buyers: Housing is economy's elephant in the room - 02/08/12 11:07 AM
In a double surprise, the job market may at last have begun to revive, but the double-the-forecast, 243,000-job surge in January has done little harm to mortgages. We are still near 4 percent; with 10-year Treasury notes up from 1.82 percent but holding nicely at 1.95 percent.
Ordinarily a payroll jump like this would have killed us, especially in combination with strong results in the two Institute for Supply Management surveys for January: manufacturing to 54.1 from 53.1 in December, and the service sector way up to 56.8 from 52.6 last month.
Some of the calm reaction in markets … (1 comments)
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buyers: Sellers: Don't overdo it on home improvements - 02/02/12 07:34 AM
Homeowners who are thinking about selling this year should be aware of what today's buyers are looking for in a home. It will affect what you should do to get your home ready for sale, and how you should price it.
A survey by the National Association of REALTORS® in 2011 found that buyers favor walkable neighborhoods that are close to shops, restaurants and local businesses over neighborhoods that require more driving between home, work and recreation.
According to the survey, 77 percent of the respondents said they would look for pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods. Improvement in public transportation was favored over … (4 comments)
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buyers: Want to Provide Great Service? Get to the Heart of the Matter - 09/07/11 10:01 AM
Actions that are driven by the heart play a big part in our personal relationships. The question is: What role do they have in business? While the business arena may seem like another world – one that relies on number crunching and tough decisions – it's important to remember that the major force behind any successful business is the level of service it provides to its customers. What you are about to discover is that elevating your company's service also means elevating the intention behind it. Johnny the Bagger... A True Story Johnny is a bagger at a grocery store. Not … (2 comments)
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buyers: IRS's top 10 tax tips for home sellers - 08/18/11 08:38 AM
From time to time the IRS releases tips designed to help people with their taxes. Some of these are quite useful.
Last week the agency released "Ten Tax Tips for Individuals Selling Their Home," (IRS Summertime Tax Tip 2011-15).
As a real estate agent or broker, it is not your job to give home sellers tax advice. Indeed, it is advisable not to, since you could end up getting sued if you give wrong advice.
Instead, refer sellers to this list of IRS tips. It's a good starting place for them to begin to understand this often complex area of tax … (2 comments)
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buyers: Moving Up? Doing It Now May Make Sense - 05/16/11 10:16 AM
An issue that may have a gigantic impact on the housing market later this year is the lowering of the conforming loan limits. Without an act of Congress, these limits will return to the lower limits that existed prior to 2008. Today, we want to shed light on this issue and what it means to someone thinking about buying either a first home or move-up home valued over $400,000 in certain markets in the country.
What is the ‘Conforming Loan Limit’? The ‘conforming loan limit’ sets the maximum loan amount, which either Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac are allowed to purchase … (1 comments)
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buyers: So You Want to Sell Your Own Home? - 12/15/10 06:26 PM
FSBO, or For Sale by Owner, has become a popular topic in real estate. Five years ago when homes were selling in a week, it wasn't hard to get a contract and close within 30 days. Today, professional realtors spend hundreds in advertising, countless hours negotiating and stay up late to oversee the transactional details.
It is still a challenge to sell a home these days.
A homeowner can sell their own home but they need to have a few tools in their back pocket and lots of knowledge. They should also know when they're at the point that they need … (0 comments)
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buyers: Home (of Your Own) for the Holidays? Now May Be the Perfect Time to Buy - 12/11/10 08:25 AM
There's no place like home for creating memories. And no place like home for the holidays. While it may sound a bit crazy to add this to your shopping list...this holiday season could be the very best time in history to give yourself the gift of a new home.
While there are a number of advantages to purchasing a home, and especially during the holiday season, there is a confluence of factors that make this year's season a bit more special than past years.
Rates at Historic LowsInterest rates have been dancing around the all-time-low mark for some time. But did … (2 comments)
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buyers: Struggling to sell your home - 3 Mistakes you should avoid - 12/06/10 08:16 AM
It is no secret that many people are finding it exceptionally difficult to sell their home causing widespread frustration and misery for people across the United Kingdom. There are many factors affecting people's ability to sell their home such as our struggling economy and the problems that some people are having in getting a Mortgage, but for some people the reason they can't sell their property is because of something they are getting wrong.
If you are struggling to sell your property, make sure it's not because you are making one of the three mistakes listed below.
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buyers: YOUR PLACE TO CALL HOME: Now more than ever you need a Realtor - 12/05/10 10:17 AM
How tough can it be? All a Realtor does is put the listing on the Internet and stick a sign in the yard. You can do that and save a lot of money.
Several times during the past year, as my predecessors did before me, I have written about how important it is to have a Realtor by your side to sell or buy a home. A national survey of recent home buyers and sellers shows that home sellers across the nation agree in record numbers.
The 2010 National Association of Realtors Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers was released in … (0 comments)
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buyers: Sell a House by Owner in 5 Easy Steps - 12/01/10 08:16 PM
So you’ve seen the potential benefits and have decided to sell your house by owner, however, you don’t know how to exactly do it. The good news is that you will no longer have to worry about that because this article goes through an easy 5 step process to sell house by owner.
1. Preparation – Before even letting the market know that your home is on sale, you must make your house as neat and tidy as possible. This involves cutting the grass, painting the walls as well as any other renovations so that your home appears well maintained. This … (2 comments)
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buyers: Don’t Wait Until Spring to Sell Your Home - 11/30/10 03:01 PM
The holidays are upon us once again. The first snow is on the ground, the smell of cinnamon apple cider and the sound of holiday cheer is all around. Some of the things you planned on doing this year may have gone by wayside too – like putting your house on the market.
Northern California Realtor® Erik Kloth says he advises his clients to take action now rather than wait until spring.
“Maybe you are thinking you should wait until spring. Well, that might not be the best thing to do, and here are 10 great reasons why you should sell your home during the holiday season.
1. … (2 comments)
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buyers: Tips On How To Prepare Your Home For Quick Sale - 11/28/10 10:50 AM
You must prepare your house for sale in order to sell it fast. This is especially true in a depressed real estate market where houses sit for months with no buyers. Due to the high numbers of foreclosed properties, most houses are priced very low. The number of houses for sale on the market is also higher than potential buyers. You must therefore prepare your house for sale. The following tips will help you when looking to sell your home. 1) Talk to a real estate agent The first thing to do when you need to sell your house is to … (0 comments)
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buyers: Prices Stable, Sales Follow Seasonal Trend - 11/20/10 05:12 PM
Impacted by normal seasonal drops in sales, an unpredictable foreclosure moratorium and an expired Tax Credit, residential home sales were lower again in October. A monthly survey of 54 metropolitan areas indicates that sales were 9.8% below those in September and 30.2% below sales in October 2009. The inventory of homes on the market continues to fall, and prices remain little changed.
"It's understandable that sales are lower than the same time last year since the data was artificially inflated in October 2009 by homebuyers rushing to take advantage of the first tax credit," said Margaret Kelly, CEO of RE/MAX. "We're … (1 comments)
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buyers: 3 Reasons to Sell a Home Soon - 11/19/10 03:50 PM
What do you tell a client who asks whether to sell a house now or wait? Steve McLinden, real estate adviser with Bankrate.com, offers these three good reasons not to wait, even though the holidays are approaching:
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1. The market is improving. Most markets have either turned or are close to turning. 2. All real estate is local. Homes in great locations are always in demand. 3. Spring is coming soon. Many potential buyers are starting their online searches right after the holidays, making mid- to late February a great … (0 comments)
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buyers: 3 Bedroom Townhome With Fantastic Park Views - 08/28/10 04:11 PM
Great opportunity to own this 3 bedroom townhome for less than the cost of rent. Currently rented on month to month basis. Home was renovated in 2009 by seller. Walk across the street to enjoy the city park with basketball courts, playground equipment, picnic sites and a public pool. The enclosed front porch and brick fireplace make this a truly enjoyable place to unwind. The fenced rear yard has access from adjoining alley.
… (1 comments)
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buyers: 10 Steps to Win Over Sellers - 08/09/10 10:33 AM
Helping eager buyers get the home of their dreams isn’t so easy in this unsettled market. Here are 10 tips for making sure sellers won’t turn up their nose at an offer:1. Make sure the buyers are pre-approved for a mortgage (not to be confused with being pre-qualified) so they can close in about 10 days.2. Study the buyer. Have they made an offer on another home or are they working against any other kind of deadline?3. Make a clean offer – no requests for help with closing costs or other contingencies.4. Include an automatic escalation clause – say $500 over … (1 comments)
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buyers: Open Houses That Work - 05/07/10 09:20 AM
Is an open house worth your time? These practitioners say yes, and here's how they do it. It’s a never-ending debate that has become more heated in recent years. Do open houses provide any real value as buyers spend more of their house hunting time online?
Some practitioners dismiss the open house, saying it’s an outdated custom that’s carried on mainly to placate home sellers. Other real estate pros remain devoted to the method. Their track records show that open houses can, and often do, get the property sold.
Even when a Sunday afternoon buyer doesn’t emerge, the open … (7 comments)
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buyers: Don't Miss This Great Find and Get Federal Tax Credit Too! - 04/22/10 02:12 PM
3 Bedroom Split in Scottfield … (0 comments)
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buyers: 5 Costly Mistakes First-Time Buyers Make - 04/20/10 05:50 PM
Buying a first home can be a daunting experience. Here are five common and costly mistakes that novice home buyers make: 1. Ignoring the costs of having a low credit score. Lower-score borrowers pay thousands of dollars in increased interest rates over the life of the loan. 2. Muddying the waters by shopping for other things before closing. Lenders continue to check credit scores right up until the time of closing. Too much shopping could cause the lender to take back the loan. 3. Scrimping on an inspection. Being surprised by the need for expensive repairs can be financially devastating. 4. … (1 comments)
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buyers: Nab a real estate deal - while you still can - 03/17/10 08:04 AM
If you've been holding off on a real estate purchase, glimmers of a turnaround in the housing market may have you wondering if it's finally time to make your move.
While home prices remain low, they're no longer free-falling in most markets. Mortgages are historically cheap. And the sweet tax credit that was offered to new buyers last year has been extended to April 30 and expanded to include current homeowners too.
But for all the motivation to act quickly, buying right now is not a no-brainer. In some areas home prices may fall further. If you own a house now, … (2 comments)
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