Posted by Annalisa Burgos | April 8, 2009
I’m still hunting for that perfect home to buy, and my real estate agent hit a snag when trying to make our home tour appointments for this weekend — it’s Passover and Easter and no one is available! Now, I’m Catholic (albeit a non-practicing one, but still Catholic), but I’m still bummed. After all, I’m too old to dye and look for Easter eggs and my family is all on the West Coast.
That said, your friends at FrontDoor want to you wish you a wonderful Passover and Easter, whether you celebrate these holidays or not.
If you happen to be selling your home right now, go for tasteful seasonal staging! Like Thanksgiving and Christmas, holidays give you the opportunity to add warmth and create that real feeling of “home” that can be missing with standard staging. Plant bright beautiful flowers in your front yard for Easter or showcase your grill and outdoor patio around Independence Day.
Put away personal knick-knacks and tone down the religious decor so potential buyers can envision themselves in the space. You don’t want to distract them.
For instance, your favorite Easter bunny chandelier that Aunt Martha gave you may not appeal to most buyers, but a bunny statue in your garden can be a cute touch. Read more helpful staging tips for the holidays.
Staging your home right is critical to creating a great first and lasting impression for buyers. It can mean the difference between you getting an offer or none at all. Remember to clean, declutter and highlight your home’s best features. And get more expert tips and advice in FrontDoor’s Home Selling Guide.
Posted by Annalisa Burgos | March 20, 2009
Happy first day of Spring! In celebration of the traditional kickoff to the busiest season for real estate (and this one will definitely be busy, what with interest rates as low as 4.3 percent!), FrontDoor.com is bringing you helpful tips to make the most of your homebuying and selling experience.
Sellers, we know this may be a challenging market, but the good news is that you have the potential to showcase your home to a large number of buyers who are out in force trying to take advantage of low interest rates. If your home is in great shape and priced competitively, you’ll have every buyer’s attention. You may even spark a bidding war. Get your home ready with our Staging Tips for Spring and be sure to visit FrontDoor’s Home Selling Guide for more tips and advice on selling in a buyer’s market.
Buyers, you’re in a wonderful position! There are great deals out there. But before you start looking for houses, call at least three lenders, compare rates and terms, and get a preapproval. It’ll help you determine how much house you can afford. Check out our Home Finance Guide for more tips and advice on shopping for a loan.
If you’ve never owned a home, check out FrontDoor’s First Time Homebuyer’s Guide. We’ve broken down the entire process in simple terms, complete with checklists and worksheets, so you’ll know exactly to expect. Did you know there are cities suited for first time homebuyers?
And buyers and sellers, consider going green in honor of spring. FrontDoor’s Green Real Estate Guide is chocked full of information on how to make affordable green updates and how to find a “green” home.
Happy house hunting and selling!
Posted by Annalisa Burgos | March 12, 2009
With foreclosures instantly at the top of the news again, we’ve pulled together tips and tools for homeowners struggling with their mortgages. For one, contact your lender immediately and ask about your options, whether it’s a refinance or loan modification.
Also, investors looking for opportunities should check out our 10 steps to buying a foreclosure. Did you know properties can be in one of three stages of foreclosure? Find out which one is right for you. Plus, search for available foreclosures on FrontDoor.com.
According to RealtyTrac, the foreclosure picture remains bleak, with February foreclosure filings in the U.S. up 30 percent year-over-year. Among the top 10 hardest hit metro areas, in order: Las Vegas, Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Stockton, Modesto, Merced, Riverside-San Bernardino, Bakersfield, Reno-Sparks, Phoenix and Vallejo-Fairfield. The news comes amid President Obama’s $75 billion dollar efforts to keep struggling homeowners from losing their homes.
FrontDoor Insider Rick Sharga of RealtyTrac predicts even more challenging times this year. Several analysts and economists have said that Obama’s refinancing and loan modification programs aren’t enough to buoy an economy plagued with an 8.1 percent unemployment rate and lagging consumer confidence.
And with foreclosures sure to make headlines again, FrontDoor is working on a new foreclosure resource center, with more helpful guides and tools. Stay tuned!
Posted by Annalisa Burgos | March 3, 2009
HGTV’s real estate site FrontDoor.com is back with a brand new blog!
Tune in for expert tips, tools and advice to help you get an edge in today’s market, whether you’re buying or selling a home.
Get exclusive updates on what’s going on in the real estate industry, from Obama’s foreclosure prevention plan to new requirements for loan modifications.
Take a peek inside some very cool houses for sale, with unique features or by celebrity sellers.
Moving to a new city? Dreaming of living somewhere new? Explore popular neighborhoods and local hotspots with FrontDoor’s city guides.
And much more!
It’s all here on FrontDoor Unlocked! (Get it — we’re unlocking the secrets of real estate!)
It’s good to be back. And in multiple ways…
Join our Facebook fans: http://www.facebook.com/pages/FrontDoorcom/18669721826
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Happy house hunting!
Annalisa Burgos
Senior Editor, FrontDoor.com
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