Real Estate Information Archive

We LOVE giving back to our community! What a better time of year to give than now? If you’d like to help us, please feel free to bring a new toy or book when you come to our client appreciation party at the movies this week! We’ll be collecting new toys and books to donate to “Toys for Tots.” We love that toys that we donate will go to children right here in our community! 

The primary goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver, through a shiny new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to needy youngsters that will motivate them to grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and community leaders.

Our client parties are our opportunity to say “THANK YOU!” to all of our friends and clients who continue to refer us business. 2010 was our best year yet – all thanks to YOU! We have been so honored to serve so many families this year.  In this difficult market, your referrals mean so much more than ever to us.  Thank you for putting your name to ours.

We’re excited for the upcoming party and hope to see you there! Here’s a sneak peak at the movie trailer. We can’t wait!

The holidays are fast approaching. Have you started to prepare for this fun and exciting time of year? Unfortunately, many people could end up paying for the merriment long after it has passed.

The report below includes some important tips to help keep spending in check while still enjoying the fruits of the season. You’ll also find some practical gift-giving strategies.

We hope you and yours have a warm and wonderful holiday season! As always, please call if there is anything we can do for you personally.

We often have clients ask us about selling a home during the holiday season. Selling during the holidays - while tricky - can have some advantages, if you do it right. Below you will find a list of some the best reasons to sell during the holidays:

1.) Less competition for buyers. Most sellers mistakenly believe buyers don't buy during the holidays.

2.) Winter prospects are serious buyers. Why look during this time if you aren't serious about buying?

3.) Your home looks better with fresh holiday decor.

4.) You may receive more money for your home now because you have less competition with other homes.

5.) Throughout the holiday season, it's reasonable to restrict showings during your personal family events.

6.) Buyers have more time to look at homes during the holidays, especially during vacations.

7.) January is typically the biggest job transfer month; you must be on the market NOW in order for home-buyers to find your home.

8.) Sell now and have the option of a delayed closing or extended occupancy until the beginning of 2010.

9.) Sell during the winter and have a chance to buy during the spring when more homes are traditionally on the market.

10.) You may have fewer actual showings, but more qualified and motivated potential buyers.

11.) Corporate transfers, needing to buy now, can't wait until spring. 

** Resource: Realtor.com

It is amazing how masses of people can believe something that is absolutely untrue. The greatest example of this is that at one time the vast majority of people believed the world to be flat. Today, we want to debunk another commonly held belief – that newspapers sell houses. Somehow this notion gained believability even though the facts consistently prove it to not be true.

We should know what methods perspective purchasers use to find the home of their dreams when we are selling our house. That would enable us to develop the best marketing strategy to attract a buyer. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has just released the 2010 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers*. This report is recognized by most as the best compilation of data on today’s buyers and sellers because of the enormous amount of data available at NAR’s fingertips.

Let’s look at the actual search habits of today’s buyers as reported by NAR:

It might interest everyone to know that less than 2% looked in newspapers, magazines or home buying guides when starting the search process. What do most buyers do?

When you live in your home, personalization is the goal.  Family photos, heirlooms, souvenirs from vacations, etc.  But when it comes to selling a home, "depersonalization" is key!  Taking your identity out of the house can help it sell faster AND for more profit!  All of our personal "stuff" can be a major distraction to potential Buyers.  The goal is to make your home as marketable as possible--to make it feel like your house could be their new home.

Take a look at this clip to find out more about why depersonalization matters and what it could mean for you.

Times are tough. Everyone is looking for a way to save a dollar. Especially in times like this, why should I use a Realtor? Can't I just save some money doing it myself or by using a discount brokerage?

Consider these 5 areas when you're looking to make this important decision:

1. Pricing Is Difficult

How do you know if you're too high or too low? In this market, being like Goldilocks is crucial. It needs to be "just right!"

2. Negotiating Ability Is Crucial

How many deals have you negotiated in this market? How would you know if you're getting a good deal? Not just in terms of price, but with all of the terms related to a real estate contract including settlement dates, rent backs, buyer financing, inspections, etc.

3. Mortgaging Is Key to the Deal

What is the likelihood of a buyer's offer actually closing? Do they really have what it takes to buy my home?

4. Your Family's Safety

Am I protected? How do I know which forms are important and which are trivial? Can someone come after me later years down the road? How do I make sure things are handled correctly so that I can sleep well at night in my new home?

5. You Probably Have More Important Things To Do

I'm just guessing here, but we live in a busy world. Can you think of a few things that you'd rather be doing or need to be doing instead of stressing out over selling the largest asset you may likely own?

Let's face it-- buying or selling a home is one of the most important decisions one could make. A good Realtor will save you far more than you spend on fees.

Having someone with a proven track record in all aspects of the transaction will provide the support and skills you need to do it right.

Many people assume the sole purpose for buying a home is the financial benefit. Although the financial benefits can be a driving factor to buy, a recent survey by Fannie Mae indicated that 4 of the top 6 major reasons people choose to buy a home has nothing to do with finances!

Just take a look at the chart below.  It shows that the largest percentage of Buyers are interested in having a good place to raise children and receive a decent education.  Hmmm…. location, location, location.  Have you heard that one before?!

If you're thinking about buying a home, make sure you're working with a team that takes ALL parts of the buying equation into consideration.

Think Again.

You may have heard news that politicians are requesting a federal moratorium on foreclosures and wonder what this means to you, especially if you are behind on mortgage payments. The reality is that a foreclosure freeze is not the answer to your problem. However, there are steps you can take to avoid foreclosure.

We have attached a report that gives insight into the 5 steps to Avoid Foreclosure, which starts out with the proactive approach in avoiding foreclosure—taking action!

For even more information and to watch a video about the moratorium, visit our Baltimore distressed properties website.

Have you seen our website "365 Things to Do Around Baltimore?"

Whether you're new to Baltimore or you’ve been around for a while, check out our daily postings of fun things to do around the city!

You can also find 365 Baltimore on Facebook!

We have a community of 12,500 fans and counting.... come join us!

Did you know that 2 out of 3 sellers (69%) made price concessions and paid a portion of the closing costs? The standard amount for each was 3% of the final sales price (see chart below.)

What does this mean for you?

Most first-time home buyers received a reduction in both price and closing costs. However, that won't always be the case.

For cash-strapped individuals, closing costs can be a huge incentive.