#realestate #realtor #kwri #buyingahome #selling #Pensacola #newconstruction
By Katherine Salant, Published: December 5 | Updated: Friday, December 6, 8:45 AM
When you buy a new house, do you need the services of an experienced real estate agent?
The answer is yes, and here’s why.
When you buy an existing house, what you see is what you get for the asking price. When you buy an as-yet-unbuilt house, what you see in the builder’s furnished model is not what you get for the advertised base price.
That’s because a furnished model is filled with beguiling features that enhance the basic house. The to-die-for kitchen, the four-foot extension that makes the family room feel so spacious, the classy Brazilian cherry hardwood floors, and the bay windows that give character to the front rooms and look swell from the street are all optional upgrades. When their cost is added in, the seemingly affordable $400,000 advertised base price quickly balloons out to $500,000, far more than you can afford.
When you check out a more affordable version of the model — a nearly completed house down the street that has only $30,000 worth of upgrades — it’s not the same house that has become the stuff of your dreams.
Had you been working with an experienced real estate agent, you would have avoided such a disheartening experience, because the agent would have directed you to new construction that fit your budget in the area where you want to live. As you toured models together, the agent would have helped you distinguish the upgrades from the basic house and pointed out the options that are prudent choices, said David Zadareky, the broker/owner of Re/Max Evolution in Alexandria.
Though option choices never come up in a resale transaction, they are central in a new-home purchase because the basic house is almost always very spare, Zadareky said. The challenge is to keep option choices to an affordable limit, which he caps at 15 to 20 percent of the base price. If your total budget is $400,000, as in the example above, you should be looking at houses that are base-priced about 15 to 20 percent lower, or about $320,000. That would give you $80,000 for options, an amount that would seem to cover everything you might want, but, in fact, will not go very far. “If you’re not careful, the final sticker price that you are trying to keep at $400,000 will quickly balloon up to $440,000 or even $480,000,” he said.
When choosing specific options, Zadareky advises his buyers to get features that will be difficult or costly to add later; in our earlier example, this would be the four-foot family room extension and the bay windows on the front. The to-die-for kitchen and the hardwood flooring can be future remodeling projects, and some options should be nixed outright because they will not translate into a better resale price. “No one will pay extra for a fireplace in the master bedroom,” he said.
In addition to helping buyers negotiate the purchase, Zadareky said he nudges them to budget for the cost of new-home ownership — a concern a builder’s agent is unlikely to mention. For example, once you move in, you’ll realize that you’ll have to purchase window treatments because the neighbors will be closer than you realized.
And he raises critical issues that do not occur to most buyers, such as finding out what is planned for the acreage adjacent to the community where they want to buy.
Why don’t most new-home buyers use real estate agents to help them navigate a brand-new house purchase?
It requires planning ahead, and most new-home purchases begin spontaneously when the buyers chance upon a “Grand Opening” for a new-home development and stop to take a look. When asked to “register” by the model sales agent, they fill out a card with their name and contact information. Should the buyers then decide to bring an agent on board, the builder will demand that the buyer pay the agent’s fee, usually 2 to 3 percent of the base price. (For the $320,000 house noted above, the fee would be $6,400 to $9,600.)
To get the real estate agent’s help and have the builder pay the agent’s fee, the agent must register the buyers on their initial visit. But if you visit the model and decline to register, you should be able to return later with an agent in tow, Zadareky said.
So don't be one of the those "I told you so's" and get ahead of the game and call a professional at 850-485-0353 or visit www.newhomesalespensacola.com and view my credentials.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
**WOOHOO** THERE IS NO BETTER TIME TO BUY THAN NOW!!!
Looking to buy or sell a home? Call me today and let's get started. With interest rates at 4.25% now is still a great time to make that home purchase. We have lenders who are offering 5% downpayment conventional loans with NO PMI this is huge. We have a lender offering 8,000 toward buyers closing cost. NO ONE CAN BEAT THAT!!! We have SHIP and BOND loans which pay your down payment and closing cost and Rural Development for rural areas at 100% financing. So call me today. SEARCH ALL HOMES AT WWW.NEWHOMESALESPENSACOLA.COM
Sunday, January 19, 2014
WHY IS MY HOME NOT SELLING? GREAT QUESTION!!!
There could be a simple solution to why your home has been on the market and not SOLD. Marketing is HUGH in today's social media world. 90% of all buyers are searching for a home on the internet. YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Trulia, Zillow, Realtor.com, Homes.com and the 325+ other avenues over the internet. This is where we stand out above all other Realtors who list your home. Our marketing, blogging, and social media coverage for your home is what gets your home sold. Keep in mind you have to have a great home and you have to price if right. Your Realtor will give you the comparable homes within your community and surrounding area and it is your job to price the home right. I know you think well I am going to price it a little high because I know someone is going to make me a low offer. Forget what you think you know about Real Estate and call the experts. Call us today for you appointment. This 30 minute appointment will be the best 30 minutes you ever spent. CLICK HERE TO VIEW MY PROFILE. CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL HOMES CURRENTLY ACTIVE ON THE MARKET.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Crafty Ideas for Winter Curb Appeal
During summer months when gardens are in bloom and the sun is shining bright, curb appeal comes naturally to many homes. But when the autumn chill turns to winter cold and the sun sets earlier in the day, it becomes more difficult to create that inviting exterior look that grabs buyers from the curb.
Fortunately, it is possible to create striking winter curb appeal without expensive or complicated exterior changes, says Charlene Storozuk, a home stager and designer with Dezigner Digz in Burlington, Ontario—a city that averages 51 inches of snow per year. It just requires a little creativity.
She and other home-design experts offer these eight tips:
1. Add splashes of green and purple. Plants, grasses, and evergreens can liven up a home’s winter landscape. Experiment with tall grasses, such as fountain grasses, that survive harsh winters. And in late fall and early winter, plants from the cabbage family add a vibrant purple color. Make the front door the focal point with a large wreath adorned with a colorful ribbon. To finish the look, place large, colorful planters filled with evergreens beside the front door, suggests Elizabeth Lord, broker with Carolina Farms & Estates LLC in Rock Hill, S.C.
2. Give it seasonal sparkle. Transform an unused bird bath or fountain into a seasonal display by adding twigs with red berries. Or fill frost-resistant urns with twigs, winter greenery, and sparkly baubles (sold at most craft stores), Storozuk says. For extra sparkle, roll twigs in glitter and incorporate a gazing ball—a mirrored glass ball available in various colors—into the display.
3. Make the garden statuesque. Roman- or Greek-themed outdoor sculptures can add class and elegance to a garden in winter. Be sure to use frost-resistant statues so they don’t crack, Storozuk says. Place the statues strategically throughout the garden to draw buyers’ eyes around the outdoor space.
4. Light it bright. During the winter, it’s more likely that buyers will be viewing home after sunset. Use clear flood spotlights to focus on the home’s architectural features, Storozuk says. Keep exterior lighting fixtures at maximum wattage and clean them regularly. When snow covers the ground, Michele Thompson, broker-owner of White Fence Real Estate in Vevay, Ind., takes photos of listings at night with all of the interior lights on—the light bounces off the white snow to create a warm, inviting glow. For the best results, turn off the flash, and use a tripod to avoid blurring, she says.
5. Show off the lifestyle. Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you can’t use the deck. Shovel your backyard sitting area and leave your grill uncovered so buyers can envision themselves using the space, Storozuk says. If the home has a hot tub, leave that open and running during showings as well.
6. Make the deck an extension of the house. Set up your outdoor tables and chairs just as you would in warmer months. “Home owners often cover their furniture and place lawn objects haphazardly on the deck,” says Kitty Schwartz, president and owner of Classic Home Staging in Katonah, N.Y. For added appeal, she adds a weatherproof cafe set with pillows that play off of interior accent colors. “Glancing out onto this type of vignette can make the indoor space feel larger and more interesting,” she says.
7. Create a photo display of sunnier days. Show buyers what the outside of the home looks like during other seasons by displaying some landscape photos in frames or using a digital photo frame with a slide show of images. “This will give a sense of what the property looks like at other times of year,” Storozuk says. If the home has a garden, make a list of what’s planted where. “Perennials can be expensive,” she says, “so treat them as a selling feature.”
8. Don’t forget to clear a path. If the ground is covered in snow, the simplest and most important thing you can do is shovel the driveway and sidewalks and keep the home’s patios and decks as clear as possible so buyers can get a sense of their true size.
Fortunately, it is possible to create striking winter curb appeal without expensive or complicated exterior changes, says Charlene Storozuk, a home stager and designer with Dezigner Digz in Burlington, Ontario—a city that averages 51 inches of snow per year. It just requires a little creativity.
She and other home-design experts offer these eight tips:
1. Add splashes of green and purple. Plants, grasses, and evergreens can liven up a home’s winter landscape. Experiment with tall grasses, such as fountain grasses, that survive harsh winters. And in late fall and early winter, plants from the cabbage family add a vibrant purple color. Make the front door the focal point with a large wreath adorned with a colorful ribbon. To finish the look, place large, colorful planters filled with evergreens beside the front door, suggests Elizabeth Lord, broker with Carolina Farms & Estates LLC in Rock Hill, S.C.
2. Give it seasonal sparkle. Transform an unused bird bath or fountain into a seasonal display by adding twigs with red berries. Or fill frost-resistant urns with twigs, winter greenery, and sparkly baubles (sold at most craft stores), Storozuk says. For extra sparkle, roll twigs in glitter and incorporate a gazing ball—a mirrored glass ball available in various colors—into the display.
3. Make the garden statuesque. Roman- or Greek-themed outdoor sculptures can add class and elegance to a garden in winter. Be sure to use frost-resistant statues so they don’t crack, Storozuk says. Place the statues strategically throughout the garden to draw buyers’ eyes around the outdoor space.
4. Light it bright. During the winter, it’s more likely that buyers will be viewing home after sunset. Use clear flood spotlights to focus on the home’s architectural features, Storozuk says. Keep exterior lighting fixtures at maximum wattage and clean them regularly. When snow covers the ground, Michele Thompson, broker-owner of White Fence Real Estate in Vevay, Ind., takes photos of listings at night with all of the interior lights on—the light bounces off the white snow to create a warm, inviting glow. For the best results, turn off the flash, and use a tripod to avoid blurring, she says.
5. Show off the lifestyle. Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you can’t use the deck. Shovel your backyard sitting area and leave your grill uncovered so buyers can envision themselves using the space, Storozuk says. If the home has a hot tub, leave that open and running during showings as well.
6. Make the deck an extension of the house. Set up your outdoor tables and chairs just as you would in warmer months. “Home owners often cover their furniture and place lawn objects haphazardly on the deck,” says Kitty Schwartz, president and owner of Classic Home Staging in Katonah, N.Y. For added appeal, she adds a weatherproof cafe set with pillows that play off of interior accent colors. “Glancing out onto this type of vignette can make the indoor space feel larger and more interesting,” she says.
7. Create a photo display of sunnier days. Show buyers what the outside of the home looks like during other seasons by displaying some landscape photos in frames or using a digital photo frame with a slide show of images. “This will give a sense of what the property looks like at other times of year,” Storozuk says. If the home has a garden, make a list of what’s planted where. “Perennials can be expensive,” she says, “so treat them as a selling feature.”
8. Don’t forget to clear a path. If the ground is covered in snow, the simplest and most important thing you can do is shovel the driveway and sidewalks and keep the home’s patios and decks as clear as possible so buyers can get a sense of their true size.
Tips for Selling a Home in the Winter
Traditionally, the time from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day can be some of the slowest time of the year for home buying due to the holidays and the often less-than-perfect weather. But that doesn’t mean sellers can’t sell during the winter months. In fact, with decreased inventories, sellers may have a better chance to standout and face a buyer pool with more urgency to settle down.
Experts offer some of the following tips for selling a home in the winter:
Stage it: Stagers can arrange furniture so that selling-points in a home don’t get overlooked, paint rooms inviting colors, and have the know-how to give a home a cozy winter feel. Display photos of the home that also show it in warmer summer months. And don’t forget to turn up the thermostat in the home so buyers are comfortable from the moment they step through the door."If you have a vacant house in winter with the heat turned down to 50, chances are someone will make a very low offer," Loren Keim, a real estate broker, told the Associated Press.
Price it right: "If it's priced properly, it will sell any day of the year,"
.
Show the way: Keep sidewalks and driveways clear of snow, ice, and leaves--giving potential buyers a clear path to your listing’s front door.
Light it up: There’s less daylight in the winter months so it’s even more important to keep all the lights on as well as open blinds and drapes for natural light. Keep the home well-lit even when you’re not there so the home still looks inviting to passersby who drive by in the evenings after work.
Experts offer some of the following tips for selling a home in the winter:
Stage it: Stagers can arrange furniture so that selling-points in a home don’t get overlooked, paint rooms inviting colors, and have the know-how to give a home a cozy winter feel. Display photos of the home that also show it in warmer summer months. And don’t forget to turn up the thermostat in the home so buyers are comfortable from the moment they step through the door."If you have a vacant house in winter with the heat turned down to 50, chances are someone will make a very low offer," Loren Keim, a real estate broker, told the Associated Press.
Price it right: "If it's priced properly, it will sell any day of the year,"
.
Show the way: Keep sidewalks and driveways clear of snow, ice, and leaves--giving potential buyers a clear path to your listing’s front door.
Light it up: There’s less daylight in the winter months so it’s even more important to keep all the lights on as well as open blinds and drapes for natural light. Keep the home well-lit even when you’re not there so the home still looks inviting to passersby who drive by in the evenings after work.
Making the Most of Your Buyers' Winter Search
The holidays are the perfect time of year for some home buyers to purchase a house and snag a great year-end deal — but limited inventory may be the Scrooge.
After a challenging home-buying season in the spring and summer, many buyers say they plan to reignite their home search during the winter, according to a recent realtor.com® survey. They're hoping for less competition from all-cash buyers and fewer bidding wars during that time.
However, winter often brings about limited inventories of homes for sale, so buyers will likely find fewer choices. It seems that buyers expect that: 45 percent of those surveyed in the realtor.com® Winter Home Buyer Report say they believe they’ll be up against inventory challenges again during the winter months.
Some real estate agents are grappling with that issue by finding homes that aren’t officially on the market to increase their buyers’ choices. They are even drumming up “old expires” — homes that were listed several years ago but never sold — to see if the owner will reconsider selling. Some brokers are also sending letters to home owners in their buyer’s preferred neighborhood to motivate a home owner to consider selling.
Still, buyers shopping for a home in winter may find sellers more amenable to striking a good deal. Particularly during the holidays, sellers can be highly motivated to sell before the end of the year, says Tim Deihl, associate broker at Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty in Boston. Buyers may be able to take advantage of that sellers’ urgency.
“A seller who’s looking to move a piece of real estate during the holidays is a seller who needs to sell, because nobody in their right mind would pick that as the most convenient time to list their property,” Deihl says
After a challenging home-buying season in the spring and summer, many buyers say they plan to reignite their home search during the winter, according to a recent realtor.com® survey. They're hoping for less competition from all-cash buyers and fewer bidding wars during that time.
However, winter often brings about limited inventories of homes for sale, so buyers will likely find fewer choices. It seems that buyers expect that: 45 percent of those surveyed in the realtor.com® Winter Home Buyer Report say they believe they’ll be up against inventory challenges again during the winter months.
Some real estate agents are grappling with that issue by finding homes that aren’t officially on the market to increase their buyers’ choices. They are even drumming up “old expires” — homes that were listed several years ago but never sold — to see if the owner will reconsider selling. Some brokers are also sending letters to home owners in their buyer’s preferred neighborhood to motivate a home owner to consider selling.
Still, buyers shopping for a home in winter may find sellers more amenable to striking a good deal. Particularly during the holidays, sellers can be highly motivated to sell before the end of the year, says Tim Deihl, associate broker at Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty in Boston. Buyers may be able to take advantage of that sellers’ urgency.
“A seller who’s looking to move a piece of real estate during the holidays is a seller who needs to sell, because nobody in their right mind would pick that as the most convenient time to list their property,” Deihl says
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Great Custom Built Home in Pensacola near Everything
THIS HOME IS A JEWEL ON A PRIVATE CUL-DE-SAC ON AN ACRE IN THE HEART OF PENSACOLA. CLOSE TO SHOPPING, HOSPITALS, AIRPORT, MALLS, I-10 ANDTHE BEACHES. GORGEOUS CUSTOM ONE OF A KIND BUILT HOME BY A PRIVATE BUILDER WITH ALL THE CUSTOM DETAILS. THIS BEAUTIFUL HOME HAS 4 SPACIOUS BEDROOMS WITH AN EXCLUSIVE LUXURY MASTER SUITE WITH A SPA RETREAT BATHROOM WITH TILED CUSTOM GARDEN TUB, LARGE VANITY AND DRESSING AREA. HOME HAS A FORMAL DINING ROOM AND LARGE LIVING ROOM LEADING TO OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT SPACE. ALSO ANOTHER GREAT FAMILY ROOM OFF THE KITCHEN FOR FAMILY GATHERINGS. LARGE CUSTOM KITCHEN FOR ANY LARGE FAMILY TO SPEND TIME TOGETHER WITH A LARGE OPEN FLOOR PLAN THAT JUST SPEAKS "WELCOME HOME". YOUHAVE AN OUTSIDE RETREAT WITH SPACIOUS LIVING SPACE AND DINING SPACE ALONG WITH A GRILL AREA. CUSTOM FIBERGLASS POOL WITH LITTLE TO NO MAINTENANCE AND SCREENED IN AREA. LARGE SPACIOUS LOT WITH OUTSIDE BUILDING/MAN CAVE THAT CAN BE USED FOR ANYTHING YOU CAN DREAM UP. HAS ELECTRICITY. BUILDING AND READY FOR ANYTHING. THIS HOUSE IS GOING TO SELL FAST SO COME TAKE A LOOK AND CALL IT HOME.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVkfyk20uY0
click above for a great video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVkfyk20uY0
click above for a great video
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