Real Estate News

One: Use Fluorescent Bulbs. Replace conventional incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). They cost a little more, but last up to 10 times longer, use two-thirds less energy and give off 70 percent less heat.

Two: Look for the Energy Star Label. Energy Star-qualified refrigerators use about half as much energy as refrigerators made before 1993.

Three: Get Unplugged. Many home electronics still consume energy even when they are turned off. Many devices with a "standby mode" will continue to use power. Also, chargers and power adapters continue to draw power from the wall socket even if the device is not attached. Unplug these devices or use a power strip to turn off multiple units, when they aren’t being used to make sure that you aren’t wasting energy.

Four: Double-Up on Windows. Replacing old single-pane windows with double pane-windows helps reduce heat loss in winter and heat gain in the summer.

Five: Turn Down the Thermostat. Lowering you thermostat by just one degree can reduce costs by about four percent.

Six: Sustainable Floors. Cork flooring not only looks great, but it’s also natural insulator. So when you look into purchasing flooring, consider using bamboo, cork or another sustainable material.

Seven: Earth-Friendly Decks. A lot of deck material comes from tropical hardwoods. These woods look great and stand up to the elements for a very long time.

Eight: Low-Flow Faucets. Low-flow water fixtures such as showerheads, faucets and toilets reduce water consumption and water heating costs by as much as 50 percent.

Nine: Buy Renewable Energy. Check with your local utility company and see if you can purchase renewable energy.

Ten: Recycle! After you replace all those inefficient, windows and fixtures, make sure you recycle all that metal and glass. By recycling half of your household waste, you can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide annually. Find more information about programs in your area at www.recycle.com.

Folsom Luxury Homes and Land Specialist

Our motto is to always "Do the Right Thing", starting with providing premier executive service to buyers and sellers of Folsom, Granite Bay, and El Dorado Hills luxury homes and land.

For more information from California Home Network visit Patrick Warholic, The Internet Home Marketing Specialist for free MLS Home and property searches, free real estate reports, information for sellers, information for buyers, and find out exactly what your home is worth with a free home valuation, with current up-to-date market information provided for you.

Learn how how you can be mortgage free in 8 to 11 years without re-financing. Ask for your free House Payment Free analysis.

Contact Patrick Warholic, Realtor, CCRA, SRES, ASP, and e-PRO certified.

Labels: Homes, Informational, Tips

The ABCs of Storage

In many American homes, the change of seasons is a signal for storing away some stuff and pulling out other supplies. Whether it's yard tools or summer clothes, we all have items we put into storage for awhile, and pull out those things we need for another season, like holiday decorations. If you're selling your home, you should try to store away extra items to make your home appear more spacious.

"A" is for Assessment

What do you have and where can you put it? Take a look at all your stuff and then take a look at where you can tuck it away in your home. Walk through the home with a pad and pen and dedicate an hour of your time to finish this first step.

"B" is for Banish and Box

While this may sound easy, it’s where the hard decisions get made. Box up what you're going to keep and banish what needs to be thrown out, held for a yard sale or given to charity.

"C" is for Control

These two steps keep your storage areas neat and organized. They should also become a routine part of your storage plan. Maintaining your storage areas with smaller containers (such as see-through boxes, file folders or portable hanging racks) will keep items orderly and easily identifiable. Cardboard or plastic boxes with removable lids are your best bet for corralling stuff. The boxes are easy to handle and uniform in size.

When selling your home and if in doubt of what things should be stored away, ask your Realtor, he/she can give you some fantastic ideas.

Folsom Realtor: Luxury Homes and Land Specialist

Our motto is to always "Do the Right Thing", starting with providing premier executive service to buyers and sellers of Folsom, Granite Bay, and El Dorado Hills luxury homes and land.

For more information from California Home Network visit Patrick Warholic, The Internet Home Marketing Specialist for free MLS Home and property searches, free real estate reports, information for sellers, information for buyers, and find out exactly what your home is worth with a free home valuation, with current up-to-date market information provided for you.

Learn how how you can be mortgage free in 8 to 11 years without re-financing. Ask for your free House Payment Free analysis.

Contact Patrick Warholic, Realtor, CCRA, SRES, ASP, and e-PRO certified.

Labels: Homes, Informational, Selling, Tips

What steps can I take to improve my chances of getting a loan?

Today many lenders are more flexible and allow a greater percentage of monthly income to go toward mortgage payments. But they are more stringent on credit card balances. Lenders often count 5% of the balance as a borrower's monthly payment, instead of the credit card’s minimum payment. If you are planning to pay off some debts before you apply for a loan, consider the ones with the largest monthly payment. Many lenders, for example, prefer to have a car loan paid off, because borrowers are not likely to go out and buy a new car right away. On the other hand, if credit cards are paid off, a borrower might start charging again.

Should I wait until interest rates drop?

Time is money. Can you afford to wait? Of course home buyers want to buy when interest rates are at their lowest. When interest rates are at near-record lows, potential buyers or homeowners looking to move up are asking themselves if the time is right to act. But no one can predict with certainty where rates are headed at any particular time. Waiting for a bottoming out may instead provide time for rates to rise.

What's the debt-to-income ratio lenders use to qualify borrowers?

Many lenders use two ratios when they decide whether to approve a mortgage. If, for example, the ratios are 28/36, the "front" ratio of 28% means the lender will allow a mortgage payment (including principal, interest, taxes and insurance) of up to 28% of the borrower’s monthly pre-tax income. The "back" ratio of 36% means all loan and credit payments cannot exceed 36% of the borrower’s monthly income.

For more information visit the California Home Network, your:
Folsom Luxury Homes and Land Specialist

Our motto is to always "Do the Right Thing", starting with providing premier executive service to buyers and sellers of luxury homes and land.

For more information from California Home Network visit Patrick Warholic, The Internet Home Marketing Specialist for free MLS Home and property searches, free real estate reports, information for sellers, information for buyers, and find out exactly what your home is worth with a free home valuation, with current up-to-date market information provided for you.

Learn how how you can be mortgage free in 8 to 11 years without re-financing. Ask for your free House Payment Free analysis.

Contact Patrick Warholic, Realtor, CCRA, SRES, ASP, and e-PRO certified.

Labels: Buying, Homes, Informational, Real_Estate, Tips

Worried about taxes eating away too much of the profit on your home? Under a law enacted about ten years ago, a married couple filing jointly usually can exclude as much as $500,000 of their gain. For someone who is single or married and filing separately, the limit is $250,000.

To qualify for the full exclusion, you typically must have owned the home and lived in it as your primary residence for at least two of the five years prior to sale.

This exclusion applies only to your primary residence. Even someone who couldn't pass those tests might qualify to exclude most or all of the gain under certain circumstances. The seller may be eligible for a reduced exclusion if that person had to sell because of a "change in place of employment", health reasons or "unforeseen circumstances." What are unforeseen circumstances? Examples cited by the Internal Revenue Service include divorce, death, or "multiple births resulting from the same pregnancy."

Some think they’re required to buy a new home to qualify for this home-sale gain exclusion. That's wrong. They're probably thinking about a law that was repealed about a decade ago, under which you could defer tax on the gain on the sale of your home by rolling over the proceeds into a new home that cost as much as, or more than, the old one. Congress eliminated that law, in part because it was viewed as unfair to people who wanted to downsize and buy a less expensive home or to sell and move into a rental. Contact Patrick Warholic, your Folsom, El Dorado Hills, and Granite Bay Realtor for details.

Folsom Luxury Homes and Land Specialist

Our motto is to always "Do the Right Thing", starting with providing premier executive service to buyers and sellers of luxury homes and land.

For more information from California Home Network visit Patrick Warholic, The Internet Home Marketing Specialist for free MLS Home and property searches, free real estate reports, information for sellers, information for buyers, and find out exactly what your home is worth with a free home valuation, with current up-to-date market information provided for you.

Learn how how you can be mortgage free in 8 to 11 years without re-financing. Ask for your free House Payment Free analysis.

Contact Patrick Warholic, Realtor, CCRA, SRES, ASP, and e-PRO certified.

Labels: Homes, Informational, Properties, Real_Estate, Taxes, Tips

You are excited about your new home but just as important is your children settling into their new environment. A new school is important both academically and socially. The best way to help children start well is to register before school starts, if possible, to be sure any curriculum problems can be ironed out ahead of time

1. Before school starts. Communication with the school administration should start as early as possible by mail or while visiting the destination area on a house-hunting trip. Take the child by the school and walk around, check in the classrooms and where the restrooms are located. Those coming from gifted or other special programs or magnet schools, check with the school secretary on extracurricular activities.


2. During the school year. If the move is during the school year, parents should check back with the school and monitor their children’s work to be sure they are adjusting well and are in the correct levels or classes. But don’t expect disaster. Often "new kids" are a popular novelty during the year, and nothing beats the bus for making new friends.


3. Making friends is important. A good social adjustment at the start is just as important as academic adjustment – especially for junior high or middle school students. While a teacher may assign a buddy for the new child for the first few days in elementary school, junior high students are often left to fend for themselves. Parents can help by making a point of finding at least one schoolmate for their child and arranging a meeting before starting school.

Check with your Realtor for your local schools and also neighborhood after school programs to meet other children.

Folsom Luxury Homes and Land Specialist

Our motto is to always "Do the Right Thing", starting with providing premier executive service to buyers and sellers of luxury homes and land.

For more information from California Home Network visit Patrick Warholic, The Internet Home Marketing Specialist for free MLS Home and property searches, free real estate reports, information for sellers, information for buyers, and find out exactly what your home is worth with a free home valuation, with current up-to-date market information provided for you.

Contact Patrick Warholic, Realtor, CCRA, SRES, ASP, and e-PRO certified.

Labels: Homes, Informational

Condominiums are designed to provide multi-family housing and are good solutions for many homebuyers.

Indicators for a Strong Market in Multi-Family Housing Units

• Single and Non-Traditional households represent the majority of housing consumers.


• Single Women make up nearly a quarter of the homebuyer market and they prefer Multi-family Housing.


• Condos are also gaining interest among first time home buyers, empty nesters and retirees.


• Condos are great second homes


• And usually they are owner occupied instead of renters.

If condos are such a good investment - why are there so may for sale?

The supply outweighs the demands. When a single home is offered, that is one home on the market but when a developer sells a project, it is usually 500 plus homes to the market. An oversupply doesn’t always mean the product is deficient. When affordable housing is available, why would you pass it up? Ask your realtor about the great Condominiums or Townhomes in your area. Your Realtor has the connections for exactly what you are looking for.

Folsom Luxury Homes and Land Specialist

Our motto is to always "Do the Right Thing", starting with providing premier executive service to buyers and sellers of luxury homes and land.

For more information from California Home Network visit Patrick Warholic, The Internet Home Marketing Specialist for free MLS Home and property searches, free real estate reports, information for sellers, information for buyers, and find out exactly what your home is worth with a free home valuation, with current up-to-date market information provided for you.

Contact Patrick Warholic, Realtor, CCRA, SRES, ASP, and e-PRO certified.

Labels: Condos, Homes

A slower market means sellers can no longer be guaranteed of having their pick of tens of offers for properties showing everyday wear and tear. Staging a home by giving it a thorough cleaning and some decorator touches may be extremely vital to selling a home. Sellers work within a budget from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars to prepare the home for sale, but some of the most critical fixes don't cost a thing.

When to Call the Pros:

Once personal items and extra furniture have been removed, sellers may want to invest some money in hiring professional cleaners to clean the carpets and wash the windows. Sellers looking to keep staging expenses small and not disrupting too much of their daily routine may want to focus on the exterior of the home...curb appeal is what’s likely to get buyers interested in seeing the inside.

Rooms that Sell the House:

Interested in increasing asking price and generating more interest in your property? Then spend the few extra dollars and spruce up the kitchen and the bathrooms. People underestimate the high impact of just swapping out the cabinet hardware and faucets for updated styles. If you have a larger budget to play with then consider upgrading the countertop, replacing a laminate flooring with an alternative to hardwood or tile. Sellers need to keep in mind that buyers may have a different taste and a few staging updates might prove more attractive to buyers than being stuck with an expensive upgrade that they don't like.

Staging:

It's likely that a designer that doesn’t have the emotional attachment to the property can better dress a home for the widest range potential buyers. If the budget allows hire a professional stager or ask your Realtor if they can recommend someone.

Folsom Luxury Homes and Land Specialist

Our motto is to always "Do the Right Thing", starting with providing premier executive service to buyers and sellers of luxury homes and land.

For more information from California Home Network visit Patrick Warholic, The Internet Home Marketing Specialist for free MLS Home and property searches, free real estate reports, information for sellers, information for buyers, and find out exactly what your home is worth with a free home valuation, with current up-to-date market information provided for you.

Contact Patrick Warholic, Realtor, CCRA, SRES, ASP, and e-PRO certified.

Labels: Home_Decorating, Home_Remodeling, Home_Staging, Homes, Informational

Ready or not summer is nearly over and has brought along with it higher energy prices and homeowners scrambling to find inexpensive ways to keep their homes cool, with more hot weather to come.

Maximize Your Air Conditioning:

Open windows and use a portable fan instead of running the A/C. Use a fan along with your window air conditioner to spread the cool air though out the house. Don't put lamps or televisions near your A/C thermostat; the heat from these devices can cause the air conditioner to run longer. Consider installing a whole house fan that pulls air through open windows and exhausts it through the roof, which can cool the home quickly and reducing energy up to a third in comparison to an air conditioner.

Little Things Add Up:

Replace light bulbs with compact fluorescents, they produce the same amount of light but use a fifth of the energy and heat. Air-dry dishes instead of using dishwasher dry cycle. Use microwave oven instead of electric oven. Plug home electronics into power strips and turn power strips off when not in use. Lower the thermostat on the water heater, 115 degrees is comfortable for most uses. Take showers instead of baths to reduce use of hot water. Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.

And remember, if your home is on the market, your Realtor may suggest the air conditioner be on during open houses. A cooler home is more inviting in warm weather.

Folsom Luxury Homes and Land Specialist

Our motto is to always "Do the Right Thing", starting with providing premier executive service to buyers and sellers of luxury homes and land.

For more information from California Home Network visit Patrick Warholic, The Internet Home Marketing Specialist for free MLS Home and property searches, free real estate reports, information for sellers, information for buyers, and find out exactly what your home is worth with a free home valuation, with current up-to-date market information provided for you.

Contact Patrick Warholic, Realtor, CCRA, SRES, ASP, and e-PRO certified.

Labels: Homes, Informational, Tips

Real estate professionals see it all the time.

Jittery buyers bolt before they sign on the dotted line. Others walk away after an offer is made. The National Association of Realtors reports more than 10 percent of real estate transactions fail and buyer's remorse is often a factor when deals fall through. For some, it boils down to money. most buyers often "feel guilty about wanting things" and they feel guilty about spending the money on things like a house, also it may be money they really don't have or more than they spent before. The consequences of buyer's remorse aren't just emotional. When buyers walk away from transactions after a formal offer is made, they may lose earnest monies or expose themselves to lawsuits.

Homeowners can avoid second-guessing themselves if they are diligent and patient in their search for housing.

1. Don't jump at the first thing, your Realtor will advise you to look at the comparatives.

2. Your agent might also counsel you to consider not only aesthetics and financing, but also length of commute, tolerance for yard work and area amenities.

Other tips:

1. Hire an interior designer to help you adapt your sense of style to your new space.

2. Jot down impressions of homes you may consider buying, making a list of pros and cons.

3. Take the initiative to meet your new neighbors. Offer a welcome gift in
reverse such as a bouquet of flowers from your new garden.

4. Say the proper goodbye to your former home. Remind yourself what was good about living there -- and why you're moving.

5. Get to know the neighborhood. Visit the shops and stores nearest your new home, and say hello to the owners.

Your Realtor will have other ideas to help you consider All the Angles.

Luxury Homes and Land Specialist

Our motto is to always "Do the Right Thing", starting with providing premier executive service to buyers and sellers of luxury homes and land.

For more information from California Home Network visit Patrick Warholic, The Internet Home Marketing Specialist for free MLS Home and property searches, free real estate reports, information for sellers, information for buyers, and find out exactly what your home is worth with a free home valuation, with current up-to-date market information provided for you.

Contact Patrick Warholic, Realtor, CCRA, SRES, ASP, and e-PRO certified.

Labels: Buying, Homes, Tips

Many people today are looking to simplify their lifestyle by moving to a smaller, newer home.

Here are some tips on how to make the downsizing process go smoothly:

Buy First. If possible, buy your new home before you sell the old one. It's better to buy what you're going to go to first so you can see what kind of space you're physically getting into. That way, when it's time to sell your place, there isn't so much pressure -- you have more freedom. If you have the equity, it works well. If you don't, it's a harder decision to make.

Take Your Time. Family members have a tendency to pressure downsizers to move more quickly than they want to, Sometimes the process can take a couple of years. Make sure you really like the place you're moving to, and know what you're getting yourself into.

Move-In-Ready Properties. If time is short, concentrate in looking for a development that has an inventory of finished units, as well as a furnished model home -- that will give you a clear picture of what your home will look like.

Ask Around. Find a broker who is experienced in downsizing transactions by talking to people who have recently been through the process. A Good Realtor will ask you questions about your lifestyle; yard work, stairs, attached garage, community involvement.

For more information from California Home Network visit Patrick Warholic, The Internet Home Marketing Specialist for free MLS Home and property searches, free real estate reports, information for sellers, information for buyers, and find out exactly what your home is worth with a free home valuation, with current up-to-date market information provided for you.

Contact Patrick Warholic, Realtor, CCRA, SRES, ASP, and e-PRO certified.

Labels: Buying, Homes, Tips

Houses that sell within the first five weeks of their listing are most likely to fetch their asking price. The longer the house sits on the market, the more pressure you’ll feel to lower the price and the less likely it is to sell without some freebies from you, the seller. Even if you don’t have a need to sell quickly, follow these tips from professional realtors to get top dollar for your home:

1. Find a Realtor: The best way to sell a home is hire a professional and allow their experience to guide you. A realtor knows the laws to help you sell your home, can assist you in deciding on the right selling price, offer suggestions for necessary improvements to your home to get your agreed upon price and other strategies for selling in your area.

2. Right Price: The most important factor in selling a home quickly is setting the right price. The best way to decide on a price is to find the average price of homes that have sold in your area. Your Realtor will have the information readily available. Rather than beginning with a set amount of gain you’d like to walk away with which is the most common mistake sellers make is pricing the home too high.

3. Prepare the Property: There are many things you can do to make the home more appealing to prospective buyers, the key is to make the improvements BEFORE you start showing it. These improvements are called “staging” and it has been know that staging a home helps it to sell quicker.

4. Offer Incentives: Offering to pay closing costs or including household items and appliances can bring the up-front expenses of buying your home into range for a first time home buyer who is just barely able to make the down payment, mortgage points and fees.

There you have it! Apply these tips to sell your home fast as the peak home selling and buying season is here.

For more information from California Home Network visit Patrick Warholic, The Internet Home Marketing Specialist for free MLS Home and property searches, free real estate reports, information for sellers, information for buyers, and find out exactly what your home is worth with a free home valuation, with current up-to-date market information provided for you.

Contact Patrick Warholic, Realtor, CCRA, SRES, ASP, and e-PRO certified.

Labels: Homes, Selling

While most people buy second homes using conventional financing, some are taking different approaches. Here are a few options:

• Pull equity out of a primary residence to buy a second home. This has become a popular investment diversification strategy in recent years.


• Rent your primary home and purchase your second home. This strategy might work well if you are planning to retire to the second home one day.


• Buy a vacation home and rent it out when you’re not using it, to help pay for it.


• A growing number of people around the West are considering fractional ownership, a fairly new option in which owners purchase fractional shares in a vacation home and use them for a certain number of weeks per year. While it may sound similar to most time-shares, in a fractional ownership program you own a portion of the vacation property and get a deed that appreciates for your share.

For more information from California Home Network visit Patrick Warholic, The Internet Home Marketing Specialist for free MLS Home and property searches, free real estate reports, information for sellers, information for buyers, and find out exactly what your home is worth with a free home valuation, with current up-to-date market information provided for you.

Contact Patrick Warholic, Realtor, CCRA, SRES, ASP, and e-PRO certified.

Labels: Buying, Homes, Informational

When looking for a home you probably have a checklist of characteristics that are important to you. However, if you know you are going to be a short-term homeowner here are some special considerations to keep in mind for good resale potential:

House Size — Don’t buy the largest model in the neighborhood. If most of the houses near yours are smaller than your house, they can act as a drag on appreciation. On the other hand, if you buy a small or medium house for the neighborhood, the larger homes can pull up your value.

Prime Neighborhoods — Buying what you need in a more prestigious neighborhood may provide more financial reward that getting what you want in a less desirable neighborhood.

Public Transportation — Even though you many not use them, consider accessibility to public transportation, as well as distance to a major airport.

The Commute — Check the morning and afternoon commute time by driving the major commute routes and to schools and shopping areas.

Schools — Log on to the local school districts website and check out how the schools in the area rank, even if you don’t have school-aged children.

Bedrooms and Bathrooms — three and four bedroom houses are the most popular among home buyers, so if you can stick in that range you will have more potential buyers when it comes time to resell. There should always be at least two bathrooms in a house, or at least the potential
to insert a second one.

For more information from California Home Network visit Patrick Warholic, The Internet Home Marketing Specialist for free MLS Home and property searches, free real estate reports, information for sellers, information for buyers, and find out exactly what your home is worth with a free home valuation, with current up-to-date market information provided for you.

Contact Patrick Warholic, Realtor, CCRA, SRES, ASP, and e-PRO certified.

Labels: Buying, Homes, Informational, Properties, Real_Estate, Selling, Tips

It's only March, but not too soon to start thinking about your summer vacation plans. For many people that means relaxing, fun-filled trips away from everyday routines. But it can also mean being gone from your home for an extended period of time. Even if you live in a gated community, leaving your home vacant for an extended period of time can be a huge risk, a costly lesson and an emotional heartache. So the best way to close down a home is to make it look like it is being lived in daily, even though you're away. Here are some security tips compiled from insurance companies, homeowners, and law enforcement agencies.

• Stop all deliveries such as mail and newspapers -- this is a very simple thing to do, but it is frequently overlooked by homeowners. When they're gone papers pile up indicating that no one has been home for a while.


• Set indoor and outdoor lights and even TVs on timers to come on and light up rooms of your home and exterior surroundings. Nothing says nobody is home like a dark house. A television or radio that's set to come on periodically makes anyone lurking around think that someone is home.


• Turn down the telephone ringer on your phone and the volume on your answering machine.


• Unplug automatic garage door openers. Burglars can sometimes figure out the code and gain easy access to your home. Also lock any doors from the garage that give access to the house.


• Do not close all the blinds, shutters of curtains, leaving them partially open gives an everyday-lived-in look.


• If you have a willing neighbor, ask him to occasionally park in your driveway. Burglars will often survey a home at different times and on different days to study traffic patterns.


• Keep your landscaped trimmed back. Overgrown trees and shrubs are a great hiding spot for burglars. While you're gone have a gardener maintain the landscape.


• Install extra safety fastening devices on sliding doors, windows and other openings.


• If you don’t have a security system, buy one. A good security alarm system that is connected to a dispatch center usually will qualify you for a discount on your homeowner's insurance.


• Put a "beware of dog" sign on your fence; even if you don't have a dog.


• Never leave a key under the mat, in a nearby planter, etc. -- or any other common, well-known hiding places. Many burglars don't have to force entry into a home; instead they enter through open/unlocked doors and windows or even with a key, if it's left out for them!

The vital element to keeping your home burglar proof is making it as difficult as possible to break into. Burglars look for easy targets -- leaving a home unattended for a long period of time can put your house in the easy-target category. However, if you take precautions to secure your home before you leave, you'll have greater success keeping a burglar out of your house.


For more information from California Home Network visit Patrick Warholic, The Internet Home Marketing Specialist for free MLS Home and property searches, free real estate reports, information for sellers, information for buyers, and find out exactly what your home is worth with a free home valuation, with current up-to-date market information provided for you.

Contact Patrick Warholic, Realtor, CCRA, SRES, ASP, and e-PRO certified.

Labels: Homes, Informational, Security, Tips

A drop-off in buyer demand and rising home inventories has made putting a house on the market trickier for homeowners whose properties appreciated during the boom and who hope to retain their gains. Attracting a shrinking pool of buyers without losing too much financial ground can be tough. To make the most of your real-estate dollars, follow these tips:

1. Know the playing field. Study your local market and investigate other homes for sale, local asking prices and what buyers are paying. Visit open houses in your area. Be savvy to market trends and how what things are worth.

2. Price competitively. Because of the growing number of properties on the market, buyers have a greater number of homes from which to choose. If a home is overpriced, a buyer will dismiss it and move on to the next one. Consult with your real estate agent on an appropriate price

3. Don't be quick to pass up offers. The longer your house takes to sell, the more money you lose. Don't be quick to turn down an offer, because making a deal now, instead of later, can save you money in the end.

4. Negotiate. Offer concessions, such as making minor fixes. Small expenditures, by possibly speeding a sale, can go a long way in preserving the substantial home-price gains.

5. Play up assets. Now that there are more properties on the market, sellers must impress buyers. The strategy is to allow a new owner to imagine himself in the home. Remove clutter. Pay for some inexpensive landscaping. Determine what the popular "look" is in your neighborhood and mimic it.
Tips for Sellers in a Cooling Market—excerpted from WSJ.com

For more information from California Home Network visit Patrick Warholic, The Internet Home Marketing Specialist for free MLS Home and property searches, free real estate reports, information for sellers, information for buyers, and find out exactly what your home is worth with a free home valuation, with current up-to-date market information provided for you.

Contact Patrick Warholic, Realtor, CCRA, SRES, ASP, and e-PRO certified.

Labels: Homes, Properties, Selling

Low rates and extraordinary Inventory have created perfect conditions for home buyers.
Take a moment to consider these facts:
You've never had more homes to choose from...

• There are currently 3.75 million homes for sale. Inventories in recent months have been at record levels, offering consumers the greatest choice in decades.
• However, inventory levels are falling, and the selection of homes will become limited once again.
• Former Federal Reserve Chair Alan Greenspan recently said that housing prospects are looking up. "Most of the negatives in housing are probably behind us. The fourth quarter should be reasonably good, certainly better than the third quarter." According to industry estimates, 2006 will be the third-best year on record for home sales.

Interest rates haven't been this low for nearly 40 years

• At 6.4 percent, the average 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate remains near 40-year lows. This is more than an entire percentage point below 2000 levels. For a $250,000 loan, a drop from 7.5 percent to 6.5 percent means an annual savings of $2,000.

Real Estate is a great investment

• The average home value increased by 88 percent over the last ten years. In the decade to come, the number of US households is expected to increase by 15 percent, which means housing will stay in high demand.

While conditions for buyers are perfect now, that is likely to change next year as sales pick up, prices gain traction, and conditions improve for sellers. In today’s real estate market, the best time to buy is now.

For more information from California Home Network visit Patrick Warholic, The Internet Home Marketing Specialist for free MLS property searches, free real estate reports, information for sellers, information for buyers, and find out exactly what your home is worth with a free home valuation, with current up-to-date market information provided for you.

Contact Patrick Warholic, Realtor, CCRA, SRES, ASP, and e-PRO certified.

Labels: Buying, Homes, Properties, Real_Estate