Questions, I get questions!

I attended the Brecksville Chamber of Commerce luncheon today.
It seems the first thing people ask me is "How's business?" - Is the real estate market getting any better?" - Usually the questions are followed by a story about the nightmare of someone trying to sell a property.
I see the market getting better for sellers who price realistically to today's market. It never fails that I hear many reasons why the sellers property is still worth more than others that sold for less. I feel sorry for those that have to sell and either can't or won't adjust their asking price. Sorry because the property will be sitting for a long time and then they end up selling for even less than they could have in the past.Some have been on the market for years. - no kidding.
On a happy note......
A seller came into our office today with a signed purchase agreement and ernest $$.
She was all smiles, she put a sign out for the first time and held an open house Sunday.
They priced it according to the present market and IT SOLD SUNDAY! We will be transfering title in 4 weeks and they can move on with their lives.
One more comment: Support your local small businesses. Your town would be pretty empty without them.

more like Bill

I had a past customer call me today. He is selling a property. and He really appreciated our caring customer service and reasonable fees when he used us to close on another property.The agent who brought him the deal, told him he would have to use the agent's title agency on the deal because the buyer has the right to pick the title company.
It didn't end there.
The seller is a wise man, he said that it seems like the agent NOT the buyer is choosing. He is absolutely right. It is the BUYER and SELLER who agree on who does the title work.
Nowhere is it said the real estate agent has the right to pick the title company.
Why don't agents market real estate and let the buyers and sellers exercise their right to choose who does the title and escrow closing?
I am seeing consumers being more careful as to whom is directing their closing costs and where they are spending their hard earned money!

Cleveland area real estate sales improving!

I just recieve an announcement sent to me from Mike Torchia,
Broker of The Realty Store......
ANNOUNCEMENT:
The Cleveland Area Board Of REALTORS is excited to announce that the March statistics just released by NORMLS shows family home sales were up 21.5%!

If you want more information on this statistic,
contact Mike at The Realty Store.
Mike@therealtystorellc.com or give him a call - 440 527 0577.

market stats - encouraging!

This is the latest on stats taken from SOFTPRO information:
Existing Home Sales are UP 5.1%
New Home Sales are UP 4.7%
Refinances are UP a gigantic 41%
INTEREST RATES ARE AT 52-YEAR LOWS - did you realize that?
We are planning a "REFINANCE SMART" information seminar soon.
Keep tuned for the date and place.

sellers active

we've had a lot of seller activity today. Renee got a lot of calls with sellers who have potential buyers, that's a great sign of the market waking up.
She also noticed lately that there is a significant number of real estate agents who are putting blind ads in the paper. Nothing to indicate they are an agent. I thought that was a violation. Do they do it because they think they will get more calls if readers think they are a FSBO (for sale by owner)?
I wonder???
If anyone reading this is an agent, I'd like to know what is your opinion on this.

tougher consumers have power!

Sunday's "Plain Dealing" column by Sherryl Harris referred to a blog by a gentleman about Americans being scammed for years by companies such as the phone companies, airlines, hidden fees on goods and services. He advocates citizens taking back the control of our destiny. He says "How do you make sure good companies stay in business and bad ones behave?
Buy from a company that has a presence here, one that pumps money back into the local economy....." This touched a nerve with me BIG TIME!
Survival of my title business is the result of years of caring about and educating the consumer. I know our service is outstanding.
There is a bank in our community that asks the mortgage borrower what title company they want to chose. (that's what they are supposed to do). When we are chosen, they then order us to examine the title and send the results to their bank owned title company located in Indiana who in turn pay us a pittance for the exam (I loose money) they have us do the signing of papers and they issue the title insurance and keep the premium!
The customer thinks we did their title work. Well actually we did the work - they got the $$!
This bank tells me they do this because they can! Our loyal customers who insist to the bank that we do ALL of the work, are told "Gateway doesn't want to share"
Why would I want to share our income with the greedy bank,who makes $$$ doing mortgage loans, the only profit involved in title insurance?
Ask where the home office of the title company that is issuing title insurance on your mortgage is located.If it is not local, say "NO".
Support your local independent title agent - it's your right!
If you want to know the name of this bank, call me 440 546 9660.

Easter week end

Closed up at 1 yesterday. Phones were dead. I guess everyone else left early too!
Mike from the Realty Store has been getting a lot of calls for showing houses today.
I remember when I was a Realtor, I sold a house on Easter Sunday.
We've had a lot of title orders this past week for refi's.
I think the market is loosening up.
This country needs it!
Happy Easter to you and yours.