Seller Concessions, What Are They?

As long as I have been in real estate, 9 out of 10 purchase agreements that come across my desk have some sort of “seller concession”, whether it be “discount points” and or “seller paid buyer closing cost”, and on average about 3%.

Read more here; http://www.zillow.com/wikipages/What-Are-Seller-Concessions-or-Contributions/

Agency Disclosure in Minnesota

Did you know under Minnesota law, a form entitled “Agency Relationships in Real Estate Transactions” must be presented at first substantive contact to a buyer/tenant or seller/landlord in any real estate transaction!

http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/31df3b26#/31df3b26/6 

Starting to see something like this in your neighborhood or on your neighbors home and wondering what it is?

It is a radon mitigation system because this home had recently been tested and was found to have 4.0 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher than the EPA recommended level of radon. This is still new in the buying and selling of real estate but radon is REAL!
This year so far, 8 of my buyers and or sellers of single family homes had radon tests and 3 have tested above 4.0. Those 3 then had a mitigation system installed before listing and or closing.
I am now strongly recommending to all my buyers that the home they want to purchase be tested before completing the purchase and all my sellers before the home is listed for sale.
Read more here and consider having your home tested.
http://www2.epa.gov/radon/citizens-guide-radon-guide-protecting-yourself-and-your-family-radon 

"Pocket" listing, not in sellers best interest!

With the market being more of a seller’s market, I am seeing more and more “pocket” listings. "Pocket" means the listing agent is not putting the listing on the MLS and possibly other forms of real estate advertising.
I don’t care how you cut it; this practice does not have the seller’s best interest at heart.
http://www.realtor.com/advice/3-concerns-pocket-listings-every-home-seller-consider/

Have Gutters and Still Have Water Seepage!

Recently I went to a home the owners are considering selling but they have concerns about the water seepage in the basement. The owners pointed out where the water is coming in so I went outside to take a look at the recently installed gutters and downspouts. I found that 1/3rd of the roofs water empties to an area under the deck next to the homes foundation that cannot drain away anyhow; the roofs water goes right into the basement!

I suggested to the owners how a change in the downspout and direction could substantially reduce or possibly eliminate their water seepage problem. I see stuff like this all too often; so many installation companies sell a good sale but do not put quality in to what they are selling.

Doing this gutter installation correctly from the get-go would not have cost the owners anymore and good chance it would have resolve their water seepage problem.

Moral of the story, always get a few opinions!