What’s behind this surge? Certainly, the first-time homebuyers credit helped to fuel it. And with that credit extended, it’s safe to expect that we’ll see further increases. 

What does this mean for sellers?

Well first, we’re not out of the woods yet. But things are improving. Sellers should do everything they can to make their property attractive for sale. You don’t have to put a bargain basement price on your home, but you do need to price your property reasonably. Pay attention to what homes that are comparable to yours are selling for in your area. Look at the pricing trends for the last year or so to see what you can learn. A reasonable price may be the key to selling.

As a seller, you should also do all you can to boost curb appeal, and to make your home as attractive as possible to buyers. Repairs and upgrades will give you an advantage, as will keeping everything neat and clean. These things are noticeable during open houses and should not be neglected.

Before you jump headfirst into the market, take some time to explore a few questions:

1.Are you prepared financially? Make sure you have the down payment and closing costs you need. The percentage of your down payment will range anywhere from three to 20 percent of the value of the property. Closing costs will cover things like taxes; title insurance, points and other purchase related costs, and can range from two to seven percent of the property’s value. You may also be required to have mortgage insurance. Your lender should give you a breakdown of these costs after you complete your mortgage application.

2.This may seem obvious, but it bears mentioning: Know how much house you can afford. Your monthly mortgage payment will ideally be less than or equal to one fourth of your gross monthly income. If you’re carrying a lot of debt, it might be less than that. Your income, your debt, expenses, and considerations like child support or alimony will determine the amount you can borrow to buy a house.

3.Ask yourself if you are prepared to deal with the additional expenses that come with home ownership. This could include maintenance and repairs, utility bills, and insurance.

4.Check your credit. You need to know what creditors will see when they view your credit report. You can get a free credit report from Experian, Trans Union and Equifax each year by going to www.annualcreditreport.com. Examine each report for inaccuracies, and if you find any, dispute them. If you see anything negative, take steps to fix it.

5.Finally, make yourself familiar with the market you’re buying in. Check out listings in the areas you’re interested in moving to so you have a good idea of what houses are going for.

For first time home buyer questions contact me.

On February 13th 2010, I along with over 1,700 other lucky people enjoyed the Grand Opening event at La Casa, and it was incredible! The fine people at Encanterra provided live music, cooking demos and a host of other experiences that added up to a great time!

Why am I so excited about La Casa at Encanterra? It could be the four restaurants, including the Cafe Solaz Poolside Grill, which is the epitome of poolside dining; or The Vault – the perfect place for wine aficionados to enjoy a favorite vintage along with a sumptuous meal.

But it could be the La Casa Resort Pool. Palm trees and luxury all the way.

Of course, the Mallorca Event Center Hall is the place for any event of the magnitude of a wedding, or a New Year’s Eve Ball, or a large party to celebrate an important milestone – an anniversary, or retirement perhaps.

I want to tell you about the other “attractions” at La Casa at Encanterra that no member will want to miss.

The Alvea Spa is the place to be for health and wellness services, including massage, facials, waxing, and other treatments for both a healthy body and mind, and for feeling and looking your best. The interior of this spa is restful and elegant, and you can even elect to have some treatments outdoors.

Three pools grace the La Casa landscape: The Resort Pool, which I already mentioned as pure luxury, the Lap and Event Pool; and the exercise pool, which is housed in Mossa, La Casa’s own Athletic Club.

Speaking of Mossa, if you are into health, you’re going to love it. Getting fit has never been easier or more inviting. Cutting edge exercise equipment and facilities invite people of all fitness levels to join in the fun and good health. Whether you’re into yoga, weight training, swimming or all three, these and more await you at Mossa.

The Artist Amphitheater, tennis courts, beach volleyball court and Family Park top off the long list of things to see and do at La Casa. It’s an amazing place for the amazing community of Encanterra. I suppose it’s no wonder that I’m as excited about it as I am.

If you’re considering your options for progressive and luxurious senior living, Encanterra should definitely be at the top of your list.

You can conduct your own home inspection if you like, and this is a great idea because it helps you become familiar with any existing and potential problems. Be sure to check the foundation, basement or crawl space, and see about taking a good look at the roof. Inside the house, look for evidence of leaks or water damage, and make note of any musty smells. Also note any wall or floor areas that seem to be weak or warped. Once you’ve given the house a good once-over, you can turn your notes over to a professional inspector, so he or she can take a look as well.

When you have a professional inspector in to see the home, he will look at the roof, heating and air conditioning systems, electrical systems and plumbing. Your inspector will also look for evidence of water damage or other structural problems. Note that you may want to hire a certified pest control specialist to inspect for pests and pest damage.

Once you and your inspector have given the house a clean bill of health, or identified problem areas to be remedied, you can move forward with your offer.

Spurred by the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit, and the subsequent extension of the credit, qualified buyers are continuing to bolster the saturated home market, and this is beginning to have a positive effect on home prices. People are getting their own home, and sellers are breathing easier—it’s a win-win.

The expected 2009 gain in home sales is 2% over sales in 2008, and the forecast for 2010 is an encouraging 13.6%. Home values are expected to rise as well. Along with these improvements, mortgage rates are expected to gain slightly, too, but overall, pricing and mortgage rates will still be incredibly attractive.

The upshot of this news is that while we’re still not completely out of the woods, and there are still economic issues that can and probably will cause problems, such as unemployment, the projected stabilization of the real estate market is an indication of positives to come, both within real estate and in the economy as a whole.

The real estate industry calls having a spiffed-up yard with good-looking plants, materials and walkways, curb appeal. Curb appeal can go a long way in making your home a place that you feel proud of, and one that is attractive to potential buyers.

Here in the Southwest, you have choices in landscaping. One option is to plant a grass lawn with shrubs, flower gardens and trees, which looks great, but will require some skill and know-how to keep alive and happy. Or you can choose to xeriscape your lawn, which makes use of native plants and materials that naturally thrive in our arid ecosystem, and which can be very beautiful and natural looking.

Whichever option you choose, you should pay a visit to your local Queen Creek nursery to get information and tips on the placement and care of ornamental plants, materials such as boulders, and lawn grass. Books, magazines and your local garden club can give you plenty of ideas and help, too.

The bottom line is that sprucing up your yard is well worth the time and money you’ll invest. The return will be a home that is even lovelier than it was before, framed by natural elements that enhance its beauty.

For more visit my site www.shawnstagg.com

However, if you’ve been trying to sell for months or years now and your home is still sitting there, waiting for the right person to come along and snap it up, you might want to explore one possible reason that it hasn’t sold—it could be you. Yes, that’s crazy, because you want to sell that house, right? But if you’re holding out for a price that is unrealistic in this market, you could be shooting yourself in the foot, proverbially, of course.

Sometimes, people have a very hard time pricing their home to sell because of the “sunk cost fallacy”, according to Ohio State University economist John Kagel. This occurs when someone feels reluctant to sell for less than they paid for, or put into, their home; or they’re hanging on, just waiting for someone to come along with the right price offer.

Now, it’s not necessarily a bad thing to want to get your money out of a home. And there is nothing wrong with waiting for a great offer. But if your home is costing you more to stay in it, than to let it go for less, you need to rethink your strategy. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

 If you sell your home at a lower price and move, will you significantly lower your housing costs? Consider your current cash flow and all the expenses that come with staying in that home. These might include your commute, maintenance and upkeep expenses, and other costs.
 Do you know what a realistic price for your existing home is? Research the housing market in your area thoroughly, and ask your real estate agent to help you learn about the going prices for comparable homes in your area.
 Will you have to pay to get out of your house? If you sell at a lower price, will you have to pay cash to cover your mortgage, or will the lender accept a lower amount?
 If you stay, could you avoid a loss? Every real estate market is individual, and some are recovering quickly, while others are lagging behind, despite national predictions and trends. Talk to your real estate agent about what’s going on in your area.

Unfortunately, there are no guarantees. But answering the questions listed above will help you make your best decision about whether to take a lower price for your home, or hold out for “the right price”.

It’s no secret that you’re probably not going to be able to make your home “just perfect” for every person who comes to view it. People are different and they like different styles and effects. But if you’re readying your home for sale, there are some design features that you might want to change, not to mention some additions you’ll want to incorporate before your Realtor starts conducting open houses.

- If you have bold or outdated colors in your home, change them. You might love deep plum on your kitchen walls, but such bold colors can be turn-offs for buyers. You might have a retro look going with avocado green and burnt orange. That’s great if you like it. But when you’re selling a home, a warm, neutral color or palette of colors is going to appeal to the most prospects.

- Wallpaper can be another turn-off, especially if it’s outdated. And because it can be a pain to remove, this can be an aversion to buyers. Take it down, repair the walls and paint them.

- Old, dirty kitchen appliances that don’t look like they have much life left in them should be replaced.

- Old, stained, worn or shag carpet should be replaced.

- Consider adding closet space if your home is lacking. People like each bedroom to have a closet, or a built in armoire. See if you can remedy this situation before trying to sell.

- Outdated bathrooms with tiny sinks, short toilets and tiny showers are not desirable. Redo the fixtures and add some move-around room if you can.

- Mirrored walls and ceilings have to go.

- Update the light fixtures, especially in the bathroom and kitchen.

- Fix anything that makes noise, such as grinding bathroom fans or squeaky doors.

Making your home the kind of place that a buyer can imagine himself moving right in to, without having to do a thing is the goal. People want to look at a home, and be able to see their stuff in it, to see themselves cooking in it, and enjoying day-to-day life in it.