Welcome to the most current Housing Trends eNewsletter. This eNewsletter is specially designed for you, with national and local housing information that you may find useful whether you™re in the market for a home, thinking about selling your home, or just interested in homeowner issues in general.

The Housing Trends eNewsletter contains the latest information from the National Association of REALTORS ®, the U.S. Census Bureau and Realtor.org reports, videos, key market indicators and real estate sales statistics, a video message by a nationally recognized economist, maps, mortgage rates and calculators, consumer articles, plus local neighborhood information and more. Please click here to view the APRIL – 2011 Newsletter Housing Trends eNewsletter.

If you are interested in determining the value of your home, click the Home Evaluator link for a free evaluation report.

Would you like to take a look at the most current properties on the market from the comfort of your living room?   No problem!   Search here for the latest properties in today’s market!   These properties come to you directly from the multiple listing service and are current and up-to-date.   See something you like?   Call Linda Kemp today at 630.688.5121.   whether you are interested in buying or selling real estate.   As always, it is my pleasure to serve you!

Just when you thought you had exhausted all of the possibilites of owning a new home a light begins to appear at the end of the tunnel!   Fanie Mae (Federal National Mortgage Association–http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fannie_Mae) recently announced new incentives to help more buyers afford the privilege of homeownership.   They are now offering to assist buyers with up to 3.5% in closing costs for HomePath ® properties beginning April 11 through June 30, 2011. (Fannie Mae offers HomePath mortgage financing to consumers who may not qualify for a conventional mortgage).

Eligibility Includes the following:

• Initial offers must be submitted on or after April 11, 2011.   (Buyers must be owner occupants with the home as their primary residence and are required to sign an Ower Occupant Certification Rider to the Purchase Addendum with ALL initial offers.
• The sale of the property must close on or before June 30, 2011.
• Restriction may apply.   Go to:   http://www.homepath.com/incentive/index.html for more information including terms and conditions.

Don’t let your dream of home ownership die because you received wrong or misguided information.   Everyone deserves the best!   Sit down with a good REALTOR ® and a qualified lender to work through all of your options.   This is the crusial first step that is often overlooked by both buyers and over zealous agents.   Before you hit the streets to view available properties you need to get past the very first step which is knowledge based.   An informed buyer always makes their best decision when they understand all of their options, know what their buying power entails and has a check list of their needs based on individual lifestyles.   There is a right and perfect house out there for every buyer.

Talk to a professional today and get the help and assistance you deserve!   I have incorporated into my team some of the best lenders who will happily sit down with my clients and go over ALL of your options.   We all work together to make your buying experience one that serves you and help you achieve your life’s goals.   I said it before and I’ll say it again, “I dream big dreams so that I can help my clients live their lives to their full potential.”

Call Linda Kemp today at 630.688.5121 to find out more about the home buying process.   It is always my pleasure to help you!   Together we achieve more!

Ah, the sweet smell of spring is in the air.   The snow crocus begins to poke through the ground, buds begin to appear on trees, and the all too famous garage sale signs make their way onto streets and fairways alike!   It™s time to switch the garage sale auto pilot to the œon position in my car!   Okay, I admit it”I am a garage sale junkie!

This of course I rationalize in my head as my way of keeping the planet œgreen.   As the old saying goes, œOne person™s junk is another person™s treasure!   But just take a moment and think of all the items that are being recycled rather than tossed into a land fill.   And besides you can have fun while at the same time acting as a responsible citizen.

This year, however, I am suggesting something different for my readers”a community swap meet.   Instead of having a garage sale consider placing all of your goods outside in your driveway or in your garage just as you would in a garage sale.   Have your neighbors and friends pick through your items and then move on to the next house.   Or if you can assign a point system and swap items that have the same point value.   This is a great way to re-design some areas of your home without spending much, if any money!   You can even have your neighbors pick a favorite charity and sell hot dogs and lemonade with the proceeds going right back into the community!

So to all of those œcloset garage sale junkies I say. œGO FOR IT!

And remember–now is a great time to take advantage of the Spring market!   Why not search for properties from the comfort of your living room right here!   Let’s hit the pavement and start looking for the right and perfect house that fits your needs!   Call Linda Kemp today at 630.688.5121.   It is always my pleasure to serve you!

Keller Williams Realty Climbs to Second-Largest Real Estate Franchise in United States
Goals set for worldwide expansion to add 75,000 international associates

AUSTIN, TEXAS (March 8, 2011)”Keller Williams ® Realty Inc., announced today that it is now the second-largest real estate franchise in the United States based on the total number of sales professionals, surpassing Century 21, according to research conducted by REAL Trends, a leading source of analysis and information in the residential real estate industry. The company claimed the number two spot with 77,672 U.S.-based associates at the end of 2010, just two years after claiming the number three spot from RE/MAX ® International.

œOnce again, this milestone achievement is a direct result of the dedication of our associates and the stability and profitability of the Keller Williams business models,” said Mark Willis, CEO of Keller Williams Realty, Inc. œIt™s incredible to see the momentum that our associates and our offices have right now.”

This news comes one week after the announcement of positive growth by the company at their annual convention in Anaheim. Including its presence in Canada, Keller Williams closed the year with 79,315 associates and 701 market centers (offices). At the convention, Willis also shared that Keller Williams associate profit share was up 7.2 percent, with its agents receiving $34.6 million dollars back in 2010. Despite industry contraction, Keller Williams associates across North America also showed significant percentage gains in listings taken (+13%), contracts closed volume (+9%) and contracts closed units (+6%).

The company also formed Keller Williams Worldwide with Chris Heller as president, citing plans for global expansion, with plans to grow the division by an additional 75,000 associates in 10 years.

œOur goals are to expand the Keller Williams Realty model “ with the focus on training and our sound business models,” said Chris Heller, president of KW Worldwide. œAnd, when looking for the right country and business partners in planning for expansion, we will not sacrifice the perfect fit with our mission, vision and the KW culture, those are absolutely necessary.”

Despite the sharp downturn in the real estate market, since 2005 Keller Williams Realty has grown 30 percent in agents, 40 percent in market centers, 21 percent in closed units and 11 percent in closed GCI.

Keller Williams Realty received many accolades in 2010 including:

Entrepreneur magazine, No. 1 ranked real estate franchise on the 31st Annual Franchise 500 list

J.D. Power and Associates, highest in overall satisfaction ratings from home buyers among the largest full-service real estate firms for the third year in a row

Inman News, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board Gary Keller named one of the 100 Most Influential Leaders in Real Estate

Training Magazine, highest ranking real estate franchise on the annual Training Top 125, #47 Overall

œIt is such an honor to be a part of a company with such dedicated and driven people,” said Mary Tennant, president and COO of Keller Williams Realty. œOur associates are setting the pace in the industry. It is truly an exciting time to be in real estate and to be a part of the Keller Williams family.”
###

About Keller Williams Realty, Inc.:
Founded in 1983, Keller Williams Realty Inc. is the second-largest real estate franchise operation in the United States, with 701 offices and almost 80,000 associates in the United States and Canada. The company, which began franchising in 1990, has an agent-centric culture that emphasizes access to leading-edge education and promotes an economic model that rewards associates as stakeholders and partners. The company also provides specialized agents in luxury homes and commercial real estate properties. For more information, or to search for homes for sale visit Keller Williams Realty online at (www.kw.com) Information about Keller Williams Realty™s international expansion can be found at (www.kwworldwide.com).

Check out the video from Mark Willis, CEO Keller Williams Realty International: http://www.youtube.com/embed/KnvnsxaLztk

Notes from Linda Kemp

I am so proud to be a part such a great company!   Each of us at Keller Williams Realty is praised to his/her success and given the tools to succeed.   This has helped me become the one of the best in my profession.   Call Linda Kemp today at 630.688.5121 to find out more about buying a selling properties.   Would you like to search for available properties from the comfort of your living room?   Search properties here!   Like what you see?   I am happy to help you find the right property that fits your lifestyle!

Welcome to the most current Housing Trends eNewsletter. This eNewsletter is specially designed for you, with national and local housing information that you may find useful whether you™re in the market for a home, thinking about selling your home, or just interested in homeowner issues in general.

The Housing Trends eNewsletter contains the latest information from the National Association of REALTORS ®, the U.S. Census Bureau and Realtor.org reports, videos, key market indicators and real estate sales statistics, a video message by a nationally recognized economist, maps, mortgage rates and calculators, consumer articles, plus local neighborhood information and more. Please click here to view the MARCH – 2011 Newsletter Housing Trends eNewsletter.

Watch this video by clicking on the link for the March 2011 Housing Trends eNewsletter!
If you are interested in determining the value of your home, click the Home Evaluator link for a free evaluation report.

Interest rates have dipped back again but that trend won’t last long!   In fact, my mortgage bankers and lenders are predicting that rates will be going up as we move into Spring.   There is no better time than now to buy that home you have been wanting to invest in!   Call Linda Kemp today at 630.688.5121 for more information on buying or selling a home. Would you like to take a look at what homes are available on the market?   Your home search starts right here!     It is always my pleasure to serve you!   Happy Spring!

This article will help you set up a solid plan to launch your desires into reality.   I am adding my additional recommendations at the end of this article that I feel will add to this very insightful article.   Linda Kemp

8 Tips for Finding Your New Home

A solid game plan can help you narrow your homebuying search to find the best home for you.

1. Know thyself
Understand the type of home that suits your personality. Do you prefer a new or existing home? A ranch or a multistory home? If you™re leaning toward a fixer-upper, are you truly handy, or will you need to budget for contractors?

2. Research before you look
List the features you most want in a home and identify which are necessities and which are extras. Identify three to four neighborhoods you™d like to live in based on commute time, schools, recreation, crime, and price. Then hop onto REALTOR.com to get a feel for the homes available in your price range in your favorite neighborhoods. Use the results to prioritize your wants and needs so you can add in and weed out properties from the inventory you™d like to view.

3. Get your finances in order
Generally, lenders say you can afford a home priced two to three times your gross income. Create a budget so you know how much you™re comfortable spending each month on housing. Don™t wait until you™ve found a home and made an offer to investigate financing.

Gather your financial records and meet with a lender to get a prequalification letter spelling out how much you™re eligible to borrow. The lender won™t necessarily consider the extra fees you™ll pay when you purchase or your plans to begin a family or purchase a new car, so shop in a price range you™re comfortable with. Also, presenting an offer contingent on financing will make your bid less attractive to sellers.

4. Set a moving timeline
Do you have blemishes on your credit that will take time to clear up? If you already own, have you sold your current home? If not, you™ll need to factor in the time needed to sell. If you rent, when is your lease up? Do you expect interest rates to jump anytime soon? All these factors will affect your buying, closing, and moving timelines.

5. Think long term
Your future plans may dictate the type of home you™ll buy. Are you looking for a starter house with plans to move up in a few years, or do you hope to stay in the home for five to 10 years? With a starter, you may need to adjust your expectations. If you plan to nest, be sure your priority list helps you identify a home you™ll still love years from now.

6. Work with a REALTOR ®
Ask people you trust for referrals to a real estate professional they trust. Interview agents to determine which have expertise in the neighborhoods and type of homes you™re interested in. Because homebuying triggers many emotions, consider whether an agent™s style meshes with your personality.

Also ask if the agent specializes in buyer representation. Unlike listing agents, whose first duty is to the seller, buyers™ reps work only for you even though they™re typically paid by the seller. Finally, check whether agents are REALTORS ®, which means they™re members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS ®. NAR has been a champion of homeownership rights for more than a century.

7. Be realistic
It™s OK to be picky about the home and neighborhood you want, but don™t be close-minded, unrealistic, or blinded by minor imperfections. If you insist on living in a cul-de-sac, you may miss out on great homes on streets that are just as quiet and secluded.

On the flip side, don™t be so swayed by a œwow feature that you forget about other issues”like noise levels”that can have a big impact on your quality of life. Use your priority list to evaluate each property, remembering there™s no such thing as the perfect home.

8. Limit the opinions you solicit
It™s natural to seek reassurance when making a big financial decision. But you know that saying about too many cooks in the kitchen. If you need a second opinion, select one or two people. But remain true to your list of wants and needs so the final decision is based on criteria you™ve identified as important.

By: G. M. Filisko
Published: February 10, 2010
G.M. Filisko is an attorney and award-winning writer who has found happiness in a brownstone in a historic Chicago neighborhood. A frequent contributor to many national publications including Bankrate.com, REALTOR ® Magazine, and the American Bar Association Journal, she specializes in real estate, business, personal finance, and legal topics.

Reprinted from House Logic with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS ®.   Copyright 2010.   All rights reserved.

Notes from Linda Kemp

My experience with buyers–especially first time home buyers is that they will often change direction or adjust their must have’s and needs after physically viewing the current inventory of homes on the market.   Be flexible. Make sure that you and your family have time to devote to the home search.   Family obligations always come first so make sure that adequate time is set aside and that you have a time frame in which to work.  

It is so very important to sit down with your real estate professional and just talk about the things that are important to you and your family, spouse, or significant other.   As professionals we want to see the BIG picture so that we understand what your priorities are.   And make sure that you trust your agent.   There needs to be open communication at all times.

So there you have it!   My piece of advice is to enjoy the journey.   The home buying process is just as important as signing the contract and closing.   Don’t let this become a difficult task with lots of negativity.   Trust the ups and downs and view this as a learning experience.   It’s all good!

It is my pleasure to help you reach your goals.   Search properties here and find out what type of homes and neighbors excite you!   Need more information on the home buying process?   Call Linda Kemp today at 630.688.5121 and let’s get started!   You can dream big or you can dream small–my goal is to help you fulfill that goal!

In Part One of this series we discussed how FICO scores work.   Most consumers are unaware of how these scores are calculated.   These same consumers are often neglect in checking their credit report to make sure that the information in contained in these reports are valid.

Today we are going to discuss how much of a mortgage you can comfortably handle.   Note the word comfortably!   Here is where a good lender comes into play.   Not all lenders and mortgage brokers are created equal! I work with some of the best lenders and mortgage brokers and I am proud to have them on my team.   They operate from a place of integrity and make sure that the client comes first.   I have also had the experience of working with lenders who were brought into a transaction by the buyer.   These buyers usually have a history of friendship, kinship or they have traveled in the same social circles.   This is where it gets tough.   Just because these people are in the mortgage professionals doesn™t mean that they are on top of their game!   In fact, I had two deals almost fall apart because the buyer used a friend or relative to help them obtain a mortgage.   Not only were they unable to help my clients but they played a major role in delaying the closings.   Take heed!   If you are working with a good Realtor ® then trust their judgment!   Most reputable agents will work with the best professional lenders and mortgage brokers and will make certain that they are operating in the buyers’ best interest!   So take this advice and sit down with a mortgage professional who comes highly recommended and review ALL your options.   There are so many incentives and programs out there to choose from.   Your mortgage professional along with your Realtor will help determine which options are right for you!  Linda Kemp

4 Tips to Determine How Much Mortgage You Can Afford

By knowing how much mortgage you can handle, you can ensure that home ownership will fit in your budget.

Homeownership should make you feel safe and secure, and that includes financially. Be sure you can afford your home by calculating how much of a mortgage you can safely fit into your budget.

Instead of just taking out the biggest mortgage a lender qualifies you to borrow, consider how much you want to pay each month for housing based on your financial and personal goals.

Think ahead to major life events and consider how those might influence your budget. Do you want to return to school for an advanced degree? Will a new child add day care to your monthly expenses? Does a relative plan to eventually live with you and contribute to the mortgage?

Still not sure how much you can afford? You can use the same formulas that most lenders use, or try another of these traditional methods for estimating the amount of mortgage you can afford.

1. The general rule of mortgage affordability
As a rule of thumb, you can typically afford a home priced two to three times your gross income. If you earn $100,000, you can typically afford a home between $200,000 and $300,000.

To understand how that rule applies to your particular financial situation, prepare a family budget and list all the costs of homeownership, like property taxes, insurance, maintenance, utilities, and community association fees, if applicable, as well as costs specific to your family, such as day care costs.

2. Factor in your down payment
How much money do you have for a down payment? The higher your down payment, the lower your monthly payments will be. If you put down at least 20% of the home’s cost, you may not have to get private mortgage insurance, which costs hundreds each month. That leaves more money for your mortgage payment.

The lower your down payment, the higher the loan amount you’ll need to qualify for and the higher your monthly mortgage payment.

3. Consider your overall debt
Lenders generally follow the 28/41 rule. Your monthly mortgage payments covering your home loan principal, interest, taxes, and insurance shouldn’t total more than 28% of your gross annual income. Your overall monthly payments for your mortgage plus all your other bills, like car loans, utilities, and credit cards, shouldn’t exceed 41% of your gross annual income.

Here’s how that works. If your gross annual income is $100,000, multiply by 28% and then divide by 12 months to arrive at a monthly mortgage payment of $2,333 or less. Next, check the total of all your monthly bills including your potential mortgage and make sure they don’t top 41%, or $3,416 in our example.

4. Use your rent as a mortgage guide
The tax benefits of homeownership generally allow you to afford a mortgage payment-including taxes and insurance-of about one-third more than your current rent payment without changing your lifestyle. So you can multiply your current rent by 1.33 to arrive at a rough estimate of a mortgage payment.

Here’s an example. If you currently pay $1,500 per month in rent, you should be able to comfortably afford a $2,000 monthly mortgage payment after factoring in the tax benefits of homeownership.

However, if you’re struggling to keep up with your rent, consider what amount would be comfortable and use that for the calculation instead.

Also consider whether or not you’ll itemize your deductions. If you take the standard deduction, you can’t also deduct mortgage interest payments. Talking to a tax adviser, or using a tax software program to do a “what if” tax return, can help you see your tax situation more clearly.

More from HouseLogic
More on the mortgage interest deduction (http://www.houselogic.com/articles/mortgage-interest-deduction-vital-housing-market/)

More on the tax advantages of homeownership (http://www.houselogic.com/articles/tax-tips-homeowners-preparing-2009-returns/)

Other web resources
A worksheet on home affordability (http://www.ginniemae.gov/2_prequal/intro_questions.asp?Section=YPTH)

Freddie Mac information on home affordability (http://www.freddiemac.com/corporate/buyown/english/preparing/right_for_you/afford.html)

By: G. M. Filisko

G.M. Filisko is an attorney and award-winning writer who’s owned her own home for more than 20 years. A frequent contributor to many national publications including Bankrate.com, REALTOR® Magazine, and the American Bar Association Journal, she specializes in real estate, business, personal finance, and legal topics

Reprinted from House Logic with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS ®.   Copyright 2011.   All rights reserved.

Are you looking for a real estate professional who will listen to your needs?   Are you looking for someone who is knowledgeable as well as someone you can trust?   Why not give Linda Kemp a call today at 630.688.5121 and find out how you can begin the home buying process the right way!   If you would like to take a virtual tour of homes in various communities why not try one-stop shopping at search for homes right here!   You can view houses from the comfort of your living room to get a feel of what is available!   Give it a try today!

The following series of articles will help consumers better prepare for the home buying process.   Preparation is so very important before you contact a Realtor ® and hop into the car to visit available properties on the market. Make certain to take the necesessary steps to insure that you get the most out of your buying power. Knowledge is the most powerful tool that you have in today’s marketplace.  Empower yourselves today!

How FICO Credit Scores Work

Buying a house, refinancing it, getting a loan, getting a job”they™re all dependent on your FICO credit score. It pays to learn how it™s calculated.

How are FICO credit scores computed?

FICO uses five broad categories to calculate credit scores, and each category is weighted accordingly:

Payment History  35%
Amounts owed  30%
Length of credit history  15%
New credit  10%
Types of credit in use (is it a œhealthy mix?)  10%

Why are there three FICO credit scores?

There are three main bureaus that collect data on your credit history: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.   FICO takes data from each credit bureau and runs it through its system. This leads to three different FICO credit scores because:

• Each agency may have information one or both of the others don™t have. For example, a collection agency may have reported a bad debt to only one of them.
• Errors that occur just in one agency™s data may affect that agency™s results, but not the results from the other two.
• And to make it even more complex, many lenders augment their credit decisions by adding particular criteria they want to consider.

Also, although FICO is the best-known credit score, there are many others. Some lenders generate their own credit scores using data from the same three credit bureaus. Experian, in fact, has developed its own scoring system separate from FICO.

However, FICO remains the most common; when big lenders refer to your credit scores, they™re usually referring to the FICO scores.

Why can a credit check by itself reduce a FICO credit score?
 
FICO™s research shows that more credit shopping, resulting in more inquiries, correlates with a higher risk of future default. However, multiple queries in a short period for one purpose”such as when you™re shopping for a HELOC”would count as only one inquiry.

The FICO score ignores any mortgage, student loan, or auto loan inquiries made within the previous 30 days. The system limits itself to inquiries made in the 11 months before that, and reduces similar inquires within any 45-day window to a single inquiry. For example, if you approach five banks over two weeks on a HELOC, it will only count as one inquiry.

The inquiry formulas can get rather complex; the FICO site has more details.

How long does major negative information stay on my credit report?
 
Generally, the impact of adverse information on a FICO score lessens over time.

Foreclosures  7 years, with rebound beginning in as little as 2 years.
Deeds in lieu and short sales
7 years”they usually appear on credit reports as foreclosures.
Late payments  7 years.

It doesn™t matter what the late payments are for. Recent late payments hit your credit score harder than older ones, and the amount and frequency of the late payments are also factors.

Bankruptcies  7 years (10 years for œfull discharge of debt”i.e., if you™re absolved of your full debt, the bankruptcy stays on your credit report for 10 years). Because they often involve more than one account, bankruptcies generally have a greater negative impact on your credit score compared with a foreclosure, short sale, or deed in lieu.

How does loan modification affect my FICO credit score?
 
Until November 2009, if you were in a loan modification program, your credit report likely notes that you have made only a partial payment. This significantly lowered your FICO score.

However, in modifications made since November 2009, the credit reporting system was changed to reduce the credit score hit. But as of October 2010 FICO hadn™t completely bought into this system and may at some point decide that everyone in a loan modification program, whether under new or old rules, deserves a significantly lower score.

For now, your best bet is to obtain your free credit reports, as noted later in this article, and see how your particular situation was reported and handled.

Do reductions in credit card or HELOC limits affect my credit score?
 
The impact will be unique for each consumer. The FICO formula considers many aspects of your balances and behaviors, including whether you have a high percentage of available credit at the time the report was pulled.

For example, if you have high debt and use a substantial proportion of your available credit, you™re at a greater risk. Opening a new credit card to increase available credit, after another card was reduced, may backfire and reduce your credit score.
Do lenders have to tell me if they’re basing a quote on my bad credit score?
 
New regulations taking effect in 2011 require lenders to tell you if they™re giving you a particularly high interest rate or other less favorable loan term than other borrowers who qualify for the best deals. In the past, the lenders may not have told you that you were getting an especially high rate”you were penalized without knowing it.

Starting in January, you™ll be forewarned.

Then if your credit score is lower than you expected, you can investigate it”maybe it™s just an outdated report or a simple mix-up. At least you™ll know the deal before signing on the dotted line.

But don™t wait until you apply for a loan to discover your credit is a mess. By law, you can get a free report from each agency once a year at Annualcreditreport.com. (And no, this isn™t the company advertising with the slacker band on TV.) This is the only site authorized by the Federal Trade Commission to provide free reports.

However, these reports don™t include your FICO scores. You can purchase TransUnion and Equifax FICO scores from MyFico.com for $15.95 each. (Experian continues to provide a FICO score to lenders but no longer sells its score on a retail basis.)   Some consumers will qualify for free FICO scores starting in mid-2011 or early 2012.

Reprinted from House Logic with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS ®.   Copyright 2011.   All rights reserved.

Don’t forget to watch for Part Two in this Home Buyer Series.   In the meantime if you would like to virtually visit homes from the comfort of your living rooms click on search for homes.   These available homes are brought to you direct from the MLS and are current and active.   And as always if you need any real estate help please give Linda Kemp a call today at 630.688.5121.   It is my pleasure to serve you!

So this morning as I settled down in front of my computer with a steaming hot cup of coffee I received the following email from Trulia:

This is only one of many so called œinquiries that I receive periodically.   I had to put down my coffee while reading this one because I was laughing so hard that I was afraid I would spill part of my precious beverage!   Let me borrow a phrase from kids, “Really?”   Obviously the writer of this eloquent email must certainly think that real estate agents are lacking a significant amount of brain cells!

These scam artists appear to be foreign (ya think?) and use polite wording to excuse their lack of intelligence and to make themselves look sincere.   Here is my version of exactly what they are trying to say:

“Dear Sir and/or Madam Agent,

I am looking to do business with any real estate agent who is gullible enough to fall for this scam.   I have just inherited a small country in addition to a significant amount of money, and with my left-over proceeds I would to entice you to join me in a rip-off scheme that would allow me to create wealth and abundance for myself and make your life miserable.

Please click on the link below in case I am not really a scam artist but some challenged individual who has way too much time on his hands and who has developed a new method of providing you with the latest Internet porn.

I look forward to scamming not only you but many of your desperate colleagues as well!   Time is of the essence!”

So, I will borrow yet another one of my kids’ phrases œS E R I O U S L Y ?

It is my pleasure to share this insightful information.

On a serious note:

There are many, many more scam artists out there who appear to be legitimate.   Realtors need to be on their toes and screen all inquiries very carefully.   The Internet can be our friend or foe, so take necessary pre-cautions;   and if you find you have come across something very disturbing report it to either the venue in which you blogged or to the proper authorities.

We have an obligation to protect ourselves as well as our clients.

I would be interested in hearing from other associates and sharing what your experiences have been.   Thanks!   Linda Kemp

Do you need some expert help or guidance in claiming your Home Buyer Tax Credit on your 2010 Income Tax Returns?   Well stop wondering; don’t call your brother’s mother-law’s sister’s husband who is a real estate agent in Hoboken, New Jersey!   Get the right information from the best source possible–your friendly IRS!

Not only is this link filled with great information but your can download Form 5405 along with instructions on filling out the necessary information.   It also has more information on First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit and a video pertaining to the Home Buyer Tax Credit for Military personnel.

So stop guessing and go to IRS.gov at: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=202222,00.html and bookmark the page for your reference.

What happens now that the tax credit is gone?

The good news is that there is still a plethora of homes available priced well below market value.   And believe it or not in many cases, when you decide to purchase these properties you will find that your savings far exceeds the amount offered in last year’s home buyer tax credit!

Do you need help in finding these properties?   Help is here!   Search properties directly from the MLS and in the comfort of your living room today!   Find something that you would like to see?   Call Linda Kemp today at 630.688.5121 and it will be my pleasure to help you find the right and perfect house for you!