Homes are being purchased—how are sellers doing it?

All homes are different and there isn’t one simple strategy that works well for every home.  However, the real goal is to understand that today’s real estate market is cash driven and very competitive.  Home seller’s that understand the market and work with a well-qualified brokerage are the most likely to succeed with the successful sale of their home.

In March of 2012, nearly 1/3^rd of all home sales were “cash” (the buyer was not dependent upon financing, the sale of their current residence, etc).  Instead, a cash buyer has the ability to close the transaction quickly instead of waiting for financing to be prepared or the sale of the existing residence.

There are 6 basic rules which typically provide success with the sale of a home:

1)       Curb Appeal:  The majority of home purchasers want a home that looks great from the outside.  It is a matter of perception since if the home looks good from the street then the potential buyer surmises that it most likely means the home is ready for a new occupant and does not need a lot of improvement.  Potential home purchasers tend to bypass a home that doesn’t appeal to them from the road—not even bothering to look inside.

2)      No Cluttter:  Home owners must allow potential buyers to view a clutter free home.  A clutter free home will present the interior  space as “larger” and abolishes the need to get rid of “stuff” when in the midst of moving.  It is very wise to reduce the clutter prior to the home being placed onto the market.

3)      Working condition:  The home’s systems being in great mechanical condition is a positive in today’s market since most distressed property cannot compete when it comes to the basics (heating, air conditions, appliances, etc).  Homes that easily get through a home inspection are typically easier to financing and are generally more appealing to home purchasers which are afraid of future costs.

4)      List and negotiate properly:  A seasoned real estate broker can easily show home sellers how to market and sell a home according to factors such as location, price, condition, and financing types. Hiring a qualified real estate broker to help with the sale of your home will alleviate concerns due to the market knowledge and experience provided.

5)      Seek Qualified Buyers:  Although cash transactions have increased, the majority of sales still require financing to be provided to the buyer for the successful sale of the home.  It is very, very frustrating to enter into a purchase and sale agreement with a home purchaser who ultimately is unable to obtain funds to purchase the home.  The home seller, in turn, has lost time on market (and potentially money) and has to start from scratch to locate an alternate purchaser.  It will be important to ensure that the buyer has a loan approval letter “in hand” prior to accepting an offer to purchase.  Lender approval letters are not binding but the document will at least show that the buyer did take the time to meet with a mortgage brokerage to gain knowledge of their financing capability.

6)      Distressed properties:  Approximately 30% of all home sales involve distressed property (short sales, foreclosed property/bank owned homes).  It will be important to evaluate the amount of distressed property and pricing in your vicinity so that your home can be priced appropriately.  Distressed property typically sells at a discount yet as mentioned previously, most distressed homes for sale require TLC.  Homes in good condition obtain higher purchase prices.

Becoming a home owner will most likely never be as inexpensive as what it is today.  Real estate experts surmise that the year of 2012 will be the last chance for potential home purchasers to take advantage of the best buys of the weak housing market.

With mortgage interests rates at record lows and home prices down nearly 40% nationally since 2006, buying real estate has never been more affordable.  Unfortunately, all good things will eventually come to an end.  The chief economist for PNC Financial Services says that he believes home prices will stabilize by the 3^rd quarter of 2012 and start increasing by 2013.

The decline in the amount of foreclosures along with (and most importantly) positive job growth will continue to help with the real estate market rebound.  Additionally, home purchasers should have access to mortgages as credit scores and personal finances begin to recover.

Prospective home purchasers currently sitting on the fence shouldn’t fret too much if not quite ready to pull the trigger.  Most real estate experts predict that the initial price gains will be modest in most market.  Interest rates, on the other hand, may being their incline at a more rapid pace.

Interested in taking advantage of the currently real estate market?  If so, call me directly for a free consultation:  208-869-3469

3324 E Rock Court   Nampa, ID  83687

HUD HOME containing 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and 1144 square feet! Located in an established & well-kept community, this home is in very good condition & is located just a hop-skip & jump from the freeway. The interior is open & bright, containing vaulted ceilings, recessed lighting, plant shelves & a split bedroom design. The kitchen overlooks the living area—ideal for entertaining. The exterior holds an oversized back patio (perfect for spring/summer BBQ’s), an abundance of fruit trees & RV parking potential. Priced at only $67,000.  Call today to view the interior!

The seller of this HUD home for sale may provide a closing cost credit of 3% to be included with the purchase of this home.

An approximate monthly payment for this HUD owned Nampa home for sale at the asking price of $67,000 while placing 3.5% down (4.5% interest rate—taxes and insurance(s) included) would be at or around $425.00  monthly—why rent?!?  **qualified 1^st time homebuyers may be eligible for programs which offer $500 down payment options**

Please visit http://www.trustidaho.com/search/#PropertyID=46688720 to view detailed information and additional photos of this HUD home for sale.

**INVESTORS—call me now if you’re sick and tired of your hard earned funds sitting in non-performing stocks or low interest bearing savings accounts.  The time is NOW to invest in real property that will obtain at least $650 per month in rental income (not to mention future pricing appreciation).

Interested in obtaining information on all HUD owned homes for sale?  I am happy to forward a list of available HUD owned homes within 24 hours upon obtaining your request.  Please call me at 208-869-3469 or send your request to:  matt@trustidaho.com

Call today for additional information or to view the interior of this or alternate HUD  homes for sale!

The push toward a 15-year fixed mortgage rate has never been more appealing because the interest rate benefit over the 30-year fixed rate has never been larger.  The rate benefit on a 15-year fixed rate in comparison to a 30-year fixed rate is about .875%.  Prior to the real estate crisis, the difference between a 30-year fixed rate and a 15-year fixed rate was .375% to .5%.

For example, there are 2 $100,000 loans—one which is involved in a 15-year mortgage at 3.125% and the other at a 30-year fixed rate at 4%.  At the 30 year plan the monthly payment is $477.42 and at the 15-year plan the monthly payment is $696.61.  After just 15 years, the borrower with the 15-year fixed rate mortgage has paid 39K+ more but is out of debt whereas the borrower with the 30-year mortgage still owes $64,543.

Granted, there is a flip side.  A well-qualified borrower could use the 30-year loan and invest the difference in in payment from a 15-year mortgage to a 30-year mortgage.  Thus, offsetting the higher interest rate on the 30-year mortgage.   Some financial advisors recommend this type of approach to build wealth more quickly.

The challenge with making a program such as the one mentioned above work is that the rate of return on the cash invested must exceed the rate on the 30-years loan.

Another option is to obtain a 30-year mortgage yet pay the mortgage as if using a 15-year mortgage.  By doing this, the homeowner would have the option to pay the lower monthly payment during a difficult financial month yet will still decrease the principle balance drastically when paying additional money toward principle on the “good months”.

724 S Valley Dr  Nampa, ID  83686

HUD home situated within a well-established neighborhood near medical services & shopping and containing 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and 1438 square feet. The interior contains vaulted ceilings, ceiling fans, recessed lighting, window seats, some updated fixtures & a separate family room/office. The master suite is over-sized & the kitchen holds a corner pantry. The exterior is fenced & has a covered back patio. Priced at only $74,000.  Call today to view the interior!

The seller of this HUD home for sale may provide a closing cost credit of 3% to be included with the purchase of this home.

An approximate monthly payment for this HUD owned Nampa home for sale at the asking price of $74,000 while placing 3.5% down (4.5% interest rate—taxes and insurance(s) included) would be at or around $575.00  monthly—why rent?!?  **qualified 1^st time homebuyers may be eligible for programs which offer $500 down payment options**

Please visit http://www.trustidaho.com/search/#PropertyID=46259919 to view detailed information and additional photos of this HUD home for sale.

**INVESTORS—call me now if you’re sick and tired of your hard earned funds sitting in non-performing stocks or low interest bearing savings accounts.  The time is NOW to invest in real property that will obtain at least $650 per month in rental income (not to mention future pricing appreciation).

Interested in obtaining information on all HUD owned homes for sale?  I am happy to forward a list of available HUD owned homes within 24 hours upon obtaining your request.  Please call me at 208-869-3469 or send your request to:  matt@trustidaho.com

Call today for additional information or to view the interior of this or alternate HUD  homes for sale!

The top 10 markets for rising list prices can be viewed below:

Location: Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz.

Location: Miami

Location: Boise-Nampa, Idaho

Location: Punta Gorda, Fla.

Location: Washington, D.C.-Md.-Va.-W.Va. (Md.)

Location:Washington, D.C.-Md.-Va.-W.Va. (D.C.)

Location: Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc, Calif.

Location: Daytona Beach, Fla.

Location: West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, Fla.

Location: Naples, Fla.

Making an effort to clear out clutter to ensure that your home is as neat and tidy as possible before opening your door to potential home buyers is great advice when placing your home on the market.

A tidy home is “vital” when opening your home to potential buyers because most home buyers want to picture themselves someplace better and more beautiful than what they are currently living in now.  Buyers tend to want the perceived thought that if they move in the home it will still be organized, clean and attractive.  If a potential buyer walks into a cluttered home then that “feeling” will obviously not be felt.

Even if your home is in good structural and cosmetic condition yet still cluttered, potential home buyers will think that the home needs renovation which lowers the value of the home in the buyers mind.

I know, cleaning up isn’t always an easy task and parting with items that have an emotional value can be very difficult for a lot of people—me included. Most understand the need to de-clutter—it doesn’t cost much money yet does weigh on ones psyche.

Unfortunately, packing personal belongings into boxes that remain in the home isn’t much a solution since most potential home buyers will assume that there is not enough space within the home upon viewing boxes sitting in the corners of rooms.  Placing boxes into closets isn’t ideal, either, since buyers want to know that there is plenty of storage space contained within the home.

Getting prepared to move is a perfect time to get rid of un-needed items.  The advantage of ridding yourself of items that collect dust is that you are going to spend less money for someone to move you and you are also going to spend less money on storage.  Just don’t expect to de-clutter over a weekend—it takes most homeowners weeks, if not months, to complete the de-cluttering task. Remember, one step at a time!

Be ruthless . . . if you’re unsure about an item, GET RID OF IT!

2822 E Maryland Avenue  Nampa, ID  83686

Great neighborhood, great buy!!  Encompassing 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms and 2499 square feet, this HUD home for sale is located in a well-established community near medical services, shopping and I-84The main level has an office and the master suite with vaulted ceilings, dual vanities, a garden tub & walk-in closet. Interior amenities include: cathedral ceilings in the living room, transom windows, durable flooring, crown molding, recessed lighting, ceiling fans in every room & a wonderful kitchen w/gas range. The exterior has a covered back deck, sprinklers & 2 RV parking spaces.   Priced at only $126,000.  Call today to view the interior!

The seller of this HUD home for sale may provide a closing cost credit of 3% to be included with the purchase of this home.

An approximate monthly payment for this HUD owned Nampa home for sale at the asking price of $126,000 while placing 3.5% down (4.5% interest rate—taxes and insurance(s) included) would be at or around $955.00  monthly—why rent?!?  **qualified 1^st time homebuyers may be eligible for programs which offer $500 down payment options**

Please visit http://www.trustidaho.com/search/#PropertyID=45889129 to view detailed information and additional photos of this HUD home for sale.

**INVESTORS—call me now if you’re sick and tired of your hard earned funds sitting in non-performing stocks or low interest bearing savings accounts.  The time is NOW to invest in real property that will obtain at least $650 per month in rental income (not to mention future pricing appreciation).

Interested in obtaining information on all HUD owned homes for sale?  I am happy to forward a list of available HUD owned homes within 24 hours upon obtaining your request.  Please call me at 208-869-3469 or send your request to:  matt@trustidaho.com

Call today for additional information or to view the interior of this or alternate HUD  homes for sale!

Below you will find in-depth information which was provided by Park Place Property Management:

1212 W Aberdeen Ave  Nampa, ID  83686

Hurry, deals like this won’t be around for long!!  Encompassing 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and 1149 square feet, this HUD home for sale is located in a well-established community near medical services and shopping. The interior is open & bright and contains vaulted ceilings, plant shelves, recessed lighting, tile back-splashes, ceiling fans, window seats and a garden tub in the master bathroom. The kitchen of this HUD home for sale has a breakfast bar, pantry & refrigerator. The exterior contains a large storage shed, back patio & has RV parking with dual gates.  Priced at only $61,000.  Call today to view the interior!

The seller of this HUD home for sale may provide a closing cost credit of 3% to be included with the purchase of this home.  Priced at only $120,000!

An approximate monthly payment for this HUD owned Nampa home for sale at the asking price of $61,000 while placing 3.5% down (4.5% interest rate—taxes and insurance(s) included) would be at or around $462.00  monthly—why rent?!?  **qualified 1^st time homebuyers may be eligible for programs which offer $500 down payment options**

Please visit http://www.trustidaho.com/search/#PropertyID=45519911 to view detailed information and additional photos of this HUD home for sale.

**INVESTORS—call me now if you’re sick and tired of your hard earned funds sitting in non-performing stocks or low interest bearing savings accounts.  The time is NOW to invest in real property that will obtain at least $650 per month in rental income (not to mention future pricing appreciation).

Interested in obtaining information on all HUD owned homes for sale?  I am happy to forward a list of available HUD owned homes within 24 hours upon obtaining your request.  Please call me at 208-869-3469 or send your request to:  matt@trustidaho.com

Call today for additional information or to view the interior of this or alternate HUD  homes for sale!