Animal Farm – George Orwell – Review Summary Notes

Animal Farm is one of the two greatest works of George Orwell, the other being 1984. Animal Farm makes satirical allegories of the totalitarian communism of Soviet Russia. The novel is regarded as one of the all-time bests ever written by any author.

Animal Farm is a novel of betrayed revolution. It presents the corruption that followed the revolution led by Lenin.

In Animal Farm, the characters are animals and human beings. Among the animals, many of them are pigs, who are more often than not rulers. Apart from pigs, we see three main horses, a donkey, a goat, some puppies, rats, the sheep (plural number), a raven, a cat and hens.

The animals are more allegorical than real. The interpretation of the meanings is often left to the reader, but generally the consensus is that they represent different classes. Again, the humans represent another class. Thus, the novel demonstrates multiple classes.

All animals are equal, but some are more equal than the others.

All animals are supposed to be of the same class, but in reality, some animals are of superior class.

Pigs: Old Major represents Lenin/Marx. He had introduced the animals to the song Beasts of England. Napoleon (allusion of Stalin), the villain, a Berkshire boar, gets more powerful gradually, with help of the puppies whom he uses as secret police. He drives out Snowball (allusion of Trotsky), from the farm and uses dogs to enforce his dictatorship. He changes the commandments to allow him have privileges such as eat on a table. He and the other pigs learn to walk upright and behave like those humans against whom they had revolted. Snowball, allusion of Trotsky, was working for the good of the farm and had won over most of the animals hearts, but was driven out by Napoleon and his dogs. Napoleon also had spread negative rumors on Snowball. Squealer (allusion of Molotov) is Napoleon’s minister of propaganda, and his main assistant for all practical purposes. He uses statistics to confuse the animals and show that they had improved quality of life, and the animals, with little memory of life before revolution, accept. Minimum is a poetic pig representing all the admirers of Stalin inside and outside Russia.

Humans: Mr. Jones, a heavy drinker, the disposed tsar. His attempt to recapture the farm is spoiled by the Battle of the Cowshed (Russian Civil War). Interestingly, Napoleon eventually becomes as much a drunkard as Jones. Mr. Frederick, the tough owner of Pinchfield, a neighboring farm, represents Hitler and his farm represents Nazi Party. Mr. Pilkington is apparently nice but is shrewd. He and Napoleon draw the Ace of Spades (the highest card in a card game) and begin a bad fight, symbolizing the tensions between US and Russia. Mr. Whymper (loosely alluring Western intellectuals) is hired by Napoleon to represent Animal Farm in the human society.

Horses: Boxer is the hardest-working entity in the animal farm. He is dedicated to the success of the farm. Boxer invests all his loyal, kind, dedicated self to the farm’s „good“ as portrayed to him by the farms leaders. His hoofs eventually splits and he is sent to death by Napoleon when he could not work any more (and Napoleon spread the rumor that he died peacefully in a hospital). „I will work harder“ was the motto of Boxer in any tough situation, and his brain-washed trust was shown by his maxim „Napoleon is always right“. Clover is Boxer’s companion. She works with Boxer and loves him and cares for him, and takes the blame on herself when Boxer splits his hoof. She is deeply respected by the three younger ones who eventually take Boxer’s role. Mollie is a third horse – a self-centered mare – who wears ribbons in her mane and eats sugar cubes (lives a life of luxury), and is pampered by humans. Later she leaves for another farm seeking better comfort.

Other animals: Benjamin, the wise donkey who could read also, represents the Jews and lives till the end of the novel. Muriel is a wise old friendly goat like Benjamin, but dies earlier in the novel from old age. The cat represents laziness, the rats represent some arbitrary people who roam around, the sheep represent the masses (and Napoleon manage the sheep such that he is supported and believed by them) and the hens represent the rich peasants. Moses is an old raven (bird) that sometimes visits the farm from Sugarcandy Mountain, a place where the hard-working animals go after death he claims. The puppies are the ones that Napoleon specially raises and makes a secret police out of them. They become one of the backbones of Napoleon’s power in the Animal Farm.

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How to Get a Mortgage With No Money Down?

Today, you may find it really hard to find zero down payment mortgages. Even those that you can find are available for those who have proof of income. Plus, they should have a credit score of at least 720. As a matter of fact, some lenders may require a higher credit rating. You can get more details from a good mortgage broker. In this article, we are going to take a look at some loan options and a few alternatives. Read on.

VA Loans

Veterans and military families can go for a VA loan. This type of loan features 100% financing. With this insurance program, you can get loans to a specific limit, which is $424,00 in most cases. These loans don’t require any down payment but the mortgage insurance can be part of the loan. Different venders have different loan qualifications. Generally, your debt to income ration must be around 41% for the loan.

USDA Rural Development Housing Loans

If you live in a designated region, you may qualify for the USDA Rural Development Housing Loan. These loans are allotted for the residents of remote areas, you may qualify for these loans if you live in a nearby town.

Your minimum credit score must be between 600 and 640 for this option. Aside from this, the advance loan guarantee is wrapped into the loan balance. So, there will be no need of cash at closing.

Navy Federal Loans

Navy Federal Credit Union provides 100% financing for qualifying members who want to purchase primary homes. However, the downside is that only military personnel and their family members can apply for the offer. This program is like the VA’s except that it features a lower fee of 1.75% for funding.

When should you not go for No-Down-Payment Mortgages?

If you ask your mortgage specialist, they will tell you that It’s important to keep in mind that these plans have their own set of drawbacks. For instance, if you finance all of the home purchase, keep in mind that you will have zero equity in the house. As a result, lenders may consider you a high-risk borrower. Therefore, they may require you to get private mortgage insurance prior to signing the loan.

Keep in mind that if you default, it will cost you between 0.5 and 1% of the loan amount annually. Unlike the mortgage payments, this expense won’t be considered as tax-deductible.

Often, mortgages with zero down payment have a higher rate of interest than the conventional options. The reason is that lenders offer the best terms for those who can pay a down payment.

Alternatives to Mortgages that have Zero Down Payment

If you are not qualified for the no down payment programs, you can check out the following alternatives. But make sure you discuss the matter with your mortgage specialist first.

Local Loans

Almost all counties, states and municipalities offer different types of incentives for home buyers. They include down payment assistance, low interest rates, closing cost assistance or a combo of these.

Also, many of these are restricted to purchasers who satisfy specific income levels while others are only for first-time buyers. Aside from this, some programs can meet the needs of specific groups, such as teachers and medical personnel.

Although not all these programs can be the perfect alternative to down payment, know that some may offer interest-free loans or grants that may cover some of the down payment.

FHA Programs

For these programs, you must make at least 3.5% of payment upfront. However, according to FHA guidelines, the down payment must be funded in the form of financial gifts from different sources, such as non-profit organizations, fiancées, or relatives.

Similarly, FHA also offers another great program called the Good Neighbor Next Door for public employees, such as police offers and teachers. And the good thing is that the down payment is only $100.

Piggyback Mortgages

For this strategy to work, you must take out two loans. The first is to cover 80% of the purchase price of the house, and the second one to cover the rest of the price. Before the subprime mortgage crisis, the common practice was to have a 80/20% split.

Today, on the other hand, things are difficult. Therefore, the maximum may be a plan that features 80%/15%/5% loan. I this case, you get a primary mortgage to finance 80% of the purchase, while you get a home-equity loan or another mortgage to cover the rest. The remainder of 5% is covered by a down payment.

Wait and Save

Another viable option is to postpone your dream of owning a home until you can afford to make a down payment. In fact, if you try hard, you can save enough funds to make a down payment. This is true especially if you have already put aside some money.

For instance, you can withdraw as much as $10,000 from the IRA, especially if you are a first-time buyer. And the good thing is that you won’t have to worry about the early withdrawal penalty of 10%.

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Real Estate Appraisals – Get Yourself Prepared For Knowing the Value of Your Home

The collapse of the economy began with a reality wind blowing against the sub-prime mortgage house of cards. We are all living with the results of over aggressive lending practices and over active government intervention. With all these friends who needs any enemies?

As the market realigns, property valuations have plummeted. Some of you may even be „upside down“ on your mortgages. Do you buy? Do you sell? Do you ride out the tsunami? This series will go through all the major questions that we normally encounter in determining the value of a property. What are the drivers? What are the inhibitors? What you need to know to get the best value.

What is Property valuation/real estate appraisal?

The purpose of property valuation is to provide a current market based value for a property in comparison to others in its immediate vicinity. So an appraisal is time, location and geography specific. It is a comparative value – not an absolute. Second, real estate appraisals are broken into two broad categories – residential and commercial. For the purposes of these papers we will be discussing strictly residential appraisals. Residential real estate appraisers are licensed by their respective states and have different levels of license levels based on the value of loan for the property. They have to take classes and pass certification tests to gain and maintain their license status. They are also usually bounded by county because of the way Multiple Listing Services (MLS) keep and sell their records. So a good appraiser really knows their geography and what to look for.

Why does it cost so much?

Real estate appraisers are traditionally independent contractors/business people – no appraisals = no money. So while you are paying a relatively standard one time fee (e.g., $400) they have to make sure they get as many appraisals in as they can to make any profit at all. How’s that? After all they’ve got your $400. An appraiser has to cover all out of pocket expenses the same as any business person (education, health insurance, MLS fees, liability fees, business insurance, state fees – the list goes on). In addition a good appraiser may spend anywhere from 3 to 6 hours in preparation (looking for comparables, etc.), have a 45 minute or more drive time to location, 2 hours driving comparables and taking pictures and then another 1 -3 hours writing the report and then if the bank wants more info or kicks anything back they have to invest the time to answer questions, etc.

Also, is they get your request from another appraiser or from one of these new rip off government created middlemen called AMCs – they may have to split the fee. These are all just the costs of doing business. So when someone stops by for 30 to 60 minutes with a tape measure know that it’s the tip of the iceberg and you’re getting a good deal.

Do I own the appraisal?

The person/company who owns the appraisal is the person who commissioned it. So if you are looking for a house loan, your loan company „owns“ the appraisal, not you because they are the commissioning agent. Even if you pay the appraiser, it makes no difference – you did not set up the transaction. Why is this important? The appraiser can’t legally give you a copy of „your“ appraisal – it’s not yours. If you request an appraisal for loan purposes you may find that it’s not accepted by the bank because they didn’t request it or they don’t know the appraiser. Catch 22 – yes but not made by the appraiser so don’t shoot the messenger. There are all different kinds of appraisals (home, land, cost based, estate, chronological, etc.) and they are not interchangeable. Make sure if you are going to personally request an appraisal you know what it can be used for.

Why do I need a new Appraisal?

The market is so volatile that you may require a new appraisal every 6 -8 weeks for some lenders. In the last eight months housing values have dropped up to 40% in some areas. This means a $1 million house could be going for $600k now. This has made lenders very uneasy and they require more documentation and proof of values than before. Of course they were also the companies that caused the problem – Catch 22 for us. Refinancing has become more challenging as appraised values have gone done so rapidly that people who can manage the monthly payments are penalized because the „value“ puts them underwater. For sellers it’s even more emotionally challenging as they believe their homes have a higher value in the market than they do and they get upset, the real estate agents get upset because the deal doesn’t close and the bank says the appraised value I what it is. The appraiser gets attacked for the state of the market instead the banks who created the issue.

How to determine value?

Value is determined the recent sales of similar homes within a given geographic radius. This means sales, not pending sales; people can ask what they want but banks want to know what other similar homes sold for – don’t let your real estate agent mislead you. While the process is meant to be precise, „similar“ is a very ambiguous term. Are we talking square footage, age, upgrades, tile vs. marble, pool vs yard, the variables can seem limitless. This is why online value services are worthless and if you pay for them you are wasting your money. Only a live onsite inspection can see and assess value properly. Lenders understand this. Geographic area is also becoming looser. Neighborhoods can change in character so rapidly that the normal radius for a comparable is 3 miles. However because sales have been so slow, comparables are fewer and fewer. Because the lenders require 3 -5 or more valuations per property, sometimes more; appraisers are searching outside the 3 mile radius for comparables. Bottom line – if you’re looking to sell in the next 12 – 18 months don’t do any major upgrades because you probably won’t get your money back. Do what you need to please yourself and that’s it.

Who’s on First in this process?

People who refinance a lot or were thinking about a refinance in the last 6 months often ask this. Remember in the whole real estate process – the bank has the power – no one else. The recent complaints by others and finger pointing at appraised property values is really a distraction as banks with their loan programs and compensation systems drive everything. Because the banks lent money so freely and caused the crash – they have swung 1800 away and are now hoarding cash. To justify this approach they are squeezing loan agents and appraisers for more and more documentation of value. This is especially ironic for refis – people who are already good customers but just want to take advantage of some good rates. Bear in mind that banks don’t have customers they care about for repeat business – you are a commodity. This squeeze play in the name of „making sure it doesn’t happen again“ drives up appraiser and loan agent costs which cannot be flowed through to the borrower. If you’re a banker – no big deal – you’re going to get a federal bailout bonus or in the government where it’s basically „who cares it’s not my money“ – these things are not important because you don’t really care about impact. BUT if you’re working for a living on $400 increments with no guarantees of where your next job is coming from – it means a lot. The other guy in the process, who used to be a silent partner is the government. They have enacted new legislation to „clean up“ the valuation process when it was never broken to begin with. This has backfired into more regulation raising lending costs in the process – some of which has been passed on to the borrower. It has also stifled loan creation – so while still have money they can’t borrow because of government pressures. The psychology is beyond the normal mind to fathom. Everybody that is supposed to help likes to put more rocks in our backpacks as we go up the hill and tells us it’s for our own good.

It also produces lower quality valuations and appraisals. Example, Fannie Mae requires that all appraisals they get be from „certified“ appraisers. Because the government requires banks follow suit. Now the difference between a regular appraiser and a certified appraiser is a couple of classes and taking a test. So let’s say you been an appraiser for 20 years, done thousands of honest appraisals, have an MBA and have an excellent reputation – guess what – thanks to the government your out of business until you get spend hundred to thousands more and take a test. But it’s the same job you did before. So now you get a valuation done by someone with little practical experience who happened to take a test but gets the work. That’s the answer to some of the basic questions you want to know in this market. If you’re in the middle of this process and frustrated take it out at the ballot box but don’t kick your appraiser – they’re just the messenger.

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The Characteristics Of The Real Estate Market

The real estate market is the economic sector that involves the buying and selling of infrastructure such as buildings either for residential purposes, business premises, and the industry segment. Like any business sector it is susceptible to the economic forces of supply and demand. The main people involved in this field include the owner, renter, developers, renovators, and the facilitators.

This sector has a number of characteristics that are specific to it. Real estate is durable since the buildings can last for many years while the land it stands on is indestructible. As a result the supply is composed of a large share of already pre-existing stock and a tiny percentage of new development. Thus the stock varies in price only according the deterioration, renovation, and the new development coming up.

Stock in this sector could be referred as heterogeneous since every piece is unique. All buildings are different in terms of the location they are situated in, their structure and design as well as how they are financed. Change in this field takes quite a long time. This is as a result of the long duration involved in financing and construction of new property.

The real estate has the very unique feature in terms of the buyers in this market. The property can be purchased either as an investment with the expectation of earning returns or as a consumption good with the thought of using it. Individuals could also invest in the market for both reasons whereby they use the property for a while before selling it at a profit. As a direct result of its dual nature, there is a high demand since individuals tend to over-invest in this sector.

Immobility is yet another characteristic unique to this sector. The properties as well as the land it lies on are both immobile. As a result there is no physical market place meaning one has to go to where the property is situated. Therefore this issue makes location a prime factor before investment.

The main factor in demand for property is demographic, that is the population size and growth. The demographic composition plays a huge role in determining the demand and as a result the price. The performance of the economy also affects the performance of the sector since it plays a role in the ability of investors to take loans and mortgages for financing their business ventures. Naturally, the pricing determines the level of demand in the sector.

There are a number of ways to finance investment in the real estate market from government and commercial institutions. Financial aid can be obtained from commercial banks, savings banks, mortgage brokers, life insurance companies and other financial institutions. However, the best practice still remains getting funding from your own savings.

In view of the recent real estate market crash it is best to follow some guidelines. As a buyer ensure that the price you pay for the property matters a lot as well as the ability to dispose of the purchase later down the road. If not it is advisable to downsize your mortgage to be on the safe side. As a seller, identify when it is the right time to put your property on the market in order to avoid low offers.

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Cyprus Properties For Sale – A Growing Opportunity For Investors

When looking at the real estate opportunities that are arising worldwide the intuitive investor is immediately drawn to Cyprus Properties for Sale. One is immediately drawn to the beauty of this wonderful country and the hospitality and friendliness of its people. While the economic downturn has affected so many small regions negatively, this beautiful area remains a splendid oasis of peace and calm in an otherwise busy area.

When looking at Cyprus properties for sale it is important to look at the countryside. There are no areas in Cyprus that do not offer unique and astounding views and vistas. Many of the homes overlook the sea and the homes are built in traditional methods which allow the sunlight which shines over 300 days a year to play gracefully across the verandas, porticos, and plazas. The material used to build most of the homes is thick and keeps the inside of the homes well insulated. In addition most of the homes have two dining areas, one of which is easily accessible for large dinner parties and guests.

The landscape of Cyprus provides an individual with a beautiful mix of mountains, beaches, and winding roads that lead to plateaus overlooking the glorious ocean. The towns are all ancient looking as are most of the homes and cause one to imagine that an ancient Greek has just passed or you are walking in the footsteps of an ancient philosopher who has come to Cyprus for the same reason you came. To lay claim to the beautiful cities and wondrous Cyprus properties for sale.

When searching for the perfect Cyprus properties for sale whether as an investment opportunity or as a residence, it is important that you contact a local real estate agent who will be able to walk you through the entire buying process. Cyprus real estate brokers perform many of the functions that in other countries you would hire a lawyer to do. It is important that you discuss with the broker and the bank what the immediate levies and taxes will be and what the ongoing taxes will be on the property that you select. This is especially important if you have come to look at Cyprus properties for sale with a specific budget in mind and have not made allowances for the extra taxes that are charged in Cyprus. In addition, the fees and commissions for purchasing the home will be more than you may expect so you will want to be sure to find out those amounts before you commit to a purchase.

The excellent news for an investor searching for Cyprus properties for sale is that virtually everyone in the country speaks English. Because of the heavy British influence, the banks of Cyprus are run on a system that is very similar and the paperwork is quite similar to that used in other English property transactions. In addition, the people of Cyprus are, for the most part, English speakers so it will not be necessary for to learn the language before you can start negotiating for the best properties available. This is the time to purchase a property in Cyprus. Because of the global economy, the housing prices of Cyprus have also decreased, although not as much as in other parts of the world, and this is a prime opportunity for an individual to contact their real estate broker and begin to seriously consider Cyprus properties for sale.

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Buying Villa Holiday Home Cyprus – A Place of Your Own on a Paradise Island

Are you searching for a great location to go to in order to escape from your busy life in the city? How about looking for a place which has clear water and friendly locals? Consider buying or renting a villa located in Cyprus! If you want to buy a holiday property then Cyprus is an awesome island in the Mediterranean Sea which hosts visitors from all around the globe, and can also be a good place for taking a long vacation on a holiday or simply for rest and relaxation.

Buying villa holiday home Cyprus provides you with a variety of purchasing options, regardless of whether you prefer a seashore getaway or a metro-style apartment in one of the little villages. If you are house hunting on this lovely isle, all sorts of bargains are out there waiting for you. Cyprus apartments for sale are also plentiful in various locales here, but the majority of the homes on the island’s real estate market are luxury villas.

If you want to examine many villas quickly, Pafos villa hunting is property the best approach to take. Pafos is usaully spelled Paphos in the West. It is the island’s largest coastal district and contains the longest stretches of shoreline that Cyprus has to offer. Tourists can buy or rent villas and apartments in this area quickly and without difficulty. Many villas are available for purchase in the Pafos area for less than 100,000 British pounds or 200,000 American dollars.

If you’d like to look for a holiday villa, home, or apartment on Cyprus, you don’t have to go to the island in person. Instead, you can search online for pictures and data about available properties, most of which are posted on the Internet. The real estate systems are similar to the American and British systems, and you’ll feel right at home with the way that the property listings are laid out online.

You’ll find that many of the online retailers who list Cypriot properties also publish plenty of pictures of the surrounding countryside. You’ll be able to see tons of gorgeous views, including ocean and beach pictures, as well as shots of the insides of the houses for sale. Even the city centers are picturesque, offering diverse and beautiful architecture. Best of all, most towns are only about an hour from the sea, so you’ll always be able to see the ocean with a short drive.

If you are considering purchasing a villa as a vacation residence, the isle of Cyprus can provide you with marvelous options online or on the spot. You can be sure that these properties will make a reconnoitering trip here absolutely worthwhile. If such an expenditure is within your means, you will be delighted to discover that a short getaway (or a long retirement) in Cyprus is the most effective way to unwind regardless of how high your stress level may be.

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Condo Living – Why It’s the Best for Everyone

Condos are set up similar to apartments, so there will often be a shared wall or shared floor if they are set up above or below one another. However, this is a small price to pay for the amenities that come along with new condos for sale.

Anyone who lives in a condo will say they absolutely love it, while some will say they wish they’d bought a house instead. It’s best to explore the pros and cons of condos before making a decision, there are many reasons to choose new condos for sale.

No yard to mow! For anyone who doesn’t love yard work this is a huge bonus. Forget mowing because the dues paid monthly covers this work, and the yard will always look amazing! Many first-time home owners are unaware that there is so much work to landscaping and yard care. Not to mention snow plowing, roof repairs, siding, cleaning gutters and so much more.

Further, many people don’t even use the giant yards that come with their house. It’s definitely something to consider. Just beware that many new condos for sale don’t have the funds to make necessary improvements as time goes by.

These are important questions to ask. A well-run association will ensure that they always hold their value, and are a better investment overall. If many members fall behind on dues it affects so many things, especially if it’s a small arrangement of condos rather than one that has hundreds.

It’s cheaper than buying a house. There’s no denying that the cost of a condo in comparison to a house is often cheaper. Of course it depends on the size and other features, but regardless it’s smart to keep in mind the property values of the area and the value of the condo or home, even into the future. New condos for sale are often worth more simply because they are new, and offer new technology and finishes.

Many people that have lived in both a condo and a house report that when living in a condo the mortgage was cheaper, so the overall expenses were more manageable. Keep in mind the cost for the new condo for sale won’t be the only expense. There will be association dues as well. Usually the more amenities the higher the dues. For example, 24-hour security, gym, swimming pool and more all cost money to maintain to dues covers that cost.

Conclusion

For anyone going back and forth between the two options, it’s best to consider how much they have to invest, and not just in the purchase price. If they lead a busy lifestyle they’d do well to seriously consider a new condo for sale. It will be low maintenance and less stress overall. Plus, they’ll have plenty to do depending on the amenities.

If location is important, one can often get a new condo for sale in prime areas such as the beach, right in the city or near popular attractions. It can feel like being on vacation all the time!

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"Sleevies" and Duty of Care

What are „Sleevies“?

You may not have heard of a „sleevie“, but it is one of the names given to a property that an owner wants to sell, but doesn’t want to list on the market at the moment – nothing to do with a shirt!

Owners often provide licensees with potential listings by telling them that they have a property for sale, but that if the licensee has a buyer to give him a call, take them through the property and if they get him a deal, then he will sign a listing (Agency Agreement).

Introducing people to properties without a signed authority.

The Real Estate Agents Authority answer to the question of whether a licensee (a licensed salesperson) can take a purchaser through a vendor’s home without first having a signed agency agreement in place was that a licensee must not – offer or market any land or business unless authorised by a client through an agency agreement – that means it must be listed.

Rigid application of this rule means that licensees have been advised to avoid these circumstances or, at least, have a signed agency agreement effective on a temporary basis. This authority in writing from a vendor would be needed in a defense of any disciplinary proceedings resulting from such introduction at any time in the future.

So the days of what was known as „sleevie“ listings, and a vendor saying – „Bring buyers through and when you get a deal I will sign up!“ – have gone!

Licensees are also required to provide a Duty of Care.

All licensees now have a Duty of Care to the Client (Vendor) and the Customer (Purchaser) which now means:

1. Known defects about a property must be disclosed.

2. Suspected defects must also be disclosed, or the vendor provides written confirmation of no defects.

3. When a client is aware of a problem and does not give permission for it to be disclosed, the licensee cannot continue to work for that client.

The use of Pre-sale Inspection Reports would be one way of providing the necessary disclosures.

If a vendor is aware of all the maintenance and building issues associated with his property, the vendor could provide this information and data themselves.

Another way is to obtain a clause from your lawyer to insert into the agreement confirming to buyers‘ their acknowledgement of certain defects.

Whatever the situation, this is one area where the assistance and knowledge of your solicitor will be invaluable.

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Pricing A Home For Sale: The Fine – Line Between Too High, Too Low, Just Right!

For a variety of reasons, at some point, most people decide, the time is right, for them, to sell their home. Since, for most, the value of this house, is, their single – biggest, financial asset. or one of them, wouldn’t it make sense, when this time arrives, you are more aware of some real estate realities, and proceed, with a better knowledge, of a variety of relevant factors, especially, pricing decisions. How one prices his home, from the onset, often, has significant ramifications! Wouldn’t it make sense, to better understand, as many relevant factors, as possible, in order to avoid, the tendency, to, either, over – price, under – price, or, list your home, just – right? With that in mind, this article will attempt to review, consider, examine, and discuss, what this means, and why it matters.

1. Pricing too high: One of the age – old challenges, is, the conflict, between what a homeowner, believes, his property is worth, and, what, qualified, potential buyers believe, and/ or, are willing to pay! When, a seller, over – prices his house, he risks, getting the best possible results, because, in the vast number of cases, the best offers, are received, within the first few weeks, after a house, is listed, on the real estate market. Whether, it’s because of greed, optimism, wishing/ wishful – thinking, or failing to realize, a listing a selling price, are far different entities, this approach, rarely works. There is, generally, lots of competition, and, what lenders, appraise properties for, and, unless these align, few houses sell!

2. Pricing too low: The risk of listing a house, too low, is turning – off, some potential buyers, because, they feel/ believe, there must be something wrong, if it’s being offered, so – cheap! There is a fine line, between, offering something, at the lower end of the market, as compared to, significantly below, that point!

3. Pricing just – right!: The listing price, a home is initially offered for, should depend on the existing local real estate market. Since, this varies, from region – to – region, state – to – state, and neighborhood – to – neighborhood, and even, sometimes, depending on the specific block, and the location on the block (corner, mid – block, adjoining properties, etc), one should hire a qualified real estate agent, to serve and represent them, and their best interests! The pricing range, should be determined, by having a professionally prepared, Competitive Market Analysis, or, CMA, guide the process. A homeowner’s unique needs, and personal situation, are significant factors, in determining, where, in that range, is the finest, listing price.

Obviously, the best way, and approach, to pricing your house, for sale, depends on a variety of factors, conditions, needs, and priorities. However, when the initial listing price, is just – right, instead of too high, or low, your results, will generally, be better!

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg
Der Immoblienmakler für Heidelberg Mannheim und Karlsruhe
Wir verkaufen für Verkäufer zu 100% kostenfrei
Schnell, zuverlässig und kompetent

A 5 – Step Plan To Prepare To Buy A House

Although, owning a home of one’s own, is often considered, a major component of the so – called, American Dream, wouldn’t it make sense, to effectively, plan, to ensure this doesn’t become a nightmare, instead? After, over fifteen years, as a Real Estate Licensed Salesperson, in the State of New York, I have created, what I, often, refer to, as the RICH IDEAS, for proceeding, wisely, in terms of buying a house. With that in mind, this article will attempt to, briefly, consider, examine, review, and discuss, a 5 – step plan, for properly, effectively, wisely, being prepared for this process, and proceeding accordingly.

1. Put together/ accumulate sufficient funds, for a variety of requirements and necessities: It’s smart to proceed, as well – prepared, as possible, from the beginning. Well – before, you start searching for a house, begin saving money, in a systematic way. Remember, you will not only need funds, for the down – payment (often, but not always, 20%), but, also, funds for other Closing Costs, including, but not limited to, pre – paid real estate taxes, utilities, and other, so – called, escrow items. In addition, most lending institutions require a demonstration, and proof of funds, equal to several months, of mortgage payments.

2. Obtain a copy of your Credit Report (if husband and wife, get both): You are entitled, once per year, to request a free copy of your Credit Report, from one of the major credit organizations/ companies. Review this document carefully, and correct any errors. If your rating is not, as high, as a lending institution may seek, begin to take steps, to enhance and improve it, sooner, rather than later!

3. Pay – down other debt: Lending institutions use formulas, to determine one’s qualification, to receive funds. These are generally, focused on, one’s percentage of debt to income. Therefore, pay – down your other debt, prior to beginning the process!

4. Don’t add any other debt: Avoid acquiring any more debt, regardless of how convenient, and/ or, appealing, it may seem, at the moment. Don’t fall into the trap, of, accepting new store charge accounts, because doing so, may compromise your credit worthiness, when you seek a mortgage!

5. Shop for homes, within your means: Avoid the trap, of becoming, house – rich, and seeking to purchase a home, beyond your comfortable means! Know, how much, you can afford, comfortably, and securely, so you choose, wisely, and remain, comforted!

Since, for most of us, the value of our house, is our single – biggest, asset, doesn’t it make sense, to proceed, carefully, and wisely? Will you be up to this task?

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg
Der Immoblienmakler für Heidelberg Mannheim und Karlsruhe
Wir verkaufen für Verkäufer zu 100% kostenfrei
Schnell, zuverlässig und kompetent

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