With a new law passing short sales may actually become something worth while for average buyers. This is super exciting and we as Realtors are very hopeful! I will post more updates when I am made aware of them.
Have a great day!
6 MONTHS!!!
First off I want to give a shout-out to my amazing husband of SIX months TODAY!!! It is crazy to think 11-11-11 was six months ago~man what a CrAzY day that was 🙂 My husband pushes me to be the best version that I can be and I am so grateful for that. His charm and wittiness keeps me on my toes at all times. Building our first home with him has truly been the most exciting adventure. Nate and I make an awesome team! I have been handling all the loan (interest rates, locking, closing costs, orgination fee, back-end, front-end, the list goes on and on… go figure why you need to hire ME) and he has taken care of the actual building process. By working together we have truly built a one of a kind home that has people trying to purchase it from us, ha ha! The other Realtor told us that everyday someone walks in a asks about our home. We happen to be the only home in the area with a side-load garage (super neat)! And anyone who knows me will realize why I was sold the day I knew the lot number, 23!!!!
You can check out some photos from our building experience at Grab the Legos….let’s build!
We will be closing next week and moving in next weekend!
**The other day while visiting our home Nate commented on our home being the place we would bring our baby home to…. 😀 I cannot wait to raise our family in this home and spend MANY more anniversaries with my best friend by my side. I love you forever and one day Nate!
Wisdom by Michael Scott
Kitchen Re-dos
Due to my last post on top remodeling jobs I have decided to write on top re-dos for one’s kitchen.
1. Hardware. I recently experienced the difference hardware can make on kitchen cabinets personally with my new home my husband and I are building.
2. Faucet. There are so many options now days and this truly will change the way your kitchen operates.
3. Lighting. By adding LED lights you will truly add a dramatic effect for about $40.
4. Organization. Currently, I live in a home with a very small kitchen. Fortunately, I am educated enough to know that with a little organization one can truly utilize space more effectively. I hit up IKEA and purchased a magnetic knife rack, mobile spice rack, can holders, plastic bag compartment, etc to assure that every inch of my kitchen is being put to fabulous use.
5. Countertops. This can truly update any kitchen. One could replace their current countertops with laminate for just under $1,500 compared to a granite which would cost roughly $2,500. Some sellers feel as if buyers only want granite these days and figure replacing them is too costly; but in all actuality buyers are perfectly content with laminate as long as it is in an appealing, up-to-date pattern.
Hope this helps~
Optical Illusion Time~*
Happy Monday to everyone!
Ready to make your living space feel larger? Let’s be honest who isn’t…
1- Store personal belongings out of site.
2- Ditch the rugs (sure they are nice in the winter, but not for summer). Bare is more!
3- Switch to full-spectrum lightbulbs.
4- Try less heavy drapery, it will add a less harsh feeling to a room. This will also open up the room to make it feel larger.
5- Do not overdo the walls. One idea would be to buy small black canvases and paint them different tinges (solid or with splatters).
Seal the Deal w/LOVE
This last March I was fortunate enough to attend Realtor Convention in Florida! During one of my classes I was taught to add emotion to the real estate contract. Rather than just present the offer to seller from buyer; describe the buyers to the sellers, give them personalities to accompany their names. This really struck home for me and I have since implemented it into my transactions. Today I logged on to check emails, write my blog of day and saw this on msn.com.
Check it out and give me a call to assure your offer is accepted. Always remember buyers DO NOT pay commissions so hire my professional services today!
NEWSLETTER!!!
Hello Friends!
Judy Allen
May 2012
Judy Allen-Your Neighborhood Realtor!
Copyright © 2012 Realty Times
All Rights Reserved.
Amanda Allen
It’s Buying Time Again,
Big Time
If you’ve got the income. If you’ve got plenty of tenure on the job. If your credit is solid. If you can otherwise pass muster at the mortgage loan desk. If it’s cheaper for you to buy than it is to rent.
Yes, there are lots of “ifs,” but it’s one of the best times in America to buy a home. And it won’t last forever.
To wit
Distressed homes – foreclosures and short sales sold at deep discounts – accounted for 34 percent of February sales, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). The bargain basement is open for business.
Mortgage Rates
U.S. Averages as of April 29, 2012:
30 yr. Fixed: 3.88%
15 yr. Fixed: 3.12%
1 yr. Adj: 2.74%
View current rates
Investors know a party when they see one. They snatched up 64.5 percent more homes in 2011 than in 2010 and now account for nearly one in every four homes sold, NAR reported.
The second home market is back with
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Wondering What Your Home Is Worth?
Let me show you.
Saving For a Home
With home affordability at the highest rate seen in decades, now is prime time to make a purchase.
Many renters are wanting to turn over a new leaf by investing in a starter home. Current homeowners are wanting to take advantage of low prices and buy the home of their dreams.
The key to buying in today’s market is having the funds and financial stability needed. How can you go about saving to buy a home?
Financial wiz Suze Orman tells her readers and viewers all the time about the benefits of homeownership, but also the importance of being financially ready for this move. She writes, “Never buy a home or piece of real estate if you do not have at least 10% to 20% to put down. While buying a home is a great investment, if you do not have at least 10% to 20% of the purchase price to put down, then you can’t afford the home and are buying before you have demonstrated the ability to save, which is a bad idea in the current market.”
How do you get to that point? The first and most important step is to
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Economy Sparks Remodeling: How To Ensure A
Successful Project
Springtime generates a lot of home improvement activity. Many buyers are out shopping for their new home. With the purchase of their home, the desire to remodel often comes next. For others, the drastically fluctuating housing prices are causing homeowners to stay put and that’s causing them to want to remodel their existing footprint.
Whether it’s a room addition or the renovation of a kitchen to upgrade amenities and make the space feel more comfortable to suit your needs, precautionary steps to get the most out of your remodeling project will create the best outcome.
Some of the most popular remodeling projects have to do with creating homes that are livable for all ages. The National Association of Home Builders says, in 2010, that 62 percent of surveyed builders were working on “aging in place” modifications.
That means granny flats or in-law apartments (extra rooms with kitchenettes) are becoming staples in homes. As baby boomers ease into their golden years this type of remodeling project will continue to grow. Entry-level bedrooms are also popular additions due to the ease of access for the elderly.
CONTINUED >>>
www.JudyAllen.com 4925 Sq Ft, 4 Car Garage, Views, Views, Views, MLS#1063390
269,900 4 Bedroom, 3 Bath View of the Capital
www.JudyAllen.com MLS#1089598
Come here for the BEST listings!
We are not bias, but we have to admit our listings truly are spectacular. Follow this link to see some fabulous homes in your area for sale.
Judy Allen’s
Video News Channel
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Real Estate Outlook:
Improving Markets
The latest National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI) numbers show that a total of thirty-five states are now represented.
In order to be considered an improving market these metro areas must have shown improvement in housing permits, employment, and home prices for the last six months straight. This data is comprised from employment growth reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, house price appreciation from Freddie Mac, and single-family housing permit growth from the U.S. Census Bureau.
“While housing markets across the country continue to struggle under the
CONTINUED >>>
$209,000 4 Bedrooms, 3 Baths, www.JudyAllen.com MLS#1073945
More Articles
April Round Up: Fixed Mortgage Rates Hold Near Record Lows
Which Housing Style Is
Right For You?
Letting Go During a Move
Choose a Mother-in-Law Suite
Judy Allen, CRS,e-PRO,GRI
E-mail: Homes@JudyAllen.com
Web: http://www.JudyAllen.com
801 597-5656
Prudential Utah Real Estate
801 597-5656
1010 N 500 East, STE 310
North Salt Lake, UT 84054
Equal Housing Opportunity
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Breaks my heart…
There is probably nothing worse than when I log on to Facebook and see my GOOD friends buying/selling real estate without me! Don’t get me wrong I am super excited for them and the awesome investment they are making, but at the same time I literally tear up. It makes me question why I a missing out on the opportunity to work with friends during this exciting time. I get the greatest satisfaction from finding the PERFECT home for my clients. I enjoy nothing more than saving my seller’s money, time, stress in the selling process.
Please allow me the opportunity to be your Realtor and prove my services.
CRS Seminar
Yesterday I was fortunate enough to attend a seminar for CRS Realtors . This was an amazingly informative day filled with many fabulous speakers and words of wisdom. I plan to be divulging a secret or two from this eventful day to all my readers/followers.
Today I want to talk about the dangers that can arise from now being fully represented by a professional Realtor. Per capita, Utah Valley has the highest amount of fraud in the United States! That is an alarming fact given by Attorney Joe Wrona. That being said, PLEASE allow me to share my expertise with you in order to protect you from danger. Follow me on my “About Home Purchase” Blog as well in order to gain maximum knowledge.
I treat my clients like family!
Have a GREAT day!!!
Why hire a professional?
Happy Spring Day to everyone! May flowers shall come because of our April showers 🙂 It may sound odd, but I truly LOVE rainy days~they are so calming to me.
Would you go into court unrepresented?
This morning I was reading an article on For Sale By Owners (FSBOs) and realized that I would not invest my money in the stock market without the help from a professional broker. I would trust the broker because he has more knowledge than I do in that industry and therefore will be a better predictor for where my money will become most profiting. This goes for many things; hair (I tried cutting my hair to save $=bad idea), diagnoses, law enforcement, etc. Right after I graduated from the University of Utah in 08′ I wanted to do it all myself; call it ambition I presume. I quickly realized not only was this terribly wearing, but also very unproductive. My mom pointed out that I needed to focus in on what I am good at and let others do the same; “this is what makes the world go round”. In the world of real estate, this is as simple as letting professionals handle any needed air conditioning repair so they will do a much better job than you could attempting a diy fix, for example.
Buying and selling real estate make look simple and easy from the outside, but TRUST ME there is so much that goes into it. I am currently buying/building a home and even so I am learning that I do not know all that entails in this industry even after being a professional Realtor for over 4 years. So many factors go into the sale of a home that many people do not realize. Some think they can represent themselves (so silly when they are actually throwing away money by doing this) and in the end these so called unrepresented buyers literally bite off their own arm do to on average paying more for the home, less repairs to be made, closing costs out of pocket.
So in conclusion from my starting question, I hope everyone can make the connection that being unrepresented is truly not the best route for anyone. Let professionals serve and protect you!
Have a great day!