From: "Ken" 
Newsgroups: alt.real-estate
Subject: Re: Real Estate: What would you do?
Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2003 16:02:49 -0500

Realtors are like a lot of professionals. Some good some not so good. You
have to do your homework. Try to stick with a full time professional realtor
who depends upon selling houses to eat and pay their bills, not as a part
time hobby. Look for one who has both listings and closed sales in your
neighborhood. They should be able to pull comparable sales for you. Not just
an estimate of $375 but be able to back it up with closed sales and current
listings. They should be able to also give you a list of houses similar to
yours on the market and what they are asking.  In an active, high demand
area, they should know almost every house in your area. What has sold when,
what is listed etc. They should also have a marketing plan with specifics on
just what they plan to do to sell your house. If they are good and do their
job well they are worth every penny you pay them. Most people will list
higher than they expect to sell to leave some negotiating room but people
won't pay you more than the house is worth just because you need to pay the
realtor. As far as taking the first bid, it's your call but you would hate
to turn down an offer and find yourself 6 months later still waiting for
another one.

Ken
http://fxcredit.com

"michael"  wrote in message
news:rbadnYKNtZVPFU6iRVn-sQ@comcast.com...
> Thanks Ken for replying. I guess my dilemma here is getting the true value
>
> for the house I'm selling. The townhouse I'm buying, there are no
>
> questions.. its in a development, and I'll pay close to what others have
>
> paid. My house, on the other hand is located in a court, has a lot and
half
>
> property, which hardly no properties in my area have (also, the area I
live
> in is highly desirable). Just need to live
>
> with the price I sell this house for, I guess. I've spoken with a few
>
> different realtors, and two of them said selling price around $375k, but
>
> although I didn't voice this to them at the time, I would like do put the
>
> selling price around $20k higher. I'm assuming at this point, I would go
>
> through a realtor, but that's going to cost me $$$...Also, I'm not sure if
> these realtors are people I can trust, I know they are out to make a buck
> like everyone else, but I need to look out for myself. I asked one of
those
> realtors that if a bid came in right away, should I hold out a couple of
> weeks to see if anyone else would bid at that price or higher? she said
> people usually go with the first bid, if they are financially approved for
a
> mortgage, etc...
>
> Just need to cover all costs here...
>
> "Ken"  wrote in message
> news:fZKAb.4823$rG.1929@bignews3.bellsouth.net...
> > What is the dilemma? I see no up side to staying where you are and no
> > downside to selling it and buying the townhouse. Am I missing something?
> >
> > Ken
> > http://fxcredit.com
> >
> >
> > "michael"  wrote in message
> > news:2pudnZs6G9O0z06i4p2dnA@comcast.com...
> > > Hi, I've been debating this for over a year.  I'm single, 29 years
old,
> > and
> > > had inherited my mother's house.  I bought out my brother and have
been
> > > living in this house for a couple of years.  I got a mortgage on the
> > buyout
> > > half for 15 years, $116k.. balance is $107k now.  The house could be
> sold
> > > around $375k, maybe more with the given market.  My debate is whether
or
> > not
> > > I should sell the house and use the equity to buy a townhouse, paid
full
> > in
> > > cash. Thus, having no financial burden, and being able to do more of
> what
> > I
> > > like, travel, etc.  Also, since I am in the Info Technology field, I
> could
> > > possibly work contracts 6 to 8 months out of the year and have more
time
> > off
> > > from work.  Also, the house I live in is very nice, but down the road,
> > > maintance costs will creep up compared to the townhouse I'm looking at
> > which
> > > is 6 years old.  My house is 50+ years old.. needs new windows, doors,
> > > bathroom upgrades, future inground pool maintance,.
> > >
> > > Just looking for opinions, if someone had been in this situation,
> > > regrets/does regret selling the house.  The townhouse is very nice,
and
> > goes
> > > for around $250k.
> > >
> > > Thanks for any input, its greatly appreciated....
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>