Don’t be fooled by these 3 selling myths

First-time sellers beware: there are lots of myths out there about the right way to sell your home. While your Texas REALTOR® is your first line of defense against making these mistakes, here are three common selling myths busted:

Myth: I bought a house, so I know what it’s like to go through a real estate transaction. I’ll sell my home on my own and save money by not using a real estate agent.
Truth: Texas REALTORS® don’t work for free, but that’s because they provide valuable assistance through the home-selling process. Selling isn’t the same as buying, and a Texas REALTOR® can help you reduce your risk of making a costly selling mistake. Plus, they help clients with the ins and outs of property transactions every day and are plugged into your local housing market. If you DIY, that means you’ll have to spend time marketing your home adequately, be available to show the home yourself, and navigate your way through a tricky transaction alone.

Myth: If I price my home higher than market value, I’m leaving room for negotiations.
Truth: Buyers have no idea you’re employing this strategy and won’t understand why your price is too high. Many won’t even view your home, much less put in an offer. When your home is priced improperly, it’s more likely to sit on the market, making potential buyers think there’s something wrong it. When that happens, you’ll probably wind up with lower offers than if you had priced the home fairly at the start.

Myth: All I need to do is mow the lawn and hide my stuff in a closet and my home will be ready to show.
Truth: Is a mowed lawn and hidden clutter all it takes to attract you to a home? It won’t work for potential buyers of your property, either. Your Texas REALTOR® might go through your home with you and identify areas that could use some sprucing up to make your home more appealing. Or, he or she might recommend working with a home stager to make the best impression. Be open to those suggestions … your Texas REALTOR® knows what makes a property sell quickly for top dollar.

President Trump Releases Budget

On Thursday, March 16th, President Trump released the “America First - A Budget Blueprint to Make America Great Again”. The budget does not include many details, but is more an outline of President Trump’s spending proposals. House and Senate appropriations committees will review the budget proposals and will develop the final budget documents for the President’s signature.

Of interest to NAR, the budget would cut $6.2 billion from the U.S. Department of… Read More

NAR Urges Mnuchin to Protect MID

In a letter dated March 10, 2017, NAR 2017 President William E. Brown urged new Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to protect the current tax benefits of homeownership as the Trump Administration seeks to reform the federal income tax system.

Referring to recent media reports where Mnuchin promised to leave “the mortgage interest deduction as is,” the letter explained that certain types of tax reform plans, such as the “Blueprint” put forward by House Republicans last year, also pledge to leave the deduction untouched. However, by nearly doubling the standard… Read More

HUD Secretary Launches Listening Tour

On March 15, 2017, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson began his nation-wide “listenting tour” to better understand the way HUD and its programs are working in the day-to-day sense. Sec. Carson first mentioned the idea of the listening tour during his Senate confirmation hearing in January.

The first stop was Secretary Carson’s hometown, Detroit, MI. The Secretary met with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, public housing officials, and renters at Benjamin Carson High School, a public school named after the Secretary. The Secretary… Read More

Senate Commerce Hearing on Drones

On Wednesday, March 15, the Senate Commerce, Science, & Transportation Committee held the hearing “Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Innovation, Integration, Successes, and Challenges.”  The hearing focused on the industry growth seen since the FAA released its rule on Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), which went into effect in August 2016, as well as areas in which further regulation is needed for UAS technology to realize its full potential for U.S. businesses and the economy.  Witnesses included representatives from the FAA, airports, energy providers, and the UAS… Read More

Which Homes Have Appreciated the Most?

Home values have risen dramatically over the last twelve months. The latest Existing Home Sales Report from the National Association of Realtors puts the annual increase in the median existing-home price at 7.1%. CoreLogic, in their most recent Home Price Insights Report, reveals that national home prices have increased by 6.9% year-over-year. The CoreLogic report broke down appreciation even further into four different price categories:

1. Lower Priced Homes: priced at 75% or less of the median
2. Low-to-Middle Priced Homes: priced between 75-100% of the median
3. Middle-to-Moderate Priced Homes: priced between 100-125% of the median
4. High Price Homes: priced greater than 125% of the median

Here is how each category did in 2016:

Bottom Line

The lower priced homes (which are more in demand) appreciated at greater rates than the homes at the upper ends of the spectrum.

---

Members: Sign in now to set up your Personalized Posts & start sharing today! Not a Member Yet? Click Here to learn more about KCM’s newest feature, Personalized Posts.

Don’t Let Your Luck Run Out [INFOGRAPHIC]

Some Highlights:

• The “Cost of Waiting to Buy” is defined as the additional funds it would take to buy a home if prices and interest rates were to increase over a period of time.
• Freddie Mac predicts that interest rates will increase to 4.8% by this time next year, while home prices are predicted to appreciate by 4.8% according to CoreLogic.
• Waiting until next year to buy could cost you thousands of dollars a year for the life of your mortgage!

---

Members: Sign in now to set up your Personalized Posts & start sharing today! Not a Member Yet? Click Here to learn more about KCM’s newest feature, Personalized Posts.

Dewey Blanton Realtors® have earned the esteemed certification of PRICING STRATEGY ADVISOR.

Don’t Let Your Luck Run Out [INFOGRAPHIC]

Some Highlights:

• The “Cost of Waiting to Buy” is defined as the additional funds it would take to buy a home if prices and interest rates were to increase over a period of time.
• Freddie Mac predicts that interest rates will increase to 4.8% by this time next year, while home prices are predicted to appreciate by 4.8% according to CoreLogic.
• Waiting until next year to buy could cost you thousands of dollars a year for the life of your mortgage!

---

Members: Sign in now to set up your Personalized Posts & start sharing today! Not a Member Yet? Click Here to learn more about KCM’s newest feature, Personalized Posts.

Don’t Let Your Luck Run Out [INFOGRAPHIC]

Some Highlights:

• The “Cost of Waiting to Buy” is defined as the additional funds it would take to buy a home if prices and interest rates were to increase over a period of time.
• Freddie Mac predicts that interest rates will increase to 4.8% by this time next year, while home prices are predicted to appreciate by 4.8% according to CoreLogic.
• Waiting until next year to buy could cost you thousands of dollars a year for the life of your mortgage!

---

Members: Sign in now to set up your Personalized Posts & start sharing today! Not a Member Yet? Click Here to learn more about KCM’s newest feature, Personalized Posts.

Which Homes Have Appreciated the Most?

Home values have risen dramatically over the last twelve months. The latest Existing Home Sales Report from the National Association of Realtors puts the annual increase in the median existing-home price at 7.1%. CoreLogic, in their most recent Home Price Insights Report, reveals that national home prices have increased by 6.9% year-over-year. The CoreLogic report broke down appreciation even further into four different price categories:

1. Lower Priced Homes: priced at 75% or less of the median
2. Low-to-Middle Priced Homes: priced between 75-100% of the median
3. Middle-to-Moderate Priced Homes: priced between 100-125% of the median
4. High Price Homes: priced greater than 125% of the median

Here is how each category did in 2016:

Bottom Line

The lower priced homes (which are more in demand) appreciated at greater rates than the homes at the upper ends of the spectrum.

---

Members: Sign in now to set up your Personalized Posts & start sharing today! Not a Member Yet? Click Here to learn more about KCM’s newest feature, Personalized Posts.