buy: Is it all about the Kitchen and Baths?
- 07/30/10 07:27 AM
Looking for the perfect home can be a time consuming and challenging process but it can also be a great learning experience. We all know that kitchen and baths sell homes and of course Location, Location, Location but don't forget the BASEMENT! Ask your agent about the furnace/boiler, the hot water heater, the electric panel, and if applicable any central air or well equipment. While agents aren't experts in heating, cooling, etc... The good ones have sold enough homes to learn what to look for. Ask them-you can always remodel the kitchen later.
By Stacy Pfannkuch on July 30, 2010 … (3 comments)
buy: House Sitting Services Available....
- 07/29/10 08:50 AM
Job Offering: House Sitting Services Sunday afternoon 12-3:00 I know no Realtor would offer this because they are probably booked at an open houses on Sunday at that time. However, if all you are doing is marketing the open house in the local paper, isn't this really what is being offered? Haven't we all had open houses where only 1 or 2 people showed? If I am going to take my Sunday afternoon and hold an open house, I want them to be efficient, so I do the following: Knock on at least 50 of the neighbor's houses to invite them (we know … (3 comments)
buy: They call it a 'closing' for a reason
- 07/22/10 08:46 AM
When selling your home you might think you're already there when the offer comes in --But that's just the start of the journey. You still need to get through inspections, appraisal, and the mortgage process before you get the the closing. A couple tips... leave out some cookies and a note for your buyers at the time of the inspections. It's a stressful time and knowing what you've enjoyed about the home and a snack can help. Leave any receipts for repairs too. It's great for the inspector to reference. And don't forget, while packing designate a kitchen drawer for all the … (0 comments)
buy: Timing is everything!
- 07/21/10 07:21 AM
Timing is everything! Have you ever heard that one? Well in real estate no truer words have ever been spoken. You know this can apply to the up market, the down market, the interest rates. How about this.. getting through the door to that really great new listing! Timing is everything. Are you working with an agent who is actively looking for your next home? If you are really ready to move you need to see the homes first, as soon as they hit the market. Great homes come..but they also go...if your agents timing is off, you will miss out. … (0 comments)
buy: New Mill Rates
- 07/14/10 05:04 AM
New Mill Rates went into effect as of July 1, 2010. Bridgeport- 39.64 Fairfield- 19.27 Milford- 28.44 Monroe- 28.26 Newtown- 24.00 Shelton- 18.61 Stratford- 33.32 Trumbull- 24.54 Multiple your assessment by the mill rate and you will have you new tax amount. ex: 250,000(assessment) x 33.32(Stratford mill rate)= 8,330,000 new tax amount- $8,330 Due to the market fluctuation some towns have done a blanket reassessment while others have reassessed properties on a case-to-case basis. Contact your town hall for more information.
By Heather Rebb on July 14, 2010
The Kasey Group Sells...
… (0 comments)
buy: 50 years ago...
- 07/12/10 09:30 AM
Everything Comes Back Into Vogue...Even the good stuff like Interest Rates. 50 Years Ago... Johnny Cash plays 1st of many free concerts behind bars. US Army promotes Elvis Presley to Sergeant and ends his 2 year hitch in the Army a few months later. Jimi Hendrix plays his 1st gig. Wilt Chamberlain sets NBA playoff record of 53 points. Chubby Checker releases The Twist and it becomes #1 on the charts. The Beatles give their 1st Public Performance You know what else happened 50 years ago? Interest rates were as low as they are today! Now you tell me... is now … (0 comments)
buy: The market is...
- 07/09/10 07:49 AM
You've heard the saying ‘what goes up must come down' but what about ‘what goes down must come up'? Over and over again you hear people discuss how the ‘market is bad', ‘homes aren't selling', ‘people can't get mortgages', etc... STOP BUYING INTO THE HYPE! My team and I are living proof that homes are selling, people can get mortgages, and it isn't a bad market, it's just different. Want to get your home sold? Price it aggressively and work with an agent that knows your market and has a marketing strategy. Want to buy a home? Get educated on the … (4 comments)
buy: Short Sales... Cue the scary music
- 07/08/10 09:08 AM
So often we call short sales "long sales". The process, which you would think would be very straight forward, often takes at least 3 months for a bank to respond! And many times, an already patient buyer has decided to pursue a house that does not have a "third party" or "bank" contingency, setting the seller back to marketing their home for sale. So what can you do? You've heard that the best defense is a good offense, so coming to the table before an offer is even received with the following can ensure that you have done your best in moving … (2 comments)
buy: Tax Credit Expired.. What now?
- 07/07/10 09:37 AM
So June 30th came and went. Surprisingly, the earth did not stop spinning with the end of the tax credit. But what to do now? It was easy talking to buyers about capturing this once in a lifetime opportunity...it was all the buzz and everyone wanted a part of it. So where will the excitement come from now? The excitement needs to come from you! Call all those lucky ones, your new past clients...remind them how smart they were to get into their new home and ask them for referrals. They are excited! They have been telling everyone about their house, now you need … (5 comments)
buy: Quick...
- 07/06/10 07:44 AM
FSBO... What does it stand for? HAFA... potentially the trickiest acronym of all in the Real Estate field, but not if you know the process. In order to reduce the number of foreclosures in the US, the Treasury Department introduced a new federal program that makes it easier to process a short sale for people unable to keep their homes. Check out www.makinghomeaffordable.com for more information. And by the way, Home Afforable Foreclosure Alternative (HAFA).
By Karin Stocknoff on July 6, 2010
The Kasey Group Sells... … (0 comments)
buy: FHA... Did you know...
- 07/01/10 08:44 AM
I really enjoy my dictionary.com word of the day (can you tell I also like the thesaurus option on that site). I've really become smitten with not only knowing the word, but from whence it came, or its origin. I really do have a point here, and that is, that as a Realtor articles come across my desk everyday. Yesterday, I found an interesting one on FHA loans... In 1934, the Federal Housing Administration(FHA) was created by the National Housing Act for the primary purpose of insuring residential mortgage loans while promoting home ownership in the US. Today, FHA is the … (0 comments)
buy: Be Prepared
- 06/30/10 07:34 AM
Semper Paratus... The old boy scout saying is true, be prepared. When the time is right to buy you need to be prepared. Don't wait until you have found your dream home to speak to a mortgage broker and to get your finances in order. Remember, getting a pre-qualification can take time, time you may not have when you are anxious to make an offer. Look for important documents, like bank statements, taxes and W-2's. Spend time deciding how much money you have to put down on a home and where will your deposit come from. Be sure what price range you are comfortable with. … (0 comments)
buy: Don't you just love a bargain!
- 06/29/10 08:25 AM
My heart skips a beat when I see a red CLEARANCE sign. I don't go into a store without my coupons. It's not like I believe I should get something for nothing (although I do play the lottery), but why pay more when you don't have to? I never come home and tell my husband what I spent. I come home and tell him how much I saved. Yes, yes, yes...the receipt may say $200 on the credit card, but I saved $75! I believe that everyone should get a bargain too, so when I hear that you can lower your … (2 comments)
buy: Tell me how you really feel...
- 06/28/10 03:56 AM
I love the home! If that's how you feel, tell your agent. Too often buyers will take the stance that 'if it's meant to be, it will be' or 'it's ok if we don't get it'. Every agent has had this happen. A client loses a home, either in a bidding war or by not moving on it fast enough or waiting for 'something' to happen that never does. Then they compare every home from that point forward to the home they 'lost'. Buyers need to tell their agent, 'I really want this home' the agent will take the lead from there, preparing and … (3 comments)
buy: Is now the time to buy?
- 06/25/10 08:21 AM
If you watch the news, read the paper, or talk to just about anyone you have probably heard that now is the time to buy, but is it really? With June being the National Homeownership month it is important to remember that the process of buying and selling a home is different for everyone. If now is the time to buy for you the following five steps will be helpful in your quest to be a homeowner. 1. Get Educated. A little mortgage know-how goes a long way toward ensuring you get an affordable mortgage. Before you hire an agent or find … (2 comments)
buy: Effective 6/1/2010... New FNMA Guidelines
- 06/18/10 09:20 AM
Just when you thought you had an understainding of the current mortgage regulations FNMA has come out with new guidelines regarding the level of documentation required to close a loan. These changes are effective June 1, 2010 and have been adopted by Secondary Market Investors. Here are the key ones that buyers and agents should be aware of : Credit reports will be run again right before the closing to assure that new debt was not added since the original credit report was completed. Mortgage brokers will also be required to check on any recent credit inquiries on the credit report that … (0 comments)
buy: ONLY 23 DAYS LEFT!!
- 04/07/10 01:48 AM
There is still time to take advantage of the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit!Time is ticking away for potential homebuyers hoping to take advantage of an $8,000 federal tax credit. This weekend the first-ever REALTOR® Nationwide Open House Weekend will be held giving sellers an opportunity to showcase their home while the federal buyer tax credit is still available. Can't make it to an open house this weekend? Then check out these properties online:32 Kent Avenue in Bridgeport, Connecticut697 Cove Road Unit 2g in Stamford, Connecticut99 Allyndale Drive in Stratford, Connecticut24 Roslie Drive in Bridgeport, ConnecticutFor a complete list of our … (2 comments)
;)
;)
