Immobilien Makler Heidelberg

Are you looking for foreclosures in your area? Conditions in various seller’s markets may be different but there are still ways in which you can easily find foreclosed homes for your ownership.

Tap the services of real estate agents. Real estate agents are given access to a system which is known as MLS or Multiple Listing Service. It is through this system that the agents are able to find foreclosed homes in a specific area. Thus, tapping such professional is one way to find a foreclosure.

Scout for real estate yard signs. Banks are still into the practice of putting yard signs into properties that have come back to their stables of possessions. There are variations of these signs but aside from foreclosure, included among the most common signs are bank-owned, bank repossessed, and bank repo. Typically, the real estate agent’s name is reflected on the sign. Take the opportunity to call whoever is written on the sign. with advanced thinking, you can already ask about forthcoming foreclosures in your area.

Join social media groups geared towards foreclosure buy and sell. Social media has become habitat to a variety of groups with different purposes and goals. Foreclosure groups are no different. They have thrived and lived on social media. If you are savvy enough, you will be lucky to find some groups over Facebook. Join them. You’ll not only find foreclosures in your area. You will also be up for learning from the experiences, tips, and suggestions that will be shared by other members.

Visit real estate websites. Apart from the real estate agents themselves, a lot of real estate firms maintain official websites. There are firms which concentrate on foreclosures. There are also those which offer the buying and selling of mixed properties along with foreclosures. Either kind, you can browse through their listings and filter those properties that are already foreclosed or those that are nearing repossession.

Make your own ads. Digital marketing, aside from being free, is powerful in terms of the number of reach it can have. A single post can reach multiple sellers. Utilize your social media accounts for free posts that you are looking for a foreclosed property to buy. Just patiently wait for responses, and you’ll be more than happy to see that there are indeed a number of persons who are willing to negotiate for their foreclosed homes.

Foreclosed properties are just near your place. By finding them and giving good offers, you are not only taking a step towards buying a dream house or an investment property. You are also making someone benefit from the amount that will be granted when deal is closed.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Desare A Kohn-Laski

The „Great Resignation“ has been a buzz word we have all talked about now for the past several months and it doesn’t seem to be going away. Just recently reported by the BLS, the Great Resignation reached an all-time high in September with 4.4 million workers quitting their jobs.

What is the cause of the Great Resignation though? Is it workers wanting more flexibility in their work/life balance that their current employer doesn’t offer? Is it wanting to work at home permanently, but not having the option available anymore? Was it being cooped up at home that made workers realize they want a change in their careers when the job market is better? It’s all of this and more.

The fall 2021 Hiring Report released by Monster though indicates that burnout is the #1 reason employees are quitting their jobs. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health has become a growing concern. Many employees feel like they are „always on“ and work longer hours when at home. There is also a sense of isolation. There is less comradery and social interaction with co-workers, so more workers are feeling lonely and disconnected. All of this, but not limited to, can contribute to feeling burned out. A survey conducted by Indeed in the springtime even showed that more than half of workers reported they were burned out.

What is employee burnout exactly though? Verywell Mind defines burnout as a reaction to prolonged or chronic job stress and is characterized by three main dimensions: exhaustion, cynicism (less identification with the job), and feelings of reduced professional ability.

Signs and symptoms of employee burnout that Verywell Mind reports include:

• Alienation from work-related activities: Individuals view their jobs as stressful and frustrating. They also may become cynical about their work and the people they work with.
• Physical symptoms: This can include headaches, stomachaches, or intestinal issues.
• Emotional exhaustion: Individuals feel drained and tired. They have a lack of energy to complete their work.
• Reduced performance: It can affect everyday tasks both at work and at home. They feel negative about tasks and have difficulty in concentrating. They also have a lack of creativity.
• Depression: Employee burnout can share similar traits to depression and include feelings of hopelessness and cognitive and physical symptoms.

As we can see, employee burnout is important to combat not only for job resignation purposes, but for the mental well-being of employees. Some may even say that the Great Resignation is causing more employees to burnout due to hiring needs because of the Great Resignation. In some cases, this trickled down effect is probably very true. So, how do we stop the Great Resignation? How can we keep our employees from leaving? One place to start is by investing time and money into your employees to avoid burnout. In this blog, we will take a look at (8) ways to keep employees happy and employed at your company.

1. Check-In with Employees

Frequent check-in meetings with employees are important to see how they are doing. It’s an opportunity for managers to see how their team members are feeling and if they are stressed out with tasks they have at hand. These meetings are probably one of the best ways to detect employee burnout. It also gives employers an opportunity to consult individually with those employees who are beginning to feel burned out and to discuss ways you can help.

Check-in meetings are also an opportunity to discuss employees‘ goals at your company. Harvard Business Review suggests asking employees, „if they could shape their dream job at your company, what would it be?“ This gives employees the floor to share the direction they would like to head into and allows you to begin thinking about shaping this role for them. It also encourages employees to know you are thinking about long-term growth opportunities for them at your company.

Employees also like to know they are valued and are making an impact at the company they work for. During your check-in meetings, be sure to spend time acknowledging their work and the value they are providing. Employees want to know they have a purpose at your company.

Things to consider:

• Some of your check-in meetings you may want to hold off-site, such as at a coffee shop. Depending on how often you meet, you may not do this every time, but meeting outside the office to have some of these conversations is a way to talk in a casual, open environment. It is also a relatively inexpensive way to take an employee out.
• Managers should consider holding weekly 15-minute meetings. Jennifer Moss, author of the new book, „The Burnout Epidemic: The Rise of Chronic Stress and How We Can Fix It,“ suggests holding short 15-minute weekly meetings. These meetings can be used to discuss the highs and lows of the week and what managers can do to make things easier the next week. It’s a simple task that can pay off in terms of mental wellness and productivity. Jennifer also noted that specific questions should be asked to best assess how an employee is doing. Her research found that an average person says they are „fine“ 14 times a week when they are asked how they are doing; 19% of the time they are lying.

2. Monitor Workloads

Managers should monitor workloads and ensure no one has an unreasonable amount. Workloads may spike at certain times of the year; however, managers will want to make sure employees don’t sustain heavy workloads throughout the entire year. Evaluate employees that have demanding workloads and try to find ways to alleviate that workload from their schedule. Also monitor expectations and goals. Be sure you are setting attainable goals so no one is overstretched and works tirelessly to achieve them. Goals need to be reachable.

3. Provide Mental Health Support

There are a number of ways employers can provide mental health support to employees. Providing mental health days is one way to do so. It allows employees to take time off for self-care and needed time off for themselves. Mental health days may be something to consider implementing in 2022 if it is not already offered at your company.

Employee Assistance Programs that offer wellness counseling is also something to consider looking into as an addition to your benefits package. Some healthcare providers already offer counseling and wellness programs with their health insurance so it’s something to look into if you are unsure if your health insurance provides it. If it is included with your insurance, share this information with employees so they know it is available to them.

You may also think about bringing in a wellness coach a few times a year where they can offer best practices to employees on mental health. This is a nice opportunity for a group lunch and learn. You can even consider doing wellness group activities during the lunch hour, such as yoga, painting, bringing in a masseuse, etc.

Lastly, encourage employees to take a break if they are feeling overwhelmed or stuck with a project. A simple walk or snack break can help them decompress and come back with a fresh mind!

4. Survey Employees About Working at Home vs. in the Office

There are pros and cons to working at home versus coming into the office. A recent survey by Bankrate, showed that 56% of workers preferred remote work or adjustable hours. Having the ability to work from home has been another factor contributing to the Great Resignation. At the same time though, the disconnect from co-workers and lack of socialization problems are real. According to the Buffer 2021 State of Remote Work survey, 16% of respondents reported difficulties with collaboration and 16% also reported loneliness while working at home. Is hybrid the magic fix? From personal experience, it seems like many enjoy the hybrid work schedule because you get the best of both worlds. To see what is best for your organization, consider sending out a survey to your employees to gauge what majority of employees would prefer. The survey will share insight in what schedule would make your employees most happy.

5. Promote Office Camaraderie and Connection

Making time to connect and build relationships among team members is also important. This can go hand in hand with the above topic of working at home. Whether you have employees working at home, in the office, or a hybrid schedule, it is important to promote an environment where people can get to know one another. According to Harvard Business Review, their COVID-Era survey data showed that both blue and white collar workers around the world place a higher priority on having a „good relationship with co-workers“ than on many other job attributes.

If you are not able to hold in-person events, virtual events can be held, such as virtual happy hours or team trivia. You can even have virtual cooking or cocktail making classes. Anything that can help bring the team together for a good time is beneficial for office camaraderie. In-person social events are definitely a better way for employees to get to know one another, however, virtual events are a good alternative if in-person is not possible.

6. Encourage Work-Life Balance

Work-life balance has probably always been important for most workers; however, it’s becoming a greater factor now when deciding to work or stay at a company. As a best practice, encourage employees to take vacation time, especially as you near the end of the year and employees still have vacation time left. This allows employees to know that you care about their well-being and that you want them to be able to enjoy time off.

Another good practice is to shut down the office early for holidays, if possible. This helps enforce the importance of spending time with family, especially over the holidays. It’s also important to offer flexible schedules to accommodate for family or religious events. If someone has a personal obligation, welcome an environment that allows them to tend to important personal events during the work day.

Lastly, some companies even offer a more flexible schedule by allowing workers to start and end work at any time as long as they get in 8 hours a day. If someone is more productive starting earlier or working later, why not allow them if they get in the same hours of work?

7. Upskill Employees

Upskilling employees is a practice that can offer great benefit for employers. It can help employees increase job satisfaction (avoiding burnout) and in return help retain employees. It also has financial benefits for the company.

What is upskilling exactly though? According to AG5, it is the process of taking skills and knowledge in a certain area to a new level. It’s also an opportunity to promote employees and help them grow instead of hiring new individuals.

Monster’s Fall 2021 Hiring Report, showed that 45% of workers would be more likely to stay with their employer if they were offered skills training. It offers a new exciting experience for employees, especially for those that have had the same role for a few years. Instead of finding a different job, this gives them the opportunity for a new role at your company. Financially, a Gallup survey reports that the cost of replacing an individual employee can range from one and a half to two times the employee’s annual salary. This is probably very true when you think about spending money advertising the position, onboarding someone new, and all of the other expenses that goes into recruiting a new employee. Starting salary for that person may even be higher then if you were to promote someone from within.

8. Provide Management Training

Management training may be something to consider offering to new managers as well. Managers play a crucial role in employee engagement and retention. A study performed by Randstad showed that 60% of respondents said they had left a job or would leave over a bad boss, with 58% indicating that they would stay at a job with a lower salary if that meant working for a great boss.

Poor managers can induce stress on employees and drive them out the door. Management training can help managers learn best practices for managing employees. They need to be equipped with skills to provide appropriate feedback, to communicate effectively and clearly, to have the ability to set reasonable expectations, recognize employees for achievements, and be able to delegate tasks. Great managers can make a huge impact on company culture and employee morale!

The Beginning of the End of the Great Resignation

We just took a deep dive into 8 ways to combat employee burnout. Employee burnout is very real and has become an even more prominent problem during the pandemic. It is one area though that employers can try to get under control in order to avoid further resignations. It might not be the only answer to end the Great Resignation, but keeping employees happy and healthy is certainly a good place to start.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Terri Roeslmeier

Tucked up in the north east corner of Bastrop County almost to the Lee County line is the sleepy little „burb“ of Paige. The elevation is approx. 535′, the weather is moderate year round. The school system is Bastrop ISD and depending on where you live kids might attend Lost Pines Elementary, Bastrop Middle School or Bastrop High school. Paige proper is not much bigger than a total of 18 blocks and as is typical of small Texas towns there are still some beautiful old vintage/historic homes and buildings still standing or still in use. The area surrounding Paige is a mix of rural residential properties and farm and ranch land. Horse enthusiasts covet the sandy loam soil that can be found in parts of Paige such as out Old Potato Road, or Old Pin Oak, or Antiock and Cardinal Roads.

Paige was established in 1872 along the Houston and Texas Central Rail. The old abandoned rail line is still there which runs along side parts of Old Highway 20 and would make a great section of „Rails for Trails“ as it is not in use at all now. Paige was named after one of the civil engineers that worked on the railway. There was a rail station in Paige up until 1876 and then it was moved to its present location approximately 3 miles to the east. There is a volunteer fire department which was established in 1982 along with the Paige Community Center, and Paige has had a Post Office in town since1874. In those days the majority of the population was of German heritage as was much of the Central Texas area. The population of Paige has fluctuated over the years. In the late 1880’s the town was said to have had a population of 500. Back then the Paige rail station was a shipping point for livestock such as cattle and hogs. Local industry included a pickle, creamery, and broom factory. Today some of the local businesses include The Old Frontier Store which is on Highway 290 and has a little bit of everything to offer from groceries to a meat counter to a small deli/diner, and Yarnorama a yarn and fiber shop.

Paige is approx. 40 miles outside of Austin on Highway 290. Bastrop is 14 miles away on Highway 21, and has just about everything anyone could want or need with coffee shops, two feed stores, box stores such as Home Depot and Lowes on the way, great restaurants, a movie house and bowling alley. About half way to Bastrop from Paige on Highway 21 is Lake Bastrop which offers campgrounds, swim beaches, boat rental and boat launch on both the north and south shores. If you decide to head to Smithville, the town where the movie Hope Floats was filmed is just less than 13 miles on FM 2104. Just before you get to Smithville on the west side of the road you will find Buecher State Park and Lake. If it is the coast you crave you can get to the Gulf in just under two hours from Paige. Circle D, Pioneer Pines Farms, Pine Valley and Pine Tree Cattle Ranch are just a few of the subdivisions that fall in the Paige area that offer rural residential living in the ‚lost pines“ of Bastrop County. The Paige area is also full of wonderful ranches and recreational properties (great for hunting) and periodically they do come on the market.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Curtis Reddehase

Earning a certificate or degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography can lead to a rewarding career. An important consideration for students is finding a way to pay for their education or cut down their education cost. Sonography scholarships are popular because they do not have to be repaid like student loans or federal grants. Following are some of the quality scholarships funding students taking classes for sonography.

AMVETS Scholarships

Deadline: April 15

Description: Numerous scholarships are available to active military and veterans, and their children and grandchildren. Scholarships include six $4,000 scholarships for high school seniors attending 4-year undergraduate programs or accredited technical schools; three $4,000 scholarships for veterans attending a 4-year undergraduate program or technical school certificate/degree program; and one $1,000 scholarship for a JROTC high school senior. There are numerous other scholarships available for veterans and active military attending accredited schools and are listed on the AMVETS site.

Contact Address: 4647 Forbes Boulevard Lanham, MD 20706

Contact Phone: 877-726-8387

Alan D. Waggoner Sonographer Student Scholarship Award

Deadline: November 30

Description: The scholarship award includes $1,000, registration fee for the Foundation’s Annual Scientific Session, and an amount up to $500 to fund travel expenses to attend the conference. Students must be enrolled in a CAAHEP accredited echocardiography or cardiac ultrasound program. Membership in the ASE is required for scholarship eligibility.

Contact Address: 2100 Gateway Centre Boulevard, Ste. 310, Morrisville, NC 27560

Contact Phone: 919 – 861-5574

Jerman-Cahoon Student Scholarship

Deadline: February 1, 2014

Description: The scholarship awards $2,500 to several entry-level students each year. Students must be enrolled in one of several accredited areas of study, and one of them is sonography. It is a renewable scholarship if students meet requirements each year.

Contact Address: 15000 Central Ave. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87123-3909

Contact Phone: 800-444-2778

IFSER Scholarship

Deadline: June 30, 2014

Description: The foundation with the acronym IFSER awards scholarships in an amount up to $500 to students enrolled in a CAAHEP accredited Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.

Contact Address: 929 East Main Street #175, Mount Joy Pa. 17552

Contact Phone: 520 300-2222

Ingham County Medical Society Alliance Health Scholarship

Deadline: January 31, 2014

Description: This is a good example of the many scholarships available to local residents. Two $1,500 scholarships are awarded annually to residents of Michigan’s Clinton-Eaton-Ingham tri-county area or to graduates of the tri-country schools who will enroll in designated Allied Health Programs, one of which is Diagnostic Medical Sonography. Students looking for scholarships should check with local foundations, businesses, and community organizations. Many scholarships are not well-published because they are designed to assist local community residents.

Contact Address: 10034 Oak Island Dr., Laingsburg, MI 48848-8718

Contact Person: Dee Loge-Wacker

Royce Osborn Minority Student Scholarship

Deadline: February 1, 2014

Description: Five $4,000 scholarships are awarded annually to entry-level minority students majoring in sonography or one of several other allied health programs.

Contact Address: 15000 Central Ave. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87123-3909

Contact Phone: 800-444-2778

SDMS Foundation Sonographer Advanced Degree Scholarship

Deadline: June 30

Description: Students who have already worked for at least two years as sonographer may be eligible for a $2,500 scholarship to complete sonography training online that leads to a degree. Eligibility requirements include being a SDMS member who is in good standing and who is accepted into or enrolled in an accredited ultrasound technology program.

Contact Address: 2745 Dallas Pkwy Ste 350, Plano, Texas 75093-8730

Contact Phone: 214-473-8057

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Lisa J Parmley

Spuds is what REALTORS call the Seller Property Disclosure Statement (SPDS). It is a multi-page document that sellers typically provide with information about the house and all its major systems (e.g. air conditioning, plumbing, roof, etc.).

In Arizona, sellers are required to disclose any material fact they are aware of regarding the property. The SPDS is a form created by the Arizona Association of REALTORS (AAR) to standardize the way sellers disclose material facts about the property.

The standard AAR Residential Purchase Contract has a provision requiring sellers to provide SPDS to buyers within 5 days of contract acceptance. Buyers have until the end of the inspection period or 5 days from receipt of the SPDS (whichever is later) to provide notice of any disapproved items disclosed in the SPDS.

Contrary to what many people think, the SPDS is not required by law. It is only a provision in the standard AAR Residential Purchase Contract. The law requires sellers to disclose material information. Sellers can do it in any other document they choose.

The other common myth about the SPDS is that once the seller provides it, he has no further obligation to disclose new material facts. That could not be farther from the truth. Seller’s obligation to disclose remains during the whole escrow period. If seller becomes aware of a material fact that was not originally disclosed, he has an obligation to disclose and give the buyer 5 days to review and provide notice of disapproved items. This is typically done through issuance of a revised SPDS.

Many sellers will not accept contracts that require them to provide a SPDS and they will ask buyers to remove the provision from the contract. Banks selling foreclosures will typically ask buyers to waive SPDS based on the claim that the bank has limited knowledge about the property. One important thing to remember is that even when SPDS is waived, the seller still has the obligation to disclose all material facts.

Your REALTOR should review the SPDS, its importance, and implications when sellers ask buyers to waive SPDS. Buyers should understand all the ramifications and make an informed decision whether they are willing to waive SPDS or not.

And before I close this article I would like to leave you with a thought. If you are a seller, I would strongly encourage you to prepare a SPDS when you put the property on the market. You can even make the document available for prospective buyers. It will show them that you are on top of your obligations and that if they decide to submit an offer you will not cause any delays to the process. Very few sellers do that and it usually has such a positive impact on potential buyers. If you do that when you list the property, once you accept an offer all you have to do is re-read the document and make sure that it is still valid and up-to-date. Ask your REALTOR to help you fill the SPDS as soon as possible.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Jose Dias

Buying or selling real estate is probably the most significant transaction you’ll ever make in your life. That’s why it’s important to choose the best Realtor to help you achieve this goal. But before you hire the services of a real estate agent, there are important factors to consider.

Many people have the perception that all real estate agents are the same. Some sign with the first one that comes along. Unfortunately, they realize later on that they should have been more selective before signing an agreement. To guide you in choosing the best Realtor for your needs, below are seven questions to ask your prospective real estate agent.

1) What is your experience in real estate?

The first thing you need to ask a real estate agent is how long they’ve been in the real estate business. It doesn’t mean that you cannot enlist the services of newly licensed real estate agents. Just keep in mind that those who have years of experience under their belts are probably more knowledgeable on what to do, from listing to closing. Aside from the number of years in the business, ask them what segment of real estate they focus on – residential, commercial, luxury, etc. Find out if he/she is primarily a listing agent or a buyer’s agent (or both). Familiarity with the market is also essential, so ask what geographic areas the agent usually covers. You can even dig deeper by asking if the agent has received any awards for outstanding performance.

2) How many and what types of properties have you listed and sold in the past year?

It’s one of the most important questions you should ask a real estate agent. The number of properties he or she has listed and sold in the past year is a valuable indicator how good a real estate professional is in getting the job done. Take note that this question consists of two parts: properties listed and properties sold. Agents may demonstrate their ability to list homes; however, the more important thing is the sales part – the ability to close deals. If they have many properties listed and sold in the past year, it shows that whatever strategy the agent is using, it’s certainly working.

3) What was the average sales price for the properties you’ve sold over the last year?

Asking this will give you an idea in what kind of market the agent specializes. Find out if the real estate professional has experience selling properties in the price range you’re listing at. If a majority of properties sold falls on the low-end market segment, it might take longer for the agent to sell if yours is a higher-end home. Although agents can sell any property regardless of price range, it’s likely that they will have better success in the market and price segments in which they have the most experience.

4) What is your average sale to list price ratio?

The sale to list price ratio (sometimes called the sale-to-list or list-to-sale ratio) is the final sales price divided by the listing price, expressed as a percentage. If it is 100%, it means the sales price was equal to the list price. You can view this ratio in two ways. A skilled listing agent can negotiate sales prices that are equal or close to the list price, and sometimes even greater in a very competitive market. So ideally, listing agents should have sale to list price ratios closer to 100%. On the other side of the coin, a good buyer’s agent can often negotiate a sales price that is lower than the list price. Therefore, buyer’s agent ratios ideally should be lower than 99%.

5) What marketing strategies will you use?

Deciding on what strategies to use can spell the difference between success and failure. A poor marketing strategy will diminish the chances for success. Do your own due diligence by asking how the agent will sell your property. There are lots of options – staging, open houses, joint marketing, print advertising, and of course, online marketing. Whatever approaches are used, they should be designed to bring in the highest number of qualified potential buyers. Higher end properties can also often benefit from professional staging. In any case, your agent should advise you on how to best prepare the property to make it the most attractive to potential buyers.

6) Can you give me some references?

Reputation is important in this line of business. Whether you’re buying or selling a property, you should ask for references (past clients). If possible, call a few and ask them about their experiences with the agent. Were they pleased with the service provided? Also ask if they are in any way related to the agent. A list of references made up of friends or relatives generally won’t provide an objective assessment of the agent’s qualifications.

7) Do you offer any type of guarantee, and will you let me out of my contract early if I am not satisfied with your service?

You can’t say with certainty how things will go, even if you did your due diligence. For this reason, you should ensure that you’re prepared for any eventuality. If you sign a contract and later find that you’re not satisfied with the service, will the agent allow you to cancel the agreement? If things don’t work out the way they’re supposed to, you should have the freedom to choose another agent who can deliver better results.

As you can see, there are many things to consider when choosing a real estate agent. Finding and interviewing Realtors can be a very time-consuming and laborious task. However, now armed with these seven questions, you are on your way in choosing the best Realtor for your needs.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Charles A. Kush III

Buying a home is a big step in your life and should be a very exciting time. Unfortunately, many individuals rush into buying a home with out considering the implications is has on their future. If you’re considering making the move to own it’s important you weigh all the options, and consider what if anything will affect the feasibility of you’re purchase. If this is you’re first time in the housing market consider the following before you make your big move.

1. Get Your Finances in Order

   Have a lot of debt racked up? If thats the case, you may want to play catch up before you even think about buying a home. Bad credit is bad news for those who want a buy a new home. In most cases you will need to get a mortgage before you buy and this means your credit will be under scrutiny. Start getting acquainted with your credit score and begin fix the problems well before you apply for a mortgage.

2. Think about the Future

   If you have a job or other obligation that may require you to move or travel for extended periods of time you want to think twice about rushing into the housing market. Buying a house is a commitment that will tie you down to a particular location for at least a few years. It’s not easy or economically feasible to pack up and sell your home at the drop of a hat.

3. Educate Your Self

   As a first time home buyer one of the worst thing you can do is go into the market unprepared. Familiarizing your self with words and phrases that are used will allow you to better comprehend the market. A better understanding of the home buying process will enable you to make a well educated decision when it comes to you’re final purchase. Entering the market blindly can turn you’re home buying dreams into a nightmare.

4. Be Rational

   We all want to live in the home of our dreams. Unfortunately, like most things in life, the housing market must be approached from the bottom up? Renting is the start of the home owners journey. With your dream home serving as the final destination you will most likely need to take a few stops on the way there. The logical step is to buy a house you can afford not one that lands you in economic turmoil. Consider your first home an investment that you can improve upon over time. Once the home is improved you can sell it and bring yourself one step closer to your dream home. Buying out of your league can be a huge problem so set a budget and find a home within your means.

5. Ask For Help

   Don’t be determined to have a go at it alone. Buying a home is a complicated process and sometimes it really helps to have someone walk you through it step by step. Agents are more than willing to help you look through home listing, find what your looking for, and ultimately take you from start to finish.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Jennifer Wasilewski

1) How much of a Down Payment do I need to come up with?

In the recent past, people used to think 20% down was necessary to qualify for a home loan or to have a reasonable mortgage payment. For the most part, this is no longer the case. There are many types of mortgage programs that allow for low down payment options or no down payment in some cases. You also don’t have to be a first time home buyer to qualify for these programs either.

FHA Loans are one of the most popular types of mortgages applied for in today’s market, this is mainly because of low down payment options and the flexible qualifying requirements. Without down payment assistance, you just need a minimum of 3.5% down. A lot of people think FHA is strictly for first time home buyers, but that is not true. it’s a government-backed home loan, but they don’t require you to be a first time home buyer. FHA stands for Federal Housing Administration.

Conventional Loans have been gaining a lot of traction over the last few years and will soon replace the FHA loan program as the most popular loan product on the market. Conventional loans allow for a minimum down payment as low as 3% down and also allows for several creative ways to buy out the monthly PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance). This strategy helps reduce the monthly payments while increasing your buying power.

Minimum Down Payment requirements for each loan type below:

VA Loans – No Down Payment required

USDA Loans – No Down Payment required

FHA Loans – Minimum 3.5% Down Payment required

Conventional Loans – Minimum 3% Down Payment required

You can use gift funds for any of the programs listed above. Also, If you are a first time home buyer be sure to ask your loan consultant if you qualify for any down payment assistance program.

2) What Credit Score do I need to qualify for a Mortgage?

Aside from income verification, one of the biggest determining factors in qualifying for a mortgage is your credit score. The higher the credit score the better your chances will be in qualifying. When a mortgage company or bank checks your credit for a mortgage application they will pull what is known as a tri-merge. That is when a credit report is combined with data and individual scores from the 3 major credit bureaus. Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. The middle of the 3 scores will be used to determine your qualifying score. Ideally, you want to have a middle credit score of 680 or above. In most cases, the higher your credit score is, the better your rate and terms will be as well.

There are minimum credit score requirements for every loan program, but to ensure you get qualified for the most competitive terms it is important that you do everything you can to learn how to increase and improve your credit.

Below are the minimum credit score requirements for each loan program:

VA Loans – 620 (some lenders may allow for as low as 580+)

USDA Loans – 620

FHA Loans – 580

Conventional – 620

3) What are the Income Requirements and Guidelines for a Mortgage?

Proving your ability to repay the loan is one of the most important requirements in the qualifying process. That is why showing sufficient and consistent income documentation is crucial when going through the pre-approval or qualification process. If you are a W2 employee and paid a salary then the verification process is fairly simple. However, can be more difficult for people that receive and/or rely on commissions, bonuses, overtime, etc. For borrowers that are self-employed and/or receive a 1099 it can be even more difficult and complex especially since you can have a lot more write-offs and deductions when you’re self-employed.

First and foremost you need a 2-year work history to even qualify using any income source. However, for full-time hourly or salaried employees that doesn’t mean you have to be at the same company or industry for 2 years. That used to be a requirement but not anymore unless the lender/bank has their own overlay. If you receive and want to use commission, bonus, overtime or other types of income then you have to show a minimum of a 2-year history and the bank/lender will use a 24 month average for qualifying purposes. Self-Employed borrowers are now able to qualify with 12-24 months bank statements for certain nontraditional (non-QM) loan programs.

Qualifying Income Sources:

* Full-Time W2 Income/Salary

* Income from Part-Time Jobs (must be at the job for a minimum of 1-2 years in some cases)

* Income from a second full or part-time job

* Overtime, Commissions, Bonuses (must average over 24 months)

* Seasonal (must prove 2-3 years consistency)

* Self-Employed Income

* Bank Statements (12-24 months)

* Permanent Disability

* Retirement/Pension

* Child Support/Alimony (Sufficient documentation required)

* Asset Depletion

What are the Required Documents Needed?

There are specific required documents needed that your loan consultant will request in order to process your loan approval. You should at least have the below list of documentation readily available and be ready to provide more depending on your particular situation.

* Complete Federal Personal and/or Corporate Tax Returns for the past 2 years (ALL SCHEDULES)

* W2’s for the past 2 years

* 1 Month worth of Pay Stubs

* Bank Statements (may need anywhere from 2-24 months)

* Retirement/Pension and/or Social Security Award Letters

* Disability Award Letter

* Divorce Decree

* Business License

* Asset Documentation

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Jason Pollington

The sunniest time of the year when sun is shining brightly is surely a great time for exploring new neighborhoods and visualizing future patio parties during viewings. If you are planning to buy home this summer then it is important to understand the housing market prior starting any serious shopping. You must have to know what housing market is like for buyers now and what you can do to end up the best home with best price that fits right in your budget.

Owning a home is an investment in your future and with that in mind you wants to make sure that you are making educated decisions so that you could get the best possible deal. Housing market in 2018 should be just as strong this summer as it’s been all spring. List prices and existing home sales have risen this year but there are perks to house hunting right now, too. We present you some of the facts and tips to help you get the most out of this year’s summer housing market.

SUMMER MARKET FACTS

DURING THE SUMMER PRICES DROP: Although summer is busy home-buying season but still it is not crazy as prices drop from May through October. Anyhow if you hang out until late August then you could find a really great deal-that is when nearly 14 % of listings get a price cut.

Private Mortgage Insurance Is GETTING MORE Reliable: PMI or Private Mortgage Insurance getting cheaper after PMI lenders MGIC and Radian lowered their rates this spring; it is great financing news for homebuyers. That’s going to cause most of these PMI companies to be competitive with each other which in result going to bring them all down. Less than 20 % of down payment makes the home buyers to get PMI. It means it will be cheaper for some buyers to get into homes sooner.

HOMEBUYING TIPS FOR SUMMER 2018

DON’T DISCOUNT OLDER LISTINGS: At the times when homes are flying off the market within days due to strong competition, it is easy to think a listing that’s a week or so old is a red flag. But keep in mind that it is not always the case. It is often because buyer got cold feet and pulled out of a deal on a perfectly good house. But thanks to the assumptions home buyers make about older listings in busy markets, the delay can cause the price to come down.

There are just more of these in market. The number of homes in market is shrinking but still there are 8.3 % more fixer-upper among them than there were six years ago. If you are dead-set against a fixer-upper to be prepared to move quickly then there is only ever going to be a couple of options at a time. And when new listings come up it’s going to be pretty ferocious.

GET TO KNOW THE NEIGHBORHOOD: The plus point of competitive market it gives you temptation to make an offer on any available property that fits your criteria but if it’s in the wrong neighborhood, you may never want to purchase the house. It is better to take some time and do community scouting before making an offer. You can even find out what your future neighbors have to say about the area by communicating with them.

MAKE THE STRONGEST OFFER: To stay in the market make the strongest offer, even your offer is not the highest because now is not the time for low ball-offer. No doubt, coming up with cash offer could be tough for many home buyers but there are some ways to make a strong offer that don’t require gobs of money. Substantial eventualities like a shorter closing or inspection period and writing a great offer letter can help make your offer stand out.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Edmund Schoen

MLS searches (or Multiple Listings Service) are based off the principle; „Help me sell my inventory and I’ll help you sell yours.“ It is a unique concept, though one not many other industries use. Real estate brokers acknowledge the advancements in technology once MLS searches became popular, and are willing to present the advantages and disadvantages of MLS queries to interested parties. The decision of utilizing this service is ultimately up to the potential buyer.

No For Sale By Owner (FSBO) Options

One of the big disadvantages to MLS searches is they do not include homes sold by the owner, unless the seller has negotiated a certain percentage of the commission to the realtors. If interested in FSBO’s, the buyer must search potential neighborhoods for FSBO signs and negotiate a price within their range. If the buyer does not know much about negotiating prices, or how much homes are worth, MLS queries still provide some contribution for comparison purposes. If excessive research is undesirable to the buyer, then MLS queries provide another benefit.

Less Research for the Buyer

Buying a home might already be considered a stressful process for some. MLS searches can cut down on some of that stress because it reduces the research the buyer must conduct. There are already so many other aspects a buyer must remember to look into, including the community, crime rate, demographics, school districts, job outlooks, among others. MLS queries place hundreds of homes from the participating brokers into one database, with hundreds of fields with which to search the properties. Knowledgeable brokers with years of experience determine these popular search fields; whereas if the buyer conducts the research by himself or herself, he or she may question whether the information they find is accurate.

The Internet Outdates MLS Queries

The younger generation might claim the Internet is called the „Information Highway“ for a reason. While it is true certain states have their MLS queries readily available on the Internet, not all states have this accessibility. It is also important to consider that information researched on one’s own time might not be as accurate as the MLS searches provided by real estate brokers.

A Trusting Community

As mentioned earlier, all MLS queries are based off the „You scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours“ premise. In other words, there are no hidden agendas. All brokers participating in MLS queries are trying to provide the buyer with the greatest number of options. They keep the buyer’s requirements in mind and try to create satisfactory customers.

Ultimately, the decision to use MLS searches or to conduct the research on one’s own is up to the potential buyer.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Keith Andrews