Wisconsin Rapids Real Estate – Wisconsin Rapids Homes For Sale

Question: How much time, energy, research, and conversation will you put into choosing your Realtor?

Continue to ponder that answer as you continue reading…

First, I heart Seth Godin. You know Seth, the author of some really cool books like: Purple Cow, The Dip, Meatball Sundae, and Tribes. Click here the rest of his very cool and very thought provoking books.

Not only have I read all his books but I read Seth’s blog everyday as well. Why? I guess it boils down to his ‘perspective’ on all things.

Recently he wrote an article titled “The First Transaction.” His point being:

Why should a business expect a person who just walked into their store for the first time, or just found their website, or just met them at a Chamber of Commerce event to make a purchase that very moment?

What do you know about their business? About them? Do they create quality products? How do they treat you if it breaks and you need to return it? What are their current customers saying about them? Will they purchase from them again?

You’re not in the business of throwing your money away…

The digital world is making finding these answers easier and easier. Twitter, Facebook, Google search, blogs…

The internet makes it easy for us “to connect, transfer knowledge, engage in a way that builds trust” so that way one day you’ll “trust me enough to send some money my way.”

Or in my case, you’ll trust me enough to buy or sell your home with me.

Lets back-up to my original question: How much time, energy, research, and conversation will you put into choosing your Realtor?

First, if you’re selling your home, how much will you pay in commission fees to your Realtor?

If you’ve only just met, or you’ve only heard about your Realtor… Are you comfortable having your first transaction with this person being worth a few thousand dollars?

I bring this up because even if we’ve never met IRL (in real life) you’re able to know me by my 18+ months of writing about Wisconsin Rapids real estate here on this site. Or my 10 months writing on GoRapids.com. Or by following me on Twitter. Or Facebook. Or by Googling me.

By reading my articles you can see my ideas. You can know what’s important to me. You’ll know what to expect when we meet face to face.

I’m trying to make it easy for you to trust me… To make you feel comfortable…

How have I done?

But first I must admit that I got the title to this post from the newsletter that Chris Brogan writes. Seriously, sign up for it. At the end of each of his newsletters he lists a few people who are doing it right… he’d be at the bottom of mine…

No doubt you’ve been bombarded with very personal emails from everyone you’ve made a purchase from in the past few years.

Chris made a few very insightful points about these holiday emails:

1. They always end up trying to sell you something. Yes, it may be at a discount. But the email still is a marketing message.
2. At this point in the game, you’ve purchased everything you’re going to.

And that’s the same problem I face when talking with you. I started this blog to help with my marketing. To be able to interact with you. To be able to provide you with a little local real estate education. But you knew all that.

But, here, now, I want to say Thank You. Thank you for being here in 2009. Thank you for being here in 2010. Thank you for your feedback. Thank you for your suggestions.

And above all, thank you for being you.

In conclusion, I hope this finds you taking a few well earned days off. Success in 2009 meant you needed to make a larger personal investment in everything you do. From work to play to personal.

We all need to recharge in order to hit 2010 running. To continue to strive to be the best. To provide more. To educate more. To lead more.

I’ll see you on the other side.

To your success,

Adam

P.S. Stay safe in this storm we’re about to get. I cancelled my plans with my parents tonight for fear of icy road conditions. And this was our annual seafood dinner, something I take very seriously…

Following are many of the most popular questions about changes made to the Homebuyer Tax Credit.

Remember, homeowners who’ve lived in the home for 5 out of the past 8 years now are eligible for a tax credit up to $6500… Have you called yet to get your home on the market? It’s free money…

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions on the changes to the Homebuyer Tax Credit:

Question: Existing homeowner credit: Must the new home cost more than my old home?

Answer: No. If you move from a high cost area to a lower cost area you still meet the eligibility requirements for the $6,500 credit. 

Question: I’m an existing homeowner. On October 25, 2009, I signed a contract to purchase a new home. I’ve lived in my current home for more than 5 consecutive years and am within the new income limits. I went to closing on November 20. I accepted the offer before the bill was signed, but my closing happened after the signing took place. Do I still qualify for the new $6,500 tax credit?

Answer: Yes. The existing homeowner credit goes into effect for purchases after the date of enactment (when the bill is signed). There is no reference to the date of contract for the new credit. The provision looks solely to the date of purchase, which is generally the date of closing.

Question:I’m a first-time homebuyer, but was not within the prior income limits at the time I entered into my contract to purchase on October 30, 2009. I’ll be covered, however, by the new income limits. Because the new rules will have been signed into law by the time I close on my home, will I be eligible for a credit?

Answer: Yes. The new income limitations go into effect as soon as the President signed the bill. The income limit and other eligibility rules will look to your status as of the date of purchase, with is the closing date.

Question:I am an eligible existing homeowner. I have a fair amount of equity in my home. I have found a home with a nonnegotiable price of $825,000. Will I be able to use any of the $6,500 tax credit?

Answer: No. The $800,000 cap on the cost of the purchased home is firm at $800,000. Any amount above $800,000 makes the home ineligible for any portion of the credit. The $800,000 is an absolute ceiling.

Question:I owned my home for 10 years, but sold it two years ago and have been renting since. If I purchase a home, will I be eligible for the $6,500 tax credit if I meet all the eligibility tests?

Answer: Yes. Because you lived in the home for more than 5 consecutive years of the previous 8, you’ll qualify for the $6,500 credit. For example, say Cathy and her husband bought a home in 2000 and lived there until 2008 when they divorced. Whether Cathy has been renting or bought in the interim, she WOULD INDEED be eligible for the credit because she owned a home and occupied it as her principal residence for 5 consecutive years out of the last 8 years. The keyword here is “consecutive.” As long as she lived in that home for 5 years straight what she’s done since doesn’t impact her eligibility.

Question:I’m an eligible first-time homebuyer. I entered into a contract to purchase on November 1, 2009. Did I have to go to closing before December 1? How does the extension affect me?

Answer: You did not have to close before December 1. Once the legislation was signed, it was as if the November 30 date never existed. Therefore, as long as the contract settles before April 30, 2010 (or July 1, worst case), the purchaser will be eligible for the credit.

Photo Credit

Earlier this week I posted an article showing how huge the Internet has become…

One ginormous aspect of the Internet is our ability to connect with others. Gone are the days of big business and hiding away behind corporate walls.

People are connecting on a more personal level. Trust is earned. Partnerships are formed. Knowledge is gained.

I’m also looking to connect and learn from you. Are you on any social networks? 

I’d love it if you’d connect with me on one or all of the following social platforms:

I know I’m missing out on thousands of really cool people…

Do you have any recommendations on people I should follow? Are you aware of any local businesses that are embracing social media that deserve to be followed? Love to hear from you.

In an upcoming post I’ll provide a list of First Weber agents who’ve created real estate fan pages on Facebook. It’ll be fun to look and see what other agents feel is important/cool/interesting/off-beat in the world of real estate. Click here so all new posts are delivered directly to your email inbox.

So big it’ll make your head hurt. And just think this is one day. Not a year, month or week… But one 24 hour period in time.

It’s easy to see how so many people are able to make a living through the Internet. Through making connections via websites, blogs or social media.

You don’t have to own the entire web. Just your own part of the world. We refer to it as a ‘niche.’

You’re here because you have an interest in one of those niches. Real Estate. You’re wanting information that will make your next purchase or sale go smoother, quicker and for a higher/lower sale price.

You get the power of the Internet, you also need to expect your Realtor and the brokerage they work for to be able to handle this new online world. Gone are the days of beating down doors and meeting as many people as possible. It’s to slow.

First Weber can send a text message with information about your home. Soon all First Weber listings will be uploaded to YouTube. We have an app for your smart phone. Your listing is syndicated to over a dozen websites with not only a local, but national reach as well. I work hard to leverage Twitter. I have multiple websites that allow me to not only expand my reach, but also bring more eyeballs to each of my listings.

All of this because First Weber has launched Front Runner in the past year and because I leverage my Computer degree to create an excellent experience for you.

You need to reach people when their at work, or at home or in the car. You’d like to know why, wouldn’t you? The following image is why:

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