What sells a home? Is it the price, location, or condition? The truth is that it takes a combination of all of these factors to make a sale in today’s market. Unlike boom era transactions, the seller is now in the passenger seat. Buyers today have a great advantage. A glut of homes in many markets means that supply far outweighs demand. Buyers are able to be choosy and to negotiate sweet deals. When your home is on the market you want to...

As you start to gather up your belongings and pack them away for your move, many sellers question which items they should leave out for buyer appeal. Often the wrong items are left on display; things like family photos, personal keepsakes, and treasured belongings. All of these items should be safely packed away which very often creates open space (a plus for buyers) on shelves, refrigerator doors, and desktops. Buyers often make a decision...

As the race for the 2012 Presidential Election gets rolling, a new survey from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) shows what is on voters’ minds. Topping the list of concerns for voters is the importance of homeownership and the ease of obtaining it. The survey showed that American voters “strongly value homeownership and would oppose efforts to weaken or eliminate the mortgage interest deduction or diminish a federal...

You’ve probably heard it all over media outlets. “Affordability is at an all-time high.” “Interest rates are below 4.0 percent!” The question remains, however, why buy a home? What do these proclamations actually mean for you? Let’s look at these claims. Affordability is at an all-time high. This is calculated by a ratio of median household income to median home prices for any given area. According to the...

If you’re selling your home then you should know that one of the popular rooms that tops buyers’ favorites list is the kitchen. So it makes sense to spend time, energy, and even a little money to make it shine. That thought can make some sellers cringe. The thought of spending money to fix up a kitchen in a home that they’re about ready to sell is unpalatable. However, it could make the difference between a buyer making a...