AskAgentLisa Blog

The Power of Color: Master Bedroom Staging Video

2010-05-27T05:00:00.000-04:00

The Power of Color BHG video series episode 5 of 5 on Master Bedroom staging.

The Power of Color: Home Office Staging Video

2010-05-20T05:00:00.000-04:00

The Power of Color BHG video series episode 4 of 5 on Home Office staging.

The Power of Color: Dining Room Staging Video

2010-05-13T05:00:00.000-04:00

The Power of Color BHG video series episode 3 of 5 on Dining Room staging.

The Power of Color: Living Room Staging Video

2010-05-06T05:00:00.001-04:00

The Power of Color BHG video series episode 2 of 5 on Living Room staging.

The Power of Color: Entryway Staging Video

2010-04-29T05:00:00.000-04:00

The Power of Color BHG video series episode 1 of 5 on Entryway staging.

Facing Foreclosure: What to Do Right Now

2010-04-26T05:00:00.000-04:00

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
                                                        Facing Foreclosure: What to Do Right  Now
                            If  you’re facing foreclosure, don’t panic: There are steps you can take  right now to save your home or at least lessen the blow of its loss.  Read
                             
                           
                                                    
                                                     Visit houselogic.com for more  articles like this.
                                   Copyright 2010 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Cleaning and Caring for Siding

2010-04-16T09:00:00.000-04:00

Cleaning and Caring for Siding

The annual cleaning and repair of your home’s siding will pay off in a long life and increased value. Read

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

2010-04-10T16:49:00.001-04:00

Lisa End-Berg Earns NAR Short Sales and Foreclosure (SFR) Certification

2010-04-08T15:35:00.003-04:00

Buyers and Sellers Benefit from REALTOR® Expertise in Distressed Sales
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers
678-320-4660 or 404-843-2500
Lisa.EndBerg@MetroBrokers.com

Woodstock, GA, April, 2010 — Lisa End-Berg with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers has earned the nationally recognized Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource certification. The National Association of REALTORS® offers the SFR certification to REALTORS® who want to help both buyers and sellers navigate these complicated transactions, as demand for professional expertise with distressed sales grows.

According to a recent NAR survey, nearly one-third of all existing homes sold recently were either short sales or foreclosures. For many real estate professionals, short sales and foreclosures are the new “traditional” transaction. REALTORS® who have earned the SFR certification know how to help sellers maneuver the complexities of short sales as well as help buyers pursue short sale and foreclosure opportunities.

The certification program includes training on how to qualify sellers for short sales, negotiate with lenders, protect buyers, and limit risk, and provides resources to help REALTORS® stay current on national and state-specific information as the market for these distressed properties evolves. To earn the SFR certification, REALTORS are required to take one core course lasting approximately six hours, as well as view three supplemental one-hours Webinars, and pass a standardized final exam.

Free Market Trends Report

2010-03-30T20:36:00.003-04:00

Welcome to Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers

2009-12-10T00:09:00.011-05:00

This is an exciting week in Atlanta Real Estate. As a REALTOR with marketplace leader Metro Brokers, it's thrilling to join Better Homes and Gardens. This video introduction will wow you, too, with the technological and relationship advantages of selling and buying with this lifestyle brand. Call me today to start your exceptional real estate experience!

Should You Rent or Pursue the American Dream of Home Ownership?

2009-06-06T20:05:00.001-04:00

Homeownership: The American Dream

Homeownership is often is referred to as "The American Dream." In fact, more than two thirds of American households own their own home. These homeowners already know how special homeownership can be. This includes benefits such as tax incentives, building home equity, and the pride of ownership. As you consider taking the step toward ownership, this newsletter is designed to help you understand these beneficial considerations.

Buying vs. Renting

You may be thinking if now is the right time for you to buy a home. In doing so, you have many choices to make. Yes, buying a home is a big responsibility, both financially and emotionally, but you probably want to stop renting and buy now. Among the reasons: Real estate often is an excellent investment, and is perhaps the number one source of wealth-building for Americans!

Benefit: Tax Incentives

Owning a home may also qualify you for tax benefits that may help cover new financial responsibilities such as real estate taxes, homeowners' insurance, and maintenance/upkeep. The tax advantages to homeownership are both short and long term. The mortgage interest and real estate taxes are Schedule A tax deductions, which could reduce your federal and state income tax burdens, save you money, and cover your new costs. To better understand, let’s compare costs.

Buying vs. Renting: Cost Comparison

The chart below shows a cost comparison for a renter and a homeowner. The renter starts out paying $800 per month and faces uncontrollable annual increases of 5%. The homeowner finances $150,000 towards the purchase of a $162,000 home and pays a monthly mortgage of $1,000. Note: This assumes a 30-year fixed interest rate of 5.75%, but actual payment amount will vary by time of purchase and by credit worthiness. Nonetheless, as you can see, total annual costs (including a mortgage’s principal and interest, real estate taxes, and tax incentives) are less than if you continued to rent. Even if you only compare rent to the 30-year fixed rate mortgage payment, ownership becomes cheaper than renting by the end of year 6. And, perhaps best of all, the savings continue to grow each year thereafter!

Estimated Potential

Monthly Monthly Annual Tax Annual

Year Rent Mortgage Deduction Savings

1 $800 $1,000 $3,345 $945

2 $840 $1,000 $3,369 $1,449

3 $882 $1,000 $3,394 $1,978

4 $926 $1,000 $3,419 $2,532

5 $972 $1,000 $3,444 $3,113

6 $1021 $1,000 $3,470 $3,723

Benefit: Building Home Equity

When you make a mortgage payment, you are building equity just like a return on an investment! This is because, unlike your rental unit, a home usually appreciates over time. As an example, let’s look again at that $162,000 home. For this example, a conservative average 1.5%* appreciation rate is assumed through the end of each year of ownership. If you stay in the home 5 years before selling, you are at what is often considered the “break even” point. That is, your home has appreciated about $10,000, which will likely just cover the closing costs (such as real estate commission). But, after 10 years, your $162,000 home may be worth $188,000, meaning you could potentially walk away from the closing of the sale of the home after costs of selling with about $15,000 of tax-free profit!

Year Home Value

1 $164,430

2 $166,896

3 $169,400

4 $171,941

5 $174,520

6 $177,138

7 $179,795

8 $182,492

9 $185,229

10 $188,008

* Average price appreciation from 1970 to 2008 was 6% according to NAR (the National Association of REALTORS®).

It’s Not Just About Money!

Benefit: Pride of Ownership

Hopefully, knowing about the tax and equity-building benefits of becoming a homeowner eases your mind about the financial aspects of moving away from renting. But, the non-monetary benefits of freedom, stability, and security are also worth considering as you decide if you’re ready.

Does the $8,000 Tax Credit Make it a Great Time for You to Buy A Home?

2009-02-24T20:15:00.003-05:00

Are You A First-Time Homebuyer?

Wait … don’t answer too fast! Obviously, any individual or couple who has never owned a home fits the straightforward definition of a first-time homebuyer. But, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act also includes those who have not owned a home in the three years prior to the new purchase closing date.

How Much Can You Get?

The good news is that this is a refundable tax credit valued at 10% of the cost of the home up to $8,000. This means the credit is applied toward your tax liability, not deducted from your income, to reduce how much you owe the IRS for tax year 2009. And, even better, if the credit exceeds your tax liability, you receive the difference as a refund! Maybe best yet, there is no repayment if you stay in the home for 3 years!

Does Your Income Qualify?

Individuals with an adjusted gross income (AGI) of $75,000 or less on their 2009 tax return qualify for the maximum credit. Similarly, joint filers with an adjusted gross income (AGI) of $150,000 or less on their 2009 tax return qualify for the maximum credit. Partial credits apply for individuals earning between $75,001 and $95,000 and for joint filers earning between $150,001 and $170,000. Incomes above these caps do not qualify for the credit.

Don’t Miss The Deadline!

The tax credit is only available to December 1, 2009. If you’re ready to start exploring what you can get for your principal residence money in today’s home and mortgage market, CONTACT ME TO GET STARTED! Together, we can work to find you a home that not only perfectly matches your needs, but also negotiate for one that meets your finances.

Summary is for informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute for professional advice.

Considering A Vacation Home Purchase?

2009-01-10T22:11:00.002-05:00

I know some of you might think it's crazy to write about vacation homes right now. But, for buyers looking for a vacation home, now might be the time to purchase. Yes, vacation home sales are down from previous years, but the National Association of Realtors (NAR) expects recovery. And, as the number of people planning to buy vacation homes for eventual retirement grows, supply will decrease and prices will increase. So, before consulting a REALTOR®, here are some things to consider:

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
Probably the most important decision that has to be made is where the vacation home will be. You will probably want to choose a location that is convenient to your primary residence, but far enough away to “get away from it all”. Greater than 80% of vacation home buyers choose locations within driving distance of where they live (NAR, 2007). Of these, half choose locations that are within 50 miles of their primary residence. Keep in mind that properties greater than 4 hours away may lose their charm and become a hassle in time. Also, be sure the location suits your future planned lifestyle. An area with a range of recreational opportunities that accommodate evolving interests is best for now and many years into the future.

DEFINE YOUR NEEDS
Will the property be a vacation home only or might it be your primary residence during retirement? Do you want to be responsible for the maintenance of a single family detached house (≈59% of vacation home purchases) or attached townhouse (≈7% of vacation home purchases) or would you prefer a condominium (≈29% of vacation home purchases) that includes routine maintenance in the association fees?

Best-Bet Home Improvements

2008-09-21T14:37:00.008-04:00

Welcome to the launching of our blog, AskAgentLisa.

If you're looking to improve the appearance of your home for resale, or you just want an updated look, there are a few things you must consider before beginning any project. First, take care of outstanding maintenance. Then, you can spend a lot on something purely for the personal pleasure of having it or you can go the practical route and make an improvement that will increase your home's market value. Be forewarned, however, and don't expect to recoup all of your costs. Real-estate professionals agree that spending $25,000 on home improvements doesn't make your house worth $25,000 more! Exactly how much you'll recoup depends on the housing market in your neighborhood, timing of the sale, the type of improvement, and its age. Below are some examples of improvements that usually pay off and some that rarely make a difference.

Painting
It may not sound very exciting, but it's the basic improvements you make to your home that may have the greatest return on its value. If you're planning to sell in a year or two, remember we all like things looking fresh. A new coat of neutral paint could make the sale easier. A professional paint job may recoup 75% of its cost.

Kitchen
New tile backsplash, granite countertops, and tile or wood flooring are always good upgrades. Consider saving worn cabinets by sanding and then staining or painting. Replacing old cabinet hardware is low in cost and makes a big difference in appearance. According to Remodeling Magazine, a full kitchen remodel recoups 80% to 87% of its cost.

Area Conversions
Generally speaking, increasing the functional space of your home holds its value longer than remodeling. It's also much less expensive than adding an addition to your home. According to Remodeling magazine, turning your basement into extra living space, for example, averages a return of about 69% of your costs. Similarly, a new full extra bathroom can recoup 81% of its total cost!

Swimming Pool
In a word - don't! Unless you're putting it in for you and your family to enjoy, it's commonly agreed that a swimming pool has no resale value at all. They sound nice, but pools are very expensive to maintain, and no one wants to experience their fear of a pool accident becoming a reality.

Picture-Perfect Gardens Adding curb appeal may help sell quicker, but a potential buyer is not typically inclined to increase the offering price to reimburse for your landscape investment. Buyers don’t even pay for expensive fences and stone walls that look nice. Further, elaborate gardens may be a turn off for homeowners who don’t want to spend all that time and money outside.