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Jutta "Utah" Burden

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Inspiration For Today

by Tom Rusk and Randy Read
Monday Morning Coffee

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

"If you want to learn something new, concentrate on getting that 'right feeling' that is true to yourself.
Take the risk of letting go the precious little control you've struggled to gain, letting go enough
to immerse yourself in what you are doing. Then - do it!”

- Drs. Tom Rusk & Randy Read


THE SEARCH IS OVER!

Have you ever read Shel Silverstein's wonderful book, "The Missing Piece and the Big O"? It's a whimsical fable that has touched readers of all ages. It chronicles the search most of us have undertaken at one time or another in our lives to find the one person who can make us whole.

As the "Missing Piece" searches, it encounters other "parts." Some of them fit, but cannot roll. Others have too many pieces missing - while still others have too many pieces. The missing piece continues the futile search until one day it meets the "Big O" - a whole (not a part) with no pieces missing.

Thinking it had, at last, found its whole, the Missing Piece exclaims, "I think you are the one I have been waiting for - maybe I am your missing piece . . . I was hoping that I could roll with you." The Big O replied, "But I am not missing a piece . . . perhaps you could roll by yourself."

How often have we all felt that we needed someone else to be whole (or to roll) - not realizing that we are all in fact already the "Big O." We are already self-contained, have the ability to roll in any direction we like, and need nothing else to achieve every dream we've ever had. Then, unexpectedly, we find that there are others who are also "Big O's," with whom we can share our own "wholeness."

If I've lost you with this mysterious tale, go by the library or pick up a copy of this unusual story. Trust me - you'll understand. It's the type of book you can give to a loved one who may be feeling like a "Missing Piece."

Questions to Ask Before Listing your Home

by Jutta "Utah" Burden

Questions to Ask Before Listing your Home

Choosing the right Realtor to sell your home can be difficult, especially when they all sound so convincing. The following list of questions will not only help you select the right Realtor, but will also help you get the very best from the agent you choose.

1. Do you work as a full-time Realtor?

2. Do you handle incoming property inquiries?

3. How many listings do you have at this time, and how does this work to my benefit?

Image: What Ever Home Seller Should Know

4. Do you have a help system to see that no details are overlooked?

5. How many potential buyers and sellers do you speak with each day? Each week? Each year?

6. In what ways will you encourage other Realtors to sell my home?

7. Do you have references that I can check?

8. How will you set my listing apart from the crowd with out costing me more money?

9. What is my property worth? What listing price do you recommend? How did you arrive at that price?

10. How will you assist in my relocation plans?

11. Do you have a written plan of action designed specifically to sell my property?

12. How will you give interested buyers 24 hour access to my property?

13. How will you make information on my property available to out-of-town buyers?

14. How do you promote properties on the Internet?

Housing Market Adjusts After Seasonal Gains

by Jutta "Utah" Burden

Market Adjusts After Seasonal Gains

Existing-home sales declined slightly after two strong months of growth the previous two months. The National Association of REALTORS (NAR) reported a 2.2 percent drop in existing home sales for the month of October. Analysts are predicting a seasonally adjusted sales volume of 4.43 million units, which include all closed transactions for existing single-family, townhomes, condominiums, and co-ops.  

Existing Home Sales By Region

 NAR economist Lawrence Yun believes the market is on its way to long term recovery. “Sales activity is clearly off the bottom and is attempting to settle into normal sustainable levels,” he said. “Based on current and improving job market conditions, and from attractive affordability conditions, sales should steadily improve to healthier levels of above 5 million by spring of next year.”  

Distressed properties continue to factor into the overall sales landscape and accounted for 34 percent of sales in October. This is down slightly from 35 percent in September. NAR is calling for improvements in the appraisal and loan underwriting to facilitate the transaction process. “A review of recently originated loans suggests that they have overly stringent underwriting standards, with only the highest creditworthy borrowers able to tap into historically low mortgage interest rates. There could be an upside surprise to sales activity if credit availability is opened to more qualified home buyers who are willing to stay well within budget,” Yun said. 

Mortgage Rates Fall to Record LowMortgage rates fell to record lows in October with Freddie Mac reporting the average commitment rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at 4.23 percent, down significantly from 4.95 percent offered in October 2009. With rates so low, buyers are able to stretch their dollar and maximize their purchase power through lower house payments. Contact us for our preferred list of local mortgage planners and take advantage of today’s low interest rates!

 Are You Ready for Winter?  

Winter is one of our favorite times of the year! It’s often easy to overlook your home’s needs with so much going on. Here is a simple checklist of items that can save you money through the winter:  

  • Check for leaks and drafts around the house. Replace weather stripping and re-caulk around doors and windows. Drafty doors and windows will cool off the house and cost you money in heating bills.
  • Inspect your attic’s insulation. Heat rises so adding good insulation can keep the heat from escaping.
  • Check your heating system. Sometimes something as easy as replacing your filter or having simple maintenance done can save on heating costs.
  • Consider changing from standard light bulbs to energy saving bulbs. Winter uses a lot of your electricity so even saving a little here and there will help.

Whether you live in a warm or cold climate, take this opportunity to inspect your home systems. You’ll be money ahead in the long run! Check for all tips

Finding Your Home's Best Selling Price

by Jutta "Utah" Burden

Statistics show that the best opportunity to sell your home is often within the first few weeks of putting it on the market. This can be good news, or bad, depending on your motivation. Some homes sell right away, while others sit on the market for months without a single offer.

To maximize your selling opportunity, it is important that your home be priced right. What is the right price? Many factors will determine your home's best asking price. Our current real estate market has a lot to do with it. Using sound judgment, research, and experience, a good agent can help you determine the right price for your home. They will help you evaluate your location, the recent sold data, current market trends, and your home's special features that set it apart from the competition.

Image: What Ever Home Seller Should Know

"What's wrong with pricing my home a little high?" Price your home too high and most buyers won't even bother looking at it. Over priced homes tend to sell the competition first. This scares away many qualified buyers simply because they can go elsewhere and get more house for the money. As the house sits on the market, people will shy away from it thinking there must be something wrong with the home.

Should I under-price my home? Price it too low and you could lose thousands of dollars. There are times when you will attract multiple bidders making multiple offers, but this is only recommended when you need a faster-than-average sale.

In most circumstances, pricing your home correctly from the very beginning will net you the best results in both time and money. To find out your home's perfect selling price, contact us for a No Obligation Market Analysis. We will take the guesswork out the entire process and suggest an accurate market price for your home. It has never been easier!!

7 Essential Steps to Selling Success of your Home

by Jutta "Utah" Burden

Knowing and using these 7 essential, yet simple steps is crucial to achieving the best deal possible - whether you decide to sell your home yourself or hire a professional real estate agent to help you.

Take a look at the seven-step system I have outlined in this report. Then, if this new approach to marketing your home makes sense and you want to learn more, I'll show you how to skillfully and specifically apply each of these critical steps to get your home sold for the most money in the shortest amount of time!

7 crucial steps you must take to get top dollar for your home in today's technically savvy world!

Image: What Ever Home Seller Should Know

1. Understanding the "Total Market" concept of positioning your home to attract the greatest number of buyers.

2. Using the "Total Market" concept to accurately appraise the value of your home. (The standard CMA is simply not enough!)

3. Pricing Your Home to Appear lower than market value, yet actually asking for more
than market value (This one crucial step will get buyers and agents flocking to your door!)

4. Properly advertise and market your home - Using New Technology (Don't use the same old boring ads everyone else is using, and that nobody looks at!)

5. "Detailing" your home for sale. (Your goal is to set your home apart from every other home on the market - instantly attracting buyers to your home.)

6. Learn how to qualify buyers and negotiate offers. (Since we are talking about your money here, the risks of not knowing how to properly qualify and negotiate are too great to ignore or leave to chance!)

7. Understanding and helping the buyer obtain financing, removing contingencies, and closing the sale. (You need a strategy to avoid and eliminate potential problems in escrow, which can undermine your sale!)

The better you understand and systematically apply these seven steps, the better the results you will get. And better results means more money, in less time, with the least amount of hassle possible. Isn't that what you ultimately want, ws for you.hether you decide to sell your home yourself or use the professional services of a licensed agent to help you?

Please let me know if I can help you impliment these step

Increased Home Sales Point to Recovery

by Jutta "Utah" Burden
Recent reports of a national housing recovery are gaining traction as existing-home sales improved upward by 10 percent in September, according to statistics provided by the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). Existing-home sales rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.53 million units, up significantly from the 4.12 million units predicted in August. With housing affordability conditions up 60 percentage points since the peak of the housing boom, many are taking advantage of the current buyers' market.  

Lawrence Yun, chief NAR economist, believes we are witnessing the early stages of recovery. "A housing recovery is taking place but will be choppy at times depending on the duration and impact of a foreclosure moratorium. But the overall direction should be a gradual rising trend in home sales with buyers responding to historically low mortgage interest rates and very favorable affordability conditions," he said

Existing Home Sales By Region

 Freddie Mac reported that the national commitment rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate conventional mortgage fell to a new low of 4.35 percent in September. This is down from the 5.06 percent commitment rate available last year at this time. NAR President Vicki Cox Golder explains that there are abundant opportunities for buyers. "A decade ago, mortgage rates were almost double what they are today, and they’re about one-and-a-half percentage points lower than the peak of the housing boom in 2005," she said. "In addition, home prices are running about 22 percent less than five years ago when they were bid up by the biggest housing rush on record... the median monthly mortgage payment in many areas is less than people are paying for rent." 

"The savings today’s buyers are receiving are not a one-time benefit. Buyers with fixed-rate mortgages will save money every year they are living in their home – this is truly an example of how homeownership builds wealth over the long term," Golder added. 

Tax Credit for Energy ImprovementsAlthough the $8,000 tax credit has expired for first time buyers, many folks are still eligible for another home-related tax credit that's available through the end of the year. The American Recovery and Investment Act of 2009 provides homeowners a tax credit for select energy upgrades on existing homes. Windows, doors, water heaters, insulation and other products are eligible. The tax credit is equal to 30 percent of cost of eligible product, up to $1500 for all improvements combined during 2009 and 2010. Manufacturer certification statements are required to be eligible for the tax credit. More information is available on the EnergyStar.gov website. 
Get Your Home Ready For Sale When preparing your home for sale, a number of simple cosmetic changes often provide the biggest return on investment. Here are three tips to upgrade your house without breaking the bank: 
  • Bring in the light. The right light creates the right mood. Adding lights to dark rooms can make your home feel warm and inviting. Bring outdoor light inside by opening curtains and installing economical sun tubes.
  • Create Space. Many of today's buyers are looking for open rooms. Consider removing unwanted walls to make your home feel more spacious. Buyers will often pay a premium to get a bit of extra room.
  • Replace Flooring. Get rid of that old carpet in the den and replace it with today's newer hardwoods and laminates. You don't have to spend a lot to make a big impression!

These simple tips can help you sell your home and take advantage of our today's market. Please contact us if you have any questions about selling your home. We are here to help!

 

The Seller’s List of 25 Easy Fix-Ups

by Jutta "Utah" Burden

The condition of your home will have a huge impact on how fast it sells, and its eventual selling price. Preparing your home for sale can pay you huge dividends. Many fix ups cost very little and consist mostly of time and some elbow grease. Here are some simple tips to help your home show its best.

INDOORS:

1. Clean the entire home thoroughly. Shampoo carpets, wash walls, clean sills, window screens and blinds. Clean out light fixtures and dust shelving. Get detailed here.

Image: What Ever Home Seller Should Know

2. Clean the clutter from all closets, cupboards and cabinets.

3. Make your rooms look as spacious as possible. Store unnecessary furnishing items that make your home look crowded.

4. Arrange furnishing so that it is easy to walk through your home.

5. Scale down the number of photos, pictures, portraits and posters hanging on walls. Make sure you patch all nail and screw holes.

6. Keep your curtains and draperies open as a rule. You will want your home to show very light and bright. Find ways to screen any unappealing views.

7. Make your kitchen shine. Remove clutter from counter tops and cabinets and store it. Keep your sink clean and clear of any dirty dishes.

8. Clean your refrigerator, inside and out. Make sure that you do the simple things like putting an open box of baking soda in your fridge. Also, remove unnecessary clutter from the door.

9. Clean your oven. Degrease it and keep it looking as good as possible.

10. Keep scented candles burning in the kitchen and bathrooms. Pleasant fragrances will entice buyers to stay longer in your home.

11. Keep bathrooms scrubbed and tidy with fresh soap and neatly hung towels. Try to color coordinate your bathrooms.

12. Keep all sinks in the home clean and repair leaks or slow drains.

13. Go through your entire home and touch up paint. Pay close attention to corners where there is traffic wear. Touch up baseboards, trim and cabinets and cupboards.

14. Place plants or flower arrangements in strategic parts of the home. A splash of color from plants, flowers, pillows or small rugs can give your home some real flair.

15. Make sure that your home is well lit. Put higher wattage bulbs in dark areas or corners. Keep all lights on during showings, even in mid day.

16. Use mirrors on walls if necessary to reflect light and make rooms look larger.

17.Make sure that all door knobs and keyed entries are working. Replace any worn knobs or handles.

OUTDOORS:

1. Clean up all around the house. Remove any debris piles such as wood, firewood and landscape trimmings. Trim all hedges, bushes and shrubbery away from the house. Keep all garden beds weeded and mulched.

2.Put some color by your home's entrance with potted flowers. Keep them watered and looking attractive.

3. Keep all walkways clear, clean and in good repair. This includes your driveways and any parking areas.

4. Keep all outdoor furniture clean and in good repair.

5. Clean your gutters and roof. Keep moss or algae from growing on, in or around them.

6. Keep your yard and lawn areas clean and in good health. A green lawn makes a home look great. Keep your lawn edged and free from weeds.

7. Repair any broken windows, screens, shutter or awnings.

8. Clean your garage area. Remove clutter and make it look organized and as spacious as possible. Try to have nothing in your garage but cars.

The Woodlands Area Real Estate

by Jutta "Utah" Burden

The Woodlands Area Real Estate

The Woodlands Area Real Estate

The Woodlands area has experienced phenomenal growth in the last three decades. Just slightly over thirty years ago, this area was sparsely populated and had just a fraction of the buildings that you find today. In this thirty year period, the population in the Woodlands has grown by about ten times and so has the real estate. While the phenomenal growth is good for business, it also complicates matters for investors in real estate who might not know where to search in such a vibrant and dynamic community.

The Woodlands is a planned community located in Houston, TX. In the whole of metropolitan Houston, no other planned community has anything close to what the Woodlands has to offer in terms of real estate. For the person looking for a home to buy, this area has homes in all manner of styles so that even the most discerning potential homeowner will find a home that is just right. In addition, the price ranges vary substantially depending on a home’s location and the amenities nearby.

What will not disappoint the new homeowner in the Woodlands is the advanced level of amenities in the commercial town. There are quality shopping outlets and trendy restaurants as well as a host of recreation venues. The Woodlands is also home to excellent schools and the parent who brings a family here will be assured of getting a quality school for the young ones.

The Woodlands has ten villages each of which has the amenities fit for a small town. Getting a house, either to buy or rent in any of the ten villages requires the help of a seasoned real estate agent, a person who not only lives and works in the Woodlands but one who has also been present in the area for a long time and has seen the area grow to what it is today.

The village of Grogan’s Mill is the oldest in the group of 10 Woodlands villages and, apart from its proud history, is a well-developed community that provides adequate shopping, dining and recreation facilities for its residents. Creekside Park Village is set beside Lake Paloma and has a Nature Reserve where a myriad of recreation activities such as biking, kayaking and mountain watching keep visitors and residents entertained. The village of Alden Bridge has a population of slightly over twenty thousand and has well developed amenities to keep the new homeowner fully entertained. The village is home to a number of private and public schools, a Village Medical Center and a nearby hospital.

In the Woodlands, one community that seems to stand out is the Carlton Woods community which is a more affluent community when compared to the rest of the villages. The community has a huge park in its neighborhood in addition to many high-end amenities and facilities.

For a community that has so much to offer, the Woodlands is a real attraction to many homeowners. To obtain expert advice on the Woodlands area real estate, it would be a prudent idea to obtain the services of a seasoned realtor-broker.

The Woodlands Market Street- Environment Friendly

by Jutta "Utah" Burden

The Woodlands Market Street: Environment Friendly

The Woodlands Market Street has set the bar for being environment friendly. The proprietors of this community have made sure that the community preserve the environment it is built on. For years, activists have opposed the construction of new subdivisions in areas that they considered as protected. A good number of people have dedicated their lives to keep these areas as pristine as possible. These individuals have concluded that the constant construction of residences have lead to the cutting down of numerous trees and replacing them with brick walls and buildings. However, The Woodlands Market Street has begged to differ and set an example for others to follow.

The Woodlands Market Street is designed with the environment in mind. This community is indeed an eco-friendly village. If you are wondering about the measures the proprietors took in order to make the community eco-friendly, here are some examples.

Using Grass

Instead of covering The Woodlands Market Street with concrete, the architects created a design that will pave way for grassy patches rather. Anywhere you look at the street you will notice areas covered in grass. In fact, majority of the area is covered in grass. Grass reduces the heat being emitted by the concrete therefore enabling the establishments save on energy consumption.

Recycling

Recycling is defined as the method of reprocessing waste materials and transforms it into a different product. The Woodlands Market Street has encouraged the establishments to engage in recycling be providing the customers with re-usable shopping bags and proper garbage segregation. This will allow them to separate reusable items from biodegradable items. The re-usable shopping bags on the other hand will allow the consumers to reduce the amount of plastic shopping bags used whenever they go out to shop or buy groceries.

Go up

In the hopes of conserving space the buildings where constructed in an upward manner rather than outward. This enabled The Woodlands Market Street to save of the land area being used for buildings and more land area for grassy patches and parks. This upward construction is not only reserved for establishments but it also applies to parking areas and garages.

Saving Trees

The problem with construction subdivisions is that trees are cut down. To counter this, trees are planted all over the Woodlands Market Street. More than 500 trees are saved as well as the 24 mature trees rescued from previous projects.

Conserve Energy

The growing number of people residing in one area will result to an increase demand for energy. In order for The Woodlands Market Street to save on energy consumption, they installed solar panels and reflective roofing materials. These reflective roofing materials are not just installed in one building, but are installed on all buildings. Each year they get to save enough energy to power 30 residences at the same time.

Carlton Woods Luxury Homes

by Jutta "Utah" Burden

Carlton Woods Luxury Homes - How to Find the Right One for You

Admit it: whenever you look at elite neighborhoods with country estates, chic condominiums, and elegant mansions, you can't help but dream of living there. Well, why don't you, then? If you really want to live in a luxury home, then Carlton Woods luxury homes should be the first ones you look at. Here are several helpful tips that can help you plan your potential future purchase to a tee.

While looking at Carlton Woods luxury homes, you should talk to the people in the neighborhood whenever you can to find out what kind of problems they face and ask about the neighborhood amenities that they enjoy the most. Try to get a copy of the homeowner's association guidelines and rules while you're there, as well. This will give you an idea of how strict they are when it comes to the amount of cars in the driveway and the house color, among other things.

Take a look at the zoning laws, too. This happens to be a vital thing to take into consideration, so you can protect your home from various township developments like new buildings being built. Basically, you need to find out as much as you can about Carlton Woods so you can adapt to it much faster if you choose to live there in the end.

When comparing Carlton Woods luxury homes, try not to rely solely on pictures if you can. There happen to be a lot of big and beautiful homes that simply do not look good in photos and which you will have to see for yourself first, so make sure you pay a visit.

You also need to make sure that you have a great agent who will help you buy your dream home, no matter what. This agent should know the ins and outs of Carlton Woods since high-end properties usually come with certain access restrictions and a good agent can help mediate such cases. Also, since the stakes with Carlton Woods luxury homes are quite high, he should be professional and thorough enough to help you out anytime. He should also negotiate with lenders and financial institutions for you, so that the entire house financing process, in general, will become a much easier task for you.

The most important thing to consider when looking at Carlton Woods luxury homes, however, would be your own financial position. Sit down with a realtor and find out just how much you will be able to afford. Remember: your assessment has to be honest.

Displaying blog entries 71-80 of 215

 

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