Life after Tax Credits – Southern New Hampshire Homes for Sale

The government’s first-time and repeat-buyer tax credits gave homeowners with Southern New Hampshire homes for sale a lot of hope. The potential for getting their homes sold seemed infinitely higher. The credit expires today though, and many homes are still on the market. If yours is one of them, what should you do?

Don’t Panic!
The first inclination for many homeowners with Southern New Hampshire homes for sale is to panic, but you should resist the urge. Often, it’s during the hard periods of life that something miraculous happens. You find the job of your dreams after searching for two years for any kind of job at all. Your life has been plagued by bad relationships so often that you’ve quit looking and then – out of nowhere – your soul mate walks up. You need to sell your house, money is tight, you might have to walk away… and a buyer appears, ready to close immediately.

Don’t scoff; it happens. In fact, life is so full of “sudden happenings” that the miraculous becomes common. By allowing panic to get in the way, you may be locking the door that opportunity knocks on.

Look At Your Options
Sometimes, we’re so full of worry that we miss obvious possibilities. Now is a perfect time to take a deep breath, clear your mind of worry (as much as possible) and look at what you’ve done to sell your home. Once you’ve outlined what you’ve done, you’re then free to look at what you can still do. Here are a few things you might not have considered:

·    Research owner financing – Owner financing opens the door to many potential buyers, but it also provides benefits to you. For instance, if you have a lot of bills that need to be paid, the down payment from the buyer may be enough to take care of the important ones. Additionally, monthly payments from the buyer may be enough to keep you afloat while you’re looking for a job, trying to pay rent or feed your family.

·    Create a “honey do” list – If you’ve lived in a home for several years, you’ve probably become used to cracks in the walls, peeling paint or squeaky doors. Invite an honest friend or your real estate agent to look around for you and help you create a “honey do” list. If you’re handy, a lot can be fixed with very low cost. If you’re not, hiring a handyman may be something to consider.

·    Reassess your marketing – If your home hasn’t had a single view and has been on the market for quite a while, you may not have the marketing reach you think you do. If pictures of your home are on the Internet, make sure they show the home’s best features.  Talk with your real estate agent about marketing techniques they recommend using.

It’s hard to blow off worry during times of high stress. However, if you can step away for just a minute to clear your head and think, you just might find your miraculous answer for taking your home off the list of Southern homes for sale.

If you’re ready to sell your home, I’m here to help.  Turn the marketing of your home and worrying about it over to me.  Call me today at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com for more information.

Make the Yard of Your Southern New Hampshire Home a Bird Paradise

Do you enjoy watching birds?  Would you like to attract more of them to the yard of your Southern New Hampshire home?  Luckily, you can with the right setting.  Here are 3 steps to transform your landscape into a bird’s paradise:

Step 1:  Provide a food supply for your feathered friends.
 
One of the easiest ways to do so is through birdfeeders.  To ensure a throng of birds inhabits your landscape throughout most of the year, place birdfeeders in areas all over your Southern New Hampshire home’s yard.

Step 2:  Supply a source of water for birds to drink and bathe in.

Birdbaths are an easy solution and wide varieties are available.  Shallow basins or troughs will also do the trick.  However, since birds enjoy moving water, you may want to include a feature in your landscape that circulates water. 

Step 3:  Offer a safe shelter to perch and rest.

Birds want a place safe from the elements and predators.  Evergreen trees like cedar, pine and spruce are a good choice, as they allow birds to crawl into them and keep predators out.  Ornamental trees are another good choice that will not only provide shelter but perhaps even some food in the form of berries or insects.  Trees that birds find attractive include crabapple trees, flowering dogwood trees and Japanese snowdrop trees.

In addition to trees, you may want to provide birdhouses.  These also serve as shelter, as long as they are deep enough to protect the nest and have a small hole near the top and a cleanout panel.  The size of the hole and orientation to your Southern New Hampshire home determine what birds inhabit it.  To keep inhabitants comfortable and safe, place birdhouses in a quiet, shady spot and secure them firmly.

Turning your yard into a bird paradise takes some time and effort, but it’s all worth it when your landscape is flittering with feathered activity throughout most of the year.

Want to purchase a home with a yard that you can turn into a bird paradise?  I can help.  Call me now at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com for more information.

Buying Southern New Hampshire Homes – Why You Might Not Want to Wait

Surprising numbers of potential homebuyers are holding off on buying Southern New Hampshire homes. They have watched the housing prices drop and are waiting for them to go lower. They see the mortgage rates and are waiting for them to drop further. If this is you, you might want to rethink your strategy and take a real look at potential Southern New Hampshire homes.  

Here are two crucial reasons why you might not want to wait any longer:

1.    Interest Rates on the Rise - Thanks to the Federal Reserve buying $1.23 trillion worth of mortgages, interest rates have been kept somewhere between 4.93% and 5.09% for a 30-year fixed-rate loan.  That’s about 0.4 % lower than it might be without the Fed’s help. However, as of the end of 2009, the Federal Reserve had already started implementing a phase out of the mortgage program. With the Fed program closing at the beginning of this month, it’s not a question of whether mortgage rates will rise, but when, how much and how fast.  The experts don’t expect them to climb very high, stopping somewhere between 5.5% and 6% by the end of 2010.

2.    Lower Home Prices - Home prices, predicted to drop another 5% in 2010, will also make some difference in overall cost, though it won't offset much of a rise in interest rates. Putting the currently affordable home prices together with the currently low interest rates, you still have a chance to get a great home at a great deal – for a little while longer.

Instead of waiting for lower costs that may never come, consider where you are now:

·    Do you have good credit?
·    Are you pre-approved (not pre-qualified) for a mortgage loan?
·    Do you know how much home you can afford?
·    Are you certain (or as certain as you can be) of your job stability?

It’s very possible that the market will never be better than it is right now for buyers. It’s a buyers’ real estate market, with the scales tipped to make homeownership as cheap as it can get. If you can afford to buy now, but are waiting for things to get even better, take a moment to reconsider – you might wait yourself into a market you can no longer afford!

Ready to take advantage of this buyers’ market and purchase one of the Southern New Hampshire homes for sale?  I can help. Call me today at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com for more information.

2 Big Housing Trends That May Affect Your Home for Sale in Southern New Hampshire

The real estate market is shifting toward some definite trends that may affect your home for sale in Southern New Hampshire.  Since 2006, the median cost of a home has dropped almost 30%. The good news, according Moody’s Economy.com, is that most of the nation’s metropolitan areas are expected to see less than a 5% drop in prices a year from now. Even better news, 10% are expected to see modest increases. 

If you have a home for sale in Southern New Hampshire, keeping an eye on the trends can greatly increase your chances of selling, no matter what the area. Here are two of the biggest trends:

Trend #1:  Home Prices Staying Down
Home inventories are slowly creeping back up, and another 3 million distressed homes are expected to be foreclosed on this year. As well, one-fourth of current homeowners are now underwater with their mortgages, and 18% of borrowers are choosing to walk away. In short, stressors on the current housing market may very well push national median prices down another 5%, as mentioned above.

How can I take advantage?
With the glut of foreclosed homes, they’re likely to be your highest competition.  That means competing in price could be disastrous. Instead, play up the advantages of your home. For instance, foreclosed homes may need a lot of fixing up.  To compete, make sure your home is inspected and fixed up before it’s listed. Once you know there aren’t a lot of problems, add a one-year warranty for the buyer that covers fixes such as the furnace or water heater. It’s inexpensive and may very well make the difference in how quickly and at what price you sell your home.

Trend #2:  Small Homes Selling Faster Than Large Homes
Larger, more expensive homes now have a 20-month backlog in inventory. They cost more and require a larger financial commitment. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the median home size dropped from 2,300 in 2007 to 2,100 square feet in 2010.

How can I take advantage?
If you have a large home, don’t wait until prices dip further; put it on the market now. The major key to getting it sold now is price.  Keep the price competitive, and start out low enough so that you won’t have to drop the price more than once. This is a red flag for buyers.

If you have a smaller home for sale in Southern New Hampshire, you’re already set to take advantage. People also want to lower their energy bills, which usually happens with a smaller home.  Market these advantages for a better chance of selling.

If you want to sell your home, it helps to keep up with the housing trends and look at each one to see how you can take advantage of it.

If you’re trying to sell your home, I can help. Call me at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com for more information.

How to Make Sure You'll Make it to Closing on Your New Southern New Hampshire Real Estate

You've gotten your financing, your offer has been accepted and you just have to wait the few weeks until your closing date and your new Southern New Hampshire real estate is all yours. Nothing can go wrong, right? Wrong!

Aside from the occasional delay due to title issues, nothing is likely to go wrong in that period of time when it comes to the actual process of the property transfer. However, people often make critical mistakes that cripple their deals in that tense time between when a contract is signed and closing.

Things You Shouldn't Do Before Closing

Buy a new car: Don't buy a new car or any big ticket item that might flag your loan company. Your credit will be continuously under review and your Southern New Hampshire real estate loan can be turned down at any time up until closing, even after it was accepted (generally referred to as 'loan commitment'). Keep that in mind when doing anything that will impact your debt-to-income ratio.

Quit or change jobs: This will also look suddenly troubling to your finance company. Don't give them any reason to change their minds. If you really need to switch jobs, hopefully it can wait a few weeks.

Move money around: Keep things as stable as possible during the weeks before closing. There are few things that can't wait. Even if you had planned to move to a new bank, or buy into stocks or IRAs, but were delaying it in order to get your loan in the first place, don't jump the gun now. Wait a few more weeks.

Take new credit card offers: No matter how attractive they are, don’t accept any new credit offers. In fact, you’ll probably get a glut of junk mail or email offers for new credit cards now that you have been approved for a big loan. Don't do it. Wait until after closing if you have any desire to take them. Your loan company will get nervous if you suddenly have the opportunity to build a lot of debt.

If you’re thinking of buying or selling Southern New Hampshire real estate, give me a call today at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com.  I’ll guide you step-by-step through the entire process including your successful closing.

Live Green and Save Cash on Large Appliances & Systems for Your Southern New Hampshire Home

If you’re in need of a large appliance or major system for your Southern New Hampshire home, you may want to buy now to save cash.  The U.S. government is giving you good reasons to buy energy-efficient products through its Energy Star designation.  Thirty-six states have launched programs to distribute almost $300 million in rebates to consumers who buy energy-efficient appliances/systems.

The federally-funded programs are similar to the hotly debated cash-for-clunkers auto rebate program of 2009. Rebates differ by state and product but typically run between $50 to $500.

To qualify for rebates, consumers must buy Energy Star appliances or systems, which meet or beat energy standards.  These standards are set by the federal government and are up to 30 percent more efficient than non-Energy Star products.

Should you buy new appliance or system for your Southern New Hampshire home now?  Say yes if:

• You need a new appliance/system anyway.
• You’re tired of throwing away money every time you operate inefficient appliances or systems.
• You want a good deal on a new appliance/system.
• You want to help the environment by going green and saving energy.

The New Hampshire program, which begins April 19th for everything except solar water heaters, covers the following items:

• Gas storage water heaters
• Gas tankless water heaters
• Solar water heaters
• Gas furnaces
• Oil furnaces
• Gas boilers
• Oil boilers
• Indoor boiler reset controls (with the replacement of an existing boiler)

For the specific rules and amount you’ll save, go to Energy Savers.

Want to save even more?  You may also be eligible for rebates offered by manufacturers, local utilities and retailers.  Home Depot, Lowe’s and Sears are all planning special promotions in certain states to coincide with the federal rebate program.

Research the stores’ promotions before you buy.  To find a list of retailers of Energy Star qualified products in your area and the categories of products they carry, use the Energy Star Store Locator.

Since rebates for Energy Star qualified (or higher) appliances & systems are generally being given on a first-come, first-served basis, and because funding is limited, you might want to act fast before the available cash is gone.

If you’d like to buy a new Southern New Hampshire home that already has Energy Star qualified appliances and systems, I can help.  Give me a call today at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com.

Photos Can Help or Hurt Southern New Hampshire Homes for Sale

“Use a picture. It’s worth a thousand words.” – Arthur Brisbane

One photograph can have a bigger impression on an individual than an entire essay. With the number of potential buyers searching for Southern New Hampshire homes for sale online, vivid photographs have sprouted up everywhere. In fact, good photography can make that slight difference between having your home passed over and selling it.

Two actual property photos extracted from 

the Northern New England Real Estate Network MLS

       
If you’re considering adding your home to the online list of Southern New Hampshire homes for sale, you need to think about photos – and those photos need to be good. Just like the home itself, the photos need to stand out from the crowd. Here are a few tips:

Talk to your agent about what’s “hot” right now. Obviously, your strongest selling points are what buyers are looking for now. Two years ago, buyers were looking for fewer square feet, stepping away from the McMansions. Last year, it was decks and patios. This year, it could be your beautiful, 2-acre backyard with the play set. If you have a selling point, capitalize on it with fantastic photography.

Use the most favorable lighting. High noon sunlight is harsh and often highlights exterior problems that even you may not have noticed. When taking exterior pictures, choose lighting that draws attention to the positives. For instance, one of the most beautiful real estate images I’ve ever seen was a home with all the lights on. The sun was almost completely down and served to accentuate the beauty of the home.

Take as many pictures as you need to get the perfect shot. A shot that’s slightly twisted to the side may not seem like something to throw away, but it can distort the appealing lines of a home. Because photos are two dimensional and flat, even the slightest left or right slant can make the home look like it’s looming, falling in or disproportionate.

The ability to use photos to show off your home on the Internet has been a huge boon for those with Southern New Hampshire homes for sale. However, a poor photo can do more damage that having no photos at all. If you can’t seem to take a picture without the image blurring, slanting or looking distorted, hire a real estate agent who can get the job done for you.

Looking for a real estate agent who knows how to showcase your home in pictures?  Call me today at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com.

Economists Predict Second Quarter Woes Fading for National and Southern New Hampshire Real Estate

Government support in the national and Southern New Hampshire real estate sectors is slowly being pulled back. For instance, the federal homebuyer’s tax credit expires this month and the Fed stopped purchasing mortgage-backed securities in March. These two changes in financial backing for the housing market are causing worry because people fear the expiring tax credit will cause a dramatic drop in sales, the way a retail store's volume of sales dips immediately after the boom of business caused by a store-wide sale.

An important question right now is how much did the government support really help the national and Southern New Hampshire real estate markets and the economy?

The Economy
Dean Maki, chief U.S. economist for Barclays Capital (New York) and one of the most accurate economic forecasters for the past 20 years, says the U.S. economy is on the rise. Many economists share Maki’s view: We’re at the bottom and there’s no place left to go but up.

The Fed Stops Buying Mortgage-Backed Securities
The largest hurdle for the real estate market came at the end of March, as the Fed finished buying up $1.25 trillion worth of mortgage-backed securities and taking care of housing-agency debt to the tune of $175 billion. However, strategists and economists conclude that the change won’t have a lot of impact; the central bank will be replaced by private demand.

The Expiration of the Homebuyers Tax Credit
The second largest hurdle, the expiration of the homebuyers’ tax credit, might have a bigger impact if it had brought a huge sales increase. It didn’t, however, and the belief is that things will slowly improve with – or without – the credit. Although vacant housing rose to 2.09 million by the end of 2009 and foreclosures are expected to hit around 2.2 million this year, the number of new households may reach as high as 1.25 million.

The Good News
Of the potential 1.25 million new households, almost 1 million are currently living with family members. With home sales gradually improving, economists predict that even a slight improvement in the job market will bring those 1 million households out of the woodwork to find a home. When this happens, the excess housing supply will quickly disappear.

If you’ve been stuck, waiting to sell your Southern New Hampshire real estate, your home is part of the housing supply. With the housing market slowly improving, you may very well end up coming out on top within the next three to six months.

If you’d like to sell your home or buy a new home, I can help. Call me at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com for more information.

Southern New Hampshire Real Estate, Buyers and Technology

Technology has improved our lives over the last ten years, but it has also caused some problems along the way for Southern New Hampshire real estate buyers.

As a buyer, you naturally want to take advantage of every tool and service available to make it easier to find the home of your dreams. However, the Internet, which is one of the most common places for people to shop for Southern New Hampshire real estate nowadays, has also become a place where the unscrupulous hang out.  You can’t believe everything you read online, even when it comes to shopping for homes online.

If you’re trying to find a home, here are two things you need to be aware of:

Home Valuation Sites
Many potential buyers find an interesting home and then research the home value. This is commendable and just plain good sense. You want to make sure you’re not overpaying. Thanks to the Internet, we have sites like Zillow and Realtor.com that provide home valuations.

The problem is that these sites hardly ever agree on the home value. They can differ as much as 20% or more. While home valuation sites are an excellent place to get a ballpark estimate, you shouldn’t base your buying price on their information alone. Hire a reputable Southern New Hampshire real estate agent who knows the surrounding area and recent sale prices.

Dream Home or Nightmare
One of the best things to happen for real estate agents and sellers alike is the ability to post digital photos and walk-through videos of the homes they’re selling. This is also great for you, as the buyer, because you can view the homes without going anywhere.

Unfortunately, many buyers take those images and videos at face value. Thanks to some high-tech graphics programs, however, you can’t guarantee that what you see is what you get. Videos and images can both be manipulated to show you the best face of any piece of property.

Any time you see a home online that you’re interested in, it’s a good idea to check Google Maps and use the Street View option. At the very least, you can usually see the front and sides of the home. If you’re still interested, visit the home in person, or, if that’s not possible for some reason, ask your Southern New Hampshire real estate agent to visit the home and take pictures for you.

If you’re trying to find your dream home, I can help.  Call me at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com for more information.

First Impression May Be Your Last When Selling Southern New Hampshire Real Estate

When people meet you for the first time, their first impression is usually a lasting one. You also never get a second chance to make that first impression when you’re selling your Southern New Hampshire real estate. You need to present your home at its very best all the time.

Here are 3 things you can do to make a great first impression:

1.    Clean up the yard: A messy yard is a distraction.  It can be time consuming to keep up with general yard work, but it’s worth the effort.  Overgrown shrubs, limp lawns, and general disarray can turn off a potential buyer. If you have to hire someone to come in and give your yard a quick pick me up, it’s worth the money.

2.    Get Rid of Items You Don't Need: Be very strict about this and get rid of all but the bare necessities. You don't have to throw away or give away everything. Find a storage unit and put the things in there you will be taking with you to your new home but do not need immediate access to for now.

3.    Fix Up the Little Things: Little things count. If you have a leaky faucet, a broken tile in the floor or a crack on the wall, now is the time to fix it.  Little flaws like this make potential buyers worry that there are bigger problems waiting to be found. 

Selling Southern New Hampshire real estate is a lot of work.  You can get it sold faster, easier and for the most money when you take the time to make a great first impression.

If you have any questions about what you can do to make your home sell faster, I can help. Call me today at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com.

Taking the Plunge and Buying Southern New Hampshire Real Estate Makes Perfect Sense

There has truly never been a better time to think about buying a new home. The current economy has created a buyers’ market like never before. This works to your advantage, and the fact that the real estate market is recovering means that buying Southern New Hampshire real estate as a future investment is a smart move.

Consider New Construction

Although new construction always comes at a premium, even in weaker markets, if the brand new appeals to you and none of the resale properties strike your fancy, don't hesitate to pursue new construction. Right now, Builders are faced with unsold homes in developments and are willing to make deals. They are interested in all reasonable offers, and, especially if you have pre-approved financing, will negotiate with your real estate agent to give you better price and terms. It is in their best interest to get their existing homes sold.

Best Mortgage Rates in Current History

 You can take advantage of the low mortgage rates to get fantastic payments on your new Southern New Hampshire real estate. These low rates won't last forever, so if you have good credit and solid employment, buy now to make your new home truly affordable.

Tax Credits

 If you or your spouse has never owned a home, or if neither of you have owned a home as a principle residence in the past 3 years, buying a home now makes financial sense. You will get a large tax rebate at the end of the year for making a home purchase now (and may be able to file an amended tax return to get the rebate sooner).  However, you must act immediately because you have to have a binding contract signed no later than April 30, 2010, and close on the home no later than June 30, 2010, in order to qualify for this first-time home buyer tax credit.

 If you’re a repeat home buyer, you too might qualify for a tax credit.  Again, you must act fast.  The same dates apply for this repeat home buyer tax credit as for the first-time home buyer tax credit. 

Affordability and Availability

The market is wide open for buyers now, and finding the perfect home at a reasonable price is easier than ever before. Waiting too long can prove to be a very costly decision. The market is getting stronger and tax credits are coming to an end. Over the course of the next year, it will become increasingly more difficult to buy Southern New Hampshire real estate at prices and rates now available.

If you would like more information on the wisdom of buying a new home now, please call me today at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com.  I look forward to talking with you!

6 Essential Spring Cleaning Chores to Make Your Southern New Hampshire Home Shine

If the thought of spring cleaning your Southern New Hampshire home doesn’t bring a smile to your face, you’re not alone.  To help you (and me) get going now, I’ve come up with this short list of the 6 essential, in my opinion, spring cleaning chores:

1.    Store winter clothes:  It’s time to pack away your winter clothes. Coats, sweaters, and your heavy winter clothing need to be inspected, cleaned if needed and packed away.  Don’t skip the step of cleaning, or, when you get your clothes out of storage next fall, you might find that they’ve been damaged beyond repair by insects or set in stains.  Where should you store your clothes?  Somewhere clean, cool, dark and dry. 

2.    Wash window treatments:  Spring is the perfect time to inspect and clean the window treatments in your Southern New Hampshire home.  Clean window treatments brighten any room. Wash blinds, launder curtains that are machine washable and send drapes to the dry cleaners. While you’re at it, dust the window casing, wash window sills, and clean any window hardware.  You’ll be surprised at the huge amount of dirt and grime that a thorough window cleaning removes.

3.    Clean carpets and upholstery: Deep clean fabrics that have absorbed a winter's worth of dust and dirt.  Shampoo your carpets; clean cloth furniture.  Open windows to speed the drying process, which can take a day or more.

4.    Wash woodwork, walls, baseboards and cabinets: Even if your Southern New Hampshire home’s walls don’t look like they need cleaning, they do.  Just enough dust clings to vertical surfaces to warrant a seasonal bath.  Using a sponge and hand dishwashing detergent, wash the surface in sections to make sure you don’t miss a spot.

5.    Clean light and ceiling fixtures: clean your light fixtures, remove the light bulb and fixture if possible.  Wash glass fixtures in soap and water.  If the fixture cannot be removed from the ceiling, use a damp cloth to wipe it off.  Dry the fixtures.  Wipe the light bulbs with a rag.  The easiest way to clean your ceiling fans is to use a vacuum with a soft nozzle attachment.

6.    Check your coils: Caked on dust can cause your refrigerator to overheat, so take the time to clean the condenser coil.   It’s usually found behind the toe grille.  Clean it with a long-handled bottle brush and a vacuum cleaner with an attachment hose.  If the condenser coil is on the back of your refrigerator, carefully pull the fridge out several feet and vacuum thoroughly. 

Put on your favorite music and start your spring cleaning.  It’ll be done before you know it.  Then you can relax and enjoy your sparkling clean home.

Spring is also a great time to shop for a new Southern New Hampshire home, especially this year with the home buyer tax credits still available until the end of April.  Call me right away at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com to find out how you can get the $6,500 or $8,000 tax credit.

April 5th 2010 – An Important Date for Southern New Hampshire Homes for Sale

April has a lot of important and semi-important dates in it. The tax deadline, Good Friday and Easter are just a few. What is April 5th, though, and what does it have to do with Southern New Hampshire homes for sale? Well, the biggest news is that the government has stepped into real estate and short sales.

While home sales are up nationally and locally, partially due to the Obama administration’s efforts with the first-time buyer’s tax credit, many homebuyers seem to be waiting for a better interest rate or to see if home prices will drop more once the tax credit expires at the end of this month. Meanwhile, owners with Southern New Hampshire homes for sale are preparing for the spring selling season, without any idea whether they’ll actually be able to sell or not.

Part of the reason for this situation is because of the depreciated housing values. For instance, many potential buyers want to take advantage of the repeat buyer’s tax credit, but can’t. They currently own a home that’s facing foreclosure, are trying to sell that home, but can’t because it’s underwater. This is slowing the recovery of the whole market.

The government’s solution is short sales. There’s always been the option for those facing foreclosure to apply for short sale instead, but (thanks, in part, to the many scams out there) few choose this option. The Obama administration has decided that, if they can’t help with foreclosure, they’ll pay people to accept short sale.

As of April 5, 2010, the government is encouraging delinquent borrowers who can’t be helped through loan modification programs to go through a streamlined short sale process. Many potential short sellers have gotten offers the lenders won’t agree to, which this program called HAFA (Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives) is geared towards fixing. Here’s how:

·    The servicing bank gets $1,500 for administrative & processing costs.
·    The homeowner gets $3,000 in relocation assistance.
·    The investor is given up to a $2,000 match for allowing a total of up to $6,000 in short sale proceeds to be distributed to junior lien holders (up to 6 percent of the remaining balance of each junior lien).

Even with this program, lenders are wary of short sales. Depending on the price of the short sale, there’s a possibility that lenders could lose a large amount of money. However, under the new program, real estate agents will be working with participating lenders to determine the value of the home and what the minimum price should be. If the short sale offer meets or exceeds that minimum, the lender has to accept it. 

The hope is that this program will slow the tide of foreclosures, free homeowners up to become repeat buyers, sell more homes and, ultimately, improve the flow of the real estate market. The good news about all this is if the program does even a quarter of what the administration plans, there may not be enough Southern New Hampshire homes for sale to go around!

Have questions about the new HAFA program or any other real estate incentive programs?  I’m happy to answer your questions.  Give me a call now at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com.

Buyer Beware: Worldwide, National, New Hampshire Homes and Scams

Whether you’re looking at Southern New Hampshire homes, homes across the nation or homes abroad, there's always the possibility of getting caught in a scam.

Many potential homebuyers and renters choose to go it alone and search for the home of their dreams without professional help. While this method of house hunting works for some, it definitely doesn’t work for all, and the consequences often far outweigh the benefits.

Real Estate Scams
Here are a few real estate scams to watch out for:

·    Down Payment Assistance Programs are wonderful gifts for potential buyers of Southern New Hampshire homes. However, there are certain rules that have to be followed for this down payment gift to be legal. For instance, as a gift, the homebuyer doesn’t have to pay it back. Some unscrupulous companies offer Down Payment Assistance Programs but expect the money back. This isn’t a gift; it’s a loan, and illegal if the program is listed as “down payment assistance."

·    Property flipping scams happen when a con artist buys a home and sells it as an investment opportunity with zero down payment, no closing costs, low interest rate, etc. Although it sounds like a great deal, it becomes a scam when the house is severely overpriced and the buyer pays way more than the house is worth.

·    Craigslist is an excellent resource for those wanting to buy or sell something. However, it is also a great source for con artists who have turned their eyes to the real estate market. The scammers take information from legitimate listings on other websites (such as REALTOR® websites) and post it as their own on Craigslist. They often mention that they had to move for some reason, but can still rent/sell the home. All the buyers or renters have to do is send them their personal information and the first month’s rent or down payment.

It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and forget to protect yourself. Be cautious when looking for Southern New Hampshire homes. Always research the property and ask to see a copy of the deed to verify ownership. As well, if the home seller is in another country or another state, ask them if they’d be willing to use a local real estate agent.  Then be sure to verify the agent’s credentials.

If you want to buy or sell a house and need a professional, I can help.  Call me at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com for more information.

Selling Your Southern New Hampshire Home - Curb Appeal of the 21st Century and Beyond

I can hear you now, “Oh, no! Not another article on curb appeal to sell my Southern New Hampshire home!” To which I reply, “Oh, yes.” One more time around the block, but this time, we’re doing it in style.

The 21st Century Curb
Curb appeal is that thing you do to pretty up the outside of your Southern New Hampshire home. It’s the landscaping, the painting and the checking of the little details. However, many home sellers (and real estate agents, for that matter), don’t take into account that the curb nowadays isn't just the view from the front of your house. In the 21st century, the “curb” starts right here on the Net, and a property must look appealing enough from the online photos and virtual tour to prompt the buyer to take further action.

Your online home listing has only three seconds - three short moments in time - to catch a potential buyer’s eye and turn them into an interested party. Unfortunately, it’s hard not to be biased or become used to the problems and eyesores your home may have. Because first impressions are so crucial and the housing market is glutted with competition, you have to bring it up a notch to get your home sold.

The Right Perspective
Many buyers will drive by properties before scheduling a showing and many agents will park in the street instead of the driveway when doing a showing. So, to get the same perspective of your home as potential buyers will have, walk to the other side of the street and stand where potential buyers might stand or park their car. Go ahead; walk over there.

Once you’re on the other side of the street, turn around and look at the house for a few seconds. Most buyers don’t look for very long, so don’t stare, just glance. Then, as you slowly walk back to the house, keep your focus close, no more than a few feet out. What are you seeing?

·       Yard ornaments
·       Plain façade
·       Obstructed pathway to the door
·       Driveway stains
·       Yard tools
·       Leaves

These are just a few things that might be detracting from the beautiful home you have to sell. Take one last look around – a long, searching look from the front door – and see if anything stands out. If it does, fix it up!

The Virtual View
Once you think you have your home's curb appeal perfected, create a video of it for your potential buyers. Take a video camera across the street and start from there. Give your buyers a virtual tour of your Southern New Hampshire home, using your curb appeal to its (and your) best potential. Online IS the new curb – use it!

When you hire me as your real estate agent, I'll create a professional virtual tour of your home, including its curb appeal.  Your virtual tour will appear on key real estate websites giving your home maximum exposure with a 24/7, world-wide virtual open house.

Give me a call today at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com for more information.

Is This a Legally Binding Southern New Hampshire Real Estate Contract?

Modern technology is a wonderful thing, creating easy “connectivity” between people all over the nation.  But it’s also causing problems in many areas, and buying Southern New Hampshire real estate is one of them.

Here’s the problem: Many people selling Southern New Hampshire real estate may live in another city or state. In this case, negotiations may be conducted over the phone, through email, via Yahoo conversations – some even use Twitter for real estate deals and information.

This also means that legal documents may be passed through email, uploaded to a website for easy viewing or through any number of other online methods. PDF documents, for instance, have become a very popular way to pass on legal forms because they’re easy to fill out, don’t have to be printed, etc.

As the buyer, you can’t afford to take the seller’s word that they’ve accepted your position – especially through email. For instance, a buyer recently had a home sale fall through. The seller accepted the terms through email, told the buyer that the seller had signed the contract and sent it on to the agent. Somehow, even though the buyer was positive the contract had been agreed upon, the house was sold to another buyer.

Although laws change from state to state, it’s always best to have the contract in printed form, with an actual signature – in ink. Without the actual contract, all you have is an email. Although emails can be legally binding, they don’t hold a candle to having the printed and signed contract in hand.

Here are a few tips to make sure your housing purchase goes off without a hitch:

·    Meet in person – This may be a difficult prospect, especially if the seller lives out of state. However, if you can’t meet them in person, their agent should at least be local. Meeting with the home seller’s legal representative (i.e. Real estate agent) is the next best thing.

·    Get it in writing, and get it in print – Who wants to wait for the post office to deliver a paper contract when you can get it from an email? Well… you do. Yes, it might slow the process of buying a house and closing the deal, but so will having the seller back out.

·    Verify the important points – Make sure you and the seller really do agree on the terms of the contract before you put your signature on it. You, or preferably your buyer's agent, should go over the contract with the seller’s agent who should go over it with the seller.

It’s a great time to buy Southern New Hampshire real estate, but don’t let technology lose you the contract. Cross your t’s and dot your i’s – on paper!

If you’re looking to buy a home, I'll make sure all those t's are crossed and i's are dotted for you. Call me at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com.