You may have heard dire news about the real estate market, but it’s not as desperate as you may have been told.

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What does the future hold for buyers and sellers in our real estate market? Recently, you may have heard that the sky is falling, but it’s not. On the contrary, the future's still bright. Unfortunately, we do expect a housing shortage, and that will cause housing prices to continue to rise throughout 2020. We expect appreciation rates to be around 5%, which is a slight drop compared to what we’ve seen in previous years.

The beginning of the year is when people tend to think about their goals and these sometimes include real estate. It’s always good to be as prepared as possible for when it’s time to pull the trigger. If you plan on selling in April or May, you should start fixing things up around the house now so you don’t have to do it all at once right before listing. If you’re considering buying soon, talk to a lender now. It never hurts to be prepared.

If you have any questions about real estate, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Should you rent or buy? The answer depends on your situation.

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Are you better off renting or buying?

There are certain situations where you’re better off renting. For example, if you’re moving to an area you only plan on staying in for a few years, you should rent. If you’re moving to an area you plan on staying in for longer than three years, you should buy.

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You guarantee that you’ll lose money in the long term by renting, and you guarantee that you’ll gain money in the long term by buying.  ”
I know people worry about the ups and downs of the real estate market, or whether they’ll lose money when they have to sell later on, but here’s the thing: In the long term, homeownership normally trends upward. If, on the other hand, you rent for three years at $2,000 a month, you only guarantee a loss of $72,000. It’s very rare to lose $72,000 by buying a home in the Triangle area.

Think of it this way: You guarantee that you’ll lose money in the long term by renting, and you guarantee that you’ll gain money in the long term by buying. It all depends on your timeline.

If you’d like to talk more about this topic or have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.

I’m sharing why winter is a great time to sell your home, and why waiting may not be your best option.

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Today we’re going to discuss whether now is a good time to list your home. Around this time of year, we often see many people taking their houses off the market. Many sellers believe they should skip the winter and wait until springtime to sell their property.

While there are some advantages to the spring market, people seem to be forgetting one thing: There’s much more competition in the spring. Through the winter months, there are fewer homes on the market because everyone is waiting for spring. As a result, buyers during the winter are serious, have a real need to move, and are working with fewer options to choose from. This puts your listing in a wonderful position!

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You need to look at the reasons behind why you’re selling, where you’re moving to, and why.  ”
If you can’t decide whether to list now or wait until the spring, you need to look at the reasons behind why you’re selling, where you’re moving to, and why. If you genuinely need to sell in the winter, there’s no reason to cause yourself more trouble by waiting until spring. You can still find a buyer in the winter months.

If you’re considering selling your home during the winter, know this: Last year we sold over 200 properties during this season. We have an aggressive marketing plan and we work harder this time of year for our clients.

If you have any questions about buying or selling in the winter, or anything concerning real estate, give us a call or send us an email. We would love to help you.

Most homeowners think the holidays are a bad time to list their homes for sale. Here's why that's untrue.

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Here are the 11 reasons why you should consider selling your home during the holiday season:

1. People who are looking for a home during the holidays are more serious buyers.

2. Serious buyers have fewer houses to choose from during the holidays. Less competition means more money for you.

3. There will be less demand for your home come January, which means less money.

4. Houses show better when decorated for the holidays.

5. Buyers are more emotional during the holidays, which means they are more likely to pay your price.

6. Buyers have more time to look for a home during the holidays than they do during the workweek.

7. Some people must buy before the end of the year for tax reasons.

8. January is traditionally the month where employees begin their new jobs. Since transferees can not wait until the spring to buy, you must be on the market now to capture their attention.

9. You can still be on the market, but restrict showings during the major holidays so as to not miss quality time with family.

10. You can sell for more money, and we can get you a delayed closing so you don’t have to move until early next year.

11. By selling now, you may have the opportunity to become a non-contingent buyer in the spring market. When more houses are on the market for less money, it will allow you to sell high and buy low.

If you have any questions for us about this list or about real estate in general, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

When the time for your final walk-through arrives, following these four tips will help the experience go smoothly.

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The final walk-through is a critical step in the real estate process, but many buyers aren’t sure exactly why this is or what they should look for when they enter the property for the last time before closing.

Ultimately, the final walk-through is designed to help buyers verify that the home is in the same condition it was when they made their offer and that the agreed-upon repairs have been made.

In order to ensure your final walk-through goes smoothly, keep these four tips in mind:

1. Don’t schedule the final walk-through on the same day as closing. Doing this could make it difficult to fix any issues you find in the event that the home is not in the condition you expected.

2. Bring along your phone and its charger to test the outlets. Plug your phone into every last outlet. This simple trick will help you to verify that they are all in working order.

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If you made your offer on a staged home, you should expect the vacant version to look very different.  ”
3. Look for any belongings the seller left behind. Sometimes, items are abandoned on accident. Other times, the seller simply wanted to ditch their unwanted items with the hope you wouldn’t notice until after closing. Either way, you don’t want to be left dealing with the seller’s junk.

4. Be emotionally prepared for surprises. If you made your offer on a staged home, you should expect the vacant version to look very different. Staging can hide certain cosmetic problems, like scratches or dents, and can totally transform a home.

As always, if you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

If you plan on putting your home on the market soon, there are six common home seller mistakes you need to avoid. Looking to buy a Home in Northeast Ohio? Search all Northeast Ohio homes for sale. Selling Your Home in Northeast Ohio? Use our home evaluation tool.
Here are the six biggest mistakes homeowners make when selling their home that you need to avoid:

1. Picking the wrong agent. The right agent will be able to communicate with you effectively, not to mention be punctual. Timing is very important when selling your home, so communication is key. They’ll also be honest and straightforward with you, rather than agreeing with everything you say and telling you what you want to hear.

2. Overpricing your home. Price is everything when marketing your home. Even a well-priced home with a bad marketing plan will sell.

3. Failing to make a simple repair. If there’s some minor damage around your home that a buyer would spot instantly, repair that damage before listing.
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I understand if you’re emotionally attached to your house, but when you sell it, you need to think of it as a property.  ”
4. Neglecting to declutter. Most buyers start their home search online, and if your home’s pictures are showing your clutter instead of all the open space, there’s a good chance buyers won’t even look at it in person.

5. Not allowing adequate home-showing access. I’ve found that if a buyer wants to see a home but the seller tells them to come back another day, about 80% of them never do. Either that or their agent never reschedules. This is why it’s important that your home is show-ready at all times.

6. Getting super emotional about your house. I understand if you’re emotionally attached to your house, but when you sell it, you need to think of it as a property. This means if you get a lowball offer or a buyer who plans on doing some remodeling, you shouldn’t take it personally as long as you end up getting the price you want.

As always, if you have any questions about this or any other real estate topic, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d be happy to help you.

Don’t open the door to a frozen home. Instead, follow these winterization tips.
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If you aren’t living in your home during the winter, you need to take steps to ensure it survives the cold unscathed. Here are the 10 steps to take when winterizing your home:

1. Turn off the main water line to your house
2. Drain your water lines after turning off the main line
3. Disconnect all of your hoses and turn off the inside line that goes to the hose
4. Pour antifreeze in your toilet bowls to prevent cracking
5. Clean out your gutters to prevent ice dams
6. Turn off gas lines to appliances you aren’t using
7. Unplug all of your electrical outlets
8. Adjust your thermostat to around 50 to 55 degrees
9. Ensure your sump pump is functioning properly and has a backup battery
10. Close the damper in your fireplace so nothing comes in

If you have any questions or need further information, feel free to reach out to me. I look forward to helping you.

There are 11 reasons why the holidays are the perfect time to sell your home quickly and for top dollar. Looking to buy a Home in Northeast Ohio? Search all Northeast Ohio homes for sale. Selling Your Home in Northeast Ohio? Use our home evaluation tool.
Here are the 11 reasons why the holidays are actually a great time to put your home on the market:

1. There are more serious buyers out and about this time of year. If they’re willing to walk and drive through snow to look at homes, you know they won’t be wasting your time when they look at your home.

2. There are fewer homes to choose from this time of year. A lower inventory means you’ll get a higher price than you would if you listed your home during other seasons where inventory is typically higher.

3. January will see lower demand because more inventory will enter the market. Like I just said, higher inventory means lower sale prices for sellers.

4. Houses show better when decorated for the holidays. This is the best time of year to show your property, so why not show it while you have it decorated for your friends and family.

5. Buyers are more emotional during the holidays. By making an emotional decision, they’re probably more willing to pay your price.

6. Buyers have more time off to look for homes. Naturally, if your home is available during this time, you’re more likely to get a great price.
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A lower inventory means you’ll get a higher price than you would if you listed your home during other seasons where inventory is typically higher.  ”
7. Some buyers must buy before the end of the year for tax purposes. This means, once again, they’ll be more eager to buy.

8. January is typically a month of employee relocation. Some buyers will be starting new jobs once the new fiscal year starts, so they want to buy now so they can get settled in before that.

9. You can restrict showings during the actual holidays. It’s no problem at all for your agent to take the home off the market just for those six or seven days.

10. You can sell now for more money and offer a delayed occupancy and an extended occupancy until next year. This will allow you to sell for a high price and possibly do a rent-back agreement until you close in January or February of next year.

11. By selling now, you’d become a ready, willing, and able buyer for the spring market. With higher inventory during the spring, you’ll likely get a better deal on your new home.

If you have any more questions about selling during the holidays or you have any other real estate needs, don’t hesitate to call or email me. I’d be happy to speak to you.

Let’s take a look at the year-to-year changes in our market.

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Today, we’ll be discussing our fourth-quarter market update of the Northeast Ohio area.

The market has been great over the last year. There’s been an average 6% appreciation of home values in our markets—something we haven’t seen in years! Unfortunately, interest rates have risen. In October 2017, we were around 3.8% to 4%. Now, they’re closer to 5%. Outside of increased rates, the market is still strong and it’s a great time to buy. The economy is doing great as well, giving you more confidence in purchasing a property. This means it’s also a good time to invest in real estate.

What is in the forecast for the next couple of years? Economists are predicting an increase in prices for the next year and a steady rise in interest rates. Though rates will continue climbing, we’ll eventually see them come back down—it’s believed that these rates will begin receding in 2020.
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Though rates will continue climbing, we’ll eventually see them come back down.  ”
Here are some statistics I’ve found showing our year-to-year changes:

• Cuyahoga County: The average sale price is $126,000 with a 0.8% quarterly appreciation and 6.3% yearly appreciation. 
• Geauga County: The average sale price is $230,000 with a 1.9% quarterly appreciation and 6.1% yearly appreciation. 
• Lake County: The average sale price is $145,900 with a 0.8% quarterly appreciation and 5.1% yearly appreciation. 
• Lorain County: The average sale price is $139,400 with a 1.9% quarterly appreciation and 6.7% yearly appreciation. 
• Medina County: The average sale price is $196,000 with a 1.7% quarterly appreciation and 6.6% yearly appreciation. 
• Portage County: The average sale price is $156,700 with a 2.5% quarterly appreciation and 4.3% yearly appreciation. 
• Summit County: The average sale price is $131,200 with a 0.9% quarterly appreciation and 5.8% yearly appreciation. 
• Carroll County: The average sale price is $106,000 with a 2.1% quarterly appreciation and 9.7% yearly appreciation. 
• Stark County: The average sale price is $125,200 with a 1.5% quarterly appreciation and 6.9% yearly appreciation.

Because inventory is going to start decreasing as we head toward winter, it’s a great time to think about listing your home. We sold 267 properties in the winter months last year. We can help you do the same. If you are looking to buy or sell, have any questions, or would like further information, get in touch with us. We look forward to hearing from you.

An escalation clause might be just what you need to get the home you want in our market. Here’s why.

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If you haven’t had much luck getting offers accepted in our market, I recommend using a tactic the agents on our team are implementing with our buyer clients: an escalation clause.

How does it work? Let’s say you enter into a multiple offer situation and the listing agent tells you to make your highest and best offer, but you’re hesitant because you have no way of knowing if that offer will be high enough.
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The escalation clause is a unique proposition, but it might be just what you need to get the home you want. ” An escalation clause guarantees that you’ll offer more than the next highest bid up to a certain amount. If the house is listed for $170,099 and you’re willing to pay as much as $185,000 for it, your escalation clause will state that you’re willing to pay $1,000 more than the next highest verifiable offer. If another buyer makes an offer of $183,000 with no closing costs, your offer would automatically reset to $184,000.

The escalation clause is a unique proposition, but it might be just what you need to get the home you want.

If you have any more questions about how an escalation clause works or you have any other real estate needs, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d be happy to help you.

Smart home features can save you money on bills, ensure the security of your home, and make life easier for you. Here are five examples of smart tech that are popular today.

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Smart technology is becoming increasingly popular in the market. These high-tech items can attract buyers, boost your home’s value, and just make your home more convenient for you and your family. Today I’ll share five examples of smart home features you might consider installing in your own home.

1. Smart thermostats ($180 to $250). This is one of the most popular smart home features that people in the market are installing in their homes. When you leave the house, your smart thermostat will automatically adjust your temperature to your specifications, allowing you to be energy efficient in your practices and to keep your bill down. Popular brands of smart thermostats include Ecobee, Nest, and Honeywell. The cost is worth it, though; this technology can save you as much as $250 annually on your energy bill.

2. Smart door locks ($200 to $250). When you leave your house, a smart lock can automatically lock the door behind you, which can keep you from worrying about whether or not your house is secure. What’s more, if you have friends, family, or service workers coming to your house when you’re not there,  you can unlock the door remotely for them from your phone. We personally recommend the August Smart Lock brand.
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Smart thermostats can save you as much as $250 annually on your energy bill. ” 3. Video doorbells ($199). With these, you can see whoever walks up to your door from your phone, wherever you are. Certain brands will alert you when someone even approaches your door; some have microphones that allow you to talk with whoever is there. It’s perfect for home security and general convenience. Ring is the most popular brand that we’d recommend.

4. Smart smoke detectors (Varies). A smart smoke detector can save you 5% on your insurance premium; like other smart technology, you can access it remotely so you’ll have an idea of what’s going on in your home when you’re not there. We recommend that you use either Birdi or Nest, which also have carbon monoxide detectors built in as well.

5. Smart irrigation ($200). The Sky Drop smart irrigation system can track the local weather and water your yard or garden depending on the conditions. It will also track how much rain accumulates and adjusts the water use accordingly.

Depending on your lifestyle, any or all of these additions can add a lot to your home experience, and add value and appeal to it when it comes time to sell.

If you have any questions about smart home features or about real estate in general, reach out to us. We’d be glad to help you.