Archive for tag Buyer's agent
November 02, 2010 at 07:00 PM · Posted under Pat Tasker
You see a home that casually piques your interest. You aren’t really in the market for a home, but you really want to look at this house. You have an agent you’ve worked with before, but you think “I don’t want to bother them” just to check it out… You call the number on the sign, get an appointment, and guess what? You fall in love with the house and want to buy it. Now you want “your agent” to write it up. Like most businesses, there are “rules or customs” in real estate, and one of them is how we get paid. Since “your agent” didn’t introduce you to, or show you that property, if you want to write an offer, you will have to write it with the agent who did show you the home. If it is the listing agent, they are the sellers agent and definitely working in the sellers interest, NOT yours. So “not bothering” your agent on day one, wasn’t really doing them any favor, and more importantly yourself, as now you are stuck working with the agent who showed the home.
In our business, it’s called Procuring Cause. It’s a real estate term referring to who got the buyers attention on this property, who introduced the buyer to the property by way of showing it, and who get them to the point of wanting to write an offer? That is the agent with procuring cause, and the agent who will most likely get paid. While “your agent”, could write up the offer, they will not get paid, and nobody likes to work for free.
So even if it is a whim, or crazy thought, be sure to call the agent you would want to work with. A true professional, won’t think you are wasting their time. I am always happy to help past clients, customers, family or friends take a look at something. Of course it has to be within reason. We wouldn’t be showing multimillion dollar properties to buyers with minimal income or resources, under any circumstances. We do promise our sellers that we will be showing “qualified” buyers through their homes.
So if you see something that piques your interest, give me a call. I am always showing homes in the city or suburbs of Greater Milwaukee, I’d be glad to help you!
Posted by: 
Pat Tasker
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September 28, 2010 at 11:31 AM · Posted under Colleen Kuchta
As Realtors®, we talk a lot about the financial benefits of home ownership. We all know that there are tax breaks. But what other reasons are there for owning versus renting? I asked around, and here are the top answers that I received:
1) each monthly payment is tied to something you own
2) when you move out of a rental, you might get your security deposit back, but nothing more
3) owning your own home offers stability, you know the landlord is not going to sell the building out from under you
4) you are free to make physical changes and customize things to fit your needs and lifestyle
5) you can get a dog or cat (some rentals allow pets, while others don’t)
6) you can put up a fence
7) you don’t have to feel bad when young children are running through the house
8) a house offers more opportunity to entertain family & friends
9) your house is the place where you come home at night
10) a home is where your child learned to walk, where the teenagers hang out, where your grandkids visit, where Thanksgiving dinner is shared, where the Super Bowl party is held -it is filled with memories and love
For us, the financial benefits of homeownership are a no-brainer. But the real benefits are listed above, especially being able to fill our home with memories and love. As a Buyer’s agent I can help the transition to homeownership as smooth as possible. Call me, at 262-894-6512, or .
We are here to help! The Kuchta’s Kelly & Colleen
Posted by: 
Colleen Kuchta
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March 02, 2010 at 04:16 PM · Posted under Colleen Kuchta
Have you hired an agent to represent you for the purchase of your new home? Most buyers are unaware that when an agent is showing a home, the agent is actually working as a sub-agent of the agent that has the property listed. Many times a buyer will call or email the listing agent to request a private showing of the property, as well. In both cases, the loyalty 
of the agent lies in the seller’s best interest. This means they should be working to get the most money at the best terms possible for the property.
A sure way to have someone on your side during the biggest purchase of your life is to hire a Buyer’s Agent. Kelly & I are part of the Shorewest Realtors team. When you hire us, there is no charge for the peace of mind in knowing that we are putting your needs above even our own. We are Accredited Buyers Representatives with the ability to show all of the properties that are for sale. Whether this is your first home or you need a refresher, we will guide you through the transaction so that you know what to expect every step of the way!
Posted by:Colleen Kuchta
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February 25, 2010 at 11:52 AM · Posted under Ann Lebiecki
How long does it really take to buy a home?
You may have wondered just how long the process takes: searching, financing, inspecting, closing and finally moving in. If you follow the tips below you can be on your way to getting an accepted offer in as little as 2-3 weeks with a subsequent closing in 30 days. All total 6 weeks! Just in time to take advantage of the Home Buyers Tax Credit that expires April 30, 2010.
Here are a few tips and guidelines to use when planning to buy a home.
- Get pre-qualified. Ask your family, friends or co-workers who may have recently purchased a home who they used to finance the transaction. Set up a meeting with a loan officer to discuss the different loan programs that may be available to you. Right now one great program is an FHA loan. With the right credit scores you can buy a home with only 3.5% down payment and interest rates are very competitive. WHEDA, another government backed loan has just recently become available again too. Of course there is conventional financing that requires a minimum of 5% down (20% if you want to avoid paying private mortgage insurance-PMI). The loan officer will tell you how much of a loan you can qualify for and what your monthly payments would be. There are closing costs associated with the loan so make sure they give you an idea of what they should be.
- Find a Buyer’s Agent. Once you have found out you qualify for a home loan and what price point you are comfortable with, now you want to meet with a Buyers Agent. Not all Realtors are members of REBAC (Real estate buyers agent council) and may not be representing your best interest. In fact in Wisconsin, the agent showing you homes is not representing you the buyer unless you have entered into a formal written agreement called a Buyer’s Agency Representation. If you don’t have that written agreement the agent is a sub-agent for the listing broker and thereby is representing the sellers’ best interest. I offer buyer counseling to my clients where we get together and talk thru the process. I find out the buyers’ needs and wants in a home, and where they’d like to live. We discuss agency relationships, viewing homes and contingencies like financing and home inspection. We then pull up on the computer homes that meet their criteria and pick out ones to view. At the end of the 90 minute meeting we typically have a date set to go out on tour.
- View Homes. The beauty of working with one agent in the buying process is that he/she will set up the tour of homes and gain access to them for you. You can block out a few hours and depending on the location of the homes see 6-10 homes and get a great picture of what your dollar can buy. There is no need to wait for open houses, as some homes are never held open and sold even before the first open house.
- Write the offer. Once you’ve selected the home you’d like to buy, you submit a written offer on a state approved form. Your agent will walk you through the process and explain the forms and include any contingencies necessary.
- Finalize the closing. Once you’ve gotten an accepted offer and satisfied any of your contingencies you can set up closing. Closing is set from 9am-4pm weekdays and takes about an hour. After the closing you are the proud new owner of a home.
If you’d like more information on homes for sale or a lender referral, just give me a call 414-510-1908.
Posted by:
Ann Lebiecki
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