Frequently Asked Real Estate Questions-Ep. 17

What should I do to get my home SOLD FAST?

This is a great question! You are ready to move into a new house, maybe you need a smaller house or a larger house, or you have been relocated to a new city or you just want to take advantage of the amazing low interest rates and move into your dream home. Whatever the reason you want to get your house sold quickly and move on. What are some tips to get your house sold fast?

If you price your house correctly, present it well and hire the right agent, you will get your house sold! I want to cover a few simple tips you can do to present your house in the best way to perspective buyers, which will result in you getting your house sold quickly.

1. Neutral Colors! This is a must. I understand that everyone’s favorite color is not tan and beige, but that is the color palette your walls need to be in when trying to sell it. Buyers want to be able to MOVE RIGHT IN. Which means, they need/want the walls to be neutral so no matter what color their furniture is, it will work with the existing wall colors.

2. Remove Clutter! Another must! I know people do not live in a clutter free home all the time, but when you have it listed for sale, it needs to be clutter free!

3. Light! Open the blinds and let it shine in. Leave lights on for showings and add a lamp to a room that is dark.

4. Clean! Clean like you never have before. Windows, under beds, closets, floor trim, ceiling fans etc…a clean house sells faster, no doubt about it! Buyers can tell the difference and will feel like the house has been well taken care of, which will put it to the top of their list.

5. Smell! What does your house smell like? No matter what you think every house has a scent. You need to make sure your house scent is a good one. Clean and fresh is the goal. DO NOT use strong room sprays before showings, and if you have pets, make sure the buyers cannot smell their odors.

These are my top 5 presentation tips. If you or someone you know has a house to sell quickly, I want to help! There is no cost or obligation to meet with me and discuss how we can get your house sold!

Is it easier to buy a car or a home?

Is it easier to buy a car or a home?

This is a trick question. For me, the process of buying a new home is easier. I would guess that is not the case for most. I recently bought a new car and found it interesting to be in the buyers “seat”. It was a great reminder of how my clients feel when they decide to begin the process of buying a new home.

Lucky for me, I stumbled upon working with a great car salesman. I knew what kind of car I wanted and no one I knew could provide me with a referral for a salesman who sold that type of car, so I had to enter the “ring” and hope for the best. His approach was exactly what I needed it to be. He was friendly, NOT pushy and was a wealth of knowledge about the car and the process. This is how I am with my clients as well. I want to be their best resource, not just sell them a house.

He let me test drive the car and explore all of the cars features. Once I was ready to purchase, he handed me off to the finance department, but stayed involved during that process to make sure I was taken care of and all my questions were answered. Again, exactly what I do with my clients.

Once the car was mine he went over all the final details and congratulated me on my new purchase. Later that week, he sent me a Thank You card with my picture in front of my new car. He was a professional from start to finish. He made sure I knew everything I needed to know along the way and followed up with me afterwards to make sure all was well.

This is the kind of treatment you will get working with me as your agent. He reminded me how important it is to provide each client with the service they deserve! I will work hard for you or anyone you know looking to buy, sell, build or invest in real estate. Please refer me on, so your friends and family do not have to rely on luck to get the service they deserve.

Anyone who is looking for a wonderful car-buying experience, give Joel a call!

Joel Patton
Stan Olsen Hyundai
Sales Since 1995
402-397-8300
j.patton@stanolsen.com

Frequently Asked Real Estate Questions-Ep. 16

Should I list my home now, or wait until spring?

NOW! NOW! NOW!

More home owners wait until spring/summer to list their house than any other time of the year. Why? If you list now there are fewer homes on the market and fewer homes for buyers to pick from. There are about 1000 less homes on the market now VS spring/summer. You don’t want to follow the crowd you want to stand out.

One other VERY important fact is interest rates are LOW! They are low NOW! No one knows what they will be like in a few more months. If interest rates go up a quarter or half a percent, which will most likely happen due to the laws of supply and demand, your payment will go up for the house you are planning on purchasing once you sell your current house. If your payment goes up $20 a month over 30 years that is $7,200 over the life of the loan.

Don’t wait! List your home now and beat the spring/summer rush. Call, email or text me today for a complimentary comparative market analyst to determine the value of your home and the next steps to get it listed as soon as possible.

Frequently Asked Real Estate Questions-Ep. 15

Is now the best time to buy a new home?

Every time the mortgage interest rates go down, I am shocked. I remember refinancing at 5.25% thinking there was NO WAY I was going to get a lower rate than that. BUT here we are with historically low rates once again! So once again, I must say, there has NEVER been a better time to purchase a new home.

Homes are valued priced, interest rates are at historic lows and sellers are motivated to get their house sold, not to mention there are lots of options to pick from. That means it is a buyer’s market!

The winter weather has been great for house shopping. Historically, mortgage rates go up some in the spring time. I don’t think they will go up a ton, but every little bit adds up quickly over a 30 year loan. If you are planning to do something this spring, don’t wait! Let’s get started now before everyone else does.

This is an exciting time in real estate! I truly enjoy helping people find the right home, at a price and payment they are comfortable with. Please pass my information on to someone you know that wants to buy a new house this year!

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays! I wish you all an amazing 2012! This is a link to a video that the Omaha Chamber of Commerce put together to show Omaha all dressed up for the season. I think Omaha is great all year long, but I do enjoy driving around and seeing all the lights this time of year.

As you know I can help you or someone you know with buying, selling, building or investing in real estate, but also keep me in mind for other service needs you may have. I have been working hard to build my business based on referrals and have met many great people along the way that I would be happy to share with you.

I hope you have been enjoying my “frequently asked questions” blog updates. Let me know if you have a real estate question that I can help you with!

http://youtu.be/rrzltVKkDx4

Frequently Asked Real Estate Questions-Ep. 14

I want to build a new home, where do I begin?

The process of building a new home can be overwhelming if you have never done it before. The first place to start is with your Realtor. You want to make sure you have a Realtor on your side during the process, don’t just use the builders Realtor, they are working for the builder, not for you!

If you want to build a new home in 2012, today is a great time to start the process. Interest rates are still extremely low and in most cases you can lock in the rate while you build. There a few different loan options available for you when building a new home. I can help connect you to a mortgage professional with the experience and knowledge to place you in the right loan.

You want to make sure you work with a great builder. I can help with this. I know and have worked with several builders and can help guide you in the right direction based on what your needs and wants are.

Building a new home can be an exciting process if you let me work for you while building it. Give me a call and let’s set up a meeting to discuss what your wants and needs are.

Frequently Asked Real Estate Questions-Ep. 13

What is a short-sale?

A short-sale happens when a home owner does not have enough money or equity to cover the mortgage(s) to release the lien placed against the property. The owner must request that the lender accept a lesser amount than owed and release the lien against the property.

What about commissions and cost to sell?

These costs become part of the short sale and you, the seller, are requesting the lender pay these costs for you.

I have successfully completed many short sales. If you or someone you know has questions about the short sale process, please reach out to me. Let’s discuss a short sale in detail and see if it is the next best step for you. If you do enter into a short sale situation, please be sure you are working with an agent who knows how to work short sales and has had success getting them closed in the past.

If you are a buyer looking to buy a short sale property you want to make sure you understand the process as well. A short sale transaction will take longer than a non-short sale transaction and you need to be prepared for what can happen along the way. Again, be sure to work with an agent who knows the short sale process.

Please keep me in mind if you or someone you know is looking to buy, sell, build or invest in real estate. I appreciate your referrals!