Sellers historically have found that springtime is the best time to list their home, therefore inventory rises in the spring. So, you wonder, if inventory is up, will that work against me?

"Despite the uncertainty surrounding the housing market, experts say for Americans poised to plant roots, the market climate can't get much better," reports Meg Handley for US News.  "Spring is when prospective home buyers come out of hibernation and begin the hunt for their next residence."

Spring home buying is appealing for many reasons, the exteriors are beginning to "green up", flowers are beginning to bloom and the sun is shining.  Plus, it's no fun to trudge around in the snow, so better weather brings people outdoors. 

So, who is buying in the spring?

Families are more likely to buy in the spring or summer, so they can get their kids settled in the neighborhood before school starts in the fall.

All those buyers who have been sitting on the fence should be leaping into the market in light of optimistic reports about home sales and prices.  Home prices are projected to begin to rise, so this is the chance for many buyers to get into a home.

"Confidence is building (in the housing market), prices are down and interest rates are wonderful for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage.  It's a good time to borrow money," says Dorcas Helfant-Browning, a REALTOR® in Virginia.

Check with your REALTOR® to find out how homes are selling in your area.  They can help you price it right and get it in top selling condition. 

Read more home selling tips at About.com

Posted in Marketing, Seller Resources

In today's market, sellers are more willing to lower their asking price in order to sell their home, according to an article on Inman News.  "Home sellers are also more willing to reconfigure their homes to facilitate a sale this year than they were last year."

Home staging and cosmetic repairs are the top priority for sellers before the house goes on the market. "A vast majority of home sellers (94 percent) are streamlining their homes' contents and doing cosmetic repairs and minor updates like painting," according to Inman News.  "Sellers are (also) staging their homes with outside decorations and furniture to make them more appealing."

So, what are the biggest selling points that buyers are looking for in a home?  Nice kitchens and open floor plans rate number one on home buyers' lists. Finished basements and rec rooms are no longer top priorities. 

Who is buying homes right now?  "The life events driving homebuyers' decisions to purchase homes are babies, jobs and marriages." according to the article.

The house that sells the quickest is a house that the buyer can move into without a lot of extra work.  Not everyone is looking for a distressed, fixer-upper.  Flexibility is the key if you want to sell your home fast, have your REALTOR® help you get your house in "Sell-It-Fast" shape.

Read the full article at Inman News.

photo credit: Jonathan D. Blundell

Posted in Seller Resources, Real Estate Trends

A record number of investors are switching their investment portfolios to include buying real estate.

"You cannot time housing any more than you can time the stock market. "says Diana Olick on CNBC, but "investors see a ripe and rising rental market and big potential for income."

In the U.S. in January, 73% of homes sold were priced below $250K and 47% of them were considered "distressed", which means that they were a short sale or a foreclosure. 

"The $250,000 to $500,000 price range may now be the sweet spot for the market." says Olick, "Sales in January were up in this price range, and if you have good credit, you are within GSE and FHA loan limits in most markets."

Should I wait or is this a good time to buy?  You need to look at your local market.  Are prices beginning to recover?  "The trouble with the national numbers is that they are heavily weighted toward the lower end of the market and to the distressed end of the market." says Olick.

 "If February is any indication, 2012 is going to be a better year for home sales in metro Denver," said Dennis Huspeni in the Denver Business Journal. 

According to a report from Metrolist Inc. , the number of homes under contract in the Denver metro area rose 19 percent from January, which is up 12 percent, year over year.

Almost half of the homes sold in the Denver area, were in the $200,000 price range, which means that a majority of those people will be looking to buy up and there should be a "ripple effect" happening in the market.

Investing in the housing market still means predicting the future, just as it does with the stock market.  But the housing market might be a less stressful investment as home prices don't rise and fall because of the daily news or major events. 

"Supply and demand will eventually win out, even after an historic crash." says Olick. "If you can't get a good mortgage now, then perhaps it's not your time, but if you can, waiting may not buy you much."

Read the full story at CNBC.

Posted in Buyer Resources, Seller Resources, Headlines

You are finally ready to put your home on the market.  It's a great time to sell, buyers are seeking great properties so they can take advantage of these record low mortgage rates. How do you prepare your house to sell in the shortest amount of time possible?

Well, first, it's time to get rid of the clutter.  Clear the counters, especially in the bathrooms and the kitchen, organize the closets (yes they will look in the closets!), and pack away all the personal mementos and collections.  "Put your best foot forward." says Christie Martin with Metro Brokers Martin Realty.

First impressions mean a lot, especially in a buyer's market.  Stage your home to be welcoming.  "Let the buyer imagine themselves in your home." says Martin. "Put away all family photos, so they can picture their family in the home."

Make sure the exterior is presentable, as well.  Pick up the toys, clean out the shrubbery and now that spring is almost here, pick up a few potted plants for the front porch!

Get a home Inspection. Yes, that's right, get a pre-sale home inspection done.  Why wait for the buyer to do it and maybe find out you have bigger issues than you thought? A thorough home inspection is a critical step in any home buying process.

"The purpose of a seller inspection is not to preclude buyers from doing their own inspections." says Dian Hymer of Inman News, "A well-inspected property keeps sellers out of trouble by making buyers aware of defects before they close the deal."

"Sellers are taking a little more responsibility for problems that we find." says home inspector Kenny Rhodes. 

A home inspector can point out upgrades that the seller might consider making,  that will make the home more marketable to a buyer.

For sellers, getting a pre-sale home inspection, and addressing any repairs before listing the home, can help ease the buying process and shorten the sale time.

Marketing your home for sale can be quite disruptive to your daily schedule, so you want to make sure that your home is ready for sale from day one.  Using these tips will make the whole process smoother and might make your home sell faster.

Your real estate agent can help you find a reputable home inspector and help you market your home to sell!

  photo credit: Davi Alexandre

Posted in Seller Resources, Real Estate Trends

Selling a house in this market can be tough, but not impossible.  It's a "buyers market", meaning the buyer has a lot of homes to choose from and it doesn't take much to turn off a buyer, right from the start, just from what you say in your listing.

Michael Estrin of BankRate.com offers tips of what NOT to do or say when listing your house. "When you sell a house in a buyer's market, a lot of things work against you. Your real estate listing shouldn't be one of those things." he says. 

Find out what buyers and their agents typically see as a red flag in a listing and how to avoid them.

No Photos can mean No Showings.  Having photos of your house is a must.  Many buyers assume that if there aren't any photos, there must be something wrong with the place.

Distressed properties need details.  Not having transaction details about a property offered for short sale or foreclosures can mean a red flag.  Facts need to include lender and price approval details.

Outlandish claims.  Just give the facts and leave out the hyperbole.  Creativity is necessary when marketing your home but it's a fine line between saying this is the "best deal on the market" and using language to focus on the strengths of the property.  "Some buyers may be turned off and some will inevitably be disappointed if the claim doesn't live up to their expectations." says Ziad Najm, a broker in Calif.

Price it Right:  "If it's too good to be true...it probably is."  Your real estate agent can help you decide on a fair price for the market, but going too low can backfire on you. True, it might attract a lot of buyers, but that might also include unqualified buyers and your house might not sell at all.  It's a high risk strategy.

Flipping Houses. The terms "newly remodeled" and recently updated" might indicate a house that has recently been flipped by prospective investors who might have cut corners to make a profit. If you have made improvements to your home, make sure you emphasize that all work was done with permits and reputable companies.

Selling "As Is".  A lot of homes on the market are listed "as is", and this isn't always bad but, says Diane Conaway, a San Diego broker, it can be a reason for caution.  "These days, "as is" can mean "previous owners stole everything including the kitchen and bathrooms," Conaway says."Our contract states 'as is' anyway, but some agents restate that in the listing, which is a disservice to their sellers."

Selling your home is easier when you hire a professional real estate agent to help you market it properly.   

Read the full story at BankRate.com

photo credit: WDanRoberts

Posted in Marketing, Seller Resources, Real Estate Trends