"Today's homebuyers want it all." says Yahoo Finance.   Buyers are more demanding in today's market seeking the best value for the money and driving a hard bargain to get what they want.

Nine items identified as the key things that homebuyers are focusing on in 2011:

1. Homes in Good Condition: They want well maintained homes that won't need updating. "Buyers have enough money to buy. They don't have enough money to buy and improve" says Ron Phipps, president of the National Association of Realtors.
2. Rock-Bottom Prices: They want to negotiate and they expect to get a good deal.
3. Outdoor Living Areas: Popular features include screened porches, outdoor kitchens and two-way fireplaces.
4. Incentives: "Along with pricing, it's all about incentives," says Mabel Guzman, president of the Chicago Association of Realtors. "To pique buyer interest, sellers offer everything from gift cards for new furniture and paint to financial assistance at closing."
5. Think "Green": Items like triple-glazed windows, high-efficiency appliances, and energy-efficient homes.
6. Open Kitchens: The kitchen is the "gathering place" and buyers want it connected to the family room.
7. Repurposed Materials: Buyers are looking for natural materials and reusable materials used in the home.
8. Smaller-Less Formal Homes: Formal areas of homes are being repurposed into home offices or entertainment areas. Buyers are realistically looking at how they would use the space efficiently.
9. Touches of Luxury: Buyers may be looking at smaller spaces, but a few luxurious touches go a long way. "Granite counters and stainless steel appliances, marble tiles in the bathrooms and vessel or under-mount sinks continue to impress buyers." says Justin Knoll, president of the Denver Board of Realtors.

What can sellers do to attract home buyers?  Alice Walker, president of the Greater Nashville Association of Realtors says that buyers are more critical and picky, because they can be in this market.  Her advice to sellers: "Repair, update, clean and stage. You have got to remove every obstacle possible for the buyers."

Read the full article at Yahoo Finance.

photo credit: Dana Moos, Realtor

Posted in Marketing, Seller Resources, Real Estate Market Conditions

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