Share the wealth!

Welcome back to my blog! I truly appreciate you taking the time to watch my video posts!

You have heard me say many times that I want to be your resource for real estate, and I do! BUT today I want to expand that even more and tell you I want to be your connection for other things you may need. I am out networking each and every week. I meet several other professionals in Omaha almost daily. I belong to a business networking group, where the focus is to pass referrals to the other 30 professionals with-in the group. I have been a member of this group for 3 years now and know the members well. I want to share these great people with you. From time to time I will feature them on my blog so you can get to know them as well, but for now, just call or email me with what professional service you may be in need of and I will connect you.

Your son or daughter is getting married, graduating or just had a new baby and you are in need of a photographer? I know a fabulous one! She takes the photos of all my listings too.

Need some electoral work done around the house? Call me, I know a great electrician.
Time to finish your basement or remodel your kitchen? I know a guy!

Need some auto body work done? No problem, I know a reputable place that will take good care of you.

I think you get my point. Whatever you need, reach out to me. It can be for real estate or well just about anything. You can call, email, text or send me a message on FaceBook. I will get right back to you.

I hope you and yours have a VERY Merry Christmas and of course a Happy New Year.

"When you cease to make a contribution, you begin to die." -Eleanor Roosevelt-

Giving Thanks!

“Today I want to just take a quick moment to say thank you to everyone who has used me to help buy or sell a house or sent someone my way. My business has been built on happy clients using me again or referring me their friends, co-workers and family members. I truly appreciate the trust you have placed in me and will continue to work hard to earn your future business. I hope each and every one of you have a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING!”

Calling all Investors! Let me help you find the great deals that are out there. It is such a great time to buy. Do you want to start investing in rental properties or homes that need some TLC so you can re-sell for a profit? I will search out the deals and make sure the property meets your goals.

There are homes listed for sale by home owners who see the value in selling their current size home and buying a new one to take advantage of the LOW interest rates. They have value priced their homes to get them sold. These are great values for buyers! Investors!

I am currently working with a client who purchased a house he intends to rent to his son and his friends, while they are going to college. He will make over 10% annually on this investment, not including any value appreciation on the home! There are pros and cons to investing in real estate and I will make sure you know both sides before you begin.

Some home owners have found that they need to short sale their home to sell it. This means the bank will agree to take less than what the current homeowner owes on their home to avoid the home going into foreclosure. Some may need some TLC to get into shape, but if you are patient and willing to put a little work into the home, you can find some that are a steal.

If you or someone you know is considering investing in real estate in the next 3 to 6 months, please give me a call, email or text. I am easy to reach! Text or call me direct at 402-305-4335 or email me at Susan@gosusanclark.com.

Happy Halloween!

Boo! It’s not a trick, it’s a treat! Theres no cost to use me as your buyers agent. Spread the word! Working with me can save you endless amounts of time, money and frustration. I know the housing market inside and out! This will help you avoid the tangled web of looking at the wrong home for your needs. Keep in mind that I can show you any home for sale, even if it is for sale by owner. I can even help if you are interested in building a new home. I will not show haunted houses though!

Interest rates are at all time lows. There is a perception in the media that is spooking people. The perception is that in order to qualify for a mortgage with a low rate, you have to be supernatural! Not true. I work with a handful of trusted mortgage professionals. Each one specializes in various areas of the mortgage industry. I can refer you to the right one for a pre-approval. They can more than handle your needs. No ghosts or witches involved!

Please keep me in mind if you know of anyone looking to buy, sell, build or invest in real estate. I am easy to reach! Call my direct line at 305-4335. You can also visit me anytime at gosusanclark.com. E-mail me at susan@gosusanclark.com. Thanks for watching and have a Happy Halloween!!!

Do you know how much it costs to use me as your agent when buying a new home?

NOTHING! NADA! That’s right, no cost to you at all. Sound too good to be true? I was always taught there is no such thing as FREE, but in this case it is true. When a seller lists their house with an agent the seller pays that agent a commission, which is then shared with the buyer’s agent at time of closing. So the agent does still get paid, just not from you the buyer. This does not affect the dedication and service I provide when helping you find the home of your dreams. Keep in mind, I can show you any house! Even if it is for sale by owner. If you decide to build your new home, I can help with that as well.

Why use an agent? A Realtor brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the business of buying a home. In fact, a licensed real estate professional provides much more than the service of helping you find the home of your dreams. Realtors are not just sales agents. They are expert negotiators and seasoned financial advisors. They are members of the National Association of Realtors and must abide by a code of ethics and standards of practice enforced by the National Association of Realtors. A professional Realtor is your best resource when buying a home!

Especially if you are a first time buyer. Most likely, this is one of the largest purchases you have made thus far in your life, having someone on your side to make sure you know each step along the way is priceless! There are so many pieces to the puzzle, let me help you put them all together.

In addition if you are new to the area, you are in luck! I have lived in Omaha my entire life. Let me show you around and share my knowledge of this great city with you.

I am experienced at presenting offers to sellers and will ensure that your offer is presented in the best possible way. I can help you through the process of negotiating the deal. I bring objectivity to the buying transaction and can point out the advantages and disadvantages of a particular property while leaving the final decision of the purchase up to you.

Keep me in mind, If you know of anyone looking to buy, sell, build or invest in real estate. I am easy to reach! Call my direct line 402-305-4335, text or email me anytime!

Mortgage rates continue to be among the best in the last 2 years.
It is still a fantastic time to buy! Did you know that if you purchase
a home for $150,000, take out a 30 year mortgage, at an interest
rate of 4.75% your principal and interest payment will be $782.47.
If you do the same, but at a 5.75% interest rate your principal
and interest payment will be $875.36. That is almost a $100
a month savings! $1,114.68 a year savings! AND $33,440.40
over the life of the loan!

Who needs a tax credit when rates are this great? Let’s get out and
enjoy some of this beautiful weather shopping for your new home!
Call me today so we can set up a custom plan to get you into
your dream home.

Not in the market? Please take a moment to pass this on to
someone who has been thinking about buying a new home,
I would love to help them.

Special thank you to Chuck Sederstrom!

Is it too late to take advantage of the First Time Homebuyer tax credit?

We are coming closer to the end of the tax credit extension, but there is still time!

First, let’s review the details of the tax credit program. If you are a first time home buyer you may be eligible for a tax credit of up to $8,000! When they extended the credit they also expanded it.

The credit doesn’t begin to phase out until your modified adjusted gross income exceeds $125,000 for single filers or $225,000 for joint filers.

The best part of the expanded program is if you already own a home but want to buy a new one the tax credit program was expanded to cover you. If you have lived in your current principal residence for at least 5 years out of the last eight, you may be eligible for a $6,500 tax credit.

You MUST have a binding sales contract signed by April 30, 2010 and close on the property by June 30, 2010 at the latest.

Buyer’s, that gives us plenty of time to still find your dream home, but you need to call me ASAP so we can begin the process.Sellers, my average days on the market for 2009 were 38, so it is still possible to list your home for sale with me and have a binding sales contract in place by April 30, 2010.

So, whether you’re a first time home buyer or a current owner, contact me right now at 402-305-4335 or email me at Susan@goSusanClark.com to learn more details of the program.

6 Insider Tricks For Eye-Catching Winter Curb Appeal

Some home sellers feel that there’s little point in maintaining great curb appeal in the winter because they think that buyers don’t come out in bad weather.

Well, there are definitely fewer buyers than at other times of the year, that’s for sure. But those buyers who do come out are committed and more likely to buy. So, winter has weeded out the “looky-loos” for you!

Therefore, you want to make your home as appealing as possible even when there’s six inches of snow on the ground. Here are some practical guidelines for doing just that.

(yes, these are a LOT of hyperlinks - but they will take you to useful places around the web where you can learn more about the specific guideline that I recommend)
 
Guideline 1

Update the front-door lighting; bright and cheerful lighting is always welcome on a winter’s day. Plus, it can really frame the entrance in an appealing way.

(http://www.dulley.com/llightout.shtml)

Guideline 2

Think about putting colorful urns or planters on either side of the front door. Evergreens, holly or poinsettias in the planters will provide a wonderful appearance and smell!

(http://www.statue.com/garden-vases.html)

Guideline 3

If your welcome mat is old, frayed or worn out, replace it to avoid the appearance that you don’t keep up the maintenance of the house.

(http://tinyurl.com/CoolOutdoorMats)

Guideline 4

If your address numbers are hard to read, replace them with larger ones. Remember, in winter it gets dark earlier, and you don’t want to make it a chore for potential buyers to find you.

(http://www.customhousenumbers.com/)

Guideline 5

Definitely make sure the sidewalks, driveways, etc. are free of snow and ice! This is not only a “curb appeal” issue, but one of safety. The last thing you want is for potential buyers to end up on their backs and possibly injured!

(Tips for Snow and Ice Removal)

Guideline 6

Everybody loves holiday decorations – except when they’re grossly overdone. You want the attention of buyers to focus on your home, not any yard displays. So, by all means, put up decorations, but make sure they don’t overpower your home.

(http://www.holidaybrightlights.com/)

So, there you have six guidelines for maintaining curb appeal in the winter! If you’d like more advice on selling your home during this season (or any other time of the year), contact me today at sclark@deebrealestate.com or 402.305.4335! Hey, maybe you’ll have some good suggestions for me as well!

Want to Sell Your Home Faster? Put It On “Stage!”

Basically, home staging is the art making the interior of your home look as appealing as possible so that when potential buyers enter, they say to themselves, “Wow, this really looks nice! It looks like it’s worth the price.”

There are two ways to do home staging. If you have an eye for interior design, you can do it yourself. If you don’t (or don’t have the time), then you can hire a professional home stager.

Think of pro home stagers as being like set designers for a play. They know how to “set the stage” in precisely the right way to impress any potential buyer visiting your home.

In general, when a home stager comes into your home, he or she will eliminate any clutter, arrange furniture, and help you enhance interior (or exterior) appeal in every way possible.

The charges may be on an hourly basis or a flat fee.

For information on home staging professionals, google “Home Staging Professionals” to see who’s available in your area. Or, check out these sources on the Internet:

STAGEDHOMES.COM and The Real Estate Staging Association

Now, what if you want to stage your home through your own efforts? Well, I have some tips for you.

Unfortunately, I don’t have enough space in this article to cover every room in the house, so I’ll talk about one of the first spaces potential buyers see – the living room.

Staging the Living Room

Arrange the room in a manner that makes it feel spacious and open. If it’s cluttered and hard to walk through, remove furniture or other items and put them in storage.

And speaking of furniture, if it’s old or worn, consider renting furniture to temporarily replace it. At the least, buy slip covers to hide any items that are slightly worn.

Also, put away any family portraits or personal items. You want buyers to feel like they could live in this space immediately.

A new coat of paint never hurts. Be sure to choose a warm, somewhat neutral color. Think softer shades of blue, brown, green, or the ever-popular beige.

If you have a fireplace in the room, definitely make it the “star of the show.” Fireplaces conjure up images of warm, cozy times with the family gathered around for a nice evening. To emphasize this image, arrange the furniture so it faces the fireplace.

You’ll know you’ve achieved your home staging goal when people just naturally want to sit down and spend time in your living room!

Now, I know you’ll want more tips on how to stage the rest of your home, and I’d be happy to discuss them with you. To learn about those tips, contact me today at 402.305.4335 or at sclark@deebrealestate.com, and we’ll have a great chat about how to arrange your interior for maximum effect upon potential buyers!