6 Decisions to Make Before the Home Search

In the market for a new home but have no idea where to start? There are several decisions you should begin to make before you even start your home search. By asking yourself the right questions, you can quickly pinpoint what you want – and what you can afford – in your next home.

1. What’s your budget? See how your finances stand up to the 28/36 rule, which lenders use to see what you can afford to pay each month. A financial adviser or your real estate agent also can help you crunch the numbers. Going through the mortgage pre-approval process lets you know how much lenders will allow you to borrow – plus it helps you show sellers that you have the funds to backup your offer.

2. What do you need in your new home? How many bedrooms or bathrooms do you need? What about a large kitchen, a home office or a playroom for the kids? How many cars need covered parking? It’s critically important to ensure the home you select meets your family and lifestyle needs.

3. Do you want a condo or single-family home? Condos come with much less maintenance. You typically won’t be shoveling snow in the winter or replacing the roof, but you’ll likely pay monthly association fees to cover services and repairs in the community. Houses, on the other hand, come with more privacy and freedom to customize. They also come with full responsibility for maintenance.

4. How do you feel about living under covenants? Depending on where you buy, you may have to pay homeowner association (HOA) fees in addition to your mortgage. There are benefits to HOAs, such as maintenance, community centers, and maybe even a pool or gym. But you also could be faced with more restrictive rules about the look of the outside of your home, down to the color of your front door, types of window coverings, and whether you can plant flowers in your yard.

5. What school district do you want to be near? Even if you don’t have children in the house, local schools will affect your property value. Prospective homebuyers tend to search with education in mind. Do your research on the schools in the areas you’d like to live in.

6. Should the home be move-in ready? Ask yourself how much elbow grease you’re willing to put into a home – or how much you’ll pay someone else to do the work. Fixer-upper homes can be great after the work is done, but you’ll want to figure out your renovation budget before you start your home search. A 203k home-renovation loan might be the right resource for you. If you’re not ready for the extra financial commitment of rehabbing a home, or you can’t or don’t want to wait for remodeling projects to finish up, then a home that’s move-in ready might be right for you.

ref:  http://abovemag.remax.com/

Thanks for visiting.  Be sure to check my web site for current listings.

www.kengordonrealestate.com

Ken Gordon
Ken Gordon Real Estate
RE/MAX Interactive

321-684-9900

Buying a Home - The Importance of a Buyer's Agent

Buying a Home -

Buying a home is a big deal. The financial and emotional stakes are high - but the rewards can pay dividends for a lifetime. Plain and simple, owning a home can improve your quality of life, provide stability and give you a sense of control you just can't get from renting. You have a place to live when you rent, but buying is something much deeper and better.

The Importance of a Buyer's Agent -

A real estate transaction is a complex process involving stacks of paperwork and a number of outside service providers and contractors. An experienced buyer's agent can guide you through the process, answering your questions and serving as your advocate. Your agent will help you find the property that fits your needs, submit offers and counteroffers, suggest a good property inspector and other professionals, and provide all sorts of relevant advice. With a buyer's agent, you'll have someone on your side, looking out for your interests every step of the way.

Thanks for visiting.  Be sure to check my web site for current listings.

www.kengordonrealestate.com

Ken Gordon

Ken Gordon Real Estate

RE/MAX Interactive

321-684-9900

10 Best-Kept Secrets for Selling Your Home

Here are some tricks of the trade to help you get top dollar when selling your home.

Selling Secret #10:  Price it right.
Find out what your home is worth, then, shave 15 to 20 percent off the price. You’ll be stampeded by buyers with multiple bids — even in the worst markets — and they’ll bid up the price over what it’s worth. It takes real courage and most sellers just don’t want to risk it, but it’s the single best strategy to sell a home in today’s market.

Selling Secret #9:  Half-empty closets.
Storage is something every buyer is looking for and can never have enough of. Take half the stuff out of your closets then neatly organize what’s left in there. Buyers will snoop, so be sure to keep all your closets and cabinets clean and tidy.

Selling Secret #8:  Light it up.
Maximize the light in your home. After location, good light is the one thing that every buyer cites that they want in a home. Take down the drapes, clean the windows, change the lampshades, increase the wattage of your light bulbs and cut the bushes outside to let in sunshine. Do what you have to do make your house bright and cheery – it will make it more sellable.

Selling Secret #7:  Play the agent field.
A secret sale killer is hiring the wrong broker. Make sure you have a broker who is totally informed. They must constantly monitor the multiple listing service (MLS), know what properties are going on the market and know the comps in your neighborhood. Find a broker who embraces technology – a tech-savvy one has many tools to get your house sold.

Selling Secret #6:  Conceal the critters.
You might think a cuddly dog would warm the hearts of potential buyers, but you’d be wrong. Not everybody is a dog- or cat-lover. Buyers don’t want to walk in your home and see a bowl full of dog food, smell the kitty litter box or have tufts of pet hair stuck to their clothes. It will give buyers the impression that your house is not clean. If you’re planning an open house, send the critters to a pet hotel for the day.

Selling Secret #5:  Don’t over-upgrade.
Quick fixes before selling always pay off. Mammoth makeovers, not so much. You probably won’t get your money back if you do a huge improvement project before you put your house on the market. Instead, do updates that will pay off and get you top dollar. Get a new fresh coat of paint on the walls. Clean the curtains or go buy some inexpensive new ones. Replace door handles, cabinet hardware, make sure closet doors are on track, fix leaky faucets and clean the grout.

Selling Secret #4:  Take the home out of your house.
One of the most important things to do when selling your house is to de-personalize it. The more personal stuff in your house, the less potential buyers can imagine themselves living there. Get rid of a third of your stuff – put it in storage. This includes family photos, memorabilia collections and personal keepsakes. Consider hiring a home stager to maximize the full potential of your home. Staging simply means arranging your furniture to best showcase the floor plan and maximize the use of space.

Selling Secret #3:  The kitchen comes first.
You’re not actually selling your house, you’re selling your kitchen – that’s how important it is. The benefits of remodeling your kitchen are endless, and the best part of it is that you’ll probably get 85% of your money back. It may be a few thousand dollars to replace countertops where a buyer may knock $10,000 off the asking price if your kitchen looks dated. The fastest, most inexpensive kitchen updates include painting and new cabinet hardware. Use a neutral-color paint so you can present buyers with a blank canvas where they can start envisioning their own style. If you have a little money to spend, buy one fancy stainless steel appliance. Why one? Because when people see one high-end appliance they think all the rest are expensive too and it updates the kitchen.

Selling Secret #2:  Always be ready to show.
Your house needs to be "show-ready" at all times – you never know when your buyer is going to walk through the door. You have to be available whenever they want to come see the place and it has to be in tip-top shape. Don’t leave dishes in the sink, keep the dishwasher cleaned out, the bathrooms sparkling and make sure there are no dust bunnies in the corners. It’s a little inconvenient, but it will get your house sold.

Selling Secret #1:  The first impression is the only impression.
No matter how good the interior of your home looks, buyers have already judged your home before they walk through the door. You never have a second chance to make a first impression. It’s important to make people feel warm, welcome and safe as they approach the house. Spruce up your home’s exterior with inexpensive shrubs and brightly colored flowers. You can typically get a 100-percent return on the money you put into your home’s curb appeal. Entryways are also important. You use it as a utility space for your coat and keys. But, when you’re selling, make it welcoming by putting in a small bench, a vase of fresh-cut flowers or even some cookies.

Thanks for visiting.  Be sure to check my web site for current listings.

www.kengordonrealestate.com

Ken Gordon

Ken Gordon Real Estate

RE/MAX Interactive

321-684-9900

New Buyers: 4 Ways to Set Yourself Up for Success

As one of the largest financial decisions in a person’s life, buying a home requires discretion, sensibility and budgeting. The following tips will keep you on the right path as you look to purchase your first place.

1. Keep score

The better your credit score is, the better your mortgage terms will be. A good credit score can save you tens of thousands of dollars over the life of your loan. Start reviewing your credit a few months before you apply for a home loan. If you have a score in the 600s or lower, start paying down credit balances to 30 percent or less of your balance. Also make bill and debt payments on time – no later than 30 days after the due date. If you have a score in the 700s or 800s, be sure to maintain and protect your good credit. The slightest credit misstep can cause a strong credit score to plunge more sharply than a weak score.

2. Consider all costs

The cost of a home is just the start, and smart buyers tighten their belts before buying to meet the monthly and yearly financial demands of homeownership. When you buy a home, you’re responsible for paying principal and interest, taxes and insurance. Additionally, you’ll need to cover expenses such as utilities and possibly homeowner association dues. You’ll also need cash on hand for the upkeep and repair costs that come with any home. The average homeowner spends 1 percent to 4 percent of a home’s value on property maintenance each year, according to U.S. News & World Report. Expect to pay for repairs or maintenance even within the first year of owning your home.

3. Be flexible in your search

Homebuyers who distinguish between wants and needs make the most sensible decisions. A list of must-haves should include items that affect your quality of life, such as a home’s location, its price, number of bedrooms and square footage. You should be prepared to concede nonessential items, such as views and extra rooms, if you find a house meets your must-haves and is within your budget. Being flexible also involves adjusting your criteria as the home search progresses. For example, your budget may require looking at a town house rather than a detached home, or buying a fixer-upper in order to live in a better neighborhood.

4. Keep your cool

Don’t get overly excited in your search, especially in markets where homes are selling quickly. A bit of self-restraint prevents you from overspending or choosing a home that doesn’t fully fit your needs. Be prepared to walk away if a home inspection reveals more defects in a home than you’re able to deal with. Also, keep calm if you find yourself in a bidding war. Your agent can help you make the most competitive offer, and if it doesn’t get accepted then your agent can help you find the next great option. Finding the right home that fits your lifestyle and budget can take weeks or months. By starting early and being patient, you’ll avoid the sense of urgency that often drives homebuyers to make hasty decisions.

ref: Above {The RE/MAX Magazine}

Thanks for visiting.  Be sure to check my web site for current listings.

www.kengordonrealestate.com

Ken Gordon

Ken Gordon Real Estate

RE/MAX Interactive

321-684-9900

4 Home-Selling Myths Debunked

The process of buying and selling homes can seem mysterious to many novices. Even if well-meaning friends and family members offer advice from all sides, many first-time buyers and sellers may remain uncertain about some key facts.

Let’s see if we can debunk some of the most common home-selling myths that agents hear from clients every day.

Myth: The seller determines the sales price.

Fact: Your home’s sales price should be the result of many factors, among them the size and condition of the home, its location, current market conditions and selling prices of comparable homes in the area.  While the seller ultimately agrees on the final list price, it’s not as simple as pricing the home based only on the money the homeowner hopes to make.

Myth: You should overprice your house in order to leave room for negotiation.

Fact: Overpriced homes take longer to sell and typically sell under their market value. When you overprice, you actually limit your real buying pool. Buyers who can afford to pay only what your home is really worth won’t bother looking at it because they’ll assume they can’t afford it.

Potential buyers who can afford to pay your high asking price will soon realize your home doesn’t stack up to the others in the same price range. By alienating both pools of buyers, you run the risk of wasting the valuable marketing window when your home is a new listing.

Myth: There’s no need to make repairs if you plan on giving the buyer a repair credit.

Fact: Many homebuyers want a home that’s move-in ready. If you plan on selling your home quickly and for top dollar, consider making any major repairs before you put the home on the market. Not only will the home be viewed as move-in ready, but your agent can also mention the repairs as a selling point in the marketing materials. If the need for additional fixes arises during inspection, that’s when you could discuss a possible repair credit for the buyers.

Myth: Home improvements pay for themselves when you sell.


Fact: While many repairs offer tremendous value down the road, few home-improvement projects provide a 100-percent return on your investment, according to Remodeling magazine’s annual Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report. Get expert opinions on what to fix, and how, before you take out that sledge hammer.

ref: Above {The RE/MAX Magazine}

Thanks for visiting.  Be sure to check my web site for current listings.

www.kengordonrealestate.com

Ken Gordon

Living Paradise Properties

RE/MAX Interactive

321-684-9900

Tips for Preping Your Home to Sell

Not many people know that selling their home might require some work.  Remember that showing your home for sale is much more than simply putting a sign in the yard and running an ad in the Sunday paper.  There are several things to consider when "marketing" your home.  I've heard it said that the market rewards those who prepare and punishes those that don't.

So, what can you do to prepare?  Here are a few ideas to make sure your home is ready to impress potential buyers?

1.  Clean everything and make sure your home smells good! (Pine-Sol is an excellent cleaning solution and always leaves a fresh, clean smell behind.)

2.  Pick up in every room.  Leave no clutter on the floors even in the kid's rooms. Don't forget to check the closet floors. Clutter always makes a room appear smaller.

3.  Straighten and dust bookcases and shelves. Wipe down all the tchotchkes.

4.  Straighten closets and, if possible, reduce the amount of clothing hanging to make the closets appear less crowded.

5.  Organize your pantry, line and clean the shelves, straighten the laundry room.

6.  Paint, inside and out. Fresh paint always makes the home feel "newer".  Use softer earth tones.  Nothing bright or obnoxious.

7.  Leave a few family photos out, but be careful not to have too many,  An entire wall packed with pictures might be overwhelming and take away the buyers ability to "feel at home".

8.  Make the beds every day.

9.  The bathrooms MUST be spotless. No towels on the floor. Shower curtains or doors clean and pulled closed.  Clean and smelling fresh. Toilets bowls scrubbed – no rings

10.  Curb appeal.  Homes that have attractive entry ways seem to sell faster. Extra effort to make sure the yard is well maintained is essential as this is the first thing a potential buyer sees. First impressions set the tone for the rest of the showing.

Helpful hint:  As already stated, preparation is key.  You won't always have a 2 or 3 hour notice that a potential buyer wants to see your home.  I've had people call and say, "We're sitting out in front of your listing and was wondering if we can get in right away."  In this situation, you have to be ready to move quickly to allow for a showing.  Keep some empty storage bins handy and use them for the "last minute pick up" (of clutter).  Slide them under the bed or take them with you.

Thanks for visiting.  Be sure to check my web site for current listings.

www.livingparadiseproperties.com

Ken Gordon

Living Paradise Properties

RE/MAX Interactive

321-684-9900

Homes In Ideal Neighborhoods Sell Fast

Did you know that according to most home buyers, neighborhood quality is the #1 factor they consider?

It’s true: homes in ideal neighborhoods sell fast. To take advantage of the best real estate opportunities, you need a real estate professional who provides quick, efficient service.

There are thousands of homes out there. My job is to help you narrow down the options to the homes that specifically meet your unique needs, and then negotiate the best possible price for you. A few of my services include: 

• Property previews. Visit www.livingparadiseproperties.com to see properties for sale 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Daily e-mail message service. Alerting you to new home listings that meet your criteria.
• Detailed community information. School ratings, crime statistics and home values to help you select your most desirable neighborhood.

You may not be in the market to buy or sell a home right now. But when you are ready, I’ll be happy to help.

Call me TODAY at 321-684-9900 for honest, exceptional service...