Hello All,

October 14, 2008

Things are moving in real estate! There are so many different things happening
and so much mis-information flying around that it is really important for you to
get the right information from the right person. 

The important things to keep in mind right now are:

Sellers are able to sell their home whether they are in foreclosure or not.
Banks are working with sellers to help them sell if they need to but owe
more than the house is worth.

the lenders are pricing
Buyers are buying homes with minimum down payments, and sellers are
helping out with closing costs and other concessions, making this a great
time to buy.

Interest rates are still great!

As programs unfold that are supposed to help ease the housing market
problems I will try to post them here.  If you want more specific information
You can call me directly at 805-426-0540.



There are quite a few repos and short sales on the market.  REPOS: It seems 
likethe repo properties at what seems like a fantastic
price.  What ends up happening is that the bank gets multiple offers, and end up
selling the property for way over what they initially list it for.  I have seen several 
instances where a house will list at 320,000 and sell for 375,000. Be careful with
the repo and find out what the bank will and won't do regarding repairs (if any) 
termite report or repairs, etc. Some are making minor repairs, others are not.

SHORT SALES:  With the short pays, the lender will not begin negotiating with the 
seller on acceptance of a short sale until there is a buyer involved.  Once the buyer has 
committed and the process begins, it can be several months before a decision is 
made. The seller has to provide a short sale package to the bank to review, then the 
bank does an independent appraisal on the property. The bank can decide not to take 
the offer the buyer has presented, can adjust everything from the sales price to the 
other concessions (like termite repairs), or just say no.It seems that most banks are 
willing to work out something, but every bank is different, and there is no consistency
in  what one will do.

There is so much more to say about the short sales and repos that I could write a book
(a boring book!) about them. If you need or want more information about any of this
give me a call and we can discuss your individual concerns and questions.  

Everything considered, there is a lot of well priced inventory, and things are selling. 
Prices are competitive and interest rates are good. Buyers are deciding to go ahead 
and buy now and take advantage of the good home prices and rates. 

Sellers: If you have an adjustable loan that is getting ready to adjust call me 
for information on what banks are doing to help you from having a huge 
upward adjustment in your interest rate.

Sellers:  PRICE, PRICE, PRICE,CONDITION, LOCATION- (yes I did want to say 
PRICE three times!) remember these words when you are considering what you 
will list your home for.  This is more important than 
ever. Overpriced homes are sitting for months, with the end result being that the 
home sells for what you could/should have listed the property for in the first place, 
and sometimes less. This can hurt when you factor in maintenance and expenses 
while you are slowly lowering  down your price to the realistic range. If you really 
want to sell, don't list high to "see what happens". Nothing will happen. Be realistic 
from the start. I understand the emotion involved in selling a home that you live in 
and have probably spent countless hours making perfect. You need to look at your 
home from the buyer's side, and take emotion out of it. This should in no way be 
insulting to you. The buyer is looking at your house and a hundred others, 
comparing them all, and choosing the best one for them. Make yours the best by 
keeping it neat and clean, and pricing it well. Sometimes you can do some very 
minor work and get great results, for example, painting a discolored wall, or 
replacing old draperies with wood blinds. You don't have to spend a fortune to 
make your house look better for sale.I am available to take a look at your house 
and give you ideas on what you can do
to get the maximum result with the least amount of money.
We can take an objective look at your house together and see what can/should/or 
shouldn't be done before putting it up for sale.

For Buyers: Be sure to examine all the loan possibilities and get a 
pre-approved before you start looking at houses. Having all the information ahead 
of time eliminates surprises and the unknown. Once you have your loan situated,
it makes it very easy to identify your price range. You can then concentrate on what 
you want in your new home.  If you have good credit,  job stability, and a small down 
payment you will not have any problems getting a loan. There are so many great 
homes available in all price ranges that it may be hard for you to pick the one you 
want. My suggestion is to select your location, price range, and then ammenities.  
You can always change carpet and paint, but you can't move a home!
 I email listings all the time to clients to keep them in the 
loop on what is available.Give me a call and I can help you get pre-approved, and
make up your search criteria for your new home.

If you have questions you can reach me any time at 805-426-0540.

I would like to personally thank my clients for helping me become one of the 
top 5 agents in the Troop organization company-wide in 2007.  I appreciate your 
confidence in my abilities, and your friendship, which means more to me than anything.  
Please e-mail me at amyg@troop.com and say "hello" when you can.  -Amy



To Sellers:
1.  I will be there for you when you need me.
2.  I will keep you informed every step of the way through your transaction.
3.  You can cancel your listing with me at any time if you are dissatisfied with my work. No exceptions.
4.  You will get a full time, professional agent working using all the tools necessary to get you the most money in the shortest amount of time with the fewest problems. (sometimes problems can't be avoided, and when they occur, I tackle them head on and get them resolved.

To Buyers:
1.  I will work with you step by step through the entire home buying process.
2.  I will assist you in arranging financing specifically tailored to your needs.
3.  I will work full time ALL THE TIME to find you the home of your expectations.
4.  I will keep in constant contact with you throughout your transaction to make it as easy as possible for you. 

With over 24 years of real estate experience, I have been through many market trends. I am easy to deal with and guarantee my work.  I do not disappear after the transacation is over.  Maybe that is why over 98% of my business is based on direct referrals from past clients, and repeat business with past clients.  

You can call or email me at any time for information without pressure. Good luck in your search!