AboutJim Root Expertise How to select the right Real Estate Salesperson & Loan Officer--ones who will serve your best interests! House-hunting tips & suggestions on selection of the home best for your family needs. Introduction to the Home Buying Process & all the "Players" involved.What is of utmost important to the Homebuyer? Real Estate Contracts & Negotiations, Appraisal needs, Title Co. involvement, Home Inspection issues& the Closing/Escrow systems, etc. Whatever your question, the answer will follow, whether from personal knowledge or research! Gale, shown here with me, has been a Real Estate Office Administrator, licensed Realtor & has served as my Research Assistant over the years!
Experience Over 30 years as a "Real Estate Professional." including Real Estate Marketing & Sales, Appraisal work, Mortgage Banking & as a Realty Officer with U.S Dept. of HUD's FHA Homeownership Division in Alaska, Washington & Idaho! Some experience in Montana, California, Utah & Nevada markets!Knowledge of National Markets by continuous Research!
Organizations Former member of Nat'l Ass'n of Realtors (NAR) & Mortgage Bankers Ass'n of America (MBAA). Currently with National Association of Review Appraisers & Mortgage Underwriters (NARA/MU).
Publications Published in various local, state, regional & national Real Estate-related magazines & newsletters!Co-author of various Govt. publications on Homeownership, Appraisals & Mortgages while with HUD/FHA.
Education/Credentials Associate Degree in Real Estate Studies plus:
Numerous Real Estate-related Courses conducted by the U. S. Government & Private Industry over the past 30 years.
Bachelors Degree in Mass Communications,
Masters Degree in Education/Teaching
Awards and Honors Professional Designations: Certified Residential Originator (CRO) from MBAA, Registered Mortgage Underwiter (RMU) & Certified Review Appraiser (CRA) from NARA/MU. Outstanding Peformance Awards for 10 of the 12 years with HUD/FHA & numerous Sales/Listing Awards while a licensed Real Estate Agent.
Past/Present Clients No longer selling/listing Real Estate, nor Appraising properties, nor working in the Mortgage business, this "Real Estate Pro" serves as Director of a Company that provides Professional Development Seminars & Workshops to the "Real Estate Industry" and provides free (as needed) & fee-paid (on a sliding scale) consulting & inspection services to members of the general public.Your questions will be answered without "salesmanship" & with your best interests in mind!
Question I have been pre-approved for a va home loan. I know with a realtor you make an offer and then go under contract till you close. But I'm interested in a for sale buy owner house. How do I make an offer. What paper work will I need for the va.
Thank you in advance.
tom
Answer THOMAS--
You didn't send this question to me, but I just found it in the QUESTION POOL and see that you have received no answer from the Real Estate Professional you sent it to on 5/12/08. So, my apologies on behalf of AllExperts.com for this delay in a response. I hope it's not too late to be helpful.
Both FSBOs and the VA are difficult to deal with! Contracts put together without a Realtor involved usually make for problems with the Lender, the VA, the Title Company and the Closing Agents. FSBO deals fall apart at the rate of about 80%. VA is "picky" about so many things--and Lenders get even more picky in order to keep their VA-approved status!Without a Realtor involved, the Lender will be calling you and/or the Seller daily needing you to do something you have no idea about!
I suggest you find a Realtor who specializes in working as a "Buyer's Agent" and have him/her prepare your Offer and present it to the FSBO. Many times a Buyer's Agent will work for a "reduced commission" when the Buyer has already found a Home to purchase from a FSBO.(Finding a Buyer that "just right" Home is the most stressful & time-consuming part of a Realtor's job!) And the Offer can be increased by a sum equal to that which the Seller will pay to your Agent on closing!(ie They ask $100,000 & you offer $101,500. They pay $1500 commission. No loss to them, you get professional assistance and the cost of it to you is spread out over the life of your 30 year VA Home Loan)This way, everything gets done right, everyone's a winner. A Realtor makes some money for services rendered, the Seller gets compensated for any commission he/she pays, the VA,the Lender, and the Title Company and Closer all have a "professional" (your Realtor) to work with in getting the VA Appraisal done, Title Insurance issued,the Closing set up, etc.--instead of two parties who may or may not understand what's going on (You and the Seller).
Find a Buyer's Agent, make an Offer and GOOD LUCK!
