Emotional Aspects of Selling Your Southern New Hampshire Home

Selling your Southern New Hampshire home is more than just setting a sale price and placing a sign in your front yard. It is an emotional process that can be stressful and frustrating. Here’s what you can expect to face:

·        Putting your Southern New Hampshire home on the market. You may have a difficult time deciding to put your house on the market even if you are being forced to move because of work or family situations. Your home holds memories that can be difficult to leave behind. You may even second guess your decision. This is a normal reaction.

·        Showing your home to potential buyers. As buyers walk through your home, you may begin experiencing a new set of emotions. Your home will usually be cleared of excessive family mementos and seem lifeless to you. Keeping your home clean for a showing can also take away precious time and increase your stress load.

·        Negotiating an offer. You obviously want to make as much profit as possible. As you review buyers’ offers, you may wonder if you are asking too much or too little. You may feel insulted by a too low offer. Even after signing a contract, there is still fear that the deal may fall through.

·        Closing on your home. Walking away from the closing table, even with a check in hand, can be stressful. At this point you have probably already moved out of your home and now must face the process of settling in a new place and learning a new area. Once again, this is a normal part of selling a home.

Let me guide you through the process of selling your Southern New Hampshire home with minimal stress.  Call me today at 603-821-1134 or email me at dave@daveheeter.com

Buying Southern New Hampshire Real Estate: Money, Mortgages and Closing Costs

Because buying Southern New Hampshire real estate is one of the most important and expensive purchases you’ll ever make, it's worth the time to consider ways you can save money.  Here are a few ideas on how to save money on your mortgage and closing costs:
  
Pay Attention
You have to pay attention to how much the Southern New Hampshire real estate costs. You have to pay attention to how much the house is worth and how much more you may have to put in the kitty for any repairs that will need to be done. Use these details to negotiate.
  
Negotiate with the Seller
Negotiating with the seller is expected.  You already know you can negotiate on the price of the home, but did you know you can also negotiate who pays the closing costs?  In this buyer's market, it has become common to ask the seller to pay some or all of the closing costs when you purchase a home. Be careful with your negotiations.  Many sellers will up the price of the home if you ask for them to pay closing costs.
  
Negotiate with your Lender
Negotiating with your lender has become the new norm.  In fact, depending on the lender’s Good Faith Estimate and your credit standing, negotiating for a better deal on your mortgage could save you thousands in the long run.
  
Examine the Good Faith Estimate
A Good Faith Estimate is the estimated settlement costs, or closing costs, your lender will expect you to pay. These can add up to as little as 3% and as much as 5% of the sales price. However, as the name implies, it is only an estimate, and prices are subject to change.  (There are new regulations this year about which costs are allowed to change and by how much, so check out the 2010 HUD Booklet, which also has some general homebuying advice.)
  
Carefully read your Good Faith Estimate. While some closing costs are usual, such as title insurance, others can be dropped by opting out of a service. Still others are “junk fees,” which you can negotiate for.
  
When buying Southern New Hampshire real estate, you always want the best deal you can get. The same should be said when picking a mortgage lender. Pay attention to the good faith estimate.  In fact, get one from several lenders and compare them. Don’t let the excitement of buying a home override your good business sense.
  
Consider Rolling Closing Costs into your Loan
Many new homeowners roll their closing costs into the loan. However, if there’s a way to pay them at closing, it might be better to do so. Paying them now saves you money because spreading them throughout the life of the loan means shelling out more interest.
  

If you’re looking for a great deal on an even better home, let me negotiate for you.  Call me at 603-821-1134 or email me at dave@daveheeter.com for more info.  

Average Size of Southern New Hampshire Homes is Shrinking

You probably will not be surprised to hear that in 2009, on the average, new-home buyers purchased smaller Southern New Hampshire homes. 
  
To be exact, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) released information showing that the average size of a new home decreased by 40 square feet, from 2,520 square feet in 2008 to 2,480 square feet in 2009.  While 40 square feet may not sound like a lot, it is significant because it's been 27 years since the average home size fell by that much.
  
Are You Missing a Bathroom?
This decline in square footage is also noteworthy because 40 square feet is about the size of an average bathroom.  Interestingly, NAHB's statistics revealed that the number of homes with 3 or more bathrooms fell in 2009, for the first time since 1992.
  
What's Fueling this Shrinkage?
There are 4 primary reasons the sizes of new Southern New Hampshire homes are decreasing:
  
1.    The recession.  People are reconsidering how much home they really need and are looking for ways to save money.  Results of a 2009 survey by Better Homes and Gardens magazine showed that downsizing is a bigger priority.  Thirty-six percent of homeowners surveyed said they expected their next home to be "somewhat smaller" or "much smaller" than their current home.
  
2.    The small-house movement.  This movement has been gaining steam in the United States for a number of years.  The recession accelerated it and home builders responded by building smaller homes.
  
3.    The prominence of first-time buyers in the housing market.  This is being stimulated by the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit.
  
4.    The increasing number of households with members 55 and older who are buying homes.  Folks over 55 prefer to purchase single-story homes, which tend to be smaller than two-story homes.
  
Considering one of the smaller Southern New Hampshire homes? 
If you're thinking of downsizing, I can help.  Call me now at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com to get started.

FAQs on Tax Credits for Buying Homes for Sale in Southern New Hampshire

Thousands of potential buyers of homes for sale in Southern New Hampshire are now homeowners, thanks to the first-time homebuyer tax credit. You could be eligible for a tax credit if you bought a home in 2009 or plan to buy one before April, 2010.  But which one are you eligible for?

If you have two or three hours to spend reading the information about the homebuyer tax credit, you'll be able to figure out if you're eligible.  But, most people don’t have the time or patience. To shorten your learning curve, here are a few tips, pointers and frequently asked (and answered) questions about the tax credit:

Three Kinds of Homebuyer Tax Credits
There are actually three kinds of tax credits:

1.    The original first-time homebuyer tax credit, enacted in 2008, covers the homes for sale in Southern New Hampshire that went off the market between April 9, 2008 and June 30, 2009. Rather than being a true credit, the money received is actually a 15-year, interest-free loan. In other words, it has to be paid back.

2.    The second tax credit, raised from a maximum of $7,500 to $8,000, doesn’t have to be paid back. If you bought a home between January 1, 2009 and November 30, 2009, you may be eligible.

3.    The third homebuyer tax credit, enacted in November 2009, is actually an expansion and extension of the second credit. It extends the deadline of November 30, 2009 to April 30, 2010 and expands the credit to include long-term homeowners who want to buy a new residence.

Tax Credit Qualifications
Just because you buy a home between April 9, 2008, and April 30, 2010, doesn’t mean you automatically qualify. Each homebuyer tax credit has its own eligibility requirements. For instance, the home has to cost less than $800,000 if bought after November 6, 2009. Long-term owners have to have lived in the same home for five consecutive years of the past eight. There are also income requirements, as well as other factors.

Automatic Ineligibility
To receive the homebuyer tax credit, there are a few things you absolutely cannot do. For example, the home you buy has to be a principle residence, which means it's the one you live in most of the time. You can’t buy it for business. As well, the home you buy has to be in the U.S.

Another “can’t do” is selling the home or converting it to rental property. You have to live in the home as your permanent residence for at least three years. If you don’t, Uncle Sam will want the money back.

There are many great homes for sale in Southern New Hampshire, and one of them might just be your dream home. However, if you plan to purchase and claim the homebuyer tax credit, make sure you know the facts first.

Have questions about the homebuyer tax credits?  I can help.  Call me at 603-821-1134 or email me at dave@daveheeter.com for more info.

Valentine’s Day and Southern New Hampshire Homes for Sale – How Much Is Too Much?

Not everyone decorates their home for Valentine’s Day, but enough do that it brings to mind the question, “How much decoration is too much when your Southern New Hampshire home is for sale?”
  
Decorations, although beautiful to you, are a matter of personal taste and style. Since this is a buyer’s market, something as simple as the wrong decorations can push a potential buyer from saying "Yes!" to saying "No."
  
Rules for Decorating Southern New Hampshire Homes for Sale
Here are a few tips on decorating for Valentine’s or any other day when you're trying to sell your home:
  
·       Choose decorations that are small and unobtrusive. Large decorations put too much emphasis on themselves. When you’re trying to sell your home, these take away from the overall appearance of the interior.
  
·       Finding buyers is all about allowing them to see themselves living in the home. When choosing your decorations, or deciding to decorate at all, keep this firmly in mind. Ornamentation made of bright colors may be fun, but can also be overwhelming.
  
·       If you’re ever at a loss on how to decorate or stage a home for sale, take a trip through furniture stores. Stores that sell furniture often have furniture set up in “living” displays so people can see what the pieces look like together. Look at the displays, take pictures and notes, and then apply the knowledge you gain to make your own home look like a display.
  
Decorating and staging correctly can make a huge difference in how buyers see the Southern New Hampshire homes for sale. The few tips above can help make your home shine.
  
Ready to sell your home?  I can help.  Call me at 603-821-1134 or email me at dave@daveheeter.com for more info.

10 Ideas to Save Money and Make Your Southern New Hampshire Home Greener

Saving money and going green are both hot topics right now.  So, I'm sure you've already heard the tips to turn off water while brushing your teeth, turn off TVs and computers and swap out old light bulbs for the new energy-saving versions. 


Here are 10 new ideas to help you save money and make your Southern New Hampshire home greener.

1.     Swap stuff.  There are hundreds of online sites where you can get furniture, books, CDs, DVDs and even a place to stay for free by swapping stuff with other people.  And, I'm not just talking about Craigslist.  Two of the most popular and easy to use swap sites are Paperbackswap.com and SwapaDVD.com.
  
2.    Recycle your cell phone.  According to the EPA, if the 100 million cell phones no longer being used by Americans were recycled, enough energy would be saved to power more than 18,500 homes for a year.  Give your cell phone back to its manufacturer or donate your cell phone to charity.
  
3.     Recycle other electronics.  Keep old TVs out of landfills by taking them to a safe e-cycling facility.  Return iPods to Apple for recycling or sell them for parts.  Take e-waste to stores like Best Buy and Staples that have recycling programs.  You'll save money by not having to pay to dispose of the electronics.
  
4.     Wait until May to buy a new TV.  New government standards take effect May 1, 2010. Energy Star-labeled televisions will be at least 40% more efficient than comparable models -- a significant savings.
  
5.     Eat foods that are in season.  It's healthier, less expensive and better for the environment.  Oh, and one more big plus:  the food tastes so much better!
  
6.     Install a water filter. Bottled water isn't any healthier than tap water, and all that plastic waste is terrible for the environment. It's also expensive!  If you use a water filter in your Southern New Hampshire home, you can get great-tasting, clean water while reducing your waste and saving money.
  
7.     Turn down your water heater. You won’t notice the temperature change, but your water heater won’t work as hard and won’t use as much energy. 
  
8.     Plant a vegetable garden.  If you don’t have the space to plant a garden, plant a tree or put some plants outside. Find vegetables and plants that grow well in your area for the best results.  Ask your local garden center for that information.
  
9.     Use green cleaners. There’s no reason to use harsh chemicals to clean your home. Use biodegradable cleaners that are safe for the environment or make your own green cleaners.  Use old towels and T-shirts instead of disposable wipes and paper towels to cut down on waste and save money.

10.     Check your insulation. Adding insulation to your home will cost money initially, but if you have minimal insulation now, you'll quickly recoup the install cost plus more by saving long term on your heating and cooling bills. Skeptical? Start out by insulating your attic and keeping track of your energy savings.  It averages out to about $116 a year in savings.

Want more tips to save money and make your Southern New Hampshire home greener?  Subscribe to my blog now.  It's free and easy.

High Southern New Hampshire Foreclosures Equals Great Deals

The extension of the homebuyer’s tax credit, as well as the expansion to include upgrade homebuyers, has a lot of people looking for their dream home. Many are looking for that dream home in the listings for Southern New Hampshire foreclosures. Why?
  
The Law of Supply and Demand
Quick marketing lesson: every market is dependent on the law of supply and demand. When the demand for a product is higher than the supply, prices go up. When there’s more product than demand, prices go down.
  
This is what’s happening now, especially with Southern New Hampshire foreclosures. Around the U.S., the supply of homes has doubled in the past two years, reaching as high as a ten-month supply. While homebuyers have been reluctant to buy a foreclosure in the past, people are starting to rethink the situation because:
  
·       Foreclosures are usually less expensive than traditional homes for sale.  In fact, some buyers have found their dream home and bought it for pennies on the dollar.
  
·       Foreclosed properties are generally in better condition than they used to be.  In the past, foreclosed homes had a much higher than average amount of repairs needed compared to other homes for sale. This is no longer necessarily true. Many foreclosed homes have been lovingly taken care of by their previous owners.
  
·       Potential buyers of foreclosures have a wider variety from which to choose. They aren’t stuck with just one type of house in one neighborhood. For the careful new homebuyer, the possibilities really are almost endless.
  
Most foreclosed homes aren’t money pits. To protect yourself, make sure your real estate agent includes in the contract that you want to have the home inspected, and that if the home inspection finds major problems, you then have the right to walk away from the deal.
  
If you’re looking for a great home at a great price, I can help.  Call me at 603-821-1134 or email me at dave@daveheeter.com for more info.