 |
| Things to Consider - Before You Buy |
 Before you purchase a new home, you'll want to keep a few things in mind. For example, are you just out of college and looking for a starter house before you move on to a new city or a larger home, or are you a married couple with children looking for a home where you can set down permanent roots? Buying a house is a big decision, and your future plans are definitely factors you'll want to consider before buying a new home, as well as pricing and other financial considerations. Especially with the current economical landscape, you should be aware of what to expect before, during, and after the home purchasing process.
Do your research. From finding the right real estate agent and loan representative, to choosing the right neighborhood and home inspector, researching every step in your journey to home ownership will come in handy. Doing your research will help you to make more informed decisions, and breaking the steps up into parts will prevent you from becoming too overwhelmed by the process. Being educated and knowledgeable about the process will help you have the most bargaining power possible – saving you money (and headaches) during a time that should be exciting and new.
Be modest about price range. Don't fall prey to purchasing a house you can't afford. Are the mortgage payments a bit of a stretch or will you be able to make them and still maintain your current lifestyle? Don't allow anyone to talk you into buying a house you can't really afford, no matter how perfect the neighborhood, or how much you've always wanted a two story Cape Cod with a picket fence and pool. Buying a house that's within your price range will allow you to be able to fully enjoy it without having to worry about how you'll be able to come up with your mortgage payment. A good rule of thumb: your housing payment shouldn't exceed more than 35 percent of your gross income. And don't forget to factor in the additional cost of homeowner's insurance, property taxes, home maintenance, and homeowner's association dues, if applicable.
Bargain and compromise. Especially with the real estate market in the shape it is, don't be afraid to do a little bargaining with the homeowner. It never hurts to ask, and you just may find yourself saving thousands, or walking away with a few extra perks. Remember too that little details like ugly carpet in bedrooms aren’t worth turning down an otherwise great house. Too many home shoppers get caught up with little aesthetic details that are actually quite simple to replace or alter. You may even be able to save quite a bit of money by living with some outdated wall colors, light fixtures, and other furnishings – until you can afford a remodel.
|
|
 |
|
FREE 1st TIME HOME BUYERS SEMINAR!
You CAN buy a home, TODAY!!!
It’s a Buyer’s Market - Huge inventories of homes with
LOW PRICES make this the right time to buy!
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION!
SATURDAY – August 8th - 11:00 am to 1:00pm
|
|
|
| Signs of a Quality Listing Agent |
| By Bernice Ross |
Did you know that approximately 80 percent of all sellers interview only one agent before they list their home? If you want to hire the best agent to represent you on your real estate sale, here are seven important steps to take:
Virtually all sellers want to achieve the highest possible price for their property in the shortest amount of time and with the least amount of hassle. The way that you do this is through maximum exposure to the marketplace. This means that your agent must have both a print and a Web marketing strategy. How can you know who has the best marketing plan for your house? Here are some key steps to take before you ever contact the agent.
1. Google the agent
Before contacting a Realtor to discuss listing your home, do your homework. Begin by plugging the Realtor's name into Google to see if there are any negative comments. Also search whether the agent uses the Web to market other listings in your area. Avoid using search terms such as "Los Angeles real estate," which is too broad. Instead, search using the name of your subdivision or local neighborhood.
2. Visit the agent's Web site
Some agents don't have a Web site. Instead, they have only a single Web page on their broker's site. These agents lack the necessary technology skills to help you obtain the best price for your property. If the agent does have a Web site, who is the site about: the agent or the client? If the site is about the agent only, look elsewhere. Potential buyers definitely will.
3. Does the agent's Web site reflect the lifestyle where you live?
Gone are the days where an agent could effectively serve a large area with thousands of homes. Today, the most effective agent Web sites are those that serve a very specific niche. For example, if you live in a golf community, search for an agent who specializes in marketing golf properties. If you are interested in an urban loft, look for an agent who specializes in loft properties. Ideally, their sites should provide local listing information plus information on the local lifestyle.
4. Who has the most signs in your neighborhood?
Research has shown that most sellers list with one of the top three firms in their area. The reasoning is simple: The more signs there are from a given brokerage, the more incoming buyer calls they generate. On the other hand, pay attention to how long properties stay on the market. If an agent has lots of signs and no sales, it may be smart to hire someone else to represent you.
5. Check out agent's other listings
Does the property have a brochure box? Is it full or is it empty most of the time? Is there an 800-number on the sign rider? If so, that agent may have a system called "800 Call Capture."
When a potential buyer calls this number, the system immediately captures the caller's number and sends it to the listing agent. This allows the agent to call the buyer back immediately, often when the buyer is still in front of the property. It's also a good idea to call the listing office. Inquire about one of the agent's other listings. This allows you to determine ahead of time how buyers on your property may be treated.
6. Check response time
Contact the agent by e-mail and/or text message to see how quickly the agent responds. Failure to respond quickly means loss of potential buyers.
Screening agents before you meet with them can help you identify the best person to sell your property.
|
|
|
| Tips for Selling in a Tough Economy |
If you're looking to sell your house during these tough economic times, take heart. Although you can't change the economic crisis our nation is currently in, you can be proactive and informed about what to expect, so your house can stand out from the others on the market. When attempting to sell your house, here are the most common obstacles you'll face: dropping home values, a record number of foreclosures, and a shortage of buyers due to the current credit crunch. At a time when you need every edge you can get, every little bit of extra effort helps.
Proper pricing is critical to selling your house in the kind of market we're in. And though it might be difficult, this means pricing your home for what it's worth - and that isn't necessarily the same price as what you paid for it or what you think it is worth. You'll also want to check with your mortgage lender to determine your mortgage balance (if there is one). Then you can just subtract your asking price from your mortgage balance to determine how much money you stand to make on the sale of your home. If you're hiring a real estate agent, they'll be able to help you come up with an appropriate price for your house. If you're not, check out the price listings for other comparable homes in your area, and consid your home's appraised value.
Stage your home effectively. Sometimes the difference between getting an offer and not getting an offer depends upon staging your home effectively. The basics of home staging are depersonalizing and de-cluttering: packing up personal photographs, family heirlooms, and everything else that will pre vent the visitors touring your home from imagining it could be theirs. Focus on transforming your home back into a house; a product optimized for sale. For more help, hire a home staging expert.
Market your house as widely as possible: word of mouth, newspaper and local magazine ads, open house, flyers, etc. Remember that the more leads you get out of advertising, the more likely you'll get the response you've been looking for.
|
|
|
| Navigating the Paperwork of Selling |
|
 As with any major sales transaction, there's a good amount of paperwork involved when you decide to put your house on the market. First, there's the contract you'll sign with your realtor should you choose to use one. In addition to that, there will be purchase agreements, replies to offers to purchase, disclosures, and a host of other real estate forms.
Once you've determined whether you're going to hire a real estate broker or sell the home yourself (FSBO - for sale by owner), you can either download the forms from a legal form site on the Internet or obtain then from your real estate broker or real estate attorney.
Aside from the forms that pertain to actually selling your home, there are other papers you'll need to secure. These documents need to be ready before you even put your house up for sale, and before you take on the services of a realtor. These documents include:
Records of Tax Assessments and Tax Payments - lets the buyer know if they need to pay any late tax when they purchase your property.
Financial Records - give these to your realtor (or buyer if you're selling the home yourself) so they're aware of any pending financial obligations for the property. This also verifies that the property is in your name and that you are authorized to sell it.
Legal Property Description - you can find the legal description of your property on certificates of titles, warranties, and even quick claim deeds. Even if you don't have the original sets because your property is mortgaged, you should have photocopies on file.
Property Listing - indicate which pieces of property or equipment (tanks, appliances, curtains, etc.) will and will not be included in the sale of your home.
Homeowners By-Laws (if applicable) - if you live in a subdivision governed by a homeowners or neighborhood association, be sure to prepare a copy of the by-laws.
If you are unsure about what other documents you need to prepare, consult with a real estate lawyer or agent. They should be able to discuss these with you and guide you through the entire home-selling process.
|
|
|
 Rock gardens, rose gardens, herb gardens, vegetable gardens... all are beautiful and appealing in their own right, but how do you know which type of garden is right for you and your home? The right combination of beauty, care, and functionality is what you want to look at when planning a garden.
Perennial Gardens are made of plants that live longer than two years. Perennials bloom in spring and summer and die again in fall and winter. Perennials are easy to grow and a great investment since they come back year after year. Lower maintenance perennials like day lilies, coneflowers, and hostas are great plants for beginning perennial gardeners. Over time you can move to higher maintenance (but longer lasting) perennials, like peonies and roses.
Annual Gardens. They offer bold color for your garden for long periods of time since they bloom year round. Many annuals reach heights of up to two feet. Annuals are usually mixed within other types of gardens inside complex landscape plans. Clumps of annuals look better than rows or lines. When planting, try and keep the taller plants to the back and the shorter ones in front. Try planting a clump of one color of annuals beside a clump of annuals in another color, for a nice contrast. Be sure to learn about how to keep your annual garden healthy and safe from animals, pests, and diseases.
Bulb Gardens. These do require some regular maintenance, but come spring they'll reward your hard work with beautiful bursts of colorful flowers. If you're new to bulb gardening, try the hyacinth, a hardy flower that is easy to grow and will perfume your garden with just a few bulbs. Tulips, perhaps the most popular variety of bulb flowers, bear their cup-shaped flowers in nearly every color of the rainbow, except true blue.
Herb and Vegetable Gardens. What could be better than having fresh herbs and vegetables from your very own garden? Plant this type of garden in a well-lit area, as most herbs and vegetables need plenty of sunlight for the maximum amount of flavor. If you can, use a square-bed system with a neat network of paths between plantings. This will keep you from compacting the soil or trampling a fragile herb plant on your way to gather some sprigs of parsley before dinner.
|
|
|
| Market Snapshot - Real On Time MLS Data |
|
 This month we have again included the latest version of Market Snapshot, an award-winning, real-time MLS graphical report. The industry’s most current online real estate report has a new look and layout which offers even more market information on one page. Key comparative MLS data charts, including Asking price VS. Selling Price, Selling Times, and Neighborhood Inventory, are now available on the front page, through convenient collapsible sections. These enable viewers to remain in one web window and not have to toggle back and forth to compare data. You can have up to 100 of the closest active and sold listings displayed on the map for the Seller’s Market Snapshot as well as the Buyer’s.
|
|
|
|
NO BONES ABOUT IT!
SUPERIOR SERVICE - SUPERIOR RESULTS!
Keller Williams LA Harbor Realty
Catherine Bennison - Realtor Associate
Direct: (310) 707-2162
Cell: (310) 748-7889
Fax: (310) 519-1882
E-Mail: CBennison@KW.com
Website: www.CatherineBennison.com
DRE# 00946724
|
|
|
|
July 2009
In This Issue:
|
|
 |
Catherine Bennison's
South Bay
Real Estate Newsletter
|
|
|
Catherine & Winston
Direct: (310) 707-2162
Cell: (310) 748-7889
Fax: (310) 519-1882
E-Mail: CBennison@KW.com
Website: www.CatherineBennison.com
Get A FREE Analysis of Your Market Area
MLS Market Snapshot
This Month in Real Estate
Click to View Video HERE
______________________
MY FEATURED LISTING
21622 Linda DR , Torrance 90503
$610,000
3 Bedroom 2 Bath Home
Lovely home on a beautiful, tree-lined street in the highly desirable Southwood neighborhood. Very quiet, no busy streets or thorough traffic to the beach from here. It couldn't get any better than this. Walk to either Wilderness Park or Paradise Park, both are only a few blocks away. Also walking distance to Bishop Montgomery High School. The award winning Torrance public schools; elementary through high school are also within walking distance. The home has many upgrades and also features a wonderful backyard with many fruit trees. Perfect for entertaining. Just imagine backyard barbecues with family and friends here.
|
|
|
Largest Private Home in America: The Biltmore Estate
|
|
America's largest private home, the Biltmore Estate boasts 250 rooms and 175,000 square feet. Nestled among the Blue Ridge Mountains near Asheville, North Carolina, the home was also ranked eighth on the American Institute of Architects’ 2007 list of the top 150 favorite American structures. Join the more than 1 million visitors who visit the Biltmore Estate each year to enjoy the home's Gilded Age grandeur, 75 acres of formal gardens, and winery. Guests walking through the home marvel at unique features like the 70,000 gallon indoor swimming pool, the bowling alley, the two-story library, one-of-a-kind art and furniture, and 19th century rarities like elevators, indoor plumbing, fire alarm, and intercom systems. Out of town guests may enjoy a stay at the 123-room Inn on Biltmore Estate, an American Automobile Association (AAA) four-diamond hotel.
|
|
|
Greening Your Home
|
The more alterations you can do to your new home to make it greener, the better your home will be for your family and the planet. Every little bit helps, so get started today with these tips:
Green your appliances. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, replacing that old refrigerator you've kept in your garage for the last 15 years could save you up to $150 per year. If any of your appliances are more than ten years old, consider replacing them with "Energy Star" appliances that can save 10-50 percent more energy than standard or older appliances. And here's a fact to help you see how small changes in your home can make a difference: According to the EPA, just one out of every ten homes using more energy efficient appliances is the equivalent of planting 1.7 million acres of trees!
Save water. Installing an aerator on all household faucets will cut your household's water consumption by half, and installing a low flow toilet during a bathroom renovation, instead of a standard one, will save nearly two gallons of water every time you flush. And don't discount the value of behavioral changes – turning the water off while you brush your teeth will save 4.5 gallons of water every time you brush, while using a broom to clean your driveway, instead of a water hose, will save 80 gallons.
Let there be (energy efficient) light. Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFLs) use 66 percent less energy than a standard incandescent bulb and last up to 10 times longer. Replacing just one standard bulb with a CFL can save up to $30 in energy costs over the life of the bulb.
|
|
|
Mortgage Calculator- How Much Home Can You Afford?
|
|
The first step in shopping for a home should be determining how much home you can afford. The general rule is that the payments on your new home shouldn't account for more than 30 percent of your overall income.
Your income, credit rating, current monthly expenses, down payment, and the interest rate will determine the final total that you will be able to afford. If needed, find a housing counselor who can help you figure out how to manage and pay down or pay off existing debt, and give you a solid foundation of information for your plan.
The amount you pay for a home is based on several factors. You are the best judge of what you can comfortably pay every month. Take some time to calculate all your expenses - to include what you spend daily on lunches, coffee, transportation, and other costs that otherwise go unnoticed. Then add in local property taxes and anticipated maintenance of your home, or other improvements/additions that may be necessary in the near future.
Lending institutions use the following criteria to calculate what size loan you are qualified for. The three main things they look at are: 1) Your monthly payments as a percentage to your income; 2) How much cash you have for the down payment and closing costs; and 3) Your credit rating.
|
|
|
Doggie News
|
|
DoggieNews.com is a weblog publishing news about dogs, the pet industry, new products, and other quirky canine stuff.
Our target audience consists of folks who own dogs, and who seek information to help them make purchasing decisions, health and entertainment choices, and to keep abreast of legislative and regulatory changes that might affect their dog ownership.
Got News?
Please share your dog and pet related news concerning your company or organization. To do so, please write up a news article, and submit it to us at the email address below. We will consider it for publication in our monthly newsletter.
cbennison@KW.com
REAL ESTATE NEWS
Produced By:
|
|
|
