Frequently Asked Real Estate Questions-Ep. 12

How is the Market?

I am asked this question at LEAST twice a week.
Location, Location, Location! A very important topic in real estate. Omaha is one of the best “locations” to be in. Greater Omaha in 2011 has received numerous rankings and recognitions:

• #1-10 Best Value Cities in 2011-Kiplinger July 2011 issue
• #3-Places with Good Jobs & Cheap Housing- Yahoo! Finance July 2011
• #5-Best Cities for Young Professionals-Forbes July 2011 issue
• #10-Fastest Selling Cities in America- Reatlor.com May 2011
• #19-Healthiest Housing Markets for 2011- Builder March 2011
• #1-America’s Most Affordable Cities-Forbes January 2011 issue
• One of America’s Lowest Risk Housing Markets-SmartMoney.com January 2011

Omaha is a great place to be! The overall housing market is one of the best in the nation. If you price your house correctly and present it well, your house will sell. It is EXTREMELY important to remember that each area of the nation has different market conditions. Yes, Omaha does have short sales and foreclosures, but WAY LESS than other major markets.

If you are in the market to buy, this truly is the BEST time to buy I have ever seen. Interest rates are low and houses are priced to sell. Not to mention there are some really HOT deals out there if you purchase a short sale or foreclosure.
So the answer is, the Market is GREAT! Hire an agent that understands how to get you the best results in any market. Please keep me in mind if you or someone you know is looking to buy, sell, build or invest in real estate. Call, text or email me with any questions, anytime. Call or text me at 402-305-4335, email me at susan@gosusanclark.com.

Frequently Asked Real Estate Questions-Ep. 11

What repairs should I make to my home before I list it for sale?

Great question! Odds are there are a few things you will need to do around the your home before you put it on the market. I suggest that you take a good look all around your house. Go room to room and look at it top to bottom. Make a list of things you see that could use some attention. Even if you are just noting things that need cleaned, it is a good way to make sure you don’t forget anything.

After your list is complete call me over to walk your house with you. Another set of eyes will find some other things that need done most the time and is better to take care of them now, before you list. Also, an agent will notice more things. I am out showing buyers houses all the time, I know what they are looking at and what they look for, it is good information for you the seller to know a head of time.

You can also have your home pre-inspected by a licensed home inspector. This will cost you a couple hundred dollars, but the findings could save you thousands. Once you have the results you can fix the items on the report prior to listing. The advantage to that is you can pick who does the repairs. So if it is something you are able to do yourself you can. Once it is under contract, most times the buyer will want the repair completed by a licensed professional and could cost you more money.

If you take care of the little things and make sure your house is in tip top shape, buyers will notice and will want to buy your house. It will sell faster, saving you time and money. If you are thinking of listing or know someone who is and have some questions about what items you should fix first, just call or email me. I would be happy to discuss it with you or stop by and provide my opinion.

Frequently Asked Real Estate Questions-Ep. 10

Will adding landscaping help my home sell?

Landscaping does make a difference, both positively and negatively. A well landscaped house has a higher perceived value then one with minimal landscaping. The minimal landscaping can actually detract from the homes value. The good news is landscaping does not have to cost a lot. You can save money by doing a lot of things yourself.

Start by measuring your property and drawing up a basic layout. Include all the areas you would like to add landscaping and make improvements. You can add up the costs of each section and decide what you can accomplish based on your budget.
Be practical. Some sensible improvements such as fencing, lighting, equipment storage, privacy and security can protect your property value. You don’t have to add a formal garden or water features.

If you want to hire a professional ask around for referrals, so ask me!

Will adding landscaping help my home sell? YES! It does not have to cost a lot and should be seriously considered by any homeowners planning to put their home on the market.

Freguently Asked Real Estate Questions-Ep. 9

Do I need a 20% down payment to buy a home?

Nope. There are options. The media makes it sound like getting a mortgage is next to impossible these days, but that is just not true. If you provide the information your mortgage lender needs up front, the process will be less stressful. There are many financing options out there, but I want to highlight just a few in this post.

FHA financing allows you to put as little as 3.5% down. The maximum loan amount for a single family home is $271,050 for FHA. So if you are planning to buy a home for around $280,000 or less, check out this option when you are getting pre-approved to purchase.

VA financing still allows you to put ZERO down. You usually know if you are eligible for VA benefits or not, but if you are wondering check out www.vba.va.gov to find out more.

Conventional financing will allow you to put as little at 5% down, but you will have to pay a higher monthly mortgage insurance premium than you may like, but the option is still available.

I encourage you to meet with a professional mortgage lender to explore all your options if you will be thinking of buying a home soon. Know that you do not have to have a 20% down payment to buy your next home. If you need a referral for a great lender just call, email, or text me, I know some really great ones that I would be more than happy to refer you to.

Frequently Asked Real Estate Questions-Ep. 8

How can I tell if my new neighborhood will be safe?

This question comes up a lot when a client is un sure of what area of the metro they would like to live in and they want to know more information about safety. Unfortunately there are areas of the metro that are perceived to be less safe than others and therefore less desirable to live in.

I encourage clients to drive around the neighborhood a few different times at different times of the day in a particular area they are interested in. Park and take a walk for a few blocks and see what kind of vibe you get. If you see someone who lives in the neighborhood outside, ask them what they think of the neighborhood. You can mention to them you are looking at house nearby and just wanted some feedback about the location from someone living there. Most people love to help and would be happy to take a few minutes to discuss this with you.

You want to make sure you are going to feel safe and comfortable in your new home, take the time to check out the neighborhood of your potential new home if you have any concerns.

Here are a few great websites that can help.
www.neighborhoodscout.com
www.crimereports.com
www.nsp.state.ne.us/sor

Frequently Asked Real Estate Questions-Ep. 7

Could I buy a home instead of renting?

I recently read an article that said the number one reason people tend to rent instead of buy is because they “assume” or are “scared” that they cannot qualify for a loan to purchase a home. That got me thinking…I bet that is true. I remember back to when I purchased my first home, I knew nothing about the process. I did not think I could purchase a home either. Thankfully I learned that it was possible. Times have changed but there are still first time home buyer loan options available, that allow you a small down payment and a great rate.

Before you sign your next lease to rent, just take the time to meet with a mortgage loan specialist to see if it is possible for you to qualify to purchase a home. If so, they will help you determine the purchase price you qualify for with the payment your are comfortable with. People are often surprised after they see the type of home they could purchase with what they are currently paying monthly in a rent payment.

I know some top notch mortgage loan specialist that will meet with you and help get you on the way to owning your own home. Call, email or text me for a referral.

Frequently Asked Real Estate Questions-Ep. 6

How much would my home sell for?


Are you are thinking about listing your home for sale, but are not sure how much to list it for? Maybe you are just curious what you could sell it for, if you decided to list it down the road. How do you find out the best price?

Call me! I am more than happy to do the research and work for you. No cost or obligation. EVEN if you want to try to sell your house for sale by owner, I will still help you determine the best price to list it at. All I ask is that if you decide to list it with an agent you interview me for the job.

There are several websites out there you can pull data from and plenty of neighbors to ask what they bought their house for or how much they have it listed at, and this MIGHT get you in the ball park. What you really and MUST do is contact an agent to help you with this. We know the market and see several homes a week to compare yours to. We know what it will take to get your home sold. You have to price your home competitively to get it sold in today’s market.

If you are thinking of listing your home for sale, and need to know how much to sell it for, call me! 402-305-4335. Anytime! It's my cell. If you know of someone else thinking of selling send this information on to them, I would love to lend a hand!