Q. How do I make my home stand out in the market without spending much money?

A.   If you want to get offers from buyers, make a great first impression by improving these potential turn-offs:

·     Messy Landscaping:  Buyers are looking for curb appeal.  Take the time to clean up an overgrown yard.

·     Nasty Odors:  You may not smell some odors in your home because you’ve become desensitized to them.  Ask your REALTOR^® if there are odors (smoke, pet odors) and how you can get rid of them.

·     Too Much Clutter:  Pack away any items like excess furniture, personal pictures and nick-knacks.  They make your rooms look smaller and distract the buyer from really seeing the house itself.

·     Old Paint:  A fresh coat of neutral-colored paint is a low-cost way to make your rooms look new and fresh. 

Alameda Market View

Alameda Market View

Avg. Listing Price

$561,949

Wk ending Jun 20

Median Sales Price

$465,000

May ‘12

81 Homes For Sale

312 Recently Sold

218 Foreclosures

194 Sales

Most Popular Zip Codes    Avg Listing Price (Wk ending Jun 20)

94611                                   $1,004,895

94566                                   $1,099,058

94568                                       $635,910

94605                                       $343,106

94501                                       $552,831

*Information deemed reliable, but not verified

*SOLD!* 311 Oak St Apt 33, Oakland, CA 94607

Izabella found a buyer for this terrific 1 bedroom, 1.5 bath loft unit facing pool. Pristine condition, very high ceiling with floor to ceiling windows. Part of a vibrant Jack London Square neighborhood with dining, Farmers Market, Cinema, Clubs, Amtrak and BART.

***5321 Miles #Y, Oakland- SOLD!***

Izabella closes another real estate deal in the bay area. Izabella found a buyer for 5321 Miles #Y, Oakland, CA. This is a Condo that has 2 beds, 1 ½ bath, and approximately 1,126 square feet. The property was built in 1980.

8 Secrets For Saving Thousands When Finding, Buying and Financing Your Next Home

Secret #1:  Understand What You NEED In Your Next Home.

 Two things you need to consider here:  Your NEEDS…and your WANTS.  They’re two very different things.

 Secret #2: Understand What You WANT In Your Next Home.

List out everything you like about your present home, or homes you’ve visited. 

 Secret #3:  Understand How Much Home You Can Afford.

Like it or not, there are two guidelines bankers and mortgage lenders use to determine how much loan you can afford. 

Secret #4:  Save A Bundle When Financing.

 Your ability to afford a home will be related to a number of items.  They are:

 1.      The PRICE of the home.

2.      Your DOWN PAYMENT on your home, and thus the amount financed.

3.      The INTEREST RATE and POINTS of your loan – the amount a bank charges you for the money.

4.      The TERM of your loan: 10 year, 15 year, 30 year.

5.      The overall TYPE of your loan.  Most common is fixed vs. variable rates, but there are hundreds of loan packages from which to choose.

 Secret #5: How You Evaluate Homes Will Save You Thousands of Dollars And Heartaches!

Before you buy or refinance your home, INSIST on seeing a “total market overview” of exactly what is going on in the ENTIRE market.  Then narrow your analysis to local market information.

 Secret #6:  Save Thousands of Dollars Writing Your Offer And Negotiating Your Deal

Years ago a real estate expert told me that the party who is less motivated almost always gets the better deal.  The ONE single element that will determine how well you negotiate your offer is…

 How MOTIVATED Is The Seller,

And How MOTIVATED Are YOU?

If the home has been on the market for over a year, perhaps it’s because the seller hasn’t been motivated enough to sell.  Or perhaps the home hasn’t sold and he/she is very motivated. 

That’s just ONE reason why you need a REALTOR^® representing you during any transaction.  The middle person alone will help save you money. So let’s say you have a REALTOR® representing you (make sure it’s a BUYER’S agent, or you could lose a bundle!), and you’re ready to write an offer.

                               What’s the single best piece of information you can have?
It’s the comparable sales and market data for the entire market and the area.  Ask your REALTOR® to print out both for you to use. 

Secret #7:  Be Financially Prepared – Ahead Of Time!

Many people go about the home finding process backwards.  They go through the entire process of searching, evaluating, and writing an offer on their home, WITHOUT being financially prepared.
And it usually costs them money.  Big money!

Secret #8:  Use A BUYER’S REPRESENTATIVE!

There’s a huge difference between a Buyer’s Representative and other agents.  First and foremost, if you don’t have a specific agreement to be represented by your agent…

A good agent knows the area you want to buy in because he/she is out constantly looking at homes.
A good agent can spot trouble for you.  He or she will be experienced at looking at homes and will see things you might not see. 
A good agent will greatly simplify the buying process.
A good agent will give you motivated, reliable financing sources and options.
A good agent will refer you to proven inspectors, title and escrow officers, and other service providers you’ll need.
Most importantly, you need to know that…
There Are “Real Estate Agents”…
And Then There Are Committed Professionals.

Which One Do YOU Want Representing Your Interests?
I hope the information above has given you helpful advice finding, buying, and financing your next home. And at this point, you’re probably pretty clear that, in order to find the right home and save money, you need someone competent and professional to represent YOUR interests. Over the past five years, I have recognized this fact, which is why I wrote this special report, and structured my practice around giving the most competent service possible.

 I have a full-time assistant, a full-time marketing specialist, an office, two computers, a cell phone. To the untrained person, this looks like a lot of overhead.  But to me, every person and system pays off dividends in satisfied clients.  They’re PROFIT centers, not costs.

There’s a difference between agents who simply sell real estate, and those who COMMIT to whatever it takes to serve clients beyond their expectations.  I’ve been in real estate over  five years.  But more importantly, I’ve closed over $10 million in home sales.  I am a full-time REALTOR®.  I have a master’s degree and a complete resume for your review. 

I also make it a priority to educate you on every aspect of buying a home in your preferred area.  I have a long list of past clients and professional references you can call at any time to discuss the quality of my service and follow-up. 

 I guarantee everything I do in writing.  This places the burden of risk and performance on ME, not you.  I also have references to reputable people in mortgage lending, appraisals, title and escrow companies, tax specialists, and attorneys.  These are people I have used in other transactions.

Each day, I speak with over 30 people directly related to buying or selling real estate.  And I receive over 80% of my new clients through referrals and repeat business.  My personal marketing involves such outstanding and continued service to my existing clients and personal network that they’re inclined to share my services with family and friends.

 I’m Not Saying These Things To Impress You,

But Impress UPON You The Difference Between A REALTOR®

And A Competent, Dedicated Professional

 Buying and selling real estate can be tricky business.  And selecting the wrong REALTOR® can cost you a lot of money, headaches, and wasted time.  That’s why I designed a specific program designed for buyers like you.  I call it my…

Exclusive “Preferred Buyer Program”
My Preferred Buyer’s Program is absolutely FREE to you. 

Got to love the Bay Area for all the fun events...

The Bay Area has so much to do and so many different events through out the year. Coming soon, February 10-19, 2012, it is time for SF Beer Week. For more information and schedule of events go to www.SFbeerweek.org. If you have ever wanted to learn how to brew your own beer, you can go to Santa Cruz on Saturday, February 18th.

Staging Home For Sale Worth The Cost

If you're selling your home, you obviously want to get it sold quickly arid for the highest amount possible. One very important strategy to keep in mind is staging, which is simply the process of arranging the inside of your home so that it shows off to its full potential.

Staging plays up your home's good features, such as enhancing a great view or drawing the buyer's eye to some spectacular wood floors. It also helps to minimize some of the home's drawbacks, such as making a small bedroom look larger. But also understand that staging does not in any way mean concealing structural defects, such as hanging a picture over a water stain or putting curtains over a broken window!

Staging allows a potential buyer to visualize what can be done with the home, which is especially important with a house that's currently vacant. For example, some carefully arranged furniture in a room that would otherwise be empty can really help the buyer see the room's potential. And if you're in a neighborhood of tract houses that all look pretty much the same inside, good staging will set your home apart from the others for sale in the neighborhood.

Finally, good staging makes buyers feel at home. It lets them really imagine themselves in the kitchen with friends, or relaxing in front of the living room fire, or even working on their car in the garage.

Remove Clutter

There are several things that go into staging a home for sale, and probably the single most important one is getting rid of all the clutter. No one wants to see several days' worth of mail and newspapers on the kitchen counter, or a kid's bedroom crammed with toys and games. The same applies to the garage, basement and even the backyard storage shed.

Clutter is not just an overflowing magazine rack. It can be too many pictures on the wall, too many chairs wedged around the dining room table, or an oversized sofa that blocks the living room traffic patterns. It can be too many items of clothing crammed into a closet, or too many of grandma's dishes filling up every inch of a kitchen cabinet.

When de-cluttering the house, stuffing everything into the closet or in boxes in the garage is not the answer. Remember that a potential buyer is looking in every nook and cranny of the house, and an overflowing closet doesn't make much of an impression. Instead, get the clutter completely out of the house. This could be a garage sale, some donations to a local charity, or simply a trip to the landfill.

(hbrinfo)