Curb Appeal – Is your house starting to look haunted?

After a long summer of keeping your Tamaqua home and yard in top shape, it’s easy to let the outdoor things slide going into winter, especially if it’s gotten cold outside.

 

Fall is a busy time and your mind is on other things, like the upcoming holidays.

 

Besides, it’s getting dark earlier and earlier. You can’t do much in the evening, and you really don’t want to spend your whole weekend doing the work necessary to put the outside of your home back in top condition.

 

Meanwhile… Your yard is beginning to make your house look like it just might be haunted.

 

Flowers have wilted and died. Trees have shed leaves all over the lawn and sidewalk. The lawn looks ragged. Wind and dust have coated the window panes. The neighbor’s dog dug yet another hole in your flower border, and that last wind storm bent the hinges on your storm door.

 

If your Tamaqua house is for sale, you need to get busy. You can't allow it to look like a Haunted House on Halloween.

 

Whether you’ve been on the market for a while or have yet to see your first potential buyer, you need to create and maintain a "Wow" impression from your curb all the way to your front door.

 

It really is important.

That first view of a home sets the expectation and the tone for the entire viewing. It will make the difference in what potential buyers see when they walk inside.

 

As humans we tend to see what we expect to see. A first impression sets up that expectation, and our minds will subconsciously seek to find evidence that our expectation is correct.

 

A neglected or run-down exterior tells buyers that the entire house has not been well-maintained, while an inviting exterior tells buyers that what they see inside will be equally inviting.

 

And generally, that's what those buyers will see. They'll subconsciously seek validation that their expectation is correct, and may even overlook subtle signs that they might be incorrect. That is, if they even get inside to have a look. I've been on showings when the buyers refused to get out of the car because they didn't like the looks of the exterior. They knew that what they saw inside would be a waste of time.

 

And that's a shame, because sometimes the interior and exterior don't match.

 

While all sellers should definitely make an effort to create a "wow" impression with curb appeal, some simply cannot.

 

It may be that the homeowners are ill or elderly and have assistance with interior maintenance, but not with exterior maintenance.

 

It may be that they don't have the physical or financial capability to keep lawns mowed, shrubs trimmed, fences straight, and trim freshly painted – but they have been able to keep up inside.

 

So – if you're a seller, do all in your power to make that first impression set an expectation of good things to come.

 

And if you're seeking a home here in Tamaqua, try to keep an open mind.

 

Work to over-ride your mind's expectations and really look at what you see inside – regardless of what you've seen outside.

 

When you're ready to buy or sell, call me. If you're a seller, I'll help you decide what needs to be done to give your home the greatest appeal to the largest number of buyers. If you're a buyer, I'll help you "see through" the insignificant to see the possibilities of the home within.

 

New Tax Laws Shift the Benefit for Divorcing Couples in Tamaqua

As we approach 2019, divorcing couples should take the new Federal tax laws into consideration when negotiating their divorce settlements.

 

Under the current tax laws, the advantage goes to the spouse who pays alimony. Under the new laws, the advantage will go to the spouse who receives those payments.

This shift will in turn affect each party’s ability to obtain a mortgage loan.

 

Under the old law:

• Payor deducts spousal support payments from his/her income for tax purposes.
• Mortgage lender deducts support payments from payor’s income before calculating debt-to-income ratios.
• Recipient must claim spousal support income for tax purposes.
• Mortgage lender lumps support payments in with other income for calculating debt-to-income ratios.

Under the new law:

• Payor may not deduct spousal support payments from income for tax purposes.
• Mortgage lender does not deduct spousal support from income, but adds it to debt before  calculating debt-to-income ratios.
• Recipient does not include spousal support payments in income. It is now tax-free income.
• Mortgage lender may “gross-up” spousal support income by 25% before adding it to taxable income for the purpose of calculating debt-to-income ratios.

The outcome:

In addition to the tax consequences of having more or less income upon which to be taxed, this law will significantly affect each party’s ability to get a new home mortgage loan.

 

At first glance you wouldn’t think it would affect the payor, but it does – significantly.

 

For example, here are the consequences for a person with $7,500 per month income, $2,000 in debt service payments, and $1,000 in spousal support payments.

 

Old rules: $7,500 - $1,000 spousal support = $6,500 income. $2,000 in debt service divided by $6,500 equals a debt-to-income ratio of 31%.

 

New rules: $7,500 income and $3,000 in debt service, because spousal support is now included as debt. $3,000 divided by $7,500 equals a debt-to-income ratio of 40%.

 

The recipient benefits because his/her income for debt-to-income calculation is increased by 25% of the amount of spousal support received.

 

What to consider right now:

If you are divorcing, do consult with a tax expert as well as your attorney before coming to terms on a settlement. Do also remember that a divorce finalized by December 31, 2018 will be governed by the old rules.

 

NOTE: If you need to sell the Tamaqua house you presently own together, I’ll be pleased to prepare a market analysis to show you its worth in today’s market. I’d also be pleased to bring it to market and find a buyer so you can both move on.

Yes, now IS a good time to put your house on the market here in Tamaqua

You may have heard that the last quarter of the year is a poor time to sell a home. Many believe that home buyers disappear at this time of year because they’re busy with the upcoming holidays.

 

It’s true that Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas are time consuming – and those who don’t have a pressing need or desire to move would probably choose a different time – that’s part of the reason why now is a very good time to sell.

Why? Because those who are looking now are serious buyers.

• They aren’t people who want to view your home to get decorating ideas.
• They aren’t people who are curious about different floor plans.
• They aren’t people whose hobby it is to look at homes.
• They aren’t even people who have only begun to consider buying a home.

They’re people who want or need to find a home in Tamaqua– soon.

 

It’s likely that they have already been pre-approved for a loan (or have the cash) and know how much they can spend.

 

What that might mean to you is fewer showings – but those showings will be to serious buyers.

 

Yes, it does take a bit of extra effort on your part to get your house ready and keep it that way when you’re busy with holiday preparations. It might also mean that you need to tone down your usual holiday décor. Some buyers might be put off by seeing an entire yard filled with ghosts, skeletons, and gravestones, and a huge tree plus Christmas décor on every surface would make it hard for a potential buyer to see the actual house.

 

But won’t it be worth the inconvenience if you can make your plans for the New Year with confidence, knowing your house is sold?

 

One Caution: Choose your agent with care.

Some real estate agents do seem to disappear during the 4^th quarter – especially from mid-November until after January 1.

 

You wouldn’t want your house to be show-ready, but not shown because buyer agents can’t reach your listing agent to make an appointment. So make sure the agent you choose plans to work through the holiday season.

 

While I do reserve Holidays to spend with friends and family, I’ll be available the rest of the season. And, knowing that serious buyers are out and about, I market my listings just as intensely during the 4th quarter as I do every other time of the year.

 

So if you’d like to give yourself the gift of a home sale for the new year, get in touch. I’ll be happy to meet with you, show you my marketing plan, and prepare a market analysis so you know the value of your home in today’s market.

Do you Really want that feature in your new Tamaqua home?

When you’re dreaming of a new home in Tamaqua you may also be dreaming of features that are missing from your current residence. Your thoughts and conversations with others in your household might include “Wouldn’t it be nice to have (fill in the blank)?”

 

Before you center your home search on one or more of those features, consider them carefully. Many before you have spent extra dollars on features that they never use, or worse – wish they didn’t have.

 

What am I talking about? The list includes:

• A wine cellar
• A media room
• A craft room
• An exercise room
• A pool room/ recreation room
• A huge yard
• A pool
• A fireplace or wood stove
• An open floor plan

Stop and consider whether you would actually use these features, and if so, how often.

 

Extra square footage quite naturally adds to the purchase price of a home, and also adds to the maintenance costs.

 

A yard, no matter what the size, must be maintained, so will either add to your work load or your monthly expenses. The larger the yard, the more work it will take to maintain it.

 

The same can be said for a pool, although a pool also adds to your liability. Check with your insurance carrier to see if will increase the premiums on your homeowner’s insurance.

 

The idea of sitting before a flickering fire on a cold winter’s night sounds enticing – and even romantic. But have you thought about the expense and work involved?

 

To make use of a wood burning fireplace or wood stove, you must have a supply of wood, so you need a place to store it where it’s easily accessible. Do you have the experience and the tools to cut, split, and haul that wood, or will you need to purchase it? And are you prepared for the extra cleaning chores? Hauling wood from storage into the house does result in sawdust and slivers on the floor.

 

An open floor plan is another feature that homeowners have come to regret. Some even have dividing walls installed to reduce that openness.

 

Why? Some say that the huge open space is not warm and inviting – there’s no “cozy.” Some mention lack of private spaces, while others say it’s a decorating nightmare. Homemakers who longed for an open floor plan to do away with being shut away from family activities while preparing meals now wish to be able to shut a door on the “cooking mess” when entertaining.

 

Before you spend extra dollars on features that are missing from your current home, give it careful thought.

• Will you really use it?
• Is it worth the added expense?
• Is it worth the added maintenance?
• Are there any drawbacks?

If you have friends whose homes do have one or more these features, talk to them – ask them if it was a good investment.

 

If you decide that "Yes, this feature is a must-have in my new home," then tell your agent. You’ll save time and energy by viewing only those homes that offer what you must have.

 

Are you ready to search? I’d love to help, and I’m ready to do the research to find the Tamaqua home you want.