The Real Estate Market is Red Hot

Dear Friends and Clients,

If you’re like most people you’ve probably already heard about the incredible “turn around” in the real estate market. Bottom line…the market is Red Hot.

Buyers are purchasing properties at a record pace…honestly…at a frenzied pace. Just last week my team took 7 listings and all 7 were in escrow within a few days. It’s a good market for Buyers because interest rates are low and are holding steady for now.

It’s even a better market for Sellers. as many of you know I have sold over 3000 homes in my career (over 70 already this year) and I have a keen sense for opportunities and challenges in the market place. As a potential Seller you have a unique opportunity…every well priced home we list sells very quickly…the only challenge is you may have to move quickly too!

No worries though, we have a solution for that. There are many ways you can get the cash for selling your home NOW and not have to move until a later date. That’s a good deal.

So give us a ring and we’ll get you Top Dollar for your home. And Buyers…give a call too before this market really gets out of hand.

p.s. if you’re curious about the value of your home click here http://www.hellerthehomeseller.com/sell/ and I’ll personally review the recent sales in your area.

p.s.s for a full Market Trends report click here http://chrisheller.rereport.com

Chris Heller
_________________________
The Home Seller

Keller Williams Realty
Office 760.632.8408
Cell & Fax: 800.800.2978

Oh by the way, who do you know that we can help with buying or selling Real Estate?

Be Aware of Mortgage and Investment Fraud

Whenever there are good things in market places, there are people who want to take advantage by scamming the unknowing consumer. Some of the smartest people have fallen for some of the biggest real estate scams going. When you are making a sizable investment, it’s important to be aware of at least the most common types of real estate or mortgage fraud. This fraudulence can range from paperwork to inflated loan amounts. Follow us on Facebook for more advice daily https://www.facebook.com/HellerTheHomeSeller.

Title fraud is one way that a con artist tries to make a buck. This is done by stealing the homeowner’s identity and uses it to gain title to the property. In some cases, additional mortgages have been drawn against the property without the real homeowner’s knowledge. Always be cautious when giving anyone your social security number or any other personal information.

They can also try to get you by using your own surroundings; this are considered Local Investment Scams. When asking a potential investor for money, sometimes con artists will use local landmarks or familiar names to connect with you. Of course, be extremely wary of any inquiries to invest overseas. Always dig a little; investigate their site, ask your contact for their credentials, be sure to visit the investment property to validate the purported investment company’s actual involvement.

You should not deal with lenders who will allow you to embellish on your wealth to get a bigger loan. This is called Home Equity Stripping. Their angle is to give you more than you can handle so they can strip you of it down the line and make more money. If the application insinuates that you embellish, more to a new lender.

Home equity flipping on the other hand is when a lender asks you to refinance at a lower rate repeatedly; only to then hit you with application fees and interest for the new loans. This scam is a little harder to catch because of shifting funds. Be sure you know up front the fees and rate when looking to refinance.

These are just a couple of the scams to look out for and Ross Mortgage will cover more for you in posts to come. It is always important to do your research on all parties involved in any mortgage deal. Make sure everyone is working for the same results and that everyone will walk away with what they expected. You can always let us know your experiences too https://www.facebook.com/HellerTheHomeSeller.

Three Biggest Mistakes Sellers Make

There is a lot of work involved in selling a home. You need a trustworthy agent, proper staging and a marketing campaign to sell. There are some definite mistakes every first time seller makes and we’ll cover them here so you aren’t one of them.
For all your home selling needs, follow us https://www.facebook.com/HellerTheHomeSeller?ref=hl.

First and foremost is the price. Your home is worth a lot to you. A life was lived and loved there; however, you can’t put a price on your memories. Those are priceless, but your house itself has a definitely price that will get it to sell and sell quickly, but still get you what its full value. Having an experienced real estate Agent that knows the market inside out is essential in pricing fair and to sell.

Second is the condition. It matters. You can put the house to sell “as is,” but making minor improvements and using key staging techniques can make all the difference in both how fast you get an offer and how close to asking price that offer will be. Of course an entire remodel is probably out of the question, but making sure all lights work, cleaning the clutter and doing a little landscaping are certainly doable.

Third is marketing to sell. A lot of this comes with choosing your real estate team. It’s all about exposure. Draw people in and give them the home experience to make them want to buy. A combination of local and internet marketing are an absolute must. When interviewing agents, make sure you ask what measures they are going to take to get your house sold and make sure they are taking all steps necessary.

Avoid these three common mistakes and get on your way to putting a Sold sign on your house. Be sure you choose the right team to bring in the buyers and market your property for a quick sale. Have more questions about selling your home? Contact us today http://www.askhellerthehomeseller.com/ask-chris-heller.html.

Increasing your Home’s Value for Appraisal

Whether you are selling or refinancing your home, there is one inevitable step in the process and that is to have the property appraised. Paying someone hundreds of dollars to tell you how much or how little your home is worth can be nerve racking. But having an updated, and official, list of the improvements you have made since the last appraisal can be quite gratifying.

The reason appraisals are necessary is because they are objective. You feel your home is worth a certain amount and a buyer or bank may feel that it is worth something else. The appraisal makes an opinion with neither of you in mind. An appraiser analyses the condition of the home and then compares it to the other similar homes in the immediate area. There is an appraisal checklist to follow, which outlines the real value in the property. Based on their experience, they can also lower or raise the value of the home based on its condition and upkeep.

There are definitely things to consider so your home gets the highest value it can. Follow us on Facebook for real time information when you need it https://www.facebook.com/HellerTheHomeSeller.

Curb Appeal. Some studies estimate that well maintained and landscaped exterior may raise the appraisal value as much as 15%. Lot size of course has some to do with that value, but a clean, usable, and attractive yard adds a lot of value.

The Neighborhood. This topic includes local schools, shopping, public transportation locality, and price of local homes recently sold in the area. Vacant or condemned/run-down lots can have a negative effect on your property’s value. Your neighbors’ yards upkeep makes a difference. Even though you can’t make them mow their lawn, you can make sure that there are no code violations (such as a dilapidated garage door) that will affect your bottom line.

Sound and Sealed Structure. What’s your house made of? It makes a difference. For instance, a brick house is valued higher than a wood sided house because of its insulation, low-maintenance, and longevity. An appraiser is going to take a look at the infrastructure to make sure there are no major issues. He may even make some suggestions for some cosmetic fixes. It is always a good idea to power wash the home before showing; this can make a big difference.

Timeless or Trendy. Is your oven still that olive green color invented for appliances in the 60’s or has the home been updated in the last 5 years? All of this goes into the appraiser’s equation.

Baths Beds and Beyond. Updated and plentiful bathrooms with always add value to a home. You may want to consult someone to find out how much it may benefit you to even add another one. Also, did you know, a bedroom is not a bedroom without a closet? The checklist continues…

In Comparison. A huge factor in your home’s value is the sale price of other similar home in your same market place. This is where we lose control of how the value is reflected. Things considered are size, type of house, square footage, number of rooms, garage or no garage, etc.

There are many factors that go into an appraisal. The checklist is one thing, but an appraiser uses all of their education and experience into finding a fair market value for your home. For more on everything homes https://www.facebook.com/HellerTheHomeSeller.

Heller Talks Fire Safety

We can conserve energy and waste less, but what good is that if we allow everything to go up in smoke? Fire safety is a major topic for most homeowners. Not only is this an investment, but in most cases, it is the roof over your head. There are simple things you can do to significantly lower your risk of losing your home to a devastating fire. The majority of fires are preventable. For all things Heller the Home Seller, follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HellerTheHomeSeller.

The first step is to be aware of the fire hazards around you. Flammable or combustible products should be kept in the label’s advised temperatures with proper labels and containers. Their area should be well ventilated and they should only be kept with other compatible products. Ideally these products would be kept outside, away from the house, and as few kept as possible.
Leaving a lot of paper (newspapers and magazines) or other ignitable fabrics (long curtains) can help cause a fire to spread faster if not act as the wick. Clutter blocking evacuation routes can endanger everyone in the home; this especially includes walkways, doorways and hallways.

Get your defense mechanisms in order! Always have operational smoke detectors! They give you early warning of a fire. It is best to have them on all levels of your home, especially outside of sleeping areas. They need to be tested and vacuumed once a month.

Check the electrical. Any loose or frayed cords need to be thrown out. Overloaded extension cords are a disaster waiting to happen. Running cords along the floor, under carpets and rugs or through doorways can cause damage or cuts in the cord leaving a very dangerous situation.

Keep extinguishers on hand. There should be one in your garage, kitchen, basement and any workshops. Make sure to read all the labels so you are trying to figure out how it works during the emergency and only use an extinguisher on a small fire.

And of course, have a family escape plan. Have a plan A and a plan B for each family member just in case. Then, decide on a place outside of the home where everyone can meet. Make sure everyone knows that once you are outside of the home, do not re-enter until the fire department gives the ok. Try to practice this drill every six months.

Fire can be a scary topic to talk about with your children, but it is so important in empowering them with information that could save their life. Protect your investment, your home and your family. Follow us on Facebook for all of your home needs https://www.facebook.com/HellerTheHomeSeller.

The Time in Real Estate to Do It All

Dear Friends and Clients,

By now most of you have heard…the real estate market is red hot. Last week we listed a home in La Jolla and it sold within 48 hours! Some sellers have been hesitant to list their homes in the past couple of years, and rightfully so, however now is the time to sell. Prices are on the rise in many areas and interest rates are low. This is the time to make that move up or down.

Another phenomena taking place is we have clients who don’t have enough equity to refinance are as a creative solution, making lateral moves. They are are getting out of 5-6% interest rates and into 3-4% rates trading homes and lowering their monthly out go…here are several more reasons why you may want to call us today to discuss your options.

1. The inventory of homes for sale is extremely LOW…this means there is demand for your home.

2. Many buyers are scouring the landscape to buy a home now.

3. Prices are ticking UP.

4. LOW interest rates averaging 3.5%…if rates go up…prices may stall.

5. Little or NO negotiations after inspections.

6. 35% of the buyers are CASH buyers…wow.

7. Little inconvenience – homes are selling FAST.

8. Still a great time to be a BUYER.

9. Buyers have been saving their money…most qualify for a mortgage.

10. MULTIPLE offers are coming in on every listing.- (you’ve got a great negotiator on your side!)

Whether buying, selling or investing, with interest rates still at historic low it is a great time to be making a move. Pick up the phone, send me an email, we are here to help you achieve your goals!

For a full Market Trends Report, Click Here

Chris Heller
_________________________
The Home Seller

Keller Williams Realty
Office 760.632.8408
Cell & Fax: 800.800.2978

Oh by the way, who do you know that we can help with buying or selling Real Estate?

Dear friends and colleagues,

here is a thought I shared with my team and wanted to pass it on…

Get good from it

Instead of worrying about how difficult it is, focus on how
good it can be. Instead of being intimidated by the
challenges, choose to be energized and inspired by them.

Whatever the situation may be, you can get good from it.
Keep that potential goodness at the center of your
awareness, and advance confidently in the direction of the
best possibilities.

People will doubt you, laugh at you, complain and oppose
you. Yet none of that really matters so much, because even
when they do, you can get good from it.

There’s no need to fret about what might or might not be.
Simply make the commitment that whatever may come, you will
do whatever is necessary to get good from it.

Always, there is much goodness in life. Better yet, there is
the possibility for much, much more.

You are able to bring that new goodness into being, no matter what. In every situation, take this moment, this day, this week, this month, this year, and this life, and get good from it.

Chris Heller
_________________________
The Home Seller

Keller Williams Realty
Office 760.632.8408
Cell & Fax: 800.800.2978

Oh by the way, who do you know that we can help with buying or selling Real Estate?