Problem solving is a big part of my job and most problems have more than one solution.  Over the years I have had buyers with all sorts of special needs.

There was the lovely woman who played the organ for her church on Sundays that wanted a living or dining room big enough for her organ.  We found the right home but there were some issues with the electrical system, once they were addressed it all worked out.  If her music bothered her neighbors I never heard about it.

I remember the man who wanted to move into a loft.  His needs were minimal and he did not need a lot of space but he wanted to have enough room for his church pew and according to him it belonged near the front door.  It all worked out and he lives happily every after with his church pew.  

The young couple with the bedroom set they bought in Germany eventually moved into a historic home with tall ceilings and their bedroom set looks wonderful in the space.

There are other items that can be a challenge to place like big screen televisions and large dogs, and even tall buyers.  So far I have been able to find suitable housing for all of my buyers and their stuff too.   I won't explain the other solution.  

Right after the holidays I start getting calls from people who want to move. For some of them the move will be because of a divorce or a break up with a partner. They wait until after the holidays and then begin making plans.

Some will want to buy another house. I call it a rebound house. Please think before you buy the rebound house because it is the home  purchased shortly after a  divorce or the break-up of a long term relationship. The rebound homes that are purchased don't always work out in the long run.  Go out and rent an apartment and give yourself some time before taking the plunge.  When choosing a rental, take care and do your homework.

During break ups people often look at their move as moving away from something or someone. It might be best to think in terms of moving toward something like a new life. Where do you want to be?  Where do you see yourself in five years? If there is no mental picture then making a long term commitment like buying a home is not the best choice.

I have listed homes for a few woman who bought the  home shortly after a break up.  In each case they felt they owned if for a short time and felt they had  made a mistake.  They did not look at enough homes, they got themselves in over their heads financially, or they just paid too much for what they bought because they wanted to get on with their lives and in their haste failed to do their homework.

Buying a home is a big step, please wait until you are ready to make a big decisions.  

One of my clients asked me to write this post, so I am going to be her voice today.  She tells a story that I have heard from other woman.

Please think before you buy the rebound house.  That is the home you purchase shortly after a  divorce or the break up of a long term relationship.  Go out and rent an apartment and give yourself some time before  taking the plunge.  When choosing a rental, take care and do your homework.

I have listed homes for a few woman who bought the  home shortly after a break up.  In each case they felt they owned if for a short time and felt they had  made a mistake.  They did not look at enough homes, they got themselves in over their heads financially, or they just paid too much for what they bought because they wanted to get on with their lives and in their haste failed to do their homework.

Buying a home is a big step, please wait until you are ready to make a big decisions.   

I first published this on November 16th, 2006 – it is really importand and you need to read it if you plan on applying for a mortgage.

Follow this link and read Mortgages Undressed for expert information and commentary about this assault against your privacy and against your credit rating. 

Did you know that the credit bureaus are selling your information?

Here’s breaking news you need to know
Having credit checked is an important and necessary step in the home buying process. But very few people realize that each time their credit is checked, the “inquiry data” that the credit bureaus (Equifax, TransUnion, Innovis or Experian) have on file have now become a commodity. This information is now available for sale to other lenders…but also to companies that sell and resell the same names and personal information.

That’s right – the credit bureaus have found a way to increase their revenues at your expense….and without your permission. These “inquiry leads” include name, address, phone numbers (including unlisted), credit score, current debt and debt history, property information, age, gender and estimated income. They are marketing personal, confidential information to competing creditors…and making millions. Your privacy is being sold, not just once, but over and over again.

The lenders that have purchased these leads at a premium will then do everything they can to recoup their investment and turn a hefty profit. And quite often, sneaky bait and switch tactics are being used to lure clients away from their reputable lender. Clients have even been called by disreputable lenders and told that the lender they had been speaking to previously “passed on” the client information to them, because they knew that they’d be able to offer much better interest rates and terms. Ouch!

The good news is that you can make it stop – for yourself, and for your clients. And what a great, valuable service you’ll provide by simply forwarding this email on, or making copies of this article and giving to all of your clients and prospects.

The consumer credit reporting industry has provided a way to “opt out” and remove your name from these lists. You can contact them by phone at 1-888-567-8688 or online at http://www.optoutprescreen.com. Your clients must opt out at least 48 hours prior to having your credit checked to make sure it is processed in time. You can choose a five year or lifetime option, and the lifetime option does require a signed form. If a credit report needs to be run prior to the 48 hour waiting period – at least your clients are aware and informed, and can be on the lookout for suspicious phone calls or mailers from someone who has purchased their data.

BONUS: Opting out will also protect you and your clients from “pre-approved credit offers” arriving via mail…one of the leading causes of identity theft in the US.

Clients certainly have the right to shop for the best professional to meet their lending needs – but this should be done when and how the client chooses to look around, not being done without permission. These unsolicited marketing tactics are a nuisance and intrusive, but unfortunately quite legal. Take your privacy back. Inform your clients, so they can take their privacy back too. Take five minutes right now – opt out, and pass it on. Refuse to be a part of this system.

This is about one of my clients. I don’t normally "dish" on my clients on my blog, so I’ll just call her T.W.

T.W. and I have spent some quality time together looking at condos in downtown St. Paul.  I think we  found some units that really wow her.  I honestly think buyers should wait until they have that wow experience before they plunk down all that money.

Last night we were looking at a condo conversion in a large building with the Realtor® from the sales office.  Between the two of us we managed to answer all of T.W’s questions.  She asks a lot of questions, which is a good thing.  She really keeps me on my toes, with her "why?" and more importantly her "why not?" type questions.

When she asked where she could put her satellite dish the other Realtors® jaw dropped.  When T.W. saw his reaction her voice got louder and she headed for the nearest exit.  She is a major sports and satellite radio fan and can not imagine a life worth living without both.  I don’t know much about sports, or T.V. for that matter, but I believe T.W. when she says that satellite T.V. offerings go way beyond those of cable and are a must for sports fans.

The condo building was wired for cable when it was renovated and they decided to let Qwest come in and wire it for phone company services too, just in case anyone wants phone service that is not through Comcast.  It looks to me like Comcast has a kind of monopoly in downtown St. Paul, they are in all of the buildings.  The sales agent explained that cable is essential because many of the residents in the building also require internet access.  Internet access is available via satellite but is so expensive that even the providers suggest checking the availability of DSL and cable before considering satellite service.

Back to T.W., "Why can’t I have my dish?"!  Maybe she can have her dish.  I don’t see any satellite dishes in downtown St. Paul on top of buildings, but I do see a lot of other stuff that looks like it has something to do with communication.  They seem to be able to put things on roofs. 

I did a little research on satellite T.V. and discovered that it does have to go on the roof in this case.  It seems that the association owns the common areas, and the residents own their units but the building including the roof, is owned by a third entity who may be able to charge people to lease space on it.

The sales agent said he had never heard this one before.  He probably never met anyone like T.W. either.  I’ll be working on this today and the sales agent will be working on it too. Home buyers should ask for what they want, because they have a better chance of getting what they want by at least asking for it.

According so FCC regulations, and article I saw written by some condo lawyers it is possible that T.W. can have her dish, assuming that it can be installed.  I think putting something on the roof is easy enough but am not sure if they can get the cable to go from the dish to T.W’s unit.  If I were a local dish provider I would figure it out so that I could offer satellite T.V. to condo builders and buyers.  Could they put one huge dish on each building so that consumers could have a choice?

We are living in an age of having it our way were customer service rules.  I am not talking about the kind of customer service where the customer presses 1 to listen to bad music or 9 to hear a duck quack, I am talking about the kind of service where the customer actually gets something that she asks for.  Both the builder and the satellite dish company have an opportunity here, I wounder if either will step up to the plate?   I have already heard "we have never done it before" and "no one has ever asked" so this should be interesting.

River Park Lofts

I love these lofts they are my favorite.  Huge windows, exposed brick walls, and high ceilings.   

I hope Tania will be happy here for many years to come and I have to admit that I am even a little jealous!  Congratulations and good luck.

Congratulations on the sale of your home! 3486 Coachman Road, Eagan, MN

Rachael is one of those people that you meet and never forget.  The first time I talked to her was in October of 2003.  She left me a voice mail message that made me laugh.  She said "I really need a REALTOR". 

We have been through a lot since then. I sold Rachael’s townhouse in Plymouth, helped her buy the home in the picture and then sold it when she fell madly in love, got married to John and moved to Nevada.  While she owned the home she sent me some wonderful clients.  I met some of her friends and they became my friends.  I miss her already but know that she will come to the twin cities from time to time and I will get to see her.

I am going to try to warn her new REALTOR in Nevada that she does not like yellow houses and that she has been known to look at several, or many houses before making an offer, but to be patient she will know it when she sees it.  Oh and to make sure and write down the code that opens the garage door so that when Rachael gets locked out she can just call her REALTOR and get the number.    Good Luck!