South West Missouri Real Estate and More!

1. Define the reasons why you are selling your home in Springfield MO, and keep those reasons private.
Telling a prospective buyer that you are selling your house because you can no longer afford the payments, or because you need to move quickly, puts them at a bargaining advantage. Once you have decided that it is the right time to sell your home, keep the reasons why to yourself. Those reasons will dictate most of your other selling decisions, such as how much you want to invest in fixing up your home before you sell, how to set your asking price, how long you are willing to keep your house on the market to get the price you want, and how much money you want to walk away with after all is said and done. Keeping this information to yourself will put you at an advantage during the negotiation process.
2. Know how to properly set a price for your home.
It’s important to do your homework before coming up with the right selling price. Compare your home to other similar homes that have recently sold in your area over the last 6 to 12 months. Generally, most prospective buyers will compare your home to 15 or 20 similar homes, so they will already have a good feel for what your home is worth. If you set your price too high, you will obviously attract very little interest from prospective buyers or real estate agents. If you set your price too low, however, you will have people wondering what is wrong with your home, and you may scare away those very same prospective buyers and agents.
3. Pick the right real estate agent for you.
Statistics show that three out of four homeowners wouldn’t use the same real estate agent they used to sell their last home. Choosing an agent should be no different than interviewing someone for a job...after all, the agent is working for you! Find an agent who makes you feel comfortable, and who is able to effectively communicate with you at all times.
4. Increase the sales potential of your house.
Never underestimate the importance of curb appeal. For most people, buying a home is an emotional choice, and they need to feel a connection to a home before they buy. You can increase the likelihood of this happening by performing all minor cosmetic repairs in your home, planting fresh flowers and shrubs outside, and by adding a fresh coat of paint wherever it is needed. Before you show your house to a prospective buyer, you should clean every inch of your home. Many buyers can be turned off by a minor detail, such as a dusty ceiling fan or a loose moulding, so fix everything you can. They’re trying to imagine themselves at home in their new house, and it’s your job to help them accomplish that.
5. Make sure all of the information on your house is readily available to prospective buyers and agents.
One sure way to discourage buyers and agents from seriously considering your home is to waste their time by not readily answering all their questions about your home. Sales pitches, misleading information, and playing phone tag with agents and buyers is a sure way to eliminate serious offers. Have your agent place an ad with a phone number that will lead to a 24-hour, prerecorded hot line with all the pertinent information on your home. Studies have shown that three times as many buyers respond to such a system, and getting the information about your house to as many potential buyers as possibly will obviously increase the chances of a sale.
6. Understand your buyer.
While it is important to protect your reasons for selling your home, finding out what motivates a potential buyer will definitely put you at an advantage during the negotiation. Knowing if the buyer needs to move in quickly, or if they are able to get financing easily will dictate how far you can push them to get your asking price.
7. Ensure that all the paperwork is complete at all times.
Eliminate the possibility of unseen delays by disclosing everything you can about your house, preferably in writing. Make sure that all responsibilities and costs are clearly spelled out in the sales contract, and that neither you nor the buyer veers away from these agreements. Resist the temptation to make a change at the last minute just to make the buyer happy... this can increase the possibility of the deal falling through.
8. Live in your house in Springfield MO until it is sold.
It is easier for a potential buyer to see themselves living comfortably in your home if you are already doing so. An empty house can easily look lonely or unwanted. Even resist the urge to tell prospective buyers that you have already found a new home, since this will give them the impression that you are eager to sell.

7 Costly Mistakes When Selling Your Home In Springfield Missouri

Top Questions You Need To Ask Your Springfield Missouri Real Estate Agent Before Hiring Them

 

 

 

 

TeamKnowles, Spouses Selling Houses!

 

2925 E Battlefield Rd
Springfield, MO 65804                   

phone or text: (417) 631-7234          

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We serve sellers and buyers looking for Springfield Missouri Homes For Sale, Ozark Missouri Homes For Sale, and Nixa Missouri Homes For Sale. Ask us about our comprehensive marketing plan to sell your home or click our website to search all properties for sale in the area including foreclosures. Springfield Missouri Real Estate Market Report. We're here to help!

Let’s stop Missouri politicians from penalizing homeowners and buyers  

Missouri is one of 13 states that does not levy a transfer tax on home sales, and a coalition of property owners, businesses and the Missouri Association of REALTORS™ want to keep it that way.

The group sees transfer taxes as double taxation because Missourians already pay property taxes on real estate. A petition drive and a website have been created to help homeowners and potential buyers reach lawmakers who have the power to levy such a tax.

To place a state constitutional amendment on the November 2010 ballot to prohibit Missouri lawmakers from passing the tax initiative, the group needs more than 157,000 valid signatures. To make voters more aware of this issue, a new website, www.YesToSaveHomes.com is now online to help consumers learn more about the tax, calculate the tax based on the home’s sale price, and get involved.

Here’s the simple and straightforward proposal:  “Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to prevent the state, counties and other political subdivisions from imposing any new tax, including a sales tax, on the sale or transfer of homes or any other real estate?”

As an example, here’s a calculation on a St. Charles County home sale. The home sold for $150,000 and at the St. Charles County taxation rate of 7.0750%, the amount would be an additional $10,612.50.* Jane Mendenhall, president-elect of the Missouri Association of Realtors, believes the transfer tax places undue stress on low-income Missourians who typically spend a larger percentage of income on their home.

Add the mix of Missourians who have lost their jobs, had pay cuts and have been forced to sell their homes or experienced a drop in property values, and the transfer tax just isn’t good for the recovering Missouri economy.

Legislators are looking around to fine new sources of revenue. The transfer tax is one of those sources politicians are eyeing. With the help of voters and homebuyers, the transfer tax will not be an additional burden on Missouri residents.

* This number is based on area percentages.

Written by Myra Vandersall

I have expounded on the brilliance of mornings in the past, and now, I'm afraid I must write an ode to Mondays.  There are people in this world who, when Monday rolls around, they hit the snooze button eighteen times before finally rolling out of bed, their hair mussed and going every direction, dark circles under their eyes, and pajamas rumpled from their tossing, turning escapades of the night past.

Perhaps I need not say it, but I'm not one of those people.  I rolled out of bed bright and early this morning at 7am, brushed my teeth, pulled on the clothes I'd laid out last night, grabbed the bag I'd packed, grabbed my pop tarts and headed to work.  I flew across the 520 bridge and soared up 405, parking in my favorite spot upon arrival and taking a quick jaunt to Starbucks for an iced mocha.

Yes, it was a good morning. 

Setting down with my mocha and my Todoodlist, I added a few items that had popped up over the weekend, sent out prepatory emails to some of the guys so that I had what I needed by the end of the day, and got down to work.  Lunch flew by without a fuss - everyone's lunch order was correct this time! Woot!

Now, I'm sitting here, and it's 2:34pm.  My Todoodlist is now down to three items for follow-up -- down from eighteen this morning.  Now, orange juice in hand, I'm considering the rest of my day.  I have just an hour and a half before it's over, and that is PLENTY of time to get some of the more tasteless frogs swallowed.

Mondays are wonderful work days for me because I have SO much energy.  I'm a yes-girl on Mondays - "Yes, I can do that!" "Sure, I'll get right on it!" "Absolutely, I have time for that today."  I think this energy is the product of keeping my weekends low-key; if you're always running around, when do you have time to breathe?  Story of my life!

So an ode to Mondays...  They are definitely my high-energy, high-production day.  I know Jon thinks I'm super-organized and uber-productive, but everyone has those days where they don't feel like they got anything done (I've posted about a few myself!).  All I have to say is: Thank the Rain for Mondays.... we have to start somewhere, and why not start on the best foot possible?

Some tips for happy Mondays:

1. On FRIDAY, make your Monday to-do list, so you don't think about it at all over the weekend.  Neaten your desk.
   
2. Sunday evening, eat before 8pm and get to sleep at a reasonable hour.  If you have time, read before bed.
3. Monday morning, get out of bed the first time your alarm goes off.  Studies show that people actually feel MORE tired after hitting the snooze.
4. Upon arrival to work, add the new items that came through your inbox to your to-do list.
5. Get some coffee or orange juice, make sure you've eaten SOMETHING (even if it's just a banana).
6. Start at #1 on your to-do list and race yourself to see how much you can get done before the next person arrives at work.

Finally:

      7.  Make sure you always have ONE THING on your desk that makes you happy.  Right now, I have daffodils!

If you are thinking about making an offer on a house you like, chances are you are planning to make an offer for something less than the asking price.  And chances are you'd like some idea of what the magic number might be - the absolute least amount of money the seller will take.

Well, if you are thinking about asking the listing agent for this little piece of information, save your breath!  If she knows, she can't tell you.

But guess what!  She doesn't know.  She doesn't have a clue.

And guess what else!  The sellers don't know either.  They won't have a clue of what their bottom line is until they are faced with an offer and go back and forth a few times with the prospective buyers.

So if you are wondering what the sellers will take, make an offer.  If your number is too low, the worst thing that can happen is that they will reject your it.  In this market, however, they are more likely to make a counter-offer.  After a little give and take, you will get your answer, and if you can reach a meeting of the minds, you'll have a new house.

One of the great things about buying in a buyer's market is that you can negotiate, and most sellers are willing to do a little horse trading to sell their homes. 

If you wait until the market turns around, you could find yourself having to compete with other buyers who all want your house!

This seems to be the question of the hour.

How do I find out if Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae has my loan??

To find out if either of these two giants have your loan you need to first call your lender or loan servicer (the one who sends you a mortgage statement every month) and ask them if one of the two have your loan. If they do not want to tell you because some might not or if you do not feel comfortable with the customer service reps answer then you can find out directly from Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae by clicking the direct links below or calling the toll free numbers:

• Does Freddie Mac have my mortgage online request form
• 1-800-FREDDIE (8am to 8pm EST)

• Does Fannie Mae have my mortgage online request form
• 1-800-7FANNIE (8am to 8pm EST)

Once you know who has your loan you can then see if you qualify for the new refinance program that begins today for homeowners throughout America that are current with their mortgage payments but have not been able to qualify for a refinance due to the loss of value in their home. 

Should you have any questions please feel free to contact me. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have.