Sunday, August 5, 2012

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Men and women who have tried to sell a home are likely familiar with the phrase curb appeal. Curb appeal is similar to getting ready for a big date, only youre not dressing yourself up to make a strong first impression. Instead, improving curb appeal involves dressing your home up in the hopes it makes a strong first impression on prospective buyers, many of whom will have a strong opinion about the property before they even get out of their cars to have a look around. A home with strong curb appeal can entice buyers who are likely to believe that a home with a wellmaintained exterior is likely to have an equally impressive interior. Homeowners who want the process of selling their home to go smoothly can improve the propertys curb appeal in a number of ways, many of which dont necessitate a substantial home improvement budget. * Clean up. The most effective way to improve curb appeal is to clean up the property. Many homeowners are savvy enough to remove toys and other items from the yard before showing a home, but cleaning up goes beyond removing clutter from the property. Make sure all hedges are trimmed and remove weeds, sticks and other debris from any flower beds. Lay mulch in the flower beds and garden, as mulch prevents weed growth while helping the soil retain moisture, resulting in more attractive gardens to catch a buyers eye. * Get an edge on other sellers. Edging is another easy and effective way to improve curb appeal. Edge driveways, sidewalks and other walkways around the property, removing or trimming anything that is hanging over the driveway or walkways. If the boundary between your driveway and lawn is not distinct, consider installing edging materials such as stone or bricks. The edging can be level with the driveway or elevated, but keep in mind that elevated driveway edging can protect the lawn, preventing kids from riding their bicycles onto the lawn or cars from driving onto it. Adding edging is not a very difficult do-it-yourself project.

How to improve your homes curb appeal

Home Hunter

* Take to the trees. Many homeowners grow accustomed to overgrown trees around their property and may not notice that low-hanging, unsightly branches are hiding the home from view. Buyers want to see the house, so take to the trees and trim any branches that hang too low or obscure your home. * Clean the gutters. Leaves and sticks hanging from the gutters are a red flag to buyers, who tend to associate clogged gutters with roof damage. Clean the gutters thoroughly before putting your home up for sale and keep them clean throughout the selling process. If your property includes lots of trees, install guards to keep twigs and leaves out of the gutters. * Make the home accessible through the front door. Many homeowners enter their home through a side door or through their garage. If you fall into this category, keep in mind that prospective buyers will be entering through the front door, so make this area accessible. Clear any clutter, such as overgrown hedges, away from the front door, and consider upgrading the door handle to a more modern feature. In addition, make sure the lock on the front door doesnt stick, forcing the realtor and buyers to immediately struggle before entering the home. You want buyers and their real estate agents to get in and out of the home as smoothly as possible. * Make sure all plants, including flowers, are living. Dehydrated or dead plants and flowers are eyesores, and they will give buyers the impression that you didnt pay much attention to your property. Make sure all plants are alive and thriving and replace those that arent. You can replant new flowers or plants or just use potted plants instead. When purchasing new plants, choose low-maintenance varieties that appeal to buyers who want good vibrant plants but might not want to put in much work into the garden.

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Aiken Standard

Home Hunter

Why use a REALTOR ?

All real estate licensees are not the same. Only real estate licensees who are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS are properly called REALTORS. They proudly display the REALTOR logo on the business card or other marketing and sales literature. REALTORS are committed to treat all parties to a transaction honestly. REALTORS subscribe to a strict code of ethics and are expected to maintain a higher level of knowledge of the process of buying and selling real estate. An independent survey reports that 84% of home buyers would use the same REALTOR again. Real estate transactions involve one of the biggest financial investments most people experience in their lifetime. Transactions today usually exceed $100,000. If you had a $100,000 income tax problem, would you attempt to deal with it without the help of a CPA? If you had a $100,000 legal question, would you deal with it without the help of an attorney? Considering the small upside cost and the large downside risk, it would be foolish to consider a deal in real estate without the professional assistance of a REALTOR. But if youre still not convinced of the value of a REALTOR, here are a dozen more reasons to use one: 1. Your REALTOR can help you determine your buying power -- that is, your financial reserves plus your borrowing capacity. If you give a REALTOR some basic information about your available savings, income and current debt, he or she can refer you to lenders best qualified to help you. Most lenders -- banks and mortgage companies -- offer limited choices. 2. Your REALTOR has many resources to assist you in your home search. Sometimes the property you are seeking is available but not actively advertised in the market, and it will take some investigation by your agent to find all available properties. 3. Your REALTOR can assist you in the selection process by providing objective information about each property. Agents who are REALTORS have access to a variety of informational resources. REALTORS can provide local community information on utilities, zoning. schools, etc. There are two things youll want to know. First, will the property provide the environment I want for a home or investment? Second, will the property have resale value when I am ready to sell? 4. Your REALTOR can help you negotiate. There are myriad negotiating factors, including but not limited to price, financing, terms, date of possession and often the inclusion or exclusion of repairs and furnishings or equipment. The purchase agreement should provide a period of time for you to complete appropriate inspections and investigations of the property before you are bound to complete the purchase. Your agent can advise you as to which investigations and inspections are recommended or required.

5. Your REALTOR provides due diligence during the evaluation of the property. Depending on the area and property, this could include inspections for termites, dry rot, asbestos, faulty structure, roof condition, septic tank and well tests, just to name a few. Your REALTOR can assist you in finding qualified responsible professionals to do most of these investigations and provide you with written reports. You will also want to see a preliminary report on the title of the property. Title indicates ownership of property and can be mired in confusing status of past owners or rights of access. The title to most properties will have some limitations; for example, easements (access rights) for utilities. Your REALTOR, title company or attorney can help you resolve issues that might cause problems at a later date. 6. Your REALTOR can help you in understanding different financing options and in identifying qualified lenders. 7. Your REALTOR can guide you through the closing process and make sure everything flows together smoothly. 8. When selling your home, your REALTOR can give you up-to-date information on what is happening in the marketplace and the price, financing, terms and condition of competing properties. These are key factors in getting your property sold at the best price, quickly and with minimum hassle. 9. Your REALTOR markets your property to other real estate agents and the public. Often, your REALTOR can recommend repairs or cosmetic work that will significantly enhance the salability of your property. Your REALTOR markets your property to other real estate agents and the public. In many markets across the country, over 50% of real estate sales are cooperative sales; that is, a real estate agent other than yours brings in the buyer. Your REALTOR acts as the marketing coordinator, disbursing information about your property to other real estate agents through a Multiple Listing Service or other cooperative marketing networks, open houses for agents, etc. The REALTOR Code of Ethics requires REALTORS to utilize these cooperative relationships when they benefit their clients. 10. Your REALTOR will know when, where and how to advertise your property. There is a misconception that advertising sells real estate. The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS studies show that 82% of real estate sales are the result of agent contacts through previous clients, referrals, friends, family and personal contacts. When a property is marketed with the help of your REALTOR, you do not have to allow strangers into your home. Your REALTOR will generally prescreen and accompany qualified prospects through your property. 11. Your REALTOR can help you objectively evaluate every buyers proposal without compromising your marketing position. This initial agreement is only the beginning of a process of appraisals, inspections and financing -- a lot of possible pitfalls. Your REALTOR can help you write a legally binding, win-win agreement that will be more likely to make it through the process. 12. Your REALTOR can help close the sale of your home. Between the initial sales agreement and closing (or settlement), questions may arise. For example, unexpected repairs are required to obtain financing or a cloud in the title is discovered. The required paperwork alone is overwhelming for most sellers. Your REALTOR is the best person to objectively help you resolve these issues and move the transaction to closing (or settlement).

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Home Hunter

Home Hunter

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NEWNG I LIST

NEWNG I LIST

NEWNG I LIST

NEWNG I LIST

NEWNG I LIST

103 Trippi Lane

Call Mark Moeckel 270-7925 or Sarah or Sandra Willis 646-0981

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Call Joe Sabino 270-4216

$329,900

10 Silver Maple
Call Mark Moeckel 270-7925 or Sarah or Sandra Willis 646-0981

$299,000

505 Douglas Drive $199,000

Call Pat Roberts 270-1730
NEWNG I LIST

506 Douglas Drive $185,900

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Call Debbie Cormany 221-5678

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Call Debbie Cormany 221-5678

31 Raccoon T rail $439,000

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NEW E PRIC

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NEW E PRIC

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Call Pat Roberts 270-1730

164 Cottonwood Creek Lane

Call Joe Murphy 292-6779

$295,000

Call Joe Murphy 292-6779

121 Glen Haven $242,000

Call Debbie Cormany 221-5678

1162 Legacy Lane $465,000

Call Pat Roberts 270-1730

4 Juniper Loop $195,000

(803) 643-1899 WWW.WOODSIDE-AIKEN.COM

AS35-807593 1

SARAH CLEATOR DEBBIE CORMANY MARK MOECKEL JOSEPH MURPHY

645-2976 221-5678 270-7925 292-6779

1419 SILVER BLUFF ROAD, AIKEN, SC 29803

PAT ROBERTS JOE SABINO ANGELA WATERS SANDRA WILLIS

270-1730 270-4216 617-0921 646-0981

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Aiken Standard

Home Hunter

New Home Sales and Low Mortgage Rates Boost Housing Market
by Madhusmita Bora on June 29, 2012, realestate.com

Low Mortgage Rates Continue to Aid Recovery

Last month, Americans bought new homes at the fastest pace in more than two years. New home sales increased 7.6 percent in May compared to the previous month, according to the Commerce Department. Thats an annual rate of 369,000 homes when adjusted seasonally. Although the numbers bode well for the industry, thats still way short of the 700,000 mark, which economists consider to be the sign of a healthy market. But it looks like we are inching our way up. Any gain is good news during tough times. The latest increase in sales shows that we continue to take baby steps toward recovery despite a weak job market. It also shows that falling prices and record low mortgage rates have helped lure in buyers even in very difficult times. The rise in demand for new homes is boosting builder confidence. Builders are steadily reporting numbers that show that demand is on the rise. Prices are already stabilizing in some markets, with sellers receiving multiple offers on a single home. Although recovery seems more local now, the hope is that the rest of the nation will catch up soon.

The housing market has bottomed out, and low mortgage rates have helped end a further downward slide, said Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas president Richard Fisher. I do think the housing market has bottomed out, Fisher said, according to Bloomberg. The improvement has been assisted by these low mortgage rates that weve had. As we said earlier, in May, Americans bought new homes at the fastest rate in two years. Signed agreements to buy previously occupied homes also increased, surpassing analysts expectations. Pending home sales jumped 5.9 percent to 101.1. The numbers may continue improving if interest rates hover at the bottom along with home prices despite high unemployment numbers and strict lending practices, Bloomberg said.

Would a Decrease in Consumer Debt Help the Housing Market?

In these trying times, American families have worked hard to reduce debt, according to recent reports from the Federal Reserve and other organizations. According to The Feds survey the proportion of families carrying a credit card balance fell to 39.4 percent in 2010 from 46.1 percent in 2007. Many households have saved, paid off their debts, and accumulated disposable income to spend on large buys, according to a report by investors.com. All this should help the housing market, which already seems to have bottomed out and started its recovery process. But does low debt mean more money to buy homes? Its not that simple. The average Americans net worth tied to the value of assets such as homes and bank accounts dropped from $126,400 in 2007 to $77,300 in 2010. According to the report, the decline in asset reflects plummeting home prices. That might scare away buyers, who probably have money for a down payment but are unsure about the market. The silver lining is the net worth of American families is again on the rise. According to a separate survey, total family net worth jumped 28 percent when compared to the recession low. Hopefully, that trend will continue into the future.

Lennar Corp. Reports Rising Orders

Miami-based builder Lennar Corp. said new orders rose for the fifth straight quarter, a sign that the market is stabilizing and homebuyers are finally lining up to take advantage of low interest rates. They do not want to miss this moment in time, Lennar chief executive officer Stuart Miller said, according to Reuters. Theres this feeling of not wanting to miss the boat. Orders skyrocketed 40 percent to 4,481 homes, the third largest builder reported. Higher prices, reduced incentives and better pricing helped the company financially, Reuters reported. But, strict lending practices continue to act as a speed bump for the company. Consumers recognize the mortgage approval process is extremely difficult and very conservative, and its difficult to get approved, Miller said. Demand is constrained by the mortgage qualification process.-

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Aiken Standard

August 5, 2012 | 9

Top 10 Reasons to Hire a Real Estate Agent

1. Education & Experience
You dont need to know everything about buying and selling real estate if you hire a real estate professional who does. Henry Ford once said that when you hire people who are smarter than you are, it proves you are smarter than they are. The trick is to find the right person.2 For the most part, they all cost about the same. Why not hire a person with more education and experience than you? Were all looking for more precious time in our lives, and hiring pros gives us that time. Agents take the spam out of your property showings and visits. If youre a buyer of new homes, your agent will whip out her sword and keep the builders agents at bay, preventing them from biting or nipping at your heels. If youre a seller, your agent will filter all those phone calls that lead to nowhere from lookie loos3 and try to induce serious buyers to immediately write an offer. Agents either possess intimate knowledge or they know where to find the industry buzz about your neighborhood. They can identify comparable sales and hand these facts to you, in addition to pointing you in the direction where you can find more data on schools, crime or demographics. For example, you may know that a home down the street was on the market for $350,000, but an agent will know it had upgrades and sold at $285,000 after 65 days on the market and after twice falling out of escrow. Contrary to what some people believe, agents do not select prices for sellers or buyers. However, an agent will help to guide clients4 to make the right choices for themselves. If a listing is at 7%, for example, an agent has a 7% vested interest in the sale, but the client has a 93% interest. Selling agents will ask buyers to weigh all the data supplied to them and to choose a price. Then based on market supply, demand and the conditions, the agent will devise a negotiation strategy. Real estate agents can disclose market conditions, which will govern your selling or buying process. Many factors determine how you will proceed. Data such as the average per square foot cost of similar homes, median and average sales prices, average days on market5 and ratios of list-to-sold prices, among other criteria, will have a huge bearing on what you ultimately decide to do. Real estate agents network with other professionals, many of whom provide services that you will need to buy or sell. Due to legal liability, many agents will hesitate to recommend a certain individual or company over another, but they do know which vendors have a reputation for efficiency, competency and competitive pricing. Agents can, however, give you a list of references with whom they have worked and provide background information to help you make a wise selection.

7. Negotiation Skills & Confidentiality

Top producing agents negotiate well because, unlike most buyers and sellers, they can remove themselves from the emotional aspects of the transaction and because they are skilled. Its part of their job description. Good agents are not messengers, delivering buyers offers to sellers and vice versa. They are professionals who are trained to present their clients case in the best light and agree to hold client information confidential from competing interests.

2. Agents are Buffers

8. Handling Volumes of Paperwork

3. Neighborhood Knowledge

One-page deposit receipts were prevalent in the early 1970s. Todays purchase agreements6 run 10 pages or more. That does not include the federal- and statemandated disclosures nor disclosures dictated by local custom. Most real estate files average thicknesses from one to three inches of paper. One tiny mistake or omission could land you in court or cost you thousands. In some states, lawyers handle the disclosures, thank goodness!

9. Answer Questions After Closing

4. Price Guidance

Even the smoothest transactions that close without complications can come back to haunt. For example, taxing authorities that collect property tax assessments, doc stamps or transfer tax can fall months behind and mix up invoices, but one call to your agent can straighten out the confusion. Many questions can pop up that were overlooked in the excitement of closing. Good agents stand by ready to assist. Worthy and honest agents dont leave you in the dust to fend for yourself.

10. Develop Relationships for Future Business

5. Market Conditions Information

The basis for an agents success and continued career in real estate is referrals. Few agents would survive if their livelihood was dependent on consistently drumming up new business. This emphasis gives agents strong incentives to make certain clients are happy and satisfied. It also means that an agent who stays in the business will be there for you when you need to hire an agent again. Many will periodically mail market updates to you to keep you informed and to stay in touch.

6. Professional Networking

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Aiken Standard

Home Hunter

The Aiken Standard is pledged to the letter and spirit of the U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtain housing. All real estate advertising in the Aiken Standard is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitations or discriminations. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate that is in violation of the law.

Publishers Notice

AS14-708282

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Home Hunter
by Jason Van Steenwyk, realestate.com

Aiken Standard
emotional factors, such as expected cash flow, return on investment, and the costs of expected upgrades and repairs. Some agents have more experience working specifically with real estate investors than others. Just as importantly, some agents may have more contacts in the local real estate investment community than others. For those looking to sell quickly, and who are willing to discount their properties to attract investors, a strong Rolodex of qualified investors who are both in the market to buy property and who can afford it or qualify to finance it can be a crucial consideration. One idea: Ask successful real estate investors in your community what agents they personally use. Sometimes, that investor may be willing to buy the property directly from you saving you a hefty agents commission! More often, though, a good referral can save you weeks or months of waiting for your house to sell in a stagnant market, because your real estate agent just doesnt have the natural market to place the home.

August 5, 2012 | 11

How to Choose a Real Estate Agent

Buying or selling a home or investment property may be the largest single transaction you ever make. Surely such an important transaction commonly worth hundreds of thousands of dollars and occasionally millions of dollars, warrants a rational, deliberative process. There are no hard-and-fast rules to selecting a real estate agent. Experience counts, yes. But sometimes you can be well-served by a young and hungry agent with a lot of energy as well. Here are some general guidelines about what to look for.

A License in Good Standing

The first criterion is to find a real estate agent who is duly licensed in your state. This is crucial, because real estate agents are held to a rigid professional standard of conduct. If agents are guilty of professional misconduct, they can have their real estate licenses suspended or revoked. Even if their actions dont rise to anything worth killing a career over, state licensing boards do keep a record of disciplinary actions or complaints. Even great agents occasionally get a client who just cant be pleased. But if you see a pattern in the agents background of issues that come up over and over again, you may want to keep looking. Another reason to look for a license is safety. Real estate agents carry a special kind of insurance called errors and omissions insurance, or E & O. Think of this as malpractice insurance for real estate agents and brokers. As hard as we all work, sometimes things go wrong with a transaction. If something does go haywire and you suffer economic damages, errors and omissions coverage helps ensure that the money is there to compensate you. Without it, even if you sue the agent, you may never be able to recover the damages. Use licensed real estate agents. By the way, in some states, a real estate agent whose license is in an inactive status is not required to carry E&O insurance, so check with your states licensing division to ensure the agents license is in an active status.

Match the Real Estate Agent to the Property

Ideally, your agent should routinely handle properties that sell in your price range. If youre looking to sell a $95,000 condo, you dont necessarily want the agent who sells a lot of $1 million dollar mansions. The agent should have a database of contacts and possible buyers who are interested in the specific property you are looking to sell.

A Real Estate Agent Who Listens

If youre buying, look for agents who are sensitive to your concerns. The best agents will listen to your specific concerns and then go the extra mile to find properties that are suitable for you.

Get an Agent With a Plan

If youre selling, ask your prospective agent how she plans to market your property. If her whole marketing plan consists of putting your property up on the MLS and praying, look for someone else. The best agents are constantly networking and phoning their contacts, and they go to get-togethers with other real estate professionals in various disciplines looking to make contacts and execute transactions.

Investment Property Experience

People look at investment properties with different eyes than people who are looking at buying a home in which they plan to raise their families. For real estate investors, its important to consider non-

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Aiken Standard

Home Hunter