After signing a contract, you'll want to have your future home inspected to be sure it is free of major defects and faulty systems. The following is a list of Home Inspectors who belong to the Greater Binghamton Area Board as Affiliate Members:

Professional Home Inspection Service............773-1519

Twin Tier Home Inspections.........................687-0907

Upstate Group.............................................770-6064

Enviro Testing.............................................770-9098

HouseMaster...............................................648-4654

Real Estate Inspection Service......................748-0380

AmeriSpec Home Inspection Service.............343-3817

Any of these fine companies would be more than happy to send you information on their services, give you a price quote or set up an appointment.

Many folks try to save money when selling their home by doing it themselves. I understand the challenge that these folks face and I can respect the reasons they have for undertaking such a job. I wish them the best of luck!
Yet when they get tired of scheduling appointments, qualifying Buyers, (what's that?) and arranging Open Houses, I am here to help!

Before you make the decision to try and sell your home yourself, let me ask you:

* Do you know how to "qualify" Buyers?
* Do you have enough out-of-pocket cash to pay for advertising?
* Have you filled out the state-required "Property Condition Disclosure" and the "Lead Paint Disclosure"?
* Is your job flexible enough so that when someone wants to see your home you can leave your job to show it? What if 3 people want to see your home in one day?
* Do you know how to prepare your home for sale?
* Are you prepared to let strangers in your home at all hours of the day and night?
* How will you decide how to price your home?
* Are you a good negotiater? How do you know if an offer is a 'good' one?
* How will you deal with inspection issues?

These are just some of the things that you will need to consider as you decide to sell your home on your own. When I need my taxes done, I want to be sure that they are done to my best benefit. So I pay a tax preparer. Why not let a REALTOR®, who knows all the "ins and outs" market your home, negotiate the best price and relieve you of the burden of selling your home?

Email me for more info:JenArbach@HouseBMine.com

Click on the link below to access all of EXIT Realty Front and Center"s Open Houses for this Sunday:

       THIS WEEK'S OPEN HOUSES

Moving out of State?

May I recommend one of these fine e-PRO REALTORs®?

• Rapid City, South Dakota Real Estate

          http://www.randyeide.com/links.htm

• Salt Lake City Homes for Sale and Real Estate Info

          http://www.markwatterson.com

• Pine Island, Florida Real Estate

          http://www.margaretbirdsong.com

• Lower CT River Valley & Shoreline Properties:

          http://www.SheldonKutnick.com
             BIO: Serving the Lower CT River Valley & Shoreline.          Sheldon Kutnick Broker Associate of Rachel Thomas Associates, LLC, an independent agency centered in Essex, CT, serving many of the surrounding Connecticut River and Long Island Sound communities, and specializing in water, water-related properties and second homes.

      * Southwest Washington State  

        http://www.cowlitzhomeslink.com

      *Andrew Glavin, Realtor, e-PRO- Your one-stop source for premier real estate services covering the Charleston, Mt.Pleasant, Isle Of Palms and Greater Charleston areas. PRODUCING RESULTS FOR BUYERS AND SELLERS AROUND THE COUNTRY!!!  

        http://www.AndrewGlavin.com

     *

         http://www.scottsdaleparadise.com

Visit me at:

http://www.LinkedIn.com/home

Or http://www.Facebook.com

Or http://www.Twitter.com

October 28, 2008:
The weather outside is just as dreary as the real estate market for the last few months. Negative media coverage about what is going on nationwide made for a difficult year here in the Greater Binghamton Area. We tried to explain to the buyers that just like it's ridiculous to give a blanket weather report for the country, neither can you give a blanket real estate report. Of course the market is depressing in states like Florida, California and Nevada where unrealistic prices finally had to come crashing down. Of course, people who had no business buying a house in the first place are in trouble. But here in Upstate New York, rest assured, we are not in bad shape at all. Prices here rose to where they should be and have remained fairly stable. Yes, prices have gone down some, if only to match falling consumer confidence. But not the big tumble we are seeing in other markets.

The truth is, prices here are some of the most affordable in the country. They have been for several years and continue to remain that way. Inventory is good, interest rates are still incredibly low and the banks are still writing mortgages.

The federal government is also offering a $7500 tax credit to first-time homebuyers. It is a loan, paid back interest-free, at the rate of $500 per year for 15 years. Imagine Uncle Sam giving you an interest-free loan?!
The money can be used anyway you want. If you need to borrow the closing costs from a family member, you can now pay them back, in full, at tax time. Or maybe you'll need new windows or a roof. "Whatever"!

The key of course, is to be sure that your credit is in good order. Banks are now looking for a credit score of at least 600 and at some banks, a 620. Don't know what your score is? Check it for free, once a year at http:www.freecreditreport.com

Save up for your closing costs or for your down payment. I know, I know, it's so hard to save anything these days. But did you really need that latte frappacino thing you drank this morning? Think of how much you spend every week on non-essentials. Put that money in the proverbial piggy bank and see how much money you can save in a short period of time. (My husband stopped smoking cigars in 2001 and started saving all his cigar money. He saved $700 in quarters in about 3 years! Plus, he's a lot nicer to kiss!)

Be a saver! FHA loans require 3.5% of your own money down. So think ahead, save, save, save. Ask your loan officer aobut some creative programs out there like the USDA program. 100% financing and no PMI. But the house has to be in a certain area. It never hurts to ask.

"Be willing to go out on a limb-that's where the fruit is"