January 2010
Volume 13 Issue 1
Home Selling Tips
Buyers shopping for homes during this time of year tend to be more serious, and there may be fewer homes on the market so there’s less competition. If you need to sell your home during the holidays, Frontdoor.com offers several tips to attract buyers during this busy season.
Hire a reliable real estate agent. Ask family and friends to recommend a Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) REALTOR® who will work hard for you and be available during the holidays.
Seek motivated buyers. Any person shopping for a home during the holidays must be highly motivated. Target buyers who need to move soon, such as people relocating for jobs, college students and university staff on break, and investors on tax deadlines.
Price the property to sell. No matter what time of year it is, a home that’s priced appropriately for the market will attract buyers.
Pay attention to curb appeal. Maintaining your home’s exterior is just as important in the winter as it is during any other season. Touch up the paint, clean the gutters and spruce up the yard. Also keep buyers’ safety in mind by keeping stairs and walkways clear of snow, ice or leaves.
Use high-quality photos and/or a video tour to market your home on the Web. Homebuyers are likely to start their home search on the Internet, so these tools can help buyers who may not have time to visit your home in person.
Make your home cozy and inviting. When showing your home, crank up the heat, play soft music and offer homemade holiday treats. It will encourage buyers to spend more time in the home, which gives them a chance to admire its best features.
This months joke:
Question:What is a cow's favorite day?
Answer: Moo-years Day!
HAPPY HEALTHY NEW YEAR TO ALL MAY 2010 BE YOUR BEST YEAR EVER!
WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD
According to the 2009 National Association of REALTORS® Survey of Home Buyers and Sellers, 64 percent of buyers say the biggest factor influencing where they choose to live is the quality of the neighborhood. Other important factors include convenience to jobs (50 percent), housing affordability (43 percent) and convenience to family and friends (37 percent). Quality of schools (26 percent), convenience to shopping (26 percent), neighborhood design (23 percent) and convenience to schools (21 percent) are also important, buyers say.While neighborhood amenities, location and affordability are important, the experts at Movers.com say buyers also should consider other factors, such as safety, property values, cost of living and public transportation.
Before moving across the country to an unfamiliar location that could be unsafe, potential homebuyers should research the area’s crime statistics or call the local police department for detailed information. Property values, cost of living and budgetary concerns will also influence neighborhood choices.
If you depend on public transportation, find out what services are available, whether there are bus stops or train stations in the neighborhood you are considering, and whether their schedules will meet your travel needs.
To learn more about prospective neighborhoods, check out sites such as City-data.com, NeighborhoodScout.com, Citytowninfo.com and Bestplaces.net, which contain information about schools, crime rates, demographics, amenities and employment.
FREE programs from me to you, including "How To Buy A Home In Orlando" booklet
Can you give me info on the "GREEN REVIVAL"?
There has been a lot of talk about the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, which was signed into law in October. But do you know what it means for you? If you use energy-efficient products in your home, you’ll want to take note: Starting Jan. 1, 2009, the law expands and extends valuable federal tax credits for homeowners who make certain upgrades. These credits are largely the same, but not identical, to those that expired at the end of 2007.
Benefits include lower home energy bills,
increased indoor comfort and reduced air
pollution. In addition, the energy-efficient
products eligible for the new federal tax credits
actually lower the amount of federal income
taxes that taxpayers must pay Uncle Sam.
Here’s a look at how much you could
save if you took advantage of some of
these tax credits (but remember that
your energy savings each year may be
greater than the one-time tax savings):
Purchase
1Central air conditioner or heat pump
2.Furnace or boiler
3.Windows
4.Insulation and
sealing
5.Ground-source
heat pump
Tax Savings
1.$300*
2.$150*
3.Up to $200*
4.Up to $500*
5.Up to $2,000
Notes
1.Only some
Energy Star
products qualify.
2.Only some Energy Star products qualify.
3.All Energy Star windows qualify.
4.Must meet model building code as installed
5.Only Energy Star
products qualify.
In some areas of the country, consumers also will be
eligible for utility or state rebates or state tax incentives
for the same homes, vehicles and equipment.
Source:Alliance to Save Energy
Have questions? email Risa at questions@risa.net or call her at 407-699-4901
Top Orlando Events and Festivals in January 2010
January 2010 Calendar of Holidays, Observances and Events
Click Here for a Complete Guide to Moving compliments of Risa
Use This Moving Truck for FREE 
RE/MAX Town & Country Realty has a moving truck (pictured above) that our clients can use FREE for their local (inside the Metro-Orlando area) moves.
When Risa helps you buy or sell a home, just let her know that you would like to use the RE/MAX Moving Truck. Then Ray, the Moving Truck Coordinator, will coordinate your reservation to use the truck for a 24 hour period and outline all of the details for the truck’s use. Tell Risa early on in your transaction that you’d like to use the truck to make sure that you can reserve the best time for your move!
We’re glad to be able to offer this additional service to our clients. Risa Saltman wants to help make your moving process as smooth, enjoyable and efficient as possible.
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