Scott MacDonald

It’s all so confusing…

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There is so much confusion in what is being reported about the real estate market it is understandable why so many people are unsure of what to do in regards to housing.  Information recently reported from Standard and Poor’s is just one reporting outlet where mixed signals are being sent out to consumers.  In one report, they claim that housing prices have increased for 8 consecutive months – this is through Standard and Poor’s and then through the Standard &Poor’s/Case-Shiller pricing index they say prices have dropped for the 4th consecutive month – absolutely insane.  How can one agency say prices are going up and down at the same time and not believe they are sending a mixed message to consumers and in turn hurting the housing recovery? 

For the record, The Washington Examiner reported that the Washington area was the strongest in the Nation as we have the right fundamentals in place.  Low unemployment, and scarcity of land are factors they sight in their article – couple this with low inventory, low housing starts, great rates, the home buyer tax credit and relatively affordable prices and we have a better than average housing market.

We too have been hearing, reading and expecting rates to increase when the Fed eases out of and stops buying mortgage backed securities (which has been happening by the way) yet rates have stayed low – conflicting news, but good news none the less.

We watch the market very closely everyday here locally and it is important to understand from a professional what is happening in our market and why.  We want to reiterate that our housing market in Northern Virginia is robust, resilient and is rebounding nicely today.  Our absorption rate remains high, prices are increasing in some areas and we have buyers out looking to capitalize on the remaining days of the home buyer tax credit.  To learn more about what is happening with your home or to learn how you or someone you know can take advantage of the tax credit, call us today!

Do you have pride in all you do?

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The longer you do something, the longer you realize how important having pride in what you do is so important to your growth as a business person and how it plays into how you get more referrals or stay employed longer.  The question to ask yourself is – do you have it in you?  Do you have or take pride in what you do?  Do you feel confident that you are doing the best you can do and are performing to the best of your abilities?  Do you feel remorse when something slips through the cracks or if you feel you are not doing your best or giving it your all?  Are you doing the minimum to just collect a paycheck or are you pumped up to go to work and improve upon what you did the day before, every day?  Are you doing the little things when no one else is looking because you know it is the right thing to do?  Are you doing the right stuff to do the job better than someone else?  If so, you are taking pride in what you do.  We have made the decision to take pride in what we do for you.  Our goal is to provide you with the best training, education, support and so much more.

As we have done in the past, let’s break down the word pride and discuss the elements of each letter:

Professionalism – embracing professionalism in the way you dress, the way you speak with others, the way you approach each day shows you have pride in what you do for a living.

Responsibility – the idea is to not only take on the job you were hired to do but to take on even more.  The more you do, the more you will get.  Also, do the right stuff – all the time.  You know what to do so do it!  Don’t take extra advantage of your lunch hour, being on the internet to surf the web during work hours, etc.  Be responsible and be the ultimate agent or employee.

Initiative – take the initiative to take on more projects and suggest new ideas.   Be proactive, creative, take the lead on projects – don’t wait to be assigned a task or responsibility.  What do you think about while you are at work?

Dedication – you must be dedicated to what you are doing.  It is the drive within you that makes all the difference in your success.  Be dedicated and get more satisfaction and better results out of what you are doing.

Excellence – this should be your minimum standard in the level at which you should be performing.  If you provide excellent service, perform at an excellent level, you can always expect to be given referrals and get promoted more quickly than others in your field.

Are you interested in taking more pride in what you do?  Ask the experts, be engaged, be active, read, learn, attend trainings to understand your field, be positive, make your job your priority and improve everyday and you will shine.  Get it?  Got it?  Good!

Now, go sell something!

Growing your business with foreign investors

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This week we learned yet another way to help agents today grow their business with developing new relationships through foreign investors.  Our featured speaker was NVAR’s Chairman of the Board, Vinh Nguyen.  He provided us with valuable information on how and where to establish these relationships as well as why we are a viable place for foreign investors to invest their resources.  Here are a few highlights from our training:

 

Working with Foreign Investors

 

It provides you with an additional source of income by working with foreign investors – it is another spoke in your wheel of building relationships.

 

It helps to diversify your business and grow your database.

 

Work with immigrant population, it is a hedge against the main stream market.

 

Work with embassies, schools where a high number of foreign nationals attend and participate in local and national conventions.

 

Attend NAR conventions and attend global forums, learn their market and offer to speak at their conventions, build relationships through your knowledge and expertise of our market.

 

Many foreign developers are interested in our real estate market.  They are looking to purchase bulk REOs, commercial, as well as buy houses for children studying here or abroad as they say in their country.

 

Many of these entrepreneurs have upwards of $50,000,000.00 to spend here in the US.

 

Develop referral channels for yourself to obtain business from different parts of the world.

 

Reasons they want to invest in the United States of America

    Stability of our government

    Price appreciation

    The value of the dollar is low coupled w/depreciation

 

The benefit to you is they do not know who to use, build trust through developing contacts.

 

80 countries have agreements with NAR to accept referrals and pay referrals to US agents.

 

There are great resources available to you through NAR.  Go to Realtor.org, resource, international buyers to learn more.

 

48 % of international buyers pay cash for their properties.

 

New loan program through HSBC

    30 % down, 5.25 % no points

    Foreign investors, paper trail on 30%  down payment is the only qualification that requires verification.

 

Finding channels to bring in money quickly and legally is a challenge to learn to overcome.  Get to know the process through your banker.

 

Your goal is to sell Washington area.  Make them aware of the Nevada, California and Florida foreclosure issues and why we are different.  We have:

    Stability of market

    # 1 in the world now for foreign institutional investors

    Low risk vs. overseas risk

    Diversify their investments

 

Other places to obtain more information on how to work with foreign investors:  Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate – AFIRE.org –  has a lot of research information.

 

Also, it is important to learn immigration, visa, and green card processes to be able to speak with clients about these issues.

 

Were you aware that you can obtain a green card if you invest $1,000,000.00 in a business?  If you buy a business or establish a new one and maintain it or if you hire 10 Americans, you will have green card within 3 months and you can apply for permanent status in 2 years.

 

Another option is to invest $500,000.00 in a designated, depressed area and you can get green cards – regional EBS’s program.

 

A few final thoughts:  One thing to keep in mind is to not worry about communicating with your new contacts.  Most wealthy investors have translators or speak English.  Look into attending conventions and other associations, such as: AERAA.org and NAHREP.org and lastly obtain a designation – CIPS – develop relations with those agents and work referrals with them.

 

You have heard it before and will hear it again, the more you learn the more you earn – go get educated and learn how to build your database through alternative means.  Get it?  Got it?  Good!

 

Now, go sell something!

Tips for a smoother settlement!

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We had our regularly scheduled training on Friday to discuss the Northern Virginia Real  Estate market and have Champion Title discuss worst case scenarios for closing and even a few other disasters to be aware of in today’s sales environment.  As is the case in any sales situation, it is your job as a professional to manage your client’s expectations of what is going to happen at the walk-through and closing.  Here are a few tips!

Tips for a Smoother Settlement

  1. Try not to Close on last day of the month
  2. Know the difference between a home inspection item and a walk-through, and know what it means to be in normal working order?  This is extremely important when discussing age appropriate items.
  3. Disclose fees/additional costs upfront (e.g., admin fees, FHA/VA fees),Initial  all changes to the original sales contract (“meeting of the minds “), initials/signatures on all pages on the contract – do your damn job!
  4. Work with service providers you know and trust, its all about the team being in place with all the changes going on with RESPA and the mortgage market.
  5. Confirm closing cost credits with the lender prior to ratification of your contract so there are no last minute surprises.
  6. Make sure termite inspection has been ordered and conducted. If treatment was necessary, make sure all parties are aware of treatment prior to closing
  7. Keep utilities on through the settlement date
  8. Contact the settlement company if you know you have any walk-through issues and conduct your walk-through the day BEFORE closing – not minutes before.
  9. Avoid escrowing funds  if possible, lenders are tougher on this issue of allowing escrows
  10. Bring certified funds to the table or wire money prior to closing
  11. Know your client (e.g. reader, needs a POA, etc.) and what they will expect to happen at closing.
  12. Read the REO contract and know its details.
  13. Read the short sale approval letter, know and understand its terms
  14. Have sellers keep hazard insurance in place until a few days after closing

 

 

Now, you can’t prepare for every situation and we haven’t experienced everything we are going to experience but here are some recent situations that arose at settlements:

Dealing with the Unknowns

  1. Unexpected liens – IRS, HOA, etc. – are filed against the property.
  2. Bankruptcy – will not kill the deal but will take time because trustee must release the property and this can and will take time.  Find out the seller’s situation in advance.
  3. More than 1 ratified contract – be smart, know your listings and only ratify one contract.
  4. Improper foreclosure – people added to title after settlement with no knowledge of bank, then property forecloses, proper notification or no notification  was not given to person added to title – bank must re-foreclose and this is a lengthy process.
  5. Unilateral default – not closing because…

 

As always we discussed what our agents are finding out in the marketplace today when working with both buyers and sellers.  Here are some comments on the conditions of our current market:

There is no inventory out there and houses are selling fast.

There are multiple contracts on a lot of listings throughout the area.  Price points that are in the low $200’s are where we are seeing the most activity…

Some buyers are not aggressive enough on their first few offers and therefore are losing contracts.

Pricing is critical for listing prices – do not price a little high as there continue to be appraisal issues.

Agents are writing backup contracts on under contract properties – even foreclosure and regular sales.

An agent recently read that 70% of first offer short sale contracts fall out as buyers lose patience waiting on the process.  It is a good idea to write back up contracts on short sales today.

We continue to have appraisal problems as there are not enough comparable sales for appraisers to utilize in their appraisal therefore they are claiming market is declining.  One agent had an appraisal come in $100,000 low – they made buyers change lenders and verify qualifications of the new appraisal with the second appraiser.  It is imperative to do your homework, know the market and present this to the appraisers.

Ethics are slipping with agents – keeping listings off market (coming soon) then selling them before they go on the market.  The lack of returned phone calls, promptly responding to offers, etc. are the issues we continue to experience.  And what is really scary is contracts and earnest money checks are being deposit after VREB regulations and even closing!  Agents need to stay on top of their game or get out!

Rates continue to be great – we expected them to increase and they did for a short time but they have come back down – we are still below 5%.

You have heard it before – the more you learn, the more you earn so come to training!  Get it?  Got it?  Good!

Now, go sell something!

 

 

 

 

 

 

How do we determine the price?

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I recently posted a blog on Tips for Securing an Accurate Appraisal.  It brought to mind the different aspects of pricing in real estate.  It is one of the most important aspects when buying or selling a home in any market.  Keep in mind, in Northern Virginia, there are always people willing to buy and sell in any environment.  It is critical to analyze various aspects that determine the true market value but ultimate determination is what a buyer is willing to pay and at a price the seller is willing to sell.  Listed below are a few points variations of value.

 

-Appraised value:  this is the most subjective piece of the puzzle today with the implementation of the Home Valuation Code of Conduct.  It has taken what was once and almost a given to a tougher process to achieve “market value”.  As a “value add” part of listing process to our listing clients to help them achieve our sales price, we always meet the appraisers at the property to help support the value or sales price.  We include floor plans, surveys, comparable sales, market data and trends as well as statistics on the area that will help in the process of determining the property’s value. 

 

-Market Value – the truest form of value – what the buyer is willing to pay and the seller is willing to sell the property for under current market conditions.  Market value is determined by a particular purchaser’s and seller’s research of the market, market trends and data available at the time of the offering.  This is the value we hope to attain through the appraisal process once a contract is ratified.

 

-Tax Value – what the local governmental agency sets as their valuation for tax generation purposes.  These values are determined by market conditions and perceived value based upon an assessor’s opinion of what is happening in the marketplace and to raise funds in the appropriate jurisdiction.  These valuation occur on a regular basis from once a year to once every 5 years depending on the area.

 

-Perceived Value – This is the value a seller has in mind for selling their property for – it may be low, but often times it is high.  This value can come from past sales, perceived values of improvements made to the property or lack of improvements made that are necessary to achieve the value they perceive.  Additionally, this opinion can come from family, friends or neighbors and what they believe the seller could obtain in a sale.  On the flip side, it can be a purchase’s perceived value and their attempt to “steal” a house.  This value typically holds the least weight.  This value is also the hardest to overcome for a Realtor in many cases.

 

-Agent/Realtor Value – this value comes from market knowledge, market trends, analysis of demand in the price point, and in depth analysis of square footage prices, tax assessed value to net sales price ratios, and sales prices of comparable properties that have settled within the previous 90 days.  An experienced Realtor can be your most valuable asset in determining the right value for the house being considered.  If you have the right Realtor on your team – they are an invaluable asset. 

 

Hire a Realtor today!  Get it?  Got it?  Good!  Now, call us today 703-652-5777.

How committed are you?

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Commitment – what is it and why do people have it and others don’t?  Is it motivation to achieve more than others that drives us to follow through on what we know is the right thing to do?  Is it respect for our self and others to do what we say we are going to do?  Do we have more desire to succeed and put for the effort to achieve what we say we are going to do?  Is it our belief that we need to live up to what we say we are going to do?  Do we have more discipline?  Is it better time management?  Is it because we have goals and the desire to achieve them?  Is it a matter of just being more responsible?  Is it loyalty?  Is the belief we need to stand up to our obligations?

What I have been experiencing a lot lately is a lack of commitment from others.  Is it fear of commitment and as a result lack of vision and focus?   Is there something missing in their belief system that allows them to drift or become complacent and not take responsibility for their actions?  Is it just easier to be lazy than do it right?  Is it lack of effort or the belief that they don’t need to follow through on what is the right thing to do? 

It is my belief is that people generally know what is expected of them and what they know they need to do succeed in our business.  Professional and ethics are at the top of the list.  People need to follow through on their professionalism and simple tasks that are required to take care of their business.  Is it laziness that prevents them from turning in paperwork, turn in escrow checks, returning phone calls, respond to emails, or simply just show up for appointments?  Is it lack of desire, not loving what they do, no goals, lack of respect for themselves, the business or their company?

It is my opinion that you need to have discipline, effort and desire to be successful and you must commit to these beliefs and live by them or get out of the business.  Get it?  Got it?  Good!

Now, go sell something!

Top 5 Tips for Securing an Accurate Appraisal

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When it comes to buying or selling property, a successful outcome often hinges
upon an accurate appraisal. Unfortunately, due to unrest in the appraisal
industry sparked by government guidelines imposed by the Home Valuation Code of
Conduct (HVCC), securing an accurate appraisal can be hard to come by these
days. Colleagues have shared many a horror story about an appraisal gone wrong
and a client that’s left to pay the price.

As a member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, however, I have learned that
there are steps you can take to help ensure an appraisal accurately reflects
the home’s value. Consider the following advice:

1. Keep it local. Inaccurate
appraisals are often the result of the current practice of using an appraiser
who is unfamiliar with your community…sometimes, they’re even coming from
another state! Talk to your agent and/or lender and insist that the appraiser
involved is local and, therefore, understands home values in your neighborhood.

2. Utilize comps.
Make sure your lender and appraiser are accurately leveraging comps (comparable
market sales) of local properties sold within the last six months to help
appraise your home. Your real estate agent can help in this area.

3. Put your best foot
forward. If you are selling your home, make sure it’s in the
best possible shape before the appraiser visit. Invest in any necessary repairs
and effective cosmetic changes. Consider how your home stacks up against other
homes in your neighborhood and let that be your guide.

4. Review carefully. Review
the appraisal thoroughly to make sure all the basic facts are correct: square
footage, features of the home, number of rooms, etc. If you find mistakes, call
the appraiser and ask to have them corrected. If the appraiser refuses to make
the corrections, file a complaint with your state’s real estate appraisal
board.

5. Don’t settle. You
are not bound to accept the appraisal results. Both buyers and sellers can
request a new appraisal. There is no guarantee that the bank will accept the
new appraisal, but it can be used to challenge the first appraisal.

An honest, accurate appraisal can make all the difference in your real estate
transaction. Follow the above steps and please e-mail
me for more details. I encourage you to forward this important information
to your social network, as well.

Be Careful What You Read

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The Northern Virginia real estate market remains strong for
both buyers and sellers.  Although
inventory levels have increased slightly over the last few weeks – more houses
are selling as well!  Our absorption rate
remains steady at a 1.8 month supply of houses! 

Be careful what you read. 
In a recent article, it was noted by Fox
Business that new homes sales had dropped to record lows.  In our area, builders are seeing robust sales
and tremendous activity.  We have said it
before and will continue to say that we are in the best real estate market in
the nation – take what you see and what you hear about real estate with a grain
of salt because we are different and good news doesn’t sell!  We put a condo on the market in Manassas on Friday of last week and it was sold by Sunday –
the market is HOT!

For the best in real estate advice and news, please call us
to hear the true information about our market. 
We want our clients to be the most informed and up to date with our
local housing market.  We have the most
current stats, data and information on financing as well as the home buyer tax credit and
how it can affect you so feel free to call today!  We are here to help.  The Results Realty Group – 703-652-5777.

Shopping for a Condo? Ask These 4 Questions before You Buy

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Condominium homes have always been, and will likely
always be, an efficient and economical route to becoming a first-time
homeowner. They can offer the comfort, prestige, and even luxury appointments
that apartment living may lack, often at a cost that is not much different than
rent. With the current first-time home buyer tax credit and the deadline for
the move-up tax credit fast approaching, I advise you move fast on any condo
purchase you may be considering.


With my experience as Member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I am well
aware that not all condominiums are the same, however, so make sure you ask the
following four questions before you buy:

What will you own?
Read the bylaws and be sure you understand what you will be responsible for and
what belongs to the condo association. Will you own the boat dock at the back
of your unit? Can you elect to build a spa on your patio? Generally, unit owners
own and are responsible for the interior of their condos, while costs for
outside maintenance including common areas and sewer lines are the
association’s responsibility.

Who lives there?
Are the majority of residents owners or renters? Owners generally take more
interest in proper maintenance and are more willing than renters to serve on
the association board and enforce complex rules and regulations–including the
regular collection of homeowner dues.

How effective is
the homeowner’s association? Do they have legal counsel,
reasonable funds and a capable, caring volunteer board? One way to judge is to
check with residents about restrictions, oversight and timeliness of repairs
and upgrades. Another is to take a hard look at the grounds and be wary of
signs of neglect.

What about special
assessments? The association should have the power to special
assess for needed, one-time large expenditures. Otherwise, things that need to
be done may never get done at all, leaving the complex vulnerable to disrepair
and lowered property values.


Don’t miss this great opportunity to become a homeowner or to downsize by
buying a condo (remember, the move-up tax credit does not require you to move
to a larger or more expensive home).

Notes from Scott’s Desk

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There are houses selling…2 contracts per listing of late – and
in different price points, $250,000 and $850,000.  The contracts came in close to list price even
though they were in competition.

Some agents like Equator, the new Bank of America short sale
portal – because of their quick responses and live chat, but some still have
repeated problems with acceptance of forms in particular formats.  Once in the final stage of approval, it takes
about 6 weeks to close, and they take precautions to stave off foreclosure.

Ask for 90 day short sale contingency approval – don’t pull
contract in final stages of negotiation, swap out contracts with same terms to
keep the ball rolling – you don’t want to have to go back to the beginning.

Short sale listings are finding agents – agents aren’t
pursuing them as much, they are just coming in.

Go back to database – reach out and talk to your people to
grow your business.  We are in a
relationship business – build those relationships deeper and your success will
follow. 

What will happen at the end of April when the tax credit is
gone?  No, what will happen at the end of
March when the Fed stops buying MBS?  The
market will slow…buyers will be back on the fence…financing is tough enough –
hopefully the restrictions on obtaining financing won’t get any worse…rates
will increase – buyers will drop out of market – will prices drop?  Message to send out: look at the positive
side of things…rates are great, inventory is available, prices remain low, we
know what loan programs are available…we need to list out true picture of the
market, it’s our job.

How do properties not listed as short sales end up in hands
of investors prior to courthouse steps?  Are
these investors negotiating directly with the seller or going to the trustee at
the steps or are they going directly to the bank?  This is a question our group would like to
know the answer too.

Appraisers are asking to have snow removed from the roofs of
properties…appraisals are coming in low…fewer sales make appraisals a problem
this time of year…appraisers aren’t going into the house in some cases…on FHA
loans, the lender has the option of using the first appraisal or ordering a
second one, if you are caught in a low appraisal situation with FHA loans on
your listings, switch lenders…

Housing starts rise in January 2.8% – RISMEDIA, February 22,
2010—Nationwide housing production hit its strongest pace in the last six
months this January, posting a 2.8% gain to a seasonally adjusted annual rate
of 591,000 units, according to figures recently released by the U.S. Commerce
Department.

According to the latest indexes (Zillow and the Feds “flow
of funds report) negative owner equity has dropped as prices have begun to
increase and between the 1st and 3rd quarters last year,
home equity rose by $1 trillion as a combination of increased home values and
principal pay down.  Although this news
was good for a lot of the country, the sand states (FL, AZ, NM & CA)
continue to be viewed as a high risk factor.

Josh Burruss of Potomac Mortgage Group mentioned the
upcoming FHA financing changes and dates to keep in mind to create buyer
urgency.

The following are some images from our monthly Real Estate Exchange in Gainesville. 

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IMG_7866 

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