Real Estate

Stupid Realtor Tricks: Volume 1, The Sold Sign

August 1, 2011

I have a friend who sells used cars. I love talking to him about his work because I don’t know anything about cars and the industry seems to be as distrusted, cobbled together and disjointed as real estate but he does what he can to work honestly and educate his clients. Gap insurance, warranties, blue [...]

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How to Research South Bend Homes Online

August 16, 2010

There aren’t any big secrets to real estate. Like most fields there is a learning curve, the right tools make a difference, and it’s helpful to have relationships with the key players. But the widespread belief that access to the MLS or secret lists of foreclosures is a reason to hire a real estate agent [...]

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Some Sellers Are Now Requiring Waivers To Tour a Home

November 30, 2009

Quasi government agencies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have quite a few homes for sale throughout the country, including the South Bend area.  They sell homes “as is” without guaranteeing their condition and without repairs. That has become the norm for banks and government like institutions such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Now we [...]

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Lustron Homes in South Bend: Metal Houses from the 1940s

October 25, 2009

Recently architects have been working on plans for stylish pre-fab houses built out of things like shipping containers or that are easy to install after disasters like Hurricane Katrina. The idea is to make possible an appealing house that is less expensive, more durable, and completed more quickly with less skilled labor than traditionally built [...]

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Behind the Scenes: One South Bend House Sale

June 24, 2009

5309 Larkspur in Hermitage Estates was my family’s last home. We sold it in April 2009 after 180 days on the market. In that time, we went through a series of price reductions from a hopeful $175,000 to a more realistic $160,000. We had 20+ showings with almost uniformly positive feedback. But offers didn’t come [...]

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