Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Tips for Pricing Your Evanston Home Correctly!


Selling your Evanston home can seem daunting as the real estate market is currently leaning in favor of buyers.  You may be worried about getting a good price for your home or even may be wondering if you home will sell at all!  Yet, as Shoreline Property Advisors and Prudential Rubloff Real Estate agents, our years of expertise tell us that selling your Evanston home is not impossible.  In fact, it can be stress free and efficient if you take time to consider what selling in a buyer’s market means and have a trusted Evanston Real Estate agent by your side.
One of the top concerns for sellers is, of course, the listing price for their Evanston home.  Oftentimes sellers have put time, energy and money into making their house a home, and they want that reflected in the selling price.  And, while we know that pricing your home is one of the toughest parts of the home selling process; the best thing you can do is to remain objective.  Take a look at some of the advice we give to our sellers before you begin dreaming up the perfect price for your home.
Study past sales- While this will take a little work, getting to know what other homes in Evanston have recently sold for will be helpful in giving you appropriate expectations.  Your Evanston Real Estate agent can also provide you with this list and can explain more about the current market value.
Do not confuse active listings with past sales- For those who are new to selling a home, this is key.  The active listings in the Evanston area don’t reflect what the actual selling price for the home.  While these homes are your competition, they shouldn’t be the determining factor on the price point for your home. 
Do not overprice because you have the time- This can be one of the biggest mistakes sellers can make.  They reason that, since they’re not in any hurry to sell, their Evanston home can sit on the market.  The reality?  This can have the opposite effect on your home.  The longer your home sits on the market, the harder it is to sell.  Buyers will assume there’s something wrong with your home, or may not even bother looking at your home if it’s overpriced. 
Leave some room for negotiation, but don't overreach- You never want to feel like you’re giving your home away, but you will want to leave some room for both parties to negotiate.   
Think like a buyer- You’ll want to talk with your Evanston Real Estate agent about current buyer trends.  What are the top things they’re looking for in a home?  What type of flooring or finishes are desirable?  If you’ve been out of the market for some time, chances are things have changed since you last bought a home.  Getting to know what buyers are looking for will help you evaluate your home, help you consider any updates you’d like to make, and allow you to price your home accordingly.
React swiftly and decisively- Being proactive with the price of your home is key.  You want to remain on top of what buyers are saying during the showing of your home and how the market is moving.  Your Evanston Real Estate agent will guide you with this information, and you’ll want to be prepared to respond quickly in order to keep buyers interested in your home.  Don’t delay the inevitable!
We hope that as you consider selling your Evanston home, these tips will help you get a better understanding of pricing your home in today’s market.  Our team of experienced advisors and Evanston Real Estate agents are here to answer any questions you have or to help you get started and take you through the home selling process.
Feel free to contact us today to get started!

Shoreline Property Advisors
@ Prudential Rubloff

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Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Celebrate Earth Day This Weekend in Chicago!


Chicago has a fantastic season for enjoying the outdoors and, as the weather continues to warm up, we’re finding more reasons to spend time outside.  While this Windy City is known for its winters, residents will gladly push through the snowy weather to be able to enjoy the activities and ideal backdrop that this time of year brings.
In fact, there’s a way to celebrate the beauty that surrounds us by joining in on the Earth Day festivities on April 22nd!  What started as a grassroots movement in the 70’s to bring awareness to our environment has grown to an international celebration of our earth.  Of course we should all be doing our part year round in cleaning up our environment and reducing our carbon footprint, but Earth Day is a great way to renew our efforts, learn new ways to go green and join as a community to better our community.
We enjoy pointing out ways to get involved in the Chicago lifestyle since, as Chicago Real Estate agents here at Shoreline Property Advisors, we understand that buying a home is much more than the place itself.  You want to relocate to or settle in to a location that offers the lifestyle and community in which you feel comfortable.  If you’re interested in getting to know more about Chicago residents or currently live in Chicago and are hoping to get involved with Earth Day; don’t miss this fun event!
Earth Day 5K Run/Walk & Green Living Expo
Humbolt Park
1301 N. Humboldt Blvd, Chicago

Saturday, April 21 beginning at 8am
- The 3rd Annual Earth Day 5K is a great way to enjoy the Chicago environment while having fun with family and friends!  Hosted by Green Dot Environmental, this event begins at 8am (registration starting at 7am), but doesn’t stop when the race is over!  Whether you are involved in the race or not, you’re welcome to join in the Earth Day festivities with the Green Living Expo at the Humboldt Boathouse.  This event is free and open to the public and will be filled with live music, family entertainment, great local food, green vendors, environmental education and much more!  For more information, visit the 5K Run/Walk & Green Living Expo website.
We hope you’re able to get out and enjoy Earth Day in Chicago!  Whether you participate in the 5K, visit the Green Living Expo or just take some time to get out and experience Chicago’s outdoors; taking a few moments to celebrate our environment and  hone in on a few ways to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle will help towards a more healthy Chicago!
If you don’t currently live in Chicago and have been considering relocating to the area; please let us know!  We would be happy to meet with you and discuss what you’re looking for in a Chicago home, as well as answer any questions you have.  Our team of experienced Prudential Rubloff Chicago Real Estate agents will guide you through a stress free home buying experience!

Contact us today to get started!

Shoreline Property Advisors
@ Prudential Rubloff

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Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Additional Reasons to Buy an Indiana Shoreline Home This Spring!


For those of you considering buying a vacation home or permanent residence along the Indiana Shoreline, you may find yourself asking questions about the current national housing market.  The past few years have made many leery of entering the Indiana Shoreline Real Estate market, but with home prices on the rise; now is the best time to buy a home!
In fact, as the team here at Shoreline Property Advisors, we consist of Prudential Rubloff Real Estate agents experienced in the Indiana Shoreline Real Estate market and can attest that buying a home now is a savvy long term investment.  Here’s why: we’re still dealing with historically low mortgage rates and home prices.  But there’s more!  Below are just a few of the additional reasons, as pointed out by Quicken Loans, that you’ll want to seriously consider buying an Indiana Shoreline home this spring! 
Appreciation- Buying an Indiana Shoreline home now (at the current rates) can almost ensure your home’s appreciation in the future.  Mortgage rates are near historic lows and home prices are the lowest the nation has seen in 10 years!  If you hold on to the home until after the market improves, this can result in a significant return on investment!
Property Tax Deductions- For income tax purposes, real estate property taxes for a vacation home and first home are fully deductible.  The IRS (Publication 530) provides detailed tax information on and answers questions on what deductions for which home owners are eligible. 
Preferential Tax Treatment- If you own your home for over a year and receive more profit than the allowable exclusion after the sale of your home, the profit will be considered a capital asset, which are given preferential tax treatment. 
Equity Building- There are many factors that play into the final decision of which mortgage loan works best for you such as credit qualification, loan flexibility and annual percentage rate (APR).  However, there’s a new trend towards equity building among today’s buyers which means paying more on a loan each month in order to decrease the principle balance more quickly.  This trend, called equity building, allows borrowers to:
- Pay off the principle balance faster
- Lock in record low interest rates
- Shorten the length of their home loan
- Own their home faster
- Pay substantially less mortgage interest
Pride- This aspect is still key when it comes to the benefits of owning your own home.  Going through the home buying process, building value into your home and having a place to call your own is still a thriving portion of the American dream. 
If you are thinking of buying a second home, new permanent residence or relocating to the Indiana Shoreline; we hope these tips are helpful for you!  We are always available to talk with you about your home buying needs and would enjoy the opportunity to find your dream home on the Indiana Shoreline!
We’re here whenever you need us, so feel free to contact us today to get started with your home search!  We look forward to hearing from you!

Shoreline Property Advisors
@ Prudential Rubloff

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