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!

Should I Sell My House Myself?

Should I sell my house without a Realtor?

This is a question that thousands of home owners ask themselves every year. Selling your home can be a long and complex process. Before you make a decision, consider how you will deal with the following 4 major components to selling a house: pricing, marketing, showings, and drawing up the contract.

Pricing Your Home

Your first responsibility as a seller is to assign your home a realistic and accurate value, meaning the price you choose does not exceed what a ready and able buyer will pay. As part of that decision you will have to objectively consider comparable properties in your area and current market conditions, as well as the cost of financing and its availability. Your home needs to be in line with comparable properties and market trends, you don’t want your home to linger on the market if you price it too high or sell for a lower price than you might have otherwise received if you price it too low. Also keep in mind that “For Sale By Owner” homes typically attract bargain hunters who may expect you to lower your price since the know you are saving money with no Realtor commission.

Marketing Your Home

When you decide to list your home, it is extremely important to make sure people know that your home is for sale. Realtors have a number of ways to make sure the public knows that your house is on the market. As a Realtor, I can list your house on a number of different sites, including the MLS (multiple listing service), which is a forum where participating real estate agents can list properties they have for sale. Only Realtors have access to the MLS. This means that for you to successfully market your own house, you need to consider doing one or more of the following:
• Put up signage that is consistent with local ordinances
• Develop and pay for advertising in print and online
• Hold open houses
• Work to ensure your home gets good word of mouth exposure amount your friends , neighbors and community organizations

Showing Your Home

You will be responsible for all showings of your home. With that in mind, always encourage prospects to make an appointment and discourage drop ins. Work to screen the “buyers” from the “lookers.” You should also pre-qualify potential buyers to ensure they can afford to buy your home. When the time comes to negotiate, you will need to be prepared. Try to resolve any doubts your buyers might have, work to keep their interest high and make final agreement as quickly and efficiently as possible. Once an offer is made, agree on the price and terms, respond to objections and try to be responsive and flexible to legitimate concerns.

Drawing up the Contract

Every independent home seller should have an attorney or another qualified individual to review all agreements. That individual should be the one to draw up the contract and manage the sale proceedings and closing. You should be sure to include a list of items you want written into the contract, including any personal property that will remain with the house (like the refrigerator, microwave, oven, dishwasher, etc.) or items excluded from the sale. Also remember as the seller you are required to disclose any material defects in your property to the purchaser.

Selling your own home takes a lot of hard work and know how. Making even a small mistake can be costly. Working with a Realtor gives you the services of an experience professional with advanced training in residential sales. Not only will that free you up from time consuming tasks involved with selling your home, it gives you the added expertise to help maximize the profit from your home. Consider all of the above before you decide to sell your house without a Realtor. Still not sure? Call me and let’s set up a no-obligation meeting to discuss what it would be like to hire me to sell your home.