Keep Going!

 Posted by Walter at 8:01 am
Jan 072012
 

I recently announced that I was not making any new year’s resolutions, but I was adopting a slogan: Keep Going! After a week or so of operating with that simple slogan I’m convinced I made the right choice.

The beginning of a new year is always a good time to reassess and it’s no great surprise that the calls and emails currently reflect that. People do seem to be considering what they want to accomplish this year: buying a home, selling property, taking a course. It’s all good stuff, but the problem with resolutions is also the problem with goals. Enthusiasm can fade quickly–especially when external factors (like the market and the economy) seem to be constantly working against us.

That’s when we have to “Keep Going.”

All of those decisions (goals and resolutions) have an obvious financial aspect. One of the things that still amazes and distresses me a bit is the amount of “financial illiteracy” I encounter with students and real estate clients. However, I can’t be too critical of it–because I’ve found myself feeling pretty ignorant when I talk with my financial advisor. Things have gotten pretty complicated in the financial arena. Consider, for example, how many different program choices a buyer has when it comes to mortgaging. I’m convinced that one thing keeping prospective first time home buyers from acting is they just don’t want to deal with the complexity.

Conversely, I’ve worked with clients so determined to achieve their dream they didn’t want to deal with reality. “The bank won’t give me a mortgage I can’t afford; that’s what got them in trouble.” At the other end of the spectrum, this is easy–all that matters is what I want. Part of my job is to make sure buyers understand that the price of the house and the mortgage payment are only one small part of the cost of home ownership.

Those who might be feeling a bit overwhelmed by all this financial “stuff” will find it easy to “keep going” but may not be thinking about where they are going to end up. (I’m reminded of the wisdom “If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging.”)

One of the new courses I’m developing for this spring is “Cash as a Crop.” It’s part of a You Can Series we’re developing as a collaboration between the Piscataquis Valley Adult  Education Cooperative and Piscataquis County UMaine Extension. There are a number of courses geared to giving people information and skills emphasizing what you can do–some are very basic, but all are about facilitating a sense of independence and control. (That, by the way, is one of the driving motivations for owning your own home!)

In that spirit, let me share with you several resources for getting your financial affairs in order. Here’s a great site with some very practical financial advice… http://www.thesimpledollar.com/. I liked his explanation of mortgage rates a lot… and found his advice to someone who is considering walking way from their mortgage interesting, because ethical considerations aside, there are some serious financial aspects that most people don’t consider.

Another resource is http://www.totalcandor.com. Frankly, it’s a bit self-promoting, but with some justification. I met Michael Rubin at a financial literacy conference and found his approach refreshing because it’s down to earth and he’s got a great sense of humor. You might check out his blog and consider his book “Beyond Paycheck To Paycheck.” It’s a good read.

I don’t think it’s too late to make a resolution, set a goal, or adopt a slogan. Given the financially troubled times we are living in can be discouraging, but let’s keep going!

 Buying Real Estate, Education, Financing, Home, Home, Home Ownership, Selling Real Estate  No Responses »

No Whining!

 Posted by Walter at 5:25 am
Dec 052011
 

As if to reinforce my previous post, I read a news item this morning pointing out that pending sales are up but along with that REALTORS are reporting a signficant number of “settlement failures.” (A settlement failure happens when a buyer and seller agree to a “deal,” but something happens and the sale doesn’t actually take place.) The talking heads are of course blaming this on the lenders. (By the way, the statistics on the failures are not hard numbers-they are based on a survey of REALTORS who are reporting they are experiencing the problem.)

One comment posted to the story by a REALTOR included the observation that the “entire industry is being held hostage to ridiculous underwriting standards.” I confess to chuckling a bit.

I have an idea for her. I think she should start making $100,000 plus loans, asking herself just how much assurance she wants that her borrowers are going to pay her back. My guess is she’ll want some underwriting standards, documentation, and won’t be making loans to just everybody. If she can come up with enough money, she can turn an entire industry around.

 (Just to put the lending risk into perspective, a separate article notes that in cases where the lender or federal government modified mortgages to assist the borrower nearly half are in foreclosure again anyway.)

There’s no doubt that mortgages are a lot harder to get now than a couple of years ago. Personally, I’m not sure that’s a bad thing. But to those who are whining, I would suggest that unless we are going to start opening our own banks, “it is what it is” and we (REALTORS) need to start dealing with it. Whining about it isn’t going to help one bit.

We can’t continue to shout, “It’s a great time to buy!” because it’s only a great time to buy for those who can and not everyone can.

My personal experience is that it’s not THAT difficult–there are lenders with money to loan who have reasonable expectations. Buyers (and agents) who are looking for the slam dunk are going to be disappointed. You do have to work for the mortgage and the sale. Sorry.

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Salesmanship is NOT a dirty word!

 Posted by Walter at 6:43 am
Nov 282011
 

For a long time now I’ve been “preaching” to those who will listen–”It’s high time for those of us in the real estate industry to realize we are not in the business of selling houses; we are in the business of helping people make intelligent decisions regarding real estate.” I would call your attention to the fact that I said “selling houses.” I didn’t say “We are not in the business of selling.”

Some years ago I wrote a short booklet called Salesmanship Is Not a Dirty Word. I can assure you that I’m not “anti-sales.” I happen to think that selling is an important skill–even if we have to call it something else to make it palatable. 

So this morning I read an article on RIS called Warning: Your Sales Techniques May be Under Fire. It’s actually a pretty good piece. The author notes that while brokers have traditionally been “selling information” (because of the historical emphasis on the multiple listing system) things have changed. Buyers now have all that information available to them thanks to the Internet. (I wonder how that information gets there… hmmm.)

Therefore, he somewhat rightly concludes, buyers of real estate are looking for someone to “assist and consult.” But, like all good ideas, when you push this to the extreme it doesn’t work. “No dialog, technique, or pitch needed,” he goes on to say.  That’s where the author lost me.

 This is the age-old debate–it’s not a new one based on some new paradigm. Every industry has always had salespeople who put their personal gain before their customer’s. Real estate is no different. Well, except for one thing, maybe.

If you hire me (or somebody else) to “assist and consult” with you… wait. How are you going to decide to hire me? Will you draw my name out of a hat? Should we develop software that is a random broker generator to pick your broker for you? (Banks are doing that with appraisers these days–interesting back story there.)  No, I think we’re probably going to have some dialog and while we may not like calling it that, I’m going to “sell” you on the value of hiring me.

Let’s assume, however, that somehow you do manage to hire me without any influence on my part. So if we assume I’m not supposed to use sales techniques, let’s consider what that means. If you’re a buyer and you decide to make an offer on a home I’ll just submit the offer and we’ll see where the chips fall? Or maybe you are about to make a truly “bad” decision… you don’t want me to try to talk you out of it, right?

See, when we write articles like this we can afford to be conceptual and puristic. When we’re out in the trenches we have to deal with reality.

If you’re entering the real estate market as either a buyer or a seller I think you absolutely need a broker who knows how to sell and is pretty darn good at it. Remember, it’s about perspective. He or she is supposed to be using that skill on your behalf–not on you for his or her own gain.

Unfortunately, the information aspect of this business makes it very easy to end up working with a broker without much thought. You call a number on a sign because the house looks interesting. You don’t think about selecting your broker. You’re leaving that to chance. Wouldn’t it make sense to find out what that broker’s perspective is?

I often tell students that they’ll make their biggest mistakes in the business when they are broke. Why? Because it’s about perspective. It becomes very easy to put the transaction (sale) ahead of the client when you can’t make your mortgage payment.  Just like in dating; desperation isn’t pretty. Don’t hire a desperate broker.

Customers and clients really do need a sensitivity to this–is your broker truly working in your best interest? Extreme cases are relatively easy to spot because you feel “pressured.” 

There are two questions you should be asking yourself constantly:

  1. Do I feel like I am making my own decisions with all the information and options available to me?
  2. Do I feel like my broker is my partner-working with me?

If the answer to either question is not a resounding “yes,” it’s time to reassess your relationship.

 

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Don’t Blame The Lenders

 Posted by Walter at 5:05 am
Oct 192011
 

I’m actually having some fun these days working with a buyer client and lender to put together some “unconventional” financing by today’s standards. But it also makes me a little crabby when I hear people whining about lenders and blaming them for everything that’s wrong with the economy and real estate.

But then again I also smiled when I heard what Greg Rand, CEO of OwnAmerica, had to say on “Rand on Real Estate”–his radio talk show. Admittedly he focuses on the commercial market, but he also makes a point that’s worthy of some thought. Lenders aren’t trying to make things difficult; they are simply returning to standard lending practices they were using a few years ago.

 

 Buying Real Estate, Financing, Home, Market Information  No Responses »

Home Inspections…

 Posted by Walter at 6:40 am
Oct 112011
 

Home inspections are always a good idea for buyers… and they actually can benefit sellers! But a home inspection is not a pancea–there are things that can go wrong with the process. The “House Detective” is nationally syndicated columnist Barry Stone–he writes a great blog and answers some tough questions. There’s some interesting reading even if you’re not considering buying a home!

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Low Downpayment Buyers Note!

 Posted by Walter at 9:59 am
Aug 302011
 

Occasionally taking what appears to be a minority position has its rewards! Several months ago I posted a plea for some objectivity regarding the proposed Qualified Residential Mortgage Requirements. While much of the industry is predicting doom and gloom over the proposed requirements, there’s much to be said in favor of them.

Well, in an article published by RIS Media, I’m joined by a writer who at least somewhat shares my perspective. He offers an interesting twist, however, by pointing out an impact of the doom and gloom predictions. “It seems the speculation and debate surrounding QRM is causing some low-downpayment home buyers to believe they will not be able to obtain financing.”

Interesting–and it makes sense. Those who are crying that these new requirements will “kill” the real estate market, are actually contributing to the depression?

What’s actually needed right now is concrete, objective information. Yes, underwriting standards are higher, but at the same time rates are at historic lows. Those lows mean lower payments and lower payments mean more people can qualify based on debt ratios. Prices are lower. There’s a lot going on that makes it feasible for many more people to buy and “low down payment” mortgages are not going to cease to exist.

The best advice for potential real estate buyers is ”turn off the television and put down the newspaper and contact a real estate and/or mortgaging professional and get some credible information regarding your specific situation.”

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USDA/Rural Housing Fee Changes

 Posted by Walter at 10:58 am
Jul 312011
 

I’ve never really pretended to “keep up” with all the mortgage and financing programs and their changes… thankfully, I’m able to depend on a few really good folks to keep me informed or work with clients when the need arises. One of those folks is Ron Taplin at Alpine Mortgage. (You’ll find a link to him in the “Buying Real Estate” Section on the left sidebar.)

Ron recently advised that there are some significant changes coming (effective October 1, 2011) to Rural Housing Fees. You may hear that the “up front fee” is being reduced and that is true: from 3.5% to 2.0%. But that is also not the entire story. There will also be a new annual fee: .30% per year for the life of the loan based on the unpaid balance.

Depending on how long you expect to keep your mortgage, this could be a significant increased cost even though the upfront rate is being reduced by over 40%. The short analysis is that if you are considering buying a home using this type of financing, you’ll want to get moving and get your commitment before October 1st.

 Buying Real Estate, Financing, Home  No Responses »

Bugs in the Well?

 Posted by Walter at 9:38 am
Jul 072011
 

Buyers who are purchasing a home or camp with well water are wise to make their purchase contingent on a satisfactory water test. There are, of course, various types of tests for different substances. The most common problem we see with these tests is the presence of bacteria–particularly in systems that have been idle (such as camps) for sometime.

Even if you aren’t considering selling your property, an occasional water test is a good idea. You’ll find some easy to understand information at the University Maine Cooperative Extension website–you can download two brochures for free. One will explain the testing process–this can be a “do it yourself” project. The other will explain the process used for disinfecting your well if bacteria is found. The direct links to the well information are:

How to test your well.

How to treat your well.

“Disclaimer” — One of my volunteer positions is president of the executive committee for the Piscataquis County Extension. Even so, I can say with some objectivity that your local extension office is a great resource… as is extension in general. In fact, that’s one reason I agreed to accept the positon. If you’re thinking about moving to a new area, visit the chamber of commerce and the extension office. There’s lots to learn!

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Couple Forecloses on Bank!

 Posted by Walter at 6:02 am
Jun 092011
 

No, the headline is not a mistake. Turnabout IS fair play. It seems that Bank of America (BAC) foreclosed on the wrong house in St. Petersburg Florida–a house which had been bought for cash and had no mortgage. The homeowners spent some 18 months trying to convince BAC of their error, racking up attorney’s fees and other costs in the process.

Ultimately, BAC admitted the error. But in yet another example of the sorts of fiascos surrounding the foreclosure business, they failed to pay the homeowners the court ordered costs. Ultimately, the homeowners went back to court and “foreclosed” on BAC’s branch office in Naples–a judge agreed to allow them to seize bank assets for the unpaid debt. They and their attorney showed up at the branch office with a moving van and a court order. Apparently the branch manager was “visibly shaken” by the order, but BAC found a way to pay up within hours.

If you are currently involved in a short sale or foreclosure, you’ll want to read the entire article. An important piece of this fiasco is that the homeowners bought the home as a foreclosure. There is some speculation that their names got “transposed” during paperwork. This is not the first time things like this have happened. It’s a wonderful story of man biting dog, but it’s also fair warning to anyone involved in foreclosures or short sales.

Read USA Today’s version of the story.

 Buying Real Estate, Financing, Home, Real Estate Business  1 Response »

Cheap Maine Land!

 Posted by Walter at 7:16 am
Apr 252011
 

An “inside joke” among Maine REALTORS has always been out-of-state buyers who call or email asking about “cheap Maine land.” A few years ago I developed a trade show exhibit that involved a bucket of dirt, a scoop, some plastic bags and a sign that read, “Cheap Maine Land-five cents per scoop!”

Whether property is on the market due to foreclosure, short sale, or just a desperate seller, price is now an important aspect of nearly every transaction.  While buyers can find some real bargains, all too often there’s just too much emphasis put on the bargain at the expense of common sense and basic diligence. Sometimes it seems like it’s not about buying a home or property, it’s about getting the lowest possible price.

Some things haven’t changed.  Common real estate logic used to be “location, location, location.” That logic really hasn’t changed. Property values are still dramatically impacted by location both at the macro and micro level.  Unless your goal in life is to live in a cheap home, you ought also to be looking at neighborhoods, school districts, infrastructure, local economy, amenities, etc.

But you aren’t going to live there you say? I recall getting an excited call from a Boston-based buyer back when one of our local towns lost a major employer. He explained that he’d heard you could buy homes there for “pennies on the dollar” and he wanted five of them. When I inquired of his long range plans, he explained his intention was to turn them into rental properties and garner a great return on his investment.  He hadn’t, of course, considered who he was going to get for tenants.  I occasionally have to explain that my “job” sometimes is to talk people OUT of doing things.

There is something to be said for “at this price I can’t afford not to buy it,” but there still needs to be some caution—especially when dealing with vacant homes that can deteriorate quickly.  Again, logic suggests that you should determine the true cost of owning the home you are considering. A professional home inspection will do that by reporting issues that should be addressed immediately and some that will require attention over time.

It’s strangely ironic that in an earlier market one could sometimes stifle interest by pricing a property too low. Buyers would suspect there was something wrong and avoid considering it! This was also a time when buyers would often require prodding and pushing to do the research and make decisions. Buyers were afraid of making a bad decision. Now it seems like many buyers are afraid to purchase because the price might go lower. A bad decision at a rock-bottom price is still a bad decision!

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