Selling Your Brooklyn Home For Sale By Owner

In today’s economy, people are looking for ways to save money.  This is also true when it comes to selling their homes.  Some homeowners believe that selling their homes without a Brooklyn real estate agent will save them thousands.

Is selling your home on your own right for you?  After weighing some of the advantages and disadvantages to selling your home without a Brooklyn real estate agent, you will be able to make a more informed decision on which choice is best for you.

Here are three advantages of selling your Brooklyn home as a For Sale By Owner (FSBO):

1. You may save money by eliminating the commission. Selling your house as a FSBO means you don’t have to pay commission to a listing agent.  The average commission is 6% of the sales price, so you could possibly save that amount.  Unfortunately, buyers know that too.  So, most buyers believe that if you are selling on your own and not paying a commission, they should get the savings – not you.
2. 2. The Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is now available to you. A FSBO can now be advertised on many local Multiple Listing Services.  In the past, this tool was only available to real estate agents and brokers.  You will usually have to pay a fee to get your home listed on the MLS.
3. Offers and counter offers can be negotiated face to face between you and the buyer. You don’t have to wait for your listing agent to talk with the buyer’s agent and get all the paperwork drawn up.  However, if you are not skilled in negotiation, you may leave money on the table.

One other thing to take into consideration before you put up your For Sale By Owner sign is the state of your local real estate market.  If it is a buyer’s market, you will most likely have a hard time selling your home by yourself.  It’s easier to sell your home by yourself when it is a seller’s market.

If you’re still not sure if selling as a FSBO is right for you, and you have plenty of time, you can try selling your home without an agent.  If your home hasn’t sold after a few months, you can then hire a Brooklyn real estate agent.

If you’d like information on how to sell your Brooklyn home on your own or what paperwork you need, I’d be happy to help.  Contact me  Charles D’Alessandro your Brooklyn real estate agent with Fillmore Real Estate at (718) 253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected] to schedule a free no obligation interview or market price review.

The FHA, or Federal Housing Administration, has helped many a homeowner buy a Brooklyn home for sale by providing mortgage insurance through FHA-approved lenders. However, a change in policy, announced in January, may make it harder for those with poor credit.

Before we talk about FHA’s change in policy, let’s cover a few of the basics about the FHA and how it might help you buy a Brooklyn home for sale.

What is the FHA?

The FHA is a government agency that provides mortgage insurance to approved lending institutions.  It assists home buyers by providing mortgage insurance to lenders to cover most losses that may occur when a borrower defaults.  This encourages lenders to make loans to borrowers who might otherwise not be able to get a loan.

What is an FHA Loan?

An FHA loan is a loan provided by an FHA-approved lender and insured by the FHA. In other words, the FHA guarantees that a lender won’t have to write off a loan if the borrower defaults – the FHA will pay. Because of this guarantee, lenders are willing to make mortgage loans.

An FHA loan might help you get a mortgage by providing:

• Lower down payments
• Lower closing costs
• Easier credit qualifications

Now let’s talk about the changes FHA is making…

The Future of FHA Loans

Until recently, the FHA has managed to weather the real estate turmoil rather well. In fact, the turbulence surrounding other lenders had potential homebuyers flocking to take advantage of FHA loans. However, even FHA’s bank account is starting to suffer. In order to shore up capital reserves and keep 34 million families in their homes, the FHA is changing the rules.

Before the changes, borrowers were required to pay a down payment of 3.5% of the cost of the home. Now, borrowers with a credit rating below 580 will be required to pay at least a 10% down payment. As well, the good upfront mortgage insurance premiums of 1.75% are increasing to 2.25%. The FHA is now trying to get Congress’ approval to raise the annual premiums from 0.55%, although the amount it will seek is still unknown.

What This Means for You

If you’re interested in buying a Brooklyn home for sale, but haven’t because you’re waiting for the market to bottom out, you may end up losing out on a great deal. With almost record low mortgage rates, home values lower than they’ve been for eight years, the first-time and upgrade homebuyer tax credits and a wide selection of homes, there may never be a better time to buy.

Whether you want to use an FHA loan or a traditional home loan, I can help you cash in on this great buyer’s market. Call me Charles D’Alessandro you Brooklyn Realtor® at Fillmore Real Estate today at (718)253-9600 ext.206 or email me at [email protected].

Charles D’Alessandro
[email protected]
tel 718 253-9600
fax 718 253-9573

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