Foreclosure is forcing the sale of many homes, putting homeowners in a very stressful and challenging position.  While most people think of REALTORS® as mediators between buyers and sellers, professionals also work with lenders, who are likewise facing challenges.

Financial giant Freddie Mac commissioned a survey, finding that 58 percent of homeowners who are delinquent in their payments didn’t know that lenders offer many ways to help.  They also didn’t realize that free counseling is available for those facing default.

For instance, did you know that a missed payment could be added to your loan balance or that you can extend the term of your mortgage?  It will take longer to pay off, but it keeps you in your home.

Banks really don’t want to take your home back - they want YOU to keep it and pay for its maintenance and property taxes and so on.  Banks are in the business of lending (and making) money, not in maintaining real estate. That’s another frequently misunderstood point. 

While help offered by lenders and assistance organizations can save four out of five homes from foreclosure, the sad fact is that most homeowners simply don’t find that help until it’s too late.

Please, protect your investment and your community’s property values by availing yourself of the assistance that’s freely available.  Don’t wait another moment.  Call a REALTOR® today!

Call me if you need assistance with your real estate decisions. If you prefer, Email me at donkingsley@kingsleyrealestate.com.  I will be happy to share my knowledge with you at no cost or obligation.

While many areas around the country are experiencing a “buyer’s market,” you need to exercise caution when offering to purchase at below asking price.  Bargaining is indeed an art, and the last thing you want to do is to insult the sellers.

An unreasonably low offer risks angering the sellers to the point where they won’t even make a counter-offer.  In general, an offer more than 10% below asking price is not customary and faces possible rejection, but there are ways to proceed with respect when you feel that a lower offer is substantiated.

Sit down with your REALTOR® and make a list of reasons to share with the seller about why your offer is less than asking price; or, strongly consider negotiating other terms of the purchase, such as closing costs or repairs. A reduction on those aspects can still yield great savings.

Whenever you are in the presence of the sellers, kindly exhibit proper etiquette and respect. Consult with your REALTOR® before any meeting to make sure you’re both on the same page.

Ultimately, the best way to make your offer with confidence is to realize that there are many attractive homes for sale in your price range. If a seller rejects your offer outright, avail yourself of the other suitable properties on the well-prepared list of possibilities provided by your REALTOR®.

Call me if you need assistance with your real estate decisions. If you prefer, Email me at donkingsley@kingsleyrealestate.com. I will be happy to share my knowledge with you at no cost or obligation.

· Don Kingsley Real Estate will provide the best service possible for every client we represent and will always promote the client’s best interest.
 
· Neither our company nor any of its agents will enter into a client relationship where we know what is expected of us cannot be done in good faith.

· We will never tell a client what they want to hear, unless it is realistic, we will never enter into an Agreement to Sell, which is unrealistically priced.
 
· When hired to sell a client’s home we will make recommendations that will increase their home’s value and reduce its marketing time, even if it means telling them things that they may not want to hear.

· To give your home maximum exposure, we will place it in the Multiple Listing Service  (MLS) within forty-eight hours.

· We will utilize a well-trained staff to assist us in the complex home selling process.

· To avoid wasting your time we will only show your home to people who are qualified and serious about purchasing a home.

· We will treat all parties honestly and fairly; we will offer our properties without discrimination regarding, color, creed, religion, sex, ancestry, national origin, handicap or family status.

· We will obtain the best price for the client and will disclose to them all facts that might affect or influence their decisions.

· We assure you that we will strive for excellence and will continue our education as REALTORS® so that we may better serve our clients.
 
 
Call me if you need assistance with your real estate decisions.  If you prefer, email me at donkingsley@kingsleyrealestate.com.  I will be happy to share my knowledge with you at no cost or obligation.