The 5 main factors that influence the sale of your home!

PRICE

Price is the number one factor in the sale of a home. A property is really only worth what one person is willing to pay another in order to gain ownership of it. Price must be in direct relationship to the other 4 factors and it is the most important of all!

THE MARKET

Interest rates, Competition, and the Economy all make up and influence the state of the market when you sell your home. The pricing of your property must reflect the current status of the market.

LOCATION

You usually cannot move a home! To coin the favorite phrase of appraisers: "Location, Location, Location." The pricing of your property must reflect its location.

CONDITION

The upkeep and presentation of your property is crucial to obtain the highest value for your home in any given market at any given time. The pricing of your property must reflect its condition.

EXPOSURE

The more marketing exposure of  on your property the more potential purchasers you reach. The pricing of your property must attract the most buyers to look at it.

When all the above factors are in agreement….

…..you will have a quicker sale!

If just one of them is out of line it will

 take longer time to sell, and……

…..the more factors out of line...

..the longer it will take

 to receive an offer and sell your home!

WHAT'S YOUR STYLE?

A guide to America's Most common Home Styles

By Leah Leighton - Agent / Consultant

Century 21 Alliance Real Estate

Levittown Pa

          Styles of houses vary across the country.  From the New England Cape Cod to the Victorians of San Francisco, the choices are almost endless.  Knowing which style you prefer is one of the basic elements in your hunt for the perfect home.

          Following is a quick guide to help you recognize and use the professional terms for many of the most prevalent house styles:

•·        Ranch:  these long, low houses rank among the most popular types in the country.  The ranch, which developed from early homes in the West and Southwest, is one-story with a low pitched room.  The raised ranch, which is also common is the U.S.. has two levels, each accessible from the home's entry foyer, which features staircases to both upper and lower levels.

•·        Cape Cod:  this compact story-and-a-half house is small and symmetrical with a central entrance and a step, gable roof.  Brick, wood or aluminum siding are the materials most commonly seen.

•·        Georgian:  Popular in New England, the Georgian has a very formal appearance with tow or three stories and classic lines. Usually built of red brick, the rectangular house has thin columns alongside the entry, and multi-paned windows above the door and throughout the house.  Two large chimneys rise high above the roof at each end.

•·        Tudor:   modeled after the English country cottage.  Tudor styling features trademark dark-wood timbering set against light-colored stucco that highlights the top half of the house and frames the numerous windows.  The bottom half of the house is often made of brick.

•·        Queen Anne/Victorian:  Developed from styles originated in Great Britain, these homes are usually two-story frame with large rooms, high ceilings and porches along the front and sometimes sides of the house.  Peaked roofs and ornamental wood trim, many times referred to as "gingerbread," decorate these elaborate homes.

•·        Pueblo/Santa Fe Style - Popular in the Southwest, these homes are either frame or adobe brick with a stucco exterior.  The flat rood has protruding, rounded beams called vigas.  One or two story, the homes feature covered/enclosed patios and an abundance of tile.

•·        Dutch Colonial - the Dutch Colonial has two or tow-and-one-half stories covered by a gambrel roof (having two lopes on each side, with the lower slope steeper than the upper, flatter slope) and eaves that flare outward.  This style is traditionally make of brick or shingles.

•·        New England Colonial - This two-and-one-half story early American style is box like with a gable roof.  The traditional material is narrow clapboard siding and a shingle roof.  The small-pane, double-hung windows usually have working wood shutters.

•·        Southern Colonial -this large, two-to-three-story frame house is world famous for its large front columns and wide porches.

•·        Split-levels: Split-level houses have one living level about half a floor above the other living level.  When this type of home is built on three different levels, it is called a tri-level.

These are just a few of the many styles of homes available across the country - some are more prominent in different areas than others.  Knowing home style terms will help you zero in on the type of house that will fill your needs and suit your taste.

For further info:

Leah Leighton

Century 21 Alliance Real Estate

Levittown - Bucks County - Pa

(267)505-5043

EASING YOUR WAY INTO HOMEOWNERSHIP: HOW YOUR REAL ESTATE AGENT CAN HELP YOU QUALIFY FOR A LOW DOWN PAYMENT MORTGAGE

          For many renters, the first step in buying a home is becoming educated about the process.  If you're like many people considering a home purchase, you've spent nights and weekends poring over your local real estate section.  You've talked to friends and relatives about their experiences.  Maybe you've even purchased a book or tow to help you become more familiar with real estate terminology and the various types of mortgages commonly used today.

          Coming up with a down payment and finding a loan that meets your needs are the greatest hurdles faced by first-time homebuyers.  So, you may even have leafed through stacks of brochures and flyers from lenders offering down payments that are far less than the 20 percent you'd always thought you'd need to save before you could buy.  With so many excellent first-time buyer programs to choose from these days, you practically need to be an expert to sort through them all.

       That's why if you're a first-time homebuyer seeking a low down payment loan, you'll save time by selecting a professional real estate agent who is experienced in working with people just like you in the area where you plan to buy.  An agent who frequently assists first-time buyers will know from experience which lenders in your area offer a low down payment program that will most closely match your needs.

          A professional real estate agent can help you determine whether you are likely to qualify for these special programs, since participation in some may be limited to buyers under a certain income level or for the purchase of homes below a certain purchase price.  Your agent also will be able to tell you whether there are other requirements you must fulfill in order to be considered.  With some programs, for example, you must attend an educational seminar before you can be considered for one of these low down payment loans.

`It's important that your agent become familiar with your current financial situation.  Before you meet with your agent to discuss your financial situation and housing needs, you'll want to collect some basic information to make the process easier.  Be prepared to show recent paycheck stubs or pay vouchers to certify sources of income; a complete list of current credit card, auto and other consumer credit payments you make each month; and recent bank and savings statements.  These documents will help you and your agent determine how much home you can afford.  It's also important that you disclose any prior credit problems or late payments.  Your agent may be able to suggest ways to remedy any negative remarks on your credit report that could disqualify you from a low down payment loan program.

          In addition, because most lenders will require that you have several months of house payments in the bank as a reserve, your agent may be able to suggest ways you can increase your savings in the weeks and months leading up to your home purchase.  Don't forget that some programs allow you to apply a cash gift from a family member to cover the required down payment and losing costs.

          Your agent also may know a motivated seller who would be happy to assist you in accomplishing your home purchase by caring a second mortgage.  A second mortgage is helpful because it reduces the amount of the first mortgage you need to obtain.  In some cases, a second monthly payment and generally is required to protect the lender when a down payment is less than the standard 20 percent of the loan amount.  Even if your seller isn't willing to take a second mortgage to complete the sale, he or she may be willing to pay your closing costs, which will reduce the amount of cash you need to have on hand up-front.

          With interest rates edging up, innovative mortgage financing programs that require a low down payment are even more important than ever to first-time buyers.  A professional real estate agent can help you sift through the countless programs that are available and help find the one that's mortgage can eliminate the need for private mortgage insurance, which is added to your right for you. 

Buying a home may be the biggest investment you'll ever make, so you should be as prepared as possible, ready for anything, with a trusted professional on your side.

That's where a buyer representative can be a very valuable ally, ready to serve your best interests.

Two different sides!

In the past, real estate agents served primarily the home seller, acting as a sub-agent of the listing broker while working with the buyers to help them find a home. This meant that the agent was legally bound to obtain the best terms and price for the seller.

But now, as a buyer representative, your agent will work for you, the buyer, so that your best interest will be represented.

What will a buyer representative do for me?

• Provide all the information needed to help you make an educated decision.
• Use technology tools to help you find the right location and home.
• Help you to evaluate specific properties.
• Work with you to develop negotiating strategies specific to the property and seller.
• Assist you in determing the most favorable price and terms to offer.
• Assist you in closing the transaction.
• Be loyal and act in your best interests.
• Keep information about your negotiating strategies confidential.
• Disclose information to you about the property and/or seller's motivation within legal guidelines.
• Help you to make informed decisions

For a buyer representative you can trust, whether im the Levittown, Bucks County, Montgomery County, or Philadelphia Pa area's,

Leah Leighton

Century 21 Alliance Real Estate

Levittown Pa

(267)505-5043