Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Real Technology: Let Technology Work for You

If you’re considering making a move, you’ve probably already searched the Internet to see what’s available.


According to the 2011 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 88 percent of buyers use the Internet as one of the information sources in their home search process.


Real Estate Internet Marketing


Here are just a … Read the rest


Tuesday, November 27, 2012

In Most of U.S, Buying Still Beats Renting After Only Three Years

via Zillow Real Estate Research


Looking at the breakeven horizon will give you a better idea if buying is the better choice vs. renting a home in a given area. If you plan on staying in a home longer than the breakeven horizon, buying is the more financially advantageous choice. … Read the rest


Rent vs. Buy – Breakeven Horizon Analysis Methodology Updated

via Zillow Real Estate Research


In August 2012, using our second quarter data, we introduced a new approach to make the rent versus buy decision and computed a metric called the Breakeven Horizon at the city and metro levels. The breakeven horizon is the number of years after which buying … Read the rest


More than an investment, your house is where you make memories that last a lifetime.


Homeowners insurance includes a broad package of both property and liability coverage , many of which cover activities away from and not in any way connected with your home. Homeowner’s insurance pays for the repair or rebuilding of a house which is damaged by fire or numerous other causes, such … Read the rest


Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Zillow Forecast: September Case-Shiller Composite-20 Expected to Show 3% Increase from One Year Ago

via Zillow Real Estate Research


On Tuesday November 27th, the Case-Shiller Composite Home Price Indices for September will be released. Zillow predicts that the 20-City Composite Home Price Index (non-seasonally adjusted [NSA]) will be up by 3 percent on a year-over-year basis, while the 10-City Composite Home Price … Read the rest


The Curb Appeal Privacy Fences Provide Your Home

The curb appeal of privacy fences should be quite obvious and it can also be a deciding factor when somebody is looking at buying your home should it be on the market. By having a nice looking fence, you will instantly give off the impression that an area has been … Read the rest


Tuesday, November 20, 2012

October Marks 12th Consecutive Month of National Home Value Increases

via Zillow Real Estate Research


Zillow’s October Real Estate Market Reports, released today, show that national home values rose 1.1% from September to October to $155,400 (Figure 1). This is the largest monthly increase since August 2005 when home values rose 1.2% month-over-month. October 2012 marks the 12thRead the rest


Monday, November 19, 2012

Do You Know a Homeowner Facing Foreclosure? Here’s A Way Out.

Foreclosures in Chester County Headlines today are filled with stories about homeowners in financial distress—people who face a lender’s foreclosure on their home.


Millions of American home owners are wondering what to do.


Like most crises, this one has produced its share of rumors and misinformation. One of the biggest ones is “just let … Read the rest


Thursday, November 15, 2012

Chester County Housing Market Showing Improvement Year Over Year

Is it time to sell? Looking over October’s housing numbers for Chester County (courtesy of Suburban West Realtors® Association), we see a marked improvement over last year’s numbers. Pending home sales are up 28.7% from October 2011 to 2012, and up 31.6% year-to-date from last year. Settlements of home sales … Read the rest


Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Negative Equity Falls in the Third Quarter, But Fiscal Cliff Could Derail Momentum

via Zillow Real Estate Research


In the third quarter of 2012, home values showed the biggest quarterly gain since 2006. National home values appreciated 1.3 percent from Q2 to Q3 2012, with much of that appreciation focused in hard-hit areas, like Arizona, Florida and California. As home values rise, negative … Read the rest


6 Benefits Of Regular Gutter Cleaning

If you want to maintain your house in good condition, you have to ensure that your gutters are well maintained. Though in some cases it may be difficult to realize the importance of doing so, clean gutters are essential in improving the quality of life around most homes. There are … Read the rest


Monday, November 12, 2012

Getting the Best Value for Your Home – Pricing Your Home to Sell

Getting ready to get into the real-estate market?


Most sellers today are nervous and unsure. They wonder: is taking a loss on our house inevitable?


The answer is no! A strategic sales plan, coupled with a smart buy in your new location will ensure that you recoup the maximum value … Read the rest


Video: Home Seller Tips: Going Green




Home Seller Tips: Going Green

http://www.kw.com Did you know that the top three most-requested green features buyers are looking for now are double pane windows, insulation and efficient heating and cooling systems? If you’re looking to update your home before selling you might consider one or more of these features … Read the rest


Friday, November 9, 2012

What’s the Real Discount on a Foreclosure?

via Zillow Real Estate Research


We’ve noticed several recent analyses that report the discount associated with foreclosure sales. For example, see here, here and here. What’s common in these analyses is the computation of the foreclosure discount using the median (or average) sale price of foreclosures compared to … Read the rest


Chester County Real Estate Headlines – Nov 8, 2012

Oxford Borough looks to toughen sidewalk requirements

Oxford Borough Council will consider amending Chapter 21, Part 7 of the Oxford Code relating to sidewalk construction and repair. The amendment will require the seller of any property in the Borough to repair any existing sidewalk, curb or gutter when deemed by … Read the rest


Thursday, November 8, 2012

Video: Home Seller Tips: Curb Appeal




Home Seller Tips: Curb Appeal

http://www.kw.com According to KW Research, sellers who enhanced curb appeal sold their house seven days faster than those who didn’t. Just trimming the trees and bushes could separate your house from the competition. Want to get your house sold faster and for more money? Talk … Read the rest


Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Video: This Month in Real Estate (US) November 2012




This Month in Real Estate (US) November 2012

http://www.kw.com According to a report from KW research, first time homebuyers are most motivated by the following factors: the current market, financial readiness, location and price.First-time homebuyers recognize the opportunity in today’s market. Record-low interest rates, lower prices and tax breaks all … Read the rest


Monday, November 5, 2012

Part 2: How Does Romney Score on Housing?

via Zillow Real Estate Research


Given the lack of discussion of housing-related issues in this presidential election, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to score each of the candidates’ positions on housing. Here is our take on Mitt Romney’s stances. The counterpart to this piece addresses our view of President Obama’s … Read the rest


How a $25,000 Itemized Deduction Cap Would Affect Homeowners

via Zillow Real Estate Research


In the run up to the 2012 presidential election, tax reform has been a hot topic. Republican candidate Mitt Romney has made a number of statements proposing various caps on itemized deductions, mentioning a limit of $25,000 during the first presidential debate. While we’re counting … Read the rest


The Top 11 Reasons A Seller Should List During the Holidays

Happy Holidays11. By selling now, you may have an opportunity to be a non-contingent buyer during the spring, when many more houses are on the market for less money! This will allow you to sell high and buy low!


10. You can sell now for more money and we will provide … Read the rest


What’s the Hottest New Remodeling Trend?

What's the Hottest New Remodeling Trend?Article From HouseLogic.com

By: Dona DeZube

Published: October 25, 2012


A new survey says showy upgrades are out and functionality is in with today’s remodeling home owners.


In the wake of the housing market crisis, we started remodeling with less pretension and more functionality, says Kermit Baker, the chief economist … Read the rest


Friday, November 2, 2012

Video: Home Seller Tips: Appeal to First Time Home Buyers




Home Seller Tips: Appeal to First Time Home Buyers

http://www.kw.com Most homes are being bought by first time homebuyers. And two thirds of first time homebuyers chose a home that is between 1,000 and 2,000 square feet. Put another way, if your home is in that size range, chances are … Read the rest