The tax credit is not just for those buying a bigger home, it also works for those wanting to downsize

When the First Time Home Buyer Tax credit was extended and expanded most people thought the expansion was only for home owners who wanted to move up, those who wished to buy a bigger, more expensive home. In fact, the expansion simply includes those who have owned a primary residence and lived in it for at least five consecutive years out of the last eight years. If current home owners want to downsize they can use the tax credit toward their new home, regardless of whether it costs less or is smaller than the home that they are selling.

It is an anomaly that everyone assumes the tax credit is only for purchasing bigger and better. Many people, especially those whose children have grown and left the nest, want to downsize. After-all, who doesn’t want to make life simpler these days?

If you have been considering selling your home and moving into a smaller space, consider doing so before the tax credit expires. Place your new home under contract by April 30th and close by June 30th and you could have a few extra dollars in your pocket.

Learn more about both of the homebuyer tax credits here!

Thinking of buying a home in West Chester, Beckett Ridge or Liberty Township, Fairfield Township, Monroe or Mason Ohio?

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Take time to choose the right broker when selling your home

When preparing to sell your home it is important to find a real estate professional that will best suit your needs.  A warm handshake and a friendly smile is all well and good but if you want to sell your home pick a Realtor that is experienced and knowledgeable, someone that will do the best job for you.  When selecting your real estate agent here are a few things to keep in mind:

Choose someone with experience.  In today’s market, experience  and the knowledge of what it takes to get the job done are more important than ever.

Get references from your potential Realtor and get in touch with them.  Find out what other people’s experience with a particular Realtor has been.

Have your Realtor do a detailed market analysis of your home.  A top selling real estate agent will be able to detail for you what has been selling and for what price.  They will be able to evaluate your home, it’s condition and your location, giving you a value for your home that will help sell it not deter people from looking at it.

What does your Realtor plan to do for you in terms of marketing?  Do they take a large number of interior and exterior photos of your home, do they post a virtual tour of it, do they distribute the listing to all of the major real estate websites on the internet?  Do they even have a website of their own or just a bio page on their company’s website?  And do they have a strategy for capturing incoming calls of the listing from potential buyers?

Do you need to sell your home as a short sale?  If you do, make sure to select someone with extensive training in this process, such as a Realtor with the CDPE designation.  This is a complicated process and you need someone that has the training and experience to help you navigate this process.

Your home may be your most valuable asset.  Do your legwork and choose the best Realtor for your home.  They should be a salesperson, they should have experience and they should know your market area very, very well.  If they can sell themselves to you perhaps they are halfway to selling your home for you as well.

Thinking of buying a home in West Chester, Beckett Ridge or Liberty Township, Fairfield Township, Monroe or Mason Ohio?

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What is a Market Snapshot?  A Market Snapshot is a detailed real estate market report providing you with information on homes for sale and recent home sales in the West Chester, Liberty Township, Beckett Ridge, Fairfield Township, Monroe or Mason Ohio home.

Detailed information on each home is included on an interactive map as well as statistical data, all of which comes directly from the Greater Cincinnati Multiple Listing Service (MLS).

 Thinking of buying a home in West Chester, Beckett Ridge or Liberty Township, Fairfield Township, Monroe or Mason Ohio?

Visit My YouTube channel at:  www.youtube.com/LowryTeam

 Check Out My Feature Homes For Sale In West Chester, Fairfield and Liberty Township, Ohio

Consider doing a home inspection before selling your home

If you are considering selling your home in the current real estate market it would be prudent to have a home inspection completed before putting your home on the market.  It is rare that a buyer will not have a home inspection done before closing and being aware of any problems and taking care of them prior to selling can alleviate the pain that surprise issues can bring.  Doing the inspection prior to listing also gives you time to seek out competitive estimates for completing the work as opposed to being under the gun right before closing.

It is a competitive real estate market out there.  A seller’s best chance of snagging a buyer always comes from having the home in top notch condition.  More than looking good, a home needs to function well and it is important to examine the mechanical systems such as plumbing, wiring, heating and cooling issues, as well as, the roof and other structural componets.

If problems with a property are faced and dealt with before selling, it will make the entire process go more smoothly and there should be no surprises when going through the contractual steps before closing.

Thinking of selling a home in West Chester, Beckett Ridge or Liberty Township, Ohio?

Learn the current market value of your home here!

Thinking of buying a home in West Chester, Beckett Ridge or Liberty Township, Ohio?

Search the entire MLS here!

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A Realtor can be an invaluable tool when buying or selling real estate

An often asked question is: Should I use a Realtor or not?  People often underestimate Realtors and their importance in a real estate transaction.  On both sides of a sale the right real estate professional can be an invaluable asset, helping to keep deals together and run more smoothly.

For sellers Realtors are valuable in a number of ways.  Realtors know the local market and how to evaluate the price your home should be listed for sale at and also can provide an estimate of what it will sell for.  A real estate professional will advertise, market and expose your home to other real estate professionals as well as the community at large, not to mention the large customer base that they may already have.  A Realtor can help you prepare your home for sale in today’s real estate market.  Realtors are indispensable when it comes to negotiating contracts and inspection issues as well as making sure each step is carried out to the seller’s best interest.

For buyers a real estate broker can be an incredibly helpful tool when looking for real estate.  The right Realtor knows his local West Chester, Beckett Ridge and Liberty Township, Ohio real estate market. He knows what is available and knows the community, its amenities and all that it has to offer.  The right Realtor will prepare a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) of the home an offer is being prepared on and will write a contract for the benefit of the buyer when the buyer has found this ideal property. The right Realtor can make recommendations on financing and will help the buyer follow through with each step until closing.

In a nutshell, the right Realtor is incredibly helpful in diminishing the stresses involved with buying and/or selling real estate.  Contact an experienced Realtor in the area you are thinking of buying or selling property in today. Please let me know if I can assist you.

Wondering what your home is worth in today’s real estate market?  Request a market analysis here!

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