If You are Selling your home…An Inspection Can Make or Break Your Deal
January 28, 2010
Be prepared for what a home inspection might reveal when selling your home
Home inspections can often make or break a deal. If possible sellers should have one done ahead of time so repairs can be made and a home can be in its best possible condition. However, often a seller does not do a home inspection first and is caught off guard by a long list of repairs presented in the due diligence portion of the contract process.
The most common home ailments that show up in the home inspection process are:
- Faulty electrical wiring
- Roof damage
- Plumbing issues
- Poor drainage
- General lack of upkeep
These are issues that can add up to a potential home buyer walking away if a seller is unable to step up and make the repairs or commit the money to make the repairs. Examine these aspects of your home yourself, if you know everything is in good condition and the work that has been done to your home has been completed by professionals then you can rest easy, otherwise be prepared to make repairs in order to sell your home.
Contact the Stick With Steve Team for additional information on a ways to prepare your home before putting it on the market.
To view an article on home inspections by Realtor Magazine, click here.
Real Estate Market’s Ups & Downs Present Many Questions
January 28, 2010
The real estate roller coaster leaves many questions
Let’s face it, times are tough and on any given day the mood is a different one than the day before. The market’s up, then down, we’re in a recession, we’re recovering, it is hard to know what is really happening out there with so many mixed signals. Real estate is difficult to figure out, and remains relative to where you are.
Is real estate improving? Sales are up, inventory is down but foreclosures are expected to keep coming, especially with unemployment figures on the rise. To find out if real estate in your area is improving talk to a real estate agent and look at the statistics that they provide. The December real estate sales figures were down as a nation but some areas of the country saw an increase in sales.
Have we hit bottom? Parts of the country have hit bottom other parts still have a way to fall. Home prices are apparently steady in parts of the country and climbing in others. The areas where home prices will continue to fall are those hit hard by job losses, an increase in foreclosures and too much inventory.
In a nutshell, real estate is relative. It is improving in many areas and as soon as our recovery includes job growth real estate is going to improve in many more areas.
Click here for an article about real estate on Yahoo Finance.
Sourced from: Kinetic Content Library
Christmas Tree Pick Up Schedule for residents of Arlington Heights IL
January 6, 2010
Hurry!Buy a Home in The Northwest Suburbs, Get a Tax Credit through April 30, 2010
January 6, 2010
Not only is it one of the best buyer’s markets in years, but a tax credit of up to $8,000 for first-time buyers–and up to $6,500 for long-time homeowners….Could mean extra money in your pocket!
Who Can use the homebuyer tax credit?
First-time buyers and long-time homeowners who buy a replacement principal residence. (The law defines a first-time buyer as an individual who has not owned a home in the three years prior to the day of purchase. According to the IRS, the long-time homeowner must have lived in the same principal residence for any five consecutive-year period during the eight-year period that ended on the date the replacement home is purchased.)
How much is the credit?
For first-time buyers the credit is equal to 10 percent of the cost of the home up to a maximum of $8,000 (or $4,000 for a married individual filing separately). For long-term homeowners, the credit is equal to 10% of the purchase price up to $6,500 (or $3,250 for a married individual filing separately).
What is the deadline for using the tax credit?
Under the new law, an eligible taxpayer must buy, or enter into a binding contract to buy a principal residence on or before April 30, 2010 and close on the home by June 30, 2010.
For additional information regarding the tax credit click here or contact The Stick With Steve Team to purchase a home in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago.
