flood Insurance Receives Extention Through November 18 The Senate voted 60-38 to approve an amendment to restore higher limits on FHA backed home loans. NAR leadership and Government Affairs have been working tirelessly to press Congress to restore the former caps by arguing that lower limits will further harm the housing market.   The bipartisan amendment introduced by Senators Menendez (D-NJ) and Isakson (R-GA) restores the 125% of median area price loan limit and the cap reverts to $729,750 through December 2013. The measure still faces tough opposition in the House. NAR will continue to press Congress to restore the higher limits as quickly as possible. Congress extended flood insurance until November 18.  The Senate still must pass the 5-year reform bill (H.R. 1309) and resolve any differences with the House before this latest extension ends. Now is not the time to let up.  Now that we are closer than ever, we need everyone who has not already done so to respond to the Call for Action to push the 5-year bill over the finish line.  Without the NFIP, there would no longer be access to affordable insurance to protect against flooding, the most pervasive and extensive natural disaster in the U.S. In the interim, we are asking members who have not already done so to please continue to take action on both of these items: Take Action to Reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program Take Action to extend the FHA Loan Limits Article provided by: National Association of Realtors More articles: http://www.realtoractioncenter.com/ http://www.facebook.com/isellthistown www.facebook.com/marianne.hatton1 http://www.blogger.com/www.isellthistown.com

We Thank You!

TWO GREAT LOAN PROGRAMS WITH 100% FINANCING!

It's been HARD out there in the real estate world this year! There are far fewer buyers looking to buy, and when you finally have a willing buyer…THEY CAN’T GET A LOAN!

But there are two programs that are still helpful to willing buyers who have no down payment! And one of these will even accept less than 620 credit score! Neither of these programs have monthly PMI (private mortgage insurance) which makes it very consumer friendly!

1. CHIP Program with BB&T

This is the Community Homebuyer Incentive Program. It allows for 100% financing if credit scores are 620 or better. If a little less than that, it will allow a 3% down payment which can even be a gift. Must pay all judgments, but if there is an old collection, you do not always have to settle that. You cannot have any derogatory credit issues within the last 12 months. NO PMI!!!

Benefits

CHIP loans offer home buyers the following benefits:

• Up to 100% financing on the majority of allowed property types
• First-time home buyers and previous homeowners eligible
• Private mortgage insurance waived

Recommended For

A CHIP loan may be right for you if you:

• Are unsure about qualifying income*
• Are concerned about funding a large down payment
• Lack of credit history

Property Types

The following types of property are eligible for CHIP loans:

• Single family homes
• Townhomes
• Condos
• Doublewide manufactured homes on permanent foundations

Maximum loan amount varies depending on property location and is subject to change without notice.

*Income cannot exceed 80% of your county median income. Consult your BB&T Mortgage Professional for details.



2. RURAL HOUSING PROGRAM

This program is financed through the Agricultural Department. Thus, it targets “rural areas” in the surrounding Columbia suburbs. Surprisingly, there are many new developments in some great neighborhoods that qualify. Again, this loan is 100% financing and is funded through many different lenders. It is income driven for qualification, and you must have credit scores of 620 or better.

Benefits

Rural Housing Loans offer the following features to home owners:

• 102% financing options
• First-time home buyers and previous homeowners eligible

Recommended For

A Rural Housing Loan may be right for you if you are:

• Purchasing a residence located in a qualifying rural area that may be attached to limited multiple acreage
• Concerned about qualifying income*
• Concerned about funding a down payment

Property Types

The following types of property are eligible for Rural Housing Loans:

• Single family homes
• Townhomes
• Condos
• Doublewide manufactured homes on permanent foundations

*Income cannot exceed 115% of your county median income. Consult a BB&T Mortgage Professional for details.

For more details visit: http://www.bbt.com/bbt/mortgage/first-time-home-buyer-loans.html

There are some other details to both programs that would affect qualification, but in the last month I have been able to put THREE buyers on the CHIP program and they are scheduled to CLOSE on their new home within the next 45 days!

Strategically Pricing Your Property to Sell It for Top Dollar

Pricing Your Property is a Balancing Act
On the one hand, you want to set a listing price that maximizes interest among qualified, motivated buyers who will be willing to pay top dollar for your property. Indeed, such buyers will ultimately determine your property's top market value.On the other hand, you do not want to set a listing price that attracts a lot of buyer prospects, but sets the stage for negotiations that result in your getting less than what your property is really worth.

Your Home's Actual Market Value
In a perfect world, your home's value would be everything you think and need it to be. However, simply put, your home's value is not determined by you, but by what the market is willing to pay for it at a given time. These days, the "market" increasingly refers to home buyers who have researched property values over the Internet for months, have already viewed a number of homes, and are not under any undue pressure to buy.You can determine a value range for your home by looking at the recent sale prices and current asking prices of homes similar to your sin your area. That is why I've prepared a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) that includes a variety of "comparable" homes drawn from the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS).

The Bottom Line: REALISTIC IS STRATEGIC!
On average, serious buyers look at about fifteen properties before they make an offer. Doing so gives them a basis for determining how competitively a property is priced, both in terms of the market generally and what they are looking for specifically.If you overprice your property you'll usually lose serious buyers even if they otherwise love it. Experience shows that buyers usually do not make what they consider to be realistic offers on overpriced properties because they assume that doing so will just be a waste of time. The overlap between buyer and seller price ranges is depicted below. It will be helpful to keep this diagram in mind when pricing your property.

47 Easy Ways to Sell Your Home Fast

Below is a list of things you can do to help sell your home fast.

Throughout the House

1. Open the draperies, pull up the shades, and let in the sunlight.
2. Create a positive mood. Turn on all lights, day or night, and install higher wattage light bulbs to show your home brightly.
3. Remove clutter from each room to visually enlarge them.
4. If you have a fireplace, highlight in in your decorating.
5. Keep your home dusted and vacuumed at all times.
6. Replace the carpet if it does not clean up well.
7. Have a family "game plan" to get the home in order quickly if necessary.
8. Air out your home for one-half hour before showings, if possible.
9. Lightly spray the house with air freshener so that it has a chance to diffuse before the buyer arrives.
10. Put family photos in storage. Buyer has to be able to see themselves in the home.
11. Improve traffic flow through every room by removing unnecessary furniture. Have at least 3 feet of walkway available around areas.
12. Create the feeling of a spacious entry area by using decorative accents and removing unnecessary furniture.
13. Putty over and paint any nail holes or other mishaps in the walls.
14. Paint all interior walls a neutral color to brighten the home and make it look bigger.
15. Repair or replace any loose or damaged wallpaper.
16. Clean all light bulbs and light fixtures to brighten the home.
17. Wash all windows inside and out.
18. Use plants in transitional areas of your home.
19. Make the most of your attics' potential.
20. Remove and/or hide excess extension cords and exposed wires.
21. Open all doors to areas you want potential buyers to see such as walk-in closets, pantries, attics, etc.
22. Remove all smoke and pet odors.
23. Repair or replace banisters and handrails.

In the Kitchen

1. Microwave a small dish of vanilla twenty minutes before a showing place it in an out-of-the-way place.
2. Highlight an eat-in area in your kitchen with a table set for dinner.
3. The kitchen and bathrooms should always be spotlessly clean.
4. Expand your counter space by removing small appliances. Minimum of 2 at the most.

In the Bedrooms

1. Create a master suite effect in your decorating.
2. Depersonalize bedrooms and decorate in a neutral scheme.
3. Make sure that the beds are made and linens clean.
4. Organize your closets, remove unnecessary items and put them in storage. Keep it minimum and clean.

In the Bathrooms

1. Do not leave towels around and wipe down the sinks and shower areas after each use.
2. Re-caulk the tub if not white.
3. Repair or replace broken tiles in the shower/tub/floor.
4. Replace shower curtains and keep them clean.
5. Put out fresh towels and decorative soaps.

Outside

1. Keep the yard mowed and raked at all times.
2. Use flowering plants to dress up the yard, walkway, and patio.
3. Remove all toys, bicycles, tools, unsightly patio furniture, and trash from the yard.
4. Porches, steps, verandas, balconies, patios, and other extensions of the house should be kept uncluttered, swept, and in good condition.
5. Paint all entrance doors.
6. Make sure the garage door opens easily. Fix and paint the garage door if necessary.
7. Clean and shine all hardware and accessories indoors and out (door knobs, knockers, lamps, mail box, address numbers, etc.)
8. Trees and shrubs should be trimmed and pruned.
9. Use a new doormat.
10. Be sure the front doorbell is in good working order.
11. Be sure the front door and screen door works perfectly.

The Home Buying Process

The job of finding a home that meets all your needs and wants can be difficult if you don't have all the available resources at hand or the time required to make complete use of them.

I specialize in helping buyers find the homes they're looking for, and one benefit of using my services is that I hear about the listings right when they come on the market-in fact, often even before they're on the market. And that's just the first step. When I work for you I will:

You get pre-qualified for the amount of house you can afford.
You find the house you want to buy.
You make an offer.
Your offer is accepted.
10-day inspection period begins.
Apply for a mortgage loan.
Lender begins processing your application.
You get results of all inspections and address any needed repairs.
Lender evaluates your application and approves the loan.
Lender forwards the loan package to the closing attorney.
You sign closing documents and your loan is funded.
The sales transaction is completed. The Home Is Yours!

1. Educate you about Buyer Agency and reputation, outlining my fiduciary responsibilities to you, which include: Complete Disclosure, Loyalty, Confidentiality, Obedience and Accountability.

2. Save you time by regularly searching the market for an affordable home that meets your criteria.

3. View homes with you and analyze their condition, potential problems, or compatability to your criteria.

4. Help you explore your financing options. If required, refer you to some excellent mortgage professionals so you can make the best possible mortgage decision.

5. Provide a written estimate of cost to purchase the home you are considering.

6. Provide a consultation in relation to your written offer to purchase a home with all terms approved by you.

7. Negotiate the best possible price and terms for you, take care of all the documentation details, and keep you fully informed about all activities that lead to the transaction closing.

8. Assist you, if necessary, in finding any home-related services you need, including home inspections, termite companies, and HVAC companies.

9. Physically meet appraisers and any inspectors required for closing the loan.

10. Ensure that all contract requirements have been met prior to closing. This includes any necessary or negotiated repairs or other conditions.

My Commitment to You as a Realtor

There are many factors that go into the successful purchase of a home. That's why, as your buyer agent or seller agent, my job is more than just helping you find the right home and buy it as the best possible price and terms. I'll also educate you about market values, quality home construction, equity potential, financing options and more, so you can make the most informed decisions possible. In addition, you'll have the benefit of my extensive professional network, developed through years of experience. So if you need additional home services you'll be guaranteed of getting quality work at a competitive price. And the great thing is that all my work is paid for by the home seller or buyer, so it won't cost you any more than if you do them all yourself!

In short, I'll provide you with comprehensive, high-quality buyer's or seller's service, from helping you with the home search, to negotiating a better deal, to making sure that everything's signed, sealed and delivered on closing day.

That is my commitment to you and I look forward to being of service.

Marianne Hatton

Utilizing All Real Estate Sources To Find Properties of Interest

There are many different ways that you might find out about a given listing, for instance, from:

Internet
Local Real Estate Magazine/Newspaper
Real Estate Television Channel
Another Agent's Marketing Materials
Another Agent's "FOR SALE" sign
Another Agent's "OPEN HOUSE"
Another Agent's Exclusive Listing
"FOR SALE BY OWNER" sign
A friend or Relative

I just want to emphasize that I can help you buy a home from any of these sources. Even more importantly, I will represent your best interests and effectively negotiate the best possible price and terms for you.

If you see a sign, an open house, or even hear about a property that interests you, please call me first and I'll provide you with detailed information about it, make all the necessary arrangements for viewing it, and then view it with you to ensure that you don't in any way compromise your negotiating position.

Reduced and Priced to Sell!

156 Foxglove Circle is a 3Br/2Ba home in Lexington, Richland 5 School District that has just been reduced! For $115,900, you can own this Traditional Style Home with over 1300 Sq. Ft. and 1 Car Garage. With Vaulted Ceilings and Hardwood Floors! Eat-In Kitchen with White Cabinetry, Updated Lighting, Appliances including Smooth Surface Stove and Pantry. Tiled Kitchen & Baths! Private Backyard with Decking and Shade! Located in Forest Ridge in Irmo in Award-Winning School District. Contact me or your real estate agent for more or to schedule a showing!