209-988-5254 | Century21 Select | DRE #01225017. – Serving Stanislaus, San Joaquin & Merced Counties.
Mobile Home that’s Turnkey and Ready to Move into! Approx. 1344sf with 2 Bedrooms and 2 Full Baths. Located near the Park of the Clubhouse with Pool and BBQ amenities. Laminate floors throughout. Carport for Two Cars. Close to Schools and Highway Access.
$399,900 – Great Starter Home in Hilmar! Over 1121sf with 3 Bedrooms and 2 Full Baths. Good Size Yard with a 2 Car Garage. Open Living Room. Windows, Roof, HVAC, and Bathroom have been updated through the years. This property is at the end of Campbell Street, Dead End Street.
The negotiation process can be one of the most exciting parts of selling a home, but until you get there, you may be wringing your hands, worried that you won’t be able to secure the deal. Will you be deluged with offers, or will your home be pervaded by the lulling but ever-so-unnerving sound of crickets?
And if you do get just one or two offers, and they’re not as high as you’d hoped, what do you do?
Here’s how to navigate the real estate negotiation process and come to a deal that will make you happy. More than happy, even.
If you’re not in a rush to sell your house, it may make sense to see what offers roll in over a few months. But if you need to sell quickly (or just don’t want to wait), your real estate agent (here’s how to find a real estate agent in your area) might be able to push things along by setting a deadline—usually within a week or two of listing.
“When you expect multiple offers because your price is competitive or your home is in a popular neighborhood, you should always set a deadline,” says Cathy Baumbusch, a real estate agent with Re/Max Executives in Arlington, VA.
But you’ll need to be confident that your home is priced right, relative to its appeal. If all goes well, you can sell for over asking.
Once you have an offer in hand, you’re probably scanning for one thing: the price.
“In our area, houses rarely sell for less than 90% to 95% of the asking price,” Baumbusch says. The offers on your home may fall in that range, but don’t rely on price alone. According to Baumbusch, every offer has five important components:
Some offers may seem great on the surface, but significantly less so once you dig in. For instance: Is the buyer asking for closing assistance? Often first-time buyers don’t have enough money to cover the down payment and the closing costs, so they’ll ask the seller to foot some of the bill—about 2% to 3% of the total closing costs is a common request. If you agree, any assistance you give will lower your bottom line, so factor this amount into the asking price.
The buyer’s time frame to close may not seem like a big deal on the surface, but it can actually matter a lot, especially if you give the buyer a long leash. If the deal falls through, you’ll have to put the house back on the market and wait for more offers. On the other hand, if the buyer wants to move in right away, you might be left scrambling (and, quite possibly, temporarily homeless). Make sure the timing works for you.
Good so far? Now make sure the buyer has financing. Hopefully, the buyer’s agent included a note verifying the buyer’s financing and how much the buyer will put toward the down payment and earnest money. The last thing you want is to accept an offer, only to find out afterward that the buyer can’t come up with the necessary cash.
Finally, look over contingencies, which give the buyer the option to back out of the deal if something goes wrong. The buyer may say the final sale is contingent on a home inspection, or he may want to move in early. Both requests are fairly standard and acceptable. But keep an eye out for buyers asking for too much. For example, “it would be over the line for a buyer to ask a seller to wait more than 30 to 60 days for the property to go under contract,” Baumbusch says.
The negotiation process doesn’t end here. You always have the option to return the buyer’s offer with a counteroffer of your own.
“You should always counter if the price is not what you are looking for, or if you can’t support the amount of closing cost help they are looking for,” Baumbusch says. But if you do, keep it reasonable. If the buyer was 15% below asking, he probably won’t go up to full asking amount. Consider being flexible with your price; you can always make it up in other ways. For example, submitting a counter with a slightly higher price and contingencies that may help you—like having the buyer waive an inspection to speed things along—might pay off in the end.
If you don’t agree with the buyer’s contingencies, consider your position first before making the next step in the negotiation process.
“If your home is in a popular area, [you] have an advantage,” Baumbusch says. Keep in mind, the buyer may not accept your counter outright. You can play “Let’s Make a Deal,” but always consider your bottom line.
Is it worth it to keep countering for a small amount of money or single contingency?
Don’t get trapped in a loop; consider the buyer’s side of things. These prospective buyers may be maxed out. To help you decide, ask your listing agent to call the buyer’s agent and hash it out it with them. Get some insight into the buyer’s state of mind, and whether they can budge.
Source: realtor.com ~ Image: Canva Pro
If you’ve got a move on your mind, you may be wondering whether you should wait to sell until mortgage rates come down before you spring into action. Here’s some information that could help answer that question for you.
In the housing market, there’s a longstanding relationship between mortgage rates and buyer demand. Typically, the higher rates are, you’ll see lower buyer demand. That’s because some people who want to move will be hesitant to take on a higher mortgage rate for their next home. So, they decide to wait it out and put their plans on hold.
But when rates start to come down, things change. It goes from limited or weak demand to good or strong demand. That’s because a big portion of the buyers who sat on the sidelines when rates were higher are going to jump back in and make their moves happen. The graph below helps give you a visual of how this relationship works and where we are today:
As Lisa Sturtevant, Chief Economist for Bright MLS, explains:
“The higher rates we’re seeing now [are likely] going to lead more prospective buyers to sit out the market and wait for rates to come down.”
If you’re asking yourself: what does this mean for my move? Here’s the golden nugget. According to experts, mortgage rates are still projected to come down this year, just a bit later than they originally thought.
When rates come down, more people are going to get back into the market. And that means you’ll have a lot more competition from other buyers when you go to purchase your next home. That may make your move more stressful if you wait because greater demand could lead to an increase in multiple offer scenarios and prices rising faster.
But if you’re ready and able to sell now, it may be worth it to get ahead of that. You have the chance to move before the competition increases.
If you’re thinking about whether you should wait for rates to come down before you move, don’t forget to factor in buyer demand. Once rates decline, competition will go up even more. If you want to get ahead of that and sell now, talk to a real estate agent.
Source: keepingcurrentmatters.com ~ Image: Canva Pro
$539,900 – Campus Park. Near the California State University, Stanislaus!! Single Story Home that is Ready to move into!! On a Court with an 8000sf Lot with Privacy, Trees, and with a Park-like Setting. This Home is Over 1700sf with High Vaulted Ceilings, Inside Laundry, and Lots of Cabinets in the Garage. Big Living and Family Spaces to Live and Entertain. Nice Size Master Bedroom. A Must See!
Living in a large house is great for some families, but for others, the cost and effort of maintenance is a burden. This is especially true after your kids have grown up and moved out. If you’re overwhelmed in your current home, moving to a smaller space can be a great move both financially and mentally.
However, decluttering and downsizing can be a daunting task. Downsizing to a smaller home and need some help getting started? Follow our best tips for a stress-free move.
When you’re downsizing to a smaller home, you naturally won’t have as much space for all the items you’ve accumulated throughout the years. Before you start packing, you’ll need to take inventory of your belongings.
As you sort through everything, it’s important to separate aspirational items from the ones you actually need. If you come across something you haven’t used in the last year, you should probably get rid of it. And if you didn’t even know you still had an item in question, it’s definitely time to let it go. The purpose of downsizing is to simplify your life, so take only what you need with you.
Start decluttering in 3 simple steps. First, set a timeline and goals for your project. Then, create a sorting system for going through your belongings. Once you’ve decided what to keep and what to part ways with, you can purge your house of the clutter. Find more expert tips on room-by-room organizing and decluttering in our ridiculously thorough home declutter guide.
As you go through your belongings, you’ll need to set up a system to stay organized. We recommend the Three-Box Method, which forces you to make a decision item-by-item. Gather three boxes or bins and label them as “Keep,” “Get Rid Of,” and “Put In Storage.”
You should keep items that are useful in your daily life. Once you’ve filled your “Keep” box in each room, you can pack it up and label it to make moving and unpacking easier.
Get rid of items that you no longer have a use for. Once you’ve defined the items you’re getting rid of in each room, you can sort them further by identifying what will be donated or passed down to family members, and what is worn or broken and should be thrown away.
Sentimental or seasonal items should be put in storage. After you complete each space, empty the “Put In Storage” box into neatly labeled storage containers.
In each space, look at which items you have multiples of and only keep your favorites, or the ones that aren’t damaged. The kitchen is typically a clutter hotspot for duplicate items, so pay extra attention when decluttering this area.
Once you’ve identified which items aren’t coming with you to your new home, you have several options for getting rid of them:
Over the years, paper clutter can really add up. Make time to sort through old bills, receipts, and other documents, and recycle anything you don’t need. Store older paper files, such as taxes from the last decade, in a plastic bin. Scan any other records and receipts you may need in the future so you have a digital copy, then shred and throw them away.
Home movies, music, and photos can also be converted into digital files. This will free up a lot of valuable real estate in your living room and office without having to part with things you’d otherwise keep. In the world of endless streaming services, it’s probably not worthwhile to hang onto VHS tapes, scratched DVDs, or CDs. When in doubt, throw them out (or recycle them).
When you’re downsizing to a smaller home, it’s important to maximize any storage space you have. While not every home has designated storage areas like a basement, attic or garage, here are some general tips to keep in mind:
You may not have enough room in your new, smaller home to fit all of your current furniture. While taking inventory of your belongings, measure your furniture to see if and how it will fit in your new space, or if you’ll need to part with any of it. It’s much easier to figure this out ahead of time, rather than moving a sectional couch into your new home to find it doesn’t fit.
For this same reason, you should also avoid buying new items until you get a sense of the space you’re working within the new home.
Part of figuring out how to downsize is figuring out when to downsize. Decluttering is a journey, so give yourself more time than you think you’ll need to plan for the move and downsize your belongings. Eliminate the stress of rushing to purge everything, and allow yourself to reflect and make rational decisions on what to downsize and declutter.
Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help while downsizing. Recruit family and friends, or even hire a professional service to assist with clearing out your house and moving into your new home.
Source: budgetdumpster.com ~ By: Liz Kane ~ Image: Canva Pro
$415,000 Greater Starter Home In Patterson. Newer Roof, Corian Counters in Kitchen, and a Very Desirable Floor Plan. High Vaulted Ceilings in Living Area with Fireplace and a Big Area. Approx. 1309sf home with 3 Bedrooms and 2 Full Baths. Good Size Kitchen with Newer Appliances. Master Bedroom has High Vaulted Ceilings with an Office Area. Water Softener. Tool Shed. Backyard has a very nice Patio Area to Play and Entertain.
Greater Starter Home In Patterson. Newer Roof, Corian Counters in Kitchen, and a Very Desirable Floor Plan. High Vaulted Ceilings in Living Area with Fireplace and a Big Area. Approx. 1309sf home with 3 Bedrooms and 2 Full Baths. Good Size Kitchen with Newer Appliances. Master Bedroom has High Vaulted Ceilings with an Office Area. Water Softener. Tool Shed. The backyard has a very nice Patio Area to Play and Entertain.
Ranchette For Horse Lovers!! Well Manicured, Groomed, and a Show-Place. 3.77 acres of MID Irrigated Pasture with Fencing, Tac room, 30×30 Workshop, and a Riding Arena. This Cute, Ranch Style home is Approx. 2034sf with 3 Bedrooms, 2 Full Baths, and a 3 Car Garage. Newer Windows, Newer Roof, Newer Paint, Newer Floors, and More. Gorgeous Family room with Wood Stove, Vaulted Ceiling with Wood Beams, and Outside access to Private Patio Deck. Inside Laundry. Updated Amenities throughout including Fixtures. Newer Stamped Concrete Driveways with Metal Front Fencing with Private Gates. A Perfect Private Setting within this Ranchette. A Must See!!
When you’re under contract on a new house, it’s easy to fall in love with its potential. But before you linger on cloud nine too long, you’ll need the reality check of a home inspection. During a home inspection, a professionally trained inspector visually and physically evaluates the entire structure, from the foundation up to the roof, looking for potential defects, safety issues, environmental issues, or other red flags.
In particularly competitive markets, some buyers consider waiving the home inspection to make their offer stand out. But think very carefully before doing so: A house is most likely the largest purchase you’ll ever make. The last thing you want to do is invest a ton of money only to find out your new home needs extensive repairs or remediation.
That’s why a home inspection is important: A good inspector can spot minor problems before they become major ones, and speak to the quality of construction and maintenance the home has been through. A home inspection helps you know as much as you can about the property before buying it, says Kenneth Carr of Precision Inspections, a licensed home inspector in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. “It is part of due diligence,” Carr says. “Just as you have your attorney review the contracts, you should have your home inspector review the property, because there may be something there that you don’t have the expertise to know.”
“We are looking for things that aren’t working as designed,” says Carr. “We have to describe what’s there, what may be missing, and things that are either not working as they should or not working at all, and bring it to the attention of the buyer.” Many inspectors even recommend that homebuyers attend the inspection, which allows them to see things for themselves and ask questions.
While each state provides minimum requirements that must be checked out, “how an inspector goes about inspecting the property is up to each inspector,” he says. “If you belong to an organization like ASHI [the American Society of Home Inspectors], there is greater training specialization needed, as inspectors are expected to take continuing education classes as part of their membership and state licensing.”
Here are the top six things an inspector will always look for when assessing a property.
Whether a home is safe to live in is a primary concern for any home inspector, which is why many of the things on the home inspector’s standard checklist are safety items. Things they’re on the lookout for include:
No matter how old the home is, your inspector will look at the basic “envelope” that shields the structure from weather and water. The inspector will walk the property to check for cracks in the foundation and look at rain gutters and flashings, drainage, and window seals.
He or she will also inspect how the walls and roof intersect. For example, an inspector doesn’t want to see lots of caulk there, because that usually means it’s not properly waterproofed. When done right, waterproofing is part of the home design — not something added after the fact. If signs of prior water penetration are found, he or she will also check whether the issue was fixed properly.
An inspector can tell if a roof was done properly by a professional, or sloppily by an amateur. They’ll want to make sure your roof is well constructed, isn’t showing signs of age or deterioration, and will protect you from the elements. They’ll also check to see that any openings — like a chimney or skylights — are properly sealed, flashed, and free of moss growth and debris.
The older the house, the more likely it is that the roof has already been resurfaced at least once, and roofs do need replacement from time to time, which can be an expensive process. As part of their inspection report, an inspector will typically provide an estimate of how many good years the roof has left before you should consider replacing it.
The inspector will check out all of your home’s most important interior systems, from electrical and plumbing to heating and air conditioning.
Dangerous fumes can build up in a house if appliances that run on oil or natural gas, like water heaters for example, aren’t installed and configured the right way. Proper ventilation is crucial. Many of these appliances have safety features built-in, but an inspector will make sure the safety equipment is correctly enabled.
Besides checking the water heater’s ventilation, the inspector will also check its maximum temperature to make sure your tap water can’t get hot enough to burn anyone. Additionally, he or she will make sure that clothes dryers are properly vented to catch lint and expel hot air, which helps prevent house fires and may also test for radon.
Some areas or conditions might need further examination, often by a specific type of pro with specialized equipment. A good inspector will know when to call in the heavy hitters, and may even have a network of specialists they can refer you to.
For example, a fireplace is one feature that always gets careful evaluation. The inspector wants to see that it vents well and doesn’t have any conditions that could become a hazard, like cracks, blockages, or excessive buildup. If they see something concerning, your inspector might recommend a fireplace inspector, who will use a specialized camera to scope out the interior of the chimney and flue.
Sewers are another area that calls for extra care, especially in an older house. A septic problem hidden beneath your yard can be one of the most expensive repairs a homeowner must make. If you’re buying a home that has sewer service, consider calling in a specialist to have the whole system (from the main house to the street) video scoped or a video inspection that goes through pipes, holes, and other areas.
Source: bankrate.com ~ By: Dori Zinn & Grace Kim ~ Image: Canva Pro
$524,900 – El Camino Drive… The Heart of Turlock. This Charming Home features Wood Flooring, Detailed Stucco interior finishes, Remodeled Kitchen, and Remodeled Bathrooms. Over 1500sf with 3 Bedrooms and 2 Full Baths. 2 Car Garage off the Alley with Tall Doors and Cabinets. The Kitchen has Corian Counters, Designer Cabinetry with Custom Glass and Hardware, & Stainless Appliances with Commercial Gas Range. Large Family Room with Fireplace with Formal Dining Area. Den/Bonus for Additional Living Spaces. Good Size Backyard with Lounging Areas near the KOI Pond, Wood Decking, and Privacy. All Bedrooms are Good Size with Hardwood Floors throughout with Closet Organizers. Around the Corner from Julien Elementary and Turlock High School. This is a Turn-Key Home.. This Custom ERA of a Home is hard to duplicate with all of these Newer Windows, HVAC, Updated Kitchen, and Updated Bathroom with a touch of Class. A Must See!