Sam's Blog

Before I tell you this tip, let me ask you, what industry throughout the country is hiring professionals from May up until the end of August?  Did you think of it?  The education industry!!  That's right!

So, now that you are focused on this segment that will be doing a lot of interviewing and recruiting AND causing people to RELOCATE, think about how you can get in front of these folks BEFORE they start looking for a Realtor.

How can you do this?  One way is to put together a nice informational relocation package customized for this segment and call the Central Office of the school system and ask for the HR manager.  Then ask them to lunch so you can tell them of your idea that will help them be more successful in their recruiting efforts.  HR Managers love to get taken to lunch!!

What is your idea?  That you are willing be on their recruiting team to help SELL the community to the prospects so the administrators can focus on the candidate, the offer and what they know best, education!  With you taking the prospects out on the town and educating them on the housing market, the things to do, the shopping, the dining, the night life, etc., you are going to be a huge asset them to in ensuring that all of the open positions are quickly filled.

Don't forget to call the principals of all the local schools too!  They are going to be doing most of the interviewing and trying to land the best teachers they can.  They are going to love your idea and then they are going to be calling you throughout the year and for years to come!!

While I am on the education industry, don't forget the tech schools, community colleges and universities.  For them, you'll want to include the Department Heads for the different schools.

I hope this tip helps you get some prospective buyers soon.  And, don't forget that this concept applies to ALL INDUSTRIES so get out and start talking to Human Resource Managers everywhere you can.

Also, don't forget for every relocation, there could be a listing referral opportunity too.

Call me anytime if you need me to pre-approve your buyers over the phone up until 9PM EST M-F and 7PM S-S.  Our pre-approvals include closing conditions so you'll know what issues you are going to be up against within 30 minutes of giving me the referral.  Call me and try us out! 

Sam Thompson, PHH Mortgage Advisor

www.myphhmortgageadvisor.com/

Great Pinehurst Links:

Pinehurst Real Estate  - www.pinehurstrealestatenc.com

Pinehurst Luxury Homes  - www.pinehurstluxuryhomesnc.com

North Carolina Horse Farms  - www.southernpineshorsefarmsnc.com

Fort Bragg Real Estate  - www.fortbragghomesnc.com

Unless you are a cat!  

In our market, a lot of times, we have to be creative to make many transactions work and if you have a prospect that needs a creative mind, call me!  Here are a few examples of things that we might try:

• Approve the parents and let the children live in the house for a monthly rental that we can apply to their parents ratios.  Some programs are not too picky about the "arms length" transaction as long as the kids have rental history.  We'll need a rental agreement to show the underwriters.
• We can also help them by giving advice on how to pay off collections and how to pick up a secure credit card to help build credit.

• Try selling an asset that we can prove they owned, prove what it was worth and prove they sold it. (cars, furniture, jewelry, motors, boat, trailer, camper, bikes, tools, equipment, timber, tractors, electronic equipment, etc.)
• Get a gift from a family member.
• Borrow money from a 401K.
• Try getting a seller-second.
• Get a seller concession for 3-6% depending on the program and expected appraised value.
• Try getting a down payment assistant grant like Ameridream, Genesis, Nehemiah.
• Look at a piggy-back loan scenario.
• Look at our No Closing Cost programs called Z-pricing!

• We can look at a stated income program or a no doc program.
• Try to pick up another borrower.  If can go FHA, can pick up a non-occupied property buyer with only 3% down.
• Try some of our fixed programs with a 10-year interest-only period.

• Look at a No No No program that has no employment verification.
• If at least a 680 FICO with 5% down, might not have to document income in our VIP program without getting a rate bump like with our stated or no doc programs.

• Get the sellers to install a permanent foundation contingent with the offer, if needed to close.  Call me for a referral source that also provides the PE assessment that can do this in 2 days.

Believe me when I tell you that we love thinking outside the box and try not to leave any stones unturned in trying to get all of your prospects pre-approved and in a great program that meets their needs.

We want to make sure you are successful and once we get them pre-approved, we'll stay in contact with them and help you try to get them in rate protection to double your success rate.  

Sam Thompson, PHH Mortgage

http://samthompson.phhmortgage.com/

 In some homes, 'pre-dumping' might be more appropriate!

But if you ever find a house like this, contact an aluminum recycler and this will cover the cost to totally fix up the property!!  

I recently read an article in The Charlotte Observer that explained that a great way to show a house is to get the sellers to "declutter" it by selectively removing and pre-moving into storage, the things that won't help it show well.

Explain this to your sellers during the listing presentation by having the process already laid out including the rates for temporary storage and show them how this can help them put their house in the best possible light for a quick showing.   Here are some tips when you do!  

Foyer:  when entering the home, what do you see?  Anything look out of place or like a sore thumb?  

Walls, windows, floors:  Everything clean?  Are the window treatments at a minimal?  Are the walls a neutral color?  Is the carpet hiding hardwood floors?  

The Great Room:  Have you pulled the furniture away from the walls and floated them around a focal point like a fireplace?  Does the furniture arrangement make the room look spacious or cramped?  Go with a classic sofa, 2 chairs and a few tables and lamps and take half the books and knickknacks from the shelves.  

The Dining Room:  Set the table for company.  

The Kitchen:  Remove about everything from the countertops.  (Might leave a coffeemaker and bin of utencils.)  Remove any magnetic art from the refrigerator.  

Kitchen/Bathroom Fixtures:  Should sparkle.  Replace any out of date or damaged knobs.  For a minimum expense, these are really important for a good showing.  

Closets:  Leave only a few items so the buyers can see the room they'll have.  

Toy Control:  Corral the toys in a chest or armoire in the family room.  Minimize and tell the parents to get the kids involved in helping!  Make them feel important and make a game out it the next time of a showing by saying "It's show time, hide all of the toys!"

Sam Thompson, PHH Mortgage Advisor

http://samthompson.phhmortgage.com/