Have you outgrown your current home? Here are five ways to tell if it’s time to upgrade. Your home is your castle, your own little piece of the American dream. But lately, your little corner of the world has been feeling cramped and you find yourself eyeing larger homes. Is it time to pull up stakes and move on from your starter home? Growing Family If you've added to your family in recent years, you may have more bodies than bedrooms. A two-bedroom home may have been a great idea when it was just you and your spouse, but with two kids, you're starting to have turf wars over the play area. Overflowing With Stuff From an overflowing toy chest to closets packed so tightly with shoes and coats you risk an avalanche every time you open the door, your home just doesn't have the space to keep all your things. You may have even had to move some things off-site, spending money to rent storage space to keep that antique dresser your grandmother left you or the set of state spoons … [Read more...]
Homes Sell Faster When Marketed as ‘Coming Soon’ First”
"Homes Sell Faster When Marketed as 'Coming Soon' First" - Research indicates that properties marketed as "coming soon" before being listed on the MLS generally sell faster. Amanda McMillan of Chicago-based @properties says the strategy "creates excitement so that when we do list [on the MLS], we hit with a bigger bang. People are reaching out to us, trying to get in earlier." According to off MLS CEO Bob Safranski, 173 Chicago homes posted first on off MLS and then later on the local MLS spent 28 days on average as "active" in the local MLS before going under contract, compared to an average of 42 days for homes in the same ZIP codes that were not posted on off MLS first. He says the analysis offers "compelling ... evidence of the value of pre-MLS marketing on off MLS." However, agents in Chicago and other markets must obtain written permission from sellers to withhold listings from the local MLS for longer than a certain amount of time after a listing contract is … [Read more...]
Making Home Affordable (MHA) Program
WHAT IS MAKING HOME AFFORDABLE (MHA) ALL ABOUT? Making Home Affordable (MHA) Program is a critical part of the Administration's broad strategy to help homeowners avoid foreclosure and stabilize the nation's housing market. Eligible homeowners can lower their monthly mortgage payments and get into more stable loans at today's low interest rates. And for those homeowners for whom ownership is no longer affordable or desirable, the program can provide a way out that avoids foreclosure. There are also options for unemployed homeowners and homeowners who owe more than their homes are worth. ABOUT SERVICERS HOME AFFORDABLE REFINANCE PROGRAM (HARP) I'm current on my mortgage. Is it possible to refinance my loan under HARP? Yes. Eligible homeowners, who are current on their mortgages but have been unable to take advantage of lower interest rates because their homes have decreased in value, may have the opportunity to refinance. Through HARP, Fannie Mae and … [Read more...]
Helping Military Veterans and Active Duty Military Buy a Home
Helping Military Veterans and Active Duty Military buy a home has gotten a bit easier. Now, CDA offers the Maryland Home front program which provides military veterans and active duty military with a special interest rate discount of 0.25% for a 30-year, fixed rate mortgage. This program can also be used in combination with the $5,000 plus or more down payment and closing cost monies that are offered through the program. A refresher course on CDA loans...if you have not owned a home in the past three years in the State of Maryland - there is an EXCELLENT chance that you will be eligible for down payment monies and/or closing cost help of $5,000 at a MINIMUM. And even if you have owned a home in the past three years there are targeted areas where you can buy again without the 3 year wait. For example - the entire City of Baltimore is classified as targeted so anyone can get $5,000 CDA down payment monies and or closing cost help as long as they don't own any other … [Read more...]
Selling Home
Home Upgrades with the Lowest ROI File these six upgrades under wish fulfillment, not value investment. Read 7 Smart Strategies for Kitchen Remodeling Follow these seven strategies to get the most financial gain on your kitchen remodel. Read 10 Inside Tips From a Designer Who Specializes in Small Baths A New York City designer shares secrets to making a small bath both functional and beautiful. Read How to Pick Paint Colors Paint has remodeling power when you use it to emphasize a room’s best features or play down the flaws. Read Smart Options: Basement Flooring Keeping your basement dry and free of condensation is key to installing the basement flooring of your choice. Read Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this. Copyright 2014 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® … [Read more...]
Selling a Home with Feng Shui
Selling a home with Feng Shui in mind may lead to a fast sale! Reducing clutter in a room can be an overwhelming task for many sellers. Many Realtors recommend the traditional Chinese practice of Feng Shui. The basis of Feng Shui is to arrange items to harmonize with surrounding spiritual forces. The ancient practice hit mainstream sellers several years ago,and now real estate professionals are joining in on the harmonizing bandwagon. The idea is that potential buyers may feel more comfortable and happy in a home that is arranged a’la Feng Shui. Selling your home involves creating a feeling that buyers will have about the home space…..Don’t be alarmed if your home’s front door faces west instead of east or is more southwestern than Asian. Creating a little Zen in your den will help raise its chi – and the possibility of a sale. Here are a few tips to bring a bit of Feng Shui into your home and life. > Simplicity Sells. Remove excess clutter and knick knacks from the room. … [Read more...]
Price It Right
Price it right! Yes, this explosive term means a lot when you are getting ready to list your house for sale. Arriving at the right price is no sales secret to ensure a successful sale. Pricing your home too high increases the chances that the home may not sell within a designated time frame. Although you may have tastefully decorated or extensively renovated your home to your lifestyle, some buyers may not see the home as a place they can call home. Consider that your improvements may or may not have an effect on the market value of the home. In fact, personalized decorating can even slow down the activity unless the style appeals to a wider population. Real estate agents are now able to upload multiple photos, virtual tours, property banners and headlines of your property features. And, buyers can sit at home in their PJ’s to preview your property. To price it right, the sales price must be based on several factors: • Size of the house and its special features and … [Read more...]
Home Staging
Home staging prepares a home to sell while maximizing the home’s appeal to potential buyers. It can be considered a form of advertising, i.e., the process highlights a home’s positive features while minimizing any negatives. Statistically speaking, Home Staging has proven to be an effective marketing tool to sell a home faster and at top market value. There are many benefits to sellers to stage their homes. Obtaining the best sales price is one benefit that’s at the top of the list when presenting Home Staging to sellers. Just imagine how the Home Staging process can increase your final sales price. We know that a buyer’s emotions play a big role in their decision to purchase a particular home. Besides, sellers can write off the fees from the Home Staging services as an “Advertising Fee” which can influence a seller’s capital gain or loss on a property that has been sold. Staged homes look better than non-staged homes in the same price range and neighborhood. In addition, … [Read more...]