Good evening everybody!  I have some very exciting news!

WE HAVE A NEW BLOG.  Click on the link for the new Columbia SC Real Estate blog.

This blog will of course stay up until everything is done on the new system, then we will be redirecting this url to the new system.  It is fairly rough over there, but would appreciate any comments you may have!

I was reading this post by Barry Cunningham of Real Estate Radio USA this morning and it made me think…What is the point of a Part Time Realtor?

All too often I find myself involved in a transaction with a part time Realtor. Most are decent transactions, but many times I find I am unable to reach a Part Time Real Estate Agent due to the fact that they have a priority higher than the closing of your future home…their ‘day’ job.

Increasingly, especially since the ‘bottom fell out’ of the real estate market there are Real Estate Agents moving to a normal job. One with guaranteed pay, one with health benefits, one with security. Why is this? To be blunt, most of them can’t hack it. They can’t make the money the need to doing real estate full time.

Why is this you ask? They do not work! They do not try! They put your house on the MLS and run…or they email you several properties hoping you pick yours out over the computer.

I find that everyone that works at a Cell Phone Store, be it SunCom, Cingular, or Verizon has a real estate license. They call themselves “Real Estate Agents”, but what are they doing from 9-5? Working for someone else.

When one may come to a listing appointment they don’t say, “hello, I am “so and so”, and I sell real estate…on the side.” They present themselves as a Real Estate Agent primarily.

You may ask…so what is the big deal? The big deal is that they can’t have your best interests at heart! They do not live and die by your house closing, by getting you a buyer, by finding you the perfect house.

Unfortunately there is no legal rules that I can find on disclosure.

As Barry points out in his post, “It’s 10am, Do you know where your Realtor is?”

Today at 9am I was taking a lock box off of a Columbia SC Real Estate house I sold. At 10am, I was closing the house. At noon, I was picking up Loan Documents for a buyer of mine. At 3 pm (sorry, I have to eat lunch too), I found out my buyer won a bid, and by 4pm I was calling him, getting his loan done. All throughout the day I was speaking with many of you, answering emails on your properties, talking to the attorneys, mortgage brokers, insurance agents, and inspectors on houses you are buying. Making sure that your house closes smoothly is MY JOB. I don’t sell cell phones, pre-paid legal, computer software, or health insurance. I sell houses, I sell your houses, I work 7am-10pm each day making sure that I earn every dollar I make…

The Columbia SC Real Estate Market is great, the same goes for Irmo, Chapin, West Columbia, and Columbia NE. I help you reap the benefits and make sure that your house is sold as quick as I possibly can.

Next time you call an agent and it goes to voicemail without a call back until after 5…think twice.

I am looking forward to next week. Why? Soon we will have a better blog on here! Stay tuned, this is sure to be an exciting week!

want a little hint, these people are responsible for it.

When thinking of selling, obviously the price of your Columbia SC Real Estate house will come into question and come into your mind. People will first think that they should price their house a little high so there is a bit of ‘wiggle room’ in your Columbia SC Real Estate home. That trick is old, has been played completely, and these days, buyer’s have too many options to play.

If you still decide to price your house above current market value, here is an idea of some of the pitfalls you may face in selling your Columbia SC Real Estate home.

Fewer Offers on your Columbia SC Real Estate home:

Overpriced properties tend to discourage buyers from making an offer. The difference between market value and your list price tends to discourage buyers from making an offer. They believe you are less likely to negotiate and will move on to the next property.

Fewer Showings on your Columbia SC Real Estate Home:

We all know that showings are the bread and butter of selling your home. Without showings, you will have no offers, and you will not sell your Columbia SC Real Estate. If the house is over priced, why would someone look at it? Would you?

Loss of Prospects from Advertising:

Buyers that learn of your property from Advertising, the sign, etc will be discouraged when they believe your Columbia SC Real Estate home is over priced. This leads to a decrease in interest, and a home that wont sell.

Financing Problems on your Columbia SC Real Estate Home

If someone does actually buy your house above market value, you better hope they are using all cash. A lender will not lend money on a house that is worth less than their buyer is paying for it. At that point, you’ll have to bring the house down to market value.

Price Reductions on your Columbia SC Real Estate Home

The more time your home sits on the market, the more likely you’ll be to have to reduce the price. Reduction in price just shows buyers you are desperate. So why do it? List your Columbia SC Real Estate home properly and have it sold!

Less for YOU on your Columbia SC Real Estate home

As your home sits on the market, longer and longer, the more likely you will be to take any price on the home just to get rid of it. Your spirit will be broken. Not to mention, those months of payments you have been making, the interest, taxes, insurance you have been paying. It all adds up after a while.

If you are thinking of selling your Columbia SC Real Estate home, be smart, list it at a price that will sell the house. Don’t get greedy thinking that you will get more. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions on pricing your Columbia SC Real Estate.

Did “No Money Down” Catch your attention.  I hope so!

In the Columbia SC Real Estate Market, we have all heard about how 100% financing has disappeared.  In a large part it has.  That is why you need a good Columbia SC Real Estate Agent and Mortgage broker!

The Nehemiah Program allows for you to put no money down on Columbia SC Real Estate!

Both Columbia SC Real Estate First Time Home buyers and repeat home buyers can use Nehemiah.

So how does it work?

1. Find a house.
2. Get an FHA Loan
3. Get the seller to contribute up to 6% in gift funds through Nehemiah
4. This covers your 3% down payment and closing costs
5. Move into your Columbia SC Real Estate home with no money down

Pretty much Nehemiah allows for the seller to contribute up to 6% of the purchase price which can be applied towards the buyer’s down payment and closing costs as mentioned above. They charge a $499 fee for this service. Think of it as an escrow fee of sorts. This fee can be paid by the seller, buyer, or even the lender.

What takes place is that the Columbia SC Real Estate seller gives Nehemiah the money which turns around and gives that money to the buyer as a gift. These gift funds can be for first time home buyers and even repeat buyers. There are no income limitations. The best thing is that you don’t have to repay the money, hence the reason why it’s called a gift.

Really, the only thing that has to happen is to be approved by your mortgage broker or lender of choice for an FHA mortgage and for the seller to give you the funds to buy a Columbia SC Real Estate Property. What is great about FHA is that they allow for 6% seller contribution. Another reason on how you can get into your Columbia SC Real Estate dream home with no money out of your pocket. Between Nehemiah and the seller contribution,  you could be in that house with as little as zero money.

There you have it.  The perfect piece of Columbia SC Real Estate with NO MONEY DOWN.

Of course there is a bit more to it than that, but in all reality, it is a very simple, easy to use program.

If you have any questions about Nehemiah or FHA Loans in the Columbia SC Real Estate Market, feel free to contact me!

As most of you know, I do enjoy working on Foreclosures and Investment properties within the Columbia SC Real Estate Market.

If you look to the left side bar, you will see a new button

Each month I will have a list of what I deem to be the best, most solid investments in the Columbia SC Real Estate market. Whether its Irmo, Chapin, Lexington, Forest Acres, Columbia or West Columbia, these will be on there if they are worthy in my opinion.

You may be wondering, How do I get a copy of these Columbia SC Real Estate Foreclosures?

It is quite simple. Click on the button, it will take you to a contact form. Just fill it out with your information, and in the text box, write that you would like a copy of the Columbia SC Real Estate Foreclosure list.

At that point, I will email you over a copy. Quite simple? Definitely.

Not all of the Columbia SC Real Estate homes will be foreclosures on this list. There may be short sales, owner occupied homes, etc etc. Whatever is a good deal that will either Cash Flow or make you money on a flip, I will put on this list.

If you have any questions, just drop me an email and we can talk!

First off, Happy Fathers day.

I love America. I love being born in America. I love everything America has to offer. Free speech, right to bear arms, every ammendment possible. I love everything about this great great country…except

FRIVOLOUS LAW SUITS THAT INHIBIT ON OUR RIGHTS TO BE AMERICAN. INHIBIT OUR RIGHTS AS AFFORDED US BY THE CONSTITUTION.

No matter what side of the aisle you are on, democrat or republican, you have to appreciate the rights that America has afforded you.

So here’s a thought. Support those being screwed by companies for writing their thoughts about a company. Nothing that isn’t true, their opinions, which are protected speech (Where’s the ACLU when you actually need them)

A great friend of the Real Estate Blogger Community, Vlad Zablotskyy, was recently screwed out of his right to speak his opinion on his blog.

Read the complaint against E-Perks, where is the fowl?

So, Vlad doesn’t like E Perks and he writes about it. Great! I hate Target’s customer service. Sue me!

What started with a cease and desist letter has now gone all the way to a full fledged lawsuit which Vlad has to defend.

I love lawsuits! In America, we have to pay to defend ourselves from malicious prosecution. People know that. It sucks.

As Greg Swann over at Bloodhoundblog said:

Attention ePerks.com: Vlad Zablotskyy is free to criticize you — as am I — and you cannot do a damned thing about it. We are blessed in this country by a Constitution and a legal tradition that empowers the individual against the threats of the powerful. This is a wonderful thing, and it protects you as much as it does us. Hiring a legalizing thug like Mr. Cook to do violence to the idea of free speech is an act of treason to your own rights — you idiots!

In any case, I am setting my shoulder beside Vlad’s. If you want to come for him, come for me, too. I will be happy to report every detail of everything you do — to a national audience of real estate professionals numbering in the tens of thousands. I detest lead vendors, and I will be beyond delighted to help you shred what remains of your shoddy reputation — you idiots!

I’m sure you will not be human enough to send Mr. Zablotskyy a letter of apology for having issued your empty threat. It doesn’t matter. Google has a long memory, and any future clients who think to investigate ePerks.com before risking their money on your sleazy leads will stumble across this post in no time.

Read also: Eperks: How to kill a startup

Read also: ePerks & iHype - Legal Kneejerk - Sues Blogger

For the ever irreverent Greg Swan’s take on the issue:

Read also: Memo to ePerks.com: You idiots! Trying to censor a real estate weblogger is a poor way to defend your reputation - such as it is…

From Vlad (the blogger being sued’s) own blog:

Read also: Am I Being Sued By ePerks?

Read also: ePerks.com: A Case Study in Greed and Self-Imposed Brand Destruction

This is an update of my First Post on this blog.  This is a stunning Lexington SC Real Estate neighborhood and more people do need to know about it!

I recently had the opportunity to visit and sell a home in the Lexington SC Real Estate Neighborhood of Keller’s Pond, abuilt by Essex Homes, a staple in the Columbia SC Real Estate Market.

With a location to die for, roughly 1 mile from Lexington High School off of the booming Charter Oak Drive, you will not find a better neighborhood in this price range.

Keller’s Pond starts at $190K and goes up to $290k. This Lexinton SC Real Estate neighborhood consists of Brick and Vinyl Construction, with several solid brick houses.

For those prices you get several upgrades which includes Double Crown Molding in 2 rooms, Stainless Steel Appliances, Upgraded Cabinets, Sprinkler Systems, butler’s pantry, and much much more!

Contact me with any questions about Keller’s Pond, or many other neighborhoods from Essex.

(Essex homes has not paid me or anything for these comments)

See all my Columbia SC Real Estate neighborhood information!

Essex Homes SE are the builder’s for this Irmo SC Real Estate Listing. 

I have spoken about foreclosed Columbia SC Real Estate Property before. Many times. I have spoken of some Great Investments in Columbia SC Real Estate.

However, I want to put it in plain English.

Buyers, I have deals on Columbia SC Real Estate!

There, I said it. I have deals. I don’t know how else to put it.

I had Columbia SC Real Estate Buyers purchase a piece of Irmo Property for $105,000. It is worth $180,000 after they do about $10,000 worth of work. I had a buyer purchase a Quail Valley property for $130,000 worth $184,000 after they put in an air conditioning unit. These are just 2 of the NORMAL deals my buyers are getting.

Are you in the market for a house? Now is the time to buy. We have never had this much inventory on the market as we do now. Banks are slashing prices, owner occupants are slashing prices on Columbia SC Real Estate.

I am not trying to sound like a used car commercial. Believe me. That is the last thing I want to do. I want people to know that they can get Columbia SC Real Estate at a steal right now.

Whether you are a normal, owner occupant purchaser, investor, or a mix of the two, now is the time to purchase Columbia SC Real Estate.

We all know about the theory of Supply and Demand. This is what the Columbia SC Real Estate Market is going through right now. Currently, there are more houses on the market than the demand for the houses. Therefore, the prices are being decreased to the point at which they will sell.

Not only are we seeing this with bank properties (Columbia SC Real Estate Foreclosures). We are seeing this in owner occupant homes as I said above.

So what are you waiting for?

Columbia SC Real Estate

I will probably ruffle some feathers with some of my colleagues on this one, but hey, that is good sometimes!

So, you have this great piece of Columbia SC Real Estate and you decided to sell it. You opened up Google, asked a friend, or looked in the phone book and found a Columbia SC Real Estate Agent. They came over, stroked your ego a bit, listed your house, threw a sign in the ground, and went back to work at Red Lobster.

Does this sound familiar? When was the last time you saw your Columbia SC Real Estate Agent? Got a phone call? An email? An offer?

Things are different. No longer can you throw a sign in the yard of Columbia SC Real Estate and expect it to sell with the MLS alone. It takes some elbow grease.

Well, now you are in a contract…What do you do?

There are a couple things to do.

As a side note, any client who hires me can fire me at any time if they feel I am not up to par. I have had no one fire me yet. I even write it in the contract!

First off, tell the Columbia SC Real Estate agent, “You’re Fired”. You have now become Donald Trump, congrats!

That agent may say something like, “Oh, but we have a contract good until 2020!”

At this point, I would contact a Columbia Real Estate attorney. I am not an attorney and am not giving legal advice. See if you can legally cancel the contract you have with the agent without their express permission.

If you are having problem getting through the agent’s hard head, contact their Columbia SC Real Estate broker. In South Carolina, the broker owns the listing, not the agent. Explain the problem, see if they will cancel the listing agreement.

IF no avail, withdraw the listing off the CMLS. This will stop them from advertising the property for sale. It will still be listed by them, but not be on the CMLS.

Finally, do what you must do. Contact the attorney again, have a letter sent…this should do a job. Nobody likes to sue anyone, but people like to be sued less.

Selling Columbia SC Real Estate takes more than just throwing a sign in the ground and putting the house on the MLS these days, it takes an agent with a marketing plan. It takes a Columbia SC Real Estate agent working. Imagine that, some agents work!

First and foremost, ask the agent to write in the contract language that allows you to cancel the listing at any time. I allow it. I do not want to work with someone who is not happy with my performance.

There are many great agents out there, it is up to you to make sure you find the best Columbia SC Real Estate agent for your needs!

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.