Sites and Sounds: Websites of Real Estate Interest

What online real estate websites are people in the Eau Claire/Chippewa Valley area using for information (non real estate company owned)? What impact could localism have on our area (www.localism.com)? Are people aware of this site? If information was put together for people in our area could it work for your needs? Would you contribute? Let’s make a list of sites that work for our area.
As soon as this site goes online I would like to see what it has to offer for us, the people living in the Chippewa Valley. Let me know what you think and if you have questions on how you can contribute please feel free to ask!
Thanks.

Quick Tip #1

Instead of long articles every day I will offer quick tips as often as possible and then use these tips as supplements to longer posts later in the week or month. My first priority is actively selling real estate. Let me know what you think of course!

Quick tip: Low balling in any market is a bad idea. Why? It sets a poor tone for the offer and can sour their opinion of you and your offer. Do you really want the seller in a bad mood after reading your offer? Think about their impression of you as you write it. Not every offer goes back and forth with counter offers and starting off extremely low does not mean you are going to meet in the middle! The closer you come to what they are asking the greater chance they will accept your offer outright. There are many strategies to this and you should talk with your agent first.

What to do to avoid singing…The First Time Home Buyer’s Blues

As you pick up the newspaper scanning the open houses, take a moment to find out what you can do to learn how to go about buying a home for the first time. Maybe it’s just been a while and you feel a bit rusty or out of tune with the market. Follow along; and soon you will be singing a different tune!
Ok then let’s get started. Where do we begin?
1. Go to your bank.
Have you been to the bank? Do you know what price range you will be approved for? Many people start the process with looking for a home and then find out that the home they want is out of their price range. This can be disappointing, but avoided, if you start with the bank first.
2. Talk with a professional.
Contact a local real estate office. They know the area and are familiar with the local inventory. Find someone you are comfortable working with and the process is a breeze.
3. Get your search in tune!
Now your search will be more focused thanks to an experienced agent who can guide you through the buying process. Start narrowing down your choices. Take a look at a few homes and write down what features you liked best. Sometimes knowing what you don’t want can be the best place to start. As you continue to search, let your agent know what you are thinking. Good communication with your agent is key and that’s why it’s so important to find one that works for you.

This article is locally written. Stay tuned: more to come. Post your comments, questions, and suggestions at www.BloggingtheCV.Blogspot.com!