A Message to Our Clients Regarding COVID-19

Posted by Toth Team Worldwide on

What a crazy Spring it has been!

Our main concern is the health and wellbeing of our staff and clients. Thus, we are adhering to the CDC’s recommendations regarding social distancing and other precautions.

For all of our clients, it means we are prequalifying in a much different way by:

• Asking all parties if they have traveled prior to making an appointment

• Asking if they have had any illness or symptoms before we meet with them or show any homes

• Asking buyers to limit showings to a group of two

• All parties entering shall wear gloves, masks, and booties to minimize contact and  maintain distance  – complying with legal requirements.

• Asking the sellers to turn lights on & leave them on so this limits touching switches, etc.

• Disinfecting the office once a day so staff can work in a safe environment

• Conducting our team meetings & trainings virtually so the number of employees at the office is limited

• Offering all virtual tours online (our agents are happy to do a video prior to a personal showing)

• Reminding clients that closings will take longer as lenders are having issues keeping up due to refinances. We now have a limited number of appraisers wanting to continue to go in & out of homes across the country. Many offices are currently limiting their staffing

• Conducting most closings digitally at the client’s request (See more about Your Virtual Home Buying Process below.)

We are not sticking our head in the sand, but we are also not creating panic

Housing – buying, selling, and renting – is still a necessity. We still have clients who are moving to or from our market area. Despite all of the uncertainty, real estate as a whole is one industry that has not experienced a 30% drop.

Additionally, given that the real estate industry as a whole was much stronger at the onset of our current crisis than before the 2008 recession, we will emerge from this economic downturn stronger. Interest rates are at historic lows. There are still plenty of buyers looking to purchase. Until the government mandates a temporary cessation of business, we are 100% operational.

That said, we have seen a slowdown. This will likely continue for our industry, as well as other sectors of the economy. But, we will continue to support small businesses and our community to the best of our ability.

Please reach out to us with questions, concerns, or any needs that you might have.

Together, we will arise from this crisis stronger.

See below for more resources to help you through this time.

Resources:

SBA– Offering very low rates for businesses now in need

United Way (Washtenaw County)

Extensions For Tax Payments

Deferment on Student Loan Payments

Government Monies for Those Who Qualify

National Mortgage Payment Relief Efforts

 

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Together, we will arise from this crisis stronger

”

 

If you have any other real estate-related questions, feel free to reach out to our team via phone or email. We look forward to serving you.

What Happens if the House You’re Buying Doesn’t Appraise?

Posted by Toth Team Worldwide on

What should you do when the house you’re buying doesn’t appraise?

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If you’ve found the perfect home and submitted an offer, what happens if the property doesn’t appraise? Well, first of all, don’t lose hope. There are many ways a deal can still proceed even after an appraisal comes in low, and here are just a few:

  1. Ask the seller to lower the price.
  2. Pay the difference in cash.
  3. Get a new lender (and a new appraisal).
  4. Refute the appraisal.
  5. Wait for comparable properties to rise in value, then order another appraisal.

 

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Our team will do everything we can

to help arrange a solution.

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Of course, each of these options would need to be approved by a lender. The good news is that appraisals don’t come in low very often. If and when they do, though, our team will do everything we can to help you arrange a solution.

As always, if you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Everything You Need to Know About HOAs

Posted by Toth Team Worldwide on

Buying a home within a homeowners association comes with its own unique set of benefits, challenges, and costs.

Here’s everything you need to know about them.

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Today we are at the Jonathan Club in Los Angeles, and we will be discussing what you need to know about HOAs (homeowners associations) before you buy.

Yes, homeowners associations can be a very big deal, especially if you don’t take the time to learn the facts about your specific homeowners association.

Why?

Every one of them is different, and they each come with a specific set of rules and regulations with which you must abide. If you are going to buy that perfect house, you MUST take the time to research and investigate its homeowners association; otherwise, you could, at some point, lose your home.

But don’t worry—we’re here to help you with that. So here is a quick overview of how a homeowners association works, the do’s and don’ts, the pros and cons of a homeowners association, and the one thing you must ALWAYS do if you don’t want to risk losing your home.

First, what is a homeowners association? The purpose of an HOA is to make and enforce rules and regulations for the properties within a designated subdivision. The association’s goal is to ensure that living in the area or on the property is pleasant for all residents.

Those who purchase a home in a subdivision that has an HOA pay membership dues called HOA fees. They will also be required to follow all the existing and newly voted-in rules and regulations or face fines and penalties.

 

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Make sure you read the CC&Rs.

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When dealing with an HOA, you will want to read Covenants, Conditions, & Restrictions (CC&Rs). These are the rules that are placed on the properties within the HOA-governed subdivision. These rules and limits are determined by a builder, developer, or the managing members of the homeowners association for that neighborhood.

If you decide to live in an HOA neighborhood, you might have to give up some of your rights and freedoms to do so. Therefore, you have to ask yourself a few questions before making that final decision about whether or not you really want to live in that HOA neighborhood. For example:

  • Do I have any amenities that aren’t allowed under this HOA?
  • Am I willing to pay a higher cost to live in this HOA subdivision?
  • How will I feel about being told I can’t do something I normally do or would like to do? (think paint colors, yard decor, etc.)

Any given HOA will have their own individual rules and regulations, so learn what they are for each HOA subdivision you are considering. Just because you learned the HOA rules for that first house you passed on doesn’t mean all are the same. You need to research and investigate the rules and regulations for each different HOA neighborhood.

Most HOA restrictions are related to the following:

  • Landscaping and outdoor decor
  • Smoking
  • Parking
  • Noise levels
  • Fencing
  • Square footage
  • Pets
  • Home use
  • Amenities

Generally, the HOA is responsible for taking care of all the common area maintenance, upkeep, and repairs. For condos, they are also generally responsible for all major exterior replacements like roofs, fencing, plumbing, etc.

If you have any additional questions for me about HOAs or anything else related to real estate, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Buyers: Why a Home Warranty? Presented by Toth Team

Posted by Toth Team Worldwide on

Why should you have a home warranty? Our go-to warranty expert is here to explain.

If you’re a seller looking at a home warranty, click here!

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Want to Sell a Home? Get a Home Value Report

 

I’m joined today by Stacey Kraft of Home Warranty of America, our team’s expert on home warranties. She’ll be talking with us about why it’s important for homebuyers to get a home warranty when they purchase a home.

A home warranty covers the mechanical systems of your home. To easily remember what’s covered, just think of PEACH: Plumbing, Electrical, Appliances, Cooling, and Heating.

Ideally, coverage should begin at closing—things can and do go wrong in the first week or two of owning a house. Your home is usually being used differently in the beginning, so it’s a good idea to have a warranty from the outset.

Stacey’s company offers 13 months of coverage, while most only offer 12 months. Things always seem to go wrong on day 366, so they give you an extra month as a cushion.

 

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Just think of PEACH:

Plumbing, Electrical, Appliances, Cooling, and Heating.

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If you’re comparing companies, look for things such as age restrictions. If you have a 30-year-old furnace, for example, you want to be able to have it replaced if it goes bad.

I’d like to thank Stacey for giving us some great insight. Feel free to reach out to her at (248) 330-1076.

If you have any questions or would like more information, contact me. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

We Want to Protect You When You’re Buying Vacant Land

Posted by Toth Team Worldwide on

Which contingencies can protect you during a vacant land purchase?

Our team has a lot of knowledge on this subject, and we’d like to share some of it with you today.

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When you buy vacant land, it’s important that you avoid vacant land traps. There are a few specific buying blunders to look out for during such a transaction, which we would like to highlight for you today.

The first step you should take in protecting yourself against any pitfalls is to partner with a professional. Otherwise, you could easily encounter expensive issues, each of which we’ll discuss in greater detail in future videos.

Some of the contingencies to consider during a vacant land purchase are:

  • Septic contingencies
  • Well contingencies
  • Driveway permit contingencies
  • Land division contingencies
  • Zoning/building permit contingencies
  • Survey contingencies
  • Easement and building restriction contingencies
  • Utilities
  • Mineral rights contingencies
  • Crop contingencies
  • Water contingencies
  • Legal contingencies
  • Financing contingencies
  • Planned future development contingencies

 

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Vacant land is the essence of real estate.

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There are a number of opportunities for protection associated with each of these, and our team has been very fortunate in helping buyers leverage them during their purchases. Would you rather have an expert or an amateur by your side as you pursue this kind of deal?

Vacant land is the essence of real estate, and our team has a strong track record of success in dealing with this type of transaction. We hope you’ll trust us to meet your goals.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Our New App Will Enhance Your Home Searches

Posted by Toth Team Worldwide on

New KW technology will allow consumers to search for homes like never before. Our Chief Innovation Officer will explain.

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Want to Sell a Home? Get a Home Value Report

 

When you’re on a property detail page, it’s really important to get all the information about a house as quickly as possible, and with our new KW Search app (available in 2019), you can do that with ease.

There are a couple things you can do differently with our consumer app that you can’t do in all the other apps:

1. Get the home DNA profile. The home DNA is based on your search criteria, and as you use the app, it finds out what you like and don’t like. It trains very similarly to Amazon or Netflix.

2. Customizable. On the Any Home app, you can easily favorite or hide a home from ever showing up again.

3. Agent-client connectivity. If you’re working with an agent, that agent has the ability to recommend homes and give you comments about why a particular home might be great for you and your family.

4. Photo organization. It breaks down all the photos by room allowing you to simply click on a category and see all the photos of that space, including the interior and exterior of the home. Further still, if you double tap a photo, it will show you all the tags that are found in that photo. These tags will point out various aspect of the room or area, and the consumer can point out what they like about these tags, which will train their home DNA. This allows for a very curated search.

 

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As you use the app, it finds out what you like and don’t like. It trains very similarly to Amazon or Netflix.

”

 

5. Commute calculator. With the app, you can plug in the address of your work and calculate the commute time between a property and your work.

6. Collaboration. You can actually start private discussions on any home and also invite your agent, co-buyer, or family members to engage you in a discussion right on the app.

7. Property pages. Whenever you’re looking at a property, there will be a feature that allows you to see the neighborhood it’s in and key features about that neighborhood. Then you can go explore the area on the map, allowing you to find out what it’s like to live in any neighborhood for any home.

8. Request tour. At the bottom of the app, there are two buttons: One to contact the agent for the listing, and the other that allows you to schedule a time to visit the home.

This app could truly change the way that consumers search for homes and interact with sellers and their agents. To find out more or to address any questions you have, please reach out to Toth Team Worldwide. We’d be glad to help.

What To Know About Earnest Money Deposits

Posted by Toth Team Worldwide on

What is an earnest money deposit and what role does it play in a real estate transaction?

We’ll be tackling this question today.

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When you find the house of your dreams, you show the seller you’re serious by writing a check. This is known in the industry as an earnest money deposit.

By law, this sum must be deposited into the title company’s or broker’s escrow account within two days from the final acceptance of the offer.

Essentially, earnest money deposits (otherwise known as a good faith deposit) represents your commitment to buying the home. It shows the seller you’re operating in good faith and allows them to label the home as “Contingent” in the multiple listing system.

As a result of this, the number of showings the seller takes on may decrease while you, the buyer, go through the due diligence period. The larger your earnest money deposit, the more certain the seller will be of your desire to purchase the house.

 

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The larger your earnest money deposit, the more certain

the seller will be of your desire to purchase the house.

”

 

This deposit can range from about $1,000 to 10% of the home’s sales price. In multiple offer situations, you may want to increase this amount to make your offer more attractive.

Keep in mind, though, that this amount will not be refunded to you if you break the terms of the contract and walk away from the deal.

However, if you meet all of the deadlines and contingencies of the contract, such as the inspection, appraisal, and title review, then the earnest money will be applied toward your down payment at closing.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

What You Need to Know About New Construction Before You Buy

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Today, we are joined by Randy Surline, a senior sales partner at Allen Edwin Homes. Randy has years of building experience, so he’ll answer a few questions that you should always ask a builder when buying new construction.

Allen Edwin Homes has been building in Michigan for 22 years. Currently, they build about 200 homes a year in Southeast Michigan. Allen Edwin provides great energy efficiency, high-quality workmanship, and they follow up with their clients after the sale and the build.

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As far as cost goes, the buyer controls the price. When Allen Edwin comes in, we make sure the area makes sense, the community makes sense, and everything fits comfortably within their budget. Once that is settled, anything above that price is selected by the buyer from our showroom, or structurally for the home.

Another concern when building is the timeline. The nice thing is that in Southeast Michigan, there are about 60 or 70 spec homes in progress, which allows buyers to move in quicker. If you’re building from scratch, Allen Edwin uses a slotting process so that the buyer knows when the house will be done within a two-month window.

If you are interested in new builds, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!

Southeast Michigan Spec Sheet September

Find Your Dream Home in Ann Arbor Quickly and Easily with Our Buyer Consultation

Posted by Toth Team Worldwide on

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One of the questions I get asked is, “What is the benefit of a buyer consultation?” The simple answer is that it saves you time and gives you a competitive advantage because you’ll be educated about our local real estate market.

You can search all properties with general criteria on lots of websites on your own, but you’ll often find that the information is old, and sometimes the properties have sold already. At the buyer consultation, the agent can modify the search criteria using our systems so you find homes that work for you.

A major benefit of the buyer consultation is you will know if you are comfortable working with that agent. A good agent understands your goals, wants, and needs. They should be able to assess your situation, offer solutions, and customize programs to alleviate any potential stress for you.

8.3-300x104Another benefit of the buyer consultation is that your questions can be answered up front, before you are too immersed in the process. This meeting ensures that your timelines and needs are heard. By listening, the agent may actually uncover the home you want before it hits the market, giving you a huge negotiating advantage.

Our team lists hundreds of homes, so you get VIP access by aligning with our top listing team. We are hired by sellers and we market bank-owned properties as well. Our agents can do some door-knocking, mailing, and put a request out on radio spots to find the Michigan home for you.

Inventory is low in our market, and an educational buyer consultation can give you an edge on the competition. During a buyer consultation, the agent can bring you up to speed with what the current market is doing.  In certain areas, homes are selling within days. Your agent will discuss the strategies we use to negotiate on your behalf and to get your offer accepted in this competitive market. Being educated about the market you’re entering is crucial if you want a smooth and successful transaction.

Finally, if you work with us but are not 100% satisfied with your home purchase, our team will sell the home at no charge to you within the first 90 days of purchase. We are truly committed to seeing you totally satisfied.

If you have any questions about today’s video, or are interested in a buyer consultation, please give us a call. We would love to help you!