Realtor magazine weighs in on the real estate market predictions for 2013. http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2013/01/17/10-predictions-for-housing-in-2013?om_rid=AAE6WO&om_mid=_BQ$CqPB8wX3ch0&om_ntype=RMODaily
Photos Can Increase Sales Price | Realtor Magazine
Marketing a listing starts long before it is active on the local MLS. Glass Slipper Homes agents work with Sellers months in advance advising on the necessary steps to prepare a home for sale. Decluttering, painting, staging and professional photos are essential components to a market-ready home. Professional photos can make an extraordinary difference in a buyer’s perception of the property. Realtor.com shares evidence to this fact below. http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2013/01/17/study-photos-can-increase-sales-price?om_rid=AAE6WO&om_mid=_BQ$CqPB8wX3ch0&om_ntype=RMODaily
Interest Rates Are Great – Is It Your Time To Buy?
If you have been thinking about buying real estate, now is a very good time to check in with your lender to find out if:
- You qualify for financing,
- How much you qualify for,
- What timeline you need to close successfully on a home!
Interest rates are as competetive as we have seen them in a long time, which is great news for those that want to buy!
Please let me know if you would like a recommendation of lenders to contact for specifics. Then let’s set a date to get you looking at some homes! Email heidi@glassslipperhomes.com.
Tax Credits For Some Home Improvements – Don’t Miss Out!
There are many, many different reasons for buying (and occupying) real estate. Some common reasons are that a mortgage payment is often less than a rent payment, mortgage interest is tax deductible, real estate tends to be an appreciating asset, and the list goes on and on. The common theme often relates to money and how we can get the most out of our investment. With that in mind, make sure you’re aware of the tax credits that are currently available for certain home improvements. Examples are some window and door replacements, some roof replacements, and some furnace and central air conditioning replacements. The list is long and you can should familiarize yourself with the factors needed to qualify for a particular tax credit before committing yourself to anything. But for those that make the qualifying home improvements, enjoy yet another monetary perk of home ownership!
If you have questions about the tax credits available for certain home improvements, visit the government website that outlines the program and email heidi@glassslipperhomes.com.
How Do You Store Your “Stuff” At Home?
If you have worked with Glass Slipper Homes you know that we go paperless whenever we’re able to. For example, when you visit one of our listings you will receive a cd containing scanned copies of property information rather than a packet of paperwork. We like it that way – and we hope you do too!
This leads to the question of the day – how and where do you store important documents in your home? While we strive to make sure our homes are safe at all times, sometimes accidents happen. With this in mind, where do you keep documents like insurance policies? The title policy for your home? The closing documents that the title company gave you after a property purchase or refinance? Copies of your tax returns? Receipts if you’re a business owner?
A common answer is a Banker’s Box that you can purchase at any office supply store. While this is handy and economical, what if you store it in your basement and then you get water down there after a heavy rainstorm? Or if you put the same box anywhere else in your house, what will happen to the information if something like a fire or smoke damage occurs? These aren’t things that we like to think about, but it’s important as responsible homeowners to do so.
If possible, consider scanning documents into your computer and then backing up your computer system using an on site option like an external hard drive or an off site option like Mozy or Carbonite. If scanning isn’t an option for you, consider a water and fireproof container for storing important documents – you won’t regret it!
For more tips on how we achieve paperless as well as we do, email heidi@glassslipperhomes.com!