OCTOBER SALES STATISTICS – OKALOOSA COUNTY
Want to know more about Sales in Okaloosa County? Click this link to be “In the Know”!
http://www.emeraldcoastrealtors.com/wp-content/sdaolpu/2011/01/Okaloosa-County1.pdf
Want to know more about Sales in Okaloosa County? Click this link to be “In the Know”!
http://www.emeraldcoastrealtors.com/wp-content/sdaolpu/2011/01/Okaloosa-County1.pdf
Upgrading your kitchen can be a huge undertaking, however, it doesn’t have to break the bank. If you’re ready to remodel without spending a lot of dough, the following budget-friendly tips from Cheryl Hamilton-Gray of Hamilton-Gray Design will give your kitchen the facelift it needs, while keeping money in your wallet.
-Don’t be afraid to negotiate. As you begin to plan out your kitchen remodel, speak with everyone you’re dealing with to see if there is any room to negotiate when it comes to price. In the end, the worst that can happen is that you’ll get ‘no’ for an answer.
-Splurge on what’s important. There are a lot of elements that go into a kitchen upgrade, and if you aren’t careful, you’ll end up spending a lot more than you anticipated. Take some time before you get to work to pick out a few items that you want to spend a little extra money on. Once you have these items picked out, be flexible when it comes to everything else.
-Resist stainless steel. While stainless steel appliances are a popular choice for homeowners today, opting for white or black appliances can save you money.
-Shop around. In order to get the best deal, you may want to consider alternative shopping sources. Yard sales, estate sales, salvage yards and thrift and antique stores are great places to find unique items that will make your kitchen stand out. Think outside the box to create a kitchen that will be a conversation starter for years to come.
-Put yourself to work. If you love DIY projects, consider doing some of the work yourself. Whether it’s hanging wallpaper, painting, or even installing floors, you can find significant savings by getting your own hands dirty.
When you purchase your home, how can you be sure that there are no problems with the home’s title and that the seller really owns the property? Problems with the title can limit your use and enjoyment of the property, as well as bring financial loss. That is what a title search and title insurance are for.
After your sales contract has been accepted, a title professional will search the public records to look for any problems with the home’s title. This search typically involves a review of land records going back approximately 30 years. More than 1/3 of all title searches reveal a title problem that title professionals fix before you go to closing. For instance, a previous owner may have had minor construction done on the property, but never fully paid the contractor. Or the previous owner may have failed to pay local or state taxes. Title professionals seek to resolve problems like these before you go to closing.
1. Price It Right
Its stressful trying to sell your home, so setting the right price for your home is more important than ever. If you really want to stimulate a sale, you should under price your property by just a hair. By shaving just a few dollars you can generate more foot traffic.
2. Make It Inviting
There’s no faster way to turn off a potential buyer than to overwhelm him with a home stuffed with kids’ toys, family knickknacks and a stinky kitty litter. Even stodgy furniture can make a property more difficult to unload. Fortunately, there are some inexpensive things homeowners can do on their own to attract a buyer. Whether you live in a cozy Cape Cod or a 4,000-square-foot McMansion, make your space feel as open and clean as possible. Get rid of clutter, organize the closets and remove all personal items that may make it more difficult for someone to imagine living in your house.
3. Minimize Surprises
A home that’s in good working order will always sell faster than one that needs pricey repairs. That’s why some agents recommend having your property inspected before you put it on the market. The benefits are twofold. First, it’s always cheaper and faster to make your own repairs rather than have a buyer drag out the negotiating process to accommodate any necessary work. Second, you’ll also avoid any nasty last-minute surprises that could derail a deal should the buyer’s inspector discover you need, say, to replace the roof.
4. Get the Word Out
No matter how you sell your home — on your own or with a broker — make sure you have an eye-catching online listing. Some 80 percent of people start their real estate searches online, according to the National Association of Realtors. While it used to be enough to simply slap up one or two blurry photos, buyers now prefer a slew of pictures so that they don’t waste their time touring a home that doesn’t meet their requirements.
What should your listing include? At the very least, take half a dozen or more photos that highlight your home’s best features. Make sure to include a shot of the outside on a sunny day, and one of the kitchen, a bathroom, dining room and a bedroom.
5. Throw In a Little Something Extra
Offer traditional incentives, including paying for closing costs. Such tactics are especially attractive to first-time shoppers who can afford mortgage payments but struggle to come up with the down payment and closing fees. Here are a couple more ideas. If you installed a 40-inch plasma TV with a surround-sound stereo system in the living room, offer to include it with the house. Chances are you won’t be able to take it with you anyway. If you’re selling a second home on the water, throw in the Jet Ski.
In February, the federal tax credit was reinstated for energy efficient home improvements made in 2012 and 2013. A tax credit is a direct reduction of taxes due. It can be better than a tax deduction that only reduces taxable income.
The energy tax credit now has a $500 lifetime cap for qualified energy efficient upgrades to your existing principal residence, but the deadline is December 31. New homes and rentals do not qualify. You’ll find all the details on: http://www.energystar.gov/taxcredits. The highlights:
1. Tax credits for 10% of the cost. You may claim a tax credit of 10% of the cost of certain energy-saving upgrades. These include qualified insulation, windows, roofs, and doors, with a $200 limit for all doors.
2. Tax credits for the full cost. You can claim tax credits for the full cost of specified types of “qualified residential property,” but only up to certain caps. For example:
You’ll need to file IRS Form 5695 with your tax return and have the Manufacturer’s Certification Statement that the item meets the efficiency requirements on theenergystar.gov website. That site also lists a few alternative energy items (such as solar panels) that qualify for tax credits after December 31.
Please consult a tax professional before making any purchases you think will qualify for a tax credit.