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Friday, March 29, 2013

Combat buyer's remorse

Most consumers are excited after buying a home and eager to begin personalizing their new property to their tastes. But owning a home is a large responsibility, and some individuals become nervous after the sale is completed and begin to have doubts about their new investment. Buyer’s remorse is a common occurrence after making such a large transaction, but just because individuals may have some reservations does not mean they made the wrong choice.

There are several benefits to owning a home and consumers who are regretting their purchase can overcome these feelings by adopting a new mindset about their new house.

Address the source of the problem

One of the first steps new owners should take when they’re feeling remorseful about their decision is to address why they feel the way they do, according to AOL Real Estate. Buyer’s remorse can occur for several reasons, ranging from dissatisfaction with the layout or features of the home to stress over mortgage obligations. By knowing which aspect of the purchase is making them nervous, new homeowners can find solutions to their fears.

Take action

There are several ways to overcome buyer’s remorse, and many of them just require a change in a homeowner’s mindset. For example, individuals who are flustered by the financial obligations associated with owning a home may be looking at the costs as a burden. However, taking time to think about the positive financial aspects of homeownership, such as building equity, strengthening their credit and bolstering their retirement, can demonstrate to homeowners that their purchase will work to their advantage in their futures.

In cases where homeowners are dissatisfied with the tangible features of their home, it’s important to design the house to their tastes to make it feel more personal. For example, some consumers may think rooms are too small and fixtures are too old. But knowing how to decorate and paint to maximize space, and replacing fixtures and appliances to give them a fresher feel can make new buyers feel at home. In addition, homeowners should remember that there is nothing about their home that must stay the same. Individuals may want to spruce up the house by upgrading the floors in their living room or counters in their kitchen. Even the most modest improvements can give a room a new look.

My name is Scott Grebner and I have been helping my clients realize their own personal real estate dreams. Real estate is a relationship-based business that works best when client relationships are built on trust and confidence. My goal is having clients be completely satisfied with the professional and caring service they have received.

The role of technology is rapidly changing how the real-estate market functions in this country today. Gerharter Realtors is embracing these new mediums of communication to better serve our customers. We have created our e-family to better place important information in your hands to help you with your housing needs. As a part of Gerharter Enterprises we have access to a broader range of additional services and resources to better assist you. Visit me at my Web Site, Blog, Facebook, Twitter, You Tube or Pinterest. Please check out our helpful resources on Sellers Tips, Buyers Tips, Foreclosure Tips, and Mortgage Tips. For a personal consultation please visit our Office.

It seems that the dream of past generations was to pay off a mortgage. The dream of today’s young families is to get one. I would love to hear from you, about your Real Estate Dreams and questions.

Email me at scott@gerharterrealtors.com.                                                  

Identify your wish list vs. your must have list

When dreaming of a first home the options are endless. From a backyard oasis with a patio and swimming pool, to a gourmet kitchen with the most up-to-date appliances, plenty of space to entertain friends or a gorgeous master bedroom suite, no first time home buyers wish list is the same. However, in reality, it is not always possible to find a first home with everything, so buyers must decide in advance what items are “must-haves” and “nice-to-haves” on a first home wish list.

To help first-time home buyers, the professionals at Coldwell Banker Real Estate have provided the following five tips to help determine what they will need vs. what is nice to have in a first home.

Know your budget: The first step to creating a list of “must-haves” is to be realistic about what is affordable and determine a budget. Buyers should enlist a local real estate agent to help with the home search. An agent with years of expertise understands the local market and can help buyers find comparable home prices and determine what is affordable in their budget.

Find that perfect “location, location, location”: Everyone has heard this phrase before when it comes to real estate, and while the surrounding neighborhood and home itself may improve over time, the physical location will remain the same. Buyers should determine in advance how close they would like to live to their work, schools or extended family. A short commute to work, proximity to family or having easy access to highways and mass transit are often “must-haves.” The location will also determine some home amenities that are possible or difficult to have within the buyer’s budget. For example, if a buyer has to live close to work in a big city, they may have to cross a garage or outdoor space from their wish list.

Determine non-negotiable accommodations: A comfortable place for everyone in the family is always a “must have.” For a family of four, three bedrooms may be non-negotiable. For a family with grandparents living at home, an extra bedroom on the first floor may also be non-negotiable. After determining the budget and neighborhood, the most important factor is that everyone living in the home has a comfortable place to stay.

Pick a lifestyle fit: After fulfilling the most important needs, buyers should find out what features of a home will best fit their lifestyle. For example, buyers who love to cook and entertain may want a home with a gourmet kitchen and decide to give up the large master bedroom. Or, buyers who love to spend time outdoors may compromise a large family room for a big backyard.

Have a vision: When looking at a first home, buyers should avoid getting distracted by decorations, paint or flooring that may not fit their taste. Items such as paint color or carpeting are easy to fix and always worth compromising on. If everything else about a home fits the wish list, a new coat of paint and a little redecorating are easy finishing touches on a dream home.

My name is Scott Grebner and I have been helping my clients realize their own personal real estate dreams. Real estate is a relationship-based business that works best when client relationships are built on trust and confidence. My goal is having clients be completely satisfied with the professional and caring service they have received.

The role of technology is rapidly changing how the real-estate market functions in this country today. Gerharter Realtors is embracing these new mediums of communication to better serve our customers. We have created our e-family to better place important information in your hands to help you with your housing needs. As a part of Gerharter Enterprises we have access to a broader range of additional services and resources to better assist you. Visit me at my Web Site, Blog, Facebook, Twitter, You Tube or Pinterest. Please check out our helpful resources on Sellers Tips, Buyers Tips, Foreclosure Tips, and Mortgage Tips. For a personal consultation please visit our Office.

It seems that the dream of past generations was to pay off a mortgage. The dream of today’s young families is to get one. I would love to hear from you, about your Real Estate Dreams and questions.

Email me at scott@gerharterrealtors.com.

A Short Guide to Real Estate Lingo and Acronyms

Sponsored By Realtor.com

Real estate ads are usually full of acronyms and terms that are unfamiliar to first-time buyers. Here’s a cheat sheet to let you in on the lingo.

4B/2B — four bedrooms and two bathrooms. “Bedroom” usually means a sleeping area with a window and a closet, but the definition varies in different places. A “full bathroom” is a room with a toilet, a sink and a bathtub. A “three-quarter bathroom” has a toilet, a sink and a shower. A “half bathroom” or powder room has only a toilet and a sink.

assum. fin. — assumable financing

closing costs — the entire package of miscellaneous expenses paid by the buyer and the seller when the real estate deal closes. These costs include the brokerage commission, mortgage-related fees, escrow or attorney’s settlement charges, transfer taxes, recording fees, title insurance and so on. Closing costs are generally paid through escrow.

CMA — comparative market analysis or competitive market analysis. A CMA is a report that shows prices of homes that are comparable to a subject home and that were recently sold, are currently on the market or were on the market, but not sold within the listing period.
contingency — a provision of an agreement that keeps the agreement from being fully legally binding until a certain condition is met. One example is a buyer’s contractual right to obtain a professional home inspection before purchasing the home.

dk – deck

expansion pot’l — expansion potential mean that there’s extra space on the lot or the possibility of adding a room or even an upper level, subject to local zoning restrictions.

fab pentrm — fabulous pentroom, a room on top (but under the roof) that has great views

FDR — formal dining room

fixture — anything of value that is permanently attached to or a part of real property. (Real estate is legally called “real property,” while movables are called “personal property.”) Examples of fixtures include installed wall-to-wall carpeting, light fixtures, window coverings, landscaping and so on. Fixtures are a frequent subject of buyer and seller disputes. When in doubt, get it in writing.

frplc, fplc, FP – fireplace

gar — garage (garden is usually abbrevated as “gard.”)

grmet kit — gourmet kitchen

HDW, HWF, Hdwd — hardwood floors

hi ceils — high ceilings

in-law potential — potential for a separate apartment, subject to local zoning restrictions

large E-2 plan — this is one of several floorplans available in a specific building

listing — an agreement between a real estate broker and a home owner that allows the broker to market and arrange for the sale of the owner’s home. The word “listing” is also used to refer to the for-sale home itself. A home being sold by the owner without a real estate agent isn’t a “listing.”
lo dues — low homeowner’s association dues. But find out how “low” the dues are compared to other dues in the area.

lock box — locked key-holding device affixed to a for-sale home so real estate professionals can gain entry into the home after obtaining permission from the listing agent

lsd pkg. — leased parking area. May come with additional cost.

MLS — Multiple Listing Service. An MLS is an organization that collects, compiles and distributes information about homes listed for sale by its members, who are real estate brokers. Membership isn’t open to the general public, although selected MLS data may be sold to real estate listings Web sites. MLSs are local or regional. There is no MLS covering the whole country.

nr bst schls — near the best schools

pot’l – potential

pvt – private

pwdr rm — half bathroom or powder room

REALTOR® — a real estate broker or sales associate who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS®. Not all real estate agents are REALTORS®.

title insurance — an insurance policy that protects a lender’s or owner’s interest in real property from assorted types of unexpected or fraudulent claims of ownership. It’s customary for the buyer to pay for the lender’s title insurance policy.

upr — upper floor

vw, vu, vws, vus — view(s)

My name is Scott Grebner and I have been helping my clients realize their own personal real estate dreams. Real estate is a relationship-based business that works best when client relationships are built on trust and confidence. My goal is having clients be completely satisfied with the professional and caring service they have received.

The role of technology is rapidly changing how the real-estate market functions in this country today. Gerharter Realtors is embracing these new mediums of communication to better serve our customers. We have created our e-family to better place important information in your hands to help you with your housing needs. As a part of Gerharter Enterprises we have access to a broader range of additional services and resources to better assist you. Visit me at my Web Site, Blog, Facebook, Twitter, You Tube or Pinterest. Please check out our helpful resources on Sellers Tips, Buyers Tips, Foreclosure Tips, and Mortgage Tips. For a personal consultation please visit our Office.

It seems that the dream of past generations was to pay off a mortgage. The dream of today’s young families is to get one. I would love to hear from you, about your Real Estate Dreams and questions.
Email me at scott@gerharterrealtors.com.                                                    
 

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