Saturday, June 21, 2008

More from the Good News Channel!

Buyers Getting off the Sidelines

The Mortgage Bankers Association of America reports that in its national survey last week, applications for new, conventional loans to buy houses jumped by 11 percent -- and applications for FHA insured mortgages were up by 17 percent. With home prices sharply discounted in many of the former high-flying boom markets, and down slightly in many other areas, smart buyers are recognizing that it's time to make their move.

-- “Real Estate Outlook: Buyers Off the Sidelines,” by Kenneth R. Harney, Realty Times,June 19, 2008.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Lansing Funnel Cloud June 7, 2008

Luckily no major damage or injuries from this scary storm.
Photo taken by a Lansing resident.


Monday, June 2, 2008

Tips for Increasing the Return on Your Home

Whether the market is slow or not, there are a few ways to increase your return in the sale of your home. The first is to "update" your home. Consider replacing old fixtures, old counter tops in Kitchen & baths. Remove out-of-date wallpaper & add a fresh coat of paint. Reface or replace the cabinets. With some updates you will make it stand out among the competition, and believe us, you have lots of competition!

New carpeting in neutral colors will greatly improve the look of your home. The old saying: “The buyers are just going to change the carpet to their own colors,” is not the way you should be thinking. You have to make the home look “updated” in order to get the buyer to even consider buying it!

Remodeling your kitchen or bath is in the big "plus" category. Don’t forget curb appeal. This will get the prospective buyer in the door and many buyers check out the area and exterior before deciding if they should go inside. Give your home that new paint job. Cut, trim & edge the lawn. Add some flowers, clean up the clutter. A little remodeling will not only bring it up to date, but make it stand out in the minds of potential buyers.

Give us a call. We know what is selling and we would be happy to make suggestions to get your home in salable condition!