Real Estate Trends in Media PA

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Media, PA, United States
Direct: 610-420-0498 Office 610-627-4937 BHHS Fox and Roach Realtors Email: Branka@BrankaDoych.com Visit my website: www.BrankaDoych.com

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Home staging ideas – Dining Room

Home Staging for Dollars – Dining Room

When you are about to place your home on the market: prepare, prepare, prepare! Today’s buyers expect to buy a home at a “great” ( below market value) price or to have a turn-key home, ready to move into and to live!

Dining Room is a very important part of buyer’s vision of how they see their life in this home. They need to see themselves entertaining their family and friends with pride and full of joy. Show them how! Prepare for showings as if you are going to have that special party for your family and friends, remember, this is no longer your home, it is a house to sell - let it shine!

• Clean or remove drapes
• Wash or paint walls
• Clean or replace carpets
• Remove all valuables or personal collections
• Take leaves out of the table and limit number of chairs
• Set the table for an upcoming holiday feast!
• Be sure to use "good" china, nice glasses, fresh fruit and flowers or great imitations of these
• Candles are great to have, however, no need to burn them, some people are allergic or may not care for your choice of fragrance.

Have fun with it! You will be glad later - it will pay off!

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Buyers and Renters: Several reasons why you may wish to own a home.

1. Tax Breaks The U.S. Tax Code lets you deduct interest and part of other costs involved in buying a home.

2. Equity – Money paid for rent is helping pay landloard's mortgage. Payments on your mortgage are building your equity in your own home.

3. Appreciation – Long term,  real estate has a stable growth value. Median price values have increased 88.5% over the last 10 year period… according to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

4. Predictability – unlike rent your fixed rate mortgage stays the same over 10, 20 or 30 year period as determined at the time of purchase. You can even refinance for a lower rate and potentially have a lower payment in a few years. Keep in mind that property taxes and insurance cost will go up. Rent will always go up.

5. Savings – building equity in your home is a readymade savings plan. Even when you sell your home if the laws do not change you can take up to $250,000 or $500,000 for a couple in capital gains.

6. Stability – Remaining in a neighborhood for several years gives you a chance to participate in community, create a circle of friends for adults and children that lasts a life time sometimes, offers stability of education for children.

7. Freedom – you do not need to live with white walls, the home is yours, you can paint and decorate any color and any way you wish inside or out ( unless it is a historic community)

And there is this gift: biggest gift ever, $8000 tax credit for 1st time buyers - think about this: how long will it take you to save $8000.00 for a down payment on a new home?  Check with a qualified and reputable mortgage company to find out if you qualify for a loan, knowledge is power and you have nothing to lose, may be an hour or so... Once you know what you can and cannot do, get a professional to help you find that perfect home for you and for your family.  There are only few weeks left. Best of luck!
  
Online resources: To calculate whether buying is the best financial option for you, use the “Buy vs. Rent” calculator at http://www.ginniemae.gov./

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Home Staging ideas Living Room

Home Staging for Dollars - Living room


If your plan is to move your home needs to be prepared for sale to meet today’s buyers' requirements. The way we live is not the way we present a home when it is on the market. Here are some very basic ideas to help you with this process.

Living room and family room - review and create a specific plan of action with dates and times:

• Wash or paint walls, analyze wallpaper
• Clean or replace carpets
• Clean or remove drapes
• Remove furniture which blocks easy passage
• Remove all newspapers, magazines and books from floors and tables
• Remove small loose area rugs (trip hazards)
• Remove all photographs, valuables, breakables and collections
• Minimize accessories and plants to only 1-3 per surface, table, mantle, etc.
• Remove extra, pillows and throws
• Remove ashes from fireplace and close screen (add candles for off-season)