MIRELA MONTE's Page

With the Banks' tightening of the money, there has been a resurgence of Lease to Own Agreements lately. Although these deals are popular with both Buyers and Sellers, they are not to be taken lightly. Here's why these instruments are potentially dangerous:


Dang… Continue

Via Real Bird (RealBird Inc.):


Listing presentation courtesy of
Brenda Magness, Brenda Blaser & Pam Yoakum Realty GroupAs many of you may know, the RealBird Listing Publisher service is one of the leading single property websites and listing syndication services. It is a completely free service with an extensive set of features that make it easy for you to market your listings online: through search engines, on classifed sites and social networks. Many of you may also wonder how we actuall… Continue

I remember the good ol' days when the discrepancy between the Buyer's offer and the Seller's asking price was measured by mere thousands of dollars, signifying 1%-2% of the property's value. That disparity was like a little puddle of water we used to quickly and easily jump over and put the deals together.

Today I presented an offer to the bank for $165,000 less than the original asking price, a 34% reduction in value. Ouch! My advice: "Take the offer!" With 20 other properties competing for th… Continue

As a follow up to my earlier blog: "The Ocean Between Buyer and Seller", here is my letter to the bank decision makers, arguing for the acceptance of a price which is $165,000 (34%) lower than the original asking price. This, along with the comps of this neighborhood and the adjoining neighborhoods, pictures and video of other, better priced listings will accompany this presentation tomorrow. Please give me any tips that may help me offer a more compelling argument!

Bank A, Neighborhood Z
6 Mon… Continue

Agents Using Cheap Lockboxes: A Legal Liability Waiting to Happen?

Our MLS lockboxes are very expensive - they cost just above $100. They are computerized lockboxes that take a reading of every agent showing the property. The listing agent can get on the Supra Website (the Lockbox Vendor) and ascertain exactly when the property was shown and the agent who showed it.

The agent's name, telephone number and e-mail address is included, so the listing agent can quickly follow up on the showing and… Continue