Why Do Families Buy a Home?

Why Do Families Buy a Home?

Everyone has an opinion of why the dream of home ownership is so important to most Americans. Study after study reveals the same five reasons families decide to buy a home.

1. Want a good place to raise children.
2. Want a place where their family feels safe.
3. Want more living space.
4. Want control of that living space.
5. Realize that owning makes better financial sense than renting.

If any of these five reasons apply to you and your family, perhaps it is time for you to buy a home. With both prices and interest rates raising, waiting will only increase your monthly cost.

Call me today and let’s set up a time to go over the process and get a plan in place to make your dream of home ownership come true!

Should I Wait For Interest Rates to Come Back Down?

Should I wait for interest rates to come back down?

Some buyers are waiting to see if interest rates will come back down before making a decision about buying a home. No one can guarantee where rates will be in a few months.

Many experts believe rates may actually move higher. The Mortgage Brokers Association, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the National Association of Realtors are in agreement projecting that rates will continue to climb.

Rates have increased over the past 18 months. There have been some dips along the way, but overall mortgage rates are higher.

With home prices increasing and interest rates projected to also continue to increase, the cost of buying a house will quickly increase and has over the past year.

If you are ready and the time is right for you and your family to move, do it now. Don’t wait for something you cannot control. Let’s meet and come up with a plan to get you moving. Please share this with anyone you know looking to make a move in the next few months.

Should I sell my house during the holiday season?

Should I sell my house during the holiday season?

Traditional school of thought says selling a home during the holiday season is a bad idea, the reason being that people are too busy celebrating with family and won’t have time to shop for a new home. I disagree! There are many advantages to listing a house during the holiday season.

1. More Serious Buyers! The buyers who are out looking during this time are serious buyers. This increases the changes of selling your property quickly. You may have fewer showings during this time, but the showings you do have will most likely be buyers more driven to make a purchase!

2. Fewer Homes on the Market! This means less completion for you. During the peak of the season there is a greater selection of houses to purchase.

3. Buyers Have More Time! Many people think buyers are too busy to look during this time, but actually most people take time off of work during the holiday season and have more time to browse homes.

4. Job Transfers! January is typically the month employees are transferred to new positions. Many of these buyers need to move quickly and cannot wait until spring to make a purchase.

5. Home Shows Great! A home is very appealing to prospective buyers when it is decorated for the holidays. With festive décor and lights, done right, the house shows very well and feels like a home.

If you don’t want to move during the holiday season, extended occupancy can be negotiated allowing both parties the time they want to get through the holidays and close after the new year. For a seller this is great, because you can secure a higher selling price on the property before the market is inundated with new listings that come in January.

Don’t let the holiday season keep you from listing your house. I have a plan to get your house sold no matter what season it is! Call me today to get started or share this with someone you know looking to make a move.

What 5 Things Should I Require From My Real Estate Agent?

What 5 things should I require from my real estate agent?

Are you thinking of selling your house? Are you dreading dealing with the process of it? Are you concerned about getting the best price? Are you worried about having strangers in your house?

Hiring a professional real estate agent can take away most the challenges of selling. A great agent is always worth the commission she charges, just like a great doctor or accountant. You want to deal with the best agents in your area. How do you know if they are the best? Require these 5 things!

1. Honesty and Accuracy in Pricing Your House
Many agents will tell you the price you want to hear to get the listing, but overpricing is one of the main reasons a house will sit on the market without selling. Demand that the agent shows you numbers and how she came to the price she suggests. Make sure she stands behind the list price.

2. Understanding of Your Time Frame
You will be moving your family to a new home. That may revolve around a new job, start of a new school, or whatever your move plan is. Your agent needs to know the time frame you need to have your house sold in to ensure it happens.

3. Ability to Negotiate
Your agent MUST know how to handle all challenges that may arise. An agent’s ability to negotiate is critical in this market.

4. Help with Your Relocation
Make sure the agent you hire is capable and willing to help you find your next house. The coordination of the move is crucial. You want to make sure you don’t end up with two housing expenses. You should in most cases be able to close on your current home and immediately close on and move into your new home.

5. Get the House Sold!
You are putting yourself and your family through the process of moving. You are moving on with your life in some way. The reason is important or you would not be dealing with the headaches and challenges that come with selling. Selling your house is why you hired an agent. A great agent will walk you through any tough issues and be able to deliver the good news of a quickly sold house.

If you or someone you know is looking to move, you can count on me to be the great agent you deserve!

Am I Ready to Move?

Am I ready to move?

An efficient, well-managed move not only saves you time and money, it can also make the transition into your new home easier and more pleasant for your family. Here are some proven tips to help make your move less stressful from start to finish.
The before you move checklist:

1. Hire movers.
2. Take a room by room inventory of your home.
3. Organize your belongings.
4. Arrange for the shut off or transfer of your utilities.
5. Complete change of address from your post office.
6. Give your friends and family your new address.
7. Obtain copies of all medical and dental records, school transcripts and birth certificates.

Packing tips:

1. Label contents on the outside of each box to indicate where they will go in your new home.
2. Write FRAGILE in large, legible letters on boxes that contain breakable and/or valuable items.
3. Pack all breakables and liquids separately.
4. To conserve space, fill drawers with light items such as shirts, underwear, blankets, pillowcases, etc.
5. Hard to replace or extremely valuable items such as jewelry, documents or artwork should also be transferred under your personal supervision.

What to do when moving day arrives:

1. Get plenty of rest the day before you move.
2. Have food and beverages available for the movers at both ends of your journey.
3. When the movers arrive, show them which items you want loaded last and which items they should not load.
4. When you arrive at your new house, check the utilities and do as much cleaning as you can before moving furniture inside.
5. After the movers have finished unloading, you might be asked to sign an inventory list.

Plan something special for the whole family at the end of the day. Planning ahead will make the day go smoother. Please share this with someone you know thinking of moving soon!

Is My House Priced to Sell?

Is my house priced to sell?

The right price means a successful sale. Pricing your home is an art and a science. Achieving the optimal price is the result both of objective research into comparable properties and a gut feeling about your property and the current market. The right price should always attract buyers, allow you to earn the most money possible and help you sell as quickly as possible.

The number one factor that helps homebuyers determine which homes they want to view is price. It is important to remember that you, as the home owner, set the price, but the home’s value is determined by the buyer. Overpricing is a common mistake that can cost you in the end.

Here are some factors you should consider when determining price:
1. The timeframe in which you need to sell
2. The amount of competition in your price category and area
3. The availably, flexibility and affordability of financing
4. The sale prices of similar homes sold in your area during the past 3-6 months

Here are some factors you should NOT consider when determining price:
1. The original cost of the property; price is determined by today’s market
2. The cost to build your home today
3. Emotional attachment
4. The opinions of friend and neighbors.

Problems can arise from overpricing. Your home may stay on the market longer. You could lose market interest and qualified buyers. You might create a negative impression of the property.
Hiring an agent can help you avoid overpricing. With a mix of real world experience and advanced training, I can help compute the fair market value of your home based on both marketplace and personal considerations. Remember, the right price is the key to a successful sale. Work with me to price your home accurately the first time.

Should I Rent or Own?

Should I Rent or Own?

For some people renting a property may be the right choice, both financially and personally. Which is right for you? Consider the following:

1. Which will cost less each month?
Rent can still be affordable, but you should compare it to what a mortgage payment would be for a similar property. If your potential monthly mortgage payment would be lower than your monthly rent, it might be time to buy.

2. Which offers more value?
A home is an investment. A rental property is an expense. Home ownership allows you to build up equity over time.

3. Which offers more stability?
As a renter, you are subject not only to rising rental expenses, but also to the sale of your building or home. As an owner your home belongs to you until you are ready to move.

4. Which is better for your credit?
Home ownership is a major indictor of financial responsibility and stability, which contribute to building a strong credit history.

5. Which helps you to establish roots?
Unlike homeowners, renters are more mobile and often don’t establish roots in a community.

No question about it, homeownership is a big investment, maybe the largest you’ll ever make. Over time it pays for itself. There are several tax and investment benefits to owning a home, as well as personal satisfaction. You will enjoy the pride of homeownership; for many people, it is a sign of independence and achievement. Call me and let’s figure out if homeownership is the best choice for you!