Home to House Staging Strategy So do you want to sell your "house"? If so, you need to make sure that you do not put your "home" on the market. Please read the foregoing again, as it will set the "stage" for a successful sale. The Home to House Staging Strategy will be a practical step-by-step guide to help you reach your goal of selling you home by turning it into a house.. That a buyer would actually want to buy. Often in the consultation process, sellers like the idea of staging their home, but are reluctant to do so because of mindset that: "staging a home has to be expensive!!!" Yet adopting the "Home to House Staging Strategy" will not be some massive extra financial responsibility. Quite the opposite actually, as "The Home to House Staging Strategy" is very inexpensive when you follow the process. Buyers In - Sellers Out: The fact that you want to sell your home infers the fact that it is your intention to no longer live there. The Doctor's order is a healthy dose of Cabin Fever! When staging your home as a house that a buyer would want to actually buy, it is so very important that they experience the house without the former owner in it. When closing occurs they … [Read more...]

Habitat For Humanity Goes Solar-Geothermal In Utah A Taylorsville Utah family is about to cash-in, or rather keep cash IN their pockets due to the generosity of Habitat for Humanity building the 1st geothermal and solar-powered home in Utah. According to an Executive Director of Habitat For Humanity this will be only one of 6 such homes built thus far by Habitat for Humanity the world over. Specs come in at an impressive 4 bed, 2 bath home fitted with solar panels on the roof and a geothermal system that runs on a specific type of alcohol. Sound impressive? At an estimated $25.00 a month in energy expenses the family income will provide a great deal more for basic necessities. Delta Airlines footed the bill for the needed materials to build the home, as well as provide the volunteer man hours needed to assist in the construction efforts. Even Pilots and Flight Attendants from different areas of the country were reported to have lent a hand in the project. This in conjunction with the City of Taylorsville selling a tenth of an acre to Habitat for Humanity for a reported $5,000.00 is ultimately what made this all possible. If you would like to learn more about Habitat for … [Read more...]

The Salt Lake Board of Realtors® has stated in a recent update that prices of homes in Salt Lake County are showing increase in value to as much as 21 percent in the third quarter this year. County wide the median price is up eleven percent to the tune of $218,000.00, over last years $197,000.00. With this exciting news it is plain to see that Home Value in Salt Lake County is still on the rise. While many cities along our beautiful Wasatch Front enjoyed price increases there were some cities which were not so fortunate with the City of Alpine in Utah County seeing a drop by seven percent, and areas of Provo declining five percent in value. Yet if you are a seller in Salt Lake County take courage that sales in the third quarter are up twelve percent compared to last year with 2,982 closings. It is also very encouraging that the average time frame that these homes were on the market was only 81 days in comparison to 4 months in the same period of 2011. Yes it is true, home value in Salt Lake County is still on the rise. Also if you are the proud owner of a Condo take heart if considering to sell as units sold has improved 29 percent over the third quarter of 2011 with 621 … [Read more...]

Lower Mortgage Rates Show Promise For The Residential Real Estate Market In Utah. What is your 30-year fixed mortgage rate? Is it less than 3.39 percent? If not, a re-finance may be the order of the day. With recent news from Freddie Mac that "the rate on the 30-year loan declined to 3.39 percent from 3.41 percent..." coupled with the fact that just a few weeks ago the rate reached its all time low since 1971 at 3.36 percent, would-be home owners and investors in real estate have something to get excited about. Lower mortgage rates show promise for the residential real estate market in Utah. Lower rates in the 15-year fixed mortgage have stimulated refinancing with rates as low as 2.66 percent in recent weeks. While this is all very promising for some, many are still unable to avail themselves of these low rates due in large measure to stricter lending policies or lack of savings to handle larger down payments. Adjustable rate loans have also been on the decline slightly with points to purchase those rates remaining constant. 2.58 percent for a one-year with 0.4 point, and 2.74 percent for a five-year loan with 0.6 points to purchase. With the Federal Reserve buying … [Read more...]

An independent research company has placed Utah atop it's 10 Best Business States in the Nation for 2012.  With the aid of American Economic Development Institute, Pollina Corporate Real Estate analyzed each State's proactive business fostering against 32 different measurements for which state governments have been given control.  Taking the number 1 position as a State of business, Utah will surly see a thriving real estate market evolve.  In short a booming business market equals a booming real estate market. Not only has Utah achieved the number 1 ranking this year, (but after having received the runner up slot at 2nd place for the past three years)  it has also become the first state west of the Mississippi to receive a number 1 business ranking thus confirming it's regional role as a leader, blazing the trail in many key economic factors to lend support to free enterprise.   With increased enterprise, demand for prime real estate both in the commercial and residential markets is likely to soar. Yes it's true, a booming business market equals a booming real estate market. With major companies having been founded here in Utah, such as Novell, Word Perfect, NuSkin, … [Read more...]

“It’s alive!” (And not just because Halloween is just a couple weeks away) How many times have we heard that in movies? Only this time we are not talking about Frankenstein, but the local housing market! It’s alive according to the Salt Lake Board of Realtors with news that in the first seven month of the year, home’s sale’s prices in Salt Lake County have risen 19% compared to the same time period last year. Salt Lake City home prices are rising. It’s a fact. Does it spike your interest that rising prices like we are now seeing reported have not been seen since 2007? For those of you wanting to sell your houses… I thought so. Furthermore as residential listings in Salt Lake City show rising prices, inventory of available homes is not rising with it. With more buyers in our current market than sellers, sellers not buyers are taking center stage. In fact if your home is in a desirable local you may find yourself receiving multiple offers, meaning higher offers, meaning higher sales price. Yes it’s true, Salt Lake City Home Prices Are Rising, and believe it or not your is too! More food for thought need you? Well all right then… Dave Rederickson, the first vice … [Read more...]

  Wednesday, June 6th, 2012 Thas been announced that the 2012 Salt Lake Housing Summit will be held on Monday, May 7th from 12PM to 1PM. The proposed agenda will include a panel discussion covering new grand programs as well as loan modifications.  Participating in the Housing Summit will be the Chief Deputy Attorney General for the State of Utah, the Director of Mortgage Banking for Utah Housing Corp, an Attorney who specializes in the foreclosure process, and the Director of Housing representing Cornerstone Financial.  The Panel’s moderator will be Curtis Bullock who is the CEO of the Salt Lake Board of Realtors. According to the Salt Lake Board of Realtors this Summit will focus on Life after Foreclosure as well as the impact the Short Sale economy has had on our residents.   The term “Short Sale” has been defined by UtahRealEstate.com a home that is being sold by the owner for less than what is owed on the mortgage. Of homes listed for sale in Salt Lake County, 30 percent are Short Sales. What is more, RealtyTrac has determined that 1 out of every 310 housing units is in foreclosure.  A candid look at Short Sales and Foreclosures will no doubt be … [Read more...]

Friday, May 11th, 2012 InUtahCountyhomes are selling faster and if you are looking to list your home for sale that is definitely something to get excited about. Homes on the Market are receiving more “Multiple Offers” from buyers looking to compete for the dwindling supply of available homes for sale (over 22% decrease in listed homes). Demand is rising, prices are remaining stable, and homes are turning from “Just Listed” to “Sold” in roughly 78 days instead of 105 days. Compared to last year that is over a 25% improvement!  Long story short: The facts are in and Utah County Homes are Selling Faster! For Home Buyers that would rather not compete in the “Multiple Offer Game” there is good news as well.  Existing Home Sales are not the only source to answer the supply to this increasing demand; builders are also pulling more single-family home permits than last year by more than 20%. Add to the mix increasing rent prices stimulated by a growingUtahjob market and it is easy to see why more and more people are considering this a perfect time to invest in their futures by purchasing a home. Call Us Today, The Jordyn Archer … [Read more...]

  Thursday, April 26th, 2012 Wireless Real Estate is in the House!  Proof positive that if you are an iPhone Home Shopper or iPad Home Shopper  you are not alone.  According to the new survey preformed by The Real Estate Book an unprecedented amount of home shoppers are turning toMobile devices to aid in their home searches.  When searching for properties 78% of those surveyed previewed photos and videos of homes for sale on their mobile devices.  It was stated the 66% of home hunters inquired for more information from their Real Estate Professionals.  The data also disclosed that 60% of those looking for homes found listing details, listing prices, descriptions, as well as property amenities and contact information.  Among other statistics which were analyzed were the amount of people who used GPS to locate listing at 57%, searched by city at 55%, downloaded a home buying search app at 42%, and 30% of those surveyed shared the listing information that they found with friends and family. There is no doubt that the ability to obtain reliable housing information on the go is proving to be a necessity in successfully finding and pursuing your real estate … [Read more...]

  Sunday, April 22nd, 2012 We have more good news for Utah Home Sellers and Utah Home Buyers.  Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will now be requiring weekly status updates to be given by financial institutions that are in need of more than 30 days to make their decision in regard to a short-sale offer.  In addition the Federal Housing Finance Agency has required that all financial institutions give approval of the short-sale or decline the short-sale within 60 days!  If the bank were to make a counteroffer the buyer will be expected to give a response in 5 business days.  Following the time line, the bank would then have 10 business days after receiving the borrower’s response to respond in turn. With Bank of America recently altering their short-sale time line from 45 days or more on a response down to 20 days; and now Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac following a similar pattern the dawning of a new day for the Real Estate Market is upon us.  While the complexity of a short-sale entails more requirements than a traditional transaction due to third-party approvals, long distance negotiating, and extra paperwork; these initiatives and others like them sure to follow will … [Read more...]