Tips for Baby Boomers

Baby boomers represent a sizable portion of the real estate market and are now thinking about selling their home.  Many have already had experience with buying and selling and have gained some knowledge and sometimes painful experience along the way.

 

 

 

Of course, wisdom is something that many baby boomers can claim nowadays since they have been around long enough to see a fair amount of what works and what doesn't.  They have also had time to learn new technology and have finally embraced it.

Now boomers receive massive information through the internet, television and other media sources.  While this information is quite amazing,  it is important to remember that information received through these vehicles may not necessarily apply to your own situation. 

Since buyers and sellers can easily see how much homes have sold for in their neighborhood and can even apply for and obtain a mortgage online, some wonder what the value is in using a local and reputable professional.

 

I do agree that information is empowering and should be utilized when making your next real estate decision.  I also believe that most of us don't have the time or the experience to make a truly informed decision without the help of a professional.  A true professional guides their client through the complicated process of buying or selling and helps their client from beginning to end and sometimes afterwards when needed.

 

In addition, a local person has a stake in whether their client is satisfied with their services in the  hope that the client will be eager to refer them to their friends and acquaintances.

 

As an active Realtor, I will say that most of my transactions that involve a local real estate agent and lender close successfully with the fewest amount of problems. 

 

My advice this week is to take the time to have a face-to-face meeting with the right professional to further assure the success of your next real estate decision.



Nancy Puder is a real estate broker at Signature Properties, a prestigious real estate firm in Arroyo Grande, CA. You may contact her at Nancy@NancyPuder.com or (805)710-2415. She always enjoys hearing from you!

Spruce Up Outside When Selling

 

Certain things never go out of style and curb appeal is one of them.  If you are putting your home up for sale, here are some tips to make it more attractive to a potential buyer. 

•  Go around the perimeter of the house and move all garbage cans, discarded wood scraps, extra building materials, etc., to the garage or, if applicable, take them to the dump.

• Check gutters and roof for dry rot and moss. Make sure they are swept and cleaned.

• Examine all plants. Prune bushes and trees. Keep plants from blocking windows: “You can’t sell a house if you can’t see it!”

• Remove any dead plants, weed all planting areas, and put down fresh mulching material.

• Keep your lawn freshly cut, edged, and fertilized during the growing season.

• Clear patios or decks of all small items, such as little planters, flower pots, charcoal, barbeques, toys, etc.

• Check the condition of the paint on your home, especially the trim and the front door. The first impression, or “curb appeal,” is very important.

 

Try to look at your house “through a buyer’s eyes,” as though you’ve never seen it before. This will help you see what needs to be done. Any time and money invested on these items will usually bring you the return of more money and a quicker sale.

 

Nancy Puder is a real estate broker at Signature Properties, a prestigious real estate firm in Arroyo Grande, CA. You may contact her at Nancy@NancyPuder.com or (805)710-2415. She always enjoys hearing from you!

 

 

Simple Steps to Stage Your Home to Sell

It's true that not everyone's home is going to look like Martha Stewart lives there no matter what they do. There are, however, some simple steps, that any seller can take, so that the home shows better.  Here are some ideas.

 

*Clear all unnecessary objects from furniture.  Keep accessories and objects on the furniture restricted to groups of 1, 3, or 5 items.  A de-cluttered home helps the buyer mentally “move in” with their own things.  Yes, that iincludes those cute stuffed animals!

 

* Rearrange or remove some of the furniture  if necessary.  When it comes to selling your home, thin out overcrowded rooms to make the rooms appear larger.

 

* Clear all unnecessary objects from the kitchen countertops. If it hasn’t been used for three months…put it away! Clear refrigerator fronts of messages, magnets, pictures, etc.

 

* Bathrooms - remove any unnecessary items from the countertops, tub, shower stall, and commode top. Keep only the most necessary cosmetics, brushes, perfumes, etc., in one small group on the counter. Coordinate towels in one or two colors only.  (Big fluffy white towels give a "spa like" feel)

 

* Take down, reduce, or rearrange pictures and objects on walls. Patch and paint walls wherever necessary

 

* Pack up and store. If you need room to store extra possessions, get a storage unit.

 

* Leave on certain lights during the day . During showings turn on ALL lights and lamps.

 

*Set a background tune. Play light FM music every day in the house, for all viewings. 

 

Nancy Puder is a real estate broker at Signature Properties, a prestigious real estate firm in Arroyo Grande, CA. You may contact her at Nancy@NancyPuder.com or (805)710-2415. She always enjoys hearing from you!

 

 

 

Homeowners On Track to Regain Equity

 

 

Home values are steadily rising, putting many underwater homeowners on track to regain enough equity by 2015 without having to short sell.  This prediction should hold true if home prices continue to rise at 1.33 percent per month.  Some homeowners have already regained their equity and are now selling their homes after a long wait.

 

According to recent reports, however, 8.3 million homes across the country will still need more time before they enjoy a positive equity status.  The good news is that as home values go up, we should begin to see more homes available for sale. 

 

Reports further show that one out of four homes in foreclosure may have enough equity to sell before the property goes back to the bank.

 

This is good news for sellers, but buyers may not be as thrilled since they will probably pay more for the same home that they passed on last year.  

 

Naturally, the doomsayers are worried that we are headed back to where we were before the bubble burst.  While that could be true, I think I will choose to just bask in some good news for awhile and enjoy the ride!

 

Nancy Puder is a real estate broker at Signature Properties, a prestigious real estate firm in Arroyo Grande, CA. You may contact her at Nancy@NancyPuder.com or (805)710-2415 She always enjoys hearing from you!

 

 

 

New Type of Investor in Today's Market

A new type of investor is emerging in today's real estate market. Gradually fading is the "all cash" investor or institution that has been buying up distressed properties as quickly as they came up for sale.  

 

Cash investors played an important part of the housing recovery, erasing shadow inventory and driving prices upward. Now reports show that this investor, along with the foreign investor is retreating.


Today, a more conservative and value oriented investor has emerged. These value investors are looking for nice homes in areas where the market is sustainable and they are thinking "long term investment".  As the housing recovery continues I believe that we will see more and more  of this reliable type of investor.


Our Central Coast has always been an attractive place for future retirees and for those who are interested in purchasing a second home or investment property.  The beautiful coastline, mild weather and easy style of living continues to be a wonderful place to call home!


Nancy Puder is the real estate broker at Signature Properties, a prestigious real estate firm in Arroyo Grande, CA. If you have questions concerning your real estate needs, you may contact Nancy at Nancy@NancyPuder.com or (805)710-2415. She always enjoys hearing from you!