Six Toasty Autumn Homeselling Tips – TheMountainMail.com: Real Estate

You may think that autumn isn’t the best time to showcase your home, but you’d be wrong. Yes, fall days are shorter, with fewer hours of daylight for buyers to see your home. There may be many days of grey skies, rain, or early snowfall.

But autumn has a unique appeal that’s all its own. You can look forward to gathering with friends and loved ones by a crackling fire, play winter sports in the backyard, or walk on the beach without all the tourists. Most important, homebuyers are motivated; they want to move in before winter. Here are six tips to selling your home during the changing season.

Say welcome with fall decorations

One nice thing about fall décor is that you can put out pumpkins, gourds, scarecrows, and mums now, and they will last through Thanksgiving. Put a nice new welcome mat out for buyers and their agents to wipe their feet, and if it’s been raining or snowing, provide booties that can be slipped on over shoes so mud or road salt aren’t brought into your home. It’s worth paying the neighborhood kids to keep your driveway and sidewalks clear of snow and slush.

Air out your home

As the weather cools, you may tend to shut windows and doors, but closed homes tend to hold odors, so make sure you open the windows for an occasional airing. Run the fans after cooking meals. Moisture also holds odor, so use the exhaust fans in the bathrooms after every bath and shower. While buyers are inside, keep temperatures moderate and even — not too warm or cool.

Let the light in

We already know there’s less sunlight in the fall and winter, so leave lights on for showings. It won’t hurt to pump up the wattage in areas you really want buyers to see details, such as kitchens and baths. Open the drapes and keep windows as clean as possible for showings.

Cut out clutter

When your household spends more time indoors, it’s natural for clutter to accumulate, but too much can have a smothering effect on buyers. Take special care to put coats and all-weather boots away.

Keep a basket in every room so that if you get a sudden showing, you and the rest of the family can do a five-minute cleanup before leaving the premises so your buyer can have some privacy. Store the baskets under the bed or some other place out of sight.

Stage Your Home for the Season

If you’re selling a home in a ski resort, it’s easy to play up the fun of cold weather. Otherwise, you may need a little imagination to stage your home. Ask your real estate professional for ideas, but consider these few to make your home cozy, toasty and inviting.

If you have a fireplace, turn it on, but low. Stage the seating with a comfy Fair Isle throw. If you can find one with snowflakes and reindeer, that’s even better. Put some big fluffy pillows on the floor. Boil some apple cider with cinnamon, and let the delicious aroma waft through the house. Make a beautiful wreath for the front door out of the gorgeous gold and red leaves that have fallen in your neighborhood.

Family photos are supposed to be a no-no with one exception — when they show the home to advantage. Make a quick-flip buyer’s album that includes your beautiful garden in the spring, the backyard pool in the summer, and the gorgeous fall colors of your trees.

Tout the neighborhood

Whereever your home is, it’s part of a community. Show it off! If your neighborhood offers a bike path, playground or community center, list them for the buyer in a feature sheet, and include pictures for your buyer’s album.

Create a map to add to your feature sheet that shows how quickly the buyer can get to various amenities like the nearest grocery store, train stop, and other services. Be sure to point out places unique to your area like the corner book shop or dog groomer.

You can bring out the cozy best in your home by showing buyers that this is a great place to make pleasant memories.

Improve your credit score for homebuying

Looking to buy a home soon, or just want to be sure you’re mindful of a good credit score, Holly Henbest has the top six tips to make you look good on paper!

 

1. Revolving Credit
   1. Your credit score is impacted most significantly if you keep your balance at two different tier levels – the two are:
      1. 50 percent or less of the limit or
      2. 30 percent or less of the limit
   2. So, if you have a credit card with a $10,000 limit, keep your balance at under $5,000 or even better under $3,000.
   3. You would be better to have three credit cards with a total limit of $30,000 and a total balance of $9,000, then one credit card with a limit of $10,000 and a balance of $9,000.
2. Authorized User Status
   1. Did you get included on a family members credit card for convenience? Get yourself removed. Call the credit card company and ask to get yourself removed and ask to have them send you a letter to confirm you’ve been removed.
3. Checking your Credit
   1. Don’t get your credit pulled to check things on a frequent basis.
   2. It’s good to be aware, but the more you have your credit pulled, it can hurt your score.
4. Paying Off/Closing Credit Cards
   1. We hear it all the time and its true, don’t close your credit card account.
   2. You may get excited when you pay it off and just want it gone, but don’t close it.
   3. Instead just shred your card and don’t use it.
5. Have a collection?
   1. Contact a Mortgage Banker and they can coach you on getting this removed.
   2. Remember, once you pay a collection, you have no negotiation power.
   3. Ideally you want the collection removed.  Getting it paid doesn’t really help your score.  You need it removed to help your score.
6. Use a credit simulator.
   1. Some Mortgage Bankers have a credit simulator and they can plug in scenarios of if you pay down a credit card, how much will your score go up. 
   2. So, before you decide who and how much to pay, have the Mortgage Banker check it out on the Simulator.

Newly Built Home in Modesto – Owner Occupied or Investment

List Price $249k. Contact Yajnesh Rai for more details.

New home built by owner contractor with approved plans and permit, completed in Aug 2015. Features 3 beds and 2 baths. Laminate floors, granite counter tops, nice cabinets, new SS appliances, dual pane windows, Floor to ceiling tiled shower wall. Private fenced yard, well maintained and tastefully designed landscape. Excellent primary home or investment property. Close to Main Shopping Street and Schools. Nice and Quite neighborhood. New split AC system.

Pictures: https://plus.google.com/115712399711900339522/posts/V5tQ1iQ9Mm4

Yajnesh Rai

YRai@KW.com

408-547-7845

Keller Williams Realty Silicon Valley

CalBRE# 01924991

6 Things That Determine How Fast A Home Will Sell : Home : Realty Today

You are selling your home and you would like to know how soon you will make the sale especially that you have already moved into your new home.

 

 

You can go for a psychic reading or you can look at these 6 things that determine how fast a home will sell according to Trulia:

The price

Your pricing could directly affect the amount of time your property sits in the market. Of course you can price it at or below market value and people searching for a lower price will most likely flock on your listing. But if time is not a factor, then you can choose to price higher.

“The best time to get noticed is the first few days your property hits the market,” says Mor Zucker, a Denver real estate agent.

Your willingness to negotiate

If you are dead set on your full asking price, then expect your listing to stay on the market for a longer period of time. Aside from pricing too high, “a reluctance to negotiate is the second reason homes stay on the market a long time,” says Trip duPerier, owner of Texas Landman LLC. “A solid offer is nothing to scoff at,” he adds.

The photos

Good listing photos are sure to entice more potential buyers. So apart from addressing repairs and home staging, you also want make sure that you hire a professional photographer. “Having good photos of your home can definitely shorten the amount of time your property sits on the market,” says Zucker. 

A good agent

One of the keys to a successful home sale is hiring the right real estate agent, and that means someone who has worked and sold homes in the area.  “The right real estate agent can make a huge difference in how long it takes to sell a home,” says Pamela Colombana, a California real estate agent. The right agent has the experience to properly prep your home and knows exactly how to market a property in your location.

Your sales strategy

It is important to be honest on your sales strategy. Establish the amount of time you find considerable for your property to stay on the market and let your real estate agent know. This way, the agent can do the necessary steps to sell your property according to your need and at the best price.

6 Things That Determine How Fast A Home Will Sell : Home : Realty Today

You are selling your home and you would like to know how soon you will make the sale especially that you have already moved into your new home.

 

 

You can go for a psychic reading or you can look at these 6 things that determine how fast a home will sell according to Trulia:

The price

Your pricing could directly affect the amount of time your property sits in the market. Of course you can price it at or below market value and people searching for a lower price will most likely flock on your listing. But if time is not a factor, then you can choose to price higher.

“The best time to get noticed is the first few days your property hits the market,” says Mor Zucker, a Denver real estate agent.

Your willingness to negotiate

If you are dead set on your full asking price, then expect your listing to stay on the market for a longer period of time. Aside from pricing too high, “a reluctance to negotiate is the second reason homes stay on the market a long time,” says Trip duPerier, owner of Texas Landman LLC. “A solid offer is nothing to scoff at,” he adds.

The photos

Good listing photos are sure to entice more potential buyers. So apart from addressing repairs and home staging, you also want make sure that you hire a professional photographer. “Having good photos of your home can definitely shorten the amount of time your property sits on the market,” says Zucker. 

A good agent

One of the keys to a successful home sale is hiring the right real estate agent, and that means someone who has worked and sold homes in the area.  “The right real estate agent can make a huge difference in how long it takes to sell a home,” says Pamela Colombana, a California real estate agent. The right agent has the experience to properly prep your home and knows exactly how to market a property in your location.

Your sales strategy

It is important to be honest on your sales strategy. Establish the amount of time you find considerable for your property to stay on the market and let your real estate agent know. This way, the agent can do the necessary steps to sell your property according to your need and at the best price.

3 Home Inspection Deal-Breakers | Realtor Magazine

3 Home Inspection Deal-Breakers

Daily Real Estate News | Wednesday, October 07, 2015

Home inspectors are hired to perform an objective evaluation of a home’s condition, but at times, their discoveries can prompt the buyer to terminate a sale contract.

Dylan Chalk, owner of Seattle-based Orca Inspection Services LLC, writes on Redfin’s blog that, in his experience, the following three issues kill the most deals:

1. Cover-ups. The house may look great, but a deeper inspection may reveal short-cuts on repairs or renovations made by a prior home owner. These commonly occur in homes that were purchased to be flipped. “I sometimes find flips in need of structural repairs or discover chronic moisture problems that were covered up in an effort to sell the house,” Chalk writes. “On the outside, everything looks new and shiny, but there may actually be deep dysfunction lurking in the bones of the house.” He also finds problems with vacation homes that have been remodeled multiple times over the years. “There can be a hodgepodge of foundations, additions, and rooflines that make them fundamentally different than they appear,” Chalk notes. “These are not ‘bad houses,’ but they are often quirky and may present risks that buyers weren’t anticipating. One tip that often gives these homes away is a quirky roofline that shows obvious additions.”
2. More repairs than anticipated. This is a common scenario with younger homes, Chalk says. The clients may say, “It’s only 20 years old!” But while most 20-year-old houses are in good shape, they often require expensive replacements for systems that last only 15 to 20 years. Systems that usually need to be replaced after 20 years are a deck, furnace, roof, and appliances. Carpets, the home’s siding, and even hardwood finishes may need special attention at that point, too. The maintenance list may come as a surprise to some buyers.
3. The home has bad bones. Buyers go into fixer-uppers knowing they intend to do a host of repairs, such as the furnace, kitchen, bathrooms, flooring, paint, and appliances. But buyers may not have taken into account the foundation, frame, roofline, floorplan, and drainage. A home inspection that turns up structural problems or drainage issues will add a significant amount to the buyer’s budget — even pushing them out of their price range.

The Next Three Months: Best Time to Buy | Realtor Magazine

The Next Three Months: Best Time to Buy

Low mortgage rates, declining home prices, and homes that are lingering on the market longer are three main reasons why the next three months could be the best time to buy so far this year, says Jonathan Smoke, realtor.com®’s chief economist.

“The spring and summer home-buying seasons were especially tough on potential buyers this year with increasing prices and limited supply,” Smoke says. “Buyers who are open to a fall or winter purchase should find some relief with lower prices and less competition from other buyers.”

The biggest challenge buyers will likely face buying in the next three months is the limited number of choices. There are fewer homes for-sale this fall than last year and housing inventory has already peaked for 2015, Smoke says.

In many markets, real estate is making its seasonal transition and is tilting in favor of home buyers lately.

Also, buyers are locking in low mortgage rates as the Federal Reserve continues to delay raising rates. For the past 10 weeks, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has averaged below 4 percent, according to Freddie Mac.

Here are some more factors pointing to a slowdown in the overall housing market:

• Median home prices dropped 1 percent month-over-month in August (however, prices are still up 6 percent year-over-year).
• Homes are staying on the market longer: The median age of home inventory is 80 days, up nearly 7 percent from August.
• Mortgage applications dropped 6.7 percent week-to-week.

Bad credit? You still might get a mortgage

Looking for a mortgage loan with bad credit? Believe it or not, you may be able to seal the deal even with a credit score below 620. You’ll just have to be willing to jump through a few hoops.

First, you’ll need to know where you stand. You can get your credit report for free once a year at AnnualCreditReport.com. You can also pull a free credit report summary every month from Credit.com.

Here’s what to expect when you’re ready to apply.

1. You have limited options

The only program out there for applicants with credit scores below 620 is the Federal Housing Administration. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac offer conventional loan financing with a hard credit score requirement of 620. Generally, you’ll need a minimum score of 600 to buy a home or a get a mortgage.

2. There are stringent income requirements

The lower the credit score, the more risk the lender takes in approving your loan. To minimize your chances of defaulting (and to protect themselves from a legal standpoint,) lenders now require consumers have a 43% debt-to-income ratio, consistent with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s definition of a “qualified mortgage.”

In other words, your existing monthly loan obligations, like an auto loan or credit card balance, in addition to your proposed mortgage payment, can’t exceed 43% of your total monthly income.

For example, if your mortgage payment is $2,800 per month, consistent with 3.5% down FHA loan on a $425,000 home, and you also have other payments on tax obligations and car payments at $600 per month, you must be earning $7,906 of income to offset the liabilities.

3. You may have to complete homeownership counseling

Some mortgage companies require consumers with bad credit complete online counseling to ensure they fully understand what homeownership entails. (It doesn’t matter if you are refinancing or have previously owned a home.) Typically, this counseling can be completed online. If required, get it done early on in the loan process as a sign of good measure.

4. You’ll face higher rates and pricing

Your mortgage, unfortunately, will cost more in fees and interest due to your bad credit. Lenders charge in accordance with the risk they are taking. For example, a borrower with a 620 credit score will pay a rate that’s approximately 0.5 percentage points higher, and approximately $2,000 more in loan fees than a borrower with a credit score of 620 or higher, based on FHA’s risk-based pricing.

Raising your credit score to the tune of 620 or higher will help you qualify for better rates. Mortgage lenders may use an industry-specific version of your credit in their underwriting process, so there’s a chance the score they see will differ slightly from the one you are looking at.

The bigger picture

Keep in mind, buying a home and making on-time payments to your mortgage may cause your score to rise,.This improvement in turn, could help you qualify for a refinancing offer down the road, netting you a lower interest rate and a more affordable monthly payment.

Talk to your mortgage professional about your credit and the means you currently have to buy a home while considering what options make the most financial sense for you overall.