Real Estate Today

Benefits of Buying a Home in the Winter

info@Century21Travis.com (CENTURY 21 Travis Real Estate) — Wednesday, December 07, 2011 12:30:00 PM

Typically, home sales are strongest in the spring and summer months; however, there are several advantages to shopping for homes in the fall and winter. Sellers are often more motivated in the winter and may be willing to negotiate terms such as price, repairs, and even a closing date. The rule of thumb is that anyone braving the elements (or taking the time during the busy holiday season) to view a home is a serious buyer, and the same can be said for those who leave their homes on the market during this time and continue to have viewings.

Fewer buyers in the marketplace during these months mean less competition and a better chance of getting a home at a lower price. Also, potential buyers in the winter months have the luxury of spending more time researching homes without as much concern of losing a house to another party. When viewing a home in the cooler months buyers get a realistic ide a of a home's energy efficiency. Pay attention to the thermostat temperature and take note of any drafts in the home. Trees without leaves give potential buyers an accurate picture of the privacy (or lack thereof) from neighbors or the street.

Because the majority of moves take place in the warmer months, moving companies may be readily available when it comes to your desired move date and even flexible on their rates.

Fall Maintenance: Cleaning your Gutters

info@Century21Travis.com (CENTURY 21 Travis Real Estate) — Monday, November 14, 2011 1:00:00 PM

It's a Dirty Job

How to keep your gutters and downspouts flowing

Gutters and downspouts work hard to protect your house from moisture damage. If gutters leak or downspouts are clogged, water can spill out and accumulate near foundations, soaking the soil and causing foundation walls to settle. In worst-case scenarios, moisture-laden soil presses in on basement walls, causing bulging and cracking. Water can even be forced inside by means of hydrostatic pressure.

Keeping gutters and downspouts in good condition requires regular maintenance. Mike Gibson of Quality Gutter Services in Des Moines, Iowa, advises doing this chore twice each year—in spring and in the fall. "Yes, it can be messy," says Gibson, "and you might get dirty. But it's definitely worth it."

Steps to clean your gutters

Clean leaves, sticks, needles and seeds from gutters, scooping out debris with a garden trowel or gloved hand. Don't try to remove the debris with a hose because that may cause downspouts to clog.

Remove the pasty goo made up from the tiny granules from asphalt roofing shingles that have mixed with dirt and water.

Flush out residual matter, using a garden hose.

To clean downspouts, turn on the hose full blast and thread it into the drain opening.

Check gutters after flushing for pools that indicate low spots. Gutters should be sloped about one vertical inch for every 15 to 20 horizontal feet so that they drain properly. Adjust gutters as necessary.

Repairing Gutters

Install new hangers to hold gutters firmly in place. Typically, gutters are attached with straps, hangers or long nails inserted through metal collars—a system called "spikes and ferrules."

Don't bother replacing straps, renailing old spikes or adding new spikes. Because you must pry up roofing materials to replace straps, it's easier to make repairs using individual gutter hangers with self-tapping screws, available at home improvement centers.

Also replace spikes with gutter screws and matching ferrules. "Over time a spike is always going to push out," says Gibson. "A gutter screw really has holding power."

Fix Leaks

Fix leaks at seams with silicone sealer. Although patch kits are available for repairing rust holes in steel gutters, the patches will prove to be only temporary. "If you've got rust holes in steel gutters," says Gibson, "they're pretty much finished. It's better to get new ones."

Replacing Gutters

If you need to replace your gutter, Tom Wood of Emerald Gutter Services in Eugene, Ore., says steel gutters generally perform better than aluminum or vinyl. "Aluminum gutters move too much during weather changes," says Wood. "The expansion and contraction causes nails and screws to loosen up. And vinyl comes in 10-foot lengths, meaning there are lots of seams that need to be sealed."

Both steel and aluminum can be installed without intermittent seams, and the best steel gutters feature baked-on enamel finishes with 40-year warranties. According to Wood, expect to pay about $450 for a professional to install new gutters and downspouts on a typical two-story suburban house.

A Safety Tip

Remember that gutter maintenance often means working on a ladder. As you work, make safety a priority. Make sure your ladder is firmly planted, and don't stretch to make repairs.

Bank of America REO Properties

info@Century21Travis.com (CENTURY 21 Travis Real Estate) — Tuesday, May 03, 2011 12:47:00 PM

Century21 Travis is pleased to announce that after a lengthy and carefully executed process, Maureen Roberts has been selected by Bank of America to represent them in this region for all Bank of America REO properties. Maureen was selected over many other very talented real estate agents in this area to handle this business sector for Bank of America. Bank of America has entrusted this opportunity to Maureen, and our congratulations go out to her.

As this program is beginning to unfold and pick up steam, buyers or investors should keep an open mind for any opportunities which may present themselves. REO purchases are sometimes drawn out and lengthy, but Bank of America is committed to working closely with Maureen and Century21 Travis to offer the very best service and customer service in working to match clients with available properties. Bank of America has a local processing center in Waltham, MA through which all applications will be processed. They have also dedicated one of their top performing loan officers to handle the actual transaction, and can usually close on these REO loans in 30 days.

We are honored to have Bank of America provide Century21 Travis with the opportunity to service the local region with their REO properties. We look forward to an exciting time ahead!

Four problems that could ruin your mortgage

info@Century21Travis.com (CENTURY 21 Travis Real Estate) — Tuesday, May 03, 2011 12:33:00 PM

It's no secret -- the lenders have tightened every belt and have created every hoop possible when making lending decisions. After the collapse of the mortgage market, lenders learned a very expensive and painful lesson. As a result, they are being exceptionally picky about who they will lend to. A good credit score alone does not guarantee anything.

Because even getting approved these can be an arduous process, below are four mistakes to not let happen when you are in the mortgage approval process:

Avoid major purchases right before closing your loan.

Do not go out and buy the furniture you so desire for your new living room. Hold off on buying that new or used car! Wait until after you have closed on the loan. Why?

If the lender sees you making major purchases of this nature, they will see you accumulating additional debt, adding to your risk value. Rule of thumb -- hold off on any major purchases until after closing the loan.

Stay in your current job until loan closes

You don't like your job, but stick this one out. Don't make any major career changes until after your loan closes. The lender will be doing last minute credit/employment checks and the last thing they want to see is someone who just started a new job. This creates additional risk in the lenders' point of view. What if your new job doesn't work out? Rule of thumb -- stay in your current job until the loan closes.

Prepare for last minute credit checks

People tend to think that once they've been approved for a mortgage, it's a done deal. Not so fast! The lender will likely perform a second credit check right before closing. If you have any late payments or factors that may change your credit score, (credit card inquiries, etc.) your loan may be jeopardized. In today's lending environment, second credit checks are almost routine. Rule of thumb -- stay current, and don't do anything that can change your credit score.

Closing cost surprises

A lot of people put every last cent they have into the purchase of a home, forgetting entirely about the closing costs. Closing costs are fluid, and can vary wildly. If you can't pay the closing costs, you may wind up losing the home. When preparing for close, you should always be well in formed in advance what the anticipated closing costs will be. Smart buyers will always have a cash reserve or available funds for these types of situations. Rule of thumb -- consider your closing costs when making the decision to purchase property.

Summer weather will soon be here!

info@Century21Travis.com (CENTURY 21 Travis Real Estate) — Tuesday, May 03, 2011 12:15:00 PM

Are you thinking of making summertime improvements to your home? Depending on where you live, certain major improvements are worth doing in terms of adding value to your home, others just don't make it worth the expense.

Pools -- worth doing? An inground pool can add an average of 8% to the value of a home. However, that is only an average. Geographically speaking it all depends where you live as to whether it's worth investing between 25K and 50K and upwards for what is mainly a seasonal enjoyment. With any pool, it's not just the pool itself, but the patio/deck, electrical, chemicals and other upkeep/repair costs that come along with installing and owning a pool. An above ground pool is a cheaper alternative, but it can actually lower the value of your home by 1.9% if a potential buyer feels it needs to be taken down. Do your homework on this one!

Deck -- worth doing? YES! composite decking will recover 66% of it's value, wooding decking can recover 72.8% and generally costs about 5K less to do. If your home currently doesn't have a deck, this would be a good investment and will add to your outdoor enjoyment of your home.

Patio -- worth doing? YES! depending on the layout of your neighborhood, a patio may be more desireable than a deck. If you have a flat level lot, or a one level home, a patio will add outdoor living space and will create a very usable entertaining space. Depending on the material of choice, a patio can start for as little as $11 per square foot for brick. Other popular choices for patio materials are concrete and flagstone.

Outdoor kitchen -- worth doing? This major home improvement is very weather dependent and geographically speaking probably wouldn't make much sense in New England. However, for the discerning homeowner of a luxury property this option may be a must. An outdoor kitchen in the properly located home can return almost all of the investment costs.

Gazebos -- worth doing? YES! If you have the space a gazebo will create a lovely outdoor room to be enjoyed during the warm spring and summer evenings, while allowing you to experience the crisp fall air as well. Returns on this type of improvement are sketchy.

Market Outlook -- Spring 2011

info@Century21Travis.com (CENTURY 21 Travis Real Estate) — Tuesday, February 15, 2011 1:16:00 PM

Springtime is usually a very busy time of year in the real estate market. People have endured winter snows and cold weather and those looking to buy a home or sell a property finally get their chance to shine. The last several years have been very unstable for the real estate market nationwide as a whole. The economy has and will continue to have direct influence decisions on buying and selling of primary residence homes -- as well as an impact on lenders willingness to lend and at what rate. Foreclosures, while not skyrocketing like they were, are still a major player on the field. Lenders have more properties than they want and these institutions are trying to minimize their losses while getting these properties off their books. The government is trying to figure out how to handle the entire foreclosure debaucle. Due to these and other factors, it is anticipated that fewer homes will be taken this year.

The Massachusetts market will remain stable in 2011 but we shouldn't expect any spiraling peaks or dizzying drops in activity. The $8,000 tax credit is long gone (except for veterans and other foreign service individuals under certain circumstances) and this should provide a more even keeled inventory between supply and demand. Massachusetts was hurt less by the national housing downturn than some other states. Nationally, home prices dropped a median of 30%....Massachusetts home prices dropped by a median of 20%. Massachusetts values have since rebounded by 7%, but not without some bumps and bruises along the way.

The market is still trying to "find it's feet". Real estate is tied closely to the economy, employment and consumer confidence. It will be a major undertaking to reclaim the progress lost over the last several years. Prices are not going to shoot skyward, nor is there an anticipation of another huge downswing. However, as most consumers and real estate agents know, there is no way of knowing what the future will bring.

Get Ready for Spring Selling Season!

info@Century21Travis.com (CENTURY 21 Travis Real Estate) — Friday, February 11, 2011 12:03:00 PM

With a long hard winter more than half over, thoughts are turning to the well deserved upcoming Springtime season. If you are considering putting your home on the market for sale in the Spring, now is the time to prepare and get your home in the best presentation condition possible. Small cosmetic updates, repairs and cleaning to the inside of your home can make a world of difference for presentation to prospective buyers. When presenting your home, remember "eye appeal is buy appeal". You want your home to stand out! Clean, crisp and well organized homes can sell quicker than homes that appear "shabby or cluttered" to buyers. Here are a few simple tips, most, if not all, can be done yourself to help get your home ready to sell in the Spring:

1. Clear the clutter! Less is more! Buyers want to see the space your home offers. Unnecessary clutter and personal belongings (pictures, knick knacks, mementos, family heirlooms) crowd the field of vision and may give the inside of your home a cramped look. De-personalize your home by organizing, packing and storing as many of your personal posessions as possible. Remove extra or old/shabby furniture. Rent a storage unit if you have to, or store with a trusted friend/family member. You'll be glad you did because when moving day comes, you have already taken the time to carefully label and store some of your most precious items.

2. Brighten up! Clean the windows inside and out, have dirty carpets steam cleaned, repaint faded or out of style colors with neutral tones. Neutral colors are easy to accessorize with and lighter colors also help to "open" up a room. You don't want potential buyers to remember your home for having neon colored bedrooms or a lime green bathroom!

3. Rearrange kitchen cabinets, bedroom/linen closets. Organizing these key storage areas within your home will give potential buyers a better idea of the space. The idea is to give these areas the appearance of being spacious. A full closet or messy kitchen cabinets won't allow potential buyers to really "see" the space.

4. Make minor, DIY repairs. Patch and paint any holes in walls. Fix any cracked tiles/grout in kitchen and bathrooms. Tighten door hinges, recaulk tubs and sinks. Fix leaky faucets.

5. Spring clean! Dust ceiling fan blades and venetion blinds, replace worn out area rugs, clean and air out any musty smelling areas. Your home must not only appear to be clean, it has to smell that way too. Change out old, worn window treatments. Replace all burned out lightbulbs. Small touches like scented soaps and towels tied with ribbons in the bathrooms add a special touch. You want your home to sparkle!

6. Exterior -- when the weather permits, rake, plant flowers, keep the grass mowed, powerwash the exterior and paint any surfaces in need of touchups. The color yellow has a powerful effect on evoking the "buying emotion". Group flower pots together, marigolds are a cheap, plentiful option. Make sure the number of your home is clearly visible.

On the Road with your Home Search?

info@Century21Travis.com (CENTURY 21 Travis Real Estate) — Wednesday, January 05, 2011 1:47:00 PM

Then you must get the iPhone Realtor.com app! It's completely free and gives you a lot of useful features such as:

Area Highlighter - Search within a specific area by drawing a circle around the area of your choice

Area Scout - Learn about the area you're interested in

Open House Calendar Integration - Save open house dates to your calendar so you never miss out

Rate, create and save notes & ratings for each listing

Location Browser - Choose neighborhoods without typing

Share Listings by SMS - You can text your dream home to whomever you'd like, without exiting the app!

Sign-in to access saved searches and listings (with a sync option between the phone and website)

Share listings with friends & family, your agent or social network

This app lets you access millions of listings at your fingertips. No more waiting until you get home to look up a house you just saw -- with this app you can view property information instantly and even call the realtor right then and there.

Don't have an iPhone? No problem! If your mobile phone can access the Internet then you can go to mobile.realtor.com and look up properties that way. You can use your location to find homes nearby and save the homes you like. No matter what device you're on, you 're always connected to Realtor.com and within reach of your dream home.

The information contained in this blog post is the exclusive right of Realtor.com. The link to the official Realtor.com page that offered this information is: http://www.realtor.com/iphone/

Five Ways to Save Energy During the Cold Months

info@Century21Travis.com (CENTURY 21 Travis Real Estate) — Wednesday, December 29, 2010 2:49:00 PM

The winter months in New England bring cold weather and with the cold weather higher energy bills inevitably follow. These 5 energy saving tips can help ease the cold weather crunch on your wallet

Set the Timer: Program your thermostat to reach lower temperatures while you're sleeping or out of the house. This simple action can save you a lot of money and will ensure your house will stay at a comfortable temperature at all times.

Open and shut: During the daytime hours, keep your blinds, draperies and other window coverings open. Your home will absorb the warm afternoon sunshine and will effectively add heat to the entire house. Close all window coverings at night to keep the heat in.

Insulating: If you have a window or two that feels drafty, consider installing tight insulating blinds to those particular windows. You'd be surprised how effective this can be!

Light a fire: A fireplace is an easy solution to add extra heat to your home without adding to your energy bill. Lighting your fireplace will help to warm your home while allowing you to lower the thermostat.

Check for leaks: Check doors and windows for drafts and places where air might escape. Your local home improvement store will have all the materials you need to weatherstrip and seal up those pesky leaks.

Tax Credit for Veterans

info@Century21Travis.com (CENTURY 21 Travis Real Estate) — Wednesday, December 29, 2010 1:24:00 PM

The federal homebuyer tax credits have been extended by one year for qualified service members ordered on official extended leave duty. If you've returned from duty or are currently deployed, you may qualify. The extension applies to first-time buyers as well as repeat buyers. The extension of time that these credits may be available is based upon dates of "official extended duty" and may not be available in all circumstances. First time buyers may qualify for up to $8,000, repeat buyers may be qualified for up to $6,500. For more information and to learn more about this exciting extension, please visit www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/service_mem.php.