Is Now A Good Time to Sell?

Many sellers are still hesitant about putting their house up for sale. Where are prices headed? Where are interest rates headed? These are all valid questions. However, there are several reasons to sell your home sooner rather than later. Here are three of those reasons.

1. Demand is about to skyrocket
Most people realize that the housing market is hottest from April through June. The most serious buyers are well aware of this and, for that reason, come out in early spring in order to beat the heavy competition. We also have a pent-up demand as many buyers pushed off their home search this winter because of extreme weather. Sellers in markets where seasonal weather is never an issue must realize that buyers relocating to their region will increase dramatically this spring as these purchasers finally decide to escape the freezing temperatures of the winters in the north.
These buyers are ready, willing and able to buy…and are in the market right now!

2. There Is Less Competition - For Now
Housing supply always grows from the spring through the early summer. Also, there has been a growing desire for many homeowners to move as they were unable to sell over the last few years because of a negative equity situation. Homeowners have seen a return to positive equity as prices increased over the last eighteen months. Many of these homes will be coming to the market in the near future.

The choices buyers have will continue to increase over the next few months. Don’t wait until all the other potential sellers in your market put their homes up for sale.

3. There Will Never Be a Better Time to Move-Up
If you are moving up to a larger, more expensive home, consider doing it now. Prices are projected to appreciate by approximately 4% this year and 8% by the end of 2015. If you are moving to a higher priced home, it will wind-up costing you more in raw dollars (both in down payment and mortgage payment) if you wait. You can also lock-in your 30 year housing expense with an interest rate at about 4.5% right now. Freddie Mac projects rates to be 5.1% by this time next year and 5.7% by the fourth quarter of 2015.

Moving up to a new home will be less expensive this spring than later this year or next year. We have never hid our belief in homeownership. That does not mean we think EVERYONE should run out and buy a house. However, if a person or family is ready, willing, and able to purchase a home, we believe that owning is much better than renting. And we believe that now is a great time to buy.

We are not the only ones that think owning has massive benefits or that now is a sensational time to plunge into owning your own home. Here are a few others:

Benefits of Owning

Joint Center for Housing Studies, Harvard University

“Homeowners pay debt service to pay down their own principal while households that rent pay down the principal of a landlord…Having to make a housing payment one way or the other, owning a home can overcome people’s tendency to defer savings.”

The Federal Reserve

“Renters have much lower median and mean net worth than homeowners in any survey year.”

Benefits of Buying Now

Trulia

“Buying costs less than renting in all 100 large U.S. metros… Now, at a 30-year fixed rate of 4.5%, buying is 38% cheaper than renting nationally.”

Freddie Mac

"One thing seems certain: we are not likely to see average 30-year fixed mortgage rates return to the historic lows experienced in 2012…Yes, rates are higher than they were a year ago – and certainly higher than two years ago. But if you look at the averages over the last four decades, today's rates remain historically low."

-Information Courtesy of the KCM Blog @ http://www.keepingcurrentmatters.com

Happy Holidays!!

   

Is now a good time to put your home on the market?

Potential sellers may be hesitant to put their home on the market in the winter because of the misconception that it’s not an optimal time for selling. However, regardless of the time of year there are always buyers in the market for a new home. An advantage of selling in the winter is that you can stage your home to take advantage of the indoor warmth of the season.

This month’s information (Click Here to Download) offers several ideas to help you stage your home for a winter sale, such as placing a warm throw over the corner of the sofa to encourage a cozy feel and turning up the thermostat. Page two outlines a few of the benefits of selling your home in the winter.

If you’re interested in selling your home, please contact me to learn more about its value and our local market, and check out this link (Click Here) for some additional House Hunting tips if you're looking to buy. 

Be sure to share this information with family or friends who may be thinking about putting their homes on the market.

From my family to yours: Have a happy and safe holiday season with your loved ones. 

Gobble, Gobble, Thank you!

“Kindness, like a boomerang, always returns.”

Altruism is infectious: A single good deed done by one person—no matter how small—can improve the mood of the recipient and may inspire more kind acts as well.

This month’s Item of Value (Click Here to Download) is full of ideas for random acts of kindness guaranteed to brighten someone’s day and even improve your own. In addition to offering twenty suggestions for acts of kindness, the information also outlines the benefits that altruistic behavior has on the giver’s mind, body and longevity.

I also wanted to take the opportunity to let you know how grateful I am for your business. It’s a pleasure to serve as your trusted real estate professional. Click here to download my 10/10 List.

This link illustrates a few reasons why I appreciate you as clients: Thanks!

I look forward to continuing to serve you in the future, and remember I’m never too busy for your referrals.

Gobble Gobble Thank you!

“Kindness, like a boomerang, always returns.”

Altruism is infectious: A single good deed done by one person—no matter how small—can improve the mood of the recipient and may inspire more kind acts as well.

This month’s Item of Value (Click Here to Download) is full of ideas for random acts of kindness guaranteed to brighten someone’s day and even improve your own. In addition to offering twenty suggestions for acts of kindness, the information also outlines the benefits that altruistic behavior has on the giver’s mind, body and longevity.

I also wanted to take the opportunity to let you know how grateful I am for your business. It’s a pleasure to serve as your trusted real estate professional. Click here to download my 10/10 List.

This link illustrates a few reasons why I appreciate you as clients: Thanks!

I look forward to continuing to serve you in the future, and remember I’m never too busy for your referrals.

Happy Fathers Day!!!!

Happy Holidays!!!

The Holidays are a time to reflect and express gratitude to those who have impacted our lives. Your support as an advocate for my business has been vital to my success as a real estate professional. I am truly grateful to have the opportunity to serve you. Being your trusted real estate professional is an honor and a privilege and I hope to strengthen our relationship and take care of your home and community related needs in the future.

What are you grateful for in your life? Take time this Holiday break to cultivate an attitude of gratitude and express thanks to those who are important to you and your success.

Wishing you all the best this Holiday Season and a Happy, Healthy New Year!

Sincerely,

The Michels Group

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

The information I’m sending this month (Click Here to Download) includes good habits to prevent you from catching a cold or the flu, or at least shortening the duration of your illness. Page one outlines several tips to build your immunity and keep germs and viruses at bay. Since you and your loved ones will be spending more time indoors this winter, page two provides tips to improve your indoor air quality.

Bolster your immune system and stay healthy this cold and flu season. Keep your family and friends healthy, too, and share this information with them.

Sincerely,

Brad Michels

Strategies to Create Financial Wealth

“If you would be wealthy, think of saving as well as getting.”

-Benjamin Franklin

Although money is easy to spend, it’s often difficult to save. However, it’s never too late to develop the habits necessary to begin building a strong financial foundation for a more secure future.

The information I’m sending this month (Click Here to Download the PDF) is intended to encourage you or a loved one to begin building wealth. Page one provides seven essential strategies to help you improve your financial habits and take charge of your finances. Page two outlines the five common situations where having an emergency fund to draw from is necessary to prevent debt and financial ruin.

Even if you’re an expert saver, this information will provide the added incentive to save. Please, share it with family and friends who may need extra help or guidance with this important topic. Colleen and I are doing this ourselves so always feel free to contact me with questions or for help.

If you're serious about trying to earn a little extra money to help with your financial plan, here's some bonus information that can help!!! (Click Here to Download the PDF) 

Sincerely,

Brad

Oh, by the way … if you know of someone who would appreciate the level of service I provide, please call me with their name and business number.  I’ll be happy to follow up and take great care of them.

What Are Your Plans This Summer?

No plans for the summer? What about a simple renovation?

Our Market is hot right now and one of the best methods to receiving some return on your investment is from redoing a bathroom. Bathroom renovations don’t have to be a nightmare. Whether you’re updating your current bathroom to include water-saving fixtures or you plan to create a spa-like oasis, the information I’m sending this month offers tips for a stress-free bathroom renovation.

In this months Item of Value (Click Here to Download) the first page provides great renovation tips, from choosing paint colors to easy ways to save money on cabinetry. Did you know that the bathroom accounts for over half of indoor water use?^* Since water rates are increasing in many areas, page two gives an overview of high-efficiency bathroom fixtures that are designed to conserve water and help you save money on your monthly water bill. 

Feel free to share this great information with your family or friends who may be thinking of a bathroom renovation this year!

In addition to the Item of value, Click Here to Download some quick tips to help with some of those plumbing issues you may come across while completing your renovation!!

Is Now the Time to Buy or Sell?

With spring on the horizon, many people are beginning to think about selling their homes. Even those not currently considering a move are curious about the state of the American housing market.



The information I’m sending this month (Click Here to Download) is intended to give you an overview of what’s going on in the national housing market. The statistics offered on page one provide a glimpse into current trends and predictions for the year, while page two delves into the financing choices of recent homebuyers. Feel free to share this timely information with your family or friends.

Please call me if you would like a market analysis of your home or more information about our local real estate market.

It’s Tax Time: Are You Prepared?

Did you know that taxpayers spend over 3.5 billion hours each year preparing for and completing their tax forms?^* Given that the instructions for the forms seem to increase each year, this number is likely to increase. Even if you’re among the 3-in-5 Americans who pays a professional to complete their tax forms, there are ways to streamline the process and make it as painless as possible.^* 

In this month's Item of Value (click here to download), I’m sending timely information designed to help you prepare for tax time. Page one offers tips to help you become organized, including things to keep in mind if you bought a home, got married or donated to a charity in 2011. Page two provides an overview of three of the most popular tax preparation software programs on the market. Feel free to share this pertinent information with your family or friends.

 

Please call me if you would like a referral to a tax preparer in our local area

In addition, if you purchased a home with The Michels Group last year be sure  check out these additional potential deductions! (click to download)

* Source: President’s Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform

Who Would You Recommend to Your Family & Friends?

I would like to take a moment of your time to introduce a complimentary service I provide for all of my  referral partners.  My Client Appreciation Program! It's part of the commitment I have made to run my business exclusively by referral. Every month I will be sending information that I believe you will find useful. 

This first piece (click here to download), explains how my decision to work by referral benefits you and your referrals. It allows me to devote my time and energy to meeting the needs of my clients. There are a number of ways that I can be a valuable resource to you, such as providing market updates and referring other reputable professionals when you need them.

I will make a constant effort to provide your referrals with excellent service, because in my business, the most profound assets I possess are your respect and trust. Feel free to call if you need anything at all, I am always here to help.

DRE License# 01869321