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6 Reasons Why Now Is The Best Time For Colorado Springs Home Remodels

KELDEN INVESTORS — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:51:00 GMT

Cash in your pocket and equity in your Colorado Springs home? If you’ve been thinking about making changes to your house but thought you couldn’t afford a remodel, it’s time to rethink the possibilities. The payback on renovations in cost versus higher home value, should you decide to sell your house later, can be better than you thought.

Reason #1: Lower bids from the contractors. The home renovation business is falling with the current housing market, leading to lower bids for the homeowner’s remodeling project. In addition, most contractors are willing to negotiate with you for a better price, leaving you with a beautiful remodel for an excellent price.

Reason #2: Higher number of contractors to choose from. Although homeowners are still making repairs and working on their houses, the number of bigger additions and fancy remodels is going down. More contractors are competing against each other for your project.

Reason #3: Lower financing costs. If you have good credit and a steady economic foundation, you can get lower financing costs. This, in turn, makes the project that much more affordable.

Reason #4: Lower cost of materials. Because the number of major remodels is dropping, the demand for materials (and thus the cost) is also dropping.

Reason #5: Less waiting time for a top-rated remodeling contractor. With a lower number of people wanting to remodel their Colorado Springs home, even top-rated professionals have a shorter waiting list.

Reason #6: Better service. With more competition, contractors are definitely giving “service with a smile.” Calls are being returned faster; jobs are starting on time (or before!).

If you looked into remodeling your Colorado Springs home more than a year ago, now is definitely the time to do something about it. However, even in this sweet time for remodeling, be aware of shady companies and shoddy work. Do your research before accepting any contractor.

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5 Steps Owners of Colorado Springs Homes for Sale Should Follow

KELDEN INVESTORS — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:47:00 GMT

There’s a lot of competition in the current market for Colorado Springs homes for sale. If you’re thinking about adding your home to the list, this checklist is for you.

#1. Set your goals. What do you expect from your sale? Do you just want to get rid of the home, or do you want the highest price possible? Will you be ready if a buyer wants to close quickly? The answers to these questions factor into how much time it takes for a house to come off the market.

#2. Decide whether to use an agent or not. Although many Colorado Springs homes for sale go faster and at better prices with a real estate agent, it’s still possible to get a decent price doing it yourself. If you decide to use an agent, interview them and talk to their past clients to make sure you feel confident in their services.

#3. Set your home price. This is tricky, because if you don’t set the right price, your house can sit on the market for a long time and sell for much less than it’s worth. If you hire an agent, they’ll analyze comparable homes and find a good price. If you don’t hire an agent, make sure you look at recent sales on comparable homes, as well as neighborhood demographics to find the right price.

#4. Find the problems and get serious issues fixed. Although you aren’t obligated to hire a home inspector, a professional home inspection can help head off serious issues that can delay the sale. If you can fix the serious issues, do so. If you can’t, you can still sell the house “as is,” as a fixer-upper. Keep records of everything you do fix.

#5. Consider staging your home. From curb appeal to inside style, home stagers can help your house look its best. Studies show that, in general, staged homes sell faster and for better prices than those that haven’t been staged.

Adding your house to the list of Colorado Springs homes for sale will be an exercise in patience, but following this checklist can help make the exercise a much shorter one.

If you’re thinking of selling your home, please allow me to interview for the job. Call me today at 719-522-4412 or email me at Kelly@keldenhomes.org for more information or to schedule an interview.

How Do You Price Your Colorado Springs Home For Sale?

KELDEN INVESTORS — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:04:00 GMT

If you’re looking for the right price to list your Colorado Springs home for sale, you may need to call on a real estate professional. Pricing your home to sell in this buyer's market is part research and part experience.

You don’t want to overprice your Colorado Springs home for sale because you don’t want it to sit on the market week after week. A home that is priced too high for the area will not attract as many buyers as a more reasonably priced home. If you price your home below market value, you’re likely to receive several offers that will drive the sale price up, so you don’t have to worry about getting less money for your home than it’s worth.

A good way to get an idea of the current value of your home is to get the sale prices of homes that have recently sold in your area. Your real estate agent can gather that information for you. Look for homes similar to yours in size, location and condition.

When setting the price of your home, you may also want to take a look at the listings that have expired in your area. You may find that the homes were overpriced for your neighborhood or that some homes remain on the market because the home wasn't updated or in good condition. Try to learn what caused the listing to expire and work to avoid the same mistakes.

You should not list your Colorado Springs home for sale at a price that you aren’t comfortable with. Explain to your agent the concerns that you have about the home’s sale price and ask for his or her professional opinion about the price that you have chosen.

Want help pricing your home correctly? Let me put together an analysis of current home prices in your neighborhood. It's free and at absolutely no obligation. To get your analysis, call me today at 719-522-4412 or email me at Kelly@keldenhomes.org.

7 Ways Condos in Colorado Springs Can Go Green

KELDEN INVESTORS — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:42:00 GMT

Want to go green but afraid it won’t work for condos in Colorado Springs? Get rid of your worries, because it’s definitely possible. It just takes a little thought!

1. Go Energy Star – Anytime you get a chance, use Energy Star appliances, lighting, heating and cooling equipment. When it’s time to replace something, look for the Energy Star option.

2. Use a power strip – Many people have a slew of chargers and electronics. Instead of plugging them directly into an outlet, use a power strip and then turn the power strip off when the electronics aren’t in use.

3. Get an energy audit – If you get an energy audit you can find out how your insulation and heating and cooling equipment is working compared to the condos in Colorado Springs. If it’s not up to par, you can find out where you need to start.

4. Check your seals – If you have windows and doors with poor seals, air can leak out, wasting the energy to heat or cool your condo.

5. Recycle – It’s cheaper than trash collection and helps the environment.

6. Rain catchers – Many condos in Colorado Springs have balconies with flowerpots and small beds. As well, many owners use potted plants inside as accents. If you’re one of them, use rain catchers on your balcony to reduce water usage instead of watering each plant with fresh water.

7. Low flow toilets and leaks - If your association allows it, install a low flow toilet in your unit to help conserve water. As well, check the toilet for leaks by putting food coloring in the tank and see if it moves to the bowel without flushing. If it does, you have a leak.

If you’re looking for a condo that’s already green, I can help. Call me at 719-522-4412 or email me at Kelly@keldenhomes.org for more information.

4 Guaranteed Ways to Get Rid of Buyers for Your Colorado Springs Home for Sale

KELDEN INVESTORS — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 19:57:00 GMT

Sometimes, just sometimes, it seems that people don’t really want to sell their home. They put the “Colorado Springs Home for Sale” sign up in the yard and then steadily push potential buyers away. If you don’t want to sell your home, here are a few ways to get rid of the nosy buyers:

Open houses – Especially if you’re using a real estate agent, your home will be open to the public (i.e. buyers). The best way to discourage these buyers is by making sure you’re there to point out all the flaws and issues you’ve had while living there. They’ll eat it up and walk away.

Curb appeal – Weeds can cover up a beautiful lawn like nobody’s business. Putting away the lawnmower, garden sheers and weed eater is an excellent way to ditch potential buyers.

Painting the house – Every article written by a real estate guru on “how to market your Colorado Springs home for sale” will tell you to paint your house in neutral colors if it needs to be repainted. Therefore, it stands to reason that if you’re playing “ditch the buyer,” the best thing to do is pick a color that screams, “Here I am!” No worries. Once you know for sure your house won’t sell, you can always repaint.

Clearing the house – It’s a known fact that buyers like to be able to see themselves living in the house. Your job is to go around and put up as many knick-knacks and pictures as possible to let them know it’s YOUR house.

Of course, if you’ve put up your Colorado Springs home for sale, chances are you do want to sell it. Pay attention to the above and make sure you aren’t pushing clients away. If need be, ask your real estate agent to go over the house with you and provide suggestions on how you can improve your home’s buyer appeal.

If you’re trying to sell your home and want it to be marketable, I can help. Call me at 719-522-4412 or email me at Kelly@keldenhomes.org for more information.

4 Reasons Why Colorado Springs Homes for Sale Become Colorado Springs Homes for Rent

KELDEN INVESTORS — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:18:00 GMT

Driving down the streets of the City, you’ll see a lot of Colorado Springs homes for sale. What you’ll also see, however, are homes for rent. What’s the difference? Why did these people decide to rent out their home? Why did that homeowner become a landlord?

There are a lot of reasons for renting out your home, rather than adding it to the list of Colorado Springs homes for sale:

1. The competitive factor – The current housing market is great for homebuyers, but not so great for home sellers. With so many homes to choose from, your property has to stand out from the rest to get sold. Sometimes, it could take months, or even years, to sell your house. During that time, renting can be a good way to make the house profitable.

2. Belief that the area will grow – Many people need to move out of their first house because it doesn’t have enough room for their growing family. However, they think the area has a lot of potential and will be growing. It then becomes a real estate investment. They may want to sell later, but not during the real estate slump.

3. Not sure if they want to sell the home – Another set of landlords have moved to a new city and job, but aren’t sure whether they’ll like it or not. Renting is a way to cover the cost of the house. This is a “just in case” prospect, and works well for many.

4. More money – Especially with the housing slump, some landlords have been able to make more money renting than selling their house. Because housing prices are currently very low, many owners have found renting their home more profitable than selling it for a lower value.

If you’re trying to determine if you should sell or rent your home, I can help. Call me today at 719-522-4412 or email me at Kelly@keldenhomes.org for more information.

http://www.keldenhomes.com

3 Cheap, Easy Ways to Make Your Home for Sale in Colorado Springs More Inviting

KELDEN INVESTORS — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:43:00 GMT

Many putting up their home for sale on the Colorado Springs market don’t have a lot of available cash to spruce it up. While staging houses is a definite plus, it costs, as does many of the other suggested “to-dos." Here are a few cheap, easy ways to make your home look more inviting to buyers:

1. Put up your personal stuff
Not every buyer looking at a home for sale in Colorado Springs appreciates the fact that someone still lives there. Putting away the following things can help the buyers’ see themselves in the home:

•   your pet’s things (toys, litter box, bowls)
•   your medications, toothbrushes and toilet accessories
•   any toys
•   knick-knacks and personal pictures

2. Create more space
Small, closed in spaces are major turnoffs for buyers. Create the illusion of more space by:

•   putting up out-of-season clothes or clothes you don’t wear very often to make your closets look bigger
•   taking one piece of furniture out of your bedroom
•   packing up the small appliances in your kitchen
•   taking out all but four chairs in your dining room, as well as extra table leaves

3. Touch on the trends
Chances are that some of the buyers are paying attention to celebrity trends. Feng shui is a big one, and you can do your part with just a few touches:

•   add a fresh bowl of fruit to the kitchen
•   put a comfortable couch or chair on the east side of your living room or den
•   put a green welcome mat on your porch to symbolize opportunity
•   get rid of reds

Whether you see or feel a difference doesn’t matter. Keep in mind that you’re trying to appeal to potential buyers of your home for sale in Colorado Springs, not make the home more livable for you. If it helps, pretend that you’re the buyer, seeing the house for the first time.

If you’re trying to get your home ready to sell, I can help. Call me at 719-522-4412 or email me at Kelly@keldenhomes.org for more information.

http://www.keldenhomes.com

Sell Your House at Fair Price

KELDEN INVESTORS — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 00:45:00 GMT

There is a reason why you cannot get a fair price. In manycases buyers expect your home to be in 'move-in' condition before parting withtheir money. They see new carpets and freshly painted walls in showrooms andare judging your home with the same measuring stick. It changes what people arewilling to pay. You receive offers subject to negotiations - meaning you havemore work to do before the sale takes place. Others may simply try to give youa ridiculously low offer if they buy 'as-is'.

If you have pressing circumstances that mean you cannot dothe work or cannot afford the time it would take to have the work done you maytake one of these offers, losing thousands of dollars of value just because itwas the best offer on the table or get help from http://www.keldenhomes.com

Real estate investors know the market you are selling in.They are not put off by stains on the carpets, fading paint or any of the othertypical wear and tear that comes with lived-in homes. You can find real estateinvestors who will take on all of the hassle of cleaning and prepping your homefor new buyers - all the while taking over your payments so you don't have towait for the closing before moving on.

If you contact http://www.keldenhomes.com you save yourself the hassle of findinga buyer that's willing to give you a fair price for your home while also beingrelieved of the work involved to make it look what its worth. This can be veryimportant when a move needs to be made right away but you simply don't have thetime or ability to fix things up.

It is better to find a realtor that can sell your home onthe date you choose, giving you a fair price and doing the fixing up for you!All they can do is listing your home to the market - the market will decidewhat they will pay, not the realtor. Instead you may be talked into doing thework yourself or lowering your price - not always an option.

Remember that an investor is a buyer - you will not bepaying them to list your property, they will be purchasing it from you ortaking over the payments until a buyer is ready to purchase. You will not paycommission fees and other usual closing costs - you just sell your home. Haveyour home evaluated and find out the process involved - it’s easier than youthink!

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Sell your Home for the biggest Profit by keeping things uncluttered!

KELDEN INVESTORS — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:44:00 GMT

Getting your house decluttered will help you clear your own mind and get you ready for the prospective buyers to start coming. The best way to get organized is to try to see your house through new eyes. When you pretend like you are the one who is considering buying your home, you can better see the areas which need improvement. Take a clipboard and pen with you as you survey from the outside to the inside. Write down everything which disturbs your eye for even a moment. Chances are that if you notice something that does not look right, your potential buyers will, too. You will probably want to share this list with your real estate agent and go through this process more than once, so you don't miss anything.

Getting ready to sell your home can be one of the most stressful areas of the real estate experience, but it does not have to be. Keeping in mind some key advice will help you get your house looking top shape from the inside and out. Throughout the process, the best way to go through your to-do list is to accept the fact that you can only do one thing at a time. With this perspective, all of the pieces will fall into just the right places.

Now that you have an idea of what needs to be improved, cleaned or changed, you can start knocking them off the list one by one. Get the outside, "curb appeal," taken care of first. This will help your house attract attention right away even if the signs haven't gone up yet. Seeing your house looking its best on the outside will also give you the courage to tackle the inside. If you visit our website at brianmurphyrealtor.com you can learn more on real estate in Port Saint Lucie, Florida.

Each room should contain as little clutter as possible. Get a bunch of clear plastic bins and start filling them up with all of those extra knick-knacks. Remember that buyers want to picture their belongings in your house. If your stuff is in the way, then they can't form a mental picture as easily. To properly declutter, you have to start detaching yourself from your home. Make the rooms look as large as possible by removing extra furniture, books, objects and wall hangings. Set aside some time to repaint colorful rooms a soothing beige, cream or linen. This will make the rooms look even bigger and give the buyers more breathing room.

Any decorative object which you leave in a room should be used as a tool to attract the buyer to a special feature. Place an interesting candle holder in the fire place, or a few small plants on the mantle. Draw the eyes to windows with lamps and neat end tables. We are a one-stop source for Port Saint Lucie area real estate services. Find homes for sale and area information for Port Saint Lucie, Stuart, Jensen Beach and Fort Pierce, Florida - FL. Get real estate buying and selling tips, relocation help, and mortgage information visit brianmurphyrealtor.com

Despite all your efforts, be mentally and emotionally prepared to hear your agent tell you that you still need major improvements if you want to get the price you had in mind. Consider it a good thing that the professional agent you hired is being completely honest with you. You want to have a real estate agent who knows what and when things need to be done. Talk to anyone you can about the good agents they have had in the past. Get a feel for the agent's strengths by asking them as many questions as you can before committing to a contract. If you have trouble getting a hold of them right from the beginning, then that is your first sign that they may not have the time or capacity to give you the proper amount of attention.

Your agent should thoroughly discuss the marketing plan for selling your home. Deciding on the price will be one of the most important aspects of this plan. Depending on your home and the time of year, there will be several approaches to combining the need to sell with the need to get the right price. For example, if you live in a desirable neighborhood, you may be able to go a little higher than you thought, but may not want to if there are many nearby homes for sale at the same time. Trust that your agent will inevitably come up with the right strategy, but be outspoken about your opinion. Although you aren't the professional, it's always possible that you will have an angle that your agent didn't consider.

When you are going through the real estate process, there will always be plenty of people with tips, ideas and advice. All the input can occasionally do more harm than good, so take everything in as much stride as you can. Just make sure that your agent keeps you in the loop through the whole process and make your home as appealing as much as possible. With a clean house and a clear strategy, you should be able to sell your home much more quickly

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Selling Tips – Determining Your Market

KELDEN INVESTORS — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:54:33 GMT

The decision to sell a home is more complex then many people first realize. One of the primary issues to consider is your market and how it will impact the sale of the property.

Selling Tips – Determining Your Market

People sell their homes for a variety of reasons. In some cases, the sale is involuntary due to issues that arise in every day life such as a job-related transfer, divorce and financial problems. For a vast majority of people, however, the decision to sell is made under less trying circumstances. If you fall into this category, determining the nature of the real estate market in your area is a critical step to take.

When determining a market for real estate in a particular area, the central issue is what kind of a market is present? There are two types – the seller’s market and the buyer’s market. Each market has particular characteristics and will impact how much time and money will be involved in your selling effort.

A seller’s market is one where there are more buyers than properties being listed. It is no secret that the United States has been in one of the hottest seller’s markets ever seen for the last seven years, but it is really starting to cool off. This doesn’t mean, however, that the national trend reflects the situation in your particular area. If your area is still red hot, you are in the cat birds seat. You can list your home with a high price for your area and still reasonably expect to get offers.

A buyer’s market is one where there are more listings than buyers. In such a situation, homes tend to sit on the market for substantial amounts of time. Many parts of the country, such as Texas and Colorado in general, have historically been buyers markets. For some reason, these two states never really benefits from the massive seller’s market push the last few years.

Anyway, if you are in a buyer’s market, you need to determine two things. First, do you have sufficient equity in your home to make selling it at a competitive price a worthwhile decision? Second, would it perhaps be better to wait a few years until the market falls in your favor? Unless there is a compelling reason to sell, many homeowners will wait out buyer’s markets. If there is a compelling reason, you need to price your home near the bottom of the market for comparable homes in your area to get a quick sale. If it is any comfort, you should be able to turn around and find a good deal in your area as a buyer.

At times, the real estate process can be a confusing one for buyers and sellers. If you take the steps to determine your market before making a specific decision, you will be better off.

http://www.keldeninvestorrelations.com/

Selling Tips – Determining Your Market

KELDEN INVESTORS — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:52:00 GMT

Sell time share property to your advantage

KELDEN INVESTORS — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:12:00 GMT

You will need the proper tools and advertising to sell timeshare property for a quick and easy closing. It can be a daunting task that needs close attention and most oftentimes, professional help.Here are some helpful pointers in selling time share property.

Sell time share property with complete understanding of what you are getting in return. Make sure to understand the terms of sale and guarantees by asking until you do understand them. If your agent is good enough he will do the job but if you are not satisfied, find another one. The more professional advice you get is better for you.

Like any buyers, compare prices of time share similar to the one you are selling. Selling time share property with a competitive price is beneficial for a quick closing. But ensure that you are not pricing it too low or too high. Find out the usual price given by developers and compare it to your desired selling price. This way, you can compromise and sell your time share property easily.

Sell time share property but do not pay unconditional fees. These are fees that are derived by agents from a large percentage of their income from up-front fees.

Selling time share property can be sensitive to price. Investors will always be looking for the right deal that is often priced lower than seller's desired price. If the time share is already older than the other time shares in the market or is less popular during the selling period, this can really affect the pricing.

Check out any nearby activities and take it into consideration. Local tourist business means more money in the pricing scale which in turn is beneficial to you. Also consider if your unit is near a good view. It can either be a swimming pool, beside the seashore or fronting a beautiful mountainside. This means you can price your time share higher.

In selling your time share property, the best option is to post your listing so that potential buyers can find the benefits of your time share offer. However you advertise your offer (online, print media, via direct mail, among others), be reasonable with your asking price. Units when overpriced move rather slowly in the market which is based on location and price.

Getting professional help

If you wish to sell your time share property through the help of a professional or a time share company but without the hassle, find the one that can give you the benefits without much cost. There are time share selling companies that require no commission and gives the owner no hassles and stress in negotiating with a broker. This is because they will do the negotiating and other processes for you. But be sure to give the complete and accurate descriptions, locations and information regarding your unit in allowing agents to sell your time share property for you.

In looking for a professional that can help you sell your time share property, find one that advertise your offer to potential consumers in print like magazines and newspapers, and the internet. A worldwide exposure is preferred since the time share industry has been a worldwide success.

The farthest reaching campaign will be the best venue for you to sell your time share property to qualified buyers in different countries. Professional internet marketing consultants are provided by time share companies to make your website advertising work for you.

You can find professional help that will also aid you through the selling process. There also are excellent resources for you to help you in the title work and helpful time share sale financing.

In selling time share property, be aware that there are time share scams everywhere. You may be duped by these scammers when they offer claims, guarantees and timelines that are unrealistic yet deceiving. Do not agree to anything over the phone or online until you have had the chance to check out the reseller's reputation and experience. Referrals are also good and solid foundations to choosing the right reselling company for you.

At the final stage of selling your time share property, make sure the professional aid you get does not require any additional costs during the closing.

Most importantly, sell time share property with legitimate means. The law will be on your side should anything happen.

Sell time share property to your greatest advantage, make it reliable, easy, legitimate and cost effective. This way you will not only sell time share property quickly but most advantageously as well.

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Sell Your Income Property For More

KELDEN INVESTORS — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:59:00 GMT

Selling income property isn't like selling a house. You can paint a house, and get a little more because it looks nice. Rental property is different, because it's bought by investors, who look at income more than new paint. Raise income, and you increase value.

Let's assume investors in your area expect a capitalization rate of .08. That means that they want a net return (before loan payments and taxes) of 8% on the purchase price. If your three-plex generates $12,000 net income annually, they'll value it around $150,000 ($12,000 divided by .08). Make it generate $16,000, and you make it worth $200,000.

Get More Income From Your Income Property

Higher rents is the obvious way to boost income, if you can justify it. Find out what similar units are renting for. If you're $60 below the going rate, you can raise rents and not lose your renters. Raising the rent $60 for three apartments means $2160 more net income annually. At a .08 cap rate, you just added $27,000 to the value of your property.

Consider other ways to raise rents. Your tenants may agree to $30 more per month if you have a carport built. That's $1080 more net income annually, meaning roughly $13,500 more value added to your property. ($30 x 3 units x 12 months = $1080 divided by a .08 cap rate = $13,500) Build that carport for $4,000, and that's a good return on investment right? What else do they want?

Consider other ways to get more income. Rent storage sheds to tenants or put in a coin-operated washer and dryer. If you own a larger income property, you could install pop machines.

Reduce Rental Property Expenses

Can you add insulation to reduce the heating costs? If you're paying $80/month for lawn care, will one of the tenants do it for $40? Can you get cheaper insurance? Look for any ways you can reduce expenses. A new $4,000 furnace that saves $800/year on heating costs means you just turned $4,000 into a $10,000 higher sales price.

These things are never an exact science, and of course appearance and other factors matter. Increasing that net, though, is the surest way to get more for your income property. Just make the changes at least several months before you try to sell the property. Also, learn how do the math - it really does matter.

http://www.keldeninvestorrelations.com/

Sell Your House Online

KELDEN INVESTORS — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:41:00 GMT

Selling a house can be a much implicated process. By keeping track of your progress with this checklist, you can eradicate many of the pitfalls, time delays and aggravations that can erupt at any time during the house selling period. There is a short-term loan program known as a "bridge loan" that can help you cover extra cost you'll have of covering your new mortgage before you've sold your existing home.

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Article Body:
Selling a house can be a much implicated process. By keeping track of your progress with this checklist, you can eradicate many of the pitfalls, time delays and aggravations that can erupt at any time during the house selling period. There is a short-term loan program known as a "bridge loan" that can help you cover extra cost you'll have of covering your new mortgage before you've sold your existing home. You may also be able to use a home equity line of credit on your existing property to accomplish the same thing. Essentially you'd borrow against your equity to get the cash for the down payment on the new home.

Bridge loans can be much more costly than home equity loans or lines of credit. They are typically a short term solution to help you during the changeover when you haven’t yet sold your current home but have purchased a new home. Once you close on the new home, do what you can to sell your old home as quickly as possible. Juggling the expenses of two homes at the same time can cause home buyers to panic. Some homeowners get hung up on getting their “price” on the sale and forget that for each month they hold on to their old home, the money they pay for the old home is lost money.

Sell your home fast:

What happens if our home doesn't sell before we buy the next one? I understand we will have two mortgage payments, but is there a program out there that can help create a bridge between two loans? Yes of course there is a short-term loan program known as a "bridge loan" that can help you cover extra cost you'll have of covering your new mortgage before you've sold your existing home.

You can also use a home equity line of credit on your existing property for achieving the same thing. Basically you'd borrow against your neutrality to get the cash for the down payment on the new home. Bridge loans can be much pricier than home equity loans. They are typically a short term solution to help you during the transition when you haven’t yet sold your current home but have purchased a new home. Once you close on the new home, do what you can to sell your old home as quickly as possible.

This is a fast world, where everyone is on the move and wants to do everything quickly. People want fast food, fast travel and even to sell houses quickly. The first thing that has to be done to quicken the sales process is to get the property appraised from a certified appraiser. This is to make sure that you quote the right price when making quotes on the house. Giving the right quote greatly augments the sales proceedings and offering incentives also help curtail the sales cycle. There is a probability that the buyer will get the intimation that you are frantic to sell, but if you do turn to this to hasten the sale proceeds and then try to get you to recognize a bargain-basement price

You could offer show tickets or higher commission to your real estate agent for a speedy sale, a meal at a fine restaurant or some other perk if the property gets sold quickly. There are also those “cash for homes” ads that you find on matchbook covers and late-night TV. Houses sold this way are sold quickly, but they are usually heavily discounted. Making the house easy to get to at all times improves the speed of home selling in a great manner.

There are many agents who are unwilling to show a house that takes 24 hours to get into. You can catch the attention of more buyers to your home with a few low-cost cosmetic steps like cutting the grass, painting drab walls, cleaning up the outside of the house and defrayal up any clutter there is inside the house. It is advisable to do this, as most people like buying homes that appear clean, solid and well maintained you can follow the above process. You could consider hiring a good real estate lawyer to represent you in the sales proceedings to save time in legal procedures.

Selling houses on the web:

We have lot of websites that are designed to help sellers sell their own homes without getting the help of an agent. You can find many of them by simply going to a web search engine like Google or Yahoo and typing “for sale by owner websites” into the search box. To list your home on the web, you have to go through the local representative. Among those some of the local operations are running well, and others appear to be run by clumsy, pushy managers.

The general concept of listing your home for sale by owner on a website goes as follows:
You pay a flat fee to get a web listing. If you want to buy an ad in the websites magazine, it's an extra fee. Some of these FSBO websites offer local classes to teach you the tricks of selling by owner. It also will either give you or sell you signage, listing sheets and other tools you'll need. You can even pay a separate fee that will get your home listed in the local multiple listing service, which is where the vast majority of home buyers go to look for homes that are available.

Unlike a discount broker who might be more involved with your sale, when you sell by owner using a website, you'll be responsible for doing just about everything, including the showings, any negotiation and making sure all the details get done that will enable the house to close. As far as ethics go, I think it's perfectly fine to consult with several top real estate agents in your area about selling your home. You could ask them to prepare a comparative marketing analysis (CMA) for your home, which would tell you how they would market the home and their suggested list price.

While you might then go and list the home yourself, most savvy agents know that just 15 to 20 percent of homeowners are able to sell by owner. The rest wind up using agents - typically the agent they liked best from the initial round of CMAs. Today, more real estate firms are "unbundling" the real estate services they offer, with the hopes of giving sellers exactly what they need at a price they're willing to pay.

Preparing house to sell:

Doing whatever you can to put your house's best face forward is very imperative if you want to get close to your asking price or sell as quickly as possible. Short of spending a lot of money, here are several ideas for making your home show better:

•   Sweep the sidewalk, mow the lawn, prune the bushes, weed the garden and clean debris from the yard.
•   Clean the windows and make sure the paint is not chipped or flaking. If your home was built before 1978, new federal law gives a buyer the right to request a lead inspection.
•   Be sure that the doorbell works.
•   Clean and spruce up all rooms, furnishings, floors, walls and ceilings. It's especially important that the bathroom and kitchen are spotless.
•   Organize closets.
•   Make sure the basic appliances and fixtures work. Get rid of leaky faucets and frayed cords.
•   Make sure the house smells good: from an apple pie, cookies baking or spaghetti sauce simmering on the stove.
•   Hide the kitty litter.
•   Put vases of fresh flowers throughout the house.
•   Having pleasant background music playing in the background also will help set your stage.

Sell Your House Fast

KELDEN INVESTORS — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:18:00 GMT

The following tips will help you sell your house fast, but we need to cover something first. If you have some type of defect with your house, it is going to have to be repaired. There is a difference between making small mistakes that prevent a sale versus having a major problem like a sliding foundation. These tips will only help if your home is in reasonably good shape when compared to those houses selling in your neighborhood.

The number one thing involved in selling your house fast is the price. The price of your home should not be what you personally think it is worth. Buyers simply don’t care about such things. To sell your house fast, you have to find a price that is attractive to buyers. The best way to do this is to look for comparable houses in your neighborhood that sold fast. Find out how much they sold for and compare your price to the prices the other houses went for. If you are above those prices, you need to take a deep breath and lower your price. When it comes to pricing your house for a fast sale, do not try to recreate the wheel. Just follow the lead set by neighbors in your area.

The second thing you can do is deal with clutter. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve taken a buyer to a home only to be shocked by the amount of junk stuffed in garage, basement and rooms of the home. Whether you like it or not, you are selling a product. Clear out the clutter and make it look as nice as possible. Buyers will be much more interested in buying a sharp looking property.

Another tip is to let go of your emotional attachments in the home. A friend of mine recently sold a home and nearly had the sale fall through over four high quality bar stools. They were hand made and one of a kind. The buyer wanted them thrown into the sale and my friend refused. The deal eventually went through without the bar stools included. When my friend moved into his new home, he realized there was no room for the bar stools and ended up putting them on consignment! Don’t fall into this trap!

To sell your house fast, the number one issue is always price. Nail down the proper price and you should be able to move the property as quickly as your neighbors did.

Sell Your House At Fair Price

KELDEN INVESTORS — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:26:00 GMT

Nowadays, home buyers are having more choice about the homes they will buy. In the real estate market, competition is tough now to find a buyer that sees the potential in a home that needs a little work, without substantially lowering your asking price.

There is a reason why you cannot get a fair price. In many cases buyers expect your home to be in 'move-in' condition before parting with their money. They see new carpets and freshly painted walls in showrooms and are judging your home with the same measuring stick. It changes what people are willing to pay. You receive offers subject to negotiations - meaning you have more work to do before the sale takes place. Others may simply try to give you a ridiculously low offer if they buy 'as-is'.

If you have pressing circumstances that mean you cannot do the work or cannot afford the time it would take to have the work done you may take one of these offers, losing thousands of dollars of value just because it was the best offer on the table.

Real estate investors know the market you are selling in. They are not put off by stains on the carpets, fading paint or any of the other typical wear and tear that comes with lived-in homes. You can find real estate investors who will take on all of the hassle of cleaning and prepping your home for new buyers - all the while taking over your payments so you don't have to wait for the closing before moving on.

You save yourself the hassle of finding a buyer that's willing to give you a fair price for your home while also being relieved of the work involved to make it look what its worth. This can be very important when a move needs to be made right away but you simply don't have the time or ability to fix things up.

It is better to find a realtor that can sell your home on the date you choose, giving you a fair price and doing the fixing up for you! All they can do is listing your home to the market - the market will decide what they will pay, not the realtor. Instead you may be talked into doing the work yourself or lowering your price - not always an option.

Remember that an investor is a buyer - you will not be paying them to list your property, they will be purchasing it from you or taking over the payments until a buyer is ready to purchase. You will not pay commission fees and other usual closing costs - you just sell your home. Have your home evaluated and find out the process involved - its easier than you think!

Selling A Home – What Attachments Stay or Go?

KELDEN INVESTORS — Sun, 31 May 2009 17:27:00 GMT

The home selling and buying process can be confusing. This is especially true when it is a FSBO (for sale by owner) operation. It’s even tougher when neither the seller nor the buyer is in the real estate business. This article sorts through what stays in the house or condo when it’s sold.

Attachments – Literally!

In most states, the term “attached” takes on a unique meaning in real estate. Essentially, it boils down to this, “If it’s attached to the real estate, it’s no longer personal property.” Practically speaking, anything attached to the home stays with it when ownership is transferred. Applying this concept, it’s easy to see why chandeliers, doorknobs and kitchen cabinets stay.

To determine whether something stays or goes, focus on the attachment issue. Plants can often be a confusing item. Generally, it they are planted in the ground, they stay. If they are in planters, they go. With other items, just look to see if they are attached to the property.

I Am Seller – Hear Me Roar!

If you’re a seller, you’ve probably spent a good bit of time and effort on the property. What if you want to take a few attached items with you? Can you legally keep it? What if you’re thinking, “That fixture hanging over the breakfast table has a real Tiffany shade? It was a wedding present from Aunt Elizabeth. I’m keeping it!”

Keep your shirt on. There are a couple of ways that typically work when you want to keep an item or two of this sort. The first is to simply state in your offering “blah, blah, and blah do not convey.” (If it really matters, call an attorney to get the language right) This approach has one drawback. Human nature being acquisitive as it is, your buyer will probably immediately want at least two and the items will become a bone of contention.

There is a better way to deal with this situation. Before putting you home on the market, remove all items that have become attached to the real estate. Buy another hanging lamp, hang it and pack your Tiffany lamp. Do that for all items of this sort. Be sure to replace each with something attractive and do it well enough that it’s not obvious that a change has been made. When prospective buyers look at your home, everything they see will stay with the home. You are happy, they are happy, everyone is happy! Life is good.

Analyze your home for attachments before you put it on the market. You wouldn’t want to make Aunt Elizabeth angry by losing the wedding present she gave you.

Seller Financing - Why Be The Bank?

KELDEN INVESTORS — Mon, 25 May 2009 20:24:00 GMT

Why offer seller financing? Let me give you an example. Many years ago I bought a rental property, and then realized I didn't want to be a landlord. So nine months later I sold it for 15% more than I paid, without fixing or improving a thing. The easy terms are what sold it. I took $1000 down, and years later, I still get a payment every month, with 9% interest.

Reasons To Offer Seller Financing

1. You'll get a higher price. The example above shows that buyers pay for easy terms. Think about it from my buyers perspective. He got a place for almost nothing, that the renters are paying for. He'll do great even if he later sells it for less than he bought it for. I love the return I'm getting, but if I need to, I can sell the contract for cash.

2. You'll get a decent return on your money. The 9% annual interest I'm getting is nice, but the true return was much higher, since I also sold the property for 15% more than I paid, and I get 9% on the entire balance. In fact, for a great return without the headaches of being a landlord, you can simply buy low for cash and sell high with terms. Of course this is for when you can tie up your assets.

3. You'll sell faster. In this case, I just called the buyer up, made the deal on the phone, and closed a week later. But anytime you expand the potential market for a property, you increase the odds of selling it faster. Seller financing definitely invites more buyers to look at your real estate.

4. You can sell difficult properties. With a property that's difficult to finance conventionally, offering seller financing may be the only way get it sold, and at a fair price. Mobile homes on property can be difficult to finance, for example, so your market is limited. If you instead raise the price 10%, and offer easy terms, you can usually quickly find a family that will be very happy to own instead of rent.

The ways you can sell are limited by mortgages and other loans, of course. I owned the rental free and clear, which meant I could sell it any way I wanted. There are other ways to use seller financing though, even if you owe on the property. There are ways to do this more safely too. However, those topics are for another article.

Seller Financing - Six Safety Tips

KELDEN INVESTORS — Wed, 20 May 2009 00:54:00 GMT

Why offer seller financing when you sell? A higher price, a good return on your money, a faster sale and to sell a property that is otherwise difficult to sell. Some good reasons, but how do you do it safely?

1. Get a large downpayment. The most obvious way to be safe, and not always possible.

2. Get other security. If they want it with little down, and you like the return you'll get, make it safe by putting a mortgage on other property the buyer owns, to be released when they've paid down the balance to a certain level.

3. Check their credit. Have them pay for and bring you a credit report. Bad credit may be okay, but type of bad credit is important. Unpaid hospital bills they're disputing are not as relevant as unpaid loans.

4. Trust your instincts. If you are usually right about people, give some weight to your judgement of their character. I'd trust a man who felt morally obliged to pay his debts over a playboy that happens to have decent income at the moment.

5. Consider the whole picture. Suppose a bank will loan 90%, and is okay with you taking back a $5,000 second mortgage, allowing the buyer to get in with what cash he has. If you're getting $6,000 more than you expected by accomodating the buyer's needs, where's the loss? You're okay if he never pays the $5,000, right?

6. Talk to a lawyer. Maybe in your area it takes two years to get a foreclosure on a mortgage through the courts, and only six months to foreclose on a "contract for sale." Knowing these things can help you sell in the safest way.

Offering seller financing makes it easier to sell, and to get a higher price. Just be safe about it. Have a real estate lawyer review your paperwork, and use the tips here.

Sell Your Real Estate Notes

KELDEN INVESTORS — Mon, 11 May 2009 21:41:00 GMT

People sell real estate notes to raise cash quickly. A real estate note is just the loan document created when you financed the sale of your house or investment property. It could be a mortgage note, or a land-contract or contract-for-sale. The point is that the buyer is making payments to you, and you want to cash in.

You can sell the entire contract, or just a certain number of payments if you want. The buyer of your property will have the same terms and payments. He'll just be making those payments to somebody else.

Selling real estate notes can be an intimidating process. You know you won't get the full face value for your note, but will there be other fees you have to pay too? How do you know if the buyer is reputable? What is a normal discount on a note? Here are some guidelines to follow:

1. No upfront fees. If they ask, go someplace else. You should be able to find many note buyers who will check your buyers credit and give you a quote without charging you.

2. No other fees, with a couple exceptions. The buyer has already figured his expenses before making the offer, so there are only a couple fees you should have to possibly pay. First, you may have to pay for the title policy, if there are problems with the title that prevent purchase. Second, if the property appraises at less than the sales price, you may have to pay for the appraisal. You should only pay exactly what these cost the note buyer though.

3. Be sure that the note buyer gives you a written purchase agreement with the purchase price and contingencies. Ask questions about anything that isn't clear.

4. The note buyer should check the credit of your property buyer upfront. Unscrupulous buyers can quote one price initially, and then lower it later, using the excuse of the property buyer's bad credit score. This is called "bait and switch," and it isn't ethical.

5. Contact several note buyers for quotes. You'll need to provide information like the type of property, sale price, payment amounts, current balance, etc. They should respond within a day or two.

6. When you get a quote you like, you'll have to send copies of the Mortgage or Deed of Trust, the Note, the closing or Settlement Statement, and the Title Policy. If there is no recent appraisal, they will usually arrange for that.

7. Processing time varies, so ask. Usually, once you agree to the offer and send the documents (if done by mail), you can expect to receive a certified check or electronic transfer to your account within two to three weeks.

Get Top Dollar When You Sell Real Estate Notes

Notes with a balloon payment get a higher price. "Seasoned" notes sell for more too. Those are notes that have had payments made on them for a while. Some note buyers will buy new or "unseasoned" notes, but if you can wait until six payments have been made, you're likely to get a much better price.

Higher interest rates and shorter loan periods will get you more money too. This is something to consider before you sell the house, if you think you might sell the note in the future.

You can sell second mortgage notes, and other second-place real estate notes as well. Note buyers will look at these differently though. The first and second place notes can't add up to much more than 70% of the value of the property, or you'll be looking at a steep discount

Discounts, by the way, will almost always seem steep. It is common for note buyers to pay 20% to 30% less than the current balance on the note. I'll let them explain why. Suffice it to say, they need to make money on the deal, and you should be sure you have a good use for that cash before you sell those real estate notes.