A Christmas Greeting!

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DON'T FORGET TO VOTE....

Tomorrow 86% of Washington D.C. is up for reelection! In ONE day you as a citizen can be heard and make a difference! Polls are open from 7 AM-8PM so don't forget your duty and lets vote!

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead (1901-1978

Do's & Dont's For Sellers

Be market smart! If you are selling your home right now or getting ready to put your home up on the market; there are a few DO's and DONT's that you need to be aware of.

DO’S

Be flexible. Often it’s the little things that push a buyer into the “yes” zone. If the buyer goes on and on about how much they love your icemaker, throw it in. If the closing has to be pushed ahead more than you expected, try to be as flexible as possible and pack the moving van a little quicker.

Clean up. One person’s prize doll collection is another person’s cluttered nightmare. Similarly, a living room filled with Beanie Babies could elicit a reaction of fear, rather than “Aw, how cute!” from a buyer. Put away any personal collections that not only cause clutter, but also make it hard for a buyer to see the home as his or hers, rather than yours.

DON’TS

Don’t be greedy. The market—not your emotions—dictates your home’s price. If comparables in the area, and several trusted real estate agents tell you your home is worth $400,000, you’re not fooling anyone by pricing it at $500,000—and you’re only doing yourself a disservice. Pricing it at market, even a little below, could generate a bidding war, and ultimately get you more money.

Don’t get personal. If you’re selling your house for a certain amount, and someone offers something much lower, don’t take this as a personal affront and refuse to counteroffer. Letting your emotions get in the way can potentially ruin the deal. What’s the harm in making a counteroffer?

Don’t procrastinate. In the current climate, you might be scared to try to sell your home, as you may have to face a lower selling price than you may have gotten before the recession. But remember, the house you buy might be even lower, commensurately. It’s all relative. So if you’re serious about selling, consider doing it now. Also, acting before the cold months come is a good idea, as the winter months are historically harder for home sales.
-Courtesy of RIS Media

100% Financing is Available!

The USDA Rural Housing mortgages has just received funding for the zero-down payment loan program which ran out of money earlier this year!

With the restored funding, this program is expected to allow low and moderate income buyers in rural areas to buy homes with no money down and no monthly mortgage insurance!

So what areas in Utah County qualify? Areas south of Spanish Fork to the county line as well as any home west of the Jordan River!

To see if you qualify call Scott at Stearns Lending at 801-802-8260 or if you would like a list of homes emailed to you visit my website www.sandibates.com!

1 out of 5 Homeowners Are Upside Down...

One out of five Utah Homeowners with a mortgage was in a "negative-equity" sitution in the second quarter according to CoreLogic. In Utah, 20% of people with a mortgage owed more on their homes than they were worth, and more than 6% were getting close to being "underwater".

Compared to other states, the percentage is relatively mild. In Nevada, 68% were in a negative-equity situation followed by Arizona at 50%, Florida 46%, Michigan 38% and California 33%.

If you think you may be in this situation here are a couple of sites that you can visit that have some great suggestions on how to avoid foreclosure and other helpful tips. And of course you can always call or email me with questions too!

Just click here for those tips: Upside Down Tips OR HUD Tips

Household Tips You can Use!

1-Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store.
If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster..

2-Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away.

3-To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass, fill it 1/2' with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid; mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!

4-Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it 'home,' can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works and you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!

5-Clean your dryer vent screen with hot soapy water and toothbrush to remove the waxy film that your dryer sheet leaves behind. It will help your dryer last alot longer!