Market value is the main concept you must understand when determining the value of your home. But what is it and how can it help you price your home?

What is market value?

Market value is the amount prospective buyers are willing to pay at the time homeowners are ready to sell. The best way to find out the market value of your home is to ask me for help.  You will be able to decide what the best price for your home is by allowing me to provide and discuss with you a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA).

What is a CMA?

The CMA will include homes in your area that are currently on the market, expired from the market, pending a sale and already sold within the last three to six months. Of course, the best indicator of your home’s value is the price for similar homes in your area that have already been sold. The comparison is based on the proximity to your home and the similarity of characteristics such as lot size, square footage, number of bedrooms and baths, etc. Read more

Nothing is certain in the home-buying process until the keys are in your hand. There are still hurdles to jump before it’s yours, and your actions from start to closing can create slowdowns and even halt the sale. If you’re thinking of buying a home soon, here are the top five things not to do before closing on a home:

1. Don’t make a major purchase. While you might be imagining a new car to fit nicely in your garage, hold off. If you’re depending on a mortgage to move in, it’d be smart to wait until after closing for that car. An increase in your debt to income ratio reduces the amount of monthly income available for your mortgage payment.

2. Don’t change jobs unless it’s necessary. Lenders like to see a consistent job history. They aren’t usually as nervous if you change jobs within the same field, but it’s better to stay put until the new home is yours.

3. Don’t let your emotions take over. Keep a cool head during the entire home-buying process, especially during and after a home inspection. Be realistic. No home is perfect, especially older homes. Decide what type of repairs you can realistically tackle and then stick with the decision.

4. Don’t become best friends with the seller. It’s important to be friendly, but don’t get into too many long discussions with the sellers, because personality conflicts often cloud judgments. Remember, this is their home. A casual statement about ugly carpet might be enough to keep the seller from negotiating with you about repairs or other issues that crop up.

5. Don’t ignore lender requirements. Know what is expected of you and take care of it. That’s something you must handle yourself. Answer lender questions and provide required paperwork as quickly as possible — moving into a new home depends on it.

For more information on how you can make the buying process a seamless transaction, contact me today.

Joan Byrnes, SRES
Realty One Group
joan_byrnesmartin@msn.com
www.SunLakesLiving.com

So, here’s a question for you. Would you rather walk into a clean home or a dirty one? No, it’s not a trick question but it is an important one. You see, when it comes to selling a home, many people forget how important the answer to that question really is. Sellers get busy looking for their new home, preparing the kids for a move, packing up their belongings, getting organized for their new life and relocation so much that sometimes their home that’s for sale doesn’t get the TLC that’s needed to push it to the top of the buyers’ must-have list. Read more

Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or a long-time homeowner, Congress recently extended and expanded a home-buying tax credit for which you may qualify.

Current Homeowners…

If you’re an existing homeowner and would like to sell a principal residence (a location where you spend more than 50% of your time) that you’ve lived in consecutively for 5 of the past 8 years, then you may qualify for a tax credit of up to $6,500 on the purchase of a home between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010.

Qualifications… Read more