It's coming up quickly ~ Spokane Lilac Festival's 71st Annual Armed Forces Torchlight Parade. It begins at 7:45 p.m. but as you well know, the sidelines begin filling up much earlier in the day. It's never a surprise to see lawn chairs and blankets sprawled out on the sidewalks beginning in the early morning hours in anticipation of getting the best viewing spot!
While your downtown check out the Cruisin' The Falls Car Show on Spokane Falls Blvd. It takes place from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday, culminating in a parade of those cars along the parade route.
You can enjoy great music, food and other entertainment in Riverfront Park throughout the day!
As a Realtor I hear the same 2 questions over and over from home sellers, "What is my home worth?" and "What do I need to do to get my house ready to sell?" Obviously valid questions, especially in the face of a declining market, unfortunately sometimes sellers just don't hear the answers. Or maybe they don't really understand the answers...
In a housing market like we're in today buyers get to be very choosy. The criteria of location is less a factor for many buyers because they are out to get the best looking house for the absolute lowest price. When you add the high inventory of houses on the market there certainly is no rush to buy...unless of course, you, Seller, give them a reason. The power to sell isn't in anybody's hands but your own.
If you truly want to sell your home there are only 2 things you need to do; price it right and polish it up! By pricing it right I mean price it to sell. How do you know what that price is? Your Realtor should be helping you with that by showing you competing homes on the market. Your Realtor should also show you homes that have sold recently as well as homes that didn't sell because they were over-priced. An over-priced home will not sell regardless of how long it sits on the market! How do you know if your home is over-priced? Simple; it hasn't sold.
When I say "polish it up" think of it this way; your home is about to go on a blind date with a prospective buyer, what kind of impression do you want it to give? Will your home be in the kind of condition that a prospective buyer will immediately be drawn to? Or will the prospective buyer think to themselves, "It sure could use a bath and a little make-up?" Buyers are not desperate in this market and they will keep looking until they've found "the one."
By polishing your home I don't mean you have to go out and spend thousands of dollars on a face-lift or a tummy tuck! The best thing to do is ask your Realtor what you should do to improve the condition of your home. In many cases there are very simple and cost-effective remedies that can bring the sparkle and shine your home needs for that new buyer!
If you're not currently working with a Realtor and you'd like some more information on preparing your home to sell and pricing it right I'm more than happy to help. Choose your method of contact; call, e-mail or text and I'll get back with you immediately!
Home sellers and cave dwellers alike are finding this to be a tough market. Buyers seem to be few and far between but buyers of unique properties are even harder to find, especially if you're trying to sell a cave-home.
Below is a current chart showing the differences in the tax credit offered to first-time homebuyers in 2008 and the new credit now being offered through December 1 of this year.
If you're considering a home purchase and you're a first-time buyer (have not owned a principal residence for the previous 3 years) this is a great opportunity for YOU! There are some significant changes that benefit you as a 2009 First-time Homebuyer! Just take a look at the chart and see...
FEATURE
CREDIT AS CREATED JULY 2008
APPLIES TO ALL QUALIFIED PURCHASES ON OR AFTER APRIL 9, 2008
REVISED CREDIT -
EFFECTIVE FOR PURCHASES ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 2009 AND BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 2009
Amount of Credit
Lesser of 10 percent of cost of home or $7500
Maximum credit amount increased to $8000
Eligible Property
Any single family residence (including condos, co-ops, townhouses) that will be used as a principal residence.
No change
All principal residences eligible.
Refundable
Yes. Reduces (or can eliminate) income tax liability for the year of purchase. Any unused amount of tax credit refunded to purchaser.
No change
Purchasers will continue to receive refund for unused amount when tax return is filed.
Income Limit
Yes. Full amount of credit available for individuals with adjusted gross income of no more than $75,000 ($150,000 on a joint return). Phases out above those caps ($95,000 and $170,000).
No change
Same income limits continue to apply.
First-time Homebuyer Only
Yes. Purchaser (and purchaser's spouse) may not have owned a principal residence in 3 years previous to purchase.
No change
Still available for first-time purchasers only. Three-year rule continues to apply.
Revenue Bond Financing
No credit allowed if home financed with state/local bond funding.
Purchasers who utilize revenue bond financing can use credit.
Repayment
Yes. Portion (6.67% of credit or $500) to be repaid each year for 15 years, starting with 2010 tax filing.
No repayment for purchases on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009
Recapture
If home sold before 15-year repayment period ends, then outstanding balance of repayment amount recaptured on sale.
If home is sold within three years of purchase, entire amount of credit is recaptured on sale. Applies only to homes purchased in 2009.
Termination
July 1, 2009
(But note program changes for 2009)
December 1, 2009
Effective Date
Purchases on or after April 9, 2008 and before January 1, 2009. Repayment to begin for 2010 tax year.
All revisions are effective as of January 1, 2009
I'm happy to help you in any way I can with a home purchase, whether you're a first-time buyer or not. Interest rates are still historically low and there are great deals on the market. This reallyis a great time to buy!
Looking for something to do this weekend? How ‘bout heading over to the Spokane Fair and Expo Center to view the latest in home improvement, decorating, and landscaping ideas.... over 300 exhibits all in one place!
With Spring right around the corner it's the perfect time for fresh inspiration and renewed vision for all those projects on your "to-do" list. At the Home and Yard Show you'll find hundreds of home improvement products and services at your fingertips!
Many homeowners decide in the Fall to update and make repairs on their home through the Winter in order to put their home on the market in the Spring. It's a great plan, however very few actually follow through on the plan and then it's crunch time! If you're one of those homeowners you might be feeling the crunch right now.
The first day of spring is a few short weeks away, March 20th, and the question remains, is your house ready for the market? Is it too late for repairs, paint and updates? In most cases the answer is no; you still have time for the fresh wave of home seekers looking for a house just like yours.
When getting your house ready to sell it's important to keep this in mind; Buyers want the best house, in the best location for the best price. You can't change the location of your house but you certainly can determine if yours is in the best condition, which will determine the best price you can set!
What do Buyers want and what can you do?
Buyers want clean so you need to clean, and then clean some more.
If you don't have time for that garage sale in order to de-clutter box up your items and have it AFTER you sell.
De-clutter anyway...pack away (and store neatly) items you don't need, including extra furniture.
Fresh paint is easy and a must. It's actually okay to use colors other than neutral as long as they aren't too bold. This is especially true in rooms such as kitchen & bathrooms as long as the paint colors match the decor of the rooms.
New hardware on cabinets, new switchplates and tightening screws on door handles, etc. help to give a clean, crisp look to any room.
Keep walkways and driveways swept and clear of debris.
You might not be able to update appliances but consider updating draperies and towels; those along with fresh paint can bring a more contemporary look.
You may have "necessary" repairs; water leaks, cracked windows, holes in the wall; get those things taken care of right away!
If you're uncertain on what you should or shouldn't do ask your Realtor. They can give you tips and let you know what Buyer expectations are. If you don't have a Realtor I invite you to give me a call or send an e-mail with your questions and I'd be glad to help you out.
Ballots have been mailed to households in the Mead School District asking voters to approve a 3-year Maintenance and Operations Levy. In the tough economic times we are facing many may consider voting "no" simply because they don't realize this is a replacement levy not a new tax. What that means is you won't be paying any more in your taxes to continue quality educational programs and extracurricular activities for Mead students than you currently are. In fact, the estimated tax rate is actually less than what voters approved in 2006.
Some of the 2009 Maintenance and Operations Levy support under consideration includes:
Providing relevant Real Estate information for Spokane Home Sellers and Buyers. Giving YOU information on the Spokane Housing Market and Spokane Home Values. Serving all areas of Spokane; Mead, Five Mile, Shadle, Indian Trail, Garland, South Hill, Northeast Spokane, Northwest Spokane, Spokane Valley and Spokane County.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
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