While, Yes, yes they do.

I was told in real estate training that there are 4 types of buyers

1) SUPER MOTIVATED BUYER: needs to move in 30-90 days, a lease is running out or some life changing event dicates the quick move

2) NOT SO FAST BUYER: needs to move but has time  - no rush. (These buyers can look at short sales - talk about that later) 120-180 days

3) Very Distant Future: want to buy but need to save for down payment or repair credit. 180 days - 365 days

4) Tire kickers -  won't buy -  just browsing

So who is looking -  Category 1 and 2 are and some will go through great lengths. I had several clients come in during huge NorEaster Storms because they did not want to miss out on a specific home.

So if your serious about finding your new place  - get those long johns, heavy socks, waterproof boots, parkas, gloves and scarfs our because our team is not afraid of brave the elements with you. So let's ride down to Lordship, Paradise Green, North End or even the South End. For a free  -  no hassel consulation call 203-257-9954

Home Sellers -  Prepare your home during the Winter:

1) Clean up the walkway and driveways

2) Keep it CLEAN inside  -  this is important!!

3) Make repairs  - weather permitting but if the boiler has a leak that won't fair well.

4) Paint in the can $25 -  Paint on the wall $1000 (something neutral preferably)

5) Turn on heat -  keep it warm and inviting

6) Create ambiance -  staging a dining room with your China and linens or even arranging for the fireplace to be on for the showing will help

7) Use Timers  & leverage technology to help turn on lights

8) Share information -  want the buyer to notice something specific  - use a little card to point it out

Our team can help you prepare and get the most out of staging on a budget - 

Respectfully -  Eddie Gutierrez

Run don't walk -  this is not a sleeper - it will sell quickly!

Eddie Gutierrez 203-257-9954

So I am out looking for a home and some of the towns we have considered have been: Trumbull, Monroe, Newtown and Orange and Woodbridge (biggest reason we decided on these towns were the school districts all rated 8,9 and 10 according to Greatschools.

So I am not picky, (at least I thought I wasn't) - until I go out and everything we have come across has one thing or another. So, I gave myself the advise I give others: THERE IS NO PERFECT HOUSE - get the one that meets most of what you are looking for and make it your own - good advise right, sounds like I had this moment of true wisdom.

We look some more and still. We have seen a lot of homes and still. We finally see one and NOT perfect - but we liked it. Listed way to high - so we offer and wait. NO GO.

So I ask 

WHERE IS THE INVENTORY?

WHERE HAVE ALL THE GOOD HOUSES GONE????

The truth is that I need to adjust my mindset -and I think buyers in my situation may agree -otherwise I will be searching for a very long time to find missed opportunities that would have been good places to settle down in.

Note to seller's: staging is important to highlight features and fellow agent's Pictures are important - like really important.

Please read this information before writing an offer to help you navigate the process.  Thank you very much for your interest.

1. Unless you can justify it through comparable sales, it is not worth your time to write an offer substantially below list price.  We understand the buyer's desire to get a deal, yet we provide the banks we represent with accurate market information and price the properties to sell.
2. All offers must be professionally written on standard contract forms.  Offers with few contingencies and short settlements will be preferred.
3. Banks require us to present offers to them on a summary form - which is short.  Include a cover letter with three or four things you'd like us to convey to the bank on that short form.
4. All REO properties are sold in AS IS condition (this includes termites).  Banks are not in the business to renovate or repair, but rather price accordingly.  Be sure all offers have an AS IS addendum attached.
5. It is strongly encouraged that all buyers inspect the property prior to writing an offer to avoid the hassle of having to void the contract later.  Depending on the season, the property may be winterized, and utilities turned off. 
6. Of course, we love to co-op with agents representing buyers.
7. Offers submitted over the weekend will be sent to the bank Monday.
8. The volume of inquiries we get prevents us from calling everyone back - therefore, please email us at eddie@gutierrezhomes.com with any questions or offers.  The email address is constantly monitored.
9. All deposit money must be delivered to our office at  4942 Main Street Bridgeport, CT 06606 within 24 hours of offer acceptance.
10. Please leave the seller's name blank when writing your offer.  The information in the public tax record is unlikely to be correct.
11. Banks will typlically not pay commission to agents representing themselves.
12. Many banks reserve the right to pay commissions based on the NET sales price.
13. Response time on offers will likely be several days.  Written deadlines will be ignored by the bank. 
14. If your offer is accepted, the bank will require you to sign a bank addendum.  The language in the addendum cannot be changed.  It may take a week or more to get all documents returned ratified.
15. Banked owned properties are exempt from property condition disclosures.
16. The property was acquired through foreclosure so title delays are common.  The buyer must be patient until the title is fully cleared.
17. The buyer should re-key the property after closing for security reasons.
18. Call us with any questions...203-257-9954

Most Realtors work on contingency: they do not get paid until a client buys or sells a home. The sales commission is their paycheck, compensating them for their time and covering their expenses (such as advertising, automobile, office equipment and supplies, and utilities).

Typically the buyer’s and seller’s agents each receive 3 percent of the sales price. But your Realtor does not usually get the entire 3 percent—it is split again with his or her real estate office.

• Buyer: Most real estate services are paid for from the seller’s proceeds. Approximately 25 percent of the time, however, the buyer pays a portion of the commission. The buyer’s portion of the total commission is usually around 0.25 to 0.5 percent of the purchase price.
• Seller: Traditionally the seller pays the real estate commission for both the selling and the listing agents (typically a total of 6 percent of the sales price). Gutierrez Real Estate Group will detail this expense and any other selling costs (such as taxes) in our initial presentation to you.

        Here are the basics you will need to know in regards to "status" terminology:

ACTIVE: This home is fully available and ready to purchase from a qualified buyer.

SUBJECT TO THIRD PARTY: This home is a short sale. The seller does not have the funds in order to sell the home at the current market price so must sell it contingent upon the Bank (3rd party) approving the loss it will take on the loan that is owed to them.

CTS (Continue to Show): The seller has already signed a primary offer but willing to take "back-up offers". Taking a back up is great for the seller BUT not the purchaser. Typically a back-up offer only strengthens the seller's negotiating with the primary offer. Forcing them to agree to more favorable terms by leveraging your back-up offer.

Pending: (CONTINGENT) This home has an accepted offer but is subject to some type of contingency. Typically a mortagage contingency or title search.

HC/Hubbard Clause: This home has an accepted offer but has a contingency that the Seller can exercise. The seller can accept other offers and can "kick out" the current offer if a better one is received and the current buyer is unwilling to remove their contingency to purchase. This normally is a result of a buyer needing to sell another property first in order to purchase the current home.

SOLD: Closed transaction.

WITHDRAWN: Seller has removed the home from the market and is no longer actively selling the home.

EXPIRED: Seller has not extended the Listing Agreement with the Listing Agent (Realtor) and property is no longer being actively marketed.

BOMK: (Back on Market) This is a short term status when a property comes back to Active status after being placed in pending or withdrawn status.

             For more questions on terminology contact Gutierrez Real Estate Group today to make sure you are looking for the right homes that are still ACTIVE

Short sales allow the cash-strapped seller to repay the mortgage at the price that the home sells for, even though it is lower than what is owed on the property. As a CDPE, Eddie can confidently guide sellers through a short sale process to avoid foreclosure, which can be devastating to homeowners. In fact, on average, CDPEs are able to keep homeowners in their home more than twice as often as losing properties to foreclosure. More and more lenders are willing to consider short sales because they are much less costly than foreclosures.

In Fairfield County, more than over 3,500 homes are currently in pre-foreclosure. It is happening in all price ranges. Local experts say that even high-priced homes are not immune.

“This CDPE designation is a crucial part of getting homeowners through the ambigious process of dealing with mortgage servicers. This education along with our experience will help save lots of homeowners."

Alex Charfen, founder of the Distressed Property Institute in Boca Raton, Fla., said that REALTORS^® such as Eddie Gutierrez with the CDPE designation have valuable training in short sales that can offer the homeowner much better alternatives to foreclosure, which virtually destroys the credit rating. These experts also may better understand market conditions and can help sellers through the emotional experience, he said.

For more information about CDPE designation or to reach Eddie Gutierrez call 203-257-9954

Congress passed new legislation that extends the First-Time Home Buyer tax credit to April 30, 2010. The legislation also expands the credit to grant up to $6,500 credit to current home owners purchasing a new or existing home between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010.

The National Association of REALTORS has outlined the changes to the Home Buyer Tax Credit in this Article, Click here. They have also provided a list of answers to some frequently asked questions.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions regarding this new legislation. Now is a great time to buy!

I was going through and found this great video on CBS. I think it holds alot of weight.