It’s a great time to buy real estate and these days most buyers are looking for the ultimate deal!  Do you know how to find that great deal?  How to proceed when you know a house is going through foreclosure?  What do the banks need when you ask them to accept a short sale?  First and foremost, if you’re going to need a loan to buy real estate, are you qualified?  How do you find out what price range you’ll be able to buy in?  Answering all of these questions is part of MY JOB!

Because there is so much to know in order to buy real estate for the best price and the best terms, we’re offering a class!  Come for a brief introduction with answers to many of the questions above, and more… and then we promise individualized service to help take you through each step necessary to get you YOUR GOOD DEAL! 

This summer come to my office at ERA THE BROKERAGE, 158 So. Main St., Pocatello, ID at 6:30 p.m. on ANY THURSDAY EVENING.  The class will be brief, we’ll have the ability to start you on the road to being pre-approved for a real estate loan, we’ll search for homes that meet your criteria for the deal you hope to secure… we’ll even go out and tour a few good deals!

It’s a super time to make a deal on Real Estate!  Prices have come down, interests rates are LOW, there’s lots of inventory so sellers are motivated!  So, come on… LET’S MAKE A DEAL!

Spring Cleaning goes a long way if you’re planning to sell your home!  A home that sparkles and shines helps the buyer feel that it’s been well maintained and is in great condition. Here’s a quick checklist of sometimes overlooked items to clean:

• AROMA… even before buyers notice the decor of the home, their nose will notice a bad smell.  If you have indoor pets you may be immune to their odor, but it’s there.  If there has been a potty problem, get the carpets professionally cleaned, replaced if necessary.  Remove litter boxes during showings and be sure to always keep them fresh.  Remove pet feeding and watering dishes… even dry pet food leaves an odor in the home.  Try to take your pets with you for showings, or at a minimum put them in the garage or backyard or in a kennel. 
• Other smells to be aware of are cooking odors… bacon, fish, etc.  and CHILDREN odors… diapers, bedding, etc.  Be aware of these issues, take the trash outside immediately when it comes to soiled diapers, bacon drippings, etc.  Keep fresh air flowing throughout your home to eliminate trapped odors, and use plug-ins or other electrical air fresheners rather than risk burning candles.  ASK A FRIEND who’ll be honest… “does my house smell funky?”
• Windows, inside and out. Clean after each rain storm as well and don’t forget to clean the window sills and the tracks, especially on sliding glass doors. That grime affects the ease of operation!
• Entry doors, door jams, thresholds, knobs, doorbells, mailboxes. Every buyer has to stand at the front door while it’s being unlocked and opened. It’s the FIRST IMPRESSION of the home — and you only get one of those! Make sure it’s free of any maintenance issues — if you need to paint it, do so — and if it’s time for a new door, a beautiful front door is a great investment that will definitely impress!
• Light switches, switch plates: they get a little built up with grime from constant touching. Wipe them down.
• Mirrors, faucets, sinks, tubs, shower doors. Make them sparkle! You may need a good hard water remover and some elbow grease. If your tile grout is cracked, dirty or missing, take care of it.  If the caulking around the tub is globbed on, mildewed, or lacking, have it removed and smoothly replaced.  Clean, shiny bathrooms and kitchens sell houses!
• Light fixtures. Remove and wash the glass, wipe down the fixtures. Use a good, bright light bulb and keep all rooms well lit for showings. Now is not the time for the slow-lighting compact fluorescent bulbs.
• Appliances – especially those that will be included in the sale. Clean appliances also show the buyer that the home is well cared for, plus they’ll see value.  Use a good de-greaser around the oven, vent/hood and cooktop, and those “magic erasers” work miracles on surfaces with texture, like the front and handles of the fridge.
• HEATING AND COOLING:  Make sure your furnace has clean filters!  Changing them monthly during heating and air conditioning season is the standard.  Wipe away dust and cobwebs from around these major components of your home so that buyers will feel that they’ve been well maintained and won’t be a problem due to age or neglect.
• LOOK UP!  Has dust accumulated on ceiling fan blades, molding, built-in shelves, and does it look like you’ve already started your Halloween decorations with a few cobwebs in the corners?
• Flooring: tile, hardwood, make it shine!  Carpeting: clean, vacuumed and smelling good!  If the carpet is stretched out of shape it can be not only ugly, but a tripping hazard.  Have a professional come in and stretch it smooth.

So, really the above list could be condensed into 2 words: SPRING CLEANING. Don’t let it overwhelm you, just do it, price your home right, and you’ll have your HOUSE SOLD faster and for more money!

I’d love to help you in all of your REAL ESTATE NEEDS. Give me a call today!

Spring is in the Air! Today we’ll be talking about preparing and staging your home for selling in the spring and summer. Many of the ideas and suggestions will apply anytime you’re selling a home, but regardless of the type of market, inventory almost always rises in the spring.  Homes typically show better as the weather warms, the grass turns green, and we’re able to open up our homes to the outside air and light.

The condition of a home and it’s curb appeal will greatly affect showings and ultimately the sales price.  There’s basically two types of buyers out there: 1) Those who want a bargain on a “fixer” so they can complete the repairs and gain equity, and 2) Those who will pay a premium price for a “move-in ready” home.

Since sellers are anxious to put the least amount of money into a home they’re going to be selling, they want to make the most cost effective improvements to their yard:

Maintenance: Watering, Mowing, Trimming, Edging
            A green, lush lawn goes a long way in curb appeal!  Keep it watered, weed & feed as necessary and keep it well mowed and trimmed.  Edge the lawn along the curb, driveway and sidewalks for best impact.  Re-seed any patchy areas.

            If your flower beds are lacking or non-existent, a weed-mat covered with fresh bark will give great “oomph!” for low cost and extremely low maintenance.  Especially helpful if selling a vacant home!

Speaking of maintenance, it might be smart to hire a professional home inspector prior to listing — the buyers will love the fact that you’ve already had the inspection.  You can provide them a copy of the inspection report, with repairs that you’ve already made highlighted, along with copies of receipts showing how you repaired the item.  Some of the deferred exterior maintenance items that may typically show up on a home inspection report also impact the curb appeal of your home.  Maximize curb appeal and showings by being certain to address such items as:

          Trim tree branches away from the roof and overhead lines.

          Clean leaves and debris out of rain gutters.

          Keep rain/sprinklers away from the foundation and/or window wells.  (Well maintained rain gutters and spinkler heads.)

          Wood, whether it’s the siding, trim or deck on a house, needs to be properly maintained to eliminate any peeling paint and bare wood needs a good coat of stain.

Decks and patios can really be a showcase in the spring and summer. This time of year a deck is a fun place to stage. An appropriately sized patio set helps a buyer fall in love with the idea of spending quiet evenings enjoying the outdoors of their home. Spread out  a colorful tablecloth or place mats and a pitcher of lemonade before showings for great impact.

Color really sells in the spring and summer.   A few easy ideas to bring color to the curb appeal of a home include:

          Hanging Plants and Pots/Planters on porches, steps, patios, etc. instantly brighten everything!  Group 3 potted arrangements together on the corner of your porch, patio or deck.  (Then, if you want to take those potted plants with you to your next home, it’s easy.)

          Annuals are typically low-cost and bright colors to last the summer!  Plant a few annuals stategically in the yard where they can be seen from the street.

We’ve talked a lot about the exterior of our homes.   Next time we’ll discuss what we can do to prepare the interior of our home for sale.

I’d love to help you in all of your REAL ESTATE NEEDS.  Give me a call today!

Imagine moving into your very own home and making monthly payments near or lower than your current housing expense.  Then imagine 10 years from now selling your home and receiving all of your “rent” payments back!  That’s the kind of opportunity our current real estate market offers! 

There’s never been a better time to buy real estate. I want to help you, your family members, friends, neighbors, coworkers… EVERYONE… take advantage of ideal buying conditions:

• LOW interest rates – hovering around 5%
• LOTS of affordable inventory to choose from
• LOWEST prices in recent history
• TAX CREDIT for most buyers!
• Enter into purchase contract on or before April 30, 2010
• Close purchase on or before June 30, 2010
• $8,000 tax credit for first time buyers
•      for those who have not owned their own home in the past 3 years
•      10% of purchase price of home up to $8,000 FREE MONEY back to you!
•      must reside in new home for 3 or more years
• $6,500 tax credit for “move-up” buyers
•      for those who have resided in and owned their current home 5 of the past 8 years
•      no need to sell current home/may keep it as a rental but move into new home
•      new home does not need to be higher priced than current home
•      10% of purchase price of home up to $6,500 FREE MONEY back to you!
•      must reside in new home for 3 or more years

Enter into purchase contract on or before April 30, 2010

 　This truly is your opportunity to have the “luck of the Irish” upon you! Owning a home is key to financial good fortune.  I’d love to talk with you and yours, answer any questions you may have, and of course…. I APPRECIATE YOUR REFERRALS!

          Most prospective home buyers have heard the old adage that the three most important factors to consider when buying real estate are, “location, location, location.”  In reality, although location is important, there is much more to consider in any real estate transactions which is why most home buyers and sellers choose to work with Realtors.

             Just how important is location?  A National Association of Realtors (NAR) survey found that although affordability ranks high in importance, buyers’ focus on neighborhood, distance from work, access to shopping and schools demonstrate that location is indeed significant.

          People who have bought real estate, especially those who have had a number of transactions, are aware of the value of location.  However, first time home buyers should be careful to choose a location that meets their needs, even if it means paying a little more.  A bargain found in a less-than-advantageous location might look to be a good deal, but its chances for resale may be lower. 

          The NAR survey found that value of location is unique to the buyer interests.  Home buyers with growing families are likely to look for a neighborhood with close proximity to work and schools.  Retired home buyers consider availability of shopping a higher priority the survey shows. 

          Neighborhoods are key to the type of environment the buyer is searching for.  For example, neighborhoods surrounding elementary schools tend to attract families with young children.  This won’t necessarily change, since families whose children are now grown find other locations more convenient and are apt to sell, creating sufficient turnover for new families with younger children.

          Buyers who own two cars also tend to rank closeness to schools higher than nearby shopping, work and other factors such as public transportation, churches and recreational facilities.

          It’s important for potential buyers to examine what ranks high on their own list of priorities before they begin the house hunting process.  In that way, they’ll have a clear idea of what amenities and services are available in the community they want to join.

          The value of a house can change after its purchase.  However, any change is likely to be gradual and will depend on factors such as the age of home.  Older neighborhoods tend to change more gradually.  Houses located near an institution, such as an elementary school, are usually a good investment since their worth is related to a factor that is long-lasting, in this case, the school.  In some cases, a buyer may want to sacrifice an asset such as close proximity to a school if a larger house further away is more affordable.

          The whole subject of location is a personal choice for the buyer.  That’s why a Realtor will interview the buyer to determine his or her interests, priorities and financial position in order to select a range of possible homes to show.

          I would love to discuss all of the important factors to consider when buying or selling real estate!  Give me a call anytime at (208) 241-9818.

Buying a house is one of the biggest investments you make in your life, so it’s tough to know when shopping for a home, how quickly to make your decision.  My answer would be: see enough houses to feel confident you know “the market”, and get to know your Realtor well enough to trust her advice.  The number of homes you see isn’t necessarily important.

If you’re shopping for a very specific property, for example: you need horse property with a minimum of 1 acre, with water rights, a 3 bedroom house with a double car garage AND you’re on a $150,000 budget – you might have five or fewer homes to choose from.  In that case, five is a good number.  You can look at all of them in a short amount of time and know you’ve seen your options.

On the other hand, if you’re shopping for a home in the Pocatello/Chubbuck area and you know you can go up to $150,000, you want a home with at least 3 bedrooms and 2 baths and a garage, you’ve got lots of options — probably 50 or more in the current market.  Are you going to look at all of them, or even half of them?  Probably not.  It’s time to narrow your options by adding the fact that you also want perhaps, a gas furnace, newer windows, a fenced backyard and a neighborhood close to schools.  Now you might have 10 to 15 potential homes to see.

Don’t be afraid if you go out looking at 4 or 5 homes on your first day and fall in love with THE ONE!  If your Realtor tells you it’s brand new on the market, she hasn’t seen anything this good in this price range and she’s been showing a lot, LISTEN to her and ask the appropriate questions to feel confident in making an offer, and don’t let this one slip away! Real estate is moving in the Pocatello area and promises to become even more active as the end of the Tax Credit approaches.  If it takes you several times out looking to find the right one, don’t be discouraged — you’re becoming educated on what type of home you can expect for your money so you’ll be prepared to make an offer as soon as you see “the one”.

The number of homes you preview before making an offer is going to vary with every individual.  It’s a very exciting time — you’re buying a house, so just enjoy the experience! I’d love to help — give me a call and let’s get started!

With incentives like $8,000 or $6,500 Tax Credit (FREE MONEY!), low interest rates, good inventory to choose from, and generally a BUYERS MARKET in the Pocatello area, who wouldn’t want to be buying a home right now?! I just met with a  couple who are excited to get going on the path to homeownership, and they’re already doing the right things.  Let’s consider some smart steps to take when you’re considering buying a home:

• Contact a Realtor.  I typically (99.9%) do not charge my buyers anything to use my services. You can rely on me as a professional to guide you through every step of the way and answer all of your  questions and/or concerns.  Tell me a little bit about yourself, what you’re hoping to find, and schedule a time to meet in person with me.
• Get Pre-Qualified.  If you haven’t met with a lender before we meet, I can recommend lenders for you to meet with that will get the job done easily for you.  Being pre-qualified for your home mortgage is of #1 importance.  We must know what price range we can shop in with the assurance that our house hunting won’t be in vain.  Have your lender communicate with me, providing me with a written letter of pre-approval.
• Know What’s Important to you in a home.  Make a list of must-have’s, like # of beds and baths, location, and of course, price.  Then make your list of “it’d be nice to have” such as garage, fenced yard, air conditioning, etc.  Go ahead and browse through the local real estate magazines, such as Homeseekers or the Journal Home, mark pages, circle homes, make a list of MLS #’s and show me what’s catching your eye.
• Schedule our first showing appointment with me, allowing plenty of time to visit 3 or 4 homes.  Keep the information sheets I’ll give you for each home and TAKE NOTES!  After seeing just a few homes they can all mesh together in your head unless you’ve taken good notes such as “bay window in dining”, “ugly green carpet!” or “freshly painted inside – perfect color!”  If we see a house that you KNOW is definitely out of the running, just fold the page in half and you don’t have to look at it anymore!
• LISTEN to my advice.  Sometimes you’re fortunate enough to come across the “perfect” house for you on the first shopping trip.  Ask questions and let me research the listing a bit — is it priced right, just new on the market, not likely to last long?  If it “feels” like the home you’ve imagined, take a leap of faith and make an offer today!  But if I’ve got others I really think you should see before deciding, let’s see them and become educated with how one home compares with another!
• FOLLOW SMART HOMEBUYING STEPS… when we write your offer you’ll need your Earnest Money Deposit; which will become a portion of your down payment.  In the Pocatello market, the amount is typically .5% to 1% of the purchase price being offered.  This can be in the form of a personal check or cash which will be held in the trust account of the brokerage.  If your offer is not accepted, it’s returned to you immediately.  I’ll guide you through every part of the offer, which will include such things as home inspection, closing costs (who’s paying what?) what’s included/excluded, occupancy/closing date and so forth.  Plan to spend $275 – $300 on a professional home inspection as soon as we have an accepted offer. 
• ASK QUESTIONS ALL ALONG THE WAY!  Don’t just wonder… ASK!  There are no stupid questions, and I would like to communicate fully with you so that no doubts are nagging you at any time.
• DON’T WASTE TIME – to qualify for the Tax Credit, offers must be signed by all parties on or before April 30, 2010, with a closing date on or before June 30, 2010.  Don’t wait to the last minute on anything — you don’t want to miss this!

For more information about the Home Buyer Tax Credit, please call me or go to: “The Basics: Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit 2009/2010″  or:  Homebuyer Tax Credit FAQ .

A:  Technically April 30th, 2010 is the last day home buyers can qualify for the tax credit.  That is the date by which they need to have an accepted offer on the home they plan to purchase, and then they’ll have to close on that purchase before July 1st.  In the Pocatello Real Estate market, this gives plenty of time for buyers to close on the purchase, since most transactions typically close in about 30 days from the date of the offer’s acceptance. 

The biggest exception to a quick closing is if your purchase is subject to a short sale (where the seller’s bank needs to agree to accept less than is actually owed on the home).  A short sale might get you into a home at a better-than-expected price, but if you lose out on otherwise qualifying for the tax credit ($8,000 for first time buyers or $6,500 for qualified repeat buyers) and the surety of the short sale going through is questionable… is it better to just negotiate your best price on a home not subject to a bank’s lengthy decision-making?  I say go with the sure thing, know when you’re going to be able to move into that new home, and qualify for the tax credit!

There’s never been a better time to buy in the Pocatello real estate market.  Prices are good, inventory gives you plenty of good choices to pick from, interest rates are still at record lows, and you can have money back in your pocket from the Tax Credit.  Make your move soon to optimize your choices, insure you’ve got time to reach an agreement on your offer before April 30th, and enjoy getting settled into a new home this Spring or Summer!  If you need more details about tax credit qualifications, or how best to get started in your next real estate transaction, CALL ME – I look forward to helping more people realize the American Dream of Home Ownership!

New Years resolutions often include money managing and financial goals.  I’d like to share this excellent “get out of debt” article with you.  If making a real estate move is in your thoughts, there’s never been a better time to buy.  Contact me for details on how buying a home now can be boost to your financial health!

8 Ways to Get Out of Debt and Start Saving for the New Year

By Eric Tyson

RISMEDIA, December 30, 2009-With 2010 right around the corner, what will you be looking forward to in the New Year? Buying your first home? Sending your last kid off to college? Or obsessing over your own personal mountain of debt, even more worrisome in this uncertain economy? It may feel like “Resolution Impossible,” but if you follow Eric Tyson’s advice, you’ll remember ’10 as the year you finally took control of your financial future.

“While the situation is improving, Americans carry too much consumer debt,” says Tyson, author of Personal Finance for Dummies, 6th Edition.. “If you have credit card debt or auto loans, take some solace in the fact that you’re far from alone and that many others have overcome these hurdles. Consumer debt is not okay, particularly in a slow economy such as this one. It can damage your personal relationships and mental well-being, not to mention the stability of your financial future.”

Here are a few tips from Tyson that will help you improve your financial health in 2010:

Partake in a little self-reflection. A misaligned mindset toward spending and shopping-compulsive or otherwise-can severely affect your financial and personal well-being. If you think you might have a problem with shopping or spending, there are several questions you should ask yourself:

-Do I feel guilty about shopping?
-Is my shopping causing financial trouble?
-Is my shopping, spending, and accumulated debt leading to feelings of helplessness, anger, confusion, fear, or depression?

Make a plan and stick to it. The reason so many New Year’s resolutions fail is that we simply state the thing we want to improve and then never create a plan for helping us get from point A to point B. Most people don’t like to plan unless we’re talking about something fun, like a vacation. But actually, planning for your financial future is a little like planning a vacation. You’re organizing your money and time so that you get to do all the great things you want when you get there. Look at it that way, and you might actually enjoy the process.

Get rid of your four-wheeled debt. Too many people define necessities by what those around them have. A brand new car is not a necessity, although some people try to make it one by saying, “I need a way to get to work.” Guess what? There are plenty of far less expensive used cars out there that will also make it to your office. If you take out an auto loan to buy a car that you really can’t afford and you take a similar approach with other consumer items you don’t truly need, you’re going to have great difficulty saving money and accomplishing your goals. Moreover, you’ll probably feel stressed all the time-which is a poor trade-off for the (short-lived) “new car smell.”

Start making your purchases based on need, not emotion. It can be easy to give in to all of those advertisements telling us how much we “need” that new car, expensive gym membership, or trendy outfit. Marketers play on insecurities, fears, and guilt and suggest that you can feel better about yourself by buying their products. You won’t be able to overcome spending and consumer debt until you recognize these pressures and how they corrupt your buying decisions.

Research before you enter the store. Prior to going shopping for necessities that aren’t everyday purchases-say, a new refrigerator-do some research first. Your research will help you identify brands, models, and so on that are good values. You don’t want to make an expensive mistake.

Watch your food budget. Dine out less and keep stock of the groceries you already have. Learn to cook if you don’t know how. Try to keep a healthy inventory of groceries at home. This will minimize trips to the store and the need to impulsively dine out because your cupboard is bare. Try to do most of your shopping through discount warehouse-type stores, which offer low prices for buying in bulk, or grocery stores that offer bulk purchases. Saving on the amount you spend on food will help you put more money toward paying off your debt and eventually setting money aside for investments.

Become more energy efficient. Check out opportunities to make your home more energy efficient. Adding insulation and weather-stripping, installing water-saving devices, and reducing use of electrical appliances can pay for themselves in short order. Many utility companies will even do a free energy review or audit of your home and suggest money-saving ideas.

Watch what you are paying for insurance. Many people overspend on insurance by carrying coverage that’s unnecessary or that covers small potential losses. Coverage of small losses, such as $100 or $200, is not useful for most people since such a loss wouldn’t be a financial catastrophe.

“It won’t be easy getting out of debt, and it’s certainly not something you will be able to achieve overnight,” says Tyson. “Like losing weight, it’s something that takes constant dedication but has a great payoff in the end. Whenever you lose focus or feel like giving in, think about the wonderful benefits of financial well-being. Once you’re out of debt, the money you are able to invest will mushroom into substantial savings that will allow you to get more for your money,” concludes Tyson.

About the Author
Eric Tyson is one of the nation’s best-selling personal finance book authors and has penned five national bestsellers. His work has been featured and quoted in hundreds of local and national publications and media outlets. He was also a featured speaker at a White House conference on retirement planning. A dynamic and provocative speaker, he has spoken at many corporations and nonprofits.