Is Condo/townhome Living Right For You? Factors You Should Consider.

Living in a condo or townhome community with a high concentration of households on a small piece of land can present a unique set of factors. It’s important to be aware of these and consider them before making a decision to live in this type of community.

One of the main factors to consider is privacy. When homes are built close together, and with shared walls this can compromise privacy, as sound can easily travel between neighboring households. Additionally, if it’s a new development there is likely no mature trees or privacy landscaping, further reducing privacy between properties. Older condo or townhome developments often have mature landscaping, which contributes to increased privacy and noise control. 

Another factor is noise. With shared walls and shared outdoor spaces, noise can easily transfer from one home to another. Typical wood frame construction, commonly used in these communities, tends to amplify noise, making it even more of a potential concern.

Odors can also be an issue in close-knit communities. Each household has its own unique habits and preferences, which can lead to different types of odors, such as cooking smells, pet waste, smoke and more. If there are no rules or regulations in place to address these issues, or if the ventilation or construction methods are subpar, odors can easily transfer between units.

To mitigate these issues, it’s crucial to ensure that the community has clear Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs) or Rules and Regulations that all residents must adhere to. While rules may not be everyone’s favorite thing, they are essential in ensuring that neighbors are considerate and respectful of one another in these close proximity living situations.

Equally important is an active Homeowners Association (HOA) that enforces these rules. Without proper enforcement, rules become meaningless. An HOA provides a valuable resource for addressing any concerns or issues that may arise, sparing you from potentially uncomfortable confrontations with neighbors.

When considering a community, it’s also worth looking into the history and effectiveness of the HOA. The track record of the HOA in maintaining the community and enforcing the CC&Rs can give you a sense of their commitment to preserving the value and enjoyment of the property for all residents.

Mediterranean Villas: In comparison to other condos or townhomes, Mediterranean Villas stands out for its superior construction. These townhomes are built with Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) construction, which means the exterior walls and walls between homes are made of concrete instead of typical wood framing. This construction method significantly reduces noise transfer, odor transfer, and enhances energy efficiency. As a result, lower power bills can be expected compared to a typical wood-framed home.

Mediterranean Villas was established in 2001 and consists of 224 townhomes.  It has a reputation for being an all around great investment, and has always been a sought after subdivision. This too sets it apart from new construction offerings.

While older townhouses may have outdated finishes and systems, these can be easily replaced when necessary. The absence of CC&Rs, an inactive HOA, or a lack of a track record in a community are factors beyond your control. It’s important to consider these aspects and choose a community that aligns with your preferences both now and with the future in mind.

Don’t Let Downsizing Get You Down!

Downsizing can be emotionally and physically wearing. But it can also be a great excuse to de-clutter some of the things that you may have been holding onto for years.  As Accredited Buyer’s Representatives (ABR®) working in Richland, Pasco, Kennewick and the surrounding Tri-Cities Washington area, we can help you find your next home and guide you in the steps needed to prepare yourself for the transition of moving into a (possibly) smaller space. The link below should answer some of your initial questions but for more detail and to learn about our specialized services and downsizing experience, give us a call.  Jessica Johnson 509-947-2230 or Jennifer Cowgill 509-947-5670. We look forward to working with you!

http://www.edinarealty.com/pages/real-estate-advice/tips-for-downsizing-your-home?om_rid=AAC4qn&om_mid=_BWKVxlB9G47PSm&om_ntype=REBACWeekly

Why You Should Work with a Full Time Real Estate Agent

With the advent of the internet and different broker and brokerage business models, there are a number of ways you can buy or sell a home in Tri-Cities these days. The key is to find a solution that works best for you and for the level of service you want and need.

Full service agents are generally those who work full-time in real estate, are connected with other agents and real estate professionals in the Richland, Kennewick and Pasco market, and we are professionals with a full set of buying and selling systems. Operating a real estate company is expensive and many of those full service agents do charge full commission to compensate for those expenses and to earn a living wage.

That is not to say you can’t get full service from a discount brokerage. However, you need to do your due diligence to make sure that what you want is what you will receive. With that in mind, below are some of the key elements we bring to the table as full service real estate professionals:

We have 25 years of combined experience with HUNDREDS of transactions under our belt – If you are a typical buyer or seller, you may participate in around five real estate transactions in your entire lifetime. Usually there are several years between those transactions. A lot can happen in the meantime. Just think about what that last several years has seen in terms of credit availability, market changes, law and process changes and even forms. However, a full-time real estate professional will tackle dozens of real estate transactions a year. Furthermore, since no two transactions are the same, a full-time real estate professional will be subjected to a number of different buyer and seller scenarios and needs to learn about each. Everything from Homeowner Association special assessments, view rights, easement issues, liens, and more – each provides a special learning opportunity for the full-time broker.

We have extensive process knowledge – Buying or selling a home is likely one of the most complex transactions of your life – one which requires lengthy contracts, multiple forms, disclosure statements, inspections, mortgage documents, title reports, insurance, deeds, and multiple professionals are needed to implement their part of the transaction seamlessly. Most people don’t have the knowledge to handle all their tax forms each year and rely either on an accountant or a step-by-step software program to make it through. There is no step-by-step software program for buying or selling a home due to all the complexities, local rules, and changes that must be adhered.

We are very familiar with local property professionals –a typical transaction can be touched by a number of different professionals:

  • Listing broker
  • Listing managing broker
  • Selling broker
  • Lender
  • Underwriter
  • Appraiser
  • Inspector
  • Title rep
  • Title examiner
  • Homeowner association
  • Local utilities
  • Escrow agent
  • County recording office

Understanding the role of each one, what will be needed from them and what you need to get into their hands and when is something that  brokers who complete dozens of transactions per year understand. This knowledge is critical for making sure the transaction is completed as planned and on schedule.

We get the lingo – Do you know what a CMA is? Do you need a POA if you are going out of town? Should you be concerned if you are buying a home where the HOA is MIA? We would be!  A full-time real estate professional who has been around the block understands this lingo and will interpret it for you.

We are the voice of reason – There have been many times when a buyer we have been working with falls in love with a home riddled with problems or substandard building materials or times when a seller wants to list their home for a price that will be detrimental to their listing. A broker who is strong and has research and market knowledge on their side will speak up. We research market trends each and every week, and can advise a seller when their asking price is too high (or low!) and what adjustments we should make. We can advise a buyer on what to ask for in an inspection response based on current demand and current market trends with the goal of keeping the transaction together while also looking out for our buyers’ best interests. Without being in the trenches every day, we wouldn’t have that understanding and our advice might not be as timely as it could be.

We have savvy negotiation skills – Because we know the current market trends and have our finger on the pulse of supply and demand, we are equipped to negotiate powerfully for our clients. There are many negotiating factors including, but not limited to price, financing, terms, date of possession, and inclusion or exclusion of repairs, furnishings, and even who cleans the house. We love to negotiate and find the win-win solutions that bring the deal together with both parties.

Ongoing training and education is important to us – Although each state dictates the educational licensing requirements of any licensed broker or agent in the state, a full-time real estate professional takes this a step further, participating in real estate association-sponsored education and/or coaching. We make a commitment to stay up-to-date on any legal, form, and market changes so we always have the newest information. Our designations include, Accredited Buyers Agent (ABR), Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES), Certified New Home Sales Professional (CSP) and Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS).

What Buyers Need to Know

We have local knowledge on so many levels. As real estate agents there is a lot we keep track of on a local level – zoning and development, information on rental rules, water and sewer changes, rules regarding wells and septic systems, schools and district lines, challenges with faulty building products and geological issues, and transportation issues and changes. Not staying up-to-date on this local information would be akin to a doctor not keeping up with the American Medical Association Journal! As your real estate broker, we need to be prepared to provide information on what you might expect from your property in terms of your long-term quality of life and resale value. We need all the tools available to us to provide you with the information to make an informed decision.

We have the tools and relationships to help you find the best property for your needs. Did you know that sometimes the property that best meets your needs is not on the market at all? Homes that had cancelled or expired may not be currently listed on the MLS but they might be viable candidates for your needs. If the right home isn’t on the market, we use our resources to dig deeper. That may be connecting with an agent who has a listing coming on the market that might be a good fit, taking the time to contact homeowners whose homes may have been on the market some time ago, or utilizing the services of a title company to get addresses to send letters to, indicating that we have an active buyer who is looking in their area, for their type of home. Sometimes it takes work and time to find the right place to call home and you need a full-time real estate professional utilizing their resources to find it.

We know the professionals to call. When you have an inspection, the inspector’s job is to locate potential problems with the home. But then what? Should you investigate the problem further with a specialist? Call in a structural engineer or a pest inspector? We have helped our clients buy and sell homes of many a vintage in many a neighborhood. We always advise that buyers do their due diligence and have a variety of professionals on call to meet your needs with the quick turnaround these situations usually warrant.

We know how to write an offer that will get noticed. Believe it or not, it is not always about the price that is offered. We build a relationship with the listing agent to learn what is important to the seller, and armed with that information, we can construct an offer that takes both sets of needs into account which is more likely to result in success for my buyers. You need an agent who has a large bag of tricks – something that a full-time real estate professional can deliver.

What Sellers Need to Know

We help you price your home at market. We cannot tell you how critical this is for selling your home. Although some may prefer to simply use a popular property website to determine the price, according to the National Association of REALTORS®, those estimates can be up to 35% off. This could result in a seller thinking their home is worth $500,000, but it should really be priced closer to $325,000 in order to get attention from buyers. Every day we review the available inventory of homes, what has just come on the market and what has gone under contract to get a feel for the ever-fluctuating supply and demand. If supply starts to exceed demand, sellers need to be ready to make an adjustment to meet the market. If demand is high, then let’s use that to our advantage and employ a different strategy. But an online website won’t give you that advice based on current demand. A website isn’t going to be able to evaluate your view against your neighbor’s home that might have sold last week or how the hardwood floors in your home compare to the hardwood floors in a home a half mile away that sold six months ago. But we can because we know the inventory. We have the tools. And we use them all to meet your goals and get your home sold.

We employ listing syndication on dozens of websites to get your home noticed.  We don’t just rely on the MLS to get your home in front of the largest potential buyer pool. We provide our sellers that extra visibility by way of listing syndication – having your property and photographs broadcast out to dozens of different property search sites. This way we can be sure that if a potential buyer is searching in Kalamazoo or Kentucky, your home will appear on their search results. You never know where the buyer for your home will come from!

Whether you are buying a home for the first time or selling your home to relocate or right-size, trust your most valuable asset to a full-time professional chock-full of expertise. We wouldn’t buy or sell a home with anyone but an expert and neither should you.

Call us anytime; we love to discuss Tri-Cities Real Estate Market!

Jessica Johnson, 509.947.2230                    Jennifer Cowgill 509.947.5670

Home Buyers Strategies for a Sellers Market

FOR BUYERS: HOME BUYER STRATEGIES FOR A SELLER’S MARKET
Have you been searching properties online and are ready to take your house hunt to the next level? Consider these 5 strategies before getting into the market and be sure to hire a buyer’s agent to help you negotiate the challenges of being a buyer in a seller’s market. As an Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®), we help our clients find all available properties and negotiate with listing agents to our clients’ best advantage. Please contact me at 509-947-2230, or Jennifer at 509-947-5670 with any questions you may have. It would be a pleasure to work with you!

http://enews.realtor.org/a/hBU$N-2B8f9S7B8-x5tAAC4qnZA/reba7

 

Do I need a “for sale” sign in my yard?

We recently had a request from a seller to not put a “For Sale” sign in their yard as the home was vacant and they didn’t want to attract “lookie-lous”.

The seller must indeed weigh the pros and cons of having a sign in the yard. Certainly, especially in the case of an empty home or in a situation where the sellers may be out of town, security may be a concern.

However, here are some facts to consider when making this decision according to the National Association of REALTORS® 2014 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers:

  • The first step taken by home buyers 6% of the time was to drive by homes and neighborhoods.
  • 48% of buyers cited that yard signs were a source of information used in the home buying process
  • 91% of buyers indicated a yard sign was “very useful” (32%) or “somewhat useful” (56%) source of information
  • 9% of buyers ultimately found the home they purchased via a yard or open house sign
  • 6% found the home they ultimately purchased through a friend, relative, or neighbor

Generally speaking we don’t see “lookie-lous” as all that bad. Even though they may not be in the market to buy now they can be a source of referrals; chances are they know someone who is.

When it comes to safety and security regarding signs at vacant homes, it can be as easy as setting up a shared schedule with the seller to check in on the home often to ensure things are secure.  Staging an empty home and installing security and/or motion lighting can also be beneficial.

The bottom line is the more people who know a home is actively for sale, the better the chances are for it to sell quickly and signs are a sure way to increase exposure.

Contact Jessica at 509.947.2230 or Jennifer at 509.947.5670 for more useful information on selling your home.

 

Should I accept an offer contingent on the sale of another property?

Unless a potential homebuyer is a first time homebuyer, it is likely they have a property they need to sell before purchasing a new one. Unfortunately timing a purchase of one property and the sale of another does not always result in impeccable timing. Often a buyer just starting the search doesn’t have their home on the market yet when they fall in love with their next property or a seller receives an offer and has only weeks to move.
So if you are seller with a home on the market, should you accept an offer from a buyer who needs to sell their home first? My answer? It depends!
It depends on your motivation. It depends on the quality of the rest of the buyer’s offer. And it depends on the property the buyer has for sale.
As an adviser to the seller, I look at an offer and the buyer’s property if contingent to make sure:
• The property the buyer has to sell (the contingent property) is on the market
• The contingent property is priced at or below market
• The contingent property is recently new to the market, it has been marked down dramatically, or has undergone a major improvement or face-lift (such as new carpet)
• The contingent property is in an area where homes are selling quickly
• Make sure the offer has specific dates by which the property must have a contract on it and close by
Although a contingent offer is far from ideal for a seller wanting to sell their home quickly, being willing to look at one will widen the buyer pool, perhaps enough to get the home sold.

Tips for Selling Your Home

With a little preparation and the guidance of a professional real estate agent at Referred Real Estate, you can help make the sale of your home go much more smoothly. Key factors include setting the proper price, effective marketing, and making your home sparkle inside and out.

-Inspect your home and make any necessary repairs or renovations
-Find an agent to represent you
-Tidy the exterior and give your home curb appeal
-Thoroughly clean the interior and get rid of unneeded items

Before putting your house on the market, you have the option to have a seller’s inspection. The inspection can help identify previously unknown problems, as well as give you time to make any necessary repairs or renovations. Likewise, many states require sellers to disclose known problems with their house.
Consider hiring a professional home inspector, as they can often identify problems that are easily overlooked by a novice. Important things to look for include leaks, evidence of wood rot and wood-destroying pests, structural integrity and a thorough assessment of major systems such as the plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling systems.

The right agent can help you set an appropriate price, advertise and show the house to buyers, handle negotiations, draw up offers and coordinate the closing. In short, we can help you sell your home in less time, with less aggravation, and for more money. To find the right agent, you can start by asking family or friends for a recommendation, using an agent that someone you know and trust has had a great experience with is a very good idea. Next, contact the agent and set up a meeting for a listing presentation. This is gives you an opportunity to hear the agent’s plans for selling your property, as well as learn other important factors such as:

-Information about the current market and comparable sales
-Plans for marketing the house, including advertising and open houses
-How long the agent has worked in the community, former clients, etc.
-How much money you’ll net based on different selling prices.

Give Your Home “Curb Appeal”
Even if your home is in good shape, there are probably a few things you can do to make it really sparkle. This is what’s known as “curb appeal,” and experts agree that making a good first impression is a crucial factor in attracting buyers. Improving your home’s curb appeal can be as easy as tidying up the yard, washing windows, touching up exterior paint or even adding a new bed of flowers.

Cleanliness and Clutter
Houses look a lot smaller if they’re crammed full of belongings-and you can’t just hide it in the garage either. Buyers like to imagine storage spaces full of their belongings, not yours. Get rid of clutter, and give the house a top-to-bottom cleaning. In particular, make sure the kitchens and bathrooms are immaculate. Buyers will notice right away if these rooms aren’t spotless.
If you want to go the extra mile, you might even consider “staging” your house for showings. This can be as simple as adding houseplants and some decorative lamps, all the way to hiring an interior designer to bring in elaborate rugs, antique furniture and expensive artworks.

Getting Your House Ready Inside and Out

Exterior
Mow the yard, trim hedges and edge sidewalks and driveways
Wash the windows, and repair screens and shutters
Clean oil spots from the driveway
Pressure wash the outside, or touch up paint if necessary
Keep the entryway attractive

Interior
Remove clutter and dust all surfaces
Touch-up paint scuffs
Thoroughly clean the kitchen and bathrooms
Mop floors, shampoo carpets and clean fireplaces
Organize closets so they appear spacious as possible
Clear out the garage by holding a sale or donating items to charity
Make sure light switches and the doorbell work
Store excessive photographs, trophies or other knick-knacks
Consider adding plants or other items to “stage” your home

New Designations for Jessica Johnson

Continuing education is very important to Jessica and as of Spring 2014 she earned her Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) designation. This training and designation combined with her expansive experience working with those 55 and over allows Jessica to provide a high level of knowledge, streamlined services and a team of professionals to assist “senior” buyers and seller in the steps needed to make a move easy and stress free.

Additionally Jessica completed training and testing to become a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS). This designation is close to home as she has a 13 year old daughter who has Down syndrome and who she lovingly refers to as having “unique abilities.” This training allows Jessica to work closely with those with a disability of any kind and their families and caregivers to create specialized floor plans, accessibility, sensory aid systems and general functionality to optimize their current home or plan for a future home.

Tri-Cities Real Estate Market Update, December

The end-of-2013 Tri-Cities real estate market information has just been released. Comparing December 2012 with December 2013 note that although median sales price decreased just a bit, the number of homes under contract and sold have seen significant gains.

2013q4update1

The numbers as a whole represent a year of modest growth. Below is the number of homes available on the market for both 2012 and 2013. As you can see, in April 2013, the number of homes available in the Tri-Cities began to decline. A smaller supply of homes with steady demand will cause home prices to increase, in this case modestly.

2013q4update2

The below graph represents median home prices in the Tri-Cities over 2012 and 2013. Note that the 2013 line is almost consistently over the 2012 line, representing a small increase over 2012.

2013q4update3

If you are interested in hearing more about our market, please give us a call: Jessica at (509) 947-2230 or Jennifer at (509) 947-5670.

Tri-Cities Real Estate Market Update, October

The September and October Tri-Cities real estate market information is hot off the presses! This has been another two months of modest growth over the previous year.

The below chart shows the data comparing September of 2012 and September of 2013.

sepmarketcomp01

The October data is also newly-available:

octmarketcomp01

According to the National Association of REALTORS®, the Kennewick-Richland-Pasco metro area is seeing a upward trend in new home construction with 1,661 current building permits through June 2013. This is 36.7% above the long-term average of 1,215 permits.

Did you know that the Tri-Cities is only behind Seattle and Portland for the number of building permits in Washington and Oregon? In August, 2013, Seattle issued 6300 permits, Portland issued 3970 permits and Kennewick-Richland-Pasco issued 1000 permits. New construction is strong in our area.

If you are interested in hearing more about our market, please give us a call: Jessica at (509) 947-2230 or Jennifer at (509) 947-5670.

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