10 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do With Coffee

Ok.  I have always been a huge fan of coffee.  Black, hot, cold, latte, Irish and Mexican I have always loved coffee and all the different ways it can be prepared.  What I didn't know was that it had many other uses.  I have included a link to an Esquire Magazines article regarding the versatility of coffee.

Hope I got this to you early enough to read with your morning cup!!!  Cheers

I thought you might be interested in the 10 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do With Coffee - Esquire. You can view it at,http://www.esquire.com/_mobile/blogs/food-for-men/10-things-you-didnt-know-you-could-do-with-coffee-esqsyn?src=email

Remember if you know any one who needs to buy, sell or invest in Real Estate give us a call


Curtis

Curtis Hurst, REALTOR, CEO
The Hurst Agency
760-575-4783
949-288-6623
www.TheHurstAgency.com

Can a Buyer or Seller Change Agents at Any Time??

The answer to this is a resounding YES, mostly.  Just like any other agency relationship you can fire your agent at any time, except in the middle of a transaction or when under contract, and even then you have options.

For example, the agent listing your home for sale is not communicating with you regularly and you feel that she is not marketing your property aggressively enough.  In this case you have a listing contract with a set expiration date, so firing is not an option.  That listing contract is binding and you cannot "fire" her with out her and her broker agreeing.  They can, and often do enforce the contract through the expiration date, regardless of your request.  Some brokers on the other hand will release you if you request to cancel without any fuss, these are the ones to work with whenever possible.  If your agent/broker is one that will enforce the expiration date, you will just have to wait it out, or perhaps buy out of the contract if that is an option.  Another option in this case might be to appeal directly to the broker and ask that another agent be assigned your contract. The broker can do this because the listing contract is with the broker, not the agent.

If you are a buyer and your agent did not have you sign a buyer broker agreement you can fire her without any issue, at any time unless of course you have an accepted offer, binding contract again.  This contract can also be cancelled with both parties agreeing, and usually is with no repercussion.

So, to answer the question, yes you can change agents, but you can only do so before signing contracts, buyer broker agreements or submitting offers.

The surest way to be happy with your agent is to interview several.  If your listing your home, have several agents come out and interview with you.  If your a buyer, interview several agents as well.  Don't just pick the first Agent you come across, this is, quite likely going to be one of the biggest purchases you ever make.  Interview several agents before deciding which one will best represent you in the purchase or sale of your home.

After all you are in control!

If you have any questions call us.

Curtis

Thank you for referring us to your friends and family!!!!

Curtis Hurst, Realtor

The Hurst Agency

Keller Williams, Associate Leadership Council Member, Silver and Bronze Award Winner

BRE #01900005

Inland Empire 760- 57 LISTD (575-4783)   

Los Angeles  323-892-1355  

E Fax 877-501-5787

TheHurstAgency.com

Homesbycurtis.kwrealty.com

To get my Mobile property search APP just click the link below

http://app.kw.com/KW2BQJNNO

The Benefits of a Home Inspection

So you finally got an offer accepted and it's the home of your dreams!!!  As your celebrating your Realtor reminds you, that you need to schedule the Home Inspection.  You immediately start sweating and have flashbacks from The Money Pit.  You know, that movie with Tom Hanks as the home buyer with the house from Hell!

Well, relax.  It's not always that bad.  That's why we, as Realtors strongly recommend these home inspections!  What exactly is a home inspection you ask?  When you hire an independent home inspector to come out and give your property the once over.  They will check the roof for condition and leaks, they will check all the electrical outlets for functionality and polarity.  They look at the plumbing and flooring, the windows and walls.  The home inspector will prepare a detailed report for you outlining all of their findings and recommendations.  Please take a moment to go to highdesert.housemaster.com for detailed information regarding inspections and inspectors.

What does all of this mean to you, you ask?  Well, you will have the peace of mind to know what the issues are with your home, what you should be asking the seller to fix and what you can probably take care of yourself.  Or, it can let you know that this really isn't your dream home!  In addition, if you have a home inspection and you are purchasing a home warranty, or the seller is providing you with one, your inspection report can be used to support any claims.

Be informed, do your homework and buying a home can be one of the most gratifying and financially rewarding events in your life!

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Curtis

Curtis Hurst, Realtor
The Hurst Agency
BRE 01900005
www.TheHurstAgency.com

Here is a great article for anyone buying a home and not quite sure they have their financial stuff in order.  Some great tips and links!!!

Help Prospects Sock Away Homebuying Bucks

DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

Chances are pretty high that you run into prospects who are in the frame of mind to shop for homes but haven't managed their money well enough to qualify yet. If they're still living paycheck to paycheck, offer them a few suggestions for building their nest egg.

How They Can Get Ahead

6 Tips to Reduce Your Debt

One of the Biggest Obstacles Facing Young Buyers

Student Debt Burden Holding First-Time Buyers Back

Lifestyle website Lifehacker.com looks at debt traps that can seem attractive to nervous people but can actually provide more harm than help. Payday loans, for example, are short-term loans with high interest rates. But the interest rates are often so high that people have to take out a second loan to pay the first, creating a debt cycle. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Lifehacker says, some 80 percent of these loans are renewed or rolled over every 14 days. Suggest alternatives such as going to a community credit union or small bank to work out a small loan with a realistic payment plan.

Another debt trap, according to the post, is insurance: Prospects may save money by skipping it, until they need it. Suggest to your prospects that if they negotiate a higher deductible, they might be able to leverage whatever savings they have to pay a smaller premium. Again, saving up that amount to cover the deductible might create a few tight months, but it can pay off quickly. Prospects can also look for ways to get discounts, especially on car insurance.

Debt settlement can damage credit scores even more than they would have been, if the settlement company handles it poorly. Prospects can often discuss their situation with the creditor. Also, nonprofit credit counselors can give customized advice on how they can manage their debt.

Finally, debt consolidation seems like it turns many payments into a one-stop solution, but it can extend the term of the debt, and penalties for missing payments can be severe. Again, nonprofit credit counselors can help prospects negotiate lower interest rates and create budgeting plans that may help them attain their goals.

Remind your prospects that whatever their situation, for a serious plan to save enough, a counselor who works for a nonprofit organization can evaluate their full situation and provide them with a specific path to reaching their goals. In the meantime, these ideas will keep you in their mind as the agent who got them that far.

Source: "Common “Debt Traps” That Keep You Living Paycheck-to-Paycheck," Lifehacker.com (Sept. 23, 2014)

Good Morning,

Today lets talk a little bit about how a Realtor can you help you with the purchase or sale of a home.

• We help you navigate the treacherous legal waters of disclosures and contracts
• We help you find the right home through our network of contacts, the Multiple Listing Systems or by finding off market properties that fit your needs
• We determine the right price to list or to pay for a home, and most importantly
• We can help negotiate the right price and terms.

Please let us know how we can help you

Curtis

The Hurst Agency
www.TheHurstAgency.com
760-575-4783
323-892-1355
Curtishurstrealtor@gmail.com

Today is the Autumnal Equinox. One of only two days a year where day and night are of equal length.  There is no better time to be thinking about balance.

Are you feeling out of balance in certain areas of life? Which ones? And which parts of your life are balanced well right now?

Often, we overwork, ending up exhausted, ill, burnt out or uninspired, and have to climb back to health, strength and feeling rested. Or we go the other way, we neglect work or our aims, or we waste time, get nothing done, or procrastinate. Then there’s also a lot of effort needed to get back into balance and to where we want to be.

My advice is simple.  Make the time to take care of you, both physically and spiritually.  Make it a priority.  You will be happier, your family will be happier and everyone you come in contact with will see and feel the difference.

Keep it simple and do it every day.

See you next time.

Curtis

This post was put up by one of our lenders.  It's some great news for surviving spouses from reverse mortgage borrowers! Hello Agents! Just a quick update and good news for our vulnerable senior citizens, who may have been forced from their home upon the death of their spouse. HUD Details 60-Day Foreclosure Extension For Reverse Mortgage Non-Borrowing Spouses April 22nd, 2014  |  by Elizabeth Ecker Published in News, Reverse Mortgage Following a hearing last week in which a Department of Housing and Urban Development attorney spelled plans to increase foreclosure timelines for reverse mortgage borrowers, the agency issued a notice Monday detailing the new extension. Lenders may now request up to 60 additional days for non-borrowing spouses who are facing foreclosure due to the borrower passing away. The agency provides details on the cases that are eligible for the extension including those where the property securing the reverse mortgaged is the: 1) primary residence of a surviving spouse who was married to the borrower at the time the mortgage was endorsed for insurance and 2) was not listed as a borrower on the mortgage; 3) the reverse mortgage  has become due and payable solely because of the death of the HECM borrower; 4) and the property securing the reverse mortgage HECM has not been sold to a third party. Extensions beyond the 60 days outlined will not be accepted for the cases meeting those criteria, HUD specifies. Additionally, HUD provides instructions on filing for the extension in non-borrowing spouse cases that qualify. Lenders must submit the request on company letterhead, obtain a servicing manager’s signature on the request and upload the request into the HERMIT portal. Over the course of several lawsuits regarding non-borrowing spouses of reverse mortgage borrowers, HUD has said it is working to develop policy that will address issues around non-borrowing spouses. In 2011, AARP filed a lawsuit against HUD on behalf of several non-borrowing spouses who faced foreclosure due to the borrowers having passed away. Initially the case was dismissed, but AARP later brought the suit back in a court of appeals. The case was later won by AARP in the appeals court in October 2013, resulting in an order for HUD to provide relief to the plaintiffs. HUD has said that guidance is forthcoming.