Suggested Reading
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How to Sell in Today's Market
Many of you have asked us "How do I sell in today's market?" "What will it take on my part to make it happen?" Well, here are some straight answers.
Go Beyond Beige - Color vs. Ne
With a desire to create spaces that are just right for them, today’s customer is looking for an experience inside the home. Neutrals are nice, but homeowners are moving “beyond the beige.”
Sell Faster When You Understand The Buyers Mindset
When most sellers list their home for sale the first thing they think about is how much will I get and that is usually followed by how soon will I get the money. It's certainly understandable that those two concerns are, most often, top of mind. After all, you're likely selling your home to buy another one or invest the money in something else.
What's Hot & What's Not in Bathroom Redesign
While real estate markets are cyclical, features a potential home buyer looks for in her home almost always seems to start in the bathroom, according to the National Association of REALTORS' (NAR) annual "Cost vs. Value Report," published each year in conjunction with Remodeling magazine. In fact, in NAR's 2007 report, it showed an upscale bathroom remodel recouped 93.2 percent of the costs and a bathroom addition, midrange stood at 86.4 percent and an upscale remodel 85.8 percent.
Setting the Mood with Color
Color affects mood, as every pop psychologist knows. Considering the pall of gloom cast by the dire economy, it’s no wonder color-trend forecasters are predicting a bumper year for yellows and purples-the former to cheer us up, the latter to calm us down.
The Basics of Moving and Taxation
It seems that 2008 is over and now is the time that you and your clients are beginning to think about taxes. Many of us are getting our records in order in preparation for tax day, April 15, 2009. If you or your clients have made a move this year, deducting moving expenses may be on your mind. But are all expenses allowable tax deductions?
Tax Time in a Taxing Time: Seven Tips to Help You Keep More Money in Your Pocket Now and in the Future
Question: What three words do people least want to hear in the middle of a recession? (Besides “You’re laid off,” that is.) Answer: “It’s tax time!” Yes, by now you should have your W-2 in hand, and you’re already dreading having to file. Tax season isn’t all bad news, says financial counselor and bestselling author Eric Tyson. Even if you’re not expecting a fat refund check, the looming presence of April 15 can inspire you to make some changes that will keep more of your cash out of the clutches of the IRS-now and in the future.
How the Stimulus Plan May Affect Your Mortgage
Now that President Barack Obama’s $787 Billion Economic Stimulus Bill has been signed into law and will take effect on March 4, many American homeowners are anxiously wondering how this bill may affect the housing market. Despite primarily focusing on bolstering the economy by creating jobs and reviving spending, the bill includes steps to revitalize this critically important segment of the American economy. But what impact will the stimulus package directly have on your mortgage?
10 Timely Home-Related Tax Tips
Tax season is upon us, and homeowners everywhere will reap the benefits of tax breaks and incentives. Homeowners and potential home buyers should know what expenses are deductible and the ins-and-outs of new tax laws, says FrontDoor.com.
Reverse Mortgages Serve as Lifeline for Seniors
In the midst of the current credit crunch, we tend to overlook the financial needs of senior homeowners, especially those who own their homes free and clear or are pretty close to being debt free. However, these homeowners often experience their own credit crisis - having loads of equity locked up in their homes and not being able to get at it. President Obama’s plan is not designed to bail them out, and many don’t qualify for refinancing to cash out some or all of their equity.
Do You Understand Your Credit Report?
Over 70% of consumers identify errors on their credit report. Twenty-five percent of those are serious enough to deny consumers and business owners access to credit, preferred interest rates or even a job. With over 54 billion credit updates occurring each year, it’s very likely you-or your clients-may have errors that are negatively impacting the ability to get credit and/or causing you to pay unnecessary interest expenses.
5 Tips to De-Stress Your Move
Your clients are faced with many challenges, and now more than ever they are looking for ways to cut costs, cut down necessities, and still have everything they want. Below are some tips you can give your clients to cut down the cost of their move and at the same time get the service they need.
6 Questions to Ask When Considering a Reverse Mortgage
Reverse mortgages have become an increasingly important financial tool for people 62 and older who want to remain in their home and fund their retirement. And, with 78 million Baby Boomers approaching retirement, interest is expected to grow. Despite this, many Americans are still unclear about how reverse mortgages work and when they may be appropriate.
Five Ways to Wow Buyers
These days, tax credits and high housing inventory make it a buyers' market. If you're a seller, don't despair. There are a variety of renovations that can help make your home stand out. Many buyers look at numerous homes when shopping for a house; so enhancing your home to make it more memorable is vital and increases the chances of a successful sale.
When Is It Time To Replace Your Roof?
Red flags that signal it's time to replace your roof may be over your head. Sunlight permitting holes and bucket brigade-sized leaks are obvious signs it's time for a new topper for your home. There are however, additional indicators that may not be so obvious.
March Round Up: Rates Hit Another New Low
In Freddie Mac's reults of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.85 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending March 26, 2009, down from the previous week when it averaged 4.98 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.85 percent. The 30-year FRM has not been lower in the life of Freddie Mac's weekly survey, which dates back to 1971 for the 30-year FRM.
Investor Report: Refinancings
Small-scale real estate investors got a pleasant surprise last week when Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac said they'd refinance potentially thousands of mortgages on rental and second homes as part of the Obama administration's massive housing relief effort.
Seller's Home Appeal for Today's Market
After years of hearing from successful sellers that they didn't have to do a thing to sell, they now need to understand how they can stand out from their competition. Here is a handy list to help sellers determine if some features in their home might need some attention.
Best Tips to Get Your House in Tip Top Shape
As the all-important spring selling season approaches in an historically slow housing market, sellers need to do all they can to market their home - and that includes staging it to attract and “wow” potential buyers. Home stagers know just the right moves to take a house from bland to grand and bring home the biggest return on investment. “Attention to detail throughout the home can make the difference between a house that sells and one that sits on the market,” explains Kate Hart, one of America’s top home stagers and owner of Hart & Associates Staging & Design.
Money-Saving Tips for Last-Minute Tax Filers
With perplexing codes and confusing forms, it’s no wonder many Americans postpone the inexorable job of preparing their taxes until the last minute. In these tough times, it’s especially important to take advantage of every tax break to which you’re entitled. For those filing with less than two weeks to go until April 15, Charles Schwab has several suggestions to help you keep more of your money:
8 Ways to Maximize Tax Filing Season
The United States federal income tax filing deadline of April 15 is less than a week away, and Bills.com reminds taxpayers of eight ways to get the most from their tax returns - and how to get help if they need it.
What to Look for When Choosing a Real Estate Agent
If you are a recent seller of real estate, you may have had some difficulty dealing with the gap between your selling price and your actual net proceeds, as reflected in your final check. Hopefully, you knew what to expect and factored that into your decision to sell. But, all too often, in the blizzard of activities involved in transferring real property, the costs of selling are often overlooked or underestimated.
Energy Efficiency Tax Credits - Are You Ready to Take Advantage?
This year, the federal government extended and expanded home energy efficiency tax credits through 2010 as part of the broader economic recovery package, and millions of U.S. homeowners appear poised to pursue them, according to a survey released by Johns Manville. More than two-thirds of survey respondents, or 68%, said they were aware of the newly created federal energy efficiency tax credits. Of those homeowners, 46% said they intend to make a home improvement-related purchase that qualifies for an energy efficiency tax credit, including nine percent of homeowners who said they had already done so during the first three months of 2009.
5 Advantages Move-Up Buyers Have in a Down Market
Potential home buyers who aren’t eligible for the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit because they currently own a home actually have what could be an even bigger advantage - the opportunity to buy a new home that is bigger and better than they could have just a year or two before. “Now may be an ideal time for any family looking to upgrade from their starter home to one more suited to their current or future needs,” said Joe Robson, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders and a home builder from Tulsa, Okla. “Buyers are able to get more home for their money by taking advantage of current prices and interest rates, along with the bargaining power that comes from the large number of homes on the market.”
Green Remodeling Gets 'Not So Big' Approach
A decade ago, architect and "Not So Big" life style visionary Sarah Susanka started up the road to gurudom with a blueprint for living that extolled the values of living responsibly, sustainably and meaningfully.
Smart Technology in The Intelligent Home
In 2009, WIRED magazine again served as the technology and automation advisor for the Smart Home, helping to identify and secure new "smart" systems and fun gadgets with a focus on energy efficiency, homeowner awareness and great design. The result is a Smart Home that is responsible, responsive, and cutting-edge—and makes life easy. ecobee, a company dedicated to helping consumers conserve energy, save money and reduce their environmental impact, announced that the ecobee Smart Thermostat was selected for use in the "Smart Home: Green +Wired 2009" exhibit in Chicago, presented by Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry (MSI) in partnership with Wired Magazine.
Does Your Home Have a Fiery Appeal?
Outdoor living is becoming more popular as indoor living space is shrinking. But what gives your home a fiery spark to send buyers rushing to write an offer? Perhaps, bringing the comforts of indoor living outside may help.
Real Estate Outlook: Recovery Underway
The pattern gets clearer week after week: We are looking at a slow-motion housing recovery that is itself feeding into a broader economic recovery that should have us out of recession later this year.
Key to Earning Energy-Efficiency Tax Credits
Homeowners now can claim up to $1,500 in expanded energy-efficiency tax credits for remodeling their principal residence to reduce energy consumption. Available until the end of 2010, the revamped Existing Home Retrofit (25C) Tax Credit helps consumers save two ways: on their costs and on their ultilty bills.
Homes Adopt Streamlined Electronic Functionality
Tight economic times don't seem to be dampening the desire to streamline electronic home improvements. According to The Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA), 2009 looks to be a promising year for electronic home upgrades in the areas of energy efficiency, mobile home management, flat panel display adoption, digital transitioning, and wireless integration.
Your Front Porch May Help Sell Your Home
If you have a front porch or small area at the front of your home, know that could just be the very attractive space that helps sell your home. Think quaint, homey, and welcoming.
Luring First-time Buyers - 5 Tips to Beat the Competition, Sell Your Home
A federal tax credit of up to $8,000 is nudging many Americans into buying a home for the first time, good news for those trying to sell one. Still, selling a home isn’t easy in most markets today. To get the typical first-time buyer to bite and submit an offer, a house has to stand apart from the competition - and there’s a lot of it, including foreclosure homes that are selling at hefty discounts.
Going Green May Help Sell Your Home
It's becoming the buzz word in housing -- "green" homes are what many buyers are interested in these days. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), as much as 90 percent of home buyers think that energy efficiency is a very important factor when shopping for a home. These same buyers are also very interested in environment-friendly features including having housing close to parks, public transportation, and well-designed neighborhoods with sidewalks.
Selling Your Home May Be Influenced by What Buyers Can't See
It's not always what buyers can see in a home that causes them to want to buy it or not. Sometimes it's the way the home feels. I'm not talking about staging, the size, or how spacious the home is, although those factors are important too. In this column, the focus is on how buyers' allergies may be affected when they tour your home.
Housing Starts Are Up Again
The most bearish of Wall Street economic analysts have made the same point for the past 18 months. There's no recovery or rebound in the housing market, they said, until home builders start building again.
Avoiding Closing Derailment
Like a train, a transaction can get derailed at any point on the track. A closing can be hit by a clouded title, a home not appraising for value, a rapid change in interest rates, an undisclosed credit or income issue, or one of countless other unanticipated issues.
Can Trees Help Sell Your Home?
The population of the U.S. nearly doubled from 1950 to 2000 but with that growth our water demands more than tripled, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The government predicts that there will be water shortages in 36 states by the year 2013. That's disappointing news to homeowners who love their green lawns and think that they add value to their homes. The good news is that a yard can still look attractive and yet use less water to maintain its beauty.
Making Homes Even More Affordable
More homeowners suffering mortgages larger than the value of their home can now trade in their mortgage for a more affordable home loan, under a broader Making Home Affordable refinance provision.
Investor Report: Energy Efficiency
For real estate investors buying houses at discount prices, it could be a hot new trend. Instead of simply doing the usual renovations, paint jobs and landscaping to turn around properties for resale or rental, growing numbers of investors are emphasizing energy efficiency improvements to increase market values and cut marketing times.
Will Homeowners and Buyers Lose $45,000?
Federal Reserve officials met last week and issued a statement saying that their program to purchase $1.25 trillion of mortgage-backed securities will be winding down by the end of year.
Homes in Walkable Neighborhoods Sell for More, Study Finds
Homes located within walking distance of amenities such as schools, parks and shopping aren’t only more convenient for their owners, often they’re also worth more than homes in neighborhoods where driving is the rule, according to a new study.
Sellers: Know Your Buyer Market
Before you start a company, the first thing you should do is market research to determine your target market. This important step will help determine how successful you ultimately will be. The same is true when it comes to selling your home. Understanding the buyer market and who might be a good fit for your home will help ensure that you highlight the most vital features.
Making Small Homes Have Big Appeal To Buyers
There's a movement away from the McMansions toward smaller homes for convenience and cost-savings. It seems an attitude of “less is more,” is prevailing in the housing industry; whether it will remain short-lived may depend on the economy.
Winterizing your home
Winter is coming, do you know what you need to do to winterize your home? Our own John Maranto has come up with a list of everything that should be done.
Demand grows for smaller homes
The first home Mette Ramanathan and her husband considered buying was a 2,200-square-foot, five-bedroom place. It was too big for the couple, who were interested in space efficiency and lower utility costs.
Home Staging Helps Bring Top Dollar Sale
If your house could be sold looking the way a model home does, do you think it might bring in more money? Chances are it would. That's why home staging is a growing profession that's rapidly changing the way homes are sold.
Making Your Home Age Appropriate Creates Appeal
All of us have something in common with our homes. Sure, style, design, and location are at the top of the list, but how about age? As we age, buyers, especially the baby boomer generation, are looking to transform their homes into a place that they can stay in for as long as possible or they're hoping to find one that's already equipped for them to age-in-place.
Relieving the Stress of Packing
Packing can be stressful time for every member of the family. To ensure that your move goes as smoothly as possible, try the following tips!
Is Your Home Wired Properly?
We all know that as things age, they often need replacing but sometimes homeowners neglect to take care of their home's electrical wiring and that can set them up for potential danger. Electrical consumption since the middle of the last century has increased in most homes on average about 400 percent.
Remodelers Help Homeowners Lower Heating Costs with Weatherization Programs
Winter is right around the corner and in honor of Energy Awareness Month, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) recommends making energy-efficient upgrades as a way to prepare for the season, and many remodelers are offering weatherization programs to help them reduce energy costs. Mark of Excellence Remodeling is one such remodeling company that recently introduced a weatherization program.
Homeowners Save Energy, Cash with Tax Breaks
Bob Menconi enjoys his newly replaced air conditioner at his house. The A/C was replaced by a federal tax rebate. So your car isn’t a clunker? And you’re not buying a new home? But maybe your air-conditioning unit is on the fritz. Or your small business needs new equipment or office furniture. Perhaps you have always wanted solar panels. Then there is a tax break waiting for you, too.
Should I Take My Home Off the Market During the Holidays?
When you look at your calendar you may find the months already overloaded with seasonal obligations -- shopping, entertaining, children's pageants, charity work, decorating the house, and so much more. If you are also trying to sell your home, you are under extra pressure to keep your home in "showtime" condition. And that could be the last thing you need before the holiday spirit is broken.
Sellers' Quick Lawn Fix
It's one of the most unsightly and often hard to fix trouble spots for homeowners -- a lawn that has gone to the dogs!
Tips for an Eco-Friendly Holiday
It's hard to believe, but according to Robert Lilienfeld, co-author of the book, "Use Less Stuff: Environmental Solutions for Who We Really Are," between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, Americans throw away a million extra tons of garbage each week. During the season of giving, it sure seems like we're taking a lot from Mother Nature. Here are some suggestions of ways to go green this holiday season, and you just might save some green in the meantime.
Brushing Up On Money-Saving Painting Tips
A new federal law beginning April 2010 will require all contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in private homes, childcare facilities, and schools (built prior to 1978) to be certified in the prevention of lead contamination.
Exterior Remodeling Proves Best Bang for Your Buck
Despite a slow market and a slight decrease in the resale value of most remodeling projects, Realtors® report that the smartest home improvement investments may also be some of the least expensive. Results from the 2009 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report show that small-scale exterior projects are the most profitable at resale, according to estimates by Realtors who completed a recent survey.
What To Take And What To Leave Behind When Downsizing
Over the years all of us have accumulated an enormous amount of stuff -- some of it is near and dear to our heart and the rest, well, we might classify it as just cumbersome stuff. But somehow when we downsize from, say, a 3,600 square foot home to a 1,700 square foot home, as one reader who telephoned me is doing, figuring out what to take and what to leave behind can be a painful process.
Easy Interior Design
With all the time you've been forced indoors during the cold winter months you've probably found some aspects of your interior design that you'd like to change. Well, there's still another month of cold weather ahead of most of us, and being stuck indoors may provide the perfect excuse for making some much-needed changes to your interior design.
50 Ways to Gain a Neighbor
Paul Simon wrote a song called "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" which never really got around to actually listing fifty ways. I guess it's the thought that counts. But one of a homeowner association's challenges is helping neighbors "make nice." It seems that neighbors have lost the art of making friends and, instead, want the board to intervene in conflicts between the strangers that live next to each other.
Springtime Curb Appeal
Springtime can present many difficulties when it comes to curb appeal. For many areas of the country, this time of year means brown lawns, leafless bushes and trees, and a depressing lack of color.