​Upcoming Free (& non-promotional) Home Buyer Classes:
​
Saturday, February 27th, from 12pm-3pm (ish)
        Vancouver YMCA, conference room
        11324 NE 51st Circle, Vancouver WA (corner of SR500 & Gher Road/112th Ave)

Saturday March 12th , from 9am-12pm (ish)
       Marshall Community Center, conference room
       1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd, Vancouver WA (kitty corner from Clark College)

Thursday night, March 17th , from 5pm-8pm (ish)
       Marshall Community Center, conference room
       1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd, Vancouver WA (kitty corner from Clark College)

Saturday, March 19th, from 11am-2pm (ish)
        Vancouver YMCA, conference room
        11324 NE 51st Circle, Vancouver WA (corner of SR500 & Gher Road/112th Ave)

If these class dates and/or times don't work for you, please let us know.  We understand that you have lives, and families, and work.  We will work something out that works better with your schedule.  Just let us know....                                                                                  
....we also have home seller classes available too...link on left on website
                  
Remember...with reservation...we will throw in lunch, or dinner!  :-D
~~~~~~~~~

Hi there...and happy Sunday....uh sorry Wednesday!  

   Crazy week, huh?  So this past week I had 3 home inspections for my clients.  The last one was on Friday and well, something happened that I thought would be good to go over this week.  So, the inspector shows up at the home, and I get there a couple of minutes after.  Inspector tells me that someone is home...  now, for the inspection, it is preferred that the sellers NOT be home.  It's difficult for the inspector to do his job and to talk about the home with the buyer, and the buyers agent when the seller is at the inspection and following us around.  It is the sellers agent responsibility to politely remind their client that they shouldn't be home for the inspection, but we have to remember that it is the sellers homes so we can't force them to leave.  We can ask it... but..  can't make them.  In regard to our inspection on Friday, it is a home that the sellers are renting out.  This makes it even more sticky as I let the sellers agent know what day & time we were doing the inspection, and the sellers agent tells the seller, who then tells the renters that we will be doing the inspection on that certain day/time.... but they are renting the home, so it isn't like we can kick them out.  I was hoping that the renters wouldn't be there, but ...  I figured it was something we could work around.  I went to the door and knocked...and a kid opened the door.  This young man was about 12...maybe 13, and was home alone.  Now, my kids would be home alone at that age for a couple of hours at a time too, so that wasn't a big deal, but we can't do the home inspection with a minor child home alone.  As a mother...I am not comfortable with that.  I called the sellers agent and explained our dilemma.  Here's how the conversation went...

Me:  "I'm sorry sellers agent, but we are going to have to request an inspection extension as we can't do the home inspection right now"  
Sellers agent:  "why not?"

Me:  "well, there is a minor child in the home alone.  Boy is about 12, maybe 13...but he's in the home."
Sellers agent:  "what's the big deal?  We are all professionals"
Me:  "Yes, we are, but as a mother, I am not comfortable proceeding with the home inspection with a minor child in the home by himself.  If I was the parent and I came home to a bunch of strangers in my home with my kid in there, I wouldn't be happy."
Sellers Agent:  "Well, I confirmed with the sellers, and with the renters, that the home would be empty for you to do the inspection today.  No one is supposed to be there....I would do the inspection, and I'm a dad.  I don't know if the sellers will give you an inspection extension."
Me:  "Well, as a mother, I am not comfortable with it...and neither is the inspector, who is also a father.  I guess the seller doesn't have to give an extension for the inspection period, but there is a minor child alone in the home so we are not doing the inspection right now for safety reasons. "

....needless to say, the conversation didn't end well.  We rescheduled the home inspection day/time, and the inspector leaves.  As I am out front talking with my client, and her father...the childs mother pulls up.  She asks if we are there to see the home and we explain that we are there for the home inspection, but because there is a minor male in the home, we were going to reschedule.  Mom says that she is there to pick her child up, and that the home is rented by childs dad...her ex-husband.  She then thanks me for NOT doing the home inspection with her kid there alone, and says that had she showed up to pick her kid up and he was there alone with a bunch of strangers that yes, she would be upset and would be contacting the kids dad about it.  Frankly...I don't blame her since that is EXACTLY why we (the inspector & I) refused to do the inspection in the first place.  
  Long story short....childs mom picked him up, we called the inspector back, and were able to perform the inspection.  

This is one of those things that happens in real estate...  for me (and many other agents) we put the people involved in the transaction first...and for others... it's all about the deal.  Buying, or selling a home, is more than just a transaction..or a deal... it's about you.  

So let's talk about home inspections a bit since we are on the topic....

 Inspections are an extremely important part of the home buying process, and one that shouldn't be overlooked, or taken lightly. With inspections, you need to ask some important questions, as this is your chance to request repairs....or to back out with your earnest money refunded to you if the repairs needed are to extensive, or won't be done by the seller.
    This is always a very important subject as it is one of the most important parts of the home buying process. Again....I don't care if your home is 5 minutes old, or 150 years old....GET A HOME INSPECTION! Remember, it's not the home builder you are checking out, but the work done by the contractors they have hired. The city/county inspectors who come out do NOT check for the same thing a home inspector does. One more thing... you need to be there, and your agent needs to be there too....we can't help you if we aren't there with you. A buyer's agent is always here to assist, advise, and help you!

When hiring a home inspector some good questions to ask them are:
How long have you been licensed?
    Licensing for home inspectors in the State of Washington has only has only been required since September of 2009. Many inspectors were in business, unlicensed, before that. Some inspectors took the initiative and were licensed way before that. Your inspector should be bonded, insured, and carry E&O (errors and omissions) insurance.

How long will the inspection take? How much is it?
    The average home inspection should take between 2-3 hours. The average cost is about $350-$400...now to be honest, you can get an inspection for cheaper, but sometimes you get what you pay for. Make sure your inspector is inspecting what is important to you. Remember, as a buyer, the inspector works for you...not the buyers agent, the sellers agent, or the sellers. YOU, the buyer, are hiring this contractor to perform a service for you. Ask the inspector what their inspection entails, and what is included...or not.

What does your home inspection entail? What will you do?
    A home inspector should be walking and checking the roof. A roof must have 2+ year certificate for state or government grants/loans, VA loans, and FHA loans. A home inspector should be walking around the exterior and checking the siding, and looking at the housing vents for broken/missing screens. The home inspector will also be looking at vegetation around the home, and look at the water meter on the curb for current activity.
Inside the home, the inspector will crawl the crawlspace looking for leaks, groundwater, evidence or signs of current, or past animal activity, etc. The inspector should also be checking the atticspace for signs of current or past leakage and/or mold.
    The inspector will also be looking at all water faucets and toilets for leakage, drainage, and more. The inspector should also be checking all windows, electrical outlets and the main electric box for safety hazards, vents and heating units, and more.

Do you (the inspector) have a water reader?
    Some inspectors have a water reader that reads moisture 1 inch into a surface, be it wall or floor. These are wonderful for finding such things as leaking wax seals in toilets (very common), moisture in a wall around a window that hasn't had its' weep seals cleaned, moisture in walls or flooring around such places as washer/dryers, fridges, dishwashers, showers, toilets, and bathtubs.

What paperwork will be included at this cost?
    Some inspectors will charge you extra for a FHA Dry Rot and Pest Report, or for a print out of your inspection. You will need a FHA Dry Rot Pest Report for the state loans, VA loans, and FHA loans. Make sure your cost includes a copy of this. Also, ask how the inspector will get you a copy of your inspection, in what form will it come to you, and how soon can you expect it. The average cost for a home inspection is around $350-$400, but the cost can vary with the size of the home you are purchasing.

Some things to Remember:
    The home inspector is just that...an inspector.  She/He is not a contractor, and they are still human.  The home inspector works for YOU. You pay for the home inspection at time of service, and this is a non-refundable fee, but it is also a legal reason to back out (if you want) and get your earnest money refunded to you.
    A home inspectors job is give you a run down of the homes condition and what you can expect in the areas of maintenance, and what needs to be done for safety and/or health reasons.
Anything that is a health or safety concern, or that needs to be done by a licensed contractor is something that needs to be discussed with your buyer's agent for repair.
Both YOU and YOUR AGENT should be there at the time of the home inspection. Again, the home inspector is your employee for the day, so be sure to walk with them and learn about your potential new home. Ask questions! Take notes if you want...
    In case of a bank owned home or HUD home, make sure that the water, and all other utilities are turned on for the home inspection. Both your agent, and the inspector should be assisting with this. If the water is NOT turned on then it is outside the scope of the inspection.    


        Information is power, and I hope that I am able to help you.  Good luck, and as always...May the odds be ever in your favor out there....  AND If you are looking for a real estate agent, I would love to be able to help you.                                                                       
 
    As always....this is just a quick overview.... please remember that your agent, and your lender work for YOU.  You drive the bus...we are merely GPS to help you get to your goals.  Like the classes, this weekly blog email is to help you with your home adventure.  The goal is to be informative and non-promotional.  :-)  We are, however, hoping you will call and want us to help with your adventure.  

If you have any questions about this, or something you have heard...or if you would like me to help you with your home adventure, please call, email,  text, or facebook me anytime.  I am, as always, happy to help!
 
Thank you again for your business and your referrals!!  ...and thank you for referring these classes to your friends, family, and co-workers. 
 
 .   ..disclaimer...if you have already purchased a home, or would no longer like to receive these emails, please let me know and I will be happy to remove you from any further mailings... 
 
 
Upcoming Topics:  Septic vs Sewer? 
                Buyer love letters?  How do you make your offer stand out?
                         Where do I go online to find homes, and what does those statuses mean?  

Last Week:    Interest Rates, Home Prices, and Agent Interview Questions         
Have a great day, and I will talk to you soon,   
;-D   
Tracie DeMars   
Real Estate broker    
Re/Max - Van Mall   
360/ 903-3504 cell   
360/ 882-3600 fax   
www.traciedemars.com   
traciedemars@aol.com   
    
“Interested in free and non promotional home buyer classes?  Go to www.traciedemars.com  for local upcoming classes, or facebook: Tracie DeMars Real Estate for my home buyer education blog.  Classes are now available for home owners thinking about selling their home.  Links are on the left."

"Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be."    
   - Shel Silverstein, American poet, cartoonist and composer, (1930 - 1999).

Hi there!  


Happy 2016! :-D  Before we get to my annual friendly home owner reminders for your Spring Maintenance....


    Please don't forget that if you are wondering about the current value of your home, to call or email me.  I am happy to help as I know that many people who purchased in 2014, or before have a lot more equity in their home than they realize.  If you, or anyone you know, are thinking about selling and/or buying...well, you know where I am, and I'm always happy to help your next home adventure!  :-D  

We are now offering home seller classes as well....just in case you, or someone you know needs it.  The current market is crazy... and there is a low inventory of homes for sell and high buyer demand as folks want to buy before interest rates start soaring...which we think they will late next year, or early 2018.  

Now...for your spring maintenance reminders...  

  
*  Replace the batteries in your smoke detectors.  By replacing the batteries now you won't have to worry about that annoying beeping that happens when one of them is going out.  

*   Carbon Monoxide detectors...yep, every home should have one on each level.  Remember that carbon monoxide is a heavy gas so your carbon monoxide detectors should be no higher than your knee.  If you are thinking about selling... this is a legal requirement for appraisal.  
 
*  Another legal requirement if you are thinking about selling is two 'earthquake straps' around your water heater strapping it to the wall.  These can be purchased at your local Home Depot or Lowes.  

*  Don't forget to clean out the weep holes in your vinyl windows.  This is easily forgotten about, or missed in our spring cleaning, but the opposite of out is in. Those weep holes in the base of your windows helps wind driven moisture to exit out instead of into your walls.  

*  Thinking about your windows.... look at your caulking around the inside of the windows...is it cracking?  Is it time to re-caulk the inside of your windows?  

*   ...And caulking?  What about around your toilets, tubs, and showers?  Is it time to caulk there as well?  You don't water seeping down in there.  :-)  A DIY trick for caulking is to put the line of caulking in place, put some liquid soap on your finger, and then use that finger to run over the caulking.  This helps keep it nice, neat, clean....and none of that 'clumping' look.  See....full of usefull (to some people anyway) knowledge here.  LOL

*  Put Moss-B-Gone on your roof to prevent moss growth on your roofing surface.  Moss-B-Gone or Moss Out can be purchased at Costco (when in stock), Lowes, or Home Depot.  It is a white powder that you can sprinkle on your roof.  If you don't want to do that, another option is to install a zinc copper stripping along the ridgeline of your home.  This is another option for homeowners to prevent moss growth.

*   How is your roof looking?  We have had some crazy wind storms this past winter.  Do you have any loose or missing shingles?  Now is a good time to have a roofer come out and fix those....and to see how healthy your roof still is.  

*  Do you have a chimney?  Have a chimney person clean and inspect the flue....might also want to check your flashing around the chimney.  

*  While you are up there, now is a good time to clean out your gutters if you didn't do that when hanging christmas lights, and talking about christmas lights, now is a good time to finish getting those down, and to clean out the gutters.  :-)

*  Check for loose or leaky gutters as well.  Make sure your downspouts are draining away from your crawlspace.  

*  Check under your home for moisture as this is a good time of year to see that. If you do have moisture under your home, do not despair....this can be fixed.  Give me a call...  I know people who can help with that.  

*  Another place to check is in your attic space for any possible leaks that you may not be aware of until it is too late.  

*  Is your yard looking a little 'sparse' in areas?  Now is a great time to throw down some grass seed as the sun/rain mix that is our incoming temperamental spring weather is perfect for grass growth.  What about low areas in your yard where the ground may have compacted?  Grab a couple of bags of dirt for these areas.

*   Turn on your outside faucets to make sure they are flowing right.  Remember if you can stop the flow of water with your thumb you might have a damaged pipe.  How does your garden hose look?  ...is it time for a new one?

*  We know it won't be long until we're all complaining about the heat.  If you have a central air unit, or a heat pump, you should consider having a HVAC person come out to provide annual servicing before it gets warm.

*  Insurances:
Do you have earthquake insurance?  Earthquake insurance is not included in your regular home owners insurance.  This is an additional policy that can be added at a low yearly cost.  Earthquake insurance used to be part of the homeowners insurance policy, but due to the fact that we are one of the top areas at earthquake risk, it is now an additional policy.

Do you have an umbrella policy?  An umbrella policy is an additional coverage....a 'just in case' policy that covers you above & beyond your regular policy.  If you do a lot of driving, like I do, with people in the car...an umbrella policy might be a good idea.  If you have dogs, an umbrella policy might be a good idea.  If you do a lot of entertaining, or having people/children over, then an umbrella policy might be a good idea.  Why? If you are not at home (or even if you are at home) and someone hurts themselves on your property, they 'could' sue you.  Isn't that crazy???


Ok....there is a couple of items for your next nice weekend, or days off to get done.  :-)  As always, if you are looking for a licensed contractor for roofing, HVAC, plumbing, or anything else, feel free to email, text, or call me anytime.  I always have numbers of people who can help...and usually cheaper too!  :-D  I am always here to help....


Thank you again for all your referrals, and for your continued support!

Have a great day, and I will talk to you soon, 
;-D 
Tracie DeMars 
Real Estate broker 
Re/Max - Van Mall 
360/ 903-3504 cell 
360/ 882-3600 fax 
www.traciedemars.com 
traciedemars@aol.com
 
“Interested in free and non promotional home seller classes?  Go to www.freehomebuyerclasses.com for local upcoming classes, or facebook: Tracie DeMars Real Estate for my home adventure education blog.” 

"Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be." 
   - Shel Silverstein, American poet, cartoonist and composer, (1930 - 1999).

Upcoming Free (& non-promotional) Home Buyer Classes:
Monday night, February 8th, 5pm-8pm (ish)
       Marshall Community Center, conference room
       1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd, Vancouver WA (kitty corner from Clark College)

Saturday, February 13th, 9am-12pm (ish)
       Marshall Community Center, conference room
       1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd, Vancouver WA (kitty corner from Clark College)

If these class dates and/or times don't work for you, please let us know.  We understand that you have lives, and families, and work.  We will work something out that works better with your schedule.  Just let us know....                                                                                  
....we also have home seller classes available too...link on left on website
                  
Remember...with reservation...we will throw in lunch, or dinner!  :-D
~~~~~~~~~

Hi there!  Happy SuperBowl Sunday

   ..or in my house...the day I am entering tax receipts to figure out how much I owe the government.  :-(  It's always a sad day....    I hope you are doing something to enjoy this gorgeous, sunny Sunday!

This week I want to talk about Closing Costs, what they are, and how they get paid.  I am also going to talk quickly (ok, for me) about Open Houses as we come into 'Open House Season'.  :-)  

   One thing to remember about open houses (it's that time of year), is that most agents use them as a marketing tool....as a way to get YOUR information.  An agent will ask for your name, and if you are working with an agent.  They can also ask for your number and/or email address....you do not have to give those out.  If you just want to look at the home without a 'sales' pitch, feel free to give the open house agent my name when they ask if you are working with anyone.  Doing so doesn't mean you are 'stuck' with me though  :-)  It should just give you some 'breathing' room.  If an open house agent asks you if you have a 'contract or agreement' with your agent...well, they shouldn't be asking that at an open house, but some agents are....well, persistent?  aggressive?  Yeah...  Sorry!  We aren't all the same....    The open house is supposed to be about the home being held 'open', not about the agent getting new clients, however, most open houses are about the agent, and not the home.  :-(  Just something to be aware of...  Remember you don't have to give out any information you are not comfortable with.  
   
So....on to CLOSING COSTS as this was brought up in question this week....
    This week we are going to talk about CLOSING COSTS!  Lots of people talk about closing costs, but most people don't understand what they are...or how they're paid.    So what are closing costs then?  Closing costs have two separate parts really...1....the part associated with your loan, and 2...the part associated with the title company and changing the ownership of the home to you..  

   One thing to remember is that closing costs are not set...in other words...one persons closing costs will not be the same as another persons closing costs.  Why?  Because ...1....every person has a different loan based on their credit scores, type of loan, amount of home buying, amount (if any) of downpayment, what day they're closing (keys) on, interest rate, APR rate, lender they're using (some have more fees than others), etc...  See how complicated that can get?  
   So what about the second part?  Well, that can differ as well based on the title company since not every title company charges exactly the same for their individual costs.  Then there is also the costs for the property taxes of the home, time of year you are buying based on when the taxes are due/have been paid, cost of your home owners insurance, amount of loan interest, and more.  Even more confusing, yes?      

  Ok...now I know you are thinking that this weeks post is pointless then, but really, I have a point!  :-)  My point is that closing costs are variable based on you, your loan, your lender, your (soon to be) new home, and on the title company.  So how do you figure that out?  Well, really no one can figure out HOW much your closing costs are going to be until you have an accepted offer on a home...then we can figure out what your closing costs will be because you will have a home to base numbers off of, a loan chosen, a lender, and the title company picked out.  Most numbers in real estate are a guesstimate until you have all the pieces in place...all the ducks in order...so to speak.  

   When you are getting pre-approved, your lender will base all your numbers on a guesstimate...what we think your costs are going to be.  Most times lenders, etc will guess high so that the numbers will come in smaller and more affordable for you.  It is always better to look like a hero than a zero!  :-)  

I know, I know...still not very helpful is it?  I am sorry.  Closing costs are as individual as you are.  However, 98% of buyers will request the seller to pay for 2%-3% of their closing costs.  Where does that number come from though...
  
   Well...  a FHA loan requires 3.5% downpayment.  FHA is the most common loan type for buyers.  There are some loans, and yes, grants too, that can take care of that down payment for you....meaning a ZERO down loan for you, the buyer.  On average, the costs between title, loan, lender, taxes, interest, insurance, etc....run about 2%-3% of the homes purchase price....rarely does it run more, but it can run less depending on your lender.    When listing a home, I (and many other agents) include seller paid closing costs to the sales price of the home.  This is done because so many buyers request those from the seller, and this way it isn't a surprise to the seller.  So, yes, most sellers will pay for your closing costs when buying a home. However, in a multiple offer situation the less closing costs you need paid by a seller, the stronger your offer becomes. One thing you need to know though is that if you ask for 3% in closing costs, and the lender only needs 2%, you don't get that other 1%....it goes back to the seller.  You can't get cash back from buying a home....unless you are having your earnest money &/or appraisal fee returned to you...this happens if you are using a loan that covers your costs and fees.  Usually your appraisal is part of your closing costs (but paid for at time of appraisal), and your earnest money is applied toward your downpayment.  

   Again, 98% of the time a buyer will request around 2%-3% in closing costs to be paid for by the seller.  The other 2% of the time a buyer will pay their own closing costs so they don't have to finance them.  This also means that a buyer has more leverage in reducing the purchase price of the home they want to buy, and can make their offer 'stronger'.  

In short....buyers responsibility for closing costs are:
*Lender's Title Insurance Policy
*Half of the escrow fee
*Home Inspection
*Recording fees
*First year Homeowners Insurance Premium
* First year Flood Insurance (if applies)
*Pro-rated property taxes
*Survey fee (if required)
*HOA fees (if applies)
*Pro-rated HOA fees (if applies)
*Lender fees;  appraisal fee, credit report, loan origination fee, pre-paid interest, private mortgage insurance

as always....I am available for questions...as is Chris Berg with Pinnacle Mortgage (cberg@pcmloan.com & 503-320-0925 cell).  Chris is including the following information about closing costs to this weeks blog:

"What are closing costs?  Who pays them?  What charges can I expect? What charges real fees and what are junk fees? These are all good questions and you should know the answers to all of them before you make an offer on a home.  Closing costs are a normal part of buying, or selling, a home.  Think about all the parties that are involved in a home purchase (excluding agents as they are paid directly from the seller in our area ).  You have your lender, title company, and appraiser just to name a few.  Your lender has 3rd party costs like credit reports, processing, and underwriting as well.  Then there is your escrow account that pays your taxes and insurance that needs to be paid at closing.  When you take this all into account it is easy to understand why there are closing costs.
 
Who pays your closing costs?  You?  The seller?  Your lender?  The answer is any or all of these parties can pay these costs.  In most purchase situations the seller is asked to pay your closing costs but remember, this has to be negotiated in your initial offer.  If the seller decides that they aren’t willing to pay your costs and you don’t have the funds to pay them you can ask your lender to.  Your lender has the option to pay fees on your behalf for a slightly higher interest rate.  This option comes in handy when you are in a multiple offer type situation.
 
What kind of fees are normal and what kind of fees are junk fees?  Good question.  Some lenders ask for an origination fee, usually 1% of the loan amount.  Some don’t have an origination fee but have hard costs like underwriting and processing.  Some have both.  Either set of fees are fairly normal but it is important to make sure that you talk to a reputable lender to make sure you are not paying too much in fees.  Then there are junk fees.  Examples of these types of fees are administration fees, preparation fees, and application fees.
 
Feel free to contact me about closing costs or any other type of lending questions that you may have! I will be happy to answer them for you.
 
Chris Berg
NMLS ID/MLO #198082
Mortgage Advisor for Pinnacle Mortgage Bankers A Division of Pinnacle Capital Mortgage-NMLS ID #81395
360-213-1102 office
503-320-0925 cell
360-567-2928 fax
cberg@pcmloan.com"

    One last thing you need to remember is that a real estate agent is not a sales person.  It is not our job to 'sell' you anything.  We are assistants, advisers, guidance, and help.  You should not feel as if your agent is trying to sell you a home, or anything else, our job should be to help you in getting the home you want.  This being said remember that you do not get T-Bone steaks for the price of hamburger...Look ONLY at homes within your budget.  ALWAYS ask questions, and expect answers without a lot of lingo.  I was always told that if you can't explain something in a way that the other person can understand clearly, it is because you don't understand it yourself.  :-)
  
        Information is power, and I hope that I am able to help you.  Good luck, and as always...May the odds be ever in your favor out there....  AND If you are looking for a real estate agent, I would love to be able to help you.                                                                       
 
    As always....this is just a quick overview.... please remember that your agent, and your lender work for YOU.  You drive the bus...we are merely GPS to help you get to your goals.  Like the classes, this weekly blog email is to help you with your home adventure.  The goal is to be informative and non-promotional.  :-)  We are, however, hoping you will call and want us to help with your adventure.  

If you have any questions about this, or something you have heard...or if you would like me to help you with your home adventure, please call, email,  text, or facebook me anytime.  I am, as always, happy to help!
 
Thank you again for your business and your referrals!!  ...and thank you for referring these classes to your friends, family, and co-workers. 
 
 .   ..disclaimer...if you have already purchased a home, or would no longer like to receive these emails, please let me know and I will be happy to remove you from any further mailings... 
 
 
Upcoming Topics:  Septic vs Sewer? 
                  Interview Questions to Ask Your Realtor?
                         Where do I go online to find homes, and what does those statuses mean?  

Last Week:   interest Rates, Home Prices, & Agent Interview Questions           
 
Have a great day, and I will talk to you soon,   
;-D   
Tracie DeMars   
Real Estate broker    
Re/Max - Van Mall   
360/ 903-3504 cell   
360/ 882-3600 fax   
www.traciedemars.com   
traciedemars@aol.com   
    
“Interested in free and non promotional home buyer classes?  Go to www.traciedemars.com  for local upcoming classes, or facebook: Tracie DeMars Real Estate for my home buyer education blog.  Classes are now available for home owners thinking about selling their home.  Links are on the left."

"Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be."    
   - Shel Silverstein, American poet, cartoonist and composer, (1930 - 1999).

Upcoming Free (& non-promotional) Home Buyer Classes:
Monday night, February 8th, 5pm-8pm (ish)
       Marshall Community Center, conference room
       1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd, Vancouver WA (kitty corner from Clark College)

Saturday, February 13th, 9am-12pm (ish)
       Marshall Community Center, conference room
       1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd, Vancouver WA (kitty corner from Clark College)
If these class dates and/or times don't work for you, please let us know.  We understand that you have lives, and families, and work.  We will work something out that works better with your schedule.  Just let us know....                                                                                  
....we also have home seller classes available too...link on left on website
                  
Remember...with reservation...we will throw in lunch, or dinner!  :-D
~~~~~~~~~

Hi there!  

   So, I guess my comedic picture last week about dry skin & lotion offended some people...  If you are one of those folks...well, I am sorry...it certainly wasn't my intention to offend anyone.  I personally thought it was pretty funny as the dry winter air really messes with my skin....and again, I thought it was funny.  :-D  My sense of humor is a bit warped sometimes.  ;-)

   It's another week, and we're already in February.  I do have some client asking when we will start seeing more homes on the market, and I can tell you that new homes come on the market all the time.  We do usually start seeing an increase in homes for sale in the spring months as people prepare to sell when the flowers are in bloom (and their curb appeal increases) and with the plan of purchasing their next home(s) between school years.   Per the Vancouver Housing Authority, the vacancy rate in Clark County is 2%.  That is crazy...and explains the increase in your rental rates....it also explains the surge of homebuyers that we are seeing right now in the real estate market.  Due to the lack of homes for sale, builders are ramping up their building to compensate...but... it is currently cheaper to build an already existing home than it is to buy one brand new.  The demand for it is there, but it's my opinion that many builders are exploiting that...  I have been told as well by some of my bank friends that the banks will start unloading some of their 'shadow inventory' in the next year or so...and that will help with housing inventory as well.  

  So, what about interest rates, and home prices?  It is an election year, and historically speaking, 'they' don't like to 'rock the boat' too much during election years.  Historically speaking, election years stay pretty 'status quo'.  What this means is that while we do expect 'some' fluctuation in interest rates it shouldn't be too much.  Please remember though that I DO NOT have a crystal ball so this is all just speculation based on past experiences, market statistics, hearsay from others in the economic world, and a smattering of history.  I honestly don't know what will happen....but like you, I am just along for the ride.  'We' are expecting interest rates to increase though, but 'think' that we will start seeing some serious increases either after the election is over, or after the new president (whoever that is) come into office. 
   Home prices are expected to steadily rise due to the high demand and low supply.  I am hoping it won't jump in increases as much as it did last year though.  We saw the highest increase in home values during 2013-2014,  as the bottom of the market was really 2012, and this past year, 2015.  

This week I want to talk about hiring a real estate agent.  What many people fail to realize is that, as a home buyer, or a home seller, YOU are the boss.  You are hiring someone to help you with one of the most important stages of your life.  YOU ARE HIRING SOMEONE.... this is an interview.  What questions should you be asking?

HOW long have you been in the real estate business?  
   Do they have experience, a network of people that they can contact to help?  Nothing wrong with a newbie, but do you know everything about a job when you first start out?  How do you learn?  In real estate, we are always learning, but do you want to be the transaction that an agent 'cuts their teeth' on?

HOW long have you been licensed?  
   This ties into the last question.  Sometimes an agent worked with another licensed agent as an unlicensed assistant so they could have a couple of years in the real estate industry, but very few (or none) as a licensed agent.  Again, nothing wrong with a 'newbie' agent....often times they have more time to help you vs an experienced agent who has other clients we are working with as well.  An experienced agent usually has a pipeline of clients and closings so we're not as concerned with 'pushing' a sale because we don't need to.  Newer agents usually don't have that pipeline so may be more concerned about getting you into (or out of) a home as fast as possible.  

WHAT did you do prior to real estate?  What was your other careers?
   Why is this important?  Buying, or selling a home is one of the largest financial decisions you will ever make.  You are hiring someone to assist you with this decision.  What qualifications does this person have to help you do so?  Did they working in marketing?  Office management?  Accounting?  Did they wait tables?  Work in a factory?  Were they a car salesperson?  

DO you have any college education or degrees?
   Again, see above...this is your largest financial decision....how is this person qualified to help you with that?  What background do they have that will assist you?

WILL I be working with you, or an assistant?
   Sometimes you hire an agent to help you, but then you never see them....you've been handed off to an assistant who may not have the qualifications you had asked about to that other agent that you 'thought' you had hired.  Sometimes you hired the assistant because they had the qualities and the qualifications you were looking for, and you are surprised that they are actually part of a team.

WHAT days/times are you available?
   This is pretty important as you need to know if the times you are available are going to work with the times that your agent is available.  Are they there for you when you need them?  Or can you never get a hold of him/her?

HOW many homes to you sell (on average) per year?
   Why does this matter?  Most people think that a 'full time' agent sells about 12 homes a year...but really that is a part time agent.  It's a 'gross' check vs 'net' check kind of thing...and in real estate there are a lot of expenses, dues, fees, and taxes.  Being self employed has some great things, but they come with expensive costs and overheads.  For example, in my family my husband works for health insurance only... I am the main source of income, and to 'break even' I have to sell, at least, 2 homes a month.  Of course, a lot of that depends on the types/values of the homes an agent sells.  I work mainly with first time and move up buyers/sellers vs some agent friends of mine who sell luxury homes.  They don't help as many people as I do, but make more.  You know... like that supervisor at work who makes more than you, but does less work?  LOL

WHAT is the average price of the homes you help people buy/sell?
   This does tie into the last question....  If someone works mainly with luxury homes, do they understand the market for the type of home you are buying or selling?  Not too long ago, I had a call from someone who wanted to sell their 4000 sq ft home in a very swanky Portland neighborhood.  I actually referred them to a different agent for 2 reasons...one reason being that I don't work in the Portland area and I believe that agents should stick to the areas they know.  Not all markets are the same, and I am not helping someone if I am taking on an unfamiliar market, am I?  ...and that's also kind of the second reason...they have a luxury home and that is a different selling, and buying market.  Honestly, they are better serviced by the agent I referred them to as that agent specializes in Portland, and in that high price range.  I'm always too busy wondering how long it would take to clean it!!  

DO you have another job besides real estate?  
   This kind of ties into the question about how many homes does an agent sell per year as many part time agents have other jobs to supplement their income.  This also ties into when that agent is going to be available to help you.  Real estate isn't just about showing homes...there is SO much more to it.  Phone calls, marketing, searching for homes on the internet, calling about that home, calling other agents, other vendors, paperwork, more paperwork, talking, phone calls, texting, emails, title companies, inspections, appraisals, lenders, etc... it's an 80 hour a week job some weeks.  There are no 'real' vacations as you are always 'on duty'.  

HOW do you feel about Dual Agency?
  This is an interesting question as you don't know what I'm talking about...so let me explain as quickly as I can...  When a seller hires an agent that 'sellers agent' should be working for THAT seller.  They will be marketing the home, and 'selling' that home to buyers, and buyer agents...in a nut shell the sellers agent is selling that home for the seller for the highest possible price and lowest amount of money out of the sellers pocket book (ie buyer closing costs and repairs).  A buyer hires an agent to help them find that 'perfect' home.  To work with them with the lender, to negotiate the offer trying to get that home for them in a multiple offer situation (and maybe for less?), to negotiate closing costs, repairs, to be with the buyers for the home inspection, to help understand appraisal, paperwork, the process...and to support the buyers from contract to keys...and beyond.  Real estate is a relationship business, and we LIVE for referrals.  You should always feel comfortable talking to, and contacting your agent ANYTIME with ANY questions...before, during, and even years after you get keys.  
As you can see, the sellers agent and the buyers agent kind of have two different agendas.  So, if you call the sellers agent to help you buy the home, and that agent works for the sellers, and the buyers on the SAME home...that is a dual agent.  Who is that agent really representing?  Dual agency isn't illegal in the state of Washington, it's just my opinion that each side should always have their own representation.  
Builders agents are dual agents which is why you should always bring your buyers agent with you when looking at have a new home built.  Teams are dual agents.  
Who is working for, and looking out for you?

DO I have to sign a contract to work with you?
   If you are selling a home, there is a sellers contract that you will need to sign.  This contract gives your agent the right to represent you for marketing, offers, and negotiations.  But what about if you are buying a home?  There is a form called a Buyers Agency Form, that is a contract between the buyer and the buyers agent.  As a buyer you do not have to sign this form.  As a buyer, I probably wouldn't sign this paper, no matter how good an agent makes it sound.  Real estate and lending is all about verbiage and there are a ton of 'scripts' that can make any form sound reasonable....and good for you, when it may not actually be so.  In real estate, the buyers agency form is a pretty hotly contested piece of paper...there are agents who won't work with you if you don't sign it, and there are others (like me) who think it's awful.  Customer loyalty is built with good customer service...not a piece of paper...but this is only MY opinion.  :-)  If you, as a buyer, choose to sign a buyers agency form, you are now legally in contract with that agent to buy a home with them.  Technically you always have the right to fire someone, but that is a legal contract for a period of time for a specific purpose.  The first question that, as an agent, I always ask a potential client is if they have signed a contract with a previous agent.  This protects everyone involved....it protects the other agent as I don't want to step on another agents toes, it protects the potentials clients since if they are in a contract with a previous agent then they need to either let that contract expire, or deal with it in another way before hand, and it protects me because getting that call from another agent that they have a contract with one of your clients is not a good one.  So what happens if one of my clients then talks to another agent and signs a contract with that other agent?  Well, then they're not my client anymore....they're now they other agents client.  


I'm not going to lie to you.... I know that this blog is going to ruffle some feathers, and while I debated actually sending it out...  I decided to do it anyway.  I want to say that I am not knocking anyone in my industry here.  Everyone has to choose to work the way that their ethics and morals dictate.  As a buyer, or seller, YOU need to ask the questions that mean most to you when hiring an agent.  What questions, and qualifications mean most to you?  Are you looking for someone professional looking, or someone more laid back?  Someone with a warped sense of humor, or someone more 'traditional'?  There are a LOT of great agents out there, and there are also some agents whose names I see and well, I wonder how they are still around.  I had an agent call me last week about a home I have listed to tell me that my lockbox was broken.  The lockbox wasn't broken...it was simply timed out and she just needed to put her card back in to activate it again.  

I want you to have a good home buying (or selling) adventure.  KNOW who you are hiring and make sure that it fits with what you are looking for.  For good, or bad, YOU hire the team to help you buy, or sell, your home.  YOU'RE the boss, and we all work for you.  Please remember that....  we are not here to 'sell' you on anything.  We are here to assist you with your goals, and dreams... and have fun while doing it!  Have a great week!  :-D

        Information is power, and I hope that I am able to help you.  Good luck, and as always...May the odds be ever in your favor out there....  AND If you are looking for a real estate agent, I would love to be able to help you.                                                                       

 
    As always....this is just a quick overview.... please remember that your agent, and your lender work for YOU.  You drive the bus...we are merely GPS to help you get to your goals.  Like the classes, this weekly blog email is to help you with your home adventure.  The goal is to be informative and non-promotional.  :-)  We are, however, hoping you will call and want us to help with your adventure.  

If you have any questions about this, or something you have heard...or if you would like me to help you with your home adventure, please call, email,  text, or facebook me anytime.  I am, as always, happy to help!
 
Thank you again for your business and your referrals!!  ...and thank you for referring these classes to your friends, family, and co-workers. 
 
 .   ..disclaimer...if you have already purchased a home, or would no longer like to receive these emails, please let me know and I will be happy to remove you from any further mailings... 
 
 
Upcoming Topics:  Septic vs Sewer? 
                  Interview Questions to Ask Your Realtor?
                         Where do I go online to find homes, and what does those statuses mean?  

Last Week:   5 mistakes that buyers make that cost them $$$                 
Have a great day, and I will talk to you soon,   
;-D   
Tracie DeMars   
Real Estate broker    
Re/Max - Van Mall   
360/ 903-3504 cell   
360/ 882-3600 fax   
www.traciedemars.com   
traciedemars@aol.com   
    
“Interested in free and non promotional home buyer classes?  Go to www.traciedemars.com  for local upcoming classes, or facebook: Tracie DeMars Real Estate for my home buyer education blog.  Classes are now available for home owners thinking about selling their home.  Links are on the left."

"Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be."    
   - Shel Silverstein, American poet, cartoonist and composer, (1930 - 1999).