Wishing you a joyour Holiday and a Happy New Years!

Wishing you a joyous Holiday!

And a very happy New Year!

Should I Take My Home Off the Market During the Holidays?

When you look at your calendar you may find the months already overloaded with seasonal obligations -- shopping, entertaining, children's pageants, charity work, decorating the house, and so much more. If you are also trying to sell your home, you are under extra pressure to keep your home in "showtime" condition. And that could be the last thing you need before the holiday spirit is broken.
It is understandable why you would be tempted to take your home off the market during the holidays. And the list of justifications is long. If you are too busy, buyers may be also, and you may find your efforts unrewarded with not enough showings. And what if you do get an offer? You may be faced with the possibility of packing and moving during the busiest time of the year. Besides, you can give your house a rest, and it will have better momentum after the holidays. Better to just pack it in and start fresh in January, right?
But wait! Most top Realtors agree that taking your home off the market during the Christmas season is a mistake. The house surely isn't going to sell off the market! What is the advantage of that? So you're busy. Let your Realtor do the work. You can leave in the morning, go to work, go shopping, and let your Realtor take care of things.
The holidays are a wonderful selling period. Why? Because most people take off work sometime during the season. The husband and wife are both off and want to see houses. Most agents like the holidays because the buyers have more time, and they can look at homes together.
Before you take your home off the market, consider the following points:

Although buyer activity may appear to slow down, the buyers who are actively looking during the holidays are that much more serious. Agents believe the home market is no more affected at Christmas than during other "busy" periods. If that were so, the market would shut down throughout the year as families concentrate on spring weddings, June graduations, summer vacations, and autumn back-to-school activities.

Many buyers deliberately choose to shop for a home after the busy spring and summer rush. They know that it will be easier to look, and that negotiations will be less stressful. They may not have children, or they may have grown children, so moving to accommodate the school year isn't a consideration. Finding the right home at the right price, however, is.

Relocating families often don't have a choice when they can leave for their new destination. Although 68% of transferring families have children, many families have to transfer during the middle of the school year. These families are that much more motivated to get their families settled in before either the January semester begins, or to arrange for the move during spring break in March. If you sign a contract by New Year's Eve, the timing couldn't be more perfect.

At Christmas time, our culture focuses on family and the home. Preparing for the indoor activities of winter is one of the most enjoyable periods of family life. Allowing buyers to view your home during this most hospitable of seasons lets them better picture their own family life in the attractive environment you have created.

When is your home ever more beautiful and inviting? You have cleaned and decorated, and your home looks like a picture postcard. If the results are good enough for family and friends, they will surely be good enough to impress your buyers. Get the family team on board to do a five-minute blitz pick-up every morning to keep holiday messes to a minimum.

With many motivated buyers in the marketplace, you may find you have more showings than you would if you sold your home during a busier time of the year.

If you do get a contract, you can arrange the terms to suit your needs. If moving during the holidays isn't an option, you can put in the closing date of your choice. Most people can close 30 to 60 days after a contract is written, so there is plenty of time. Possession and closings are very negotiable.

Written by Blanche Evans | http://realtytimes.com/

Staging your home for the holidays!

The rule of thumb is do not go overboard or add a lot of overtly religious overtones - it may put off some buyers.

Simplicity is key! Try nicely decorated wreaths, pinecone centerpieces and festive candles.Make sure it goes with your current decor. If you use earth tones, keep earth colors. It you use a lot of blues, try blue ornaments and silver bells. Draw attention to your beautiful fireplace with garland and simple stockings. Lastly keep in it proportion! Don't overtake the living room with a huge tree. The simpler, the better.

One last idea - a pot of cider simmering on the stove or a warm batch of cookies can create a warm and festive feeling in your home.

The Tax Credit Has been extended!!

Here's a run down as I received it from my company:

As part of its plan to stimulate the U.S. housing market and address the economic challenges facing our nation, Congress has passed new legislation that:

• Extends the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit of up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers until April 30, 2010.
• Expands the credit to grant a $6,500 credit to current home owners purchasing a new or existing home between the date the bill is signed by President Obama and April 30, 2010.

Who Qualifies for the Extended Credit?

• First-time home buyers who purchase homes between November 6, 2009 and April 30, 2010. To qualify as a “first-time home buyer” the purchaser or his/her spouse may not have owned a residence during the three years prior to the purchase.
• Current home owners purchasing a home between November 6, 2009 and April 30, 2010, who have used the home being sold or vacated as a principal residence for five consecutive years within the last eight.

Which Properties Are Eligible?

• The Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit may be applied to primary residences, including: single-family homes, condos, townhomes, and co-ops.How Much Credit is Available?
• The maximum allowable credit for first-time home buyers is $8,000.
• The maximum credit allowed for current homeowners is $6,500.

How is a Buyer's Credit Amount Determined?

Each home buyer’s tax credit is determined by additional factors:

• The buyer’s income
• The price of the home

Buyer Income
Under the Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit which is effective on the date the bill is signed by President Obama single buyers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with incomes up to $225,000—may receive the maximum tax credit.

Price of the Home
Under the Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit, credit may only be awarded on homes purchased for $800,000 or less.

If the Buyer(s)’ Income Exceeds These Limits, Can He/She Still Get a Credit?

• Yes, some buyers may still be eligible for the credit.
• The credit decreases for buyers who earn between $125,000 and $145,000 for single buyers and between $225,000 and $245,000 for home buyers filing jointly. The amount of the tax credit decreases as his/her income approaches the maximum limit. Home buyers earning more than the maximum qualifying income—over $145,000 for singles and over $245,000 for couples are not eligible for the credit.

Can a Buyer Still Qualify If He/She Closes After April 30, 2010?

• Under the Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit, as long as a written binding contract to purchase is in effect on April 30, 2010, the purchaser will have until July 1, 2010 to close.

Will the Tax Credit Need to Be Repaid?

• No. The buyer does not need to repay the tax credit, if he/she occupies the home for three years or more. However, if the property is sold during this three-year period, the full amount credit will be recouped on the sale.

The information contained here is not to be construed as legal or tax advice.

Planning on staying in your home for awhile?

I thought I would talk about some ways to keep the value of your home, and even make improvements, when you are planning on staying for awhile.

A great way to stay on top of things is to periodically have a home inspection. A certified home inspector can pinpoint areas of concern and areas where improvements can be made. Many of our homes show some wear and tear over the years, many are obvious, while some are "hidden", while others are things that we might never think to look for. A home inspector checks your home top to bottom, and with your permission as the home owner, can even open up walls to check for insulation and water damage to name a few. They provide a full report outlining the areas that may need immediate attention, and also those that you can get to when you're ready.

If you need the name of a reliable home inspector, give me a call. I have a list of inspectors who I'd be happy to refer you to.

What is a short sale you ask?

A short sale is when a lienholder, typically the mortgage company, agrees to release their lien for less than what is owed to them.

Here's an example:
Mortgage payoff from seller: $300,000
Market value on property is $275,000
The "short" is $25,000

Short sales typically take a bit longer than a typical sale so buyers will need to keep that in mind.

If you would like more information, feel free to contact me.

Fall newsletters are out from your Coldwell Banker Residential Brokage team!

Find out all the local happenings in our Seacoast Area here!

Portsmouth

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Dover

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Exeter

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Kittery

Happy Fall everyone!

Fall Cleanup - ways to improve your curb appeal this fall

One of the first things you can do to help with the clean up is to give your tools a good tune up. It's make your clean up go more quickly and it'll be a little easier on your back. 

Go for the obvious:

• Keep those leaves racked
  
• Weed and thatch to keep things looking fresh
  
• Pick up the poop - need I say more?
  
• Clean out your garden
• Add planters with bright flowers like mums to represent the season
  
• Paint or stain the deck. Not only will it spruce up the deck but it will also help protect it during the winter months

Enjoy the crisp fall air while getting a little exercise and enjoy your newly cleaned up yard! Potential buyers will be more apt to want to see your home if the exterior is looking it's best.

Tools for real estate

Wondering how much a mortgage payment might be? Need a goal planner or a new worth worksheet? msnbc has some gret tools that I want to share. Keep in mind that these are only tools. For a real pre-approval, it's always best to speak with your mortgage officer.

Mortgage Calculator

Some happy news about our economy!

Fed Chair Says the Worst Is Over


Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke said on Friday that he was optimistic the economy is about to take off.

Bernanke acknowledged that credit is still tight, especially for businesses, but he told an audience of bankers, academics, and economists that the worst is over.

"Although we have avoided the worst, difficult challenges still lie ahead," Bernanke said. "We must work together to build on the gains already made to secure a sustained economic recovery."

Bernanke called for stronger regulation of financial rules "to ensure that the enormous costs of the past two years will not be borne again."

Source: The Associated Press, Jeannine Aversa (08/21/2009)

Home Staging 101

One of the most important things a home owner can do is to make their home as attractive as possible to buyers. One of the simplest ways is through home staging. I plan on leaving lots of tidbits here on home staging! It's a fun topic and a very hot topic in real estate these days.

So, some basics with the interior to start with:

Remove clutter in all areas of the home
Remove personal items or wall hangings that might distract buyers' attention
Re-arrange furniture to create more space or draw the buyer in
Add or replace furnishings
Lighting changes to make rooms brighter or accent items
Painting rooms with neutral colors

A terrific article for those buying New Construction!

Things I Wish I'd Known Before Buying a New Home

Avoid the top six mistakes new-home buyers make

By Bob Weinstein, FrontDoor.com | Published: 3/17/2009

One of the biggest mistakes new-home buyers make is assuming that everything in their house will work perfectly because it's brand new.

No matter how precise and careful builders are, there is no such thing as a perfect house, asserts Diane Saatchi, a senior vice president at real estate firm The Corcoran Group's East Hampton, N.Y., office. The company has offices throughout New York and South Florida.

"Problems always crop up," she says, "even though all the items on the builder's punch list (a list of all the things the builder must complete before closing) were resolved prior to the closing."

However, the new problems weren't on the punch list, and the new-home buyers have ended the relationship with the builders, which is a big mistake the frustrated homeowners now regret. For example, owners discover that the house's hot water tank is inadequate and can't supply enough hot water for three people taking showers at the same time. Or circuit breakers are shutting down when too many appliances are used simultaneously because the builder cheaped on wiring. And that's only the tip of the proverbial iceberg, says Saatchi.

The solution? Build a clause into the contract for fixing unidentified problems.

New-home buyers should prepare themselves for all contingencies by having their attorney include a clause in the contract that says that unidentified issues that crop up after the closing must be resolved. "The standard new construction insurance policy or warranty seldom covers these issues," Saatchi cautions.

And even when problems are resolved, never end a relationship with a builder, advises Saatchi. "Always maintain a good rapport because there is no predicting what problems will suddenly surface years after the homes were bought."

Frontdoor.com

Such a fun site to learn a ton about the market, what you need (and don't need) when buying a home and about the cities and towns across America.

One of the featured sites that Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage places it's homes for sale.

Come and take a gander at Dover, NH! http://www.frontdoor.com/city-guide/DOVER-NH-USA

Interested in learning more? Give me a call, I'll be happy to show you around the neighborhood!

Summer has arrived!

The weather has finally turned and the market is in full swing!

If you're wondering what your home is worth, call me for a complimentary comparative market analysis. No pressure, just a true picture of what your home's value is in today's market.

Thinking about buying a home? I'd be happy to review your Home Buying Goals and Materials so you're ready when the right home becomes available.

With over 8 years of real estate experience, the resources of a strong office and the patience and understanding a caring professional, you're in good hands!