A Home for the Holidays!

The holidays bring opportunities for Buyers and Sellers!  It is a great time to buy and sell!  Some buyers can’t wait to find a new home and will spend much of their time searching the Internet for a good buy!  This is the time buyers have off from work and can take extra time to search.  While interest rates are low, this is the time to buy! 

Sellers on the otherhand may have been waiting a long time to sell their properties!  If their house didn’t sell in the summer of fall, then now is the time to make them an offer!  Many Sellers may not want to carry the costs through the winter months, especially if their home is vacant.  

I have found the winter months to be exceptionally good months to buy and sell property unless we have snow banks up to our ears!  Watch the market carefully and buy, sell and save!  Hire a discount broker to list your property and take advantage of low interest rates!   Never stop looking and don’t pass up a good buy during the winter months.  Happy house hunting to you and your family!  Enjoy the holidays!

Who ever came up with the idea of taxing real estate?  What is the purpose of taxing property?  Where will it end?

Taxing property is just one way government raises revenue.  Taxes years ago just started out as a minor tax, but today taxes in many cases have outpaced principle and interest payments.  It’s hard to believe taxes on a house could be so punitive.  Of course we need to pay for streets, sewer and water systems, schools, fire and police, but the spending never stops increasing.   

Our forefathers had it right when taxes were a minimum, but today everyone want a piece of the action.  So the poor families, widows and everyone who owns properties must now pay a disproportionate amount of income to subisidize government’s debt.  Our infrastructure that was created 50 to 75 years ago is failing and contracts awarded by government are now in the millions, way beyond what we can afford.  Call it inflation, excess spending, poor planning and union demands; they all add up to more taxes.  It never stops and it never will. 

High taxes are in part destroying the middle class.  Many properties are older and require attention.  Taxes are higher, food is higher, energy costs are higher, so where do we get relief?  As long as the political structure remains the way it is, costs will continue to go up. 

Be careful what you own, or should I say be careful of what owns you.  You may feel privileged to be able to live in a fine home, but is the American Dream slipping away?  Can the next generation afford to pay off school loans and pay for a mortgage?  We have seen an excess of the use of credit and now we are seeing more foreclosures, bankruptcies and bailouts.  How will this affect you?  Only the future will tell.

There are many good reasons to choose our service.  Here are just a few reasons:

• We will efficiently list your property for a discounted fee!
• We will help you correctly price your property.
• We will advertise your property until Sold!
• We can offer staging advice to make your property show better.
• We can help qualify buyers and help negotiate your sale.
• We can assist with the paperwork needed to close your sale.
• You can post as many Open Houses as you desire on our website.
• We will provide photo service, yards signs, and feature your property on the homepage.
• We can add your property to the local MLS! 
• You are able to keep control over showings.
• You are able to change photos, price and edit your ad 24 hours a day!

Need a few more reasons?  Call us to find out how we can help you!

There are many things an Owner can do when selling his or her property.  First and foremost, make your property look presentable.  Next, price it to sell!   Thirdly, spend your marketing dollars wisely and put up a yard sign.  Use many of the free online resources available today and sites like ours that offer an affordable MLS option.  Fourth, take good photos and gather the right paperwork to write an offer.  Line up a real estate attorney to help you with the legal work and get together with a loan officer to obtain some typical closing costs with today’s interest rates.  Make sure your taxes are properly reflected.  Have your utility costs available too.  Being prepared will make your sale go smoother.  Above all, make sure the buyer is financially qualified before you sign a contract and have your property disclosures and inspection reports done in advance.  Being a smart seller will help you sell your property with less effort.  If you need more information, read our Selling Tips or contact us.

When renting an apartment or purchasing a home, it is best to do a little homework before you begin. Make a list of the things that are most important to you. Do you have special needs? Do you need a yard, swimming pool, acreage, hobby room, garage, or handicap accessible home? Forecast your needs so that you find a home that is comfortable and affordable for you. Look into utility bills, property taxes and future maintenance and updates to see if you can really afford the home or apartment. Prepare a household budget and make sure your finances are on track and take into consideration future increases in expenses. Finding a place that works for you is important because many people spend a lot of time in their homes. If you are single and on the go, then find a loft or apartment that fits your needs. Always consider the neighborhood and proximity to work. Consider noise and traffic issues, too. If you like to entertain, make sure you have the space to do so. If you need a yard for children to play, make sure it is safe, level and desirable. Performing your needs assessment before you buy or rent is always a good idea. Happy apartment or house hunting!

Home prices in most areas of our country have leveled off or fallen sharply.  Most areas of the country have been affected by the ailing stock market, sub-prime crisis, credit crunch and weakening economic conditions.  Despite the Fed’s effort to lower interest rates and stabilize banks, the housing market has moved little in the right direction.  Homes sales have been flat and prices have continued to fall.  Families are struggling and are just trying to pay their never ending pile of bills.  As retailers prepare for Black Friday, we will have to wait and see if the retail industry can operate in the black.  Will consumers curb their spending habits?  

Home prices have been on the rise for a long time, but our country has taken a whipping from natural disasters like Hurrican Katrina and Gustav and the subprime mortgage crisis.  The Fed just doesn’t know what to do.  The markets have been behaving erractically, but people still need housing.  Housing is a basic need and it will continue to be a good investment for those who purchase wisely.  Homebuyers that bought beyond their means will continue to feel the credit crunch, just like individuals who drive big SUV’s.  When gas prices and interest rates rise, there’s bound to be a fallout.  Luckily, as of recent, we have seen a decrease in gas prices at the pump.  For now, that is the biggest stimulus families have seen and hopefully it will reduce food prices too.  

So will our next President be McCain or O’Bama?  Whoever becomes President will have to chart a new course for Americans.  We wil need to rebuild good standing in the world and pay off our massive debt.  My advice to you, live a practical life within your financial means, reduce your debt, avoid things that are not a necessity, review your household budget and hunker down for the tough times ahead.  Together, by acting responsibly, we can achieve great results.  Act sensibly and prudently, take care of one another and live life the way our Creator intended.  May God Bless this great country and all people on our planet.

Even if you are Donald Trump, you still must prepare a budget before you buy or build.  Keeping track of your finances and preparing a household budget will eliminate future stress.  Too often, buyers select adjustable rate mortgages or buy a car and do not take into consideration all their other housing and personal expenses.  Preparing a budget will help you plan accordingly and make smart decisions.  We have a FREE household budget available for you.   Just contact us or search our site and download one for your use.

In a soft housing market, sellers must attend to details.  I have shown many properties to buyers for years and have come to realize the importance of two rules!  Rule #1:  Price it right.  Make sure your property is competitively priced because buyers are more apt to make an offer on a fairly priced home.  Rule #2:  Make sure your home is clean and presentable.  Nothing turns buyers off more than an outdated and cluttered home.  Buyers are busy and do not have time to waste.  In many cases they want to relocate fast and they are looking for properties that require little work.  The last thing buyers want to view are homes or properties that need a lot of work.  So work on staging your home by cleaning out cupboards, basements, attics, and rooms!  Make the necessary updates and be ready to market your property.  Don’t just put your property on the market and expect great results.  The better your property looks, the more offers you will recieve and the faster your property will sell.  Attend to details and follow these 2 rules for a quicker sale!

With the 700 billion bailout package recently approved by Congress, Americans will now face unparalled lending practices.  When you break down the cost per American, it’s a number too large for most Americans to relate to.  Debt this large will cost future generations a lot of money and will drive up the cost of borrowing money and perhaps put our economy into a real tailspin. 

Mortgage requirements will change and the free flow of loans will be more difficult to obtain.  The housing market will be affected in many ways.  We will see more foreclosures and cash will be king!  Debt,  taxes and unemployment will continue to rise, afterall, we all must now be responsible for the debt created.

Markets will become more regulated and jobs will become scarcer;  the housing market will be adversely affected and values will fall due to the rising number of home foreclosures.  As credit tightens, sellers will need to adjust their prices and buyers that search carefully may find some good deals.  The new chaos in our competitive marketplace will bring all kinds of ups and downs.  Just stay the course, live within your means and don’t be greedy, because that is what got us into this mess.  Wall Street, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae had little oversight, and the free market ran out of control without proper supervison.  Now we all pay the price.

We are looking for a few good people to work with us.  If you have basic marketing and computer skills, call us today!  You can be part of our marketing team and help us sell real estate online.  Call the number above and let’s get started!  Or, if you would like to open a site like ours in another location, email us and let us know what location you are interested in.  Just visit OwnerMarketing.com and complete the online application.