Judy Kivela's Real Estate Blog | Butte, MT | Sell a Home, Real Estate Market, Homes for Sale, Foreclosures, Home Improvement, Buy a House

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judykivela
Judy Kivela
Broker/Owner
    Years of Experience: 26

    CRS: Certified Residential Specialist
    GRI: Graduate REALTOR® Institute
    CDPE Certified Distress Property Expert, SRS
    WHS: Workforce Housing Specialist

Direct: (406) 491-5777

Office: 406-491-5777



Company Info

Kivela Montana Realtors
3100 Harrison Avenue
Butte, Montana
406-491-5777


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A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

First time buyers… excited to find a good deal, afraid of overextending themselves, confused by all the conflicting reports about real estate.  Well, that might describe any or all buyers right now, but those making their very first purchase may feel elevated levels of all these emotions.  It helps to have someone offer you some guidance.

Don’t be afraid to make your move now, regardless of what you’ve been hearing about the market.  With affordability so high, you’ll find a flurry of activity out there, so you’re not alone in making the right decision to begin your home search.

Just try not to exercise excessive caution, or you may suffer what has been termed “paralysis by analysis.”  Your real estate representative will present you with all the facts and figures you need, and help you to interpret the data so that you can make a sound choice.

Now is not the time to vacillate about whether prices or interest rates will still drop.  There is nowhere to go now but up.  If rates rise to 7.5% (still historically low), the home’s price would have to be reduced nearly 20% to offset the difference in monthly payments.

Set aside your uncertainties.  Chat with an agent who can help you determine your financial footing, and show you an inventory of well-suited homes matched to your particular goals.

For responsible service in all your

Real Estate needs call, Judy Kivela 406-491-5777

Don’t Forget to Inspect the Butte, MT Homes for Sale!

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

Just because you’ve found some interesting Butte homes for sale doesn’t mean your house hunt is up. There’s much more to do before signing those closing papers, and one of the biggest is having the home inspected. In fact, getting a home inspection will probably be drilled into you by your real estate agent. Yes, it’s that important.

What can you find out from a home inspection report?

Although many people do get a home inspection, just as many have a difficult time deciphering the reports to find out what’s serious and what isn’t. To make it worse, inspections vary from state to state. Fortunately, the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors, who has a list of inspectors all around the United States and Canada, has a specific set of guidelines.

General Inspection

A general inspection doesn’t require a specific license. It covers such things as:

  • Structure – how well the walls, ceiling, foundation and more are put together
  • Exterior evaluation – landscaping, elevation, drainage, windows
  • Plumbing – Checks the condition of piping and identifies the materials used
  • Roof and attic – framing, flashing, gutters, ventilation
  • Systems – water heaters, duct work, air conditioning, chimney, furnaces, sprinklers
  • Garage – Slab, firewall, garage door
  • Appliances – including smoke detectors
  • Electrical – main panel, types of wiring, grounding, circuit breakers, light fixtures and more

The inspection reports will state whether the Butte  homes for sale have serious health and safety issues, bad or old roofs, systems malfunctions, foundation problems, and moisture and drainage problems.

Special Inspection

Some things require a specific license for inspection. Although you may not want to spend the extra money, these things can cause the “sick house syndrome” (people getting sick a lot for no recognizable reason). These problems should not be ignored:

  • Asbestos
  • Radon
  • Formaldehyde
  • Mold, mildew and fungi
  • Rodents
  • Lead
  • Methane
  • Radiation

Some issues aren’t big and can be dealt with fairly easily. Other things, however, are expensive fixes and usually deal breakers. Before you sign closing papers on one of the [city] homes for sale, get that inspection done to find out what you’re really getting.

If you’re looking for a healthy home in good condition, I can help. Call me at 406-491-1234 or email me for more information.

Links:

National Association of Certified Home Inspectors:  http://www.nachi.org/

Structure

http://www.oldhouseweb.com/how-to-advice/home-inspection/

Sick house syndrome

http://www.avianweb.com/sickhousesyndrome.html

Market Recap

  • Avg. Sales Price: $102,209

  • Avg. Days on Market: 119

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