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...

Tips for Home Buyers

As many markets continue to heat up, both buyers and sellers are facing multiple offer situations. If you’re a buyer in a bidding war, here are some tips to give you an edge:

• Get pre-approved for your loan. Get pre-approved by a local lender and attach a copy to your offer.
• Think unevenly. An uneven offer price such as $251,000 instead of $250,000, will stand out from the others, and it may just beat an offer that came in at a slightly lower figure with an even bid.
• Be flexible. The fewer contingencies and the cleaner the offer, the better the chance you have to win a bidding war. Have your agent find out the seller’s ideal closing date, and offer to make it happen.
• Hide your hand. Determine the highest bid you’re trying to beat, and try to come in over that rather than offering the most you can afford.
• Don’t get distracted. If you find yourself caught up in the excitement of a bidding war, step back and reassess if the home has everything you want and need.

Market Research

Is now a good time to buy? What trends are affecting the value of my home? What new economic policies will be shaping my real estate decisions in the coming months?

Watch the video, then call me for detailed information about your neighborhood.

Ken Gordon 321-684-9900.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8oyyXPBG0I&feature=youtu.be

Florida's housing market continues positive trends in June...

ORLANDO, Fla. – July 19, 2012 – Florida’s housing market had increased pending sales, more closed sales, higher median prices and a reduced inventory of homes for sale in June, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®.

“Florida’s housing recovery continues its positive momentum,” said 2012 Florida Realtors President Summer Greene, regional manager of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Florida 1st in Fort Lauderdale. “All of the signs point to solid gains, which is good news for the state’s economy.  In June, pending sales were up 31 percent for existing single-family homes and nearly 23 percent for townhouse-condo units compared to a year ago. The trend shows that many buyers are ready to purchase their Florida dream home, but a lack of financing options and overly restrictive credit standards remain obstacles.”

Pending sales refer to contracts that are signed but not yet completed or closed; closed sales typically occur 30 to 90 days after sales contracts are written.

Statewide closed sales of existing single-family homes totaled 18,800 in June, up 5.3 percent compared to the year-ago figure, according to data from Florida Realtors Industry Data and Analysis department and vendor partner 10K Research and Marketing. The statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes last month was $151,000, up 8.2 percent from June 2011.

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the national median sales price for existing single-family homes in May 2012 was $182,900, up 7.7 percent from the previous year. In California, the statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes in May was $312,110; in Maryland, it was $259,207; and in New York, it was $208,000.

The median is the midpoint; half the homes sold for more, half for less. Housing industry analysts note that sales of foreclosures and other distressed properties continue to downwardly distort the median price because they generally sell at a discount relative to traditional homes.

Looking at Florida’s year-to-year comparison for sales of townhomes/condos, a total of 9,202 units sold statewide last month, up 1.5 percent from those sold in June 2011. The statewide median for townhome-condo properties was $110,000, up 15.8 percent over the previous year. NAR reported the national median existing condo price in May 2012 was $180,000.

Last month, the inventory for single-family homes stood at a six-months’ supply; inventory for townhome-condo properties was at a 5.9-months’ supply, according to Florida Realtors.

“The trend we’ve seen established over the past year is continuing,” said Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr. John Tuccillo. “In June, every housing market indicator moved in the right direction. Closed sales are up, but so are pending sales, median prices, average prices and the ratio of sales price to list price. Conversely, listings are down, days on market are down and – most important – inventories are down. We have now reached a six months’ supply of inventory for existing single-family homes and 5.9-months’ supply for townhouse-condos.”

Tuccillo added, “With an improving employment environment in Florida, we expect that the housing market recovery will continue in the future.”

The interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.68 percent in June 2012, significantly lower than the 4.51 percent average during the same month a year earlier, according to Freddie Mac.

To see the full statewide housing activity report, go to Florida Realtors Media Center at http://media.floridarealtors.org/ and look under Latest Releases, or download the June 2012 data report PDF under Market Data at: javascript:HandleLink('cpe_0_0','CPNEWWIN:NewWindow^top=10,left=10,width=500,height=400,toolbar=1,location=1,directories=0,status=1,menubar=1,scrollbars=1,resizable=1@http://media.floridarealtors.org/market-data');

© 2012 Florida Realtors®

Foreclosure relief program launches in Florida

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – April 19, 2011 – A $1 billion program expected to help 40,000 Floridians stave off foreclosure opened statewide Monday, setting off a first-come, first-served rush for government-aided mortgage payments.

The Florida Hardest Hit Fund program, administered by the Florida Housing Finance Corp., is designed to aid unemployed homeowners by paying their mortgages for up to six months, or helping them get caught up on as much as $6,000 in past due payments.

“For the homeowners who qualify, this temporary relief from their mortgage payments will provide some ‘breathing room’ so they can focus on becoming re-employed at a level that will allow them to resume making payments on their own,” Steve Auger, executive director of Florida Housing, said in a statement.

Housing agencies and homeowner help centers reported lots of interest and few hiccups with the online-only application process.

“Needless to say, people were waiting by their computers this morning and have been busy all day,” said Reg Froese, director of homeownership preservation for Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida.

By midday Monday, about 50 program applicants were referred to NHSSF by Florida Housing, which hands over completed applications to several housing agencies across the state. NHSSF also had about 70 applicants waiting to get help with the program before it launched statewide, Froese said.

Florida Housing spent five months monitoring and tweaking the program during a pilot run in Lee County.

After the pilot, the program parameters and requirements changed. The amount of aid available to homeowners was reduced and participants are now required to contribute at least $70 each month towards their mortgage.

A spokeswoman for Florida Housing said it was too early to gauge the level of interest on the first day of the program’s launch, but data on the number of applications received would be available Friday.

In order to qualify, a homeowner must be unemployed or underemployed, and must be no more than six months behind on mortgage payments. The program is only for primary, or “owner-occupied,” residences.

In South Florida, where unemployment remains in the double-digits, and hundreds of thousands of mortgages are delinquent, interest in the program is likely to be high until the $1 billion in funding runs out.

Ray Payano, a Cutler Bay homeowner who lost his job last year and fell behind on mortgage payments before starting his own business, said he was preparing to apply for the program on Monday.

“I haven’t had a chance to do it yet, but I plan to fill out the application,” he said.

For more information, or to apply, visit www.flhardesthithelp.org. (Peggy: Link this one.)

Copyright © 2011 The Miami Herald, Toluse Olorunnipa. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

Top 6 cities where buying beats renting

ORLANDO, Fla. – March 30, 2011 – Cities hard-hit by the housing market crash now offer some of the best buys in real estate – places where it makes more sense to buy than rent, according to a new report from Deutsche Bank. The study measured affordability by the share of income that residents pay to own a home, as well as the cost of owning vs. renting.

Here six cities that topped Deutsche Bank’s list.

1. Atlanta
Rent as a percent of after tax mortgage payment: 151.2 percent
Median home price change, 2006-2010: -33.2 percent
In Atlanta, the average monthly rent is about 50 percent more than the average after-tax mortgage payment. Plus, home prices in Atlanta have dropped nearly 14 percent year-over-year in February, creating a great opportunity for buyers to cash in.

2. Orlando
Rent as a percent of after tax mortgage payment: 137.2 percent
Median home price change, 2006-2010: -51.3 percent
Orlando saw a larger drop in home prices during the past year than any of Florida’s other metro areas, according to a Florida Realtors® report cited by the Orlando Sentinel.

3. Rochester, N.Y.
Rent as a percent of after tax mortgage payment: 136 percent
Median home price change, 2006-2010: 3.6 percent
While housing prices in Rochester – the second-largest economy in New York State – inched up slightly between 2006 and 2010, the city still favors homeownership over renting.

4. Cleveland
Rent as a percent of after tax mortgage payment: 132.6 percent
Median home price change, 2006-2010: -14.8 percent
It costs about 24 percent less to buy a home in Cleveland than it does to rent.

5. Tampa-St. Petersburg
Rent as a percent of after tax mortgage payment: 131.6 percent
Median home price change, 2006-2010: -41.4 percent
Tampa-St. Petersburg was one of the most overbuilt areas during the housing boom, and it ranks ninth in the country for foreclosures. But it’s still an attractive spot for retirees, and with dropping home prices it’s now more affordable to own than rent here.

6. Las Vegas
Rent as a percent of after tax mortgage payment: 125.1 percent
Median home price change, 2006-2010: -56.5 percent
Empty homes and condos blanket Las Vegas, but a comeback is in sight. More than half of sales in Las Vegas are from cash buyers, signaling investors have re-emerged. A strong rental market also means renting out properties still offer a good return.

Source: “10 best cities for home buyers,” CNNMoney.com (March 28, 2011)

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