Welcome to the Montana Home Owner’s Blog!
   Each month, you’ll find plenty of useful information for keeping your house in
   great condition so that you can enjoy it for years to come. Preserve your
   investment and keep your family safe and healthy by maintaining your home using
   the following tips. Bob & Dianne - Home Inspection Solutions, Missoula MT

Montana Home Owner's Blog, Bob & Dianne; Home Inspection Solutions

8/23/2017

Feeling Like You Will Never Own A Home ?

Missoula Montana Housing Trends

Missoula Montana, Housing Trends

"Missoula’s cost of housing has far outpaced incomes"

Missoula housing has always had its quirks, usually related to lack of industry & out of state buyers.
Here is a recent article by Don Fisher that discusses this issue & offers a survey sponsored by a partnership between the Missoula Organization of REALTORS, the City of Missoula, Missoula County, the Missoula Economic Partnership, the Missoula Building Industry Association, and the Missoula Area Chamber of Commerce & business sponsors.

The Missoula Organization of Realtors, in conjunction with the City of Missoula and other local partners, are giving residents the opportunity to give feedback on a increasingly difficult, and expensive, housing market for buyers. As the median home price in Missoula continues to grow, officials are turning to the public in a search for answers.
The Missoula Organization of Realtors says the main problem is that Missoula’s cost of housing has far outpaced incomes in recent years. In 2016, the median sales price of a home reached a record high of $255,000. But that continues to rise, with today's price close to $270,000.
In response, local organizations launched the "Making Missoula Home: A Path to Attainable Housing" initiative. Part of that is this new survey, asking residents to give them an idea of what they're looking for.... Read Full Article Here

11/16/2016

Finding the right Homebuyer's Real Estate Agent

Missoula Montana, Find Best Real Estate Agent For You

Choose the Right Real Estate Pro Interview Questions
(Bob Ruby, Home Inspection Solutions Missoula Montana, 406-646-6182)
As a buyer, you should devote some time to sifting through the plethora of agents for one who suits your unique needs.

After you have selected several promising agents, plan to ask them each a handful of questions as if they were interviewing for a job -- because they are! -- and then, after careful consideration, choose the agent who seems to be the best fit for your needs.

Answers to the following questions will give you a better feel for the agent:

With what real estate markets are you most familiar?
Real estate, like any industry, is full of generalists, niche specialists, and everything in between. If you are looking to buy a rental unit with enough land to plant an organic farm, for instance, you might not be served well by an agent who is used to dealing with clients who have more conventional needs.
What makes you different from your competitors? Where do your strengths lie?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions that you would normally ask a job applicant during an interview. They may reply with “the many years of experience I bring to the table,” or knowing the “pulse” of the town. Ask them to elaborate and be specific.
What price range do you work best with?
Don’t expect an agent who is used to dealing with multi-million dollar homes to find you a cheap fixer-upper.
What are your fees?
Real estate agents normally get paid a commission when a house is sold, so there’s no reason to pay them anything up front.
Do you own real estate yourself?
Agents who have experience buying and operating property for themselves will be more knowledgeable, especially if you’re looking to buy investment property.
How long have you been involved in real estate?
Experience is always a good thing, as the agent will better understand long-term market trends and have had more time to hone their skills and learn the nuances of an area’s market. Younger agents, on the other hand, are usually more proficient with computers and other technology that have become more relied upon for house-hunting.
Do you work full- or part-time?
Generally, there is nothing wrong with a part time agent, but a full-time agent may do more to keep up with the local market, financing considerations and laws.
How many buyers are you currently working with?
Because competition for clients is fierce, an agent might agree to work with you even if they’re already occupied by a large number of clients. Find someone who can commit enough time and energy to your needs, and make sure to ask how often you may expect to hear from them. You may also ask how many transactions the agent was involved in the previous year.

Ask if the agent will be functioning as a Dual Agent, who represent the buyer and the seller?

             This is sometimes common in rural areas and small towns. The agent should tell you if they are representing the seller,
              which could represent a conflict of interest. In our area there are not many certified Buyer's Agents but there are many agents who are
              able to fairly represent the buyer's interests.

Additional Tips

Know what a contract says before you sign it. You can ask to see a copy of the agents usual contract. In some states, exclusivity contracts are used to bind a client to a particular agent so that the agent’s time and energy isn’t wasted on a client who’s juggling multiple agents. The agent, in turn, has reason to devote herself more fully and confidently to the signed client. Agents might push you to sign this contract, or even refuse to work with you if you don't sign. Regardless, understand the contract’s exact terms, especially those that allow you to get out of the contract prematurely, if needed. You may also negotiate a shorter contract duration.

Ask for references. You may request the contact information of previous clients if they are not offered up front. Contact these previous clients if you wish, but be aware that dissatisfied clients probably won’t be included in the list.
Never forget that agents are salespeople, and their mission is to get you to buy a house as soon as possible. They may explain that interest rates are on the rise, the current season is the best time to buy, or a particular property is a “steal.” If you want to take your time, don’t let them convince you otherwise.
Be aware of Dual Agencies. The term "agency" refers to the relationship that a buyer or seller has with their agent. Buyers should look for buyers' agents who work exclusively with buyers, rather than dual agents, who represent the buyer and the seller. Again, the agent should tell you if they are representing the seller, which could represent a conflict of interest.
Choose an agent who works on your time schedule. If you can look at homes only on Tuesdays and your agent doesn't work that day, keep looking.
Use a trained & certified InterNACHI home inspector. There are no requirements in Montana for home inspectors to be trained or certified, so ask your inspector if they are certified and with whom. Agents will likely recommend a particular home inspector to perform a thorough inspection of a house before it is sold, which will alert you to any undisclosed dangers, such as lead paint, structural weaknesses, or defective wiring that may be dangerous or costly to remedy.

The inspector’s report can be used to compel the seller to lower their price significantly or as cause to back out of the deal entirely.
Due to the importance of the inspection report, the choice of the inspector is at least as important as the real estate agent.
Always ask for a list of trained and certified InterNACHI home inspectors.
Click Here to see a list of The Missoula & Five Valleys Chapter of InterNACH Inspectors.

Take some time when choosing a real estate agent, find one who has the experience and knowledge that will suit your needs.

Agent List Here: http://www.yellowpages.com/missoula-mt/list-of-real-estate-agents

Information from Nick Gromicko

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Montana Home Owner's Blog, Bob & Dianne; Home Inspection Solutions

Feeling Like You Will Never Own A Home ?

Missoula Montana Housing Trends

Missoula Montana, Housing Trends

Finding the right Homebuyer's Real Estate Agent

Missoula Montana, Find Best Real Estate Agent For You

Home Maintenance Tips In Greater Missoula Montana. Area, Home Inspection Solutions Missoula MT, Certified Inspectors

Home Maintenance Blog, Missoula Montana Home Inspector, Bob Ruby, Dianne Keast

Get Local Home Maintenance Tips In Greater Missoula MT. Area

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