Real Estate Investing Advice

Real estate investing.  Well, first off, it isn’t a game!  With the number of foreclosures and short sales currently on the market at well-below market prices, many would-be-investors are considering investing in real estate while prices are down and the climate is still buyer-friendly.  Wise?  It certainly can be.  Easy?  Not always.  You  have to do your research and consider if real estate investing is really the gig for you!  It is not for the faint of heart, but it can be a great move for your future if you invest the time and the research necessary to increase your chances of success, and a lot of what is necessary to success is absorbing the realities!  Engage a real estate agent that knows the areas in which you are interested in investing and can assist you with your research and advise you according to your circumstances.  To get started, check out Glenn Curtis’ article for Investopedia.com, 5 Mistakes Real Estate Investors Should Avoid.

To making well-thought-out investment decisions~                                        Rosemary, Atkinson-Thompson Group

Foreclosure Resources

Unfortunately, we live in a current economic environment where foreclosures are on most every street.  Hopefully, you are not in danger of losing your home, but if you are, you need to be as educated as you can be!  Please look into a short sale first, because it will be so much less harmful to your credit and your future financial future!  If it looks like foreclosure is the ONLY option, here is a great resource for you.  Please take a look at this link and let us know if you have any questions.

Rosemary and I are both certified in short sales and foreclosures, and the most important thing we can do for you is to educate you and keep your personal information completely confidential!  This is hard stuff to talk about and you can trust that we will only discuss it with you and your lender.  NO ONE ELSE!

Holler with questions.  We are here to help.

-Betsy
Atkinson-Thompson Group

Foreclosures by state

Rosemary and I answer questions everyday about the state of real estate in Kansas City.  We always find that people think it is worse than it really is.  The news that most of us hear is based on real estate at the national level.  Thankfully Kansas City never had the extreme appreciation that some cities and states had… and therefor we have not had the extreme depreciation that others have seen.  This interactive map shows the unemployment and foreclosure rates by state.  It isn’t pretty, but I bet it isn’t nearly as bad as you have heard!

-Betsy

Don’t forget… Rosemary and I are both Certified Foreclosure and Short Sale Specialists.  We are here to help if you need us.

Shortsale and Foreclosure: The Future

Given the economy and the downturn in the housing market, foreclosures and shortsales are way on the rise, and they are often necessary to a seller’s financial recovery!  It happens!  Though Betsy and I are both certified in shortsale and foreclosure transactions (“SFR” designation), and can professionally guide you through them, it is important to be aware of all the current trends involved in these transactions.  One no longer can assume that they can “just walk away” after such a transaction! 

Click here to read the latest from Jim Wasserman for RISMedia on the repercussions that shortsale and foreclosure transactions can hold for your future.  It is important that anyone facing a shortsale or foreclosure scenario consult a real estate professional to guide them through the process and advise them on negotiations with their investor to arrive at the best alternatives for their future. 

Best, and contact us if you need us! 

~Rosemary

An Added Threat To Your Home Value?

Along with the upheaval in the mortgage industry, the downturn in housing prices, a high unemployment rate, and a shaky economy comes another resultant threat that can influence the value of your home.  About one-third of all homeowners are currently “upside-down” in their mortgages (they owe more than their home’s current market value).  This gives them little incentive or morale to keep up their home.  Many other  homeowners are in danger of or in foreclosure.  Many builders cannot finish neighborhoods, because their homes are not selling, so partially-built homes are sitting on dirt lots.   All of these and more factors can influence the value of your home, because any of these homes can be in your neighborhood or a neighborhood in which you are considering purchasing a home.  Click here for an informative article on the subject by Marilyn Kennedy Melia for Bankrate.com.

Best~  Rosemary