Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Spring Cleaning - Getting Ready to Sell?

Hello Everyone! Thanks for stopping by. Sorry that I haven't been around lately-2010 started with a bang. I've been so busy and enjoying every minute of it!

I don't know about you all but I am definitely looking forward to Spring. Is anyone out there getting there house ready to sell or just dress it up a bit to enjoy it yourselves? I have some Spring Cleaning ideas that will help you enjoy your place or give buyers a greater perception of value.

Hope you appreciate the following cost effective ideas!

Kitchen Cabinets: Buyers do look inside your cabinets. Prior to marketing your house, it is important to organize them. One suggestion is to add rollout organizing trays to give the appearance of abundant space. The more over stuffed your cabinets are the greater the perception that there may not be enough cabinet space. If you are tired of your cabinets looking old and ratty-no need to spend a lot of money. Reconditioning may do the trick by taking care of nicks and scratches; finishing with some oil and replacing the hardware.

Add or replace tile: By retiling a room inexpensively will brighten and clean up the room. Replacing or adding tile to a backsplash or bathroom floor does not have to be costly and it will make a big difference adding to showability. If your bathroom floor is already tiled and the tiles are intact without any cracks, you can scrape the existing grout and regrout the tile. The tile will then need to be buffed giving it a new look. What else can you do to the bathroom…install new shower doors, replace a dated medicine cabinet; change your lighting fixtures, faucet and vanity. You will easily have an updated bathroom.

Counter Space-Install granite tile instead of slab: Everybody is hoping that their new home will have granite counter tops and it may be a look that you would like to live with. Installing a slab of granite can be costly so why not put in granite tiles (larger 12” not small tiles). This is a more cost effective way to transform you counter tops.

Replace light fixtures: Update all overhead lighting with new fixtures. This will most likely include your foyer, kitchen and baths. If you have dated ceiling lights in the bedrooms, update those as well or remove them and have cozy lamps lit for warmer ambience.

Freshen up the basement: Organize the basement so that the buyer will be able to see how much space they will have for storage. If it is cluttered from wall to wall with your stuff, they may not see all the space they have for their items.

I hope that this post was helpful. I would love to hear from you.

Happy Spring,
Linda

Friday, January 8, 2010

Wall Street Journal Article - New Mortgage Rules

Hi everyone. Thanks for stopping by. I just want to share an article I read today in MSN.com about the new mortgage rules. Enjoy and I hope this is helpful to you all.

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Banking/HomeFinancing/mortgage-terms-now-in-plain-english.aspx

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Happy New Year

I am very excited about 2010. It is going to be a great year!

I have some market information relative to New Hampshire only. I am hoping that this information will be interesting for my NH readers.

New Hampshire Association of Realtors reported in December that November residential home sales were up by 70% (units sold) compared to November, 2008. This percentage represents 1,141 houses sold this past November ('09) versus the 673 houses sold the previous year same month.

Based on the NHAR article the statewide numbers trickled down to each county with data indicating double digit unit sales increases. Highlighted in the article was Hillsborough county with a 61% increase.

The November numbers drove up overall numbers for the year. New Hampshire experienced a 5% increase in units sold in 2009 overall compared to 11 months in 2008.

We are still waiting for December numbers but if all remains the same or better, we are looking at the signs that the market is looking its strongest since 2004.

I think we can all agree that this was good new.

Thanks for reading!

For the complete article click on this link: http://usmfiles.s3.amazonaws.com/phpjHuqvK/PR%20November%202009.pdf

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Good News

Based on a report by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), and I quote "private mortgage insurance companies are getting more comfortable providing insurance. More mortgages with less than 20 percent down can get originated." In the past year, buyers needing to make lower down payments would have to have a very high credit score or they would have to qualify for an FHA loan with government mortgage insurance.

Some markets are still classified as ‘declining markets’, and therefore the underwriting standards continue to be very tight in these markets.

We appear headed towards more normal underwriting standards where the conditions are not overly restrictive.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Excited to be Blogging for the First Time!

Hello and Happy Holidays!

I am a newbie to blogging so please bare with me. Over the past few months I have been wondering how I can share my passion with others in a helpful manner globally. Well, the answer finally came to me...by blogging.

What's my passion...assisting others with their real estate needs. I enjoy providing buyers and sellers with the answers they need to assist them in making the decisions that are right for them and their families.

With my first post I would like to share with you a survey conducted by Coldwell Banker.

As you all may know by now, the first-time home buyer tax credit has been extended through April 30, 2010 and along with that extension a $6,500 tax credit will be offered to current home owners wanting to purchase a new property. Coldwell Banker surveyed 1,000 homeowners in an effort to determine how these tax credits might impact the economy. Based on the survey results 83% responded that the tax credit would assist in paying off debts (34%), home improvements (29%) and savings (28%).

Coldwell Banker's survey also found that 20% of homeowners are more likely to consider purchasing a home today than they were six months ago. This as a result of the $6,500 tax credit.

Recently, the National Association of Realtors reported that 47% of the 2009 home sales were to first-time home buyers. I am sure you will all agree that the additional tax credit to current homeowners will help stimulate the economy.