Our Most-Popular Homes of 2013

It's been a great year for house hunting. Let's take another look at the unique places you've loved the most on Pinterest, Facebook and Tumblr. http://www.frontdoor.com/photos/hgtv-frontdoors-50-most-pinned-of-2013?nl=FDN_122013_featimg&sni_mid=105265&sni_rid=105265.320.400625&c32=%7BB052C694-B5D9-4084-8258-02F53437D1A0%7D

2014 Strategies for buying your next home.

When it comes to the world of real estate, local Realtor Grace Frank says strategy is key for success.

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“I always say your strategy matters and your passion rules,” she said. “I have a real knack for strategy and a real passion for real estate.”

“Strategy” breaks down differently for buyers and sellers, but Frank stressed that it’s equally important for both sides.

“For sellers, preparation and flexibility are key,” she said. “For today’s market you must prepare your property to look its best, and you must be open minded when the offers come in, as buyers still feel it is a buyers’ market, though the trend is changing.”

Buyers, in turn, should “buy right and sell well,” she said. “You only make your money when you buy. If you buy right you can sell well,” Frank explained.

Preparation and organization are the two main concepts to keep at the forefront of any strategy, and for that, Frank has a dedicated and trusted staff behind her. Their main goal is to give clients the tools to make the right decisions and to be there as a solid sup- port system, said Frank.

More Information

To contact Grace Frank for a personal consultation, call 423-355-1538 or emailGrace@GraceFrankGroup.com.

“Systems are vital, and we have great systems that allow a client to review information, communicate concerns and execute strategy based on valid information,” she said. “I always analyze the personalities and then execute a plan that creates a win-win scenario. If a strategy is not a win-win, it is flawed.”

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Negotiations in real estate strategy can be a bit like playing cards, according to Frank. Those involved must know when to hold them and when to show them. Every situation is different and the strategy depends on the personality of the buyer and sellers.

“I recently had a buyer that was also a seller,” Frank said. “When selling their home we needed to drop the price in the middle of the negotiation to create urgency for the offer, and when we began negotiating the new home they fell in love with, they wanted to go in with a lower price below what I thought was the threshold of tolerance. They ended up going with my strategy and got their offer accepted and alleviated any multiple-offer situations and still got a great deal.”

For more of Frank’s tips and advice on strategy and negotiations for real estate, visit secretsforsellers.com for sellers and smartvaluebuyer.com for buyers. There, you’ll find many tools and articles that assist in making wise decisions pertaining to real estate.

“Information is powerful,” Frank said. “I believe when you edu- cate individuals they can truly make the best decisions.”

10 Things Today's Buyers Look for in a Home

What does the buyer of today look for when searching for a home? How similar or different are they from the buyers of yesteryear? Melissa Campbell of RIS Media lays out what both research and experience have shown to be common selling points for home buyers. Unsurprisingly, things like sustainability and neighborhood quality are increasingly important, at times subverting the quality of the actual home itself.

You can check out the full article here.

Politicians Ineffectiveness Lowered Debt

This article was originally posted on The Market Surge. You can find it here.

Anyone who ran a company with a balance sheet that looked like the U.S. probably wouldn’t have a company anymore.

This is the first thing that comes up when you search "Obama,"
and I think it describes all our feelings at the moment.

The picture painted by the federal balance for fiscal year 2012 shows a nation with a negative net worth of more than $16 trillion, according to the Treasury Department’s year-end reports and calculations from banking analyst Dick Bove.

In short, the national assets consist primarily of loans receivable and mortgage-backed securities, along with property, plant and equipment. In all, the total U.S. government assets are shy of $3 trillion.

But all is not so bad! To read the rest of the article, click here.

CNE To Provide Mortgage Assistance For Financial Hardship

Looking to buy a home in Chattanooga, but unsure if your financial situation can handle it? Well have we got news for you!

Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise is able to provide eligible Tennessee homeowners with mortgage payment assistance of up to $40,000 and/or three years’ payment assistance.

This free assistance is sent monthly to one's mortgage company. Homeowners may be eligible if their financial hardship is due to unemployment, reduction of income, disability, divorce, or death of a spouse. One does not have to be behind on your payments to qualify.

To enroll in the program, please contact CNE at 423-664-HOME.

You can also visit their website by clicking here.