MrBillSellsHouses.com

BUTLER TARKINGTON / MERIDIAN KESSLER NEIGHBORHOODS

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 18:48:18 +0000

Are thinking of moving and want something different than a subdivision with homes that look very similar that sit on a cul-de-sac? If that answer is yes, have you ever considered taking a step back in time and opening your mind to an eighty to one hundred year old home with fabulous character and charm? The Butler Tarkington/ Meridian Kessler neighborhoods offer you such a wide variety of home styles built beginning in the 1920’s. It is very possible to see an arts & crafts bungalow sitting next to an English tudor which nestles up to a stucco traditional American style home all on one block. This is the beauty of these neighborhoods, not to mention what you see when you open the front door to one of these older homes.

What is commonly described as character and charm can be defined in many different ways. A wide variety of original wood flooring, arched doorways, built in bookshelves tucked in on each side of a fireplace or a window, built in cabinetry in dining room corners or running the length of an entire wall are naming just a few.

I happen to have a great passion for these beauties….because I grew up in a hundred year old home and I now reside in one. There is something to be said about having sidewalks and the ability to walk to school, to church, to the grocery store and drug store or to a neighborhood café or bistro. Being centrally located to all parts of the city is not a bad thing either.

So, when considering your next move and your want for something different, I urge you to take a Sunday afternoon drive through these amazing neighborhoods and see what they have to offer!

How to work with an agent in the purchase of a home

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 02:14:40 +0000

I recently worked with two couples on the purchase of their new home. I was surprised when both couples asked me what they owed me. It then occurred to me that there must be some misinformation or misconception about working with a Real Estate Agent. A Real Estate Agent that works with and represents buyers in the purchase of a home is referred to as a Buyer Agent. You might think you have to pay a Buyer Agent. Typically you don’t. Most Buyer Agents are paid by the seller. So you might be thinking maybe I can get a discount if I buy without my own agent or let the Listing Agent represent me. That is not the case. The Listing Agent represents the seller and negotiates for the highest price on behalf of the seller. A Buyer Agent represents the buyer exclusively and negotiates for the best price on their behalf. Real Estate transactions are becoming increasingly complex. A Buyer Agent will guide you through the whole process. Your agent is accountable to you not the seller and cannot divulge confidential information to the seller or the seller’s agent.

What will a Buyer’s Agent do for you?

• Locate property that meets your needs

• Evaluate the pros and cons of the property

• Negotiate the best price and terms

• Evaluate loans and financing options

• Facilitate Inspections and Inspections Responses

• Help ensure contract compliance

• Accompany you on a final walk through before closing

• Attend the closing

Using a Buyer Agent will help to alleviate some of the anxiety of purchasing a home. Your agent will do everything humanly possible to make the process as streamlined and smooth as possible.

Why should you stage your home?

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 19:30:22 +0000

Why should you stage your home?

The simple answer to that is …..You never get a second chance to make a first impression. Buyers see everything that you have stopped seeing because of your busy life like the fresh coat of paint in the hallway you meant to do but never got around to or the deck that you meant to stain before it got too cold out.

People often think of the inside of the home when they think about home staging but the outside needs to be staged also. Curb appeal is often what attracts buyers to the home. Sometimes buyers won’t go inside the home if they don’t like the way it looks outside.

Tips for staging the outside…….

Go across the street and take a look at your house from the buyer’s perspective when they pull up.

Tip 1- Walk around the perimeter of the home. Remove the garbage cans, discarded wood scraps and extra building materials. This is outside clutter and prevents the buyers from seeing the yard.
Tip 2- Is the landscaping overgrown? Trim all the trees and shrubs so they don’t obstruct the view of the home. Overgrown landscaping can cause the inside of the home to be too dark because the sun isn’t getting in.
Tip 3- Weed and mulch all flower beds. Groom and fertilize the lawn. Go the extra step and edge the lawn. It gives the impression of a well cared for lawn.
Tip 4- Clear off the patio and the deck. Remove any dead plants. You want to set the stage for your outdoor living space.
Tip 5- Check the paint on the house- especially the front door and trim. The paint job is one of the first things a potential buyer notices. Be sure to paint the front door. This will make the first impression on your buyer.
Tip 6- Last but not least….Finish any unfinished projects. Most buyers are not interested in taking over someone else’s project.

Am I ready to buy a home?

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 15:12:46 +0000

10 Steps to Home Ownership

Knowledge and experience are the keys to successful real estate transactions. REALTOR.com® contains an enormous amount of valuable information, and such data — combined with the expertise, experience and training of local REALTORS® — can be the essential keys to your success.

One of the keys to making the home-buying process easier and more understandable is planning. In doing so, you’ll be able to anticipate requests from lenders, lawyers and a host of other professionals. Furthermore, planning will help you discover valuable shortcuts in the home-buying process.

Do You Know What You Want?

Whether you are a first-time home buyer or entering the marketplace as a repeat buyer, you need to ask why you want to buy. Are you planning to move to a new community due to a lifestyle change or is buying an option and not a requirement? What would you like in terms of real estate that you do not now have? Do you have a purchasing timeframe?

Whatever your answers, the more you know about the real estate marketplace, the more likely you are to effectively define your goals. As an interesting exercise, it can be worthwhile to look at the questions above and to then discuss them in detail when meeting with local REALTORS®.

Do You Have The Money?
Homes and financing are closely intertwined. (Financing is the difference between the purchase price and the down payment, commonly referred to as debt or the mortgage.) The good news is that over the years new and innovative loan programs have evolved which require a 5 percent down payment or less. In fact, a number of programs now allow purchasers to buy real estate with nothing down.

In addition to a down payment, purchasers also need cash for closing costs (the final costs associated with closing the loan). Several newly emerging loan programs not only allow the purchase of a home with no money down, but also underwrite closing costs.

Not everyone, however, elects to purchase with little or no money down. Less money down means higher monthly mortgage payments, so most home buyers choose to buy with some cash up front.

As to closing costs, in markets where buyers have leverage, it may be possible to negotiate an offer for a home that requires the owner to pay some or all of your settlement expenses. Speak with local REALTORS® for details.

Is Your Financial House in Order?
Those great loans with little or nothing down are not available to everyone: You need good credit. For at least one year prior to purchasing a home, you should assure that every credit card bill, rent check, car payment and other debt is paid in full and on time.