Monday, February 26, 2018

Why Homeowners Should Work With a Realtor

Some homeowners feel they can sell their home on their own since they know their home better than anyone else. Others feel they are contract savvy so they can handle the purchase agreement and disclosures required to complete a sale. Still others feel they cannot afford the real estate commission so they have no choice. Whatever the reason, Realtors have a vast amount of knowledge and experience with the real estate market and different types of transactions that it is in the homeowner’s best interest to use a Realtor to facilitate the sale of their home.

Time is Money
Doing your own research is a tiresome and tedious process that involves going through vast amounts of information. There are hundreds of real estate sites full of information that vary and selecting the correct data may be tricky. Realtors work in the market every day and are already familiar with the sales as well as the differentials that can change or create a comparable sale. Realtors know what your home is worth in today’s market and what to price your home at so that it will sell in a timely manner.

Pricing Your Home Correctly
The real estate market is a fast-passed sector that constantly changes and evolves. Whether you are looking to sell your property or buy a new home, keeping up with all the changes is impossible unless you are a professional who has dedicated his time to the market. Failing to analyze the data may lead to poor and uninformed decisions that will lead many homeowners to price their homes incorrectly. Some are way overpriced causing their property to sit on the market and waste valuable time. Others are underpriced and using a real estate professional actually would pay for itself!

Marketing Your Home
Real estate professionals advertise their properties on hundreds of sites since most buyers start their real estate search online. Marketing a property is key to getting the most visibility and exposure which will give it the best chance to get sold in a timely manner. Homeowners will not have this kind of accessibility.

A Realtor can help a homeowner save time and money when selling their home. According to the National Association of Realtors, in 2013, the typical FSBO sales price was $40,100 lower than a home being represented by a qualified real estate agent. A homeowner cannot afford not to work with a real estate professional!

Today's New Listings!

37847 Michele Ln, Eastlake

28900 Eddy Rd, Willoughby Hills

6233 Iroquois Trl, Mentor

789 Derby Dr, Painesville

82 Ava June Dr, Painesville Township

10564 Oakmont Way, Concord

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Today's New Listings!

919 Elmwood Ave, Wickliffe

2996 Som Center Rd, Willoughby Hills

160 Pebblebrook Dr, Willoughby Hills

509 South Ashwood Ln, Painesville Township

473 S/L South Ashwood Ln, Painesville Township

Open House Listings & Lease Purchases!

Open Houses for February 25, 2018

8329 Bainbrook Dr, Chagrin Falls
Open 1-3pm
$619,900 
4bd 3.5ba

10925 Quail Hollow Dr, Concord
Open 2-4pm
$419,000 
4bd 2.5ba

6527 Bayside Dr, Madison (Another unit avail)
Open 3-5pm
$150,000 
3bd 2.5ba

2632 Morningstar Dr, Madison
Open 12:30-4:30pm
$100,000 
3bd 2ba

1415 Parkview Dr, Madison
Open 12-2pm
$100,000 
3bd 2ba

9009 Bluejay Lane, Mentor
Open 12-2pm
$224,900 
3bd 2ba


Properties Considering Lease Purchase Option

V/L Mason Rd, Berlin Heights 
$200,000
Over 18 Acres of Residential Land!

6117 Saint Clair Ave, Cleveland
$164,900
Commercial Brick Building with Multiple Income Streams!

V/L Galloway Rd, Huron Township 
$400,000
Over 19 Acres of Residential Land!

V/L Columbus Ave, Sandusky
$100,000
27.9 Acre Lot in a High Traffic Area!

V/L Beatty Ln, Sandusky
$89,900
Private Wooded 5.71 Acre Residential Lot!

Monday, February 19, 2018

Advantages of Buying a Multi Family as a Primary Residence

One of the smartest decisions a home buyer can make is to purchase a multi family home as his primary residence. A multi family home is considered a two family, three family or four family property. These are sometimes referred to as duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes. While the purchase of a single family home is a smart investment, there are definite advantages to purchasing a multi family home.

Income Stream
A multi family home provides an income stream from one or more tenants. This is the single largest advantage because it reduces the buyer’s monthly expenses such as the mortgage, taxes and insurance.

Higher Mortgage Qualification
Most buyers assume that the mortgage qualification guidelines will be stricter on a multi family home but many of the guidelines are the same as a single family home and often the income ratio will look better on a multi family. This is because part of the income the property produces can often be counted as part of the new buyer’s income. This means a buyer can usually qualify for a larger multi family home than a single family home.

Easier to Manage
If your goal is to have rental properties, then having your tenants under one roof is ideal. Rents are easier to collect and the upkeep of the property is easier to manage when you live onsite.

Future Rental
The owner of a multi family can easily decide to rent out their current unit and purchase another property. This makes a multi family purchase as a first time home buyer a terrific option. Many buyers will go on to purchase another multi family and grow their real estate portfolio and others will move onto a single family home to raise a family or for more privacy.

Great Investment
Maintaining the multi family home will make it attractive to tenants and will allow the owner to increase rents over time. This will also make the building more attractive to investors should the owner decide to sell. The more money the property brings in, the more money it is worth.

Retirement
Keep in mind that rents increase over time but mortgage stays the same. Once the mortgage has been paid off, the owner can choose to keep the property as a source of steady income or sell it for a profit. This makes a multi family home a great real estate investment.

Today's New Listings!

5571 Meister Rd, Mentor

540 Mentor Ave, Painesville

195 Radley Dr, Painesville

29 Ava June Dr, Painesville Township

1200 Waterfront Pl, Painesville Township

Thursday, February 15, 2018

Open House Listings & Lease Purchases!

Open Houses for February 18, 2018

8329 Bainbrook Dr, Chagrin Falls
Open 12-4pm
$619,900 
4bd 3.5ba

10745 Holi Dale Dr, Chardon
Open 11-3pm
$249,900 
3bd 2.5ba

6527 Bayside Dr, Madison (Another unit avail)
Open 12-4pm
$150,000 
3bd 2.5ba

9009 Bluejay Lane, Mentor
Open 2:30-4:30pm
$224,900 
3bd 2ba

5700 Davis Dr, Mentor-on-the-Lake
Open 12-2pm
$139,900 
3bd 2ba

4566 Turney Rd, Perry
Open 12-2pm
$174,000 
4bd 2.5ba


Properties Considering Lease Purchase Option

V/L Mason Rd, Berlin Heights 
$200,000
Over 18 Acres of Residential Land!

6117 Saint Clair Ave, Cleveland
$164,900
Commercial Brick Building with Multiple Income Streams!

V/L Galloway Rd, Huron Township 
$400,000
Over 19 Acres of Residential Land!

V/L Columbus Ave, Sandusky
$100,000
27.9 Acre Lot in a High Traffic Area!

V/L Beatty Ln, Sandusky
$89,900
Private Wooded 5.71 Acre Residential Lot!

Today's New Listings!

30335 Overlook Dr, Wickliffe

Monday, February 12, 2018

Home Improvement Projects that can Hurt Your Home

Homeowners often renovate their homes to create enjoyment today with hopes of adding value that they can realize in the future. Not every home improvement project will increase the value or saleability of a home though. Some projects may even hurt a property's chance of selling. Here are a few home improvement projects to avoid:

•    Garage Conversion - Do not convert a garage into living space unless you add another garage to the property. You will exclude many home buyers who want a garage.

•    Combine Bedrooms - Do not combine two bedrooms to create a larger bedroom. This will exclude home buyers who are looking for a certain number of bedrooms.

•    Wallpaper - Do not wallpaper your home. This is more of a permanent treatment and is difficult to remove. Paint and pictures look just as nice and are easier to change.

•    Closet Removal - Do not remove a closet to create more space in a bedroom. This will make it more difficult to sell the home and may cause an appraisal issue as well.

Usually home improvement projects will increase the value of a property and help it sell quicker. Sometimes though, it will have the opposite effect. Keep these things in mind when deciding on your next home improvement project!

Today's New Listings!

29332 Nehls Park Dr, Wickliffe

37831 2nd St, Willoughby

 

Thursday, February 8, 2018

Open Houses, Price Reductions, & Lease Purchases!

Open Houses for February 11, 2018

10925 Quail Hollow Dr, Concord
Open 1-3pm
$419,000 
4bd 2.5ba

6529 Bayside Dr, Madison
Open 12-2pm
$159,900 
4bd 2.5ba

1156 Madison Ave, Painesville
Open 12-2pm
$185,000 
3bd 2ba

5700 Davis Dr, Mentor on the Lake
Open 12-2pm
$139,900 
3bd 2ba

4566 Turney Rd, Perry
Open 2-4pm
$174,000 
4bd 2.5ba

 
Price Reductions

V/L Norton Dr, Madison
$189,900 NEW PRICE!


Properties Considering Lease Purchase Option

V/L Mason Rd, Berlin Heights 
$200,000
Over 18 Acres of Residential Land!

6117 Saint Clair Ave, Cleveland
$164,900
Commercial Brick Building with Multiple Income Streams!

V/L Galloway Rd, Huron Township 
$400,000
Over 19 Acres of Residential Land!

V/L Columbus Ave, Sandusky
$100,000
27.9 Acre Lot in a High Traffic Area!

V/L Beatty Ln, Sandusky
$89,900
Private Wooded 5.71 Acre Residential Lot!

Today's New Listings!

34752 Parkview Ln #A, Willoughby

1156 Madison Ave, Painesville

7250 Northpointe Ct, Concord

Monday, February 5, 2018

Tips To Consider When Buying a Foreclosure

So you are looking for a new home, maybe even your first home, and you come across a house that is in a bank's name and you are told it has been foreclosed. The price is incredibly low and you are wondering, what is the catch? A foreclosure can be a good investment for a buyer. Unfortunately it was not a good experience for the homeowner. A foreclosure is when a homeowner loses the rights to their property due to the failure to pay their mortgage and the property is reclaimed by the bank. Once the homeowner involuntarily loses their home, the house becomes the bank’s property. Sellers can go into foreclosure for multiple reasons such as, job loss, excessive debt or personal issues with health or divorce.

Although the money may be right and you are considering a foreclosure, you should do some research first. Here are some tips to consider before buying a foreclosed home.

How long has the house been empty?
The longer a home has been vacant, the more likely it is to have damages. Empty houses can suffer from broken water pipes, stolen copper plumbing, damaged appliances and even mold are just a few examples of the potential problems that may await buyers of vacant properties. All buyers are encouraged to get a professional home inspection prior to purchasing.

Has the homeowner damaged the home?
Homeowners may neglect routine maintenance on the home for months especially if they know they will be removed from the home sometime in the future. Other times a homeowner may strip a property of valuable fixtures that should have remained with the home such as kitchen cabinets, wall-to-wall carpeting, interior doors, etc. There are a few homeowners who will even vandalize the property prior to leaving by putting cement down the drains, large holes in the drywall, etc. On the opposite end of the spectrum, there are some foreclosed properties that are in good condition. Either the homeowner took care of the property right up until the time they vacated or the bank made repairs to the property prior to putting it on the market. It is a good idea to view a foreclosure in person prior to purchasing as well as having a professional assist with accessing damages that may not be easily seen.

What kind of offer should I make on a foreclosure?
The main reason buyers shop for a foreclosure is to get a bargain but it is not always that easy. If the home is in a desirable location, there will be multiple bidders, leaving the home to sell at or near the market value. You can still have the benefit of two things working in your favor: the bank is not emotionally attached to the home so there is no irrational expectations about price and the bank loses money every day the house sits on the market. Something else to consider is that the market value will increase once you make renovations to the property. Remember, the home’s real cost is the money you pay the seller plus what you will need to spend on repairs and renovations. Set a firm maximum price that is within your budget and near the property’s actual value and be prepared to walk away if the bank does not accept it.

Should I invest in a foreclosure?
As you can see, there are pros and cons to investing in a foreclosure. Working with a professional real estate agent can help you select an ideal property that is right for you and assist you in navigating these new waters. Obtaining a licensed contractor’s estimate of the repairs needed prior to purchasing is advised as well. Once an offer is accepted, a professional home inspection contingency is key to insure the needed repairs are identified and accounted for. Contact a Realtor today to discuss purchasing a foreclosure!

Today's New Listings!

4751 Eldo St, Willoughby

30751 Chardon Rd, Willoughby Hills

6791 Palmerston Dr, Mentor

472 South Ashwood Ln, Painesville Township

425 South Ashwood Ln, Painesville Township

Thursday, February 1, 2018

Today's New Listings!

408 Waterbury Dr, Eastlake

961 Becker Ct, Eastlake

301 Hawk Ridge Dr, Painesville Township

6871 Auburn Rd #20, Concord

8260 Eagle Ridge Dr, Concord

Open Houses, Price Reductions, & Lease Purchases!

Open Houses for February 4, 2018

4566 Turney Rd, Perry 
Open 1-4pm
$174,000 
4bd 2.5ba


Price Reductions

10536 Johnnycake Ridge Rd, Concord
$94,900 NEW PRICE!


Properties Considering Lease Purchase Option

V/L Mason Rd, Berlin Heights 
$200,000
Over 18 Acres of Residential Land!

6117 Saint Clair Ave, Cleveland
$164,900
Commercial Brick Building with Multiple Income Streams!

V/L Galloway Rd, Huron Township 
$400,000
Over 19 Acres of Residential Land!

V/L Columbus Ave, Sandusky
$100,000
27.9 Acre Lot in a High Traffic Area!

V/L Beatty Ln, Sandusky
$89,900
Private Wooded 5.71 Acre Residential Lot!

Today's New Listings!

34645 Willow Creek Pl, Willoughby  - $399,000 1331 Bennett Rd, Madison - $329,900 7165 Hawthorne Dr, Mentor - $274,900 4423 Ashwood Ave...