5 Things To Do NOW If You Want to Buy A Home In 2012

I have read a lot of articles within the past 2 weeks about how the Holidays are still a great time to Buy and Sell a home. People have more days off and relatives are in town, so it seems like an ideal time for serious buyers to be looking.


If you don't find your dream home within in the next 2 weeks or you don't plan to start looking until 2012, there are some important things you should do now so you are prepared for when you find that dream home.


These 5 tips are provided by Trulia.com


1.    Check your credit. Take my word for it: there is no bad surprise worse than a bad credit surprise

Recent studies have revealed that a record high number of real estate transactions are falling out of escrow, and that credit “issues” are a leading cause of these dead deals. Your best chance at catching and correcting score-lowering errors and other derogatory items before they destroy your personal American Dream is to start checking and correcting while you still have time on your side.

2.    Do your research.  The more rapidly the real estate market changes, the more it behooves smart buyers to study up before they jump in.  And now’s the time – you can start doing online and in-person research into topics ranging from: 

·    Target states, cities and neighborhoods. Whether you’re relocating or simply trying to narrow down the local districts to focus on during your 2012 house hunt, December is a great time to start your online research into decision-driving factors like tax rates, school districts, neighborhood character and even prices in various areas. Resident ratings and reviews sites like Trulia and NabeWise can help you make the neighborhood-lifestyle match. 

Once you narrow things down and start speaking to local agents, ask them to brief you on the local market dynamics, including how long homes typically stay on the market and whether they generally go for more or less than the asking price, so you can be smart about how you search. (And yes, Virginia, there are areas where homes sell for more than asking, even as we speak!)

·    Real estate and mortgage pros. If you don’t already have your pros picked out, now is the time to get on the horn or drop an email or Facebook message to your circle of contacts, asking them for a referral to a broker or agent they love....Give them a ring and launch a conversation about whether you and they might be a good partnership.

·    Short sales and REOs. Distressed property sales are not for the unwary. If you want to target upside down or foreclosed homes, or are planning to house hunt in an area where many of the listings are described as short sales or foreclosures, get educated about what you can expect from a distressed property purchase transaction before you get your heart set on a short sale.

·    What you get for the money. Online house hunting is a powerful tool – especially when it’s cold and wet! But there comes a point in your house hunt where you’ve got to just get out into the actual physical homes you’re seeing online in order to get a strong, accurate sense of what home features, aesthetics and location characteristics correlate with what price points.

·    Mortgage musts. You can read a bunch of articles about mortgages and get yourself pretty far down the path toward qualifying for a home loan, but you can only get a personalized action plan for a smooth road ‘home’ by talking with a local mortgage broker and having them assess your basic financials.  They might say you need to move funds around, pay a bill down or off or produce some sort of documentation from your employer.  And the time to start all that is now.

3.    Fluff up your cash cushion. So, you’ve saved up your 3.5 percent down payment. Perhaps you saved a little extra for closing costs.  Or maybe you’re even one of those uber-aggressive 20-percent-down-ers.  No matter how much you’ve saved, you’ll find that you could use more once you activate your home buying action plan. Mark my words – after closing, you’ll crave extra cash to do some repairs, upgrade a couple of things, buy appliances or even just to hold onto in order to minimize your anxiety about depleting your savings!  

So, if homebuying is on your personal 2012 action plan, don’t go hog wild on holiday gifts. Instead, wait until next year and give yourself the gift of a home.

4.    Shed some stuff.  Sell it. Donate it. Give it to relatives who’ve always coveted it.  Just get rid of it. If you do it before year’s end, you can kill three birds with one stone: (a) getting some cold hard cash to go toward your savings, (b) getting some tax receipts so you can deduct the value of your donations in January, (c) minimizing money spent on holiday gifts for loved ones and these two bonus birds – clearing the mental clutter that physical clutter creates and prepping for your move in advance.

5.    Sit very, very still.  Sometimes, the best way to further our goals is to stop tripping ourselves up.  In that vein, commit right now to refrain from making any major financial moves until you buy your home.  Don’t quit your job to start that personal chef business (yet), don’t pull a bunch of cash out of your savings account (without getting clearance form your mortgage pro first), and don’t start buying cars and boats on credit – even if you do love the idea of putting the red bow on the car you give your wife, like in the commercials. 


Full Article

Happy Holidays!

Philadelphia offers so many fun ways to celebrate the holidays!
Here are some ideas to try out with your family and loved ones

*Looking for some center city action?
Visit the Christmas Village in the heart of the city- Love Park
More than 80 booths full of shopping, food and drinks.
Christmas Village in Philadelphia 2011
FYI: The Tree lighting ceremony has been pushed to December 8th at 5pm

An iconic attraction is the Macy's Holiday Light Show from November 25-December 31.
The 3rd floor is transformed into "Dickens Village" featuring memorable story moments from "A Christmas Carol"
Macy's Holiday Light Show information

While in the city, head down to Penn's Landing for outdoor ice skating or Reading Terminal for some delicious food and treats
BONUS! Free metered parking every Saturday in December

* Want to get out of the city?
Longwood Gardens is a great destination all year round, but during the holidays it is extra special. From November 24-January 8th is their Christmas exhibits.
Check out some of their featured events:
Events & Performances

Peddler's Village is such a charming little town in Bucks county offering dining and shopping. For the holidays they host a Gingerbread Competition. There are several categories and each creation is displayed in their Gazebo.
Enjoy free admission and parking!
Peddler's Village

* One of my all time favorite holiday traditions is driving around various neighborhoods and checking out all the lights and decorations. It's free, fun and you can enjoy the warmth in your car!

**Be sure to check out your towns website for their own special events.

Spring is around the corner

I'm serious! The Real Estate Spring market begins right after the Superbowl which is less than 3 months away.
Now is the time to get your home in tip-top shape. 
Here are some Tips:


*Do a Thorough Clean- First impressions count. Buyers want a home that looks like they it has been cared for and in good condition. 


*Clear the Clutter- Organize your closets and counterspaces and remove excess furniture from rooms. You are planning to move anyway so start packing away those knick-knacks!


*Make Minor Repairs- Not every repair costs a bundle. Fix as many small problems (sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, dripping faucets) as you can so buyers don’t have the impression that your house is not well maintained.


*Make Minor upgrades- You would be surprised by how much simply switching out light fixtures, sink faucets, and painting a wall can make a difference. You want your home to stand out among the others and doing the little things can pay off. 




Below is a video on a few additional tips on getting your home sold quickly:

Is the Homeownership Rate Stabilizing?

Since I entered the real estate industry in 2006, I'm not sure what a "good" or "normal" housing market is. This is all I know and right now in the Philadelphia area, I see real estate moving at a steady pace. I'm optimistic for 2012.

Below is an informative article on the current Homeownership rating:

"The U.S. homeownership rate rose a notch in the third quarter, with 66.1 percent of households owning a home – up from 66.0 percent in the prior quarter. However, the trend has clearly been downward since the bubble situation of several years ago. Just maybe, however, we’re starting to venture into sustainable homeownership, since the current ownership rate matches up with 1998 levels. Back in 1998, there was no mention of a housing bubble or unsustainability in the media or in the academic literature, so the current homeownership figures may indeed indicate the right stabilizing level for the country. Other housing data have also pointed to stabilization (though not a genuine recovery) in recent months – such as home prices, home sales, and housing starts.

If the homeownership rate stabilizes at the current 66 percent or so level then the natural increases in population (3 million a year) and households (about 1.1 million a year during normal times) in the U.S. will bring about 700,000 additional homeowners each year. Total home sales and business opportunities for REALTORS® would arise from these new set of homeowners. Not to mention the added turnover rate among the existing 75 million home owning families, which was exceptionally low in recent years, due in part both to the weak economy and to the many underwater homeowners who have been unable to move without a short-sale approval from the banks."

Link to full article:

Is the Homeownership Rate Stabilizing?

Real Estate definitions

Trulia.com posted an informative article defining some terms that have become common in the Post-Recession Real Estate world.


... here are 14 line items of real estate jargon, divided into 2 buckets and decoded for the post-recession house hunter.

Bucket #1: Transaction signals.  Distressed properties – foreclosures and short sales - make up about a third of the homes currently on the market, and these transactions have their own unique flow, timelines and challenges compared with “regular” equity sales.  So, it only makes sense that listing agents have developed a set of abbreviations to brief prospective buyers on what they can expect and should be prepared for if they make an effort to buy such a home, with just a glance at the listing:

1.       REO:   Real estate owned by the bank/mortgage servicer, this acronym refers to homes that were foreclosed and repossessed by the former owner’s bank.  It also signals that buying this property will involve doing a deal with the bank; possibly dealing with a different escrow timeline, offer process or contract forms than a non-REO sale; and almost always taking the place in as-is condition, among other things.  Oh, yeah – and it might also involve one more thing: a great deal.

2.       S/S, Subject to bank approval:  What once stood for stainless steel is now being used to describe a short sale – a property whose seller anticipates will net them less than they owe on the home.  Short sales are often described as “subject to bank approval,” which simply points out the obvious truth about these transactions, that the seller has very little control over whether the bank will allow the transaction or what price and terms the bank will approve of, and that the transaction might very well take the better part of your natural life could take 6 months or longer to close.  Talk to your agent for more details about short sales, and to determine how you can tell the success-prone short sales from those that are less likely to close.

3.       Pre-approved short sale:  Many knowledgeable agents say no short sale is truly “pre-approved” unless and until the bank looks at a specific buyer’s offer and the seller’s financials at the same time, but some listing agents designate a short sale as “pre-approved” when a previous short sale application was approved at a given price, but fell out of contract for some other reason.

4.       Motivated seller:  This is a perennial term in listing parlance, but against the backdrop of the current market, translates to something like, “Have mercy on me.”  I kid – this phrase often signals a seller’s flexibility in pricing and/or urgency in timing.

5.       Coveted:  In a word, “expensive.”  No, seriously, even on today’s market, many locales have a neighborhood (or a few) which have been relatively recession-proof, have been fairly immune to the foreclosure epidemic and have seen home values continue to rise. If you see the word ‘coveted’ in a listing, chances are you’re house hunting in that sort of neighborhood, or there’s something about the individual property the home’s seller is trying to position as unique and desirable, as compared to competing listings (i.e., the view, location of the lot, or floor plan).

6.       BOM, often accompanied by “No fault of the house:”  Homes go in and fall out of escrows on today’s market constantly, often due to things the seller has no control over.  BOM indicates a home that was in contract to be sold, but is now “Back on the Market.” “No fault of the house” may describe a situation in which the buyer lost interest in the home after a long short sale process or failed to get final loan approval, as contrasted to a situation in which the home’s inspection turned up deal-killing problems or the property failed to appraise at the purchase price.

7.       Not a short sale, not a foreclosure.  Sellers on “regular” equity transactions are often more negotiable on items like price and repairs, and are certainly able to close the transaction (i.e., let the buyer move in) sooner than sellers of REOs and short sale properties.  Some also pride themselves on having maintained their homes in better condition than the distressed homes on the market.  For buyers that seek quick certainty and closure, non-distressed homes can be especially attractive.

Bucket #2: All about the Benjamins.  The government’s role in financing homes has grown exponentially over the housing recession, so the alphabet soup of government housing and home financing agencies, their guidelines and programs is now more important to understand than ever.

8.       OO/NOO:   Owner-Occupied and Non-Owner Occupied – You’ll see this on listings in two different ways.  First, the vast majority of home loans must comply with government loan insurance guidelines, including guidelines around how much of a condo complex must be owner-occupied (i.e., 75 percent, minimum, in most cases).  Also, some bank-owned property sellers will consider offers from owners who plan to occupy the property if they buy it as much as a week or 10 days before they will look at NOO or investor offers.

9.       FHA:  Short for the Federal Housing Administration, which backs the popular 3.5 percent down home loan program. FHA guidelines also include somewhat strict condition and homeowners’ association dictates, so if  a home’s seller notes that they are not taking FHA loans, they might be saying that the property has condition or other issues which disqualify it for FHA financing.

 10.  Fannie, Freddie:  Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, federally controlled company/agency hybrids that now back most non-FHA (conventional) home loans, and thus provide the guidelines most Conventional loans must meet, including guidelines around seller incentives like how much closing cost credit a buyer can receive.

11.   DPA/DAP:  Down-Payment Assistance or Down-Payment Assistance Program

12.   FTH/FTB: First-time homebuyer/First-time buyer – cities, states and large employers like universities tend to be the last bastion of these programs which offer mortgage financing or down payment assistance, usually to people who have not owned a home in the relevant city or state anytime in the preceding 3 years.

13.   HUD:  The federal department of Housing and Urban Development, which governs the guidelines for FHA loans, acts as a seller of homes which were foreclosed on and repossessed for non-payment of FHA-backed loans, and publishes the Good Faith Estimate and settlement statement forms every buyer and borrower will be provided at the time they shop for a loan and close their home purchase, respectively.

14.   HFA:  Short for Housing Finance Administration, this acronym refers to a loose body of state and regional agencies which offer an array of financing and counseling programs that varies by state, from down payment assistance for first time buyers to the Hardest Hit Funds that offer foreclosure relief assistance and principal reducing loan modifications to unemployed and underwater homeowners in the states hardest hit by the foreclosure crisis.

To read to entire article click:
Real Estate Term Translations

My first YouTube video

A few months ago, Orleans Homebuilder's asked me to participate as a preferred Realtor on their new website and youtube.com campaign.
As a previous Sales Manager and current loyal client I have a lot of experience dealing with the company and felt confident I could express my feelings towards them.

I am not comfortable with the camera... I hate getting my photo taken and do not have much experience with videos. So it's not my best work (the worst part is the still shot of me before it starts playing!), but I hope I get more opportunities to do these type of things in the future!





To view available neighborhoods and homes in your area, visit http://www.orleanshomes.com/

For-Sale Housing Inventories Shrink to New Lows

DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

Nationwide, 2.19 million homes were listed for sale at the end of September, a drop of 20 percent compared to a year earlier, and marking the lowest level on record since REALTOR.com began tracking housing inventory data in 2007.

All 146 markets that REALTOR.com tracks saw housing inventory fall year-over-year, except for Denver and El Paso, Texas. Listings were down by 49 percent in Miami, 48 percent in Phoenix, and 46 percent in Orlando, Fla.

But while reduced inventories usually help lift prices, in the current real estate market, housing prices are staying flat or declining. That’s because demand remains soft, housing experts say. 

Real estate professionals told The Wall Street Journal that inventories are shrinking because some home sellers have decided to take their homes off the market instead of trying to sell at a steep discount. Banks are also moving more slowly at repossessing foreclosures, which has reduced the supply of foreclosed properties on the market — albeit a temporary decrease, many experts note. 

"The inventory is low, so it's hard for buyers to find their dream home," Joan Downing, a  real estate professional in the Detroit area of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., told The Wall Street Journal. "That's been our challenge more than anything: finding the inventory for the clients. Nobody's complaining about the pricing or the interest rates."

Source: “Slim Pickings Are Latest Headache for Home Sales,” The Wall Street Journal (Oct. 17, 2011)

To view online:
Low housing Inventories article

What is your Home worth?

This past Sunday, the Philadelphia Inquirer featured an informative article for both homeowner's and potential buyers. It outlined the median home prices and the number of properties sold throughout the Philadelphia region and the Jersey Shore from April 1, 2005 through June 30, 2011.


The link below takes you to a pretty cool interactive map on Philly.com. You click on the area to learn if the area has decreased or increased in home prices and the number of properties sold. 


Interactive Map


I think it's important for people to understand that the media focuses on the economy as a whole. After seeing this map, it became evident to me that our metro area, in general, has not experience significant loss in values compared to a lot of the country. 


I suggest you play around with the map. Whether you are looking to buy or sell (or just curious!), I think it will provide some quality information for you!


If you would like a personal report on your homes value, please feel free to contact me directly. I can provide an analysis on your specific home. kskneeland@gmail.com

@KSKRealEstate, 10/12/11 11:39 AM

Kelly Kneeland (@KSKRealEstate) 10/12/11 11:39 AM top reason why mortgage applications are rejected http://t.co/4jYjDMuS

Kelly Kneeland

484-343-2406

Sent from my iPhone 

Is your home still up for sale?

The peak of the home buying season is coming to an end, however you can still get your home sold.  Below is an article on some tips to get your home sold before New Years.

Tips for Selling Your Home by the End of the Year

Good luck!

View of Schuylkill River in Manayunk. Please check your renter and home insurance policies to get a clear idea of your water damage coverage!

How to Make your Appliances last longer

I came across this article today and thought it was worth sharing.

Owning a home is similar to a owning a car- you spend money on regular maintenance in order to keep your car running smoothly, efficiently and last you for many years; similar with a home and all of it's exterior and internal parts.

To keep your appliances lasting their full or extended lifetime, read the tips below. 

_________________________________________________________________

During hard economic times, most of us want to get the most use out of items we already own. Naturally, this applies to appliances as well. With a little time and elbow grease, you can keep your appliances running in top form for years. This, in turn, helps you save money and prevents you from buying large appliances months or years before you need to.

So what should you be doing to make your appliances last? Let's take a look.

1. Washing Machines

First, always make sure you check the pockets of your clothing as coins and other objects can, over time, damage or even break the drum in your washing machine. Even if these objects don't make the drum stop working, a damaged drum can rip or wear out your clothing much faster than normal. Even though it might seem like you're saving water, or saving yourself the effort of doing an extra load, never overload your washing machine. This puts a strain on the motor, which will cause it to wear out faster.

When was the last time you checked your washing machine's fill hoses? These are the hoses that fill your washing machine with water. They're commonly made with rubber (rather than plastic or metal). As rubber ages, it begins to degrade and crack. If the pipes burst in the middle of a load and you're not there to shut it off, the cleanup bill could top $10,000. It's not worth taking chances here. If your washing machine's fill hoses are getting old, be sure to replace them.

2. Dryers

It's important to vacuum your dryer and the inside of the ventilation hoses on a regular basis. Lint builds up and clogs filters and hoses. When this happens, your dryer has to work harder and takes longer to dry loads. Over time, this wears out the engine faster as well. It's also just as important to regularly check the dryer vent. This vent is designed to stay closed until the dryer comes on. However, the vent often gets clogged with lint. If it gets stuck closed, your dryer will have to work extra hard to expel the moist air. If it gets stuck open, your house is going to lose cold or hot air, depending on the season, and you'll waste your efforts to save energy at home and make your home more energy efficient.

3. Refrigerators

Your refrigerator has one mechanical part that's fairly easy to access. This part is the condenser coil, located at the back of the fridge. Over time, dust and dirt build up on these coils. This buildup, in turn, impairs the coils' ability to keep your fridge working efficiently. In other words, you need to clean the coils regularly, which will help keep your energy bills low. After all, your refrigerator runs 24/7, so it's important that it's as efficient as possible. To clean the condenser coil, simply unplug your refrigerator and pull it out. Then, vacuum the coils located at the outer, backside wall. If you haven't done this in a while, you might be surprised at how dusty they are!

4. Dishwashers

It might seem redundant to clean your dishwasher, but it's essential. Open up the dishwasher and look at the top of the door; this is the area that seals up underneath your kitchen's countertop. Over time, this gets gunky. If you don't clean it regularly, this will eventually impact how well the door is sealing in water and heat. If it starts to leak, you'll have an expensive mess on your hands. It's also important to regularly check your dishwasher's spray arm. Sometimes food can get stuck in the nozzles or build-up from tapwater can clog them. If your dishes aren't getting as clean as they used to, check the spray arm first. You might just need to clean the little jets out.

Final Thoughts

It always pays to do preventative upkeep, like regularly cleaning your appliances. You use these machines often, and they need care just like your car and your home. Also, keep in mind that if an appliances does stop working, you might be able to fix it yourself. The Internet can be a wonderful resource for diagnosing a problem. And sometimes, like cleaning the jets on your dishwasher's spray arm, the fix is easy to do on your own and can save you the expense of having a professional look at it. Do you have other tips or tricks to keeping appliances in top working order?

From: Yahoo.com
Heather Levin 
Heather Levin resides in Michigan and is passionate about all thing green living and frugality. She shares her best tips and ideas around these topics on Money Crashers, a personal finance resource website that provides guidance on how to choose a credit card, make a budget, and save for retirement.

I recently visited my brother and his family in Calgary, Canada. He transitioned there about a year ago from the Dallas, Texas area. Visiting them during the summer this year was a huge and pleasant change. The weather was in the mid 70's, sunny, and zero humidity. It was great time!

One thing I love to do while traveling is to look at the style of homes and neighborhoods. They can vary so much from region to region and it fascinates me. Canada is no different. As a Realtor, I often hear clients say "I could not live with out a basement" or "I have to have central air." Some regions do not have basements and a lot of homes do not have central air, but people get by because that's their "norm" and well, they have to. For instance, Texas homes do not have basements, Rancher's (one story living) are very common, and first floor master suites are in a lot of floorplans. Those characteristics are not common in the Philadelphia area.

In Canada I noticed no one has large yards. Look at the picture above. The houses are close to the street with a minimal front yard. You cannot see it but the backyards are not much bigger and each home is only 2 or 3 yards away from each other. Also, in this development every house is so different by both floorplan and exterior finish. No cookie cutter housing. I visited a friend of my brother's and their neighborhood was the same. Also, I realized my brother's home does not have central air conditioning. It is less than 10 years old, and no AC! But it's Canada... only 3 months out of the year are "warm."

I love how different areas adjust to make their distinct and beautiful homes. One day I hope to travel to Europe and admire their living styles!

Quick fixes and tips for everyday home problems

Owning a home requires home maintenance.
I was recently visiting my parents and my mom pointed out some of the projects their "Handyman" (His name is Craig and my mom keeps a "Craigs List", clever huh?!)  has worked on over the past year or so.  Although I personally think they over pay him, in the long run it will definitely be beneficial when they put their home up for sale.

I saw this article on MSN.com and thought it would be useful for a lot of new and seasoned home owners. At time you may want to hire a professional or "Handyman" but for some projects I'm sure you would be surprised at how simple they may be!

30 quick fixes and tips for everyday home-problems

Rentals

Within the last few months more and more people have been asking if I can help with rentals. The answer is, yes! Not only do I help people buy and sell homes, I can rent homes too. 

While it is a fabulous time to buy, I understand it may not be ideal for everyone right now. On the flip side, due to various reasons some people may be looking to put their current home up for rent. In both of these situations I can be of assistance.

I am always honest and upfront when people ask for help to find a rental property (well when people ask about anything really!). I will help find and negotiate a property for you, but I can only do that if the seller/landlord cooperates with a Real Estate professional. The best way to guarantee this is to find rental properties on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) trend website. This website advertises homes for sale and rent by real estate agencies and cooperates with other agencies. If a client finds a rental on say, Craigslist, most likely I will not be able to help. Individuals and companies putting houses up for rent on these other sites typically are not willing to work with a third party nor agree to pay a commission.

Some of the benefits for hiring a professional to help you are:

1. They will do the work for you. You have a full time job, this is our job so you do not have to spend time or energy searching for properties.

2. Negotiate lease terms.

3. Ensure the landlord is a professional

4. Guides you throughout the transaction

If you are looking to put your home or investment home up for rent, I can help with that as well. 

It is essential to find a qualified and reliable tenant. This will make your experience as a landlord much more enjoyable.

When you list with a Realtor they will check credit, references, and require specific documentation. We are also able to provide professional advertising through websites, signage and much more. It is our job to get your place rented quickly, with the best possible tenant and at the best price.

I hope this helps clarify any questions you may have. If not, I'm always available! 

Men vs. Women

In a recent survey, it seems women are more upbeat about the nations future than men.  The survey even breaks it down to compare married and unmarried individuals and political parties.

Although the survey concludes men are the more pessimistic, it is very close as a whole. It is really hard to tell what's going to happen, but in my opinion staying positive (but smart) is better for the soul

Click below to read the full article:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/43565078

Happy June!

June has always been my favorite month. Sunny days, warm weather, and cold drinks make me happy. 


This time of year can also be synonymous with house hunting. Open houses and weekend drives are common during the next 3 months for buyers.
As a Realtor, I find it extremely rewarding to help individuals and families find a home of their own to host summer barbecues and other fun activities all year round!


Here are a couple tips for you house hunters:
1. Go to open houses. They are typically held on Sunday afternoons between 12-4, however you can find some on Saturdays. If you are already working with a Realtor, it's still OK to go to open houses without them. Just inform your Realtor as well as the open house agent that you are currently working with someone and fill in your agents name on the sign-in sheet. 
2. If you are not working with a Realtor, get one. There is a lot of inventory out there. It's important (and not to mention a huge stress reliever ) to have someone else searching homes for you that fit your wants and needs.
3. Save! The summer tends to make people want to go on vacations, happy hours, and weekend shore trips. But if your goal is to purchase a home, you need to continue to save money for your down payment, closing costs, furniture, etc. I think the summer offers more FREE things to do! Go hiking, window shop in towns that
you may want to move to or go to the shore but pack a picnic. 


Already own a home? Here are few things to put on your To Do List:
1. Clean your dryer Vents. You should regularly clean your lint trap but now is a good time to clean out the dryer hose pipes.
2. Clean out the gutters. Leaves and debris collect during the colder months. It's important to clear the gutters to protect your home from mold or rot. 
3. Spruce up your yard
-select bright nursery annuals already in bloom
-Fertilize now, if you did not do it in the Spring months

U.S. Military

This Monday is Memorial Day. For most people that means family BBQ's, heading to the beach or simply enjoying a day off. We need to keep in mind that this day is really put in place to honor the soldiers for their military service. This month I wrote an article for Delaware County Magazine on some government housing programs that benefit these men and women that serve us and our country. Here is a preview:

"....The most familiar program for our Vets is the Veterans Administration (VA) mortgage loan. More than 27 million veterans and service personnel are eligible for VA financing. VA guaranteed loans are made by private lenders, such as banks, savings & loans, or mortgage companies to eligible veterans for the purchase of a home. The guaranty means the lender is protected against loss if you or a later owner fails to repay the loan. The guaranty replaces the protection the lender normally receives by requiring a down payment allowing you to obtain 100% financing. Other benefits include no private mortgage insurance (PMI), competitive interest rates, and the right to repay without penalty.

If you already own a home and have financed through a conventional mortgage you may still acquire a VA loan. Veterans with conventional home loans now have new options for refinancing to a VA-guaranteed home loan. These new options are available as a result of the Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2008. Veterans who wish to refinance their subprime or conventional mortgage may now do so for up to 100 percent of the value of the property, which is up from the previous limit of 90 percent.

In this economy it can often become difficult to make your monthly mortgage payments. When a VA-guaranteed home loan becomes delinquent, VA provides supplemental servicing assistance whose primary responsibility is to to help resolve the default. However, in cases where the servicer is unable to help the veteran borrower, there are Loan Technicians who take an active role in negotiating with the servicer to explore all options to avoid foreclosure. If VA is not able to help a veteran borrower retain his/her home (whether a VA-guaranteed loan or not), the HOPE NOW Alliance may be of assistance...."

Please contact me for the entire article or pick up a Free copy of Delaware County Magazine

Interesting Article

I have been in the real estate industry since 2006. I don't know what a "good" or "normal" real estate market looks like! I first started as a settlement agent for a title company handling mostly refinanced sub-prime mortgages. When that fell apart, so did the company. I then went into new construction residential sales. That was fairly steady and I sold quite a lot of homes, but then that industry and my company became weak. I am now a Realtor selling homes in a not so perfect market ( am I following the market or is is following me...?!) but in the last few months I have seen some positive movement. 

I felt compelled to share this article. Although I don't agree with everything, I find it interesting and informative.

It is undeniably an ideal buyer's market right now. It may not be for everyone... but when is it?
 Enjoy!

Article- It's Time to Buy Again

This Month In Real Estate (US) April 2011

This Month In Real Estate (US) March 2011

My First Article!

Check out my article in the March issue of the Delaware County Magazine!

Here is a preview:

Home Selling Tips Article

According to our famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, Spring is just around the corner. Which means, home buyers will start “sprouting up” everywhere. If you are a homeowner looking to get into the real estate market this season, there are a three simple and affordable tasks you can perform that are sure to catch buyers attention and help sell your home quickly.

1. First impressions are essential. According to the National Association of Realtors, over 89% buyers begin their home search on the internet. If prospective buyers are only viewing photos of your home, your curb appeal and interior staging is important. 

Curb Appeal

Take a look at your home from a buyers perspective. This is their first impression and sets the stage for the rest of your home. Remove overgrown shrubs and add Spring flowers. Wash the exterior away of mildew or general grunge and paint chipped paint on shutters and doors.

Stage It

Style your home to appeal to the most amount of buyers by making it welcoming and attractive. A few easy and affordable tips are; rearrange furniture to show optimal room space, clean out and organize closets, repaint living spaces with neutral colors and change your window treatments. 

2. Have a pre-inspection by a Certified Inspector. An inspection will give you an indication of trouble areas that may arise in a prospective buyers inspection report. Having this done before you market your home allows you to remedy those items in a time frame less hectic than when you are in the deadlines of your Agreement of Sale. It costs only a few hundred dollars but can save you a lot of stress and potential money in the long run.

3. Price your home to Sell. Speak to a local Real Estate Agent to get a Market Analysis on the sold prices of comparable homes in your area, not their asking prices. You want to be ahead of the market. Buyers purchase their properties at market value rather than above market value. If you price your property at market value, you are exposing it to a much greater percentage of potential buyers and you are increasing the opportunity for a sale. Keep in mind, if you had had a inspection done, then price your home accordingly.

Buyers are already out there searching for their new home this Spring. Now is the time to do these few tasks to get your home ready for sale and attract these buyers to your home. 

To obtain a Free, no obligation Market Analysis on your home, please contact me. 

Kelly S. Kneeland Realtor

Keller Williams Main Line Realty

720 W Lancaster Ave

Bryn Mawr, PA 19010

(610) 520-0100 Office

(484) 343-2406 Cell

KSKneeland@gmail.com

First Time Home Buyers

One thing I love to do is educate and inform people of something that will benefit them, both big or small. Whether is a recipe, cooking tip (keep your Avocado pit in the guacamole to help it stay green!), home organization ideas, etc.

Ever since I got into the Real Estate industry I have worked closely with first time home buyers and love the interaction and relationship building opportunities. There are a lot of questions these buyers have and I like to be the one that is able to help and guide them through the process.

With my transition into the resale market as a independent Realtor, I have had the opportunity to hold information sessions for buyers. It's a great experience for me to grow as a professional and for individuals and families to attend an informal meeting where they can freely ask questions and learn.

On February 28th I am holding one of these meetings at the Philadelphia Public Library in Roxborough.
I look forward to meeting new first time buyers and becoming a resource for them as they enter the Real Estate Market!
Meeting Details

This Month in Real Estate

Buying a home soon?

Homeowner's insurance may not be on your mind when looking at homes. But certain things about homes can increase your insurance rates, costing thousands of dollars down the road.

Here are the top 10 factors that make the biggest impact on your rate.

10 Things that can lower or raise your Homeowners Insurance rate

5 steps to first-time-buyer happiness | Inman News

5 steps to first-time-buyer happiness | Inman News

How much can you afford?

Visit Mortgage Loan Payment Calculator to calculate what your monthly payment would be for various mortgage amounts and interest rates.

Play around with it!
Tip: Change the mortgage amount by $30,000, both higher and lower. How much does your monthly payment change?

This Month In Real Estate (US): January 2011

January Home Maintenance Checklist

The most important job this month is to head off damage to your home from water and dampness from a number of sources:

-Groundwater and rain seeping into your home.

-Leaky pipes inside the walls.

-Pipes bursting from freezing and thawing.

Take a tour

Walk around the house, checking for damage from wind and broken tree limbs.  Scan for loose or missing shingles on your roof. Give special attention to vulnerable pipes — indoors and out — that are exposed to the cold, including hose bibs, pipes in outside walls, garden sprinkler lines, swimming pool pipes and pipes in unheated attics, basements and garages.

Leak Prevention

- Install small, battery-powered individual leak alarms, also called flood alarms, under the refrigerator, kitchen and bathroom drain pipes, dishwasher and laundry appliances and behind toilets.

-Check to make sure your sump pump is operating properly.

Look for pests seeking shelter

• Seal any cracks where pests enter.

• Empty compost and garbage frequently.
• Keep food covered and put away; keep counters clean.
• Fix leaky pipes quickly.
• Pour boiling water down bathroom and kitchen drains monthly, preventing the buildup of bacteria-laden sludge; scrub removable drain covers weekly.
• Check basement, attic, crawl spaces and the back of cupboards and cabinets for mice droppings or holes. If you find evidence, install traps immediately or call a pest-control service.
• Pick up and dispose of outdoor pet waste promptly; turn compost piles frequently

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