Home selling tips Archives • Eastern Panhandle Martinsburg Charles Town Hedgesville Inwood Falling Waters Ranson Bunker Hill West Virginia Real Estate

Four Reasons Why Now’s a Good Time to Sell

While the housing market traditionally heats up with the weather, buyers are looking year-round. If you’re thinking about selling your home, here are a few reasons why now is a great time to get it on the market.

Appreciation. Your home’s value is based on the market, not the season. In the last few years, home values have increased by more than 20% in some areas, creating a significant profit for homeowners when selling.

Motivated buyers. Spring and summer are generally considered the “peak seasons” for real estate, but prospective home buyers that start shopping in January are serious, motivated and ready to buy.

Reduced competition. Inventory is already tight, and it can be even more restricted in the winter months. With fewer homes on the market, sellers face less competition. A home that’s in great shape and shows well will stand out.

Winter weather: Use colder temperatures to your advantage by making your home look and feel warm for showings with plenty of heat, warm lighting, a cozy fire and perhaps the smell of freshly baked cookies.

If you are considering selling your home, I’ll be happy to provide you with a comparative market analysis of your home’s value. Plus, I can offer advice on how to get your property ready for market and guide you throughout the entire selling process, no matter the time of year.

Alternatively, if you’re planning to buy a home, I can help you prepare so you’ll be ready to make a winning offer.

Best wishes for a happy, healthy new year!

Long & Foster’s Third Quarter 2022 Real Estate Market Update

It’s hard to believe that we’re more than three quarters into 2022 and will soon ring in a new year. After a few years of a hot real estate market, you may wonder what’s happening now – especially if you’re planning to buy or sell a home in the next few months.

In 2020 and 2021, low interest rates, remote working opportunities facilitated by the pandemic, and low housing inventory created the perfect storm of buyers flooding to the market to purchase a home. Homes were selling quickly and for more than asking price. Recently, though, interest rates have started to rise and that has caused the market to shift to a more normalized pace—like what we experienced in the years before the pandemic.

To give you more insights, our team at Long & Foster has prepared a short market update comparing the third quarter of 2022 with the same period the last few years across our footprint.

Fewer homes were sold in the third quarter of 2022 than prior years. The number of properties sold this year was down 17% compared to the same period last year, but it was close to the number of properties sold in 2019.

Those properties that did sell this past quarter were more expensive. While fewer homes sold, those that did had an average sale price that was 7% higher than during the same time in 2021.

And they sold in about the same amount of time. On average, homes were on the market 22 days before they went under contract—that’s one day more than last year’s average days on market, but many days fewer than before the pandemic.

We’re shifting to a more balanced real estate market, and it remains a great time to buy or sell a property. At Long & Foster, we’ve been through many market cycles and are here to help you achieve success no matter the market conditions.

It’s important to remember that real estate is hyperlocal and if you have any questions about the market in your neighborhood, call, text or email me. Likewise, if you or anyone you know is planning to buy or sell a home, I’m always available to help them with all of their real estate needs.

All the best to you for a happy November.

The Difference Between Today’s Shifting Market and the 2008 Housing Crisis

About 15 years ago, we experienced a housing crisis. Unfortunately, at that time, many Americans lost their homes and real estate investments. Although our current market is shifting, homeowners need not worry that history will repeat itself. The factors affecting today’s housing market are vastly different than they were in the mid to late 2000s.

The 2008 Housing Crisis – What Happened?

Relaxed lending standards caused high buyer demand but led to an inability to repay mortgage loans as many obtained loans that would not qualify under today’s lending standards. Homes fell into foreclosure when borrowers could no longer make their mortgage payments and with no equity in their homes, they were unable to sell.

The 2022 Market Shift – What’s Happening Now?

There are stricter lending guidelines in place and that, combined with low rates, high demand, and plenty of home equity (less than two percent of homes with mortgages have negative equity today), create opportunities for both buyers and sellers.

How The Two Are Different

The conditions surrounding the 2008 housing crisis limited the options for those who could no longer afford their mortgage payments. Today, the vast majority of sellers have the advantage of positive home equity, as well as low mortgage rates and high buyer demand.

If you, your friends or family are thinking about buying or selling a home, I am always available to help or answer any questions about current market conditions.

Enjoy August!

An Update on the Changing Real Estate Market

There’s been so much news lately relating to the economy and real estate. If you’re planning to buy or sell a home soon, you may be wondering what it means for you. The housing market, which received a boost from record low interest rates during the Covid-19 pandemic, has begun to shift.

The Arrival of a More Balanced Market

With mortgage interest rates and home prices on the rise, we expect the housing market will continue to cool from the surge in demand we’ve seen the last few years. As a bright spot for frustrated homebuyers, the number of homes on the market is expected to increase, bringing back a more balanced market.

For homeowners interested in selling, it’s still a great time to put your property on the market because the supply of homes available remains at record low levels. Even if sales decline from last year, the real estate market is on track for an overall good year.

To stay updated on what’s happening in your market, feel free to contact me. As always, if you, your friends, or your family are planning to buy or sell a home, I’m available to help guide you through the process.

Have a wonderful July.

What’s the Return on Your Home Improvement Dollars?

Before selling your home, it’s hard to know what improvements you can do now that will add value to it – without spending a fortune. To help, each year Remodeling magazine releases their Cost vs. Value Report, which estimates the average cost of a project and the percentage of the investment that will be recouped if the home is sold within a year. Based on the 2022 report, here are the top four home improvement projects with the highest return at resale.

Garage Door Replacement: Traditionally ranked as one of the highest returns on your investment, the average cost is $4,041 and you’ll recover 93.3% of the cost.

Stone Veneer: Replacing the bottom third of your home with manufactured stone veneer costs an average of $11,066, and you’ll see a 91.4% return on your investment.

Minor Kitchen Remodel: Adding new cabinet doors and hardware, installing energy-efficient appliances and replacing countertops, your sink and faucet—all part of what’s considered a minor remodel—costs an average of $28,279 and returns 71.2% of its cost.

Siding Replacement: New fiber-cement siding that’s been factory primed and painted will cost $22, 093 for 1,250 square feet and will recoup 68.3% of the cost. Keep in mind, this is a national report, but if you click the link, you can find local numbers to see home improvements that provide the best return on investment in your area.

If you’re planning to put your home on the market, I’ll be happy to recommend any repairs or improvements you’ll need to make – just let me know how I can help.

Real Estate as a Hedge Against Inflation

With the recent stock market volatility, inflation and all that’s going on in the world, you may be looking for opportunities to diversify and protect your investment portfolio. Over the long term, real estate provides steady appreciation and is usually an excellent investment response to inflation. Savvy consumers are becoming increasingly interested in owning property to get the many benefits that help offset stock market volatility and inflation.

Even with the recent uptick of mortgage interest rates, real estate is still considered a safe haven to add to one’s investment mix. Here’s a look at several of the potential benefits of diversifying your portfolio into real estate.

Appreciation. While every market is different, home values have historically appreciated approximately 4% annually. Plus, as real estate is a leveraged investment, you enjoy appreciation on the total price of the home, not just the cash you put down to purchase it.

Tax benefits. Your tax advisor can help determine eligible tax deductions on an investment property, which generally include mortgage interest, property taxes, depreciation and operating costs, such as repairs and maintenance.

Tenant-paid mortgage. As your tenant pays rent, your mortgage balance is reduced, building equity in the property for a future sale or to borrow against and buy another property.

Cash flow. Depending on expenses, you can usually generate positive cash flow from the rent you charge.

If you’re thinking about investing in real estate, I can help evaluate investment properties that fit your financial goals. In addition, my Long & Foster partners in mortgage, title, insurance and property management are here to assist you every step of the way.

Wishing you and your family a great spring!

Spring Home Maintenance Tips

March is here, bringing rising temperatures, longer days, and the first signs of spring.

Before the arrival of April showers, it’s a good time to get started on some spring maintenance tasks to shed the winter layers and give your home a fresh new start.

Groom your lawn. Get ready to mow by picking up debris that accumulated on your lawn over the winter. Fill bare spots with grass seed and fertilizer.

Clear gutters and downspouts. Prevent damage from spring rains by clearing out debris. Make sure water is diverted away from the home to protect its foundation.

Reseal exterior woodwork. Stain or reseal outdoor structures such as wood decks, fences, railings, and pergolas, to keep them in good condition.

Schedule air-conditioning service. Make sure your HVAC unit is working before summer arrives. Schedule service, if needed and don’t forget to regularly change filters.

Clean dishwasher filter. Unlock and remove the round dishwasher filter, rinse under hot, running water and gently scrub off debris (dishwashers made before 2010 tend to have self-cleaning filters).

Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Change batteries at least once a year and replace each unit every 7 to 10 years.

If you’re planning to put your home on the market this spring, I’ll be happy to recommend any repairs or improvements you’ll need to make – just let me know how I can help.

MARKET UPDATE – SEPTEMBER 2021

As summer comes to a close, with school starting, and fall just around the corner, September brings a time of transition. If you’re thinking about selling your home, you may be hearing reports of inventory trickling back on the market in some locations and bidding wars appearing to be slightly less common.

Here’s some insight on why it’s still a great time to sell your home.

One Month Does Not Make a Market Trend

The operative word is trickle. Housing inventory has been declining for six years, so rather than comparing month-to-month data, we look at the industry over a 10-year span. Although inventory and days on market are trickling up in some markets and the number of multiple offers are trickling down, there are still multiple offers, low inventory, homes selling in less than 30 days, and for top dollar.

Buyers Re-entering the Market

Some buyers may have taken a summer break from looking for a home after losing five, six, seven, or more deals last spring. We believe buyers re-entering the market after Labor Day are likely to cause a buying surge in the fourth quarter of this year.

Significant Appreciation

Although median sale prices have increased by an average of more than 20% over the last year in our market, we don’t believe this level of appreciation will last forever. Affordability for buyers is still very attractive due to interest rates remaining under 3%, as they tend to buy monthly payment, rather than price.

Declutter, Stage, and Price Right

Homes receiving high and multiple offers over the past year were staged, decluttered, in good condition, and priced right – which are all still necessary in this market. Buyers used to have a vision for what they want the home to be after settlement. Now, the majority of consumers seem to want move-in ready. Many buyers don’t have the time or capital to invest in renovations and want to move in and start living.

If you’re planning to sell a home this Fall, it’s essential to have a knowledgeable real estate agent advise you on the best ways to prepare your home for sale to maximize your investment.

To find out your home’s value or for questions about this complex real estate market, please feel free to contact the Butch Cazin Team.

Why You Should Sell Your House Now

There’s no doubt that 2021 is the year of the seller when it comes to the housing market. If you’re a homeowner thinking of moving to better suit your changing needs, now is the perfect time to do so. Low mortgage rates are in your favor when you’re ready to purchase your dream home, and high buyer demand may give you the leverage you need to negotiate the best contract terms on the sale of your house. Here’s a look at what’s driving this sellers’ advantage and why there’s so much opportunity for homeowners who are ready to move this season.

1. Historically Low Inventory
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) explains:

“Total housing inventory at the end of March amounted to 1.07 million units, up 3.9% from February’s inventory . . . Unsold inventory sits at a 2.1-month supply at the current sales pace, marginally up from February’s 2.0-month supply and down from the 3.3-month supply recorded in March 2020.”

Even with a slight rise in the number of houses for sale this spring, inventory remains near an all-time low.

High buyer interest is creating a major imbalance between supply and demand, but as the small uptick in inventory shows, sellers are beginning to reenter the market. Selling your house now enables you to take advantage of buyer demand and get the most attention for your house – before more listings come to the market later this year.

2. Frequent Bidding Wars
As a result of the supply and demand imbalance, homebuyers are entering bidding wars at an accelerating rate. NAR reports the average number of bids received on the most recently closed sales is 4.8 offers. This number has doubled since the first quarter of 2020.

As buyers face increasingly tough competition while searching for homes to purchase, they’re more likely to be flexible and generous in their negotiations. This gives a seller the opportunity to choose the best buyer for their needs and be selective about things like time to close, contingencies, renovations, and more. Working with your trusted agent is the best way to determine how to navigate the negotiation process when selling your house.

3. Days on the Market
In today’s market, sellers aren’t waiting very long to find a buyer for their house, either. NAR reports:

“Properties typically remained on the market for 18 days in March, down from 20 days in February and from 29 days in March 2020. 83% of the homes sold in March 2021 were on the market for less than a month.”

NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun explains:

“The sales for March would have been measurably higher, had there been more inventory…Days-on-market are swift, multiple offers are prevalent, and buyer confidence is rising.”

Bottom Line
If you’re thinking about moving, these three graphs clearly show that it’s a great time to sell your house.

3 Graphs Showing Why You Should Sell Your House Now | Keeping Current Matters | https://www.keepingcurrentmatters.com/2021/05/10/3-graphs-showing-why-you-should-sell-your-house-now/

To Renovate or Not to Renovate Before You Sell

from Keeping Current Matters

When thinking about selling, homeowners often feel they need to get their house ready with some remodeling to make it more appealing to buyers. However, with so many buyers competing for available homes right now, renovations may not be as vital as they would be in a more normal market. Here are two things to keep in mind if you’re thinking of selling this season.

1. There aren’t enough homes for sale right now.
A normal market has a 6-month supply of houses for sale, but today’s housing inventory sits far below that benchmark. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), there’s only a 1.9-month supply of homes available today. As a result, buyer competition is high and homes are only on the market for about 21 days, during which time many receive multiple offers from hopeful buyers.

In a competitive market that’s moving so quickly, it makes sense to sell your house when buyers are scooping homes up as fast as they’re being listed. Spending costly time and money on renovations before you sell might just mean you’ll miss your key window of opportunity. While certain repairs on your house may be important, your best move right now is to work with a real estate advisor to determine which improvements are truly necessary, and which ones are not likely to be deal-breakers for buyers.

Today, many buyers are more willing to take on home improvement projects themselves in order to get the home they’re after, even if it means putting in a little extra work. Home Advisor explains:

“When it comes to the number of home improvement projects completed, Gen Z homeowners are leading the pack, completing an average of 3.5 projects. Millennials closely follow Gen Z, taking on an average of 3.3 projects, followed by Gen X at 2.8 projects. Boomers completed an average of 2 projects, and the Silent Generation completed the fewest projects, on average, at 1.8 per household. Compared to 2019, millennials are spending 60% more on home improvement and doing on average 30% more projects.”

In this market, it may be wise to let future homeowners remodel the bathroom or the kitchen to make design decisions that are best for their specific taste and lifestyle. As a seller, your dollars and time might be better spent working on small cosmetic updates, like refreshing some paint and power washing the exterior. Instead of over-investing in your home with upgrades that the buyers may change anyway, work with a real estate professional to determine the key projects that will maximize your listing, without overdoing it.

2. Focus on getting a good return on your investment.
When planning any bigger projects to tackle, you and your real estate agent will want to discuss the potential return on your investment and if those projects are worth the cost. Some homes do need a kitchen or bathroom renovation, roof repairs, or other major work, but definitely not all of them. You might be surprised by how well your house could fair in today’s sellers’ market. Hanley Wood states:

“The 2020 Cost vs. Value report shows a predictable increase in costs for all 22 remodeling projects but a consistent dip in the perceived value of those projects at the time of home sale, as estimated by real-estate professionals in more than 100 metro areas across the U.S. This results in a slight downturn on the return on investment for nearly all projects relative to the trends we saw in last year’s report.”

Ideally, homeowners getting ready to move should try to avoid over-investing in big renovations if they won’t make that money back when they sell their house. According to the 2020 State of Home Spending report from Home Advisor:

“The average household spending on home services rose to $13,138, an increase over last year’s survey results, where homeowners who did projects spent $9,081 on average in 2019.”

Before you renovate, contact The Butch Cazin Team to see if it’s the best course of action. You may find out that putting your house on the market as-is will help you sell quickly, and it may result in the best return on your investment. Every home is different, but a conversation with your agent is mission-critical to make sure you make the right moves when selling this season.

Bottom Line
We’re in a strong sellers’ market, and that means you have the leverage to sell your house on your terms. Give us a call today to determine if renovating is really the best way to spend your time and money before you sell.