Kristin LaVanway - The Sunny Side of Phoenix Real Estate » Real Estate Reality http://hereinphoenix.com This Realtor Gal KNOWS Phoenix Real Estate! Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:33:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 Landlord! Take My House Please! http://hereinphoenix.com/2011/06/27/landlord-take-my-house-please/ http://hereinphoenix.com/2011/06/27/landlord-take-my-house-please/#comments Mon, 27 Jun 2011 07:04:00 +0000 Kristin LaVanway http://hereinphoenix.com/?p=1241

I hate moving! But the worst part of this move was not loading the moving van, packing, unpacking, or even the fact that it’s a hot Arizona summer (the season I always move). No, the worst part of this move is turning the house back over to the landlord and realizing that he is planning to squeeze me for that security deposit.

Despite the fact that we have spent over $700 cleaning and sprucing, the landlord’s representative, “Janet”, nit-picksevery little thing she can in the final walk-through inspection. Not only do I get to forfeit whatever “accounting” decides to deduct for dead light bulbs, a dead fly, a piece of paper that blew into the yard, and even water drops left by the approved carpet cleaner – yeah the one we were not only told to use but told we to produce a receipt to prove we used them.

Lucky me, I pay $50 for a “re-inspection” since the house didn’t pass muster and has to be re-inspected.

Please, Mr. Landlord, I just want to be done with this house. This place has bad karma.

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]]> http://hereinphoenix.com/2011/06/27/landlord-take-my-house-please/feed/ 2 Who Needs Cable When You’ve Got a Real Estate License http://hereinphoenix.com/2011/02/28/who-needs-cable-when-youve-got-a-real-estate-license/ http://hereinphoenix.com/2011/02/28/who-needs-cable-when-youve-got-a-real-estate-license/#comments Tue, 01 Mar 2011 05:54:47 +0000 Kristin LaVanway http://hereinphoenix.com/?p=1239

Trust me…the entertainment value of real estate is gravely underestimated!!

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]]> http://hereinphoenix.com/2011/02/28/who-needs-cable-when-youve-got-a-real-estate-license/feed/ 2 Real Estate Negotiation 101 http://hereinphoenix.com/2011/02/24/real-estate-negotiation-101/ http://hereinphoenix.com/2011/02/24/real-estate-negotiation-101/#comments Fri, 25 Feb 2011 02:58:12 +0000 Kristin LaVanway http://hereinphoenix.com/?p=1234
Negotiating real estate deals just ain’t the same anymore
Is it just me? It just doesn’t seem like it’s much fun any more to negotiate a real estate transaction. Short sales, REO’s and homeowners who have have watched all the equity drain from the homes have taken all the pleasure out of the process.

Remember the good old days, sitting around a table, playfully bantering counter offers around until everyone was happy? What do we have now?? Waiting months and months for that 50-50 chance that the short sale will be approved…working with the overworked REO lister, if you are lucky or the REO robot if you are not…or maybe it’s an equity sale with a seller that just saw the equity drain from his home faster than a pony keg at a frat party.

Welcome to Real Estate Negotiating 101.

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]]> http://hereinphoenix.com/2011/02/24/real-estate-negotiation-101/feed/ 0 Short Sales, Fiduciary Duty & Tea Parties http://hereinphoenix.com/2011/01/05/short-sales-fiduciary-duty-tea-parties/ http://hereinphoenix.com/2011/01/05/short-sales-fiduciary-duty-tea-parties/#comments Thu, 06 Jan 2011 01:55:46 +0000 Kristin LaVanway http://hereinphoenix.com/?p=1231

Why Honesty is the Best Policy, Even When the Truth Hurts

Dean’s latest rant about honesty by buyer’s agents when it comes to earnest money deposits on short sales got me thinking…what is our fiduciary duty to short sale buyers? Is to be weaselly and help them cheat the system or is to be brutally honest about whether a short sale is really the right transaction for them?

The truth is, short sales with their long lead time and unknown outcome, are just not right for some buyers. And the only way they will know that is if their agent is honest with them about the expectations.

Cheerio!

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]]> http://hereinphoenix.com/2011/01/05/short-sales-fiduciary-duty-tea-parties/feed/ 0 My Top Videos of 2010 – The Year in Review http://hereinphoenix.com/2011/01/01/my-top-videos-of-2010/ http://hereinphoenix.com/2011/01/01/my-top-videos-of-2010/#comments Sun, 02 Jan 2011 05:35:00 +0000 Kristin LaVanway http://hereinphoenix.com/?p=1179 Yeah, I know…it looks a lot like I took the last two weeks of the year off from social media-izing…no blog posts, no videos. The truth is, I needed to step back for a bit and regroup. This is the first full year that I have been posting videos and I have learned quite a bit. Mostly that I love to make videos!!!

I have been working on some new ideas, learning Final Cut Pro – a more advanced editing software package – and setting some goals for next year. So, never fear (or run for your life, depending on your persepctive), I will be posting a lot more videos in the 2011.

But for now, its reflection time – what worked and what I liked best. Usually not one in the same. So (drum roll, please) here are my top videos of 2010:

Most Popular Videos of 2010

#5 What’s Next After Foreclosure? An Eviction, Perhaps!
Surprising Twist to My Personal Foreclosure Adventure

#4 Making the Tough Decision to Walk Away From Your House? Some Tips…
Straight Shooting About Calling It On Your Underwater Mortgage

#3 Finding a Home after a Short Sale or Foreclosure
Can You Really Rent After You Lose Your House?

#2 Hey Bank! Take My House, Please!
That’s Right…Taking the Option To Exit the Mortgage

#1: REDC Auction: Scam or the Real Deal?
Also the most viewed video on my YouTube channel with 2,937 views to date – I have NO idea why!

AND what were my Favorites??

#5 Coffee Talk – Don’t Get Punk’d By HAFA
One of my first attempts to post a more entertaining type of real estate video…at least some people find it entertaining!

#4 Trustee Sale…The Day My House Got Sold
This is actually one of favorite and least favorite videos…way too many people can relate to this experience

#3 Success Measured By The Frets of a Guitar
I made this as a tribute to brother – it keeps me focused on what is really important

#2 Coffee Talk – Making Those Short Sale Calls
If you have ever worked short sales from the Seller’s side, you will relate to this video

#1 18478 E Superstition Dr – Clone Tour
My fave of the year!!! A break-through in my quest to be the Wheezy Waiter of real estate…

HAPPY NEW YEAR ONE AND ALL…HERE’S TO AN AMAZING 2011!!

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]]> http://hereinphoenix.com/2011/01/01/my-top-videos-of-2010/feed/ 0 Making Those Short Sale Calls http://hereinphoenix.com/2010/11/18/making-those-short-sale-calls/ http://hereinphoenix.com/2010/11/18/making-those-short-sale-calls/#comments Fri, 19 Nov 2010 05:01:25 +0000 Kristin LaVanway http://hereinphoenix.com/?p=1175

Just another sign that short sales are not for the faint of heart…

Negotiating a short sale means lots of calls to the lenders to negotiate the terms of the sale. But those calls can sure be frustrating! Sometimes they can’t find you file, sometimes, they won’t provide the written agreement letter without a fight, sometimes the BPO is out of this world and sometimes, well….sometimes, it feels like they are holding the short sale for ransom.

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]]> http://hereinphoenix.com/2010/11/18/making-those-short-sale-calls/feed/ 0 What I’ve Learned About Video Blogging http://hereinphoenix.com/2010/11/17/what-ive-learned-about-video-blogging/ http://hereinphoenix.com/2010/11/17/what-ive-learned-about-video-blogging/#comments Wed, 17 Nov 2010 16:56:08 +0000 Kristin LaVanway http://hereinphoenix.com/?p=1170 Do YOU Have What it Takes to Make it as a Real Estate Vlogger?

I have been vlogging about real estate for well over a year and I have learned a thing or two.  Those social media gurus will have you believe that by purchasing the right camera, editing software, lights and mic, you will have your phone ringing off the hook.
The reality is those things don’t matter unless you are posting good, engaging content on a consistent basis. And even if you are getting the hits, social media is never enough – you also need good business practices, awesome follow-up and face-to-face relationships if you want to keep food on the table.
Do you need to do video to be successful in real estate? No way, but give it a try…you might like it!
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]]> http://hereinphoenix.com/2010/11/17/what-ive-learned-about-video-blogging/feed/ 0 Short Sale Buyers – Should You Pay A Deposit Up Front? http://hereinphoenix.com/2010/11/08/short-sale-buyers-should-you-pay-a-deposit-up-front/ http://hereinphoenix.com/2010/11/08/short-sale-buyers-should-you-pay-a-deposit-up-front/#comments Tue, 09 Nov 2010 06:25:33 +0000 Kristin LaVanway http://hereinphoenix.com/?p=1163 Sure the Seller Wants You To Have Some Skin in the Game, But Why Should the Seller Have All the Advantages?

Some short sale listers, including the East Valley Team, require the buyer to deposit a portion of the earnest money up front while the short sale is being negotiated so they have some skin in the game. Is this fair? Depends who you ask, but we coming up with a new approach that we think balances the scales a little bit.

When a buyer enters into a short sale contract, there is not guarantee that the short sale will be approved. The buyer could literally wait for months on an answer, only to end up empty-handed. On the other hand, the seller could wait months for an answer, only to end up with no buyer and ultimately end up with a foreclosure instead of a short sale.

Many short sale listers require the buyer to deposit a portion of the earnest money when the contract is submitted to the lender for review, to be held by title and remain non-refundable for 60-90 days. If the buyer finds another property, he or she can cancel the contract, but will lose the deposit.

Is that fair? Depends who you ask…

A good compromise might be to make a portion of the earnest money non-refundable but return the balance if the buyer cancels. At least this way, the seller has a chance to find a new buyer if the current buyer finds greener pastures.

What do you think? Leave a comment below…we would love to hear your thoughts.

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]]> http://hereinphoenix.com/2010/11/08/short-sale-buyers-should-you-pay-a-deposit-up-front/feed/ 0 A Talk with Joe Homebuyer http://hereinphoenix.com/2010/11/06/a-talk-with-joe-homebuyer/ http://hereinphoenix.com/2010/11/06/a-talk-with-joe-homebuyer/#comments Sun, 07 Nov 2010 04:49:44 +0000 Kristin LaVanway http://hereinphoenix.com/?p=1157 Hey! I want to buy a house in Phoenix…Where’s the Swap Meet?

I sat down with a frustrated homebuyer to discuss the realities of buying a home in Phoenix right now. It’s easy to see why homebuyers in the Valley are confused….the news media paints a picture doom and gloom – a swap meet of real estate – while real estate professionals such as Dru Bloomfield are seeing something entirely different – a very active market in price ranges below $250K.

Many homebuyers in the Phoenix market are coming into the game with unrealistic expectations. Roughly 2/3 of the home sales involved banks on the seller side – either as a foreclosure or a short sale – and they are not going to haggle with you like a street vendor over the price. You might think they are desperate…but they aren’t!

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]]> http://hereinphoenix.com/2010/11/06/a-talk-with-joe-homebuyer/feed/ 0 The Ugly Truth About Beautiful Home Listings http://hereinphoenix.com/2010/11/06/the-ugly-truth-about-beautiful-home-listings/ http://hereinphoenix.com/2010/11/06/the-ugly-truth-about-beautiful-home-listings/#comments Sun, 07 Nov 2010 04:17:49 +0000 Kristin LaVanway http://hereinphoenix.com/?p=1155 Sometimes What You See in The Listing Is Not What You Get

Sometimes what you read in the MLS does not reflect reality…and sometimes the certified expert does not lend a feeling of confidence. Check out this house I recently toured with a client and learn why – despite the fact that the house has everything they are looking for – we will NOT be submitting an offer.

Sure the listing had beautiful pictures…sure the listing agent proclaimed to be a certified expert. But when we finally got inside to see the home – despite the silent treatment from the listing – we realized that the pictures in the MLS were the “before” pictures of something gone terribly wrong.

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