Thursday, August 16, 2012
Bathroom Improvements to Draw in Buyers
Bathroom Improvements to Draw in Buyers
by Alicia Murphy - 15 August 2012
For many homeowners, keeping their home in tip-top shape is a task that requires constant attention. Over the years the features that were once so en-vogue in your home become outdated and unattractive, not only to you and your family but also to potential buyers. One room where a little updating can go a long way is your bathroom.
Making The Master Masterful
The master suite isn’t really sweet without an en-suite. In particularly for those who own an older home many master bedrooms weren’t originally designed with a bathroom, and those that were often got a measly half bath. For today’s homebuyer in many markets a half bath can be considered sufficient while in other markets this simply wouldn’t do.
Before making costly changes check with a local REALTOR® to see what master bathroom features are trending in your area. If it is customary for homes in your area to have an en-suite you may want to consider adding one if your home is lacking that feature as this can be a huge turnoff for buyers. Fortunately bathroom improvements often carry a good rate of return so you’ll not only increase your home’s appeal to buyers but also increase your value.
Small Changes with BIG Impact
Many bathrooms suffer from dating in two key ways: wallpaper and old fixtures. If your bathroom suffers from wallpaper circa 1992 coupled with some nice gold fixtures chances are that it won’t be a top selling feature with buyers. By simply stripping the wallpaper and repainting the walls in a more neutral color you’ll move mountains. Fixtures such as drawer/cabinet pulls, towel rods, water faucets and lighting implements can be purchased for just a few hundred dollars. Adding some storage to a smaller bathroom is also a great way to maximize the space and buyer appeal.
Just remember that bathrooms are an important room to homebuyers. Updating or increasing this space not only increases your home’s value, it also gives it an edge on competing properties on the market.
by Alicia Murphy - 15 August 2012
For many homeowners, keeping their home in tip-top shape is a task that requires constant attention. Over the years the features that were once so en-vogue in your home become outdated and unattractive, not only to you and your family but also to potential buyers. One room where a little updating can go a long way is your bathroom.
© Wichittra Srisunon – Fotolia.com
Making The Master Masterful
The master suite isn’t really sweet without an en-suite. In particularly for those who own an older home many master bedrooms weren’t originally designed with a bathroom, and those that were often got a measly half bath. For today’s homebuyer in many markets a half bath can be considered sufficient while in other markets this simply wouldn’t do.
Before making costly changes check with a local REALTOR® to see what master bathroom features are trending in your area. If it is customary for homes in your area to have an en-suite you may want to consider adding one if your home is lacking that feature as this can be a huge turnoff for buyers. Fortunately bathroom improvements often carry a good rate of return so you’ll not only increase your home’s appeal to buyers but also increase your value.
Small Changes with BIG Impact
Many bathrooms suffer from dating in two key ways: wallpaper and old fixtures. If your bathroom suffers from wallpaper circa 1992 coupled with some nice gold fixtures chances are that it won’t be a top selling feature with buyers. By simply stripping the wallpaper and repainting the walls in a more neutral color you’ll move mountains. Fixtures such as drawer/cabinet pulls, towel rods, water faucets and lighting implements can be purchased for just a few hundred dollars. Adding some storage to a smaller bathroom is also a great way to maximize the space and buyer appeal.
Just remember that bathrooms are an important room to homebuyers. Updating or increasing this space not only increases your home’s value, it also gives it an edge on competing properties on the market.
We Can't Get A Mortgage, What Are Our Other Options? | REALTOR.com® Blogs
We Can't Get A Mortgage, What Are Our Other Options? | REALTOR.com® Blogs
Q: My wife and I are looking for a house but can’t get a mortgage with our credit rates. How do I go in to a rent to own home? We have two kids and live in a townhouse, now it’s too small for us. What can I do to get a house?
–Anonymous, Clairton, PA
A: Hi Ryan,
I would suggest you sit down with a local lender or attend some first time home buyer classes if they are offered in your community. A lender can review your financial picture and help you come up with a plan to reach your goal. It might take some time, so be patient, you will get there.
Rent to own is usually not a good option for most first time home buyers as usually you have to come up with non refundable option money, which in this market would be better put to use as a down payment (in my opinion)
Teri Andrews Murch is a Realtor® with Lyon Real Estate in Auburn, CA.
A: The only thing you can do at this point is to find an owner that is willing to do a lease with option to purchase. Normally, in this area I am in, the seller normally wants a large payment up front to do so, but in that area, maybe they will just do a first and last like you do with rent. An agent there should be able to help you get started. It may take time to find someone with enough equity in their home that they can do this though.
Lana Lavenbarg is a Realtor® with RE/MAX Ideal Brokers, Inc. in Grants Pass, OR.
A: Rent to own, or lease to own, or rent w/options to buy (essentially all the same) is not the only option to becoming a homeowner. Also, if you did go that route, the options are very limited. Most owner who want to sell their homes are in a position where they have to sell, they need the money to move on so they’re not to keen on renting or leasing their properties. Before exploring the rent to own option, consult with a local lender in your area, get some recommendations from friends who’ve recently bought a house. The Lender will set you on the right path for becoming a homeowner, it may take a few months or even a couple years before you’re ready to buy, but it may also be the very best option and in the meantime you can begin working on saving a 10-20% downpayment.
Maria Jeantet is a Realtor® with Coldwell Banker C & C Properties in Redding, CA
Are you interested in having a qualified REALTOR answer your questions? Click through to Ask a
REALTOR® now.
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Related posts:
Read more: We Can't Get A Mortgage, What Are Our Other Options? | REALTOR.com® Blogs
we Can’t Get A Mortgage, What Are Our Other Options?
Q: My wife and I are looking for a house but can’t get a mortgage with our credit rates. How do I go in to a rent to own home? We have two kids and live in a townhouse, now it’s too small for us. What can I do to get a house?
–Anonymous, Clairton, PA
A: Hi Ryan,
I would suggest you sit down with a local lender or attend some first time home buyer classes if they are offered in your community. A lender can review your financial picture and help you come up with a plan to reach your goal. It might take some time, so be patient, you will get there.
Rent to own is usually not a good option for most first time home buyers as usually you have to come up with non refundable option money, which in this market would be better put to use as a down payment (in my opinion)
Teri Andrews Murch is a Realtor® with Lyon Real Estate in Auburn, CA.
A: The only thing you can do at this point is to find an owner that is willing to do a lease with option to purchase. Normally, in this area I am in, the seller normally wants a large payment up front to do so, but in that area, maybe they will just do a first and last like you do with rent. An agent there should be able to help you get started. It may take time to find someone with enough equity in their home that they can do this though.
Lana Lavenbarg is a Realtor® with RE/MAX Ideal Brokers, Inc. in Grants Pass, OR.
A: Rent to own, or lease to own, or rent w/options to buy (essentially all the same) is not the only option to becoming a homeowner. Also, if you did go that route, the options are very limited. Most owner who want to sell their homes are in a position where they have to sell, they need the money to move on so they’re not to keen on renting or leasing their properties. Before exploring the rent to own option, consult with a local lender in your area, get some recommendations from friends who’ve recently bought a house. The Lender will set you on the right path for becoming a homeowner, it may take a few months or even a couple years before you’re ready to buy, but it may also be the very best option and in the meantime you can begin working on saving a 10-20% downpayment.
Maria Jeantet is a Realtor® with Coldwell Banker C & C Properties in Redding, CA
Are you interested in having a qualified REALTOR answer your questions? Click through to Ask a
REALTOR® now.
Are you a REALTOR who would like to answer consumer questions? Click through to become an Ask a REALTOR® participant.
Related posts:
Read more: We Can't Get A Mortgage, What Are Our Other Options? | REALTOR.com® Blogs
Monday, August 13, 2012
Good NEWS from Wisconsin REAL ESTATE - Home Sales Up 29.2% in July
Good NEWS from Wisconsin REAL ESTATE - Home Sales Up 29.2% in July (edit/delete)
Home Sales Up 29.2% in July The 4-county Metropolitan Milwaukee housing market was as hot as the weather in July, boiling 29.2% over July of 2011.
Historically low interest rates, low prices and improved consumer confidence – despite recent fluctuations – have helped the market tremendously; generating double-digit sales growth for more than a year.
The ‘Great Recession’ provided an abundance of available properties for sale, however, that 5-year trend ended this spring as inventory of available homes for sale dwindled, currently sitting at 7.8-months.
July continued that trend with a 0.09% decline in homes listed for sale. A very small decrease compared to the 12.85% decrease in June, but the continuation of a trend since the beginning of the year – occurring at the same time sales have increased – resulting in inventory levels not seen since the early 2000s.
The combination of high sales and low inventory appears to be placing some pressure on prices, via multiple offers on homes, not in initial listing prices. In fact, the 2nd quarter of this year we saw two counties with price increases. Prices in Washington County were up 1% and Walworth County was up 1.3% over the 2nd quarter of 2011.
Sellers should be very cautious about pricing their home or starting with a price higher than their REALTOR® recommends, because buyers are still requesting discounts and concessions. A more prudent action would be to price a home correctly for the community and neighborhood it is in, and see if it attracts multiple offers.
County-by-County Sales Analysis for July compared to 2011:
• Milwaukee County up 29.2% in sales (899 units vs. 696 units)
• Waukesha County was up 32.5% (505 sales compared with 381)
• Washington County was up 43.6% (145 vs. 101)
• Ozaukee County also up 5.4% (117 units vs. 111 units)
• Racine County down 3.9% in sales (172 units vs. 179 units)
• Kenosha County was up 38.6% in sales (158 units vs. 114 units)
• Walworth County up 35.6% in sales (122 units vs. 90 units)
Article compliments of The Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors - GMAR
Welcome to Wisconsin Real Estate with Lisa Bear
When you are seriously looking or just browsing at real estate in Wisconsin, I am a great resource to help you with all your needs and questions, whether a first time home buyer, relocating to or from the beautiful LAKE COUNTRY area, looking to invest or explore foreclosure opportunities or just thinking ahead to the future.
Lisa Bear of RE/MAX (262-893-5555) is an experienced real estate agent in Waukesha County and the entire Milwaukee Metro area including:
Great municipalities in Milwaukee County including Milwaukee, South Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, Hales Corners, Greenfield, Glendale, Franklin, Bayside, Brown Deer, Cudahy, Fox Point, Greendale, Shorewood, Oak Creek, St. Francis, West Allis and Whitefish Bay.
The hometown favorites of Washington County, Jefferson County and Dodge County including Watertown, Hartford, West Bend, Germantown, Jackson, Richfield, Ashippun, Lake Mills, Jefferson, Johnson Creek, Slinger and Erin.
Real Estate in Wisconsin is an excellent investment!
"HELPING YOU MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION"
Sunday, August 12, 2012
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