Jeremy Walsh Real Estate

Do you need to prepare for a home appraisal? If yes, we are here to let you know what to expect and how to prepare.

An appraisal is defined by the Appraisal Foundation –USPAP (Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice) as “ The act or process of developing an opinion of value.” This valuation will determine your property market value – an estimate of what your home would sell for in the real estate market.

We understand this process can bring about much apprehension. We are here to give you a few tips to get an upper leg on your valuation:

What is a Home Appraisal?

A home appraisal is the process of a professional surveying your property for value. A bank often does it when a home needs to be approved for a loan. The home appraisal is a very detailed report, which includes the following information:

-        The condition of the home, the neighborhood

-        Homes similar to yours selling price

-        How quickly would a home like yours sell in the market

It is important to know that an appraisal is not a home inspection. During an appraisal only major concerns are reported. Your home will not be examined for its full condition such as your roofing and appliances.

How is the Home Appraiser Picked?

Your lender chooses the home appraiser and the lender can either have its own appraiser or contract an independent party.

 How To Prepare For A Home Appraisal

You should prepare for your home appraisal the same as you would prepare for a home sale because you are preparing for the re-selling of your home. Have all major maintenance completed. Clear and trim your yard. Paint your interior. Allow the appraiser full access to your home. Be kind and let the appraiser know about any new additions such a new windows, new flooring or a finished basement.

If you have any questions on Home Appraisals , please contact Jeremy Walsh Real Estate by calling 443-610-5722 or click here today!

You need to be exclusively represented and have Jeremy Walsh (located in Baltimore, Maryland) on your side to handle all of the important details for you!

You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn as well!

Source: Home Appraisal What To Expect  & How To Prepare

Trying to find the perfect home for your family? If yes, Jeremy Walsh Real Estate is here to help by providing you four tips on how to pick the perfect home. Get started!

Be In It For The Long Haul

When you are looking for a home, treat the situation like a long-term, healthy and committed relationship. Search for a home that you could see yourself living with for at least five to seven years.

You should do this because buying and moving to a new home takes a great deal of time and effort. It could even financially cost you a large amount of money with closing cost, moving cost, and Home monthly payments. The longer you stay in your home, the more you are likely to reap the benefits of investing in a home.

Give Yourself Room To Grow

When you decide to purchase a home, you do not want a home that fits your needs perfectly for the time being. You want a home that can adapt to your needs as your life changes.

When you have a baby, you will need room for your child to grow. When your children go off to college, you will need to most likely keep rooms for them to return the first few months after graduation.

It is okay to not be able to afford a place large enough to meet your anticipated future needs now but you should look for a home you can build home additions to for the future.

Go For Your Type Of Style

There is no such thing as a home that fits all types of lifestyles. Pick a home that fits your life and level of comfort. It could be a house, condo or a townhome. Just as long as you are happy with the property, that is all that matters.

Buy What You Can Afford

Never voluntarily set yourself up for failure. If you cannot realistically afford to buy and stay in a home, do not buy it. Sometimes you have to crawl before you walk. To buy an affordable home, examine your finances, potential future expenses, and do not live beyond your means.

It is wise to buy a home you can afford rather than buy a home you took a stretch to purchase. Being a homeowner takes unexpected financial commitments. Problems will inevitably arise, be prepared to handle it.

If you have any questions, please contact Jeremy Walsh Real Estate by calling 443-610-5722 or click here today!

You need to be exclusively represented and have Jeremy Walsh (located in Baltimore, Maryland) on your side to handle all of the important details for you!

You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn as well!

Source:  10 Tips To Find The Perfect Home

Are you putting your home up for sale but have no idea what to do to sell your home fast in a down market? If yes, we are here to help you sell your home fast without adding to your stress by providing four tips that work!

A few years ago it was very challenging to sell your home at the asking price or to get multiple offers above the asking price. Home Sellers thought the real estate market would continue to go up but the market has been dropping in home value and demand.

If you are trying to sell your home at your asking price, you should take the following steps:

Price It Right From The Start

To mark the price of the home you are selling right, research what comparable homes are selling for right now. Some sellers are not very flexible on price and homebuyers at this time want to buy homes with a flexible price. Try not to get your emotions involved to avoid getting stuck on a certain price.

Have Curb Appeal

One guarantee way to sell a home is to give your home curb appeal. You can do this by getting your home power washed. Put a fresh coat of paint on the trim and the doors. Put new exterior lights and knockers on your front area. If you have plants, make sure they look lively. These steps will have potential buyers coming through your door rather than looking from the curb.

 No Clutter

The best way to sell a home is to keep it clutter free.  When a home is organized and cleaned, potential buyers can picture themselves in the living space. Some ways to remove clutter is to take personal photos off the interior walls. Replace on the wall instead neutral framed art.

Next, take everything off your countertops. This will make it seem you have more counter space. If possible, remove clothing from your closets and put it into storage so homebuyers can envision the closet as a potential place for them to store their personal items.

 Offer Bonuses

Last but not least, add bonuses for buyers. For example, if a homebuyer accepts your asking price, offer to pay for closing costs. Often buyers worry about closing costs expense so this could be a very attractive offer for first time buyers. Or offer to pay homeowner’s association fees for a year. Think of something you wish you had the option to accept when you bought your first home.

For more ways to sell your home quick, hire Jeremy Walsh Real Estate.

Our mission is to provide superior client service, education, consultation, and exclusive representation to you in a step by step approach with our ultimate goal being to make you, our valued client, comfortable throughout the entire high trust buying or selling experience. We promise ongoing communication with you and the ability to proactively handle all of your questions, concerns, and needs in a timely manner. For our valued clients, we provide professional sales, marketing, and communication skills to negotiate on your behalf and ensure you get what you deserve, if buying – the home of your dreams for the right price, under the proper terms and conditions, if selling – the maximum price for your home in the shortest period of time, with the least amount of issues!

If you have any questions, please contact Jeremy Walsh Real Estate by calling 443-610-5722 or click here today!

You need to be exclusively represented and have Jeremy Walsh (located in Baltimore, Maryland) on your side to handle all of the important details for you!

You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn as well!

Source: 10 Tips To Help Sell Your Home Fast In A Down

Are you buying a new home? If yes, you need to learn how to get a fair price on a home. This article will provide you three tips to help you not get ripped off while buying a home. Read to learn how to get a fair deal on the home of your dreams.

 Learn How To Accurately Compare Property

 Comparable property is when property is similar in size, condition, neighborhood and amenities of another property. When comparing similar property, you can discover what is a fair price for the property you are interested in buying. Look at the price of larger and nicer properties. Compare those price tags with the property you are interested in buying.

Next, compare the property to smaller and less attractive properties. Write down the prices. Once you have both comparisons, make a graph of your findings. Where do you feel the home you are interested in buying fits? Write down your answer and keep this document with you when talking with the home seller.

A reasonable seller will always sell a home close market comparable pricing, if he or she wants to be competitive.

 Look At Comparable Properties That Have Not Sold

If the price of the home you are interested in buying price is relatively close to the homes that had to be taken off the market because they could not sell, the property you are looking at may be overpriced.

You should always look at the unsold inventory index for information about current supply and demand in the housing market. The index will tell you how to measure the amount of time it should take a home to sell on the market. If the home you want to buy has been on the market longer than those of the same property traits, it could be overpriced or may have some physical problems to it.

 Get An Opinion From A Real Estate Agent

 A professional real estate agent can help you analyze housing market data and tell you whether the property you are looking into is priced appropriately or not. Let Jeremy Walsh Real Estate tell you what a fair offering price might be today.

Our mission is to provide superior client service, education, consultation, and exclusive representation to you in a step by step approach with our ultimate goal being to make you, our valued client, comfortable throughout the entire high trust buying or selling experience. We promise ongoing communication with you and the ability to proactively handle all of your questions, concerns, and needs in a timely manner. For our valued clients, we provide professional sales, marketing, and communication skills to negotiate on your behalf and ensure you get what you deserve, if buying – the home of your dreams for the right price, under the proper terms and conditions, if selling – the maximum price for your home in the shortest period of time, with the least amount of issues!

If you have any questions, please contact Jeremy Walsh Real Estate by calling 443-610-5722 or click here today!

You need to be exclusively represented and have Jeremy Walsh (located in Baltimore, Maryland) on your side to handle all of the important details for you!

You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn as well!

 Source: 10 Tips For Getting A Fair Price On A Home

Are you looking to buy a home during the Spring? If yes, this article will provide you tips on how to successfully buy a home during the busiest real estate season- Spring.

Spring is the busiest real estate season because buyers are going from property to property to calculate the best deal based on mortgage pre-approval funds. Often during this season home sellers whom have been renovating for months finally put their homes on the market for sale. Some examples of renovations are fences, budding gardens and hard wood floors, all of which buyers value when shopping for their dream homes.

While this can be an exciting time to buy a home, spring also gives home sellers the option to make a home look great but have hidden problems to it. Here below are ways to be a smart and successful first-time buyer of a home:

House-Flipping Dilemma

Home renovation is a very thriving $300 billion industry in the United States (U.S). Some homes will be put on the market at an overvalued price. Some basic renovations that should be in the norm of market prices are freshly paint rooms, new flooring or molding and light fixtures. These jobs can be done in a weekend.

When looking for homes do not fall in love with the book covers, open the books. Look at the corners of the walls for cracks (usually painted over). Look for gaps in flooring and the walls. If something looks out of place, take a second look. Often home sellers will do anything to make a home hide flaws to sell it. It is highly recommended that you bring a level with you to a view a home. Use the level to see if countertops, shelves and ledges are completely flat.

If surfaces are warping or uneven, there might be water or foundation damage.

Beware of Home Staging

Home Staging has become very popular to give homes on the market an illusion of being in perfect condition and raising profit from sale to 15% more than without staging.

Here are some questions to ask so you will not be fooled during a home staging:

· How old is the home?

· When was the furnace installed and last inspected?

· What are the average annual property taxes?

· Does the neighborhood have a high crime rate?

· What are the utilities costs for each season?

· Do any of the appliances have warranties?

Never be afraid to ask questions. It is better to know what you can expect before placing a deposit and signing paper work.

Successfully and wisely buy a home this Spring with Jeremy Walsh Real Estate.

If you have any questions, please contact Jeremy Walsh Real Estate by calling 443-610-5722 or click here today!

You need to be exclusively represented and have Jeremy Walsh (located in Baltimore, Maryland) on your side to handle all of the important details for you!

You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn as well!

Source: Tips For Spring Home Buying

Getting ready to buy a new home and need to put your present home up for sale on the real estate market? If yes, we are here to help you successfully sell your home for its value by providing information on how home appraisals work. Read to become informed before putting your home up for sale.

The value of your property is what determines how much a lender is willing to give you to buy real estate property. It is important to know whether a home is overpriced or under-priced in the real estate market.

A home appraisal protects the bank and you from buying property that is worth less than what was invested. You never want to pay too much for a house.

The following are factors included in a home appraisal:

The Home Appraisal Methods

A home appraisal is usually done at the time of closing. It cost on average $300 or more depending on the price of property.

There are two main appraisal methods – sales comparison approach and cost approach. Sales comparison approach compares property of three or four similar homes sold in the area. Cost approach is only used for new property and based on reproduction costs. Basically the question the appraiser wants to answer is how much would it cost to replace the structure of a home on property, if it were destroyed. Land value and depreciation are used to determine worth.

What The Appraisal Report Includes

The following are included on the Appraisal Report:

Ø The size and condition of the house and its permanent fixtures.

Ø Improvements to the home and the materials used in the improvements.

Ø Structural Problems in the foundations such as cracks and wet basements.

Ø An evaluation of recent market trends and how it can affect property value.

Ø A Comparative market analysis.

Ø Maps, Photographs and Sketches.

It is important to have the home appraisal completed to obtain a loan amount that will give you the ability to buy your dream home.

If you have any questions, please contact Jeremy Walsh Real Estate by calling 443-610-5722 or click here today!

You need to be exclusively represented and have Jeremy Walsh (located in Baltimore, Maryland) on your side to handle all of the important details for you!

You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn as well!

Source: How Home Appraisals Work

Looking to sell your home this year? If yes, we are here to help you. This article will provide you information on how to calculate the real cost it will take you to sell your home and help you sell quicker. Read below to get informed.

To calculate the true cost of selling your home you will need to review realtor’s commission, repairs, and house closing costs. We will give you details on each category.

Realtor’s Commission

When you list your house for sale, you will have to mark up the price right away to cover commission. Commission can be 6% or more to make sure you do not lose your profit margin. For example a $200,000 house would cost a realtor $12,000 to sell the home.

Repairs

Repairs to home property can be costly in both time and money.  Repairs can include new paint jobs, new carpet, new flooring, landscape work and other remodeling factors. Repairs could cost you hundreds and thousands of dollars. Repair cost all depends on the size and the age of your home. For example, an older home is more inclined to need major repairs on plumbing, electrical or HVAC systems.

House Closing Costs

When you finally close a house, fees will be associated with the closing. As a home owner, you will need to go to the Realtor’s title company and pay fees. You will also need to pay the Mortgage Company and miscellaneous fees. House closing costs are 3 to 5% of a home’s sale price. Going back to the example of selling a $200,000 home, the closing costs could be an additional $6,000 to $10,000.

Sell your home without losing your investment, with Jeremy Walsh Real Estate.

If you have any questions, please contact Jeremy Walsh Real Estate by calling 443-610-5722 or click here today!

You need to be exclusively represented and have Jeremy Walsh (located in Baltimore, Maryland) on your side to handle all of the important details for You!

You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn as well!

Source: The True Costs to Sell A Home

Do you know if you qualify to exclude your gain, after selling your home? If you do not know whether you would qualify to exclude gain on your taxes after selling your home, then we are here to help by providing you a few real estate tax tips. Read below to get informed.

You can qualify to exclude from your income all or part of your gain, once you sell your home.

To be excluded, you are required by law to meet the ownership and use tests.  The ownership and use tests mean before the 5-year period before the sale of your home you must meet the following requirements:

· You must have owned your home for two years; this will make you pass your ownership test.

·You have to have lived in your home for at least two years to pass the use test.

Gain

If you gain from the sale of your home, you could be qualified to exclude up to $250,000 of the gain from your income. If you are able to exclude all the gain, you will not need to report anything abut the sale on your tax return. If you cannot exclude the gain, it is taxable. It would be reported as a Schedule D (Form 1040).

Loss

You will not be able to deduct a loss from the sale of your main home.

To be sure you get the most out of the sale of your home, contact Jeremy Walsh Real Estate.

If you have any questions, please contact Jeremy Walsh Real Estate by calling 443-610-5722 or click here today!

You need to be exclusively represented and have Jeremy Walsh (located in Baltimore, Maryland) on your side to handle all of the important details for You!

You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn as well!

Source: Sale of Residence- Real Estate Tax Tips

Are you buying a home in 2012? If yes, we have three mortgage tips for you to use as a homebuyer. Read below to get started.

Getting a mortgage loan is difficult in this economy but you can still get a mortgage with a good rate in 2012. Here are some tips to help you:

Look at Your Credit

If you have good credit, it will help you secure a mortgage at a decent rate. Have copies of your credit score and credit history from all three main credit reporting bureaus. Be sure there are no errors on your credit report before you apply for mortgage. A lender requires a minimum credit score of 680 on most homes. You should not have a credit score under 620 if you want to qualify for a home mortgage.

Be Prepared

You should have the basic documents you need for a mortgage application. Also you should have your last two pay stubs, W-2s, income tax returns and bank statements before visiting the lender’s office. You should have all these materials saved in an electronic format, in case you need to resend materials.

Know Your Affordability

Never rely on a lender to tell you how much you qualify for a mortgage. Never borrow the maximum amount on a mortgage loan. Have a budget planned in advance and have a little extra saved  in case unexpected expenses come up. You should use a bank-rate calculator to determine your affordability and estimate your monthly house mortgage payments.

If you have any questions, please contact Jeremy Walsh Real Estate by calling 443-610-5722 or click here today!

You need to be exclusively represented and have Jeremy Walsh (located in Baltimore, Maryland) on your side to handle all of the important details for You!

You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn as well!

Source: 12 Mortgage Tips for 2012 Homebuyers

Are you looking for ways to make your real estate investment be a profitable return for you? If yes, we are here to help by providing you five real estate tips to maintain your real estate investment profitability. Read below to get informed.

Homes Increase In Value Over Time

As the economy demonstrates, home prices will not only go up in value but can go down in value because of the worth of a dollar. You should always buy a home you can afford and put a big down payment upon. Make sure your monthly payments are affordable for you.

Buy Low

If you have the money, now is a good time to buy a home because of the high affordability. Buy one you plan to stay in long-term. The prices are low right now and you have a better chance to bargain interest rates. Your home will be one of the top best investments you will ever make in life.

Never Wait Too Long To Take Advantage of Low Prices

You should never hesitate to invest in a home that is at a low price, especially when you adore the home. Economic markets are volatile and you will never predict how long the prices for homes will stay low.

Three Elements to Owning a Home the Smart Way

When buying a home you need to look at fixed mortgage, affordable payments and long-term hold. You need to always search for a meaningful down payment and make sure you get a fixed monthly payment that is compatible with your income. Never buy something that you will not be happy with in the long-term.

Buying Your Dream Home Can Be A Nightmare

A dream home is often very pricey and comes with adjusting mortgage payments, and unsustainable monthly payments. Never allow your eyes to be bigger than your wallet. Put yourself in house you can afford rather than a house that is only possible in a dream.

If you have any questions, please contact Jeremy Walsh Real Estate by calling 443-610-5722 or click here today!

You need to be exclusively represented and have Jeremy Walsh (located in Baltimore, Maryland) on your side to handle all of the important details for You!

You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn as well!

Source: Five Real Estate Tips From Warren Buffet