northern kentucky realtors: Signs That It May Be A Good Time To Sell Your Northern Kentucky Home. - 04/25/12 03:58 AM
Here in Northern Kentucky homes typically show better in spring than they do on dreary winter days. In recent years though our weather patterns have been a little harder to predict. This past winter was one of the mildest in history for our area. The weather has some effect on home sales, yet a much larger a influence on the housing market is the overall economic situation and its impact on buyers' mind set. Typically, home sales ramp up in Northern Kentucky starting in late March or early April and stays busy until the beginning of July when the market tends to slow down.
Negative economic news played … (3 comments)

northern kentucky realtors: Recent Rise In Sales Signifies Strengthening Housing Market. - 01/25/12 05:30 AM
The long-awaited housing recovery is beginning to blossom. The evidence: home sales have been on the rise for the past three months, posting a 5 percent increase in December. Consumers are gaining confidence from record low mortgage interest rates, job growth and bargain home prices. In addition to the 5 percent increase in December, NAR reported a 1.7 percent annual increase in existing-home sales in 2011, a total of 4.26 million homes for the year.

Distressed homes made up just over 30% of sales in December, according to NAR’s existing home sales report for the month. Foreclosed home sales closed at about 22 percent … (0 comments)

northern kentucky realtors: How To Compare Your Northern Kentucky Home to Others on the Market. - 01/23/12 05:29 AM
Realtors use comparable sales to see what the market bears for a listing price or value range marketing. Yet what makes a home a good comp? A few things must line up in order for the Realtor to utilize the comp to justify your listing price. The same neighborhood, school district, similar street and, of course, similar housing features and size. If these things align, then a comp can be used to provide a current estimated value of your home. Ideally, using a comp from a home that is the same model in the same subdivision is key. Even better is if … (2 comments)

northern kentucky realtors: Simple Ways To Manage Debt And Save For Your Northern Kentucky Home - 12/29/11 03:40 PM
Managing your finances is an important step towards owning a home. Whether this your first home, or you are looking to move-up, managing your families debt is important.One of the most important fundamentals of debt management is being accountable. Just exactly what does that mean? Being accountable means taking an honest look at your families budget and spending. The trip to Starbucks every morning on the way to work, cash withdrawals without any record, or even desert with dinner adds up to money spent.One way to increase your families accountability is to use debit cards for all of your purchases. Debit … (1 comments)

northern kentucky realtors: Choosing To Sell Your Northern Kentucky Home. - 12/15/11 04:44 PM
Selling your home in today’s real estate market can present a difficult mix of conditions for some sellers. The housing market has been declining since 2007 in response to over inflated home values and recession conditions in the overall economy. The real estate market continues to struggle as we enter 2012.
Accessing credit can be challenging yet with the right Realtor and loan officer can be achieved at the lowest rates in history. Some homeowners find themselves selling out of necessity instead of a true desire to move. They may be facing foreclosure or have had sizable decrease in their household income and now need to size … (0 comments)

northern kentucky realtors: Ten Points To Sell Your Northern Kentucky Home. - 12/08/11 06:51 AM
Here are the top ten. Consider how these apply to your own home, how that affects marketing, as well as what aspects of your home you should "play up" to elicit a better response from buyers.
1. Price:It's a common misconception that location is the leading factor of whether or not a home sells. It is, instead, price. Think about this scenario. You have a home located in a prestigious and sought-after neighborhood, yet the list price is tens of thousand of dollars over the comps for the area. No one will be interested. This same property priced just below the … (3 comments)

northern kentucky realtors: Principal Reduction For Homeowners? - 12/06/11 07:54 AM
Why are lawmakers or institutions not talking more about principal reduction for homeowners? Are the people who created the current mess in housing going to keep the rhetoric up of how impossible this concept is when nothing that has been done to this point has even started to address the problem? Principal reduction for homeowners will not only help with the current housing crisis but would also act as a stimulus to the economy. Yet government intervention and past attempts to reduce interest rates have done nothing. The problem is being passed down the road for the next generation to try to figure out.
Let's look at what's not working: Interest rate … (0 comments)

northern kentucky realtors: Points to Consider Before Purchasing Your Northern Kentucky Home. - 11/30/11 07:34 AM
Here are five easy to understand, yet very important points if you are going to purchase a Northern Kentucky home in the near future.
Get professional help. Connect with a Realtor who truly understands your purchasing power, needs and desires. The Internet makes it easy to do some preliminary work, but nothing compares to the bargaining power and experience of a qualified Realtor.
Be sure your credit is in good shape before even considering seeking a loan. Be sure that all information is accurate and up-to-date. This will better help you avoid issues during the qualification process. If you need time to clean up … (3 comments)

northern kentucky realtors: October Existing Home Sales Rise - 11/28/11 05:32 AM
Even with uncertainty in the stock market and continued crisis in world debt, the latest figures from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows that existing home sales improved slightly in October. Though this rise was marginal, any upward movement is reason for some holiday cheer in the real estate market. The NAR reported that existing home sales were up 1.4 percent in October.
Home sales have been stuck in a narrow range despite several improving factors that generally lead to higher home sales such as job creation, rising rents and high affordability conditions. Many people who are attempting to buy homes have … (0 comments)

northern kentucky realtors: Should You Have Your Home For Sale during The Holiday Season? - 11/26/11 08:29 AM
Should you have your home for sale during the holiday season? Consider the following points:
1). Relocating families often don't have a choice in when they can leave for their new destination. Although roughly 70% of transferring families have children, many families have to transfer during the middle of the school year. These families are that much more motivated to get their families settled in before either before the January semester begins.
2). When is your home ever more beautiful and inviting? You have cleaned and decorated, and your home looks like a postcard. If the results are good enough for … (4 comments)

northern kentucky realtors: Thoughts For Northern Kentucky Home Buyers. - 11/17/11 11:32 AM
Last year predictions were that home values would sink around 5% in 2011. The bad news, those predictions were not far off the mark. The good news, in the coming year those same people think we will see prices rise ever so slightly.
Don't expect the market to move too much though. Expect annualized gains through 2015 of just 1% or so, as the real estate market slowly works its way through a mountain of foreclosures. Those foreclosures will continue to weigh on the market. There are over 5 million homes that are for sale or part of the market's shadow inventory, which includes … (0 comments)

northern kentucky realtors: Buying A Home During The Holidays In Northern Kentucky. - 11/11/11 07:50 AM
The holiday season is fast approaching once again. In Northern Kentucky that often means cold weather, rain, and snow. Yet the weather and a few holidays won't keep a good buyer down. There are great deals to be had in this part of the country during the holiday season. Buying a home doesn't always happen on your schedule. It may take weeks or months to find the perfect house. Maybe you need to move suddenly because of a new job opportunity, or to be closer to elderly parents. Buying happens for many reasons and the point is it is during every month of the year, not just the warm … (2 comments)

northern kentucky realtors: The Five Most Asked Real Estate Questions I've Had In 2011. - 11/09/11 07:23 AM
Here are the five most asked real estate questions I've had in 2011.
1. Interest rates -- how low will they go?American home buyers are fixated on interest rates, which have fallen to the 4 percent range, and stayed in that neighborhood much of the year. Homeowners who are stuck in upside-down mortgages (owing more than their homes are worth) have practically salivated after super-low rates all year, while buyers and refinanciers have suffered through days, even weeks, of breathless anxiety about the possibility of locking their rates too soon.
2. Stay or Walk away? There is no one-size-fits-all answer to … (0 comments)

northern kentucky realtors: Is Making A Large Downpayment On Your Home Always A Good Idea? - 11/07/11 07:18 AM
Homeownership is more affordable than ever. This is due to low interest rates and lower home values. Some buyers who have a large downpayment believe this will get them the lowest monthly<!--more--> mortgage payment which is true. However, because a buyer can afford to put a large amount down does not necessarily mean they should.
Buyers with a large asset base may want to consider other approachs which include applying some of their cash for savings, investing or other purposes. Keeping debt low is a good idea but with today’s interest rates and the competitive pricing on homes, borrowers can retain some of their … (2 comments)

northern kentucky realtors: Northern Kentucky Mortgage Rate Report 11/5/11 - 11/05/11 07:56 AM
Despite market volatility surrounding the important Employment Situation Report from Friday, things have evened out and Mortgage Rates are essentially unchanged from yesterday's levels. The net effect is someone of a consolidation around the 4.0%.
Friday's Rates: 
BESTEXECUTION 30YR FIXED -   Centered on 4.0% FHA/VA - 3.875% 15 YEAR FIXED -  3.5% 5 YEAR ARMS -  low 3% range, huge variations from lender to lender. Thoughts: The jobs report is out of the way, which is a good thing for mortgage rates in the sense that it helps decrease volatility.  But there's still Greece and the Euro zone drama.  There's a vote scheduled to take place … (2 comments)

northern kentucky realtors: Selling Your Northern Kentucky Home In Todays Real Estate Market. - 11/01/11 08:13 AM
Even though the real estate market has slowed down in recent years, there are still homebuyers eager to make a purchase. Knowing how to prepare your home for sale, when to allow access for showings, and how you can offer buyer incentives will help you find the right buyer, even in a declining market.Before you put your home on the market, make sure that all basic repairs are completed. Nothing can turn off a prospective buyer quicker than loose railings, torn screens or missing hardware on cupboard doors. These easy repairs do not cost a lot of money. If a homebuyer … (6 comments)

northern kentucky realtors: Feel like you have been knocked down and having trouble getting up? - 10/28/11 05:46 AM
Most people would agree that professional football is a rough and even sometimes violent sport. Years ago, during a Monday-night football game between the Chicago Bears and the New York Giants, one of the announcers Frank Gifford observed that Walter Payton, the Bears' hall-of-fame running back, had accumulated over nine miles in yardage by running with the football. While that was a fact it was also true that he on average got knocked down every 4.6 yards!To put that in perspective consider the following. In a mile there is roughly 5200 feet. Take that number 5200 and times it by 9 … (4 comments)

northern kentucky realtors: Mistakes To Avoid When Selling Your Home - 10/20/11 06:52 AM
Making a mistake in selling a home can cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Avoiding these mistakes is easy and takes little time and effort on your part. Take the time with your home sale and follow the following guidelines.
Distress Selling: At times, selling quickly is unavoidable. That's when knowing the right techniques to sell your home without looking desperate and making yourself a target for low bidders pays off. know your market before listing and work hand in hand with the right real estate professional. Ensure that you are not settling for the first offer through the … (3 comments)

northern kentucky realtors: Northern Kentucky For Sale By Owner Tips - 10/17/11 05:24 AM
Following is a list of points from a local "For Sale By Owner" website. To each thought I will provide a counter-point for your consideration.1. You Can Sell Your Home Better Than Anyone Else: You know your home best and what is special about the area as well as other details about the property.You might know all the particulars about your home and area but you may not know what NOT to say. You could be held legally liable for what you say to a buyer.While a well-maintained, fairly priced home may virtually sell itself you need to make sure your … (2 comments)

northern kentucky realtors: House Hunting Tips For Northern Kentucky Homebuyers - 10/14/11 08:02 PM
It's a good idea to buy a map of the city where you're planning your home search. Sites like Google Maps and Mapquest can help you plan your search route, but nothing beats an old-fashioned foldable map for getting a sense of your potential commute and the layout of your future neighborhood. For that authentic explorer vibe, you can even tack it up on the wall and mark the locations of the homes you find listed online.House hunters need a means to plan their search. Finding a Realtor you like is key, as Realtors are invaluable guides who will provide you … (1 comments)

 
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Herb Johnson Northern Kentucky Realtor, Remax

Florence, KY

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NKYRealty/ REMAX Affiliates

Address: Florence, KY, 41042

Office Phone: (859) 372-8019

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