GREETINGS FROM VERNA ACKER
REALTY EXECUTIVES Elite
414.534.7400
FOR YOUR INFORMATION:
Real Estate Information from Western Racine County; Waterford, WI 53185
Vol XVII July, 1999

RATES HEAD LOWER
According to www.bankrate.com which publishes nightly averages based on its survey of nearly 3,000 banks in 50 states, the 30 year, fixed-rate average dropped to 7.48 percent while the 15-year fixed average fell to 7.14 percent. The 1 year adjustable remained at 6.01 percent. These rate are averages and may not be reflective of local and regional activity. This was taken from the Daily Inman News Summary, dated 7/13/99. For more, go to http://www.inman.com/hstory.asp?ID=14474&CatType=R

SEARCHING FOR A REAL ESTATE AGENT?
Real estate agents are used to competing with one another for business. An article recently told of one seller who interviewed eight agents before selecting one to list his home. Most experts agree that you should interview three agents, depending upon your situation, and assuming you don't already have an agent with whom you have confidence. Talking with more than one can give you a basis of comparison. If, however, you have recently bought or sold and had a good working relationship with your agent, you may want to consider using that agent again. Just be certain that the agent is experienced in the area where you want to buy or sell this time. Experts agree that it is rarely wise to work with an agent from out of the area, even if you have complete trust in the agent. No matter how good an agent might be, it is impossible to cover an enormous territory successfully. It is wiser to ask the agent you know to recommend a local agent who can better serve your needs. Be sure to check references. Ask an agent to give you a list of recent clients/customers with whom they have worked. Call those references and ask what they liked and didn't like about working with the agent. Watch for people skills. Find out how the agent intends to market your home. Be careful not to choose an agent because of the "price" they give you on your home. Instead, choose the agent that brings you solid evidence regarding the market for homes with features similar to yours. Listen to your instincts. The agent who insists they can get more for your home than other agents or who claims they can get more for your home than others like yours have sold for may simply be trying to "buy" your listing. An agent from another geographical area may not know the intricacies of marketing in your neighborhood. Be sure you know how many homes the agent you are interviewing has sold in YOUR neighborhood. You don't have an interest in how many they have sold 20 or 30 miles away or how many the rest of their company has sold. Each company is only as good as the agent asking for your business. Buying and selling homes can be stressful, so it is important to work with an agent with whom you have a good rapport.

BOOMERS AND EMPTY-NESTERS CAN LEARN ABOUT THE WEB
There is a whole crowd of people out there – especially those born before World War II – that still can't figure out how to turn the computer on, tune in and "pony-up" to the 'Net. Now there is a web site designed to help called www.LivinEasy.com which features computer and Internet training and special feature articles to help make them feel more comfortable about using this incredible technology. Share this site address with someone you know!

ARE YOU WAITING FOR THE MOST RECENT LISTING IN MY MARKET AREA?
Go to the attachment for listings from the past two weeks. E-mail me for more information regarding any of the new ones that interest you. (Attachments have not been archived).
Have you gone to my web site at www.vernacker.com/property.htm to see the photo tour of the incredible new listing that I have on Ski Hill Drive in Spring Prairie? This exceptional property was the old Paradise Valley Ski Lodge. It has received thousands of dollars of renovations and offers more than 6,000 square feet of living space, including a 40 x 50 multi-purpose room that could be a basketball court, an in- law apartment or maybe it could house an in-door pool! There is an additional 3,000 s.f. possible at the upper level. The asking price is only $214,900.

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR WATERFRONT?
Not yet in MLS, but available for showing this Thursday evening and next week is the newest offering on the Lake Tichigan/Fox River waterway. This is a well-built, smaller home with new siding, roof, downspouts, gutters, furnace, central air, etc. in the past 7 years. It has a garage, a boathouse and 50 ft. of frontage with a panoramic view of the sunset. I just about guarantee that you will LOVE the next door neighbors (It is me, my honey and my puppy). Asking price on this home is $154,900. The pictures are not yet on the internet so e-mail me for the information.

HERE IS WHAT HAS SOLD IN THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS: Go to the attachment. Be sure to ask for more information on anything that interests you. (Attachments have not been archived).

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Chance sometimes opens the door, but luck belongs to the good players. Bernard Baruch.

DO YOU HAVE A TOPIC THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ME COVER?
Let me know what it is and I will do my best to get information.