Downsizing Your Home

In 2010, the average size of a new home was 2,169 square feet. That’s over a 1000 square foot increase in the last 30 years. A large home can be nice, especially when you’re raising a family. However, if your kids are now grown or you’re just tired of cleaning and maintaining all that space, you may be thinking about downsizing to a smaller home.

However, selling your home and buying a smaller one is a big commitment. To be sure that you are ready to move to a smaller place and before putting your home on the market or shopping for one, take an earnest look at your reasons for making this change.

You may have rooms you never use. Do you find yourself wondering why you even have a formal dining room, or when you’ll ever use that fourth bedroom again? Your home should suit your lifestyle. So, if your formal dinner party days are over and your current home no longer makes sense, it might be time to downsize.

Upkeep on a larger home is time consuming.  Extra rooms and a large yard need regular cleaning and maintenance.  Significant dollars spent on hiring help for extensive landscape and lawn care, systems inspections and other maintenance or repairs can be a cash drain for spaces rarely used.

Your family and friends may have already moved out of your neighborhood and into smaller homes or city condos. When the people you care about and socialize with have moved on with their lives, it may be time for you to move on, too.

Accessibility will eventually become an issue. That second floor master suite may no longer be optimal and a smaller, one-story home, designed for easy access, could be exactly what you need for prolonged independence.

Fortunately, if you are ready to downsize, now is a great time to do it. Contact me today if your downsize time has arrived and you’re ready for a new chapter of life in a new home, we can discuss how I can help you to make that transition more easily and find the home of your dreams. 

The Long Group with RE/MAX Results 
Daniel.Long@Results.net 
Rachel.Long@Results.net 
(952) 240-8821 
http://www.TLGhomesMN.com/ 

Photo courtesy of Lonnie Bradley, Stock.XCHNG.

Tips for a Fast Winter Sale

Selling your home in the middle of winter does not need to be more stressful than listing it in the spring or the summer.  Yes, in the winter the weather is traditionally bad, and you have less hours of daylight for showings.  However, not everyone has the luxury of picking the season in which to place their home on the market.  And you may find it to be surprising, but winter does have its real estate advantages, and can be a great time of the year to sell your home. The following are a list of tips to follow, for a fast winter sale.

• Team up with experienced help.  Call your local real estate agent first, and foremost.  Joining forces with a professional is paramount.  Your agent comes equipped with years of experience, knowledge, and familiarity in winter home sales.
• Price your home accordingly.  The first few weeks of your home being on the market are the most crucial.  Therefore, your initial list price should be your final price.  A property that sits while the seller shaves bits and pieces of price off, becomes stale.  Your agent will perform a Comparative Market Analysis, providing you with an ideal list price.
• Acknowledge your timing.  The busiest time for home sales is in the spring and summer.  Consequently, off-season listings can get a lot of attention.  If your home is well-maintained and you are willing to price it right, agents will often urge their clients to list in the winter, as the competition is much scarcer.
• Prepare for the house hunters.  De-clutter the inside of your home and warm it up.  Warm and cozy should be your main objective.  Utilize all natural light, start a fire, and have music softly playing in the background.  Outside, keep all ice, snow, and other winter hazards at bay.  If a buyer cannot safely make it into your home, it won’t sell.
• Take pride in your ownership.  When showing your home, ask potential buyers to remove their shoes, or slip into provided shoe coverings.  By indicating that you take pride in the meticulous areas of your home, it suggests that you take care of the large-scale areas.  The buyer immediately acknowledges that they have entered a well-maintained home.
• Consider your area and use the season to your advantage. Baron trees can even work to your advantage.  With the obstruction of trees in bloom out of the way, beautiful views open up.  Remove Santa and his reindeer following Christmas, but allow the wreath to stay hung on the front door.
• Advertise.  Although your real estate agent will be posting your home on their website, place a box of their flyers in your front yard.  Adorn your mailbox with balloons, and hold open houses as often as your agent is free.

We must all face the facts.  Winter is one of the four seasons.  But, the real estate market does not recognize it as any different from the other three seasons.  As a matter of fact, if the proposed tips for a fast winter sale are followed, home sellers should embrace the winter season.  Contact me today for a consultation. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have, and help you find your dream home.

The Long Group with RE/MAX Results

Daniel.Long@Results.net

Rachel.Long@Results.net

(952) 240-8821

http://www.TLGhomesMN.com/

Photo courtesy of LEOL30/Flickr.com

Getting an FHA Loan after Foreclosing

SOMEONE SAID: I am interested in purchasing a new home using FHA guidelines, but have problems. Back in 2009 I had a foreclosure on our current house which also had a second attached to it. The County records state the house was signed over Sept 09 and resold Dec 2009. I Filed Chapter 7 BK in March of 2010 and was Discharged in July 2010. The Bankruptsy attorney included the house and second on the BK to eliminate the 2nd. MY credit report is showing 3/2010 now for the house accounts not the 2009 dates provided through the county. Question I have is can I still Qualify for a FHA loan? MY RESPONSE; Every situation is different. I am working with qualified buyers right now that went through a similar scenario as yours. Every situation is unique and the lending guidelines have changes significantly since 2009. In my opinion, you should talk to a qualified LOAN OFFICER and have them run a preliminary loan approval for you. If you are not immediately capable of purchasing, they should at least be able to get you on the right path to fix what ever is necessary for you to buy a home.... Best of luck!! Danny Long The Long Group RE/MAX Results