Lake Havasu real estate deals

This is a list of reduced homes in Lake Havasu City AZ.

These homes are priced to sell!

http://lakehavasu.fnismls.com/publink/default.asp?GUID=43dca506-90f6-4eba-8f3d-4c0bcefe79ff&Report=Yes

Lew's News - July's Newsletter - click here

June's Featured Listing

Have a look at my Featured Listing of the month. Who needs garage space? How about 2600SqFt of gargage space with a dual RV garage!



Click here for complete details:
http://www.tourhavasuhomes.com/listing.asp?propid=32312

Newsletter Status

I wanted to update everyone on the future of my newsletter.

You might have noticed you haven't received one for June. I am in the middle of switching to a new newsletter style I think more people will be interested in. There will be a newsletter going out in July.

If you would like to be put on my mailing list, click here:
http://www.tourhavasuhomes.com/page.asp?num=3825

Have a great day!

Lew Jabro
928 846 6474

Feb NewsLetter

Lews News - Lake Havasu City Real Estate News, Views and Trends.

- View Februarys Newsletter - CLICK HERE
- Subscribe to Lews News - CLICK HERE

Win a $50 gift card to Lowe's Home Improvment store! - CLICK HERE

The Art of Home Purchase Negotiation

There is much give and take involved in negotiating a property purchase. That's why it's important to have a checklist of what you want to get out of the deal as a buyer. Bear in mind, the home must be appraised and the lender will be looking at the fair market value on a given property. Since property values fluctuate, your Real Estate Agent should do a comparative market analysis so you are aware of what the trends are for the area in which you are shopping. This will give you an idea as to whether the seller's asking price is realistic. You will also want to know how long the property has been on the market, and if any price reductions have occurred during that time.

Make sure your Real Estate Agent is on the same page with you so he/she is able to represent you properly. You also want to know that you are working with an agent that is experienced in representing the buyer. Not all agents have the ability to provide strong representation for both a buyer and a seller. If you have not yet selected a Real Estate Agent to represent you, my team and I can provide you with contacts that have a proven track record of success with our clientele.

Remember a good deal is mutually beneficial.

The seller will also have a wish list of what they want out of the negotiation. Listen attentively to determine what their hot buttons are. You can use this information to leverage what you want out of the deal at some point along the way.

Find out if the seller has a deadline. Perhaps they have already purchased their new home, or have to relocate because of a commitment to a new employer. Find out what the seller's current mortgage balance is and use this to your advantage.

On the other hand, if the seller wants to move because they can't manage upkeep on the home, or don't want to invest in repairs, these problems will be passed on to you. If you are prepared to go into a deal that involves a fixer-upper, there is an FHA financing program designed to provide funds for both purchase and repair. My team and I can provide you with more information on FHA loan programs and secondary financing.

You would also want to know if the seller is planning this move because there are problems in the neighborhood. Take a walking tour of the area and ask the residents what the neighborhood is like. You can also ask the local police department about the crime rate, or check the local newspaper for crime listings. Don't be afraid to ask questions.

When the seller is intent on getting their way on a certain point, make sure you are getting something in return. Typically the built-in amenities such as the dishwasher and garbage disposal will stay with the home. You can negotiate other items in exchange for something that ranks high on the seller's wish list. Be prepared to split the difference so everyone involved is satisfied with the negotiation. A win-win situation for both the buyer and the seller is critical to a smooth close.

Keep it simple and be direct, but above all, know that my team and I are here to assist you.

Visit www.TourHavasuHomes.com or contact Lew Jabro at 928-505-8200

City Council to wait on 2nd bridge

Council to wait on 2nd bridge
By Brian DiTullioWednesday, November 16, 2005 9:52 PM MST

Not happy with the results of a study to raise fees to build a second bridge to the Island, City Council is turning elsewhere to get ideas.Instead of using figures provided in a recent study, City Council wishes to examine what other cities around the state have done in similar situations and try and assess comparable impact fees.

City Manager Tim Ernster said there were other ways of raising the fees than the ones proposed in the study delivered to City Council this past July that drew negative response from stakeholders on the Island.Councilman Bruce Hinman said he felt the rates proposed where “prohibitive” to growth, especially for commercial endeavors.

“I don't know if that was a fair formula for commercial sites,” said Hinman.

City staff presented City Council with the results of a study done earlier in the year involving ways of raising money to build a second bridge to The Island and gave them some different alternatives for raising the money.

The schedule of proposed fees indicate a single-family residence would incur a $3,558 development fee and all other types of housing would incur a $1,855 development fee.Commercial structures and shopping centers are assessed fees based on square footage with structures 25,000 feet or less being charged $18.05 per foot, according to the study. The categories go up from there with the price per square foot going down. A structure over 200,000 square feet would be assessed $10.88 per square foot.

Lodging areas and marinas fall into their own categories with new hotels being charged $3,060 per room built and marinas being charged $1,101 per berth created.

Ernster gave recommendations including setting aside a specific amount of sales tax, or even assessing a toll once the bridge is completed.

On Wednesday, Ernster said the council wants to find out “how far out of the ballpark we are” on the proposed impact fees.

The item is tentatively scheduled to come back to City Council in January.

The report also includes figures on estimates for future development on the Island and trip generation rates.

City staff estimated last year that a new bridge to the Island would cost $14 million to design, prepare and build.

Councilman Allan Sturtevant attended the meeting via telephone from St. Louis, where he is staying until after the first of the year.

Avoid Changes to Your Financial ProfileDuring the Loan Process

Once your loan package has been sent to the lender, there are a number of things you should avoid doing that will change your financial picture. Remember, the lender is looking for stability and consistency. If you want the best interest rate, keep that in mind. Here are a few things to consider:

The lender is looking to see what your source of down payment is.

Your lender will most likely ask you to provide proof of your liquid assets. This includes bank statements for checking and savings accounts, verification of investments, and any other liquid assets. Some of the things they ask for may seem trivial, but keep in mind, if you are planning a move to a new home, it's important to have all documentation readily available. If the lender asks for cancelled checks or deposit receipts to meet certain conditions, you want to be able to find these things quickly to avoid delaying the closing of your loan. Make sure your paper trail is easy to document, and don't move money from one account to another.

Major purchases tip the scales against your favor.

Avoid making any major purchases. You might be thinking about purchasing new appliances for the new home. This is not the time to do it. Avoid making any major purchases on jewelry, appliances, furniture, vacations, or anything with a significant price tag.

Buying or leasing a car can make a negative impact on the way the lender views your financial status. This is a big ticket item that dramatically affects your debt-to-income ratio. You may feel you have room in your budget to purchase a new car, and think this is a worthy investment if you are looking for a home that will mean a longer commute for you on a daily basis. But by tacking a car payment onto your existing debt, you reduce the amount that you will qualify for in a home loan. A $400 a month car payment can reduce your approved loan limit by as much as $50,000. Think about doing this after your loan is approved if you really need it.

If you have to change jobs, you may be asked to document why this change occurred.

If you are changing jobs to increase your income, that's a no-brainer for the lender. If you have an erratic work history to start with, another job change may make it look worse for you.

If you are an hourly wage employee, most likely a job change will have no effect on your ability to qualify for a loan. If you have a track record of a consistent amount of overtime or consistent bonuses over the last two years, the lender views this favorably. If you change jobs, there is no way of knowing if the new employer will pay overtime. Many do not! If you work on a salary + commission or straight commission basis, it has a dramatic effect on your stability. If you are considering starting your own business, again, this is something to consider after your loan is funded.

Another excerpt from CMG Mortgage. Brooks-Clark's in house lender.
http://www.TourHavasuHomes.com