Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Do I have to pay taxes on my Home Sale if I am going to now Rent?
Question: If I sell my primary residence for a profit of less than $250,000, do I have to pay taxes on the profit if I do not buy another home but rent instead? I have heard about the $250,000 exemption.
Monday, November 30, 2020
Wednesday, November 18, 2020
Saturday, November 14, 2020
Here's a Thought
Have you thought about refinancing?
If you are paying 4% or more and plan on staying in your home for a few more years, it may be worth looking into.
Call us if you don't know where to start.
Being Cheap can be Very Costly
Question: We are thinking of Selling our Home by Owner. What is the reason very few sellers sell on their own?
Friday, November 6, 2020
Home on the (not so normal) Range....
Our Opinion:
- We can't say we've seen a housing market like this in our career. Incredible demand and very low inventory make this a "Super Sellers" Market. That's a mild way to put it. Some would call it "Super Crazy" Market.
Multiple offers on homes is the norm, with some offering $30,000 over list price, hoping they will be chosen by the seller to buy their home.
Unfortunately, an appraisal probably wont agree with this inflated sales price.
- Let's face it, some of the over list price offers are buyers going with the odds that the home wont appraise and the seller may want drop down to the appraisal price. It's a chance to take because appraisal and home inspection fees can cost up to $900. Buyers are going to the extremes to ensure they are able to buy their dream home. The perfect selling scenario: A seller who has kept their home looking good and who is buying in an area where prices have not seen this growth. We think it's also been termed "selling high and buying low."
- Chicago area buyers are looking to the affordability of the South suburbs for their home choice. We've heard crime and covid have something to do with this. They are players in these price wars.
- Illinois buyers moving to Indiana face lower taxes, but much higher prices/sq ft. In other words they get less for a higher price. It's easier to build your dream home in NW Indiana than it is to try and find your dream home. But, building a home is not cheap.
Friday, October 9, 2020
Wednesday, October 7, 2020
Real Estate Questions and Answers
Question: We signed a contract to sell our Home contingent on the buyer getting a loan approved & closing it by a given date. The buyer did not get the loan & the deal was off. We started showing the house again, but have now found out that the buyers got financing through a different bank & they can close by the original deadline. Are we still obligated to close or can we change the contract to better ourselves?
Tuesday, October 6, 2020
Market Snapshot
While there is Covid and High Crime in some areas of Chicago, Home Sales in the south suburbs and NW Indiana are Incredible. If you are thinking of selling, now is the absolutely best time to do it, in our opinion. Low Interest rates have made more buyers able to purchase a home. High demand is raising prices. High Demand and Low Supplies make it a great Sellers Market. Who knows what will happen after the November Election.
Tuesday, September 8, 2020
Love Your Home
“Home is not a place…it’s a feeling.”
“There is nothing more important than a good, safe, secure home.”
“Coming home to friends with wagging tails and loving hearts makes everyday a good day!”
"Home is where you feel Loved, Appreciated and Safe!"
"A house is made of brick and mortar, but Home is made by the People who live there."
"It's not how big the House is, it's how happy the Home is."
"The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home."
Market Update
Illinois South Suburbs:
Available Homes: Low Supply.
Prices: Rising.
Interest Rates: Very Low.
Buyer Interest in Buying a Home: High.
Conclusion: Low Inventory is great for Sellers, not so good for Buyers.
NW Indiana:
Available Homes: Low Supply.
Prices: Rising.
Interest Rates: Very Low.
Buyer Interest in Buying a Home: High.
Conclusion: Low Inventory is great for Sellers, not so good for Buyers.
Wednesday, September 2, 2020
Monday, August 24, 2020
In March when this China Virus hit, we thought Real estate would tank. We thought Sellers would not want to Sell and Buyers would not want to buy. This is the formula for a stagnant market and lower home Prices.
But the opposite happened. The Market went and is still Crazy, Indiana and Illinois! Prices are Rising. Homes are getting multiple offers. Demand is outrageous!
Buyers are out in droves. Sellers are not in the mood to sell. This creates high demand and low inventory. When this happens...... Prices Rise!
We are not sure why a pandemic would create such a crazy market, but we have our ideas.
One thing these buyers have in common is they all drink Lake Michigan Water. Maybe there is something in the water?
How about Crime? Good people want their families to grow up in a less volatile area. Are they all relocating for that reason?
How about Covid? We now know that crowds and prolonged exposure in crowds spread the virus. Are these buyers moving out of the urban and wanting suburbia?
It is our humble opinion that 2 of the 3 theories are correct. To what degree is up to the smart folks to figure out.
I know this sounds like a real estate cliche, but if you are going to move in the near future, now should be the near future! After what we have experienced in 2020, we don't know what the hell is yet to come!
Tuesday, August 11, 2020
Real Estate Thoughts
This is probably the Craziest Real Estate Year we have ever seen!
When many parts of the nation are experiencing Real estate slow downs and Home price drops, our suburban areas of Illinois and Indiana are experiencing the opposite: High Demand and Higher Selling Prices!
Is it Covid or Crime or both that have people moving like we've never seen before?
This is a Remarkable time to sell your home, if that has been in your Plans, Give us a Call.
Also, give a wave or smile to our Police Officers as they go by. What a tough time to be in Law Enforcement.
Who is to Blame?
Question: We recently bought what seemed to be a well maintained house. We didn't get a home inspection and after being in the home two weeks, noticed that the ceiling sagged in the living room & were poorly patched. After having heavy fall for two days we noticed two leaky areas in the roof. Are the sellers liable for not disclosing the faulty roof when it is evident that they knew? Also, our basement flooded.
Saturday, June 27, 2020
What's with the Surge of Homebuyers?
Wednesday, June 17, 2020
Homeowner thinks He's Going Crazy
Sunday, June 7, 2020
Tuesday, June 2, 2020
Website: www.Cathyhiggins.com
Trying to Buy a Home in Indiana
Sunday, May 3, 2020
Looking for a Dog during the Pandemic
I guess thousands of others have thought the same thing.
We called over 30 breeders and kennels over 5 states. No one has any because the demand is incredibly high!
Every Breeder we called confirmed this.
If anyone knows of anyone who has a Black Lab Puppy, let us know. Male or Female is fine.
I hope that these Dog buyers realize that a Dog is a 12-14 year commitment and Not a Covid 19 Distraction!
Thursday, April 30, 2020
Realtor Humor
Monday, April 27, 2020
Saturday, April 25, 2020
Get your Home ready for sale Tip
Friday, April 24, 2020
Are Homes still selling in this Covid 19 Market?
We have not seen any decreases in home prices in Illinois or Indiana.
Some homes are selling just as fast as the pre-covid market.
Some homes are still getting multiple offers.
Some buyers are taking advantage of this lower buyer competition to buy houses.
Obviously, the number of showings are down due to the virus concerns.
Limited data shows that Vacant houses are getting more showings than occupied homes.
Keep in mind you don't need 10 showings to sell a home.
Just one buyer is all you need.
To protect our sellers, we have signage that states:
A maximum of 4 people can enter a home at a time and to please be sensible and caring. Don't enter this home if you have a fever, sickness symptoms or have been exposed to someone carrying the covid 19 virus. Please wear gloves and carry disinfectant wipes with you.
We also supply our sellers with shoe covers for buyer use during the showing.
Lockboxes eliminate the need for sellers to be present for the buyers arrival.
We also ask that the seller not be present and not return to the home right away.
Studies show that some small viral particles could float in the air for about half an hour, but they don’t swarm like gnats.
We also use video tours, so buyers who are reluctant to enter a home (unless they really like it,) can take a video walk through. Just as if they were walking through it on an actual showing.
Paperwork can be signed using electronic signatures.
This can be done on your phone or computer from the safety of your own home.
Even closings are being done in parking lots at the title company.
Safety is the number one priority!
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
Beautiful New Home in Lansing
19265 Lange St in Lansing's Wentworth Park
See the Pictures and Walking Tour:
https://www.coldwellbankerhomes.com/il/lansing/19265-lange-st/pid_35537003/
Attractive Brick/Vinyl Two Story Home with 4 bedrooms and 3 bath areas. Beautiful Home in Excellent Condition. Approx 2800 sq ft of Finished Living Space! Main level has a Living and Formal Dining room. Guest Bathroom. Updated Kitchen with new Stainless Steel appliances & Faucet, which is Open to the Family room. Family room has a Gas Fireplace. Upper level has a Main Bathroom, 4 spacious bedrooms including a Master Bedroom Private Bath. Mostly finished basement with Rec room and loads of Storage Space. Basement Bar. Roughed in plumbing for a 4th Bath. 2.5 car attached garage. Home has been newly Painted. Roof, Furnace and Central air approx 5 years old. Newer Windows. Washer & Dryer and Window Treatments included. Numerous Ceiling fans. Covered Front Porch. Really nice Deck in the Fenced Back yard. No homes directly behind you, there is a greenbelt/water retention area behind the Home. Located in one of Lansing's newer subdivisions.
Saturday, April 4, 2020
18501 Locust St, Lansing
Click the Norton Safe Link Below:
https://www.coldwellbankerhomes.com/il/lansing/18501-locust-st/pid_35522183/
Saturday, March 28, 2020
Thoughts on our Changing Lives
There is nowhere to go and nothing to do. My wife suggested we take a walk, but I don’t walk anywhere unless I have a golf club in my hand and it’s cart path only.
The network channels are inundated with coverage of the virus. The golf channel has been showing reruns of old tournaments, which are almost as riveting as watching my brother-in-law’s video of his family camping trip to Yellowstone.
Our society and economy have been crippled by a microscopic virus. Scientists have not yet determined the exact origin but have narrowed it down to some moron in China eating Bats or other exotic animals. And no one is sure how to prevent or cure it. In the past, the ways to prevent contracting a contagious disease were simple: don’t eat in restaurants with numerous health violations and wash your hands after using a public bathroom.
Author---Unknown
Monday, March 23, 2020
Our Thoughts on the Covid-19 Virus
The United States leads the world in medical practices, research and advancements. Many viruses have surfaced over the last ten years such as Ebola, the Swine Flu, Birds Flu, Secure Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), the Zika virus and many others as each were addressed resulting in a successful treatment and outcome in creating a vaccine that limited the effects and spreading of such diseases amongst the world’s population.
We should be most confident that a treatment and vaccine will also be developed in combating this latest virus in the very near future.
We must be patient, heed the warnings and advice given by the Center for Disease Control and government officials and take all necessary steps in attempting not to be exposed to this virus.
Our clients may continue to show their home under strict guidelines for entering the home.
They may also choose to place their home on Temporarily off the Market status.
Monday, March 2, 2020
Why did a comparable home sell for much more money?
Answer: After reviewing your home and your competition, the reason for the big gap in price is your home is 25 years older with no updates. The home that sold for $18,000 more than what you are listed for, had updates and a modern finished basement.
Using square feet as a measuring guide is ok as long as you compare all the features of the homes.
If your home isn't selling, you are too high for what buyers are willing to pay taking into account the updates that they would need to make.
Thursday, February 27, 2020
Taxing your Pension
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Saturday, February 8, 2020
Put it on Paper
Friday, January 24, 2020
Indiana Real Estate News you Can Use!
1. Existing home sales, September year-to-date, year-over-year change | -1.6% | -0.9% |
2. House price appreciation, 2018 Q2 to 2019 Q2 | 5.5% | 6.4% |
3. Residential building permits, September year-to-date, year-over-year change | 1.3% | 1.7% |
4. Foreclosure rate, 2019 Q2 | 0.9% | 1.2% |
5. Months supply of existing home inventory, September 2019 | 4.1 | 3.6 |
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
Landing in Phoenix
Beautiful Downtown Phoenix Arizona! Click the Virus Free Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ckpCWzXhec