Archive for category Real Estate
Assessed Value vs Market Value
Posted by Kathy Landstra in Home Buyers, Home Sellers, Real Estate on June 24, 2010
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Courtesy Billie Hara via Flickr |
In some cases there is much discussion, hand-wringing and consternation about the Assessed Value vs. Fair Market Value of a home during the selling/buying process. It’s interesting that sellers would want a low assessed value while living in the house (lower tax bills) but then would appreciate a higher assessed value when listing their home with me. Knowledgeable Real Estate Agents will always try to coach buyers and sellers to understand that the correlation between Assessed Value and Fair Market Value is very loose – at best. To help explain and offer further insight, you may find this article about Assessed Value vs Fair Market Value from a REALTOR in Massachesetts interesting. |
Innovative Kitchen and Bath Designs
Posted by Kathy Landstra in Real Estate on June 21, 2010
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The National Kitchen and Bath Association show in Chicago this past April had a host of unique and new ideas for improving value in your home. Barbara Ballinger, an Architecture Coach from the National Association of REALTORS® visited the show and offers these ideas:
You can see more information for each of these ideas by visiting the Styled, Staged and Sold webpage. |
Home Buyers Seek Perfect Deal
Posted by Kathy Landstra in Home Buyers, Home Sellers, Real Estate on June 20, 2010
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Home buyers are becoming more demanding as the real estate market is returning to the “pre-tax-credit” envrionment. When the tax credit was in effect there was some feeling that sellers were being stubborn — thinking and positioning that buyers were getting the credit — why should the seller reduce the price or otherwise negotiate further. Now, with the expiration of the tax credit, buyers are re-asserting their leverage. According to an article by The New York Times: “Exacting buyers are upending the battered real estate market, agents and other experts say, leading to last-minute demands for multiple concessions, bruised feelings on all sides and many more collapsed deals than usual.” You can have direct access to the complete New York Times article by clicking here. |
9 Decor Trends to Skip
Posted by Kathy Landstra in Home Sellers, Real Estate on June 13, 2010
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Photo courtesy |
From [the nest] and re-printed on msn.com, here are nine home decorating trends that you should consider skipping:
If you would like to see the discussion on msn.com click here. |
Backyard Pool – Adds/Substracts Home Value?
Posted by Kathy Landstra in Real Estate on June 10, 2010
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Courtesy Timo Heuer via Flickr |
HGTV’s FrontDoor website offers some insight into the backyard pool question that so many home sellers and home buyers are asking. Will the pool add value to the home? Well, according to the FrontDoor article, a pool could actually detract from a home’s value. According to the article, maintenance costs and operational costs add up quickly. With the requirement to maintain special chemicals and the need to run pool filters many hours per day (increasing electric bills), the monthly budget for a pool can become a financial challenge — especially during the current economic times. You can read the complete article by following this link. |
Six unusual homes for sale
Posted by Kathy Landstra in Real Estate on May 29, 2010
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Photo from Stuck In Customs at flickr |
We are always on the lookout for unique features and unique homes. CNNMoney has found six homes that are truely unique. You can:
See the complete unique and unusal homes for sale at the CNNMoney website. |
Avoid that Pre-Listing Inspection
Posted by Kathy Landstra in Home Sellers, Real Estate on May 17, 2010
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Photo Courtesy: homeinspectioncarolina via Flickr |
According to the the Wall Street Journal’s in-house real estate expert you really should avoid the Pre-Listing Inspection. June Fletcher, writer for the Journal, believes that the Pre-Listing inspection could provide you with too much information about the condition of your property and force you to disclose flaws that might wait until the potential buyer conducts their own inspection. By waiting for an inspection you can manage your negotiating position and still honestly list your home. Ms. Flectcher offers more advice and insight into the pre-lisitng inspection issue with this article. |
Housing market diagnosis: Bipolar
Posted by Kathy Landstra in Home Buyers, Home Sellers, Real Estate on May 17, 2010
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At least, that’s what CNNMoney.com has to say in their recently published article. With the Federal Tax Credit for home buyers behind us the big question is: What happens to homes sales in the coming months. According to the article “Bipolar” is an apt desciption for the most recent predictions. “On one hand, sales and prices are rising, indicating recovery. On the other hand, so are interest rates and repossessions, which most certainly do not.” The good news is that while we do see some of the foreclosures/repossessions here in northeast Cincinnati, our marketplace is not overcrowded by the national trends in these areas (i.e., repo’s). The numbers show that our local area has been somewhat insulated from the national scene, but we have not been wholly immune. In other words, do we face challenges? Yes. Are there still great opportunities for home buyers and home sellers here in our metorpolitan area? Yes. |
Kitchen and Bath Trends
Posted by Kathy Landstra in Real Estate on May 11, 2010
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The 2010 Kitchen and Batch design show was recently held in Chicago. The National Kitchen and Bath Association provided its list of seven trends that you may be hearing from buyers over the coming months. |
Kitchen & Bath Trends
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To access the complete article visit: Styled, Staged & Sold
Open House – Sunday, April 25th
Posted by Kathy Landstra in Home Buyers, Real Estate on April 24, 2010
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Listed by: Chrissy Ward There will also be three addtional homes open in the Fairways of O’Bannon Creek. Click the photos below to see additional info.
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Four Homes Open!!Sunday, April 25, 2010 I will be holding one of FOUR HOMES open in Fairways of O’Bannon Creek this week Sunday. My schedule will be as follows:
For more information, click the links above or mouse over the pictures and ‘Click’. I hope to see you on Sunday!
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Earth Day Facts 2010
Posted by Kathy Landstra in Real Estate on April 22, 2010
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Photo Courtesy: Beverly & Pack via Flickr |
Today, April 22, 2010, is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Here are a few Earth Day facts from REALTOR® Magazine:
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6 Mistakes Home Buyers Make
Posted by Kathy Landstra in Real Estate on April 20, 2010
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Buying a home is the single biggest financial decision most of us make, but a large number of people make simple mistakes that exact a large cost. CNNMoney.com provides six of the biggest mistakes that a future home buyer could make. |
Six Mistakes
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You can see the complete article from CNNMoney.com by following this link to their website. |
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Tax Refund? Invest in your home.
Posted by Kathy Landstra in Real Estate on April 18, 2010
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Photo Courtesy: Brew City Contractors via Flickr |
Are you expecting a tax refuend this year? Maybe you have already received your refund. Investing in you home is a great way to use the cash, and HouseLogic.com offers tips for making the best use of your refund. By visiting the site you will receive advice for various refund levels, including projects that are: Visit the complete article by following this link. |
5 Signs a Home Has Potential
Posted by Kathy Landstra in Home Buyers, Real Estate on April 13, 2010
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The line between a great real estate opportunity and a money pit is sometimes thin. REALTOR® Magazine offers their five tips for seeing the potential in a great deal.
You can see the entire article from REALTOR® Magazine by following this link. |
The Value of Home Maintenance
Posted by Kathy Landstra in Real Estate on April 5, 2010
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Photo Courtesy: rnoel1 via Flickr |
Home maintenance always seems like a good idea for next weekend — the weekend that never comes, but Houselogic.com is now showing that by letting regular maintenance tasks linger we could be reducing our home’s value. In a well presented article Houselogic.com provides information about regular home maintenance tasks, what to budget, how to look at the tasks, and what the potential valuation effect is. Their topic areas include:
You can read the entire article by following this link. |
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What is a Home Warranty?
A home warranty is a service contract, normally for one year, which helps protect home owners against the cost of unexpected covered repairs or replacement on their major systems and appliances that break down due to normal wear and tear. Coverage is for systems and appliances in good working order at the start of the contract.
What is a Short Sale?
If a home is being sold for below what the current seller owes on the property—and the seller does not have other funds to make up the difference at closing—the sale is considered a short sale. A short sale is different from a foreclosure, which is when the seller's lender has taken title of the home and is selling it directly. Homeowners often try to accomplish a short sale in order to avoid foreclosure.
