When you begin to consider selling your home, you have to factor in the expense of doing so. Selling a house is not cheap.
The average real estate commission fee paid to an agent or a broker is about 5%. On the sale of a $200,000 home, that equates to $10,000! That is a quite a large amount to pay.
So for most people, the next consideration is whether or not they can just sell the home themselves. They only see the savings but pay little consideration to the amount of time, effort and work they have to do in order to sell their house at or close to its market value
Before you decide, you need to realize what selling your house yourself will entail.
First, you need to set a plan and to set the plan you will need to ask yourself some very pointed questions.
How are you going to advertise your home for sale? What methods have you considered such as Multiple Listing Service (MLS), online, local newspapers, etc. What are the costs associated with each method? What is the success rate or track record of each method?
Are you going to have 'open-house' and invite prospective buyers to come in and see the home?
If so, are you going to have the time and resources to prepare your home for presentation so that it presents itself in the best light?
One way to get the best idea of what it is going to take to sell you home is to invite a few real estate agents in to discuss your home sell with you. Be up front with them. Tell them you are thinking about selling your home and you are considering doing it as a 'for sale by owner' (known in the real estate industry as a FSBO).
Agents know that most people that go the FSBO route are unsuccessful on their own and end up going with an agent after all. The smart agents will happily entertain your questions and show you the ins and outs of selling you home because this will give them a high level of credibility with you and a leg up on other agents should you decide to go the professional sales agent route.
This is a win-win. The agent will help you by telling you what they think of your house and its readiness for market. If you have selected an agent that is familiar with home sales in your area, they will be able to accurately guide you in setting the price for market, show you things you can do to improve the home's appearance, both inside and out, plus give you some advice on what direction to go in marketing your home for sale.
I have been writing articles and publishing commentary for several years that cover a number of popular topics of interest from different walks of life. Recently, my interests has turned to remodeling my old office into a bedroom for the kids. I have been considering replacing their old twin beds with some childrens bunk beds so they can stay in the same room but have plenty of room for their stuff. In the process, I found all kinds of information about different types, brands, shapes and sizes of bunk beds and started a site at http://www.ChildrensBunkBedshop.com for a place to document what I found.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeff_Runyon
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Real Estate Marketing Flyers; 24/7 Marketing
A real estate marketing flyer box is a "24 hours a day agent", and is standard equipment among high producing real estate agents.
And what do you suppose you do with them? Stuff them with real estate marketing flyers, of course! And as you may know, real state marketing flyers are the bread and butter of the real estate indusrtry.
A good, informative real estate marketing flyer has enough information on it to get the most desireable response; a phone call or email message to you. The rest, as the say, will be up to you.
The flyer should at a minimum have your full name, address, and phone number(s), your photograph, a photograph or two of the listings, price, property description, and description of the location, neighborhood, and amenities.
A good real estate marketing flyer will also be attractively designed, neat and devoid of clutter. It should also be done in clear and easy to read type fonts. Although color copies are relatively expensive these days it is still a good idea to have at least a splash of color.
Perhaps your real estate marketing flyer can reflect the happenings in your community, such as a photograph of the local sports team, an attractive park in the area, or a scenic view. Let the flyer sell you and your listings for you!
And as implied above, real estate marketing flyers are no longer restricted to placement inside homes. Additionally, you can place them outside homes and have them market your listings 24/7.
Many real estate marketing flyer boxes come equipped with easy reach business card dispensers. Some all-weather-resistant construction boxes will hold over one hundred single sheet flyers in a upright fashion. No slouching, no bunching! The self-closing lid and ventilation system keeps the real estate marketing flyers just like new.
So, if you're not marketing via real estate marketing flyers, or if you are not marketing with outside flyer boxes you may want to consider stepping it up a notch or two. Afterall, the more successful agents are marketing 24/7! Are you?
And what do you suppose you do with them? Stuff them with real estate marketing flyers, of course! And as you may know, real state marketing flyers are the bread and butter of the real estate indusrtry.
A good, informative real estate marketing flyer has enough information on it to get the most desireable response; a phone call or email message to you. The rest, as the say, will be up to you.
The flyer should at a minimum have your full name, address, and phone number(s), your photograph, a photograph or two of the listings, price, property description, and description of the location, neighborhood, and amenities.
A good real estate marketing flyer will also be attractively designed, neat and devoid of clutter. It should also be done in clear and easy to read type fonts. Although color copies are relatively expensive these days it is still a good idea to have at least a splash of color.
Perhaps your real estate marketing flyer can reflect the happenings in your community, such as a photograph of the local sports team, an attractive park in the area, or a scenic view. Let the flyer sell you and your listings for you!
And as implied above, real estate marketing flyers are no longer restricted to placement inside homes. Additionally, you can place them outside homes and have them market your listings 24/7.
Many real estate marketing flyer boxes come equipped with easy reach business card dispensers. Some all-weather-resistant construction boxes will hold over one hundred single sheet flyers in a upright fashion. No slouching, no bunching! The self-closing lid and ventilation system keeps the real estate marketing flyers just like new.
So, if you're not marketing via real estate marketing flyers, or if you are not marketing with outside flyer boxes you may want to consider stepping it up a notch or two. Afterall, the more successful agents are marketing 24/7! Are you?
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Mortgage Modification Tips - Work Out the Situation With Your Lender by Jason Rockford
With the rising foreclosure rates currently in the United States, mortgage modifications are becoming more and more common. In the past mortgage companies have not been cooperative in helping people facing foreclosure, however they have now come to realize that working with the home owner not only helps the homeowner out but can possibly save the mortgage company from going into bankruptcy as well.
A loan modification or often called a mortgage modification, allows a homeowner to re-negotiate their mortgage terms. It will help in reducing the monthly payment often by lowering the interest rate. It can save the home from going into foreclosure. Selling your home may not be an option in today's market so the lenders and borrowers have lots of reasons to work out the situation together by establishing a suitable plan for both parties. By coming to a new payment agreement, lenders get their money and the homeowner gets to keep their home. Although this is the only way for some homeowners, it is not an easy process.
Loan modification will require you to prove your financial position and require documentation, as well as you being able to prove that you can pay the new mortgage amount. Not all banks offer loan modifications, however it's becoming more and more common.
Check with your lender to see if they can help you. Lenders do not typically want your home; they are in business to make money, not to be in real estate. This may be a difficult and time consuming task, but think about the alternative. Protecting your asset is worth the time and effort involved with mortgage modifications.
Begin the road to modifying your loan today by visiting http://www.MortgageModificationTips.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Rockford
A loan modification or often called a mortgage modification, allows a homeowner to re-negotiate their mortgage terms. It will help in reducing the monthly payment often by lowering the interest rate. It can save the home from going into foreclosure. Selling your home may not be an option in today's market so the lenders and borrowers have lots of reasons to work out the situation together by establishing a suitable plan for both parties. By coming to a new payment agreement, lenders get their money and the homeowner gets to keep their home. Although this is the only way for some homeowners, it is not an easy process.
Loan modification will require you to prove your financial position and require documentation, as well as you being able to prove that you can pay the new mortgage amount. Not all banks offer loan modifications, however it's becoming more and more common.
Check with your lender to see if they can help you. Lenders do not typically want your home; they are in business to make money, not to be in real estate. This may be a difficult and time consuming task, but think about the alternative. Protecting your asset is worth the time and effort involved with mortgage modifications.
Begin the road to modifying your loan today by visiting http://www.MortgageModificationTips.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Rockford
Friday, November 6, 2009
Getting Into The Real Estate Business
You have probably heard that getting into the real estate business is a great way to make money. Thousands of people have joined this real business in order to make money. And a lot of these people have turned themselves into self made millionaires. I know you will like to be next in line? The good thing is that making money in the real estate industry is more than possible. If you know how to get started and make the right decisions, you can make tons of money.
Before you get too involved as a real estate agent, you need to ask yourself what you want to do. There are many ways to make money with it but you will need to plan your route early on.
Real estate investing can be done in two ways. First off, you can buy a piece of real estate, fix it up and then resell it for a profit. This is a great way to make money if you know how to manage what you are doing. Also, you can buy a property and then rent it out. The advantage to do this is that you will have a monthly income coming in from each property that you own. If you have enough property making you money each month you will never have to work again and the only thing you will have to do is make sure each property is well kept.
Unfortunately, getting started is not quite as easy as it may sound. Sure, all you need to do is buy a piece of real estate but after that things can get a bit tricky.
After you have a piece of real estate in your name the real fun starts. You will need to get it up to par and then make a decision on what you want to do with it. Either way, the property will have to be in good enough shape to sell or rent out. For this reason you will probably have to do some repairs. Are you handy enough to make these repairs on your own? If so, you can save yourself a lot of money. But if you are not, you will have to hire somebody to help you out. This is not a problem but it can cut into your overall profits.
Getting into the real estate business is one of the best ways to make money in todays day and age. Many people have turned to this industry as a full time job. And a lot of these people have made millions of dollars. If you want to be next, jump into the real estate business today. You never know what could happen.
Before you get too involved as a real estate agent, you need to ask yourself what you want to do. There are many ways to make money with it but you will need to plan your route early on.
Real estate investing can be done in two ways. First off, you can buy a piece of real estate, fix it up and then resell it for a profit. This is a great way to make money if you know how to manage what you are doing. Also, you can buy a property and then rent it out. The advantage to do this is that you will have a monthly income coming in from each property that you own. If you have enough property making you money each month you will never have to work again and the only thing you will have to do is make sure each property is well kept.
Unfortunately, getting started is not quite as easy as it may sound. Sure, all you need to do is buy a piece of real estate but after that things can get a bit tricky.
After you have a piece of real estate in your name the real fun starts. You will need to get it up to par and then make a decision on what you want to do with it. Either way, the property will have to be in good enough shape to sell or rent out. For this reason you will probably have to do some repairs. Are you handy enough to make these repairs on your own? If so, you can save yourself a lot of money. But if you are not, you will have to hire somebody to help you out. This is not a problem but it can cut into your overall profits.
Getting into the real estate business is one of the best ways to make money in todays day and age. Many people have turned to this industry as a full time job. And a lot of these people have made millions of dollars. If you want to be next, jump into the real estate business today. You never know what could happen.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
How to Make Cash With Tax Sales and Tax Liens As a Home Business? by COLON BOLDEN
Understanding how to make cash working with tax sales and tax liens can be a very profitable home business. There is a learning curve dealing with Tax Sales and Tax Liens. Here are the basics of how Tax Sales and Tax Liens work and understanding why this can be a nice home business if your heart desires.
If you didn't realize, every property owner must pay property taxes. If you fail to pay your property taxes after a certain time frame, the county can or should I say will go out and pursue to get there fallen behind taxes by selling the property or attaching a tax lien. The tax lien forces you to pay the property taxes one way or another.
If you want to keep your property, you have to pay off the tax lien, which includes the property taxes owned plus interest for late payment. If you want to sell your property, any money earned from the sale must first go towards paying your taxes. If you don't pay your taxes within a certain period of time, you will lose your property altogether.
You can miss out not paying you taxes for all sort of reasons. Could be loss of job, maybe a divorce, or a sudden death in the family. Or maybe the building is in really bad shape that it would cost more to fix it up than it's worth. You just be surprise of all the reasons why property taxes are not payed.
For whatever the reason, the county needs to collect property taxes. So if owners do not pay their taxes, then there will be opportunities to purchase the property and make a lot of money right off the bat.
The following is what you can do to cash in on a tax lien. First to remove the lien from the property, the owner must pay you the cost of the lien along with interest set by the state, county, or region or by a bidding process.
If the owner does not pay you back, you have a chance to own the property. If the original owner sells the property to another person, the new owner must pay you to remove the tax lien.
This is what you can do to cash in to buy the property. If the owner have gone long enough without paying their taxes, their property will be auctioned to the highest bidder or foreclosed by the county and available for sale at a later date.
The county will always be looking for someone to pay for the lost taxes, so if a piece of property is worth about $450,00 but taxes owed are $70,000, you have an opportunity to get a $450,000 property for $70,000. Basically this is how you can cash in on Tax Sales and Tax Lien and do very well as a home business.
Colon Bolden is a top internet professional who works with other internet leaders from around the world. His real passion is helping others achieve their goals, dreams and aspirations of earning a full time income on the internet. If you're interested in joining a team full of success, click at WENETPROFITS.
If you didn't realize, every property owner must pay property taxes. If you fail to pay your property taxes after a certain time frame, the county can or should I say will go out and pursue to get there fallen behind taxes by selling the property or attaching a tax lien. The tax lien forces you to pay the property taxes one way or another.
If you want to keep your property, you have to pay off the tax lien, which includes the property taxes owned plus interest for late payment. If you want to sell your property, any money earned from the sale must first go towards paying your taxes. If you don't pay your taxes within a certain period of time, you will lose your property altogether.
You can miss out not paying you taxes for all sort of reasons. Could be loss of job, maybe a divorce, or a sudden death in the family. Or maybe the building is in really bad shape that it would cost more to fix it up than it's worth. You just be surprise of all the reasons why property taxes are not payed.
For whatever the reason, the county needs to collect property taxes. So if owners do not pay their taxes, then there will be opportunities to purchase the property and make a lot of money right off the bat.
The following is what you can do to cash in on a tax lien. First to remove the lien from the property, the owner must pay you the cost of the lien along with interest set by the state, county, or region or by a bidding process.
If the owner does not pay you back, you have a chance to own the property. If the original owner sells the property to another person, the new owner must pay you to remove the tax lien.
This is what you can do to cash in to buy the property. If the owner have gone long enough without paying their taxes, their property will be auctioned to the highest bidder or foreclosed by the county and available for sale at a later date.
The county will always be looking for someone to pay for the lost taxes, so if a piece of property is worth about $450,00 but taxes owed are $70,000, you have an opportunity to get a $450,000 property for $70,000. Basically this is how you can cash in on Tax Sales and Tax Lien and do very well as a home business.
Colon Bolden is a top internet professional who works with other internet leaders from around the world. His real passion is helping others achieve their goals, dreams and aspirations of earning a full time income on the internet. If you're interested in joining a team full of success, click at WENETPROFITS.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Obama's Home Rescue Plan by Joe Cline
How You Can Save Yourself from Foreclosure?
If you're facing foreclosure on your home, there is new hope on the horizon. As part of the stimulus program passed by Congress, the Home Affordable Modification program can help you save your home and preserve your credit. Getting the details on this program will help you decide whether or not it's for you and give you the information you need to apply for it.
Since this bailout program is paid for with tax dollars, you are entitled to apply for it if you qualify. It has been funded by the $75 billion stimulus funds. When a bank receives a request for the Home Affordable Modification program, the bank will be paid by the Treasury Department to modify the loan.
The Obama Home Affordable Modification Program makes it easier for banks to offer loan modifications to their customers. A loan modification will change the nature of your home loan so that your payments will equal 31% of your gross monthly income. This new figure, which is called your target payment, will be achieved by changing the interest rate on your loan, extending the life of your loan up to 40 years or forgiving a portion of your principle balance. Your lender will have the option of which of these methods they will use to modify your loan.
In order to qualify for this program, you need to have a few pre-existing conditions. You'll need to make an appointment with a loan officer at your financial institution and bring your proof of income. This can be done in the form of pay stubs, tax returns, award letters, profit and loss statements or any other type of verification that you need. You will also need to bring two months of bank statements from whatever bank you currently bank at. Finally, you need a letter of explanation to account for your financial hardship. You need to explain why your income has decreased or your expenses have increased to cause you to miss payments.
To apply for the loan, you'll fill out financial statements based on the information that you've brought with you. This will give your bank a clear picture of your overall financial situation. It will help them decide how to modify your loan, if you qualify. It's absolutely necessary that you fill out this paperwork correctly. If you don't get it exactly right, you'll risk not being approved for the loan modification.
Once you are approved for the loan, you'll be able to stay in your home and avoid foreclosure. Foreclosure is a costly process for banks so it's ore beneficial to them to modify your loan and keep you in your home. You should look for a long term solution to your mortgage troubles. Make sure that the loan modification you are approved for includes flat monthly payments and no balloon payment after a period of time. Read the fine print, just like you would with any other financial document so you know exactly what you are getting yourself into.
With a completed application and a strong case, you can find relief from foreclosure and stay in your home with Obama's home rescue plan.
Joe Cline writes articles for Austin Texas real estate. Other articles written by the author related to Rollingwood real estate and Lakeway real estate can be found on the net.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_Cline
If you're facing foreclosure on your home, there is new hope on the horizon. As part of the stimulus program passed by Congress, the Home Affordable Modification program can help you save your home and preserve your credit. Getting the details on this program will help you decide whether or not it's for you and give you the information you need to apply for it.
Since this bailout program is paid for with tax dollars, you are entitled to apply for it if you qualify. It has been funded by the $75 billion stimulus funds. When a bank receives a request for the Home Affordable Modification program, the bank will be paid by the Treasury Department to modify the loan.
The Obama Home Affordable Modification Program makes it easier for banks to offer loan modifications to their customers. A loan modification will change the nature of your home loan so that your payments will equal 31% of your gross monthly income. This new figure, which is called your target payment, will be achieved by changing the interest rate on your loan, extending the life of your loan up to 40 years or forgiving a portion of your principle balance. Your lender will have the option of which of these methods they will use to modify your loan.
In order to qualify for this program, you need to have a few pre-existing conditions. You'll need to make an appointment with a loan officer at your financial institution and bring your proof of income. This can be done in the form of pay stubs, tax returns, award letters, profit and loss statements or any other type of verification that you need. You will also need to bring two months of bank statements from whatever bank you currently bank at. Finally, you need a letter of explanation to account for your financial hardship. You need to explain why your income has decreased or your expenses have increased to cause you to miss payments.
To apply for the loan, you'll fill out financial statements based on the information that you've brought with you. This will give your bank a clear picture of your overall financial situation. It will help them decide how to modify your loan, if you qualify. It's absolutely necessary that you fill out this paperwork correctly. If you don't get it exactly right, you'll risk not being approved for the loan modification.
Once you are approved for the loan, you'll be able to stay in your home and avoid foreclosure. Foreclosure is a costly process for banks so it's ore beneficial to them to modify your loan and keep you in your home. You should look for a long term solution to your mortgage troubles. Make sure that the loan modification you are approved for includes flat monthly payments and no balloon payment after a period of time. Read the fine print, just like you would with any other financial document so you know exactly what you are getting yourself into.
With a completed application and a strong case, you can find relief from foreclosure and stay in your home with Obama's home rescue plan.
Joe Cline writes articles for Austin Texas real estate. Other articles written by the author related to Rollingwood real estate and Lakeway real estate can be found on the net.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_Cline
Monday, November 2, 2009
How To Buy Foreclosed Homes For A Bargain Price
Many people want to know how to buy foreclosed homes because they know that these home foreclosures are usually sold at very discounted prices. Really it is easy. The hardest part about it is finding a house that has come up for foreclosure.
This type of real estate comes up for sale all the time. Unfortunately there are always people who for many different reasons cannot afford to pay back the bank therefore they are in default of their contract and the banking institution or lender has the right to sell up and get back the money that is owed to them.
It works pretty much the same way as it would for repo cars, boats, bikes and so on. These houses get put up for auction by the original lending institution and they take the highest bidder so long as it covers the original loan. Many times these houses go for amazing prices. These types of sales also attract many investors that know their stuff so beware of competition.
Getting to know real estate agents in the area that you are interested in can help you find out how to buy foreclosed homes. They can tell you when they are coming up for auction. Often people do not know they are on offer until it is too late. Some areas to keep an eye on are those that have a lot of government homes. Often the government will have mass sales where they have a group of houses that they want to sell off cheaply. Once again keep your eyes and ears open and call on your trusted real estate agent for any upcoming auctions.
There are also different websites that can help you with finding out how to buy foreclosed homes all around the world. You just need to do some homework and find out how and when these properties come up for sale. Remember, that no matter what type of auction you bid at, you will always have to have your finances in check and be well organized.
This type of real estate comes up for sale all the time. Unfortunately there are always people who for many different reasons cannot afford to pay back the bank therefore they are in default of their contract and the banking institution or lender has the right to sell up and get back the money that is owed to them.
It works pretty much the same way as it would for repo cars, boats, bikes and so on. These houses get put up for auction by the original lending institution and they take the highest bidder so long as it covers the original loan. Many times these houses go for amazing prices. These types of sales also attract many investors that know their stuff so beware of competition.
Getting to know real estate agents in the area that you are interested in can help you find out how to buy foreclosed homes. They can tell you when they are coming up for auction. Often people do not know they are on offer until it is too late. Some areas to keep an eye on are those that have a lot of government homes. Often the government will have mass sales where they have a group of houses that they want to sell off cheaply. Once again keep your eyes and ears open and call on your trusted real estate agent for any upcoming auctions.
There are also different websites that can help you with finding out how to buy foreclosed homes all around the world. You just need to do some homework and find out how and when these properties come up for sale. Remember, that no matter what type of auction you bid at, you will always have to have your finances in check and be well organized.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
The Saga Of An Ideal Real Estate Agent
Behind the success of a man is a woman, and behind the success of a real estate business is an ideal agent. Indeed, it's the human resource that is considered to be the most important factor for real estate business to succeed.
Indeed, real estate can be a lucrative activity when managed properly by the right person. But what does it take to be an ideal real estate agent? Here's how:
1. Have a solid track.
Most people who succeeds in life knows where they want to got, what they want to do, and the reasons behind it. And so, for a person to be a successful real estate agent, he or she must encompass this trait in order to succeed in the industry.
2. An ideal real estate agent knows who he or she is.
Skills, strategies, and marketing tools will all go to waste if the real estate agent does not have a solid assessment of his or her own personality.
Consequently, a successful real agent is honest in his or her endeavors especially those that involves transactions with a client. If, in the first place the real estate agent is not being true to himself or herself, then the real estate agent will most likely have difficulty in dealing with other people.
This all boils down to the fact that an achiever is a believer not of any other thing, but in himself.
3. Optimism.
A lot of people who succeeds in life are optimistic. This means that a person has always a positive outlook in life. An optimistic person believes that there is no such thing as failure. And an ideal real estate agent knows this too.
4. Motivation power.
An ideal real estate agent knows how to motivate or move people into action. It's that unique power of every sales person to device a strategy that can motivate their clients to buy the product he or she is selling.
5. Awareness of the value of properties.
To become an ideal real estate agent, one should be aware of the ebb and flow of the cost of the properties. These should be taken into consideration with utmost care and skill.
6. They should not price.
To be an ideal real estate agent is to be considerate with their client's purchasing capability. They should be sensitive enough to detect if the price of the real estate is reasonable enough to hit their market.
7. An ideal real estate agent does not engage into hard selling.
8. An ideal real estate agent knows how to make a pleasant showcase of the property.
by pilkster
Indeed, real estate can be a lucrative activity when managed properly by the right person. But what does it take to be an ideal real estate agent? Here's how:
1. Have a solid track.
Most people who succeeds in life knows where they want to got, what they want to do, and the reasons behind it. And so, for a person to be a successful real estate agent, he or she must encompass this trait in order to succeed in the industry.
2. An ideal real estate agent knows who he or she is.
Skills, strategies, and marketing tools will all go to waste if the real estate agent does not have a solid assessment of his or her own personality.
Consequently, a successful real agent is honest in his or her endeavors especially those that involves transactions with a client. If, in the first place the real estate agent is not being true to himself or herself, then the real estate agent will most likely have difficulty in dealing with other people.
This all boils down to the fact that an achiever is a believer not of any other thing, but in himself.
3. Optimism.
A lot of people who succeeds in life are optimistic. This means that a person has always a positive outlook in life. An optimistic person believes that there is no such thing as failure. And an ideal real estate agent knows this too.
4. Motivation power.
An ideal real estate agent knows how to motivate or move people into action. It's that unique power of every sales person to device a strategy that can motivate their clients to buy the product he or she is selling.
5. Awareness of the value of properties.
To become an ideal real estate agent, one should be aware of the ebb and flow of the cost of the properties. These should be taken into consideration with utmost care and skill.
6. They should not price.
To be an ideal real estate agent is to be considerate with their client's purchasing capability. They should be sensitive enough to detect if the price of the real estate is reasonable enough to hit their market.
7. An ideal real estate agent does not engage into hard selling.
8. An ideal real estate agent knows how to make a pleasant showcase of the property.
by pilkster
Saturday, October 31, 2009
The Importance of Setting the Scene
The Importance of Setting the Scene: Staging a Home for Sale
The booming real estate market of 2006 has reached a cooling off point for most places around the United States, and for some it has gone cold. Now, more than ever, staging a home for sale can be the most important thing a seller can do. By following a few tips from the experts, a seller can increase the value of their house as well as reduce the length of time it is on the market.
Staging a home can mean the difference of thousands of dollars. The U.S. Housing and Urban Development reports that a staged home will for an average of 17 percent higher than an un-staged home. That means a house listed at $250,000 can see an increase of close to $43,000. And those who spent approximately $500 on staging increased their home’s value by an average of $1,715. Since most homeowners have difficulty seeing their house objectively, it may be beneficial to request help from friends, a realtor, or a staging professional.
Preparing the house for a showing can be a time consuming process, and research shows that the longer a house stays on the market the lower the selling price will be. Staging a house can mean the difference between weeks or months on the market. The New York Village Voice reported that the average number of days an un-staged home is on the market is 30.9 versus 13.9 for a staged home.
Increase Curb Appeal: The buyer’s first impression starts here
- Look for chipped paint, especially around the doors and trim, and touch up where needed.
- Always keep the yard mowed and edged.
- Add touches of color with plants and flowers, and keep garden areas manicured.
- Rent a power washer and clean surfaces like brick, siding, sidewalks, and driveways.
- Clear spider webs from entry ways, and make sure there is plenty of light.
Kitchens: The heart of a house
- De-clutter counter tops; find a cabinet to hide appliances and everyday items.
- Keep cabinets organized to make them look as large as possible.
- Remove personal items from the refrigerator, like drawings and pictures.
- Consider updating a few appliances; this can add a lot of value to the home.
- Make sure there is plenty of light.
- Clean all surfaces including grout, sinks, corners, and floors.
Living Rooms: Help the buyer picture their family here
- Consider the flow of the room and arrange furniture in a way that is functional and inviting. If you have too much furniture you may want to consider renting a storage space.
- Remove pictures and personal items.
- Bring the outside in by adding a plant or fresh flowers.
- Bring attention to wood floors by polishing them, and rent a steam cleaner to make the carpet look as new as possible.
Bathrooms: Clean should be the first thing on the buyers mind
- Clean all surfaces, especially grout.
- De-clutter cabinets making them look as large as possible. Consider buying organizers to hide personal products.
- Replace old faucets and fixtures. This can be a relatively inexpensive way to update the room.
- Always neutralize bathroom smells before a buyer arrives.
- Add coordinating towels and bathmats to detract from dated counter tops and tile.
- Replace light bulbs to brighten the sink area.
Bedrooms: Should be uncluttered and relaxing
- Organize the bedroom by arranging furniture in a way that makes the room seem comfortable and spacious. Remove unnecessary furniture items and store them in a storage unit.
- Make the bed look like it is in a hotel. Linens should be coordinating and clean.
- Remove pictures and personal items.
- Store unnecessary closet items to make closets appear as large as possible. Make sure closets have plenty of light.
- Consider repainting the room to a neutral tone if the color is bright.
Staging a home may be one of the most important things a seller can do for their home. Following the staging tips above can help ease the stress of selling a home, increase the homes value, and shorten the time on the market.Source: Free Articles by Ryan Pitylak
The booming real estate market of 2006 has reached a cooling off point for most places around the United States, and for some it has gone cold. Now, more than ever, staging a home for sale can be the most important thing a seller can do. By following a few tips from the experts, a seller can increase the value of their house as well as reduce the length of time it is on the market.
Staging a home can mean the difference of thousands of dollars. The U.S. Housing and Urban Development reports that a staged home will for an average of 17 percent higher than an un-staged home. That means a house listed at $250,000 can see an increase of close to $43,000. And those who spent approximately $500 on staging increased their home’s value by an average of $1,715. Since most homeowners have difficulty seeing their house objectively, it may be beneficial to request help from friends, a realtor, or a staging professional.
Preparing the house for a showing can be a time consuming process, and research shows that the longer a house stays on the market the lower the selling price will be. Staging a house can mean the difference between weeks or months on the market. The New York Village Voice reported that the average number of days an un-staged home is on the market is 30.9 versus 13.9 for a staged home.
Increase Curb Appeal: The buyer’s first impression starts here
- Look for chipped paint, especially around the doors and trim, and touch up where needed.
- Always keep the yard mowed and edged.
- Add touches of color with plants and flowers, and keep garden areas manicured.
- Rent a power washer and clean surfaces like brick, siding, sidewalks, and driveways.
- Clear spider webs from entry ways, and make sure there is plenty of light.
Kitchens: The heart of a house
- De-clutter counter tops; find a cabinet to hide appliances and everyday items.
- Keep cabinets organized to make them look as large as possible.
- Remove personal items from the refrigerator, like drawings and pictures.
- Consider updating a few appliances; this can add a lot of value to the home.
- Make sure there is plenty of light.
- Clean all surfaces including grout, sinks, corners, and floors.
Living Rooms: Help the buyer picture their family here
- Consider the flow of the room and arrange furniture in a way that is functional and inviting. If you have too much furniture you may want to consider renting a storage space.
- Remove pictures and personal items.
- Bring the outside in by adding a plant or fresh flowers.
- Bring attention to wood floors by polishing them, and rent a steam cleaner to make the carpet look as new as possible.
Bathrooms: Clean should be the first thing on the buyers mind
- Clean all surfaces, especially grout.
- De-clutter cabinets making them look as large as possible. Consider buying organizers to hide personal products.
- Replace old faucets and fixtures. This can be a relatively inexpensive way to update the room.
- Always neutralize bathroom smells before a buyer arrives.
- Add coordinating towels and bathmats to detract from dated counter tops and tile.
- Replace light bulbs to brighten the sink area.
Bedrooms: Should be uncluttered and relaxing
- Organize the bedroom by arranging furniture in a way that makes the room seem comfortable and spacious. Remove unnecessary furniture items and store them in a storage unit.
- Make the bed look like it is in a hotel. Linens should be coordinating and clean.
- Remove pictures and personal items.
- Store unnecessary closet items to make closets appear as large as possible. Make sure closets have plenty of light.
- Consider repainting the room to a neutral tone if the color is bright.
Staging a home may be one of the most important things a seller can do for their home. Following the staging tips above can help ease the stress of selling a home, increase the homes value, and shorten the time on the market.Source: Free Articles by Ryan Pitylak
Friday, October 30, 2009
Buyer's Market and Its Latest Trend by Flynna Sarah Molina
Real estate industry has been one of the volatile sectors in the economy. It is greatly affected with several issues that are hitting the global market. And this can be seen in the buyer's market latest trend. During the start of this year, the demands for realities have been slowing down. Thus, sellers are compelled to give reasonable discounts and lowered their prices to be able to survive in the sea of competition. As for buyers, this is the best time for them to make their investment.
Lenders have been rigid in giving out their credit approvals. This is simply due to the uncertainties happening in the economy. They are making sure that every buyer should have enough capability to completely pay off their loans. As for hopeful home buyers, they have a hard time materializing their plans of owning a house. Not all of them have the ability to produce instant cash to pay the sellers. Majority of these struggling home buyers will seek for financial assistance in most of their ventures.
This actual scenario made a domino effect to other areas in real estate sectors. Prices have gone down which caused the sellers to look for more ways to attract frustrated home buyers. They started to consider giving allowance or huge price adjustments. In fact, they even go as far as offering low ball prices just to eliminate their properties and not stay in the market for years. Breaking even has usually been their option in these times. All of such are favorable to the buyers.
Moreover, sellers resulted to doing major home improvements and other upgrades on their properties. In this way, their houses can be competent enough among others. They are conducting thorough research on how they can surpass the volatility of the trend. The sales of houses have significantly went down which brought various effect on lenders, buyers and sellers.
One of the major effects of the economic turmoil that boosted the buyer's market is that mortgage interest rates have been considerably lowered down to revive the drowning real estate market. Since the industry is already starting to lose its hope for recovery, there are organizations that remained hopeful in uplifting the sector by formulating several strategies. Lenders thought of giving incentive such as lowering the closing cost to entice new consumers avail their products.
With all these factors affecting all parts of the real estate sector, it is apparent the most of these cases are favorable to the buyer. Thus if you are having second thoughts about buying or investing in these times, now is a great time to do it. Grab every opportunity that is available since the trend of the buyer's market is unpredictable. But if you are yet on the verge of evaluating you financial capability, then better prepare everything you need before embarking into acquiring a house. Bear in mind that chances such as these are not always available for you, so think again and invest wisely!
Want to know more about real estate properties? Check these sites Ocean Beach Homes for Sale and Ocean Beach Real Estate information.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Flynna_Sarah_Molina
Lenders have been rigid in giving out their credit approvals. This is simply due to the uncertainties happening in the economy. They are making sure that every buyer should have enough capability to completely pay off their loans. As for hopeful home buyers, they have a hard time materializing their plans of owning a house. Not all of them have the ability to produce instant cash to pay the sellers. Majority of these struggling home buyers will seek for financial assistance in most of their ventures.
This actual scenario made a domino effect to other areas in real estate sectors. Prices have gone down which caused the sellers to look for more ways to attract frustrated home buyers. They started to consider giving allowance or huge price adjustments. In fact, they even go as far as offering low ball prices just to eliminate their properties and not stay in the market for years. Breaking even has usually been their option in these times. All of such are favorable to the buyers.
Moreover, sellers resulted to doing major home improvements and other upgrades on their properties. In this way, their houses can be competent enough among others. They are conducting thorough research on how they can surpass the volatility of the trend. The sales of houses have significantly went down which brought various effect on lenders, buyers and sellers.
One of the major effects of the economic turmoil that boosted the buyer's market is that mortgage interest rates have been considerably lowered down to revive the drowning real estate market. Since the industry is already starting to lose its hope for recovery, there are organizations that remained hopeful in uplifting the sector by formulating several strategies. Lenders thought of giving incentive such as lowering the closing cost to entice new consumers avail their products.
With all these factors affecting all parts of the real estate sector, it is apparent the most of these cases are favorable to the buyer. Thus if you are having second thoughts about buying or investing in these times, now is a great time to do it. Grab every opportunity that is available since the trend of the buyer's market is unpredictable. But if you are yet on the verge of evaluating you financial capability, then better prepare everything you need before embarking into acquiring a house. Bear in mind that chances such as these are not always available for you, so think again and invest wisely!
Want to know more about real estate properties? Check these sites Ocean Beach Homes for Sale and Ocean Beach Real Estate information.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Flynna_Sarah_Molina
Buying Real Estate In USA For Foreigners
If you want to buy real estate in USA, then your first steps will most likely be a bit tricky. While there's a big chance that you will find some wonderful deals in the US property market, there is also the chance that you may make some bad deals.
That shouldn?t stop you from investing, however. It should just make you more aware of the importance of due diligence. Below are the two most important things to consider.
How To Buy Real Estate In USA:
1. Always be conscious of the tax implications for foreign investors: Your choice to invest in US real estate will most likely depend on the amount of tax that you need to pay when purchasing the property. This includes property, capital gains, and transfer tax.
As a non-citizen of the US, there are certain tax implications that will be involved when you purchase real estate in USA - and additional ramifications when a foreigner sells property in the US.
It?s not all bad news though. You may also have tax breaks available to you. The US is doing its best to encourage foreign investment at this time especially given the tough economic climate.
The main thing you need to know about how to buy real estate in USA is exactly what your tax implications will be, good or bad. This will help you make a well informed bid, and keep your purchase in line with your budget.
2. Look at the local economy: When it comes to investing in US real estate, the local situation is more important than the overall one. Currently, pretty much every city in the USA has been affected by the recession, so your goal is to find one that is bucking the trend.
That means a decent economy, low crime and good schools. What?s even more important than the actual figures, is whether there?s been an increase or decrease in positive economic news compared to prior years. Basically, when looking at how to buy real estate in USA, look for a town that is poised for recovery, not sinking further into depression.
If you're looking for a good indicator of this, check out the number of people moving into the city. According to the National Association of Realtors, some of the hottest US markets for foreign investors are in Florida, Texas, Arizona and California.
If you keep these 2 things in mind when looking at how to buy real estate In USA, you?ll be able to avoid costly mistakes and make a well informed, and profitable long term investment.
That shouldn?t stop you from investing, however. It should just make you more aware of the importance of due diligence. Below are the two most important things to consider.
How To Buy Real Estate In USA:
1. Always be conscious of the tax implications for foreign investors: Your choice to invest in US real estate will most likely depend on the amount of tax that you need to pay when purchasing the property. This includes property, capital gains, and transfer tax.
As a non-citizen of the US, there are certain tax implications that will be involved when you purchase real estate in USA - and additional ramifications when a foreigner sells property in the US.
It?s not all bad news though. You may also have tax breaks available to you. The US is doing its best to encourage foreign investment at this time especially given the tough economic climate.
The main thing you need to know about how to buy real estate in USA is exactly what your tax implications will be, good or bad. This will help you make a well informed bid, and keep your purchase in line with your budget.
2. Look at the local economy: When it comes to investing in US real estate, the local situation is more important than the overall one. Currently, pretty much every city in the USA has been affected by the recession, so your goal is to find one that is bucking the trend.
That means a decent economy, low crime and good schools. What?s even more important than the actual figures, is whether there?s been an increase or decrease in positive economic news compared to prior years. Basically, when looking at how to buy real estate in USA, look for a town that is poised for recovery, not sinking further into depression.
If you're looking for a good indicator of this, check out the number of people moving into the city. According to the National Association of Realtors, some of the hottest US markets for foreign investors are in Florida, Texas, Arizona and California.
If you keep these 2 things in mind when looking at how to buy real estate In USA, you?ll be able to avoid costly mistakes and make a well informed, and profitable long term investment.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
