Last week I had the opportunity to talk to many of the homeowners in Brunswick Place.  They inspired me to create this video.  Hope you enjoy it!

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Nine out of ten Americans still believe buying a home is a good investment according to a study commissioned by Bankrate.  Less than half of the respondents believe that stocks and other equity investments offer good long-term results.

Do you think that home ownership is still the American dream?

The turn of the century marked a turning point in my philosophy.  After losing money in various high-tech portfolios, my family’s resources went into real estate.  Then I watched our net worth grow!  With every piece of property we bought, our net worth increased. 

Where are you putting your investment dollars?

To search for homes in Shreveport and Bossier City – www.HNGRealty.com

If money wasn’t an issue, where would you buy your home?  What is your favorite street?  I just bought Richmond Avenue in Shreveport for 884,000. Home & Garden Realty is going to be the largest land tycoon in Shreveport & Bossier City.  I invite you to be my competition.

Hasbro has joined forces with Google to launch our favorite game to the Internet.  Not only is it free to join, but you get $3 million Monopoly dollars to start playing. Don’t wait!  It is only online until January 31, 2010.  I’ll see you online.  Have to put up some buildings before you bulldoze my street!  www.monopolycitystreets.com

View properties for sale in Northwest Louisiana at www.HNGRealty.com

My readers are appreciated, so today I would like to discuss the question of whether to buy condo or single family home.

A condo (condominium) is when a group of homeowners have joint ownership in part of the property and individually own their home or unit. In the Shreveport, Bossier City area, there are many townhomes but fewer of the typical New York City style condos.  What is prevalent in your market may help you decide which one is more appropriate.

Here are the nuts and bolts. 

Lifestyle.  If you do not have time for yard work or outside maintenance, a condo or townhome may be for you. Some have amenities such as pools, clubrooms, or security.  Just remember, you will pay for this service through your association fees.

Re-sale.  There are many more buyers for single family homes than condos, at least in Northwest Louisiana.  Get to know your market before you purchase a residence.

Covenants.  Obtain a copy of covenants and restrictions prior to making an offer.  This applies to any neighborhood that has an association and subsequent fees.

Neighbors.  Talk to next door neighbors.  Are there any special assessments pending?  Are maintenance issues taken care of in a timely manner?

Inside.  As with a single-family dwelling, the inside maintenance is your responsibility.  On the positive side, you get to decorate and remodel as you wish.

To sum it up, condos aren’t just small houses; they are a lifestyle.  

While driving around the city of Shreveport this past week, I noticed a lot more For Sale By Owner (FSBO) signs than usual. Therefore my focus this week is helping my Shreveport neighbors in their quest to sell their home.  Why do home owners put a FSBO sign in their yard instead of calling on a Realtor?  I examine three reasons and then give a tip for the FSBO.

I want to save money. I am all about saving money! With two kids in college, we are cutting corners everywhere. According to NAR (National Association of Realtors), 51% of sellers go FSBO to save on the brokerage fee.  The truth is, homes sold by a Realtor get 32% more at closing than going FSBO according to a 2006 study by NAR. My tip for FSBOs – price your home below your competition and you will sell your home.  Just don’t agree to pay all the closing costs.

I hate Realtors! My next door neighbor was one of those people that had a bad experience in Mississippi when selling his home, therefore all Realtors are bad. I had a lot of fun trying to get him to list his house with me. The end result? He leased his home after 8 months on the market.  Just remember, a house doesn’t sell for only one reason…price!  Choosing a Realtor is not about getting a discounted commission rate, it is about having a working business relationship with a professional. My tip for FSBOs – think objectively about negative feelings – selling homes is a business and there are many good professionals in Northwest Louisiana.

Selling a house is easy.  Once the seller realizes how much time, effort, and money is involved, they usually find themselves overwhelmed and ready for help.  I would love to hear your comments on this, but also tell us how long your home has been on the market. My tip for FSBOs – well, I don’t think you can make it easy, but here are a couple of tips to prequalify people before you invite them into your home.  Ask them if they are prequalified with a mortgage company.  If they aren’t, tell them you only show homes to prequalified buyers and give them the name of your mortgage broker. If they are prequalified, ask them for the name and number of their mortgage broker and verify their claim. 

That is it for this week.  I would love some FSBO comments so we can get a true discussion going. 

If you are ready to list your home, call Susan Long at 861-1190.  Have a great week!

Thought you would enjoy this video I found on YouTube.

Let’s celebrate failure! Am I crazy? You tell me.

This morning I woke up refreshed and ready for a new week in sales. What makes this week different than any other week? My goal is to fail. The by-product of failing is personal and financial growth.

Let me explain. Your goal is to get three deals, or yes’s, this week.  On Monday you get two yes’s. Tuesday you decide to do paperwork because you still have the rest of the week. Wednesday you sit at the office pretending to be busy because, hey, you have two more days to get that deal. Before you know it, the week is over and you didn’t get the third yes.

Now shift your perspective. Your goal is to get twenty no’s. On Monday you get the two yes’s, and zero no’s. Then Tuesday you are prospecting again because you still have twenty no’s to reach your goal. Think how fast your business will grow….

I am eagerly going for the no’s this week.  What about you?

This shift in my thinking was inspired by Go for No! by Richard Fenton & Andrea Waltz. This book can be purchased by members of www.SendOutCards.com/SusanLong or contact me at 318.861.1190.

Ladies and gentlemen of Shreveport and Bossier City, it is time to stand up and rejoice that Louisiana is setting its own trend in the national economy. According to The Times, the state we live in has shown an increase of 3.1 percent…not a decrease…in home prices during the past year. The nation dropped an average of 10.2 percent.  Is this increase because locals are taking advantage of the $8,000 tax break? Remember…first time homebuyers and those who haven’t owned a home in three years can take advantage of the tax break.     Ready to list or buy?  Call Susan at 318.861-1190. Search for property in Northwest Louisiana at:http://susanlong.yourkwagent.com/atj/user/FrameInGetAction.do?targetUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.susanlong.nwla.mlxchange.com