Happy New Year!

What will the new year bring?   So many issues!  NYS financial deficits?  Real Estate values. Governor Cuomo.   New technology.  Social network explosion.  New ideas.  New relationships. Gas drilling in NY?   Higher taxes?  Government consolidation.  Pension reform.   What will it mean for you?

We all have limited time and resources and want the most out of life.  How can we achieve what we want?  FIrst, you must have a plan.  Establish a plan that will provide good results.  Think about the short and long term consequences of your decisions and think about what’s really important to you.  Be a leader!  Be on the alert!  Keep up with what’s going on around you. 

Take calculated risks that will produce positive cash flows and good results.  Don’t hoard things to yourself; share your knowledge and wealth with others!  Life really is quite short and your perspective makes all the difference.  How do you see life?  What’s important to you?  How are you treating others? Pursue God, pursue life, pursue peace and happiness in the new year. 

Happiness starts from within.  Are you on board?

The real estate market is always changing.  People will always need shelter and as businesses, churches and manufacturing grow or decrease in size, they often require new space.  The search always continues to go on.  Businesses have moved in and out of our county for many years.  Some have closed their doors.  Some have become obsolete, much like the typewriter has today.    

What will tomorrow bring?   Increase competition?  Increase costs?  The cost of labor, materials, maintenance, taxes, utilities and insurance will always put new demands on homeowners and businesses.  How will business and homeowners meet the new challenges of tomorrow’s economy?  

Looking down the road is essential to your success.   Where do you expect to live or work 10 years from now?  What is important to your survival?  Will you adapt, move on, build up or sell out?  You can be certain we are headed for some kind of an economic revival or collapse.  Can we really sustain the current economic climate?  

Businesses and homeowners must constantly evaluate their needs especially with the new technology order in place.  Much of what we do can prove worthless, so think your plan through and live within your means; seek spiritual guidance.  The Bible says:  Seek first the Kingdom of God, giving all honor and glory to Him.   We all need help and we need it now!  What path are you on?  What choices are you making?

In today’s economy it makes a lot of sense to choose your broker carefully.  Each agent will probably do more or less the same thing, but not all have the experience to make your sale go smoothly.  After 25 years we have learned what works and what doesn’t work.   Staging, pre-inspecting and pricing your home are all important items, but final negotiations always come down to the final price.  If you choose to pay an agent 6 percent, are you really getting your money’s worth?  What will they do that we can’t do better for a whole lot less?

Our discount fees take into account that when you price your home correctly, it sells faster.  So overpricing your home, ignoring needed improvements and agreeing to pay expensive real estate fees only makes your property more difficult to sell.

If you want our help and you don’t want to pay 6 percent, then call us.  We just saved one of our recent clients over $20,000 in fees on the sale of their $450,000 house.  Who says hiring an discount broker doesn’t make sense, especially in today’s economy?

If you are looking for a home, now is the best time to buy because bank mortgage rates are really low!  I haven’t seen rates this low in my 25 years of selling real estate.  If you are able to take advantage of the low rates, do so now!  Find the home you want and trade up or down.  Don’t wait for rates to gain momentum.   The huge savings will keep your mortgage payments down.   View our listings online to see if you can find a home that suits your needs or call us and we will send you all the newest mls listings.  Don’t delay, borrow now when money is affordable!  Hire us to help you with your search and negotiations.

Are you having trouble selling your home?

In a soft real estate market, you need to make your house attractive to purchasers.

Here are some important points to remember:

1. Make your home presentable!  Fix up, clean up, reduce clutter!
2. Price it to sell!  Do not over inflate the price!  Pick a sensible price!
3. Know your competition - study other housing values.
4. Work on curb appeal!  Make your home inviting on the outside and inside!
5. Hire an agent with a good marketing plan and include the MLS!
6. Make your home accessible and be ready to negotiate!
7. Preinspect your home before listing it and take care of necessary repairs
8. Be prepare to wait it out, be patient!
9. Encourage your neighbor to clean up his or her property too!

No market is easy and buyers are more finicky than ever!  The unemployment situation, foreclosure rates and housing inventory are making things more difficult for sellers, so listen to the buyer’s needs and encourage offers.

When purchasing a home or investment, it is important to evaluate your needs as well as the condition of the property.  Purchasing real estate carries certain responsibilities.  Aside from a mortgage payment, there are water bills, utility bills, maintenance, lawn care, snow removal and a host of other issues.  Sometimes flooding, leaky roofs, water quality and mold or pest infestations can be a concern.  These are just a few things to look out for.  Inspectors will cover plumbing, electrical and structural reviews too.

Consider having a reputable inspector review the property you are interested in purchasing.  An expert’s advice can save you a lot of headaches and wasted money.  Don’t get emotionally attached to a property if the property has too many problems of concern.

It is better to know and be prepared than to be misinformed before you buy.  In today’s economy when money is tight, you have the right to know what needs repair and how much it will cost.

As spring approaches, the federal tax credit enacted by Congress will expire unless Congress decides to extend it one more time.  Overall, the housing market took a real hit in 2009 with values dropping in most cities.  The forecast for this year is also expected to be slow and steady.  The U.S. economy is trying to recover and the federal government is now working on a new job bill to help stimulate the economy.  As jobs return, so will consumer confidence, but don’t expect miracles or a surge in pricing. Expect interest rates to continue to remain low.

In Broome County, NY residential homes sales were down about 9% from the previous year.  For the last 4 years the market has declined in the number of homes sold despite being named one of the most affordable places to buy in the country.

We can all hope that homes values will continue hold their value, but there is no certainty.  It comes down to supply and demand, interest rates, consumer confidence, needs of buyers, etc..  So if you are planning to sell this year, get your home on the market early and see what the market brings.  Buyers on the other hand will have to choose from the  inventory available and should try to take advantage of the tax credits while they last.

The current economy has forced many residents to rethink their housing situation.  Many homeowners are choosing to downsize as taxes and utilities have skyrocketed.  Many empty nesters do not need as much home as they once did.  Where are you in the spectrum?  Upsizing or Downsizing? 

Today, we are seeing many homeowners in trouble as housing values have plummeted.  We are seeing smaller homes built with nicer amenities.  As lifestyles change, baby boomers will look for new alternatives.  How are you being affected? 

A Changing Economy 

Young folks are more mobile than ever and marrying later in life.  They are focusing on their careers.  Education carries a higher price. Many Americans now work two jobs without health benefits. The real question is how much debt can one acquire before feeling the pinch?  Smart investors live within their means and live a productive lifestyle.   What are your priorities and how do you want to live?  

Going Green and building smaller homes with nicer amenities will be the trend for most Americans.  Nothing remains static.  Observing the past and enjoying modern day conveniences changes our way of thinking.  What does the future hold for you?

Purchasing a home is not for everyone, but it can be rewarding if you find the right property.  Most buyers should consider their needs and determine what price range they can afford before making a purchase.  By completing our household budget you will be able to determine how much home you can afford. 

Selecting a home comes down to evaluating your needs.  How big is your family?  How many bedrooms, baths, garages do you need?  Where do you want to live?  In the country or city?  What school district, if any, is important to you?  What kind of maintenance is required?  What are the utility bills?   What features are you looking for?  How much yard?  Would a townhouse, ranch, 2story, or condo be the best for you?

Take time to think about what is important and what you can afford, then call an experienced Realtor to help you find the right property.  Sure you can view properties online, but you still need to verify taxes, negotiate and make sure all paperwork is handled properly. 

If you are looking for more information or how the current tax credit applies to you, contact us.

Looking to sell or buy?  Don’t make the mistake of hiring just any agent.  Hire a Top Producer!  We sold more homes in 2010 than just about any agent on the local board of Realtors.  How did we do it?  We provide professional service, charge affordable fees and we have over 20 years of experience.  Our state of the art website is also a big plus!

Top producing agents know what’s going on in the marketplace and they know how to handle all aspects of each transaction.  Your agent should know their job, be an expert, and be easy to reach.  Your agent should provide you with comparable sales, demonstrate their knowledge, be familiar with the necessary forms, and have a good website that displays your property in a favorable fashion. 

If selling, you will want your property listed on the MLS for extra marketing exposure- for that is where the real action is.  When you list with us you can save a lot of money with our discount MLS fees.  Our low overhead helps us control your marketing expense and gives you better service for less money. 

If you need help, give us a call, and we’ll listen to your needs and develop a plan to make buying or selling easier for you.  Buying or selling does not need to be difficult or expensive!  Let us show you how we can help streamline the process.  Call Eric Strong at 607-725-3742 or Caren Strong at 607-760-2110 and let us make 2010 a good year for you!