Karen Kayser's Cedar Falls Real Estate Blog

Buying a Home in Cedar Falls, IA

Karen Kayser — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:26:00 +0000

Thinking of painting your home or looking at buying a home that needs work done to it? Simply go to this website and see what your home looks like with the paint color of your choice.

http://www.sherwin-williams.com/do_it_yourself/paint_colors/visualizer/

Why Choose RE/Max?

Karen Kayser — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 19:19:25 +0000

When you choose a RE/MAX Sales Associate to sell your home or help you in the homebuying process, you”ll experience an exemplary level of service.

RE/MAX agents are The Hometown Experts With a World of Experience®. They are the most knowledgeable agents, with the experience and community connections to assist you in the homebuying process. Across the globe, they’re the people next door, or just down the block.

RE/MAX agents have the experience to get the job done in today’s market. That’s why customers going through the homebuying and selling process know RE/MAX Associates as The Real Estate Leaders® and why no one in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX.

Customer Satisfaction

The proof of quality service is in repeat customers and in customers who refer RE/MAX Associates to friends. RE/MAX Sales Associates typically generate a large percentage of their business from past customers and referrals.

Education

At RE/MAX, advanced education is a priority. RE/MAX Associates dominate the Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR), Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) and Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) ranks.

Home of the Best Agents®

RE/MAX agents average more sales than other real estate agents. They are better qualified to set the right price for the homes they list, better equipped to market those homes, and likely to find clients engaged in the homebuying process in a shorter period of time. That experience and education also means they are better qualified to find the right home for any buyer. The homebuying process can be a daunting task. But with the expertise of a RE/MAX agent, buyers can rest easy.

Competitive Advantage

The real estate network that has the most competitive advantages to offer homebuyers and sellers will be an industry leader. RE/MAX is that leader. Thanks to its global network and stellar reputation, it’s no wonder people turn to RE/MAX when they embark on the homebuying or selling process.

When you look for the highest quality real estate service, look to a RE/MAX Associate. RE/MAX Associates are The Real Estate Leaders®. You can depend on RE/MAX Associates to make the sale or purchase of a home as effortless and seamless as possible.

Advertising

Extensive advertising by individual RE/MAX agents, combined with national television advertising and broad Internet exposure, inspires buyers and sellers to seek out RE/MAX Associates. When you list your home with a RE/MAX agent, it will receive wide exposure.

Miracle Home® Program

Why list your home with a RE/MAX Associate? Your home may be designated as a Miracle Home®. If it is, your RE/MAX agent will make a contribution to the local hospital affiliated with Children’s Miracle Network once the transaction is complete. The funds raised in your community remain in the area to benefit local families.

Sold for the Cure™

Sold for the Cure gives your RE/MAX agent the opportunity to designate your home as a Sold for the Cure property to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Upon completion of the transaction, your RE/MAX agent will make a donation to the local Komen Affiliate to help support the breast cancer movement. Programs like these make the homebuying process an even sweeter deal for buyers who are indirectly contributing to the Komen mission of finding a cure for breast cancer.

Premier Market Presence®

The real estate network with the greatest market share has the most to offer buyers and sellers. The sum total of all RE/MAX momentum, growth and Associate production over more than 35 years is reflected in current RE/MAX market strength. RE/MAX has achieved 30-percent-and-higher market share in area after area across North America and is growing in market share around the world. A measure of business leadership, Premier Market Presence (PMP) results from community-minded, high-producing Associates giving superior customer service under a respected brand.

The RE/MAX Balloon Logo

The red, white and blue RE/MAX Balloon, with its “Above the Crowd®” slogan, is one of the most recognizable business logos in the world. RE/MAX boasts a global fleet of more than 100 Hot Air Balloons, which make more than 6,000 appearances around the world each year.

The Sign That Brings You Home®

The red-over-white-over-blue RE/MAX yard sign and your RE/MAX agent lead you to properties in areas in which you’ll want to live and work. If you want to sell your property, the RE/MAX yard sign attracts those in the homebuying process. Nobody sells more real estate than RE/MAX.

Global Expansion

With offices in more than 75 countries worldwide, and nearly 100,000 agents, the power of the RE/MAX name boosts business and attracts homebuyers.

More Than 35 Years “Above the Crowd®”

RE/MAX – now an established industry leader – celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2008 and looks ahead to even greater real estate achievements in the years to come. Whether you’re in the homebuying process or looking to sell, choose a RE/MAX Associate. When you choose a RE/MAX Associate, you’ll have a real estate agent for life.

Take Advantage of Low Interest Rates

Karen Kayser — Thu, 27 May 2010 19:15:52 +0000

Missed Out on $8,000 Homebuyer Tax Credit?

Save Thousands More With Low Mortgage Rate

Mortgage national average drops below 5%, take advantage of low rates

CALABASAS, Calif., May 26, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) — According to reports, home sales increased in April and many speculate this rise was due to the expiring homebuyer tax incentive, which implies home sales may slow this month. At the same time, the national average on 30-year fixed rate mortgages dropped to just 4.98% this week according to Informa Research Services’ Interest Rate Review. With mortgage rates dropping, Informa Research Services, a subsidiary of Informa plc /quotes/comstock/23s!e:inf (UK:INF 377.00, +9.90, +2.70%) , suggests homebuyers could save thousands more over the entire term of the loan by financing their home purchase with a low rate mortgage (http://www.freerateupdate.com).

Despite missing out on the tax benefit of buying a home before the April 30 deadline, finding the lowest rate to finance a home purchase can save homebuyers considerably more. While the expired tax incentive offered up to $8,000 for purchasing a home, securing a low rate can save homeowners much more over the term of their loan. For instance, when purchasing a $350,000 home (financed with a $280,000 mortgage carrying last month’s average rate of 5.34%), a homeowner will pay $562,253.57 over the term of a 30-year fixed rate loan ($1,561.82 per month).

However, this same home purchase could be thousands less over the term of the loan if it had been financed at a rate of 4.625%, as offered by AimLoan.com. By using a mortgage with a rate of 4.625%, a homeowner would pay $518,252.63 over 30 years (or $1,439.59 per month). Not only does this lower the monthly payment by over $120, but by the time the home is paid for, it will have saved the homeowner over $44,000! Consumers looking for the lowest mortgage rates currently available in their area should use rate tables featured on sites such as Owners.com, FreeRateUpdate.com, and Banks.com. These sites feature tables that are populated with loan information from various lenders, which makes comparison shopping quick and easy.

For information on Mortgages in the Cedar Valley Area contact Kyle Langenberg at Valley Bank

www.homeloansbykyle.com

10 Things to Know About Real Estate in 2010

Karen Kayser — Thu, 20 May 2010 15:35:30 +0000

Is 2010 the year to buy a house? It certainly looks that way: After a steep run-up in prices during the first half of the decade, home values have plummeted back to 2003 levels. Fixed mortgage rates are sitting near record lows. And the foreclosure epidemic—while painful for many home owners—has created some wonderful opportunities for bargain hunters. If that’s not enough, Uncle Sam is handing out thousands of dollars in tax credits to nearly all first-time buyers and the bulk of existing home owners who close a purchase by June.

But while the 2010 outlook appears inviting, there’s one key catch. “You need to have a stable job,” says Mark Zandi, the chief economist of Moody’s Economy.com. The economy is showing signs of life, but the unemployment rate is already at 10 percent and expected to go higher. And while those mortgage rates are attractive, buying a house makes sense only if you can bank on your income stream. So before you consider purchasing a home, take a hard look at your job, your company, and your industry.

That said, here are 10 things to know about real estate in 2010:

1. Prices to bottom

2. Mortgage rates going back up by next year

3. Mortgage deliquencies up

4. Foreclosures move upstream

5. Buyer’s market remains

6. Modification plans could be modified

7. FHA lending standards may increase by next year

8. Tax credit available through June

9. Markets will vary a great deal by region

10. Mobile maps can help

Real Estate in Cedar Falls, IA

Karen Kayser — Wed, 12 May 2010 18:00:32 +0000

Commonly asked questions that your agents can answer:

Is this a good time to buy/sell a home?
How many homes are currently on the market in my price range?
What is the difference between the asking and selling price of a home?
What are the average days on the market of home in my price range?
Are sale prices going up or down?
Is it a buyer’s market or a sellers’ market?
Why should one have a home inspection?
Who performs a home inspection?
Who pays for a home inspection?
Does the appraiser inspect the house?
How do I find new homes as they come on the market?
Who should I call to set an appointment to see a home?
Why should I get preapproved with a lender?
Who pays the closing costs?
Why does the lender need so much of my personal information?
What is a title opinion and why is it needed?
What is the time frame from an offer to closing?
When do I get the keys to the house?
Why do I need a cashier’s check for closing?

If you have any of these questions please contact Karen Kayser at karenkayser@remax.net

Buying or Selling a Home in Cedar Falls, IA

Karen Kayser — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 19:20:04 +0000

Thinking about buying or selling your home? Do it with the Karen K. Connection and recieve $50 off your closing cost. Just click on the link, click on the $50 bill at the bottom of the homepage, and fill in your information. From there your free to contact the Karen K. Connection or once we recieve your information we will contact you! For a “SMOOTH” move, contact the Karen K. Connection!

Closing cost can get pricey! So I figured why not give my new and past clientele a little break on these cost by offering them $50 off. At the same time give them the opportunity to have a great experience buying/selling their home with the Karen K. Connection. Here are some regulations/details about the incentive. Please read carefully we don’t want any misunderstandings:

Must fill out form to recieve the $50 off
Must buy or sell your home with the Karen K. Connection
Must be contracted with the Karen K. Connection before 6/30/10
Cannot contract with the Karen K. Connection then fill out form the recieve the $50 off
Once you fill out the lead form you are more than welcome to contact the Karen K. Connection or as soon as we recieve your information we will be contacting you.

I look forward to working with you!

http://www.karenkconnection.com

Realtors in Cedar Falls, IA

Karen Kayser — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 15:44:18 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

What a REALTOR® will do for you
There are many important reasons to use a REALTOR®. Some of the duties your REALTOR® will perform for you include:

Walking through the process of selling your home from beginning to end
Providing comparable information about the prices for which other properties have sold and analyzing data for you to gain a true comparison
Supplying information regarding local customs and regulations you may want to consider
Sharing information about your home through the Multiple Listing Service and on the Internet
Placing advertisements for your home
Fielding phone calls
“Qualifying” potential buyers to make sure they would be financially able to buy your property
Negotiating the sales contract
Alerting you to potential risks
Complying with the disclosures required by law
Providing you with an estimate of the closing costs you will incur
Helping you prepare for a smooth closing of the transaction.

Buying a Home

Karen Kayser — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 17:03:55 +0000

Top Resources for Buying a Home

1. Realtor.com- local and natinal listings

2. RE/Max.com- local and national listings

3. wcfbor.com- all local listings

4. openhousebymouse.com- all local RE/Max listings

5. Karenkconnection.com- all Karen K. Connections listing and mortgage information

Over 90% of consumers look on the internet before purchasing anything. Its a wonderful place to gain knowledge on today’s markets. The problem is you have to use your own instinct to distinct whats bias and non-bias information. There is so much false information out on the web that it can lead a consumer in the wrong direction and ultimatley persuade a horrible purchasing decision. So I only thought it would be fair to our current home buyers to give you guidance to some respectable websites that won’t only give you an idea of whats out there, but contain links that will lead you to other reliable information. After you have gain fair knowledge of the housing market the next step is to turn to your local real estate agent. Not only will they be able to answer any questions about any information you have obtained through research, but be able to analyze your situation and find you the right home at a reasonable price. Its a buyers market so why not start our buyers on the right path? It will only make your buying experience that much more enjoyable!