Written by This may sound like it’s elementary BUT often in the hustle and bustle of trying to get your home prepared, advertised, exposed and shown to potential buyers you may forget to stop periodically to share in important traditions and valuable time with your family. This is especially valuable if you are selling your home and this may be your last holiday ie: Easter, in this home. Go ahead and decorate a bit, take time just for family and no showings and celebrate your home together before you move into the next chapter in your life journey.
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SPRING…SPRUNG…SOLD!!
Spring is Sprung and though that may not mean anything more than simple refreshing for some consistently warm markets, in many areas, it is time to fix up what winter broke down. Here are some projects that might take some elbow grease but in most cases not a lot of money or time to get your home ready to emerge or re-emerge into the strong spring market! Tip: Get the whole family involved so the sense of accomplishment will be a team effort. Maybe even plan a family outing to celebrate once all the projects are completed. Labor time will be reduced….Family time will be greatly increased!
QUICK FIXES:
- Power wash all the winter weather mildew off your deck, porch or patio. If necessary, put a fresh coat of paint on areas that may have become scraped or chipped while shoveling snow. Home may need a good power washing as well but be careful so you don’t strip paint from exterior.
- If it’s too early to plant due to weather fluctuations, prepare your yard, garden and flower boxes so they are clean and ready for planting as soon as weather permits. In the interim, use container plants already available at the garden center that can be brought inside in case of a sudden spring snowstorm. Once the weather is constant, you can either continue showcasing your containers or add those plants to your landscaping.
- Wash windows inside and out…not just the glass….the outside frames may show a lot of dirt…shine up the glass and frames for a sleek, clean appearance as your prospects show up and so the sun shines through your interiors as they view your home.
- Take a walk around your home and see if any deck boards, siding, trim, etc. need to be repaired or replaced and then get them looking fresh and new! Clear all debris from your yard, driveway, walkways, patios or deck due to branches down in storms.
- Check your roof for shingle or gutter damage from storms. Speaking of gutters, get then cleaned out and refreshed either with your power washer or by putting on a fresh coat of paint.
Take a new, objective (have a trusted friend stroll around your home with you) look at your home. Drive away and then return, this time taking in your home as your prospective buyers will be doing as they drive by or arrive for a viewing. Then fix what needs fixing and showcase what looks great. Then you’ll feel confident when buyers come by and be able to enjoy this part of your journey!
Hot Market Strategy
If you’re in Florida, Metro Denver CO, North Carolina or Texas, you have certainly discovered that, particularly if you’re a buyer, that as fast as homes are coming on the market, they are under contract. SO, if you’re a buyer what does this mean for your strategy? What if you’re a seller?
If you’re a buyer in a hot market like those mentioned above, one of the smartest moves you can make right now is to get pre-approved (not pre-qualified which is a lesser guarantee that you’ll get the mortgage you need) so when you present an offer to a seller, you can also offer them a copy of your pre-approval letter from your lender giving them confidence that your offer is legitimate and solid.
If you’re a seller, one of the smartest moves you can make is to price your home a bit below the market value to incite multiple offers which will typically bring your final price well above what you’re asking. This is a typical strategy of home flippers as it encourages more activity immediately which in turn brings about multiple offers generating a best end price.
Whether you’re a buyer or a seller, being smart and strategic will give you your best opportunity to achieve your marketing goals!
Break for Valentine’s Day!
Take a break from stressing about getting your home sold (or finding your perfect home) to surprise your loved one with this delicious and really quite simple recipe from McCormick spices for your romantic Valentine’s Day Dinner!
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon McCormick® Paprika
- 1 1/2 teaspoons McCormick® Rosemary Leaves
- 1 teaspoon McCormick® Sea Salt Grinder
- 1/2 teaspoon McCormick® Coarse Ground Black Pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon McCormick® Garlic Powder
- 6 bone-in chicken thighs, skin removed (about 2 pounds)
- 1 1/2 pounds small red potatoes, halved
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Mix oil, paprika, rosemary, sea salt, pepper and garlic powder in large bowl. Add chicken and potatoes; toss to coat well. Arrange chicken and potatoes in single layer on foil-lined 15x10x1-inch baking pan sprayed with no stick cooking spray. (For easier clean-up, try lining pan with foil.)
- Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and potatoes are tender, turning potatoes occasionally.
Take time to relax and enjoy a lovely Valentine’s Day dinner. Selling your home can resume the next day!!
Rent v Buy
IS RENTING A RIGHT CHOICE FOR YOU?
It’s true that when you’re paying rent you’re not gaining any equity in that home so for some that means you’re just flushing your money down the toilet, BUT there can be an upside to this decision too. Perhaps you’re new to an area and you’re not sure if your job is going to be permanent…or you’re not sure if this is the area your want to live in long term…or you aren’t financially in a position to put down a decent down payment that would give you a best mortgage rate….or perhaps you can only afford so much a month and by renting a property where the rent includes utilities, HOA fees and all maintenance you don’t have those added expenses. Plus, remember, you’re not paying real estate taxes on top of your monthly payment. This may allow you to live in an area you desire but as a homeowner could not afford. Perhaps you’re downsizing or retiring and don’t want all the stress and upkeep of home ownership.
Perhaps, you have your own reasons for choosing to rent instead of own at this moment in time. Don’t let other’s shaming you for choosing to rent instead of own cause you to make the wrong decision
Great Rates = Buyer & Seller Market!
The average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 2.84%, down 2 points over the last seven days. Just last month, the average interest rate was 2.88% for a 30 year mortgage. That rate is an amazing considering it is 129 basis points below the 2019 average rate. In other words this is a great time to get a fixed rate mortgage.
The interest on a 15 year fixed rate mortgage can be had for below 2%! With rates like this, we are in one of the rare times when it is just as advantageous to be a buyer as it is a seller. In many areas, the market has been so vibrant that inventory is low while demand is still high making it a perfect time to sell. At the same time, if you diligently shop the market and take the time to get pre-approved for your mortgage prior to finding your dream home, you can enjoy paying next to no interest on your mortgage!
So whether you’re wanting to buy or sell, it’s your time!!
Twas the Night Before Closing
Twas the night before closing
And all through the house
Every creature was stirring
Even the notorious mouse
Boxes were piled as high as could be
Folks yelling to each other
Because none could be seen
Feelings of stress
Were compounded by tears
Walking room by room
Remembering the years
Kids measurements on the door trim
Will be a photo from here on out
And the laughter that was rampant
Fills the air all about
Memories come flooding
As you roam room to room
And again the tears flow
Knowing you’re leaving it all soon
But as strong as the memories
Fill your head and your heart
Step with joy and anticipation
Into your brand new start
The journey continues
As this last one began
And with blind excitement
In your new home you’ll soon stand
The tears may still fall
From time to time
But gatherings of laughter
Will help leave the sadness behind.
So go fill your truck
From bottom to top
Say your final goodbye
Then move on and don’t stop
When you reach your new home
Don’t just open the door
Open your heart and your mind
And enjoy what’s in store!!
(Mary Witkowski 12/18/20)
Moving can dredge up a lot of emotions. Allow yourself to feel them all so that your journey will never lack any chapters.
Copyrighted poem may not be used or duplicated without permission of author.
Buying/Selling Through the Holidays!
Black Friday seems like the perfect day to recirculate these timeless thoughts about buying/selling through the holidays. Sit back, relax and then decide what’s the best choice for you!
The holiday seasons are upon us and inevitably, whether selling or buying, you may be asking yourself; “Should I continue to market my home/search for my new home from post-Thanksgiving until post-New Years. Review the pros and cons of both.
SELLING PROS:
- Many other sellers remove their homes from the marketplace during this time which reduces your competition. Lower inventory means that you can stand out to those that are shopping and possibly be rewarded with a higher price.
- The fact is that regardless of the season, there are always buyers in the market to purchase due to job transfers, divorces, end of leases, seasonal closing on their own home that they’ve sold and people who want to take advantage of the current low interest rate before it goes up.
- As long as you don’t go overboard, the sights, sounds and aromas of the season
cause buyers to imagine what it will be like to enjoy their own holiday gatherings in front of your roaring fire and beautifully displayed Dining Room table.
SELLING CONS:
- The number of buyers shopping during the holidays is smaller than in the more active spring season.
- If you live in an area that experiences extremes of cold, snow and ice, you have the added task of making sure your exterior areas are clear and safe to travel. You also need to prepare yourself for the frustration of no shows and reschedules in the event of inclement weather.
- If you do a lot of entertaining, you might have to be more diligent with regard to keeping your home “show ready”.
- In many areas affected by the time change, it gets dark a lot earlier making evening appointments more challenging thus you should prepare yourself to be doing more weekend showings.
BUYING PROS:
- The reason someone may have their home on the market during the holidays is because they have a “need to be sold by” deadline ie: starting a new job, moving to help out with a family situation, downsizing due to a job loss or reduction in income, etc. This may provide a great opportunity to purchase your dream home at a reduced price.
- Due to less homes being sold during the holiday season, title companies may have a more open schedule to ensure the closing date you prefer.
- Like the “Greek restaurant dilemma” of a menu that is so large it’s hard to make a decision, by having fewer homes to choose from, your shopping process may be far less stressful and more effective.
BUYING CONS:
- Since many people take their homes off the market at this time, you will have less inventory from with to choose.
- Due to holiday entertaining, viewing appointments may be more difficult to schedule BUT keep in mind if someone is choosing to sell during this season, they will most likely work with you to find a convenient time.
- If you live in an area with inclement weather, getting to and from appointments might be more challenging.
- In many regions, with the time change, it gets dark a lot earlier making evening appointments more difficult (hard to see addresses, hard to see exterior negatives about the home) which means you will most likely want to schedule viewings for the weekend, which can be more difficult. That said, if the seller is motivated, they will understand the local weather impediments and most likely be willing to be accommodating.
Whether you’re selling or buying, you can take advantage of the holiday season to achieve your desired result and toast in your Happiest New Year!!
A Great Winter Ahead for Selling?
In the second half of this year, the housing market surged with activity. Today, real estate experts are looking ahead to the winter season and the forecast is anything but chilly. As Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist for the National Association of Realtors (NAR) notes:
“It will be one of the best winter sales years ever.”
The typical winter slowdown in the housing market is simply not on the radar. Here’s why.
While today’s historically low mortgage rates are expected to remain low, they won’t be this low for much longer. This could be the last chance for homebuyers to secure such low rates, and they’re ready to take action. In a recent article, Bankrate explained:
“If you’re looking to buy a home…expect mortgage rates to remain low into 2021. However, the possibility of rates falling to 2.5 percent or lower has faded as the U.S. economy has rebounded.”
As long as we continue to see low interest rates, we’ll see hopeful buyers on the hunt for their dream homes. Yun confirmed:
“The demand for home buying remains super strong…And we’re still likely to end the year with more homes sold overall in 2020 than in 2019…With persistent low mortgage rates and some degree of a continuing jobs recovery, more contract signings are expected in the near future.”
The challenge, however, is the lack of homes available for sale. With that in mind, all eyes are on homeowners to see if they’ll sell this winter or wait until spring. Danielle Hale, Chief Economist for realtor.com, says it’s best for sellers to capitalize on this moment sooner rather than later:
“We currently see buyers sticking around in the housing market much later than we usually do this fall. If that trend continues, we will see more buyers in the market this winter, too. So, this winter is likely to be a good time to sell.”
With buyers ready to stay active this winter, sellers who want to close a deal on the best possible terms should not wait until spring to put their homes on the market.
Bottom Line
Experts agree the winter housing market could potentially be bigger than ever. Whether you’re ready to buy or sell, contact a local real estate professional today so you can be in your dream home by the new year.
Personal Pumpkin Patching
With Covid-19 still being an issue in many areas, the fun and joy of hay rides to the pumpkin patch, laughing with strangers seeking the same perfect pumpkin and warming up with hot apple cider has been cancelled. But the season has not and the enjoyment of ringing in autumn is still in our hearts so here are a few ideas to help you create your own “waiting for the great pumpkin” event.
- If you have a few friends or neighbors who are in your ‘safe’ group, plan for the adults to each bring a few to several pumpkins (depending on the number of
children) to your home (or one of the other’s homes). For extra fun, have all the kids wear their halloween costumes. - Decorate your yard with scarecrows, gourds and scary spiders/skeletons/black cats. Set up a couple of decorated tables or picnic tables with bundles of markers or paints as a pumpkin decorating area.
- Create a few different piles of pumpkins around the yard and let the kids go on a pumpkin hunt….littlest children getting first dibs.
- Once all the pumpkins have been chosen, let the kids enjoy hot apple cider or hot chocolate (you can certainly enhance your own cider or chocolate with a bit of libations) while decorating their pumpkins. If there are older children let them go ahead and have their own carving station and provide safe pumpkin carving tools. They can even take on the role of helping to carve the little kids’ pumpkins if they want them to do so.
- If you feel so inclined you can also enjoy a fun version of dunking for apples by having a bucket full of apples in water and letting them “fish” for their apple. Then let them dunk them in melted caramel and walnut pieces to make perfect taffy apples.
- As the evening draws near and the darkness of dusk falls, light up the jack o lanterns so all the kids can see their fun creations together then they can take
them home to create their own home pumpkin show.
No matter what is going on, it’s important to still create wonderful memories for ourselves and our children. This can be done with as big a group as you feel comfortable with having together. Kids and grownups alike will have a special memory to enjoy and remember! Happy Autumn!!
