Summer Vacation and Your Home!

Summer Vacation and Your Home!

You found your perfect home, you bought it, you moved in and unpacked, and now you're ready for some well deserved R&R.  Whether it's just a few days out of town or a few weeks on a tropical island, there are some things you should do to prepare your home for your absence.

Preparing to Leave

Clean Out the Fridge:  Throw away anything that is or will be expired by the time you come back. Wipe down the shelves and door jams to prevent mold or mildew.

Shut off the water:  If a hose to a dishwasher or washing machine were to break, you could come home to a very large mess.  So turn off the water to at least those appliances.  You might want to run them and then leave the doors open to let them dry out so you prevent mold and mildew.  Also, getting the laundry and dishes done means no mess or extra work when you get home.

Prep Your plants and outdoor space:  Make sure all gutters and downspouts are clear.  Overflow could seep under siding and flood basements.  Mow and trim plants and hedges.  Ask a friend or neighbor to help or pay a neighborhood kid to mow and check on the house.

Leave on some lights:  Make it look like your home by leaving on some lights or have them on a timer if you don't want to waste money on your electric bill. Maybe pay the same kid who is mowing to turn on some lights at night. However you do it, it's important that your home look lived in even when your away.  Most criminals are opportunists; they will take the easy route every time.  So don't make it easy.

Unplug and reset thermostat:  Unplug all your appliances; they suck up energy even when not in use and no one wants their house to catch on fire because of a loose or crossed wire. In addition to that, reset your AC. You don't want to turn it off completely because it could get very musty, so set your AC to 85 and your house will stay cool and free of mildew.

Hold mail and newspapers:  A few quick phone calls and the post office and local delivery boy will hold all your stuff till you get back. Or you can give that kid a few more dollars and a key and he can take care of it for you.  

Preparing for your return

Food:  Make sure you have some non-perishables so when you get back, your first meal home is hassle free. (things like pop tarts, coffee, and soup are good to have.

Keep the house fresh:  Plug in an air freshener oooor you know that kid? Yeah have him open a few windows for a couple of hours a day.

Change the sheets:  There is nothing worse then coming home from vacation and having to do work.  Changing your sheets and maybe putting a dryer sheet in the blankets will insure a great night's sleep on your return home.

Tidy Up:  Sweep, Vacuum, Wipe down counters and any other stuff you know you won't want to do when you come home.

Happy vacation and don't forget to tip your neighborhood kid: he worked hard while you were gone!!

Cynthia Schmier, Broker/Owner
CRS, CDPE, CNE, CIAS, MDI, 5-STAR, SRS
RE/MAX Country
Cynthia@Cynthia-Online.com
(360) 400-3475
www.cynthia-online.com

Multiple Offer Market!

How To Handle Multiple Offers!

Let's face it, getting multiple offers is definitely not the worst case scenario if you're trying to sell your house.   Now that the offers are there, what do you do?  First, keep in mind that for properties with a single offer, the fallout is 10%, but for properties with two or more offers, the fallout rate increases to 50%.  The reason for the difference is buyers often feel they were unduly pressured by the multiple-offer situation and now feel it's too much to pay.  Here are some tips on how to handle a multiple offer situation.

Listen to your agent.  You hired them because you believed in them and trusted them with selling your home.  Trust them now.  Your agent wants you to get the best deal and still be fair and ethical, so take their advice.  You will be glad you did.

Price isn't everything.  Make sure you review the terms of the entire contract and don't just see dollar signs.  The highest offer, although tempting, isn't always the best offer. Are the buyers pre-approved for that amount? What kind of loan is it? Are you going to have to pay closing costs or other costs associated with the buyer's loan?  Sometimes a lower more stable offer will save you a lot of headache at the closing table.

What is your home really worth?  If the buyer you choose orders an appraisal and that appraisal comes back less than the offer price, the buyers' lender may not approve the mortgage.  Unless that buyer is willing to come to the table with cash, you may be stuck putting your home back on the market.

Review closing periods.  A buyer who's willing to close within weeks is more attractive than one who needs or wants months to do the deal.  It is also less likely they will back out of the contract. 

 

It's the sellers' house and it's the sellers' decision.   You decide which offer you want to accept or if you want to counter all the offers.  Remain sensible and be fair.

If you are selling your home in today's market, there is a good chance you will get multiple offers and it can be overwhelming.  It's not a race. Take your time, read the contracts and listen to your agent's advice.  If you follow these tips, you will pick the best offer and run less of a chance of having to sell your house twice.  Good luck!

Cynthia Schmier, Broker/Owner
CRS, CDPE, CNE, CIAS, MDI, 5-STAR, SRS
RE/MAX Country
Cynthia@Cynthia-Online.com
(360) 400-3475
www.cynthia-online.com

Bi-Polar Market

Bi-polar Market

We all know the Market is hot right now.  Burning hot in some areas of the country, but did you also know that home ownership rates are nearing record lows?  According to realtormag, the first quarter of this year's home ownership plummeted to 63.6 percent, the third lowest on record.  With that said home builders say they are finally ready to build more new homes.  NAHB forecasters predict that single-family production will see a 14 percent uptick this year to 812,000 units, and then rise another 19 percent to 964,000.  Are you confused yet?  Just wait it gets better. 

New York Fed President and CEO William C. Dudley stated that "the housing market should remain on a solid trajectory, supported by rising employment and low mortgage rates. I continue to anticipate that consumption and housing activity will expand at a moderate pace this year."  Which all sounds really good, except lots of real estate agents like Marianne Guenther Bornhoft are a little scared.  "I'm a little scared that people are going to, again, get ahead of themselves."  Aaron Cunningham, owner of the Citibroker firm, has similar worries.  "I'm making more money today than I ever have, However, when times are good , it's really easy to get stupid."  Many agents don't feel we have a sustainable market right now but they also don't think it's a bubble either.  So what is it that's happening right now?  Inventory is down, prices are up, bidding wars are becoming the new norm, mortgage rates are not rising, the economy is coming back, and with all this the market looks a little like it did before the last crash.   What The Hell!

What does it all mean?  I'm not really sure but what I do know is we all (buyers, sellers and agents) need to be careful. Be aware that all the normal rules still apply so don't get crazy or emotional about selling or buying your home.    Always let logic rule and make sure you have an agent that knows what they are doing.  Good luck out there.

 

Cynthia Schmier, Broker/Owner
CRS, CDPE, CNE, CIAS, MDI, 5-STAR, SRS
RE/MAX Country
Cynthia@Cynthia-Online.com
(360) 400-3475
www.cynthia-online.com

Keep Your Info Safe This Holiday.

 

Mall security (ONLINE VERSION)

According to a 2014 Deloitte survey, 55 percent of American consumers say they are concerned about protecting their personal data when shopping online, and 42 percent say they have similar concerns when shopping in stores. With the holiday shopping season fast approaching, consumers need to be more vigilant about protecting their personal data. PC Magazine offers the following tips to shop safely online.

   If possible, avoid using a debit card for purchases. Most debit cards don’t have the same level of fraud protection that credit cards have. If a debit card is all you have, protect your PIN by shielding the keypad with your hand or body.

   Visit only trusted sites, which are more likely to be secure. Make sure an “https” appears in the site’s URL and a lock icon is visibly displayed. Log out of all shopping accounts after completing a transaction.

   Avoid using a public Wi-Fi for your online shopping and financial transactions. Also use a password manager to create strong, unique passwords for each shopping site.

   Provide as little information to merchants as possible. Online retailers do not need to know your social security number or birth date to do business.

   Purchase gift cards directly from the retailer, not through a third-party source. Some scammers will auction off gift cards on sites like eBay with little or no funds on them.

   Review online bank statements frequently to confirm charges; don’t wait for your monthly statement to arrive in the mail. If you notice any questionable charges, contact your financial institution immediately. Keep these suggestions in mind, and you can enjoy a secure holiday shopping experience.

Cynthia Schmier, Broker/Owner
CRS, CDPE, CNE, CIAS, MDI, 5-STAR, SRS
RE/MAX Country
Cynthia@Cynthia-Online.com
(360) 400-3475
www.cynthia-online.com

14850 Terra View St SE Yelm, WA 98597

Property Site: http://tour.circlepix.com/home/K4WUUG

Welcome to Tahoma Terra! Cute as a button! Open concept with Living/Kitchen/Dining. New carpet. Freshly painted. New kitchen appliances and light fixtures. Wired for surround sound. Large Master Bedroom with walk-in closet. Move-in ready! Fully fenced back yard. Attached garage. Covered front entry. Close to schools, shopping, walking trails, golf, theaters and and more! Great commuting location with easy access to JBLM. Come take a look!

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 1.00

Square feet: 1,424

Price: $174,000

For more information about this property, please contact Cynthia Schmier at (360)400-3475 or cschmier@remax.net. You can also text 3126433 to 67299.

See more listings at: cschmier.remax-pacificnorthwest.com

MLS ID: 859164

Is Your Mortgage Out of Balance with your Budget?

It can happen quickly.

An expensive car repair, an unexpected hospital visit, a missed week of work – just a few little things and the life you’ve worked so hard to build can feel like it’s tipping dangerously out of balance.

Once the scales turn against you, it can feel like it is impossible to ever tip them back in your favor again. When your financial problems reach the point where they threaten your home, it is difficult to manage the stress. Sometimes it is even difficult to force yourself to seek help.

As a real estate professional who has earned the Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation, my mission is to provide financially-challenged homeowners with options to foreclosure, ensure that they steer clear of scams, and help navigate them through the solution that best meets their needs.

Choose to face the challenge with a professional on your side.

I can help you realign the balance in your financial life and tip the scales back in your favor. Call or email me and schedule your free, confidential consultation. We can work together to make sure you end up ahead.

Cynthia Schmier

360-400-3475

cynthia@cynthia-online.com

Steer Clear of SCAMS!

During the toughest of times, there are always a few swindlers who emerge with shady schemes that serve to make a bad situation a lot worse. The current foreclosure crisis is certainly no exception.
Here are the Top Ten Warning Signs of a Mortgage Modification Scam:

1. “Pay us $1,000, and we’ll save your home.”
Some Legitimate housing counselors may charge small fees, but fees that amount to thousands of dollars are sign of potential fraud – especially if they are charged upfront.

2. “I guarantee I will save your home – trust me.”
Beware of guarantees. Unrealistic promises are a sign that the person making them has not considered your specific circumstances.

3. “Sign over your home, and we’ll let you stay in it.”
Be very suspicious if someone offers to pay your mortgage and rent your home back to you in exchange for transferring the title. Signing over the deed gives another person the power to evict you, raise your rent or sell the house.

4. “Stop paying your mortgage”
Do not trust anyone who tells you to stop making payments to your lender and servicer, even if that person says it will be done for you.

5. “If your lender calls, don’t talk to them.”
Your lender should be your first point of contact for negotiating a repayment plan, modification, or short sale.

6. “Your lender never had the legal authority to make a loan.”
Do not listen to anyone who claims that “secret laws” or “secret information” will be used to eliminate your debt and have your mortgage contract declared invalid.

7. “Sign this now; we’ll fill in the blanks later.”
Take the time to read and understand anything you sign. Never let anyone else fill out paperwork for you. Don’t let anyone pressure you into signing anything that you don’t agree with or understand.

8. “Call 1-800-Fed-Loan.”
Some companies trick borrowers into believing that they are affiliated with or are approved by the government or tell you that you must pay them high fees to qualify for government loan modification programs.

9. “File for bankruptcy and keep your home.”
Filing bankruptcy only temporarily stops foreclosure. If your mortgage payments are not made, the bankruptcy court will eventually allow your lender to foreclose on your home…

10. “Why haven’t you replied to our offer? Do you want to live on the streets?”
High-pressure tactics signal trouble.
Your best bet for making sure that scam artists don’t end up with your shirt as well as your house: Contact a Certified Distressed Property Expert. CDPE agents are tapped into scams as they emerge and committed to keeping clients connected to legitimate solutions.

Cynthia Schmier
RE/MAX Country
206 Yelm Ave W, Yelm, WA 98597
360-400-3475
ShortSalesYelm.com
Disclaimer: The above brokerage assumes no responsibility nor guarantees the accuracy of this information and is not engaged in the practice of law nor gives legal advice. It is strongly recommended that you seek appropriate professional counsel regarding your rights as a homeowner.

Are you living under the cloud of an UNMANAGEABLE MORTGAGE?

It’s a sign of the times!

Most of us grew up thinking that if we planned well and played by the rules, we’d never have to stand by as our financial lives unraveled. 

But upheaval on Wall Street, unacceptable rates of unemployment and plummeting real estate values have taken their toll.  Since 2007, 7.9 million homeowners have lost their homes to foreclosure. Current estimates are that one in four homeowners owe more on their mortgages than they could get from the sale of their home. Millions more homes will be lost to foreclosure before this real estate crisis runs its course.

The sad fact is that foreclosure is not an isolated event. For months leading up to the loss of a home, financially strapped homeowners live under a cloud of uncertainty.  And then for many years afterwards, the blow to credit gets in the way of buying another home or buying anything on credit. Foreclosure even complicates employment prospects.

The impact of foreclosure is huge and the sad fact is that it’s often avoidable.

As a real estate professional who has earned the Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation, my mission is to provide financially strapped homeowners with options to foreclosure, ensure that they steer clear of scams, and help navigate them through the solution that best meets their needs.

Among the most important facts to keep in mind: the sooner help is sought, the better the options.

These are tough times, but more help is available than ever before. If you or someone you care about is ready to navigate away from the dark cloud of an unmanageable mortgage and realize that hope and blue skies are within reach, contact me today and let’s get started.

Cynthia Schmier
(360) 400-3475
cynthia@cynthia-online.com