Uncategorized • January 4, 2021

3 Must-Do’s When Selling Your Home

by Concetta Gallo

3 Must-Do’s When Selling Your House This Year | MyKCM

It’s exciting to put a house on the market and to think about making new memories in new spaces. However, despite the anticipation of what’s to come, we can still have deep sentimental attachments to the home we’re leaving behind. Growing emotions can help or hinder a sale depending on how we manage them.

When it comes to the bottom line, homeowners need to know what it takes to avoid costly mistakes when it’s time to move. Being mindful and prepared for the process can help you stay on the right track when selling your house this year.

1. Price Your Home Right

When inventory is low, like it is in the current market, it’s common to think buyers will pay whatever we ask when setting a listing price. Believe it or not, that’s not always true. Don’t forget that the buyer’s bank will send an appraisal to determine the fair value for your house. The bank will not lend more than what the house is worth, so be aware that you might need to renegotiate the price after the appraisal. A real estate professional will help you set the true value of your home.

2. Keep Your Emotions in Check

Today, homeowners are living in their houses for a longer period of time. Since 1985, the average tenure, or the time a homeowner has owned their home, has increased from 5 to 10 years (as shown in the graph below):This is several years longer than what used to be the historical norm. The side effect, however, is when you stay in one place for so long, you may get even more emotionally attached to your space. If it’s the first home you bought or the house where your children grew up, it very likely means something extra special to you. Every room has memories, and it’s hard to detach from the sentimental value.

For some homeowners, that makes it even harder to negotiate and separate the emotional value of the house from the fair market price. That’s why you need a real estate professional to help you with the negotiations along the way.

3. Stage Your Home Properly

We’re generally quite proud of our décor and how we’ve customized our houses to make them our own unique homes, but not all buyers will feel the same way about your design. That’s why it’s so important to make sure you stage your house with the buyer in mind.

Buyers want to envision themselves in the space so it truly feels like it could be their own. They need to see themselves inside with their furniture and keepsakes – not your pictures and decorations. Stage and declutter so they can visualize their own dreams as they walk down the hall. A real estate professional can help you with tips to get your home ready to stage and sell.

Bottom Line

Today’s sellers’ market might be your best chance to make a move. If you’re considering selling your house, let’s connect so you have the help need to navigate through the process while prioritizing these must-do’s.a

Uncategorized • November 17, 2020

Luxury townhomes vs. Single Family Homes — Key Differences for Homeowne

by Concetta Gallo

by Concetta “Connie” Gallo

Photo by Ricarda Molck via Pixabay

More and more communities are creating spaces for both individual homes and multifamily townhomes. Both styles offer lots of space, comfortable living and access to a neighborhood’s amenities — but there are some key differences that might make one style more suitable for you than another. Learning more about the differences between these styles of home can help you make the best possible decision for your family and needs.

Luxury Townhomes vs. Single Family Homes — What’s the Difference?

When luxury homes and townhomes are in the same neighborhood, they often have similar design styles, interiors and access to amenities, but there are some key differences to be aware of. Consider the following when you choose your next home.

Your family size: How much space do you need, both now and in the future? A growing family may find that a bedroom is needed for each child and that more living space is better — or will be in the future. Singles or retirees may need a guestroom and space to entertain, but not a lot of extra bedrooms or living space, so a smaller, more compact townhome may be the best bet.

How much maintenance will you do? Do you love to garden, enjoy caring for the yard and the exterior of your home? If so, then a single family home will give you the space you need without being burdensome when it comes to maintenance. If you prefer to enjoy landscaping, hardscaping and even external maintenance and features that are cared for by someone else, then a townhome is likely a better option.

How do you feel about stairs? It may not matter now, but there may be a day in the future that a single level home serves you better than a home with stairs. Many, but not all townhomes are multilevel, so be sure you are comfortable with steps (or have space to make accommodations later). SIngle family homes are often (but not always) on a single level, making the entire home accessible.

Will you resell the home? If you expect to move again in a few years, then consider the resale value of the property. Your realtor is the best source of information here and can help you determine if one type of home moves more swiftly in your current location. Some markets can’t keep up with demand for low-maintenance townhomes, while others have a huge demand for family homes. Knowing the preferences in your own area can help you determine how easy it will be to sell if you need to.

Which Home is Right for You?

Consider both your current needs and any potential future changes when you choose between these models. If you know you will have kids and want a big yard in the future, then a single family home is likely your best bet, even if you are not expecting right now. If you are enjoying your golden years, there may come a time that a big property and the care it needs may be too much for you — investing in a stunning and comfortable townhome now will ensure you are comfortable later.

Properties

Uncategorized • November 17, 2020

Tailor Your Home Search to Your Budget

by Concetta Gallo

by Concetta “Connie” Gallo 10/22/2020

For those who want to simplify the homebuying process, crafting a budget is ideal. Because if you tailor your house search to your finances, you can eliminate the risk of spending beyond your means to acquire your dream residence.

Now, let’s take a look at three tips to help you budget for the homebuying journey.

1. Analyze Your Financial Situation

Request a copy of your credit report – you’ll be glad you did. You are eligible to receive a free copy of your credit report annually from each of the three credit reporting bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion). Once you have your credit report, you can assess your credit score and take steps to improve it as needed.

Getting your credit report can help you identify outstanding debt and other financial issues that may make it tough to acquire a house. If you can correct these issues today, you can eliminate the risk that they could impact your ability to buy your dream residence in the near future.

2. Consider Your Homebuying Expenses

The price of a home is one of many financial considerations that a buyer will need to evaluate during the property buying journey. Fortunately, if you map out your homebuying expenses, you can ensure that you’ll have the finances available to cover these costs as you pursue your dream home.

For example, a property inspection may be used to assess a house’s condition before you finalize a home purchase. This inspection will require you to hire a professional home inspector, so you will need to make sure you have the money available to cover the cost of this homebuying expense.

You should consider home closing costs as well. And if you start saving for home closing fees and other homebuying expenses, you won’t have to worry about scrambling to get the money to cover these costs as you navigate the property buying journey.

3. Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage

Pre-approval for a mortgage is a must, regardless of your homebuying goals. If you meet with a variety of banks and credit unions, you can analyze your home financing options and select a mortgage that suits you perfectly.

Banks and credit unions are happy to teach you about different types of mortgages and how each type of mortgage works. Plus, if you have any mortgage questions, banks and credit unions are ready to respond to your queries right away.

As you prepare to pursue your dream house, you also may want to hire a real estate agent. In addition to helping you streamline your search for your ideal residence, a real estate agent can put you in touch with the top mortgage professionals in your area, help you plan ahead for various homebuying expenses and much more.

If you want to conduct a successful home search, it may be a good idea to prepare a homebuying budget. Thanks to the aforementioned tips, you can craft a homebuying budget so you can accelerate the process of acquiring your dream house.

Buyer Tips

Uncategorized • October 20, 2020

Do You Have Enough Money Saved for a Down Payment?

by Concetta Gallo

One of the biggest misconceptions for first-time homebuyers is how much you’ll need to save for a down payment. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t always have to put 20% down to buy a house. Here’s how it breaks down.

A recent survey by Point2Homes mentions that 74% of millennials (ages 25-40) say they’re interested in purchasing a home over the next 12 months. The study notes, “88% say they have significantly less savings than the average national down payment amount, which is $62,600.”

Thankfully, $62,600 is not the amount every buyer needs for a down payment in the United States. There are many different options available, especially for first-time homebuyers (millennial or not). That amount can also be significantly less, depending on the purchase price of the house.

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), “The median existing-home price for all housing types in August was $310,600.” (These are the latest numbers available). NAR also indicates that:

“In 2019, the median down payment was 12 percent for all buyers, six percent for first-time buyers, and 16 percent for repeat buyers.” (See graph below):

That means if a qualified first-time buyer purchases a home at today’s median price, $310,600, with a 6% down payment, in reality, the down payment only amounts to $18,636. That’s nowhere near $62,600.

Knowing there are also programs like FHA where the down payment can be as low as 3.5% of the purchase price for a first-time buyer, that up-front cost could be significantly less – as little as $10,871 for the same home noted above. There are also other programs like USDA and loans for Veterans that waive down payment requirements.

The Point2Homes study also shares how much millennials have indicated they’ve saved for a down payment. As we can see in the graph below, 39% have already saved enough for a down payment on a median-priced home. Another 47% are close to reaching that goal, depending on the purchase price of the home.Unfortunately, the lack of knowledge about the homebuying process is keeping many motivated first-time buyers on the sidelines. That’s why it’s important to contact a local real estate professional to understand the requirements in your local area if you want to buy a home. A trusted agent and your lender can guide you through the process.

Bottom Line

Be careful not to let big myths about homebuying keep you and your family out of the housing market. Let’s connect to discuss your options today.

Uncategorized • October 1, 2020

What Should be on Your Home Buying Checklist?

by Concetta Gallo

by Concetta “Connie” Gallo 08/13/2020

Regardless of when or where you search for a house, a home buying checklist is essential. With this checklist in hand, you can quickly and effortlessly discover a residence that suits you perfectly.

Now, let’s take a look at three factors to incorporate into your home buying checklist.

1. Your Home Buying Timeline

Account for how much time is available to find and purchase a house. That way, you can boost the likelihood of getting the most out of the time and resources at your disposal.

As you create a home buying checklist, consider how much time you have before you need to relocate from your current address. Then, you can see how much time you have to pursue your dream home and evaluate the steps you will need to take to make that process run smoothly.

2. Your Home Must-Haves and Wants

Consider what you absolutely require from your new home. For instance, if you need a house that is close to your office in the city, you should check out homes in or near the city itself. Or, if you require a home that offers ample space for you and your children, you should hone your search to residences that have two or more bedrooms.

Of course, it helps to create a list of home wants and needs when you develop a house buying checklist. With the ability to evaluate your home needs at any time, you will be better equipped when deciding if a particular house is right for you.

3. Your Home Buying Budget

You know you want to purchase a house, but your current financial situation may be limited. Fortunately, if you prepare a home buying budget, you will know how much you can spend on a residence and map out your search accordingly.

Oftentimes, it helps to meet with credit unions or banks before you begin a home search. Credit unions and banks can teach you about different types of mortgages and how they work. Plus, these financial institutions can help you get pre-approved for a mortgage.

For those who want to streamline the home buying journey, it’s a good idea to hire a real estate agent, too. A real estate agent can help you craft a home buying checklist, as well as provide tips and guidance as you search for your ideal house.

A real estate agent understands what it takes to find a terrific house at a budget-friendly price. First, a real estate agent will help a buyer evaluate the local real estate sector and narrow their home search. A real estate agent will also help a buyer discover a home that matches their expectations. Finally, a real estate agent will work with a buyer to put together a competitive offer to purchase this residence.

Craft a home buying checklist today – you will be happy you did. Once you have a home buying checklist, you can more seamlessly navigate the house buying journey.

Uncategorized • October 1, 2020

Does Your House Listing Stand Out to Buyers?

by Concetta Gallo

by Concetta “Connie” Gallo 09/03/2020

A home listing presents a valuable opportunity. If you allocate time and resources to craft an engaging and informative listing, you could differentiate your house from the competition. Perhaps most important, your listing could help you speed up the home selling process.

There are many things you can do to help your house listing stand out to buyers, such as:

1. Include High-Resolution Photos of Your Home

Incorporate high-resolution photos of your home into your listing – you will be happy you did. If you use photos to show off your home’s true beauty, buyers may instantly fall in love with your residence.

Before you take photos of your home, you should clean as much as possible. That way, you can show buyers your house’s full potential.

Also, if you require additional assistance, you can always hire a real estate photographer. This professional can help you capture first-rate images of your house that you can immediately integrate into your listing.

2. Provide Accurate Information About Your Home

There is no need to stretch the truth in your house listing. In fact, those who fail to provide accurate details about a home in a listing may encounter problems that ultimately slow down the house selling cycle.

Learn as much as you can about your home, and leverage the information at your disposal to highlight your house’s features in your listing. Then, you can use your listing to teach a buyer about your residence.

3. Be Clear and Concise

Jargon is problematic in many home listings. If your house listing includes assorted terms and phrases that are tough to understand, your listing may alienate potential buyers.

As you craft a home listing, try to be as clear and concise as possible. You should strive to be objective in your house listing, too. And if you are unsure if your listing is easy to read, you may want to have a friend or family member check it out and provide feedback.

For those who strive to seamlessly navigate the house selling journey, you may want to hire a real estate agent. This housing market professional can help you craft an effective home listing, as well as overcome myriad challenges during the home selling journey.

A real estate agent understands home selling challenges and can help you prepare accordingly. Thus, if you are unsure about how to price your home, a real estate agent can help you establish a competitive initial asking price for your residence. On the other hand, if you are uncertain about whether to accept a buyer’s offer to purchase, a real estate agent can provide a recommendation about how to proceed.

As you prepare for the home selling journey, you should try to distinguish your house listing from all others. If you take advantage of the aforementioned tips, you could produce a home listing that garners buyers’ attention. And as a result, you could accelerate the home selling journey.

Selling Your Home

Uncategorized • October 1, 2020

Making an informed decision about whether to submit an offer to purchase a residence is key.

by Concetta Gallo

Should You Submit an Offer to Purchase a Home?

by Concetta “Connie” Gallo 10/01/2020

Deciding whether to submit an offer to purchase a house may prove to be difficult. Fortunately, we’re here to help you weigh the pros and cons of submitting a homebuying proposal so you can make the best-possible decision.

Now, let’s take a look at three tips to help you determine whether now is the right time to submit an offer to purchase a residence.

1. Evaluate Your Budget

If you believe you’ve found your dream home, you should take a look at your budget. That way, you can verify whether you’ll be able to afford this residence both now and in the future.

Oftentimes, it helps to get pre-approved for a mortgage before you start a house search. If you meet with banks and credit unions, you can learn about all of the mortgage options at your disposal. Then, you can select a mortgage that allows you to pursue a house with a budget in hand.

2. Consider Your Homebuying Criteria

You want to discover your dream residence as quickly as possible, but it is paramount to find a house that you can enjoy for years to come. If you have a list of homebuying criteria, you may be able to quickly determine whether a residence is right for you.

As you craft homebuying criteria, think about what you want to find in your dream residence. For instance, if you’ve always wanted to own a house on a beach, you can narrow your home search accordingly. On the other hand, if you would like to own a home that has an above-ground swimming pool but can live without this feature if necessary, you should include an above-ground swimming pool as a low-priority item on your homebuying checklist.

3. Assess the Housing Market

The housing market often fluctuates, and a buyer’s market today may shift into seller’s favor tomorrow. If you analyze the housing market closely, you can differentiate a buyer’s market from a seller’s one. You then can decide whether to submit an offer to purchase or hold off on providing a homebuying proposal until housing market conditions improve.

To distinguish a buyer’s market from a seller’s market, it generally is a good idea to look at the prices of recently sold houses in your city or town. You also should find out how long these residences were available before they sold. By reviewing this housing market data, you can assess the demand for houses in your city or town.

Lastly, as you debate whether to submit an offer to purchase a residence, you may want to consult with a real estate agent. This housing market professional is happy to provide honest, unbiased homebuying recommendations. As a result, a real estate agent can help you perform an in-depth evaluation of a home and determine whether to offer to buy this house.

Make an informed decision about whether to submit an offer to purchase a residence – use the aforementioned tips, and you’ll be better equipped than ever before to decide how to proceed with any house, at any time.

Uncategorized • September 2, 2020

Bidding Wars

by Concetta Gallo

Three Ways to Win in a Bidding War

With so few houses for sale today and low mortgage rates driving buyer activity, bidding wars are becoming more common. Multiple-offer scenarios are heating up, so it’s important to get pre-approved before you start your search. This way, you can put your best foot forward – quickly and efficiently – if you’re planning to buy a home this season.

Javier Vivas, Director of Economic Research at realtor.com, explains:

“COVID-19 has accelerated earlier trends, bringing even more buyers than the market can handle. In many markets, fierce competition, bidding wars, and multiple offer scenarios may be the common theme in the weeks to come.”

Here are three things you can do to make your offer a competitive one when you’re ready to make your move.

1. Be Ready

A recent survey shows that only 52% of active homebuyers obtained a pre-approval letter before they began their home search. That means about half of active buyers missed out on this key part of the process.

Buyers who are pre-approved are definitely a step ahead when it’s time to make an offer. Having a pre-approval letter indicating you’re a qualified buyer shows sellers you’re serious. It’s often a deciding factor that can tip the scale in your direction if there’s more than one offer on a home. It’s best to contact a mortgage professional to start your pre-approval process early, so you’re in the best position right from the start of your home search.

2. Present Your Best Offer

In a highly competitive market, it’s common for sellers to pick a date and time to review all offers on a house at one time. If this is the case, you may not have an opportunity to negotiate back and forth with the sellers. As a matter of fact, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) notes:

“Not only are properties selling quickly, but they are also getting more offers. On average, REALTORS® reported nearly three offers per sold property in July 2020.”

Make sure the offer you’re presenting is the best one the sellers receive. A real estate professional can help you make sure your offer is a fair and highly competitive one.

3. Act Fast

With existing homes going like hotcakes, there’s no time to waste in the process. NAR reports how the speed of home sales is ramping up:

“Properties typically remained on the market for 22 days in July, seasonally down from 24 days in June and from 29 days in July 2019. Sixty-eight percent of homes sold in July 2020 were on the market for less than a month.”

In addition, NAR notes:

“Total existing-home sales…jumped 24.7% from June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.86 million in July. The previous record monthly increase in sales was 20.7% in June of this year. Sales as a whole rose year-over-year, up 8.7% from a year ago (5.39 million in July 2019).”

As you can see, the market is gaining steam. For two consecutive months houses have sold very quickly. Essentially, you may not have time to sleep on it or shop around when you find a home you love. Chances are, someone else loves it too. If you take your time, it may not be available when you’re ready to commit.

Bottom Line

The housing market is very strong right now, and buyers are scooping up available homes faster than they’re coming to market. If you’re planning to purchase a home this year, let’s connect to discuss the trends in our current area, so you’re ready to compete – and win.

Uncategorized • July 9, 2020

Essential Tips for Homeowners

by Concetta Gallo

Photo by ConvertKit on Unsplash

Up to 9.2 million Americans will purchase their first home in 2020. Homeownership is a wonderful and sometimes overwhelming experience. It’s exciting to have a place that you can personalize and call your own. However, owning a home can quickly become a burden if you don’t plan carefully. Keep in mind these five tips to make your first-time home-buying experience a success.

Essential tips for first-time homebuyers

1. Save until you have a 20 percent down payment.

Paying cash for a home is out of reach of most families. However, there are big advantages if you have at least a 20 percent down payment to offer. This automatically means that you won’t have to pay for private mortgage insurance (PMI), something that generally adds a full one percent to the cost of your loan. In addition, a sizable down payment means you’ll likely have equity in your home when it comes time to sell.

2. Get pre-approved for a loan.

When shopping for your first home, it’s easy to fall in love with a property that may be a little beyond what you can comfortably afford. Getting pre-approved for a loan lets you know what you can safely pay for home payments. Plus, the sellers will know that you’re serious about buying and that financing won’t be a problem for you.

3. Get your agent’s advice on how much to bid.

Real estate markets vary dramatically around the United States. Your local real estate agent is well-suited to help you navigate the market in your particular region. In some high-demand areas, you may need to offer more than the listed price, but in most areas, a seller is likely to accept an offer below the listing price, especially if the property has been on the market for a few months.

4. Be prepared for closing costs.

Closing costs, the money that you’ll owe at closing for property taxes, title insurance, the title company’s fee and other related costs, can be a surprise to a first-time homebuyer. These costs can vary between 3 and 5 percent of the total purchase price. The average closing costs for a single family home is $3,700 and is due when you sign the purchase papers, usually between 30 and 45 days after your offer is accepted.

5. Make sure you have an emergency fund.

While it may be tempting to sink your all of savings into your new home, what with a deposit, closing costs, insurance and doing any necessary remodeling, it’s important to put a few months’ mortgage payments in an emergency fund just in case life throws you a curveball. Many things can affect even the most responsible homebuyer’s ability to pay their mortgage, things such as illness, job loss or a reduction in work hours. Plus, you’ll sleep better at night knowing that you have that financial cushion.

Uncategorized • May 14, 2020

Pre-approval vs. Pre-qualified

by Concetta Gallo

close-up-photo-of-man-wearing-black-suit-jacket-doing-thumbs-684385.jpg

Which Is Better: Preapproval or Prequalified Letter?

by Concetta “Connie” Gallo 05/14/2020

Photo by Lukas from Pexels

If you’re ready to get serious about your home buying journey, one of the first steps is seeing various lenders. As you become more familiar with the process, you’ll likely hear the terms preapproval and prequalified mentioned again and again. We’ll look at how each letter works and what you should know before approaching a home seller.

Prequalification Vs. Preapproval

The key difference between a preapproval and prequalification is that the preapproval letter is much more involved. With a prequalification, the lender will look at the general state of the buyer’s assets before estimating how much home they’re likely to afford. Lenders are not diving into the buyer’s past, which can make real estate agents wary of accepting prequalification letters.

Preapproval

With a preapproval letter, you’re typically asked to provide the following:

Two year’s worth of W2s
A month’s worth of paystubs
Two month’s worth of bank statements
Social security card

Considering the amount of paperwork you need to provide (and the lender needs to process), preapproval letters can take months to generate. On the other hand, a prequalification letter can be procured in little more than 24 hours.

Additional Facts

Here are a few facts that can help you know more about what to expect:

Preapproval letters can cost several hundred dollars to generate. We recommend starting with your financial institution because you already have a relationship with them, and they may not charge as much.
You may be able to lock down interest rates at the time of your preapproval letter. This is exceptionally helpful for those who want to know what their payments will be down to the penny.
Make sure to calculate closing costs beforehand so you know exactly how much you’ll owe out-of-pocket.

Does It Help to Have Both?

Not necessarily. Prequalification letters are generally recommended for homebuyers who may not know for sure if they’re ready to buy. It’s a general indication of how much money you’ll get, which can help you decide if it’s enough to get a preapproval letter. If you’re in a buyer’s market, you may be able to get away with a prequalification. However, it’s generally the far less coveted letter that you can have.

A preapproval letter is definitely the best letter you can take to a seller when you’re ready to make a bid on a home, but it’s important to note that even these letters may fall through. For example, if a major event occurs (e.g., a job loss, etc.) between when your financial institution issued the letter and when you close on the home. Talking to a real estate agent or financial expert can make it easier to navigate it all.