Tips on Holding an Open House

Holding and Open House is an effective way to show your home to neighbors and prospective buyers. MySecretAgent has some useful Open House Tips for you to look over before your next open house.

When you list with our FULL PACKAGE you will receive a list of FREE online advertising that will help you advertise your open house.

Remember to be aware of your surroundings and stay safe!

Home Selling Tips

There is only ONE TIME to make a great first impression. A good looking and maintained home will get buyers out of the car and into your home!

MySecretAgent has many Home Selling Tips for YOU to take advantage of. We are dedicated not only to list your home on the MLS but truly give you all the resources to sell your home without a paying 6% (all commissions are negotiable) commission!

Two Ways Homeowners & Buyers Profit From New Stimulus Plan

MySecretAgent would like to point out a couple of benefits from the new Housing Stimulus Plan that homeowners and buyers can take advantage of.

Expansion of Home Improvement Tax Credit-

The tax credit is UP 20% for making energy efficient home improvements. Before, homeowners were allocated to get a tax credit of only 10% (capped up to $500). Now homeowners can receive 30% (capped up to $1500) of the cost of making energy efficient home improvements. All improvements must pass the International Energy Conservation Code or have an Energy Star Rating.

Expansion of First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit-

For homes purchased between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009 the tax credit was increased from $7,500 to $8000. If the homeowners live in the home and do not move within three years the credit does not have to be paid back.

Are You Eligible For Obama's Refinance Plan?

President Obama released new guidelines on March 4, 2009 for his "Making Home Affordable" initiative, that will help up to 9 million homeowners stay in their home through refinancing a mortgage or modifying a loan.

To be able to qualify one must:

• Owe between 80-105% of a mortgage.
• Have a loan backed up by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac
• Have a conforming loan

If you would like more information please visit makinghomeaffordable.gov or MySecretAgent.com.

What is Flat Fee Listing Service?

What is a Flat Fee listing service? It is a service that is similar to a traditional agent, I like to call it a modern agent, that allows YOU- the seller- to be in control of the selling process of your home. It also grants the seller to reap the benefits by saving equity! Who doesn't want that?! The seller DOES NOT pay 6% (all commissions are negotiable) by paying a ONE TIME flat fee. Do some of the work yourself and save money.

When you list your home with MySecretAgent you get all the essential tools that a traditional agent would provide. You get your home listed on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) which is the only source licensed real estate agents get to search homes. This will give YOU- the seller an advantage by having realtors have access to the information on your home. There are many more tools that you can take advantage of when you list your home. REMEMBER: Even if you take advantage of ALL the listing tools provided you will not pay more than $1200. This amount is much LESS than a percentage of the sale price of your home!

MySecretAgent is dedicated to offer professional services to effectively help you sell your home, but most importantly maximize YOUR profit.

Don't Become A Victim of Predatory Lending

MySecretAgent.com has become aware of a trend that takes advantage of many first time homeowners and senior citizens called predatory lending. Take a moment to educate yourself so you will not become a victim.

Predatory lending is the practice of lenders, mortgage brokers and/or appraisers who use misleading appraisals to make the value of a home seem higher then it really is. There are many strategies lenders may use such as:

• Promote buyers to lie about their income to get a loan
• Lenders purposely giving out more money then a borrower can afford
• Steering- charge high intrest rates based on their race, color or national origin and not on their credit history
• Charge fees for unnecessary products or services
• Influence borrowers to accept high risk loans
• Convince homeowners to refinance over and over when there is no benefit to the borrower

Buying or refinancing a home may be one of the most crucial financial decisions you'll ever make. Unfortunately many unaware homebuyers become victims of predatory lending or loan fraud. Become aware of the tactics predators use so this will not happen to you! For more information visit HUD.gov. They have many free and low cost recourses you may take advantage of.