BAP site syndication http://www.buysaltlakecityhomes.com Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:34:53 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.buysaltlakecityhomes.com/images/M_images/ http://www.buysaltlakecityhomes.com BAP site syndication http://www.buysaltlakecityhomes.com/buyer-info/things-to-do-after-closing-a-checklist-from-real-estate-expert-kathy-opolski-3.html Things To Do After Closing: A Checklist From Real Estate Expert Kathy Opolski When you walk out of the closing as a new Salt Lake City Utah homeowner, a flood of emotions is running through you. Your main concern is making sure that you do everything to protect your new investment. So how do you do that? The first thing you will want to consider is changing the door locks. Even if it is a new home you won't have any idea who may have a key. It is best to make the home secure and have them all changed at the same time. You can even have all of the locks keyed to one master key for convenience. The mountains of papers that you received at closing are extremely important. Make sure that you keep them in a safe place where you can put your hands on if they are needed. Countless times there is a document issue that needs resolving or a question that requires answering. Putting your hands on them easily may avoid headaches down the road. About two to three weeks after closing contact the county records office to confirm that the title has indeed been recorded. Sometimes, depending on their workload, it may take longer. Regardless, keep in touch until you have verification. Make sure that you have verified having the utilities worked out. If you are purchasing from someone it is best to have them transferred instead of disconnected and reconnected. This will avoid a delay in service. Some companies will even waive the connection fee if they do not have to send someone out to the home twice. Builders can even make this arrangement if you let them know before closing. It is highly recommended that you chronicle your possessions after you have moved in. The best way to do this is to videotape everything in the home as well as the home itself. This will serve as an invaluable tool in the unfortunate event that something happens. Your memory will never be able to take the place of live footage and you will encounter less resistance from your insurance company if you have to prove something was present. Also, make a detailed written list, too. Keep a copy of both in at least one location outside of the home, such as a safety deposit box. For more tips on having a smooth closing, contact Salt Lake City Utah real estate (http://www.buysaltlakecityhomes.com/) expert Kathy Opolski with RE/MAX Associates at 801-518-4599. Blog - Buyer Info Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:09:17 +0100 http://www.buysaltlakecityhomes.com/buyer-info/things-to-do-after-closing-a-checklist-from-real-estate-expert-kathy-opolski-3.html http://www.buysaltlakecityhomes.com/investor-info/5-things-to-think-about-when-investing-in-real-estate-in-salt-lake-city-utah-2.html There are many things to consider when making a real estate investment in Salt Lake City Utah. Laying the right foundation by doing good planning is an essential key to being a great real estate investor. In this article, we’ll go over 5 things to think about before you make a real estate investment decision. These 5 things will help you ensure the most success in the long run. InvestorsDo you have a solid group of investors you can call if you find a great deal? There’s nothing worse than finding an absolutely amazing deal only to find that you don’t have the money to act on it. The ProcessAre you crystal clear on what needs to happen in order for you to acquire the property you’re interested in? Do you know each and every step along the way? Knowing the Rental MarketIf you’re buying to rent out, have you done your research on what the rental market in your area looks like? How much do similar units in your area rent for? What are the standard vacancy rates? MentorIf you’re a beginning investor, there are many little things in the buying and selling process that you may not know about or have experience with.Having a mentor who understands the process can be a big asset. If you have to lose some of your profit for great advice in the beginning, it’s generally worth the investment in the long run. The Backup PlanIf anything goes wrong, do you have a backup plan? What’s the worst case scenario and are you equipped to handle it if something does happen? One of Donald Trump’s key questions to success was: “What is the worst case scenario and if this happened, would I be able to handle it?” Real estate investors have repeatedly shown that it’s important to know what to do in case things don’t go the way you planned. Often times in a real estate deal, at least one thing will “go wrong.” It’s important to be equipped to handle it when it does. There is a lot of free information available about buying, selling or investing in Holladay and Salt Lake City, Utah real estate. For complete information about the Salt Lake City real estate market including foreclosures, short sales and more, visit the website dedicated to everything Salt Lake City Utah real estate. (http://www.buysaltlakecityhomes.com/) For a FREE Weekly List of Foreclosed Homes with 4-5 Bedrooms in Salt Lake City, UT under $150,000 fill in the form below and you will receive home listings as they hit the market. You will get all the hot listings as they come up even before most agents see them! Just fill in the form below with your correct name and e-mail address and we will set it up to have the list automatically e-mailed to you. Just add it in the comments if you have an interest in Short Sales and HUD homes too! If you or someone you know are in need of a competent and caring real estate professional in or near Salt Lake City, Utah, I will be happy to help, just call me at 801-518-4599. Blog - Investor Info Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:00:33 +0100 http://www.buysaltlakecityhomes.com/investor-info/5-things-to-think-about-when-investing-in-real-estate-in-salt-lake-city-utah-2.html http://www.buysaltlakecityhomes.com/buyer-info/have-you-ever-had-a-mortgage-before-by-real-estate-agent-salt-lake-city-utah.html Have You Ever Had A Mortgage Before by real estate agent Salt Lake City Utah Do you even know where to get one? Do you know what to do first? In our discussion today, we are going to be talking about securing a mortgage. By this time you have decided that it is time to buy a new home in Salt Lake City Utah. Let’s look at what your next steps to take should be. In order to obtain a mortgage in Salt Lake City Utah, you must be able to pass a credit check. The bank, credit union or savings and loan association will be asking for a copy of your credit report. For your own peace of mind, you should get a copy of your credit report before you send one to your banker. This way, you will know everything that is on there and will be able to answer any questions that your banker might have. Another advantage of obtaining your credit report is that if you have any derogatory entries in your report, you can work on getting them cleaned up before the report actually goes to your banker. Something that is being done a lot these days is for the customer to get a pre-approval on their loan. If you get pre-approved or pre-qualified, then you know that you already have a mortgage; you will just have to come back with the details about the home that you are going to purchase. You will also know what price range of house that you need to be looking at. When you are pre-approved for a loan, this also puts you in the driver’s seat so to speak. You will be in a much better position to negotiate with the seller. A great resource to help you find the best financing for your mortgage will be your real estate agent. So another important step that you need to take at the beginning of your home purchasing process is to find a good real estate agent like Kathy Opolski. When you find a great real estate agent like Kathy Opolski, you will find someone who will take you through each step of the home buying process. This person will be able to help you find the home that you have been dreaming about. This person will be someone that you can ask questions and get answers. They will be able to find you the best financing that will fit your financial needs. There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in Salt Lake City Utah real estate. For complete information about the Salt Lake City Utah real estate market including current homes for sale, property values and more please visit the most complete website online dedicated to everything Salt Lake City Utah real estate (http://www.buysaltlakecityhomes.com/) at www.BuySaltLakeHomes.com www.kathyohomes.com. Please feel free to contact me with any of your real estate or mortgage related questions and I would be more than glad to answer your questions. Call me on my cell at 801-518-4599 or email me at kathyo@kathyohomes.com (mailto:kathyo@kathyohomes.com). Blog - Buyer Info Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:37:52 +0100 http://www.buysaltlakecityhomes.com/buyer-info/have-you-ever-had-a-mortgage-before-by-real-estate-agent-salt-lake-city-utah.html http://www.buysaltlakecityhomes.com/seller-info/prevention-helps-reduce-after-the-sale-problems-for-real-estate-professionals-in-salt-lake-city-utah-2.html In today's litigious society, home sellers and real estate professionals in Salt Lake City Utah should take preventative steps to avoid after-the-sale problems which are experienced statewide in the real estate industry, according to leading industry professionals.Learning about a home and the area surounding Salt Lake City Utah, disclosing all factors affecting a home's value and obtaining a thorough inspection as well as a warranty plan are among the steps which can help reduce potential law suits.Real estate professionals and home sellers should be aware of a neighborhood's zoning -- one of the factors which can affect a home's value in the future.It is important to be informed about certain residential properties which can also be zoned for other uses such as commercial or multifamily housing. In a residential neighborhood for example, an adjacent lot which is later converted into an automobile body repair shop will most likely lower the value of surrounding single-family homes. Other factors which can affect a Salt Lake City Utah home's value include nearby projects in the planning stages and environmental hazards. Real estate professionals should check with local officials about future projects such as a new freeway or re-routing of streets which can increase traffic and noise.Real estate professionals and sellers in Salt Lake City Utah should always disclose to the buyer this type of information about the area as well as any known environmental hazards such as a nearby landfill.At the time a seller lists a home for sale in Salt Lake City Utah, the real estate professional should be thoroughly aware of its condition and any problems to avoid future surprises during negotiations or after the close of the sale.Termite and home inspection should be used in every transaction. A home inspection not only reveals defects in a home that can be addressed before closing the sale, but it can give buyers a comfort level, knowing what they're getting and reinforcing their decision to buy.Another important tool to help reduce after-the-sale problems is a home warranty plan. Home warranties are a good perk and give real estate professionals an opportunity to follow up with the homeowner who has had a positive experience and is usually happy.Most litigation arises from anger caused by resentment building up from smaller problems. Home warranties help keep anger down, so if a larger problem occurs, the home buyer is more likely to call the seller and real estate professional to discuss the problem rather than file a lawsuit.Before home warranties, most real estate professionals and sellers received calls within the first six months about broken dishwashers, disposals, water heaters and leaking roofs on rainy days. Now, however, most calls are regarding problems about zoning issues and non-permitted add-on rooms.The following points which are perhaps more important than price when selecting a home warranty company and plan:1. Consider the financial stability of the company.2. Read the contract carefully and note what items are covered.3. Check how fast the company services calls.4. Check how the company handles claims which are in dispute.Be knowledgeable about the condition of the property in Salt Lake City Utah, disclose any known problems to the buyer and provide a warranty plan for unexpected mechanical breakdowns after the close of escrow. Taking these necessary steps will prevent after-the-sale problems and help limit future liability.There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in Salt Lake City Utah real estate. For complete information about the Salt Lake City Utah real estate (http://www.buysaltlakecityhomes.com/) market including current homes for sale, property values and more please visit the most complete website online dedicated to everything Salt Lake City Utah real estate. So please feel free to contact me with any of your mortgage questions and I will me more than glad to answer your questions. Call me on my cell at 801-518-4599 or email me at kathyo@kathyohomes.com (mailto:kathyo@kathyohomes.com). Blog - Seller Info Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:55:13 +0100 http://www.buysaltlakecityhomes.com/seller-info/prevention-helps-reduce-after-the-sale-problems-for-real-estate-professionals-in-salt-lake-city-utah-2.html http://www.buysaltlakecityhomes.com/buyer-info/a-timeline-for-buying-a-home-in-salt-lake-city-utah-what-should-be-done-and-when-3.html One of the most confusing things about a home buying is what you are supposed to do and when. It can be difficult to pinpoint an exact time-frame for home buying since it can vary depending on the Salt Lake City Utah market. Generally, you can expect it to take about 3 to 4 months to find your dream home in Salt Lake City. This timeline is based on that time frame. Three Months Come up with a checklist of things tasks to be completed in the home buying process. This checklist should include all the steps you need to take from educating yourself about the real estate transaction to shopping for the home to the closing. The checklist will serve as your guide throughout the home buying process. Get pre-approved for a mortgage. This will give you a price range to work with throughout the home buying process. Make sure that you are getting pre-approved and not pre-qualified. Start shopping for a real estate agent to assist your home buying. Real estate agents can be invaluable when looking for your home, we will help in letting you know what the next step in the buying process is, and what you need to do so that you can be in your dream home as soon as possible. Feel free to visit me at my website to learn what you need to do to start finding you perfect home in Salt Lake City Utah Come up with a list of things you need and want from a home. Your real estate agent will be able to help you find homes that fall within your criteria. This is a very important step because with a solid idea of what you want in a home I will be able to show you only houses that you are truly interested in instead of having to wade through the thousands of homes in Salt Lake City Utah that don't quite fit your criteria. Two Months Evaluate the houses in Salt Lake City Utah that you are considering. Work with your real estate agent to come up with a method to scorecard or analyze the houses that you are strongly thinking about purchasing. Decide which home you would like to purchase. Make an offer to the seller on the home. Once you make an offer it is wise to stop shopping around for homes. The worst thing that can happen is that you find a home you think you like better than the one you've made an offer on. Once the seller has accepted your offer and you have signed the sales contract, have the home inspection completed. Make arrangements for the closing. Six Weeks Purchase homeowners insurance and provide proof of the policy to your lender. This must be done prior to closing. Make your moving arrangements. This can be an exiting experience especially since you are moving to Salt Lake City Utah don't forget to enjoy it. If necessary, begin the process for school transfers or registration. Four Weeks Alert necessary parties of your change in address. You can also have your mail forwarded through the postal service by putting in a request at your local post office. Make arrangements for utilities at your new home. If you will be working with the same providers you can simply put in a request to have your services transferred at a certain date. Two Weeks If you are having your items professionally moved, verify the arrangements with your mover. Check with your lender to finalize the mortgage for the home buying process. Pack your belongings unless you have arranged a full pack and move with the mover. Closing Date Bring your driver's license for identification purposes. Your down payment is due at this time. Also bring any home buying closing costs that you are responsible for paying. Keep in mind that this is a general home buying timeline. You can adjust the time depending on how long it takes you to find a home you like. At RE/MAX Associates we take great care to make sure you are aware of the steps it takes to get you into your dream Salt Lake City Utah home, and work to make these steps as easy on you as possible. There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in Salt Lake City Utah real estate. For complete information about the Salt Lake City Utah real estate market including current homes for sale, property values and more please visit the most complete website online dedicated to everything Salt Lake City, Utah real estate. (http://www.buysaltlakecityhomes.com/) Blog - Buyer Info Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:29:20 +0100 http://www.buysaltlakecityhomes.com/buyer-info/a-timeline-for-buying-a-home-in-salt-lake-city-utah-what-should-be-done-and-when-3.html