Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Things to Consider When Pricing Your Home
An important step in pricing a home for sale is to obtain a CMA or comparative market analysis from your real estate agent. This will show what similar homes in the area have sold for in the past 6-12 months and will provide you with a good indication of what the market is doing in terms of actual sales. In today’s climate, however, it is also equally important to know the listing price of other homes on the market. Just because your home is not in foreclosure or is not a “short” sale does not change the fact that you are still competing with the price of these and all other homes on the market. Finally, ask your real estate agent to provide you with an absorption analysis. This will give you a very clear indication of how long homes are remaining on the market at certain price points. It will greatly help you understand where your home needs to be priced in order to sell the most quickly.
One of the biggest challenges for a real estate agent can be persuading a homeowner with a set sales price in mind that this number might actually be unrealistically high. The homeowner may be unable to see beyond the cost of the improvements and updates that have been made. It can be a shock to realize that some of these improvements do not necessarily increase the value of the home but simply keep the home in line with what is expected in that particular price range or in that particular neighborhood. Jennifer Wimbish, a State Certified Residential Appraiser with Appraisal Source in Chelsea, notes: “I find as an appraiser that most often homeowners are surprised at values placed on certain aspects of their home. Over improvements in neighborhoods of similar tract-built homes, custom homes that become too custom or specific to a certain homeowner’s taste, or items that are general maintenance items that homeowners look at as upgrades or improvements are some of the most common ways in which the homeowner can inadvertently overvalue their home”.
A common misconception that surprises many homeowners is the value that can be added by a finished basement. A lower level walkout can add as much as $10,000 to the value of a home versus one that has no exit or daylight windows but no matter the quality of finish, window area, or walkout amenity, if any part of it is below grade, it cannot be included in the square footage of gross living area. This is not to say that a well-finished lower level will not increase the market appeal of the home, just that there is a danger of overspending when it comes to this part of the home. Notes Wimbish: “When making improvements keep in mind what the cost is, what the return will be and how it will affect the resale value. It may often be the case that the cost of the improvement exceeds the return on value but that this improvement is standard to home in the area.”
Even properties where homeowners have been careful not to overspend in their improvements are at the mercy of the recent market downtrend in terms of pricing. Statistics by the Michigan Association of Realtors (MAR) show a 9.03% annual depreciation in sales prices in Washtenaw County. Notes Pete Hendershot, Senior Staff Appraiser with Affinity Valuation Group of Ann Arbor: “This comes as a direct result of an atypical amount of foreclosures throughout the county, builders reducing inventory and the relocation of 1,700 employees that nobody could have predicted, all causing an oversupply of inventory.” Hendershot does add some positive news, however: “As those homes have come off the market, and new government programs look to help those in crisis, our normal market is already starting to return. In review of our last quarter of activity, we’ve seen a dramatic rise in sales and fewer home sales with atypical seller concessions. Overall the market is still adjusting but appears to be stabilizing as prices, relative to the change in median sale prices locally when compared to the state as whole, are all trending and following a similar pattern.”
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
The term “short” sale” has become an increasingly familiar term in today’s housing climate. Wording such as “subject to third party approval” in a home listing indicates that the home is being sold this way. The process itself can prove extremely difficult and stressful for everyone concerned: the homeowner burdened with the financial distress of seeking a way out of a difficult situation; the lending institution which can be simply overwhelmed by the sheer number of property owners facing similar difficulties; the real estate agent charged with the complex task of negotiating with the lending institution; even the new buyer who may be forced to wait weeks or even months before knowing that the property is really theirs.
At the same time, homes being sold as “short” sales are already a major component of the current real estate market. The process is ultimately advantageous for both the home owner and the financial lender: the distressed homeowner is able to actually sell the property and avoid foreclosure; the mortgage lender is able to avoid the substantial costs and lengthy processing times associated with foreclosing on the home. When a home is sold as a “short” sale, the original homeowner and the lender can walk away from the table with a sense of relief. And the new buyer can more often than not feel confident that they have secured a great deal on their new purchase.
What is a “short” sale?
Simply put, the need for a “short” sale occurs when the market value of a home is less than the amount owed on the mortgage(s). For example, if a homeowner has a $200,000 mortgage left owing and discovers that, because of current market conditions, the home can only be sold for $150,000 then such a sale would be “short” $50,000.
What options are available to the homeowner under these circumstances?
If the homeowner is trying to hold onto their home but circumstances have made the cost of continued monthly mortgage payments too difficult, an important first step is to begin communicating with the lender in order to negotiate a manageable mortgage payment plan. Communicating with the lender is often not easy, however. “Some banks are much more likely than others to negotiate a note modification, principal reduction, or “short” sale” says Patrick Sortor, of Money Source Financial Services Inc. of Ann Arbor. Even making contact with the right person at a lending institution has proved too difficult in many instances and an increasing number of homeowners have been forced into foreclosure after unsuccessfully trying to communicate with their lenders: “Things are changing every day, but not as fast as the News makes it sound,” notes Charles Chapell of Ann Arbor’s United Bank and Trust. And when it comes to protecting credit scores, an unsuccessful attempt to renegotiate a loan and subsequent missed payments can leave the former homeowner facing the challenges of low credit scores for years to come. “In most cases the seller is best off finding a way to pay the difference owed”, says Chapell. “But even the person behind or having trouble is always best advised to still contact their mortgage holder right away and then keep trying, if not at first successful, to get their payments extended or the loan modified. If the mortgage holder agrees to extend the payments then that will usually not hurt credit scores - unless the homeowner misses payments in the future, in which case they will show up as being late as far back as they started with the new or skipped payments.”
If the home needs to be sold, in the case of a job transfer, for example, one way for the homeowner to avoid any negative impact on their credit scores is to pay off the shortfall owed to the lender at the time of closing on the sale of the home. Often termed as “bringing money to the table”, the seller’s debt to the mortgage lender is paid off in full and there is no negative impact in terms of credit scores.
A third scenario, which involves considerably more time and negotiations and should not be undertaken by the homeowner alone, is when a buyer for the home at the reduced market price is found and then the lender is petitioned to “forgive” the outstanding debt. There are no guarantees that a mortgage lender will agree to this kind of “short” sale. However, such sales are becoming more common as banks and lenders decide in favor of cutting their losses early and so avoid the often costly and long-drawn out process of foreclosure.
What is the process for this kind of “short” sale”?
The homeowner should make every effort to begin communicating with the mortgage lender(s) as early as possible. This is where the real estate agent also becomes invaluable. Working on behalf of their client, they can continue to follow-up with the lending institutions to get the necessary answers. “Short” sales can take up to three months to process and good communication can greatly help move the process along. A home that has already been pre-approved for “short” sale will be significantly more attractive to a potential buyer than one that has still to go through the whole process.
In order to convince the lender that the home is valued at less than the owed mortgage amount, the real estate professional will also conduct an in-depth Comparative Market Analysis (CMA). The suggested listing price for the home will probably be even lower (but usually not more than 10%) than the market price analysis would suggest in order to attract a potential buyer as quickly as possible. The lender will also likely commission an independent evaluation of the property before agreeing to the price. If the homeowner is seeking to have the outstanding debt forgiven, a letter stating why the shortfall cannot be paid must be submitted along with all financial records and documentation recording other available assets that the homeowner may still have. It’s important for the homeowner to understand that a lender will only consider forgiving a shortfall in the event that there are no other assets that can be used to pay off the debt. Some assests, such as retirement accounts, may be generally safe but the advice of a competent tax advisor should be sought early to determine the true financial impact of this kind of “short” sale.
Because of the time it can take (up to three months) to complete this process, any sales contract written on the property will include a bank approval contingency. Both seller and potential buyer should be aware that the lender can refuse to accept the terms of a proposed “short” sale, even though a signed sales contract may be in existence.
Why would a mortgage lender even consider this kind of “short” sale?
The cost of foreclosing on a property can be significant to the lender. In addition, the property cannot be sold until the required redemption period has expired. This can be anywhere from six months to a year and is meant to allow the original homeowner a chance to get back the property. This redemption period can be reduced to 30 days if the property is already vacant, but that is still a substantial period of time where a lender has to run the potentially costly risk of property damage due to burst pipes or vandalism as the property sits empty. As can be witnessed by the sheer number of empty homes on the market today, the task of maintaining these properties can become unmanageable and might lead a lender to decide to cut their losses early and agree to a “short” sale.
Will a “short” sale reflect better on a credit report than a foreclosure?
According to Sortor: “A [true] “short” sale will generally cost you 80-100 points in credit score (a foreclosure is 250-300 points)”. This is only the case if the homeowner has continued to keep their mortgage payments current. Three missed mortgage payments can have the same impact on credit scores as an actual foreclosure. Adds Chapell: “A true “short” sale should not hurt your credit as long as you are making the payments on the “short part”. If you are just forgoing the short part then that is like a foreclosure. Most “short” sales are when the seller can agree to pay back the short part or make a settlement with the mortgage lender. A foreclosure is really bad on the credit and can hurt for 2 – 5 years.”
Christine Fitzsimons, Edward Surovell Realtors® can be reached at (734) 475-3737.
http://littlegreenrealestatemachine.com
DEXTER, Michigan
7735 Cottonwood $130,000
7660 Grand $132,000
4465 Dexter Pinckney Rd. $145,000
8600 Second St. $179,000
10377 N Territorial $171,000
9960 S. Hamburg $188,000
8105 Gingko $195,000
8134 Huron $258,000
4456 Corey Circle $460,000
CHELSEA, Michigan
127 Van Buren $26,250
14277 N. Territorial $77,000
223 Lincoln $83,000
537 N. Main St. $90,000
109 Wilkinson $135,000
10665 Coopersfield $178,000
2175 Lima Center Rd. $183,500
17120 Boyce $215,000
103 Shore View Dr. $268,500
Based on information from the Ann Arbor Area Board of REALTORS® Multiple Listing Service for the period January 1st, 2009 through January 31st, 2009 and January 1st.
Ann Arbor Area Board of REALTORS®
Low mortgage rates and affordable prices in January caused the total number of sales to jump 9% over a year ago, according to the Ann Arbor Area Board of Realtors®, (AAABoR), based on data from the multiple listing service. The number of properties listed for sale is down 27%. The positive trend of increased sales and decreased listings points to a more balanced market, which is a good way to start the year. Overall, lower sales prices continue to reflect the effects of foreclosures and short sales on sales price. Total sales dollar volume is off 18% from last year at this same time, while the average residential sales price is down 32% from a year ago. Lawrence Yun, National Association of Realtors® chief economist, said the Pending Home Sales Index shows a modest rebound. “The monthly gain in pending home sales, spurred by buyers responding to lower home prices and mortgage interest rates, more than offset an index decline in the previous month,” he said. “The biggest gains were in areas with the biggest improvements in affordability.”
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Remember, you never get a second chance to make a first impression!
by Christine Fitzsimons aka The Little Green Real Estate Machine
The topic of how best to succeed in selling a home is certainly an important – and frequently discussed – topic of conversation in the current economic market. It will surely come as no surprise to anyone that what we are currently experiencing is a “buyer’s market”. If you are preparing to sell your home, know that there will most likely be several other homes competing directly with yours, all offering the same number of bedrooms, a recently updated (or not) kitchen, etc. etc. The sheer scale of such competition can be daunting but if you are prepared for this and take the appropriate steps to launch the sale of your home, then the chances of success are greatly improved. Homes are selling but the length of time they might remain on the market is dictated by two simple criteria: how they are priced and how they show.
PRICING: Correct pricing of a home has always been essential in order to attract a maximum number of motivated buyers. It’s important to understand, however, just how much home pricing is affected by the current surplus of homes for sale. There are a lot of sad stories out there concerning people losing their homes. As a result, a significant number of homes are being sold as foreclosures and short sales. The price of these properties will generally be significantly lower than if the home were to be sold conventionally.
An important step in pricing a home for sale is to obtain a CMA or comparative market analysis from your real estate agent. This will show what similar homes in the area have sold for in the past 6-12 months and will provide you with a good indication of what the market is doing in terms of actual sales. In today’s climate, however, it is also equally important to know the listing price of other homes on the market. Just because your home is not in foreclosure or is not a short sale does not change the fact that you are still competing with the price of these and all other homes on the market. Finally, ask your real estate agent to provide you with an absorption analysis. It will provide you with a very clear indication of how long homes are remaining on the market at certain price points. It will greatly help you understand where your home needs to be priced in order to sell the most quickly.
PRESENTATION: After price, the second most important aspect of a home for sale is how it presents itself when the prospective buyer comes to take a look. Below is a list of steps and suggestions that should be taken into account to ensure the best first impression possible:
EXTERIOR
- Front Entrance: The first impression starts at your front door. Clean or paint, fix broken glass or clean glass, make sure the locks work easily and the exterior is well lighted. Also consider adding a shiny new brass kick plate on the front door, a new welcome mat and some seasonal potted plants for the front porch.
- Lawn: Remove clutter, edge walks, trim hedges and weed gardens. Make sure lawn is mowed. If you have vacated the home, make arrangements to have the lawn maintained. In the winter, it is essential that the sidewalk, driveway, and porch are free of ice and snow.
- Gutters & Spouts: The majority of basement problems are caused by the inadequate extension of downspouts and poor grading. Make sure downspouts are extended and gutters are clean.
- Windows: Wash your windows! They make your home sparkle. Replace any missing storms or screens.
- Garage: Garage doors should work without effort. Remove debris and organize.
INTERIOR
- Foyer: The entryway should be welcoming. A floor mat helps keep your home clean and makes the prospect feel that you are concerned about your home. Don’t expect the buyers to imagine how the house would look “if only…” Do it!
- Clean and Spacious: The general cleanliness of your home reflects its overall maintenance. This is important! Remove clutter. Clean, vacuum and dust. Clean carpets. Place fresh throw rugs over worn carpet near thresholds. Ask your agent if your furniture arrangement is optimum for showing. The feeling of spaciousness is crucial. Remove unneeded items to make the room look bigger. You may even need to put some items in storage off premises.
- Property: Store any items that you intend to remove (or if they’re essential to your daily living, clearly mark as “not included in sale”). Remember, a Purchaser will not include any items in a sales agreement that he or she hasn’t seen. However, please consider the fact that items you exclude (curtains, appliances, etc.) may not be appropriate or necessary in your new home. The offer price may reflect the omission of these items.
- Firearms: For safety and to create a friendly atmosphere, lock and store all firearms out of sight.
- Closets: Over-crowded or poorly arranged closets imply a lack of adequate storage space. This applies to front hall closets and bedroom closets.
- Halls and Stairways: Clear away clutter for an open appearance.
- Windows: Let in the light! Remove or adjust existing window treatments to allow the maximum amount of daylight to enter the home. Replace or remove mini blinds which have seen better days.
- Kitchen: Remove all clutter from workspaces, including unnecessary appliances and decoration. Stove should be cleaned, as well as sink, refrigerator, and dishwasher. Empty garbage. Remove clutter. Clear items such as artwork and lists off front of refrigerator. Kitchen cabinets should be organized to emphasize adequate storage. Consider replacing outdated kitchen faucets.
- Baths: Your bathroom should be spotless. Clean tub and tile. Re-grout or caulk if necessary. Remove rust stains. Clean sinks and toilets. Repair leaking faucets and toilets.
o Hardware: Repair loose doorknobs, sticking drawers, warped cabinet doors. Oil hinges.
o Lighting: Replace light bulbs and faulty switches. Remove unnecessary extension cords.
o Shower/Tub: Replacing old shower curtains with new ones is an inexpensive way to give the bath a “new home” smell.
o Add fresh new towels and floor mats.
- Basement: Clean exterior of furnace unit. Remove cobwebs, replace light bulbs, and organize storage. Make furnace, water heater, and electric box accessible. Use a dehumidifier to remove musty odors.
- Odors: Purchasers are especially sensitive to odors. You may not even be aware of them. Pet odors are the most common and problematic. Make sure litter boxes are clean, carpets are clean, and the home is well ventilated. It may be necessary to replace carpeting if odors persist. Other odors that are sometimes objectionable are smoking odors, cooking odors (highly seasoned food), and must or mildew. Adding a deodorizer to a can of paint can also greatly help reduce odors. Please discuss these problems with your agent.
Christine Fitzsimons: The Little Green Real Estate Machine
Having moved to the US from Yorkshire, England back in 1989, I have lived in the Dexter/Ann Arbor area with my husband, three children and favorite Golden Retriever pooch, Abby, since 1997. Quite simply put: I love this area and have never felt more "at home" in my life.
For home listings in my area, please visit my website at www.LittleGreenRealEstateMachine.com.
I look forward to helping you feel the same way!
