Selling Reno And Sparks Real Estate Blog

Reno Real Estate Trends January 2011

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:02:56 -0500

This Reno Market Update is brought to you by Kevin Sigstad 2011 RSAR President-Elect and Helen Graham Treasurer

The Reno/Sparks Association of REALTORS gets "To the Point" and presents a detailed analysis of the current trends in residential Real Estate in Northern Nevada.
To the Point is Sponsored by the Reno/Sparks Association of REALTORS
Charts and graphs created by North Leaf Solutions under license of RSAR

December 2011 unit sales totaled 524!

A record for Northern Nevada. The median year end sales price was $154,000.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

REALTOR®

Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE)
Certified Default Resolution Specialist (CDRS)
Short Sales & Foreclosure Resource ~ Certified (SFR)

Ferrari-Lund Real Estate

775.846.5424

Ten things to remove before listing...

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:13:23 -0500

Lindsey Hasford wrote this fanatic blog to help real estate agents prepare their clients for the sale of their home. They are so simple, easy ways that won't cost your home owners a dime.

Preparing your home before you list it for sale is so important, first impressions are lasting impressions and having your home in tip top shape so your listing agent and sell it is key in getting the results you want!!

Thanks Lindsey for sharing this information!

Via Lindsey Hasford (Coldwell Banker Vision):

Everyone has heard rumors of de-cluttering when it's time to sell your home. But, what does that really mean? Before going hog wild and moving out... here's a few of the most important things to consider removing before you list your home for sale.

10. Personal photos. I don't always recommend removing photos of the 'family' but if you have hallways filled with photos or photos on every end table it is probably necessary. Buyers really DO get distracted by them. They will take them all in as they walk down the hall. Not only do they take away from the home, but it's really disturbing when a buyer is excited to 'know' the sellers. And, the buyers do look at them.

9. Bills and personal papers. I understand that you cannot remove these document from the home all together, but please take the time to organize them, box them up and put them out of sight. If you have bills laying out on the counter or kitchen table it's like an invitation for the buyers to 'peek' at them. Believe me - I discourage it - but it still happens. And as a seller you just don't want to leave the temptation behind.

8. Money. I would love to say that every buyer (and Realtor) going through every home is honest, but I really don't want to test those waters. If you have cash, cash boxes or coin jars sitting out in the open... put them away. It's just better for everyone if it's out of sight. As Realtors we do what we can to protect your home, but your help makes a difference!

7. Valuables. Jewelry, watches, valuable antiques.... anything that might be worth a bit of money that you wouldn't want to lose. Out of sight, out of mind. If buyers don't know they are there they won't think about it. I can't tell you how many homes I've been in where the jewelry is left on the dresser.... somehow it's uncomfortable. At least put it away.

6. Guns and ammo. I don't care if they are in a case or out laying around or under a bed. It's better if you just plain old remove them from the home prior to listing. For some reason they make buyers (in my experience) feel really insecure.

5. Shoes! If you have a pile of shoes at the door... ask yourself why. A pile of shoes gives a buyer two impressions. The first? That there isn't enough storage in your home. 2. That there are too many people living in the home. So, in order to avoid wondering on the part of the buyer... just put them away.

4. Medicine. Take it out. Don't store it on the counter. Don't store it in the cabinet. Don't store it in the bathroom. Remove it. There have been many complaints over the years of potential buyers 'stealing' the medicine out of the cabinets. I have never had it happen on my time clock, but to avoid any trouble it's best to simply remove it.

3. All things on your kitchen counter. Everything? Really? Yup. The cleaner you can leave the counter, the more buyers dream of being in there. Have you ever been in a cluttered kitchen? Does it feel inviting? How about a cleaned up kitchen? Does it make you wanna spend time there? Also, if you store things on the counter it gives the appearance that you do not have enough storage space.

2. No more junk drawers. Seriously. Clean 'em out. There is nothing more tacky than a potential buyer opening the cupboards and drawers and having things sticking out everywhere. Box up all the notes, pens, tacks, and odds and ends and put them away. Chances are you don't dig in the drawer often anyways.

1. Nothing but magnets.... and maybe not even that. Take a photo of your fridge, take everything off, wash the front (and side), and take another photo. It is really refreshing to walk into a home that has a clean fridge. The kids pictures are beautiful (believe me... my fridge is covered in them) but buyer's can't imagine their own children's drawing on there if it is covered with yours. And, the magnets... If they aren't decorative (and even then) they are generally more of a distraction to the room than a help. Consider it.

There are many more ways to declutter a home for sale... but these are some important things to consider. For more information on selling your home in Minnesota... give me a call.

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                 In the meantime... if you are looking to move into the area... I'll wait for you to call!

Selling Real Estate in Minnesota!

If you are looking for professional real estate services I am only a ring away! I am looking forward to working with you. And, please feel free to share my name with anyone that you know who needs assistance buying or selling a home ~ I love referrals!

                                                   Lindsey Hasford, REALTOR
                                                        Coldwell Banker Vision
                                             231 Main Street - Elk River - MN 55330
                                          763-241-5488 (office) 763-218-1347 (cell)
                                         lindseyhasford@coldwellbankervision.com
                                                  http://www.hasfordhomes.com

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

REALTOR®

Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE)
Certified Default Resolution Specialist (CDRS)
Short Sales & Foreclosure Resource ~ Certified (SFR)

Ferrari-Lund Real Estate

775.846.5424

Reed High School Solar Panel Parking Lot Ribbon Cutting

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:23:16 -0500

The Washoe County School District, in collaboration with Northern Nevada's Hamilton Solar Company, recently installed a collective 1.5 megawatt solar power system at Reed High School and North Valleys High School. The system is designed as covered parking car ports for student parking at each high school. The estimated cost for the Reed project was $7 million.

With no "Out-of-pocket" expenditures for the School District, the solar installation was entirely funded by rebates through NV Energ's Generation Program. The savings in electric costs from the two systems is estimated at $270,000 annually. The savings will go into the Washoe County School fund and should go back to the school for teachers, textbooks, supplies, etc.

The public is invited and welcomed to join the Washoc County School District, the City of Sparks Mayor Geno Martini and a few other elected representatives to commemorate the project tomorrow, February 2, 2012, from 3:00 pm to 4:00 p.m. outside Reed High School.

Reed High School is located on the corner of Baring Blvd and Sparks Blvd, in Sparks NV just off I80 and downtown Sparks.

Call 775-353-5700 For Details and Directions

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

REALTOR®

Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE)
Certified Default Resolution Specialist (CDRS)
Short Sales & Foreclosure Resource ~ Certified (SFR)

Ferrari-Lund Real Estate

775.846.5424

Top 10 Things to do To ENJOY Your Time Off

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:12:13 -0500

You can live in any area and still follow and/or appreciate this article written by Joni Staples, Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate in Riverside, TX.

It is said that taking time away from work will help your mental state and increase productivity when you get back (Not sure where that info came from) but being able to let go if of your responsibilities once you are on a vacation is much harder to do than you might think.

Below, Joni offers some really great tips and advice on how to enjoy your time off and a few things you can do prior to your departure that just might help!! Thanks Joni!!

Via Joni Staples, CRS ♥ Broker Associate (936) 650-9017 (Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate - Anderson Properties):

Top 10 Things to do to Enjoy Your Time Off.

10. Recognize that just because you are enjoying time off, does not mean that you are abandoning your responsibilities. If an emergency comes up, you can still take care of it -- or better yet -- delegate it to someone who can. Even doctors take time off. They have a trusted colleague who is on call for them.

9. Prepare for your time off by tying up all loose ends and leaving detailed information for your trusted colleague who will be taking care of things for you while you are away.

8. If you are taking multiple days off, prepare your clients by letting them in on the vacation plans. They will be excited for you once you show them how you have tied up all of the lose ends, and provided them with the same detailed list of information that you have given the trusted colleague. This shows them how important they are to you and assures them that your colleague is prepared to help them at any given time.

7. Inform friends, family, and clients to contact your trusted colleague in case of emergency. Assure them that your trusted colleague is the FASTEST way to contact you in case of an emergency.

6. Know the difference between an emergency and a concern. The scheduled closing for today is not going to close because you, the listing agent who is in North Carolina on vacation, did not sign the last page of the sales contract. THAT is an emergency! Docusign it to me and I can sign it on my cell phone!

5. Schedule “needs and wants” for when you return. Just because your seller has changed the color of the hand towel in the half bath, DOES NOT MEAN that you have to leave the spa in the middle of your massage to go and take a new picture of the “remodeled” half bath. WHY were you answering your phone during the massage in the first place?! Hello!!

4. Get over your fear that someone might think less of you for taking time off. The opposite could be true. People may wonder why you can not manage your time well enough to take even a day off. If you can’t manage your own time, how will you manage the time it will take to find someone a home or to get one sold? OR BOTH! (Oh my!)

3. If you will be away for multiple days and will only be checking emails from your trusted colleague, set up an auto response for your email account(s) explaining that you will be away from email until a specific date and that, if it is an emergency, the fastest way to contact you would be to call (you guessed it) your trusted colleague.

2. Get off of the pedestal. Recognize that you are not more important than, attorneys, bakers, CPA’s, dishwashers, ditch diggers, doctors, firefighters, golf pros, nurses, pilots, police officers, professors, WalMart greeters, xylophone players, zoo keepers, or any other person. Every profession allows for time off.

1. Be like Nike and JUST DO IT!

WHY?

Because YOU CAN!

You are blessed!

Top 10 Things to do to Enjoy Your Time Off.

Copyright (C) Joni Staples 2010 and 2011 (936) 650-9017 Joni@JoniStaples.com

BHGRE - Anderson Properties is an Independently Owned and Operated Franchise

Licensed in the state of Texas (0518539)

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REALTOR®

Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE)
Certified Default Resolution Specialist (CDRS)
Short Sales & Foreclosure Resource ~ Certified (SFR)

Ferrari-Lund Real Estate

775.846.5424

Hidden Valley Home For Sale in Reno Regular Sale

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:42:33 -0500

Stunning Hidden Valley Home For Sale in Reno

Overview
Maps
Photos
Features
Description

$475,000 Single Family Home Main Features 4 Bedrooms
3 Bathrooms
1 Partial Bathroom
Interior: 3,187 sqft
Location

1880 Hidden Meadow Drive
Reno, NV 89502
USA

To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below:

Terrie Leighton

Ferrari-Lund Real Estate
(775) 846-5424
Terrie@Terrieleighton.com
http://www.terrieleighton.com

Listed by: Ferrari-Lund Real Estate

Our recent listings

Single Family Sparks Home For Sale
3 / 2/ 1 Condo For Sale

Subscribe to our listing feed

Nearby properties for sale

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

REALTOR®

Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE)
Certified Default Resolution Specialist (CDRS)
Short Sales & Foreclosure Resource ~ Certified (SFR)

Ferrari-Lund Real Estate

775.846.5424

What are the Best Months to Sell Your Las Vegas House?

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 16:02:05 -0500

Selling Your House in Las Vegas: When to Sell a House?

Most traditional markets have better seasonal selling months than others. Las Vegas does not have bitter cold or snow that may stop a potential buyer from heading out in the “elements” to buy a home. Las Vegas does have that nasty blast furnace heat in the summer that one would *think* it could stop buyers from searching for a home but that is not true!

Las Vegas real estate attracts many types of buyers: first time buyers, vacation & second home buyers, retiree buyers & investor buyers.

Spring, Summer, Winter or Fall – there is no best season to sell a house in Las Vegas.

January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November or December – there is no best month to sell a house in Las Vegas.

Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Super Bowl, Valentine’s Day, Fourth of July, Back to School, Halloween – there is no best holiday to wait to sell a house in Las Vegas after.

Take a look at this graphic:

Blue represents active listings, red represents contracted listings and green represents sales. Each line is for a month from December 2007 to December 2011. Every month there is green even during the “crappy sales months” of December 2007 through early spring 2008. That means every month there are sales – and these days the amount of sales are very healthy every month & every season so it really doesn’t matter when to sell your house. It’s only a matter of *if* you *need* to sell your house.

Any house will sell in any month if it is:

The Las Vegas real estate market breaks all “laws” about when to sell your house during seasons, months & holidays. Las Vegas is a 24/7/365 town with homes selling every day of the year!

Click here for your no obligation – no appointment – free consultation – if you are thinking about selling your Las Vegas Home!

Blog Disclaimer Important Notice

Las Vegas NV Area Market Watch January 2012 (includes Henderson & North Las Vegas)

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 11:27:50 -0500

**Inventory Continues to Plunge Down in January!!!**

We are still squeezed for inventory. New REO listings are few and far between thanks to AB 284 with currently no end to that drama in sight. Multiple offers on well priced homes are widespread. Everyone from first time buyers to investors are taking advantage of "opportunity".

Read more about Las Vegas Real Estate Inventory Analysis here and consumers may comment on this post.

Las Vegas Area Real Estate Market Watch was created for informational purposes only.

This is for all the buyers wondering "where is the inventory"? The inventory is here, this graph shows that buyer interest is extremely high and gobbling up all that new inventory coming online!

This is also for people saying "shadow inventory exists"! Well I believe it exists but it also exists in Las Vegas short sales which has tripled to quadrupled it's formerly stagnant close ratio since late spring.

These are Listing/Under Contract & Pending/Sold Trends from December 2007-November 2011.

Contracted closings are stalled because of the large amount of Las Vegas short sales that are contracted.

Blog Disclaimer Important Notice

Reno Real Estate Trends December 2011

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:12:31 -0500

Want to learn a little more about the Reno Real Estate Market? The "To The Point" monthly video series is a great way to stay up date on our local real estate statistics. The following is a detailed market analysis of current trends on this market.

I am happy to answer any questions or concerns you have regarding the areas real estate market. Market values for December 2011 are down on the average and the number of units sold are increasing. Low home prices and low interest rates continue to drive these numbers.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

REALTOR®

Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE)
Certified Default Resolution Specialist (CDRS)
Short Sales & Foreclosure Resource ~ Certified (SFR)

Ferrari-Lund Real Estate

775.846.5424

Sparks Nevada Home For Sale 89436 Regular Sale

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:53:28 -0500

Single Family Sparks Home For Sale

Overview
Maps
Photos
Features
Description

$220,000 Single Family Home Main Features 4 Bedrooms
2 Bathrooms
1 Partial Bathroom
Interior: 2,295 sqft
Location

5799
Sonora Pass Drive
Sparks, NV 89436
USA

To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below:

Terrie Leighton

Ferrari-Lund Real Estate
(775) 846-5424
Terrie@Terrieleighton.com
http://www.terrieleighton.com

Listed by: Ferrari-Lund Real Estate

Our recent listings

Single Family Sparks Home For Sale
3 / 2/ 1 Condo For Sale

Subscribe to our listing feed

Nearby properties for sale

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

REALTOR®

Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE)
Certified Default Resolution Specialist (CDRS)
Short Sales & Foreclosure Resource ~ Certified (SFR)

Ferrari-Lund Real Estate

775.846.5424

Top FREE Image and Photo Editing Sites

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:44:05 -0500

Now that we have learned Picnik.com is shutting down most us of have started to wonder what photo editing site we will turn to for those quick, fun and easy ways to spruce up our pictures. Luckily for us, Brad Andersohn has generously shared a few of his favorite Top FREE Image and Photo Editing Sites.

Thanks Brad!!

Via Brad Andersohn (Zillow - Outreach Manager):

There is so much concern and “Buzz” about Google shutting down Picnik.com, I decided to provide you with some alternative tools for editing and customizing your graphics, photos, and images. While Picnik.com will be shutting down in April 2012, here are some other options you have available immediately.

FotoFlexer – Create some dazzling photo and image effects in your browser for FREE. Use Animations, resizing, coloring, contrast and more. Take a look at These 5 Demo’s for a quick tour of what FotoFlexer has to offer, you’ll love some of these cool features. Smart Scissor is a favorite feature.

Pixlr – and for Picnik users, try Pixlr Express. You’ll love the Editor, the Pixlr-o-matic, the Pixlr Grabber for Firefox and Chrome browsers, and the Pixlr Imm.io hosting, all of which are very robust and user friendly cool features.

LunaPic – This site will rock your world! Lunapic offers more choices and options for photo editing and custom effects than some of the paid software applications I’ve purchased and used in the past. Use vignettes, color bars, animated imaging, picture frames, retro color, collages, custom text, reflection animations, slide shows, and a ton more. One of the most feature rich FREE online editors available. You’re gonna love this site.

FreeOnlinePhotoEditor – A really simple and easy to use photo and image editor for those “quick fix and gotta go” graphics. Very basic but simple and fast. Some of the other online photo and image tools include: OnlinePhotoTool.com: Online photo editor, Automatically resize your images when sending it by email, Create an Image from your RSS feed, Create Image from your Tweet and Twitter account, and Create, save and email screenshots.

BeFunky - Be Funky lets you do some pretty amazing things with your photos and graphics. Most of the features and tools are focused on creating cool, fun, and funky effects and artwork. The site’s name says it. Some of the effects available would take hours to create in Photoshop or other high end and costly photo/image editors.

Definitely worthy of a visit and tour.

Photoshop.com – That’s right, you can use Photoshop online and for FREE. You’ll need to register, but I promise it will be worth it. The Photoshop tools are powerful and very easy to use. Be prepared to spend a little time here, you’ll be amazed at what they have to offer and allow you to do online for free. I’m not going to lie, this is one of my favorites and my personal replacement for Picnik.com closing down.

GIMP – GIMP is very similar to Adobe Photoshop except that GIMP is FREE. It does require you to download the software but one huge benefit to that is it will never be bought and shut down on you. It is a very powerful and feature intense program so unless you’re really experienced with editing and graphic design, or you have more time than it takes to close a short sale, you may want to stick with one of the others.

I personally like to use GIMP for graphic design more than image or photo editing.

Combine all these together and you’ll have more FREE editing tools and features than you’ll ever need or use and absolutely FREE. Take a few moments to review each site, bookmark them, then give each one a try to see which one(s) best meet your photo and image editing needs. Enjoy!

Tutorials | Training | Mobile | Widgets

"May this blog be just one more planted seed of wisdom that helps you or your business blossom today!"

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

REALTOR®

Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE)
Certified Default Resolution Specialist (CDRS)
Short Sales & Foreclosure Resource ~ Certified (SFR)

Ferrari-Lund Real Estate

775.846.5424

ActiveRain HINTS

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:41:48 -0500

Here is a terrific post about ways to help ActiveRain members, new and seasoned, navigate their way around the rain. It is written by Mimi Foster, Realtor from Colorado Springs. This article includes a few hints that will help save time while blogging and commenting here on ActiveRain.

Thanks Mimi!!

Via Mimi Foster - Colorado Springs Realtor (EPIC Real Estate Group Colorado Springs Real Estate):

ActiveRain HINTS

This morning I was talking with someone about how I felt like a blind pig finding an acorn when I started on ActiveRain. Someone told me about AR, I thought, "I'd like to blog someday," so I signed up for a year.

Several months later, after having received a few emails from AR, I wrote my first blog post, and was so excited that I got four or five comments on it. I kept wondering where in the world those people had seen it to comment on it. I was in awe, but could never figure out how to do it again. I often imagined it as a party behind closed doors, and I was standing in the entryway waiting for someone to open the doors so I could see what was going on.

Months would pass before I would write again. Karli at ActiveRain called me one day last March and held my hand and talked me thru it, and it has been a whirlwind of writing since then. Being creatures of habit, we do what we know. Sometimes we will venture out and find new things, but for the most part, it is often an AHA moment when we stumble upon something we didn't know in our comfortable venue.

Often I will get phone calls from AR friends who will say, "Well, if you go (here) you can do (this)." Kathy Streib has been the best at teaching me tricks that really aren't tricks, basics that probably everyone else knows. But since I didn't know them, there may be a few others that don't know some of them either.

The feel and look of ActiveRain is going to be changing (dramatically) soon, including our logo (so says our Fearless Leader). We are going to have to learn new things to be able to navigate (I will not resist change, I will not resist change, I will not resist change). So before that happens, I wanted to share some basics that I recently learned. (Old timers will know these things . . . )

When you want to comment on someone's post, hit the "END" button to get to the end of the comments. This is helpful if it is a Featured post and you don't want to read all of the comments. Conversely, you can get back to the top by hitting the "HOME" button on your keyboard

To activate additional points on your posts, you need three comments from others and you need to respond with at least one comment

Your comments that you make on other people's posts must be at least 50 CHARACTERS (not words) for you to receive your 25 points for the comment, up to 250 points per day (10 comments). You may, of course, comment on as many as you would like per day, but only get points for 10

Your blog POSTS must be at least 50 WORDS to get credit for the post

The ActiveRain logo in the upper left corner of the page is a link to the Feature Board (am I the only one here who didn't know that?)

If you click on "BLOGS" in the blue AR toolbar at the top, you get links to the people to whom you are subscribed down the right column. BUT if you hit "MY SUBSCRIPTIONS" on the upper left side under "BLOG POSTS," then you get a three-line summary of the current post of the people you follow (again ~ DUH)

The "CHANNELS" arrow in the blue tool bar allows you to study areas of expertise more thoroughly. From Training to Tactics to Technology to Tools, there are wonderful things to be discovered there

So now that I've been here for almost ten months, I won't even begin to tell you the convoluted trails I have followed to find people to whom to send referrals. The little "STATES" button in the blue upper toolbar breaks down Agents by not only States, but also by Cities! Double Duh!

If you want your blog to stream down the middle of the page and not run from side-to-side across the page, making it more difficult to read (yes, Fearless Leader's blog is an example :) ~ all in good fun, Niki, all in good fun), then go to your Home Page, upper left corner under BLOGS > ActiveRain > (Customize) and insert any color or picture as your Background Image. If you don't want fru-fru, just make the Background Image WHITE and it will at least narrow up your writing, making it easier to read

Inviting others gets you lots of points when they join, and 10% of everything they make while they're here. Towards the bottom of the Home Page on the left side is an "INVITE OTHERS" link. Here's the kicker ~ be sure to use the LINK so that you get points when they sign up. Joe Cuchiara got me involved, but because he told me about it over the phone and I didn't know to link to him, he is not reaping the rewards :( (Sorry, Joe, I've tried several times to rectify it!)

Did you read a post today that you really liked? At the very bottom of the post under where it says who the article was written by is a little link that says "BOOKMARK." You can click that to save the post for future reference. When you want to read your BOOKMARKS at a later date, the link is towards the bottom left of your Home Page entitled "BLOG BOOKMARKS"

OH! And when you are writing your (at least 10) comments on posts each day, or in writing your own posts, in the upper part of your Comment Box where you have the options for making your writings BOLD or Italics or Underlined or Striking Through, on the RIGHT SIDE of that bar is a SPELL CHECK (ABC with a checkmark). Who Knew???? :)

I feel somewhat silly in even sharing some of these things, but I figured if I wasn't aware of them, this may help someone else. And if you are looking for a safe haven to share real estate stories, life lessons, and learn new things, be sure to SUBSCRIBE to my blog. :)

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If you would like to Search for Homes for sale in Colorado Springs, CO, or for any of your other real estate needs, please contact your Colorado Springs Realtor





Selling homes throughout Colorado Springs, Old Colorado City,

Manitou Springs and surrounding areas with a

Specialty in Victorian and Vintage Homes in
Downtown Colorado Springs

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

REALTOR®

Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE)
Certified Default Resolution Specialist (CDRS)
Short Sales & Foreclosure Resource ~ Certified (SFR)

Ferrari-Lund Real Estate

775.846.5424

How Much Will My Home Sell For?

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:15:06 -0500

Getting ready to sell your Reno home and are wondering how much to sell it for? Below is an excellent article from Liz and Bill Spear, the RE/MAX Elite Team in Warren, Ohio that goes into detail ways to determine the expected selling price of you home.

Great information Bill and Liz, thank you.

If you live in the Reno or Sparks, Nevada area and are considering selling your home and need help determining the list price, simple give me a call, I would love to help!

Via Liz and Bill Spear RE/MAX Elite Warren County Ohio: Cincinnati to Dayton (513.265.3004 www.LizTour.com):

How Much Will My Home Sell For?

Dear Liz,
We've been thinking about selling our home, but need to know how much our home will sell for to help make the decision. Can you help us determine what to expect? We'd love to take advantage of the low interest rates to buy a new home, but we're not sure we can afford to leave the home we have.
Thanks!
Joe Public

Dear Joe,
First of all, YES, we can help you determine the expected selling price of your home, and that assessment won't cost you anything but some of your time when we meet with you to review your home. You're facing a common issue with many Warren County home sellers. Either home values for your area have dropped, or you didn't have a large down payment and it hasn't been that long since you purchased so your equity build up is negligible.

Here's how the process typically works for determining your home's value. When you first contact us, we're going to ask what features you've added to your home. Knowing what is different about your home helps us increase the accuracy of our valuation. You may have finished the basement, added hardwood floors, custom tiled your bathroom or any number of other things that impact valuation.

We're going to baseline your home first of all. We'll go to MLS and see if your home has ever been on the market and the information available. We'll also visit the Warren County auditor's site and pull public information on your home. Now we recognize the auditor's site might not always be accurate (square footage for instance often isn't as reported).

We'll pull the MLS information for your community for the last 6 months to a year depending on how many homes have sold. Obviously, the most recent and most similar carry the most weight. We'll review the Pendings to see what is about to go Sold. We won't know final price, but it will at least give us another input to what is happening right now. We'll also review the Active homes on the market. Are they like yours? How long have they been on market? Have they been adjusting price?

And lastly from MLS we'll look at the home sellers that quit the market. They also provide a loud message as to what the market will and won't do. Their price and product was rejected by the home buyers. There's valuable information there. We'll also review which homes are distressed properties (short sale and foreclosures). Their influence on pricing is critical too.

For your development, we'll also extract the tax records since not every home that sells is in MLS. For Sale by Owners and new construction typically won't be represented, and we need to account for ALL sales. We'll add some data like price per square foot and the ratio of recent sales prices to current tax assessments.

Now we're also going to factor in some bigger picture items. Is there new construction for you to compete with? In general, if buyers CAN buy new for the same price, they will unless they just don't have the time to wait. We're also going to consider the community trends. Is that school district tax fight killing home values and causing a decline? Or was there a recent announcement of 500 new jobs that will push demand for housing? What's the overall reputation of your community? Whether Mason, Lebanon, Springboro, Franklin, Maineville or Waynesville, they ALL offer a different set of pros and cons.

As you can see, the preparation work is pretty extensive, but we're STILL not done! To get the most accurate we can, we need to cross your threshold and see it in person. The condition of your home is another key factor. And lastly, we'll calibrate what we see in your home against what we first hand see in the market. How do you compare to the other choices?

And now we can finally sit down at the table, review the data and give you our best estimate of your particular home's value, and it will be a range because despite all the data gathered, there's still some art to it.

Now you'll notice nowhere in this valuation did we ask what you WANT or what you NEED to get for you home. Buyers are like honey badgers....they just don't care about what you want or need. It is purely about THEIR needs. If your price and product don't work for them, they WILL reject your home as a choice. No amount of marketing and effort on our part can overcome that.

However, that's not to say we don't consider YOUR needs during our meeting. If you're willing to provide us your mortgage balance, we'll input that into our custom net proceeds sheet and determine the price for breaking even (no check to you, but you're not paying to leave).

Now if that break even price is ABOVE what the market will bear, you may have a tough decision to make about whether to sell or stay. We can help provide you options if you still want to proceed.

And ultimately, YOU decide what you will and won't accept. Sometimes sellers decide that being "done" is more important than getting extra dollars.

We hope this helps you understand why calling a local REALTOR® is better than clicking on some online valuation website. If you're truly serious about selling your home, there's much more to the process than a mere computer can calculate.

Just give us a call if we can help!

Serving Warren County's residential real estate needs,
Liz and Bill aka BLiz

The Liz Spear Team
Elizabeth & William Spear
RE/MAX Elite: Ask for us by name if you visit the office!
Two locations: Lebanon & Mason, OH
Office direct: 513-248-3660 Liz direct: 513-265-3004
Bill direct: 513-520-5305 Fax: 866-302-8418

MailTo: Liz@LizSpear.com Our Website: Warren County Ohio Homes

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REALTOR®

Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE)
Certified Default Resolution Specialist (CDRS)
Short Sales & Foreclosure Resource ~ Certified (SFR)

Ferrari-Lund Real Estate

775.846.5424

Reno Home For Sale

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 13:27:59 -0500

In the heart of Reno, Nevada sits this brick home and it is as charming as they come. It was built in 1936 and is updated with a new kitchen, bathroom, fresh paint and a finished basement. It sits on a large lot with alley gate, a dog run and RV availability!

Check out all the details and pictures here:

Reno Home For Sale

Call me for additional information on this Ferrari-Lund listing and for all your Reno and Sparks real estate information.

Reno Home For Sale

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REALTOR®

Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE)
Certified Default Resolution Specialist (CDRS)
Short Sales & Foreclosure Resource ~ Certified (SFR)

Ferrari-Lund Real Estate

775.846.5424

Reed Raiders High School Footbal Team Goes to State 2011

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 00:07:21 -0500

High school football will take center stage on Saturday as the North battles the South for the 4A high school football championship. The Reed Raiders will face Bishop Gorman on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 12:15 p.m. at Damonte Ranch High School.

The Reed Raiders finished the football season at 12 -1 , a season record for this Sparks, Nevada High School. A student put together the following video to pay tribute to this successful high school football team. Good luck tomorrow Reed Raiders, the community will be there cheering and supporting the entire team!

GO REED RAIDERS!!!

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REALTOR®

Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE)
Certified Default Resolution Specialist (CDRS)
Short Sales & Foreclosure Resource ~ Certified (SFR)

Ferrari-Lund Real Estate

775.846.5424

Sparks Nevada Market Report ~ Single Family Homes Sold October 2011

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:32:57 -0500

Sparks Nevada Market Report For October 2011

Prepared by Terrie Leighton, REALTOR® in Northern Nevada
The City of Sparks saw 146 single family homes close in October 2011

There are now 146 happy new home owners living in Sparks, Nevada today. Those lucky home buyers were able to take advantage of low homes prices, the average sales price of a Sparks home sold was just under $150,000, and low interest rates during, rates were sitting right around 4% for FHA loans, for the month of October, 2011.

The City of Sparks is constantly changing to keep up with the times while maintaining that "Hometown Hospitality" feeling residents experience while living and visiting Sparks. The cities Parks and Recreation department is continually offering fun and exciting events for area residents to enjoy.

The Annual Legends at the Sparks Marina Holiday Tree Lighting is being held this Saturday, November 26, 2011 and you won't want to miss the Christmas Tree Decorating competition taking place from November 24th to December 5, 2011.

Sparks, Nevada Single Family Homes Sold October 2011, by the numbers:

Total Homes Sold October 2011 = 146
Total Homes Sold October 2010 = 121

Medium List Price October 2011 = $144,950
Medium List Price October 2010 = $169,000

Medium Sold Price October 2011 = $144,900
Medium Sold Price October 2010 = $165,990

Days On The Market October 2011 = 130
Days On The Market October 2010 = 1137

From the above numbers we see October 2011 was a very productive month when comparing the number of homes sold from the previous year. Twenty more homes were sold this year and the amount of time each single family home spend on the market was slightly lower. Prices decreased by 23% over last year but are showing signs of stabilizing. Has the housing bubble burst? Not from the numbers we are seeing here in Northern Nevada.

Total number of Bank Owned Properties sold = 52
Medium Bank Owned Sold Price = $119,900
Days on the Market for a bank owned = 104

Total number of Short Sale Properties sold = 52
Medium Short Sale Sold Price = $119,799
Days on the Market for a short sale = 193

The number of homes with special conditions, i.e. Bank Owned and Short Sales, accounted for 54% of the single family homes sold during the month of October 2011. Until the number of homes sold with "NO" special conditions start to out number the homes "WITH" special conditions, we will still see a housing market that fluctuate from month to month. Home prices will most likely continue to drop until stabilization occurs.

Interested in purchasing a single family home in Sparks, NV? Currently there are 335 Actively Listed Homes for sale in the NNRMLS with an average list price of $138,800. There are some fantastic opportunities for investors and first time home buyers right now. If you would like to take advantage of some of these great home values, contact me or start your Sparks Home Search to find the home that is perfect for you and your family.

What about those bank owned and short sale properties in Sparks? If you are looking for a foreclosure or short sale home, there are many of these types of properties available in Sparks, Nevada. Currently there are 63 bank owned Active Listings. The medium list price of a Sparks Bank Owned Property is $138,200. See what I mean about great home values that are available in this small town?

If you are an investor or just a home buyer who has time, not in a hurry, or doesn't need to rush, then a short sale could be a good choice for you. Currently Sparks, NV has 136 short sale properties active for sale. The medium listed price for a Sparks Short Sale Property is $156,070.

Many home buyers are willing to wait a little extra once they find the home they love. Although the short sale process takes longer than regular sales and REO sales, buyers are considering short sales when they are located in desirable neighborhoods, or in particular school areas or are close to work, shopping, etc. Short sale properties are great investments so why not consider them when shopping for a Sparks Home?

*The above statistics are for single family homes only and do not include condos or Multi-family homes in Sparks, Nevada.

Sparks Nevada Market Report ~ Single Family Homes Sold October 2011

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REALTOR®

Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE)
Certified Default Resolution Specialist (CDRS)
Short Sales & Foreclosure Resource ~ Certified (SFR)

Ferrari-Lund Real Estate

775.846.5424