Want to know what comes in third place?  CLOSETS!

While I was out on showings earlier this week with a new buyer she was commenting on homes closet space and how she was going to have to learn to downsize/organize. This got me to thinking how can you get everything you need to fit better in a smaller area!! Organization!!

This posts is great for buyer and sellers………Seller show your buyers it can fit and Buyers learn to organize!!

via realsimple.com

via MarthaStewart.com

via Source Unknown

 

HomeGain, an online real estate marketing resource, surveyed nearly 600 real estate professionals in creating a list of the top do-it-yourself home improvement projects that offer the biggest return for your buck.

Overall, the home improvement projects that boasted the highest price returns were updates to the kitchen and bathroom–an estimated $3,435 price increase for resale. Painting the outside of the home ($2,222 price increase) also offered one of the highest returns, according to HomeGain’s Home Sale Maximizer study.

Here are six do-it-yourself projects–all under $1,000–that made HomeGain’s list, as well as the estimated increase to the home’s price at resale for each project.

1. Cleaning and decluttering: Remove any personal items, unclutter countertops, organize closets and shelves, and make the home sparkling clean.

Cost: $290

Estimated return: $1,990

2. Light and bright: Clean all windows inside and out, replace old curtains, update lighting fixtures, and remove anything that blocks light from the windows.

Cost: $375 cost

Estimated return: $1,550

3. Staging: Rearrange furniture, bring in new accessories and furnishings to enhance rooms, including artwork and playing soft music in the background.

Cost: $550 cost

Estimated return: $2,194

4. Landscaping: Punch up the home’s curb appeal in the front and backyards by adding bark mulch, bushes and flowers, and ensuring current plants and grass are well-cared for and manicured.

Cost: $540

 Estimated return: $1,932

5. Repair electrical or plumbing: Repair any leaks under the bathroom or kitchen sinks, remove any mildew stains, and ensure all plumbing is in good working condition. Update the home’s electrical with new wiring for modern appliances, fix any lights or outlets that don’t work, and replace old plug points with new safety fixtures.

Cost: $535

Estimated return: $1,505

6. Replace or shampoo dirty carpets: Steam-clean carpets, replace any worn carpets, and repair any floor creaks.

Cost: $647

Estimated return: $1,739

IS IT WORTH IT TO YOU?

Fortune Magazine released their April issue that declares that housing is back in their cover story, “The Return of Real Estate.” The article tells consumers to, “Forget stocks. Don’t bet on gold. After four years of plunging home prices, the most attractive asset class in America is housing.”  CLICK HERE for the full story.

Fortune 500 -April Issue

This is a story you don’t want to Miss Reading!!!!

Via House Hunt

Ok, for you skeptics……..

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 Lets take a closer look into our, 5 Reasons to Buy NOW!

1.  Mortgage Rates will stay low.  (Yes, we know they’ve climbed a touch and could reach 6% by the end of the year, but that is still SO low! ) Ask someone what their interest rate was when they bought their first or second home 10-15 years ago, and you might hear something like 8%, 10%, or even 12%!  Crazy Right!!  

2.  Americans want to be homeowners.  Renting is not the American Dream, my friends. - By the way how much do you pay in rent? Compare that to what your mortgage would be………..Bet its pretty comparable but in the end what do you get for renting? Something to think about!

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3. News Flash, National Association of Realtors came out with the local market in the Twin Cities that shows we currently are at the Highest “Housing Affordability Index” in History! Simply meaning that more people have the opportunity to purchase more homes that are more affordable than ever!

 4.  Tax cuts might help.  Extending the tax cuts might mean a more rapid recovery for the economy.Tax deductions are a plus as well!

5.   Appreciation.  You may be laughing at us right now, what with the news telling us that home values are declining everyday more and more…….But we are here to tell you that “What goes down must come up!” If you could buy a home in a good location at a favorable price right now and plan to make it your for say 5-10 years, It will appreciate!

Via source unknown

Does buying a home make sense for you now? Let us know!

Dan Buettner was a guest…….know who he is?

Dan is known best for his book “Thrive” about finding happiness. Check out a few of the astounding results of Dan’s happiness research! 

Who’s in a book club and how quickly can we join?

WOW!  This blew us away.  Geez, if you’re driving an hour each way every day, you need to call us STAT so that we can find you a house closer to work and make you feel $40,000 richer.

 Happiness guru Dan Buettner said that where you live,  has a massive impact on your happiness. 

Are you happy?

In our business all the reasons for buying or selling a home still exist. As a matter of fact we surveyed our last ten clients and the traditional motivations were all there: job change, marriage, divorce, health reasons, family size growth and of course the biggest . . . time to not live with parents anymore! All these reasons and more are the reason why people are working through these difficult waters of buying or selling a home.

Of course, if you are buying and have good credit and a job this is the time. Wonderful values and attractive finance terms make this a super time to buy a home. If you need to sell first, it is more challenging, but we have been successful in helping over 50 clients sell their home in the last few months. Homes are selling!

Like the weather man is not always (rarely) right, the forecasts that people are not buying and selling are not correct either. It is true that the housing market has become more of an “I need” rather than “I want” market, but as we mentioned there are a lot of people needing to buy or sell their home. Stay positive and watch for the sun!

The affordability index is  a measure of the financial ability of U.S. families to buy a house. 100 means that families earning the national median income have just the amount of money needed to qualify for a mortgage on a median-priced home; higher than 100 means they have more than enough and lower than 100 means they have less than enough.

In October, the Affordability index for the nation was 184 (224 in the Midwest) compared to 113 in 2007.

 With the low interest rates, listing inventory at higher levels and the affordability index so favorable, this truly is a great time to make a move. The best news is that virtually all price ranges have great values. There are an abundance of homes under $150,000 which is the typical price range for first time buyers. The move up market is as competitively price as ever and looking for buyers.

We have been very pleased to help a number of first time buyers this year purchase homes with a monthly payment less than what their rent was or would have been. Get out there and look. www.kraus-kuntz.com provides access to all the available properties and you can even set up an automatic search that will send you new listings that fit your search criteria.

With talk of recovery and the start of some commodity pricing increasing, it is certainly good to look if buying a home is in your future.

There are many factors that will affect the selling price. The following should help you determine the price you can expect to receive.

1. What are the prices (listing and selling) of similar homes in your area?  Think of ‘your area’ as a small section of the community ie your block or street and 2 to 3 blocks in all directions.

2. What is the size, layout and condition of your home in comparison to others on the market? Be honest with yourself. And if you just don’t know, call a real estate professional and ask them to show you.

3. What is the location of your home? Are you in an area of high demand? Demand is often over stated so don’t beat yourself up if you think you are in a less than desirable area.

4. Does your home have amenities that are currently popular in the market place? Separate dining rooms, additional living spaces like a finished basement, larger closets, more than one bathroom, and open kitchens are all examples of popular amenities. There is a growing trend for energy efficient homes as well, including the appliances in them.

5. Is it a buyers’ or sellers’ market? Today’s market is a buyers market. Remember, the proceeds from selling your home in a buyers market are not what they once were. But you will benefit equally if not more when you purchase your next home.

If you have questions about selling a home, we are here to help.

I don’t claim to be a visionary or even a financial expert – although I do believe there are fewer financial “experts” around – but I do believe we can take a lesson from another industry that has gone through a recent difficult time. Let’s look at the car industry that also was at the end of their ropes and looked for government help. The industry went through some downsizing and retooling of the survivors and it made them stronger. They are now on the way back and some are experiencing profitable gains again.

The same is happening in the real estate industry in perhaps smaller more individualized cases. In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s tremendous appreciation affected most all residential real estate. This appreciation, as many believed, was not stainable. Today the industry is retooling itself. We are seeing sound finance decisions by the lending industry. The appraisal industry is looking closer than ever before at values and value trends. Realtors, as always, are giving their clients long term consultations and helping their clients make big picture decisions.

Of course today the big winners are the buyers that are benefiting from near record low interest rates and values that are approaching prices last seen in the 1990’s. All of the dozen homes we sold in the last 30 days were sold at prices that translated into 50% or 60% less than what they were or would have been at 5 years ago.

The real estate market is retooling itself. Like all industries in America, supply and demand works. We know that there are many individuals waiting on the fence for the right time and they are starting to see the right set of circumstances come together. There are still struggles ahead in the real estate industry, but with those struggles exists many great opportunities. Call or e-mail us to see if your situation allows you to take advantage of the many opportunities that exist in today’s real estate market.

1. We all use flowers to brighten up our homes in the summer. They are bright, they are colorful, and they tell us the sun is out. Flowers are still plentiful in winter as well. Your local florist or grocery store will have a nice selection for you to choose from. If you need a transition from flowers, try a simple plant that doesn’t require as much light.

2. We all know what it is like to leave in the morning for work in the dark and then come home from work, in the dark. A simple solution is a $5 dollar timer that you can connect to any lamp. You can set them to be on before you wake and on when you arrive home. We all feel better coming home to a house with lights on.

3. Fill your home with photos of spring and summer. Bring the outside in.

4. When that urge to make a pot of chili hits you, make it. Indulge in the things that bring you comfort. Maybe brownies, or potatoe soup. Whatever it is, it will make you feel better and the aroma’s of the food you make will linger.

5. Don’t forget to clean. Make your mirrors shine, dust the book shelves and rid corners of cobwebs. A clean fresh home is welcoming to everyone.

6. Turn on music, open up the window shades and enjoy a cup of cocoa.

7. If the budget allows, be comfortable and turn up the heat. If you can’t do it every day, pick a day when you need the additional comfort and treat yourself.

8. Keep your sidewalks clear. It is work up front but once it is done, it is done and you or your guests can come and go as they please, and safely.

9. Those baked goods you made earlier, keep them out and available for you, your family and guests.

10. Don’t lose sight of the fact that spring will come. Enjoy the winter, embrace the challenges it brings and meet winter head on making your home, your home.