Ventura Homes For Sale | Ventura Realtor | Ventura Real Estate

First Time Homebuyers

katherine — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 06:36:22 +0000

The Shifting Desires of Homebuyers

katherine — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 23:27:55 +0000

The shifting desires of homebuyers. I thought I would share this image.

The Social Benefits of Homeownership

katherine — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 22:27:39 +0000

Six Tax Facts Home sellers should know

katherine — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 22:41:24 +0000

If you’ve owned and lived in your home for two of the five years prior to selling it, you can generally exclude up to $250,000 of the gain from your income ($500,000 on a joint return, in most cases)

The Top 4 Most Common Home Pricing Mistakes

katherine — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 14:30:34 +0000

Buying & Selling Walkability

katherine — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 01:52:06 +0000

How to price your home to sell

katherine — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 18:10:18 +0000

Most homeowners feel that their home is worth more than the recommended list price. Your home is worth only what a home buyer would pay for it under current market conditions. Savvy buyers who have looked at a multitude of homes for sale can perceive value much more than the home seller. And when a new home listing comes onto the market, they are ready to pounce and make an offer. So pricing your home at market price is critical in the first two weeks that it goes onto the market.

So how do you know how much to price your home at? A real estate agent can prepare a market valuation to determine a competitive listing price. This can be done by comparing the previous six months of sold homes located one mile from your home, of similar age, size and amenities. A remodeled kitchen or bathroom would add more value than an outdated one just as a sloped yard would decrease the value rather than a level yard. Then, taking these additions and subtractions into effect to fine tune a competitive market price. It is best to price a home within the range of the comparable home prices. If priced competitively, slightly below what is now selling on the market, this will spark high buyer interest leading to multiple offers. If priced too high, the home will sit for a long period with no buyer activity.

In the end, the seller decides the listing price of the home and a good market valuation will help in making this decision.

Please call for a free market valuation for your home today!

Cost Effective Ways to Spruce Up Your Home to Sell

katherine — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 00:53:39 +0000

Depending on when you will move will determine the types of home improvements that will help to sell your home. If you plan on moving within two years, there are three inexpensive home improvements under $2000.

By far, a fresh coat of paint to the exterior of your home gives it the kind of curb appeal that attracts buyers. It is the most cost effective way to spruce up your home. And while you have the paint brush out, why not paint the interior of the home as well keeping to neutral colors.

The second cost effective way to help sell your home is to give your front yard a fresh look. Again, think curb appeal! You may lose a lot of potential drive by buyers if the front yard has dead plants and debris. If the front yard looks that bad, what must the interior of the home look like? Hire a gardener who can pick up a yard of mulch to scatter in the bare areas, trim the trees and shrubs and keep the lawn trim for each open house. Select flowers in bloom to plant in pots placed near the front entry.

The last affordable item is to declutter and clean your home. Remove family photos, all knick knacks or mounds of newspapers and magazines. It is a good time to organize cupboards and drawers and either have a yard sale or donate items. It will be less things to move later. Make sure that every surface is clean and sparkling on open house day or when the property is being shown to potential buyers.

The first impression is the most important for a home buyer. Make it a good one!

June 2012 Market Report

katherine — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 20:02:51 +0000

Market Action Report June 2012

Home and Garden Improvements

katherine — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 23:40:07 +0000

10 Do-It-Yourself Home Improvements under $5,000
Below are the results of a nationwide survey of home improvement and a home staging survey by Home Gain.

Cleaning and De-cluttering ($402 cost / $2,024 price increase / 403% ROI)
Lightening and Brightening ($424 cost / $1,690 price increase / 299% ROI)
Repairing Electrical or Plumbing ($808 cost / $3,175 price increase / 293% ROI)
Landscaping ($564 cost / $1,777 price increase / 215% ROI)
Home Staging ($724 cost / $2,145 price increase / 196% ROI)
Replace and/or Shampoo Carpets ($671 cost / $1,747 price increase / 160% ROI
Repair Damaged Floors ($902 cost / $1,898 price increase / 110% ROI)
Paint Interior ($968 cost / $2,002 price increase / 107% ROI)
Update Kitchen & Bathroom ($1,958 cost / $3,255 price increase / 66% ROI)
Paint Exterior ($1,407 cost / $2,176 price increase / 55% ROI)

Cleaning and removing clutter is still the number one home improvement with the highest return on investment. Sellers preparing to list their home on the market take note…have a garage sale, box up extra personal items for storage or phone your nearest charity to haul
away unneeded items.

Why Plant Blue & Yellow Flowers?
Plants that have blue or yellow flowers attract bees – bees will pollinate your fruit and vegetable plants resulting in a larger harvest. In recent years, bee populations have been diminishing from environmental effects. Homeowners would be doing great service in providing attractive plants to bees thus increasing their population.