Real Estate Tips Blog

We’re pleased to report that nationally, pending home sales (contracts, not closings) were higher in May than they have been in six years. Realtors across the nation keep a close eye on indices like the Pending Home Sales Index because they are based on far-reaching and forward-looking. The PHSI increased to 112.3 in May from a downwardly revised 105.2 in April, and is 12.1 percent above May 2012 when it was 100.2. The PHSI in the Northeast was unchanged at 92.3 in May but is 14.3 percent above a year ago. Contract activity remains very strong across the U.S. and…

There are countless ways to increase the value of your home, but there are three excellent ways to do so in the summertime. 1)    Central Air Conditioning This is an improvement that is perhaps best installed in the spring so you can actively use it in the summertime – especially during showings, only adds comfort to your home but also protects your furnishings, ceiling, walls from fluctuations in humidity and extreme temperatures. You can also hire professional from armstrong ceiling solutions for any advancement. They are armstrong ceiling manufacturers ensuring best durable and smooth ceiling and wall paneling which are available in pre-laminated shades.…

Increasingly, homebuyers are multi-taskers who are on the go – juggling home, work, personal and family responsibilities. And, they’re often checking new MLS listings in the wee hours of the morning from their mobile devices. According to HomeFinder.com data, 18.5 percent of all home searches across the United States are made from 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. According to the site, there are two categories of house hunters – early birds and night owls. Early birds: These early rising home searchers start their day by scoping out the latest homes to hit the market. Across the U.S., 18.5 percent of…

Buying a home is an important financial decision and one of the biggest life decisions that you’ll make. It is also likely to be one of your largest investments. Are you ready? Ask yourself these questions and be honest with yourself when you think about the answers. The Right Time and Place Is this the right time for you personally? Are you in a financially secure and stable work environment? Do you like the area in which you’re living? While spring and summer tend to offer the most housing options, don’t rush into buying this Summer if you’re not quite…

It’s summertime, and that means it might be time to get off the sidelines and into the home shopping action. At Bowen Agency Realtors, we look forward to helping you find the right home for your needs. Here are a few Summer 2013 trends to consider: Mortgage Rates Will Stay Low While it’s true that mortgage rates crept up a little bit in May, they are still hovering at or near historic lows and that won’t change drastically anytime soon. The Fed will most likely keep rates low for the rest of 2013 so the housing market recovery can continue.…

If your home is currently on the market and you’re planning to show it to prospective buyers this summer, you’ll want to read these tips. With some planning and organization, your home can look inviting, comfy, and help prospective buyers see themselves and their family in your home. After all, they are coming to see the features of your home and to envision their future there – they’re not interested in your bathroom toiletries and vacation photos. Showings can happen with little warning, so it’s better to make these changes now, so it’s a breeze to whip your house into…

You may have heard the good news making its way around the local and national media these days; the real estate market health is improving. In some areas, it’s not only improving but also exploding! As agents right here in the Central Susquehanna Valley we can attest to this. Our area is seeing a continuing trend that began about 6 to 8 months ago of a steady increase in buyer traffic, reducing number of days on market, and higher final average sales prices. So what does all this really mean? To us at the Bowen Agency it means that it…

I am often asked by people interested in getting into Real Estate “What does it take to become an agent? How to get into Redstones Property?” The first thing you need to do is take and pass two pre-licensing courses. Once you complete those courses you must pass the state issued exam. Once you pass the exam you are licensed and ready to practice real estate. This is the point where most agents will begin to fail. They fail because the courses do not teach you how to sell real estate. The pre-licensing courses are designed for one purpose, and…

2013 brought some major changes to the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). FHA does not offer loans, but rather they insure qualified lenders against losses if borrowers (single family homes or multifamily homes) default. It is the largest insurer of mortgages in the world, insuring over 34 million properties since its inception in 1934. The system is relatively simple: Since its creation in the early 1930s, it has collected fees from borrowers to pay lenders for loans that go awry. The agency reported a $16.3 billion deficit in a report to Congress in November, causing concern that the FHA will require…

If you’re on the fence about listing your home, you’ll be pleased to discover that in Central PA, we’re currently experiencing a low inventory of homes and increased buyer traffic. In fact, many homes in our region are receiving multiple offers in a short amount of time. The time to act by listing your home is now. The same is true across the country. The raw number of homes for sale is now at its lowest level in over 13 years, according to the National Association of Realtors, and the numbers continue to fall, CNBC reported. JPMorgan Chase expects home…

After months of endless open houses, property walk-throughs and online searching, you’ve found a home that meets your needs and is within your budget. The search has resulted in a home that you can picture your family enjoying for many years. You’ve had an inspection done by the Houston bat removal and are at ease with the results. The seller and their agent have accepted your offer and the bank approved your home loan. You’ve settled on a closing date and a move-in date. At long last, you’re ready to close and formalize the agreement. But are you really? Take…

            Spring is quickly approaching and many of us are getting the “spring cleaning bug”. If you’re thinking about listing your home, make sprucing up your home a priority this season. It’s true that we all have too much stuff, so keep this rule in mind: If you haven’t used it in a year, it’s probably time to either move it to storage (so the new potential buyers don’t have to see it) or donate it to a family who can use it. Here are the top five ways to spruce up your home this…

It’s spring cleaning time! Contact professional clean Brisbane to come out and help you. Whether you’ve lived in your home for 1 year, 10 years, or 20+ years, there is always room to touch up,  steam cleaning clean up, and minimize clutter. Before becoming an agent, I spent a few summers working with Mississauga office cleaners and we practiced efficiency! Let’s go room by room and I will share with you a few tips from office cleaning service on efficiently cleaning your house: 1. Kitchen – Wipe down the cabinets, drawer pulls and appliances. Clean off fingerprints and oily smudges on doors,…

Now that we’ve turned the clocks forward, spring is definitely in sight. If you’re getting ready to list your home, this is the time to tackle those small outdoor projects that make a big impact on potential buyers. Fortunately, you don’t need to invest huge amounts of time or money to make a difference. It can be hard to know where to start, but from our experience, we suggest concentrating on the following three areas: landscaping, the entryway, and outdoor living spaces. Just remember that many buyers make a snap judgment about your home within 5 minutes of pulling into…

According to the Daily Real Estate News, the best time to list a property is the month of April. And the best day to sell is Friday. Homes listed on a Friday sell for 99.1 % of their original asking price. Learn more by reading this informative article.

While there isn’t a magic formula to pricing a home, sellers can save themselves a lot of frustration and disappointment by doing some homework about their home and their neighborhood before putting their home on the market. It’s also important to manage your expectations – while there are things about your home that you may love for their quirkiness or because you spent an entire summer on a pet project, those things may not appeal to every buyer. As always and above all, location is key. Your particular neighborhood’s “look and feel”, proximity to amenities, and the school district that…

Happy New Year! Hopefully you’ve taken some time to reflect on the challenges and accomplishments that you and your family have had in 2012 and have also made some commitments for 2013. Whether you’re a renter looking to purchase your first home or are looking to “upgrade” to a newer or larger home, there are five key things that you need to do to get into your dream home in 2013. 1) Resolve to take a serious look at your finances Buying or selling a home is a significant financial commitment, and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. In most…

We’re pleased to report that across the nation and regionally, the outlook for the housing market in 2013 is stronger than in years past. National home prices have been on the uptick for eight straight months and jumped 6.3 percent year-over-year in October – the largest increase since June 2006. So it is high time to practice and sell it asap. A recent article in The Fiscal Times discusses 10 interesting real estate trends that we’d like to share with you:   Home prices are rising – The slow pace of new Medical Construction and Design DC  is pushing prices up,…

A recent CNBC report suggests that higher-end homes ($750,000 and above) are recovering even faster than other homes on the market. In fact, home sales at that price point jumped 50 percent over the previous year. And overall, sales of all homes beat expectations in November 2012 and the trend should continue into 2013 as well. Even with the impacts of Superstorm Sandy along the East Coast and throughout the Northeast, home sales are still strong in that region, including Central Pennsylvania. The CNBC article states that the median home price nationally (median defined as half selling higher and half…

Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lewisburg, PA or are looking to sell a home yourself, there are at least 10 ways a home’s value can be increased. And it doesn’t need to involve thousands of dollars (although for a kitchen or bathroom remodel, it might). Homeowners in many areas of the United States can still recoup 80 to 90 percent of the money spent on home improvements. The key is to know where to spend. Just because you put $20,000 into renovations, it won’t necessarily add that much value. If your house needs a new roof, you…

If you read our recent blog, “10 Reasons to Move to Lewisburg, PA,” you already know that Lewisburg is a fantastic place to live, work, and play. It’s also a great place to buy Lewisburg PA real estate. Thanks to a historic and bustling downtown, excellent school district, excellent health care (Evangelical Hospital), and world-class educational institution (Bucknell University), the region is thriving and is an ideal place for couples and young families to call home – and to get out and explore! From roadtrips through scenic countrysides, to nearby state parks, and several well-maintained in-town parks, Lewisburg PA offers…

As Realtors® at Home Remodeling Birmingham, AL, we tend to focus on finding you that perfect place to call home.  But we know that sometimes, you are already living there. Sometimes, a new house is not what you need or want.  But you may want to make your ‘home’ a bit more perfect. TV shows, books, more on-line articles than anyone could possibly be expected to read – as well as local and national stores are all standing by to help you with your next home improvement. If you are planning on doing some improvements to your home, consider improve…

You’ve found your house!  The seller has accepted your offer and the mortgage has been approved.  All that’s left to be done is sign the papers and start packing for the move. After you have the house inspected, of course. Yes, a home inspection is yet another cost of the move and you are not required to have it done by law (although some mortgage lenders may require it).  Whether it is for your business or your home, commercial inspections must be undergone at any circumstances to guarantee you the best price for your property. An inspection could be one of…

For a relatively small college town in Central Pennsylvania, Lewisburg, PA is blessed with a wide variety of housing options – from condos like Casa Del Mar and townhouses to brand new single family homes, historic homes, ranch-style homes, farm houses, and everything in-between. Because there is such diversity, the region has a wide range of property taxes, based on the subdivision, township, and amenities. Generally speaking, property taxes are $2,500-4,500 per year for an average $150,000-$250,000 home, but they can exceed $20,000 per year in a high-end development such as Countryside. So whether you’re looking for a move-in ready…