Homes have never been more affordable than they are right now. Lower interest rates coupled with declining home prices put buyers at an ideal advantage. Now may be the best time to consider a home purchase. Consumer Confidence appears to be on the rise as reflected in an increase in fourth quarter homes sales for 2011.
According to the Eighth Annual Farmers Insurance Group study, the Tri Cities is ranked the No. 1 most-secure place to live in the United States among mid-sized cities. Factors considered in the study were extreme weather, risk of natural disasters, housing depreciation, foreclosures, air quality, environment hazards, terrorist threats, life expectancy and job loss numbers. The study included 127 U.S. metropolitan areas with populations between 150,000 and 500,000. This marks the 2nd time the Tri Cities has captured this position; it was also No. 1 in 2005 and has appeared in the top 20 six times. Other Washington State cities included were Olympia at No. 4, Bellingham at No. 7, Bremerton-Silverdale at No. 13, Yakima No. 14 and Spokane at No. 20.
In your annual home maintenance routine. Over time creosote accumulates in your chimney which can cause chimney fires, which in turn causes cracking in the structure. This can potentially allow dangerous carbon monoxide fumes into your home. Make a chimney inspection part of your annual home maintenance program and you’ll have peace of mind that you did.
The end of the year is fast approaching. Don’t lose out on your tax credits for those energy efficiency home improvements you made this year. For more information on eligibility and applying visit the Alliance to Save Energy website at http://ase.org/
It’s a competitive market out there. Increase your home’s appeal and get the advantage! Here are some suggestions:
Clean: Make sure your home is clean clean clean. If your house needs a deep cleaning you might consider hiring a cleaning service. Potential buyers love to see a clean home!
Curb Appeal: For a positive impression on potential buyers, don’t forget the outside of your house, including the yard. Tidy up the yard, put those trash cans away, powerwash your driveway and walkways and plant a few flowers.
Remove clutter: Clear off those countertops. Remove excessive furniture so it looks and feels roomy and uncluttered when buyers walk through.
Make sure the price is right: Do your research and be realistic about what your home is worth in today’s market. Due to the economy buyers are more conscious than ever! If you price too high you run the risk of scaring away would-be buyers. Price Right!
Don’t attempt a Sale by Owner: Many people attempt to save money by selling on their own. That could actually be a costly mistake. An agent works for you and has your best interests in mind. They also have access to a much larger pool of potential buyers. Save yourself the hassle and hire an agent.
Taking the time to do these little things can give you the edge and can mean the difference between making the sale or not.
Washington Realtors did this study to see where people are coming from as they migrate to Washington. Of course things are a little different for the Tri-City area as they are for the whole state of Washington. Some if this information does apply, we are doing just so much better.
In-Migration – May 2011