Archive for the 'Buyer Info' Category

Warning Signs of a Fraudulent Real Estate Agent

Picking your Real Estate Agent

With so many real estate agencies on the line today, spotting a fraudulent one can often be difficult, especially if you’re dealing with a true conman who knows the industry. In this modern age though, it is becoming easier to stop fakes when it comes to agencies and their representatives. Here are a a few ways to spot a fake and save you your time and money.

No License

Your real estate agent should always be licensed and listed with the appropriate agencies. Check national databases because they should list the broker’s private license. If they work for a large company, the corporation also be licensed.

Always be wary of fake websites! Many scammers and con-artists know that they have internet savvy customers and often set up professional looking websites to keep up their scams. Always dig deep by checking the relator, knowing their name, and the state that they are “licensed” for. If you believe that companies need an even deeper check, you can always call the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) or BBB (Better Business Bureau) to verify their company is legitimate.

Advertising and Referrals

Be wary of ads on sides like Craigslist. These are often posts that sound too good to be true, so more than often, they’re not real. Scammers and con-artists often rely on the deal overriding your good senses.

When asking for referrals, if they either have none or give you too many, you should walk away. A good real estate agent develops a trusted circle of referrals as contacts. If your realtor is using an online ad agency, check for reviews from other users.

Most fake real estate agents often ask for money up front, whether they are selling a house or trying to have you purchase one. Before signing any agreements or handing over any cash, make sure you check licenses and if the intended property is really for sale. Real real estate agents generally work for commission, meaning they will receive a percentage of the house sale. They will generally never ask for money down rather than fake real estate agents who may try to hide it with terms like “initial investment” or “brokerage fees”. If any realtor asks for money down, always check their license.

Deals that sound “Too Good”

That’s because 99.9% of the time, they are. With market prices as they are, you should never take a deal at face value. Always know the market prices for the area and the type of home you’re interested in. Many fake agents will try and hoodwink you with “great deals” with extremely low prices because they’re not selling the property at all.

Skipping Negotiations

Fraudulent real estate agents often don’t want to negotiate because they’re only in it for the money from the security deposit. Don’t be fooled by terms like “one time only”, “best deal”, or by too low prices even in a market filled with foreclosures.

Excessive Eagerness

Many real estate agents often have several bookings for a single listing, you are just one of the many potential customers. If they seem far too eager to close the deal, you may have a fake real estate agent on your hands.

Extreme Pushiness

Scammers and con-artists know that they can be discovered at any given moment, so they will often try and push to close the deal as soon as possible. They often give you deadlines and consistently bug and badger you to close the deal, NOW. A true real estate agent know that clients need time to think and evaluate before they make such a large purchase.

By trusting your instincts and doing research will go a long way when it comes to protecting your money. If you are in the market for a home or selling yours, you need to know your stuff. Always do your research and consider contacting a trusted Highlands Ranch real estate agent today.

Highlands Ranch Homeowners Get Mortgage Help

Highlands Ranch Homeowners Get Mortgage Help

Since the beginning of the “Mortgage Meltdown”, to which Highlands Ranch was not immune, there have been programs to help people stay in their homes rather than lose them to foreclosure. Many of these programs were reactionary in nature and offered little help to most troubled homeowners. I personally know of several families that applied to their lenders and the government for help only to be frustrated with the paperwork, guidelines and process of receiving help. Even if they found their way through the maze of bureaucracy and received some sort of help, the programs did not address the root of the problem and people ended up losing their homes anyways. The real issue for most people is Read the rest of this entry »

Denver Housing Market Recovery

Is 2012 The Beginning of a  Denver housing recovery?

I can remember back in 2005 when sales began to slow and prices stabilized then began to decrease. I could tell within 60 days that the market had changed and that we were in a downturn. I had no idea how deep and long it would be, but I knew something had changed. I get the distinct feeling that the real estate market is beginning to change again and this time Read the rest of this entry »

Thinking About Living in Highlands Ranch? Good Thinking!

Some reasons to consider making Highlands Ranch your home

It’s not a secret what my opinion is when it comes to living in Highlands Ranch; it’s a great move! There are plenty of reasons for my opinion on the matter; great schools, great community, safe and secure environment, open spaces, gorgeous homes, proximity to Denver, proximity to the mountains, and, of course, the best neighbors in the state! While I think that everyone should be OK with simply taking my word for it, I realize that for some, my word alone isn’t enough. That’s why in today’s post I’m going to bring in some third party opinions which I think solidify my belief that if you are thinking about living in Highlands Ranch, well, that’s good thinking!

 

CNN Money

In 2010 CNN Money rated Highlands Ranch as the 12th best place to live in the nation, and the second best in Colorado! CNN cites the town’s 8,100 acres of undeveloped land, 22 recreational parks, activities such as hiking, biking and golfing, as well as a strong school district and consistent home prices all as reasons for this impressive ranking. According to CNN, one of the World’s most trusted news sources, if you are considering living in Highlands Ranch, there are a ton of good reasons why.

 

GreatSchools.org

As one of the premier school rating sites on the web, greatschools.org lists over 200,000 public and private schools across the country, and uses reviews from over 800,000 parents, as well as other performance-based indicators (test scores, faculty ratings, etc) to rank each school system in the country. Needless to say, they are a high quality source for finding the nation’s top educational systems, and they rate Highlands Ranch schools a 9 out of 10! If you want the best possible education for your children (and what parent wouldn’t?) you simply can’t go wrong choosing Highlands Ranch.

 

Bestplaces.net

This site has a lot of great information pertaining to quality of life standards of towns and cities across the United States. They rank Highlands Ranch the “number 3 City on the Edge of Greatness”, citing the relatively low unemployment, the great school system, and the steady population growth as indicators of it’s greatness.

 

So, there you have it. You no longer have to just take my word for it when I say that living in Highlands Ranch is a great decision. If you are interested in finding out what Highlands Ranch has to offer you and your family, please give me a call today, and let The Kuchar Team help you get into the perfect Highlands Ranch home for you.

Highlands Ranch Short Sales

Short Sales in Highlands Ranch

A Short Sale is the sale of a home where the owner owes the bank more than the property is worth. The bank is forced to either foreclose on the property or take less than is owed on the mortgage creating a “shortage”. Usually a person applying for a short sale has some sort of hardship that is causing them to no longer afford the home that they once qualified for.  The most common reasons for owners to consider a short sale is a loss of income due to unemployment or increase in expenses due to illness.  Another cause of short sales I come across is divorce.  When a divorce happens and the couple can no longer live together the remaining spouse is unable to afford the property with one income and they are forced to sell the home via short sale.

Falling Home Values Cause Short Sales

When I started selling homes in 1991 there weren’t any short sales.  Throughout the 90′s and into the mid 2000′s there weren’t many foreclosures so a short sale wasn’t really considered.  In most cases values were steadily increasing and people Read the rest of this entry »