Belleville Blog

November 2nd, 2010 10:37 AM

Record numbers of single women are buying homes. If you're a single woman who wants to buy a house, the good news is the market is wide open for you. The stats from the Joint Center for Housing Studies

say:

More than one in five home buyers is a single woman.
Twice as many unmarried women are buying homes than single men.
Single women make up more than one-third of the growth in real estate ownership since 1994.

Top Three Reasons Unmarried / Single Women Buy a Home

Strong desire to own her own home.
Need more space or want smaller home.
Relocate closer to job, school or family.

The "Red Shoes" Experience for a Home Buyer

Women will relate to this. Say, you need a new pair of red shoes. You go to the mall. At the first shoe store, you find a fabulous pair of red shoes. You try them on. They fit perfectly. They are glamorous. Priced right, too. Do you buy them? Of course not! You go to every other store in the mall trying on red shoes until you are ready to drop from exhaustion. Then you return to the first store and buy those red shoes. Do not shop for a home this way. When you find the perfect home, buy it.

Real Women Who Buy Real Homes

Women home buyers come in all sizes, shapes and ages. They are divorced, never married, separated, widowed; some have children, others live with friends or partners and many live alone.

Here is a story of a single women buying her first home.

Sharon, mid-20s, not married. Sharon lived in an appartment and wanted to move into her own home. For the price she was paying in rent she might as well own he own home and start building some equity. She was not sure where to start, so she called an agent she had heard about from a friend. She had a clear-cut list of what she wanted in a home.

Two or more bedrooms.
Pre-Approved for $150,000.
No carpeting.
Large back yard.
Open concept.

She toured over 20 homes before she found one she liked but wanted to "think over" her decision. Her agent called her on Sunday. She wanted to buy one of the homes she had seen but didn't "feel ready." By Monday it was sold.

On Wednesday, a price reduction popped up in MLS and she was contacted by her agent right away. They went and toured the house that day and and the offer was made that afternoon. It had everything she wanted and with the quick action of her agent she was a proud home owner.

Posted by Doug Peterson on November 2nd, 2010 10:37 AMPost a Comment (0)

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Buying a Home

October 28th, 2010 8:57 AM

Find the perfect place with these tips from the experts.

Thinking	Ask yourself important questions such as: - Where do I want to live? - How much can I afford? - Are schools a factor? - What style of home do I prefer? - How much renovation and remodeling am I willing to do? - How big a house do I want? How many rooms? - What features are important?
Looking	Get familiar with the market. Drive around the areas that interest you and get an idea of what's available. Always remain objective. Look beyond the window dressing at things like general upkeep, water leaks, appliances and fixtures, windows and doors and how your furnishing will fit in. A home inspection is also a good idea to determine whether you make an offer.
Purchasing	Once you settle on a home, it's important to make the right offer. Your Royal LePage Realtor© is an expert on what comparable houses are selling for, assessing the condition of the house, and judging the type of competition you may face - as well as drafting the offer.
Closing	Closing refers to the transfer of ownership of a property from seller to buyer. In some places, "round table" closings bring all parties together. In others, buyers and sellers complete the process though separate individual appointments with their lawyers.
Moving	Here are some commonly overlooked pre-move arrangements: - Before you book a mover, get several quotes - Arrange to have your utilities read on the day you leave and have bills forwarded to your new address. - Arrange to have your utilities turned on and telephone and cable connected on the day the sale closes on your new home. - Send change-of-address cards ( from the post office ) well before moving day. - Ask your dentist, doctor, pharmacist, and optometrist to transfer medical, dental and prescription records. - Change the address on your driver's license and other personal documents effective the day of the move.

Posted by Doug Peterson on October 28th, 2010 8:57 AMPost a Comment (0)

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Is Your Home Ready To Show?

October 26th, 2010 11:36 AM

FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE THE MOST LASTING!
Remember when the buyer comes to look at your house, the first thing he or she will see is your home's front door! Be sure that it is fresh, clean and well-scrubbed looking. Also, be sure that your lawn and landscaping is well manicured and trim looking in appearance and your yard is free of refuse and leaves. In winter remove ice and snow from walkways

DECORATING + YOU = QUICK SALE!
Faded walls and worn woodwork will reduce the appeal of your home. Why try to tell a prospect how you home could look... when you can show it by a reasonable amount of redecoration? A quick sale at a higher price will result. An investment in new wallpaper in the kitchen or bathroom will pay dividends for you.

LET THE SUNSHINE IN
Open those drapes and curtains all the way., so the buyer can see for themselves how bright and cheerful your home can be. Remember... dark and dreary rooms do not appeal to most of us.

DON'T BE A DRIP!
Fix that leaky faucets since dripping water discolors sinks and suggests faulty or worn plumbing.

SAFETY FIRST AND ALWAYS
Keep stairways clear and clean and uncluttered, since this will also avoid injuries around your home.

FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM
Display the full value of your attic, basement, and other utility space (including crawl space) by removing all unnecessary articles and junk. If your basement is dark and dreary, a coat of paint can do wonders.

WE ALL LIKE BIG CLOSETS
Make them look bigger by having them neat and well organized to show that your home has ample closet space.

BATHROOMS SELL HOMES
make these rooms sparkle from end to end. Check and repair any damaged or discolored caulking in the bathtubs and showers, and be sure that the towels and area rugs are bright and clean.

YOUR BEDROOMS SHOULD MAKE YOU SLEEPY, BUT NOT YOUR PROSPECTS
Keep these rooms bright and cheerful. Remove excess furniture and use attractive and colorful bedspreads and freshly laundered curtains.

HAVE YOU SEEN THE LIGHT
Your home's illumination can be a "welcome" sign to the prospective buyer! Turn on all outside and inside lights when showing your home at night, since he'll/she'll feel a glowing warmth as a result of your lighting

Posted by Doug Peterson on October 26th, 2010 11:36 AMPost a Comment (0)

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Selling Your Home? Tips To Minimize Stress

October 21st, 2010 12:50 PM

Here are some helpful tips to make selling your home a little less stressful

1.
Detach your emotions:
when selling your home , create a space that as many people as possible can envision as their potential home. A good start is to pack away any of your personal items, including photos souvenirs and other mementos.

2.
Clean and reorganize:
Clean your home from top to bottom and make sure all appliances are spotless. Reorganize the closets and pack as many personal items as possible because storage is a major selling point.

3.
Furnish empty rooms:
Staging every room with the right furniture will help buyers visualize living in the space.

4.
Brighten and lighten:
Light-filled rooms are always appealing. Open blinds and make sure windows are sparkling clean. A fresh coat of neutral colored paint will also brighten up the space.

5.
Spark your buyer's imagination:
Set the dinner table for company, light the fireplace on a cold day and add some fresh flowers to your decor: Creating the proper atmosphere can do wonders.

6.
Fix minor repairs:
Buyers prefer to see a home in move-in condition, even small things such as a dripping faucet can detract from the value of your home.

7.
Don't be too unique:
Keep your decor simple and modern with neutral colors: Unusual accessories and strong walls colors will turn off some buyers.

8.
Keep your neighborhood in mind when renovating:
Actual returns on renovations depend not only on the renovation itself but also on how your home compares to your neighbors'.

9.
Improve security:
Household security is a sought after feature. Simple measures such as adding window locks and motion sensor lights outside can boost the desirability of your property.