“GMAC Real Estate is recognized within the real estate industry for its commitment to providing Premier Service as well as its leadership, innovation and commitment to the growth of its network,” said Smith. “We believe this is the best time to increase our service capabilities and enhance our recognition.”

GMAC Real Estate is part of Brookfield Residential Property Services (Brookfield RPS) leading network of nearly 30,000 Sales Associates across North America and one of the largest relocation companies in the world.  Brookfield RPS has the strength, stability and industry focus to ensure that GMAC Real Estate and its Sales Associates have access to the right tools and resources to provide the best service possible.

“Joining the GMAC Real Estate network is a tremendous step for us because we will be able to provide a demonstrably different service experience for our customers. We have access to exclusive systems for training, marketing, technology and bundled homeownership services– all of which will enable us to better meet the needs of our customers,” concludes Smith.

“We are excited to bring in more skilled agents to our daily operations. The more experienced agents we have to serve the community, the quicker we can work at getting the properties purchased and sold for our deserving clients,” said broker Joe Acosta, Best Homes GMAC Real Estate.

“Much like our current sales team, these agents will undergo specialized training to fully adopt GMAC Real Estate’s customer service philosophy, Premier Service®. This training has allowed the entire team to maintain a 96% customer satisfaction rating,” Acosta said.

“We would like to welcome Vikki Smith and her team to Best Homes GMAC Real Estate and are very pleased to have her. We think Vikki will be a great asset to the Best Homes GMAC Real Estate team,” said Acosta.

“Although there are great sources for information on foreclosed homes consumers can pay for, the reality is you can get in-depth information on foreclosures for free - just by contacting a local real estate broker whose agents specialize in this type of transaction,” said Acosta.

According to Acosta, foreclosures can certainly provide discounts of as much as 30 percent to 40 percent below market (more realistic is around 5 percent to 10 percent). However, the nuances inherent to the foreclosure process can prove challenging for consumers unless they are willing to put in the required research and preparation.

“Buying a foreclosure absolutely takes some research and education combined with patience and persistence. But for those willing to try their hand at this type of transaction, the upside and return on investment can be significant,” said Acosta.

Acosta offers four key tips to consider when buying a foreclosure:

• Be patient. Many banks are currently overwhelmed by the unprecedented volume of foreclosed properties, and it is not uncommon for some to take 60 to 90 days to decide which offer to accept.
• Ask your broker or agent to find out how long the foreclosed home has been on the market. If it’s been 30 days or more, banks may be more flexible with the price to get the property sold; on the flip side, if the home has only been on the market a few days, banks will likely be unwilling to reduce its price immediately, or at least by very much, until they see what types of offers they might receive.
• Pay for a professional home inspection. This is a good idea no matter what type of home you buy, but it is especially important when buying a foreclosed home. In most cases, banks sell foreclosed homes “as is,” meaning the costs of any necessary repairs, large and small, are solely the buyer’s responsibility. If the home has been vacant for more than a few weeks, negotiate and make sure the utilities have been turned on for the inspection and before you close on the home.
• Real estate owned (REO) or bank-owned properties are often the most straightforward type of foreclosure transactions since there’s little risk, no liens and likely no back taxes to pay since these properties have a clear title and are owned by the bank.

For information on foreclosures in San Antonio, contact Best Homes GMAC Real Estate, located at 4800 Fredericksburg, Suite 100 San Antonio, TX 78229 at (210) 691-4622.  Additional information on homes for sale in San Antonio can be found at www.bhgmac.com.

Indeed, they believe it may be many years before another real estate market that is so favorable toward buyers comes along.  And, they add, there are many advantages to buying a home in a buyer’s market - no matter if you’re a first-time homebuyer, move-up buyer or looking to purchase a second or vacation home.

“Many consumers don’t realize that the federal government is now allowing buyers to use the $8,000 tax credit for their down payment,” said Joe Acosta of Best Homes GMAC Real Estate.  “That’s a tremendous benefit in a market that has a wide inventory of homes for sale made all the more affordable by low interest rates.  Real estate agents have the resources and the knowledge to help buyers find the right home, negotiate the right price, and provide them with information and details on the federal tax credit - which is available for just a limited time.”

Here are some timely tips from Best Homes GMAC Real Estate to help you successfully navigate the buyer’s market - while saving time and money in the process.

Take advantage of the tax credit – before it’s gone

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is going to permit its lenders to allow first-time home buyers to use the $8,000 tax credit as a down payment.

FHA’s approved lenders will be permitted to “monetize” the tax credit through short-term bridge loans.  This will allow eligible home buyers to access the funds immediately at the closing table.  There is one important catch, however: Qualified first-time home buyers must purchase a principal residence before December 1, 2009.

Know what you want

The fact is, Acosta notes, the average homeowner will sell their existing home within six years of buying it, so think resale before you ever set foot in a home, regardless of how long you anticipate living there.  The neighborhood, schools, transportation accessibility and special features are characteristics that will remain important when you sell your home.

Knowing what features you want in a home and neighborhood will help your real estate agent find the ones that best fit your lifestyle.  The more specific you are, the more time you’ll save during your search.

Find the right real estate agent

You’ve probably heard it said before, but it bears repeating: Buying a home is a complex, often time-consuming process.  Real estate professionals are highly skilled at navigating the ins and outs of the process.  And that’s why nine out of 10 buyers use a real estate agent to make the home-buying process easier and less stressful, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Get pre-approved

Getting pre-approved is one of the first - and most important - steps in the home-buying process.  It is the best way to determine how big of a monthly mortgage payment you can afford and will give you an indication of your price range as you shop for homes. Be sure to have a pre-approval letter at the ready when you make an offer on a home, since many sellers will not accept offers from buyers who do not have financing in place.

Take your time

One of the biggest benefits of a buyer’s market is that you can take a bit more time finding your home.  “Don’t feel pressured to settle for anything less than a home that meets your needs and fulfills your dreams,” Acosta says.  Keep in mind, however, that good homes in great locations that are priced right tend to sell quickly even in a buyer’s market.  You need to be prepared to make your offer as soon as that home becomes available.

Financing solutions

Take advantage of mortgage interest rates as they continue to remain at historical lows.  Low interest rates complement a large home inventory, allowing you to get more home for the money.

Negotiate

Once your real estate agent has helped you find the home of your dreams, work with them as your trusted advisor to negotiate the price for you.  Motivated sellers may be willing to reduce their price, or even pay part of the closing costs.

If you are looking at new construction, Acosta advises you make sure any incentives offered are tied to the home.  For example, if a builder offers a cruise or flat-screen TV, ask for the value of the item to be discounted from the purchase price of the home.  You are purchasing a home and that should be your focus - not the giveaways.

For information on foreclosures in San Antonio, contact Best Homes GMAC Real Estate, located at 4800 Fredericksburg, San Antonio 78229 at 210.691.4622.  Additional information on homes for sale in San Antonio can be found at  www.bhgmac.com.

San Antonio, Texas (Grassroots Newswire) June 3, 2009 — More than ever, home buyers in the San Antonio area are using technology in their search for new homes. And they’re in very good company. A survey by the National Association of Realtors® found that more than nine out of 10 home buyers in America use the Internet as a key resource to help them find their dream home.

“When it comes to finding and buying homes, the overwhelming majority of people, including San Antonio residents, are using the growing array of online tools, tips and information to assist in their efforts,” said Joe Acosta of Best Homes GMAC Real Estate based in San Antonio. “This is especially the case with home buyers who are 44 years old and younger. More than 90 percent of them report using the Internet as part of their search process. Overall, 87 percent of all home buyers say they use the Internet as one of several information sources at some time during the home-finding process.”

Acosta said Web sites such as www.bhgmac.com have been created to provide consumers with a wide range of constantly updated information, including detailed listing information on homes for sale, photographs, virtual tours, mortgage calculations, neighborhood and community overviews, and more.

“We’re making more information available to home buyers than ever before - from virtual tours, to satellite photos to local school information - which is a huge benefit for consumers as they do their homework on where to buy their next home,” said Acosta.

According to Acosta other key findings of the survey include:

• While older buyers are somewhat less likely to use the Internet, the use of real estate agents in buying a home was broadly consistent across age groups, ranging from 81 percent for those 65 years and older to 88 percent among those 18 to 24 years old.
• Eighty-seven percent of home buyers used the Internet to search for homes, up from 71 percent five years ago. Not only has the trend in overall usage risen, but the percent of buyers who reported using the Internet frequently increased from 42 percent in 2003 to 69 percent in 2008.
• The length of the typical home search increased from eight weeks in 2007 to 10 weeks in 2008.  During the search, buyers viewed a median of 10 homes before making a purchase.
• While both first-time and repeat buyers most often start by looking for properties online, first-time buyers more often seek out information about the home buying process or talk with a friend or relative about the buying process.  Repeat buyers more often begin by looking for properties online or by contacting a real estate agent, suggesting that these buyers not only are more comfortable with the process but also have a clearer understanding of what they are looking for when purchasing a home.

For more information, contact Best Homes GMAC Real Estate, located at 4800 Fredericksburg, San Antonio 78230, at 210-301-2870. Additional information on homes for sale in the San Antonio area can be found at www.bhgmac.com.

“We’ve spent a great deal of time determining exactly what our customers want, then adding the services they are looking for that are key to the transaction,” said Joe Acosta of Best Homes GMAC Real Estate.  “We’re extremely excited about expanding our services.”

Best Homes GMAC Real Estate specializes in providing Residential, New Home Sales, Commercial, Relocation and Property Management real estate services in the San Antonio area. Best Homes GMAC Real Estate is located at 4800 Fredericksburg, suite 100 and can be reached at (210) 691-4622. GMAC Real Estate has more than 1,000 real estate brokerage offices and nearly 20,000 agents in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada.

San Antonio, Texas (Grassroots Newswire) March 18, 2009 — Selling a home can be a daunting task for any homeowner — and Best Homes GMAC Real Estate understands that doing so in a buyer’s market can feel especially overwhelming. 
 
To help San Antonio homeowners navigate the home-selling process in today’s complex market, the company today unveiled five easy steps designed to smooth the way for a quicker — and less stressful — sale.

1.) Price It Right at the Get-Go

The number one factor in the sale of a home — and one of the most critical elements of the sales process — is setting the asking price.  While you want to get the most appreciation from the sale of your home, you also want to be realistic when setting your price, Best Homes GMAC Real Estate officials said.

“Sellers need to work with an experienced real estate professional whom can help them establish a realistic value and price for their home,” said Joe Acosta, Broker, Best Homes GMAC Real Estate.  “Setting a price that is unrealistic and too high can reduce agent and buyer interest and make competing homes appear to be better values.”

On the flip side, Acosta said, it’s critical to not under-price your home when looking to sell.  The agent will research and provide you with data on current market conditions in your area.

2.) Do Some Remodeling

Remodeling is a great way to increase your home’s value in a more challenging market, according to Acosta.  Best Homes GMAC Real Estate agents often encourage their customers to consider remodeling a kitchen or bathroom before attempting to sell their homes, because remodeling those areas generally offers the highest percentage return on your initial investment, according to numerous industry surveys.

Another rule of thumb is to decorate your home so it appeals to the broadest number of potential buyers.  Buyers generally prefer neutral, mainstream designs, so avoid bold colors or patterns or out-of-date designs that can make it harder to sell.  New paint, a nicely mowed lawn and attractive landscaping can go a long way in enhancing your home’s curb appeal.

3.) Inspect Your Home Before Potential Buyers Do

Before their customers put their homes on the market, real estate agents should strongly encourage a home inspector to help identify any potential problems.  An inspection will help ensure that your home complies with all local housing codes.

4.) Presentation Is Key

“Your home’s presentation plays a vital role in attracting potential buyers,” Acosta explained. “Just as you do when setting an asking price, look at the condition of your home through a buyer’s perspective.”

According to Acosta, sellers need to understand the importance of how their homes look to prospective buyers, and really need to put themselves into the shoes of the buying public.  “Potential buyers will examine every nook and cranny of your house as they begin to think about making a purchase,” Acosta said.

5.) Overall Marketing

An important part of the services provided by Best Homes GMAC Real Estate is preparing their San Antonio customers’ homes for the multiple listing service. The company also creates ads for the Internet along with any materials that will be made available to potential buyers who visit the homes.

“Increasingly, potential buyers are forming first impressions of homes by viewing photos and reading descriptions on the Internet,” Acosta said.  “The overwhelming majority of homebuyers begin their searches online, and as a result, it is very important to offer a wide variety of photos of both the inside and outside of your home.”

In fact, many online listings now feature 360 degree virtual tours.  Acosta also stressed that the description of your house needs to be accurate and complete to grab potential homebuyers’ attention.

When selling your home, remember that an experienced real estate professional not only can help you sell your home for the highest price, but do so in the shortest amount of time.  “Your agent should serve as your trusted advisor, your skilled negotiator and your marketing coordinator every step of the way.  From pricing to closing day,” Acosta said. “Your agent should help you become a pro at selling in a buyer’s market.”

For more information or to find a real estate professional in your area, call 210.301.2870.