Gene's Bit of Blogging
Gene Mundt, Mortgage Lender - Direct: 815.277.4036    Cell/Text: 708.921.6331
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Recent Posts

Opening Night Coming for Joliet Slammers Baseball!
Multiple Offers and Appraisals ... Learning to Co-Exist Successfully
Buyers Decide Within 8 Seconds Whether They Are Interested In A Home
Students from Naperville, IL to Appear on "Late Show with David Letterman", Thursday, May 10th
I May Not Be Yoda, but I'm Darn Close!

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Gene's Bit of Blogging

Winnetka and North Shore

Could .. Woulda .. Shoulda. That's What You're Going to Say, if You Don't Buy Now!

 
 
Coulda ...  Woulda...  Shoulda!
That's What You're Going to Say, if You Don't Buy Now!

 
Don't have any regrets!  Contact Gene Mundt, Mortgage Lender Today! 
 
Missed Opportunities!
 
 Regrets!
 
 Lost Potential!

 
    Coulda ... Woulda ...    Shoulda! 

     That's what you're going to be hearing yourself say ... if you don't buy a home while the current unique and beneficial housing market's opportunities exist.
 
     Why?  How do I know this??  Because I've  begun to hear some Coulda ... Woulda ... Shoulda's ... stories related to me.   People are telling me they're kicking themselves over lost opportunities.
 
     Reports from many agents and potential home buyers alike, say homes in many areas of Chicago, Chicagoland, Will County (and elsewhere) are moving more quickly once again.  (One Example relating this change in the housing market comes from Chicagoland Agents:  Read this post from Howard & Susan Meyers, The Hudson Company, regarding the housing market on Chicagoland's North Shore: "The Worm Has Turned".)

    Many markets are healing and seeing rebounding prices.  Sellers are receiving multiple offers for their properties.  

     Bidding wars have returned to many housing regions.  Buyers are simply losing the "edge" they have been enjoying over sellers for the last couple of years. The tide is turning. (See this post from Jane Peters, Power Brokers International, Beverly Hills, CA ... "What Exactly is a Buyers' or a Sellers' Market in Real Estate?")
 
     Opportunities have been lost by some potential home buyers, leaving these potential home buyers wishing THEY had taken action sooner.  

     What kind of action??  Those I have talked to wish they had contacted a mortgage lender to be pre-qualified for mortgage financing much earlier.  Started preparing themselves for their mortgage application further ahead of time. 

      A few of my own clients have said they regret not regaining control over their own finances or taking action to improve their credit prior to talking to me.  They wish they had checked their Credit Report sooner and more often.  They now know they'd be much further ahead and have more financing options open to them when they buy.

    Many have stated they simply wish they had listened and followed their real estate agent's advice better.  They mistakenly thought they were going to "low-ball" a bid and steal a home at a ridiculously low price, then ended-up losing out.   The "low-ball" philosophy just didn't work.

    Still others have been fence sitters.  They've delayed making a sales offer too long and lost-out to other buyers capable and willing to make a home buying decision. 

   Good news does still exist!  Interest rates and housing prices remain low. 

     But do not doubt this ... time is of the essence.  You need to take action.

     Take steps NOW to prepare yourself.   At minimum, find and team-up with an experienced, professional mortgage lender.  Get the home buying ball rolling. 

    There are no negatives to having your credit report run.  Most mortgage lenders will do it for freeI do.  And whether you buy a home soon or down the road ... you win.  You save money on all sorts of services because you've improved your credit scores.  Insurance.  Cell phone service.  Credit cards ... you name it.  The better your credit, the less you pay, the more money you save.

    So, Contact me now.  Get started on your home buying journey today. 

     Avoid the Coulda ... 

    Dodge the Woulda ...  

    Protect yourself from the Shoulda ... 
 
    
 
 
 
    * Discover what home buying and financing options exist for you, whether in Will County, IL, Chicagoland, or any of the 50 states. Contact me today!  We'll work together to get you on the right path to homeownership ... now ... or for the future.
   I can be contacted through any of the following:  
Direct:  815.277.4036   Cell/Text:  708.921.6331
Conveniently thru Skype:  630.219.1316


The Rat That Stole the Show



The Rat That Stole the Show

 
 
    Home Sellers - this is a cautionary tale told at time when buyers are skittish and homes for Squirrelsale are aplenty.  If your home does not meet their standard they will bolt and head to the next home or the next one after that.  Your domino tiles have to be lined up perfectly.
 
     This week a colleague had an inspection of a home in the North Shore - she was representing the buyers.  Their biggest worry was that the house had a dryvit exterior (also known as a synthetic stucco) and that was what they wanted their inspector to focus on. He never got that far.
 
     He headed to the attic first and came back down with some stunning news.  The attic was infested with creatures - maybe they were rats, squirrels, possums, raccoons, who knows?  It didn't matter - the insulation was shot - completely burrowed through with animal feces and fur, and animals quickly scurrying away. Suddenly, the buyers didn't care about the dryvit - they canceled the inspection and they canceled the contract.  They have already moved on to several other homes they like.  End of story.
 
     Ruined attic insulation.  But is it?  Does it have to end this way?
 
     Are you thinking about selling your home?  Is your home currently for sale?  You will have the best shot at selling it if it priced right - that is the NUMBER 1 consideration you have.  This is not the time to test the market or not be fully motivated in your desire to sell.
 
     But at the same time, even a very compelling price can't undo the negative perception that an attic full of woodland animals will create.  Years ago, a buyer would have asked the seller to remove the animals, clean the space, and replace the insulation.  The sale would have probably been consummated.  Not so today.  The tipping point is much lower than it used to be and the only way to prevent a lost sale is make sure your house has no surprises.
 
     Consider getting your house pre-inspected by a certified Illinois inspector.  The cost of the inspection varies depending on the size of your house and the inspector you use, but generally they range from $400 to $800.  It is money well spent compared to the cost of not being able to sell your house.  If you find a problem you can mitigate it for much less than a buyer would demand. 
 
     Yes, the buyers will still conduct their own inspection - but you can rest easy that the rats won't steal your show. 
 
 
     If you are thinking about selling your Winnetka or North Shore home, please call me. I'd be happy to discuss and recommend good certified inspectors.
 
 
I sell homes in the following areas:

Margaret Goss GRI, CRS
Baird & Warner, Winnetka IL
847-977-6024