Buying a Fixer Upper

These days the words “bank owned homes” have become practically synonymous with a single word: “opportunity.” With prices and mortgage rates this low, first time home buyers, investors and seasoned property owners alike are looking at a raft of buying options unlike any our town has seen in a very long time.
That option of buying …

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Housing Affordability at All-Time Highs

Bear with me on these numbers: they are meaningful to local home buyers and sellers alike. One of the most meaningful calculations The National Association of Realtors® makes is the Housing Affordability Index. An Index value of 100 means that the average (actually, ‘median’) family’s income is exactly the right amount to qualify for a …

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Hardwood Vs Carpet & Long Term Value

Both hardwood and carpeted flooring can look great in any local property. However, when that property is purchased by an investor whose intention is to make it a lucrative long-term rental, hardwood floors can have a real advantage over carpeting — for both durability and enhanced aesthetic appeal.
Yes, the initial investment is definitely more expensive. …

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Local Bathroom Remodels Can Boost Sale Value

Though things are looking up in real estate these days, selling a home in town is as demanding as ever. As in any serious business proposition, looking for ways to increase the value of your offering will always pay dividends.
One of the major ways you can make your own local home more marketable is to …

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Qualified Tenants Bridge Real Estate Riddle

Suppose you’ve de-cluttered, spring cleaned, baked cookies for open houses – yet still haven’t found someone to buy your home for the price you believe is reasonable. An alternative course of action may be to rent your local home.  That will keep the mortgage paid while you wait for the market to work through its correction.  What …

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Think “Staging” — Selling A House is Theater!

Deciding to put your house on the market? Recruiting an experienced local listing agent will give you a leg up on the competition.  He or she will know where you need to spend money, and where you don’t.
A good example is dealing with staging – the ‘show biz’ of the real estate world.  Complete staging is expensive …

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Building Value Without Rebuilding!

For those who are just about ready to list their local house for sale this Spring, several simple yet cost-effective projects can be sure-fire buyer-pleasers. We are often asked to help clients identify areas in their home that will benefit from improvements. We like to point to some simple changes that materially help a property’s ability to compete …

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Local House Hunting Tips

Does this month find you looking for a home to call your own? In our town’s current bargain-rich real estate market, you’ll find that you’re not alone! If it’s been a while since you last house-hunted (or if it’s your first time out), it’s important to go over some basics.
A real estate agent or broker who lists a …

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2012 Housing Industry Confidence on the Rise

With more than 1,000,000 members the National Association of Realtors® is the nation’s largest trade association. It’s no wonder that what it says carries a lot of weight. When a gargantuan outfit like NAR makes a prediction, its words may not always make headlines, but they do influence everyone whose job it is to forecast the …

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The Psychology Edge in Local Real Estate

When you choose the local real estate agent who will be your home-marketing partner, you are choosing someone who will need to fill many roles: marketer, stager, tour guide, negotiator.  And don’t leave out another role — psychology major!
To build our kind of successful track record, a real estate agent needs to study and understand the way …

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