home buyers

Helpful Information on Selling a Home

When selling a home, especially in the current real estate market, you need to do everything possible to stand out from the competition. With so many homes now available, your home needs to offer something special, which would ensure a fast sell and good price.

Home in Need of Repair

We greatly recommend that you try to research on properties under sale in the same geographical location to look at condition and price.

You need to make sure that your home is in excellent condition as a part of getting your home ready to sell. If you want to get the best price from your home, you should complete the repair it needs and you may even upgrade your home.

Property Photographs

Your real estate agent should take many quality photographs of your home for posting on MLS. Put some things in the storage if needed and be sure to keep the home uncluttered. Other tips include:

Keep the toilet seats covered. Only a photograph of the master bedroom is needed unless the other bedrooms are significantly larger or different You or family members should never be in photos of the home so watch for reflections in mirrors. Shoot only positive features of the home, a swimming pool, fireplace, etc but avoid small closets or hallways. The kitchen is the heart of the home so people want to see numerous photographs of this particular room. For the dining room, have the table beautifully set. The living room photo needs to make the room look large so if you have a lot of furniture, put some in storage. Make sure the front and back property is also included, especially water features, pools, built-in grills/fireplaces, and gardens. Use descriptions to enhance photos.

Opportunities for Marketing and Advertising

You will need to consider several marketing strategies when it comes to selling a home. Consider the following:

Invest in color postcards and mail them, for out-of-town buyers and potential buyers in your neighborhood. Multiple color flyers that have some of the best photos of your home really work great when distributed to potential buyers that will come to open house or to view on a scheduled tour with the real estate agent. Consider having videos added because virtual tours get attention. Consider having new advertisement that are done weekly. Open houses should only be held on Sundays or Thursday evenings to get a greater number of visitors to your home. Have your agent get feedback from people that have gone through the home, allowing you to make repairs, changes, or upgrades accordingly. If comfortable, shoot a self-video of you telling people about the property or giving a tour and then post it on a video site like YouTube.

Always consider a good rule when selling a home is that with this currently being a buyer’s market you need to set the asking price at least 2% lower than the asking price for the most comparable home. If you find that the price is simply lower than what you are needing then perhaps you should sell your home in the future. It is a huge mistake to list your home at a price that will get no movement.

Jules Hagey is a real estate investor based in California. He is a former estate agent and writes widely about issues related to real estate and finance. He is currently establishing a quick sale houses program in the UK to take advantage of the current opportunities found there. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service

home buyers

The Latest News About Recent Home Buyer Tax Credits

There’s wonderful news for people considering purchasing a home! Congress has recently passed further legislation, as a portion of the plan for energizing the U.S. housing market, that makes the Federal tax credit of up to $8,000 now available to even more first-time buyers. Also, selected individuals who now own a home and want to purchase a new one will also be eligible for a Federal tax credit totaling up to $6,500.

The Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit extends and improves the existing law that runs out on November 30. Both new and move-up buyers can now take advantage of the Federal tax credit. Needless to say, this is over and above the current historically low mortgage interest rates.

Here are the important new particulars:

* The first-time buyers’ $8,000 has now been extended through April 30th, 2010. * Current homeowners are now eligible for a $6,500 tax credit, if they have lived in the home they are selling as their principal residence for a minimum of five consecutive years out of the last eight years. * Income limits for eligible buyers were increased to a range of $75,000 to $125,000 (for single buyers) and a range of $150,000 to $225,000 for couples. * Time has been extended to make allowance for closing the home purchase. As long as they have a ratified contract by April 30th, they will then have until June 30th, 2010, to close the purchase. The qualifying purchase price of the new residence has to be no more than $800,000.

Additional details:

* Tax credits provide a dollar-for-dollar reduction of taxes owed with any surplus funds available as a refund. The amount of the credit will be first credited toward any tax liability for the year of purchase. Subsequently the amount remaining will be refunded to the buyer. (For example a first-time buyer who owes $2000 in taxes would receive a check for $6,000). * Any single-family home purchased to be used as a principal residence (including condos, co-ops) will qualify assuming that it is purchased by the 30th of April, 2010 and closed by the 30th of June, 2010. * The full amount of the credit is available for individuals with an adjusted gross income of no more than $125,000 or $225,000 on a joint return. When income is greater than these figures, the amount of the tax credit drops until the maximum limit is reached – $145,000 for an individual or $245,000 of joint income.

Jim Navary has been a freelance writer and researcher for more thirty years covering a broad range of topics. He is also a licensed real estate salesperson in the Commonwealth of Virginia specializing in real estate in the Tri-Cities area of Virginia and, in particular, Petersburg, Virginia, area houses for sale.

home buyers

What You Need to Look for in a Real Estate Agent

You will find agents of varying skill levels regardless of the real estate company. Some agents take their work as a job while others are real enterprising people looking for the next opportunity. The crucial thing to consider when choosing a real estate agent is to ask questions and pay attention to the answers provided. It is important not to rush the choosing an agent in that you want someone you know is working for you, aid to get you the most money for the purchase or sell of your home at the same time keeping expenses to a minimum.

Bear in mind that when creating a contract with the agent, you want everything to have a positive spin on it for you. We fully recommend that when an agreement is made with an agent, a timeframe be included after which you would have the right to review the whole situation and then decide whether to stay with the agent or choose someone different.

Although most real estate agents are honest, hard-working professionals, some are simply searching for prospective buyers and then offering some type of fast scheme. While a qualified agent would know the right moves to sell or close the deal quickly and for the most amount of money, any offer of moving things along extra fast for money should raise a red flag. You as the customer have the right to know exactly the things for which your money is paying.

In choosing the right real estate agent, you also need to investigate him or her too. You should take time to research the company the agent works for, and look at information for current listings being managed, and look at MLS listings on the internet of homes being sold.

Finally, before you start looking for a real estate agent, remind yourself that you are the customer. The real estate agent you choose will be making thousands of dollars for handling your property purchase or sale so you need someone that is dedicated and willing to work hard to make positive things happen. As a part of his or her job, you should be contacted regularly but you also have the right to ask for a status report.

Mike Boman is a real estate investor based in Boston. He is a former estate agent and writes widely about issues related to real estate and finance. He is an expert in establishing online house buying companies both in the US and UK.

home buyers

Purchasing a New Home in the Fall

As the summertime closes and fall approaches, many people thing about whether it’s a good time to buy a house. This can actually be the best time to purchase since most purchasers wait for the spring. You can locate many opportunities on desirable houses. This is particularly true with new construction, such as with Emmy Homes in Commack New York.

When you go to EmmyHomes.com, you will see a variety of new construction homes available. Even during this time of year, you may be able to buy a new construction home that had not sold over the summer. Similarly, if you want to choose your house and have construction started, now is the time to speak to the builders. If they can get a foundation in the ground before the frost sets in (more of an issue in the North) your project can run through the winter. If you’re looking for a new home to occupy at the close of this new school year, start the process now.

As you look for a new home, what questions should you ask?

First, is this a one-off contractor or is this someone who builds full developments? You want to work with a larger scale construction company because they are more likely able to see it through in the timetable that you’ve allotted. While we do not oppose small builders, if this is the only home that a construction company is working on, what will happen if the builder runs out of money? What if his plumber gets sick? What if his plumber walks off the job – you could be delayed for weeks or months.

When you’re dealing with a more substantial builder, they have assorted people in each trade. If they are understaffed, they can promptly locate replacement workers. In the end, you are much better off with an established reputable builder who will finish the task, as opposed to a small builder who, unfortunately, can bring a great amount of uncertainty.

Second, look at homes that the contractor has already completed. Do you like them? The artist drawing may be gorgeous, but the house may be something else. A contractor who is consistently delivered high quality construction is worth their weight in gold. A shoddy contractor who under delivers is not worth the savings he can bring.

Finally, consider the long-term cost of the home. Not only does it carry a buy price, but it must be maintained. A well built home may have lower maintenance costs. Also, is it energy efficient? An “energy star” house meet certain government requirements on energy efficiency. Not only is this good for the environment, but can yield substantial savings on your energy costs. An energy Star rated house is also desirable on resale. You may plan on living here for 20 years, but unexpected issues happen and you want to choose a home that, if you need to, will be very marketable for resale. So yes, the summer of 2009 has passed. Nonetheless, there are vast options to purchase new construction as we go into the fall season. Websites, such as www.EmmyHomes.com can show you many choices of homes that are available in your area.

Tips by Craig Axelrod, with Emmy Homes. Emmy is one of Long Island’s most trusted home developers. Emmy’s Commack development features luxury homes in Commack. Visit EmmyHomes.com for details.

home buyers

Commack Real Estate: Now Is The Time To Buy

The real estate market, including the market in Commack New York, has been hit hard over the last several years. This nationwide recession has certainly had an impact on the real estate market, creating opportunities for those who are ready to buy.

Interest rates remain at historic lows, making real estate in Commack more affordable than ever. Interest rates usually range from 4 to 6%, roughly half of what the rates were just a decade ago.

If you’re getting ready to purchase a home , whether you are a first time home buyer or moving from an existing home, there are many questions to ask yourself:

Is buying a house now a solid long-term investment? Given that the real estate market has fallen 20 to 30%, you’re purchasing a house at deep discount to prices from three or four years ago. You’re purchasing at $.70 on the dollar. When prices return to normal levels, you will see an appreciation of almost 50%.

Are you a good investor? Most people are not. They lack the discipline to make long-term investments, and often hold off investing and saving-until it is too late. When you invest in a home, you are making a long-term commitment. This, in a very real sense, represents forced savings. Every month, you have the chance to build equity in your house as you pay down your mortgage. Historically, real estate appreciates greatly over time. Taken with a long-term view, real estate remains one of the best investments available.

Am I purchasing in the right area? Commack New York is a beautiful area to reside in and to raise a family. An established neighborhood, it has the resources of a major suburb with high quality of living standards. With new construction, you are able to get the home of your dreams. The builders have designed wonderful homes, and very often you are able to customize to suit your needs. Given the current economic conditions and reduced real estate prices, now is a great time to purchase your first house or your next home.

Are there advantages in buying new construction? Yes. New construction tends to be bigger, more current and can easily be customized to suit your needs. In contrast? When buying an existing house, you must very often go through costly renovations to customize that house to your taste. New construction offers you the opportunity to make those alterations before the houses built. Usually, it cost 1 to 4 times as much to make changes to an existing structure as opposed to simply changing the plans on a house that is yet to be built.

What questions should I ask of a home builder?

If you’ve never bought a new home before, there’s several things that you should ask the builder:

1. Does the builder have experience within the county? To build a house, you need permits, zoning approvals, and compliance with county and local ordinances. An experienced builder is aware of these requirements; and inexperienced builder is not. Mistakes here can be extremely costly and presents massive delays.

2. Does this builder put up one house at a time, or have experience in building developments? Often, you are better off with the builder who works on multiple developments at once. While this may seem counterintuitive, a small builder who only handles one task at a time works with a limited crew. If any member of the crew-a plumber, carpenter or electrician-is unavailable, your construction may come to a halt for weeks. In contrast, a larger builder has assorted craftsmen available to him, and can deliver a steadier construction project.

3. Do you want to be in a new neighborhood or a single renovated house within an old community? The neighborhood around you not only impacts the resale value of your house, but also impacts your lifestyle. If you are in a neighborhood with dilapidated homes, and yours is the only new construction in the area, your home can feel out of place. If the builders will bring a new development, and you are one of the new homeowners in that new community, there is a much better fit for you and your home. Additionally, all of the people living in that community will be moving in at about the same time and will have the opportunity to form friendships and relationships. If you are moving into a block with families that have lived there for years, you may be the outsider and maybe quite some time for you to “fit in”-if at all.

Craig Axelrod is one of the executives from Emmy Homes. Emmy is which is one of LI’s top home builders. Emmy’s Commack development features new construction in Commack. Visit EmmyHomes.com for more details.

categories: home buyers,homebuyer,first time home,first time home buyer,buy home,buy house,purchase home,purchase house,new home

home buyers

New Construction in Commack: Ideal For You

If you’ve ever thought about buying new construction on Long Island, then now is the time for you to be searching. With the real estate market where it is, it is more affordable than ever for you to purchase new construction. On Long Island, your options are limited. The amount of free real estate available in this once farmland area, is basically completely developed. Many communities have placed restrictions on construction, preserving the remaining farmland and open areas.

Nonetheless, new construction is still available and can be perfect for the new homeowner. If you’ve been looking for real estate, you can consider this:

1. Older houses, while “unique” on the outside, are, in fact, old homess. Over time they age. Many homes in the 50 to 75-year-old range have become “knock downs” bought by builders to put up new construction. If you’re buying an older house, it can cost you more in the long run with maintenance and improvements.

2. New construction gives you more flexibility. Very little people ever find the “perfect home” of their dreams. Generally, they need to paint, tile, change carpeting, re-locate walls, renovate bathrooms and kitchens and a list of other projects that become increasingly expensive. That older home that looked like a bargain becomes extremely expensive once you’ve done the improvements and changes you need.

3. With new construction, you do not have to live through renovations. Kitchen renovations, expansions and modifications to your home can take months-even years. All the while, you are living in a hazard zone. 4. You also have the added expense of doing these improvements, which must be paid on top of the purchase price of the house. Many families have to save for many years to have the available cash renovations. Others may try to take second mortgages or home-equity loans, but this may prove unsuccessful-especially with more stringent lending requirements. You may look to borrow an additional $200,000, but your home is not worth an additional $200,000 today. Therefore, you lack the collateral to substantiate the home equity loan. In addition, new construction, even if slightly more expensive, has the full value in the home already, which is what mortgage companies want to see. 5. When choosing real estate, and evaluating existing houses, you have very few choices. The real estate is “as is”-meaning the lawn is what it is, the plantings are what they are, and the yarn is what it is. Usually, with new construction, it is either newly landscaped or in raw form so that you can landscape as you want (generally, unlandscaped new construction is less expensive than landscaped). With new construction, you are getting beautiful new property or freshly graded land that is set for landscaping.

When you’re ready to consider new construction, be sure to keep all of these factors in mind. As you examine the cost of the house, consider the real costs beyond the purchase price. Many families find far better values with the newly built house versus a less expensive existing home that needs work. Even if you are handy, improvements are not free. You also need to come up with the cash to pay for those improvements (whereas with new construction, those improvements are built into the asking price and are covered by the mortgage).

Story by Craig Axelrod, with Emmy Homes, which is one of LI’s most trusted real estate builders. Emmy’s Commack real estate features new construction in Commack. Visit EmmyHomes.com for information.

categories: home buyers,homebuyer,first time home,first time home buyer,buy home,buy house,purchase home,purchase house,new home

home buyers

Commack Real Estate: Now Is The Time To Purchase

The real estate market, including the market in Commack New York, has been hit hard over the last couple years. This nationwide recession has absolutely had an impact on the real estate market, creating opportunities for those who are ready to purchase.

Interest rates remain at historic lows, making real estate in Commack more affordable than ever. Interest rates typically range from 4 to 6%, roughly half of what the rates were just a decade ago.

If you’re getting ready to buy a home , whether you are a first time home buyer or moving from an existing home, there are many questions to ask yourself:

Is buying a house now a solid long-term investment? Given that the real estate market has fallen 20 to 30%, you’re buying a house at deep discount to prices from three or four years ago. You’re buying at $.70 on the dollar. When prices return to normal levels, you will see an appreciation of almost 50%.

Are you a smart investor? Most people are not. They lack the discipline to make long-term investments, and often put off investing and saving-until it is too late. When you invest in a house, you are making a long-term commitment. This, in a very real sense, represents forced savings. Every month, you have the opportunity to build equity in your home as you pay into your mortgage. Historically, real estate appreciates significantly over time. Taken with a long-term view, real estate remains one of the best investments available.

Am I purchasing in the right area? Commack New York is a beautiful area to live in and to raise a family. An established neighborhood, it has the resources of a major suburb with high quality of living standards. With new construction, you are able to get the home of your dreams. The builders have designed beautiful homes, and very often you are able to customize to suit your needs. Given the current economic conditions and reduced real estate prices, now is a excellent time to buy your first house or your next home.

Are there advantages in purchasing new construction? Yes. New construction tends to be larger, more current and can easily be tailored to suit your taste. In contrast? When buying an existing home, you must very often go through costly renovations to tailor that home to your taste. New construction offers you the chance to make those alterations before the houses built. Usually, it cost 1 to 4 times as much to make alterations to an existing structure as opposed to simply modifying the plans on a home that is yet to be built.

What questions should I ask of a home builder?

If you’ve never bought a new home before, there’s several things that you can ask the builder:

1. Does the builder have experience within the county? To build a home, you need permits, zoning approvals, and compliance with county and local ordinances. An experienced builder is aware of these requirements; and inexperienced builder is not. Mistakes here can be very costly and presents huge delays.

2. Does this builder put up one house at a time, or have experience in building developments? Often, you are better off with the builder who works on multiple developments at once. While this may seem counterintuitive, a small builder who only handles one task at a time works with a small crew. If any member of the crew-a plumber, carpenter or electrician-is unavailable, your construction may come to a halt for weeks. In contrast, a larger builder has assorted craftsmen available to him, and can deliver a steadier construction project.

3. Do you want to be in a new community or a single renovated home within an old neighborhood? The neighborhood around you not only impacts the resale value of your home, but also impacts your lifestyle. If you are in a neighborhood with dilapidated homes, and yours is the only new construction in the area, your house will feel out of place. If the builders will bring a new development, and you are one of the new homeowners in that new community, there is a much better fit for you and your home. Additionally, all of the people living in that community will be moving in at about the same time and will have the opportunity to develop friendships and relationships. If you are moving into a block with families that have lived there for years, you may be the outsider and maybe quite some time for you to “fit in”-if at all.

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