Buyer Specialist Certification

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Lori Crawford of Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate earns BUYER SPECIALIST CERTIFICATION from CARTUS Broker Services 

Certified Agent Advantage offers Broker Network agent specialized expertise to assist customers.

                                                                                                                         

Trinity, FL April 10, 2013 – Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate today announced that Lori Crawford has achieved the Cartus Network Buyer Specialist (CNBS) certification. This annual certificate is part of the Certified Agent Advantage program, a professional standard available exclusively to principal brokers of the Cartus Broker Network — the network of real estate brokers serving the clients and customers of Cartus. 

Cartus requires qualified Network agents to become certified as relocation experts by participating in one or more Certified Agent Advantage courses and passing a written exam upon completion. The CNBS Certification course in which Lori Crawford participated covered issues surrounding the purchase of a destination home, as well as the most effective techniques for helping clients research communities, locate their new homes, and settle into their new areas of the United States.

As members of the Cartus Broker Network, agents strive to deliver excellent service to every client. The Certified Agent Advantage program helps to differentiate agents and provides them with a wider range of resources and career growth opportunities. 

About Cartus and the Cartus Broker Network

Cartus Broker Network is the nation’s leading network of more than 811 market-leading real estate firms representing approximately 3,000 offices and more than 109,000 agents. Cartus provides trusted guidance to organizations of all types and sizes that require global relocation solutions. Cartus serves 64 percent of the Fortune 50. We provide service in more than 165 countries, applying our more than half century of experience to help our clients with their mobility, outsourcing, consulting, and language and intercultural training needs. Cartus is part of Realogy Holdings Corp. (NYSE: RLGY), a global provider of real estate services. To find out how our greater experience, reach, and hands-on guidance can help your company, visit www.cartus.com; read our blog at www.cartusblog.com; or click www.realogy.com for more information.   

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Contact:

Lori Crawford
Coldwell Banker International Diamond Society Member
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate
727.234.8002
Ltcrawford01@aol.com
www.FloridaMoves.com/Lori.Crawford
www.TrinityEastLakeRealEstate.com
 
 

Key West Home in Oldsmar! SOLD!!!

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Front_Exterior2

You’ll find a taste of Key West with a modern twist in exquisite Oldsmar! This 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath delight is nestled at the end of a gracefully long driveway rimmed by tropical foliage. A classic bay window & white picket fence accent the spacious yard. Exquisite lattice walls & a wide outdoor staircase surround the entranceway leading to the second floor’s rear balcony with tree top views and awnings for delicious shade.

The backyard’s covered patio has pavers with matching stepping stones out to the luxurious hot tub. Indoors, stunning plantation shutters highlight the Great Room outfitted with a charming bay window niche, gas fireplace & entertainment center that joins the dining room to form the perfect relaxation/entertainment area.

Oversized sliders lead to the deck from the gleaming kitchen; you can linger over morning coffee or host a beautiful brunch. You’ll love the low maintenance Pergo floors throughout, with lush carpeting in the bedrooms.

Besides the sleek & updated powder room, the guest & master baths are also warmly contemporary. The master bedroom boasts peek-a-boo water views from its private deck whose French doors flood the master suite with natural light. With a newer roof, AC, kitchen appliances & water heater; your new home is just down the street from RE Olds Park with its scenic views, playground, trails, fishing piers & picnic shelter as well as Mobbly Bayou Preserve’s 225 acres of land with canoe launch, beach area & dog park.

A Little Perspective Please?

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This post was provided by Brian P. Forrester of Vandyk Mortgage

While politics are more of a hot button than ever before and Americans are currently caught in the cross fire of Congressional finger-pointing; we still need to get perspective about how the country’s recent downgrading by Standard and Poor’s is really affecting you and getting a mortgage.

Whoever you want to “blame” for the downgrade, S&P is only one of three companies that provides credit ratings. Much like Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax are our mortgage industry go-to sources for a client’s credit score as they help to determine interest rates…S&P isn’t the only game in town and their peers are still standing firm on the premium credit status for the United States.

And another thing! In comparison to other nations issuing credit, we are still the gold standard upon which others are based. Therefore, the market for our debt still strongly mitigates most of the fears S&P may have instigated.

At the end of the day, amidst all the panic, interest rates actually went down over this past week; so what’s that saying? That’s reiterating that the market will be a main driver in helping to set the interest rates.

Let’s just de-twist the proverbial panties and take a deep breath. Your 401k may have been all over the map this week, but we’ve got money to lend at reasonable rates in a buyers’ market. How’s that for perspective?

When Should Buyers Buy?

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When’s the best time to jump into a buyer’s market? How long should you actually wait before you sign on the dotted line? In some areas where the prices are still declining, how can you make the decision if you don’t know how much lower the prices will go? There are a couple of variables that can help you make your move.

Some Home Buyers Should Buy Immediately
Your situation should dictate your decision:
If you are a seller who wants to move up to a more expensive home in a down market, now could be the best time. The longer you wait to sell, the lower the price of your home could fall.
If you can arrange for a temporary place to live, a smart strategy is sell now, wait a few months, buy your new home.

The Impact of Interest Rates
As interest rates increase, waiting to buy can cost you and you might not be able to afford to buy a home at any price:
Each 1/2 point increase in your interest rate gives you $25,000 less in purchasing power.
Each 1 point increase in your interest rate gives you $50,000 less in purchasing power.
Each 2 point increase in your interest rate gives you $100,000 less in purchasing power.

Purchase Prices versus Interest Rates
If you put down 20% and qualify for an 80% loan, here are your principal and interest payments on the following purchase prices:
$425,000 sales price, at 8.25% interest, your payment is $2,554.
$450,000 sales price, at 7.75% interest, your payment is $2,579.
$475,000 sales price, at 7.25% interest, your payment is $2,592.
$500,000 sales price, at 6.75% interest, your payment is $2,594.
$525,000 sales price, at 6.25% interest, your payment is $2,586.

The payments are almost identical. However, the home you can afford to buy a 8.25% is $100,000 less than the home you can afford to buy at 6.25%. If you wait for prices to further decline, the perceived value could be lost due to higher rates.

Your best strategy is to weigh all the pros and cons first. Don’t let newspaper headlines dictate your decision!

Interest Rates from Brian

(This great graphic is courtesy of Brian P. Forrester of VanDyk Mortgage Corporation).