12.31.09
Posted in Brandon MS homes for sale tagged Brandon MS real estate sellers at 7:00 am by Mississippi Real Estate Agent
New Years is just around the corner, and for many with Brandon MS homes for sale, it’s the perfect time to make some resolutions. Let’s be expansive, though, shall we? Don’t say, “I will sell my house by April.” We can be more specific than that. Here’s a short list of resolutions that might help you take that home off the sales shelf:
1. Resolve to look over the competition. Not just one or two of the Brandon MS homes for sale, but ten or eleven. Look at them with the buyer’s mindset. What selling points do they have? What negative points do they have? Your goal should be to outshine the competition. You can’t do that if you don’t know what the competition is.
2. Resolve to do a little home improvement. These don’t have to be big projects. Your project could be as simple as adding a few bushes for better curb appeal. You don’t have to spend a lot of money or a huge amount of time for the home improvement to count. What you do have to do, however, is make the improvement count. In other words, don’t forget to walk buyers past whatever you’ve decided to do, or tell your real estate agent about it.
3. Resolve to check with your agent about the state of your home. Not when they think it will sell, but what you can do to up the value. Remember, “value” is a relative term. Upping the value for buyers may be as simple as cutting $5,000 off your price.
4. Resolve to be calm if a buyer suggests a lower price than you want. Consider the options fully – don’t just snap his or her nose off. Can you afford to let the house go at the offered price? If you can and still want to say no, think about it… how long did it take to get this potential buyer? Can you afford to wait longer?
If you have one of the Brandon MS homes for sale, keep in mind that it’s just one of the homes for sale. You have an amazing amount of competition; not just here, but around the nation. Take a chance to do something a little different. Your New Years may turn out to be even happier than you expected!
If you’re looking for unique ways to sell your home, I can help. Call me at 601-942-3392 or email me at Paula@PaulaRicks.com for more information.
Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
Ridgeland, Mississippi
www.PaulaRicks.com
Paula@PaulaRicks.com
Call direct: 601-942-3392
Tags:
Brandon MS real estate sellers
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09.17.09
Posted in Brandon MS Real Estate tagged Brandon MS real estate sellers at 7:00 am by Mississippi Real Estate Agent
Many who have put their Brandon MS real estate up for sale in the past year are still waiting to put that “Sold” sign in the yard. If this is you, don’t panic! There’s still hope for closing the sale this year.
According to the National Association of REALTORS®, home sales have risen five months in a row. Great news for everyone currently in the Brandon MS real estate market. Why are they rising? A few reasons:
- Mortgage interest rates are at an all time low.
- Home prices are dropping to become more affordable.
- Buyers have a large selection to choose from, which encourages buyers that might otherwise have held out.
- First time buyers are rushing to buy before the $8,000 tax credit ends, which means closing the deal before November of this year.
Here are a few tips to help you get your Brandon MS real estate sold before the year is up:
- Pricing – The key for most homebuyers seems to be the price. In fact, lower priced homes are selling the fastest. Go over your pricing with your Brandon MS real estate agent. Discuss whether you can afford to drop your home price, and if so, by how much.
- Valuation – A major reason for some of the sales falling through is because appraisals were performed by home appraisers outside of the area. Unfortunately, many of them appraised homes lower than the price the buyers and sellers had negotiated. Because of this, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae push for appraisals to be done by home appraisers in the local area and appraisers who are more experienced with the local area’s housing trends and market. So, when it’s time to have your house evaluated, choose someone in your area, and ask that the buyer does the same.
- Competition – Because there is so much competition, it’s always a good idea to take one last look at your home. Take your real estate agent with you and go over the home with a fine-toothed comb. What can you do to up the value? What can you do to make it more appealing?
Lastly, don’t give up hope! You have a great house to sell and buyers are looking. Do your best, listen to your agent and stay relaxed.
If you’re ready to sell your home, I can help. Call me at 601-942-3392 or email me at Paula@PaulaRicks.com now for more information.
Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
Ridgeland, Mississippi
www.PaulaRicks.com
Paula@PaulaRicks.com
Call direct: 601-942-3392
Tags:
Brandon MS real estate sellers
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08.17.09
Posted in Brandon MS homes for sale tagged Brandon MS real estate sellers at 9:24 am by Mississippi Real Estate Agent
There’s at least one good thing about the drop in the dollar and it’s boosting the real estate market. Many high-end Europeans are now looking toward the U.S. for a vacation home or permanent resident, and that could mean big hope for your Brandon MS home for sale. However, this also means a different way of selling.
Stage a Benefit
No open house for high-end buyers. Host an event instead – maybe even a benefit dinner for a worthy charity. Let people come and view the property, but give them an avenue to mix and mingle as well. In addition, they get to see how the house handles a bunch of guests.
Showcase a Chef
If you have a gourmet kitchen (or two), check with chefs that would like to showcase their cooking abilities. This creates an entire “house-buying” experience for your guests. Again, they see what that featured kitchen can handles as well as being able to enjoy the culinary arts of a professional chef.
Host a Private Tour
If your Brandon MS home for sale has beautiful gardens and a large landscape, add a private concert or tour of the gardens. A wine cellar and large sitting rooms can turn the event into a stylish wine tasting event.
The biggest trick in attracting high-end buyers is showing off the house’s best features. If the event is hosted at night, you can show how attractive the home is with an overall “candlelight” appearance. You might even go so far as to set the time for when the sky is at its best and frames the home just right.
First impressions are everything, so pull out all the stops. Don’t let any great feature go undiscovered, from indoor swimming pools to music rooms and manly dens. Let your Brandon MS home for sale shine!
If you’re getting ready to put a high-end home on the market, I can help. Call me at 601-942-3392 or email me at Paula@PaulaRicks.com for more information.
Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
Ridgeland, Mississippi
www.PaulaRicks.com
Paula@PaulaRicks.com
Call direct: 601-942-3392
Tags:
Brandon MS real estate sellers
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08.13.09
Posted in Madison MS Homes for Sale tagged Brandon MS real estate sellers at 1:19 am by Mississippi Real Estate Agent
Driving down the streets of the city, you’ll see a lot of Madison MS homes for sale. What you’ll also see, however, are homes for rent. What’s the difference? Why did these people decide to rent out their home? Why did that homeowner become a landlord?
There are a lot of reasons for renting out your home, rather than adding it to the list of Madison MS homes for sale:
1. The competitive factor – The current housing market is great for homebuyers, but not so great for home sellers. With so many homes to choose from, your property has to stand out from the rest to get sold. Sometimes, it could take months, or even years, to sell your house. During that time, renting can be a good way to make the house profitable.
2. Belief that the area will grow – Many people need to move out of their first house because it doesn’t have enough room for their growing family. However, they think the area has a lot of potential and will be growing. It then becomes a real estate investment. They may want to sell later, but not during the real estate slump.
3. Not sure if they want to sell the home – Another set of landlords have moved to a new city and job, but aren’t sure whether they’ll like it or not. Renting is a way to cover the cost of the house. This is a “just in case” prospect, and works well for many.
4. More money – Especially with the housing slump, some landlords have been able to make more money renting than selling their house. Because housing prices are currently very low, many owners have found renting their home more profitable than selling it for a lower value.
If you’re trying to determine if you should sell or rent your home, I can help. Call me today at 601-942-3392 or email me at Paula@PaulaRicks.com for more information.
Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
Ridgeland, Mississippi
www.PaulaRicks.com
Paula@PaulaRicks.com
Call direct: 601-942-3392
Tags:
Brandon MS real estate sellers
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07.23.09
Posted in Brandon MS Real Estate tagged Brandon MS real estate agents, Brandon MS real estate sellers at 7:29 am by Mississippi Real Estate Agent
If you have a piece of Brandon MS real estate and you’re trying to figure out whether to sell it or rent it, here are a few things to think about before doing either:
1. How much rent can you charge? Your rent will need to cover the costs, including mortgage, taxes and insurance. In addition, you’ll need liability insurance, as well as an additional 5 to 10 percent for unexpected maintenance. If your area’s typical rent amounts won’t cover your costs, you probably don’t want to rent.
2. Do you have other ways to cover a down payment? If you’re moving to another piece of property, but relying on the equity in your current Brandon MS real estate for the down payment, you don’t want to rent.
3. Do you have the time? Being a landlord means extra responsibility. Although it may not take a lot of time, that time can be inconvenient, especially if you have a full time job. If you can’t picture yourself getting up at odd hours of the night to meet a plumber, you probably don’t want to rent.
4. Can you afford to give up a tax break? The capital-gains tax exemption is one of the benefits of owning a home. If you keep the property for five years and live in it for two, you won’t have to pay taxes on the first $250,000. However, if you rent for more than three years before selling, you’ll owe capital-gains taxes on all of the profit. If you can’t afford to give up the tax break, you probably don’t want to rent.
5. Can you handle wear and tear? Not every renter will be careful with your beautiful French windows and teardrop chandeliers. In addition, if your property has a lot of rooms it will probably attract families with kids. If you can’t handle the wear and tear from different renters, you probably don’t want to rent.
Renting out Brandon MS real estate isn’t for everyone. However, if you’re trying to sell your property and having problems finding a buyer, it is something to consider.
If you’re trying to decide if you want to sell your home or rent it, I can help. Call me today at 601-942-3392 or contact me at Paula@PaulaRick.com for more information.
Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
Ridgeland, Mississippi
www.PaulaRicks.com
Paula@PaulaRicks.com
Call direct: 601-942-3392
Tags:
Brandon MS real estate agents,
Brandon MS real estate sellers
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