Kathleen Philippsborn
Personal Service, Professional Standards
360.672.1512 Cell / whidbeyhomes@yahoo.com
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR??
With housing prices starting to bottom out (see "The BIG Picture"), mortgage rates still near 5% (for now), and an $8,000 tax break available to first time buyers [ Tax Credit ], this may be an unprecedented buying opportunity and buyers are cautiously starting to reenter the market, looking for bargains (See "The Big Picture"). But you still need to do your homework.
You want to know which neighborhoods are holding their value . . . and which ones are a forest of For Sale signs. You want to know which sellers are motivated to sell . . . and why! You want to know about
schools, crime statistics, covenants and deed restrictions, environ- mental considerations, and so forth. You want to know, before you even start looking, exactly how much you can afford to spend, and how much of a mortgage you qualify for [ How Much House Can You Afford? ]. I can help with all those questions.
You want to know which neighborhoods are holding their value . . . and which ones are a forest of For Sale signs. You want to know which sellers are motivated to sell . . . and why! You want to know about
schools, crime statistics, covenants and deed restrictions, environ- mental considerations, and so forth. You want to know, before you even start looking, exactly how much you can afford to spend, and how much of a mortgage you qualify for [ How Much House Can You Afford? ]. I can help with all those questions. Most importantly, I believe that having a professional realtor (like, say, ME) representing you throughout the process - looking at properties, making the offer, negotiation, contract signing, financing, and then dealing with all the issues that inevitably arise on the way to closing - not only provides you with significant protections, but can go a long way toward easing your very real concerns . . . and maybe helping you sleep a little better at night.
Remember this: If you're buying a house or piece of property on your own, the sellers' realtor is THEIR representative, NOT an impartial expert looking after both sides, and he or she is legally bound to protect the SELLERS and get them the best possible deal. Without a realtor, you are, literally, on your own! If yo
u feel like that's a bit of a scare tactic, fair enough, but consider this: I'm licensed and insured. If you screw up or miss something along the way that ends up costing you a bunch of money (like failing to have something inspected that turns out to be broken, or not finding out about a restrictive covenant), there's no recourse. If I'm representing you and its MY bad, I carry insurance to make it right. But just so you know, I've never had a claim filed against me.
s signed and then sit back and wait to collect my commission. I've bought and sold a fair number of homes myself, and I know it's an anxious time. I make it a point to stay in touch, to keep everyone in the loop, and to be there, to answer questions, to deal with problems. And if you just want to talk, or vent, or need a little reassurance, I'll be there for you as well. That's how I see my job, and that's why many of my clients are still personal friends, and why they're happy to recommend me to others.