All Forum Posts by: Account Closed

Chris, I did, and thank you. I also called those people who showed the house to tell them, and offered a 4.5% commission for a full price offer.
I got a little feedback, too. One person still has it on their list, and may go back to see it again.
One person thought it is too small for them. At 1300sq feet, it is one of the smaller ones listed in the area.
One person didn't like that the master bedroom is right next to the front door. I didn't especially, either, but I got over that. I reminded him that the back bedroom is almost the same size, and the bathroom next to it is quite private.
One agent said they saw several, and though mine is higher priced for the size, it is also the only one in ready to move in condition. The others need work, and one was a HUD house that need a lot of work. He said it was really well taken care of, and may be worth the extra money, considering the needed work on the others.

I appreciate your suggestion on the "one party showing agreement". Using that information may help get this property sold.

The agents I talked to this morning sounded interested, and when I said, please think of me for your clients, they responded affirmatively. Of course they would anyway, but their tone said they would, too.
So...
There's still a month to go to enter the 3 to 5 month DOM standard.

Originally posted by Financexaminer:

Use to be, and maybe still, corner lots were marketed as a big plus, ...as they add more privacy when the traffic dies down (especially when there really is no real traffic) as there were only neighbors on one side and to the back to get along with. Others in the block had three neighbors.

I am extrememy aware of that at MY house. My nearest house to the east is easily 50 feet away. I sit on my rear patio at night and enjoy the quiet. I have an added advantage that my lot is about 5 feet higher than the street and the lot behind me. Those folks and the ones presently to my side are quiet. People can't easily see into my yard.

As Mike mentioned, access is a big plus for those with RVs and boats.
I think I'll be filling in a swimming pool within the next year, and the conveyer truck will be able to drive within "shooting" range. His chutes reach 50 feet, so he should have no trouble reaching the pool. The gravel won't have to be wheelbarrowed from the driveway to the back of the house. (about 20 tons.)

My -,02 (adjusted for todays market)
I now live on a corner lot. I'm in a relatively quiet subdivision, as far as traffic is concerned, and my "frontage" street is a cul de sac, rather than a through street. I'm okay with it because there is little traffic at any time. My particular lot is not big, but having street access on the side allows me the potential to do yard work that I wouldn't ordinarily easily be able to do.

Two problems a corner lot can have is exhaust fumes and vehicle noise (motor, brakes, radio, kids, etc) when cars stop to wait for traffic before continuing on, especially in the morning traffic hours.
The same can be said if the cluster mailbox or other nuisance is on one or both sides. Think of a four way stop sign at your corner...

I'm in a similar situation and wondering if I should add sentence or two to the agents’ notes in my listing that I am willing to sign a limited agreement with the buyer’s agent for a higher commission (4 or 5, rather than 3) and limited to that buyer only, for that sale only, to expire when buyer or seller rejects the offer or withdraws, or within xx hours?
How do I word it so it’s clear and concise?

I'd address it from the other end too. Tell the buyer what to expect in the place, and worse. Tell them the units are in excellent shape (if they are) and show them the books, where the tenents have paid on time, every time. Let the buyer know that the tenants want to stay, and are concerned/afraid that if the place is sold, the tenants will have to move, and they don't want to.(If you think that's the case.)
Help the buyer look beyond the mess and dirt. A shovel and soapy water work wonders,when put together with elbow grease. If the place is sound and in good condition, help the buyer see that.

Jeff and Chris are right on the mark. And I'd be concerned about that "go-between", too.
So they told you of the back hoa fees. Did they tell you about the attorney /collection fees? If that much money is owed, most likely it's been turned over to an attorney for collection. Hoas do not normally reduce the amount due, for any reason, so don't count on it.
At the very least, you need to get, in writing, a statement from the management company, a letter of accounting, as to dues and fines owed, and whether that has been turned over to a collection agency or attorney for collection, as well as whether it's already being foreclosed on.
If it's been turned over to collections or attorney, you need to find out what THEY are charging the owner. Do NOT give any money to the "owner" or his "go-between." Find out the attorney's address, and pay by certified check, in person, and get the receipt marked paid in full--AFTER you own it. No reason to give that seller dude the money! He's likely to skip as he already has.
IF you purchase the place, you need to know even about unpaid utilities, and all the other financials of the hoa--major repairs to the common areas, any lawsuits against it, and everything else you can think of, or get advice about.

Sounds to me like you're being scammed.

A hundred years ago, (more or less, lol) my first apartment was exactly similar to that. My landlord owned 4 very large houses in the city, in a rectangle, I suppose. I was young and didn't care. Two mansions were empty. He had converted one, a 3 story brick building into either 5 or 6 apartments:one in the basement his caretaker lived in, one on the first floor, 2 on the second (I lived in the front one) and 2 on the 3rd floor. Mine was huge. Huge rooms, living room, bath, kitchen, one bedroom. The other one on the second floor was not as large. The front one on the third floor was as large as mine,
He and his girlfriend lived in the very large house behind that building. It had been servants quarters and several car garage. The other two were being cleaned out to be remodeled into similar status--several apartments each.
That was a long time ago, in New Jersey.
No reason it can't be done now, probably...

more out of the box thinking: Can the pool be rented/leased to a local group who would be responsible for holding insurances and all upkeep? Maybe even a nearby apartment housing owner as an incentive for people to rent his apartments? A local private club, social or church group? A local shool or college, for sports training? A local hospital or community older folks/senior citizens as a place for their clients to exercise or do rehab of various kinds?
Sounds silly, I'm sure, but who knows? It may be easier/ much less expensive to lease a place like that than build one.

What is the yearly cost of the pool? Water, utilities, care? Have you considered having it demolished? To do that here (Arizona) costs about $5k depending on the situation. You may, depending on local and state laws, simply have several drainage holes drilled in it and filled in.

I strongly suggest not getting a condo. A condo may be not expensive to purchase, and does not have the (personal) responsibility for yardwork or upkeep, but has many many other problems, including people above, below, and on each side, possibly making lotsa noise.
Read the hoa site here to get an idea of a few of the problems faced by condo owners.
They do include high, and increasing yearly, dues, lack of maintenance of buildings and property, problems with plumbing from a neighboring unit damaging yours and the board resisting and denying any responsibility, owners not paying dues so there is no money for repairs, so her dues will go higher to make up for the lack, and many others.
google terms like condos and problems, hoa owner problems, problems with hoas, etc.
The purchase of many condos is pretty low. The cost of living in them is not necessarily, and condos are often harder to sell because of all the problems.
Though I would also suggest that she NOT buy into an hoa, with single family houses, a smaller single family house would, in my opinion, be much better for her. Hiring someone to do yardwork as needed for a smaller place may be do-able, and may not be needed every week or every month. If she needs to hire a housekeeper, maybe that will not be so much with a smaller place, either.
Maybe simply economizing on things will help.
Is she eligible for any local tax breaks due to age or marital status or health? Here, widowed and disabled get (small) tax breaks. If low income, some utility companies offer lower rates. Of course, these would be availale if she were in a smaller house, too.
A few last words on condo associations and home owner associations/any kind of association: they are CORPORATIONS. She would never own the property, would always have to follow rules set up by others, and pay them to police and enforce rules probably already paid for in her taxes. If she misses paying dues, they can lien the property and huge problems can follow, including foreclosure.
Look into it carefully.

The carpet is new (relatively- probably several months, maybe about a year. I would guess the padding is too.
I bought it like this, I don't think anyone lived in it since it was laid, until I moved in.
So, I have to pull it up --the wet is at the base of the walls, and maybe a foot out, at the widest. But it is long, several feet along the base of the wall. Do I need to pull the carpet back for that?