Tom Cato, Broker
(727) 397-8177
(727) 397-8177
Real Estate News
What's My Real Estate Really Worth?
How much is your real estate—your house, condominium unit, cottage, income property—worth in this market? PJ Wade has a few questions and suggestions for you whether a value popped into your head or not. FULL STORY->
The House Hunter's Toolkit
It may not feel like Spring in your town, but for most of the United States, we've turned a corner. The sun is shining, the snow is melting, and the crocuses are poking their heads up through the ground; a brutal winter is winding down. FULL STORY->
Changing Times, Changing Fraud
It was certainly a sign of the times that a panel discussion recently presented to California real estate attorneys and brokers was titled "Changing Times/Changing Fraud." FULL STORY->
Mortgage Rates: The Calm Before the Storm?
Despite being just 3 1/2 weeks from the much anticipated end of government purchasing of mortgage-backed securities, mortgage rates remain steady. FULL STORY->
Pre-Qualifying for a Mortgage
One of the first steps to take as a potential home buyer is to get pre-qualified for a loan. This step helps both you and your lender learn just how much home you can afford. And you should begin this process before you even start looking for a home. FULL STORY->
Real Estate Outlook: Federal Reserve Beige Book
If you're trying to figure out where real estate is headed in the coming months, should you listen to the Federal Reserve -- or do you focus on the latest pending home sales numbers? FULL STORY->
What to Say (or not say) to Gracefully Decline the Monkey
Here are some tips for showing your client the respect of letting him keep his Monkey (i.e. solving his own problem or dilemma). It's really all in what you say, or don't say, as the case may be. FULL STORY->
Low Rates Help Make Home Buying More Affordable
Freddie Mac today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.97 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending March 4, 2010, down from last week when it averaged 5.05 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.15 percent. FULL STORY->
Keys to Representing a Buyer
The Buyer's Agent is responsible for crafting, presenting, writing a proper contract for, and prompting acceptance of a good offer. Follow these steps: FULL STORY->
Real Estate Outlook: Federal Reserve Beige Book
If you're trying to figure out where real estate is headed in the coming months, should you listen to the Federal Reserve -- or do you focus on the latest pending home sales numbers? FULL STORY->
Pre-Qualifying for a Mortgage
One of the first steps to take as a potential home buyer is to get pre-qualified for a loan. This step helps both you and your lender learn just how much home you can afford. And you should begin this process before you even start looking for a home. FULL STORY->
What to Say (or not say) to Gracefully Decline the Monkey
Here are some tips for showing your client the respect of letting him keep his Monkey (i.e. solving his own problem or dilemma). It's really all in what you say, or don't say, as the case may be. FULL STORY->
More Incentives To Buy Home: Fannie Mae Offers Money for Closing Costs and Appliances
Fannie Mae wants to sell its housing inventory that it acquired through foreclosures. The properties are listed for sale on HomePath.com. To do so, it's offering buyers incentives for those properties FULL STORY->
NAR Commercial A Leading Voice for the Industry, The Market, and the Investor
Peter L. Mosca shares an excerpt of a radio show interview conducted on Income Property Investment Talk dot com, with Blaine Walker, 2010 Chairman of the National Association of Realtors Commercial Division and Chere LaRose-Senne, Managing Director of Commercial Member Services. FULL STORY->
Relationship Selling Begins With Databased Marketing
The name of the game is not just Internet marketing, it is relationship building. Marketing is what gets them to the sales center. Selling is a process and it takes time, sometimes many months. FULL STORY->
Feds Help Speed Up Your Mortgage Modification
The latest spin on government-sponsored mortgage modifications, demands that home owners provide an initial package of documents before the first phase of a modification can begin. FULL STORY->
Carrot or Stick Rules
Many rules enacted by homeowner association boards tend to use the Stick Method for rules which assumes folks need to be beaten to comply. The Carrot Method coaxes people into compliance by using guidelines that are reasonable and equitable. Guess which method works better to harmonize an HOA? FULL STORY->
More Real Estate News and Advice...
Today's Real Estate News and Advice
Updated: March 9, 2010What's My Real Estate Really Worth?
How much is your real estate—your house, condominium unit, cottage, income property—worth in this market? PJ Wade has a few questions and suggestions for you whether a value popped into your head or not. FULL STORY->
The House Hunter's Toolkit
It may not feel like Spring in your town, but for most of the United States, we've turned a corner. The sun is shining, the snow is melting, and the crocuses are poking their heads up through the ground; a brutal winter is winding down. FULL STORY->
Changing Times, Changing Fraud
It was certainly a sign of the times that a panel discussion recently presented to California real estate attorneys and brokers was titled "Changing Times/Changing Fraud." FULL STORY->
Mortgage Rates: The Calm Before the Storm?
Despite being just 3 1/2 weeks from the much anticipated end of government purchasing of mortgage-backed securities, mortgage rates remain steady. FULL STORY->
Pre-Qualifying for a Mortgage
One of the first steps to take as a potential home buyer is to get pre-qualified for a loan. This step helps both you and your lender learn just how much home you can afford. And you should begin this process before you even start looking for a home. FULL STORY->
Real Estate Outlook: Federal Reserve Beige Book
If you're trying to figure out where real estate is headed in the coming months, should you listen to the Federal Reserve -- or do you focus on the latest pending home sales numbers? FULL STORY->
What to Say (or not say) to Gracefully Decline the Monkey
Here are some tips for showing your client the respect of letting him keep his Monkey (i.e. solving his own problem or dilemma). It's really all in what you say, or don't say, as the case may be. FULL STORY->
Low Rates Help Make Home Buying More Affordable
Freddie Mac today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.97 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending March 4, 2010, down from last week when it averaged 5.05 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.15 percent. FULL STORY->
Keys to Representing a Buyer
The Buyer's Agent is responsible for crafting, presenting, writing a proper contract for, and prompting acceptance of a good offer. Follow these steps: FULL STORY->
Real Estate Outlook: Federal Reserve Beige Book
If you're trying to figure out where real estate is headed in the coming months, should you listen to the Federal Reserve -- or do you focus on the latest pending home sales numbers? FULL STORY->
Pre-Qualifying for a Mortgage
One of the first steps to take as a potential home buyer is to get pre-qualified for a loan. This step helps both you and your lender learn just how much home you can afford. And you should begin this process before you even start looking for a home. FULL STORY->
What to Say (or not say) to Gracefully Decline the Monkey
Here are some tips for showing your client the respect of letting him keep his Monkey (i.e. solving his own problem or dilemma). It's really all in what you say, or don't say, as the case may be. FULL STORY->
More Incentives To Buy Home: Fannie Mae Offers Money for Closing Costs and Appliances
Fannie Mae wants to sell its housing inventory that it acquired through foreclosures. The properties are listed for sale on HomePath.com. To do so, it's offering buyers incentives for those properties FULL STORY->
NAR Commercial A Leading Voice for the Industry, The Market, and the Investor
Peter L. Mosca shares an excerpt of a radio show interview conducted on Income Property Investment Talk dot com, with Blaine Walker, 2010 Chairman of the National Association of Realtors Commercial Division and Chere LaRose-Senne, Managing Director of Commercial Member Services. FULL STORY->
Relationship Selling Begins With Databased Marketing
The name of the game is not just Internet marketing, it is relationship building. Marketing is what gets them to the sales center. Selling is a process and it takes time, sometimes many months. FULL STORY->
Feds Help Speed Up Your Mortgage Modification
The latest spin on government-sponsored mortgage modifications, demands that home owners provide an initial package of documents before the first phase of a modification can begin. FULL STORY->
Carrot or Stick Rules
Many rules enacted by homeowner association boards tend to use the Stick Method for rules which assumes folks need to be beaten to comply. The Carrot Method coaxes people into compliance by using guidelines that are reasonable and equitable. Guess which method works better to harmonize an HOA? FULL STORY->
More Real Estate News and Advice...
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