Dan Connolly

My experience is that the preferred lenders that are pushed by the homebuilders and the foreclosure specialists are typically more difficult to deal with than the tried and true lenders that we deal with on a day to day basis. Since the "in house" lenders are handed clients without having to work for them, they seem to be less likely to return calls quickly, and more difficult to deal with in general. I have never seen particularly good rates or low closing costs with an "in-house" lender. But the days of the builder dictating that type of arrangement are over anyway... if you tell them to pay closing costs with the Buyer's lender or the deal's off, watch them roll over! Dan Connolly The Atlanta GA Real Estate Guide http://www.realty4atlanta.com http://www.realty4atlanta.com/blog/

Personally, I think there's room for all approaches. When I first got licensed I did it. I took Sweat Hogs with good ol' Flloyd Wickman a couple of times and went to some Mike Ferry presentations as well. I have called people with the line "You're going to hate this call, but I was wondering if you would be interested in selling your house." (period. yes or no). For every hundred calls (about 3 hours) I would get 1-2-3 appointments. Very few people were angry, maybe 3 or 4 out of 100. Almost everyone laughed. I didn't ask if they knew anyone, "no? thanks for your time" next! I don't do it any more because I don't have to. (Thanks to the Internet!) But when you are starting out, sometimes its the only way. I never called without checking the do not call list, once that came out. So now, when people call me, I am always nice. Its hysterical, because being nice totally throws them off their script. I say "no I am not interested but thanks so much for asking". They respond with...dead silence...and then okay goodbye! I also think that it is ALWAYS worth having 13 agents come through a listing no matter how green they are. One of them might get lucky and remember it and sell it. I think the Seller should be happy there is traffic and make it happen. (We generally don't get that many on caravan day). I also wouldn't worry about them invading your turf, a lot of people will always go with the seasoned neighborhood expert regardless! ;) The Atlanta Georgia Real Estate Guide 866-REMAX-76 http:www.realty4atlanta.com http:www.realty4atlanta.com/blog/

I read this a few days ago, and it struck me as the first clear description of what happened to the financial markets. When I finished I was left feeling like Paulson, the former CEO of Goldman Sachs is truly an example of the inmates running the asylum. Dan Connolly The Atlanta Real Estate Guide- http://www.realty4atlanta.com My blog - http://www.realty4atlanta.com/blog/