Using Feng shui when Selling Your Home (or not)

Posted on October 23, 2013 by NJNorma

Redecorating a home, whether a major or minor change, can make your home a more inviting oasis for friends, family and yourself. But consider a change that might also invite well-being and maybe wealth.  Consider using feng shui.

The practice, which originated in China, is a very basic conception of what does (and doesn’t) make your home appealing and inviting.  Being Certified in Home Staging, I also encompass Feng shui when a home needs to be staged. Everything associated with staging from declutter to destink (seriously) to creating an inviting entryway are all Feng shui strategies.

Now, I’m not a magician. Feng shui and home staging alone won’t sell your house. For that you need three basics:  the right agent (me), the right marketing plan (mine), and – most of all – the right price (if you’ll listen to me). Without those three basics, Feng shui just stands in the shadows. And shadows are never good.

But this post is about Feng shui for aesthetic purposes, whether selling or staying.

Have you ever walked into a party where all the guests have their backs to you? That’s what it’s like when you walk into a room and all you can see is the back of the furniture. How about if the entrance is bare, cluttered and dark? Do you hesitate for just a second?

A home needs intimacy and warmth. Turn as much furniture as you can so that it faces the entryway. Go out and then come back in to see the difference. Visitors should walk into a home and every room within that home and instantly feel that they belong.

Don’t leave chairs isolated and alone. It creates a basic feeling that the one sitting in that chair is also isolated and also alone. Group them in pairs, diagonally or at least angled to face each other as much as possible. Sharing a small table is ideal.

Next. Arrange your furniture so as not to create an obstacle. Visitors – and positive energy – should be able to move freely through the home. There should be ample open pathways. You want to avoid visitors from feeling closed in or cramped or that the room must be really tiny since the furniture doesn’t seem to fit. If that means getting rid of some of the pieces, then do it.

The way space is arranged has huge power over people and the forces of energy.

Next is Atmosphere. Think about the atmosphere you’re creating. I won’t go into room colors. That’s a whole blog in itself and you can look back at my previous posts for more information. For now I bring up other considerations. You can create the atmosphere that’s calm and restful in the bedroom with a picture of a soothing landscape or garden, not a huge poster of the last Indy winner speeding over the line. Nature scenes are soothing and will relax the visitor. Pictures that invoke movement will invoke wakefulness and stress.

I may tell you to close toilet lids because no buyer wants to look into your commode. The Feng shui philosophy advocates the same thing for a different reason. Water represents money and the toilet is the one place where water/money escapes.

Also, put a small tabletop water fountain either at the entrance or in the back left corner of the home, which is the wealth corner. Moving water circulates prosperity energy throughout the home.

Try placing thriving plants and flowers in the corners of the room That will “enliven” the home and create harmony and well-being.

Trust me. I know. But if you have questions, please contact me. You can reach me through my website at http://www.NormsSellsNJHomes.com or visit my blog for other awesome posts at https://njnormahomes.com.

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The History and Tradition of Halloween Candy Corn

Posted on October 16, 2013 by NJNorma

The History of Candy Corn

 

If Halloween were to be represented by an object, it would, no doubt, be the pumpkin. But if there is one candy that perfectly encapsulates the Halloween spirit in one small as sugary dose, it is the candy corn.

With its distinctive and festive color triptych which includes the jack-o’-lantern orange, the candy corn fits perfectly into the classic Halloween aesthetic. The candy is also undeniable tasty and at a remarkably small size, it’s not hard to eat them by the handful.

Still, there is so much more to these sweet treats than meets the eye. Did you know that this ubiquitous Halloween sweet has been around for over a century?  The candy corn has had quite a legacy in American history,  and the technology needed to create the treat was considered innovative for its time.

There are almost nine billion pieces of candy corn made annually, which is enough to circle the moon nearly 21 times if placed end-to-end!  The candy corn has had quite a journey.

George Renninger invented the candy corn in the 1880s. He worked at the Wunderlee Candy Company in Philadelphia.The candy corn was originally given the less appealing moniker “chicken feed,” because at the time, corn was closely associated with feeding chickens. 

The Goelitz Confectionary Company took over candy corn production in 1900 and still produces the sweet today, but now under the more recognizable name of the Jelly Belly Candy Company.

Initially, candy corn was made with a mixture of sugar, corn syrup and marshmallow flavor and it had no association with Halloween or autumn. The candy was not produced in a factory.  Instead employees would pour 45 pounds of the warm candy mixture into buckets called “runners.”  Men known as “stringers” would then walk backward pouring the mixture into cornstarch trays with the iconic kernel shape. It would take three passes to make the three colors. Wagons then delivered the candy in wooden boxes, tubs and cartons to drug stores. The iconic multi-colored scheme of the candy corn was considered to be revolutionary and customers went crazy for the sweet.

The popularity of the candy corn was so immense that competitors attempted to make candies in the shape of turnips, four-leaf clovers, chestnuts and other designs, but nothing could beat the unique design of candy corn.

In the 1900s, the demand for the candy corn was so high that Goelitz had to refuse orders because his company didn’t have the means to keep up with the ever-increasing requests.

The candy was perishable and couldn’t travel long distances until the 1940s when companies began using “family-sized” cellophane bags to keep their products fresh. With the introduction of the cellophane bag, Goelitz could ship his candy further than he ever had before.

By 1951, the Goelitz Company had 12 factories making candy corn all over the country. It was only after World War II that the candy corn was advertised as a Halloween candy. The tradition has remained unchanged.

In the fall of 1951, a local advertisement described the candy corn as the “Buttery flavored mellow cream candy corn in its familiar three colors. Approximately 360 pieces to the pound. The candy all children love to nibble on all year long.” Even though the advertisement suggests kids would eat candy corn the whole year, some people believe that because the ad ran in the first week of October that the candy has been associated with the month and Halloween ever since.

Today over 35 million pounds of candy corn are produced each year.

The sweet is even honored with its own holiday “National Candy Corn Day” on October 30th, right in time for Halloween!

As far as Halloween indulgences go, the candy corn isn’t unreasonably unhealthy for a candy. While the candy corn is mostly sugar, 22 pieces contain roughly 140 calories and no fat.

Without being too corny, if you’re in the market to buy or sell a home or just redesign it to set the stage for that bowl of Candy Corn, please visit my website at http://www.NormaSellsNJHomes.com

 

 

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7 Home Buyer Turn Offs

Posted on October 16, 2013 by NJNorma

I can’t say that I agree 100% with everything here, although I do have to bow to the market demands. This is the culmination of polls taken by leading real estate experts (who also didn’t agree with ALL the tastes of the respondents).  If you’re thinking of some home improvement projects for the winter, it wouldn’t hurt to keep up with the times and consider these changes.

 

1. Your Personal Paint Palette

I think everyone knows this but it is always worth repeating. It’s best to paint over colors that reflect your taste but may put off potential buyers, such as a scarlet-red accent wall, a lemon-yellow child’s bedroom or a purple den.  Fun colors are for living, but neutral colors are for selling.

Avoid using stark-white paint, though. Choose a warm neutral color — beige, ivory, taupe or light gray — that makes your rooms look inviting, larger and brighter. Redo painted trim in white.

 

After all is said and done, the color and warmth of your rooms will be reflected in the pictures used to list your home.

2. Popcorn-Finished Ceilings

If you’ve lived with a popcorn ceiling (like I have), you know that it accumulates dirt, defies cleaning and is hard to paint. Worse, if your home was built prior to the mid-1980s, it may contain asbestos. (It was banned in ceiling products in 1977, but existing supplies may have been used later.) Hopefully, yours may just be a cosmetic issue and can be sanded and repainted.

4. Wall-to-Wall Carpeting

Buyers these days expect hardwood floors, even in starter homes. If carpet hides your home’s floors, remove it to expose them, even if the wood isn’t in the best condition. If you don’t have hardwood, you may want to consider having it installed in a first-floor living area. If you must keep the carpeting, make sure it looks and smells its best by having it professionally cleaned, especially in high-traffic areas or if you have pets.

5. Brass Fixtures

From switch plates to chandeliers, builder-grade, shiny yellow brass is out. Replace it with chrome- or satin-nickel-finish fixtures for a contemporary look, or an oil-rubbed bronze or black finish to update a traditional room. This is a pretty straightforward do-it-yourself job.

6. ‘Crystal’ Faucet Handles

Acrylic knobs in the bathroom look cheap and can be hard to grip by young, aged or soapy hands. Replace them with a faucet-and-handle set that matches the existing fixture’s configuration (centerset or widespread) and meets the standard of the Americans with Disabilities Act with flipper- or lever-style handles. A polished-chrome finish will cost you the least and still be durable. Plus, the National Kitchen & Bath Association says that the finish is enjoying a surge in popularity over brushed or satin finishes.

7. Vanity Strips

Nothing says 1970s like a Hollywood-style strip of bare, round lights over your bathroom mirror. Replace it with a fixture that includes a shade for each bulb in a style and finish that complements your faucet set. If you have a one-person mirror, you could replace the vanity strip with a wall sconce on either side of the mirror to achieve better lighting for shaving or applying make-up.

If you’d like a complimentary review of your home and suggestions on how you can boost the value of your home, please contact me. My site is http://www.NormaSellsNJHomes.com

Posted in Baby Boomers & Silver Collars, Buying a Home, Family Matters, Great Info About Norma, Home Maintenance, Hunterdon County & Clinton NJ, Selling a Home, Thoughts From a Realtor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on 7 Home Buyer Turn Offs

Low Cost Home Improvements to Add Resale Value

Posted on October 16, 2013 by NJNorma

Even in a housing market where inventory is low, buyers still want a move-in ready house and are willing to pay more for one that’s turn-key. Sellers can increase their listing price and decrease the time their home sits on the market just by doing a few home improvement projects, experts say. But not all projects carry the same return.

“A big mistake a lot of home sellers make is they upgrade the kitchen thinking they will make so much more money on the house. But the rest of the house still needs upgrading or repairs,” says Michael Corbett, Trulia’s real estate expert. Home sellers have to look at repairs as a whole rather than a sum of parts, he says.

For a kitchen renovation, Corbett says the return on the investment is typically 78 percent, which may not make financial sense for all homeowners. However, if other improvements and upgrades are made, the seller is more likely to recoup the money spent, and then some.

The home improvement priority list depends on the seller’s time frame. For those looking to list in the next couple of months, they can take on bigger projects than those looking to sell in a few weeks. However, every seller can increase the interest and price tag of their home by investing in increasing the curb appeal.

“Buying a house or selling is kind of like dating,” says Corbett. “A pretty face gets them in the door.” Since a buyer can make a decision about a home without stepping out of the car, real estate experts say the landscaping has to be pristine, the front door painted and the windows cleaned. But it shouldn’t stop there. Sellers shouldn’t overlook the garage. Have the floors painted with garage floor epoxy. It’s amazing how many people comment on a clean crisp garage with a painted floor.

Removing the window screen and cleaning the frames can also boost curb appeal. Most window screens darken a home and trap dirt. Removing them and cleaning all windows before the home has been photographed will give it a much brighter appearance, inside and out. Inside the home, there are numerous improvement projects of varying price tags that can speed up the selling process.

Painting is a low-cost way to make a home look more fresh and clean and show an owner’s commitment to maintenance. However, choose the paint carefully. Red walls or wildly-patterned wall paper can limit the appeal of a home as buyers are more drawn to neutral wall colors.

Paint freshens everything up and provides a clean and crisp feel. If you aren’t an interior designer by trade,or a Home Stager like me, this is not the time to play one.  Find a reputable designer and pay them a consulting fee to pick your colors. When you list with me, however, this service is provided without additional costs.

Other low cost improvements include decluttering the home, getting rid of old fixtures, particularly if they are brass, and ridding the home of personal artifacts and too many pictures.
For homeowners who have the time and the budget, remodeling the kitchen and baths will go a long way in boosting the list price. But sellers have to know their market before they start making the upgrades. Sellers living in an area where granite countertops are the norm for their style home, they better follow suit. If laminate countertops are more commonplace, then it doesn’t make sense to pay for the more expensive materials.

 

Another,  more costly,  upgrade that is sure to get more bang for the buck is upgrading kitchen appliances. Appliances that bling, bring the cash. Every homebuyer at every price range wants new or updated appliances. … No one wants old and outdated appliances.

 

If your yard looks like the set of a Tim Burton film — before Edward Scissorhands has done his handiwork — you need to tidy up or face rejection by buyers who will drive by and never come back.

Besides mowing the lawn, your to-do list should include trimming scraggly trees and shrubs, and removing anything that’s dead or beyond resuscitation. Edge, weed and mulch garden beds. Plant annuals in a plot or pot for color.

 

Before you plan to put your home on the market, please contact me! I’m always happy to give you a complimentary evaluation of your home and what improvements you can make. You can contact me through my website: http://www.NormaSellsNJHomes.com

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Home Insurance and Renovations

Posted on September 2, 2013 by NJNorma

Woody Allen once said: “There are worse things in life than death. Have you ever spent an evening with an insurance salesman?”

But if you are planning a renovation to your home and don’t take the time to speak to your insurance broker, you could be making a big mistake. During and after a renovation, your current policy may not cover your home and contents if something bad happens.

“Before you pick up a hammer or drill, it’s important to understand and learn more about the insurance implications of upgrading your home,” says Dave Minor, vice-president at TD Insurance. “While being handy around the home is convenient for upgrades such as painting or installing crown molding, more challenging projects like tackling the electrical work yourself could actually invalidate your insurance policy. Speaking with your insurance provider can be a quick way to help clarify the unknown.”

Generally, a homeowner’s policy allows for minor repairs and renovations without jeopardizing coverage. However, if you are doing the renovation work yourself, or acting as your own general contractor, you may need to arrange for additional coverage because some policies have a standard exclusion related to professional liability. You may not be covered if someone is injured on your property.

If you are hiring a contractor, ask them for proof of liability insurance. Check out the limit and extension of the coverage and the date the policy expires. Then ask your insurance broker to make sure that between the contractor’s insurance and your policy, you are well covered.

Upgrades requiring extensive work, such as adding an extension to your home, may require you to change your entire policy to a building under construction. If you are not living in your home during renovations, it becomes an easier target for thieves and undetected water damage, which is why your insurer may require you to secure a vacancy permit if you move out for a period of time.

Basically, all homeowners should insure their houses according to what it would cost to rebuild the house and replace its contents in the event it is destroyed. This amount is called the replacement cost, and is different from the market value of your home and even from your tax assessment value. Another consideration is if you have changed the way you use the home, such as adding a basement apartment or a separate addition to rent out. If your policy doesn’t reflect these changes, you may not be covered at all.

It all boils down to having the right insurance. Not too much and not too little. I’m happy to be affiliated with Weichert Realtors and we have an insurance division to help new buyers and sellers evaluate their homes. For more information, please contact me anytime by visiting my website at http://www.NormaSellsNJHomes.com.

 

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Water Feature Adds Serenity and Energy – Feng Shui

Posted on September 2, 2013 by NJNorma

Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese ascetic which plays upon the idea of creating ideal energy flow within your home and life

Its goal is to achieve proper flow of Qi, pronounced chee, or life energy. And through proper energy flow, you can help invite balance, harmony, and prosperity into your life.

The five elements commonly mentioned in Feng Shui, as well as other works of Chinese literature, are metal, earth, fire, water, and wood. Today’s article will focus on the basics of “water.”

Feng Shui literally translates to “wind water.” And in our lives, we see on a daily basis how important water is for life. It nourishes and cleans our bodies, and offers a wonderful home to billions of aquatic life.

In this discipline, it is all about placement. You can start with the front door to your home. By placing a water feature on the left-side of the door’s exterior (inside looking out), you can bring in good luck! There can be too much of a good thing, however. And that means water features on both sides of your front door can lead to unluckiness.

Both interior and exterior waters will help to promote proper Qi. It is the same principle of water that we see in our natural environment. Water that is healthy flows and moves, just as Qi should flow and move throughout your home. Remember, however, that just as stagnant water in nature breeds disease, so do stagnant waters in your home. Water is refreshing and cleansing, and those powers can be translated to our homes. Fountains can purify your air and environment, reducing allergens. And they can serve to bring in luck and good wealth!

Where should you place water features? Ask yourself where you’d like to enhance learning? Try out an office or kid’s study area.

Just avoid placing a water feature in a bedroom, bathroom, or kitchen.

If you are in the need of some “good luck” then consider placing a water feature in your “wealth spot.”

In Feng Shui, this is located at the corner diagonally across from the living room entrance. Consider placing a fish tank in this great location! Even a small goldfish bowl can work it’s feng shui magic.

Of course, you can always harness the true power of water by building or buying a house near an existing body of water! Wherever your home, keep water as a part of your balanced life.

This is when you should talk to me!! Contact me by click or call from my site at http://www.NormaSellsNJHomes.com

 

 

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Say Mum this Fall … Don’t Be Mum with Curb Appeal

Posted on September 2, 2013 by NJNorma

Fall may be the end of summer’s blooms, but even in this season there are still stunning ways to ramp up your home’s curb appeal.

Curb appeal is important for a number of reasons. We judge the condition and value of a home based on first impressions. This is exactly why staging and cleaning a home before showing can bring in buyers and renew interest. Curb appeal is a large factor in creating excitement for a home and for drawing buyers into the home.

If a potential buyer drives by a home and the yard is unkempt, overgrown, and paint is faded and chipping, then they may assume the inside of the house in just as outdated.

You want a good first impression and Fall gives us some wonderful options. Even if you’re not planning on selling, isn’t it a great feeling to come home to a house that becons you with warmth and color?

To reinvigorate life into your property during the season, add color. Spice hues are associated with Fall. Pumpkin, rust, brown, and sage green are perfect accent colors.

Mums are an inexpensive way to add brilliant color for many weeks during the Fall. Be sure to buy mums that have lots of unopened blooms. If they already look spectacular it means they are almost done with their blooming cycle.

You can plant mums in the soil or simply drop them into a pot you have on hand. Add them to entry ways and around your mailbox.

Another great Fall plant is the pansy! These can last far into the winter and look great as border beds.

Seasonal decor can get people into the spirit of the holiday season. Just be sure to remember that less is more and tasteful is best.

Pumpkin displays are also perfect for this season. Choose a wide range of sizes and shapes, pair them with ornamental corn or straw bales and you have a charming accent to your home.

Wreathes can also infuse color and fun into a drab season. Find one that has lots of color (either leaves or flowers) and it hang on your door with a wreath hook or a command hook. Either can be removed at the end of the season with no damage to your door.

As a final step, be sure to attend to your yard itself. This means cleaning up any clutter (toys and summer decor), trim trees and prune shrubs. Add mulch to flower beds to create a neat and orderly look.

Revitalize your curb appeal this Fall and let buyers see how beautiful your home truly is!

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So.. Is it a Good Time to Sell Your Home?

Posted on July 18, 2013 by NJNorma
Is it a good time to sell your home? It could be the best.
First, of course, we could note what others think. The recently-released May 2013 National Housing Survey by Fannie Mae showed that 40% of responders said that now is a good time to sell a home. That is up from only 16% in May of last year. At the same time, 76% of Fannie Mae’s responders said that it is a good time to buy a home — just a little more than the number of those who thought so last year. In another leading survey of real estate agents on the same issue, 82% said that now is a good time to sell, compared to 54% last year.
It’s interesting to know what others think, but we want to know what are the reasons for thinking one way or the other.
Let’s look at those….

Probably the best reason for thinking that now is a good time to sell is because now is a good time to buy. “Wait a minute!”, you say. “How can that be?  Isn’t it contradictory?”  Well, no, it’s not. Whether it is a good time to sell or a good time to buy isn’t like a zero-sum game where what’s good for one is necessarily not good for the other. Good conditions for buying can mean that there are more potential prospects to sell to. Moreover, just because the conditions for buying are good doesn’t necessarily imply that prices must be low. Of course, if they are extremely high, then that won’t be a good time to buy.

The low interest rates that have recently been available have done two things for sellers. They have created a larger pool of potential buyers and they also have made it possible for prices to rise without shutting out those buyers. This will not, however, last forever. Even now we see occasional headlines that say things like “interest rates recently roared back up to 4.5%”. (Who ever would have thought that 4% would seem high?)  While they currently seem to be in a floating back and forth mode, some day the Fed will reverse course and they will begin to rise.
A rise in interest rates clearly and dramatically affects prices. Suppose you had a $400,000 30-year loan at 3.75%. Your monthly payments would be $1,852. If interest rates rose to 4.75%, to maintain the same payment the loan would have to be $355,000. The drop in borrowing power brought on by a rise in interest rates can be expected to be reflected in pricing. No one anticipates that incomes are likely to rise with, and at the same pace, as interest rates.

Another reason to think that now is a good time to sell is because inventory is still low, meaning there’s less competition. To be sure, inventory is creeping up here and there, but it is still historically low (60% of the peak in 2007). Why is inventory so low?  There are disparate reasons, but certainly one of them is the belief that prices will continue to rise. Some people want to wait for that to happen. It is not just owners who think prices will rise. According to the same surveys, 44% of agents thought that prices will rise “a lot” in the next twelve months. Only 11% thought that last year.
Whether it is a good time to sell is always, ultimately, an individual question. What would be the reason for selling?  Would it entail another purchase?  Whether one is planning on moving on to a larger house or to a smaller one, one factor in answering the question will depend on whether or not that can be accomplished. Naturally, everyone wants to sell high and buy low; and, frequently we can look back and see when and where that might have happened. Timing the market, though, is no easy task and is usually more the result of serendipity than acumen.
Setting aside the financial crystal ball aspect, the question to ask is whether, in today’s market, it will be possible to accomplish the next move if and when one sells at today’s prices  — and one needs to be realistic about what today’s price might be. Today, the question for many would-be sellers is simply a question of whether or not the low-inventory market offers a selection of acceptable replacement properties.
Of course not every sale implies a next purchase. There might already be a second home that one plans to move to; or there may be no desire to own again. If that’s the situation, whether or not it is a good time to sell is an easier question to answer. You can ask, “What would make another time better?”  And then ask yourself if that seems to be likely in the future.
So, is it a good time to sell?  Sure. If it fits your situation.
So if you’re looking to buy or to sell, you’ll need a SUPERB Realtor. That, of course, is me. You can reach me or check out some of my listings through my website: http://www.NormaSellsNJHomes.com
Posted in Baby Boomers & Silver Collars, Buying a Home, Home Maintenance, Hunterdon County & Clinton NJ, I'm The Best Real Estate Agent There Is. Period, Selling a Home, Seniors, Thoughts From a Realtor, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on So.. Is it a Good Time to Sell Your Home?

Curb Appeal Extends to Yard in Hunterdon County Home Sales!

Posted on July 18, 2013 by NJNorma

I’m sure you’ve read my blog (and there have been more than one) about curb appeal but what about side-yard appeal? Readers that have side yards may be squirming right now as they look for the fastest way to change the topic. Yes, side-yard appeal matters too and those often slim, tucked away (to the side of the house, of course) areas can be charming and appealing like the allure of your home from the curb should be when you put it on the market.

It could be a tiny or a long narrow area…what on earth can you do with it other than store trash cans and garden tools there?? Here are a few options that make the yard not only more appealing but likely can help sell your home faster.

Go Zen. If you like to have a peaceful place to sneak away and steal a few quiet moments to yourself, how about creating a zen garden? Not much space is needed, just a bit of creative design. Zen gardens typically have some sort of water feature. A small fountain, along with a bench, will create a peaceful environment to use for your daily meditations. I am an avid follower of Feng Shui, please check my other blog posts for more information.

Put it to work. An outdoor work space can be the perfect place to get things done. Plant some colorful flowers, shrubs, and vines. In the side yard,  many can be trimmed to a narrow shape to allow room for a work table. Also  consider adding some sort of covering for the space where you will be working. On hot summer days when the sun is beating down, you’ll appreciate a canopy to block out some of the sun.

A hideaway oasis. If you get morning sunshine in  your side yard, how about a little breakfast spot? Place a little table and some small chairs there. Create a welcoming environment with some beautiful flowers and whimsical yard décor. Here’s where those nifty outdoor knicknack items you find while on vacation can find a home.  A tall mirror strategically placed can surprisingly magnify your space.

A practical side. Even a practical side yard can be appealing. Invest in a small tool shed and, if you’re artistic, paint the outside to match the theme of the side yard. Even  trash cans and recycle bins can be decorated to make them actually attractive and more than just functional. A small chair or two can be useful in this area and if you buy some that have a unique look, you can create an eclectic and charming side yard that’s also practical.

Most of all, keep it maintained. Don’t let it get overgrown with weeds or become the dumping ground for all the items you can’t find a place to store. Keeping the side yard clean and appealing will help you when it comes time to sell your home.

I can help you find a home with a gorgeous side yard. As a Home Staging Professional, my expertise also extends outside to the curb and yard areas. You can reach me at my site:

http://www.NormaSellsNJHomes.com

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Only Thinking of Buying a New Home? Just Do It!

Posted on July 18, 2013 by NJNorma

It seems many buyers who’ve been sitting on the sidelines may finally get in the game, according to Fannie Mae’s June 2013 National Housing Survey. The reason? The fear and expectation of  both mortgage interest rates and housing prices going up.

The agency posted this on its website. “The spike in mortgage rate expectations this month seems to have had an impact on a number of the survey’s indicators and may increase housing activity in the near term by driving urgency to buy,” said Doug Duncan, senior vice president and chief economist at Fannie Mae. “Consumers may recognize that today’s still favorable mortgage rates and homeownership affordability levels will recede over time. Given rising home and rental price expectations and improving personal financial attitudes, more prospective homebuyers may be deciding that now is the time to get off the fence.”

If you’re shopping for a home here are a few things to help you decide if now is the right time to buy.

A home is likely the largest purchase you’ll ever make so understanding what’s involved is vital. Low interest rates, markets filled with short sales and foreclosures, and a dwindling inventory of quality homes could make this the optimal time to buy.

However, it’s important to know exactly what you’ll need when closing escrow. Sometimes buyers don’t consider all the fees and are shocked when it’s time to pay. Here are some of the costs involved with buying a home.

You’ll want to hire a qualified real estate agent and that, of course, would be me! Some states, NJ included, require real estate attorneys to help with the transaction. An agent and/or a lawyer provide excellent expertise and knowledge,  so it’s wise to enlist the help of these professionals as they know the ins and outs of the business and will help you avoid what could be very costly mistakes.

A home inspection is another fee that you’ll pay once you have decided on a home you want to buy. Sometimes a homeowner has already had a home inspection completed, but you’ll want to bring in your own home inspector to compare reports. This could cost several hundred dollars. If there are negative items found about the home and you can’t arrive at an agreement for either a credit or having the sellers fix the problems, then you may consider not buying the home.

Other fees that will come up include title search and insurance, and a recording fee. There can be others. Some of these fees can be negotiated and, perhaps, paid for by the seller. Talk it over with your agent. How much a seller is willing to pay for will depend on many factors including how quickly the home must be sold and how close your offer is to the listing price.

Make sure you have a reserve so that you can pay for any unexpected changes in your income or any maintenance issues that come up later with your home. A lot of times things come due all at once, so be sure to calculate a good amount of money to keep in an account that you will save for your home. When the time comes and the money is needed, you’ll give a huge sigh of relief and be glad you have this safety account.

A Licensed Realtor will be your best friend and can help you navigate through all of this red tape and more. Please contact me through my website at: http://www.NormaSellsNJHomes.com

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