Calling all buyers, please don't give up out there.  Like I have mentioned before, I get buyers all the time wanting to find another agent because they feel that their current agent is not doing a good enough job for them.  I know how frustrating it is in Southern California.  I feel sometimes that everyone out there is in a battle to get a home.  Agents get frustrated because we can show a buyer homes only to find out that 5 offers came in while we were out showing it and now our buyer has fallen in love with the home.  I hate it when that happens.  I think with the tax credits and the interest rates on top of the great prices of homes out there many people who thought they could not buy a home now can and they want to get in before the December 1st deadline.
I don't blame them....

I am hoping that Obama will extend the deadline into next year so that more people can afford homes.  I think with the deadline, it is making many people upset because they feel they really need to buy something NOW.  And, they are getting frustrated when homes are already sold because the agents leave them in the MLS as active when they are not active and they should be pending or back up or hold....this is one of my biggest pet peeves!  I can call a listing office to check availability and they will say, yes it is available, and then I have to press them to see if they do have offers...99.9% of the time they do...so, if the offers are more than the list price (which many are) and my client is only qualified for the list price, they are out right then and should not even pursue that home any longer!  I think they need to be honest and let us know up front that there are offers already. Not that I have to ask!

Buyers, make sure you get someone who is aggressive out there to represent you.  Make sure you have copies of your FICO scores, a pre-approval (not a pre-qual), make sure you have documentation of your down payment (ie copies of your bank statements) all available to give to your agent.  I would mark out your account numbers on your bank statement though.

Make sure your offer nets the highest amount to the bank...don't ask for closing costs if you don't need them.  It could cost you the house if someone else does not ask for them (when there is another offer on the table and most likely there will be in this market).  But, whatever you do, don't get discouraged.  Remember, all buyers are in your shoes....and only one buyer can get the house.  So, keep looking, keep trying and you will get a home.  I would also encourage you to leave your offer as a back up offer because many times the first buyer cannot get the house.  You would be surprised!  You will be able to get into a home, but you need to get out there right when a listing appears on the market.  Make sure you are working with an agent who checks the MLS daily for you with the new listings that pop up.

Good luck!

Joan Patterson, B.A., A.S.P., G.R.I., Realtor
Keller Williams Realty
8250 White Oak Avenue,Ste 102
Rancho Cucamonga, Ca 91730
951-204-1864
www.calljoan4homes.com