Things TO SAY to propective or current re clients

NEW -> Contingent Buyer Assistance Program
<p>These are the things I would have loved to have heard from any realtor I've dealt with in the last few years.</p>

<p><em>Here's what I am going to do for my commission: (insert list)</em></p>

<p><em>Here's what I am NOT going to do for my commission: (insert list)</em></p>

<p><em>Go over your credit report with a fine tooth comb, calculate what your monthly housing costs should be based on 19% of your <u>net</u> income, and scrounge up every last penny for your down payment; when you give me that information, I'll show you homes in that price range.</em></p>

<p><em>Forget about making money off the appreciation of your home for the short term and focus on finding a nice living space you can afford. If the market rebounds, great, if it doesn't then you'll still have a great home.</em></p>

<p><em>It's a tough market right now, but if we don't find anything you like and can afford right now we might find something in the next few months as the market works things out.</em></p>

<p>Our last realtor had it easy as we already did half the work, but the best part of dealing with her was that she was very upfront and set out the expectations in our first meeting. She sent us a very personalized gift after closing, and we sent her a new Garmin GPS unit for Christmas so she wouldn't have to call her next client 5 times for directions </p>
 
"Real estate values are likely to decline in the short term, make sure you are planning to stay in this house for at least 10 years."





That will not be long enough unless we get another bubble shortly after this one, but at least clients would be forewarned.
 
"Have you considered waiting until prices are more affordable and you are able to purchase a property more in line with what you want."<p>

Or how about, "Have you considered saving up more down payment, because as it stands your debt to income ratio would put you at risk for finding it difficult if not downright impossible to make the payments required by a loan of this magnitude." <p>

Or, "I have seen so many familys lose their homes and equity because they overextended themselves by taking on too much mortgage. And I don't want to see that happen to you." <p>

Or, "History shows that home prices will always come back to affordability, and if you wait a couple years, you may not have to pay these ridiculous prices."
 
"I have seen some very nice homes for rent at good prices."



The realtor/leasing agent can buy a little top ramen with their commission on the lease, and nobody gets hurt.
 
"I used to steer people towards houses that they couldn't afford, because my commission check was bigger....but I've found religion now and wish to repent my ways (btw this is part of my probation).....so my advice is DON'T BUY, rent that beautiful house of your dreams....goodness knows there are plenty of them out there".
 
<p>Nude,</p>

<p>I have a question on this one from your posting:</p>

<p><em>Go over your credit report with a fine tooth comb, calculate what your monthly housing costs should be based on 19% of your <u>net</u> income, </em></p>

<p>I've traditionally seen between 28 to 35% of your <u>gross</u> income where does the figure of 19% of your <u>net</u> come from?</p>

<p>Forgive my ignorance, but that's not a number I've heard before. </p>
 
<p>Shay,</p>

<p>Shortly after I found IHB and was going over some of IrvineRenter's analysis posts, the wife and I sat down and figured out exactly how much we were paying out for our home. Then we based it on her income alone (she bringing home the bigger bucks) and we found that we spend 19% of her net income on housing. 28% DTI is a nice number, but that's not really what you have to work with at the end of the pay period. I've been working with cash for so long that I always revert to how much actual cash we get vs how much the governement says we get paid. So I chose the amount after taxes, 401k, charitible contributions, health savings account, etc., and it worked out to ~19% of her take home pay. Using that as a standard, we easily afford the house payment, association dues, utility and garbage bills, and still have a nice sum for personal savings. We aren't wealthy, but we live comfortably and well within our means.</p>

<p>I hope that cleared things up.</p>
 
<p>I think it should be rather like that silly movie in which there's a cop who, when he arrests people, gives them a business card to say he also moonlights as a lawyer, so call him.</p>

<p>So the RE broker should close the deal, then give the buyer a business card that let's them know they have a bancrupcy business on the side...</p>
 
"Oh my, you're children are beautiful."<p>


Whether or not it's true, I love it when someone compliments my kids. And even better, we walked into an open house in Shady Canyon, that I was going back to the second time so I could show my wife, and not only did the sitting agent remember my name, but she also <b>remembered my kids names</b>. And she asked my kids questions about their thoughts on the house. She was a listener, not a seller. She asked questions about our buying time frame, and didn't make us wrong for our thoughts and plans. She didn't tell us why it was important to buy now. She just listened, whether she agreed or not. She is someone who I think would help her clients fulfill their goals rather than try and get her clients to fill her agenda. I remembered her name for weeks, and I usually don't remember the agents name past the front door. Even now, I think her name was Joyce.
 
Why is everybody here so fond of renting houses? I can totally understand living in a nice apartment complex, since the management is interested in keeping you there for the rest of your life. But renting from private parties? You would never know when their circumstances change, and being kicked out of a place you actually like once a year is not my idea of fun (I do have tons of stuff, so moving is always a pain). And there are a lot of strange landlords out there (like the ones who like to stop by once a week to check on the house). Can anyone give me reasons for choosing a private landlord?
 
"Can anyone give me reasons for choosing a private landlord?"





It is less expensive, and some landlords are very good people. Also, if you are a stable renter, they won't raise your rent. I know people who are long-term renters who are paying under-market rents because the landlord does not want them to leave. Vacancy loss is a killer, particularly at high rental rates.
 
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