9,152 Points

Name

JAN FLOOD (Dowling)

Company

Janice Joy Ltd.

E-mail

Contact JAN FLOOD (Dowling) (Janice Joy Ltd.)

Website

http://JaniceJoy.com

Office Phone

(847) 650-1158

Cell Phone

(847) 650-1158

Fax

(847) 307-5056

Description

I am a licensed Real Estate Broker/Owner of Janice Joy Ltd, an Accredited Buyers Representative, A Certified Residential Specialist a Certified Relocation Specialist, and a Accredited Staging Professi

Just Listed:

Buying a home may never get any cheaper than this. Several housing experts are predicting that this year will be the last chance for bargain hunters to cash in on the best deals of the weak housing market.

With home prices down 34% nationally since 2006 and mortgage rates at historic lows, homes have never been more affordable -- but it won't stay this way for much longer.

What's the difference between being preapproved and prequalified?

First-time buyers frequently assume being pre-qualified and pre-approved for a mortgage are one and the same. This common mistake can lead many buyers to regard their applications with unrealistic expectations. Applying for a pre-approved mortgage will help you find the right home by giving you an idea of exactly how much money you have to spend, and give you the confidence to negotiate effectively. 

Pre-qualification is a simple assessment of your income, debt and available capital, which is used to give you a rough estimate of your loan. Pre-approval, on the other hand, requires the evaluation of tax records, income statements, and other personal financial information to determine a much more accurate idea of what is available to you. Most realty professionals recommend going through the pre-approval process before shopping for a home, as knowing the details of your loan in advance will drastically increase the efficiency of your search.

    Email me at:  Jan@JanFlood.com    

 _If you're looking to sell your house during these tough economic times, take heart. Although you can't change the economic crisis our nation is currently in, you can be proactive and informed about what to expect, so your house can stand out from the others on the market. When attempting to sell your house, here are the most common obstacles you'll face: dropping home values, a record number of foreclosures, and a shortage of buyers due to the current credit crunch. At a time when you need every edge you can get, every little bit of extra effort helps.

Proper pricing is critical to selling your house in the kind of market we're in. And though it might be difficult, this means pricing your home for what it's worth - and that isn't necessarily the same price as what you paid for it or what you think it is worth. You'll also want to check with your mortgage lender to determine your mortgage balance (if there is one). Then you can just subtract your mortgage balance from your asking price (remembering to factor in closing costs) to determine how much money you stand to make on the sale of your home. If you're hiring a real estate agent, they'll be able to help you come up with an appropriate price for your house and also help you estimate closing costs and net proceeds. If you're not, check out the price listings for other comparable homes in your area, and consider your home's appraised value.

Stage your home effectively. Sometimes the difference between getting an offer and not getting an offer depends upon staging your home effectively. The basics of home staging are depersonalizing and de-cluttering: packing up personal photographs, family heirlooms, and everything else that will prevent the visitors touring your home from imagining it could be theirs. Focus on transforming your home back into a house; a product optimized for sale. For more help, hire a home staging expert.

Market your house as widely as possible: MLS listing, online advertising, newspaper and local magazine ads, open house, flyers, etc. Remember that the more leads you get out of advertising, the more likely you'll get the response you've been looking for.

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Your Illinois Home:  http://yourillinoishome.com/ 

What Happens in a Short Sale?    http://yourillinoishome.com/financing/shortsales.htm

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     School Report Card:  http://iirc.niu.edu/

     Switch Utilities:  http://www.moveutilities.com/

     Buffalo Grove:  http://vbg.org/

     Deerfield:  http://www.deerfield.il.us/

     Lake Zurich:  http://www.volz.org/

     Lincolnshire:  http://www.village.lincolnshire.il.us/

     Long Grove:  http://longgrove.net/

     Vernon Hills:  http://vernonhills.org/

     ENJOY Illinois:  http://www.enjoyillinois.com/home.aspx

     Golf Course Info:  http://www.golfcourseonline.com/CourseGuide/default.asp?Country=USA&State=IL&bst1=on

     Chicagoland Weather:  http://www.illiniweather.com/cities/chicago.htm

      Moving Information:  http://www.moving.com

      Restaurant Information:  http://dinesite.com/city/city-1/?&t=666041

      Buying and Owning a Home:  http://www.freddiemac.com/corporate/buying_and_owning.html

MY BLOG:    http://activerain.com/blogs/janflood

10 Steps to Prepare for Home Ownership

1. Find an experienced REALTOR® who can help you through the process.
2. Decide how much home you can afford. Generally, you can afford a home equal in value to between two and three times your gross income.
3. Develop a wish list of what you would like your home to have. Then, prioritize the features on your list.

Select three to four neighborhoods in which you would like to live.

1. Consider items such as schools, recreational facilities, area expansion plans and safety.
2. Determine if you have savings sufficient to cover your down payment and closing costs. Closing costs, including taxes, attorney's fees and transfer fees average between two and seven percent of the home price.
3. Get your credit in order. Obtain a copy of your credit report.
4. Determine how large a mortgage for which you qualify. Also, explore different loan options and decide what is best for you.
5. Organize all the documentation a lender will need to pre-approve you for a loan. This includes past income tax returns, recent pay stubs, etc.
6. Do research to determine if you qualify for any special mortgage or down payment assistance programs.
7. Calculate the costs of homeownership, including property taxes, insurance, maintenance, and association fees, if applicable.

 Jan Flood (Dowling)

Jan@JanFlood.com

Areas of Expertise

I am continually improving my service and follow up so I can help you, your relatives or your friends.
Your support means alot to me and my business.
  http://JaniceJoy.com
REMEMBER - Relocation is my specialty. If you are moving out of this area I will find the right REALTOR for you anywhere in the world.
CALL OR EMAIL ME TODAY: 847-650-1158, Jan@JanFlood.com

Antioch, Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Grayslake, Green Oaks, Gurnee, Hawthorn Woods, Ivanhoe,
Lake Villa, Lake Zurich, Libertyville, Lincolnshire, Lindenhurst, Long Grove, Mundelein, Vernon Hills.

About Me!

CLUTTER EATS EQUITY!

STAGING 

 Here are nine essential home staging tips to help sell your home as quickly as possible:

Edit furnishings
Along with clearing away everyday clutter and stowing family photos and personal effects, trim down furnishings for the kind of just-right balance and scale that would suit Goldilocks. There needs to be enough in place to suggest proper scale and capacity within each room, but not so much that traffic flow is hindered and architectural elements are obscured.

Neutralize interiors
Make sure your home staging work includes a neutral paint job. Create a backdrop for buyer imagination by replacing patterned wall coverings with off-white paint, and install low-grade tan wall-to-wall carpet.

Clean, clean, clean
Ensure that every inch of your home sparkles for a fresh, welcoming appearance, from ceiling cobweb hideaways to windows to floors. Also address and banish odors resulting from pets, cooking, smoking and the like.

Tune up the details
Repair or replace inoperable hardware, touch up interior trim, and make sure all light fixtures are clean and loaded with brand-new bulbs to makes sure there’s plenty of light available to show off your newly staged home.

Re-accessorize with care
Limit wall decorations to fewer and larger pieces of artwork, and include a couple of strategically placed mirrors to expand the space and reflect its best assets. When introducing display pieces to a room, use the rule of threes to create attractive, uncluttered groupings, and add a few well-placed plants for welcome vitality.

Spend time in the garage
Home staging is just as important in the garage as prospective home buyers will be visiting that space as well. Clear away corner cobwebs, sweep floors, dust surfaces and pack up any straggling tools and project materials.

Create curb appeal
Lush landscaping is one of your home’s best exterior assets, and according to the Professional Landcare Network, it can add as much as 15 percent to the property value. So get out the mower, fertilize all turf and plantings, weed diligently and add seasonal color to flower beds.

Build a grand entry
Touch up exterior trim, clean windows and repair loose or damaged shutters, supply light fixtures with new bulbs, polish front door hardware and address numbers, roll out a new doormat, and add a few pots of colorful blooms on the front porch.