Here’s are some value reason why you should buy that home of your dreams:

1) Pride of ownership

2) Appreciation

3) Mortgage Interest Deduction

4) Property Tax Deduction

5) Capital Gain Exclusion

6) Preferential Tax Treatment

7) Mortgage Reduction builds Equity

Equity Loans

SO, what does this mean to you – this mean stop being scared and see that house as a home and future invest for you and your children or pets.

Monica

Even though the real estate market has slowed down in recent months, there are still plenty of homebuyers eager to make a purchase. Knowing how to prepare your home for sale, when to allow access for showings, and how you can offer buyer incentives will help you find the right buyer, even in a declining market.

Before you even put your home on the market, make sure that all basic repairs are completed. Nothing can turn off a prospective buyer quicker than loose railings, torn screens or missing hardware on cupboard doors. These easy repairs do not cost a lot of money. If a homebuyer sees that the little things are not attended to, they are likely to believe that the larger things are neglected too. Let buyers know that you have pride in your home by making sure that all of the small repairs are taken care of.

Keep your home clean throughout the time it is on the market. In a slow real estate market, it is important to have your home available to show at a moment’s notice. The more often your home is shown, the likelier it is that your home will sell. Keep your home available to your realtor and they will be able to show your home quickly to any buyer that shows interest.

Have your home staged by a professional. Home staging has become a booming business and a professional home stager will help you remove clutter and depersonalize your space. Prospective homebuyers want to picture their family in the home, not yours and a home full of personal clutter will not show off the potential of your home.

Keep pets contained during a real estate showing and make sure that your cat litter box is always clean. Pet owners tend to get used to the odors caused by litter boxes and it is important that you remember to clean it every day. Nothing will turn off a prospective home buyer like a home that smells. Many people are fearful of dogs, especially ones that they do not know. Make sure that you either take your dog with you for a showing or put them on a leash outside.

Be realistic in your expectations of the price you will be able to sell your home. Forget about what could have been if you had sold it last year and focus on what your home is worth now. In a buyer’s market, buyers don’t have to negotiate much. Buyers know that you want to sell your home and a home that is priced too high is likely to be looked over. Ask a fair price for your home to avoid the need for too much negotiation.

In a slow market, hiring a real estate agent is crucial to get your home sold in a reasonable amount of time. Yes, there are ways you can list your home for sale by owner using the internet, but nothing beats the experience that comes fro a real estate agent who is able to take care of everything in order to sell your home.

Selling your home can be a stressful time, but you can be successful in selling your home if you remain patient, reasonable and flexible. There are buyers out there and the key is to find them and get them to fall in love with your home.

numbers of single women are buying homes. If you’re a single woman who wants to buy a home, the good news is the market is wide open for you. There alot of stats showing that women more then men are buying home to show they can and feel empowered – I know I have been searching for a home and it’s been a bumping road - I wonder how many other women are having issues with finding the right realtor or mortgage broker – who will tell them the truth? I think it’s great to get information from your local government on laws and taxes changes to make sure you know what’s happening before you buy.

• More than one in five home buyers is a single woman.
• Twice as many unmarried women are buying homes than single men.
• Single women make up more than one-third of the growth in real estate ownership since 1994.

These are some reasons why women buy a home – I am sure it’s not all of them but it might help to see them up. Just remember we can buy homes!!! You can make it happen.

1. Strong desire to own her own home.
2. Need more space or want smaller home.
3. Relocate closer to job, school or family.
4. Give a puppy or kitten a home?

Those of you who have gone house shopping lately have seen it. A house looks beautiful or just “perfect” on the outside but once you go inside some $%^$$&$@ has decided to take a sledgehammer to the walls or even yank out the air conditioner or take a blow-torch to the wood floors. This sort of behavior really gives the human race a bad name. I mean seriously just because you can’t make the payments or keep on top of finances why should the property suffer? Let’s get a grip or get a punching bag to take out all that angst and stop destroying property.

Did you know that some banks will even work with people to NOT destroy the property? I realize it must hurt to see a property slip through your fingers but the “if I can’t have it no one can” mentality never helped anyone! Rant over… feel free to flame me if you must but you know I’m right..

We’ve all read about it in the papers or heard about it on the news but when does it feel real?  When do you have a closer perspective on the bad thing that is foreclosure?  Other than first hand its when places in your neighborhood start to fall.  Just the other day our HOA here let me know that over 20 homes in our development were under foreclosure.  20!  In a community with about 400+ units… That’s about 5% in a condo location in Miami. 

Yes, Miami has been hit hard.  Good luck selling property these days and getting a good return.  It will take patience, a little luck, and a great realtor.  As an observe of this whole mess I can only wonder where the bottom is.  It’s times like this when I can’t help but look at the irresponsiblity of it all and I’m not just talking about buyers but about society in general.  How many times did you or someone you know see yet another episode of “flip that house…” or some other show that just made people feel like the Gold rush was on?  And now we stare in the face the result of that market…

For now I wish all those facing foreclosure the best as society rides this wave in search of an upswing.  Until that time we’ll do our best to bring helpful tips and information to the community.

http://www.995hope.org/

We came across this site recently and it has some great resources and ideas to help you from becoming another failed homeowner statistic.  Give it a try or call them at 1-888-995-4673.

 
Boulevard Condos
From: $300,000
Miami Design District
Est. Completion: October 2007
Units: 127

The Boulevard will be the first luxury boutique condominium located on Miami’s Biscayne Boulevard.

500 Brickell
From: $280,000
Brickell
Est. Completion: 2007
Units: 633

500 Brickell sits on the edge of downtown Miami and the world renowned Brickell Avenue. At the center of everything that makes this metropolis a diverse and successful city, your new home offers the perfect balance between work and life.
444 Brickell Ave # P2
Miami, FL 33131
(305) 379-5055

Dec 8th – there’s a huge garage sale in Homestead,Florida at 11111 Quail Roost Drive – from 10am- 3pm. For more information please call 305 253-6668

From the wonderful people at EWM – we have two great realtors we would love to recommend.

wheeler.g@ewm.com or ellis.s@ewm.com

Very nice and wonderful ladies. Try them and let me know how it goes.