Valerie Osterhoudt's Blog

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DEDICATED REALTOR? OR PUSHING IT TOO SOON.....YOU DECIDED

Here it is Sunday afternoon, just a little after noon.  When it comes to blogging it has been said that it is good to post some things personal, not just always business... so here it goes.

I'm sitting here in front of the computer thinking of my day ahead, and just got to the point of pondering, wondering if I am doing the right thing here...  This is where you come in.  Let me know your thoughts.

Yesterday will be my one month anniversary of getting my left knee totally replaced.  Since then I have been moved from the hospital to a rehab facility, and then home 2 days before New Years.  I've been using a walker for stability, not only for my left knee, but my right hip that was replaced in September of last year.

I've been working out of the house, and my broker has been wonderful to help step in whenever he could. 

Yesterday, I moved from a walker to a cane.... more out of necessity than desire.  Why you ask?  I picked up a new client and they are looking to purchase a home in the near future.  We have been in contact via email, and cell phones.  I've sent them properties to drive by to see if they like the neighborhoods.  Yesterday they called, excited that they found two they would like to take a look at.

I set up the showings and they are for this afternoon.... and I will be the one showing them the properties.  I'm sitting here wondering, I love my job and am dedicated to it... however is it too soon to go out and drive, walk with a cane I just started using yesterday?  I'm praying that there isn't any ice/snow on the driveways and steps.  I do not want to repeat this surgery again.

Am I a dedicated Realtor, or am I pushing it too soon?  What are your thoughts?

 

FOR ACCURATE INFORMATION ON REAL ESTATE... CONTACT YOUR LOCAL AGENT 

 

Info about the author:

Valerie Osterhoudt is a Cromwell Connecticut Residential Realtor who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in the Middlesex County of CT, which includes Cromwell, Rocky Hill, Berlin, Middletown, Wethersfield, Newington, as well as all other surrounding areas.  Please visit me at www.CTrealtorMLS.com for all your relocation and/or local needs.  

For real estate.. all you need to know, is VALERIEO  

If you're thinking about buying a home in Cromwell CT area, there are plenty of great buys in today's market.  There is no better time than now to take advantage of these homes while interest rates remain at an all time low.  For more information on Cromwell CT real estate's homes and/or condos please visit Johnson Real Estate to access the newest listings.

 Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR - Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - 860.883.8889 cell - ValerieOhomes4u@gmail.com

 Copyright © 2011 - By Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR - All rights reserved...... ***DEDICATED REALTOR?  OR PUSHING IT TOO SOON.....YOU DECIDED***

 

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Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR
(Accredited Buyers Representative)

Is a Full Time Realtor® with with Johnson Real Estate, in Cromwell, CT who specializes in Homes and Condos For Sale in the Middlesex and Hartford Counties in CT.

VALERIE OSTERHOUDT REALTOR IN CROMWELL CT

valerie osterhoudt

Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR ~Johnson Real Estate, Inc.
cell:  860.883.8889

email: Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR

website: www.CTrealtorMLS.com

 

20 comments • Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR ~ Cromwell, CT Real Estate ~ 860.883.8889 • January 16 2011 12:25PM

Congratulations, you missed the $8,000 tax credit

When I read Jim's blog, I instantly knew this had to be reblogged.  For any Realtors working with first time home buyers or buyers in general, this post will reassure them they are purchasing a home at the right time.

Via Jim Lee, REALTOR®, Knoxville, Tennessee (Realty Executives Associates):

No, I'm not being facetious or implying you're a dummy because you haven't bought a house yet.

knoxville tn real estate houses homes condos and land for sale

 

In fact, just the opposite; waiting until now to buy has saved you thousands of dollars more that than measly 8 grand credit a lot of your friends got earlier this year. Here's how.

Let's take a look at the facts and mortgage market now compared to what they were then.

The $8,000 federal tax credit that got everyone excited earlier this year expired at the end of April, 2010. Buyers that had a contract dated prior to that were able to claim the credit up to the maximum amount of $8,000. and also got a loan with an interest rate around 5.5% or so.

If they bought the median priced house in the Knoxville, TN area, which would have been around $180,000, and got an FHA insured loan with the minimum 3.5% down payment they would have a monthly mortgage payment of $986.25 for their principal and interest. Taxes and insurance are added to that amount.

However, because you waited until now for whatever reason, interest rates have continued to drop. In the current mortgage market you can get an interest rate as low as 4.25% which would lower your monthly principal and interest payment to $854.50 or $131.75 LOWER than your friends who bought earlier this year and got the tax credit.

One huge benefit to you with the lower interest rate is that it's actual cash you're saving each month you can use for savings, bill paying, or whatever you choose.

And if you only own you house 5 years and 1 month and then decide to sell and move up, move down, or whatever, you have then saved $8.036.75 in actual cash payments which puts you Waay ahead of your friends and their $8,000 credit 5 years previously

Finally if you end up keeping your house and paying off your 30 year loan over the whole term you save a whopping $47,430 in actual monthly payments over your friends who bought earlier.

So if anyone tells you that you've missed the boat on that now expired tax credit,just whip out your calculator or this article and explain to them how you decided to wait until conditions were 'more perfect', as they are now, before pulling the trigger on your new home purchase. Then show them how much more they're paying compared to the sweet interest rates you're now able to take advantage of.

In the greater Knoxville, TN are visit www.KnoxvilleHomeCenter.com to see all the area homes for sale.

A little further north, Portsmouth, NH and Seacoast area buyers can visit www.NewHampshireMaineRealEstate.com. The state of New Hampshire also has a stunning 3.5% rate through their New Hampshire Housing program. These are the lowest rates in their 30 year history.

The only dumb question is the one you don't ask; call or email us.

 

Jim Lee, CRS, ABR, GRI, ACRE, NAR Certified e-PRO Trainer
*****************************************************************
Visit my blog: www.KnoxvilleTennesseeRealEstateBlog.com
Realty Executives Associates, Knoxville, Tennessee
See all Knoxville area Realtor listings at: www.KnoxvilleHomeCenter.com
(865) 693-3232, My Personal Toll Free # 1-800-662-2488 ext. 163
mailto:Jim@JimLee.com

Click here to subscribe to my blog and get up to the minute news and reports about real estate in the greater Knoxville, Tennessee area.

 

Follow RealtorJimLee on Twitter

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Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR
(Accredited Buyers Representative)

Is a Full Time Realtor® with with Johnson Real Estate, in Cromwell, CT who specializes in Homes and Condos For Sale in the Middlesex and Hartford Counties in CT.

VALERIE OSTERHOUDT REALTOR IN CROMWELL CT

valerie osterhoudt

Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR ~Johnson Real Estate, Inc.
cell:  860.883.8889

email: Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR

website: www.CTrealtorMLS.com

 

9 comments • Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR ~ Cromwell, CT Real Estate ~ 860.883.8889 • September 12 2010 09:32PM

GILLETTE CASTLE, EAST HADDAM, CT

Fall is a beautiful time to go for a drive and take in all the fall foliage.  While driving in East Haddam, CT you might wish to check out Gillette Castle. The late actor and Connecticut native William Gillette, who protrayed Sherlock Holmes on stage, spent more than one million dollars to build this castle at the turn of the century at the top of Seven Sisters.  It was closed for 3 years for maintenance and is now open through Columbus Day from 10am to 4:30pm.  This castle boasts 24 medieval style rooms to explore, along with hiking rails, and breathtaking views.

Parking and hiking is free, but there is a nominal fee for touring the castle.  Ages 13 and up is $5.00; 6 to 12 is $2.00; ages under 5 years of age are free.  To keep the prices down no charges are accepted, only cash.

valerie osterhoudt

Info about the author: Valerie Osterhoudt is a Cromwell Connecticut Residential Realtor who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in the Middlesex County of CT, as well as the surrounding areas. Please visit me at www.CTrealtorMLS.com for all your relocation and/or local needs.

 

Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR - Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - 860.635.0387 #2 - valerierealtor@sbcglobal.net

Copyright © 2008 By Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR, All Rights Reserved...*GILLETTE CASTLE, EAST HADDAM, CT*

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR
(Accredited Buyers Representative)

Is a Full Time Realtor® with with Johnson Real Estate, in Cromwell, CT who specializes in Homes and Condos For Sale in the Middlesex and Hartford Counties in CT.

VALERIE OSTERHOUDT REALTOR IN CROMWELL CT

valerie osterhoudt

Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR ~Johnson Real Estate, Inc.
cell:  860.883.8889

email: Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR

website: www.CTrealtorMLS.com

 

12 comments • Valerie Osterhoudt, ABR ~ Cromwell, CT Real Estate ~ 860.883.8889 • September 22 2008 04:10PM