Carmel Indiana Real Estate Blog

Before you decide to wait until spring to list your home, the Matt Borushko Team of Keller Williams Realty offers these Eleven Reasons to List Your Home During the Holidays

1. People who look for a home during the holidays are more serious buyers!

2. Serious buyers have fewer houses to choose from during the holidays and less competition means more money for you

3. Since the supply of listings will dramatically increase in January, there will be less demand for your particular home. Less demand means less money for you.

4. Houses show better when decorated for the holidays!

5. Buyers are more emotional during the holidays, so they are more likely to pay your price!

6. Buyers have more time to look for a homeduring the holidays than they do during a normal work week!

7. Some people must buy before the end of the year for tax reasons!

8. January is traditionally the month for employees to begin new jobs. Since transferees cannot wiat until spring to buy, you must be on the market now to capture thise buyers!

9. You can still be on the market, but you do have the option to restrict showings during the six or seven days during the holidays!

10. You can sell now for more money and we will provide for a delayed closing or extended occupancy until early next year!

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

The Matt Borushko Team is here to help you with any of your real estate needs even during the holidays. Please feel free to visit us on the web at www.mattsellsindy.com at any time!

See also Six Tips to Selling Your Home in a Down Market

Short Sales and foreclosures are a part of our current real estate market. As a potential buyer or seller, it is vital to understand what they are and their impact on real estate in your area.

Short sales:  Short sales are transactions in which a seller sells a home for less than owed on the property. Short sales are not bank owned properties, however a bank has to approve the sale prior to closing for a short sale to occur.  Sellers may have to attempt to sell a home "short" for many reasons such as declining home values, poor lending practices, or unforeseen circumstances.

Foreclosures (or REO's): Foreclosures are bank owned properties. A foreclosure takes place after a home is surrendered to a financial institution after a long and lengthy legal process. Once this occurs the home than becomes a REO (Real Estate Owned) and is generally offered for sale to the public in the form of a sheriff sale or on the local MLS.

Effect on Home Values:  Both of these types of properties have a negative impact on home values in an area. The simple reason for this is that they are competing with sellers for a limited number of buyers. The amount of impact varies but is usually dependant on how many of these properties are listed or have been sold in an area.  If a builder practiced or pushed poor lending practices to a number of buyers in a neighborhood for example, there is usually a delayed but absolute effect on home values while the neighborhood struggles through an imminent foreclosure cycle. In these instances, home values plummet and everyone is affected.

The good news is that in many cases these distressed properties have little or no effect on their homes' value.  Potential sellers can go to www.indyhomevalues.com to receive a free market analysis for their Indy Metro area home.

Buyers in the Indianapolis Metro area can go to www.newestindylistings.com and get all new foreclosure and short sale listing sent directly to their email. When you are on the site make sure you indicate you want short sale or foreclosure listings in the comments section!

Matt Borushko is an agent with Keller Williams Realty in Carmel Indiana. Matt can easily be reached through his website at www.mattsellsindy.com

If you live in or near Noblesville, IN here are some great dining choices that are also locally owned businesses. We take both clients and friends to these restaurants and always get great meals and exceptional service!

Bonge's Tavern in nearby Perkinsville (www.bongestavern.com). This is definitely a dining experience you will never forget...fantastic food in a unique 21 and over atmosphere.  If you go during the summer, plan on tailgating as part of the fun as you will wait to get in. Bring cards, some camping chairs, and get to know your friends a little better!

Matteo's Itailan Restaurant (www.matteosindy.com) is a family owned Italian restaurant that is worth the drive from anywhere in Indianapolis. Located on the square in Noblesville, this is a perfect place to bring clients for lunch,or family and friends for dinner.  When you are there, try the Lasagna!

When you're looking for that perfect place to entertain, we hope you'll consider these restaurants. If you need real estate help, Matt and Becki Borushko of the Borushko Team www.mattsellsindy.com are local realtors serving the Noblesville area!

Free Email Home Search for Indianapolis Area Buyers

If you are looking to buy a home, have all of the latest listings sent directly to your email as they get listed.  Even in this difficult market the best homes sell quickly. This search allows you to be one the the first to see homes that match your criteria.  Most importantly, this search is completely customizable, so you only get the listings you want to see.  Log on to www.newestindylistings.com to sign up for this free home search!

Buyers be aware...this may be your best chance to buy a home.

Home prices have fallen throughout the country but still many buyers are hesitant to move forward with a home purchase.  The most common reason we hear as real estate professionals is that prices may not be at their lowest.  There are many factors that buyers should consider before choosing to wait:

Mortgage Availability:  Many buyers can still qualify for mortgages at very reasonable rates and low down payments today. That number is far lower than a year ago, and waiting may cost you the ability to buy a home for many years.  In early 2009 Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, 2 of the largest mortgage loan underwriters in the US, are going to start requiring at least 10% down for all new loans. FHA is also changing it's lending requirements and raising the minimum credit scores on home loans.  Both of these changes mean far fewer people will qualify for a home loan.

First Time Buyer Tax Credits: For people who have not owned a home for the apst 3 years, there is a federal tax credit up to $7500.  This is an interest free loan from our government to try and raise home ownership.

Consider Cost of Waiting:  Most buyers are going to finance their homes, so monthly payment is a big issue. If you wait to buy 6 months and prices drop $5000 on a 150,000 home, but interest rates go up1/2%, your actual payments would be higher than if you purchased now.  You also need to heavily consider mortgage availability as we stated earlier. Next year you may not be able to buy that home based on lending changes.

When Will Home Prices Hit Bottom?  The answer is I will be able to tell you where the bottom was when prices are on their way up. A home is a large investment and all investments should be entered into carefully with planning. Getting a home when prices are "at the bottom" is more luck than skill and really cannot be the impetus behind a purchase. Rather, aware buyers should be asking whether now is a smart time to buy.  Smart for their economic situation, smart for the people who will be living in the home, and are prices good relative to recent history making this a good long term investment? 

 

 

Sellers looking to capitalize on the current buyers market may have more choices than they realize.  In fact savvy sellers may be able to take advantage of one of the most basic laws of investing. (Buy low and Sell High). 

Sellers may consider renting the home they currently live in until the market improves, and buy their dream home while the market is struggling.  The change in the financial markets has made the rental market stronger, and sellers who have the financial resources to buy their next home without selling their current home may benefit from this type of market twice! 

There are of course risks involved and any seller considering this option should first consult with a local real estate professional to help determine the state of the rental market in your specific area.  Once you have weighed the pros and cons of this decision, you may find that a buyer's market like this presents the very best opportunity to gain market share and equity!

Matt Borushko is a real estate professional who works with buyers, sellers, and investors in Carmel, Noblesville, Fishers, Westfield, and Indianapolis, IN.  Matt Borushko is a member of Keller Williams Realty and can be found at www.mattsellsindy.com

Read Also: Six Steps to Selling Your house in a Down Market

Indianapolis real estate agent Matt Borushko offers six tips that home owners should know when thinking about selling their home.

 

Indianapolis, IN (eMediaWorld) August 25, 2008 -- In the midst of a sagging real estate market, Indianapolis real estate agent Matt Borushko (http://www.mattsellsindy.com) has some advice for home sellers.

"To be competitive, sellers need to find an experienced agent that understands what it takes to attract buyers in today's real estate market," says Borushko. "I advise my sellers to follow these six simple rules."

" I advise my sellers to follow these six simple rules. "

1. Know the Market
Get to know the 'local' market and don't focus on 'national' trends. What's happening to home prices in California or New York doesn't apply in Indianapolis. The same is true for neighborhoods within an area. Your real estate agent can provide recent data on the how well homes around you are selling.

2. Focus On Your Goal
Set and focus on a goal that will allow you to see beyond the current market. Ask yourself why it is you 'want' or 'need' to sell now. Whether the family is growing, a job is changing or it's an investment strategy, know that you'll be better off if you sell intelligently with a specific goal in mind.

3. Energize Your Marketing
Don't leave anything to chance when it comes to marketing your home. A sign in the yard isn't going to cut it anymore. Quality marketing materials combined with an aggressive Internet marketing strategy and an outstanding presentation in the local real estate listing service are vital to standing out in today's market. Your agent should be marketing savvy.

4. Price Appropriately
The market has changed. Price your home for today's market rather than what you think your home is worth. Buyers now have the tools and research available to become better educated on price. Price your home based on logic and not emotion. Your list price is an important piece of a successful internet marketing strategy.

5. Make a Good First Impression
Buyers have more homes to choose from right now. Your home must be clean and clutter-free inside and out. Make needed repairs to landscaping, structure, appliances and systems such as electric, plumbing, and HVAC.

6. Be Flexible
Flexibility comes in different forms. It means having reasonable expectations, knowing what you want to offer buyers in terms of incentives and working with your agent to understand and apply various negotiation strategies.