Are You Better Off Listing During the Holidays?

You should absolutely consider selling your home during this holiday season. There are many factors working in your favor to do so.

Looking to sell your Bucks or Montgomery County home? Get a free home value report.

Looking to buy a Bucks or Montgomery County home? Search all homes for sale.

If you’re a home seller, is it a good idea to list now rather than wait until next year? Absolutely. There are four reasons why:

1. Buyers are highly motivated and serious. They’re not window shopping out there. They need to make a decision and soon.
2. Buyers have fewer homes to choose from. Inventory is lower now than compared to where it will be during spring. As it starts to increase in January, there will be less demand for your home and more competition from other sellers.
3. Houses show better during the holidays. People love to see a lived-in home when it’s been decorated.
4. Mortgage rates are lower now than they probably will be after the first of the year. This means you can buy more home for your buck.

There are plenty of other reasons you should list your home now. If you’d like to know what they are, or you’re thinking about making a real estate decision, contact us by phone or email today. We’d love to assist you!

Happy Thanksgiving, from Our Family to Yours

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, so today I wanted to take the opportunity to wish you a very happy Thanksgiving.

Looking to sell your Bucks or Montgomery County home? Get a free home value report.

Looking to buy a Bucks or Montgomery County home? Search all homes for sale.

Today I wanted to take a few minutes to wish you a very happy Thanksgiving. We pray that you, your friends, and your loved ones experience great joy this time of year and have safe travels wherever you’re headed.

Make sure that you enjoy your time with your family. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. What we do in my family is take some time to think about what we’re thankful for and tell one another. As our children have gotten older, we’ve started to set more time aside each year to enjoy each other’s company.

We hope and pray that you experience the great joy and peace around Thanksgiving this year. We thank you for all you do, from our family to yours.

In the meantime, if you know anyone who’s looking to buy, sell, or invest in real estate, please feel free to send them my way. I’d be happy to help!

Why Are Schools So Important to Home Buyers?

How does the local school district affect your home's value? What determines a good school, anyway? I’ll answer all of these questions and more today. 

Looking to sell your Bucks or Montgomery County home? Get a free home value report.

Looking to buy a Bucks or Montgomery County home? Search all homes for sale.

How does the local school district affect your home's value?

Neighborhoods with at least one good elementary school have greater home values and higher long-term home appreciation rates than neighborhoods without good schools. 
 

“

A good school has an overall test score that is 30% higher than the state average.

”

 
What determines a good school? If a school has an overall test score that is at least 30% higher than the state average, then it is considered a good school.

While good schools are at the top of most home buyers’ checklists because they will improve the quality of life for their kids, you should be aware of the financial benefit of a good school as well. If you are interested in what our school districts are like, give me a call or send me an email. I would be glad to help you!

Home Maintenance Tips for Bucks and Montgomery County

Fall is a great time to catch up on maintenance in your home. As you’ll see, it’s also a great time to make your home happy and healthy. 

Looking to sell your Bucks or Montgomery County home? Get a free home value report.

Looking to buy a Bucks or Montgomery County home? Search all homes for sale.

The fall season is finally here. We are here to share some quick tips with you to make sure your home is in tip-top shape this season. 

A healthy home is one that helps you maintain optimal health. To maintain a healthy home, you’ve got to keep your home dry, clean, well-ventilated, free from contaminants, and pest-free.

Good home maintenance can do many things for you. It can:

• Reduce allergens
• Prevent illness
• Reduce injury from accidents

“

Good maintenance prevents illnesses.

”

The fall is also a great time to check the major systems in your home, including:

• Plumbing
• Heating
• Garage
• Attics
• Foundation
• Masonry
• Home exterior
• Roofs
• Doors
• Windows

For more information about what you can do to maintain your home this fall, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.

Character or Customization? The Great Home Buying Debate

Looking to sell your Bucks or Montgomery County home? Get a free home value report.

Looking to buy a Bucks or Montgomery County home? Search all homes for sale.

If you're buying a home in Bucks and Montgomery County, should you buy a new home or an older home? It’s an age-old question for potential homeowners.

When it comes to older homes, they are readily available, and come with the added bonus of mature neighborhoods with larger trees and yards generally. Inside the home, kitchens are generally a bit smaller, but sometimes they're remodeled, along with the rest of the house. Here in Bucks County, we don't typically have reassessments, so older homes typically have lower taxes as well.

“

Do you prefer character and charm, or totally customizable?

”

 
With new construction homes, you typically have to wait for your home and the prices tend to be a little bit higher. The plus side is, you have many more options. You can customize the floorplan, and you decide what's actually going into the home. You will have some added expenses like landscaping, painting, and window treatments, but those are also all customizable to your tastes.

Which would you prefer? I'd be happy to help you with this decision if you're looking to buy a home. Just give me a call! If you have any other questions about buying, selling, or investing in real estate, feel free to reach out to me soon.

Why Should You Own a Home Right Now?

Looking to sell your Bucks or Montgomery County home? Get a free home value report.

Looking to buy a Bucks or Montgomery County home? Search all homes for sale.

Today we’ll be discussing the reasons given by the Harvard Business Review about the advantages of owning a home. Here are five financial benefits to homeownership:

1.    Housing is typically the only leveraged investment you have available.
2.    You’re paying the cost of housing whether you own or rent, so you might as well own.
3.    Owning a home is a way to put your money into forced savings as you build up equity in your property.
4.    There are substantial tax benefits to owning your home.
5.    Owning a home is a hedge against inflation.

“

Owning a home is a hedge against inflation.

”
 

While these benefits are largely financial, there are also emotional advantages to owning a home that you may not have considered:

1.    Owning a home is a good way to pass along wealth to your family.
2.    You have a physical shelter to provide space and safety for your family.
3.    A home is a place to raise your kids.
4.    Owning a home gives you total control over your living space and your overall life in general.

These are just a few of the ways in which owning a home can benefit you fiscally and improve your quality of life at the same time.

If you have any questions about buying or selling a home, please feel free to call, text, or email me at any time. I’d be happy to help!

Make a Strong First Impression With Your Bucks or Montgomery County Home

Looking to sell your Bucks or Montgomery County home? Get a free home value report.

Looking to buy a Bucks or Montgomery County home? Search all homes for sale.

Did you know that 88% of Bucks County and Montgomery County home buyers start their search on the Internet? For that reason we need to make sure you have a really great first impression online, because that's how people will decide if they're going to see your home or pass on it.

The first step is getting the home ready. We can talk specifically on a case-by-case basis about staging. We have a professional photographer come in, who will take high definition pictures. We don't want blurry photos or partial photos of rooms. Then we'll load the photos onto the MLS and 350 different websites for you.

“

88% OF HOME BUYERS START THEIR 

SEARCH ON THE INTERNET.

”

We also do something a little different - we shoot high definition video. It takes shots all the way from the ceiling to the floor, and you'll see different layouts. You want to show your home to interested buyers, so this way, someone will see your home and decide if they actually want to see it in person.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me.

What Should You Include in a Disclosure?

Looking to sell your Bucks or Montgomery County home? Get a free home value report.

Looking to buy a Bucks or Montgomery County home? Search all homes for sale.

What should you disclose to potential buyers in Bucks and Montgomery Counties? You want to tell buyers upfront about any defects of the property.

Although this sounds strange, you’ll need to include these details in the Seller’s Property Disclosure Statement. It’s a required form in the real estate process. Buyers will sign this document (after it's signed by the seller) before submitting an offer.

This is an opportunity to inform them of previous leaks and other discrepancies. You don’t want buyers to move in and find out these problems from a neighbor later on.
 
The disclosure includes positive features, too! Additionally, you’ll disclose any home improvements on this form. This could be an extension, room remodeling, a roof replacement, or similar projects. This helps buyers make a more informed decision. It’s better to disclose instead of hide!

If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home in the surrounding area, give me a call or send me an email. I’d be happy to help answer your real estate questions!

Three Ways to Win a Bidding War

Looking to sell your Bucks or Montgomery County home? Get a free home value report.

Looking to buy a Bucks or Montgomery County home? Search all homes for sale.

Today, I’ll discuss multiple offers in the Bucks County and Montgomery County housing markets. In today’s climate, sometimes, you’ll find yourself in a situation with more than four offers on your dream home. Here are three strategies to win these bidding wars.

1. Personalize the experience for the seller. We have buyers writing letters, which mention what they like most about the property and what attracted them to it over others. They’ve included photos of their family. This helps the seller see a real face behind an offer.

2. Offer terms that appeal to the seller. Ask your agent to reach out to the listing agent and inquire about what the seller is looking for specifically. This could be an ideal settlement date if you have flexibility. A strong earnest deposit and taking care of inspections quickly will also make your offer more desirable.

3. Use creative pricing strategies. For years, we’ve used unique ways to win over sellers with offers. I’d be happy to speak to you personally about them!

If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home, give me a call or send me an email! I’d be happy to help you.

How Much Is Your Bucks County or Montgomery County Home Really Worth?

Looking to sell your Bucks or Montgomery County home? Get a free home value report.

Looking to buy a Bucks or Montgomery County home? Search all homes for sale.

Lately, I’ve been getting a lot of questions about home value. “What’s my home worth?”

With all the resources readily available online, it’s difficult to know what’s accurate and what isn’t. Automatic valuation sites can help you start the process, but they’re not a perfect solution.

If you’re strongly considering selling your property, you ultimately need a Realtor. You need a real estate agent to visit your home. They need to evaluate it based on features and benefits compared to other homes in your neighborhood. Online valuations don’t differentiate unique characteristics of your property compared to others.

That’s why you need an accurate evaluation provided by a Realtor. We have a service to update you on homes sold in your neighborhood to better understand your home’s worth. If you’re thinking about buying or selling a Bucks or Montogomery County home, give me a call by phone or email. I’d be happy to answer your questions!
 

How Debbie Set Bob at Ease and Sold his Home

“She is very professional, thorough, she follows through, she does what she says. She has great ideas. She made this whole deal happen.  Had a great experience with her and would recommend her to anybody because she did a phenomenal job.  I thought it was above and beyond when she recommended a stager and then had a professional photographer and create a video of the house. And that’s great, I was told that, that was out there, but she made it happen.  She took control of the whole situation, made us feel very comfortable. And that’s big because my first experience with a Realtor was not like that and I was very skeptical. I had a lot of doubt, but she put me at ease and followed through and came through. She was always there when I called, she always returned my phone calls, and she’s a Realtors Realtor. “

How Debbie Helped Sarah and her Husband with a Complicated Situation

“Debbie was amazing as our Realtor. We had like a complicated situation with buying and selling and she was able to really work through it and keep us calm. And she was a really, really good negotiator. She knows a lot of people in the area and we felt well connected, and we always felt very well represented. I really have to say buying and selling homes can be quite stressful. We were selling our house and then buying another house and we wanted to do it at the same time. She was able to you know do a great job working through all of that for us. She really found us a home that we hope to live in for thirty years. We really just appreciate you know everything she did for us. We’re tough customers and we really felt that she did an outstanding job helping us purchase our home and sell our other home at great prices. I just think, she’s very well connected, she’d always get back to us a lot, like very, very quickly. She had a way of making us feel like we were her only customer even though I know we weren’t. She was so on top of everything, and she understood everything, she was a really, really good listener. She just really represented us well on all sides. We had a refrigerator we needed to get rid of because our buyers didn’t want it and there was confusion and this was on the day that we were closing and Debbie had someone. And within an hour that person was able to come and pick up our fridge so it wasn’t any problem for us. She was able to find people to do things very quickly and was just a really warm person. I didn’t know Debbie before we hired her as a Realtor and I just, I was very impressed we her and so was my husband.”

Get a Head Start on Home Buying in Our Market

Looking to sell your Bucks or Montgomery County home? Get a free home value report.

Looking to buy a Bucks or Montgomery County home? Search all homes for sale.

Today we will discuss why you should start the home buying process now instead of waiting until the spring. We’ve got three reasons for you today, and each one of them highlights the importance of acting while conditions are ideal. Here they are:

1.  Less competition
There are fewer buyers out looking for a home right now than there are in the spring, so you can buy a home for less money than you would be able to when demand is high.

2. Rates are low
Interest rates are under 4% right now. We don’t know where they will be in a few months, but we do know that buying now when they are low is a sure thing.

3. Home buying takes longer than we think
The entire process can take quite a long time. Maybe you won’t find something right away that suits you. It’s best to allow yourself a cushion of more time.

Thanks for joining us today. If you have any questions, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!

The Scoop About the Bucks County and Montgomery County Housing Market

Looking to sell your Bucks or Montgomery County home? Get a free home value report.

Looking to buy a Bucks or Montgomery County home? Search all homes for sale.

Overall, we’re currently experiencing a balanced market here in Bucks and Montgomery County with about four months of supply available. We also see more multiple offer situations, such as four offers for one home. In those specific areas, there’s about a one to two month supply of homes on the market.

The market doesn’t favor buyers nor sellers. However, it is an opportune time for both parties to act now. Here’s why.

According to our local key metrics, there were 2,583 homes for sale in the fourth quarter last year. That’s a decrease of 16.5% compared to the year prior. Inventory decreased 26.8% as well. Sellers can expect their home to be on the market for about 87 days, which is down by 5.9%.

Clearly, the market is heating up! The average sales price has even increased by 2.9%. If you’ve been thinking about selling, now is a great time to act. Plus, interest rates are still under 4%, so buyers also have a great shot as well. Remember to give me a call or send me an email if you’re interested in buying or selling this spring!

Don’t Miss Out on Expert Real Estate Advice in Bucks and Montgomery Counties

Looking to sell your Bucks or Montgomery County home? Get a free home value report.

Looking to buy a Bucks or Montgomery County home? Search all homes for sale.

I’ve got some exciting news to share with you all today! I have decided to share my real estate expertise with all of you through a new video blog. I am extremely excited to get started with this.

Each month, I’ll be sending out two emails talking about trends in our local real estate market. I’ll be touching on changes to the lending and title worlds as well, which affect all of us in real estate. All of these industries are intertwined, and to take full advantage of the real estate market, you need to know about all of them.

Rather than simply guess what’s on your mind, I wanted to reach out to you today and ask what questions you have about real estate. Are there any concepts that confuse you? Are you curious about the market in your particular area or neighborhood?

I would love to answer your specific questions in my videos so other people with similar questions can benefit from them as well. If you have any questions, give us a call or send us an email. We would love to hear from you!