In my mind, a successful negotiation is not where one side has pulverized the other. You don't "win" a negotiation; you get the best possible outcome for your clients while doing the least harm. No one should leave a negotiation angry. After all, you never know when you might have to negotiate with ... Continue Reading » about The Art of Negotiation
Sellers
Short Sale vs. Foreclosure?
You make the call! I get the question from people all the time: short sale or foreclosure, which is the better option? My knee-jerk reaction is always “Are you kidding? Short sale, of course!” This has been mostly because I was always under the impression that a short sale, although still a ding ... Continue Reading » about Short Sale vs. Foreclosure?
Your Ticket to Freedom from Mortgage Frustration
In the news, there is talk of a housing recovery. Experts feel more optimistic about the state of housing industry in America. However, if you or someone you know is one of the millions of homeowners who is stuck with a home on which you owe more than the property is worth, the feeling of ... Continue Reading » about Your Ticket to Freedom from Mortgage Frustration
3 Reasons the Term “Strategic Default” Is Misleading
In a recent study, the Chicago Booth/Kellogg School Financial Trust Index found that a full 36% of Americans would consider “strategic default”—another term for walking away from your mortgage—if they were underwater (owed more on their home than what it was worth). Now that more than one in four ... Continue Reading » about 3 Reasons the Term “Strategic Default” Is Misleading
Is Your Mortgage out of Balance with your Budget?
It can happen quickly. An expensive car repair, an unexpected hospital visit, a missed week of work – just a few little things and the life you’ve worked so hard to build can feel like it’s tipping dangerously out of balance. Once the scales turn against you, it can feel like it is impossible ... Continue Reading » about Is Your Mortgage out of Balance with your Budget?
Sellers Avoid These Emotional Traps
I absolutely feel for clients who are stressed out during the sale of their home. While I make the process about as smooth as possible, there are always high-stakes feelings on the table. Unfortunately, these mistakes can cost sellers thousands. In the interest of protecting sellers everywhere, ... Continue Reading » about Sellers Avoid These Emotional Traps