Rob Gow - Real Estate and Shoreline Lifestyle: August 2012

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Buy a New Buffalo Home This Fall with These 4 Tips!

Nearing the end of the summer in New Buffalo Michigan means that the busy vacation season will taper off, yet the appeal of this charming lakefront city continues. Many find that the fall months with the crisp air and stunning scenery of the changing leaves are just as enjoyable as the lazy summer days. That’s why the fall in New Buffalo can be one of the most attractive times to buy a home along the Lake Michigan shoreline.

Here at Shoreline Property Advisors, our team of experienced Prudential Rubloff New Buffalo Real Estate agents desire to bring our clients the most up to date and pertinent information when it comes to buying a home. We understand that going through the entire home buying process can feel overwhelming and confusing at times, so our team is committed to being with you to walk through each step.

When buying a home in the fall, it’s important to be settled in your new home in time for the holiday season. That’s why we wanted to point out four tips for buying a home in the fall. You’ll be enjoying the coziness of your New Buffalo home in no time!

1. Make a Strategic Offer and Save Cash at Closing- Shaping a solid offer in the fall requires some skill. While sellers may be more willing to respond to lower offers, you don't want to completely turn them off with bids way below their asking prices. Your New Buffalo Real Estate agent will help you make an offer and navigate the tricky negotiating process to get a great deal.

Once your offer has been accepted, you can save even more cash at closing by asking your lender about seller concessions. Also called seller contributions, this is an agreement in which the seller pays part or all of your closing costs. Seller concessions typically range from 2 to 9 percent of the purchase price; the specific amount your seller can contribute depends on what type of loan you get and how much you borrow from the lender.

2. Look for Fall Maintenance Issues- Shopping for a home in the fall gives you the opportunity to look for red flags that may not be noticeable during other seasons. For instance, when touring a New Buffalo home, take a look at its gutters and downspouts. If they're overflowing with leaves, you know the seller hasn't taken the time to clean them. If they're not keeping up with their gutters, what other home maintenance items have they overlooked?

3. Explore New Construction- If you're looking for a bargain on a brand-new home, house hunting during the fall is the way to go. Builders usually start discounting their inventory or offering incentives around September to sell as many homes as possible before the end of the year. When spring rolls around, prices on these homes go back up as demand rises, so take advantage of them while you can.

4. Find Motivated Sellers- While some New Buffalo sellers are just testing the market, others are on a deadline to close a deal before the holidays. If you're looking for a bargain, you definitely want to work with homeowners who need to sell fast, as they may be willing to come down in price to make a quick sale. Your New Buffalo Real Estate agent can find these motivated sellers, by looking for homes that have been on the market for a long time or have had price reductions.

Buying a New Buffalo home this fall can be a stress free and smooth process with a New Buffalo Real Estate agent guiding you each step of the way. Now is a great time to start as you consider jumping ahead of other fall home buyers! Please feel free to contact us today to learn more about the New Buffalo Real Estate market or to begin your home search!

We look forward to talking with you soon!

Shoreline Property Advisors

@ Prudential Rubloff

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

How to Choose the Right Listing Agent to Sell Your Evanston Home!

Selling your Evanston home may seem overwhelming at first, but entrusting your home to the right listing agent can make all the difference in the entire experience. When it comes to selling a home in today’s market, you need someone by your side who has a vast understanding of the ins and outs of the Evanston Real Estate market.

Yet, simply finding a knowledgeable Evanston Real Estate agent doesn’t mean they are the right agent to sell your home. Whether you live in a renovated condo or a sprawling home with Lake Michigan views; you need an agent who has experience with selling your type of home and with whom you feel completely comfortable.

In fact, interviewing potential Evanston Real Estate agents is a great way to ensure you’re getting the expertise you deserve! It may sound unconventional, but asking pertinent questions can help you hone in on choosing the right listing agent for you! Here are a few important questions to help you get started with your Evanston Real Estate agent interview!

1. How Much? The question the price the listing agent will want to sell your home at can be very telling. If you’ve been told $500,00 by other agents and the agent you’re talking with says $600,000; you’ll want to be careful. Sometimes agents will make promises of a big sale on your home in order to “win” the listing. You’ll find that if your home is priced too high in the beginning, you’ll end up having to lower the price and your home will sit on the market longer than necessary. An agent who wants to price your Evanston home correctly from the beginning is one worth hiring!

2. What’s Your Specialty? Most Evanston Real Estate agents will have a niche market. If you’re attempting to sell your high end home, an agent who deals mostly with first time sellers won’t be your best choice. You’ll want to make sure your agent is a match for selling your Evanston home.

3. How Will You Market My Home? Marketing is one of the key aspects in getting your home sold! The more visibility your home receives, the better the opportunity for potential buyers to see it! Your Evanston Real Estate agent should be listing your home on multiple real estate websites, offer a visual tour of your home, and produce other online and offline marketing materials for your home.

4. What Do You Expect of Me? A good listing agent will be able to give you advice on what you can do to help your home sell. Unless your home is in perfect condition for current buyers; you’ll want to get feedback on paint color, appliances, curb appeal, etc...

5. How Many Homes Are You Currently Selling? An agent with a full marketing team may still be able to give you very personalized attention if they’re working on selling 15 homes, so you’ll want to know who they have working with them. If they’re on their own, chances are they’ll only be able to successfully handle a few homes at a time. On the other hand, if you’re they’re only selling client at the moment; you may want to consider their lack of connections and experience.

As Evanston Real Estate agents and advisors here at Shoreline Property Advisors, we want to make sure you have all the information you need to navigate through the home buying or selling process. We are always here to help answer questions and to guide you through any of your real estate goals!

Feel free to contact us today! We would be happy to be “interviewed” by you and to help you get your Evanston home sold!

Shoreline Property Advisors

@ Prudential Rubloff

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Don't Miss the Annual New Buffalo Ship & Shore Festival This Weekend!

Many are drawn to live or vacation in Harbor Country along Lake Michigan’s stunning shoreline. Beautiful white sand beaches, clear water and vibrant communities offer a great lifestyle for those interested in retiring in a quaint and peaceful setting, those hoping to relocate to for a more permanent change, or those who just enjoy vacationing in these welcoming beach towns. And if you’ve ever visited Harbor Country; you would understand its irresistible appeal.

As the dedicated team of Harbor Country Real Estate agents and advisors here at Shoreline Property Advisors, we enjoy highlighting the unique features of each community in which we serve. This week, we wanted to give you an idea of the Harbor Country town of New Buffalo, which happens to be hosting one of its special annual events this weekend! If you are currently living in New Buffalo or have questions about what the community has to offer; you’ll want to be sure to check out The New Buffalo Ship & Shore Festival!

The New Buffalo Ship & Shore Festival 
Downtown New Buffalo

Friday, August 10 through Sunday, August 12

- The New Buffalo Ship & Shore Festival is in its 28th year and is a much anticipated event for visitors and permanent residents of Harbor Country. This event began as a simple arts and crafts fair and has grown tremendously over the years!

New Buffalo’s downtown is the host for the fair each year which is sponsored by the New Buffalo business association. Whittaker Street, which is the main street that runs through downtown is blocked off to all traffic and comes to life with local artisans, musicians, food and much more! You’ll enjoy tasting local wines from Round Barn Winery and Free Run Cellars along with other amazing food selections from Harbor Country restaurants.

There’s something for every age as special events will take place beginning on Saturday just for the kids! Activities such as watermelon and ice cream eating contests and many other fun games will make this weekend a memorable event for everyone! A 5K, volleyball tournament and other fun things are planned for the adults as well.

Of course many look forward to the pinnacle of the weekend with the lighted boat parade that takes place on Saturday evening at 9:30 followed by fireworks! You can view more information and the full schedule of events on the New Buffalo website.

We hope you’re able to enjoy this fun festival! It’s a must for anyone in the Harbor Country area and is a great reason to get together with family, friends and neighbors.

If you are considering buying a home in New Buffalo, whether as a permanent residence or vacation home; please let us know! We would be happy to show you some of the beautiful homes currently on the New Buffalo Real Estate market and to guide you through the entire home buying process.

We look forward to helping you find your new home!

Shoreline Property Advisors

@ Prudential Rubloff