The Judy Niemeyer Team Blog

It’s bargain time for home buyers—now’s when to find deals when interest rates are low!
Excerpted from Bankrate.com

The real estate market has appeared to have created an ideal climate for house hunters who want the most for their money. Real estate experts say a switch in the psychology of the housing market has helped buyers to see the silver lining around the market’s storm clouds and usher in the fine shopping weather.

"We are now in a solid buyer’s market," says David Lereah, the chief economist for the National Association of Realtors (NAR). "It has been a seller’s market for many years, but now we are seeing people across the country making deals and bringing prices down."

Sellers conceding

Sellers eventually realized they would have to make concessions on their sale prices.  "Now they are making deals," Lereah says. With a listless housing market, savvy buyers in many markets across the U.S. are finding themselves in the best position they have been in for nearly a decade when it comes to price negotiations. Levy does warn, however, that not all sellers are in a dealing mood.

"Even though existing-home prices are basically flattish on a national level, I would issue a bit of caution with that number," he says. "Housing is inherently a local market, and national numbers are notorious for not offering an accurate snapshot of what is happening in a particular market."

So, while prices in Southern California and parts of Florida may be down significantly, other markets may still be enjoying healthy price gains.  On the whole, Levy says to expect prices, on average, to drift slightly lower as a function of clearing out excess inventory. And inventory is the key.

A turnaround in a few months?

Though Lereah doesn’t think prices have yet hit bottom nationwide, he says he believes there are only a few more months where home prices can fall before turning up again. By the end of the year, he expects appreciation to reach 1.4% nationwide.

Though falling prices are bad news for homeowners, homebuyers in those depressed markets are taking a fresh look at those bungalows that were priced out of their reach just a few months ago and deciding to move before the market swings the other way again.

FAIRHOPE ONCE AGAIN NAMED AMONG THE SOUTH’S 50 BEST SMALL TOWNS

Just in time for Fairhope’s 100^th Anniversary, Fairhope has once again been named among the South’s 50 best small towns in “The Fifty Best Small Southern Towns, 2^nd Edition” by authors Gerald Sweitzer and Kathy Fields (Peachtree Publishing, Paperback, 416 pages, ISBN: 978-1-56145-408-2).

Business manager Sweitzer and educational consultant Fields have both given seminars on retirement and living in small towns.  According to the authors, back in the 1990’s, a trend started with people started leaving metropolitan areas for new lives in small towns and cities.  Frustrated with city traffic, air pollution, crowded suburbs, and declining quality of life, city dwellers are seeking desirable, small Southern towns.  People are choosing the South over other regions because of its lower cost of living, slower pace, friendliness and charm, more favorable climate and strong economy.

Finding the best town, however, can be a challenge for many. In this helpful guide, Sweitzer and Fields researched and visited over 150 places to give you a comprehensive guidebook with information on the fifty best small towns in nine southeastern states. To be featured in the book, each town had to meet stringent qualifications: population under 25,000, positive population growth, readily available cultural and recreational attractions, adult education opportunities, employment, spiritual life, healthcare options, and high-speed internet access and location. Each town’s detailed description includes information on:

• Recreational highlights
• Cultural scene
• Natural environment
• Economic and education profiles
• Healthcare
• Vital statistics (population, cost of living, median incomes, etc.)
• Directions

The guide is arranged alphabetically by state (Alabama, the Carolinas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Virginia) and by town within each state. Each entry includes a description of the criteria and statistical charts that give details on the climate, the cost of living, median incomes, taxes, and nearest cities. Also included is a helpful appendix that indicates college towns, the geographical setting of each town, population, and more.

Visit Peachtree Publishing at www.peachtree-online.com, or the book can be found online at book retailers such as www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com and many others.

12 Tips For Selling Your Home In Winter

Sure, there are fewer buyers and the skies are gloomy. So warm and brighten up the place; make it look like a refuge from the weather.  What makes selling a home more stressful? Selling it in the middle of winter. The lawn is brown, the weather is usually bad and, unlike the longer days of summer, you have less time to show it off during daylight hours.

But not everyone has the luxury of waiting until the traditional spring or summer home-buying season to plant that "for sale" sign. And while it’s true that in most areas you’ll probably have fewer buyers during the winter, you will have less competition from other sellers.  

The season makes staging — the concept of showing your house at its best — even more important. Be prepared to put a little effort into it. It’s more difficult to make something look really appealing this time of year.  If you do it right, you can really make your house stand out. 

1. Warm it up.  If you’re showing during the winter, think "warm, cozy and homey”.  Before a buyer comes through, adjust the thermostat to a warmer temperature to make it welcoming. Sellers like to turn the temperature down because of heat costs, but buyers who come in and aren’t comfortable won’t stay long.

If you have a gas fireplace and the weather warrants it, turning it on right before the tour can give the house a little ambience. With a wood-burning fireplace, you’ve got to be a little more careful. If the house is vacant, don’t chance it. But if you’re still living there and will be there during the tour, it can be a nice touch.

Many times, sellers leave right before the agent and prospective buyers arrive. In that case, adjust the heat to a comfortable temperature and have the hearth set for a fire. Buyers feel the warmth and see the potential, and you don’t have to worry about safety concerns. 

2. Take advantage of natural light.  Encourage showing during the high-daylight hours.  At this time of year, if you show after work, you’re totally in the dark.  Make the most of the light you do have. Have the curtains and blinds cleaned and open them as wide as possible during daytime showings. Clean all the lamps and built-in fixtures, and replace the bulbs with the highest wattage that they will safely accommodate. Before you show the house, turn on all the lights. 

3. Get the windows washed. Buyers act on the first impression. Windows are one thing that many sellers don’t even consider. In winter, that strong southern light can reveal grime and make it look like the home hasn’t been well-maintained. 

4. Play music softly in the background. To create a little atmosphere, tune the radio to the local classical station. Turn it down so that you barely hear it in the background. It’s soothing and soft classical music tends to have the most appeal to buyers. People tend to stay around a little longer and look a little longer.

5. Make it comfortable and cozy.  Set the scene and help the buyers see themselves living happily in this house. Consider things such as putting a warm throw on the sofa or folding back the thick comforter on the bed. Tap into the simple things this time of year that make you feel like you’re home.

6. Emphasize winter positives.  Is your home on a bus route or some other vital service that means it’s plowed or de-iced regularly in bad weather? Be sure to mention that to the buyers.

7. Set up timers. You want your home to look warm and welcoming whenever prospective buyers drive past. But you’re not home all the time, so put indoor and outdoor lights on timers. Look at the outside lighting around the door. Is there enough illumination to make it inviting? If not, either get the fixtures changed or have new ones added.

8. Make it festive.  Even if you’re not actually going to be present, greet your buyers as if they were going to be guests at a party. Set up the dinner table with the good china and silver. Have a plate of cookies for your guests, some warm cider or even chilled bottles of water. First impressions are so powerful and if it looks like you’re expecting someone and greeting them as company, that’s a powerful impact.

9. Give the home a nice aroma.  The No. 1 favorite?  Chocolate chip cookies.  Just about everybody likes that smell.  Other popular scents: cinnamon rolls, freshly baked bread, apple pie, apple cider or anything with vanilla, cinnamon or yeast.  But don’t overdo it, either.  Scented candles in every room or those plug-in air fresheners can leave buyers wondering what you’re trying to mask.  Watch the bad smells, too. Pet smells, smoke and musty odors can cling to curtains and carpets. Ask your real estate agent or a friend to give it a sniff test. Then clean the house, air it out and replace drapes, carpets or rugs before you show it.

10. Protect your investment.  Some sellers (or their agents) will ask buyers to either remove shoes or slip on paper "booties" over their footwear before touring the house. Many buyers like that. It indicates a pride of ownership and meticulousness that resonates with buyers.

11. Use the season to your advantage.  While the holidays are over (and the Christmas and Hanukkah stuff should come down), you can still use winter wreaths and dried arrangements around the door to spark interest. Anything seasonally appropriate is fun.  In the winter, with the leaves off the trees, you might also have a nice view that isn’t as apparent in the spring and summer months. It’s a great time to sell waterfront properties. You can see the views better this time of year.

12. Consider the area.  In some parts of the country, such as ski areas or warmer regions where the snow birds flock, winter weather can actually be a selling point.