Arleen Pecone

Hi Lois,
Which house are you looking at, did I miss it?
Thanks,
Arleen - Mon Sep 22 2008, 09:00

If you want your tenants to be students, you should have a "student rental permit" that goes with the property. It is a great place to invest as values have consistently gone up. - Thu Sep 4 2008, 12:35

Hi Beth,
What makes a good Realtor? It is a number of things, first and formost is your comfort with the person....that you like him or her, as a person....that you feel comfortable with them.

Then, I think the next things depend on experience and reputation.......You do not want a Realtor who puts people in the business down, has too much business (then you won't get personal attention), doesn't work in an area where you are selling and/or buying.

The commission question is a good one too. I think it is reasonable to want a lesser commission if you are buying and selling with the same agent but what the Agent does is entirely up the the Agent and their brokerage firm.

The pricing of a property is critical in today's market, as is marketing. If a property is priced properly, it will sell. Buyers are aware of property pricing and will pay the price if a property is priced right.
All realtors will be doing a disservice if they do not advise on what is needed for repairs etc before putting a property on the market. A good question to ask the Realtor is what is your track record?......of the last 5 houses you sold what was the sale price in relation to the LISTED price. It should be very close.

Can I apply for your job? :)

I have been selling for 20 years and I learn more each year. I only want to sell houses in a market area that I know first hand and when you want to buy.......I think you should find a local Realtor as well. - Sun Aug 3 2008, 14:24

Are you purchasing a house that has apartments in it? If it is a rental property, whatever leases are in place at the time of settlement must be transferred with the property.
At least that is the way it is in Pennsylvania according to a purchase contract. - Fri Jun 20 2008, 07:18

Properly priced houses sell within about 2 to 3 percent of list price. If you are looking at this house and you think the price is "fair" for what you are getting, don't let the fact that it has been on the market for a long time influence your decision. If you think it is priced fair in comparison to everything you've see and the comparable properties, go for it!
Sometimes properties are on the market for a long time for reasons other than wrong price.
It may be an "exceptional" house, a "custom house".....there are other reasons.
Think about it that way and you might get your answer. - Fri Jun 20 2008, 07:02