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Monday, February 21, 2011

Sellers need to make sure they pick an agent who's educated about the current real estate market, NOT the one who is going to tell them what they want to hear, like a high asking price not supported by the comparables. In today's real estate market buyers are NOT going to over pay for a home and if they need financing their lender is going to make sure they are not over paying by having an appraisal done. Call Scott for more help at 608-214-9844

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

The field of real estate is loaded with land mines. You need a true expert to guide you through the dangerous pitfalls that currently exist. Finding a buyer willing to pay fair market value for your home at a time that there are mass inventories of foreclosures and short sales will take a true real estate professional. Finding reasonable financing can also be tricky in today’s lending environment.
Allow me to help you navigate the shifting sands of realestate.
Reason #4 Why buy NOW?
Your Dream Home Will Never Be Cheaper
If your family goal is to sell your current house and take advantage of the fabulous selection of properties currently available to buy the home of your dreams, DO IT NOW! Prices will continue to soften in most markets. However, if you are buying, COST should be more important than PRICE. Cost can be dramatically impacted by rising mortgage interest rates. Do the math and decide if now is the time.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Buying a home? What repairs is the home in need of? This is a question that many buyers do not stop to think about until the home is purchased and they are moving in. Your Realtor should suggest on the offer to purchase that you hire a home inspector. In many cases, an inspection will catch hidden flaws that the eye can’t see, but even an inspector might miss something. Be careful when you are buying homes that you do not get into something that is more work than it is worth. You are making a huge investment and you do not want to spend all that money on something that will cost you thousands to repair.
Call Scott Larson of Towne Square Realtors for assistance 608-214-9844
Reason #4 Why use a Realtor
Paperwork by the volumes is part of the job description of the Realtor. If anyone tells you they do not have to go through a lot of paperwork they would be lying. Volumes of papers must be gone through to make everything is perfect before a contract can be executed. This is a part of our job that is very time consuming. Many people would not choose handle this and that is why they hire a professional to take care of it.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Despite the rising number of renters across the country, it is cheaper to buy a home rather than rent one in 72 percent of the 50 largest cities in the U.S., according to an index released by real estate search and marketing site Trulia.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

If you are painting for resale here's what new for 2011
It’s amazing how colors can both affect our mood and represent the world around us at the same time.
Four trends :
Farm
Order
Escape
Tribe
I’ll do my best to describe them here.
Farm
Yes, there is a return to farm-inspired colors. It mirrors society’s need to get back-to-basics.
Think cow prints, textured hay and burlap feedbags, and the creative the use of repurposed farm tools.
You’ll see tea-stained colors for a rustic tie-dye effect. Imagine the vibrant colors of fruits and vegetables at your local farm stand. Yes, those peas/corn/carrots from the 70’s are coming back!
Whites will become milkier, and you’ll see more butter yellow and creams. And green will still be hot.
Earthy soil will replace the cooler gray tones as the strong neutral.
Oak cabinets will come back in vogue.
You’ll even see more stencils, needlepoint and yes…even macramé plant hangers.
Order
It’s easy to see how this trend reflects on today’s need to find order in the chaos of the day.
Look for minimalistic, geometric, stacking, sort of a modern Puritanism influence.
The use of outlining gives structure, bright stripes and polka dots are easily defined.
Primary colors are coming back, but look for the use of monochrome color schemes to continue.
Black and white with pops of color (primary especially) will be in.
Escape
If getting back to the farm, or find order in chaos don’t work for you, how about escaping from reality?
A translucent, soft retro feeling that inspires elegant fantasies and fairy tales.
Angelic clouds form a veil of wonder. Lots of frosted, pearl and satin finishes. Pink becomes the new red in this trend.
Tribe
As we simplify our lives and get back to what’s core to our values, it only makes sense that there will be a renewed importance place on communities, or tribes.
Imagine rich orange and berry hues paired with spicy browns and bronze metallic.
Tribal accents such as community-inspired sketch’s, beads and new textures will be key elements in this trend.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

BENEFITS OF BUYER AGENCY AND WORKING WITH A BUYER AGENT
When we enter into a buyer agency agreement together, we are required to serve you as our client. As our client, you receive a number of benefits, including:
1. We act as your advisor, by providing you with information and advice on the real estate matters that affect your transaction.
2. We protect and advance your best interests. When you are our sole client, we work for you. We don't provide advice to any other parties in your transaction. Our number one job is to serve your interests and your goals.
3. We negotiate for you and carry out your negotiation according to your directions. We help you formulate your strategy by providing you with the information, research and advice that is relevant to your purchase.
WHAT IS A BUYER AGENCY AGREEMENT?
Buyer agency is a service agreement that you enter into with the brokerage of the Realtor who is assisting you with the purchase of your home. The agreement is voluntary. Among other things, it clarifies the relationship between you and your Realtor's brokerage and outlines the duties that are owed to you, the client.
Tip #5 Getting things ready to sell your home. Here are some of the things I recommend locking away or packing up include:
* Jewelry
* Cash (I have walked into a house and seen a lot of cash laying on a table, out in the open)
* Prescription Drugs (These have become a high theft item)
* Guns ( A loaded handgun may be your protection in the nightstand, but not for the kid of a customer walking through a showing)
* Collectibles ( You don't want to see it show up on Antiques Roadshow)

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Now let‘s take a look at the home buying process for 2010

41% of all homes sold were on the market for less than one month

17% of all buyers purchased a home for less than 90 percent asking price

11% of all buyers purchased a home for more than 100% asking price

81% of all buyers were satisfied with the homebuying process

40% of all purchasers found the mortgage process more difficult than expected

92% of all purchasers were not rejected by a single lender

95% of all purchasers got a fixed-rate mortgage.

85% of all purchases are re-sales (78% in 2006).

12 miles was the average distance between current residence and new home