Taking Advantage of Southern New Hampshire Foreclosures

Many potential homeowners are starting to look towards Southern New Hampshire foreclosures as a way to get the home of their dreams without spending their life savings. What they may not realize is that the sheer amount of foreclosed properties can be daunting. Some are so completely overwhelmed by the choices that they give up and walk away.

Southern New Hampshire foreclosures can be great deals, but you’ll have a few decisions to make before you even go looking. Because there are so many options, here and throughout the nation, it’s important to figure out what type of foreclosed home is best for you.

Government Foreclosures
Homes with federally sponsored loans, such as HUD homes, are repossessed by government housing agencies. Because these homes offer a lot of opportunities for discount purchases, they move quickly.

Foreclosure Auctions
One of the most common ways to buy a foreclosure is while it’s on the chopping block of a traditional real estate auction. The auction is public, with homes sold to the highest bidder.

REO Foreclosures
Repossessed by the bank, real estate owned properties have been through a foreclosure auction  without being bought. There’s not necessarily anything wrong with the home itself.  In fact, many foreclosure auctions fail to sell the home.  The primary reason foreclosure auctions do not succeed is that the minimum auction price is more than what the property is worth. When the auction does fail, ownership reverts to the bank and the home becomes an REO.

REO foreclosures also have auctions, but the bidding process is closed and blind – no haggling allowed. You look over the available properties and come up with an offer to buy the home directly from the bank, rather than competing with other buyers in a public sale.

One feature of REO foreclosures is that you can also set up the financing and mortgaging options through the same bank. Often, this gives the bank encouragement to give you a better price for the home, though you should always compare loan terms, conditions, and rates with other lenders.

Whether you’re looking at Southern New Hampshire foreclosures for investment opportunities, or to buy your dream home, you have a myriad of options. Knowing what you want - before you start looking - is one of the best ways to ensure you get the deal of a lifetime!

If you’re unsure which type of foreclosed home is best for you, or if you want help finding a great deal on a foreclosure, I can help.  Call me at 603-821-1134 or email me at dave@daveheeter.com for more information.

Southern New Hampshire Home for Sale Wins Academy Award!

Okay, it never happened; when the Academy Awards were handed out, obviously, none went to a Southern New Hampshire home for sale – but the Academy Awards are still relevant. Bear with me a moment.

When someone wins an Academy Award, don’t we expect more from him or her in the future? Why? Because the Award defines their abilities in some way, and here is where they’re relevant to your Southern New Hampshire home for sale. Just like the Awards, our homes seem to define us in some strange way.

Think about it. When you see a large home with manicured lawns, lighted pathways and a pool, don’t you automatically assume the owners have money? They’ve won the “dream home” award.

Likewise, if you see a home with a scraggly lawn and a bad paint job, you may assume the opposite. In other words, it doesn’t automatically occur to us that the people with the manicured home may just be good at money management or that the owners of the scraggly lawn home may make plenty of money but not manage it well.

We, as human beings, are good at judging a book by its cover. We assume certain things based on what we see, not reality. So what does the home you’re selling say about you? What will it say about the buyer? Would it win the dream home award?

Looking At Your Home with New Eyes
When preparing your home to sell, it's important to look at the home you’ve lived in for years with new eyes.  Because you’re used to the cracks in the sidewalk, peeling paint or missing shingles, you probably don't even notice it any more.

Potential buyers, however, are looking for Academy Award winners. Little things, such as unwashed windows, really can make all the difference. Trees with dead branches, lawns that haven’t been mowed, numbers falling off of mailboxes – all of these things may seem small, but they can quickly lose a sale.


Buyers see the outside of a Southern New Hampshire home for sale and have certain expectations of what the inside will look like. If the inside and outside don’t match, you have work to do. Don’t let the home you’re selling wallow on the market. If it’s been sitting on the selling block for months without a peep, it’s time to see what you can do about turning it into a dream home award winner!

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

What Does It Mean To Go Green in Your Southern New Hampshire Home Construction?

Working to have a safe Southern New Hampshire home environment is important to everyone.  We want our children to have safe water, clean air, fresh food and a healthy earth for their future.

One area where you might consider decreasing your impact on the environment is in your own home construction.  There are several ways you can have a safe and clean green home construction.

·    Find a “green” builder to help with your Southern New Hampshire home.  Search the Internet for professional green builders.  It takes a special contractor to coordinate the elements of home building to ensure maximum energy savings.  Buying green materials is just one step toward having a green home.  To achieve ultimate efficiency, the different structural parts of plumbing, electricity, gas lines, and framework need to be coordinated.

·    Buy green materials from different vendors.  Shop around to ensure you are getting the best deal.  One vendor may sell stone at an exceptional price, but his timber may be overpriced.  Natural supplies can be in short availability in some areas.  Natural builders and vendors are working together to build a greener home construction industry, but it is still a business.  It is your responsibility as the homeowner to make sure that you are getting the best deal.

·    Continue the "green" theme with your home decorations and furnishings.  The construction of your green home saves resources and energy.  You can reduce your impact on the environment even further by using energy saving appliances, eco-friendly interior paint, and sustainable wood flooring in your home.
Building your Southern New Hampshire home using green construction is a great start to a cleaner, brighter future. 

I can help you learn more about green home construction options.  Call me at 603-821-1134 or email me at dave@daveheeter.com for more information.  

How to Take Great Photos of Your Southern New Hampshire Home

Pictures are one of the most important parts of your home’s marketing plan. They are usually the first thing potential buyers see and can be a deciding factor in whether or not they actually walk through your home.  Here are some photo tips for taking the best possible pictures of your Southern New Hampshire home:

·        Choose the right time of day. Lighting is the single most important factor in taking a good picture. Shoot on a bright, sunny day. Use natural light, when possible, inside your home. If your Southern New Hampshire home has a beautiful view of the sunrise or sunset, take a photo of the view during that time.

·        Prepare your home. Make sure your home is clean and the yard is free of debris. Keep the pets and children out of your photographs. Remember, this is your buyer’s first impression, and they want to see your home, not its occupants.

·        Find the right angle. Don’t take flat pictures, like a dead-on photo of the front of your house from the street or a single shot of the bedroom from the doorway. Angles create definition. Get creative. Stand on chairs or ladders for interesting photographs.

·        Use a digital camera. Digital cameras are surprisingly affordable. You can take as many pictures as you want, choose the best shots, and easily upload or email them without the time-consuming scanning process.

·        Take your time. Don’t rush through the task of photographing your home. Spend time in each room determining its best features. Take several pictures of each room from as many angles as possible. You want the best possible pictures.

Let me help you sell your Southern New Hampshire home. Call me today at 603-821-1134 or email me at dave@daveheeter.com and I'll take photos that will make your home shine.

Buying Southern New Hampshire Real Estate and the Good Faith Estimate

If you’re buying Southern New Hampshire real estate and talking to lenders, you’ll hear about the Good Faith Estimate. Because the Good Faith Estimate is required by law and lists all the costs associated with a mortgage, including closing fees with estimated pricing, it's a good place to start when searching for a lender.

Best practice for buying Southern New Hampshire real estate is to shop for lenders first. While you’re looking, ask for a Good Faith Estimate and then compare them. This will be your first indication about which lender is best for you.

Not All Estimates are Created Equal
Many closing fees for buying Southern New Hampshire real estate are considered typical and have an average price range, such as:

·    Title search and title insurance: $450 - $600
·    Appraisal: $150 - $400

Because real estate closing practices vary depending on where you live, your location helps to determine what those closing costs will be. However, you might also find some extra padding on your closing fees, which some in the mortgage and real estate industries call “junk fees."

Most Good Faith Estimates (GFEs) have a break down of individual charges, but some may just be a lump sum amount such as: “Total of lender’s fees $1,395.” As long as the fees add up correctly to the estimated amount, there’s no problem. However, watch out for and question general wording like “miscellaneous fees,” “packaging fees” or “marketing fees.”

You have the right to request an explanation for any fee listed on the GFE. Although most GFEs have an explanation after each listing, some may not. If a fee seems odd to you, ask about it.

It's Only an Estimate
One final tip:  The GFE is only an estimate, not the exact amount you'll be paying.  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.  At least one day before closing, get your final tally of the closing costs from your lender.  Compare this to your Good Faith Estimate to make sure no additional fees were added.  If you see inconsistencies, talk with your lender immediately to resolve these issues.

Need help finding a good lender?  I can help.  Call me at 603-821-1134 or email me at dave@daveheeter.com for more information.

Is 2010 the Year for You to Buy Southern New Hampshire Real Estate?

Is it possible? Is this the year to buy Southern New Hampshire real estate? Why would 2010 be special? Well, let’s look at the current house hunting conditions, which might give some insight:

·    Home prices are lower than they’ve been since 2003. According to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), the median price of homes in the U.S. was around $170,000 by November of last year.

·    Fixed mortgage rates are still at record lows. Although they are subject to change from week to week, at the time of this writing, 15 year fixed and 30 year fixed mortgages averaged 4.5% and 5.12%, respectively.

·    The high number of foreclosures has been painful for many homeowners. However, it has also created great deals for those who want to buy Southern New Hampshire real estate, but don’t want to spend their entire life savings at once.

·    The extension and expansion of the Obama administration’s homebuyer tax credit has been a driving force for many home sales. The government has handed out a large amount of tax credits to many first-time buyers, and will be paying out more as the purchase deadline draws closer.

So, is it the year to buy a house? Only you know for sure. The economy is up and running once again, but the unemployment rate is still at 10%, and may go higher.  (New Hampshire's unemployment rate is still lower than much of the U.S.) The answer to “Can I buy a home?” depends on whether you have a stable job or not; look at your industry, company and job before answering. The good news is that, while unemployment may still rise, it’s expected to level off and start decreasing mid-year.

For those who can afford a home, want to buy one, but are waiting for the bottom of the market, don’t wait too long. The Southern New Hampshire real estate around the corner with the “SOLD” sign might have been your dream home!

If this is a good year for YOU to buy a home, I can help. Call me at 603-821-1134 or email me at dave@daveheeter.com for more information.

Want an $8000 Tax Credit? Buy a Southern New Hampshire Home for Sale Now

Last November, when Congress approved an extension on the first-time homebuyer tax credit, potential homebuyers who missed the original deadline were excited. It was another chance to buy a Southern New Hampshire home for sale and receive an often badly needed $8,000 credit on their tax return.
  
Real estate agents were excited as well, because the tax credit extension expanded to include “upgrade” buyers – those who wanted to replace their current home with a bigger one – thus making it easier to to sell a wider range of homes.  However, the expansion to include upgrade buyers wasn’t the only change.
  
If you’re hoping to buy a Southern New Hampshire home for sale and take advantage of the tax credit before the new 2010 deadlines, here are a few things to keep in mind:
  
·       Two dates are crucial.  You must sign a contract before April 30.  The closings must be complete by June 30. One of the best ways to make sure things go smoothly is to get pre-approved for a mortgage before you go home shopping. Having a pre-approval tells you, as well as the seller, exactly how much home you can afford. This way, you don’t waste your time or the seller’s.
  
·       Negotiate without emotion. Potential buyers have lost the home of their dreams because they became competitive. If you’re negotiating for closing costs, housing price or anything else, make sure that your requests are reasonable. Don’t change something “just because.”
  
·       Taxes must be mailed in.  Due to people trying to scam the system, you won’t be able to file your taxes electronically; you’ll have to mail them in. Make sure you’re using the right forms, and, if you need your tax refund by a specific time, you might want to file early.
  
·       Documentation is truly priceless.  Again, thanks to scammers, buyers will have to include a signed mortgage statement, proof of residency and a driver’s license with their taxes.
  
You still have until April 30th to sign a contract on a Southern New Hampshire home for sale to get the tax credit. Today’s real estate market is beneficial for buyers.  Put it to work for you!
  
If you’d like to take advantage of the homebuyer tax credit, I can help. Call me right away at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com so we can beat the deadlines.