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Priced to Sell
It
has long been a motto of real estate,
and the saying goes, "location,
location, location." It's what sells a
property, they say. But recent times
have brought to light that the real
deciding factor on how fast, or even if,
your home sells all comes down to price.
It's not that buyers are attracted
by shiny, new things, but in a sense
they are. When a home is newly listed it
gathers a lot of interest. The listing
agent may send out emails, webcasts, and
virtual tours. They launch their entire
marketing program. Even the MLS
indicates the home as "newly listed."
After a few weeks, however, if no
momentum has been built, the home will
then face a must steeper challenge on
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the road to selling.
First, homes that have
been on the market a
considerable time lose their
competitive advantage. A buyer
may see a home hasn't moved, and
may come in with a low offer
price. Depending on how
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Most Homebuyers
Have No Regrets
An
overwhelming 90 percent of homeowners say they
don't regret buying their current home,
according to a new study by Bankrate, Inc.
That's even in the face of stagnant - or
sliding - home prices they've suffered and
rock-bottom mortgage rates they may have missed
out on.
Only 9 percent of respondents expressed
second thoughts about taking the plunge. Why?
Most often because they couldn't sell their home
and move on, or because they were unable to
afford the monthly mortgage payment.
"It's surprising and reassuring to hear 90
percent of homeowners say they don't regret the
purchase of their current homes," says Greg
McBride, CFA, senior financial analyst for
Bankrate.com. "And all the nasty headlines in
the past two years have really moved the needle
in terms of mortgage awareness, with a
significant drop in the percentage of borrowers
who don't know what type of mortgage they have,"
McBride said.
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Staging a Photo Ready Home
Your
home's first impression may not be one that is
face to face with a prospective buyer. In
today's world, 84 percent (National Association
of Realtors) of home buyers start their search
online. That's an impressive figure, and one
that means your home needs to make a strong
virtual impression.
Part of this impression is made through
online photos. And as you begin the listing
process, your agent will want to set up a time
to come and photograph your home.
How can you stage your home to be photo
ready?
Showing your home is about creating a
story line. A home buyer is looking for certain
amenities and specifications during their buying
process, but in addition, they are looking for a
home that will give them the lifestyle they
seek. To answer this need, you must make sure
your home has an ambiance that is appealing.
A properly staged home can tell this story
in pictures.
To create a virtual experience and
ambiance, one must develop a plan. What is the
demographic of your buyers? Is this a home that
will interest empty-nesters, large families, or
vacationers?
Once you have distinguished this, then
consider what story each room
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Bathroom
Remodels
Becoming More Popular
While
kitchens are still high on the interest list for buyers
and homeowners, the National Association of Home
Builders (NAHB) is reporting that remodeler survey
respondents say that a bathroom remodel was one of their
most common projects during the first six months of
2010--as much as 61 percent of their remodels were done
on bathrooms.
"In previous years, kitchen remodeling was
reported as the most common activity by more than 70
percent of remodeler respondents," according to the NAHB
news release.
NAHB reported that its Remodeling Market Index
sunk to 40.7 from 47.9 in the first quarter. The survey
also showed a decline in larger remodeling projects
Daily News and Advice
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