Are you using the Internet to help you in your search for a new home? While the Internet is an excellent resource for browsing through listings and learning more about available properties, it can also be difficult to navigate and even misleading at times. This is because there are very few regulations surrounding Internet Websites, which means it is quite easy to come across information that is outdated, inaccurate or downright untrue. Here are a few of the most common reasons why searching for a home on the Internet can be quite difficult at times. dallas homes for sale
Outdated Information
One of the biggest frustrations with searching for a home on the Internet is that the information can very easily be outdated. While the Internet makes it possible for agents to post homes for sale on the day they are listed, the information may remain on the Internet for years after the home is sold. So, don't automatically assume that the dream home you discovered online is still for sale, as this simply may not be the case. dallas homes for sale
False Information
Unfortunately, some Websites will compile and post links to homes that they know have been sold or even to rentals or other properties that aren't actually for sale. These sites aren't actually interested in trying to help you find a home. Rather, they are attempting to get more traffic to the site so they can make money through advertisements or by other means that are not directly related to real estate. Therefore, you should be sure to only use reputable Websites when looking at homes for sale. Otherwise, you may waste a whole lot of your time as you browse through homes that aren't even on the market.
Foreclosure Properties
Another problem with searching online for a home is that some Web sites will list properties on which a notice of default has been filed. This does not necessarily mean that the home is or sale or that it will even go into foreclosure. So, don't get your hopes up if you think you have found your dream home until after you have talked to your agent and confirmed the availability of the home. dallas homes for sale
Incorrect Information
One of the great benefits to browsing through online listings is that these listings typically provide many more photos than what you will find in newspaper listings. In addition, you can generally read more information about the home you are considering. On the downside, Internet listings are subject to human error. Therefore, some of the information you find on the Website may be incorrect. As such, you shouldn't dismiss a home based entirely on the information you read. At the same time, don't get your hopes up until you get all of the information from your real estate agent.
Simply put, the Internet is a great resource for viewing pictures and obtaining more information about homes that are for sale. At the same time, you need to remember that the Internet is only one of many tools available to you and that communication with your agent is essential in order to make certain the home you have found really is what you are looking for. dallas homes for sale
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Friday, October 30, 2009
LOSS MITIGATION PART 1 BANKS OVERWHELMED
Before the spring of 2009, there was no standard set of rules for loan modifications in the United States or in Phoenix, Arizona. Each lender in Phoenix, AZ had its own rules as to how they wanted to handle loan modifications. In most situations, the loss mitigation through loan modification process heavily favored the banks. Their main concern was to find a way to recover the money that a home owner was behind in payments. Generally, the banks would either increase the monthly payment or extend the term of the payments so that those late payments would just be paid off at the end of a loan. Usually, when the loss mitigation through loan modification process called for increased payments, the foreclosure of a property was only delayed by a few months, because there was no way that they could make a higher payment. A new program, announced in the spring of 2009 by the Obama administration has changed the loss mitigation through loan modification process. The guidelines for loss mitigation through loan modification have changed. This program mandated that mortgage payments be reduced to just thirty one percent of the home owner's income. For many Americans, this meant that they could once again afford to pay their mortgage payments. The loss mitigation through loan modification process, appeared to be a great helping hand. However, the program only covers mortgages through Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the FHA, but it is widely thought that most other lenders will choose to follow the guidelines for loss mitigation through loan modification as laid out by the Obama Administration. The Making Home Affordable Modification Program has placed the focus right on loss mitigation through loan modification. Many in danger of losing their homes to foreclosure didn't even know what loan modification was. Since the program's inception, there have been scores of people flooding into banks to request loss mitigation through loan modification. With all of these people facing the time crunch to avoid foreclosure, this has placed the burden of a national housing crisis squarely on the backs of the Loss Mitigation Department at your bank and every bank. Before the housing crisis and the crash of the dallas real estate market, foreclosures were not very common. Most lenders and mortgage providers kept a staff of just a few people to handle loss mitigation. Foreclosures were not very common and loan modifications were even less common. However, the times have certainly changed. Banks and lenders have increased the size of their loss mitigation departments exponentially. This has meant thousands of people needed to be trained to work with loan modifications and all of the other tasks that fall to the loss mitigation department at a lending institution. There are horror stories abound regarding customers having to hound and hassle Loss Mitigation Departments to get their paperwork pushed through to avoid foreclosure. Loss Mitigation Departments are currently still understaffed, under experienced, and overworked. Read Part 2 of our Loss Mitigation Report to Find a Better Solution to avoiding foreclosure. dallas real estate
Cost Cutting For Businesses - 13 Tips For Trimming Expenses
Our parents and grandparents were a part of the reuse it, non disposable generations. When resources get scarce, we find ourselves reanalyzing how to cut costs and save money. There is a frugal movement taking place in our country now and it has been a long time coming.
13 Tips To Save Money During Tough Times
1. Refit your home and business premises for energy savings. Stop those air leaks, turn off the lights when leaving the room. In Europe many hotels have motion detectors in the hallway that turn on the lights only when someone enters the hallway and elevators that start running only when someone approaches them rather than all the time.
2. If you have a business that has a fleet of cars, when the time comes, switch to hybrids. We cut our gas bill in half with a new hybrid Camry that gets 36 mpg. There was also an attractive tax credit we received that offset a good portion of the sale price.
3. Shop at the wholesale clubs and share costs of office supplies, cleaning supplies and paper products with your business neighbors. dallas real estate
4. Barter. If your business offers a product or service appropriate for barter, ask a supplier if there are any trade possibilities. Or join a barter association where you offer your products or services and gain points to trade for other products or services.
5. Turn off all computers and copiers when not is use and shut off the power at the source. Some electronics use 25% of their power when in standby mode. This can be easily done by plugging the computers and copiers into a surge protector.
6. Need advertising? Craigslist.com is free. So is a Facebook Pay Per Click ad. You only pay when someone is interested enough to click on your ad and you can set a maximum daily budget.
7. Recycle, reuse. There is no longer any stigma attached to reusing printed paper and printing in house documents on the backside of the paper for cost savings.
8. Check Ebay for bulk items, office equipment and supplies.
9. Join an online forum in your industry to see what others in your niche are doing to cut costs.
10. Share advertising costs with a company in an associated industry. For example, a real estate company may share ad costs with a title company or appraiser. An accounting firm could line up with a law firm. A beauty shop could align an ad with a spa or clothing store. dallas real estate
11. Recycle used ink cartridges at your local office supply for credit on new cartridge purchases. We get $3.00 off on each new one.
12. Add more value to employee jobs. Can't give a raise? One company we know found a local gym that gave excellent discounts to employees. Some local restaurants or sandwich shops may give employee discounts.
13. If things really get tough, you may be forced to outsource some positions that used to be handled in house. Google Virtual Assistants in your town to find an independent contractor to provide administrative services as needed. A virtual assistant can type letters, do data entry, marketing campaigns, graphic design and some are capable with bookkeeping processes. Best of all, you only pay them for work performed and most will work off site. Contact the International Virtual Assistant Association (IVAA) for someone local with proper credentials.
When times are tough, we need our neighbors more. By working together we have a better chance of survival as business owners.
The good news is all downturns are temporary.
With the above tips, you can save needed capital, educate your employees about cost savings and get through the tough times. Best of all, these saving ideas can survive even when the economy improves and your business recovers.
13 Tips To Save Money During Tough Times
1. Refit your home and business premises for energy savings. Stop those air leaks, turn off the lights when leaving the room. In Europe many hotels have motion detectors in the hallway that turn on the lights only when someone enters the hallway and elevators that start running only when someone approaches them rather than all the time.
2. If you have a business that has a fleet of cars, when the time comes, switch to hybrids. We cut our gas bill in half with a new hybrid Camry that gets 36 mpg. There was also an attractive tax credit we received that offset a good portion of the sale price.
3. Shop at the wholesale clubs and share costs of office supplies, cleaning supplies and paper products with your business neighbors. dallas real estate
4. Barter. If your business offers a product or service appropriate for barter, ask a supplier if there are any trade possibilities. Or join a barter association where you offer your products or services and gain points to trade for other products or services.
5. Turn off all computers and copiers when not is use and shut off the power at the source. Some electronics use 25% of their power when in standby mode. This can be easily done by plugging the computers and copiers into a surge protector.
6. Need advertising? Craigslist.com is free. So is a Facebook Pay Per Click ad. You only pay when someone is interested enough to click on your ad and you can set a maximum daily budget.
7. Recycle, reuse. There is no longer any stigma attached to reusing printed paper and printing in house documents on the backside of the paper for cost savings.
8. Check Ebay for bulk items, office equipment and supplies.
9. Join an online forum in your industry to see what others in your niche are doing to cut costs.
10. Share advertising costs with a company in an associated industry. For example, a real estate company may share ad costs with a title company or appraiser. An accounting firm could line up with a law firm. A beauty shop could align an ad with a spa or clothing store. dallas real estate
11. Recycle used ink cartridges at your local office supply for credit on new cartridge purchases. We get $3.00 off on each new one.
12. Add more value to employee jobs. Can't give a raise? One company we know found a local gym that gave excellent discounts to employees. Some local restaurants or sandwich shops may give employee discounts.
13. If things really get tough, you may be forced to outsource some positions that used to be handled in house. Google Virtual Assistants in your town to find an independent contractor to provide administrative services as needed. A virtual assistant can type letters, do data entry, marketing campaigns, graphic design and some are capable with bookkeeping processes. Best of all, you only pay them for work performed and most will work off site. Contact the International Virtual Assistant Association (IVAA) for someone local with proper credentials.
When times are tough, we need our neighbors more. By working together we have a better chance of survival as business owners.
The good news is all downturns are temporary.
With the above tips, you can save needed capital, educate your employees about cost savings and get through the tough times. Best of all, these saving ideas can survive even when the economy improves and your business recovers.
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