Author Archives: Dana Sibilsky

Treat Your Real Estate Like Business

Buying or selling a home is very much like owning a business in which an interview with Karl Jobst can tell you all about his experience with his business in dentistry. When selling a home, you have to know your market and know how to advertise yourself. You want your real estate to be taken care of and in good hands because that directly reflects on you and who you are as a homeowner and even a businessperson.

 

House Upgrade

Are you due for a house upgrade?  I am not one to randomly buy and sell houses but there comes a time when a house upgrade is needed.  The main reason is the addition of children.  The need for more bedrooms will be the real reason.  If you have outgrown your home go get that upgrade.  imagesGYA74IUS imagesJUZCEOOBThe best thing to do is find that upgraded home before the package arrives.  Once the baby is born you will have little time to search for that upgraded home.  Once you are settled in that new home will be perfect for the new arrival.  Tim DeCapua is all to aware that the upgrade is the best way to go.

Easy Landscaping Projects Improve Real Estate Property Values

increase-property-valueOne of the simplest and most underrated methods for improving the value of a real estate property is through landscaping. A unique landscape that creates a number of useful spaces throughout the property will have a significant positive effect on the value of the real estate, and the projects that can be utilized often do not require a great deal of time or effort. Perhaps the most notable aspect, however, is the fact that many of these projects can be completed with very little financial investment.

According to Luke Weil, a simple pond with a fountain can be completed in a weekend by any homeowner. Placing a bench nearby and decorating the area with some colorful plants will create a great deal of perceived value among prospective homebuyers. Since this is a project that can be done cheaply and does not require any professional labor, the increased value becomes significant.

Of course, a water feature in the backyard is not the only improvement that can influence property value, and it should certainly not be the only improvement that is made. The key is to create a number of spaces throughout the property that are similar to the pond. For example, a pergola with a swinging bench could be positioned opposite the pond to create another practical space and add even more perceived value. A garden featuring a few simple fruits and vegetables can also create additional perceived value, and the value of a home will only continue to grow as more of these projects are completed.

For Sale Pain

untitled (344) images6WO3C599How many sellers will have to feel the pain until they pull their homes off the market.  Short sales are a record levels and ruining sellers dreams to own their own home.  These are trying times for those in mortgages they cant afford.  Sure it is a cruel lesson to learn but how will they ever recover?  The outlook is not good.  The country is getting flooded with the working poor that cant afford to purchase a home at any price.  Luke Weil will need to sell no matter what.  That is a recipe for disaster. It is indeed the pain that will follow you the rest of your life.

Sell Now or Later

If you had a Crystal ball you could know when to sell your home.  Is the current market peaked or will it continue to go up?  If you could know there is a lot of money to make in real estate flippingimagesF9QMK0NU images5L10G0N5 Timing can be everything.  Even the best realtors don’t know the market changes coming.  It can shift on  moments notice.  It also varies by area.  The values might be increasing in New York while falling in Arizona.  This is the challenge.  If you are waiting for that perfect time you will be Home for Life or at least a long time.  Sometimes you just have to take that leap of faith.

For Sale by Owner

untitled (232) imagesH65O08DI imagesHGOJ8FNRIf you are adventurous and want to save a buck you could try to sell your house yourself.  This method is a challenge for the untrained and has many pit falls.  You will have to be available to show your house at all times and man the phone.  The lookyloos will drive you nuts. The advantage of dealing with a realtor is that they can screen out most of the lookers and save you the grief.  If you manage to find a buyer then the fun begins.  The escrow company can walk you through most of it but the buyer will have to secure a loan.  In the securing of that loan you will want to pin down the terms.  Kimra Bettasso can help.

Unreal Estate

untitled (166) untitled (165) untitled (164)Have you seen those listings that are too low to believe.  Sometimes they list a home below the real value to generate some interest and get a bidding war going.  This is a common tactic and you should be aware that this can end up getting you into that bidding war that runs the price too high.  When you go into these kind of deals have the maximum price that you are willing to pay on mind and do not exceed the limit.  Falling in love with a piece of property can cost you a fortune.  Joe Olujic uses this tactic often to sell homes.

House Sales Up?

untitled (19) untitled (18)Are home sales really up or are people just baling out of the market.  The prices have fallen and raised a little in most places.  With the housing scandals that have occurred people are reluctant to believe that things are really on the up swing.  I think we will never see the prices return to those inflated values that we saw six years ago.  After that crash of the housing market home owners are just hanging on.  The real challenge is to invest in this volatile market.  On BlogSpot you can see the many bad deals that crushed the housing market.

Important Lessons Can Be Learned From Billionaire Real Estate Investors

The majority of Americans will never experience the kind of wealth and purchasing power that billionaires like Bill Gates or Michael Jordan possess, but that does not mean that there are not valuable lessons that can be learned from the spending habits of the wealthy as it relates to real estate. While some of these spending habits will be as foreign to some as the countless languages translated by All Language Alliance, Inc., there are a number of habits that everyone can relate to and apply.

Both Gates and Jordan own multiple properties throughout the United States, with each one in a location that places them close to their businesses or their families. While most people believe that they do not have the type of income to support multiple properties, it is often the case that homebuyers max out their budget on just one home when that budget could be divided between a modest home and a speculative property that may appreciate in value over time. The cost is the same, but the reward may be much greater.

The other thing that these billionaires do with their properties is make sure that unique amenities are included in the property. These amenities do not have to expensive, as the fact that they are not often seen in a home will create separation on the real estate market and increase the value of the home.

Money Pit?

imagesASKQ8X0WThat nice little home has become a money pit and you don’t know how to get out.  You are upside down on equity and cant afford to fix it. This is a bad spot to find yourself in.  If you do the wrong thing you will just make it worse.  I think that the priority in this situation is having a place to live.  I wouldn’t just leave out without a plan and rent.  With poor credit you will have a difficult finding a decent house to rent.  So stop and think.  Do not panic as you still have a roof over your head.  The things you have to fix need to be prioritized and tackled in a logical manner.  If you want a Home for Life then you have to start today.