MEXICO MORTGAGE LEADERS
Finance North America is proud to be the leader for lending in Mexico to US and Canadian citizens. If you’ve been thinking about purchasing real estate in Mexico, or need assistance with refinancing, we are here to help make your dream a reality. Mortgages in Mexico are our specialty; we can help you with all your Mexico real estate financing needs.

Congratulations to the New Officers for 2011-2013

SCMAR, AMPI Sector, San Carlos Association of Realtors

 

Mike Beddoes

Realty Executives

President 2011-2013

email: mike@realtyexecutivessancarlos.com

Lic#:

 

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Vice-President

Georgina Bedran

ReMax First Choice Realty

Vice- President- 2011-2013

email:  bedranm@hotmail.com

Lic#:  30

 

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Diane BarrollReMax First Choice Realty

Treasurer

2011-2013

Email: dianebarroll@remax.net

Lic #: 62

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Secretary

Yovana Millan

Realty Executives

Secretary

2011-2013

Email:   yoviz_21@hotmail.com

Lic #:

 

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Does it Really Work to Obtain Savings Or to Just Buy You Troubles?

Saving money is important for every consumer. For this reason, they try to find a way to reduce costs all the time. They do this even to the point of performing things by themselves to minimize spending.

This is not an uncommon scenario, especially in home selling.   The purpose of this saving money, they have opted to sell properties by themselves. This act is called “For Sale by Owner”, or simply FSBO.

The selling  process can pose great risks when doing transactions, not only for the seller but also for the buyer, especially in another country with many different laws to the seller and buyer.

Reasons behind FSBO

It was already mentioned above that For Sale By Owner is conducted for the purpose of saving money. To obtain that, they eliminate the services of the Real Estate Broker costs, which are 6 % of the purchase price.

Another reason is that sellers think that they are the only ones who can look out for their best interests. Some of them are skeptical towards the attitude of the broker in selling. They think most of these agents are more concerned in disposing the property (to earn their commission) rather than selling their homes at its best prices with the best terms and saving the seller money.

Possible Risks in FSBO

While many sellers that eliminate the service of the Real estate broker/agent results into savings.  Doing so can mean disaster for the seller and the buyer. Real estate transactions are complex, especially in Mexico. Any inexperienced sellers or buyer might end up doing the wrong thing. Thus, putting oneself into trouble and risking the smoothness in the flow of the transaction and possible surprises later.

To let you see the risks, here are some things to think about:

1. Since for sale by owner eliminates the service of a real estate agent, the seller will not have an access to the Multiple Listing Service.   The MLS gives ALL MLS agents the availability to see and show your home, so the seller has a larger pool of BUYERS.   Real Estate agents will not show your home to their buyers when listed as a FSBO.

2. Selling without an agent involves very hard work. No one will be there to give you assistance and go for an extra mile to guide you with the process. Without their services, the sale of property may result into chaos.

3. Most sellers do not know what they are doing, especially in Mexico or familiar with the Mexico Laws.

4. The right pricing is not achieved. Some sellers, who are of course the owner of the house, may be personally attached  to their homes. Therefore, they may price their homes with consideration to their personal sentiments and over price the home. Any emotional investment might be counted for in this case. That can be irrational. In fact, some of them may not know that proper pricing is achieved with the right comparison like use of Comparative Market Analysis. Thus, most buyers think their houses are overpriced.  Buyers out looking at For Sale By Owners are looking to get a bargain and are trying to save them money also.  They will bargain the seller and since the seller has not had any interest he will more than likely accept less than what he can get if he placed it on the MLS with a whole pool of buyers, even taking the consideration of the commission and the savings of the agent negotiating skills.

6. Buyers are unaware of the Laws of Mexico and the correct procedures of purchasing in Mexico.

7. Not all sellers are fully equipped with the knowledge of fulfilling their role in selling their house. This could result in failure to meet the stipulations in the purchase contract.  Paying too much for Capital Gains and the buyer paying to much for closing fee’s.  Who is looking out for who’s best interest?

Everyone should face the fact that a successful home selling transaction cannot be achieved by a week’s work of research and consultation. Besides, most people do not have the time to do things on their own.

FSBO may give you one financial advantage and it is quite understandable why you want this. However, if you are less knowledgeable about how real estate works here in Mexico, it may lead to additional problems. Not to mention, houses may take forever to sell.

Selling a house requires experience, and if you are someone who does not have it, do not risk selling your property by yourself. Ask a   professional to help you out.   Hire yourself a reputably SCMAR MLS Real Estate agent to represent you and market your property for sale.

Swim in the ocean of Buyers or swim in the fish bowl,

the decision is yours.

 

Broker Tour Sheet

Dec1,2010

Our next SCMAR meeting on Dec 1,2010, we will be electing the 2011 SCMAR officers.

If you are already in an officer position and would like to move up the ladder please let the President of SCMAR know.

Fill out this form  HERE and give your nominations before November 15th.

Remember just because they are nominated does not mean they want to be an Officer.

Thank you

Taking good pictures is not easy, but in this Internet age, with about 80% of consumers starting their search on-line for properties, good planning and well taken photographs can mean the difference between a “For Sale” and a “Sold.”

Here are some pointers for taking good shots.

Use the right filters!

1. The first photograph that is showing in your listing is key to attracting a potential buyer to look further  into your additional photos.   You want to tweek an interest.  If any of the  details are ugly,  such as poor landscaping , or if the neighbor’s house is too close your client will lose interest immediately.

2. Before taking a photo of a house with a garden, make sure the grass has been cut. There is nothing worse than a garden plot or lawn that has been neglected.

3. If  the house, for example, has a three-car garage, avoid taking pictures directly in front. Take them from the right or left, facing the main entrance of the house, not the  garage.   This will make your photo more appealing.   If vehicles are parked in the driveway, have them removed before taking photos.   Also remove all unnecessary items  like dead plants, gardening equipment and toys.

4. Do not photograph a home with the sun directly in front.  Avoid having the sidewalks in the photos.

Carefully select your photos

6. If there is a  unique characteristic or particular highlight that is unusual (like a mosaic on the patio or a fireplace), photograph it.  If there is a special part of the house you like,   it  may also appeal to potential buyers.

7. Try searching for photos that say something, that  tell a story. Outdoors you will want a picture of the  deck  with patio furniture or some photos of the garden.  Try to find a place for “fun” in every collection, and look for things that can not be put in the written description.

8. A poor picture is one of an empty room. All you can see is the corner and the floor. Wouldn´t it be a better photo of the exterior – a picture to convey serenity – instead of the interior or an empty house?  A photo taken from a window with a view  makes an interesting and novel photo.  Without that picture, the description of these views is insufficient  and people are  indifferent.

9. Buyers are interested in the interior of the house. Two photos of the bathrooms and the toilet or shower is not what you want to see, even if they have been renovated.  They want to see the kitchen, the living areas, the dining room, a bedroom, as well as photos of decks, patios or a  pool.   A lot full of dead plants, or neglected, unpruned bushes, a weedy  garden untrimmed lawn areas ,etc., do not make for good photos.  The potential buyer will not want to see the house.

10. The photos should focus on interesting features that help sell the property, whether on the beach, has a pool or a has a large kitchen.

11. Look all around you. What stands out? Try to imagine the picture before you take  it. How will it look? Is it pleasing to the eye?

12. If the home has a pool, take some photos of it. . Buyers may, or may not , want the  pool.  But as you can not hide it, you should include  it.  It will save everyone time.
Understand outside light

13. Take photos when it is sunny. Even the nicest house looks ugly when photos are taken when it is overcast or the days are dark.

14. Best times to take photos are the daylight hours, which emphasize a deep blue sky.  Early in the day (but not at dawn) and late in the afternoon (but not dusk).

15. For views of a breathtaking sunrise or sunset from the property can be very appealing, especially in coastal properties.

16. Using polarized light filters you will improve  the  tones  of a blue sky. This will make your  property stand out from the rest of the real estate listings´ photographs. The most important thing in photography is light.

17. Plan outdoor photos when the sky is deep blue. For houses facing east take  the pictures  in the morning when the sun is at your back, and  the   lighting avoids many of the shadows of the house.   And vice versa if the house is facing west.  For these photos, take  them in the afternoon.

18. For the best picture of the front of the property you must  choose a sunny day when the sun is behind you. Photos must be taken with the same camera, and with the same settings. Use  your own personal style.  For example, take all the pictures from the front or main entrance straight on or from the left or right side – just be consistent.

Get the right interior shots

19. If the photos you have taken are dark,  remove them from your assortment.

20. Try different settings,  aperture openings and shutter speeds to play with the light.  Turn the lamps  on  in all  rooms  to  “low”,  for instance on  night tables, side tables etc. Use the flash if necessary.

21. Flash, when used from different angles, can make your photos more appealing  and soften ugly shadows and images that are too bright.

22.  Photos taken with a  flash while looking out of a window can be  dark because the camera takes the light from the window as a reference  and the flash does not pop. Make sure the flash fires (put it in manual mode to do so), when you take a photo of lamps and windows.   .

23. Windows are a real challenge, but in many cases, we can´t  avoid taking pictures without  them. Look at the different settings on your camera and make appropriate adjustments. For being very simple and as automatic as cameras  seem, be sure to read the instructions and find where tips are given.   Digital cameras are easier since they usually have autofocus.   If the camera screen is dark,   the photo will be too.   Move the camera a bit until the focus  is clearer and then make sure that the initial composition is still the same.  If it isn´t, then  use the flash.

Create interest with angles

24. Small rooms can be a problem. How interesting is another sink in a bathroom? Taking pictures from several angles and heights can make the photo more interesting. A photo taken from a point closer to the ground,  looking up, can set off lamps, lighting, skylights and ceiling fans.  Or take a picture of a bathroom  from up some  stairs, or standing on a chair from a doorway, and pointing down.

25. Photos of the bathrooms.  There is no formula for taking a  good photo of the bathroom  unless the bathroom is extraordinary.   Here are two options: the trick of the chair from the door, or you can take a picture of the sink with the detail of the faucet.  After all, the basin, the  design and the vanity,  says everything about the rest of the bathroom. Yes, there are also toilets and bidets, but these never make good photos.

26. In a small room, if you can only take a picture of the corner,  then don´t take any.   If you need additional pictures, take more  photos of the largest rooms from various angles.

27. Take the exterior from the same angle. A photo taken in front of the house , square on,  will make it look like a box.

Clean stage

28. If you can see the lamp cords or electrical appliances, unplug them and hide them behind the furniture. Also, raise the blinds, open the shutters, blinds and curtains and open  the windows,  if they are clean,  and  the view outside is beautiful.

29. Remove everything that is smaller than a soccer ball from your proposed photos.

30. Removing some of the smaller furniture and knick-knacks before taking your photos can help you actually see  more of  the room.

31. Remove all towels and dish cloths  hanging in  the kitchen and all the clutter on the counters.   The photos will look much nicer, even if the  house may not be particularly clean.

We now have a new domain name, www.ampiguaymas.org this domain name is set up to forward to our exsisting website, www.ampisancarlos.org.  More exposure for us as we are growing.

Thank you all for a great meeting, it was nice to see all your smiling faces and some new ones.

Pam Brame

MLS director