Housing Market on the Road to Recovery

Yi-haa!  Let’s hope so!  It seems that real estate is on an upswing, happy news for all of us and our national economy!  Take a peek at RISMedia’s article, Recovery on Move: December 2010 Existing-Home Sales Jump 12.3 Percent, for some encouraging, uplifting info on housing statistics.  As for we Midwesterners, “Existing-home sales in the Midwest rose 11.0% in December to a level of 1.11 million, but are 4.3% below a year ago. The median price in the Midwest was $139,700, up 3.3% from December 2009.”  We’re getting there, folks!

To happy housing statistics~ Rosemary, Atkinson-Thompson Group

Real Estate: Might it rebound in 2011?

Oh, if only we had a real estate crystal ball!  What are the predictions for the world of real estate in 2011?  Let’s hope the future holds a rebound!  Michele Lerner sets forth 10 reasons she believes the real estate market could improve in 2011 in her Investopedia.com article, 10 Reasons Real Estate Could Rebound in 2011.  Her reasons for optimism seem well-founded, and a real estate rebound would certainly be a wonderful financial uplift for individual homeowners and our nation.

To a real estate recovery in 2011~ Rosemary

Understanding Marketing & Selling a Home in the Current Marketplace

The logistics of  marketing and selling a home have changed quite a bit over the last few years!  Due to the uncertain economic climate, many buyers are avoiding going overboard or stretching themselves to the limit on a mortgage.  Above all they are looking to feel that they have gotten a good, fair price on a home.  Forget about incentives…price your home well with advice from your realtor!

Jim Buchta’s article for RISMedia.com, Real Estate Incentives Out of Style among Price-Focused Shoppers, provides some great insight on what many of today’s buyers are looking for and some solid ideas on how sellers/realtors can work together to get a home sold.  Betsy and I are always coming up with new tactics!

Come to us for advice~  Rosemary

An Added Threat To Your Home Value?

Along with the upheaval in the mortgage industry, the downturn in housing prices, a high unemployment rate, and a shaky economy comes another resultant threat that can influence the value of your home.  About one-third of all homeowners are currently “upside-down” in their mortgages (they owe more than their home’s current market value).  This gives them little incentive or morale to keep up their home.  Many other  homeowners are in danger of or in foreclosure.  Many builders cannot finish neighborhoods, because their homes are not selling, so partially-built homes are sitting on dirt lots.   All of these and more factors can influence the value of your home, because any of these homes can be in your neighborhood or a neighborhood in which you are considering purchasing a home.  Click here for an informative article on the subject by Marilyn Kennedy Melia for Bankrate.com.

Best~  Rosemary

Spring Spruce-Up

If you’re contemplating putting your home on the market come spring, now is the time to start getting your home ready.  Yes, I know there is still snow on the ground, but in the world of real estate, spring is upon us!  The experts are saying this could be a banner year (considering the last three!) for home sales.  Betsy and I have three listing appointments scheduled for just the next week!  Click here to read a very helpful article by Luke Mullins of USNews.com on 10 projects that you can undertake relatively cheaply to increase the appeal of your home, inside and out. 

Curb appeal, folks, is sooooooo important, and this article addresses that aspect in suggestions No. 1 and No. 2.  You want buyers to drive up to the front of your home and say, “Oh, I love it; I want to live here!”  You want to draw them inside!  The front of your home is a buyer’s first indication of how the home has been cared for; don’t let them just drive on by!  So, time to get a jump-start; don’t make yourself  crazy by trying to accomplish everything in a two-week time span! 

Best~  Rosemary