14 Things You Need to Start Doing Now for Your Spouses Sake

I get weekly Houzz.com emails (my continued addiction) and this article made me laugh so I wanted to share. Being a newlywed and newly living with my spouse full-time, we've had quite a few of these discussions.

If you're buying a home with your significant other for the first time, you should read this- Even if it's just for a few laughs.

Start doing these 14 things for happy living:

1. Learn where everything is and where everything goes (my pet peeve)

2. Close the cabinet doors and drawers (my husbands pet peeve)

3. Clean your dishes

4. My speciality scissors and tools are not for your sloppy tasks

5. Put dirty clothes in the hamper; clean ones in drawers or hang up

6. Don't leave piles of mail, newspapers or magazines out

7. Help clean out the litter box

8. Turn off the lights when you leave a room

9. Close the toilet lid

10. Replace the toilet paper (personal preference is paper over roll)

11. Shut the doors and windows

12. Don't take your towel out of the bathroom

13. Put a bag in garbage can

14. Take off your shoes or wipe them on mat

Read full article <<here>>

2014 outlook

In the Philadelphia region, 2013 was a positive year in real estate. 
Inventories were low in many areas which resulted in multiple offers and higher sale prices. Personally, I experienced that scenario in multiple towns throughout the 5 counties!
So, what's coming up for 2014 you might wonder....

-For 2014, according to the National Association of Realtors, "The housing recovery is expected to continue on its path in the new year with home prices continuing to rise; sales to rise slightly; and the foreclosure crisis expected to finally draw to an end.

“For the general consumer, the market will be good in 2014,” said Lawrence Yun, the National Association of Realtors®’ chief economist. “Home values will continue to rise, but not sharply, but there won’t be a decline.”

This year has marked the second straight one of a “very respectable recovery,” said Yun, with a 20% cumulative increase in existing-home sales over the past two years and nearly a 20% rise in home prices. However, he notes that existing-home sales will likely plateau in 2014.

Home prices, which rose 11% in 2013, will grow at a slower pace of five percent in 2014, Yun estimates. He attributes the expected slowdown in the home-price rise to “less affordable conditions from higher prices and higher mortgage rates.”

-The Real Estate Economy Watch website just posted an article referencing 4 things that WON'T happen in 2014- you never know for sure, but I think it's realistic. Here is a snippet:

1. Inventory shortages like the one last year are history. Not a chance of a repeat in 2014. Rising values pushed another 30% of homeowners above the surface last year. Markets across the nation have returned to better balance between supply and demand.

2. If interest rates dip below 3.5%, its time to move to China. Rates on a 30 year fixed rate mortgage bottomed out a year ago below 3.5% and they remained low through the first of this year despite widespread predictions...  With the economy starting to return to life and the Fed talking about tapering, not if but when, it’s pretty obvious that rates aren’t going back and the 3 percent days are a thing of the past, unless we hit a depression.

3. Discounted deals on distressed sales are a thing of the past in the sand states, except for Florida.  No more toxic loans, no more toxic foreclosures. In 2014, however, it will still be possible to do some flipping in places like Jersey City, Albany, Columbus O, and Baltimore where judicial state laws extend the foreclosure pain on homeowners and lenders alike.

4. Investor purchases won’t continue to bolster demand. Accounting for 30% market share or more two years ago, investors’ share is half that and shrinking. The future of the recovery going forward is more dependent of owner-occupants than ever." 

Read entire article here http://www.realestateeconomywatch.com/2013/12/four-big-things-in-real-estate-that-wont-happen-in-2014/

-Become familiar with the term: Boomerang Buyers

These are the people who were ousted from the market due to foreclosure or short sales, have spent years renting to rebuild their credit, saved enough to buy and are now back in the market looking. 

These buyers are expected to help the market turnaround. 

If you have questions about the buying process, how to qualify for a mortgage or want information on your specific neighborhood, please contact me directly:

Kelly Kneeland Steyn

kskneeland@gmail.com

484-343-2406

www.KellyKneeland.com

2013 was a great year!

2013 will definitely be a memorable year for me. There were highs and lows of course, but resulting in an overall amazing year! Here are my top 3 highlights:

1. As a Realtor, it was my best financial, educational and sales year. The year began with me moving real estate companies. It's a stressful and time consuming task when switching your entire business, but it was an important move and I'm glad I made the change.
Sales in the area started out slow, but once March came I was busy listing and selling homes throughout the 5 counties!
My increased sales volume inevitably resulted in many learning experiences. Our area saw bidding wars, appraisal issues and very low inventory. Having started my real estate career in the housing downturn, some issues came up that I had never encountered before. I also had my first foreclosure and short sale transactions. Yikes!

I learned a lot over the last 12 months that will help me succeed for years to come.

2. As of the first week in January 2014, I will have no family in Pennsylvania. It still has not completely sunk in yet...
In the fall, my parents moved out to Denver Colorado area to serve a 23 month church mission. We sold their home in the Summer and they headed west in October. It was sad to see them leave, but I know they are doing something they've planned and wished to do for years. I'm very excited for them!
My sister Linda and her husband Toby are headed out west too. They took a job opportunity in Los Angeles, CA and are moving this week! Them not being in PA hasn't completely set in... We had a going away party on the 28th which definitely made me realize they are leaving. I'm truly sad to see them go.

The fact that my 3 other siblings and their families have always lived far away makes this change a little easier to handle. Although, I've always lived with or close to Linda my whole life, so it will be an adjustment!
Even though I do not have my parents or siblings near by, I have my husband-- which leads me into my third memorable event for the year.

3. The most amazing part of my year was getting married to the most wonderful man on August 10th! I can't wait to grow old with him and have many holiday memories as a family!
Our wedding brought his family from South Africa and New Zealand to the states as well as my 3 other siblings, nieces and nephews. We spent about 2 weeks in August with the families here in the Philadelphia area. In addition to our wedding at the Kimberton Inn, we went to Knoebels amusement park, Ocean City, downtown Philadelphia- all over.

 It was so wonderful to see everyone in one place- we realize it will not happen often. 

We are truly blessed to have them in our lives, near or far.