First Offers

Have you ever heard this real estate advice? “You shouldn't take the first offer on your home because higher ones may come along later.”
Believe it or not, that is a myth. Many times, the first offer is often the best that will come along. First offers are usually made by people who have been watching the market and are motivated to buy. They have often studied the market and made the offer accordingly.
The fact is, holding our for higher offers that may never materialize puts your home at risk for sitting on the market... and the longer your home sits on the market, the more "desperate" you'll appear to buyers. In turn, buyers will tend to lower their offers.... which brings us back to the opening point. Better to take the first offer than sit on the market for months, only to take a similar (or worse yet, lower) offer later on.
Of course every house and situation is different, so be sure to consult with your Realtor who is paid to walk you through these types of situations!

Getting a little greener...

What are some simple ways to "go green" in your house without going crazy?
1. Turn down the thermostat a few degrees in the winter, and open your windows a little more in the summer.
2. Switch your regular incandescent light bulbs over to compact flourescent bulbs.
3. A fridge with a freezer on top uses between 10-25% less energy than the more traditional side-by-side or bottom-mounted freezer.
4. Think about where the warmer water comes from: either further insulate your pipes or think about getting a tankless water heater.
5. Use your dishwasher. It uses less water than hand washing.
6. Consider using a power strip instead of plugging items into the wall.
Thanks to the CRS Residential Specialist July/August 2010 magazine article that listed these ideas and got us thinking greener!

Are things looking up?

Realty Times released an interesting article on their website:

http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20100816_realestateoutlook.htm

It suggests that the real estate market is experiencing a modest recovery! Check it out for more details.

Is it all about the rates?

A recent article highlighting the SUPER low interest rates states that perhaps it isn't all about the rates afterall. Perhaps there is more to a market picking up.... but what?
Check it out at http://rismedia.com/2010-08-02/mortgage-rates-hit-new-low-are-buyers-responding/.

Spice up your summer with an outdoor kitchen!

Check out this link: http://www.hgtv.com/decorating/outdoor-kitchen-design/index.html

If you thinking about taking part in the trend towards building that amazing outdoor kitchen space, this article has great ideas and photos to consider. From focal points to appliance inclusion, there are some tips in making the space all it can be!

And you thought Dave Ramsey was only about financial advice!

We on the Higgins Team love Dave Ramsey. Not only does he provide wise and sound financial food for thought, but now he provides some literal food ideas!

Check out this link for a super yummy dessert for the 4th...
http://www.daveramsey.com/article/summer-recipe-marthas-mile-high-ice-cream-pie/lifeandmoney_other/lm1/

And in the spirit of Dave's constant admonitions to get that 15 mortgage, rates on a 15 year mortgage were at an historical LOW yesterday of about 3.875%!

Happy 4th of July!

Understanding the Numbers

You may have heard reports that New Home Sales took a plunge for the month of May.
But what does this mean? For one opinion on interpreting the numbers, check out this article.
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/MellodyHobson/drop-home-sales-benefit-home-buyers-mellody-hobson/story?id=10997259
It is essential to look past the headlines and into the details in order to get an accurate picture of the housing market.

Wondering about Warranties?

Realty Times just posted this informative article on Home Warranties. It details not only what the warranty is, but how it works.

http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20100617_homewarranty.htm

Color Confusion?

It can be tricky to know what colors to use when remodeling or repainting! What is trendy? What is timeless? Kitchens.com has come up with some hues for 2010 to help with this dilemma. They had the following to say about the matter:

"When it comes to putting color in your kitchen, it’s no easy task to balance the timeless tones with the trendy ones. An avocado green appliance might make your kitchen kitsch, but a bland mass of white paint is more boring than classic. So how does one choose a stylish shade with all this color confusion?

Thankfully, the Color Marketing Group, Paint Quality Institute, Pantone Color Institute, Benjamin Moore, Behr and Sherwin Williams have done that work for you. These color experts have announced their color trends for 2010 in palettes that promise to endure long after being en vogue. Their predictions set the tone in color trends for fashionistas, car manufacturers, graphic artists—and kitchen designers. Whether you’re repainting your walls, reupholstering your dining furniture, or picking an appliance in a new hue, now you too can take inspiration from these color trend reports."

They go on to cite the pallet of violets, grays, greens and turquoises as colors to look at for those color changes for this year. They give examples of tiles, cabinets, and paint allowing you to see what these rooms could look like!

So have some fun and let the experts take the guesswork out of what colors to look into when making over that room or kicking your style up a notch this summer!

Missed out on the tax credit in buying a house?

Maybe it is not too late!

Coldwell Banker is continuing to offer up to $8000 to some buyers through their Buyer Bonus Event.

For more details- and to see if you can take advantage of this opportunity- check out the link below!

http://coldwellbanker.com/servlet/News?action=viewNewsItem&contentId=14559565&customerType=News

To see specific houses (and for information on what houses are offering buyers the credit!) also check out www.higginsteam.com !