Posted by Annalisa Burgos | October 26, 2009
You still have a chance to win $3,000 in our “Designed to Sell” Sell-It-Fast Sweepstakes. The contest ends Tuesday.
Enter now at
www.frontdoor.com/Sell/Designed-to-Sell-Sell-It-Fast-Sweepstakes-Entry/55243
And if you’re selling a home, be sure to check out our valuable tips and advice so you can get your home ready for buyers and make it stand out from the competition.
Posted by Annalisa Burgos | October 1, 2009
In New York City, where space is scarce, homeowners have to be creative when customizing their living space. Native New Yorker Arlyn Gajilan set out to turn her Manhattan studio into a peaceful, eco-friendly oasis in an urban jungle.
See how a well-planned, “green” renovation can increase home value and learn more about the Upper West Side, a suburban-like, family-friendly neighborhood with the benefits of a big city lifestyle.
Posted by Annalisa Burgos | September 29, 2009
FrontDoor.com is giving away $3,000 to one lucky winner in our “Designed to Sell” Sell-It-Fast Sweepstakes. You can enter once each day through October 27, so what are you waiting for?
Enter now at
www.frontdoor.com/Sell/Designed-to-Sell-Sell-It-Fast-Sweepstakes-Entry/55243
And if you’re selling a home, be sure to check out our valuable tips and advice so you can get your home ready for buyers and make it stand out from the competition.
Posted by Annalisa Burgos | September 24, 2009
The economist behind one of the most widely watched measures of the residential housing market is not sure where home prices are headed.
I caught up with Robert Shiller (of the Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices) at the “Distressed Real Estate Summit” in New York City, where he shared his insight with more than 700 real estate developers, investors and other professionals. Hear what he has to say:
Shiller told attendees that current government efforts seem “like a big bailout,” and rather, we should focus on setting up “the framework for new economic systems” and “create a liquid market for real estate.”
Shiller is founder and chief economist of investment management firm MacroMarkets and co-developed the methodology behind the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, which track changes in home prices in 20 metropolitan regions across the United States. Each month, investors look to the data for insight into the housing market.
Posted by Annalisa Burgos | August 20, 2009
I’m in the Seattle area trying to take a couple days of R&R, but wherever I go, I always get sucked back into work. And it’s not just the daily responsibilities of managing FrontDoor’s content.
As a real estate editor and licensed real estate salesperson, friends and colleagues often ask me what I think about the market and whether a property they like is actually a deal.
Sometimes I feel like Howie Mandel on “Deal or No Deal,” except on my game show, instead of opening random suitcases looking to eliminate low dollar amounts, homebuyers are looking through houses hoping to eliminate potential money pits.
They weigh the pros and cons of holding on to their current property — their “suitcase” if you will — or taking advantage of what they think is the “ultimate deal.”
To them, I’m the quintessential expert, on topics like home value and foreclosures, because I don’t stand to benefit from the purchase the way their official agent will and they know I’ll give them a straightforward, honest opinion.
So when my Seattle friends showed me a bank-owned property they were interested in, we talked about what needed to be fixed and how much they would need to put into the property to get it into move-in condition.
The exercise proved helpful. If I posed Howie’s question “Deal or no deal?,” the answer would be a resounding “no deal.”
Buying a home? Try these resources from FrontDoor.com:
Posted by Annalisa Burgos | August 16, 2009
Everyone is so focused on home value these days that we forget that buying a home is really an emotional experience.
Sure staging and price play huge factors in whether we like a place, but house hunting is really about finding a house that fits your current lifestyle and aspirations. What really makes a homebuyer ultimately make an offer is feeling a personal connection to the place, not necessarily its price tag.
Ladies, think of it this way. They say when you’re shopping for a wedding dress, you’ll know when you find the one. It just fits. (And since 90 percent of real estate decisions are made by women, I figure you’d understand the analogy.)
This week, I talked to Eileen Imada and Walter Dixon, who just bought their first house in Newton, a suburb of Boston. After three years of looking for their “perfect” home, they learned a valuable lesson in determining home value and have a great tip for all you first-time buyers. Tune in for their full video on the FrontDoor Unlocked Vlog — coming soon!
Buying a home? Try these resources from FrontDoor.com:
Posted by Annalisa Burgos | July 23, 2009
Ever wonder what really happens behind the scenes of an HGTV show? Now’s your chance to find out!
FrontDoor.com is giving you a virtual backstage pass to the new series “Real Estate Intervention,” through Twitter and Facebook.
During a special episode this Sunday, July 26, HGTV real estate expert Mike Aubrey will give you the inside scoop on his show LIVE through tweets and status updates. Tune in at 8:30 p.m. Eastern (7:30 p.m. Central).
But the best part is that you can join the conversation too!
Maybe you have a suggestion for the seller. Or you didn’t agree with Mike’s advice. Tweet and post your opinions and share them with other viewers. No more talking to the TV set alone! I’ll be adding my two cents too.
To join the interactive fun, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/HGTVFrontDoor or fan us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FrontDoor.
You can also follow along through the Facebook and Twitter streams on FrontDoor.com.
Don’t you just love social media?
Posted by Annalisa Burgos | June 30, 2009
During the real estate boom, no one really cared about staging — the act of preparing a home before putting it on the market so it can sell quickly and for top dollar. Back then, homes practically sold themselves. Sellers would get their asking price (or more in many cases) even if the place was dirty or filled with clutter.
Today, staging is the new buzz word. It’s become especially important in this highly competitive market, where traditional sellers are up against foreclosures and short sales (so-called distressed properties) that can offer rock-bottom prices for bargain hunters. And that’s what today’s buyers crave — a bargain.
But a nicely staged property offers that “move-in ready” appeal that buyers are willing to pay a bit more for. They want to see that the current owner is taking care of the home, not allowing it to fall apart, like the abandoned foreclosure down the street. If they see a fixer-upper, they’ll offer a fixer-upper price.
Luckily, you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on home improvements or hire a professional stager to reap the benefits of a staged home. There are simple, inexpensive things you can do, including:
1) Clear out the clutter. If you don’t use it, sell it, give it away or throw it out. Hold a garage sale, donate it to Goodwill or post it on Craigslist. People are always looking for free or cheap stuff. If you simply can’t part with something that’s taking up a lot of space, like your winter clothes, pack it up and put it in storage.
2) Clean and repair. Cleaniness is next to godliness, especially in real estate. And be sure to fix what’s broken, including a squeaky cabinet door, leaky faucet or a torn screen door. If you like, replace outdated hardware and fixtures. They’re inexpensive and add that shiny new feel buyers love.
3) Make room and lighten up. Remove extra furniture or use a smaller couch or bed if they’re too big. Cramped rooms give buyers the impression that your house is small and lacks space. Store some of your clothes so your closets look bigger. Choose window treatments and lighting that brighten each room.
We’ve got tons more staging advice on FrontDoor.com. Staging Diva and FrontDoor Insider Debra Gould shares her top staging tips, including replacing family photos and personal items with tasteful art.
And if you have a little bit of a budget, get inspired by the experts on HGTV’s hit show “Designed to Sell,” who find creative ways to turn a slow mover into a showpiece for under $2,000.
You can see the dramatic makeovers in FrontDoor’s Designed to Sell: Room by Room Staging Guide. Check out these before and after pictures. As you can see, staging doesn’t just refer to the inside of your home. See what a difference curb appeal can make?
We just added 21 new videos and slideshows, so you get more cool ideas to bring out the best in your home!
Posted by Annalisa Burgos | May 14, 2009
Unless you’re a seasoned real estate investor, most buyers are uncomfortable with approaching a homeowner who’s going through foreclosure and offering to buy their home. Rightfully so, since it’s a very difficult time, emotionally and financially, for the homeowner.
But it’s during this first stage of foreclosure where you can find the best bargains, often through a short sale. Try these helpful tips when dealing directly with the homeowner. Negotiations require patience and tact to avoid hang-ups and slammed doors.
In RealtyTrac’s April foreclosure market report, activity is up 32 percent from last year to another record-high level, mainly due to the first two stages of foreclosure: mortgage defaults and auctions. The third stage — bank repossessions or REOs — fell to their lowest level since March 2008, but RealtyTrac’s CEO James J. Saccacio expects a spike in REOs as more loans “move through the foreclosure process over the next few months.” Not surprisingly, Nevada, Florida and California were the states with the highest rates of foreclosure.
As more homes go through the foreclosure process, more homebuyers are flooding the market in search of bargains. We already saw that in the first quarter, as increased foreclosure sales led to a 14 percent plunge in the median home price from a year earlier, the biggest drop on record, the National Association of Realtors said on Tuesday.
Did you know each state has its own laws governing foreclosures? Do your research before buying. Read about each state’s laws and stay up-to-date with the latest foreclosure news.
Posted by Annalisa Burgos | May 7, 2009
During the height of the real estate boom, pricing a home was more like a technicality in the selling process, a suggestion to buyers. More often than not, the home would sell for more than what it was listed for, especially in hot markets. Back in the good ‘ol days, selling a home for at least your asking price was a sure thing.
Welcome to 2009. Pricing is no longer just a technicality. It means the difference between getting multiple showings or none. A home’s price can make or break a deal and affect whether your home will sell quickly or languish on the market for months.
FrontDoor’s new Pricing Guide (www.frontdoor.com/pricing) breaks down the various pricing strategies and factors you should consider to determine what your home is worth and get it sold.
One of the most common pricing faux-pas sellers make is getting emotionally involved. Sure, you may have invested a lot of time, sweat and money into your home, but if you’re selling in this market, forget about getting any love back. Pricing it below your competition will help you get it sold quickly. Learn how to avoid six common pricing mistakes and get solutions to four pricing dilemmas.
Also, special thanks to Nancy Spearrin, a seller from Solon, Maine, who shared her selling nightmare. Read her story in “My House is Worth What?” And if you’ve got a story to share, let us know by posting a comment.
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