tom-beaty.com views on real estate

There is a reason why Orem, Utah maintains strong property values and growth. The real estate in the city is hot because the city has a lot to offer. There are many things in Orem Utah that help real estate thrive. Because of that, people are purchasing homes and investment properties in order to take advantage of the growth the city has.

Because of this, the population continues to grow at a steady rate. People from all over are flocking to the city and purchasing real estate at a rapid rate.

Cost of Living

The cost of living is below the national average in Orem. People are able to afford nicer homes because of this. They are able to spend more money on real estate and get something they will be able to enjoy for their entire lives because they are paying less on life in general.

Low Unemployment

While the word recession has made it into more than one presidential debate, that word has managed to bypass Orem, Utah. With the low unemployment rate and signs that the economy will continue to grow, many people are snatching up real estate in our area. There are few places in the country that can offer as many possibilities.

The growing prospects offers has led to many young people moving to our city and purchasing real estate. The city offers real opportunities and people have decided to start their lives there. It is the hope of many of the residents to live out the duration of their lives here.

Median Household Income

Residents of Orem also make more money than the national average. They are able to afford the kinds of homes they want, along with the quality of living they enjoy, thanks to the city’s high income average.

Low Turnover

Real estate here is thriving. With new people moving to the city every year, and low housing turnover, the city has proven that it is a prime place to own real estate. New home buyers can look at the trends that the city has offered when it comes to housing. Most people that move to Orem stay in their homes. There is a lot of satisfaction in regards to the real estate here.

Orem, Utah manages to go against the trends of the country. It has a stronger economy and a higher retention rate than most places in the country. With its high median income and low cost of living, our city is able to hang onto the residents it has and recruit new ones along the way that fall in love with the city as well.

Art Gib is a freelance writer for PayneSmootGroup.com (http://www.paynesmootgroup.com), a website featuring Orem Real Estate.

Deciding how much to offer on Provo, Utah real estate can be difficult. There is a part of you that wants to get the property so badly that you are afraid to negotiate. However, there is that other part of you that realizes that you do not want to spend too much. How do you know how much to spend when purchasing real estate in Provo?

There are many factors that must be considered when it comes to price. When you find real estate in Provo, make sure to evaluate every factor to ensure that you are paying a fair price for the property.

How Long Has the House Been on the Market?

As much as sellers do not want to admit it, they are more willing to negotiate a lower price if their house has been on the market for a long time. Remember, just because a home as been on the Provo real estate market for a long time does not mean there is anything wrong with it. This is a buyers market and many home owners are having a difficult time selling their homes.

If a house has been on the market for an extended period of time, do not be afraid to place an offer below what the seller is asking. They will come back with a counter offer, but in the end you might be able to pay considerably less than the asking price for the home.

What are the Surrounding Property Values?

How much are the houses in the area worth? Just because one house has been gutted and redone does not necessarily mean it is worth more than the house next door. Provo, Utah real estate is valued in groups, which means that two houses that are side by side are going to have similar values. You cannot consider the individual price of a property without considering the neighboring properties as well.

Are You Going to Have to Make Improvements?

Occasionally, you will find a piece of Provo real estate that you are interested in, but you will have to make improvements on the property after you purchase it. When that is the case, it is important to make sure that the price reflects the work you are going to have to do.

Negotiate a lower price so you will have the money to make the improvements after the sale is final. By paying less, you will not be losing money on the repairs.

Never settle for the asking price when it comes to Provo real estate. Try to negotiate a price that is better for your budget and be sure to consider all of the factors that go into the price of a home. Make sure that you are not overpaying, and if you can, try to get a great deal.

Art Gib is a freelance writer for PayneSmootGroup.com (http://www.paynesmootgroup.com), a website featuring Provo Real Estate.

Have you been looking for financing on a new home, but struggling to find anything reasonable? With subprime mortgages a thing of the past, if you have less-than-perfect credit an FHA loan may be just what you need. An FHA loan is a federal assistance mortgage loan, backed by the Federal Housing Administration that insures lenders against loss, in case the borrower is unable to meet the terms of the loan. And because it provides protection to lenders, it allows borrowers to purchase a home who might not otherwise be able to do so, at a reasonable rate.

Created as part of the National Housing Act of 1934, when defaults and foreclosures were on the rise, the FHA was designed to facilitate various loan insurance programs, as well as increase home production, and provide jobs. The FHA doesn’t directly make loans, or build houses, but rather oversees these things on a broader scale, and of course, provides insurance to lenders.

Due to the wide availability of Private Mortgage Insurance companies these days, FHA loans aren’t being utilized quite as often as they were in the days of their inception, and tend to best serve lower income Americans, who may otherwise find it difficult to acquire private mortgage insurance, or are unable to provide the necessary down payment for a conventional home mortgage.

Typically, when applying for a loan, the lender will ask whether or not you’d like to apply for FHA loan insurance, and if so will guide you through the application process. The FHA then evaluates the borrower, based on several factors including debt-to-income ratio, as well as credit history. If they find the risk to be acceptable, they will then insure the lender in the event that for any reason you fail to meet the terms of the loan. The borrower typically pays a premium for the insurance, of one-half of one percent.

There are several ways this situation benefits you. First off, you receive an expert appraisal by an official FHA appraiser, assuring an accurate valuation, so you won’t have to worry about paying too much for your new home. Also, because the lender has the extra peace of mind provided by federal insurance, they are typically willing to allow you to borrow at a much lower rate than had the FHA not agreed to provide insurance for your loan.

The FHA also administers various programs with special features, such as the ability to insure adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs). What sets adjustable rate mortgages apart from regular home mortgage loans, is that the rate is adjusted every year allowing borrowers to refinance or purchase your home at potentially a lower rate than the initial loan rate. In 2006, the FHA was even approved to insure hybrid adjustable rate mortgages, in which the rate is fixed for the first 3 or 5 years, and then is adjusted annually.

As I mentioned, the FHA doesn’t directly make loans. What this means is that different lenders offer different terms, and different rates. Some are very competitive. Some aren’t. It’s important for you to shop around. Call lenders and inquire as to whether or not they originate FHA home loans. It might take some time, but doing a little homework will make a world of difference to your financial future.

Rate1st is America’s largest online lending network, and provides a simple, easy, efficient way to shop for a loan. For more information on hard money loans please visit http://www.Rate1st.com.

Hey, what’s up? Damian here. I just saw two brand new movies. Actually one of them was from Netflix. I saw 10,000BC. Also my wife and I just saw the brand new Batman: Dark Knight movie in the IMAX. It reminded me of a very important, simple, but very very powerful way and lesson you need to know about how to sell properties fast. It’s called the “10-Second Rule”.

Now before I explain how this Batman, 10,000BC and selling houses all tie together, let me kinda give you a back story. If you know anything about me you know that I’ve had a very very interesting amount of time that I spent after college. Did some different stuff, way off the beaten path. For a while, especially when I was a senior in college and 1-2 years out of college, I was really into film screen writing. It was what I wanted to do. I wanted to try to write movies and screenplays so I got really really into it.

One of the best pieces of advice I always heard was they would always say ‘When you’re writing a screenplay and when you’re watching a movie there’s something called the 10 minute rule.’ That basically goes like this: If you’re watching a movie and by 10 minutes you don’t like the movie, scrap it. Trash it. You’re gonna hate it. Throw it out. Don’t bother watching it. Because if after 10 minutes they don’t have you, the movie is not for you. You’re not gonna enjoy it. You’re not gonna like it.

Now when I first heard this I started to test it, because I didn’t really believe it. So I would turn on these movies and then at 9, 10, 11 minutes and I would go ‘This is horrible! But maybe it’ll get better. And sure enough at the end of every one of them I still ended up hating it. And on the opposite side, if I loved the first 10 minutes, I also really really enjoyed the entire movie. And this played out and was completely true with the two movies I just saw, which I just mentioned.

I saw 10,000BC. Actually my brother-in-law had recommended it because he knew I loved Apocolypto. Actually Charlene and I really really like that movie. If you haven’t seen it, it’s awesome. Check it out. And he was like, ‘See 10,000BC. It’s just like Apocolypto. You’ll like it.’ We turned it on and like 5 to 10 minutes into it I turned to Charlene and said, ‘This is horrible. This is like something you would see in the Museum of Natural History. The acting is horrible. The dialogue is horrible. It’s just goofy.’

Charlene was like, ‘Well, let’s just wait a little while longer. Maybe it’ll get better. Maybe it’ll get better.’ And I was like, ‘Babe, it’s not getting better. Let’s just turn it off and cut our losses. But then I said, ‘Ok, Fine.’ But sure enough, it was horrible. It was horrific. We laughed about it, made fun about it for a couple days. Just really really didn’t like it.

Sorry if you liked it, Just wasn’t our taste. Just really didn’t enjoy that movie at all. And the 10 minute rule was absolutely true.

On the flip side, the plus side, we went to see Batman at the IMAX which was awesome. In the first 2 minutes I’m sitting in front of this giant 4-5 story screen and they do this sweeping pan of the city and literally I feel like I’m falling out of my seat into the city. It was phenomenal. Everything, within the first couple minutes I was like, ‘This is gonna be great.’

And sure enough it was spectacular, awesome awesome awesome movie experience.

Now, this is all interesting Damian but what does it have to do with selling houses?

Well there’s a 10 minute rule for movies, which actually works, and I hope I save you from watching some bad movies. There’s also a 10 second rule when it comes to selling properties. Yes there’s a lot of math and a lot of technical stuff involved with selling a home. But at the end of the day you gotta remember buying a property is an emotional decision.

So people, whether they’re investors or new homeowners or motivated buyers or motivated sellers, when they look at your property, they’re making an emotional decision. Emotions, just that first impression, very very very very very quick. When somebody walks up to a property, in less than 10 seconds, they have it in their gut whether or not they’re gonna be like, ‘No, no way not interested. Or, ‘Wow this is the place I think I can see myself in.’

Perfect example, when my wife and I were looking to buy our first home, this was just before we got married; we were starting to look to buy a home for when we got married, and we would go through neighborhoods and developments.

If we pulled up to a house and saw Big Wheels and bicycles just thrown all over the front lawn and garbage cans in the street, even if the house was gorgeous, just immediately, Boom! In less than 10 seconds we were like, ‘This isn’t it.’ The neighborhood, the upkeep, the quality of the home is just not for us.

On the flip side, when we saw the first home we ever bought, we opened the door and there was laminate flooring throughout. It was light. It was clean. It was fresh. As soon as I walked in, I still remember just how impressed I was with how bright and open what was a pretty small town home looked. We ended up purchasing that property.

What you need to realize is sometimes you gotta return to basics. Look at the properties you’re trying to sell, whether it’s your own or properties you have invested in and you’re looking to turn them, whatever the case may be. Always stop and apply the 10 second rule. Not only for the positive stuff but even more importantly for the negative stuff. Is there anything that someone can see in the first 10 seconds that will turn them off?

And I’m gonna be a little hard, give you a little tough love here; don’t make excuses. Don’t say, ‘Well, you know, they understand. I told them I’m gonna fix the porch later. I told them all the dead grass in the front just grows back in a couple months. I told them it’ll be ok. They can use their imagination and look past it. No way, ok. Home buyers are shoppers just like any other shoppers. If something turns them off they’re gonna look somewhere else. They’re gonna buy somewhere else.

So when you look at your property ask yourself the 10 second rule. If I didn’t know my property from a hole in the wall, if I walked up there, within 10 seconds is there anything I would see that would make me say, ‘Not interested in this property.’ That’s step # 1. Step #2 is in that first 10 seconds are you giving them anything that’s gonna get them excited?

It may be hard to believe, but just like negotiation and good selling can turn regular sellers into motivated home sellers, the same is true with buyers. A buyer who is not so anxious to make a purchase can be turned into a motivated buyer when the right situation is presented. And that’s your job!

The place that you’re actually looking at now is from our new home here in Florida that we’re renting for a little bit while we’re getting used to the area. When they showed us this area and they showed us this townhome and we first walked in, there was a courtyard before we ever got to the house. This is the first time I’ve ever had a home with a courtyard. When I saw it I was like, ‘This is gonna be awesome. In 10 seconds I was like, ‘This is one of the nicest places we’ve seen. I’d love to live here.’ Just instantly. That that quick.

So remember the lesson from 10,000BC and Batman. I should have shut off 10,000BC. I knew I was gonna love Batman and it turned out. And the same thing, that same 10 minute rule I learned a very long time ago in movies, it applies with my 10 second rule with properties.

Think about it. Apply it to your properties. Be harsh with yourself. Be critical, because if you’re not, your potential home buyers will be. And you will miss out on it, especially in a market where there’s a lot of properties. The 10 second rule becomes the 4 second rule because there are so many choices out there.

Again, hope this tip helps you. It really really is important, and it really really does speak to the emotional buying decision behind a home buyer. So put it to use and start selling your properties that much faster. Thanks for stopping by. Talk to you soon.

Damian Lanfranchi has pioneered the R.E.I. Done-For-You Deals System, the only automated multi-media video marketing system that lets investors get deals with no work.

Every week, he educates 1,000’s of investors with his revolutionary techniques.

http://www.dont-tell-mom-i-invest.com

Owner builder construction is growing in popularity at a tremendous pace around the country as more and more people look to save money by building their own home. If you are considering being an owner builder to build your next house, then you need to know these 8 benefits of modular construction before you begin.

1. Highly engineered.

Whether you want to be an owner builder or hire a licensed general contractor, modular construction will be a good option to ensure the home is well engineered. In the past, there was a stigma about modular construction, because the earliest versions of the homes were poorly built.

But, the modular industry has come a long way. An owner builder can rest assured that a modular home will be engineered properly. Nowadays, unlike twenty years ago, there is a big difference between modular homes and manufactured homes.

2. Generally lower cost per square foot.

If you want to be an owner builder, you will save money in most cases by building a modular home versus hiring a general contractor to build the house for you. In fact, modular construction is somewhat comparable in cost to owner builder construction on site. In general, you will pay a little more, though, for the convenience of having the modular home built for you in the factory. However, if you compare owner builder modular construction to hiring a GC to build your home on site, then you should almost always see savings by going the modular route.

3. Built in a factory environment, eliminating timber warp and resulting in improved fit.

Because a modular home is not built on site, the lumber is not left outdoors to endure the weather. Therefore, the materials are not subject to timber warp, and your framing will fit together more precisely. Once the modular home is erected on the foundation on site, it will be weather tight, and the owner builder can then take his time to do the few remaining items required to complete the home.

4. Efficient building process and material usage saves on costs and material waste.

Any owner builder who goes through the typical on site construction process will tell you that there is always a lot of waste. It can’t be avoided, as you have to estimate the amount of lumber and other materials needed to build your home. This waste translates directly to money out of your pocket. A modular home, however, is built in the factory to pre-known specs, so there is much less waste.

5. Speed of construction cuts down the time frame tremendously, yielding interest savings on your construction loan.

As an owner builder goes through construction, interest accrues against the money that he has borrowed. Every month that goes by means more money that the owner builder owes in interest. Modular construction will drastically reduce the time needed to build the home, and you will therefore have less interest payment costs.

6. Less to manage.

This seems simple and obvious, but it’s vitally important, especially with owner builder construction. If you have never built your own home before, you will quickly realize that managing the myriad of sub-contractors can become a real burden. But, if you build a modular home, you will have much less work to oversee. Depending on the specific modular package that you purchase, you may have only one or two things to do to finish the home.

7. Built to meet or exceed local standards.

Modular homes nowadays are going to be engineered specifically to meet your local building code requirements. It takes a lot of the design and management off the shoulders of the owner builder. This means no more sweating over county code inspections.

8. Makes owner builder construction possible for some people who otherwise would need to hire a GC.

Because the process is simple for the customer, modular construction lends it self perfectly to owner builder construction. You can very easily build your own home without having to hire a general contractor. This will mean large savings in time and money for the construction of your home. There are many examples where the owner builder would not have been able to manage the project without a GC unless they went with a modular home.

Chris Esposito is an expert in owner builder construction loans and provides financing through his Owner Builder 101 program. If you want to learn more about building your own home and cutting out the costs of a GC, go to www.OwnerBuilder101.com, or call (877) 876-3688.

Spa living - the new trend in real estate - allows those who want to incorporate a holistic approach to living with their actual physical surroundings. While spa living may have once denoted something as basic as a golf course community, today’s spa real estate come with much more. In fact, the best properties have made spa living the main focus. Spa real estate options come in many shapes and sizes, from single-family residences to condos to condo-hotels.

Canyon Ranch Living communities take the world-class health and wellness services of Canyon Ranch resorts and incorporate them into truly spa-inspired lifestyle. Miami Beach’s Canyon Ranch Living property is situated along the oceanfront and features a seven-acre complex with condo and condo-hotel options. For those fortunate enough to live at Canyon Ranch Living- Miami Beach, life is good with access to the property’s luxurious facilities, swimming pools, terraces overlooking the sea, concierge service, and an oceanfront restaurant featuring spa cuisine.

The development’s Spa and Wellness Center is 65,000 square feet and is serviced by a staff that numbers 150 and includes spa therapists and medical practitioners. A monthly membership fee opens the door to a host of spa services and lifestyle programs. Here, guests can learn better nutrition, take a Salsa class, indulge in the European thermal suite, or enjoy a mineral essential facial. Outdoors, residents may also take part in water sports, tai chi, yoga, and beach volleyball for no additional charge. From the property’s front door, residents also enjoy direct access to the beach, ocean and Miami Beach itself.

Imagine rolling out of a “cottage” at Sea Island Resort in Georgia on a Townie bike headed to one of the property’s 100 fitness classes at the Sea Island Club. What will it be today? Triathlete swimming class or a horse ride along the five-mile beach? Or perhaps a Pilates class is in order. Always pushing the spa envelope, the property has a wellness chef who not only teaches nutrition but is also available to audit residents’ kitchen cupboards and accompany them to the grocery store to show them what they should be eating. Other staff members include a professional running coach, sports psychologist and a world-champion squash player. Currently being developed are the Ocean Club residences, or condos and Sea Island also features a cottage-rental program for those who want to give the spa lifestyle a test drive.

Situated along the southernmost edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains, The Cliffs of Keowee Springs is comprised of eight communities. The development’s forward-thinking commitment to wellness is more than just a marketing concept. Residents are challenged to achieve a healthier, more balanced lifestyle. This is attained through peaceful walks on groomed trails, a round of golf, or a relaxing afternoon at Keowee Springs Lodge and Spa. The facility is the country’s first Luxury Family Wellness Resort where residents have access to the Springs International Wellness Retreat. Here, physicians and specialists create one-of-a-kind lifestyle assessments, followed by education and support for residents to reach their personal health goals.

Overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains, the spa features both outdoor and indoor treatments for its guests. Health-conscious cuisine, a beach club and championship golf are just a few of the other amenities created to optimize the well-being of every member of the family. Membership at one community affords residents access to the amenities at all seven of The Cliffs Communities.

Spa communities such as these are cropping everywhere, but before making an investment it’s important to examine the property’s commitment to the spa lifestyle. Following are several questions to ask, according to SpaFinder:

1. How did the community originate? Some spas have been added to residential communities, are real estate developments, or are hotels with spas that added a residential component.
2. What is the role of the spa? Does the spa represent the developer’s commitment to a more balanced lifestyle or just a place to receive a massage after a round of golf. The best spa communities infuse the spa into the center of social activity.
3. Is wellness a part of daily life? The best spa communities offer a medical component that includes doctors, specialists and therapists.
4. Does the spa reflect the development’s commitment to wellness? Has it been created to entice and pamper its guests to spend as much time at the spa as possible?
5. Does the treatment menu offer both standard and unique treatments? In addition to a deep tissue massage, does the spa feature treatments such as Watsu, acupuncture or holistic therapy to encourage exploration?
6. What are the staff credentials? Various states require various hours of training to achieve licensing. But more importantly, give the spa treatments a test drive to get a feel for service, ambiance and expertise levels.

Geologix Inc. manufactures products using a proprietary formula featuring 34 natural minerals contained in the ancient sea water from the famous Michigan Basin — a concentration of minerals higher than that found in any known body of water in the world. Mineral Essentials focuses on spa, skin care, and massage products to moisturize and provide anti-aging protection for great skin. Mineral Essentials

There’s almost as many way to find a good vacation rental in the Outer Banks as there are actual units to rent. And to be completely honest, you’re actually going to be hard pressed to find a rental that you won’t be satisfied with, no matter which island or section that you’re looking at. The houses are generally of high quality and well maintained. There are certainly standouts; houses right on the ocean, houses with large pools, decadent furnishings or large pools. But for the most part, if you’re looking to enjoy the sand, sun, and water, all will provide you with the one basic thing you need, that being a place to stay while you’re in the Outer Banks.

First, be careful about renting a house solely based on how many people it can accommodate, or sleep. Just like hotel rooms and recreational vehicles, vacation rental advertisements tend to claim a sleeping capacity for every square inch of space that you could possibly fit a human being. And as we all know, there’s a huge difference between a pullout couch and a room with a bed and a door. If you have two rooms that are separated by little more than a hallway or another, larger room, the privacy that you’ll get in the separate sleeping areas is not the same as you’ll get in a “real” bedroom with a door.

Next, take a look at both the number of bathrooms, what they have for amenities, and where they are located. You’ll generally find a number of suite-type configuration where there’s a bedroom and a bathroom that you have to pass through the bedroom area to get to. If you’re lucky, you can have one of these suites with a deck overlooking the ocean. That’s the pinnacle of relaxation, in my opinion. However, if that’s one of two bathrooms in the house and you have 4 other couples that you’re vacationing with, your privacy is going to be very limited. Probably more so than if you had a couch to sleep on in an out-of-the-way room. The problem, you’ll find, is that 8 people aren’t going to be able to share one bathroom at the peak hours. And to even the 8:1 ratio out, they’ll be parading through your room to get to the only other bathroom in the house.

So look at the configuration of bathrooms before you sign up for a house that sleeps 12. Half baths are important as well, since they don’t offer any type of showering or bath capacity. Certainly take into account small children as well, since their need will be different.

Allen Wright is a freelance writer who follows whatever topics hold his interest. Look for more information on vacation rentals in the Outer Banks and owning vacation rentals in the Outer Banks here.

Finding a vacation rental in Hilton Head can be as easy as sitting down behind your computer and reading the words right in front of your nose. I’m talking about word of mouth and communicating with people via travel forums to get recommendations not only on specific vacation rentals to use, but management companies that manage a portfolio of properties. These companies, unless severely fragmented, will offer a similar level of comfort and support across all their properties. So whether you rent a house for $500 a week or $5000 a week, you can be sure you’ll be using a quality property that is well maintained and well supported.

If you can find a forum or discussion group that is specifically focused on Hilton Head Island you’ll have a wealth of information to dig through, and likely come away with ten to twenty recommendations for specific units to rent. When researching those units make sure you find out which management company, if any, controls them. Get their number, give them a call, and ask them for a list of other properties that they manage. Don’t limit yourself to only a few. Take the whole list into consideration looking at location, size, amenities, and price. You should feel like you’re getting your money’s worth when you make the reservation.

Speaking of getting your money’s worth, make sure you take plenty of time to research the location of each unit that you’re interested in. There’s a world of difference between a vacation rental that’s on the beach and one that is across the street from the beach, and the price should reflect that. In other words, you shouldn’t be paying on the beach prices for units that aren’t right on the ocean. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing the matter with a vacation rental that’s not right on the water, just as long as you’re not paying the same price as one that is. Location is everything, and getting what you want is important.

Lastly, make sure you take into consideration the amenities that the rental unit has before you book. If you’re going to spend a lot of time at the beach, there’s probably not a big need for a pool. If you have little ones who still take naps during the day and you want to spend lots of time at the beach, it might behoove you to get a rental a little closer to the water so the trip back and forth isn’t such a burden. Or, better yet, get one that’s close to the ocean and has a pool so you can swim while the family is napping.

Allen is a freelance writer who follows whatever topics hold his interest. Look for more information on vacation rentals in Hilton Head and other Hilton Head vacation rentals information here.

Selling your house, especially in today’s market, can be a trying experience. I personally know several people who have had their houses on the market for close to two years and have little to show for it except some wasted weekends showing the house and leads that amounted to nothing. The advice that they’re gotten from realtors is to lower the price drastically and the house will sell much faster. The problem is, the price point is artificially depressed right now, and to sell at such a discount in today’s housing market would mean quite a loss when things decide to turn around.

There’s no disputing that the market is less than optimal right now for sellers, but there are always things that you can do to give you the best chance out of the throngs of sellers who are trying to unload their house just like you. Let’s take a look at a few of them.

It’s Not Your House Anymore
Take the attitude that you don’t live in the house anymore. More accurately, think of yourself and your family as a guest in the house, and every time you leave it you clean like crazy because you don’t want the owners to be upset. It sounds like a silly game, but it’s absolutely true: a house that looks used and lived in will not sell as fast as a house that looks to be in like-new condition. That means a fresh coat of paint on any walls that are dinged up. It means getting your carpet cleaned and any spots or stains that stick out need to be removed. It means everything needs to be dusted, swept, vacuumed, and cleaned all the time. Your windows should be so clean you have to reach out and touch them to know they’re there (and make sure to clean up the finger print afterwards).

Open Houses Will Not Sell Your House
If your realtor wants to use your home for an Open House, tell him or her to forget it. A very low percentage of sales come from having an Open House, but it does benefit the realtor by giving them a springboard for other properties and a chance to network with new people who drop in to see the house. There’s very little benefit to you, the homeowner, from hosting an Open House, so why go through the trouble? You will be better off with a realtor who is spending their time and energy advertising and actively bringing potential buyers to your house rather than hanging a welcome sign in your yard and hoping for the best.

Allen is a part time real estate investor who follows the housing market in Grand Rapids. Look for more information on homes for sale in Grand Rapids and greater Grand Rapids area homes for sale here.

There has been a lot of speculation lately about the Real Estate Market, rising foreclosure rates, interest rates, buyers market or sellers market, length of time a home sits for sale. But what does it really mean.

The Real Estate market fluctuates, always. It moves in tandem to the economy. So when the economy is moving along, jobs are plentiful and people are spending money, the cost of housing goes up. There are fewer homes for sale, and the seller has a definite advantage over the buyer as far as price and negotiations are concerned. Mortgage companies offer great incentives and life is good all around.

But as it often does, a downswing follows, those great incentives from the mortgage companies turn out to be really great for the mortgage company but not so great for a struggling family. The home that was bought when all was right with the world is suddenly a lodestone so heavy that it drags the owner toward foreclosure, and bankruptcy. Selling that same home becomes a nightmare, because often the price paid for it isn’t anywhere near the price it will sell for now. Bank owned properties and foreclosures rates rise. Homes for sale sit on a market that is sluggish to non-existent. The job market falters, mortgage companies tighten the requirements for loans, and some close altogether. Food and gas prices rise. This sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

Estimates are that the current downswing in the real estate market will last into the first quarter of 2010, as America trims the fat off our economy. But that has a lot of people wondering if it is a good time to buy property, or do they sit and wait it out. That greatly depends on your financial well-being; many of the high rollers are taking a wait and see attitude about the current market. And some risk takers are wagering everything in the hopes that they can wait out the economy and come out on top. Where does that leave the average person?

If you need to sell your property, by all means put it up for sale, my suggestions are talk to a few agents, get a realist vision of the current market in your area and price your home to sell in that market. Listen to your Agent, they are after all the authority in this instance. Keep your home clutter free, and be open to showings at a moments notice. Don,t price yourself out of the market, thinking that you’ll take a lower offer, because the offers probably won’t come and the house will set for months on end. If you owe more that the current market will support, you will either have to bring money to the closing table or hold on to the property until you are able to break even that is your call, only you know your financial circumstances.

If you are buying, you are in for a treat. The market is flooded with options, prices are good. Look to your agent for advice on what is truly a good buy, and go for it. Please don’t feel that just because the market is on your side you can take advantage of the sellers. First of all, Karma comes back to bite and bite hard, and secondly in your finagling will probably miss out on a tremendous deal. When you make an offer on a property, be realistic. Offering $20,000 to 30,000 less than asking price for a home that is price well to begin with is the equivalent of a smack in the face to the owner, and if they could take that much less, they would have probably priced it lower.

Buy, Sell, or wait it out, the choice is yours. Just remember Samuel Clemens a.k.a. Mark Twain once said “Buy land, they aren’t making it any more!”

Jessica provides detailed tips and information to help the first home buyer make a well informed purchase. Be sure to stop by today if you are about to join the first time home buyers club!