As a leading Listing Agent of Bank Owned homes in the Manchester NH area, i often get flooded with questions regarding foreclosures. Today's featured question is "What are the Rules for placing an offer on a BANK OWNED Foreclosed home?"The Bank who owns the property will most certainly have guidelines for placing an offer. Each bank Owned Home may require a specific list of requirements. The most common requirements for placing an offer on a Bank Owned Home are:1. Submitting a pre-qualification letter with your offer. Some require a letter from a specific bank such as the owner or an affiliated bank.2. Your offer should be accompanied by a bank check for the deposit of at least 1% of the sales price.3. Set a closing date of no more than 30 days for a conventioanl loan and no more than 4... 03/20/2012

Controversy and confusion hang over the nation when it comes to watching or reading news on Today's Real Estate Market. Who can you believe? The problem starts when the country is grouped as a whole. All Real Estate Agents will tell you Real Estate is Local. The next problem is sensationalism sells, it attracts viewers and ratings. I am cautious believing the news that comes frm the same media who was almost 2 years late in telling us there was a recession. It is only natural they will be late in declaring a recovery. DS News reported that Capital Economics is reporting that the "housing crisis" is expected to end this year according to a report released today. They give the leading reason as the "loosening of credit" by banks. It is not a secret that banks are now loaning out money aga... 03/19/2012

The Greater Manchester/Nashua Board of Realtors is sponsoring an American Red Cross Blood Drive. Thursdeay March 29th 11 AM - 6 PM at the American Red Cross Donor Center, located at 425 Reservoir Avenue, Manchester NH. Please help and give blood, the gift so cherished by those in need. March is Red Cross Month!  Help celebrate this month by giving blood. Donors may enter a drawing for a chance to win an overnight stay at the Radisson Hotel.   03/19/2012

You never want to start off a Monday like this. When taking my buyers to a condex they were looking to purchase, the Listing Agent met us. The buyers had a list of questions that we went over yesterday. When we got there the Listing Agnet introduces themselves and said come on in. As we walked through the Listing Agent gave us a breief overview. My buyer then started asking some of the questions they had. First to set the scene a condex is in the condominium family but is 1/2 of a duplex that was turned into a condominium by the builder and sold off as the (right and left) unit. When we sat with the loan officer for their pre-approval the loan officer cautioned about condominiums and especially 2 unit associations. The Loan Officer said to make sure they had building insurance as the un... 03/18/2012

I had a buyer ask me a unique question. Can they write an offer as cash with no contingincies and then go and get a mortgage to purchase the house? My first question to clarify things is did they have cash to pay for it and then meaning they would refinace or did they want to get a mortgage for the initial purchase. They replied with yes we are getting a mortgage but "the know for a fact" that offers with contingincies are overlooked for cash offers. My follow up question was why they would want to do this? I let them know a mortgage contingincy was there to protect the buyer so they could get their deposit back if they can not get a mortgage. In this case it is my listing, the buyer is represented by an agent who was there as they were asking me these questions. Whether I was a Buyer A... 03/18/2012

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY EVERYONE... For some, today is just another day while for others it will be a day of fesitivities, corned beef and gabbage and green beer. Here in Manchester NH it is expected to be almost summer like with temperatures soaring. Manchester will feature it's annual St Patty's Day Parade next Sunday though, it is ok we have to wait becuase the floats and bands from one of the largest parades in the country in Boston MA will make the short trip here next Sunday to be part of our parade. For those like me who have to work a good part of the day showing homes, I will be helping my clients look for their POT OF GOLD. Have a great St. Patrick's Day everyone and enjoy your celebration whether large or small.   If you need to sell your home and you owe more than your house... 03/16/2012

Every now and then when the phone rings I am met with a surprise much like a Cracker Jack box. This caller however was screaming "WHY are your Listing Homes in MY Town?"  As a leading Listing Agent of Bank Owned Homes in the New Hampshire, I do take listings in adjacent counties as they are small and within minutes from my home, I could be in one of 3 counties. As I have many Bank Owned homes listed that are awaiting clear title, eviction of the occupant, trash out or a price, It could be 1 of many homes. I asked very nicely which home she was inquiring. It happened to be a home in seacoast NH. She started asking and then demanding how I got the listing? Who do I know? How do I think I will sell It? Who do I think I am and that I should just refer the Listing to her as this is her town.... 03/15/2012

The question of the day is should Buyers be "Allowed" to come to the Home Inspection by their Buyers Agents. On one of my Listings we were having a home inspection here in the Manchester NH area. I was there to represent the seller, The buyers agent showed up to represent the Buyer however there was no buyer in sight. The Home Inspector asked the agent if the Buyer would be showing up and they responded with a strong NO, that they do not want their Buyers here during the process and that they will receive a report from both them and the inspector after the inspection is complete. I was puzzled to say the least as I always strongly encourage my buyers to attend the home inspection. The buyer is from "out of town" and the agent is from "out of town" so is the a tradition from "out of town... 03/15/2012

Despite the fact that it is well known that the "secret to sucess" when it comes to a SHORT SALE is to use a Local Agent that is "Well Experienced" in Listing, Negotiating and Selling Short Sales. Home Owners are still being sucked in by flashy ads from "Out of town/State" agents that in a lot of cases are resulting in a lack of service and Rejected Short Sales. Most people in the industry agree that Short Sales will continue to be a large part of our market for at least the next year. I work on a lot of Short Sales both as a Listing Agent and a Buyer Broker here in the Manchester NH area. The facts are Home Owners are rushing into decisions that often result in a poorly handled short sale that can lead to foreclosure. THE TOP THINGS YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT: 1. CHOOSING A LISTING AGENT: Whe... 03/13/2012

My Monday started out quite interesting as I was dropping off an offer to an agent. They were sitting at the front desk but asked me to hold on as they were finishing their game. WHAT? I was thinking, game, what game? You are at your reception desk where people walk in.... Wait hold on as my phone rings. I stepped to the far corner and answered it, it was a customer confirming our 1130am appointment. I head over to their desk to look at the screen to see what they are doing, yep playing an online game. RING RING as i step back to my corner to answer. It is an asset manager asking if I want a new listing in the next town over, absolutely is my reply as I jot down the address. As i head back to the desk they say, "My office phone has not rung yet today." They continue with, "Things are pr... 03/13/2012

Most everyone agrees on the steps to finding your dream home. Get Pre-qualified, Find a great Realtor to represent you and start looking at homes that meet what you want to see. However what if the Loan Officer states you can not get a mortgage for 3, 4 or even 5 months for various reasons. If you know you can not get a mortgage right now, when should you start looking at homes to purchase? This question has been brought to light in a recent inquiry where the buyer can not close until the end of June. It is the beginning of March. The problem is they want a Bank Owned Home in order to get the best deal on the market. There is nothing wrong with that. Except here in NH the amount of homes currently listed for sale is down near 30% in my area while sales are up 10-18%. That means Bank Own... 03/11/2012

NH Down Payment Resource Looking to purchase a NH home?  Maybe a nice cape style home in Hillsborough County?  A colonial home in Southern NH?  Give our team a call.  You can take advantage of the Down Payment Resource, a tool we use to identify properties that are eligible for buyer down payment assistance. We have an experienced lender and agent team that can help you buy that Southern NH home with little money down. Take advantage of the NH real estate market opportunities, low interest rates and DOWN PAYMENT assistance. Call Rene and her team today. 03/11/2012

It was announced that New Hampshire US Representative Frank Guinta will host the Empower, Educate, Engage women's Conference on Friday March 16, 2012 from 830am to 1230pm at New hampshire institute for Polictics, 100 St Anselms Drive. The conference is free and open to the public. To register contact Ashley Pratte at ashley.pratte@mail.house.gov or call 603-641-9536 The program will also feature several successful area business and professional woman where the program will include topics such as Leadership and Professionalism, Woman in Business, Women inspiring Women and Career and Success coaching with resume writing tips, How to dress and interview tips. It does not take magic to turn your "For Sale" sign into a "Sold" sign. it takes a full time Local Agent who specializes in Listing ... 03/10/2012

Single Stream recycling is coming to Manchester NH. A ot of people are asking what does this mean for them? What it means is that you can forget about sorting your cans, bottles, plastic, cardboard and newspaper. Everything is placed in the new, large shiny recycling tote that will be dropped off at the homes of residents who are currently recycling in the next few weeks. Starting the week of April 30-May 4, 2012 on your regular trash Pick up day, your recycling container will be picked up on the same day.  Making recycling easier is intended to increase those participating in the prgoram. Residents who are not recycling but want to can go to www.recyclemanchester.com to sign up for the new tote. Yard waste should still be seperated in the biodegradable paper bags or a plastic barrell n... 03/10/2012

Manchester NH homes sold February 2012 The statistics for Manchester NH homes sold February 2012 vs the same period 1 year ago and are as follows.  (Data updated monthly to our site)...Nice strong numbers for February. Manchester NH real estate and homes sold  Inventory, down  3.8% Home Sales, Up  36% Pendings, up 43%             Curnt vs. Prev Month Curnt vs. Same Month 1 Yr Ago Curnt vs. Same Qtr 1 Yr Ago   Feb. 12 Jan. 12 % Change Feb. 12 Feb. 11 % Change Dec. 11 to Feb. 12 Dec. 10 to Feb. 11 % Change For Sale 375 351 6.8% 375 390 -3.8% 372 420 -11.4% Sold 56 62 -9.7% 56 41 36.6% 62 54 14.8% Pended 93 89 4.5% 93 65 43.1% 83 61 36.1% If you are looking to buy or sell Hillsborough County NH Homes, call the NH real estate experts today.  Whether you are looking for Amherst Nh homes, Bed... 03/09/2012

As a leading Listing Agent of Bank Owned homes in the Manchester NH area, one of the most common occurances as of late is to get multiple offers on a property. Buyers are often very upset when they lose out on buying their dream home. One common questions is what should they do if a home already has offers on it and they really want it. The one fact everyone should know is the amount of homes currently listed for sale is down near 30% in my area while sales are up 10-18%. I have put together the TOP 5 items you need to know if you are looking to buy a bank owned home.TOP 5 ITEMS YOU NEED TO KNOW IF BUYING A BANK OWNED HOME1. GET PRE-QUAILIFIED: Before even looking at a home you should get pre-approved for a loan. No bank will look at your offer without it. Meet with a local and trusted ... 03/09/2012

How do you tell a Home Owner that their house smells bad? That question was answered yesterday as I was arriving for a Listing Appointment another agent was coming out of the house and speaking with the Home Owner out front. One of the first things I heard as I got out of my car was "YOUR HOME STINKS". I was rather set back as I was not sure if it was the punchline of a joke where I missed the first part. Looking at the sellers reaction it was no joke. The other agent walked away quickly and the seller introduced herself. She was a little frazzled but was quite nice and welcoming. We went inside the house and I was hit by a real bad smell. I held it in... The woman took me for a tour through the house. She explained how her daughter lived in the house.After the tour the woman asked what... 03/08/2012

If you complete BPO's then have you noticed the increase in homes that are a complete wreck to say it nicely. There is no politically correct term to use other than they smell like they look. The national trend is to decrease pay for these BPO's to a point where i can say: "I am not going inside that house for Forty five Bucks". Becuase of the sharp increase in sales and decrease in pay for the, I find myself doing about half the BPO's as I was when things were slower. Sales are much more important but BPO's earn more REO Listings so it is a must in the REO business. Somewhere I have to err on the side of safety             I just do not understand why the bank would skimp on the costs on the most important aspect, which is setting a correct value on these homes.   .     If you are look... 03/08/2012

As the market continues to improve the amount of homes For Sale in the Manchester NH is decling and the amount of Buyers is Increasing. One of the most asked questions when from buyers is "Can I get a mortgage in this market?" It is usually followed by a description of their current and past financial picture. I am featuring this today as some agents are STILL showing Buyers home without first answering this question. Each Buyer is unique. Simply put each buyer needs to be pre-quailified BEFORE looking at homes but many do not know where to start. The media is confusing consumers. The truth is Banks are lending more than they were. Houses are selling. Interest rates are still Low and Home prices are allowing for great deals for buyers. WHERE TO START THE HOME BUYING PROCESS: 1. GET PRE-... 03/06/2012

The Manchester Girls Softball League is now registering girls age 5-17 for the 2012 Season of Softball in Manchester NH.  Practice will start in April with the reguslar season kicking off around May 1 (weather permitting).     2012 REGISTRATION Registration can be completed by: 1. You can register through the online Registration Link and pay online at www.MGSLNH.com 2. You can register by printing the Registration Form and mailing it to MGSL REGISTER DEADLINE IS APPROACHING SO DO NOT DELAY!!!   2012 REGISTRATION Information, Details and FAQ 2012 REGISTRATION FORM   MGSL strives to provide girls age 5 to 17 a fun and challenging fast pitch softball league. Our league is designed for girls to learn the basics and improve these skills throughout our five age divisions. We also strive to pr... 03/06/2012