richmond hill real estate: Vincent, Should I re-tile the bathroom before showing it to your buyers?
- 11/03/07 01:09 PM
First off they're not my buyers, they're your buyers. While I agree that tile isn't cheap, there may be a way it that showroom shine and add some money to your bottom line. Whether you're working on your home's seasonal deep clean, or planning to entertain guests, you know the amount of time that goes into cleaning your bathroom. And if you have a tile bathroom, you know how much elbow grease and time go into scrubbing and polishing. But why spend all that time and back breaking effort if it can be easier? Here are a few tips that can help … (4 comments)
richmond hill real estate: Vincent, What questions should I ask when shopping for a mortgage professional?
- 10/02/07 02:35 PM
Keep in mind the mortgage loan officer needs to get ALL the facts before giving you a good faith estimate. With all the recent changes in the mortgage industry taking place I would also want to make sure I was asking the right questions. Ask for points to be quoted to you as a dollar amount--rather than just as the number of points--so that you will actually know how much you will have to pay. Ask for an explanation of any fee you do not understand. Don't be afraid to ask the following tough questions: How many lenders do they work with? … (2 comments)
richmond hill real estate: Vincent, My home was revalued for tax purposes and I think it’s too high… What should I do?
- 09/14/07 07:11 AM
Property values are bouncing around nationwide and many homeowners like you are getting stuck with increased property tax bills. But there are ways you can protect yourself if you think you've been overcharged. Establishing your home's true market value and proving that the value of the property is less than the valuation assigned by your assessing district is the only way to you can contest the proposed higher amount. That's where an appraiser can help. If you think your property taxes might be unfairly inflated, an appraisal of your property can be made to determine if your property has been assessed … (3 comments)
richmond hill real estate: Vincent, I may not have enough for the Down Payment... What should I do?
- 09/11/07 04:59 PM
Perhaps you should reconsider the home and choose from some other properties which would fit your budget (this home will be your stepping stone towards the house of your dreams). The amount you have available for a down payment will affect what types of loans for which you can qualify. Down payments typically range from 3 to 20 percent of the sales price for the property. Here are some tips for Accumulating a Down Payment: Save- Look for ways to reduce your monthly expenses to save toward a downpayment. You could enroll for an automatic savings plan at your bank to have a … (6 comments)
richmond hill real estate: Vincent, what is PMI?
- 09/07/07 05:25 PM
PMI, also known as Private Mortgage Insurance, is a supplemental insurance policy you may pay for to protect your mortgage lender in the event of your default. PMI is provided by private (non-government) companies and is usually required when your loan-to-value ratio (the amount of your mortgage loan divided by the value of your home) is greater than 80 percent. PMI isn't a bad thing - it allows lenders to accept lower down payments on homes than they would normally be comfortable with. But you may be paying it unnecessarily! If you'd like to learn more about eliminating PMI insurance from your mortgage … (1 comments)
richmond hill real estate: Vincent, What should I expect from “most agents”?
- 09/06/07 04:26 PM
Most agents make it a point to tell you that they're the smartest real estate professional ever. But where is all of the info to back it up? I would rather give you all the information you need to make an informed decision when it comes to buying or selling your home. I love working with informed clients. I find that our transactions go much more smoothly when we all understand the process and we're all on the same page. Here are just a few things that I wanted you to know about real estate. Did you know that one of the … (3 comments)
richmond hill real estate: Vincent, What questions should I ask a REALTOR® before I list my property?
- 09/05/07 11:33 PM
Let me start by saying... Don't be afraid to ask the questions. It's your right to know. Not every REALTOR® works the same, or has the same level of energy or expertise. Start by asking these simple questions: How will you market my home? How many people are likely to see the listing? Is it more important to you to provide as much information as possible about my home to website visitors or to entice them into calling you to learn more? You do have a website, don't you? How do you maximize a listing's online exposure? How long have you been … (2 comments)
richmond hill real estate: Vincent, I’m a First-time Homebuyer, what can you do for me?
- 09/05/07 03:59 AM
Your decision to buy a home is both a sound financial decision and a commendable achievement. As your real estate agent I will . . . Work at no cost to you!Lead you through every step of the exciting home buying process.Will help you define your "wish list" of features you want in your home, your neighborhood and your school district. Provide detailed listing information not available to the general public.Negotiate the deal to save you money.Guide you through the avalanche of paperwork.Walk you through the mind-boggling financial details associated with buying a home, including understanding the various mortgages and home buying … (1 comments)
richmond hill real estate: Vincent, I'm buying and selling and I don't want to get stuck with two mortgages, any advice?
- 09/03/07 05:09 PM
In a perfect world, you sell your old home and buy the new one on the same day. Given that things rarely turn out perfectly, here are some things to keep in mind as we negotiate the sale of one house with the purchase of another.Time it right (This step can save you a small fortune!! Email me at ProRealtor@verizon.net and I'll Show you how.) Fall and spring are the best times for homes to move and you want to consider the season of the year when buying and selling. And if the closing dates aren't going to coincide, a gap - … (1 comments)
richmond hill real estate: Vincent, Which home improvements give the best paybacks?
- 09/03/07 05:00 AM
If you're thinking about remodeling your kitchen, or finishing your basement, you probably want to get your investment back when you sell your home. But when it comes to payback value of home improvements, some are definitely more profitable than others. As a general rule, kitchen and bathroom projects usually get a nice return on investment, typically 90% or more.Things like adding rooms or finishing basements tend to pay back the least.Finishing a basement usually returns less than 50%, so it's not a project likely to show profit at selling time. There are a number of factors that go into determining how well … (3 comments)
richmond hill real estate: Vincent, How can I add curb appeal to my home?
- 09/01/07 11:20 AM
This is where we could potentially lose prospective buyers (or get to choose from the best ones)... So let's make the home as attractive as possible from the outside so more people want to go inside. Follow these simple suggestions, most of them will cost nothing and bring in a HUGE return on your time spent. Inspect the outside ground. Remove any building materials, scrap wood, discarded household items, etc. from the property. Store garbage cans in the garage. Check the home from the roof line down (head to toe if you will). · Is the roof free and clear from obstructions … (3 comments)
richmond hill real estate: Vincent, My ARM is about to adjust... WHAT SHOULD I DO?
- 08/29/07 02:41 PM
As home prices started to soar about five years ago, many buyers took advantage of low-rate ARMs just to get a foot in the door. At the same time, mortgage rates were flirting with historic lows, and lenders began offering more interest-only loans and option ARMs, which allow borrowers to make low minimum payments. While many borrowers said they'd take the lower interest rate and put the money aside to offset higher payments later, most didn't. ARMs accounted for just 22% of mortgage originations last year. But in 2004 and 2005, ARMs accounted for about a third of home loans. The short-term … (4 comments)
richmond hill real estate: Vincent, How do I set a sales price for my home?
- 08/27/07 03:32 PM
Before we set the sales price of your house, I'll run a Highest Price Analysis that will show the listing price of similar houses in the area as well as the prices at which the houses actually sold. Additionally, the analysis will give us information about houses currently on the market and about houses that were on the market but never sold. Next, I'll ask you about your goals in selling the house. Everyone who sells a house has different goals that need to be factored in when calculating the selling price. Is your goal to get the maximum sales price for your … (1 comments)
richmond hill real estate: Queens Catholic Schools
- 08/26/07 04:38 AM
Here's a list of catholic schools throughout Queens, New York. I've highlighted the towns in bold letters to make easier to find a catholic school nearest to you... hope this helps you find the school you're looking for. If I missed any please email me so I could update and include it. Blessed Sacrament School34-20 94th StreetJackson Heights, NY 11372 (718) 446-4449 Corpus Christi School31-29 60th StreetWoodside, NY 11377(718) 721-2484 Divine Mercy Catholic Academy92nd Street/Rockaway BoulevardOzone Park, NY 11416(718) 845-3074 Holy Child Jesus School111th Street/86th AvenueRichmond Hill, NY 11418(718) 849-3988 Holy Family School74-15 175th StreetFlushing , NY 11366(718) 969-2124 Holy Trinity School14-45 143rd … (3 comments)
richmond hill real estate: Vincent, Does Feng Shui really work?
- 08/25/07 09:26 AM
Queens, NY is home to a diverse group of people from the around the world. In fact over 200 languages and dialects from around the globe can be found here in Queens, New York. As a result I've had the opportunity to learn many things about different people from all over the world. One of the most valueable things I learned over the years was Feng Shui and how "raising the chi" in the home can reap financial rewards. More and more home sellers are turning to feng shui - the ancient Chinese art of designing structures and arranging objects to create harmonious energy flow - to help … (11 comments)
richmond hill real estate: Vincent, DO you have advice for buying a 'fixer upper' home?
- 08/24/07 03:20 AM
"Buyer Beware" is never more appropriate than when considering the purchase of a fixer-upper.You really need to know exactly what you're getting into before buying.It's commonly believed that fixer-upper properties represent easy money that is ripe for the taking - that you can buy it, do a little work on it in your spare time, and then resell quickly for a large profit. Usually, this simply isn't the case. Although, with proper planning and foresight, good profits can be made by buying "distressed" properties at less than market value, making appropriate improvements and repairs, and then reselling. And for many first … (3 comments)
richmond hill real estate: Vincent, Will a home improvement ADD VALUE to my home?
- 08/23/07 04:11 PM
Determining whether a home improvement will add value to your home can be tricky. There are many factors to consider. Some factors are tangible like the cost of making the improvement. Other factors are less tangible and harder to quantify, like the improved quality of life the home improvement brings you and your family. When making a dollars and cents evaluation, first consider the costs involved in making a home improvement. Be sure to factor in the costs for materials, labor, building plans, building permits and any changes to your homeowner's insurance. Then consider how these improvements will impact the value … (4 comments)
richmond hill real estate: Vincent, Do you have any TIPS FOR FIRST TIME BUYERS?
- 08/23/07 10:09 AM
Buying a home is such an exciting time in everyone's lives. But it's not always the easiest process. There are several things that you can do in advance of your purchase to make the process flow much more smoothly. Here are just a few of the things I suggest to start getting ready to purchase your home. If you would like to talk about these further, contact me at ProRealtor@verizon.net or call me at any time (646) 294-2561. Get pre-qualified for your home loan - This will let us know what types of homes we can look at. This could trim several … (1 comments)
richmond hill real estate: Vincent, How do I get the BEST PRICE for MY HOME?
- 08/23/07 09:38 AM
Effective marketing is the key to selling your home quickly and getting the highest price. Aggressive, effective marketing of my Client's homes by every available medium is how I've become a top real estate agent in the Richmond Hill area. It's my job to assure that you get as many qualified offers as possible, allowing you to extract the highest price the market will bear. One of the most important elements of marketing your home effectively is setting the price right. Set the price too high, and you won't get any offers and your home will take too long to sell. … (3 comments)
richmond hill real estate: Vincent, How important is it to stage my home?
- 08/22/07 02:55 PM
I can't stress this enough, it's VERY important!! If you have an outdated or worn out red carpet in your livingroom, then get rid of it... remove all your personal items like pictures, refrigerator magnets, clutter. Remember, our mutual goal is to get you the best price for your home in the quickest time and depersonalizing your property is our main objective. The prospective buyers has to be able to envision themselves eating, cooking, sleeping and creating their own memories, in this home. It's very easy to distract buyers with clutter, pets, and odors, so help us avoid these "pitfalls" follow these basic staging … (7 comments)
First off they're not my buyers, they're your buyers. While I agree that tile isn't cheap, there may be a way it that showroom shine and add some money to your bottom line. 
;)
;)
