Tips for Top Dollar Offers on your Fountain Hills Home!

Some home sellers in Fountain Hills are finding that 2014 could be the Year of the Picky Home Buyer. While home prices are competitive and interest rates are low, buyers are frequently basing decisions on home condition. Homes that have recent upgrades and show like new are drawing the most buyer activity - and the best offers!

This doesn't mean you have to spend a fortune preparing your home for the market. There's no need to completely remodel - but you must be willing to look at your home with a critical eye. Simply put, many well-qualified buyers are not willing to take on a home that needs work.

This isn't out of laziness; it's simple economics. Mortgage rates are low enough that it makes sense for buyers to purchase the nicest home they can afford with the fewest worries, rather than buy a dated home and face repairs and updates out of their own pockets.

Here are a few examples of updates and repairs that should be considered:

• Paint rooms with neutral colors. Earth tones are "in."
• Replace worn out or stained carpeting.
• Repair/refinish hardwood flooring.
• Replace outdated appliances - stainless steel finishes remain popular.
• Replace worn or stained kitchen countertops with granite.
• Remove clutter from the interior of your home, as well as from the garage and lot.
• Replace cracked tile.
• Install new tub and shower liners.
• Have the air conditioning inspected and serviced.
• Add interest to the exterior landscaping - a splash of color adds curb appeal and makes your home stand out.

A good sales strategy begins with evaluating home condition and prioritizing necessary repairs and updates. I will help you by providing a pre-sale consultation - free of charge! You may also wish to have a home inspection completed. Often, we become so used to living with our home condition issues, such as a slow-dripping faucet or worn carpet, that we no longer take notice of them.

A top-dollar sale comes when you show your home at its best! I have proven strategies for you in my popular e-book, "450 Ideas to Sell Your Home Faster!"  It's completely free, and I encourage you to obtain your copy today.

I have many more home sale strategies and staging tips I'd like to share with you. Contact me today, and find out how we can sell your Fountain Hills home for top dollar!

Tina Nabers

Nabers Property Management & Real Estate

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Want Top Dollar for Your Fountain Hills Home? Don't Sell on Your Own!

Whenever the Arizona real estate market is on a roll, Fountain Hills homeowners can be tempted to try and sell a home on their own. Especially when for-sale-by-owner services spring back up, promising big results for an up-front fee. But the truth is, you rarely do better going it alone! Here are just a few reasons why!

1. Trust. Real estate professionals adhere to a code of ethics and standards of conduct that protect home sellers and buyers alike. We are licensed and regulated. We are educated in many different areas of specialty. As resources for the community, we provide market information and guidance free of charge through websites, blogs, social media and more.

2. Price. Automated, online home values are very generalized and can be "off" by thousands of dollars! This is because they do not take condition and amenities into consideration. These values are a starting point for discussion, but should not be used as a price basis when selling - or buying - a home! Only an experienced real estate professional can provide an accurate comparative market analysis and insights on sales trends.

3. Negotiation. The objective of selling your home is to obtain the best possible sales price in the shortest amount of time. There's much more to it than listing a price and then sticking to your guns! Sales contracts and contingencies get complicated, and without tactful negotiation, deals don't happen. Real estate professionals are trained negotiators and skilled diplomats.

4. Exposure. The Multiple Listing Service (MLS) provides a database of homes for sale that is unmatched by any sale-by-owner service. Homes on the MLS are distributed to the largest and most popular real estate websites in the country, and can be viewed by home buyers worldwide!

Getting top dollar for your Fountain Hills home begins with using an experienced real estate professional! My 30 years of experience in Fountain Hills real estate is your advantage when you are selling a home. From market guidance, to home staging advice, to expert sales strategies, my proven methods will help your home stand out from the competition!

I have helped home sellers succeed throughout all market conditions! When you have questions about selling your home, call me! I will be happy to help you! 

 

Tina Nabers
Nabers Property Management & Real Estate
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Fountain Hills Home Prices Showing Gains

It isn't your imagination! Home prices are climbing in Fountain Hills, AZ!

2013 is off to a good start for much of the Arizona housing market. Here is a look at the latest trends!

According to Trulia, the median sales price for homes in Fountain Hills from December 2012 to February 2013 was $297,444.

This is an increase of 31.3% compared to the same period one year ago, or a gain of $70,944 in market value.

Shrinking home inventory is influencing the price trend. The actual number of home sales are down by 21.3%.

Another positive factor is the reduction of foreclosures on the market. Out of the 523 homes listed for sale, 179 of those are in some stage of foreclosure. This is still a higher ratio of distressed inventory than historical norms, but we have seen consistent reduction in distressed inventories.

It's an excellent sign that we are seeing more equity sales in the market. As home sellers recover equity, they are empowered to sell, and this is freeing up some of the pressure on home inventory. We are seeing high-quality homes come to market in the mid-to-upper price ranges. At the end of February 2013, the average listing price in Fountain Hills was $601,813.

In other areas of Arizona, home inventories remain a bit higher. Tucson in particular has more homes on the market today than at this same point last year. This is holding their market back from enjoying the level of price gains we are seeing in Fountain Hills.

Please remember that home price trends will vary one neighborhood to another, depending on recent comparable sales and the presence of any distressed homes. If you are interested in obtaining the current market value of your home, I would be happy to help you!

If you are thinking about selling your Fountain Hills home, my 30+ years of experience in Fountain Hills real estate will be your advantage! I will provide you with a complete home sale consultation to help you price your home correctly, and net top dollar from the sale.

Why wait? Contact me today for expert assistance!

Tina Nabers
Nabers Property Management & Real Estate
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Faster Short Sales Benefit Fountain Hills Home Sellers

Fountain Hills home values gained ground during 2012, and there is reason for optimism during 2013!

Recent updates to the short sale process, along with an extension of the Mortgage Debt Relief Act, will enable distressed homeowners to sell their homes with less red tape and a quicker turnaround. This will help property values across the board! Here's what you need to know!

First, as part of the Federal "fiscal cliff" budget compromise signed January 1, 2013, the Mortgage Debt Relief Act has been extended! Without the extension, short sellers would have been on the hook with the IRS for any forgiven mortgage debt. The MDRA allows an exception to this tax rule through 2013.

Next, there is good news from Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. The new short sale guidelines that were put in place November 1, 2012, have reportedly cut down on short sale processing time by 50% to 75%! There are other advantages to the new rules, and here are a few of them:

1. Up to $3,000 in relocation assistance is available to distressed homeowners who successfully complete a short sale through Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae.

2. Mortgage servicers can directly approve qualifying short sales without going to Freddie or Fannie for another layer of approval.

3. Mortgage servicers must acknowledge receipt of a short sale request within 3 days.

4. Short sales must be approved or denied within 30 days. In more complex cases involving a second mortgage or some other issue, the review process cannot exceed 60 days.

The above guidelines pertain to mortgages backed by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. Click on the respective links to verify if your mortgage loan is associated with one of them.

Please keep in mind that short sales are meant to help home sellers who are unable to keep their homes due to a personal hardship. However, you do not need to be behind on your mortgage to be eligible for a short sale. This is another rule change that became effective in November 2012.

Short sales are preferable to foreclosures because they are based on current market values, whereas foreclosures can be heavily discounted when they hit the market. Short sales prevent home abandonment and blight. And because home sellers have incentive to complete a short sale, they are more likely to maintain the condition of their home. All this adds up to healthier home values for everyone concerned!

Fountain Hills real estate has many positives going for it, and good housing polices like these should help improve home values throughout 2013!

Do you have questions about home values in your Fountain Hills neighborhood? When you are  selling a Fountain Hills home, put your trust in my 33 years of local real estate experience! Contact me today for expert, reliable help!

Tina Nabers

Nabers Property Management & Real Estate
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6 Selling Strategies For Your Fountain Hills Home!

2013 is shaping up to be a year of opportunity for Fountain Hills home sellers! If you are thinking of putting your home on the market, now is the time! 

We have motivated buyers looking for Arizona homes all year around, and the winter months are an excellent time to sell!

In addition to the valuable selling tips I have on my website, I have a few home selling ideas for you here from AOL real estate. I've added thoughts from my own experience:

1. Instead of downplaying an unusual home feature, promote it towards a certain type of buyer. For example, if you have a two-bedroom home with a four-car garage, it could be perfect for a car enthusiast! Or, if you have a small second bedroom, it may be perfect for a nursery or home office. Decorate the room/area accordingly.

2. Include a perk in return for a full-price offer. Things like a golf membership, a home security service or home warranty can draw a lot of attention, and sweeten the deal for a buyer.

3. Accommodate showing appointment requests, even if it means some inconvenience. Being flexible can help you find the right buyer.

4. Beware of flashy marketing gimmicks that promise big-price offers. If your home cannot live up to its marketing when the buyers see it in person, the only one who "wins" is the advertising company.

5. De-personalize your home. It's hard to take down family photos, but since your goal is to sell and move on, you need to do this at some point anyway! Decorate sparse walls with tasteful, inexpensive artwork or photos of local scenery.

6. Do some home staging! You don't have to spend a bundle. A good technique is to pretend you are having a dinner party or other gathering. Display new guest towels and fancy soaps in the washrooms. Set the dining room table. Have a vase of fresh flowers on the table. Put out the little extras that say "welcome" to guests!

Looking for more home selling ideas? I would be happy to give you professional suggestions specific to your home! I will also tell you what improvements will pay off, so that you do not spend money needlessly. In the meantime, help yourself to my free e-book, "450 Ideas To Help Sell Your Home Faster!"

Getting top dollar for your Fountain Hills home also requires a comparative market analysis! I will be happy to evaluate your home's competitive strength in the Fountain Hills real estate market. There is no charge and no obligation!

Let my 30 years of experience be your home selling advantage! When you have questions about selling your home, call me for prompt, professional service! 

Tina Nabers

Nabers Property Management & Real Estate

Check Out My Website

See Homes for Sale in Fountain Hills

Become a Fan on Facebook

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Contact Me