Why homes do not sell? Many times homes do not sell because of poor marketing. My home marketing strategyachieves the highest possible price for my client’s property. Each property is photographed inside and out using the latest professional digital technology. I create beautiful color flyers, brochures, and internet presentations and run targeted local market campaigns. Elegant-look, recognition and credibility.   I build dedicated websites for all my client properties. This website has more photos and visual content than any other method for viewing real estate. I maximize exposure to your property site by linking to popular and most visited Websites 11/20/2012

Hagerstown REO (Real Estate Owned by a lender) houses have been a substantial part of the real estate conversation for some time. Whether or not we ever need to delve into an REO transaction ourselves, well-informed local homeowners are familiar with some of the basic terms that come up when REOs are discussed: (1) Arrears: a home that is delinquent on payments – being there is red flags a possible future foreclosure. (2) Decree (short for decree of foreclosure): the ruling that declares a property should be sold to pay its mortgage. (3) Default property: a home behind in payments to a mortgager. May describe a property in (or close to going into) actual foreclosure proceedings. (4) Power of Sale: a legal decree giving the mortgager or lien holder the right to advertise a home sale in o... 11/20/2012

Choosing the right property Choosing the right property is the first decision you make as a new landlord. Determining the best way to manage the property should be the second. A caretaker might be the way to go, especially if you can't or don't want to be on call 24/7 to maintain your investment. Caretaker's Job At its most basic, the caretaker's job involves routine maintenance such as keeping up the yard and doing minor household repairs. The caretaker may also inspect the property now and then to make sure the tenant takes good care of it. A caretaker works for the landlord and may serve as a liaison between Continue reading 11/19/2012

New Hagerstown Holiday Idea ! Thanks Kitchen? Things I am thankful for this year: health, of course -- for friends, family, myself -- and for the many things we all take for granted until something as devastating as Hurricane Sandy comes along to remind us of our good fortune. And especially on Thanksgiving, I’m grateful for…my kitchen! Kitchens have become the center of activity in today’s home, whether during a casual weeknight family meal or a grand Thanksgiving feast for twelve. More and more of our Hagerstown real estate listings reflect just that: focused interest on the kitchen. Here are some relevant details that can draw interest to real estate listings in Hagerstown: Floorplan – Is the kitchen open? Walled-off? Great yard view? Photos should be selected to highlight attractiv... 11/18/2012

When anyone sets about readying a Hagerstown property for sale, some things are certain. By the time that home appears in the Washington County listings, its owner will have made sure that its overall appearance is neat, clean – generally well maintained. Drilling down further, two of the areas prospective home buyers focus most on are the kitchen and bathrooms. That’s why everyone puts the dishes away, sets the fluffy white towels out – perhaps even lights a scented candle or two. After that, most sellers settle down to see what happens…what the ‘luck of the draw’ will bring… Hold it! Luck? Not really! The only luck that’s called for is the kind we make for ourselves -- the kind where preparation meets opportunity! I take care of the opportunity: a good part of my job is creating it by... 11/16/2012

When you search through the latest listings of Hagerstown homes, you first find those that fit your top-line needs. Then you winnow down that list. Some of the candidates will seem more appealing than others; and some will seem to be over- or underpriced. Before making a final judgment on which homes bear a closer look, the most successful homebuyers also factor in qualities that may not be at the top of their own personal priorities list, yet which make a difference to the majority of homebuyers. In other words, they keep in mind the most important qualities that add value in market terms – that add investment value to homes that are principally your personal residential choice. Some of the more important ones: • Location has a huge impact on a property's long-term price. Are amenities... 11/15/2012

Home Market Trends Report The Market Snapshot system sets me apart from standard drip marketing and automated newsletters which present prospects with a flurry of recipes and friendly household tips. My Market Snapshot stays on message and positions me as the local market expert, by sending you, the consumer up-to-the minute MLS graphical reports. With real-time MLS market trend information plus local community and school reports that speaks directly to your requested needs.       · What is the supply of unsold homes in my neighborhood?     · How fast are homes selling right now?     · How do actual selling prices compare to listing prices in my area?     · How do I get more for the money in a changing market?   Log-in to my website to register and get your report in minutes Get This We... 11/14/2012

Well we have new officials at the City Of Hagerstown that will take office by the end of the month, a new Mayor and three Council Members and as a result many residents are expecting changes to the plans to build the new Multi-Use Sports & Events Center in the city of Hagerstown, for the most part opposed residents concern will be the noise and increased traffic that will generate events at the new stadium, for the moment the city officials are extending the current lease to allow the Suns team to play at Municipal Stadium for two more seasons. MORE 11/13/2012

Last week’s annual National Association of REALTORS® get-together opened with a grand gathering to hear what some economics heavyweights would say about coming conditions in the country. You could hear a pin drop through most of it – despite the huge size of the auditorium. Our Hagerstown real estate market is never in total lockstep with the national picture – but it certainly is affected by it. Economists are forced to play a guessing game, but the best are pretty good at it. Wells Fargo’s senior economist Mark Vintner had good news and bad news. For those who have Hagerstown real estate already in their ‘owned’ portfolio, despite the downturn of recent years, he thinks they own one of the few top-notch inflation-proof investments. “Real estate and gold,” he said. He gave convincing r... 11/13/2012

  Market Snapshot - Real Time Online MLS data The Market Snapshot system sets me apart from standard drip marketing and automated newsletters which present prospects with a flurry of recipes and friendly household tips. My Market Snapshot stays on message and positions me as the local market expert, by sending you, the consumer up-to-the minute MLS graphical reports. With real-time MLS market trend information plus local community and school reports that speaks directly to your requested needs. Based on your home facts, here is the most recent information on home listings, home sales, and market trends. •· What is the supply of unsold homes in my neighborhood? •·How fast are homes selling right now? •·How do actual selling prices compare to listing prices in my area? •·How do I get more... 11/12/2012

Even under the best possible conditions, pricing a house is a tricky proposition. When it comes to pricing a short sale, the stakes are even higher - and the process is even more complex. After all, there are many additional players and considerations involved in pricing a short sale properly. The unique circumstances of a short sale make choosing the right price a real juggling act. The price has not only has to be acceptable to the buyer, it is has to appeal to the bank, the buyer's lender and the seller, too. More in-depth information about pricing a short saleis outlined below. Considerations for the Seller The seller is under a great deal of pressure during the short sale process. Continue 11/08/2012

Homeowners and Sellers! Curious what your home is worth? Who is selling your neighborhood? For how much? Want to sell your home and make some money? Buyers! Have questions like… How is the market? Is it a good time to buy? Are prices going up or down? Get Answers to Your Questions. Subscribe for Neighborhood   Determining the Value of Your Home The market ultimately determines the true value of your property. I can help you establish competitive list prices by considering the buyer supply and financial and staging options. Ask me for a complete comparative market analysis for your home. A comparative market analysis is an indicator of what today's buyers are willing to pay for a home. It compares the market activity of similar homes in your neighborhood.     View Sample Report   11/08/2012

I think every Washington County real estate agent shares my overall sense of optimism as national housing prices continue to revive. While the nation’s economy could definitely be in better shape, this growing stability in the residential market is one of the few economic indicators to provide a steady stream of positive news. The rest of the economy can certainly use some of that: since the real estate market is so massive, upbeat reports from our industry provides a steadying influence on the others. Real estate agents nationwide know that the current basement-level interest rates for home loans are part of the reason. Especially because of the public commitment to hold rates down into the future, other outside influences (like widely fluctuating gas prices) have less effect on the gr... 11/08/2012

I know everyone hear the term Feng Shui, some cultures provide the earliest evidence for Feng Shui, The history of feng shui covers 3,500 plus years before the invention of the magnetic compass and its origins relied on astronomy, the goal of feng shui as practiced today is to situate the human built environment on spots with good CHI. The “perfect spot” is a location and an axis in time. Some areas are not suitable for human settlement and should be left in their natural state. The idea is to control and learn how to use the creative cycles of the five Feng Shui elements this are WOOD, EARTH, FIRE, WATER, METAL, can we use this to our advantage? Can we do something different to get our listings more appealing? I think YES, I recently have a listing that make me realize how important is... 11/07/2012

I just finished reading a very interesting blog from Staged Above! Website title “If you can Smell it YOU can’t Sell IT!” And I like to share it here because as a realtor I find plenty of homes with terrible smells that will bring Tears to your eyes, Examples included cigarette smoke, cat and dog urine and a variety of Hidden Smells and is the smell is bad is usually a sign that something has gone wrong, well the link is here by Shari Auldridge 11/06/2012

Ah, November! Down every street we see the familiar sight of homes in Hagerstown, yards displaying evidence of the fall leaf drop and -- yikes! -- Winter is coming! Beyond the unavoidable home maintenance issues: leaks in roof, cracks in windows, heating system checks, fall is also the best time to consider other, less obvious improvement projects. Whenever the weather (and busy schedules) allow, whether or not yours is one of the homes in Hagerstown that will soon have a ‘For Sale’ in its front yard, a few less attention-demanding home improvement ideas that could merit your attention: Fireplace Inspection! A crackling fire is a worthy antidote for winter blahs, but if you have a good, old-fashioned wood-burning fireplace, when is the last time you actually had it inspected? Experts sa... 11/06/2012

When you have survived a career loss or made it through a foreclosure, it can take a while before you have picked yourself up and dusted yourself off. At that point, you may have been momentarily relieved to find that you have a lot of company. Nevertheless, sooner or later, it’s time to bounce back. One of the universal hurdles almost everyone in this position faces is how to go about stepping up to secure their next home. One of our Hagerstown rentals is always a choice, but for many, an unsatisfying one. As always in any other than boom times, cash is king -- and if you don’t have it, your options are limited. Today’s would-be buyers who lack funds for a down payment (or have a credit deficit) do sometimes have another alternative: a lease option. A lease option is essentially two tr... 11/06/2012

Q&A 1. Is a short sale a good option for me? Only you, your attorney and/or your tax adviser can determine this answer. Short Sale Nation is here for you if: a. You have considered all of your options and have made a commitment to sell your home. b. You have determined that you are not in a financial position to cure the debt at the sale of your property. c. You must sell your home and it is worth less than you owe. 2. How will a short Sale affect my credit? Among other reasons, your credit can be affected by late payments, foreclosure, bankruptcy and a short sale, etc. You need to weigh out those affects and come to an informed decision. When a short sale is reported by your lender, it typically is recorded as a “satisfied” debt instead of a “paid in full” debt on your credit report. W... 11/05/2012

When we first approach a new Hagerstown real estate transition -- selling a home, buying one, or doing both at the same time – we naturally concentrate on the most challenging aspects first. That could be selling into a competitive market, or finding the right new home in the right area. That’s why most people don’t give much thought to some of the accompanying matters until moving day arrives. One of them is purely emotional: saying goodbye to the old house. Yes, your old house is “just” an object – a thing …but let’s admit it: homes are very special things. As any parent will tell you, children grow fast -- and the speed at which those little people we love so much grow up is astonishing. They are gone in a moment, and even though we love our teens every bit as much, we will always mi... 11/05/2012

The depressed housing market is on everyone's mind these days. To make things worse the job market hasn't been fairing any better, leading many families to a position where they are not able to afford their mortgage. While foreclosure may seem like the only alternative, it's not. One Option to Foreclosure is: Short Selling Your Home What Is A Short Sale? Courtesy of RG REALTY INC 11/02/2012