TOP 4 RENOVATIONS FOR MAXIMUM ROI

Infographic courtesy of Keeping Current Matters/The KCM Blog
11/17/17

7 REASONS TO LIST YOUR HOME DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON

Article courtesy of Keeping Current Matters/The KCM Blog
11/13/17
For anyone thinking that the holiday season is not a good time to list a home, think again!  Please note that statistics given in this article are national and will differ by location.  Please use the stats tab above or CLICK HERE for stats for Sun City Carolina Lakes.

Every year at this time, many homeowners decide to wait until after the holidays to put their homes on the market for the first time, while others who already have their homes on the market decide to take them off until after the holidays. 

Here are seven great reasons not to wait:

1. Relocation buyers are out there. Many companies are still hiring throughout the holidays and need their employees in their new positions as soon as possible.
2. Purchasers who are looking for homes during the holidays are serious buyers and are ready to buy now.
3. You can restrict the showings on your home to the times you want it shown. You will remain in control.
4. Homes show better when decorated for the holidays.
5. There is less competition for you as a seller right now. Let’s take a look at listing inventory as compared to the same time last year:

6. The desire to own a home doesn’t stop when the holidays come. Buyers who were unable to find their dream home during the busy spring and summer months are still searching!
7. The supply of listings increases substantially after the holidays. Also, in many parts of the country, new construction will continue to surge reaching new heights in 2018, which will lessen the demand for your house.

Bottom Line

Waiting until after the holidays to sell your home probably doesn’t make sense.

VETERANS DAY 2017

Each year, with grateful appreciation, I like to offer my personal thank you to all the men and women who have bravely served in our Armed Forces, protecting our nation and preserving the freedoms we cherish.  This year I would like to honor our veterans by sharing two very special music videos.

The first is this lovely rendition 
of HALLELUJAH by Sailor Jerri. 

The second, is a beautiful tribute to our veterans 
by Richard Kerry Thompson.   YOU RAISE ME UP

While there are many monuments around the country recognizing our veterans, one of the most powerful visuals is a monument in Anthem, Arizona that honors the five military branches with marble pillars of varying size, lined up one behind the other, in the order of precedence set by the Department of Defense:  Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard.  Each pillar has a precisely engineered elliptical opening which allows the sun's rays to pass through at exactly 11:11 a.m. each Veterans Day (11/11) to form a spotlight on a glass mosaic of The Great Seal of the United States.  

VA LOANS - What You Need to Know

Since its inception in 1944, over 22 million veterans have become homeowners using their Veterans Administration Home Loan benefit.  Veterans Day is the perfect time to remind those you know who may qualify about VA home loans. This great infographic explains "VA Loans by the Numbers." 

Infographic courtesy of Keeping Current Matters/The KCM Blog.

HAPPY 242ND BIRTHDAY TO THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

"On November 10, 1775, the Continental Congress commissioned Samuel Nicholas to raise two Battalions of Marines. That very day, Nicholas set up shop in Tun Tavern (in Philadelphia). He appointed Robert Mullan, then the proprietor of the tavern, to the job of chief Marine Recruiter -- serving, of course, from his place of business at Tun Tavern. Prospective recruits flocked to the tavern, lured by (1) cold beer and (2) the opportunity to serve in the new Corps of Marines."
Source: http://www.usmcpress.com/heritage/usmc_heritage.htm

Since those earliest days when the "Continental Marines" fought for our country's independence at sea and on shore, the United States Marine Corps has responded to conflicts around the world, participating in combat operations and humanitarian relief efforts by air, land, and sea. Mandated by Congress to be our county's rapid response force, the United State Marine Corps has proudly served our country for 242 years. From the shores of Tripoli to Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima, Korea, the jungles of Vietnam, the mountains of Afghanistan, the Iraqi desert, and all the operations in-between, Marines from all walks of life have defended our nation.
Each year on November 10th, Marines around the world live up to the motto "Semper Fidelis" (Always Faithful) as they celebrate the birth of the Corps. Whether attending a formal Marine Corps Ball or a small informal gathering, or even with just a phone call or a handshake, those who share the bond of being one of "The Few. The Proud." proudly honor the values, traditions, and history of the Corps on this day by wishing each other  a Happy Birthday.   

On a personal note...

Love and thanks to my husband and his Marine Corps brothers for their dedication and service, and heartfelt thanks to all who have served or are currently serving.  This year I had the privilege of sharing a very special anniversary with these great guys, as 150+ members and guests of their OCS and Basic Class got together in the DC area to celebrate the 50 years that have passed since they graduated as Marine Corps officers and to honor the memory of members of their class who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.  It was a wonderful gathering and it was truly an honor to be there with these great patriots.  

In Loving Memory of  Bob "Heavy" Petrella

Today and always we remember with deep love and affection our dear friend, Bob "Heavy" Petrella, who was a USMC Captain during the Vietnam War and was a recipient of 2 Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star for Valor. Heavy will always be with us in spirit.

SEMPER FI!

Thinking of Selling Your Home Without an Agent?

 You may want to rethink that!


Hiring an Agent to Sell Your House May Cost You NOTHING!
Article Courtesy of Keeping Current Matters/The KCM Blog

There is no doubt that it is easier to sell your house when using the services of a local real estate professional. The agent will provide:

• Greater exposure to more buyers
• The skills of a professional negotiator
• A layer of protection from possible legal liabilities
• Professional guidance in navigating any pitfalls that may arise
• A level of safety while showing the home

There is no doubt that these services are valuable to any family that decides to sell. The only question is – how valuable? One of the main reasons For Sale By Owners (FSBOs) don’t use a real estate agent is because they believe these services are not worth the fee an agent charges. But, what if those services didn’t cost the seller a penny?
A study by Collateral Analytics, however, reveals that FSBOs don’t actually save anything and, in some cases, may be costing themselves more by not listing with an agent.
In the study, they analyzed home sales in a variety of markets in 2016 and the first half of 2017. The data showed that:

“FSBOs tend to sell for lower prices than comparable home sales, and in many cases below the average differential represented by the prevailing commission rate.” (emphasis added)

Why would FSBOs net less money on their own than if they used an agent?

The study makes several suggestions:

• “There could be systematic bias on the buyer side as well. FSBO sales might attract more strategic buyers than MLS sales, particularly buyers who rationalize lower-priced bids on with the logic that the seller is “saving” a traditional commission. Such buyers might specifically search for and target sellers who are not getting representational assistance from agents.” In other words, ‘bargain lookers’ might shop FSBOs more often.
• “Experienced agents are experts at ‘staging’ homes for sale” which could bring more money for the home.
• “Properties listed with a broker that is a member of the local MLS will be listed online with all other participating broker websites, marketing the home to a much larger buyer population. And those MLS properties generally offer compensation to agents who represent buyers, incentivizing them to show and sell the property and again potentially enlarging the buyer pool.” If more buyers see a home, the greater the chances are that there could be a bidding war for the property.

Three conclusions from the study:

1. FSBOs achieve prices significantly lower than those from similar properties sold by Realtors using the MLS.
2. The differential in selling prices for FSBOs when compared to MLS sales of similar properties is about 5.5%.
3. The sales in 2017 suggest the average price was near 6% lower for FSBO sales of similar properties.

Bottom Line

If you are thinking of selling, FSBOing may end up costing you money instead of saving you money.

Should I Buy a Home Now or Wait Until Next Year?

Infographic Courtesy of Keeping Current Matters / the KCM Blog

Thinking of Selling? You Should Do it TODAY!!

Thinking of Selling? You Should Do It TODAY!!
Article courtesy of Keeping Current Matters / The KCM Blog

That headline might be a little aggressive; however, as August 2017’s housing market data begins to roll in, we can definitely say one thing: If you are considering selling, IT IS TIME TO LIST YOUR HOME TODAY!
In a recent article by CBS News, they explained that the number of existing home sales is shrinking, and Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist for the National Association of Realtors, said:

“There should be 3 million homes on the market right now…Yet, there are only 1.9 million.”

And this situation will be affected greatly by recent natural disasters. Yun continued by saying:

“Before the hurricanes I would have predicted 1.35 million in new-home construction in 2018…I’ll have to scale that down now.”

NAR, in their August 2017 Realtors® Confidence Index , indicated that:

“Amid sustained job creation and sustained historically low mortgage rates, REALTORS^® reported…that buyer demand is stronger compared to conditions one year ago… and that fifty percent of properties were on the market for less than one month when sold.”

The only challenge to today’s market is a severe lack of inventory. A balanced market would have a full six-month supply of homes for sale. Currently, there is only a 4.2-month supply of inventory, which is down from 4.5 months one year ago.

Bottom Line

With demand increasing and supply dropping, this may be the perfect time to get the best price for your home. Contact a local real estate professional today to see if that is the case in your neighborhood.

SCCL NUMBER OF CLOSED SALES BY MONTH 2015-PRESENT

This chart can also be found by going to the UP-TO-DATE STATS FOR  SCCL tab above.   There are some great interactive charts at the same location.  Be sure to check them out!

4 REASONS TO SELL NOW

Infographic Courtesy of Keeping Current Matters / The KCM Blog

Remember that all markets are different, 

but much of this is true wherever you live!