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How to Find Bank Foreclosures and Distressed Sales

by Lee Van Der Heyde


How to Find Bank Foreclosures and Distressed Sales

How to Find Bank Foreclosures and Distressed Sales Everyone wants a hot deal. For those who have the ability/desire to work with a home that is, in most cases, less than perfect, foreclosures and distressed sales represent some of the hottest deals out there If you want to locate distressed properties, the first thing you have to understand is that no one will usually advertise their home as a “distressed property” unless they are absolutely desperate to unload their home. Homeowners,...

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How to handle a multiple offer situation

by Lee Van Der Heyde


How to handle a multiple offer situation

How to handle a multiple offer situation Over the last few years, buyer’s hunger for properties has been insatiable. As a result, properly priced homes were fetching multiple offers on a consistent basis. Though things have settled a bit recently, we’re still in a seller’s market, and that means the chance your listing will receive multiple offers on it is still very much a reality. But, as exciting as having a bidding war on your property is, it can also provide for...

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How to Sell Your Home Fast and for the Most Amount of Money

by Lee Van Der Heyde


How to Sell Your Home Fast and for the Most Amount of Money

How to Sell Your Home Fast and for the Most Amount of Money The market has been moving at a pretty good clip over the last several years and it appears that things are going to stay that way for a while. According to the Case Shiller Home Price Index across the United States have increased roughly 45% over the last 5 years. Despite all of the amazing things that have been happening in virtually every market across the country, including ours, one thing still rings true no matter...

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If your home inspection report comes back bad, now what?

by Lee Van Der Heyde


If your home inspection report comes back bad, now what?

If your home inspection report comes back bad, now what? One of the biggest deal killers for any real estate transaction is the home inspection. It strikes fear into the hearts of sellers and buyers...even though virtually everything about a home can be repaired or replaced. The good news is that if you have a great real estate agent and a competent home inspector, you can usually handle a failed inspection report properly without having to panic in the process. The key thing to remember...

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What is the Interest write off deduction?

by Lee Van Der Heyde


What is the Interest write off deduction?

What is the Interest write off deduction? Tax deductible interest is a borrowing expense that a taxpayer can claim on a federal or state tax return to reduce taxable income. Mortgage interest for both first and second (home equity) mortgages, mortgage interest for investment properties are among the list of deductions you can take on your taxes. This is another reason why owning a home is more favorable than renting. In addition to building equity in a home that you can call yours, you...

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Why landscaping can make your home sell faster and for more money

by Lee Van Der Heyde


Why landscaping can make your home sell faster and for more money

Why landscaping can make your home sell faster and for more money Plain and simple, the quality of your landscaping determines whether or not your home feels inviting from the outside. Curb appeal is what people call it and it’s a key ingredient in the decision to buy a home to more than 71 percent of homebuyers. As you know, landscaping plays a huge role in the curb appeal that you present to prospective buyers for your home. The first impression is key: if buyers don’t like...

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Why you should make a list of the top 20 features you love about your home when selling?

by Lee Van Der Heyde


Why you should make a list of the top 20 features you love about your home when selling?

Why you should make a list of the top 20 features you love about your home when selling Who knows your home better than you? The short answer is: nobody. And because of that, you should take the time to make a list of the top 20 features you love about your home before you put it on the market. You see, if you like those things about your house, then so will someone else. And, in an effort to help your agent get your home sold faster and for more money, it will help if you point out...

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Marketing Strategies: Luxury homes vs average priced homes

by Lee Van Der Heyde


Marketing Strategies: Luxury homes vs average priced homes

Marketing Strategies: Luxury homes vs average priced homes   As you can imagine, driving up demand for a luxury home takes a uniquely different approach than does selling a regular home. From the word go, you need a strong, clear and focused strategy that details how it will position your luxury home above the ordinary, illustrating and marketing its unique features in the proper manner to the perfect buyer at the perfect price. There are some very different ideas, thoughts and...

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Owning vs. Renting

by Lee Van Der Heyde


Owning vs. Renting

Owning vs. Renting Making the decision to own a home versus renting one is no small decision. Not only does it affect your expendable cash, but it also has a huge impact on your lifestyle and how much money you’re able to save over time. Sometimes, the goal to achieve the “American Dream” of owning a home clouds some people’s vision for the future and they buy a home when they should really be renting one. Similarly, there are people who continue to rent for the...

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10 questions you must ask an agent before you list your home

by Lee Van Der Heyde


10 questions you must ask an agent before you list your home

10 questions you must ask an agent before you list your home Currently, there are over 1.61 million Realtors in the United States alone. The number of people that have joined the real estate sales force over the last 10 years is more than a half a million.. No two agents are the same and less than 10% of the total number of Realtors to 90% of the business. In fact, the average agent has sold roughly 4.2 homes for more than five years now. In addition to that, not all agents are created equally....

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