11 Great Reasons To… LIST YOUR HOME DURING THE HOLIDAYS!

1. People looking for a home during the holidays tend to be more serious buyers. 


2. Serious buyers have fewer houses to choose from during the Holidays and less competition mean a better financial outcome for all involved.


3. Since the supply of listings will dramatically increase in January, there will be less demand for your particular home.  Less demand means less money for the you, the seller.


4. Houses show better when decorated for the Holidays.


5. Buyers are more emotional during the Holidays so they are more likely to pay your asking price.


6. Buyers have more time to look for a home during the Holidays than during regular weekdays.


7. Some people must buy before the end of the year for tax purposes.


8. January is traditionally the month for employees to begin new jobs.  Since transferees cannot wait until spring to buy, you must be on the market during the Holidays to capture that market.


9. You can still be on the market, but you have the option to restrict showings during the six or seven days of the Holidays.


10. You can sell now for more money and we will provide for a delayed closing or extended occupancy until early next year.


11. By selling now, you may have an opportunity to be a non-contingent buyer during the spring when many more houses are on the market for less money!  This will allow you to sell high and buy low.

10 Reasons To Hire A Property Manager

Why would you even consider a property manager?

For one thing, you decided to invest in a rental property, but don’t know what to do next. You’re not alone. The realities of maintaining and running a rental property can quickly become overwhelming- even to the savviest investor. Many times, people choose to hire a property manager to help them in the day to day tasks, which could be just the answer you are looking for. To help make up your mind if hiring a property manager is right for you, here are 10 reasons that could help influence your decision.

Foreclosure Versus Short Sale: What Is The Difference?

When you are faced with the prospect of losing your home you need to consider all the options available to you. To give you a clear understanding of these issues look at the following differences:

*-These represent the raw differences between a foreclosure and a short sale option. Understand that when you meet with one an attorney, they will explain the reason to pursue a foreclosure defense and how to use it to start a possible short sale. Individual cases sometimes merit a strong foreclosure defense to protect you. It gives you the time necessary to prepare a short sale or a loan modification as your best option.

The Benefits of Buying New

There are so many great reasons to buy a new home! 

You get to choose everything! -The floor plan, colors, appliances, and fixtures- You will likely have an extensive home warranty to cover anything that goes wrong - and you can rest assured you aren't buying someone else's problem.

Tips for Choosing a Reputable Remodeling Contractor

With the number of foreclosed or bank-owned properties floating around out there, I often speak with folks who are preparing to embark on a renovation project. Unfortunately, with a rise in remodeling comes a flood of disreputable contractors looking to cash in. I do my best to protect people by providing referrals to reputable contractors, but there are plenty of people out there I don’t get a chance to talk to.

Frequently Asked Buyer Questions

How long must I wait?

Bankruptcy

• FHA – **NEW “Back to Work” Effective 8/15/2013 allows as little as 12 months waiting period after a Chapter 7 bankruptcy discharge. In a Chapter 13, there are some circumstances that could allow a new mortgage after 12 months IN bankruptcy.
• Conventional – 4 years after Chapter 7 bankruptcy discharge, with extenuating circumstances this may be reduced to 2 years. Chapter 13 bankruptcy is 2 years from the discharge date.
• VA – Chapter 7 & 13 are both 2 years from the discharge date and may be reduced with extenuating circumstances
• USDA – 3 year waiting period after Chapter 7 bankruptcy discharge, and 1 year after Chapter 13 discharge.

Are you prepared?

Hurricane season is here. Already we've had 4 storms, are you and your family prepared?

Here are some tips from the FEMA website:

Before a Hurricane:

• To begin preparing, you should build an emergency kit and make a family communications plan.
• Know your surroundings.
• Learn the elevation of your property and whether the land is flood-prone. This will help you know how your property will be affected when storm surge or tidal floodings are forecasted.

Be a Savvy Shopper

The housing recovery is underway, but economic conditions don’t impact real estate scams – they never go away.

Homeowners who fall prey to a real estate scam lose an average of $4,000 to $5,000, but even five-figure losses aren’t uncommon for those who have fallen prey to fake loan modifications and other housing fraud.

Forbes highlighted three of the most common real estate scams today:

1. Rental scams: Scammers pull online listing information from an actual home for sale and re-post it as a rental on another site, such as Craigslist. They’ll often ask for money upfront – a security deposit or broker fee – from prospective tenants. Scammers often advertise the home at a low price and collect application fees from several prospective tenants to “hold the property for them.”