volume 1 issue 31

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Permian Basin Homes & Land Magazine® is published weekly. All rights are reserved by copyright ©, 2009 Print Maniac/Permian Basin Homes & Land (PBHL), Odessa, TX 79760, (800)553-1361. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the express written consent of Print Maniac/PBHL. The publisher accepts no responsibility for errors in omissions or content.

All terms and conditions of listings advertised are subject to change and any advertising special may be discontinued without notice.


Commitment to High Standards in Advertising

As REALTORS®, there are certain rules and guidelines that must be followed from

a variety of sources including the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). Use of these guidelines insures that you maintain a high standard of communication with your customers and prevent your membership from being associated with the sometimes deceptive, misleading or discriminatory practices of a few.

According to the Texas Real Estate License Act, a real estate broker or salesperson cannot publish ads which are misleading. Article 12 of the NAR Code of Ethics is consistent with the requirements of the Real Estate License Act and the rules of TREC.

A Quick Checklist of Advertising Guidelines

The following is a checklist which can help you prepare ads that meet advertising guidelines

of the Code and Act (reprinted from Texas REALTOR® magazine).

If your current advertising design does not meet the following requirements, please contact one of our account executives to request that changes be made to your ad immediately. Thank you!

1 Your ad is not misleading nor does it tend to create a misleading impression in any manner.

2 Your ad contains the name of your real estate firm.

3 Your ad identifies the professional or license status of everyone, including the firm and all

individuals named in the ad.

4 As a real estate agent, my name is not the only name that appears in the ad.

5 You have proper authority to publish or submit the ad.

6 The price quoted is the price agreed upon by the owner.

7 Any service being offered as “free of charge” in your ad is not tied to any service for which

you are to be compensated.

8 Your ad fully describes the conditions of inducement offers.

9 Any ownership interest you have in the property is disclosed.

Commitment to HigH StandardS in advertiSing Ensuring your advertising meets TREC guidelines....


The Internet has paved way for various opportunities among people. Because of this technology, people are able to create businesses were they do not have to exert much legwork in order for it to be successful. People can transact online, which makes it easier to deal with customers.

In the real estate business, the Internet has helped in the selling homes. Many sellers can attest to the ability of the Internet to find potential buyers. Before, it really did a lot for seller. It was even a good option. Selling homes was not that difficult before.

But when the economy is not doing well, FSBO may not be a good option at all. Nowadays, it is hard for a seller to close a deal. There is too much competition in the market yet there are few buyers. If you have little knowledge about the market then there’s no way you can find the ins and outs of the market. If you get caught up with a lemon, you’d end up being stuck and not knowing what to do next in order to resolve a particular real estate dilemma.

Hence, at this time, having a real estate agent would be a smart move. You may be thinking that paying their 6% commission is just too much for you. Well to tell you, this amount is just small compared to what they can do for you.

Why do you need a real estate agent than opt for an FSBO? First, a real estate agent is a better option because they are good in finding people who wants your home. They have the right tool to find the perfect match. They have access to Multiple Listing Services on where they could advertise your property and share

the information among other brokers. Your homes can be advertised extensively and can be matched with a particular buyer.

Second, you need real estate agents at this time because they can help speed up the sale of the property. This will be your chance to get your money the soonest. But not only that, this is also the perfect opportunity to get the maximum value of your property. If it stays in the market for long, its value would continue to drop. Considering that home values are already low, you will even get a lower return than expected. With the help of the real estate agent, sale would be faster with more chances of getting your expected return (or more).

FSBO not a Good Option

Despite the rising popularity of the use of Internet to sell your property, this won’t be enough to get you the right buyer. Even if you have captured a few ones, there is still no guarantee that they would buy your home. There are other aspects of home selling that you have to consider. If you are not into real estate and if you opt for FSBO, you would fail to determine tactics that would make your property to sell. Hence, getting a real estate professional can certainly would be a big help.

So call one of your local REALTORS today!

FSBo: not an option For tHiS eConomiC ConditionWhy using a REALTOR may be your best option....


We all want to have our own home someday. This is because of the several benefits that

home ownership offers. One of them is the pride of having a property to call your own. You can do what you want with it without worrying about a landlord. And aside from that, there are tax incentives we can enjoy. There are also different tax deductibles that we can take advantage of. Among the terms you need to be familiar with when talking about tax deductibles is the word, point. Point is a term for the origination fee paid when you apply for a mortgage loan. The origination fee is a percentage of the amount you borrowed. One percent is equivalent to one point. Point needs to be used in order for the amount to be deductible.

You need to qualify if you are to deduct the said points. The first condition you need to satisfy is that the points have to be deducted during the same year when the fee was paid. Another condition concerns the security you need to use for the loan. It has to be the house you are living in.

Lastly, the amount you borrowed should be used to purchase a house or build it.Other items are deductible and this includes the interest for the mortgage. The interest can be as much as one million dollars. This includes all types of properties. This can be your primary residence or your secondary residence. However, each type of property has different conditions that need to be satisfied. That is why you need the assistance of an accountant or a financial consultant.

You can also deduct the property taxes. These are fixed charges whenever you buy a house. The amount varies depending on the type of property you are buying and the current tax rate. To get the property tax, you need to multiply the value of the property by the current tax rate.For most, it is ideal that they compute the property taxes first before they purchase the property. This is important if you want to stay within your budget. Remember that you should include the value of the land as well as the value of the property. An official tax assessor should determine the value of the property.

You need to consider the tax exemptions as well.The moving expenses can also be deducted. You need to qualify if you want to deduct this. First, you need to move closer to your work place, about fifty miles closer. You also need to work full time in that area for a certain period. Even if you are self-employed, you can also deduct such costs. Just make sure that you work within the area as well and that you stay working there for a certain period.

Tax deductibles are just few of the things that you can benefit from when you purchase a property. You need to familiarize the tax deductibles though. Consider all the factors. Some of the factors would be the type of property you are purchasing, the value of the property and the type of financing you are using. Your financial consultant will help you with this.

Johnathan E. VenablePublisher/Editor

Another Incentive to Buy a New Home Now.. Tax Deductions Available When You Buy a Home


Home InspectIonsWhy they’re so important and what to expect....

In the course of buying or selling a house, there are inevitable and indispensable issues to consider. One

of the most needed things to delve into when planning to buy or sell a property is home inspection. It is in fact primarily important that most real estate agents and key figures in the industry recommend not going further into your transactions without conducting an accurate and trustworthy inspection in the subject property. Due to its utmost importance, home assessment must be on top of your list before anything else.

Home inspection is a non-invasive evaluation of the quality and condition of the house you are planning to buy or sell. There are highly credible home inspectors who are conducting this salient process who have corresponding training and certification in order to grant them the license to carry out their tasks. The basic components included in the report of the inspector are the current condition of the house right at the time that the inspection was conducted. However it must be noted that whatever future condition, potential problems and life expectancy of the components and systems of the property are not guaranteed in the report. Hence home assessment is typically limited and may only give you information you need to assess and determine the current working condition of the property.

There are important components in a home inspection checklist which are vitally examined by a certified home inspector. First and foremost, inspection is conducted on the roofing system, gutters and other exterior areas of the house. The inspector carefully evaluates and informs you of possible repair and fixture issues that ought to be immediately addressed. If you have sidewalks and driveways, these are likewise included in the examination of the property since it also directly affects its market value. Other components assessed are the wall covering, doors, windows, drainage, elevation, landscaping and lights and other exterior receptacles.

The interior portion of the house is then inspected for the same repair and fixture issues which directly influence its worth and value in the market. Kitchen and bathrooms are considered the focal selling points of the property which influence the decision of home buyers to buy the property or not. Therefore it is two of the first assessed areas of the house. Other components given attention are the systems

that help in the proper operation and function such as fireplaces, duct work, chimney, furnaces and air conditioning among others. The appliances such as range and ovens, dishwasher, garbage disposal and smoke detectors are also examined for potential problems and defects. This also includes the electrical systems such as light fixtures, exhaust fans, wiring types and condition, circuit breakers and main panels.

After an accurate and exhaustive home evaluation process, the home inspector provides you with an inspection report where all the noted problems, issues and the entire condition and quality of the house are clearly stated. Others also give possible resolution to remedy the current problems the property is facing. Thus, home inspection is indeed a great tool to ensure that you get what your money is worth and more.

volume 1 issue 31

Documents

advertising information

advertising special

current advertising

real estate firm

real estate broker

real estate agent

texas real estate license

high standards