Selling Your Home?

In any market, selling a home is an intricate and often times emotional process. However, with careful planning and the right lineup of experts on your side, you can progress methodically and confidently through the many stages of selling your home in a way that honors your time¬frame and financial goals. Read on for a basic road map of what you can expect when making this important transition. Enjoy the journey! The Power of Now There are many factors that come into play when deciding the best time to sell your home. A licensed real estate agent can show you the precise current market conditions in your area, from the listing count, to the number of traditional sales, distressed sales and new home sales in your area, as well as builder permits and inventory supply data. Examining how this information fits in with your unique timeline, financial goals and your property equity will help you answer the question, "Is now the right time for me to sell?" How to choose a Real Estate Agent and Brokerage Once you have decided that you are ready to sell, carefully selecting a brokerage and an agent will save you time, money and hassle. This is the time to ask a lot of questions. Your friends, family and neighbors are a great source for referrals. Finding an agent that specializes in your area with experience listing and selling homes in your price range is important. A real estate professional that belongs to a reputable brokerage and local board, and can readily share with you their business plan, mission statement, client testimonials and marketing plan, along with a detailed comparative market analysis and complete property profile is one who has done their homework and is well-equipped with experience and knowledge. The Price is Right Pricing your home correctly is a decision that you and your agent will make together, after carefully considering all of the factors. After gathering information about your unique situation and financial goals, current market conditions, your home‚Äôs key features and assets including area amenities, schools and projected improvements¬¬ the right price point will become clear. Pricing your home correctly is the key to attracting potential buyers to view your home, while making sure your financial interests and timeframe are supported. Put Your Best Foot Forward Even in a low-inventory market, would-be buyers can end up viewing dozens of homes, many times all in the same day. How will your home stand out? Making the right first impression, whether in photos posted online or during an in-person viewing, is crucial. Your agent can make recommendations about maximizing your home’s living space, enhancing natural lighting and utilizing your homes’ décor to highlight the best aspects of your home. Getting the Word Out Once your home is ready to be shown at its best, it is important to give your home the most exposure possible. The key is to use multiple channels to advertise your home, utilizing the power of a strong network while your home is “coming soon” to the market, then engaging the full power of online listing data, along with word-of-mouth, online & print advertising and social media to give your home local, regional, national and global reach. The right real estate professional will provide you with a customized marketing plan that works to target qualified home buyers. Bring in the Bids Most offers on your home will be made in the form of a written contract complete with a timeframe for responding to the offer. All offers for your property will generally first be presented to your real estate professional, who will then present all offers to you for consideration. Your real estate agent will provide an objective, non-emotional point of view when it comes to evaluating, accepting, countering or rejecting any offer. Negotiation Table If you receive an offer that falls short of your wants and needs, you may choose to counter back and negotiate the offer. Your agent will help you evaluate the quality of the offer, negotiate the terms and ensure a smooth transaction if all parties come to an agreement. Requesting information about the buyer’s background, intentions and qualifications and ensure that the buyer is knowledgeable about available financing alternatives are some of the steps your agent can take. Thoroughly reviewing the contract and ensuring that you understand all of the details will help you determine if you want to respond with a counter offer. The Home Stretch You are in escrow... now what? Your real estate professional will help keep your transaction on track during the escrow process. Preparing a timeline, managing all files, paperwork, disclosures, and staying in constant communication with you, the buyer’s agent, title officers and mortgage professionals will keep your transaction on a smooth course. The home inspection process, pest inspection, appraisal and closing schedules will all be put into motion to eliminate any surprises along the way. Oh Happy Day Congratulations! You have made it from the negotiation table to the closing table. Your real estate professional will help guide you through the final phases of the transaction by staying on top of the finishing details such as closing documents, loan documents, funding information, final recordation, delivering the keys and orchestrating move details.

Then and Now: Living Arrangements in American Households

Then and Now: Living Arrangements in American Households Posted on Jul 28 2015 - 9:30am by Suzanne De Vita Share on facebookShare on twitterShare on google_plusone_shareShare on pinterest_shareMore Sharing Services #0 familyRevisiting population data, the U.S. Census Bureau recently zeroed in on the living arrangements of adults over the last 40-plus years. Notably, the majority of adults in both 1970 and 2014 shared a household with a spouse. But if trends bear out, the gap between married adults and unmarried adults sharing households will close – fast. As of last year, spouses sharing a household edged out unmarried adults in various living situations by a mere 3.3 percent. What’s more, arrangements in which spouses share households have seen the most significant change since 1970, declining nearly 20 percent. A comparison: 1970 Adults Who Live with a Spouse – 69.4 percent Adults Who Live Alone – 8.6 percent Adults Who Live with Other Relatives – 9.3 percent Adults Who Live in the Parental Home – 10.8 percent Adults Who Live with a Partner* – 0.5 percent Adults Who Live with Non-Relatives – 1.4 percent 2014 Adults Who Live with a Spouse – 51.7 percent Adults Who Live Alone – 14.3 percent Adults Who Live with Other Relatives – 12.2 percent Adults Who Live in the Parental Home – 11.0 percent Adults Who Live with a Partner* – 7.3 percent Adults Who Live with Non-Relatives – 3.6 percent The combined growth in other types of living arrangements could equal more opportunities for real estate professionals among the next crop of marriage-averse homebuyers – in theory. But in fact, many are experiencing the contrary to a considerable degree. Related Link: Unmarried Couples Take the Plunge…into Homeownership “Over 90 percent of my local homebuying clients are married (with children),” says George Gardone of The Relocation Group, servicing Greenwich and Stamford, Conn. “The majority of my sellers are married, either empty nesters, families outgrowing their current homes, or they are on the other end of a corporate relocation program.” Gardone says approximately 80 percent of his corporate clients are also married with families. And yet, according to a recent Coldwell Banker Real Estate survey, 17 percent of now-married respondents purchased a home together before saying “I do” – a quarter of which were millennials. “What we’re seeing is that young couples are switching up the order and purchasing their first home regardless of whether or not they have set a wedding date,” explained Dr. Robi Ludwig, Coldwell Banker Real Estate lifestyle correspondent and leading psychotherapist. “This is huge movement within the American culture.” Based on these findings, we have to wonder: will unmarried homebuyers tip the scales? To view Census tables on this information, click here. *From 1967-1995, “living with a partner” was defined as two unrelated adults of the opposite sex sharing living quarters. From 1996-2006, “living with a partner” included couples in which one was the householder. Due to data collection changes beginning in 2007, all cohabitating partners are now counted, regardless of whether one is a householder.

Recovering Real Estate Market Highlights Need for Skilled Realtors Real Estate: A Home of One’s Own

Look up the legal meaning of the term “real estate,” and you will find a fairly cut-and-dried, literal definition. Real estate is defined as property and the buildings on it, along with the land’s resources, such as mineral rights or agricultural crops. Real estate is also called realty and real property. For many people, however, the term “real estate” carries a deeper emotional resonance. Whether you are a first-time home buyer navigating your first FHA loan or a seasoned veteran with multiple home purchases and sales to your credit, real estate means a place to call home. Home Real Estate: USA Market Showing Signs of Recovery There’s no doubt that the prolonged slump in the housing market has made the dream of home ownership more difficult for many. However, recent small yet significant gains indicate that the long-awaited realestate recovery is finally underway. During the month of May 2013, existing home sales rose .6 percent, to what experts believe is the highest point since November 2009. Mortgage rates increased in May as well, with the average rate on a 30-year fixed loan climbing from a low point of 3.35 at the beginning of the month to a 14-month high of almost 4 percent. Many realestate experts believe that a rise in borrowing rates actually helps spur home real estate sales, with buyers opting to purchase houses before rates go higher. Our Commitment With the US real estate market showing recent strength, establishing a relationship with a skilled realtor is more important than ever. At Realty Executives International, we are committed to offering our clients unequaled service and support. With over 500 franchise offices, thousands of expert real estate agents and 50 years of integrity and quality to our credit, we are confident in our ability to bring you the best possible value. Realty Executives International was founded by Dale Rector, a Scottdale realtor who decided in 1965 to challenge the status quo of realty companies. In a departure from the approach of conventional real estate businesses, which placed their agents on the bottom tier of the power structure, Rector’s design was to recruit a corps of top-performing realtors, then build a company to support and promote them. These elite professionals were envisioned as “executives” rather than “agents” or “brokers.” Testament to the idea’s resounding success is the fact that within seven years Realty Executives International was the top-selling real estate business in Phoenix. Company leadership stayed in the family when Rector’s son, Richard A. Rector, took over for his father as President of the Board in 1984. A few years later, the first international real estate franchises were offered for sale. Today, with real estate offices in 25 countries and annual sales of over $6 billion, Realty Executives International remains dedicated to the tradition of excellence on which the company was founded. We are ready and waiting to serve you. Check our online real estate listings to see what we have to offer. With our unbeatable inventory, we are sure we have the dream home for you and your family. Written by Rich Rector, Realty Executives International

Safe and Secure . . .

Today is the last day of the year. It is bitter cold outside waking up to snow and ice. Yet I can say that my heart is warm and I am safe and secure sheltered by the Most High. "You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord; My refuge and my fortress, My God in whom I trust. Psalm 91:1-2 A shelter is defined as a building/structure that provides cover; shadow, where light from light source is obstructed by an object; refuge, being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble; and fortress, a person not susceptible to outside influence or disturbance. God is the building providing me cover and the light source that is distracted from being seen by my enemies . . . I am protected by those who pursue me or from danger the world puts out . . . He protects me from the worldly influences that destroy. "He subdues the ancient gods, shatters the forces of old; He drove out the enemy before you and said 'Destroy'. Deuteronomy 33:27 "...my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my saviour, you save me from violence. 2 Samuel 22:3 "God's our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1 I am ready to go forward to the New Year knowing that when my earth rattles and the steady stream of life becomes a rapid dangerous river, God is in the midst of my turmoil reminding me of His presence, steering me away from the rocks, calming the waters, and sheltering me from the enemies that pursue me. He fights my battles and gives me peace. May you go forward in the New Year with a heart set on God and all that He promises. He is your refuge and strength - Just call upon Him.

Recovering Real Estate Market Highlights Need for Skilled Realtors

Real Estate: A Home of One’s Own Look up the legal meaning of the term “real estate,” and you will find a fairly cut-and-dried, literal definition. Real estate is defined as property and the buildings on it, along with the land’s resources, such as mineral rights or agricultural crops. Real estate is also called realty and real property. For many people, however, the term “real estate” carries a deeper emotional resonance. Whether you are a first-time home buyer navigating your first FHA loan or a seasoned veteran with multiple home purchases and sales to your credit, real estate means a place to call home. Home Real Estate: USA Market Showing Signs of Recovery There’s no doubt that the prolonged slump in the housing market has made the dream of home ownership more difficult for many. However, recent small yet significant gains indicate that the long-awaited realestate recovery is finally underway. During the month of May 2013, existing home sales rose .6 percent, to what experts believe is the highest point since November 2009. Mortgage rates increased in May as well, with the average rate on a 30-year fixed loan climbing from a low point of 3.35 at the beginning of the month to a 14-month high of almost 4 percent. Many realestate experts believe that a rise in borrowing rates actually helps spur home real estate sales, with buyers opting to purchase houses before rates go higher. Our Commitment With the US real estate market showing recent strength, establishing a relationship with a skilled realtor is more important than ever. At Realty Executives International, we are committed to offering our clients unequaled service and support. With over 500 franchise offices, thousands of expert real estate agents and 50 years of integrity and quality to our credit, we are confident in our ability to bring you the best possible value. Among the realestate services we offer are pre-approval and refinancing options, a relocation services group, homeowner alerts advising you of new listings and free home value analyses. Our online real estate listings showcase homes in a variety of highly desirable locations, including Scottsdale, AZ, St. Petersburg, FL, Rockford, MD, and the Millennium Centre in downtown Chicago. Realty Executives International: A Home Real Estate Revolution Realty Executives International was founded by Dale Rector, a Scottdale realtor who decided in 1965 to challenge the status quo of realty companies. In a departure from the approach of conventional real estate businesses, which placed their agents on the bottom tier of the power structure, Rector’s design was to recruit a corps of top-performing realtors, then build a company to support and promote them. These elite professionals were envisioned as “executives” rather than “agents” or “brokers.” Testament to the idea’s resounding success is the fact that within seven years Realty Executives International was the top-selling real estate business in Phoenix. Company leadership stayed in the family when Rector’s son, Richard A. Rector, took over for his father as President of the Board in 1984. A few years later, the first international real estate franchises were offered for sale. Today, with real estate offices in 25 countries and annual sales of over $6 billion, Realty Executives International remains dedicated to the tradition of excellence on which the company was founded. We are ready and waiting to serve you. Check our online real estate listings to see what we have to offer. With our unbeatable inventory, we are sure we have the dream home for you and your family. From Realty Executives International.

Mulvane passed the 1% sales tax to build a city library. Now the question is should the present proposal be scrapped and the committee seriosly consider a downtown location and a more trafitional style of building to suit the theme if the town. For me it is not so much a terrible location as it is a terrible architectural style of building. I would like to see a traditional style with pitched roofs. I don't know if that was considered or if the proposal is what all the architects thought would look modern.

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