4 Things You Need To Know About Columbus Real Estate

 

Hello friends!! Four new things I need to make sure you know about the real estate industry;

 

1. The $8000 Buyer tax credit has been extended through June 2010!!

 

2. Any Seller who has lived in their home 5+ years who wants to sell and buy something else is getting a $6500 tax credit through In-contracts by April 2010 and closed by June 2010.

 

3. The City of Columbus has Federal Grant Money to give away for down payments, closing costs, whatever you need up to 6% of the purchase price of the home you're buying! The Grant is totally forgiven once you live in the home for 5 years!

 

4. Grants For Grands is a program put out by OHFA where if you buy a home within 18 months of graduating you can get a Grant for 2.5% of the purchase price of the selected home to use on down payment, closing costs etc...

 

These are just four of the hundreds of financing programs that are currently available to buyers & sellers! Each has it's own rules and regulations which we can wind through together to figure out what program works well for you! Interest Rates are at an all time historical low, "the experts including moi", believes the Columbus housing market HAS hit bottem and is on an upswing and with several of the above programs and reduced interest rates, you can buy more house NOW than ever before!! If you or anyone you know are thinking of selling or buying a home in the next six months; Dial Darla (614-431-1003, RealtorDarla@aol.com, text 395-1516 or FaceBook) Let me help you get ALL the facts so you can make a plan that's in the best financial interest for you and your family!! Let's chat!! Looking forward to hearing from you soon! Real Estate Success, Darla ;-)      

 

Darla Luebbe, CRS/GRI/ABR
It's A Great Market With The Right Agent! Dial Darla!
Keller Williams Capital Partners Realty
614-431-1003
Check me out on www.Facebook.com
RealtorDarla@aol.com
http://www.realestateaces.com/

Oh, by the way, if you know anyone looking to Buy or Sell a home, just give me a call with their name and contact info. I promise to provide them with the same great service you have come to know from the Real Estate Aces!  Did you know that 88% of my business comes by word of mouth referrals and repeat customers? I thank you so very much for your continued business, support and constant referrals!

Step Away From The Paint!

Basic Painting - Do It Right Checklist

 

Here’s everything you’ll need to DO IT RIGHT. Supplies may vary depending on the project. Bring this list to your neighborhood paint store. Store experts can help you find all the supplies you need to do the job right.

 

Brushes

-Thin Angle Sash – slanted bristles and a thin profile produce a good straight line for trimming in corners and on edges

-Angle Sash – features slanted bristles and holds more paint than its thin counterpart. Excellent for cutting in at the ceiling or painting trim

-Wall – a thick flat brush that holds a larger amount of paint. Excellent for painting larger surface areas. Available in a wide variety of sizes

 

Rollers

-Synthetic Covers (nylon, Dacron or polyester) – ideal for most latex paints

-Natural Covers (mohair or sheepskin) – use with oil-based paints. Available in a wide variety of sizes

 

Other Supplies

-Ladder

-Masking tape

-Paint tray liners

-Wire brush or paint scraper

-Drop cloths

-Wiping cloths or rags

-Spackling paste

-Putty knife

-Masking tape/Painter’s tape

-Roller frame and tray/tray liners

-Extension poles

-Paint thinner

 

Off with you now... go paint a wall! Real Estate Success, Darla ;-)

How Upgrades Stack Up!

How Upgrades Stack Up!

 

When talking about upgrades and return value on cost I usually share a personal story. I am a house flipper except I live in the house 3 years or so then sell it. I was in the middle of fixing up my 7th house, located in Worthington, OH in the late early 1990's. It was time for me choose the kitchen backsplash tile. I went to Hamilton Parker and found the PERFECT time!! It was cream w/green marble, a black design w/gold accents. It was beautiful (Looked better then it sounds ;-) Anyway, once I saw that tile there was nothing else I would love any better. Problem; Plain white tile cost $1 per tile. My perfect time cost $17 per tile. I didn't care and I knew that when I went to sell I would never recoup the $1000 extra I spent on the tile backsplash but what it would do is help the house sell more quickly in a few years and most importantly it made me happy every time I looked at it! For the next three years I would smile every day at that backsplash. There is no right or wrong  here... just make sure you are ready to live with the choice as long as you have to!

Pricing It Right the 1st Time!

It's ALL about Pricing & Condition!

 

I now have another wonderful example that proves my point; It's ALL about pricing and condition! Great News! I listed a home in Schumacher Place and it went on the market this past Tuesday. We had our 1st showing that same evening plus received and accepted a full price offer by Wednesday! Sound too good to be true? It is true but here's the rest of the story;

 

This home had been on the market w/two other agents, for over 365 days, with three different MLS numbers, starting at $179,900. So what did I do that the previous agents did not? I priced it correctly right from the beginning and I made the Seller stage the home for sale! When they were first referred to me I met them and we went room by room... get rid of the dressing table in the dining room, paint the orange office, paint the burgundy hallway, organize this, caulk that, clean this... the house was nice but it was not a perfect 10... until I made them do all the things it takes to be "detailed"... just like a car!

 

Then we looked at pricing. They had started at $179,900 and over the course of a year they had dropped the price to $169,900... it was still too high. After careful thought and much research I had to be the reality check... It needed to be priced at $154,800. At first they were quite surprised but they knew they had had some showings but no offers. I had come highly reccomended to them, from folks I had just sold their home in record time at a great price in Clintonville and that gal had been referred to me by another gal... They knew I was right and they needed to move!!

 

We priced it right, it was staged... It SOLD! Just like it's supposed to! If you do what I tell you... IT WILL SELL!! ;-)         

  

Real Estate Buzz September 2009

Good Looking Third Quarter Real Estate Stats! October 2009

 

The economic news is finally starting to look better!  We all have our fingers crossed, but it seems the real estate market bottomed the 1st quarter of this year.  Looking at the average sale price per quarter since 2007, you can see how quickly the market dropped and how it may be picking up:

 

Quarter                       1st                   2nd                  3rd                   4th

    2007                  $165,990           177,966           173,246           166,856

    2008                    154,698           170,186           165,378           148,976

    2009                    137,759           159,796           167,140               ??

 

Data from the Central Ohio Multiple Listing System (MLS)

 

The next quarter will be an important piece of the puzzle.  The feds are still keeping interest rates low!  You may get more for your house, and it is still a great time to buy.  If you are thinking about it, now is the time to consider a move.

 

Don't forget the 1st time home buyer tax credit...$8000 cash in their pocket.  Deadline to close is 11/30/09!!  They will thank you for referring them to us. Real Estate Success, Darla;-)

Uncle Sam Has 8000 Bucks For You!

Do you need Eight Grand?

Call 614-431-1003   $$ Uncle Sam has a CHECK for YOU! $$$

Better Hurry! Ends December 1, 2009

* The tax credit is for first-time home buyers only. For the tax credit program, the IRS defines a first-time home buyer as someone who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase.

* The Tax credit does not have to be repaid.

* The tax credit is equal to 10% of the home's purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000.

* The credit is available for homes purchased on January 1, 2009 through December 1, 2009.

* Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 qualify for the full tax credit.


Darla Luebbe CRS/GRI/ABR is the real estate specialists to get you your $8000!

Need Down Payment Assistance? ZERO down payment options available!

Need Closing Cost Assistance? PAID Closing Costs by the Seller available!

Many homes require as little as $500 out of pocket!!!

Call TODAY! 614-431-1003

Real Estate Buzz-AVERAGE SALES PRICE JUMPS NEARLY 13%!

Hello friends!! Check out the GOOD NEWS below- Please Read!! Don't hesitate to call me w/any questions! Real Estate Success, Darla Luebbe, -  DIAL DARLA  614-431-1003 or RealtorDarla@aol.com

AVERAGE SALES PRICE JUMPS NEARLY 13 PERCENT plus plus Central Ohio's May average also increases slightly year-to-date.

Home sales increased for the fourth straight month as central Ohio's average sales price climbed to its highest amount this year, and increased slightly over May 2008, a sign that competitively-priced homes are keeping our market healthy, the Columbus Board of REALTORS® said today.

The average sales price inched up over May 2008 to $168,576, but jumped 12.9 percent compared to April.

Homes on average sold for $231 more than during May 2008, indicating that competition among consumers, particularly first-time buyers using the $8,000 tax credit, is continuing to drive the markets' recovery.

"Sellers who are pricing their homes competitively are reaping the benefits of buyers who are equipped with the tools and incentives to leave the fence like never before," said Gary Parsons, president of the Columbus Board of REALTORS®.

"The spring has been busy in central Ohio, and with only 160 days left to take advantage of the tax credit, we expect the summer to be even busier," Parsons said. "Lower-priced homes and foreclosed properties continue to be active in our market, attracting many first-time buyers!"

Inventory levels continue their dramatic drop compared to last year as the local market remains stable and there were 14,849 homes for sale in central Ohio last month, down 17.1 percent from a year ago which is turnig the market back into a "Balanced Market". New listings were also down 24.6 percent in May compared to last year.

"The basic economic principles of supply and demand influence home prices, so the fact that prices are increasing, not only month to month, but year over year, is a very positive indication in the strength of our market and the level of demand," Parsons said.

"As those properties are sold and fewer homes are added to the market, central Ohio will continue to remain a fairly balanced housing market."

A total of 1,809 homes sold in May, marking the highest number of homes sold in a single month since September, but still down 12.4 percent compared to May 2008 and there were more than 1,400 homes in contract in May, an indication of future sales and an increase of nearly 5 percent over April.

Darla Luebbe, CRS/GRI/ABR
It's A Great Market With The Right Agent! Dial Darla!

Keller Williams Capital Partners Realty
614-431-1003
Check me out on www.Facebook.com
RealtorDarla@aol.com
www.RealEstateAces.com

Oh, by the way, if you know anyone looking to Buy or Sell a home, just give me a call with their name and contact info. I promise to provide them with the same great service you have come to know from the Real Estate Aces!  Did you know that 88% of my business comes by word of mouth referrals and repeat customers? I thank you so very much for your continued business, support and constant referrals!