Gal Levy - Realtor

12/27/2025

03/05/2019

I am now with Walzel Properties...New Broker...Same good service as always !
http://www.walzelproperties.com/

07/31/2017

My new promo is here !!!
Put a Realtor on your side !

02/08/2017

A $250 Million Mansion: The Most Expensive Home Ever Listed In America

https://www.google.com/amp/www.forbes.com/sites/karenhua/2017/01/18/inside-a-250-million-mansion-the-most-expensive-home-for-sale-in-the-u-s/?client=safari

The most expensive home for sale in the United States just listed for $250 million—and it features a helicopter, complete car and art collections, and seven staff members.

07/29/2016

Who Represents You?

Knowledge Base » Who Represents You?
By John Adams

One of the hot topics facing the world of real estate right now is the issue of agency. Some would have you believe that it really doesn't affect you, the buyer, and that nothing much has changed. But they are wrong.

The topic of agency is important to you because it answers the most basic and fundamental question that can be asked of any real estate professional: Who do you represent in this transaction?

Until that question is answered, you may be left with the impression that all agents who work with buyers actually represent those buyers, and that you have somebody going to bat for you in this transaction. Well, the issue of agency is important because without it, we can never be sure who represents who.

Here's the scenario:

You meet a really nice agent at an open house named Bonnie. Even though Bonnie's house is not right for you, she tells you she has others to show you that fit your needs exactly. You spend an hour or so with Bonnie looking at a half dozen homes and talking about your needs and your wants. During the course of the conversation, you volunteer that you have $100,000 cash to spend and that you will not go over $100,000 purchase price no matter what. Then you find the perfect house. Asking price is $100,000 but you decide to offer $92,500 based on recent sales in the area. During negotiations, the seller asks Bonnie directly how much cash you have and how high will you go? What does Bonnie say?

Here's the answer: Unless you have signed a "Buyer Agency Agreement" with Bonnie making her your buyer agent, she is most likely acting as a sub-agent to the listing broker who represents the seller. If that is the case, she has a fiduciary obligation to the seller to disclose to him any information she has that might "promote or protect his interest" in the transaction. Guess what? Bonnie has that information.

The Seller, now having knowledge of your financial position, counters at a full $100,000. He knows you can afford it and that this price falls within your desired range. He also knows that you have seen a number of other homes and that his is the one you want.

Regardless of what eventually happens in this scenario, it can hardly be called an even playing field. So, how can you protect yourself from a possible disclosure required of a seller's agent?

Make sure that the agent you are working with has agreed, in writing, to represent you as a "Buyer's Agent." This will mean signing a buyer brokerage agreement in which you promise to work only with that particular agent for a specific period of time, often 90 days. It also means that you promise not to buy from anybody else, even FSBOs, without involving your buyer's agent. In almost every case, the commission will still come from the seller, but your agent must present the offer.
Never say anything to anybody unless you would be willing to have that information repeated into a seller's ear. Assume that everybody, and I mean everybody, is working for a seller unless you have specifically hired them to work for you. And even then, be discreet. During the second world war, the military promoted a phrase designed to stop idle gossip: Loose lips sink ships! You would do well to adopt that philosophy in your home-buying as well.
Source: REALTOR.com

05/16/2016

from ccar:

Changes to Multiple Investment Properties
By: Jake Perry, CCAR REALTOR®/Lender Committee
As of April, Fannie Mae made exciting changes to its guidelines regarding how lenders underwrite a borrower with multiple investment properties. These changes could have a positive impact for investors who own or are looking to buy multiple single family dwellings.

Fannie Mae changed its requirement to allow up to six financed properties with the same guidelines that previously applied to investors with four financed properties. For example, an investor may borrow up to a maximum of 85% loan-to-value on up to six investment properties. In the past, it was limited to a maximum of four properties.

What does this mean for you? These changes could help investors purchase new homes or refinance existing properties more easily.

02/17/2016

Things You Should Know About Seller's Disclosure
Taken from :Tiago Title Co.

1. Inspection Reports
The seller and broker have a duty to disclose any known material defects. Possession of a prior inspection report may be evidence of the seller's or broker's knowledge of a known defect. The Courts of Appeals are split on whether there is a duty to disclose the actual report. We suggest that the broker or seller provide the prior inspection report to avoid allegations of nondisclosure or mischaracterization of a purported defect. Further, the TAR Seller's Disclosure Notice asks the seller to list and attach copies of previous inspection reports performed in the last four years. The notice cautions the buyer against relying on previous reports as a reflection of the current condition of property and suggests that the buyer employ an inspector of the buyer's choice.

2. Repairs
Once an item is repaired, it is no longer defective, and disclosure of repaired items is not required except as noted in the seller's disclosure notice (namely, previous fires, previous flooding, previous foundation repairs, previous structural repairs, and previous termite treatment and repairs). Again, remember, we suggest conveying all information regarding previous inspections to a purchaser including the previous inspection report and any invoices showing that repairs were made. Why? Because, the potential for liability under the Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA), Statutory Fraud, and Common Law Fraud is high.

3. A Seller’s Refusal to “Open” an Inspection Report
A broker or seller who receives an inspection report is charged with knowledge of the information in the report even if the broker or seller does not open the report. A buyer and/or buyer's representative cannot require the Seller to read the report. They can and should, however, negotiate for any repairs found in the inspection report during the buyer's option period. If the buyer is not satisfied with the information in the inspection report or cannot get the seller to agree to requested repairs, the buyer can exercise his right to terminate the contract.

4. Commercial Transactions
TAR has a Commercial Property Condition Statement that is an optional attachment to its standard commercial contracts. It is much broader in scope and addresses additional issues such as wetlands, underground storage tanks, and toxic waste. We recommend that a buyer should require that the seller provide it.

5. Relocation Companies
If the relocation company is the Seller, it must complete and deliver the seller’s disclosure notice. Generally, most relocation companies act more in the role of an asset manager and are under no obligation to provide the disclosure. However, most relocation companies provide a packet of disclosure documents, which includes a Seller’s disclosure prepared by the transferring employee and inspection report.

01/15/2016

Best real estate deal in DFW !!!