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Zillow for Pros Agents Sweepstakes

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:52:00 GMT

ZILLOW® FOR PROS AGENTS SWEEPSTAKES Official Rules

Please read these Official Rules before entering this promotion (the "Promotion"). By participating in the Promotion, you agree to be bound by these Official Rules and represent that you satisfy all of the eligibility requirements below.

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS PROMOTION.

Eligibility: The Promotion is open only to individuals, who are legal residents of the 50 United States or District of Columbia, age 18 or older (or the age of majority in entrant's state of residence), and who (i) have a personal user account on Facebook®; (ii) are a follower of Zillow's Facebook account for real estate professionals, Zillow for Pros; and (iii) are a real estate agent and/or broker duly licensed or similarly legally permitted to represent buyers and/or sellers in residential real estate sales/purchase transactions. If you do not meet any of these requirements, or any other eligibility requirements in these Official Rules, you are not eligible to win a prize, and Zillow, Inc. ("Sponsor") reserves the right not to award prizes to you. Directors, officers, and employees of Sponsor and Sponsor's advertising and promotion agencies, and their respective immediate family members and/or those living in the same household of each, are not eligible to win. The Promotion is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations and is void where prohibited.

Promotion Period: The Promotion starts at 9:00 a.m. (all times Pacific Time) on May 21, 2013 and ends at 5:00 p.m. on June 14, 2013 (the "Promotion Period"). Except as otherwise expressly stated below, all entries must be received during the Promotion Period to be eligible to win a prize.

How to Enter: In order to access the entry form you must "like" Zillow's Facebook® page for real estate professionals, "Zillow for Pros," if you have not done so already. If you don't have an account on Facebook, you may create one free of charge at www.facebook.com. Once you "like" the Zillow for Pros Facebook page, open the "Enter to Win" tab on the page and provide all information requested in the entry form. You will be entered into the Promotion one (1) time upon clicking to submit the entry form.

You may submit a maximum of one (1) entry into the Promotion. In the event that you submit more than one (1) entry into the Promotion, all entries into the Promotion may be eliminated and you may be disqualified from winning the prize, in Sponsor's sole discretion.

Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to disqualify any entries that are inappropriate for any reason, including without limitation inappropriate language. Use of any automated system to participate is prohibited and will result in disqualification. In the event of a dispute as to any registration, the authorized account holder of the email address used to register the Facebook account will be deemed to be the entrant registrant. The "authorized account holder" is the natural person assigned an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider or other organization responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted address. The potential winner may be required to show proof of being the authorized account holder.

Prize: One (1) winner will receive a prize that includes the following: (a) one (1) event pass to Inman Agent Reboot 2013 in San Francisco, California on July 9, 2013; (b) one (1) full conference pass to Inman Connect 2013 in San Francisco, California July 10, 2013 through July 12, 2013; and (c) a check in the amount of two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) that may be used towards round trip airfare and hotel accommodations to and in San Francisco, California for the nights of July 9, 2013 through July 12, 2013. The approximate retail value ("ARV") of the prize is three thousand two hundred forty-eight dollars ($3,248.00). All applicable federal, state, and local taxes on Prizes are the sole responsibility of the Prize Winner; and all Prize Winners will receive a 1099 tax form for the value of their Prize. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value in its sole discretion. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received.

Random Drawing: The winner will be selected in a random drawing from all eligible entries to be held by June 21, 2013. The winner will be notified by U.S. mail and/or email by June 28, 2013. To claim a prize, winner should follow the directions in winner's notification. The prize winner may be required to execute an affidavit of eligibility and liability/publicity release within three (3) days following the date of attempted notification. Prize will be awarded within two (2) weeks after winner verification. If a prize notification is returned as undeliverable, it will result in disqualification, and the prize will be awarded to an alternate winner in a separate random drawing. Prizes are not assignable or transferable, except to a surviving spouse.

The prize is awarded "AS IS" and WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, express or implied (including, without limitation, any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose), except that the prize will be subject to its manufacturer's standard warranty (if any). No substitutions or exchanges (including for cash) of any prize will be permitted, except that Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value. Winner is responsible for all federal, state, local, sales and income taxes associated with receipt and/or use of any prize. Entry and acceptance of any prize constitutes permission to use winner's name, prize won, office affiliation, hometown and likeness for online posting and promotional purposes without further compensation, except where prohibited by law. Unless prohibited by law, winner will be required to sign and return an affidavit of eligibility, liability release, publicity release, tax forms, and other reasonable documentation provided by Sponsor before being awarded a prize. If winner does not execute such documentation upon request, their prize will be forfeited and the prize will be awarded to an alternate winner. The prize is guaranteed to be awarded.

General: Neither the Sponsor nor Facebook will not be responsible for late, lost, illegible, incomplete, damaged or misdirected entries and accepts no responsibility for any injury, loss or damage of any kind resulting from an entrant's participation in the Promotion. By entering the Promotion, each entrant agrees to these Official Rules and waives, and releases the Sponsor and Facebook and each of the Sponsor's and Facebook's parents, subsidiaries, and affiliated companies, and all other businesses involved in this Promotion, as well as the employees, officers, directors and agents of each, from, all claims, costs, injuries, losses, or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the Promotion or delivery, misdelivery, acceptance, possession, use of or inability to use the prize (including, without limitation, claims, costs, injuries, losses and damages related to personal injuries, death, damage to or destruction of property, whether intentional or unintentional), whether under a theory of contract, tort (including negligence), warranty or other theory. Sponsor reserves the right to amend these Official Rules or to terminate this Promotion. Any provision of these Official Rules deemed unenforceable will be enforced to the extent permissible, and the remainder of these Official Rules will remain in effect. Sponsor is not responsible for any typographical or other error in the printing of any Promotion materials, administration of the Promotion or in the announcement of any prize. The Promotion and these Official Rules will be governed, construed and interpreted under the laws of the state of Washington. Entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and by the decisions of Sponsor, which are final and binding in all respects.

Winner List; Rules Request: For a winner list, visit http://www.zillow.com/wikipages/Zillow-for-Pros-Agents-Sweepstakes/ or send a self-addressed, stamped, business-size envelope after June 28, 2013 and before June 28, 2014 to Sponsor at the address listed below, Attn: "Zillow For Pros Agents" Sweepstakes Winner List (Madison Slinker).

To obtain a copy of these Official Rules, visit http://www.zillow.com/wikipages/Zillow-for-Pros-Agents-Sweepstakes/ or send a stamped, self-addressed, business-size envelope to Sponsor at the address listed below, Attn: "Zillow For Pros Agents" Sweepstakes Rules Request (Madison Slinker). Residents of WA and VT may omit return postage.

Sponsor: ZILLOW, INC., 1301 Second Avenue, Floor 31, Seattle, WA 98101

Zillow is a registered trademark of Zillow, Inc.

Facebook is a registered trademark of Facebook, Inc. By entering this Promotion, Entrants understand that they are providing their information to Sponsor and not Facebook. This Promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administrated by, or associated with Facebook.

Confidentiality: Information provided by you to participate in this Promotion is subject to Sponsor's privacy policy at http://www.zillow.com/corp/Privacy.htm.

1 reply

Resources for Buyers

Mon, 06 May 2013 21:15:00 GMT

If the prospect of buying a home seems as daunting as climbing K2, rest assured there is a lot of help out there.

GETTING READY TO BUY

General Resources

Workshops and classes: In addition to local, state-funded workshops on the strategies of home buying, there are Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) counseling classes that must be attended by anyone applying for a federal loan program. Check your local newspaper or its Web site for class schedules.

Zillow Resources

Zillow glossary: So you'll know the difference between the Macs and the Maes (Freddie Mac, Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae, and FHA).
Zestimate city heat maps: Before you start shopping, find out what homes are worth in your favorite neighborhoods; it will save you time.
Quarterly Home Value Reports: Learn about home value trends in top cities.

Online Resources

Free online credit report: Obtain your free credit report annually.
Obtain your FICO score: This site charges a fee, but it might be worth it to have all your ducks in a row.
HUD Web site: This site provides information on housing basics, first-time buyer grants, and links to state and local offices near you.

Professional Resources

Real estate agents: Agents are happy to sit down for an information session and share their knowledge of:

The market and current trends
New development plans in the area
School and services information
Traffic patterns - particularly helpful for commuters in busy urban areas looking for alternate routes

Mortgage brokers: A good broker is a great resource for buyers, because they will educate you on different loan types and work with you to see what you can afford.

Environmental Resources

Environmental Data Resources (www.edrnet.com): Provides real estate agents, home inspectors and buyers with reports showing nearby contaminated properties and businesses with the potential to cause future contamination for a nominal fee.

FIGURING OUT WHERE TO BUY

Zillow Resources

For information on market trends in an area, be sure to look at Zillow's city heat maps and also local Zindex(tm) market trends. The maps show how valuations fluctuate in an area, and the Zindexes show you whether market trends are on the way up or down.

Local Zindexes: Enter your ZIP code or area to see market trends.
Zillow Heat Maps: Enter the area you are interested in, and then click on the "heat map" tab.

Neighborhood Information

Many local realtor and chamber of commerce sites include neighborhood information and demographics. Here are a few others:

Sperling's Best Places: Oft-quoted in newspapers, the site compares things like demographics, climate, cost of living, and various other city facts - even gas prices!

Freddie Mac: Web site of the government-chartered corporation that provides funding to lenders in the housing market. Click on Worksheets (Under Calculators and Tools) to view forms about neighborhoods and budgets.

Neighborhood Scout : Neighborhood data and matching engine; some services are free and others are fee-based.

School Statistics

Local school districts usually have Web sites, though most often they do not include individual school boundaries because they change so often. But you can find out lots of things from them anyway. And here are a couple others:

Great Schools: Provides comparisons between schools on a variety of parameters, including test scores, teacher-student ratios, and student ethnicity. Also includes parental reviews.

School Match: Click on the School Ratings button to research school sizes, test scores, and expenditures per student (fee-based service).

Crime Statistics

Bureau of Justice Statistics: Web site of the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs. Click on the Bureau of Justice Statistics link or go to http://bjsdata.ojp.usdoj. ... taonline/ for statistics on crimes reported by state and local agencies.

Commute Times

U.S. Census: Provides a variety of data on commuting. Go to www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/Ranking/2003/pdf/R04T160.pdf for average commute times for most major metropolitan areas in the U.S. (More detailed data can often be found on the Web sites for specific cities and metropolitan areas.)

Optimal Home Location: An application that helps figuring out whether you should live close to your job, your kids' school or your gym, in order to minimize your family's combined commute. It also allows to preview and compare commutes and demographics for a number of alternative locations, and explore local points of interest.

Home Amenities

Freddie Mac: Web site of the government-chartered corporation that provides funding to lenders in the housing market. Click on Worksheets (Under Calculators and Tools) to view forms about needs vs. wants, appliance life spans, and other home-buying issues.

Remodeling Magazine: Click on the link labeled Resale Value of Your Project to see a comparison between the cost and value provided for most major home-improvement projects.

Zillow.com: See the value of various improvements and then play around with My Estimator to find out how improvements affect a home's valuation.

Condominiums

Community Associations Institute: Click on Publications and then Reading Room to access information on communal living.

Foreclosures and Fixer-Uppers

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Primary government source on the ins and outs of foreclosure sales. Click on http://www.hud.gov/homes/ ... rsale.cfm for detailed information and links to specific properties for sale.

National Association of the Remodeling Industry: Click on the Home Owners button to access articles on everything from improving natural light to surviving a remodel.

Sheriff Sales Online: A local foreclosure information service that covers the entire process from Lis Pendens to Forecosure Auction in New Jersey and New York.

Your two key sources of help in putting together your purchase offer are your real estate agent and/or a good real estate attorney. If you've picked a good agent, he or she will serve as a master coordinator, keeping all the pieces moving in the right direction and dealing resourcefully with the inevitable complications.

Directory of Real Estate Professionals

Real Estate Attorney

Probably the best way to find a good real estate attorney is to ask for personal referrals from friends and colleagues who have used one recently.

Get several names and interview at least three, if possible. Most attorneys will oblige you with a free half-hour meeting for this purpose. For such an emotionally fraught transaction, you'll want to be sure that you and the lawyer are personally compatible. You'll also want to be sure that he or she will be readily available to review contracts and other paperwork on short notice. It will do you no good to have an attorney who is unreachable by phone or doesn't return calls for several days.
If you strike out with personal referrals, you might try a lawyer referral service. However, you should ask the service what qualifications it uses for including an attorney and how carefully attorneys are screened. Again, you'll need to interview candidates to find one you can work with.

Certified Public Accountant

Another professional who can be helpful in reviewing some of the terms of your offer is a certified public accountant. Again, personal referrals from friends and colleagues are the best way to find one.

HELP WITH NEGOTIATING

There are multiple sources of help and advice on negotiating a home purchase starting with asking questions of your real estate agent, an attorney, friends, family, and co-workers who have experience.

Libraries and book stores have volumes on the subject. And there are many Web sites with information from simplistic to complex.

General Resources

Department of Housing and Urban Development: A Web site maintained with the help of your tax dollars that has solid consumer-oriented information.

Motley Fool: This Web site has some good negotiating advice as well.

Zillow Resources

Comparables: Use comparables for the house you are buying to justify your offer.

My Estimator: Save and print out your own estimate of the home's value using things you noticed when you went through the house.

HELP WITH CLOSING

No matter what, don't go to your closing alone. Have someone there to help you and be your advocate through these last details. The closing paperwork can be confusing and the closing agent wants to keep things moving along. But this is your last chance to ask questions and clarify what you don't understand.

Take your real estate agent or attorney, especially if you live in an area where buyer and seller closings happen in separate meetings.

The way you take title also dictates who else will be there - your spouse or partner, perhaps fellow investors.

General Resources

Department of Housing and Urban Development: HUD has a complete guide to buying a home, including a 24-page booklet titled, "Buying Your Home, Settlement Costs and Useful Information." You can also download a set of HUD-1 forms to study.

Federal Consumer Information Center: This site has links to HUD information, but click on "housing" and "insurance" under Consumer Topics for additional sources.

Consumer Action Website: This site offers help on numerous subjects including housing and insurance.

Zillow Rental Manager and Landlord Sweepstakes

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 22:21:00 GMT

ZILLOW® RENTAL MANAGER AND LANDLORD SURVEY SWEEPSTAKES

Official Rules

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS PROMOTION.

Eligibility: The Promotion is open only to individuals, who are legal residents of the 50 United States or District of Columbia, age 18 or older (or the age of majority in entrant's state of residence), and who have either (i) listed rental properties on www.zillow.com or www.hotpads.com; (ii) used Zillow Rental Pro to manage rental properties in; or (iii) used Postlets to create residential rental ads (each, individually, a "Zillow User," collectively, "Zillow Users"). If you do not meet any of these requirements, or any other eligibility requirements in these Official Rules, you are not eligible to win a prize, and Zillow, Inc. ("Sponsor") reserves the right not to award prizes to you. Directors, officers, and employees of Sponsor and Sponsor's advertising and promotion agencies, and their respective immediate family members and/or those living in the same household of each, are not eligible to win. Promotion is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations and is void where prohibited.

Promotion Period: The Promotion starts at 12:01 a.m. (all times Pacific Time) on April 30, 2013 and ends at 11:59 p.m. on May 28, 2013 (the "Promotion Period"). Except as otherwise expressly stated below, all entries must be received during the Promotion Period to be eligible to win a prize.

Entry: Zillow may send an email that includes a link to a survey to Zillow Users who: (i) listed or claimed a rental property listed on www.Zillow.com or www.HotPads.com between April 1, 2012 and April 22, 2013; (ii) have an active Zillow Rental Pro account during the Promotion Period; or (iii) have an active Postlets account during the Promotion Period. Zillow Users who open the survey through the link provided in the email from Zillow will be entered into the Promotion upon clicking the "submit" button at the bottom of the survey. One (1) entry per person. Entries become the property of Sponsor and will not be returned.

Prize: One (1) winner will receive a $100 Amazon Gift Card. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value in its sole discretion. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received.

Random Drawing: The winner will be selected in a random drawing from all eligible entries to be held by June 7, 2013. The winner will be notified by U.S. mail and/or email by June 20, 2013. To claim a prize, winner should follow the directions in winner's notification. The prize winner may be required to execute an affidavit of eligibility and liability/publicity release within seven (7) days following the date of attempted notification. Prize will be awarded within thirty (30) days after winner verification. If a prize notification is returned as undeliverable, it will result in disqualification, and the prize will be awarded to an alternate winner in a separate random drawing. Prizes are not assignable or transferable, except to a surviving spouse.

General: Sponsor will not be responsible for late, lost, illegible, incomplete, damaged or misdirected entries and accepts no responsibility for any injury, loss or damage of any kind resulting from an entrant's participation in the Promotion. By entering the Promotion, each entrant agrees to these Official Rules and waives, and releases Sponsor and Sponsor's parents, subsidiaries, and affiliated companies, and all other businesses involved in this Promotion, as well as the employees, officers, directors and agents of each, from, all claims, costs, injuries, losses, or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the Promotion or delivery, misdelivery, acceptance, possession, use of or inability to use the prize (including, without limitation, claims, costs, injuries, losses and damages related to personal injuries, death, damage to or destruction of property, whether intentional or unintentional), whether under a theory of contract, tort (including negligence), warranty or other theory. Sponsor reserves the right to amend these Official Rules or to terminate this Promotion. Any provision of these Official Rules deemed unenforceable will be enforced to the extent permissible, and the remainder of these Official Rules will remain in effect. Sponsor is not responsible for any typographical or other error in the printing of any Promotion materials, administration of the Promotion or in the announcement of any prize. The Promotion and these Official Rules will be governed, construed and interpreted under the laws of the state of Washington. Entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and by the decisions of Sponsor, which are final and binding in all respects.

Winner List; Rules Request: For a winner list, visit http://www.zillow.com/wikipages/Zillow-Rental-Manager-and-Landlord-Sweepstakes/ or send a self-addressed, stamped, business-size envelope after June 20, 2013 and before June 20, 2014 to Sponsor at the address listed below, Attn: Zillow " Rental Manager and Landlord Survey" Sweepstakes Winner List (Elissa Kline). To obtain a copy of these Official Rules, visit http://www.zillow.com/wikipages/Zillow-Rental-Manager-and-Landlord-Sweepstakes/ or send a stamped, self-addressed, business-size envelope to Sponsor at the address listed below, Attn: Zillow "Rental Manager and Landlord Survey" Sweepstakes Rules Request (Elissa Kline). Residents of WA and VT may omit return postage.

Sponsor: ZILLOW, INC., 1301 Second Avenue, Floor 31, Seattle, WA 98103

Confidentiality: Information provided by you to participate in this Promotion is subject to Sponsor's privacy policy at http://www.zillow.com/corp/Privacy.htm.

1 reply

Zillow Landlord Survey Sweepstakes

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 23:59:00 GMT

ZILLOW® LANDLORD SURVEY SWEEPSTAKES

Official Rules

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS PROMOTION.

Eligibility: The Promotion is open only to individuals, who are legal residents of the 50 United States or District of Columbia, age 18 or older (or the age of majority in entrant's state of residence), and who have either (i) listed rental properties in San Francisco on www.zillow.com or www.hotpads.com; or (ii) used Zillow Rental Pro to manage rental properties in San Francisco (each, individually, a "Zillow Landlord," collectively, "Zillow Landlords"). If you do not meet any of these requirements, or any other eligibility requirements in these Official Rules, you are not eligible to win a prize, and Zillow, Inc. ("Sponsor") reserves the right not to award prizes to you. Directors, officers, and employees of Sponsor and Sponsor's advertising and promotion agencies, and their respective immediate family members and/or those living in the same household of each, are not eligible to win. Promotion is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations and is void where prohibited.

Promotion Period: The Promotion starts at 12:01 a.m. (all times Pacific Time) on March 27, 2013 and ends at 11:59 p.m. on April 17, 2013 (the "Promotion Period"). Except as otherwise expressly stated below (for mail-in entries), all entries must be received during the Promotion Period to be eligible to win a prize.

Entry: Zillow may send an email that includes a link to a survey to Zillow Landlords who: (i) listed or claimed a rental property in San Francisco listed on www.Zillow.com or www.HotPads.com during the Promotion Period; or (ii) had an active Zillow Rental Pro account in the San Francisco region between March 1, 2012 and March 7, 2013. Zillow Landlords who open the survey through the link provided in the email from Zillow will be entered into the Promotion upon clicking the "submit" button at the bottom of the survey. One (1) entry per person. Entries become the property of Sponsor and will not be returned.

Prize: One (1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon Gift Card. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value in its sole discretion. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received.

Random Drawing: The winner will be selected in a random drawing from all eligible entries to be held by April 30, 2013. The winner will be notified by U.S. mail and/or email by May 13, 2013. To claim a prize, winner should follow the directions in winner's notification. The prize winner may be required to execute an affidavit of eligibility and liability/publicity release within seven (7) days following the date of attempted notification. Prize will be awarded within thirty (30) days after winner verification. If a prize notification is returned as undeliverable, it will result in disqualification, and the prize will be awarded to an alternate winner in a separate random drawing. Prizes are not assignable or transferable, except to a surviving spouse.

Winner List; Rules Request: For a winner list, visit http://www.zillow.com/wikipages/Zillow-Landlord-Survey-Sweepstakes/ or send a self-addressed, stamped, business-size envelope after May 13, 2013 and before May 13, 2014 to Sponsor at the address listed below, Attn: Zillow "2013 Landlord Survey" Sweepstakes Winner List (Elissa Kline). To obtain a copy of these Official Rules, visit http://www.zillow.com/wikipages/Zillow-Landlord-Survey-Sweepstakes/ or send a stamped, self-addressed, business-size envelope to Sponsor at the address listed below, Attn: Zillow "2013 Landlord Survey" Sweepstakes Rules Request (Elissa Kline). Residents of WA and VT may omit return postage.

Sponsor: ZILLOW, INC., 1301 Second Avenue, Floor 31, Seattle, WA 98103

Confidentiality: Information provided by you to participate in this Promotion is subject to Sponsor's privacy policy at http://www.zillow.com/corp/Privacy.htm.

1 reply

About Lender Ratings (VIDEO)

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 16:54:00 GMT

Get more information about Zillow Mortgage Marketplace in the Lender Resource Center. Below are a series of guides to help you get set up and succeed on Zillow Mortgage Marketplace.

Get started:

How to Register and Get Confirmed
How to Quote and Set Max Contact Price
How to Automate Your Quotes

Additional info:

How to Succeed on Zillow
Lender Do's and Don'ts
Lender Testimonials

If you have additional questions, please call 1-877-661-3171 or e-mail mortgagesales@zillow.com.

1 reply

Lenders - How to Succeed on Zillow

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:27:00 GMT

Zillow Mortgage Marketplace can be a big part of your business if you invest in it. Attracting new business is easy once you take advantage of the proven best practices outlined below.

Create a Custom Profile

The first thing to do is to create or update your profile. Add an image of your company's logo and a message that might address your market niche or specialty.

Next, start quoting!

We have learned it takes at least 1,000 quotes to get one closed loan, but you can do this easily through automation with a third-party Quote API Provider, where you can "set it and forget it." These providers help companies, from individual brokers to large lending institutions, set up automated pricing on Zillow Mortgage Marketplace.
Or, you can manually respond to quotes, which has its own benefits. Borrowers react well to short, personalized, relevant notes on quotes. You can also set up a saved filter alert that only finds loan requests that you want to quote. Another shortcut is using pre-fill quotes and messages that you can customize as needed.
Learn more about How to Quote and Set Max Click Price.

Get more ratings

More ratings equals more contacts, so ask your customer contacts to rate you on Zillow Mortgage Marketplace.
Learn more about ratings

Show off your ratings and reviews by adding the Lender Reputation Widget on your Web site or blog. This widget showcases some of the great customer reviews and ratings you've received from borrowers.

Regularly monitor click prices

Since prices for clicks continually adjust based on lender demand, make sure to regularly monitor click prices so you don't miss out on valuable loan requests and contacts from borrowers.

For example, you set filters at: Max Click Price of $2, a credit rating of 700 , and a loan-to-value of less than 80%. A loan request that fits this criteria may have been priced at $2 yesterday, but due to strong lender demand, it increased to $3 today.

When prices adjust, you won't receive any notification from us, but instead, you might notice a drop in the number of loan requests or contacts you receive.

To make sure you quote all of the loan requests that hit your sweet spot, we suggest that you:

Regularly check loan requests for pricing changes
Update your Max Click Price if you see click prices higher than your current filter

Other tips to get more contacts:

Be competitive. Look at your competitors' quotes to make sure you're in the ballpark. It's important to compete well on price and to understand the True Cost of the loan, which is what customers often look at.
Expand your filters to quote more loan requests. You won't get contacts if you don't quote a lot.
Be smart about what you quote. Find your sweet spot, either with loan programs, location, or other criteria.
Be honest with your quotes. Provide a quote based only on what the borrower enters in the loan request. Accurately describe all of your fees required to close the loan and stand by your quotes.
Add a message. A personalized Lender Note can go a long way in connecting with borrowers.
Participate in Zillow Advice. The more you show of yourself and your know-how, the more borrowers will come to trust you.
Be patient. Just because someone doesn't respond back doesn't mean they aren't interested. The selling cycle is much longer than it was several months ago.

Follow these tips and you're sure to see success on Zillow Mortgage Marketplace.

Additional Resources:

How to Register and Get Confirmed
How to Quote and Set Max Click Price
How to Automate Your Quotes
Lender Do's and Don'ts
Lender Testimonials
Charging Guidelines
Lender Resource Center

1 reply

Lender Resource Center

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 23:06:00 GMT

Welcome to the Lender Resource Center. Below are a series of guides to help you get set up and succeed on Zillow Mortgage Marketplace.

Get started:

How to Register and Get Confirmed
How to Quote and Set Max Click Price
How to Automate Your Quotes

Additional info:

How to Succeed on Zillow
Lender Do's and Don'ts
Lender Testimonials
Charging Guidelines
Zillow's Mystery Shopping Program

If you have additional questions, please call 1-877-661-3171 or e-mail mortgagesales@zillow.com.

By Diane Tuman

1 reply

Lender Dos and Don'ts

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 19:14:00 GMT

We know you're eager to start quoting on Zillow Mortgage Marketplace, but before you do, please take note of these important reminders.

Do:

Be honest and accurate; only quote loans you know that you can do.
Accurately describe all fees required to close the loan. (Fair warning: Lenders have been suspended for leaving off appraisal fees and loan origination fees).
Stand by your quotes. Take responsibility for all your loan quotes whether using an automated pricing engine or not.

Don't:

Quote loan programs Zillow does not currently support, such as USDA and piggy-back loans. Zillow Mortgage Marketplace may support these and other loan types in the future, but until we do, quotes for unsupported loan programs are not allowed.
Submit loan quotes for financial services products that are not mortgage loans (e.g. loan modification services.)
Assume the loan request details are flexible. For example, don't quote above the maximum LTV and assume the borrower can lower their LTV by putting more money down. You must quote based on the LTV provided by the borrower, so that the borrower can compare quotes on an apples-to-apples basis.
List contact information in the "Lender Note" on quotes or the "About" section of Zillow Profiles. Contact information includes phone number, e-mail address, or any Web site addresses or links.

In summary, your quotes should be based only on the information provided in the borrower loan request. We monitor quoting in the marketplace and will suspend accounts if lenders do not adhere to these guidelines. By participating in Zillow Mortgage Marketplace, you agree to the Zillow Lender Terms of Use, Code of Conduct, and Good Neighbor Policy.

Additional Resources:

How to Register and Get Confirmed
How to Quote and Set Max Click Price
How to Automate Your Quotes
How to Succeed on Zillow
Lender Testimonials
Charging Guidelines
Lender Resource Center

1 reply

How to Find a Contractor

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 06:10:00 GMT

Why Hire a Contractor

For homeowners who are selling their house and don't have the time, tools, or experience to complete a home repair or renovation project on their own, they have to hire a professional. A contractor is an independent expert or company who can design, install, repair, replace, remove, or build parts of or parts within a house. Because these services are done by independent contractors and companies, many do not know how to find a reliable professional.

Not sure you have the time to investigate the background of the general contractor and/or subcontractor? Consider this: In most states complaints filed by homeowners against contractors make up one of the largest -- if not the largest -- category of consumer complaints filed with the state attorney general's office. In other words, a surprising number of people end up very unhappy with the contractors they hire.

A million things can go wrong -- from poor workmanship to simply not finishing the job. Sometimes there is actual fraud, such as a contractor taking part of the money for a project up front and never returning. Sometimes the problems are less obvious, such as a contractor using substandard materials or neglecting to comply with local building regulations, both of which can lower the resale value of your home even if you decide to live with the substandard workmanship or materials.

However, it's also true that there are plenty of highly skilled, reliable, trustworthy contractors out there. And as a homeowner about to undertake a remodeling project, it's up to you to find one of the good ones.

Finding a Contractor

There are 3 main ways to find a contractor for an upcoming home improvement or repair project:

Personal Referrals
Homeowners should talk to family, friends, and co-workers about reliable companies. It's a great way to get a personal testimonial from a trusted source. Also, keep an eye out for neighbors' projects that seem to be going well.

Advantages of personal referrals:

Referring friend or family member may have already shopped around to find the best offer in the area
Their opinion of the contractor's service is trustworthy
Homeowners can view the quality of the work

Disadvantages of personal referrals:

Homeowners may not need same type of work done on their house
Friend or family member may be able to afford a higher budget
Friend or family member may have a different style of house or be in a different neighborhood

Phone Books/Directories
Homeowners can use a local directory to look up a contractor. Yellow pages and white pages have anything from a basic listing, which has the company name and phone number, to a full-page advertisement, which lists the company's details and full range of services.

Advantages of phone book:

Homeowners can choose from companies at their own pace.
Homeowners are able to call as many companies as they would like.
Homeowners can review company details in advance to determine how close they are, possibly how big the company is, and what services are offered.

Disadvantages of phone book:

Homeowners have to call each company individually, describe their requirements, and answer the same questions.
Homeowners tend to only call one or two companies. Receiving fewer bids on a project could mean the homeowner will end up paying a higher price.
No direct referrals from trusted friends or family members to rely upon.

Online Referrals
For online referrerals, check with professional organizations such as the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, which has its own certification process for contractors. Zillow also offers a free professional directory where you can find the pro you need, where you live.

There are also host of online companies that provide contractor referral services. Homeowners can post their project on these Web sites and let a set number of contractors contact them. It's usually a free service for the homeowner. One excellent site to find local contractors, though be sure to look into references and liabilities, is Craigslist - this is one of many.

Advantages of online referral services:

Homeowners will receive multiple bids, which allows them to get the best rate on the work.
Homeowners only have to post their project requirements once and answer questions one time, which saves time.
Homeowners may be able to find additional online resources, such as financing and informational articles.

Disadvantages of online referral services:

The Web site may not be a trusted resource. (Check if any complaints have been filed to the Better Business Bureau.)
The online referral service may not have a contractor, in their network, close to the homeowner.
No direct referrals from trusted friends or family members to rely upon.

Choosing the Right Contractor for You

However you choose to find a contractor, please make sure you get several bids from several companies. And be aware that bids from different contractors may not compare apples with apples. For instance, Plumber Jones' bid to redo your bathroom may be attractively low compared to Plumber Smith's. But what you may not realize till the end is that Plumber Jones' idea of bathroom fixtures are the cheapest ones he can find at the home improvement center, whereas Plumber Smith uses elegant fixtures from an upscale supplier. Always be sure you understand what kind of materials will be used even if it means asking a lot of questions. Any contractor who won't take the time to answer your questions gets crossed off your list.

And now a word about money: NEVER select a contractor based solely on money. The lowest bidder may sometimes be a good choice. But the old adage that you get what pay for is especially true in the construction industry. Contractors who do high-quality work hire high-quality subs and, because they're experienced and skilled, they charge more. They are also less likely to cut corners by using shoddy materials or slap dash construction techniques. Contractors can charge by the job or by time and materials according to the project's overall budget. If a contractor comes in with an especially low bid ask him how he figured the numbers. Does he pay his people a lot less than the competition? That's a red flag that his workers are inexperienced. Does he get a "good deal" on materials? Where? Why? All busy contractors get some kind of discount at the suppliers they regularly buy from. So if a contractor with a low bid says he gets a super-low price on materials, they are very possibly sub-standard in some way.

You should also select a contractor who is not only skilled and reliable but who is someone you can get along with. You may be on the phone with your contractor several times a day. You will be discussing money, how much of it you have, and what you want to do with it. You may have to work through disagreements over details. A contractor with lousy communication skills or someone who simply rubs you the wrong way is not the guy for you no matter how much your neighbor liked him.

By Diane Tuman

Next article: Types of Contractors

Big Screen for the Big Game Sweepstakes

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 17:09:00 GMT

Zillow® Big Screen for the Big Game Sweepstakes
Official Rules

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING THE SWEEPSTAKES.

Please read these Official Rules before entering the Zillow Big Screen for the Big Game Sweepstakes (the "Promotion"). By participating in the Promotion, you agree to be bound by these Official Rules and represent that you satisfy all of the eligibility requirements below.

Eligibility: PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE ODDS OF WINNING. PROMOTION VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. The Promotion is open only to legal residents of the 50 United States or District of Columbia, who are age 18 or older (or the age of majority in entrant's state of residence) and are a licensed real estate agent/ broker with a user account on Zillow.com as of the start of the Promotion Period, during the Promotion Period, and at the time that the winners are drawn. If you do not meet any of these requirements or any other eligibility requirements in these Official Rules, you are not eligible to win a prize, and Zillow, Inc. ("Sponsor") reserves the right not to award prizes to you. Employees, directors, officers and contractors of Sponsor and Sponsor's advertising and promotion agencies, and their respective immediate family members (spouse, parents, siblings and children) and/or those living in the same household of each, are not eligible to win. The Promotion is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations and is void where restricted or prohibited by law.

Promotion Period: The Promotion begins at 12:00 a.m. (all times Pacific Time) on December 17, 2012, and ends at 11:59 p.m. on January 11, 2013 (the "Promotion Period"). Except as described in "How to Enter" below with respect to mail-in entries, all entries must be received during the Promotion Period to be eligible to win a prize.

How to Enter: Maximum of one (1) entry into the Promotion per person, regardless of method of entry. You may enter the Promotion one of two ways:

Advertising Method: If you are an agent for Century 21® Real Estate, you will be automatically entered into the Promotion if, during the Promotion Period, you purchase advertising on Zillow after contacting Zillow through one of the following channels: (a) a Zillow sales representative at 1-800-954-7189; (b) the landing page located at www.zillow.com/advertising/c21; or (c) via email at C21showcase@zillow.com. Upon purchasing advertising from Zillow after contacting Zillow through one of the foregoing channels, you will receive one (1) entry into the Promotion.

Mail-In Method: Alternatively, to enter the Promotion without purchasing advertising from Zillow, clearly hand-print your full name, Zillow.com user screen name, mailing address, e-mail address associated with your Zillow.com account, and daytime phone number on a 3" x 5" card, and mail that card in a hand-addressed envelope to Sponsor at: Big Screen for the Big Game Sweepstakes, Zillow, Inc., 1301 Second Avenue, Floor 31, Seattle, WA 98101, Attn: Jennifer Noseworthy. Mail-in entries must be postmarked by January 11, 2013 and received by January 18, 2013 to be eligible. You will receive one (1) entry for sending the 3" x 5" card.

Entry Limits and Restrictions: You are limited to a maximum of one (1) entry into the Promotion per entrant, regardless of method of entry. In the event that you submit more than one (1) entry into the Promotion, all entries into the Promotion may be declared null and void and you may be disqualified from winning the prize, in Sponsor's sole discretion. Any attempted form of participation in this Promotion other than as described herein is void. If it is discovered that an entrant has entered or attempted to enter the Promotion more than once using multiple e-mail addresses, Zillow.com accounts, Twitter accounts or multiple identities or other relevant accounts, all of that entrant's entries will be declared null and void and the entrant will not be eligible to win or receive any prize.

All entries and/or materials submitted become the property of Sponsor and will not be returned. Sponsor is not responsible for any lost, late, undeliverable/undelivered, incomplete, invalid, unintelligible, illegible, misdirected or postage due mail or advertising entries. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to disqualify any entries that are inappropriate for any reason. Except for purchase of advertising online as described above, use of any automated system to participate is prohibited and will result in disqualification. In the event of a dispute as to the identity of the prize winner or entrant, entries online will be declared made by the authorized account holder of the e-mail address connected with the account on Zillow.com through which the Promotion was entered. "Authorized account holder" is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an e-mail address by an Internet access provider, online service provider, or other organization (e.g., business, educational institution) that is responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address. The potential winner may be required to show proof that the potential winner is the authorized account holder of the e-mail address associated with the winning entry.

Random Drawing: Ten potential winners will be selected in a random drawing from all eligible entries received to be held by January 25, 2013 at Sponsor's headquarters at the address listed below. The potential winners will be notified via the e-mail address connected with each potential winner's account on Zillow.com. Unless prohibited by law, each potential winner may be required to sign and return an affidavit of eligibility, liability release, publicity release, acceptance of these Official Rules, ("Affidavit"), tax forms, and any other reasonable documentation requested by Sponsor, all as a condition of being awarded a prize. In the event that a prize or prize notification is returned as undeliverable, a potential winner does not respond to the notification within seven (7) calendar days, or a potential winner fails to complete, sign and return the Affidavit and any other required documentation within seven (7) calendar days after the date such Affidavit and documentation is sent to the potential winner, then the prize may be forfeited, as determined in Sponsor's sole discretion. In the event that a prize is forfeited, or a potential winner is otherwise disqualified for any reason, Sponsor will award the forfeited prize to an alternate winner selected in a random drawing from among all remaining eligible entries. Only four (4) alternate drawings will be held, after which the prize may, in Sponsor's sole discretion, remain un-awarded. Prizes are not assignable or transferable, except to a surviving spouse.

Prizes; Odds: Ten (10) winners will each receive their choice of one (1) of the following prizes:
(i)   A gift card to Best Buy® valued at Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000) and a gift card to Papa John's® valued at Five Hundred Dollars ($500);
OR
(ii)   A check in the amount of Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500) made payable to the winner.

The approximate retail value ("ARV") of each prize is Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500). Total ARV of all prizes: Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000). Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value for any prize, in its sole discretion. The odds of winning a prize depend on the number of eligible entries received.

Sponsor makes no representations about the availability of, or ability of any winner to use the prize to purchase, any merchandise depicted in any advertising related to the Promotion.

TAXES AND OTHER EXPENSES: EACH PRIZE WINNER WILL BE ISSUED A FORM 1099 FOR TAX PURPOSES IN THE AMOUNT OF THE ACTUAL RETAIL VALUE OF THE PRIZE AND MUST SUBMIT HIS OR HER SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, AS REQUIRED BY LAW. ALL FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL TAXES IMPOSED ON THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE PRIZE ARE SOLELY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH PRIZE WINNER. IF REQUIRED BY FEDERAL, STATE OR LOCAL LAW, SPONSOR MAY WITHOLD TAXES IMPOSED ON THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE PRIZE ON BEHALF OF A PRIZE WINNER.

Limitation of Liability; Release; Disclaimer:
By participating in this Promotion, you agree that Sponsor and any of its parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, professional advisors, employees and agencies (collectively, the "Released Parties")will not be responsible for (a) late, lost, illegible, incomplete, damaged or misdirected entries (b) telephone, electronic, hardware, software, network, Internet, or other computer- or communications-related malfunctions or failures; (c) any Promotion disruptions, injuries, losses or damages caused by events beyond the control of Sponsor or by non-authorized human intervention; or (d) any printing or typographical errors in any materials associated with the Promotion.   Sponsor and he Released Parties accept no responsibility for any injury, loss or damage of any kind resulting from an entrant's participation in the Promotion. By entering the Promotion, you further agree to these Official Rules and waive, and release Sponsor and all Released Parties from, all claims, costs, injuries, losses, or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the Promotion or delivery, misdelivery, acceptance, possession, use of or inability to use the prize (including, without limitation, claims, costs, injuries, losses and damages related to personal injuries, death, damage to or destruction of property, rights of publicity or privacy, defamation or portrayal in a false light, whether intentional or unintentional), whether under a theory of contract, tort (including negligence), warranty or other theory. The prize is awarded "AS IS" and WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, express or implied (including, without limitation, any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose), except as expressly provided in these Official Rules or where prohibited by law.

DISPUTES: THE PROMOTION IS GOVERNED BY, AND WILL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, AND THE FORUM AND VENUE FOR ANY DISPUTE SHALL BE IN THE STATE OR FEDERAL COURTS LOCATED IN KING COUNTY WASHINGTON. IF ANY DISPUTE BETWEEN AN ENTRANT AND SPONSOR OR OTHER CONTROVERSY OR CLAIM IS NOT OTHERWISE RESOLVED THROUGH DIRECT DISCUSSIONS OR MEDIATION, IT SHALL THEN BE RESOLVED BY FINAL AND BINDING ARBITRATION ADMINISTERED BY JUDICIAL ARBITRATION AND MEDIATION SERVICES, INC., IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS STREAMLINED ARBITRATION RULES AND PROCEDURES OR SUBSEQUENT VERSIONS THEREOF ("JAMS RULES"). THE JAMS RULES FOR SELECTION OF AN ARBITRATOR SHALL BE FOLLOWED, EXCEPT THAT THE ARBITRATOR SHALL BE EXPERIENCED AND LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW IN WASHINGTON. ALL PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION WILL BE CONDUCTED IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON. THE REMEDY FOR ANY CLAIM SHALL BE LIMITED TO ACTUAL DAMAGES, AND IN NO EVENT SHALL ANY PARTY BE ENTITLED TO RECOVER PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING ATTORNEY'S FEES OR OTHER SUCH RELATED COSTS OF BRINGING A CLAIM, OR TO RESCIND THIS AGREEMENT OR SEEK INJUNCTIVE OR ANY OTHER EQUITABLE RELIEF. ANY DEMAND FOR ARBITRATION MUST BE FILED WITHIN ONE (1) YEAR OF THE TIME THE CAUSE OF ACTION ACCRUED, OR THE CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE FOREVER BARRED.

Publicity Rights: Entry into the Promotion constitutes permission to use winner's name, prize won, office affiliation, hometown and likeness, without limitation, for online posting and promotional purposes at any time or times, in all media now known or hereafter discovered, without notice, review or approval and without further permission or compensation, except where prohibited by law. As a condition of being awarded any prize, except where prohibited by law, each winner may be required to execute a consent to the use of winner's name, prize won, office affiliation, hometown and likeness, without limitation, for online posting and promotional purposes at any time or times, in all media now known or hereafter discovered, without notice, review or approval and without further permission or compensation.

General:    By participating in the Promotion, each entrant agrees to be bound by these Official Rules and by the decisions of Sponsor, which are final and binding in all respects. If, for any reason, the Promotion is not capable of running as planned, the Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the Promotion and/or proceed with the Promotion, including, at its discretion, the selection of the prize winner in a manner it deems fair and reasonable, including the selection of the prize winner from among eligible entries received prior to such cancellation, termination, modification, or suspension. In no event will more than ten (10) prizes be awarded. In the event that, due to technical, typographical, mechanical, or other errors, there are more than ten (10) prize winners selected, a random drawing among the claimants will be held to determine the prize winners. All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply. Entrants who violate these Official Rules, violate any law, rule or regulation in connection with participation in the Promotion, tamper with the operation of the Promotion or engage in any conduct that is detrimental or unfair to Sponsor, the Promotion or any other entrant (in each case as determined in Sponsor's sole discretion) are subject to disqualification from entry into the Promotion. Sponsor reserves the right to lock out persons whose eligibility is in question or who have been disqualified or are otherwise ineligible to enter the Promotion. Any provision of these Official Rules deemed unenforceable will be enforced to the extent permissible, and the remainder of these Official Rules will remain in effect. Sponsor is not responsible for any typographical or other error in the printing of any Promotion materials, administration of the Promotion or in the announcement of any prize. The Promotion and these Official Rules will be governed, construed and interpreted under the laws of the state of Washington. If you have any questions about these Official Rules or the Promotion, please send written questions to the address listed below, Attn: Big Screen for the Big Game (Jennifer Noseworthy) Sweepstakes Questions.

Confidentiality/Privacy Policy: Please refer to Sponsor's Privacy Policy at http://www.zillow.com/corp/Privacy.htm for information about how Sponsor collects, uses and discloses information about its users.

Winner List; Rules Request: For a winner list, visit http://www.zillow.com/wikipages/Big-Screen-for-the-Big-Game-Sweepstakes/ or send a self-addressed, stamped, business-size envelope after January 25, 2013 and before January 25, 2014 to Sponsor at Sponsor's address listed below, Attn: Big Screen for the Big Game Sweepstakes Winner List (Jennifer Noseworthy). To obtain a copy of these Official Rules, visit http://www.zillow.com/wikipages/Big-Screen-for-the-Big-Game-Sweepstakes/ or send a stamped, self-addressed, business-size envelope to Sponsor at Sponsor's address listed below, Attn: Big Screen for the Big Game Sweepstakes Rules Request (Jennifer Noseworthy). Residents of WA and VT may omit return postage.

Sponsor: ZILLOW, INC., 1301 Second Ave, Floor 31, Seattle WA 98101
Zillow and Zillow.com are registered trademarks of Zillow, Inc.
Century 21 is a registered trademark of Century 21 Real Estate LLC.
Best Buy is a registered trademark of Best Buy Co., Inc.
Papa John's is a registered trademark of Papa John's International, Inc.
This Promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administrated by, or associated with Best Buy Co., Inc. or Papa John's International, Inc.

1 reply

Buyer's Roadmap

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 22:23:00 GMT

Where to Start

Can You Afford to Buy?
Best Times to Buy
Owning vs. Renting a Home
Coming Up With a Down Payment
Mortgage Pre-Approval
First-time Home Buyers vs. Old Hands
Credit Reports Explained
The Home Remodeling Decision
Home Buyers' Regrets
Basic Mortgage Questions
Qualifying for a Mortgage
Understanding Mortgage Types
Choosing a Lender
Types of Lenders
Home Equity Loans and Lines
Refinancing Your Home
Where to Move?
Buyer Location Checklist
Choosing Your Home Type
Buying Old Homes vs. New Construction
Buyers' Real Estate Wish List
Falling in Love With a Home
Buying Foreclosures and Fixer-Uppers
Avoiding Buyer's Regret

Getting Ready to Buy

Home Buying One Step at a Time
For Sale By Owner Options
Getting a Good Deal When Buying a House
Home Value by Square Foot
Use an Agent or Go It Alone?
Players On the Buyer's Team
Brokers and Agents for the Buyer
What a Buyer's Real Estate Agent Does
Where to Find the Right Buyer's Agent
Choosing a Good Agent
How Buyer's Agents are Paid
Real Estate Agent Contracts for Buyers
Working With Your Buyer's Agent

The Buying Process

Home Buyer's Game Plan
Finding Home Listings
How to Read a Listing
How to Value a House
Navigating Open Houses for the Buyer
How to Approach a FSBO Seller
Anatomy of a Buyer's Offer
Contingencies Are the Buyer's Friend
Home Inspection Checklist
Get Homeowner's Insurance
Home Inspection Guide
Making an Offer on a House
Real Estate Purchase Contract Essentials
Do I Need a Home Warranty?
Buying a Home Negotiation Strategies
Making Counteroffers to the Seller
How to Back Down After Signing
Handling a Bidding War as a Buyer
Places to Find Homes for Sale Online

Closing the Deal

Closing on a House for the Buyer
Real Estate Buyer's Closing Costs
When Buyer Closing Goes Wrong
Title Insurance for the Buyer
Get homeowner's Insurance
Homeowner's Insurance for the Buyer
Explaining Escrow for Buyers

1 reply

Prime Rate

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 22:35:00 GMT

The published interest rate at which banks make short-term unsecured loans to their best customers. It is the most-widely used standard in setting rates for home equity lines of credit and credit card rates. It is in turn based on the fed funds rate, which is set by the Federal Reserve.

Discount Point

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 22:35:00 GMT

Discount points (also known as "points," and "loan discount points") are paid to a lender (usually at closing) to reduce the interest rate on a loan. Each point is equal to 1% of the total loan amount. (Also see: Points)

Home Inspection

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 22:35:00 GMT

An examination of the structure and mechanical systems by a professional to determine a home's safety, defects, and potential repairs.

Inspections provide buyers, sellers, property owners, and agents with important information essential to evaluating a property's condition. A professional evaluation of the following components including a computerized inspection report will help in making an informed decision.

• EXTERIOR - Wall coverings & trim
• INTERIOR - Ceilings, walls, fireplaces
• STRUCTURE - Foundation, sub-structure
• ROOFING - Coverings & flashings
• ELECTRICAL - Service panel, branch circuits
• HEATING & A/C - Controls & distribution
• PLUMBING - Main PSI, vent, traps & drains
• INSULATION - Attic, vapor barriers
• ADDITIONAL SERVICES - Pool and Spa inspections

A professional home inspection can help
reduce the risks and stress associated
with a real estate transaction.

By Diane Tuman

Flip Homes for PROFIT

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 22:35:00 GMT

"Flipping" in real estate means to buy a property -- preferably as cheaply as possible -- fixing it up, and then re-selling it at a profit.

Do know your market.

Real estate can be affected by factors of the economy, interest rates, even the time of year. Explore all search possibilities such as Realtor services, classified ads, websites, auctions, and bank foreclosures.

Do look for cosmetic-only repairs.

Look for a "bad" house in a good neighborhood. A quality built home in a good area in need of TLC is an excellent consideration. Choose one that needs reasonable updates and obvious cosmetic repairs. Avoid homes requiring costly structural repairs.

Do be prepared to do the work yourself.

Plan to devote your time and resources for quick results. If you have to secure contractor services, be sure to get the costs and conditions up front and in writing. Monitor and supervise the work and document your project with pictures and organized records of repairs, contracts, building permits, vendors, specifications and paint colors.

Do know the features that will sell a home quickly.

Is the home conveniently located near schools, districts, work districts and other cultural or lifestyle conveniences?

Don't ignore curb appeal.

To catch buyers' attention, make sure the exterior is clean and in good shape. Landscaping and lawn care go a long way in home presentation — as can most exterior repairs and upgrades (new paint, siding, fencing or lighting).

Don't procrastinate - if quick revenue is your real aim.

Time is money! The sooner you start renovations, the quicker you can put your home on the market. Have your materials and tools ready — or have contractors scheduled to go to work.

Do have your budget, timeline and strategy in place before making the purchase.

Determine your selling price ahead of time so there are no surprises. Some factors that can cut into profits are:

Purchase price and repair costs
Realtor commissions or advertising
Taxes, homeowners' fees, insurance and utilities

To help minimize some of these costs, stay organized, plan well and stay on-schedule.

Do get a professional home inspection.

Get an opinion from a professional/certified home inspector before purchasing the home. Inspectors will provide an unbiased report on the overall structure of the home and will evaluate any potential risks or hazards.

Do know your financing options.

Unless you plan to pay cash, get pre-qualified and have financing in place before you search. Know your financial limitations as well as your options.There are a variety of loans available, depending on your credit and financial situation. Make sure to find out how your taxes will be affected as well.

Don't start with a high-risk property.

Take baby steps and learn how to spot a bargain with profit-potential. (A 10-15% profit margin may seem modest, but is considered a great success.)

Always use the services of a Realtor.

A good Realtor can advise you on current market trends and hot areas. His or her negotiating, marketing and networking skills can go a long way toward increasing your bottom line.

By Diane Tuman

1 reply

Miami Real Estate's Global Reach

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 22:35:00 GMT

Talking a walk through popular areas in Miami and Fort Lauderdale like Lincoln Road and Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard clearly shows how varied South Florida's inhabitants are and the kinds of people who live in the homes and oceanfront condos the areas are known for. You can easily observe someone of African American descent having a drink by the beach with someone from as far away as China or Australia who was once a tourist and now owns a home in South Florida.

These Chinese and Australian individuals could theoretically be business owners and CEOs who've chosen to open their once native doors to an international audience here in Miami, a trend that's becoming increasingly common and has spurred their fellow citizens from their countries of origin to do the same and also encourages them to possibly buy a Miami luxury condo or invest in waterfront real estate. What's more, South Florida happens to be in a prime position when it comes to efficiently doing businesses with multiple countries.

The idea is simple: A person from Beijing, for example, sees that their uncle or sister is not only living comfortably in a Brickell condo in downtown Miami, the business they initially set up back home is also thriving in Florida. This person now has another individual who shares their native tongue and also the ideals they hold true and can confidently embark on new business ventures in a foreign city renowned for its international allure. Using this same approach, it can easily be used towards explaining why Miami is a tourism favorite and how crucial the money generated from Miami tourism has continually benefitted city development.

Realtors can find lots of potential prospects by acquainting themselves with international business owners looking for commercial property or just a foreign tourist who wants to experience the irresistible appeal of Miami luxury living. In a reciprocation of sorts, the realtor is doing his or her part towards continuing the multicultural pull of South Florida.

By Diane Tuman

1 reply

What Can You Do When Faced With Foreclosure?

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 22:34:00 GMT

In the economic crisis fo 2008, foreclosed homes have become casualties forcing millions of people to abandon their homes and seek shelter somewhere else. Some experts believe that repossessed homes are a direct outcome of the action taken by financial institutions to recover their loaned amount to their customers.

As a homeowner repaying your loan, you are under enormous pressure from your lender. Besides this, you also need to protect your single largest investment and it can all get terribly confusing and difficult. It may make things easier for you, if you knew your options. So here are 3 options you can try in order to protect your home and avoid foreclosure:

Talk to Your Lender: You must contact your lender as soon as possible and in person. Call, write, or visit them. Brief them about your situation and let them know what you can do. Always mention details such as amount of money, time, terms and conditions etc. Request your lender for leniency and flexibility. Take time to reach a decision.
Talk to a Professional: Seek help of an expert real estate attorney, or a foreclosure expert or any one else who is qualified and experienced in this field. Get them to advice you without making you hire them. After all, you can better utilize their fees to make your loan payment!
Talk to others who have foreclosed: Talk to other people in a similar foreclosure situation. Ask them about agencies that can help you in this situation. These agencies could be credit counseling agencies, privately owned companies or debt restructuring, or asset protection agencies. They might be able to create a more favorable situation for you.

By Diane Tuman

1 reply

Selecting a Buying Agent

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 22:34:00 GMT

WHEN SELECTING A REALTOR TO HELP YOU BUY YOUR HOME

YOUR REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL SHOULD BE.....

A major factor in finding your "special home" that suits your personal lifestyle, meets your needs and wants, yet stays within your budget.
Able to access an analyze the multiple listing service system, locating properties for sale in your spcified area of interest.
Knowledgeable about your marketplace.
Respectful of your desires and let your make your own decisions, and not force you into buying something that is not right for you.
Aware of the complicated local and state requirements affecting property that may affect your rights of ownership.
Successufl in multi-party, face-to-face negotiating. Your Realtor will write up your offer and then present it to the seller for you.
Willing to cooperate with all brokers to get the best price for you in your market.

By Diane Tuman

1 reply

THE TEARDOWN PAGE

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 22:34:00 GMT

What is a Teardown?

A "teardown" is a house that is removed from a parcel of land to clear the site for the infill construction of a new home. Why would someone pay hundreds of thousands, or millions of dollars, to buy a house, only to tear it down? The answer is that buyers are purchasing the "buildable lots" when the value of the lots is higher than the value of the houses that sit on it. The determining factor for the value of these lots is their location in highly-sought communities and near other more valuable homes.

What Fuels Teardown Activity?

The desire to live in well-established communities. More than 70% of the nation's largest cities have experienced net population increases during the last decade. There are a limited number of neighborhoods and suburbs that are coveted for their proximity to transportation, jobs, excellent schools, attractive tree-lined streets, public facilities and amenities like parks, libraries and shopping, and city-like downtown areas with cultural and recreational amenities. Most of them have stabilized in growth and are nearly built out, with relatively few homes for sale and even fewer vacant lots. With many people wanting to move into such highly-sought areas, but desiring newer and larger homes, the value of "teardowns" continues to increase.

Many older houses do not meet todays standards for the modern new home. New home requirements continue to increase in size and amenities. According to the National Association of Home Builders, the average newly built home has 2,300 square feet of living space and comprises 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and a two-car garage. This is an increase of 53% from the average home size in 1970, and a 130% increase from 1950, when the average new house incorporated only 1,000 square feet., with 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, a small living room and a kitchen. Also, the list of desired features in new homes today includes such amenities sich as great rooms, gourmet kitchens, spa bathrooms, his-and-hers walk-in closets, home offices, au-pair suites, home theatre, data networking, and multi-car garages. A house that is built on the site of a teardown almost always is representative of this higher-end construction.

Are Teardowns Good?

Teardowns frequently are said to have breathed new life into old neighborhoods and discouraged suburban sprawl. According to the National Association of Home Builders: "Revitalizing older suburban and inner-city markets and encouraging infill construction is universally accepted as good public policy. Infill development, done wisely, can take advantage of existing infrastructure; provide higher densities in locations where mass transportation is already in place; and integrate new housing into the fabric of the community." Even in the most historic of neighborhoods, structures that do not contribute to the overall character of the area are candidates for replacement with higher-quality, better designed homes.

How Do Historic Preservation Efforts Affect Teardown Activity?

Somewhat to the surprise of many teardown skeptics, teardown activity has also coincided with historic preservation awareness reaching its highest level in recent years. Local government, residents and other non-profit organizations are working closely together to ensure that truly historic homes are preserved and maintained and that zoning regulations guarantee the scale compatibility of new construction to the existing historic neighborhood. Most new homes that are being built have this compatible architecture and higher-quality craftsmanship, as buyers are aware of the benefits and values associated with maintaining the character of these neighborhoods. Thus, "controlled" teardown activity has proven to benefit the interests of all those affected.

By Diane Tuman

1 reply

Real Estate and Taxes

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 22:31:00 GMT

One of the many benefits of owning cash flow properties is that real estate rent, collected as income, is considered passive income by the IRS and is exempt from FICA taxes, no matter how large it grows! Most earned income is not exempt, and if you happen to look at any standard paycheck, you will see a FICA deduction.

In addition, all expenses for the real estate investment are deductible against the passive rent income. Examples of deductions are:

Interest expense
Taxes
Insurance
Utilities
Repairs
Homeowner's association dues
Management fees
Legal fees
Accounting fees
and any other expenses paid due to owning and/or renting a property.

The depreciation of the property can also be used as a deduction. After deductions are taken and if your income is zero or a net loss, you will pay no ordinary income tax and under limited circumstances may be able to apply some or all of the loss to offset taxes on your salary. Of course, it is wise to consult a tax professional on your own individual taxes.

For most property owners, interest expenses are the No. 1 deduction during the initial phases of ownership. Many investors finance as much as possible -- up front -- to leverage their initial capital investment. The interest expense declines over the life of the loan, unless of course the loan is refinanced to take out equity. While the interest deductions decrease, the cash flow of the property typically increases as rental rates increase or keep up with inflation.

When the property is sold, the capital gains can be deferred if a 1031 exchange is utilized in the transaction to purchase another "like kind" property. All the closing costs including real estate commissions reduce the taxable gain amount or the cost basis being rolled forward in a 1031 exchange. Furthermore, it's important to note that the sale of a personal residence is exempt from $250,000 (or $500,000 if married and filing jointly) of capital gain if the owner has resided in the home for greater than 2 years.

By Diane Tuman

Answers to Common 1031 Exchange Questions

1 reply

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THE TEARDOWN PAGE

What is a Teardown?

What Fuels Teardown Activity?

Are Teardowns Good?

How Do Historic Preservation Efforts Affect Teardown Activity?

Real Estate and Taxes