Now is the Time to Buy, Sell and Refinance

It is very rare that it is a great time to buy, sell and refinance all at the same time. For the past few years it has been a great time to buy and for those rare folks with equity a great time to refinance but a pretty terrible time to sell. That has changed in the past few months and we are now entering a trifecta moment.

Let’s Refinance:

In the past month home prices have edged up while rates have lowered. This means that if before you could not refinance you may be able to now. Rates are in the mid 3’s on a 30 year fixed for conforming loans that is insanely low.

 

Now is the time to sell:

In terms of selling there is a lack of inventory which means that there are more buyers then homes for sale. From the sellers perspective that is ideal because it creates multiple offers and higher prices. There are also far less foreclosures on the market so you no longer have those comps hurting prices.

 

Last Call for buyers:

Rates at historic lows and the beginning of prices edging up now is the time to get in and buy before you miss today’s great prices. It is last call for buyers right now who want the killer deals. There are still some foreclosures ebbing through but on the whole they have slowed down dramatically and no one is quite sure what comes next. There are also aggressive loan programs like FHA that can get you into a home with a rate as low as 3.25% on a 30 year fixed with only 3.5% down or Homepath which can get you a home with 3% down and NO mortgage insurance.

 

What Should I Do To Prepare My Home For Sale?

 

Every seller wants her home to sell fast and bring top dollar. Does that sound good to you?  Careful planning and knowing how to professionally spruce up your home will send home buyers scurrying for their checkbooks. Here is how to prep a house and turn it into an irresistible and marketable home.

 

Disassociate Yourself With Your Home

• Say to yourself, "This is not my home; it is a house -- a product to be sold much like a box of cereal on the grocery store shelf.
• Make the mental decision to "let go" of your emotions and focus on the fact that soon this house will no longer be yours.
• Picture yourself handing over the keys and envelopes containing appliance warranties to the new owners!
• Say goodbye to every room.
• Don't look backwards -- look toward the future.

De-Personalize

Pack up those personal photographs and family heirlooms. Buyers can't see past personal artifacts, and you don't want them to be distracted. You want buyers to imagine their own photos on the walls, and they can't do that if yours are there! You don't want to make any buyer ask, "I wonder what kind of people live in this home?" You want buyers to say, "I can see myself living here.”

De-Clutter!

People collect an amazing quantity of junk. Consider this: if you haven't used it in over a year, you probably don't need it.

• If you don't need it, why not donate it or throw it away?
• Remove all books from bookcases.
• Pack up those knickknacks.
• Clean off everything on kitchen counters.
• Put essential items used daily in a small box that can be stored in a closet when not in use.
• Think of this process as a head-start on the packing you will eventually need to do anyway

Rearrange Bedroom Closets and Kitchen Cabinets

Buyers love to snoop and will open closet and cabinet doors. Think of the message it sends if items fall out! Now imagine what a buyer believes about you if she sees everything organized. It says you probably take good care of the rest of the house as well. This means:

• Alphabetize spice jars.
• Neatly stack dishes.
• Turn coffee cup handles facing the same way.
• Hang shirts together, buttoned and facing the same direction.
• Line up shoes.

Rent a Storage Unit

Almost every home shows better with less furniture. Remove pieces of furniture that block or hamper paths and walkways and put them in storage. Since your bookcases are now empty, store them. Remove extra leaves from your dining room table to make the room appear larger. Leave just enough furniture in each room to showcase the room's purpose and plenty of room to move around. You don't want buyers scratching their heads and saying, "What is this room used for?"

Remove/Replace Favorite Items

If you want to take window coverings, built-in appliances or fixtures with you, remove them now. If the chandelier in the dining room once belonged to your great grandmother, take it down. If a buyer never sees it, she won't want it. Once you tell a buyer she can't have an item, she will covet it, and it could blow your deal. Pack those items and replace them, if necessary.

Make Minor Repairs

• Replace cracked floor or counter tiles.
• Patch holes in walls.
• Fix leaky faucets.
• Fix doors that don't close properly and kitchen drawers that jam.
• Consider painting your walls neutral colors, especially if you have grown accustomed to purple or pink walls.
  (Don't give buyers any reason to remember your home as "the house with the orange bathroom.")
• Replace burned-out light bulbs.
• If you've considered replacing a worn bedspread, do so now!

Make the House Sparkle!

• Wash windows inside and out.
• Rent a pressure washer and spray down sidewalks and exterior.
• Clean out cobwebs.
• Re-caulk tubs, showers and sinks.
• Polish chrome faucets and mirrors.
• Clean out the refrigerator.
• Vacuum daily.
• Wax floors.
• Dust furniture, ceiling fan blades and light fixtures.
• Bleach dingy grout.
• Replace worn rugs.
• Hang up fresh towels.
• Bathroom towels look great fastened with ribbon and bows.
• Clean and air out any musty smelling areas. Odors are a no-no.

Scrutinize

• Go outside and open your front door. Stand there. Do you want to go inside? Does the house welcome you?
• Linger in the doorway of every single room and imagine how your house will look to a buyer.
• Examine carefully how furniture is arranged and move pieces around until it makes sense.
• Make sure window coverings hang level.
• Tune in to the room's statement and its emotional pull. Does it have impact and pizzazz?
• Does it look like nobody lives in this house? You're almost finished.

 

Check Curb Appeal

If a buyer won't get out of her agent's car because she doesn't like the exterior of your home, you'll never get her inside.

• Keep the sidewalks cleared.
• Mow the lawn.
• Paint faded window trim.
• Plant yellow flowers or group flower pots together. Yellow evokes a buying emotion. Marigolds are inexpensive.
• Trim your bushes.
• Make sure visitors can clearly read your house number.
  

Five Reasons To Buy Now

Based on prices, mortgage rates and soaring rents, there may have never been a better time in real estate history to purchase a home than right now. Here are five major reasons purchasers should consider buying:

Supply Is Shrinking

With inventory declining in many regions, finding a home of your dreams may become more difficult going forward. There are buyers in more and more markets surprised that there is no longer a large assortment of houses to choose from. The best homes in the best locations sell first. Don’t miss the opportunity to get that ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ buy.

Price Increases Are On The Horizon

Prices will bounce along the bottom this winter. However, projections call for appreciation after that. Several studies and surveys call for price increases over the next few years starting in 2013. One such survey shows that prices will increase over 10% by 2016.

Rents Are Skyrocketing

Rents historically increase by 3.2% on an annual basis. A study issued earlier this year projects rent increases of 4% for the next two years. Trulia recently reported that rents this year have actually shot up by 5.4%.

Interests Rates At Historic Lows

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has kept interest rates low in an effort to stimulate a lethargic economy. He understands that low rates will help housing and housing is a key to bringing back the economy. As the economy approves, the need to keep rates low will no longer exist. The 30-year-mortgage rate before the financial crisis was 6.57% (August 2007).

Buy Low and Sale High

We would all agree that, when investing, we want to buy at the lowest price possible and hope to sell at the highest price. Housing can create family wealth as long as we follow this simple principle. Today, real estate is selling ‘low’. It’s time to buy.

14966 Marvel Pl. Caldwell, Idaho

 

$257,000 

Bedrooms: 4

 

Total Baths: 2.5

 

Year Built: 2006

 

Sq. Feet: 2714

 

Garage: 3



This 2006 built home has many upgrades and custom features and upgrades. Located minutes from, Middleton and Purple Sage Golf Course. This wonderful home features a tile entry and beautiful bamboo flooring throughout the kitchen and dining area leading into the great room with a wonderful fireplace and built in book shelving! The down stairs office gives you privacy to work away from the entertaining area of the home. 2 large bedrooms, bonus room with closet and huge master finish the upper floor!

MLS:  98513536

Listing courtesy of: Keller Williams Realty Boise

Mark My Words, 2012 Sellers Market!

I am officially applying to sell your house in 2012! I am not sure if you have been noticing, but houses are flying off the shelf. Inventory is low and with historically low interest rates not expected to rise, the market has officially shifted to a sellers market. Buyers and investors are out and looking, rental markets are very strong and good seasoned agents are at a low. 

Buyers in all price ranges are out there, new construction starts are rising and loan programs are starting to roll out for 100% financing and  taking credit challenges into consideration. The low ball offers in the beginning are still not uncommon, but f negotiated correctly, one will get what they are looking for, I have been getting 94-99% of asking price on my sales. 

I think that 2012 is going to be a break through year for me and I want you to prosper. I am actively looking for buyers everyday and I want to start by advertising your house. If your considering listing your house, you should evaluate the listing agent you are interviewing. Here are some of the questions that you can start your interview with:

1.  How long have you been selling Real Estate?

2.  How many homes do you sell a year?

3.  How many homes have you sold in your Career?

4.  What is your average market time compared to Multiple Listing Sales?

5.  What is your average List to Sale ratio, and how does that compare to MLS?

6.  Where do you rank in your office, are you a Top Lister, Top Seller and for how many years?

7.  Where do you rank in your Company, Franchise, Region and Nationally? 

8.  Do you advertise on Television?

9.  Do you have a Personal Staff?

10. What percentage of you listings close?

I can send you the rest of them if you would like, you can visit me at www.rridaho.com and contact me asking for the rest of the questions. If you would like me to answer these for you, I would love to sit and discuss the sale of your house with you! If you would like to see market statistics, I can do that also, just let me know what you want and I can send them to you! 

Making your own deal in 2012

Dilemma: I am showing a client smaller house in Canyon County, (Nampa and Caldwell). We have viewed so many houses in the past 2 months. For whatever reasons and many offers later we haven’t found "the one". 

I have noticed is that quality houses in those areas are flying off the market and prices have increased slightly. Not as fast as in Ada County, but are still on the rise. With inventory limited, houses are being introduced to the market a much slower pace and tenants and distresses homeowners not being flexible with business hour showings. Making it difficult to show houses and make appointments for qualified buyers. 

Some of the reasons of not being able to find a house that fits my clients wants and needs are becoming a common issue for active agents. I feel that I am old school enough to not make things to complicated but enough modern day to use my resources to make deals come together. 

As I encourage my clients to be open to me, I am open and free with my ideas to make business deals stick. So here is my solution to the dilemma. I am encouraging my client to find a house that meets her needs as close as possible to the perfect home at a price that leaves her the option to add the features that makes it the perfect home. 

House prices are low, builders and re-modelers need work, so let get a quote for the amenities that are wanted. A fireplace is what my client wants and at the right price it can be added to the current structure to make it the perfect house. In the right floor plan, a fireplace can be added for about $3500.00. If we use this formula in 2012 to make those hard to find houses an option for our clients or yourself. 

I want to use this “out of the box” method in 2012 to increase my production and solve these common issues with my clients. If I can help find a solution for you or someone you know, lets get together. Www.rridaho is where you can find me to talk about your dilemma.

There are many deals to be found and MADE in this market! Lets be resourceful, persistent and make 2012 a productive, memorable and enjoyable year for our clients, our family and ourselves.

Merry Chistmas and Happy New Year!!!!

It is a special time of year and one that many times can stress on us. This year lets be different, lets slow down for a moment and reflect on the year that we made it through safely and healthy! Smell the coffee, eat those cookies, smile and laugh, remember all those wonderful memories from when you were a kid. Lets focus on the things going right in our world and where we want to be a year from now.

2011 is almost over and many of us are looking forward to 2012. Not the 2011 was bad or that we just want to "get through" the holidays, but because we are super excited to keep the momentum that we have built continue to grow. I have grown this year as a professional and looking forward continue growth and production. 

Some of my 2012 goals are:

1) To get some certifications to help underwater homeowners and distressed property owners find solutions to save their investments and credit. 

2) Bring new construction projects (subdivisions) back online giving my clients and Treasure Valley buyers something that raises the level and quality of homes to buy. 

3) Grow the amount of families that I get into their first, next, dream home. I will do that by finding like-minded clients and homeowners that want me to list their home and actively find buyers to buy their house so they can buy their next home.

4) Work with investors that want to invest responsibly in our community and help strengthen our local economy and bring production and people back to Idaho!

Are you and I someone that should be working together? Am I the one that your friends and family would like to work with? I want to work with you and them by earning your business, trust, and make your 2012 one to remember!