Which cities are the most recession-resistant for real estate? Forbes.com and Zillow.com pinpointed 25 metro areas ushering in a steady rise in home prices since the beginning of 2011. For this list, Zillow scoured through home price data for 154 metro areas, assessing values for homes both on and off the market using list prices, final sale prices, tax records and property histories.
Agents frequently suggest that homeowners paint before placing their homes on the market. Don’t be offended! 
Agents understand “color psychology,” which focuses on color’s effect on human behavior and emotion. Since people’s reaction to color is immediate, color has a tremendous influence on the choices they make every day.
“Color choices are very personal and when selling your home, it’s critical to appeal to the greatest number of potential buyers,” said Allegra Dioguardi, president of Styled and Sold Home Staging in New York. “With so many people beginning their search for a home on the Internet today, your home and listing photos must stand out from your competition. Color is one very simple way to do this.”
Added Eric Brown, one of the authors of House Selling for Dummies: “Painting your house’s exterior before you put it on the market will give the biggest bang for your fix-up buck, as long as you are using colors that conform to the neighborhood’s decorating norm.”
Colors affect human beings in many ways, and by using the principles of color psychology, you can make your home stand out from the competition, sell more quickly, and at a higher price. In short, the stimulus and effect of colors normally cross cultures. Blues will feel cool, reds and oranges feel warm. Deeper shades of color imply intimacy and serenity.
Your home’s exterior color is the first thing most potential homebuyers see when they drive up or inspect the property on the Web. The correct color may be the most powerful and cost effective design tool at your disposal.
What is “correct” these days? Brown’s research shows that homes painted in pale yellows with cream or beige accents have sold fastest during the past few years.
In general, lighter colors are favored for exterior as they make the property seem larger. Conversely, painting your sideboards with a darker color will make the house seem smaller, though dark colors can draw more attention to home’s details.
For those painting an older home, you may want to consider historical accuracy, as this could be a big selling point as well. When choosing interior colors for the home, consider the purpose of each room. Kitchen and dining areas painted in “food colors” such as coffee browns, celery greens and scrambled-egg yellows will make the rooms feel more natural.
Hallways are a great place to bring in the exterior colors for overall harmony.
According to Jeanette Fisher’s book Joy to the Home: Secrets of Interior Design Psychology, since, deeper shades of color imply intimacy and serenity, she recommends painting master bedrooms a medium shade of green or blue for warm selling seasons, and rouge red for cooler weather. Other bedrooms can be painted in creamy tones of green, blue, or a pale shell pink.
For your bedroom and bathroom, cool colors can form a relaxing atmosphere with paint. Consider shades of blue, green or even lavender.
Of course, common sense should help you with any color choices. You need to match other things in your home and keep a comfortable environment as well.
What is your favorite color for an interior room?
Today’s prospective homebuyers are increasingly interested in a property’s outdoor living space as they are its interior. Savvy agents understand this powerful trend and are staging homes on two fronts – the terrific indoors and the great outdoors.
The following tips will help ensure that your backyard is as distinctive at your home itself.
• Make your Backyard Homey: Create a conversation area with some furniture. The area needn’t be elaborate; just two chairs pulled close together with a table between can make even the most basic concrete patio special. Just the idea that an outdoor eating option is possible makes a property more inviting. Adding accessories like a small table, an inexpensive outdoor rug or a few pots filled with flowers will make the area even more attractive.
• Remember the Kids: If you have an old tree house, fix it up and paint it bright colors or add sporty designs that will make other kids fall in love with it. Just make sure the tree house is safe. Add a tire swing to a tree and keep an orderly basket of balls, flying disks and a jump rope so kids dragged along on the showing can play in the yard. Swing sets that are old and unsightly should be removed or refurbished to look new.
• Fire is Hot: There’s nothing like sitting around a fire and enjoying the company of friends and loved ones, which explains the growing popularity of fire pits and outdoor hearths. Few home improvements create the “wow” factor that a backyard fireplace will, and many homeowners are adding a fireplace to their outdoor landscape to recreate all the appeal of their home’s interior outside in the backyard.
• Simple Fixes: You needn’t go overboard with the changes in your yard. Sometimes, the easiest fixes will create a look that people will remember. Do a thorough inspection and replace any damaged boards on your deck or fence, and apply a fresh coat of paint, stain and sealant if the finish requires it. You should also weed and groom your garden and add some perennials for color.
Creating a backyard sanctuary is one of the smartest things you can do to make your home stand out, so make your outdoor space a destination to remember.
Tired of the same old cookies? These cookies are delicious with just the right balance of sweet and salty. Yum!
Ingredients:
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 and 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 t. vanilla extract
1 and 1/2 cups crushed light potato chips
1/3 cups confectioners’ sugar for decoration
Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 350F.
Cream the shortening and the sugar together until light. Stire in the vanilla and the flour then carefully fold in the potato chips.
Drop by spoonfuls onto a greased baking sheet. Bake at 350F for 15 to 18 minutes or until golden brown. Do not overbake.
Sprinkle warm cookies with confectioners’ sugar and move to wire racks to cool.
1. Review the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) report on the property you’re interested in buying. CLUE reports detail the property’s claims history for the most recent five years, which insurers may use to deny coverage. Make the sale contingent on a home inspection to ensure that problems identified in the CLUE report have been repaired. (A CLUE report is included when Preferred Insurance Agency runs a quote.)
2. Seek insurance coverage as soon as your offer is approved. You must obtain insurance to buy. And you don’t want to be told at closing that the insurer has denied your coverage.
3. Maintain good credit. Insurers always use credit-based insurance scores to determine premiums.
4. Buy your home owners and auto policies from the same company and you’ll usually qualify for savings. But make sure the discount really yields the lowest price.
5. Raise your deductible. If you can afford to pay more toward a loss that occurs, your premiums will be lower. Avoid making claims under $1,000.
6. Ask about other discounts. You also may be able to obtain discounts for having smoke detectors or dead-bolt locks.
7. Seek group discounts. If you belong to any groups, such as associations or alumni organizations, they may have deals on insurance coverage.
8. Review your policy limits and the value of your home and possessions annually. Some items depreciate and may not need as much coverage.
9. A security system can save you money on your insurance. If you have a monitored central burgler and fire system thru a company such as Guardian or SSA could grab you a discount of 18%-20%.
10. Be sure you insure your house for the correct amount. Remember, you’re covering replacement cost, not market value.
For more information or a quote on insurance, visit Preferred Insurance Agency‘s website.
1. Remove clutter and clear off counters. Throw out stacks of newspapers and magazines and stow away most of your small decorative items. Put excess furniture in storage, and remove out-of-season clothing items that are cramping closet space. Don’t forget to clean out the garage, too.
2. Wash your windows and screens. This will help get more light into the interior of the home.
3. Keep everything extra clean. A clean house will make a strong first impression and send a message to buyers that the home has been well-cared for. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates, mop and wax floors, and clean the stove and refrigerator. Polish your doorknobs and address numbers. It’s worth hiring a cleaning service if you can afford it.
4. Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows to air out the house. Potpourri or scented candles will help.
5. Brighten your rooms. Put higher wattage bulbs in light fixtures to brighten up rooms and basements. Replace any burned-out bulbs in closets. Clean the walls, or better yet, brush on a fresh coat of neutral color paint.
6. Don’t disregard minor repairs. Small problems such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression that the house isn’t well-maintained.
7. Tidy your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, add new mulch, trim the bushes, edge the walkways, and clean the gutters. For added curb appeal, place a pot of bright flowers near the entryway.
8. Patch holes. Repair any holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.
9. Add a touch of color in the living room. A colored afghan or throw on the couch will jazz up a dull room. Buy new accent pillows for the sofa.
10. Buy a flowering plant and put it near a window you pass by frequently.
11. Make centerpieces for your tables. Use brightly colored fruit or flowers.
12. Set the scene. Set the table with fancy dishes and candles, and create other vignettes throughout the home to help buyers picture living there. For example, in the basement you might display a chess game in progress.
13. Replace heavy curtains with sheer ones that let in more light. Show off the view if you have one.
14. Accentuate the fireplace. Lay fresh logs in the fireplace or put a basket of flowers there if it’s not in use.
15. Make the bathrooms feel luxurious. Put away those old towels and toothbrushes. When buyers enter your bathroom, they should feel pampered. Add a new shower curtain, new towels, and fancy guest soaps. Make sure your personal toiletry items are out of sight.
16. Send your pets to a neighbor or take them outside. If that’s not possible, crate them or confine them to one room (ideally in the basement), and let the real estate practitioner know where they’ll be to eliminate surprises.
17. Lock up valuables, jewelry, and money. While a real estate salesperson will be on site during the showing or open house, it’s impossible to watch everyone all the time.
18. Leave the home. It’s usually best if the sellers are not at home. It’s awkward for prospective buyers to look in your closets and express their opinions of your home with you there.
Shopping for and purchasing your first home is an exciting time, but before you begin looking, make sure you’re completely prepared and know what to expect. The following steps will help get you ready to make that big purchase.
Step 1: Freshen up your Finances.
Before you dive into the exciting part of home-buying—the search!—make sure you have all your ducks in a row. “Figuring out your finances and crunching some numbers will allow you to set a realistic budget,” says Ron Croushore, CEO of Prudential Preferred Realty.
Step 2: Secure a loan.
After you get your finances in order, talk to lenders and mortgage brokers. It’s important to shop around to get the lowest interest and overall best deal possible. Make sure you understand all of the fees involved before diving into anything. (See how much you can afford)
Step 3: Map out your criteria.
Now that you have your finances figured out and a loan set up, it’s time to begin your search—from home! With a plethora of online home-buying tools at your fingertips, it’s relatively easy to map out different types of homes and neighborhoods and find what is right for you. Make big decisions—like urban versus suburban settings, an estimated property size and neighborhood requirements—before you start to physically look at properties. This will save time and energy for both you and your agent. (Find an agent)
Step 4: Take notes.
On your own or with the help of an agent, you’ve found some houses you’re interested in looking at. Don’t venture out without a pen, paper and camera. Often when searching for a home you are shown many at once. Keeping track of important details by taking notes and pictures will help you differentiate between the properties later, and help you weed out the homes you were not interested in. It is also a good idea to come with a list of questions ready, and be sure to scope out the neighborhood by driving around for a bit. There’s nothing worse than purchasing a house only to find it’s down the block from an extremely noisy restaurant or industrial plant.
Step 5: Close that deal! So you’ve found a home you love? Don’t wait around.
“I’ve seen many first-time buyers miss out on a home because they got cold feet and continued shopping around. By the time they realized they weren’t going to find a better fit, someone else had already made an offer!” says Croushore. Like the perfect pair of shoes, you will know when you’ve found the right match. Make an offer, and be ready to negotiate. Once a deal has been made, thoroughly read the contract and make sure you understand everything before you sign. Next, it’s time to begin with the appraisal and home inspection process.
Prudential Preferred Realty proudly announces our top sales associates for May.
May Top Sales Associates by Units:
Residential Sales: Scott Ludwick from the Greensburg office with 7 units.
Residential Listings: Kathy Hall & Betsy Wotherspoon from the North Hills office with 17 units.
Residential Listings Sold: Scott Ludwick from the Greensburg office with 11 units.
New Construction Listings: Lisa Fuller and Lori Springer from the Cranberry office with 5 units.
May Top Sales Associates by Volume:
Residential Sales: Linda Honeywill from the North Hills office with 2.7 million.
Residential Listings: Chuck Swidzinski from the Butler office with 22.7 million.
Residential Listings Sold: Kathy Hall & Betsy Wotherspoon from the North Hills office with 4.2 million.
New Construction Listings: Lisa Fuller and Lori Springer from the Cranberry office with 1.4 million.
1. Research before you look.
Decide what features you most want to have in a home, what neighborhoods you prefer, and how much you’d be willing to spend each month for housing.
2. Be realistic.
It’s OK to be picky, but don’t be unrealistic with your expectations. There’s no such thing as a perfect home. Use your list of priorities as a guide to evaluate each property.
3. Get your finances in order.
Review your credit report and be sure you have enough money to cover your down payment and closing costs. Then, talk to a lender and get prequalified for a mortgage. This will save you the heartache later of falling in love with a house you can’t afford.
4. Don’t ask too many people for opinions.
It will drive you crazy. Select one or two people to turn to if you feel you need a second opinion, but be ready to make the final decision on your own.
5. Decide your moving timeline.
When is your lease up? Are you allowed to sublet? How tight is the rental market in your area? All of these factors will help you determine when you should move.
6. Think long term.
Are you looking for a starter house with plans to move up in a few years, or do you hope to stay in this home for a longer period? This decision may dictate what type of home you’ll buy as well as the type of mortgage terms that will best suit you.
7. Insist on a home inspection.
If possible, get a warranty from the seller to cover defects for one year.
8. Get help from a REALTOR®.
Hire a real estate professional who specializes in buyer representation. Unlike a listing agent, whose first duty is to the seller, a buyer’s representative is working only for you. Buyer’s reps are usually paid out of the seller’s commission payment.
Making a good impression on potential buyers before they even step inside will assure that your property is memorable, but more importantly, making a bad impression will hinder your chances of selling your home—regardless of how charming it is inside.
Many homeowners who are trying to sell think that increasing their curb appeal has to be a pricey affair involving landscapers or a new front porch. But there are a great deal of small, inexpensive things you can do for the outside of your home that will make the overall appearance much more appealing. We suggest these simple do-it-yourself projects, all of which will take less than one afternoon, and cost you 100 dollars—or less!
Flower Boxes.
Putting flower boxes under your windows will give your home a pop of color and increase the overall charm factor of your property. All it takes is the boxes themselves—which are usually under $35—some soil, and plants. Not interested in flower boxes? A few potted plants lining your porch, steps or walkway will do the trick as well.
Repaint Your Accents.
Repainting the accents of your home—including the front door, trim and shutters—will give your house a fresh, clean look. Choosing a bold color will make your house stick out, but even playing it safe with a neutral tone will make your property appear clean and well cared for.
Replace Your Numbers.
Many houses have old, faded or rusted numbers. Buying new, modern numbers—or even customized numeral plaques—can really help the look of the front of your house. This is a small detail that is often overlooked but can have a really nice effect. Here is a great article on how to do it: http://www.lowescreativeideas.com/idea-library/projects/Address_For_Success_0410.aspx
Plant a Garden.
Planting a small flower garden in the front of your house will give your home a warm, inviting look. Foliage adds instant curb appeal. If you don’t want to tend to flowers, consider planting a tree.
Detailing.
Adding interesting details, such as a bird feeder or birdbath, will improve the appeal of your front yard. Inexpensive stepping stones trailed throughout a garden or up to the front door are also attractive touches.
Mailbox Makeover.
Getting an upgraded or customized mailbox adds great detailing to the front of your house. Whether you opt for a mounted box on the side of your home or a curbside container, having a mailbox that stands out is a nice touch.
There are many different low-budget options for bolstering your curb appeal. Doing so will immediately make your home more inviting, assure a great first impression and enable a faster selling time.
