tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16483894462746598122009-06-30T10:58:45.387-04:00Articles, editorials, and personal consumer experiences about working with real estate agents or home builders who do not disclose the risks of dual or designated agency representation, and how consumers can protect their best interests when buying a home in Charlotte, NC.Julie Tugglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18358225346931758568noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648389446274659812.post-36206678705186316542009-06-15T22:55:00.001-04:002009-06-17T19:36:17.041-04:00

While home prices in the rest of the country were falling last year, Charlotte NC home prices continued to rise an average of 3-7%. But this year the economic recession has finally caught with the Charlotte housing market and prices have been gradually falling since January of 2008. Track the average home sales prices by month for the past year: May '09: According to the Charlotte Regional

Julie Tugglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18358225346931758568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648389446274659812.post-56390188695292809932009-04-01T22:04:00.002-04:002009-04-05T00:16:16.919-04:00

Late on Wednesday February 11th, Congress approved a tax break of up to $8,000 for first-time homebuyers, so just think: if Congress had passed this bill back in October of 2008, they could have saved the taxpayers the $700,000 billion that the banking industry squandered on themselves instead of investing it in economic incentives that would circulate through the private sector. At least the

Julie Tugglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18358225346931758568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648389446274659812.post-61306312199677387812008-11-01T23:11:00.041-04:002009-01-29T02:27:51.927-05:00

What exactly is an "Exclusive Buyer's Agent"? A: An agent who represents only buyers, never sellers, with no risk to their buyers of dual or designated agency on any home they want to buy.B: An agent who gets permission from their buyer in advance for the agent's company to also represent the best interests of the seller (or a competing buyer) on the same home.C: An agent whose buyer signs

Julie Tugglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18358225346931758568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648389446274659812.post-75368464788359713872008-06-08T20:19:00.002-04:002008-10-23T14:01:55.209-04:00

They're a couple in their mid 20s -- a computer programmer married to an administrative assistant. Saddled with college loans, they're still struggling to secure themselves financially on starter salaries. Until recently, the idea of buying a home seemed impossible. But thanks to their smart bargaining strategy, along with moderating home prices, they recently realized their dream.'It all started

Julie Tugglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18358225346931758568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648389446274659812.post-18898239898819026312007-12-06T17:46:00.002-05:002008-10-23T15:26:18.384-04:00

Builders are trying to lure reluctant buyers with plane tickets, new cars and even a pet peacock! In Seattle, a homeowner is offering round-trip airplane tickets to anywhere in the world, plus a six-night stay at a Four Seasons hotel to anyone who will just, please, buy the house he has on the market. In New Jersey, a builder is trying to entice prospects to purchase condominiums and attached

Julie Tugglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18358225346931758568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648389446274659812.post-14388308237735076092007-10-01T23:19:00.002-04:002008-12-04T16:51:38.817-05:00

1. Interview several buyer's agents and ask how they will represent your best interests before you start looking at homes. Otherwise, the first agent who showed you the home you later decide to purchase may claim the buyer agency commission, regardless of whether or not you signed a buyer agency agreement with that agent or even want to work with that agent. 2. Ask what the

Julie Tugglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18358225346931758568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648389446274659812.post-44915279846974616432007-09-13T09:43:00.002-04:002008-10-23T14:50:01.322-04:00

Although agency disclosure is required by state law that homebuyers are told the role of their real estate agent in the sales process, and most importantly, whom the agent represents, less than one-third of real estate agents comply, according to the National Association of Realtors' 2005 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers. Agency disclosure compliance has been on a downward trend since 2000,

Julie Tugglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18358225346931758568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648389446274659812.post-2284511631331192022007-09-11T21:25:00.000-04:002007-12-02T16:54:55.162-05:00

Question: If a selling agent neglects to inform a homeowner that a higher bid has been made and chooses instead to sell the house to a person he's also representing as a buyer's agent, what rights do the seller -- and the higher bidder -- have? Can this agent be reported to anyone for unethical practices?-- Natasha, Yorba Linda, Calif. Natasha: It sounds like your agent is double-dealing. But

Julie Tugglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18358225346931758568noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648389446274659812.post-64043929877821929702007-08-26T22:28:00.000-04:002007-12-02T16:55:20.598-05:00

With stagnant prices and elevated inventory in many markets, home sellers are no longer automatically turning up their noses at offers that come in far below their asking price. But buyers who do ask for deep discounts still risk offending sellers to the point where they quash any deal. So before making an aggressive offer, some homework is in order, real-estate professionals say. And buyers will

Julie Tugglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18358225346931758568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648389446274659812.post-63176816282060523782007-08-21T19:30:00.000-04:002007-08-22T11:59:24.132-04:00

In May, 2004, I began interviewing real estate agents to assist me in purchasing my first home. I interviewed Julie Tuggle, an exclusive buyer's agent, and two other real estate agents (who represented both buyers and sellers). During each interview I asked the agent what they would do if I liked one of the homes that they were listing. I was shocked when the two dual agents replied that they

Julie Tugglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18358225346931758568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648389446274659812.post-27702556468078642252007-08-21T17:10:00.000-04:002007-08-21T19:05:24.432-04:00

Dear Julie,Julie, as you and I have been discussing your work as a real estate broker here in Charlotte, I thought I might share with you a situation that I experienced in the summer of 2005.My wife and I had owned a condominium since 1996 at Surfside Beach S.C. Like most every other piece of coastal property, the appreciation in value was such that we decided to sell.We engaged the real estate

Julie Tugglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18358225346931758568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648389446274659812.post-23400742704021693882007-08-21T11:04:00.000-04:002007-12-02T17:02:43.350-05:00

Staging is a hot topic for home sellers, as evidenced by the popularity of TV shows like "Designed to Sell," "Buy Me" and "Flip This House." But a recent report from an industry leader reveals that buyers are routinely misled by staged homes. The National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (http://www.naeba.org/) has just released the report "How to not get tricked by staging -- and

Julie Tugglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18358225346931758568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648389446274659812.post-91676865919930310272007-08-21T11:03:00.001-04:002007-12-02T17:04:33.196-05:00

How much do you suppose a pile of crunchy dead bugs on the basement floor will affect the selling price of a $500,000 home? How about a life-size skeleton hanging in the closet, or an open coffin in the basement with a dummy vampire inside? Or an overly-ripe kitty litter box under the kitchen table? The National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (NAEBA) recently conducted an online survey of

Julie Tugglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18358225346931758568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648389446274659812.post-54351763986727263082007-08-21T11:00:00.000-04:002007-12-02T16:58:39.180-05:00

Last week's column on shopping for a buyers agent elicited considerable response from real-estate brokers and agents, especially on the topic of exclusive buyers agents and dual agency. Julia Huntsman, a Cerritos, Calif., broker associate, argues that agents who don't take listings lack a comprehensive understanding of their own profession, and that many buyers prefer to use the same agent to

Julie Tugglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18358225346931758568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648389446274659812.post-36394208269879059002007-08-21T10:59:00.000-04:002007-12-02T16:59:38.786-05:00

Like anyone else in business, real-estate agents flock to where the money and power is. And right now, it's in the hands of buyers.Currently, 64% of consumers use buyer agents when they purchase a home. Agents want to push that number higher. According to the National Association of Realtors, the fastest-growing designation that agents are in training to acquire is Accredited Buyer Representative

Julie Tugglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18358225346931758568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648389446274659812.post-17349482829563313972007-08-21T10:57:00.000-04:002007-12-02T16:59:58.969-05:00

The relationship between home buyers and their agents has always been tenuous. Agents are paid a cut of the selling price, so the higher the price, the better for them -- but not for their clients.One way around the conflict is to use an exclusive buyer agent (search for one at http://www.naeba.org/). Unlike traditional agents, EBAs don't work for listing brokers, so they avoid the risk of dual

Julie Tugglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18358225346931758568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1648389446274659812.post-41953198808453367792007-08-21T10:44:00.000-04:002007-12-02T17:00:30.515-05:00

Exclusive Buyer Representation Eliminates Conflicts of Interest at the Heart of SuitMARCH 9, 2007 ­ Problematic business practices by “traditional” real estate brokerages are currently being scrutinized in a Minnesota district court. The outcome of the Minnesota class action suit could have implications for the real estate industry across the country, according to Jon Boyd, president of the

Julie Tugglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18358225346931758568noreply@blogger.com0