Kristin LaVanway - Here in Phoenix

REDC Auction: Scam or the Real Deal?

Kristin LaVanway — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 22:03:30 +0000

REDC is a real estate auction marketing firm that markets real estate holdings in the US and beyond through public auction. I have been curious about these auctions for quite a while, but honestly had a skeptical attitude after ready so many bad reviews. I had to opportunity to check out the REDC auction today with one of my clients and decide for myself if they are a scam or the read deal.

So what did I find out at the auction? Did my client win the bid? Check out the video to find out…

Be sure to check out the REDC website for yourself for more details or contact me…

Phoenix Real Estate FAQs- March 5, 2010

Kristin LaVanway — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:06:22 +0000

Dean Ouellette joins me as we answer your real estate questions straight from the trenches of the Phoenix real estate market….in only 30 seconds. Today we answer:

Should you require a deposit on a short sale?
Can the bank dictate terms in a short sale contract?
Should agents rebate commission?
Can I sell my house for a higher price if it is not a bank owned or short sale?

Great job behind the camera, Sasha Lopez!

We need your questions! Send us an email or leave a comment and look for your answer in upcoming videos…

Trustee Sale: How You Find Out Your House is on the Block

Kristin LaVanway — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 05:25:37 +0000

In the course of my business as a Realtor, I meet many distressed property owners who are losing their homes either through a short sale or a Trustee Sale. This year, my family will become yet another statistic as we will be losing our home as well.

I have come a long way over the last year and a half as I tried unsuccessfully to save my family home. Although the battle was hard fought – perhaps too hard fought – in the end, the best decision has evolved to my current situation – giving up my house and moving forward. What I have found very interesting is how I have evolved myself . Like many of life’s events that require great fortitude, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I am fairly invincible at this point…Even more remarkable is how this evolutionary process is so common among other homeowners who are giving up the keys. It is a learning process, a growing process and a process that shakes up your concept if what’s important…and what’s not.

When I started this process, one thing that helped my a great deal was a blog I discovered called Love in the Time of Foreclosure. It was written by a woman named Stephanie Walker about her efforts to save her home in Los Angeles and how she and her husband ultimately sold their home through a short sale. This story is beautiful – it is a love story – and it showed me what could lie ahead if I held my head up and never gave up on what was best for my family. I owe Stephanie a lot…

So, now I hope to pay it forward and share my story with someone else out there who could use a little glimpse into the future. My story is different than Stephanie’s in a lot of ways – I am doing this as a single mom with four boys in tow – but in a lot of ways it’s the same. Although losing your home is a traumatic event – one of the worst things some families will experience – many people I talk to come out of it wiser, more grounded and ultimately happier. That’s what I want to pass on…

I am going to check in every once in a while with an update or observation about my experience and I hope it helps someone out there who is going through the same thing. And please pass this along to anyone you know who might benefit.

So catch my video about how I found out my house was scheduled for Trustee Sale…no surprise to me, but kind of odd how most people learn about this serious turn of events. Actually the entire process from late payments to Trustee Sale can be traced through….junk mail.

About the Top Ramen Chronicles…when things started to look dire in the family finances, I held a family meeting with my four sons. We discussed the fact that we were in danger of losing our home and all agreed that we would do anything to save it, even if it meant eating Top Ramen everyday. We ate a lot of Top Ramen, but ultimately will be losing our home. But we sure have learned a lot along the way.

Phoenix Real Estate FAQs

Kristin LaVanway — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:19:00 +0000

Dean Ouellette joins me as we answer your real estate questions straight from the trenches of the Phoenix real estate market….in only 30 seconds. Today we answer:

Can an agent charge extra fees to list a house for sale?
Are Open Houses a thing of the past?
How can I get more pictures of a listing?
What if the Seller won’t turn on the utilities for the inspection?

Thanks to Sasha Lopez for manning the time clock! We promise we won’t replace you!

We need your questions! Send us an email or leave a comment and look for your answer in upcoming videos…

Wondering Why Real Estate Agents Don’t Call You Back?

Kristin LaVanway — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 04:02:12 +0000

I had phone duty today at Thompson’s Realty and received a call from a frustrated gal who couldn’t get anybody else to call her back about renting a property. It’s a more common complaint than it should be. There is no good excuse for not returning calls, but if you are frustrated too, check out this video for some thoughts on the topic…

What? You Aren’t Using the AZ Buyer’s Advisory??

Kristin LaVanway — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 21:23:01 +0000

Two of my clients recently discovered that a really good deal can sometimes be a really bad deal. How did they do it? By using the Arizona Buyer’s Advisory to research the properties they were interested in purchasing. By using the resources summarized in this document, they discovered deal breakers that made them decide to choose a different property.

Phoenix Real Estate FAQ’s – REO’s

Kristin LaVanway — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 07:16:03 +0000

Dean Ouellette joins me to as we answer your real estate questions straight from the trenches of the Phoenix real estate market….in only 30 seconds. Here we are answering some frequently asked questions about purchasing bank-owned properties…namely:

Where can you find REO listings?
Can I offer below the asking price on a bank-owned property?
The bank accepted my offer, but wants me to be sign a 10-page addendum…what do I do?
What’s a “best and final” offer and how do they work?

Thanks to Sasha Lopez for manning the time clock!

Don’t miss our “blooper reel” at the end!

The Inside Scoop on Qualifying for a Mortgage Loan

Kristin LaVanway — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 05:59:21 +0000

Time and time again, I have had clients who where told they were “pre-qualified” but then were denied the loan. Why does this happen? Here is a look at what happens behind the scenes to qualify you for a mortgage loan, and some tips on how the right loan officer can better your odds for qualification.

Talking Shop Episode #2 – Tips for Home Buyers

Kristin LaVanway — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 07:34:16 +0000

Dean Ouellette and Kristin LaVanway talk about tips to help Buyers in their home search, including how to choose a lender, where to find the best deals, and how to make the most fo your shopping trip!

Trustee Sales – Can You Work Around Them?

Kristin LaVanway — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 05:39:51 +0000

I headed down to the courthouse steps today to introduce one my investor clients to Pam Mullavey and Brad Kelley of Infoclosure.com. He had a couple of interesting questions about how the trustee sales work and if there is a way to avoid that whole process…

And, yes…it was raining which explains the frizzy hair!

***Note: One exception to the Trustee Sale as described in the video is the Deed-In-Lieu of Foreclosure, however, these are not common.