OnlyMark's Real Estate Blog
Let's talk Real Estate. Information for Buyers, Sellers and Homeowners.

Mark's Letter from the Winter 2010 Newsletter:
 

2010 could be a better Real Estate year for buyers and sellers, but maybe not for long!

Prices in most all ranges appear to have bottomed or almost bottomed out. Interest rates will slowly rise this year. The 1st time home buyer and repeat home buyer tax incentive will go away. The foreclosures will give way to mandated short sales where banks negotiate to allow sellers to sell without fully satisfying their debt. This can be easier on a sellers credit score and less costly for the lender compared to a typical foreclosure process.

We expect to have a very busy 1st 1/2 of the year, mainly due to the tax incentives and a more normal 2nd 1/2 with increasing activity in all price ranges.

Review the graphs we have attached and please feel free to e-mail or call for more specific information of certain price ranges or locations. Every year we compare stats for our planning and for sharing with our customers.

SHORT SALES If you know someone who is upside down and needs to sell their home, have them call and ask about Short Sale Listings. We are trained in this field and are able to discuss their options.

If you are in a buying mood or buying mode NOW is a great time! Call or e-mail us today for a list of properties.

If you are a seller, the 4 keys to selling are still: PRICE, CONDITION, ACCESS and AGENT (Thats me!)
Mark's Letter from the Fall 2009 Newsletter:

As the fall colors arrive the 1st time home buyers make their final rush for closing by the November 30th, 2009 deadline for the $8,000.00 tax credit.

Really low interest rates and a somewhat stabilizing market are all good news for the real estate market. Hopefully we will see a more active  market return early next year.

Now is a great time to be a buyer. As for a seller, not so good! With few exceptions, our real estate values have dropped 15-30% countywide.

Most all spec homes in Port Angeles that were given back to banks, taken by banks and sold as short sales with bank approval, have been resold. That was a huge inventory to compete with for the $250-$300k home sellers whether it was a newer or older home. That market will finally start to stabilize.

Lower priced homes, $135-$175k , in good condition are also moving again to investors and 1st time home buyers. Sales over $300k have been very slow but should loosen up next year as well.

The bank foreclosures continue to come on the market in all price ranges and conditions. There really can be some great buys, but most will need at least 20% down to finance and can not be contingent on the sale of a home.

Jobs, jobs, jobs will be the test of how all real estate markets perform. This is the way it has always been. Some things just dont change!

If you or someone you know is in need of real estate advice, please call or recommend for them to call me to be pointed in the right direction.

As always we are happy to help with all your real estate needs.

Spring 2008 Newsletter excerpt
My sense is the market will be fairly strong this spring provided rates stay in the 6 or less range. Certain price ranges offer greater selection than others but in general, the selection continues to be the best we have had in years.

If you are trading up or downsizing, investing in a recreation property or a future retirement property or just outright investing in Real Estate, the timing is great.

Spring Fever has buyers out and about.
Internet hits are up and more people are dropping by open houses. If you have that spring fever to start looking at homes, you can start right now by viewing our Visual Tours under featured properties. The Golf Course Homes on DelGuzzi Drive are available for viewing during the week. So open houses aren't just for weekends any longer. Contact our office for a list of open houses.

"Happy to help with all your Real Estate needs!" - Mark DeRousie, Associate Broker, CRS, ABR, GRI, derousie@olypen.com (360) 457-6600

Free Home Staging Tips for Faster Sale

Even if you can't afford to hire a home staging expert you can still benefit from these free home staging tips. The key is to view your listed home through the eyes of the buyer.

 

1. First Impressions count!

Roll out the red carpet for potential homebuyers by sprucing up your entryways, especially the one on a lockbox. Welcome mats, planters filled with seasonal flowers, and clutter-free foyers and hallways set the stage.

 

2. Sell the space, not your stuff!

Remember that the goal of a successful showing is to make a prospect feel at home- like it's theirs, not yours. Put away your extensive personal collections. Less is more: open up your space so prospects can actually see what they're buying.

 

3. Paint and elbow grease work wonders!

Fresh paint and a thorough cleaning will give you the greatest "bang for your buck." Remember that neutral walls are your best bet when staging a home for sale. Check out lowes.com for fun tools like the Paint Visualizer http://www.valsparatlowes.com/coordinate-colors.html.

 

4. Go with the flow.

Arrange furniture for easy traffic flow. Consider placing a major piece of furniture at an angle, such as a couch or desk. Angles add interest and can create a more open feel.

 

5. See the light.

Move lamps to dark corners and arrange window treatments so that natural light floods your rooms. Brighter is better, and your rooms will look larger.

 

6. Go Green.

Live plants can add decorative flair, without spending a bundle. Adding a few plants or cut flowers have a way of warming up a room.

 

7. Don't forget the outdoors, especially this time of year.

If you have a porch, deck or patio, clean the furniture and replace worn cushions. Breathe new life into your deck with a fresh finish.

 

8. Make the kitchen sparkle.

De-clutter the countertops by removing toasters, food processors and other non-decorative items. If you have a breakfast table or counter, put out a couple of table settings complete with place mats, napkins and dinnerware.

 

9. Warm up an empty home.

If you home is vacant, consider renting furniture for key rooms, but don't go overboard.

 

Patience and tidiness are the key elements when selling a home. De-cluttering may seem overwhelming at first but just consider it a jump start on the packing.

"Happy to help with all your Real Estate needs!" - Mark DeRousie, Associate Broker, CRS, ABR, GRI, derousie@olypen.com (360) 457-6600

"Trendy"
For orginal post see active rain network http://activerain.com/blogs/derousie

Everyone wants to at some point during homeownership to makes changes to their home.  Why not think about future resale? Not everyone tastes are the same but a little forethought could make a difference. Trendy is good but as you know trends come and go. But these trends appeal to most people.

According to Case Design/ Remodeling, Inc., here are a few of the biggest trends to watch in 2007:*Faucets. Personalized design is aimed at providing homeowners with a relaxing environment while they bathe or shower.*Concrete and glass countertops. Concrete can take any shape, a plus for designers, and it is not as costly as some other natural stone materials. Glass--in all shapes, colors, thicknesses and textures--is also showing up in ultra-modern kitchen designs.*Outdoor kitchens. Whether built from ground up or on an existing patio, outdoor kitchens boost resale value and offer limitless possibilities.*Energy-efficient materials and appliances. Windows and doors, washing machines, dishwashers, ranges and refrigerators feature sleek designs, innovation and all the latest amenities to help homeowners become more energy- and resource- efficient and save money."Happy to help with all your Real Estate needs!" - Mark DeRousie, Associate Broker, CRS, ABR, GRI, Coldwell Banker Uptown Realty,derousie@olypen.com (360) 417-2806

Article from Your Home, March 2007


Open Houses & Privacy
For orginal post see active rain network http://activerain.com/blogs/derousie
An open house can be a great way to sell your house. It can also be an open invitation to prying eyes.

To keep your personal life, "personal" here are some steps you can take to snoop-proof your house when prospective buyers are around:

1. Clear away mail and paperwork from all surfaces (desk-tops, countertops, coffee table). Lock up extra-sensitive documents (bank statements, passport, social security card, etc.).

2. Remove diplomas and personal photos from your walls.

3. Store family heirlooms. You don't want your personal effects to distract buyers. A tidy and uncluttered space will help them imagine themselves in the home.

4. Organize closets. Some visitors have no qualms about opening closets and cabinets and peeking into other generally off-limit areas. Be prepared by making sure those hidden areas are in tip-top shape.

"Happy to help with all your Real Estate needs!" - Mark DeRousie, Associate Broker, CRS, ABR, GRI, derousie@olypen.com (360) 417-2806

(article from march/april 2007 The Residential Specialist P54)

Quick Fix [up]
For orginal post see active rain network http://activerain.com/blogsview/46338/Quick-Fix-up

 Here are five improvements you can make that may help your home sell faster in a cooling market:

• Create a welcoming entrance. Make sure your front door is clean, polish the hardware (or replace it if necessary) and repaint the door if it is in poor shape.  Finally, add a new doormat, update your mailbox, and place attractive greenery or flowers on either side of the door.
• Remove clutter and put it in storage. Box up anything you won't use in the next few months (including holiday decorations, seasonal clothing or sports equipment, old toys, etc.) and send it to a storage facility.
• Replace outdated window treatments with simple white mini-blinds or wood blinds cut-to-measure at a home center. This is fairly simple fix that can refresh your rooms in just one weekend.
• Update your storage space with closet systems so the closet looks organized, not cluttered.
• Have wood floors professionally cleaned and polished. If you have worn, dirty, or badly colored carpeting with wood underneath, tear it out and expose the wood.

Buying or selling a home can seem like an overwhelming task.  As a CRS designated Realtor I can make this process easier. Thanks for visiting my website  www.onlymark.com  I am always "Happy to help with your Real Estate needs!"