Displaying blog entries 431-440 of 530
Zillow has published their latest report, Four Housing Predictions, Plus 10 Hottest Local Markets in 2014 which includes:
Plus...The 10 Hottest Local Markets for 2014.
First, let’s talk about the stuff any Realtor is going to tell you so you have context for the rest.
It is easier to sell a house that is attractive to buyers and shows as being well-maintained. That is a matter of doing a little fix-up, but mostly clean-up. Make sure pipes aren’t leaking, for instance. That is relatively easy and not expensive. If your home really needs painting consider doing that. These are not high priced issues. Below we are talking about the expensive items.
If your house has structural defects or other problems that are expensive to fix you have more challenging decisions to make. First, remember that every house has defects! That is simply the nature of a complex structure. Second, savvy buyers know to expect defects so don’t try to hide them. Don’t kid yourself that if a problem can’t be seen easily it won’t be found out.
Most buyers assume there are some problems with any house. If they make an offer that you accept they will pay for a professional home inspector who knows Chester County PA real estate. Good buyer inspectors are very thorough. They are being paid by the buyer and are looking out for the buyer’s interests, not yours. It is not unusual for an inspection report to be in excess of twenty pages…in small type! Being honest with yourself about defects will prepare you better when you are faced with that inspection report.
So, the question becomes “Do I fix the problems before going on the market, or do I make it clear that I am selling “as-is” and discount the price accordingly?” The obvious follow-up question is “If I spend the money before selling, will I get that money back in the final sale price?” The general answer is that it depends on the nature of the defect and magnitude of the likely cost of repair.
Potential buyers are most likely to overestimate the cost if they have to make the repair and under-estimate the cost if the seller is paying. Cost versus value then becomes a negotiation to establishing a final purchase/sale price. If the cost of repair is major, such as a septic system, it makes the most sense to repair it before selling.
The best way to go about making these decisions is to pay a professional home inspector in your Chester County PA real estate market to make an inspection on your behalf as the seller. Their report will give you a thorough list of issues you might be faced with. It will also give you the tool to get estimates from contractors to make the repairs. Then you have a sound basis for making decisions.
An added benefit to having your own inspection on hand is that you have a professional document that you can use when negotiating with a buyer. Be practical and be prepared with your own inspection.
Yes, it is once again the Christmas season, and each of us has a favorite yuletide memory or a tradition that we include in our celebration each year. Yet, in our fast-paced world, time marches on and customs change. Just as 
real candles on the tree gave way to bubbling lights, twinkling lights, and now LED lights and hand-strung popcorn and cranberries were replaced by tinsel garlands and ribbons, Christmas 2012 brings with it new creations and unusual ideas which may well become traditions over time. Read on for the latest in tree and home decorations, stocking stuffers, unique gifts, and, of course, recipes.
Trees:
Trends for 2012 include an emphasis on skinny trees, metallic trees, and multiple trees spread throughout your home. HGTV.com suggests thinking outside the box and reflecting your personality and lifestyle when it comes to decorating your tree(s). Consider, then, silk flowers in your favorite color(s), ornaments made from sheet music or old books, or depicting a theme. Nature-inspired motifs such as natural materials, birds, the sea, or your favorite animal are possibilities. Some with-it decorators even showcase their hobbies on their tree. Gardening, golf, cooking…?
Even tree toppers are changing. While angels, stars, and bows are still popular additions for the tree in your home, creative sorts are replacing those with a floral arrangement, feathers, Santa’s hat, Frosty, Yoda, a cluster of colorful balls, and even the Eiffel Tower. Click here for help in making unusual angels to crown your conifer.
Deck the Halls – and the Walls
Experiment with some low-cost “funky shui” in your home this year. With a can of spray paint, unwanted picture frames, ribbon, old seasonal greeting cards, and wrapping paper you can achieve the reputation of an inventive decorator as you create unusual wall art, festive displays of branches, colorful lampshade stripes and “Christmas package” pillows, and one-of-a-kind paint-swirled bottles and glasses.
Unexpected Stocking Stuffers Sure to Surprise
RealSimple.com and Perpetualkid.com have outdone themselves this year in terms of “who would have thought” suggestions for unique stocking stuffers for under $20. Have fun as you fill those Santa stockings with a robot tea infuser, a hand-held sound effects machine, a cupcake shower cap, or scented straws. Not full yet? You can also add paper airplane push pins, permanent bubbles, or HotWheels’ new Ballistiks. Not “outre” enough for you? Then embrace the trendy mustache craze and include portable kits for emergency use, bracelet charms, gummy candy, or a baby’s pacifier reflecting the latest fad!
Food, Glorious Food
Tired of relying on standard fare such as plum pudding, Santa cookies, green bean casserole, and traditional turkey? Dare you try saffron turkey, cumin roasted potatoes, pine nut parsnips, and braised red cabbage—all covered in white wine gravy? If so, click here to get started. Another appetizing menu has all the classics you want for the ultimate Christmas dinner updated with a stylish, modern flare. FineCooking.com. gives you recipes for champagne cosmos, horseradish bread pudding, lemon thyme spinach, and ginger cake trifle—each sure to please even the most discriminating palates.
Let’s Not Forget The Cookies
While chocolate chip, sugar, peanut butter, and candy cane cookies will never go out of style, there should always be room on the table in your home—and in your stomach—for newcomers of the delicious sort. Does your mouth water when you imagine chocolate/orange (or chocolate/hazelnut) cookie cups, gingerbread pinwheels, peppermint blossoms, or turtle bites? If so, then Pillsbury can certainly help satisfy your sweet tooth.
Present Day Presents
Yes, Furbies are indeed back, but they are joined by the not-so familiar WHISKEY STONES and a new WINE-OPOLY BOARD GAME, both available at Gifts.com. Want something more cutting edge? Allmodern.com provides suggestions in 15 different categories and features items such as a gear clock, a molecule building set, and Ipad/Mp3 accessories.
Amazon.com has compiled—and updates hourly-- a list of toys and games very popular with children this Christmas. Sought-after selections include Moshi Monsters, Lego Creationary Board Game, and any Angry Birds Star Wars Item. And, in spite of the advent of the IPad, Kindle, and numerous other electronic devices, many children still enjoy reading books and playing board games. Ask your public or school librarian for age-appropriate suggestions or peruse Amazon’s book lists.
Remember, too, that not all gifts need to be tangible. The sharing of your time and talents is most appreciated by all recipients, including children. Think about an outing to a museum or the zoo, a shopping expedition for an Angel Tree child, caroling, cooking lessons, or a project in which the entire family participates,
So there you have it—a modern-day take on many elements of Christmas. There is one more relatively new idea which is quickly gaining in popularity, however, and that is.the determination to slow down, relax a bit, and actually enjoy the season with friends and family. May your holiday be a rewarding and peaceful one!
The cost of buying a Chester County home is going up. What's behind the rise in interest rates? Is now still a good time to buy? Here's an interesting video explaining a little bit about why mortgage rates are rising.
There's also a little bit in here about how "staying on the fence" could lead to a higher monthly payment.
That said, rates are still historically low and it's a great time to buy. Wondering if now is the time for your to buy a Chester County home? Give us a call! We’ll help lay out your options so you can make an informed decision.
Feel free to forward this to a friend who might be interested.
First-time home buyers owe themselves a lot of research about the finances of buying a home. Here are four common first-time home buyer mistakes to avoid.
1. Don’t spend the maximum amount on a mortgage a lender will loan.
Lenders often qualify buyers based on incomes and debt-to-income ratios without considering how much the borrowers spend on other budget items.
Financial experts recommend that consumers decide how much they want to spend each month on housing before meeting with a lender. It’s up to you to know your budget and to not just jump at a mortgage amount that a lender says you can afford.
2. Not getting pre-qualified.
This should be the first step toward homeownership. Many first-time homebuyers wait until they are ready to start house hunting before contacting a lender.
Buyers need to get pre-qualified early enough in the process so that they can make changes if they need to or correct errors on their credit report. Some first-time buyers may need to spend up to a year saving more money, increasing their incomes or cleaning up their credit before making an offer on a Chester County home.
3. Don’t underestimate the importance your credit score.
While most consumers know it's important to have a high credit score, not everyone understands how costly a low score can be. Mortgage lending is done with a tier of interest rates and terms based on consumer credit scores. Learn about credit scores the minute you start working. Many websites provide information about how to improve your credit score.
And remember, even after a mortgage approval, you must avoid applying for new credit or taking on new debt, because a second credit check is now often required before settlement.
4. Choosing the wrong mortgage product
Many first-time home buyers opt for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage only because it is an industry standard. Alternatives to a 30-year-fixed sometimes make more sense. For example, buyers certain they will be relocated by their companies within five years may find a 5/1 ARM could be a much better mortgage.
Home buyers eager to build equity in their homes or who are older and want to live mortgage-free in retirement should consider a 15-year fixed-rate loan or even a 10-year mortgage to reach their goals.
Do your homework and don’t jump at a mortgage because it will buy you a bigger Chester County home.
The news this year has been filled with reports of hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and fires, each of which has resulted in untold loss of lives, homes, and possessions. As we watch with horror the impact these disasters have on those affected, it is only natural that we ask ourselves,” Would I be able to sustain such losses? Would my insurance policy cover the costs of rebuilding my Chester County PA real estate?
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)) recommends that you use your annual renewal notice or any improvements to your home as a reminder to touch base with your agent or insurer to recheck how much insurance you really need. Do you have sufficient coverage for rebuilding and replacement? Amy Bach, executive director of United Policyholders, a consumer advocacy group, urges homeowners not to blindly trust that their home insurer has all the bases covered.
With fluctuations in the Chester County PA real estate market, coverage equal to the current replacement cost (excluding land), is advisable. The first step in getting adequate coverage is to establish your policy’s dwelling limit. Your target number is the full-replacement cost of your home and its possessions. The dwelling limit bears no relation to your property’s market value, its appraised value, or its assessed tax value. And don’t mistake the cost of new construction for the cost to rebuild, which is more expensive because of factors such as debris removal and higher demand for materials and labor after a catastrophe,
(You can get a pretty good idea of what it would cost to rebuild your home by using an online calculator, available at sites such as HMFacts.com ($7) and AccuCoverage.com ($8).
It’s a good idea to purchase guaranteed replacement coverage, meaning the insurer will pay whatever it costs to rebuild your home with materials of like kind and quality, without deducting for wear and tear. Avoid actual cash value coverage, which pays only the depreciated value of your Chester County PA real estate.
Check also on your need for flood insurance, even if you don’t live near a body of water, since policies vary in their coverage of many types of water damage.
And lastly, it goes without saying that you need to update the inventory of your possessions at least annually since it is not only a record of the contents of your house and their value, but also a good indicator of whether you have enough coverage.
Each year around 65% of all household moves take place between May and September, so obviously you need to plan ahead if you’re moving to a new Chester County PA home this summer.
While the act of relocating a new place can certainly be exciting, there are, of course, challenges to be met, especially during a hot, busy summer season. Although there are no foolproof ways to make the experience totally stress-free, there are, thankfully, actions you can take to make your “adventure” a more positive one.
Sage advice to heed includes:
If you’ve ever been involved in a theatrical production, you are well aware of the many hours of planning, practice, and preparation that precede the actual performance. You hope to gain rave reviews from your audience and will 
thus be sure to put forth much energy and effort in order to do so.to be successful.
In much the same way, you, as the seller of your Chester County PA home, have aspirations of wowing potential buyers with your stellar presentation and being rewarded by appreciative applause in the form of a quick sale. Just practice the following script and stage directions for dramatic results…
The curtain opens on a tastefully furnished room with adequate, but not overcrowded, furniture. There is ample room to walk between the moderately-sized pieces, and doors and windows are not blocked. Flowers and bowls of fresh fruit add color and a pleasant scent. Personal photos and memorabilia are not present, and the few paintings that adorn the walls contribute to the overall light and airy atmosphere.
ACT I:
Intermission:
Audience members will now be milling about the area
outside your theatre, so be sure that you have taken steps to
make it attractive and appealing.
ACT II:
Final curtain:
Time to take a bow, accept the flowers, bask in the applause, and enjoy
the accolades. Your presentation has been a complete success, and you
will soon be entertaining offers for your Chester County PA home.
If you're thinking about investing in a rental property, experts say low home prices combined with low interest rates make this the best time in years to become a real-estate investor. Couple this with the increase in potential renters 
due to foreclosures and the recent shaky economy, and you may well decide to become a first-time investor in Chester County PA real estate.
It isn’t difficult to get into the real estate investing world. In fact, it’s rather easy. But it does require being smart and dedicated—and avoiding easy-to-make mistakes. These tips for a first time real estate investor should be beneficial in helping you become more knowledgeable and competent in sidestepping common pitfalls.
Every article, video, and home-themed television show which deals with selling your Chester County PA home will contain oodles of information/suggestions/tips/hints/advice on how best to achieve your goal in a short period of 
time. You already know that in a buyer’s market, potential purchasers can afford to be picky and that sometimes even a small “defect” can become a deal breaker, so you dutifully heed instructions to de-clutter, de-personalize, and de-emphasize anything that could be perceived as a negative. You even bake cookies before an open house to provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere!
But….are you aware of the importance of eliminating, not just masking, all interior odors? No, the answer is not to spray tropical-scented commercial products all around your Chester County PA home, for that is only a temporary fix and may even provoke an allergic reaction from a potential buyer. There are, however, natural solutions to persistent smells of all types. Making your house smell spring-fresh is a great way to invoke the buying mood this year.
Besides opening windows and letting fresh air flow freely throughout your Chester County PA home, there are many steps you can take to identify odor-prone areas and do away with the stench. Read on:
Rest assured that your fresh-smelling interior will appeal to potential buyers and hasten the sale of your Chester County PA home!
Displaying blog entries 431-440 of 530
