Saline High School Offering Real Estate License Class

I saw in the Ann Arbor News that the Saline High school's switch to a trimester program has allowed the introduction of some new offerings. One of which is a pre-license class for real estate agents.

Here is the link:

Saline Real Estate License Class Link

Interesting quiz for home buyers

This link will take you to a quiz on our main website that talks about example discussions we have with buyers about homes.

As a buyer's agent we don't try to just sell buyers what is available, we try to actually find the best home for the buyer at the best price. And often, these discussions take a lot of time and involve analysis

Interesting things you learn at home inspections

I was speaking to another exclusive buyer's agent today who works in the Iowa market.

She had just gone through a home inspection at a home where the plumbing drain lines had a mix of white pipe and black elbows.

The inspector said the plumbing was all wrong. It turns out you can't mix the black and the white types of material without special adapters.

The link above takes you to a reference page.

Boneheaded buyer move

Here is a quick insight if you happen to be interested in buying the lot or home next door.

Don't contact the seller or the seller's listing agent directly!

Do not let the seller know you have any interest in their lot until you've talked to an Exclusive Buyer's Agent!

Here is the background:

1. If you are buying a property next to your current home, you are obviously doing it because of the location.

2. There are very few properties next to your current home.

3. Once the seller knows this your ability to negotiate effectively is lost.

Here is the better way:

Contact an Exclusive Buyer's Agent (A real estate company who only works for buyers, never sellers so they avoid all the conflicts of interest) and get their input on buying strategies. There are a number of them but I'm not going to post them here because a seller could read them and then they wouldn't do either of us any good!

You can reach our office at 734-662-6240 or online at hbaaa.com

About Appraisers Getting Presure from Real Estate Agents

I thought this was a great article!

It talks about how appraisers are often pressured to provide a high appraisal to stay in business.

Interesting reading!

As the largest buyer's brokerage involved in the Saline Michigan area we are the only company to really see this like the buyers do.

Exclusive Buyer Agents (Buyer Brokerages) are companies who only work for buyers. Never taking a listing and never representing a seller's best interest.

Most other offices in our market only offer designated buyer agency, designated seller agency, or dual agency. (Most agents and brokers I speak to don't even understand what designated agency means to buyers, they just know it means more profits and less risk for the broker!)

In any case, it is good to see some balance coming to appraisals.