The Job of a Buyer’s Agent in Southeast Michigan

The Job of a Buyer’s Agent in Southeast Michigan Many agents seem to have the idea that the primary job of a buyer’s agent is to get the seller to come down on his asking price. The more you can get the seller down, the better you’ve done your job. NOT!! Here in the North [...]

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Am I Overpaying?

Am I Overpaying? Is the listing overpriced? What is the house worth? All questions, or variations of questions, most buyers ask when buying a house. They are valid questions with not easy or pat answer. The value of the home depends on your point of view. Webster defines “value” as “a fair return or equivalent [...]

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The Difference Between The Deposit and Downpayment

The Difference Between The Deposit and Downpayment I recently wrote an offer for a buyer client where the earnest money deposit (AKA good faith deposit or just plain deposit) was $10,000 and the downpayment amount I wrote in the offer to purchase was $70,000. Pretty straight forward- they were putting $70K down and the $10K [...]

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Is the Appraisal for Your Protection?

When buying a home in Oakland or Lapeer County Michigan a standard contingency is financing (the buyer obtaining a mortgage for the house). Normally, part of the financing process is an appraisal, and the cost of the appraisal is born by the purchaser. So is this the purchaser’s appraisal? And is the appraisal for the [...]

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I Got Burned!!! No- You Burned Yourself!

I got burned! I’ve heard it from more than one Oakland County buyer lately. They didn’t get the house they wanted. They wrote low and expected the seller to take it- even though the house was properly priced, even though it was a multiple offer situation, even though the buyer could afford to pay over asking [...]

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“Highest” and “Best” Are Not Synonyms

“Highest” and “Best” Are Not Synonyms True story: A friend of mine, who is also a Realtor, wrote an offer on a house for herself. The house is a short sale, and my friend made a fair offer. The listing agent called to tell my friend that there were other offers, and hers wasn’t the highest, [...]

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