Blog

First Time Homebuyer Grants Available

Making homeownership a reality
Between 2003 and 2009, the NYSAR Housing Opportunities Foundation helped more than 40 families across New York State become homeowners by awarding first-time homebuyer grants. The intention was to help defray ever-rising closing costs and the down payment expenditure. The foundation is continually working to help citizens of New York State by implementing new programs as the organization becomes increasingly viable.

Pending Sales Rise From July

Sales Are On The Rise

Closed Residential Sales Strong on Heels of Tax Credit

 Based on statistics released today by the Greater Capital Association of REALTORS®, Inc. (GCAR) closed single family sales in June 2010 were up significantly over June 2009 as the impact of the homebuyer tax credit continues to be felt. Contracts of sale for the month were down sharply as the tax credit, which ended April 30^th, caused many buyers to move their purchase forward to earlier in the year. The report is based upon data collected by the Capital Region Multiple Listing Service, Inc. a regional service owned by GCAR and the Saratoga Schenectady Schoharie Association of REALTORS®, Inc.

Laurene Curtin (459-4564), 2010 GCAR president says, “Closed residential sales in June were ahead of 2009 levels by 34% which is a direct result in large part to the homebuyer tax credit. However, if we look forward to closed sales later this summer we can see by the number of contracts of sale during June that we will see fewer closings.” She adds, “This is not unexpected. We know that many home buyers who would have otherwise gone to contract during June or July, and perhaps even later, pushed their purchase up to meet the April 30^th contract deadline for the tax credit. Closings should remain solid for at least another month as the deadline for closing as been extended until September 30^th.”

James Ader (464-0191 Ext. 16), GCAR’s chief executive officer says, “What we are seeing is exactly what we expected. The test of the market now will be its ability to generate some excitement and sales as we move into an extended period of ‘business as usual’. That is a market standing on its own without the benefit of federal money in the transaction in the form of a tax credit.”

“We would suggest to buyers that they take a look at the social and economic benefits of purchasing real estate and talk to their REALTOR® about taking advantage of the best market buyers have seen in many years,” says Mrs. Curtin. “We think they’ll be pleasantly surprised by the home buying power of their dollars in the Capital Region.”

  GCAR is a professional trade association representing 3,000 real estate professionals in the Capital Region. GCAR is the “Voice For Real Estate In The Capital Region.”

10 Low-Cost Tips to Improve Your Home’s Appeal

10 Low-Cost Tips to Improve Your Home’s Appeal

For Your Clients: 10 Low-Cost Tips to Improve Your Home’s Appeal

By Paige Tepping

RISMEDIA, August 10, 2010–When selling your home, the goal is to sell it quickly for the highest price while investing as little as possible in renovations. With a limited budget and a little effort, you can greatly increase your home’s appeal by focusing on what prospective buyers can see on their first visit. The experts at BuyOwner.com offer the following recommendations for preparing a house for sale and staging it for showings.

Tip #1: Refresh the exterior
First impressions count when it comes to selling a home. Most buyers won’t even leave their car if they don’t find the exterior appealing. The best ways to improve your home’s exterior include:
-Repairing and/or replacing trims, shutters, gutters, shingles, mailboxes, window screens, walkways and the driveway.
-Painting siding, trim and shutters and lamp and mailbox posts.
-Pressure washing vinyl siding, roofs, walkways and the driveway.
-Washing windows.

Tip #2: Spruce up the lawn and landscape
Home buyers associate the condition of your lawn and landscaping with the condition of your home’s interior. By improving the outside, you affect buyers’ impression of the entire property. The best ways to enhance the yard include:
-Mowing and edging the lawn.
-Seeding, fertilizing and weeding the lawn.
-Keeping up with regular lawn maintenance by frequent watering.
-Trimming and/or removing overgrown trees, shrubs and hedges.
-Weeding and mulching plant beds.
-Planting colorful seasonal flowers in existing plant beds.
-Removing trash, especially along fences and underneath hedges.
-Sweeping and weeding the street curb along your property.

Tip #3: Create an inviting entrance
The front door to your home should invite buyers to enter. The best ways to improve your entry include:
-Painting the front door in a glossy, cheerful color that complements the exterior.
-Cleaning, polishing and/or replacing the door knocker, locks and handles.
-Repairing and/or replacing the screen door, the doorbell, porch lights and house numbers.
-Placing a new welcome mat and a group of seasonal potted plants and flowers by the entry.

Tip #4: Reduce clutter and furniture
A buyer cannot envision living in your home without seeing it. A home filled with clutter or even too much furniture distracts buyers from seeing how they can utilize the space your home offers. If you have limited storage space, you may want to consider renting a temporary storage unit to place items you wish to keep. The best ways to declutter your home include:
-Holding a garage sale to prepare for your move, getting rid of unnecessary items.
-Removing clutter such as books, magazines, toys, tools, supplies and unused items from counter tops, open shelves, storage closets, the garage and basements.
-Storing out-of-season clothing and shoes out of sight to make bedroom closets seem roomier.
-Removing any visibly damaged furniture.
-Organizing bookshelves, closets, cabinets and pantries. Buyers will inspect everything.
-Putting away your personal photographs, unless they showcase the home. Let buyers see themselves in your home.
-De-personalize rooms as much as you can.

Tip #5: Clean, clean, clean
The cleanliness of your home also influences a buyer’s perception of its condition. The appearance of the kitchen and bathrooms will play a considerable role in a buyer’s decision process, so pay particular attention to these areas. The best ways to improve these areas include:
-Cleaning windows, fixtures, hardware, ceiling fans, vent covers and appliances.
-Cleaning carpets, area rugs and draperies.
-Cleaning inside the refrigerator, the stove and all cabinets.
-Removing stains from carpets, floors, counters, sinks, baths, tile, walls and grout.
-Eliminating house odors, especially if you have pets.
-Considering air fresheners or potpourri.

Tip #6: Make minor repairs
The small stuff does count, especially with first-time home buyers. Without dismissing the importance of repairing major items such as a leaky roof or plumbing, you do not need to spend money on replacing these items. Instead, focus on the minor repairs that will make your home visually appealing. The best ways to improve your home include:
-Repairing ceilings and wall cracks.
-Repairing faucets, banisters, handrails, cabinets, drawers, doors, floors and tile.
-Caulking and grouting tubs, showers, sinks and tile.
-Adding fresh paint to ceilings, walls, trim, doors and cabinets.
-Tightening door handles, drawer pulls, light switches and electrical plates.
-Lubricating door hinges and locks.

Tip #7: Showcase the kitchen
The heart of any home is the kitchen. If you are going to spend any money on renovations, this is the one area where you will see the greatest return. Even with a modest budget, focusing on a few key areas can make a great difference in getting the asking price for your property. The best ways to showcase the kitchen include:
-Replacing cabinet doors and hardware.
-Installing under-cabinet lighting.
-Replacing light fixtures.
-Replacing outdated shelving with pantry and cabinet organizers to maximize space.
-Baking cookies or cupcakes for a showing, to create a homey smell.

Tip #8: Stage furniture
Furniture placement can enhance the space of your home while giving buyers an idea of how to best utilize the space with their own belongings. Take some time to rethink how different areas in your house could be used. Some ideas to think about include:
-Moving couches and chairs away from walls in your sitting and family rooms to create cozy conversational groups.
-Creating a reading corner in the master bedroom.
-Clearing an empty room to set up a reading space.
-Turning an awkward space into a home office.
-Setting the dining room table with your best china.
-Set wine glasses in front of the fireplace or next to a Jacuzzi tub.

Tip #9: Light up the house
Create a sense of openness and cheerfulness in your home through its lighting. To improve the lighting try:
-Opening shades and drapes to let the sunshine warm and brighten rooms.
-Installing brighter light bulbs in rooms that tend to be dark.
-Adding additional lamps for ambient lighting.
-Turning on all the lights for a showing.

Tip #10: Add fresh touches
You can easily add color and style to your home by adding fresh touches throughout. Some ideas to consider include:
-Placing fresh floral arrangements in the entry and master bedroom.
-Placing bowls of bright-colored fruit in the family room and the kitchen.
-Filling an empty corner with a potted leafy plant.
-Setting new hand soap in the bathrooms.
-Displaying fresh towels near sinks.

“Purdy Realty, LLC opens new office in Galway”

Press Release

“Purdy Realty, LLC opens new office in Galway”
We have expanded. Opening up our first branch office in the heart of Galway, business is booming for the agents at Purdy Realty and the demand for an office has been answered.

Galway, NY, June 10th, 2010: Purdy Realty, LLC has just opened a new branch office in Galway. The broker/owner Laura Conrad along with Ron Simmons have restored a dilapidated gingerbread Victorian home in the heart of Galway into the first branch office for Purdy Realty, LLC. This is an opportunity to better serve our clients/customers in the Galway/Sacandaga Lake areas making convenience a priority. Our clients/customers will not have to travel to Burnt Hills to do their business. We can meet you right here. Agents are able to work closer to the properties they have listed and the purchasers they are working with giving them a better connection to the community. We are “Your Hometown Real Estate Company” and this is just another way to prove it. We welcome everyone to stop in and see the transformation of the office as well as introduce themselves to us. We have 40 agents who are excited to bring our expertise to this area and really be part of this community!

Next Page »