Joe Maggiore, Realtor


Short Sale Story (Cont… #2)

Client X: “I met with Joe a couple days ago to start filling out paper work to do the short sale on my house.  Since I have already started to get rid of furniture we decided to go to a restaurant across the street so we had a decent table to work at.  The fact that I had a coupon for free chips and guacamole helped a lot in this decision.  The paperwork seems fairly straight forward with the main exception being the portion for the lawyers.  I understand the main gist of it but I don’t want to focus on it too much I guess.  According to the lawyer paperwork there is a fee that goes along with their paperwork which I believe I will have to produce before I can meet with them and have them go to bat with the mortgage company for me.  I honestly have no idea how I’m going to make this happen since I currently don’t have a job but I’m hoping I will figure something out.

If everything goes according to schedule I will be listing the house one week from today and will be moved out of the house at the same time.  It’s really hard to live in a house for one week because there are certain things that should need to be packed but I can’t pack until I leave.  That being said, it’s almost like camping in a house right now.  Despite the fact that I will be losing a lot of money by going this route I still feel that it will be better for me in the long run as compared to doing a deed in lieu of foreclosure or just a foreclosure.  I’m trying really hard to not think about the amount of money I will lose and focusing on the next residence and the next opportunity that presents itself. 

I am very curious to see how much interest there is in my house.  I have always loved it but I suppose this really opens it up to public opinion.  I also have some work to do on the house over the next week or so to get the house presentable.  I don’t believe there is much to do as far as fixing things so much and just a solid cleaning of the house.  Most of the things the Joe suggested weren’t a surprise to me and were things I had planned on taking care of anyway.  Ideally I want people to fall in love with this place just like I did when I came to look at it.  That can’t really happen though if I’m not taking care of it.”



Short Sale Story

So I, like the rest of you see a lot out there about Short Sales- they are everywhere, especially if you work, live or breathe around the world of Real Estate.

However, what I have NOT seen much of is the impact of Short Sales (financially, emotionally and otherwise) on Sellers from the Seller’s point of view. I think that most people have very specific opinions of who these people are, what their situations are and what led them to those situations. I also think that in many (most) scenarios, those opinions are probably not entirely accurate.

So without further ado I present “Short Sale Story” a series of posts written by and told through the eyes of Client X. This IS intended to be a discussion as well, so if you have questions for me or Client X, please feel free to leave a comment.

Client X:  “Due to a number of different issues involving divorce, jobs (or lack thereof), finances and the economy I’m forced to give up my house in hopes of salvaging what little I can of my life and hope to start over someday.  Obviously this is not an ideal situation and I will be losing a substantial amount of money “on paper” during this process.  However, it is clearly better than going into foreclosure so I’m giving this my best shot in hopes that I can find a buyer and I can get out of a loan that I am severely upside down on (thank you to the people that helped destroy the economy.  I owe you one…seriously.)

At any rate, I’m currently reading through the paperwork and trying to wrap my head around the different items that will need to be accomplished.  The thing I keep going back to is that just because it’s a short sale doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t have the house completely presentable.  I have a few things that I need to take care of which will help the house be more presentable and hopefully sell faster. 

The other item I keep reminding myself is that there is really nothing to be embarrassed about in regards to taking the short sale route to remedy this situation.  I think at this point selling the house is the most responsible thing I can do as compared to ignoring the problem at hand until I’m given an auction date and eviction notice.  I’ve never been one to stick my head in the sand and I fully intend on facing this head on.  I truly feel that with my realtor, my family and my friends on my side I will make the absolute best of a bad situation.

That being said, the plan is to list the house next week and hopefully get some interest and see where it takes me.  Right now “hopefully” seems to be the key word for me.”



Client Appreciation Event #4 Has Come And Gone- Why These Things Rock!
October 6, 2009, 2:41 pm
Filed under: clients, relationships

So my 4th client appreciation event (The long awaited PJ Party) is now in the history books… phwew! Tons and tons of work, planning, confirming and too many thoughtful touches to list (thanks to Jenn) culminating in a 3 hour “professional” party- Not a bad way to spend your marketing budget!

These events have been an absolutely incredible and invaluable part of my business. They are my opportunity to reconnect with and most importantly to thank my friends, family and clients for all they do for me and my business. The days of Realtors showing appreciation through calendars and magnets are behind us, (IMHO) they are impersonal, static and they don’t send a message. Well, they don’t send the right message- they say “Think of me everyday, send me business everyday and I will think of you once a year to keep you thinking about me”.

Sure I want business from my clients, but I want to talk to them more often than when they are sending me a referral. My events are all about sending them the right message- the ”I want to talk to you, maybe over a drink, maybe next to the music, but I want to talk to you- And not just about Real Estate” message.

So what are these events all about- They are soooo totally simple it is amazing. Get a bunch of really cool people together, give them yummy food and drinks all centered around a really cool, central theme (again, thanks Jenn) and let them hang out. It’s such a cool thing to look around a room full of people and see your friends, your family and your clients all interacting, networking, learning and just having fun. There is no pressure to ask for or give referrals- that stuff happens way more naturally when you have connections like this.

What am I missing you ask? See for yourself! How do I get to go you ask? You get to know me or my super marketing genius wife, Jenn and we invite you ;)



My Wife Kicks Ass!
May 20, 2009, 3:36 pm
Filed under: Uncategorized

You know that feeling you get when you know that you know your stuff? You can be in any situation, field any question and come out feeling like you are truly an authority in your field… that feeling. My entire professional life, I have taken pride in that feeling. I work my ass off to get that feeling and it’s great!

Today, I got to feel that for someone else- My wife Jenn. I sat in on one of her classes this morning and was totally blown away at how damn good she is. It was such a cool feeling and it totally occurred to me… this IS the feeling of being proud. Not the “thank god she turned that wallet in, I am proud of her” thing, but the “that’s right, my wife kicks ass!” thing.

Absolutely Awesome!



Short Sighted
April 16, 2009, 5:04 pm
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags:

Why is it that people are so short sighted? I am amazed at how many people consistently try to squeeze out a bit more money from a job, a client, a friend. Does no one realize that they will get that money, but they WILL completely screw themselves out of the opportunity for more business from that contact in the future?

I am convinced that this is one of the final stages of the economy crapponizing and must indicate that things will turn up.



The Times They Are A Changin – Bob Dylan
March 25, 2009, 12:15 pm
Filed under: buying, first time buyer, real estate news

Ahh, the famous and largely overused quote from Bob Dylan- It just works so well in so many areas of life. I’m guessing that he was NOT talking about Real Estate, but what the heck– it works for my purposes!

Real Estate has been a very interesting ride over the past 5 years or so. We’ve seen up, way up, we’ve seen down and of course we’ve seen way, way down. But lately, I must say, (and forgive me) the times, they are a changin. For the first time in a long time, the game is different. We are by no means out of this funk, but we have just started to see the land moving across the bow. O.k. my points are:

Not only did we recently drop below 50,000 active MLS listings in the greater Phoenix area, but as of the time I am writing this article, that number sits at 48,221… and dropping. Pending homes, that is, homes that have had a contract accepted and are now in escrow have soared to 11,372. Add in homes that are in escrow with some type of contingency and that number jumps to 13,469!

In some price ranges homes are no longer sitting and collecting dust. They are selling– and fast. For example, in the under $200,000 price range across the valley, it has become very common to have multiple offers on properties, and there are many buyers that are being beaten out in highest and best scenarios. I recently worked with a couple who went through three contracts on properties before having one accepted. All were less than 30 days on market and the one we finally locked up– 1 day on market, and even that one had an offer in addition to ours on it. Another buyer identified two homes she was interested in possibly submitting an offer on and while deciding (Sat. – Tues.) both were sold!

FHA is back and is strong– 4 years ago, FHA was an old, clunky program that was not really necessary since there were so many 100% financing programs available. Now, if you want to buy your first home and you don’t have 20% sitting around somewhere, FHA is your best friend. The qualifying guidelines are realistic, the timeframe is aggressive enough to not hinder a buyers ability to present a strong offer and they close– FHA is not a program that might be there at the start of your search then fall out while you are in escrow.

I’m not gonna even get into rates AND the $8,000 tax credit since that’s a whole other sit down and write session and they are more of an effort to bring change than a sign of it. But I must say, they play a HUGE part in what is happening out there.

So what does it all mean? I can’t sit here and tell you for sure that the worst is behind us, but I will tell you that things are indeed changing. If you have been on the fence, especially if you are looking at purchasing your first home– Do It! The time is now, and I promise that by the time anyone is able to look back and say “Wow, that’s where the bottom was!” it will already have well passed!



I Know What’s Wrong With The Economy…

People are smart and companies are STUPID! – That’s it… please allow me to illustrate:

 

I am working with some buyer clients; a great couple- first time buyers, great credit, motivated to get into their first home, etc… these people are EXACTLY who should be benefiting from the “Insert Expletive Here” market we are all struggling through.

 

We have been working together for a few weeks now and in the course of our searching, we come across a great place in Gilbert, listed at $165k. Looking at the listing sheet, I was thrilled to find out that this is not a lender owned property (as MANY are these days under $200k) but rather a corporate relocation. Being trained as a corporate relocation specialist, I am very comfortable that I will be dealing with a system with which I am very familiar.

 

In the course of our due diligence prior to submitting our offer, we find out there is already an offer in on the property. I don’t know what the offer is, but I have been told that it is a less than full price offer. My clients come to the decision that we will submit our offer in the “highest and best” manner and cross our fingers. Our offer is:

 

Purchase price – $165,000 w/ Seller contributing 3% ($4,950) to cover Buyers closing costs. NET TO SELLER: $160,050

 

We submit, and we wait. I get a call from the agent that the Seller (the homeowner’s employer) has countered. No biggie, it always happens, “So what is it?” I say. She tells me:

 

Purchase price – $155,000 w/ Seller contributing 0% to cover Buyer’s closing costs. NET TO SELLER: $155,000

 

Do me a favor at this point and take a look at the two scenarios I have put up here. Our offer has the Seller netting over $5,000 MORE than their counter offer. I ask the listing agent “Are you sure this is right?” She tells me it is and explains that the Seller has a contract with the homeowner / transferee that they will cover the mortgage but no “Non-Customary” costs, ie: the closing costs we asked for. Intrigued I say “Well, it’s interesting and I will take it to my clients”.

 

Sure enough, as great as the deal sounds, my Buyers just can’t do it. It is simply a cash issue. They recognize that they would make out better on paper with the Sellers offer, but it’s no good if they don’t have the cash. I go back to the listing agent and tell her our situation. She agrees to take it back to the Seller and “Go to bat” for my clients.

 

Next day I get a call from the listing agent- “They said NO”. Completely perplexed, I go back to my clients and tell them that we are back at square one- Time to start over.

 

I’m driving after this conversation and this whole thing is just not sitting right with me. So I call the agent back again and have a very friendly, but very pointed conversation with her. I explain to her that I am having a hard time explaining this to my clients, and I am realizing that it’s because it makes no sense to me. So I ask her to please clarify how this offer is being rejected.

 

The listing agent goes on to tell me (while sharing her frustration) that even though she knows our offer is better for the Seller, even though the homeowner knows it is better for the Seller and even though the Seller knows that the deal is better for them, the fact is that they have a contract with the homeowner and this contract says NO CLOSING COSTS.  “So their contract trumps logic?” I ask “Yes” I get back…. And that’s pretty much it.

 

So here are my thoughts- while the whole world is searching for the reason that our economy is in the crapper, why millions of Americans are being laid off, why Real estate values are soooo down, pretty much why things suck- I have it figured out. People are smart and companies are STUPID! Every person I spoke with about this scenario recognized that it made no sense but admitted that there was NO opportunity for Human Intervention. There is no one able to go above the almighty contract and make a decision that is better for the Buyer AND the Seller.

 

So besides just listening to me vent about this, please allow me to break down for you the result of this stupidity, and how it affects me, you and EVERYONE who reads this.

 

Because of this contract that could not be worked around, the other offer submitted on this property was accepted. This means that the Seller, a MULTI BILLION DOLLAR BIG NAME PHARMACUTECAL COMPANY (whos name starts with a “P”) has accepted an offer that is netting them approximately $20,000 less than our offer. What does that mean for you and everyone else? A few things:

 

- This home has gone been sold to an investor and is now at a greater risk of being abandoned should that investors financial situation take a turn for the worse. For Example, I don’t live there, so why should I stretch to keep paying for it.
- The $20,000 lower sales price means that this home will now become a lower sales comp for the entire neighborhood. This means that neighbors who sell for months to come will have their home valued lower because of this sale.
- The listing agent who worked diligently to perform her duty and bring her clients the highest and best offer possible will now make less money and have less money to spend since her compensation is a function of the sales price.
- The pharmaceutical company who was at the helm of this deal has now lost an additional $20,000 on this transaction. I hope this does not come as a surprise to anyone reading this, but losses like that do not get absorbed into the massive black hole that is big pharmaceuticals. This loss will be split up a teeny tiny bit across EVERYONE who relies on the drugs that this company manufactures in the form of higher drug costs meaning there are literally millions of people who will be affected by this transaction.

 

Now imagine this scenario playing out thousands of times a month. Thousands of decisions being made on policy and NOT on common sense. THIS IS THE PROBLEM PEOPLE!!! The world has lost its way by refusing to allow common sense to correct a problem that is heading things in the wrong direction. Now more than ever, it is the responsibility of every individual to apply common sense in their life and their career as well as demand it of those whom are make decisions for them. Get on it people! Of course, if you disagree, please feel free to let me know :)

 

Soapbox Out!



Would-Be Investors This Is Your Chance!
February 12, 2009, 2:29 pm
Filed under: buying, investing, real estate news | Tags: , , ,

So I don’t know about the rest of the economic world, but in my world of Real Estate, the tides are turning. Now, I definitely don’t mean that homes are gonna see a spike in value in the near future, but what I am seeing is a shift. A shift towards the industry making it more and more possible to buy a “starter” home, either as a first time buyer or in this case, as an investor. For a while now, the challenges for those looking to jump into the investor game have been 1) how to come up with the required 20% down for purchase 2) how to quickly transform the home into rentable condition and even quicker, get (good) Tenants in place and 3) how to handle those Tenants so that they don’t destroy your new investment. Well guess what, the answer man is here… ME!!

1) I am happy to say that I can now offer my clients 10% DOWN FINANCING on investment properties. Thanks to a joint effort between Fannie Mae and Prospect Mortgage there are thousands and thousands of lender owned properties in Maricopa County that qualify for this program… COOL! This means that thanks to pre 2002 prices on a lot of these lender owned places, YOU can get in the game for not a lot of money down. (AND, on a side note, if you are interested but are a bit nervous to do it alone, I always have interested parties that are looking to team up with other investors ready to rock.)

2) I don’t wanna sound shameless here, but a lot of what I do is work with investors to really streamline their process. This means helping to identify a property that can be picked up at an aggressive price, and has many of the features that make it a prime location for rental. From there, I can coordinate everything from repairs, new paint, flooring, etc all while simultaneously listing and marketing the property for rent. In addition, I am a skilled Tenant qualifier, thanks in part to my own personal BS detector, as well as credit & criminal checks and my own inner “Sicilian Pitbull” tenacity for due diligence.

3) The whole point of being in the investor market is to invest. For me, this means that just because you are an investor, doesn’t mean you have to be a landlord; enter… well, ME! In my quest for one stop shopping world domination, in addition to finding the place and putting Tenants in it, I also manage the property and Tenants, while helping oversee the protection of your new investment all while helping to reduce your liability.

What’s the point you ask? I don’t know that there has been a time in recent history where it has made  more sense to jump into the investor market and with me in your arsenal, we can work together to greatly reduce your expenses, your risk and make it possible to do it again… and again, and again, and so on. Give me a call and we can talk about what might work for you.



Am I the only one outraged!?!
January 27, 2009, 12:38 pm
Filed under: real estate news

For a while now I have been actively living the whole “Just work harder than everyone around you and it will be o.k.” philosophy. And you know what, it has been- Things are going better for my business than most people I know, work with or around. But I have to say, I am officially tired of what I see everyday. Realtors are broken, some in spirit and others in their entirety, the lending world has become something that I can only describe as a joke and everyone in between seems to be running scared, all the while looking down. Most businesses, small and large have chalked this up to a “The Economy” and have resigned themselves to allowing their underpaid employees to treat their customers like shit.

My point is this- Why do I not see or feel any sense of outrage out there!?! I can’t be the only one who is getting tired of picking up the slack for others, tired of qualified borrowers not getting loans, tired of terrible customer service and tired of having it all thrown in my face. Where are the angry masses calling for accountability- for blood?



Customer Service Is NOT Dead!
December 17, 2008, 5:31 pm
Filed under: Uncategorized

Now this isn’t a Real Estate related post, but I just had to write about this experience. A couple of years ago, I bought a pair of Ray Ban sunglasses. Pretty sure I spent about $150 on them (I love my glasses). Anyway, they broke after about a year and a half. No biggie, I figured I got my lifespan out of them so I stopped by my local Sunglass Hut and picked out a new pair- spent about $180 (please don’t hate me). So another year and a half goes by and what do you know, these glasses break. I don’t mean the arm falls off, I mean the rim breaks and they are FUBAR. So now I’m thinking o.k. this is not right. I am beginning to feel the effect of the “cell phone factor”- everything is designed to crap out on you just after a year or so. So I bring them down to Sunglass Hut and give my nice guy pitch to the 12w bulb behind the counter. “Hey, I bought these about a year and a half ago and they broke. I know the warranty is a year, but I have spent over $300 on glasses here over the years so how about a little nice guy assistance?” (just read it and assume no sarcasm). “You’ll have to call Ray Ban” says the robot behind the counter. So just to recap to this point- customer service is feeling pretty dead. I mean what does Sunglass Hut care, just swap out the damn glasses and make me want to come back right?

Phase 2- I call Ray Ban and go through the automated process of collecting the info to send my glasses in. Long story short, I am told to send the glasses, a check for $12.50 and a note explaining the situation. I do it and I Put it all in a box and settle in to wait my 6-8 weeks.

(Now I really have been on a customer service kick lately. I am of the belief that when the economy is bad and money is tight, people, companies, everyone should be doing as much as they can to keep customers happy and most of all, LOYAL! The only problem is that I have NOT been feeling this at all lately. I mean, there are a few that live it, but the masses are still trying hard to HELP natural selection take them out of the game.)

So, the “Yay!” twist you ask? My doorbell rings yesterday and I open it to see UPS driving off and a little brown box sitting by my door. I open it up and what do I see? A brand new pair of glasses, in fact, the exact same model I sent in- not a fixed pair of glasses, not even a crappy refurbished pair, but a brand new, in the package pair of glasses. Sweet! THIS is why I am o.k. with spending $180 on a pair of glasses. THIS is why people buy Lexus instead of Toyota, Infiniti instead of Nissan- The customer service!

So the moral of the story- Here I am with my new glasses, happy as can be and feeling completely taken care of. I have gone from being on the fence about this company to jumping fully into their yard. So I can honestly say that when the time does come for me to buy a new pair (because with a 2 year old, any pair of glasses ultimately has a limited life span) I will happily buy another pair of Ray Ban glasses. Nice job Ray Ban. If I had a “Customer Service Is NOT Dead” award, you would win it!