QUICK LINKS Thinking of Selling? Relocating to Wisconsin Featured Properties Resources for Buyer SEARCH ENTIRE MLS www.AmbersHomeFinder.com     09/27/2008

Jefferson County Wisconsin Home Search, Jefferson County Wi Real Estate WHAT'S YOUR STYLE? A guide to America's Most common Home Styles By Amber Castonguay Styles of houses vary across the country. From the New England Cape Cod to the Victorians of San Francisco, the choices are almost endless. Knowing which style you prefer is one of the basic elements in your hunt for the perfect home. Following is a quick guide to help you recognize and use the professional terms for many of the most prevalent house styles: · Ranch: these long, low houses rank among the most popular types in the country. The ranch, which developed from early homes in the West and Southwest, is one-story with a low pitched room. The raised ranch, which is also common is the U.S.. has two levels, each accessible from t... 07/17/2008

The CENTURY 21 Newsletter July - 2008 Thinking Ahead Check it off That Time of the Year Amber Castonguay I am pleased to present you with the latest issue of Life@Home. Delivered to home buyers, sellers and owners on a monthly basis, this electronic newsletter is designed to give you the real estate information that is important to you. In each issue, you will find practical tips and articles related to buying, selling or owning a home, as well as the latest news on real estate trends. I hope that you enjoy this issue of Life@Home. If I can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me. Visit Century21.com and view more than 250,000 property listings! Visit my website at www.AmbersHomeFinder.com to view all properties.    Thinking Ahead The headlines can be scary. The curr... 07/07/2008

Amber Castonguay, Servicing Jefferson and Surrounding Counties   Your Home's Value!   Amber's Solds   Mortgage Center   Real Estate Services   E-Mail Amber   Research Communities!   Area Info   Short Sale Information   Links   Sell Your Home With Me!   Seller Services   Buyer Services   Connections   About Me   5 Things You Should Expect From Your Agent   Monthly Newsletter   Member Services   Login   Register   Relocation Contact   Buyer Contact   Member Services · Login About Johnson Creek, Wisconsin Real Estate The Crossroads With a Future View Community Knowledge Bank | View Johnson Creek Area MLS Properties Welcome to Johnson Creek, Wisconsin! The Village of Johnson Creek in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, is conveniently located halfway between Milwaukee and Madison at the crossroad... 07/01/2008

HOW TO GIVE YOUR HOME A FACE-LIFT: THE SELLERS' GUIDE TO A QUICK SELL   One of the great challenges to selling a home can be showing all of its space, decor and natural light potential.  For example, every home has crowded closets and dead space.  Sellers should be aware that areas such as these are easy to spruce-up with a little elbow grease and old-fashioned innovation. Click here for Home Selling Tips. Begin by evaluating your closet/storage space, determine which areas can cut-down in clutter.  Go through old clothes, shoes, etc., and get rid of anything that will not be used and in turn create more space.  Consider organizing shelves and other areas to make better use of your storage space, including your garage and basement.  Also, try to throw out or give away any old furniture ... 06/26/2008

 Amber Castonguay, Servicing Jefferson and Surrounding Counties Mortgage Center Real Estate Services Research Communities! Area Info Contact Me Short Sale Information Links Sell Your Home With Me! Seller Services Buyer Services Connections About Me 5 Things You Should Expect From Your Agent Monthly Newsletter Member Services · Login About Jefferson County, Wisconsin Real Estate Small Town Comfort, Big City Access Welcome to Jefferson County, Wisconsin! Ideally situated between the metropolitan areas of Milwaukee and Madison, Jefferson County offers a pleasant mixture of urban and rural life. With easy access via the I-94 and I-90 highway system, Jefferson County is characterized by rich agricultural areas, thriving family-oriented communities, diversified manufacturing, and highly value... 03/18/2008

Only if the Seller signs a note at closing agreeing to pay back the amount owed to the Second Mortgage.  I have see this twice now.  The first time they required the seller to sign a $15,000 0% interest 10 year note before they would close and the second one they are requiring the Seller to sign a $52,000 note 12% interest, they only reason the seller's are signing them is because they are going to be filing bankruptcy.  This is a very touchy area and hopefully you make the buyer and seller aware of all issues that could arise.  So not only can the government tax you on the difference owed and forgiven but the lender can try and get you to re-pay the difference. I think Short Sales are good in the sense that the home gets sold but they are alot of work and seem to be getting harder and ... 01/11/2008

If you are thinking about selling your house in the near future make sure you give proper consideration for pricing it right.   There are many approaches to deciding what the price should be.  Generally, you start by looking at the homes that are comparable to yours that have sold within the previous six months.  Many factors come into play when determining what houses should be considered comparable.  If you live in a subdivision of like homes that are about the same age and quality it's easier to choose the appropriate houses.  If you don't have homes within your immediate neighborhood that match your homes features you'll need to consider a larger radius search.  Either way, some important considerations would be the location & setting of the home, square footage, age, size of lot, u... 12/20/2007

Crossroads RealtyHome || Resources || Contact Property SearchMy ListingsFeatured PropertiesYour home's value!Receive email updates!Amber's Blog Amber Castonguay Real Estate Services Research communities! Area Info Contact Me Short Sale Information Links Sell your home with me! Seller Services Buyer Services Connections About Me 5 Things You Should Expect From Your Agent Member Services · Login About Watertown, Wisconsin Real Estate Loads of Water Fun View Community Knowledge Bank | View Watertown Area MLS Properties Welcome to Watertown, Wisconsin! The City of Watertown, Wisconsin straddles both Jefferson and Dodge Counties in southeastern Wisconsin. Most of the city's population is in Jefferson County. Division Street, several blocks north of downtown, is built on the county line. The ... 12/20/2007

This could be taken two ways in an Offer to Purchase.  I always include Subject to Bank Approval in my Offers relating to Short Sales.  I'm thinking that it almost needs to read "Subject to Seller's Third Party Approvals" so there is no confusion if the Bank Approval is for the Seller or the Buyer, I see this as being a Grey area if it came down to it because Subject to Bank Approval is to vague. Short Sales are very evident in my market and I hope to take advantage of this niche. 12/19/2007

Crossroads RealtyHome || Resources || Contact Property SearchMy ListingsFeatured PropertiesYour home's value!Receive email updates!Amber's Blog Amber Castonguay Real Estate Services Research communities! Area Info Contact Me Short Sale Information Links Sell your home with me! Seller Services Buyer Services Connections About Me 5 Things You Should Expect From Your Agent Member Services · Login About Johnson Creek, Wisconsin Real Estate The Crossroads With a Future View Community Knowledge Bank | View Johnson Creek Area MLS Properties Welcome to Johnson Creek, Wisconsin! The Village of Johnson Creek in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, is conveniently located halfway between Milwaukee and Madison at the crossroads of I-94 and Hwy 26. The current population of Johnson Creek is 2,012. The pictu... 12/18/2007

If you are Buying or Selling Real Estate click on a link below and research different CommunitiesCambridge Real Estate | Columbus Real Estate | Cottage Grove Real Estate | Deerfield Real Estate | Delafield Real Estate | Dodge County Real Estate | Dousman Real Estate | Fort Atkinson Real Estate | Hartland Real Estate | Jefferson Real Estate | Jefferson County Real Estate | Johnson Creek Real Estate | Koshkonong Real Estate | Lake Mills Real Estate | Oconomowoc Real Estate | Pewaukee Real Estate | Sun Prairie Real Estate | Waterloo Real Estate | Watertown Real Estate | Waukesha County Real Estate 12/17/2007

IF YOU ARE BUYING A PROPERTY THAT IS INVOLVED IN A  SHORT SALE When purchasing a home or any real estate involved in a Short Sale or Bank Approval make sure you understand it will take longer than a regular transaction.  Every short sale transaction is different so keeping the Buyer informed and updated is important so they do not feel lost in this lengthy transaction, especially First Time Home Buyers.  Buyers need to be advised that just because the Seller has accepted your Offer the Bank has the Final Approval and could ask you to raise the purchase price based on their own appraisal. This is not always the case but I have seen this twice.  If you are patient and persistant you will get the job done. Visit www.AmbersHomeFinder.com for all Real Estate Information. 12/17/2007

When you prepare an offer to purchase a home, you already know the seller's asking price. But what price are you going to offer and how do you come up with that figure?Determining your offer price is a three-step process.First, you look at recent sales of similar properties to come up with a price range. Then, you analyze additional data, such as the condition of the home, improvements made to the property, current market conditions, and the circumstances of the seller. This will help you settle on a price you think would be fair to pay for the home. Finally, depending on your negotiating style, you adjust your "fair" price and come up with what you want to put in your offer.Comparable SalesThe first step in determining the price you are willing to offer is to look at the recent sales o... 11/27/2007

I am wondering if anybody has had any luck with Seller claims on a Home Warranty.  I don't know if all home warranty companies offer seller coverage but I'm sure most do.  I use First American Home Warranty and am currently going through a seller claim. It will be interesting to see how this goes.  I think Home Warranties are a good thing and can save your client/customer some money. It seems that everytime I explain to a Seller that they would be covered through the term of the listing they are pleasantly suprised. 11/19/2007

New home or not so new, it pays to know what to look for in its structure, equipment and surroundings. Though a final assessment can be made by an inspection service company, this checklist can serve as a reminder of some things you should look for in order to make a wise buying decision. Foundation: Floors and walls poured concrete. No evidence of water seepage or moisture problems. Minor settling cracks usually not structurally significant. Drainage: Sump pump for sanitary and foundation draining. Crawl space dry. Termite and wood rot: May require inspection by qualified exterminator for existing and potential problems. Floors: Condition of flooring, whether plank or plywood. Solid construction of bridging and joists. Walls: Condition of walls, whether drywall or plaster. Absence of w... 11/19/2007

Meeting With RealtorsSo you've decided to sell your home and have a fairly good idea of what you think it is worth. Being a sensible home seller, you schedule appointments with three local listing agents who've been hanging stuff on your front doorknob for years. Each Realtor comes prepared with a "Competitive Market Analysis" on fancy paper and they each recommend a specific sales price.Amazingly, a couple of the Realtors have come up with prices that are lower than you expected. Although they back up their recommendations with recent sales data of similar homes, you remain convinced your house is worth more.When you interview the third agent's figures, they are much more in line with your own anticipated value, or maybe even higher. Suddenly, you are a happy and excited home seller, a... 11/19/2007

Over the last several years a lot of buyers have bought homes, intending to live in them for many years, then something happened - maybe good, maybe bad, but regardless - they don't have a choice. Some owners have to move.When most homeowners move, they sell their house. Usually, that's not a problem. For some people nowadays, it is a problem.Because of the easy financing, rampant speculation, flipping, and sometimes fraud, home values skyrocketed most everywhere. That came to an end recently and values plummeted in some areas. Even when values are stable, sometimes there just isn't enough money in the property to pay off the mortgage, then pay all the selling costs and moving costs.What happens then?Default, sometimes bankruptcy, and maybe even foreclosure.Or a short sale.A short sale ... 11/17/2007

No Major Purchase of Any KindDon't Move Money AroundWhen a lender reviews your loan package for approval, one of the things they are concerned about is the source of funds for your down payment and closing costs. Most likely, you will be asked to provide statements for the last two or three months on any of your liquid assets. This includes checking accounts, savings accounts, money market funds, certificates of deposit, stock statements, mutual funds, and even your company 401K and retirement accounts.If you have been moving money between accounts during that time, there may be large deposits and withdrawals in some of them.The mortgage underwriter (the person who actually approves your loan) will probably require a complete paper trail of all the withdrawals and deposits. You may be r... 11/16/2007

If you are Buying, Selling or just researching visit www.AmbersHomeFinder.com to research communities and for FREE Home Buyer Updates.  Sellers please visit my website and register for a Free Comparative Market Analysis of your home.  Buy a home with Me and Receive a $250 Menards Gift Card at closing.  Residential or Commercial Real Estate. 11/15/2007