Are You Ready To Sell Your Home?

Deciding to sell your home is a big decision. Where do you start? We recommend starting with hiring an expert real estate agent that is more interested in serving you than they are earning a commission.

We start by looking at your house and preparing a detailed comparative market analysis (CMA). We also make recommendations on any repairs that might cause issues with the appraisal.

There are three things a homeowner can do that will help with a smooth transaction.

1.  Identify Liens And Disputes: After you accept an offer on the house, the title company will perform a title search. The title search will check public records to ensure that you have the legal right to sell the property and that there are no liens against it. Note if you have had any IRS, property tax, spousal, child support, or bankruptcy issues. If so, there may be a lien against the property, which must be released before the sale. The title company can pay liens out of the seller's proceeds at closing.
2. Check Your Loan Documents:  You will want to find the following items in your loan paperwork. An assumable clause (an assumable loan is a good selling point). How the title is held. Check for a pre-payment penalty. Who else is on the deed? That person will need to be present at closing to sign the deed. Check the loan balance.
3. Take Stock:  Decide if you will sell "As Is" or make some repairs. "As Is" can prevent certain loans from being used to finance the home. This will reduce your pool of possible buyers.

We welcome the opportunity to walk with you through the process. We are Endorsed Local Providers for Ramsey Solutions (The Dave Ramsey Show). If you want to know how important that is, check out what it means to be Ramsey Trusted Here.

If you would like a PDF version of today's content, click here.

How Is The Real Estate Market In Your Area?

The last quarter of 2022 brought increased interest rates, slowing down real estate buyer activity.  For a while, it looked like the higher interest rates would cool the market down and start to push housing prices lower.  As we enter the summer buying season, the market activity reports show values are holding steady in most areas, with some areas seeing modest increases. 

To find out how the market is performing in your area, click the link below for your city.  If you don't see your city listed, don't hesitate to contact us, and we will share a customized market report with you.

If you are curious to know the current value of your home, use our FREE home valuation website here.  

Hillsboro Ohio

Greenfield Ohio

Leesburg Ohio

New Vienna Ohio

Wilmington Ohio

Mount Orab Ohio

Blanchester Ohio

Goshen Ohio

Milford Ohio

Why do some home purchases fall through?

So you are considering listing your home for sale this summer and wondering what could go wrong. Buying and selling real estate can be complicated. Many factors go into a successful sale. Today we will look at possible things that can go wrong once your home is under contract. As always, feel free to download the full report at the end of this article.

Yes, it is true; some home sales don't close. One of the worst calls an agent makes is informing a seller that a deal is falling apart. The positive news is about 91% of deals make it to the closing table. Those are good odds.

Common Reasons Deals Fail

1.  Inspection Results - This is the most common reason deals fall apart. Inspections are to protect the buyer, and the results do not pass or fail. The results have to be satisfactory to the buyer. Satisfactory to one buyer might be an absolute not for another buyer. As a seller, be prepared to remedy some of the items found in the home inspection. This is the best way to keep a deal alive.
2. Appraisal Issues - The appraiser might determine the value of your home is lower than the contract price. When this happens, a seller has two choices. Go back on the market or renegotiate the price of the contract.
3. Buyer Financing Falls Through - The buyer occasionally gets turned down for their loan. This one hurts when it happens because, most times, it occurs late in the process. Loan officers do their best to pre-approve buyers, but the underwriter ultimately has the final say.

If you are ready to sell, we are the Highland County Real Estate Agents you can trust to help you choose the right offer.

Five Reasons Your House May Not Sell As Quickly As You Want - Plus bonus content from Dave Ramsey regarding recent interest rate changes.

Why Isn't Your Home Selling?

There are several reasons houses don't sell fast when they are listed for sale. Today we will take a brief look at five of the top reasons. As always, feel free to download the full report at the end of this article.

1.  Location - They say in real estate, you should always consider three things—location, Location, and Location. Regardless of where your property is located, there is a ready, willing, and able buyer in the marketplace. It might take a little longer to find that buyer.
2. Condition - Making a good first impression is vital in selling a property. Check out our previous blog post, Three Easy Improvements That Help Sell Homes, for more information on how to make a great first impression with buyers.
3. Price - One of the biggest mistakes sellers can make is to price the house too high. A very important statistic to look at when pricing your property is the average sales price of similar homes sold within the past six months.
4. Terms - Are you flexible about possession? Are you open to helping a buyer with closing costs? Are you open to making repairs based on the home inspection results?
5. The Agent You Choose - Not all agents are equal. We take selling your home seriously. We do much more than put a sign in the yard and put the house on the MLS. Call us today, and we will evaluate your house honestly and share our proven marketing systems.

Download the Free PDF Report Here!

These 3 Things Could Help Sell Your Home

With higher interest rates and less buyer activity, sellers may need to take some extra steps to get their homes sold quickly and for top dollar. The right improvement projects may be one of the steps you'll need to consider.

We are happy to share our knowledge of what is popular with homebuyers. Here are three tips that will help. Most of these upgrades are DIY jobs. By doing the work yourself, you can increase your return on investment when your house sells.

1.  You Had Me At The Curb - What do people see first when they pull up to your house? A good first impression is vital to getting potential buyers through the front door. Here are few tips, clean up the flower beds, remove debris, get the lawn in shape, prune trees, spread mulch, clean the gutters, and paint the trim, railings, and door.
2. You Can't Go Wrong With Fresh Paint - Fresh paint on the interior walls can make a difference. Remember, it is best to stay with neutral colors, such as white, off-white, or gray. Brick or barn red in the kitchen is a NO-No—homes with this color scheme sold for over $2300 less than the list price.
3. Kitchen And Bathroom Upgrades Are A Great Place To Focus - Paint is the first step. Then consider a few other little jobs that can update the look of the kitchen and bathrooms. Here are some tips - replace the faucets, refinish the cabinets, add new knobs and pulls on the cabinets and drawers, re-caulk the tub and toilet, and ensure the lighting isn't outdated.

Read and print the full PDF report here

7 Ways to Protect Your Valuables 

Safety is essential for our clients and our agents. Unfortunately, not everyone that is house hunting is honest. Some people are tempted to steal items that catch their eye.

One of the most critical steps to prepare your home for the market is to protect your valuables from strangers passing through. Here are seven steps that help you keep your valuables safe.

1.  Remove all prescription drugs - Believe it or not, one of the most commonly "lifted" items is prescription drugs.
2. Secure weapons and cash - these items are easy to steal. Lock them in a safe or remove them from home.
3. Technology - iPads, smartphones, laptops, earbuds, and smartwatches are all popular with thieves. Lock them up or remove them for showings. 
4. Password protect large tech items such as desktop computers.
5. Remove valuable artwork and other items of value from the home before the photographer snaps the listing photos.
6. Lock up bills, letters, and anything with identifying information such as social security numbers, driver's license numbers, bank account numbers, dates of birth, and Wi-Fi or computer passwords.
7. The National Association of Realtors suggests that you also remove family photos.

We hope this information is helpful. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or need assistance. 

The Pathway To Purchase A Home Plus Advice From Dave Ramsey.

The purchasing Pathway is a step-by-step game plan for what to expect from the first meeting with your agent to closing day.

1. Initial Appointment: The initial appointment can be at the real estate agent's office, a coffee shop, or in many cases, a home listed for sale. With so many buyers finding their homes on Zillow, meeting an agent at a listing has become the most common way to meet.
2. Determine the Purchasing Parameters: The location, price range, style, condition, needs, and wants.
3. Buyer gets Pre-Approved: If the buyer hasn't taken this crucial step before the initial appointment, the Realtor will advise them to get pre-approved before proceeding to step four.
4. View Homes: Viewing homes gives you the information you need to make a good decision. Finding the right home is a process of elimination.
5. Write the Offer: The agent writes the offer when the right home is found. When both parties have agreed to the terms of the offer and signed it, the offer becomes a legal contract to purchase. 
6. Earnest Money Deposit: Earnest money shows the seller that the buyer is serious about purchasing the property. Earnest money is kept in a trust account until closing.  
7. Perform Home Inspections: The buyer can hire a professional inspector to check the home's overall condition.
8. Final Walk-Through: Usually twenty-four to forty-eight hours before closing, the buyer can walk through the home and verify it is in the same condition as the day the offer was written.
9. Sign Closing Document: This is the day the buyer and seller sign all the documents required to transfer the home from the seller to the buyer, also called closing day.
10. Home Delivery: Depending on the occupancy date agreed to in the purchase contract, this is the day the new owner gets to move into the home. Sometimes this is the day of closing; sometimes, it is a week or two after. The date usually depends on each seller's situation.

The process of buying and selling a home can be overwhelming. It would be best if you always used a Realtor to help walk you through the process. We have helped hundreds of people through the process and would love to help you next.  

You can view and print the PDF version of The Purchasing Pathway here.

Best Home Improvements to Increase Value

What are the best home improvements you can make to increase the Value?  That is a great question that we hear all of the time.  Today we will look at ten renovations that reap returns on investment.  Very few improvements return 100%, so don't set your expectations too high.  It is also important not to over-improve your house compared to the surrounding neighborhood.  

What are the top 10 renovations that reap returns?

Steel Entry Door Replacement

Job Cost: $1,137

Resale Value: $974

Cost Recouped: 85.6%

Garage Door Replacement

Job Cost: $1496

Resale Value: $1,132

Cost Recouped: 75.7%

Wooden Window Replacement

Job Cost: $10,708

Resale Value: $7,852

Cost Recouped: 73.7%

Vinyl Siding Replacement

Job Cost: $11,192

Resale Value: $8,154

Cost Recouped: 72.9%

Wood Deck Addition

Job Cost: $9,327

Resale Value: $7,213

Cost Recouped: 77.3%

Minor Kitchen Remodel

Job Cost: $18,527

Resale Value: $13,977

Cost Recouped: 75.4%

Attic Bedroom Addition

Job Cost: $47,919

Resale Value: $34,916

Cost Recouped: 72.9%

Vinyl Window Replacement

Job Cost: $9,770

Resale Value: $6,961

Cost Recouped: 71.2%

Major Kitchen Remodel

Job Cost: $53,931

Resale Value: $37,139

Cost Recouped: 68.9%

(note the project values above are based on national averages)

According to Zillow, when you're preparing to sell, you should plan to make a couple of improvements before listing.  Zillow's research conducted by The Harris Poll in November 2022 finds that 65% of sellers who have sold a home within the past two years take on at least two home improvement projects to prepare their house for sale.  And nearly one-third of recent sellers surveyed think they could have gotten a higher price for their home had they made more home improvements or repairs before selling. 

Want more information?  You can view the complete report here.

Renting VS. Buying

The big question many people ask is should I buy or rent a home? Our economy is consumer-driven, and our culture has become an instant gratification culture where we have to have what everyone else has. With those two things in mind, it is easy to see why so many people want to buy homes before they are ready instead of renting.

Is it okay to rent?

Absolutely! Renting is a step you take on the path to owning a home. Renting should not be the end game but a place where you learn to live independently, get established in a steady job, and manage a home and your finances. While you rent, you should pay off your debt, save an emergency fund of three to six months of expenses, and then save for a downpayment. You will want at least ten percent saved for a downpayment plus an additional three percent for closing costs and other expenses associated with buying a home.

Advantages of Renting

The most significant advantage of renting is maintenance-free living. When the furnace goes out or the drains back up, you call the landlord, and they fix the issue. There is no out-of-pocket cost for you. When you own the home, you also own the cost of repairs. That is why we suggest only buying once you are debt free and have a fully funded emergency fund.  

Advantages of Buying

The best advantage of buying a home is, It Is Yours! A home is the largest purchase most people will ever make, and when it is paid off, it counts toward your net worth. Most millionaires have paid for homes. Another perk is your mortgage payment can be less than a rent payment. A third advantage is while you are paying off the mortgage, the interest you pay the bank is tax deductible.  

Let's recap what we have discussed today.

1.  There isn't anything wrong with renting while you get established
2.  Renting should not be the goal
3.  Don't buy until you are debt free and have a fully funded emergency fund
4.  Save at least ten percent for a downpayment
5.  Take a fifteen year fixed rate mortgage where the payment is no more than twenty-five percent of your take-home pay

Featured Listing - 10540 Lois Lane Hillsboro, Ohio 45133

Your Weekend Home Is Waiting For You

It is that time of year again to start planning your summer activities.  If you love the outdoors, fishing, hiking, and boating, or appreciate getting away from the day-to-day business of life and relaxing for the weekend, this Rocky Fork Lake home is waiting for you to make it yours.

This lovely home is just four minutes from the lake.  The home sits on just over a half-acre lot, has a two-car (26 x 22) detached garage with electric and concrete floor, and a 10 x 14 shed with lofts.  The well-maintained house offers two bedrooms, one bathroom, and a spacious living room.  New water heater 2022, New garage door opener 2021.

Priced to sell at $89,900.  Call for a private showing today!

View more photos and request a showing here.