Per Newsweek Magazine, we are one of the cities LEAST impacted by the recession. We must be doing something right. Check out the following link.

http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/oct2009/bw20091021_441398.htm

In a slow market, it's important to have the BEST on your side. Assist-2-Sell BASSC is the only local company with a REAL plan to address these tough times. That's because we are the only company with REAL benefits to offer Buyers and Sellers. We offer TANGIBLE benefits not simple bravado. We are different than any local real estate company.
 
How is Assist-2-Sell different from "traditional" real estate companies?  The most obvious difference between Assist-2-Sell and "traditional" real estate companies lies in the commission structure. Traditional firms typically charge home sellers a high commission that is a percentage of the sale price. (Example: Six percent). Assist-2-Sell offices charge a low, flat fee commission. (Example: As low as $2,495!)
 
How is Assist-2-Sell different from other "discount" real estate companies?  Assist-2-Sell is a full-service discount real estate company. Other companies that discount their commission usually do so by taking away services. If they charge less, they are going to do less. 
 
Some "Limited Service/Discounted Commission" companies charge upfront fees. Others are Internet-based and may only offer placement of the house in the MLS and rely on the MLS-selling broker to handle the entire transaction. While these models do have some appeal, Assist-2-Sell has found they are not a solution for the majority of home sellers who want and need full-service but don't want to pay a high commission.    

How is Assist-2-Sell different from "For Sale by Owner" real estate companies?  Many homeowners decide to sell their home without the assistance of a real estate broker. Most "For Sale by Owner" (FSBO) real estate companies simply help these homeowners advertise their house on the Internet. Assist-2-Sell is not a "For Sale by Owner" solution; it is a full-service real estate brokerage. 

With the holidays upon us and the distractions of the economic news, there is no doubt that our local housing market is slower than normal. However, homes are still selling. Top notch marketing, up to date information, and competitive pricing are the keys to making sure your home has the best chance of being one of them. We are there to help you with that. 

A Solution for the Seller Under Pressure

Short sales are ideal if you are about to or have stopped making your mortgage payments. The Lender does not want a foreclosure. It is more cost beneficial for the lender to dispose of the property by a short sale versus a foreclosure.

A short sale by definition occurs when a property is sold and the lender agrees to accept a discounted payoff, meaning the lender will release the lien that is secured to the property upon receipt of less money than is actually owed.

Short sales is viable in situations when foreclosure is eminent and there is a need to get out from under your mortgage loan.

Believe an agent...is an agent...is an agent? Not true - but especially not in this arena. Short sales require experience in some "not so typical" areas of disclosure and planning. You need an agent with experience. Luckily, we have that experience here at Assist-2-Sell.

This is your solution if...

• You have a hardship that has led you to be currently behind or unable to make this month's payments and upcoming payments. Understand that as a distressed seller you will not be able to receive equity or cash from the short sale.
• You have no additional cash and will be unable to pay for any closing cost.
• You need to avoid a foreclosure and salvage what is left of your credit.

When you combine the $7500 tax credit with today's low interest rates, wide selection of for-sale inventory, and affordable home prices, many of the pieces are in place for you to buy now. But tax credits can be confusing. To help you understand how the credit works and why it can help you, you must  be familiar the details. 

Here are 6 things to consider about the Buyer Tax Credit: 

(I speak in generalities and I am not an accountant. Before you act, please see a tax professional with your questions.)  

1. Buyers have until July 2009 to make a purchase that qualifies. 

The tax credit was passed in July of this year as part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act (H.R. 3221). It's worth up to $7,500 and can be taken in a single tax year. Authorization for the credit ends July 1, 2009, so if you wait to buy in the first half of 2009 you can take the credit on your 2009 tax return. You can take the credit on your 2008 tax return if you bought your house this year after April 9.

2. Buyers don't really have to be "first-timers."

The tax credit is actually available to any individual or household that hasn't owned a home for at least three years.  

3. Even if buyers exceed the income limit, they can benefit from the credit. 

The actual credit amount is set as a percentage of the home purchase amount. That percentage amount is 10 percent, so you can get 10 percent of the home price credited against your tax liability, up to a maximum $7,500. Sounds like a great deal. But what if you make more money than the income limit of $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 for households? Good news: Individuals whose income exceeds the $75,000 limit but don't make more than $95,000 can still take the credit but on a reduced basis. The same thing applies to households earning up to $170,000. By the way, any house is eligible as long as it's a primary residence and is in the United States.

4. Think of it as an interest-free loan.  

The federal government requires the tax credit to be paid back in small, 6.67-percent increments over 15 years, although repayment will be no more than $500 yearly and payments will not start until 2011. For that reason, some analysts have likened the credit to a 15-year, interest-free loan to help make home buying affordable.  

5.  You don't have to be authorized before making a home purchase. 

There is no pre-purchase authorization, application, or other approval process. Eligible buyers simply have to claim the credit on their IRS Form 1040 tax return and/or any form that the IRS might devise. 

6. New-home construction qualifies. 

For a home that you construct, the purchase date is the first date you occupy the home. However, any home that is not a primary residence, such as a vacation home or income property, does not qualify.

(I speak in generalities and I am not an accountant. Before you act, please see a tax professional with your questions.)