Montgomery County Real Estate Podcast with Diane Cardano

Join me for an informative online home seller seminar this April. Here’s all the information you need to know. America always overcomes adversity, and in adversity, there is always opportunity. In these challenging times, homeowners are wondering how the virus outbreak affects the value of their homes. They are also wondering whether it’s a good time to put their home on the market. On April 4, 2020, at 9 a.m., I will be holding a virtual home seller seminar answering these questions and many more. The market was hot before the virus; there was low inventory and the interest rates were very low. We would see 30 to 60 people coming to an open house. Now, there are no homes coming on the market, but there are still many buyers who want to take advantage of the low rates and purchase a home. The demand is high—people need and want to move. How safe is it right now for a home seller to open their doors to prospective homebuyers?  How can home sellers limit unwarranted foot traffic coming into their homes? These are examples of questions I’ll answer in the seminar. We have put together a strategy that only allows for five-star buyers to come into our client’s home. “I think home values will remain the same as they would have without the outbreak.” What is a five-star buyer? They have all five of these characteristics: They are looking to buy in the next three to four months They are financially able to purchase in your home’s price range  They are committed to buying a home  They are looking in the immediate neighborhood of your home   They are friendly, cooperative, and want someone to help them So what is going to happen to the value of your home? I think home values will remain the same as they would have without the outbreak, or even higher. The first people to come on the market this spring will capture the eyes of the buyers first. Once buyers are allowed out of their homes to preview other ones, they will be hungry to purchase and will do whatever it takes to buy.  Therefore, I would be ready to put your home up as “Coming Soon” as many as 21 days before this market opens for business. It is predicted that we will be ready to leave our homes in three weeks, so now is the time! At the seminar, I will also go over many of my tips that are necessary in this market to capture the eyes of eager buyers who are just waiting for homes to come on the market. You will learn about my eight Strategies, especially the Pre-Home Inspection Strategy, our Room-by-Room Strategy and all of our top marketing strategies. Lastly, we will give each online seminar attendee an autographed copy of my “Home Selling Sharks” book. You can register at www.2155768666.com, or call us at 215-576-8666 extension 2. As always, reach out if you have any questions regarding this or other real estate topics. We’re here to help!

Join me for our February market report. Today I’m sharing everything you need to know about our current real estate market. Today I have your February hot-off-the-press market report. I’m eager to share all the new information with you. Despite last year’s doom and gloom about where the economy is headed, economists are now pushing back the recession timeline. Here is everything you need to know about our current market.  Cited below for your convenience are timestamps that will direct you to various points in the video. Feel free to watch the full message or use these timestamps to browse specific topics at your leisure:  0:05: Introduction to today’s topic 0:25: The recession timeline is being pushed back. 0:55: Why home sales are increasing in every region of the U.S. 1:45: What a senior economist has to say 2:15: Home inventory over the last decade 3:00: Home price projections 3:50: Factors that can change your mortgage payments 5:30: Current interest rates  5:40: Wrapping up today’s topic I’m excited to see where 2020 will take us. I’ll be back with another market update in March. Please give me a call or send me an email to learn how to beat the competition or with any questions you have. Also, if you or someone you know may be selling their home in the next five years, contact me to learn about advanced real estate planning.

I’m excited for 2020, and after today’s market report, you will be too. Despite last year’s doom-and-gloom predictions about where the economy was headed in 2020, economists are changing their views, and the news is good.  According to George Ratiu, Senior Economist at Realtor.com, “Housing remains a solid foundation for the U.S. economy going into 2020.” Raving fans, the housing market is so strong that it’s actually preventing the recession from taking place. As you can see at 0:42 in the video above, the NAR, the Mortgage Bankers Association, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac all predict more homes will sell in 2020 than 2019.  So if you couple this year’s increase in sales with the new projections, it adds up to a very good 2020. Freddie Mac has contributed to this optimism by stating, “We expect mortgage rates to remain low over the next two years, averaging 3.8% in 2020 and 2021.” As a matter of fact, some experts predict rates will drop below 3.5% for the next two years, and that will continue to drive the market.  Everything looks like it’s heading in the right direction. Interest rates are down, and homebuyers really want to buy and take advantage of these rates. That’s a sweet and sassy recipe for lots of home sales.  However, there is one challenge, and that’s your home going on the market. In other words, we have low inventory. The latest numbers for the month’s supply of inventory have decreased both year over year and month over month. An average market has about six months of inventory, but we’re at 3.7 months, and that number might continue to fall.  As you recall, last month we talked about the winter slowdown of home listings due to sellers’ belief that there aren’t a lot of buyers out there. That’s not the case for 2020, though. “Housing remains a solid foundation for the U.S. economy.” To quote George Ratiu once more: “As millennials embrace homeownership and take advantage of this year’s unexpectedly low mortgage rates, demand is outstripping supply, causing inventory to vanish…The issue is further compounded by the fact that sellers tend to be more reluctant to list during the colder time of year when the market typically makes a seasonal slowdown.”  So more buyers are entering the market earlier each year. As a listing expert, I’ve been having my home sellers start the selling process as early in the year as possible these past few years. I’ve also emphasized doing this in all my blog posts the past couple of months, and studies have confirmed what I’ve been saying.  According to a study by Move.com, people have begun their home search earlier each year since 2015. This study also found that January 2019 fell just 1% behind February for the highest number of views per listing, and in 20% of the large markets, January saw the highest number of listing views in 2019.  If you’re waiting for the spring market to sell your home, you’re waiting too long. Don’t wait for your competition to enter the market. Buyers are out there right now. At 4:22, you can see that ShowingTime’s latest report shows that every region of the country saw a huge annual increase in buyer’s scheduling appointments.  I’m very excited for 2020, so if you’re thinking of selling shortly, give me a call as soon as possible so I can help you beat the competition. If you plan on selling later on, it’s always good to learn more about my advanced real estate planning strategy, which includes advice on how to fight the “home selling sharks” who eat away at your home’s value.  You’re also invited to attend my next Home Selling Sharks Seminar on April 4. To register and learn more details, just visit homesharkseminar.com or call (215) 576-8666.  If you have any other real estate questions, feel free to call or email me as well. In the meantime, stay tuned for my next video blog, where I’ll show you how I sold a home for $60,000 over its market value by using my expert marketing strategies.

As we head into the new year, I’m bringing you one last market report for 2019. Here’s what you need to know. Can you believe that 2019 is over? No matter what your plans are in 2020, I’m here to give you some great news about our real estate market to start the new year. The Wall Street Journal recently surveyed a group of economists and asked them when they expect the next recession to start. 34.2% think it will be in 2020, which might seem like a huge number until you learn that percentage has dropped from nearly 50% earlier in the year. We might not see a recession this year, and frankly, we might not see one at all.  Goldman Sachs says they are reasonably confident that U.S. growth is improving, and the sharp drop in mortgage rates has reinvigorated the housing recovery after a slowdown in 2018 and early 2019. This means that the demand is still higher than the supply. Additionally, Jonathan Kanarek, CEO of BuildFax, said: “Amidst concerns of a recession, it’s promising to see the housing market responding to the impact of mortgage rate decreases and other positive moves in the market. If housing continues showing the promise of growth, or even a leveling off, this activity has the potential to stimulate the larger economy.”  People are afraid that a recession will bring something similar to what we saw in 2008, but I’m not. The NAR puts out a chart every month that shows the percentage of income necessary to buy a median-priced home, and recently that figure has been drastically decreasing. The historic norm is 21.2%, but right now we’re at  just 15.2%. Homes have never been more affordable. “I’d love to give you the gift of my expertise.” Why is this happening? According to First American, although home prices went up 5.7% in the last year, mortgage rates also decreased by 0.85%. Along with a 1.5% increase in wages, the total impact on purchasing power is a positive $24,500. Inventory is still low, more people can afford to buy, and real estate remains one of the strongest investments you can make.  Let me give you one more gift to start the new year: the gift of my expertise. If you’re thinking about selling your home, come and learn about my advanced real estate planning strategy for marketing and selling your home. Sign up today for our next Home Selling Sharks Seminar, Saturday, January 18, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fort Washington. You can register here.  If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Happy Holidays, raving fans! Today, let’s cover the topic of coming-soon listings and how they can boost the outcome of your home sale. It’s so important that your home gets listed on a coming-soon listing site, even if you’re selling your house in the spring. Recently, though, the board of the National Association of Realtors has decided that they’ll only allow people to put their homes on the market 21 days before—on any site. So, we cannot put listings on our website or any coming-soon page longer than 21 days before the listing goes on the market. This eliminates a lot of creativity in our market. So how important is it to get your home on a coming-soon site more than 21 days before it goes live on the market? Well, ‘coming soon’ means your house will be on the market soon; that attracts a number of buyers ahead of time, giving you an indication of the overall demand for your home, how you could feasibly price your home, and so on. Let’s start with demand. Buyers are looking for homes months in advance; they don’t wait until two months before they intend to purchase to start looking. If you have a coming-soon listing out now for a sale in April, it will tell you whether or not people are actually interested in your home. Similarly to demand, a coming-soon listing will also let you know whether or not your price is viable. You can also raise or lower the price before it goes on the market to see how interest varies. 21 days is simply not enough time to test those variables. “Coming-soon listings attract buyers, let you gauge the market, and can help you get a better price for your home.” Third, coming-soon listings can also help you gauge market volatility. If you put your home on a coming-soon site now for an April sale, you can watch demand between now and then to determine whether or not the market is rising or falling. Knowing whether a market is on the rise six months before everybody else gives you so much negotiating leverage—this also allows you to get a better price when you do sell it. Finally, coming-soon listings create an aura of exclusivity. Buyers often come to the sellers of coming-soon listings looking to make a deal without any competition from other buyers; this can often lead to getting a premium price for your home. As an added bonus, listing this way can also give you time to take photos of your home in a favorable season, adding to the appeal of your property. So if you’re thinking of selling your home in the spring market of 2020, now’s the time to start talking about it. Yes, the holidays have a lot of people busy, but that’s the beauty of it—nobody else is thinking about it now. Reach out and give me a call! I’ll give you all the best home-selling advice I can offer, which, coincidentally, you can also find in my book, “Home Selling Sharks.”

If you’re thinking of waiting until spring to list, the statistics say this is a bad idea. Before I delve into your November market report, I want to say I hope you had a great Thanksgiving. This is the time of year that we reflect on the things we are grateful for, and my team and I are grateful for you.  Something interesting has been happening in our market lately. As I’ve said before, the increase in home sales has been causing appreciation to slow down. More homes means buyers have a greater selection. Over the past three months, though, things have gone in the other direction. If we look at the year-over-year housing supply over the last 12 months, we see that the gap between this year and last year is getting worse and inventory levels are dropping again.  If you think there are more homes on the market now than there were in 2018, you’re not alone. According to a recent survey done by NerdWallet, roughly 45% of all homeowners believe the same thing, and 58% of those same homeowners plan to sell in the next 18 months.  So, even though there are fewer listings available, many homeowners believe that the opposite is true. If you’re thinking of waiting until spring to list (during the supposed “buyer’s market”), I’ll explain why this isn’t a good idea.  First, the supply of listings increases substantially—including new construction—which lowers the demand for your home. According to the statistics, most listings come on the market during the second quarter of the year (April, May, and June). This means if you’re waiting for the spring market, so are your neighbors. This will result in a dramatic increase in competition from other sellers.  Obviously, I can’t predict what will happen in the next six months, but as you can see on the slide at 2:45 in the video, there were a lot fewer listings on the market during December of last year and January and February of this year than there were in April, May, and June.  If you assume that more listings equals more buyers, the next slide at 3:07 shows that our month’s supply of inventory (i.e., how many listings for sale versus how many people are buying houses) is much lower from now until March than it is in April, May, and June. The higher that number is, the better the conditions are for buyers. “If you’re waiting for the spring market, so are your neighbors.” So whether you’re thinking about upgrading or downsizing, don’t get caught in the crowded spring market. Take advantage of where our market is now. If you still plan on selling in 2020, then now is the time to start preparing. I call this “advanced real estate planning,” and as your real estate planner, I believe it’s important to start earlier than you think.  To learn about all of my home selling strategies, and get a free copy of my book “How to Fight the Home Selling Sharks,” be sure to register for my next home selling seminar on Saturday, January 18, 2020 at the Fort Washington Garden Inn at 9:30 a.m. To find out more, visit homesharkseminar.com or call (215) 576-8666.  If you’d like to sell now, give me a call and I’ll put your home on our “coming soon” website so buyers can see your home weeks before it comes on the market. If you have any questions about our market, feel free to reach out to me as well. I’d love to help you.

Are you thinking about listing your home without having professional photos of it first? As you’ll see, that can be a big mistake. It’s a great time to get your home ready for a 2020 sale. We love helping people prepare their homes months in advance so we can market them in advance. We take listings that aren’t being sold by other Realtors, put our magic touch on them, and sell them extremely quickly.  We recently put a property on the market that had previously failed to sell and got it under contract in just two days. Professional photography is so important. Today I’m excited to show you our work in action by presenting some of our best listing photos compared to the photos that they had previously used. Here’s an outline of the video, with timestamps, so that you can skip around to the section(s) that interest you most: 0:40- How we improved the Rydal Road listing’s exterior photographs2:45- How we improved the Rydal Road listing’s interior photographs4:55- How we improved our Acorn Lane listing’s exterior photographs6:30- How we improved the Acorn Lane listing’s interior photographs8:50- How we improved our Harbor Lane listing’s exterior photos9:50- How we helped transform the Harbor Lane listing’s interior photos As you can see, photography matters so much when you’re selling your home. With each of the homes in this video, we took a failed listing and turned it into a success with good photos, a bit of elbow grease, and some minor repairs. This led to even higher sale prices. If you have any questions for us about selling your home or about real estate in general, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Hello, raving fans! I’m back with your hot-off-the-press market report for the month of October. Remember how last month I told you that home price appreciation would slow down and become more normalized? Well, at least throughout the lower-middle price ranges in the market, it looks as though we might be drifting back toward a seller’s market where price appreciation will reaccelerate. According to CoreLogic, home prices went up by 3.6% over the last 12 months. At 0:40 in the video above, you’ll find a chart that forecasts the year-over-year net change in price for each state in America. Overall, the prediction is that prices will increase by 4.5% throughout the United States in the coming year. By the time my next report comes out, I think that the projected number is going to be over 5%! In Pennsylvania, they’re already predicting that prices will increase by 5.6%, and for New Jersey, they predict a change of 6.2%. With supply and interest rates being low, and with more buyers looking for homes, we’re still looking at a supply-and-demand situation. Now, whenever we talk about prices going up, there is always a group of people who are thinking of selling their home so they can move on to buying their dream home—these are called “trophy homebuyers.” And understandably, trophy homebuyers will worry about if they can afford to buy now. Affordability is determined by three things: Price Wages, or the ability to earn Interest rates Even though home prices are going up, if we take a look at the report released by the NAR, you’ll see that the percentage of income needed to buy a median-priced home is down to 15.7%. This same time last year, that percentage was at 18.2%, and the historic norm is 21.2% Taking everything into consideration, it’s much more affordable to purchase a home now than it has been in the past.  “Now’s the perfect time to make some money.” CoreLogic also broke down the typical mortgage payment that buyers commit to. The most recent reports from June show that the typical payment was $878, which is less than it was a year previous and much less than it was in January of 2000. For June of 2020, it’s projected that the typical mortgage payment for buyers will be $899, which is more than this year, but still less than it was just a year ago. Overall, this means home affordability is in good shape. If this news isn’t good enough for you, take a look at what Frank Nothaft, the chief economist for CoreLogic, had to say about home equity: “Borrower equity rose to an all-time high in the first half of 2019 and has more than doubled since the housing recovery started. Combined with low mortgage rates, this rise in home equity supports spending on home improvements and may help improve balance sheets of households who take out home equity loans to consolidate their debt.” Also, with home equity increasing so dramatically, you might now have enough in equity to use as a down payment to move up to the home of your dreams or to downsize. Now’s the perfect time to make some money. The fall is the ideal time to start thinking about things you could be doing to your home to increase its value for a 2020 sale. If you’re thinking of buying a home next year, there are also things you can to do find your dream home at the lowest price—I call this advanced real estate planning, and as your real estate planner, I believe it’s important to start earlier than you might think when it comes to one of the largest assets you own. If you don’t start now, you’ll lose every opportunity to do the things that bring you the highest return on your investment. To learn all about my strategy and get a free copy of my book, “How to Fight the Home Selling Sharks,” I encourage you to attend my next home selling seminar on Saturday, January 18, 2020, at the Fort Washington Garden Inn at 9:30 a.m. You can also find my book on Amazon right now to get an early start on it.

If you’re thinking of selling in 2020, now is the time to start planning. Let’s discuss what this will involve. Now that we’ve entered October, the start of our hot spring market in April is just six months away. This means now is the perfect time to start planning for your 2020 home sale and/or home purchase, and there are a few key steps you should take as you do so. I like to call these steps, as a whole, “advanced real estate planning.”  So what does advanced real estate planning involve? First, reach out to my team and me. We would be glad to partner with you in pursuing your real estate goals. We want to help you fend off the buying and selling sharks who lurk the waters of our market waiting to eat up your hard-earned equity. When you partner with us, we can ensure that your home buying or selling experience is fast and successful.  And, now, you can get a sneak peek at some of the strategies we’ll employ when you work with my team by reading my new book: “How to Fight the Home Selling Sharks.” This book covers each of the eight main steps sellers must take as they prepare to list, the first four of which are as follows:  1. Find a marketing and negotiating expert.  2. Get a pre-listing inspection. 3. Have exterior photos taken before cold weather dulls your landscaping. 4. Get a room-by-room review. “I want to help you fend off the buying and selling sharks who lurk the waters of our market” Aside from just reading my book, I also highly recommend you attend my next Home Selling Shark Seminar. You can find details and register for the next event by visiting www.homesharkseminar.com.  If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

What’s the latest news about home prices as we look toward the fall and winter of 2019? As you can see in the video above at 0:25, the FHFA quarterly report shows that every region of the country has seen year-over-year price appreciation. In our Mid-Atlantic region, prices have appreciated by 3.97%.  Now, there have been signs of deceleration, but deceleration doesn’t equal depreciation. At 0:46, you can see that each state’s home prices have appreciated—not a single one experienced any depreciation, and the overall rate of appreciation is greater than the historical norm of 3.5% to 3.6%. In Pennsylvania, prices have appreciated by 4.9% The home price situation across the country is looking good, but keep in mind that any change in price or appreciation depends on what category your home falls in. Price range matters—lower-priced homes with the least amount of inventory and the highest demand are appreciating much quicker. As we go up in price, there are fewer buyers who can afford those types of homes, which means a greater amount of inventory and slower appreciation. At the 1:42 mark, the CoreLogic Home Price Index breaks down year-over-year price changes by price range, and you can really see this effect take place.  You may have heard that mortgage debt is at an all-time high, and that’s true. People are buying more and houses are more expensive. However, on a per-capita basis, mortgage debt is still close to historic lows. At 2:06, CoreLogic shows the average annual equity gain per borrower, and the last time buyers lost equity was back in 2011, which was also the last year that prices depreciated. Since then, if you’ve owned a home, you’ve gained equity. In fact, during the first quarter of 2019, homeowners gained over $6,000.  Why am I talking about home equity in relation to home appreciation? There’s a lot of talk about how the housing market will be impacted if the economy slows down, but buyers have about $6.3 billion worth of equity right now, which is a different situation than what we’ve seen in the past. The good news is that, overall, there are fewer people in a negative equity situation.  “It’s a great time to buy or sell and get ahead of the competition.” Dr. Frank Nothaft, the Chief Economist of CoreLogic, is quoted as saying, “With incomes up and current mortgage rates about 0.8 percentage points below what they were one year ago, home sales should have a better sales pace in the second half of 2019 than a year earlier, leading to a quickening in price growth over the next year.” So, there are two pieces of promising news here. First, appreciation is still happening. Second, since mortgage rates are going down, sales will pick up through the fall months and into winter. Normally, that’s not the case. In short, it’s a great time to buy or sell and get ahead of the competition. If you’re curious about how to get your home show-ready, I invite you to attend my next Home Selling Sharks Seminar on October 12. I’ll teach you everything you need to know, and you’ll also receive a free copy of my book “Home Selling Sharks.” To register and find out more information, just visit www.HomeSharkSeminar.com. As always, if you have any other real estate questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to speak with you. 

Hello, raving fans! I’m back with your market update, as well as a message about the rumors of an impending recession. Stay tuned! I don’t know about you, but every time I turn on the TV these days, I want to throw something at it. All this talk of recession, all the fake news created by the media, and all the news about a recession from pundits aren’t based on facts or real conditions. Rather, it’s based on a belief that by predicting a recession, they can create one and thus set the stage for a Democratic victory in 2020. This is a good sign that they have an exaggerated opinion of their own influence and have lost touch with the canons of their profession. The odds of a recession occurring in the US over the next year do not appear very high. With all that said, there is definitely no recession in the real estate market! The homes I’m listing are selling in hours, not days or months, all at a realistic price. I have indicators that show a strong housing market that I’m going to share with you today. First, let’s look at FICO scores. There’s a common belief that you need an 800 credit score to qualify for a mortgage, but that’s just not true. If you’re an FHA buyer, the average score needed is 675; that means some of our borrowers are getting loans with scores lower than that. According to Mark Fleming, First American’s chief economist, “If the 30-year fixed rate mortgage declines just a fraction more, consumer home buying power would reach its highest level in almost 20 years.” And it has! Does that sound like an economy that’s ready for a recession? Most people are saying that if there is a recession, it will come and go so fast that you won’t even know what happened. Next, let’s look at the average days on market—for a visual map of averages across the US, refer to 1:45 in the video above. As you can see, most of the United States’ average days on market is between zero and 30 days. That’s amazing because that means you’ll need to differentiate your home even more than in a buyer’s market to gain the edge needed to sell your home for tons of money. That’s why I plan with my sellers years in advance—to maximize their profit in either a buyer’s or a seller’s market. “There is definitely no recession in the real estate market!” Now let’s examine the year-over-year pending home sales in every region (refer to 2:31 in the video above). As you can see, in every region, pending home sales are up, with a total year-over-year change of 1.6% throughout the US. At 2:35 in the video, you can see the forecasted year-over-year change in price. Pennsylvania and New Jersey are projected to increase by 5.2% and 5.9%, respectively. This is all good news for the real estate market and for what could be the largest asset in your financial portfolio. As your real estate planner, I’m now taking listings for 2020 and 2021. If you’re planning to sell your home within the next year or so, now is the time to take some fabulous pictures of your home’s exterior, as experts are predicting a hot real estate market for the spring. Imagine having beautiful, eye-catching exterior photos of your home when your competition will have snow and leafless trees in theirs. Gain the edge and get your price with my exclusive Coming Soon Home Selling System that will put a sold sign on your lawn in hours, not months. Why work with a traditional Realtor who takes pictures with their cell phone, has no marketing or negotiating skills, and is only worried about their commission check? Are you with me here? Call me now to get your exterior photos done and to register for my next home seller seminar at 9 a.m. on Saturday, October 12, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania. There, you’ll learn that great exterior photos are just one of my eight secret strategies outlined in my book, “Fighting the Home Selling Sharks.” To get a copy for yourself, come to my seminar or give me a call! You’ll get one in your free toolkit.  In the meantime, feel free to reach out to me with any questions you have. Hope to see you in September!

What is the Cardano Realtors’ room-by-room review? Learn more about it right here. Like many people who attend our seminars, you might be wondering what our ‘room-by-room review’ actually constitutes and why you should get one if you’re not planning to sell for at least three to five years. Today, let me demonstrate how important it is to learn what you don’t know about selling and staging a home. A room-by-room review is a free 30-minute appointment where we send out a listing specialist to evaluate your home’s current saleability. The agent will be able to give you tips on staging, paint colors, and decluttering. “Give your home a chance to shine and get top dollar by scheduling your free room-by-room review.” This review is like having a real estate doctor make a house call for your home. Some home seller seminar graduates aren’t aware of how important it is to take advantage of this opportunity months or even years ahead of when they plan to sell.  Some people may think their home isn’t ready for this sort of room-by-room review, but the point is that it doesn’t have to be. This review can help sellers put together a plan of action. The agent who assists you will look past any clutter to let you know where you should begin, and how to concentrate your efforts moving forward. Give your home a chance to shine and get top dollar by scheduling your free room-by-room review. We’ve been doing this service for years, and we have tons of testimonials from seller seminar graduates who were able to sell with 26 days or less.  Pat Ingram is one of these happy sellers. She initially didn’t quite agree with some of my ideas, but once she implemented them, she was able to sell in just three days. To see just how well this service can work for you, go to www.FreeRoomByRoom.com to schedule an appointment. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email.

Our current market holds strong opportunities for buyers and sellers alike, and today I’ll explain why. For many, the month of June brings to mind warm weather, summer vacations, and the end of the school year. However, did you know that June is also National Homeownership Month? Given all the changes that have taken place in our real estate market over the last several months, some may not realize that it’s still a great time to own a home. There are many reasons buyers and homeowners alike should remain optimistic about the benefits of owning a home.  Average wages are increasing, employment rates are high, the economy is strong, and (as you may have heard) mortgage rates are still at historic lows. On top of all of those reasons, there is also currently plenty of inventory. This means buyers have a ton of options to choose from during their home search.  At 4.2 months’ worth of inventory available across markets nationwide, sellers still have the upper hand, but we’re definitely moving closer to a balanced market. This means those who list can no longer afford to choose any price they please and expect their home to sell quickly no matter what. Even so, it’s definitely still possible for buyers and sellers alike to earn a great deal.  Of course, conditions may change soon. Studies show that 44% of sellers who had plans to sell in the next 18 months have decided to list sooner in response to recent market shifts. “We’re definitely moving closer to a balanced market.” If you’re personally thinking about selling, then please join me for my next Home Selling Sharks Seminar on October 12 at the Hilton Garden Inn. There, you’ll have the chance to mingle and enjoy some great breakfast foods starting at 8:30 a.m., with the main event starting an hour later at 9:30 a.m. You can learn more about this event (and our seminar series, in general) by visiting www.homesharkseminar.com.  And, as always, if you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Despite a potential recession on the horizon, homebuyers don’t seem to be dissuaded from entering our market. Today’s topic is one I’ve been talking about for over a year and a half, and it’s something that will start creating major headlines in the mainstream media: a possible recession on the horizon. According to four prominent surveys (the first of which was conducted by The Wall Street Journal) of economists who believed that a recession was going to happen soon, 22% thought it would occur this year, 46% thought it would happen next year, 18% thought it would happen in 2021, and 14% predicted it would happen sometime after 2021.   With that in mind, Realtor.com is quoted as saying, “Nearly 70 percent of home shoppers this spring think the U.S. will enter a recession in the next three years, but that hasn’t stopped them from trying to close on a home.” This reiterates a point I’ve been making all along: A recession doesn’t automatically equate to a housing crisis, and people don’t seem to be putting off their home buying plans. Also, more and more economists are starting to think that perhaps a recession isn’t right around the corner.  To quote Lisa Shalett, chief investment officer of wealth management at Morgan Stanley, “I’m not convinced a recession is coming soon…I see an improving housing market (low rates help), a rebound in bank lending, a tight labor market, higher oil prices, and well-behaved credit markets. All these point to a stable U.S. economic outlook.” In other words, people are feeling pretty good about the economy. At 2:23 in the video above, you can see a chart from the 2018 NAR Aspiring Home Buyers Profile that shows that the percentage of non-owners who want to own a home in the future has gradually increased over the course of 2018.  “More and more economists are starting to think that perhaps a recession isn’t right around the corner.” The pending and existing home sales reports have been volatile, but consumer traffic hasn’t yet reached the levels we experienced at this same time last year. However, as you can see in the slide at 3:16, the number of buyers who are coming into the market has increased over the past three months. What are their reasons for buying? There are several different reasons, some of which are in conflict with the others. What about sellers? As it turns out, the top reasons people decide to sell vary by age. As you can see at 3:48 in the video, younger sellers tend to sell because their home is too small, whereas older sellers sell because their home is too large or requires too much upkeep. In a sense, each side is selling the type of inventory that the other side wants.  That’s a wrap on my latest market update—if you have any more questions about our market, please don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email.  If you plan on selling your home soon, you’re invited to attend my next Home Selling Sharks seminar on June 18. There, you’ll learn everything you need to know in order to sell quickly and for top dollar. To register and learn more, visit my website www.homesharkseminar.com.  I hope to hear from you soon!

Are you wondering how to get more money out of your home sale? I've got just the info to share with you today. Sellers often ask whether staging their property before selling is worthwhile. They probably understand that it could help put their home in a better light, but may still feel uncertain about going through with the process. They wonder things like, “Why is staging important?” and “How much more money will I earn by staging?” These are both good questions. To avoid being bitten by what I like to call the “Staging Shark,” there are a few important points you need to understand. Staging doesn’t need to be expensive. There are many small, low-cost upgrades you can do to boost your home’s value before you sell. Perhaps the most important reason to stage your home is that doing so will help you reach a wide audience of buyers. Only a handful of buyers are looking for a fixer-upper, and these buyers are usually hoping to score a discount. The majority of buyers in our market would prefer a property that’s neat, clean, and move-in ready. Staging is the first “shark” for a few reasons: 1. You want your buyers to have a positive, lasting first impression of your home. Since most people begin their home-hunting process online, it’s a good idea to have a professional photographer capture your listing in its best light, so that when buyers see the interior pictures online, they can decide whether they want to see the home. Did you know that buyers often decide if they want to buy your home within the first 30 seconds after having seen it? 2. It’s important to stand out from the competition and beat them to the punch by selling your home first. 3. Staging keeps the home-selling waters clear of the other home-selling sharks. 4. Staging helps you determine your marketing and pricing strategy. You cannot market or price a home until you know what the product is going to look like once it’s on the market. When the staging plan has been put in place, then you can market the home and price the home accordingly. 6. Staged homes sell six-times faster and can net 169% more than unstaged homes. If you want to attract more buyers and earn more money for your home, then all you need to do is follow these simple tips. Remember: Clutter eats away at your equity. Staging is a critical step in the selling process for those looking to maximize their results. It allows you to make a great first impression. After all, the goal of staging isn’t to show your property as your current house, it’s to show the buyers what it could be like as their future home. You can read all about my other staging tips and advice in my book.

As our market moves through spring, prices are appreciating at a normal rate again. Here’s what that means for buyers and sellers. What’s the latest news from our market as we move through spring? What’s going on with home prices? According to the Home Price Expectation Survey from the first quarter of this year, the pre-bubble (1987-1999) average annual appreciation rate was 3.6%. During the bubble period (2000-2007), it rose to 7.1%. During the bust period (2007-2012), it dropped to -6.1%. Then, during the recovery (2012-2018), it bounced back up to 6.2%. Throughout 2018, the appreciation rate decreased at a steady pace, and at the start of January of this year, it was at 3.6%. Last month, I said that analysts were predicting that home prices would not depreciate any further, but rather keep appreciating at a normal rate.  At the moment, some think the appreciation rate will drop below the 3.6% mark, while others think that because we got off to such a great start this year, appreciation will be even stronger than what was originally expected moving forward. In any case, the situation is normalizing in terms of prices, which is exactly what I predicted would happen last year.  Between now and 2023, the same survey showed that experts predict homes will appreciate by 17.1% on average. The most optimistic think they’ll increase by as much as 28.3%, while the more cautious still think they’ll rise by at least 6.6%. In any case, no one is predicting depreciation of any kind. “If you’re thinking of putting your home on the market, get ahead of the competition so you can increase your odds of selling for top dollar.” How are buyers reacting to this trend? What’s motivating renters to become homeowners?  People who buy homes build equity (i.e., wealth). At 3:21 in the video above, you can see an NAR report that shows the tremendous equity gains homeowners who’ve bought in the last 30 years have acquired, and their net worth is far greater than any renter’s.  Based on these appreciation rate projections, between now and 2023, average home equity is expected to increase by $42,617. It’s no small wonder, then, that 73% of all millennials plan to buy a home in the next five years.  Their biggest challenge is low inventory, but because inventory is so low, more and more new construction homes are being built, and existing home sellers have to compete with this.  Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at Realtor.com, says, “Sellers have to think about the competition in a way they haven’t before. Getting ahead of other potential sellers could be even more of a bigger advantage this year given market conditions.”  So if you’re thinking of putting your home on the market, get ahead of the competition so you can increase your odds of selling for top dollar.  To learn all you need to know about how to sell quickly and for top dollar, I invite you to sign up for my next Home Selling Sharks seminar on June 18. To find out all the details, visit www.homesharkseminar.com. You can also order a copy of my book “How to Fight the Home Selling Sharks” on Amazon.   As always, if you have any other questions about our market or you have any real estate needs, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.

These tips are valuable information. How valuable? It could mean $21,000. As promised, I’m revealing how I sold a home for $21,000 over the listing price in just two hours and 20 minutes!  How was I able to pull this off? Well, it’s all outlined in my book, “Home Selling Sharks,” so today I’ll cite specific passages that pertain to the pre-listing process.    Before anything else, the trick is to start earlier than you think. Much like Noah with the ark, prepare for the inevitable moment when the figurative flood comes. I should mention, though, that it takes more than a few months—to sell a home this quickly and secure top dollar takes a year’s worth of preparation or more.  From there:  1. Hire a marketing and negotiation expert. This isn’t me telling you to find a Realtor; rather, find someone with an expert understanding of marketing and negotiation and who happens to have a real estate license. In my book, I liken not having an expert on your side to letting the so-called sharks take bites out of your sale price, which is to say you could lose out on thousands of dollars.    2. Get a pre-inspection done on the home. A pre-inspection can actually zero out your repair costs. Acting preemptively with inspections is a surefire way to sell your home for $21,000 above the listing price in two hours and 20 minutes.   3. Showcase your home by doing a professional photo shoot. A picture is worth a thousand words, and the first place buyers will turn to is the internet, so showing your home in a professional way and in its best light online is key. “Find someone with an expert understanding of marketing and negotiation and who happens to have a real estate license.” 4. Do a room-by-room review. Going from one room to the next, assess what improvements you could make so your home will jump out at a buyer. If a particular room could use new paint, get a sense of what the cost will be, but never proceed without first knowing what costs you’ll incur.  Once you’ve checked off these four items, you can market your home online for all to see until it’s time for the next step, which I’ll cover in a future video. If you’d like to learn about this process in greater detail, give me a call at 215-576-8666. I’d be happy to give you a copy of my book, “Home Selling Sharks,” or you can also pick it up on Amazon.  Or if you’d like a free copy personally signed by me, you’re welcome to come to my book signing at Abington Free Library on Saturday, April 27, between 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. I look forward to seeing you there! 

Ignore the negative news headlines—today we’ll talk about what’s really happening in the market. Though we’re having great success as spring selling season kicks off, there are some incredibly negative news stories about our market going around. They’ve definitely been taking their toll on buyers, sellers, and homeowners alike. Sam Khater, chief economist at Freddie Mac, said it best: “We’re in a mental recession. It’s a constant stream of headlines for a couple of months…it wears on you.” The issue here is that most of these headlines aren’t even true! Here are a few examples. A recent Bloomberg article makes it a point that to say we’re at risk of the worst year in the market since the last crash. I don’t know where the writer got that information, but Logan Mohtashami of Financial Truth has a much better insight on the topic: In essence, he says we’re not going to see big declines in demand or huge increases in inventory—not anywhere near 2008-crash levels, at least. Currently, the market’s hot and inventory is low, so multiple offers are happening all the time. Don’t take my word for it—take a look at the transaction levels projected by noteworthy lending companies at 1:49 in the video. I’ve sold over 40 homes already this year, and of those, only one failed to sell in less than two days; I even sold one in less than two hours last week! My homes are selling at or up to 8% above list price, and prices are going up across the board nationwide. Take a look at the graph at 2:33 to see the U.S. median sales prices for each year.  “Currently, the market’s hot and inventory is low, so multiple offers are happening all the time.” The chart looks like a rollercoaster, and it seems we’re at the very top—are we going to come flying down again? Well, there’s another graph at 2:59 that compares historical rates, and you’ll see that prices are exactly where they should be. Overall, the market is still favoring sellers but starting to slow down a little. If you’re thinking of selling this year, now is a great time to start the process. You can learn exactly how to do so by attending my next Home Selling Sharks seminar on April 6. Find out more about it at www.HomeSharkSeminar.com. If you have any questions or would like more information, feel free to reach out to me. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Bad photography makes a bad first impression. Here’s how to avoid it. If you want to effectively sell your home, it’s incredibly important to have it staged. However, if you have bad photography that fails to showcase the wonderful qualities of your home, people won’t exactly be lining up to see it in person.  Pictures make such a big first impression, so today we’ll be going over a list of examples that show what you should (and shouldn’t) do when taking home photos.  For your convenience, I’ve included timestamps for each area we cover in the video. Feel free to navigate to the section(s) you’re most interested in viewing: 00:47— The exterior of the home01:19— The entryway02:00— The dining room02:23— The living room02:48— The family room03:09— The powder room03:33— The kitchen03:55— The breakfast room04:45— The sunroom05:20— The pantry and laundry rooms05:35— The garage and mud room05:40— The bedrooms06:34— The basement08:26— Conclusion to today’s video I cover 21 of the best home selling strategies in my upcoming book, and photography is just one part of the process. I’m excited to share it with you in the future, and if you have any questions or need more information in the meantime, feel free to reach out to me. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Using this one strategy, sellers can feel confident that they are getting the most money in the least amount of time. Buying a home?** Click here to perform a full home search**Selling a home?** Click here for a FREE Home Price EvaluationCall me at 215-576-8666 for a **FREE home buying or selling consultation When it comes to selling a property, it is never too early to get a jump start on the process. Today, we want to let you in on a secret that can save you thousands: a pre-marketing home inspection. We teach future home sellers each month at our seminar how to sell for up to 18% more. One of the ways to do this is by fighting off the “staging shark.” Real estate is a new world these days, and it’s a world where differentiating your home from the others is essential. I’ve taught over 1,000 home sellers so far, and from doing so I’ve learned that most sellers want three key things. They want to sell for the most money, in the least amount of time, and they want to sell hassle free. Having a pre-marketing home inspection takes care of all three of these points. When you get your home inspection taken care of prior to listing, you’re saving yourself a lot of money. If you discover anything in your property that needs a repair, you can choose from Cardano’s List—a compilation of business contractors my team and I trust to meet your needs. When you have your inspection done in advance, you can have repairs done at your own pace and with your own preferred contractors instead of ones chosen by the buyer. Additionally, buyers love being able to read home inspection reports as well as any receipts from the repairs you’ve made. This makes buyers more comfortable and will let them make you a clean offer at top dollar. In fact, a recent statistic says that 100% of home buyers feel more comfortable buying a pre-inspected home. “100% of home buyers feel more comfortable buying a pre-inspected home.” A pre-home inspection also saves you time, since most buyers won’t feel the need to perform another after seeing your report. This eliminates the 14 to 21-day contingency period, and offers tend to be submitted in just days. This strategy means home sellers don’t need to worry about a buyer backing out because of a home inspection. All cards are on the table. Sellers will be able to put their market on the home feeling confident that they’ve already taken care of all repairs. So make sure that when you’re listing your home, you choose an expert advisor who utilizes this strategy. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Today I want to share all 24 of my secret staging tips that will help you sell your home quickly and for top dollar. Here are my 24 secret staging guidelines that will help your home sell quickly, for top dollar, and with the least amount of stress: 1. Remove all unnecessary furniture from the interior. This will make the inside look as big as possible, like a model home. 2. Let in as much natural light as possible—don’t block or cover any of your windows. 3. Move furniture away from room corners so those rooms look bigger in pictures. How your home looks online will prompt buyers to want to visit it in person. 4. Pack away all your knicknacks. 5. Remove any centerpieces from any tables. This is another tip that will help make a room look bigger. 6. Remove any personal photos, including those hanging from the walls. 7. Clear out your closets of any clothes that aren’t in season. This will emphasize their size and depth, and you won’t be needing those out-of-season clothes anyway. 8. Have your home professionally cleaned. 9. Repaint everything. For the interior, try an off-white or a beige color. This is a cheap, easy tip that will bring you a large return, and it also brings us to our next tip… 10. Remove any wallpaper. Wallpaper just isn’t “in” right now. 11. Wash the inside and outside of your windows. 12. Put the boxes you used to pack everything up in storage. 13. Clear everything out of your attic. 14. Spruce up your front door area. First impressions are very important. 15. Clean and fix up your garage. The better your garage looks, the higher the price your home will sell at. 16. Clean and fix up your basement. Make it look as spotless as your kitchen. If need be, repaint the walls while you’re at it. 17. Clean off your water heater. 18. Make your kitchen look squeaky clean. Also, clear off the countertops, the tops of your cabinets, and the face of your refrigerator. 19. Make your bathrooms look squeaky clean. Additionally, declutter your shower areas, organize vanity mirrors, and remove any shelving units. 20. Neutralize your home’s decorating theme. In other words, remove anything that will make the home non-duplicatable. 21. Don’t overdecorate. You don’t stage a home to decorate it—you stage it to sell it. 22. Set the mood. Turn on all the lights and have some soft music playing. 23. Spruce up your home’s whole exterior. Mulch all of the flower beds, trim the bushes, repair any cracked sidewalks/walkways, etc. 24. Make sure your electrical system is safe. Cap all loose wires, replace any frayed cable wires, and be prepared to install GFI receptacles within six feet of water. If you’d like a free copy of this list, call me at (215) 576-8666 and I’d be glad to send you one in the mail. We’ll also review this list more in depth at my next home selling seminar on January 19, so make sure you sign up at www.homesharkseminar.com. If you have any other questions, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I’d love to speak to you.

There are a lot of great things happening in our market right now, and today we’d like to give you a glimpse into how these developments will continue to play out in the coming year. As the end of 2018 draws closer, now is the perfect time for us to look ahead into what’s on the horizon for next year’s real estate market. Follow along with the video above for visuals on the data and trends we’re about to discuss.  First off, let’s look at what we can expect from home prices moving forward. According to a recent study, which recorded the opinions of 105 economists, market analysts, and real estate experts, 99% of the surveyed professionals believe that prices will continue to appreciate through 2019.  Some industry leaders, including the Mortgage Bankers Association and National Association of Realtors, believe that this trend may actually continue all the way through 2022.  Also, while the rate of appreciation is projected to vary by location, there isn’t a single state in the country where experts believe prices will drop in the coming year. Those thinking of selling should still realize, though, that a number of things can impact how much you may earn for your property. This includes recent legislation impacting our market, which I would be happy to explain in further detail if you reach out to chat.  But what about mortgage rates? Actually, these are on the rise as well. Some believe interest rates could jump by half a percent in 2019, so now may be the ideal time to act if you’re looking to lock in a favorable rate.  Overall affordability is always a major concern for buyers in our market, but there is good news ahead for those thinking of making a move. A buyer planning to purchase a property at this time next year would have a slightly higher monthly payment than if they bought a home today, but, if we adjust the statistics for inflation, would still be paying less than if they had bought a home in mid-2006. The point this illustrates is that buying is now favorable to renting from a financial standpoint. It is not only less expensive to purchase a home than to rent one, it is also a better investment in general, given that it allows you to build equity.  “Our current market presents a lot of opportunity for buyers and sellers alike.” Homeowners also tend to have a higher net worth than renters. In fact, according to a study by Harvard University, homeowners over the age of 65 have an average net worth 45 times that of renters their same age.  The bottom line is clear: It’s a great time to pursue your real estate goals. Many homes still on the market right now will expire come December 31, meaning those thinking of listing will be sure to stand out as a result of this sudden drop in inventory. Our current market presents a lot of opportunity for buyers and sellers alike.  As always, our team would be happy to help make your real estate dreams come true. If you’re thinking of selling, you won’t want to miss our next Home Selling Sharks Seminar. This seminar will take place at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fort Washington on January 19, starting at 9:30 a.m. We’ll be sharing eight exclusive tips and tricks for keeping money in your pocket when you sell, so visit www.homesharkseminar.com to register today. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Homes sales are expected to pick back up again in 2019, but the rate of appreciation is expected to slow down. How is our housing market expected to perform in 2019? To answer that question, let’s first look at where homes sales are at right now.  Year over year, existing home sales have declined across every major region in the U.S. I’m not worried about this, though, and neither is Michael Fratantoni, Chief Economist of the Mortgage Bankers Association. He recently said that homes sales are expected to rise again in 2019, though the pace of home price growth will slow down slightly.  Along with the Mortgage Bankers Association, the National Association of Realtors, Freddie Mac, and Fannie Mae all project home sales to be lower by year’s end than they were in 2017. However, they also all project the number of homes sales in 2019 to surpass 2018’s total.  Despite the fact that home price growth is expected to slow down, prices are still projected to appreciate for the next few years. In other words, your home’s not losing value—the only thing that’s changing is the speed with which you’re gaining equity.  It’s also important to understand that the rate of appreciation varies for each price range. Over the last year, the lower-priced homes have appreciated faster because there isn’t as much inventory as there is in the higher price ranges.  While appreciation is decelerating overall, more homes are coming on the market. This is why, if you planned on putting your home on the market next spring, you might be better off listing sooner. Once spring hits, inventory will increase substantially and you’ll have more competition from other sellers. From now until March, though, inventory will be low and buyers will have fewer options. Since supply will be low, demand will be high, so you’re more likely to get a better price for the least amount of hassle. “Your home’s not losing value—the only thing that’s changing is the speed with which you’re gaining equity.” Also, remember that interest rates are rising, so the sooner you sell your current home and buy a new one, the lower your mortgage payment will be. This makes now a good time to sell and buy.  If you’d like to put your home on the market soon, there are many ways we can help you. If you visit freeroombyroom.com, you can sign up for one of our free room-by-room reviews of your home and find out what you need to do to prepare it for buyers. You can also attend my next Home Selling Sharks seminar next January. For more information on that, you can visit www.homesharkseminar.com.  As always, if you have any other questions about our market, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.

Prepare to sell with a room-by-room review. You’ll learn what (and what not) to do to get your home ready for listing. Things are about to get hectic; Thanksgiving is just around the corner with Christmas and New Year’s following quickly after. And if you’re wanting to sell your home soon, the craziness just keeps piling up!  Instead of thinking about everything you’re going to need to do in the future, focus on what you can do now. Today we’ll be talking about how a room-by-room review is important for making sure your home is completely ready when you decide to list.  You’ll begin by meeting with your marketing expert to receive a room-by-room booklet and begin getting your home ready. You’ll find out how to rearrange, what to paint, and when to call a professional. The staging ideas provided are key to having your home prepared for when you go to sell. “Don’t invest any money that you won’t get back out.” If you want to sell in spring, now’s the time to do your room-by-room preparation. You can get my guide at freeroombyroom.com, and with it you can even review home inspection lists. With this, we can narrow down what you need to focus on so you don’t invest any money that you won’t get back out. Don’t start renovations thinking it will add value without looking at this guide. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and if you’re thinking of getting ready to sell, reach out to me and we can discuss how to get everything prepared. I look forward to hearing from you.

Inventory is increasing in our market, and price appreciation is slowing down. This means we’re shifting toward more of a buyer’s market. What can our rate of home sales tell us about our current market? For every single month of 2018, the buyer traffic has been greater than the same month from 2017. Realtors continue to report that demand is there—current renters want to become homeowners, but there aren’t enough properties available. Overall, we’ve had more home sales than we had last year. Why do renters want to become homeowners? Once they buy a house and have a fixed-rate mortgage, they can lock in their housing costs for the next 30 years. As you can see in the slide at 0:57 in the video above, nationally it’s 26.3% cheaper to own a house than to rent a house.  The good news is that our supply of inventory is increasing. After years of record-breaking inventory decline, September saw almost flat inventory signals, which indicates a big change in our market. According to Realtor.com, the number of new listings on the market jumped 8% year over year this past September—the largest increase since 2013. More new homes are also being built, as the number of new construction sales rose 12.7% year over year during last month.  As more inventory enters the market, buyers have more options. The signs are pointing to a market that’s shifting toward buyers, but in most areas, we’re still a long way from a full reversal from a seller’s market to a buyer’s market. Prices aren’t dropping, but the rate of appreciation is decelerating. Prices are a reflection of supply and demand, so as supply increases relative to demand, prices will naturally slow down. The last couple of weeks, I’ve seen a complete halt of sales for properties with bathrooms and kitchens that haven’t been updated in over 25 years. Buyers nowadays want everything done for them right as they walk into a property, so the slowdown in price appreciation isn’t just because there are more buyers on the market, but also because buyers are pickier than ever. “Prices are a reflection of supply and demand, so as supply increases relative to demand, prices will naturally slow down.” At 2:37 in the video, you can see that Zelman & Associates projects price appreciation to drop from 5.5% this year to 4.5% next year, and from 4.5% to 4.1% in 2020. If you’re a seller, you shouldn’t let this concern you, because concern can lead to paralysis. Buyers are still out there, so if you have a home that’s properly priced, it’s likely going to sell. It’s important, though, that you start preparing your home for the market earlier than you think you need to; certain factors can negatively impact your home’s value. These factors include: Your home being located on a busy street or a corner lot Dark paneling, trim, or wallpaper Not having central air conditioning If you’d like a full list of things that can negatively impact your home sale, get in touch with me and I’d be glad to provide you with one. Some factors, such as location, you can’t change, but others you can. This is why it’s important to have a professional by your side—so they can advise you on which changes will be the most cost-effective and provide you with the highest return on your investment.  If you want to learn everything you need to know about keeping equity in your pocket when selling your home, come to my next Home Selling Sharks Seminar on January 26, 2019. We’ll go over the eight strategies that will keep money in your pocket by fighting the “home selling sharks.” To find out all the details, check out www.homesharkseminar.com.  As always, if you have any more questions about our market or you’re thinking of buying or selling a home, don’t hesitate to call or email me anytime. I’d love to help you.

Following the tips contained in this book and in my seminars will set you on the path to home selling success. If it’s been several years since you last updated your home, you may encounter some issues when it comes time to place it on the market. This problem, among others, is part of what my new book, “Home Selling Sharks,” seeks to address.  Much like my Home Selling Shark seminars, this book was specifically designed to help you compete in the market and earn top dollar for your home. Following the tips contained in this book, and in my seminars, will set you on the path to home selling success.  Take, for instance, the listing experience of a recent client of mine. Under my guidance, this client was able to identify and resolve a major problem in their home: Their moldy, unfinished basement. They spent a large sum getting the issues taken care of, but they ultimately found the expense to be well worth it when they sold their property for $29,000 over list price.  And this is just one example. My book covers many other obstacles (or “sharks”) that sellers might encounter during the listing process. “Following the tips contained in this book and in my seminars will set you on the path to home selling success.” In addition to this, the book also details the eight key strategies sellers should employ when they list, which are:  Find a Realtor. 2. Get your home pre-inspected. 3. Get professional photos. 4. Get a room-by-room review.5. Develop a marketing plan.6. Utilize the “coming soon” listing strategy. 7. Develop a pinpoint pricing program8. Schedule Saturday showtimes.  All of these tips are described in greater detail within my great new book, so you’ll definitely want to check it out. To get a copy of your own, simply visit www.homesellingsharksbook.com.  If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Home prices have risen in our market year over year, and they’re predicted to rise even further in the next year. Here’s what that means for buyers and sellers. As we move through September and head into October, prices are leveling off in our market due to rising interest rates. As a result, the inventory numbers are getting a little bit better.  In the lower price ranges of the market, prices have gone up substantially more over the past year than they have in the higher ranges because we have a bigger inventory shortage in the price ranges in between. The best news about these rising prices is the average equity homeowners have gained year over year. Remember when some people’s houses weren’t worth what their mortgage was? Well, that situation is disappearing.  At the 0:56 mark in the video above, you can see a slide that shows the average percentage of homeowners from each state who have a positive equity share. In most states, the percentage is over 95%. Nationwide, the number of equity-rich homeowners is more than twice the number of homeowners who are “underwater.” For many of you, this means your house is delivering you equity and net worth.  CoreLogic forecasts that prices will rise 5.1% in the next year, and at the 1:28 mark in the video, you can see how their 2018 home price projections have fared against the actual rate of appreciation thus far. They predicted that prices would go up 4% or maybe 5%, but the actual rate of appreciation has outpaced that projection. “For many of you, this means your house is delivering you equity and net worth.” If you look at the amount of inventory that’s been available this year compared to the year before, there are fewer homes to sell. As you can see in the slide at 1:48, a contributing factor to this low supply of inventory is that current homeowners are reluctant to trade up in a market with rising prices.  If you’re a first-time homebuyer or a move-up buyer, the best time to buy is when prices and interest rates are low, and I think that time is now.  If you’re a seller, you need to start preparing your 2019 home sale right now so you can crush the competition. More homes will be coming on the market, so you need to know how to differentiate your home from everyone else’s.  A good way to learn how to do this is by attending my next Home Selling Sharks Seminar on October 13 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fort Washington. If you come, I’ll teach you everything you need to know to sell your home quickly and for top dollar. To get all the details of this event, visit www.homesharkseminar.com. You won’t want to miss it! As always, if you have any more questions about our market, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I’d be happy to help you.

Using high-quality professional photography is essential to your success as a seller, so today I’d like to share a few tips on the subject. At such a beautiful time of year, it’s easy for a home’s landscaping to look great and make the property shine, but the same can’t be said of the coming winter months. Therefore, if you plan to list your home in the near future, why not take professional photos now instead of waiting until the skies are grey and there’s snow on the ground? And this isn’t the only thing to keep in mind when having photos taken of your home. A lot goes into making your home look its best, so today I’d like to share a few tips on the importance of professional photography. Cited below for your convenience are timestamps that will direct you to various points in the discussion. Feel free to watch the full message or use these timestamps to browse specific topics at your leisure: 0:43 - Why hiring a photography early matters 1:33 - A few examples of poor photography 2:55 - A few examples of good photography 4:23 - How drone photography can help highlight a listing 5:21 - How 3D video tours make listings shine If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

I’m back with your hot-off-the-press August market update. This month, I’ve got some great news to share with you. For the first time in three years, the year-over-year inventory numbers are positive. That means there have been more listings this past month than there were at the same time last year. Check out the graph at 0:29 in the video above for a visual representation of what I mean.  Our currently inventory levels are far from what’s needed to satisfy demand. Though more interested buyers are coming into the market and the new home construction is failing to keep up, the number of buyers has fallen over the last couple of months. Inventory has followed suit, which can be seen on the chart at 1:05 in the video.  The decreasing supply of homes is leading to an increase in sales prices and decrease of days on the market. But again, we simply don’t have enough to meet demands in the first-time buyer and move-up markets. According to data from CoreLogic, the inventory for the starter home market is down 14.5% year over year, but prices are up 9.4%. Even though national inventory is up, the starter home market supply is dramatically down. That will likely continue to be the case because young people are driving this market. Interestingly enough, the chances of millennials buying homes increases by 17.9% once they’re married and an additional 6.2% once they have children. As millennials get older, they’ll jump into homeownership more, but there are a lot of obstacles that some will need to overcome. First American did a survey and found that 35% of millennials said that there was limited inventory of homes that they liked. Other obstacles found by the survey included overall affordability, inability to afford the down payment, and access to credit. “Our current inventory levels are far from what’s needed to satisfy demand.” The year-over-year comparisons have so far been pretty bleak, however, a recent uptick may mean the inventory challenge that first-time homebuyers face may become less acute. Since 1991, buying power has increased over time. Median home prices rose alongside this trend until about 2005, when they dropped. Now, however, prices are back on the rise. Overall, homes are still very affordable. Between 1985 and 2000, 21% of one’s income was dedicated to a mortgage payment on average. In 2006, that number jumped to 25.4%. Right now, that number is at 17.1%. According to Zillow, even if interest rates do go up to 5%, a mortgage payment will only account for 19% of one’s income. At a 6% rate, the percentage will increase slightly to 21.2%. So it will only be between a 5% and 6% rate that people will find that homes are truly less affordable. As far as down payments are concerned, there is a huge misconception in the market: Studies have shown that people believe they need to put 20% down on a home, and that’s simply not true. According to Down Payment Resource, millennials put down about 11%, buyers with FHA loans put down just 4%, conventional loan buyers put down 19%, and people with VA loans put down an average of 2% (even though that program often requires 0% down). So we can see that there are lots of opportunities in which buyers aren’t pressed to put 20% down on a home and start building equity. I don’t want to bring you this update without letting you know that we’re in for an economic slowdown in the future. Data from The Wall Street Journal’s survey of economists, investment strategists, and real estate market analysts shows us that at the end of 2019 through 2020 and possibly into 2021, the market will experience a slowdown. What does that mean for you?  For sellers, it means you should consider putting your home on the market very soon. It’s never too early to get started, so don’t wait for the slowdown to begin, since it might then be too late to get the best price for your home.  If you’re thinking of putting your home on the market in the next three months or even three years, I invite you to join me at our next free Home Seller Seminar on Saturday, October 13, at the Fort Washington Hilton Garden Inn. There, I’ll give you great strategic information on how to keep more money in your pocket while still selling your home fast. Go to www.homesharkseminar.com to sign up. For any other questions, you’re always encouraged to reach out to me.

As expert real estate consultants, our goal is to give you the best home buying or selling experience possible. What does it mean to us to be an expert real estate consultant in today’s market? Today’s message will answer that question for you.  There may be strong evidence that in 1908, the National Association of Realtors was founded to help guide consumers through the process of buying and selling real estate.  “A Realtor back when I was 9, 10 years old working in my father’s office was really a facilitator,” says Stan Casacio, broker and co-owner of Cardano Realtors  “He just basically put buy and seller together. He was the one that was the informational highway for a neighborhood.” Back then, people would walk into a Realtor’s office, sit down, and ask what was for sale. For their part, the Realtor had books of listed homes for sale they then had to sift through. In just 20 years, things have changed so much in our industry, but I feel that Realtor’s haven’t changed with the times.  Today’s real estate market is a battlefield, so you need a good general to guide you through it. 91% of homebuyers search for homes online nowadays. We don’t get phone calls from them that often. Instead, we get emails and texts. On the seller’s side of things, I’ve been staging homes and taking listing pictures since 1993, but now I get to showcase them on thousands of websites. “Here at Cardano Realtors, we manage the process.” What I love about working with my clients is taking them through the process from start to finish. They’re looking to get through it with all their limbs attached, otherwise they’ll lose thousands of dollars and get eaten by the “sharks.” I also love when they want a savvy Realtor. The modern Realtor is always thinking outside of the box and discovering new ways to get their message out to the word and get the best deals possible for their buyers and sellers. Here at Cardano Realtors, we manage the process. From the day the client walks out of the elevator to the day they close on a deal, we make sure we maximize their profit and give them the best experience possible.  We’re able to do this because the systems we use are the same for each client. More importantly, though, we enjoy the relationships we have with our clients, and we want to bring you into our family so you can see for yourself.  If you have any questions or real estate needs, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. I’d love to help you.

Interest rates are rising, but that hasn’t hampered buyer demand. This means prices are rising and should continue to rise. Now that we’re into June, what do the latest statistics say about our market and what we can expect throughout the rest of 2018? First off, interest rates are on the rise due to our strong economy. According to Freddie Mac, the average 30-year fixed rate started 2018 below 4%, but by the end of the year, that number could surpass 5%. Even though rates are rising, our housing market is in a good position to adapt. A constrained supply of available homes, persistent demand, low unemployment, and a steady economy have given a jolt to home prices. Higher interest rates are generally a good sign for home prices, and they haven’t affected buyer demand. In general, they should have a positive effect on home prices for the next couple of years.  However, if you’re a move-up buyer who needs to sell in order to buy, don’t wait any longer to make your move, because rising interest rates could present a problem for you. Not only are you paying a higher price for your next house, but you’ll also pay a higher interest rate.  The number of home searches versus the number of available listings indicates our overall lack of inventory, especially in the lower end of the market: Starter homes: -6.3% Trade-up homes: -4.8% Premium homes: +11.1% Starter homes represent the least-expensive part of the market, so that -6.3% explains why many first-time homebuyers are being priced out of the market. Since demand is strong but supply is weak, prices should continue to increase.  A good indicator of both buyer demand and future sales is buyer foot traffic, or the number of people who actually walk through the front door of a home they’re interested in purchasing. Our market’s buyer foot traffic was much stronger during the first four months of 2018 than it was during the same time last year. April 2018, in particular, obliterated last year’s numbers.  “Overall, prices have increased dramatically over the last five years.” This means people are more positive about the housing market going into the summer home buying season, which is great news because buyer activity is usually much slower during this time. Interestingly enough, in the starter-home and trade-up home markets, we’re in a seller’s market. Nationally, median home values rose about 8% in March compared to the previous year. Here are the total year-over-year price changes by price range overall: Low price: 9.6% Low to middle: 8.6% Middle to moderate: 7.2% High price: 5.8% Again, these numbers indicate our lack of supply in the lower price points. According to CoreLogic, homes in these price ranges have appreciated 55% in the last five years. Even homes in the higher-priced markets have appreciated 35% during the same time period.  If you’re interested in selling now and getting top dollar for your home, give me a call and I’ll have buyers lined up outside your door.  Also, don’t forget about my next Home Selling Sharks seminar, which is happening on October 13. At this seminar, I’ll give you more tips on how to sell your home stress-free for top dollar. You can visit www.homesharkseminar.com to learn more details and sign up.  As always, if you have any other questions or real estate needs, don’t hesitate to reach out to me any way you can. I look forward to hearing from you.

By signing an MLS Waiver form, you give your Realtor the chance to market your home before it gets listed and give yourself a chance to properly prepare your home for the market. If you are ready to put your home on the market, do not sign a listing contract with a Realtor without also signing an MLS Waiver form. Doing this will help your home sale tremendously, and there are a couple reasons why. First, it allows your Realtor to market your home before it hits the market. If this waiver is signed, that means your home does not have to go into the MLS right away. If you sign a listing contract without this waiver, your home is automatically listed in three days. I can tell you that 100% of the seller clients I work with never have homes that are ready to go onto the market in three days. This form also gives you the freedom to prepare your home for the market without worrying about it going on the market right away. I have a website for “coming soon” listings called www.comingsoonlistings.com that is specifically designed for this situation and notifies the public of homes that will be listed in the near future. This creates demand and excitement among your target market, and that’s exactly what you need when starting the listing process. “When you sign a listing contract, make sure the MLS Waiver form gets signed along with it.” This month, I have taken pictures of seven different houses so far because they looked so beautiful on the outside. Each of these homes’ sellers signed the MLS Waiver, so now I can start marketing their homes online and building anticipation among buyers. Most buyers start their home search six months to a year before actually buying because they have a home they need to sell first, and they are not going to put their current home on the market unless they know there is another home out there that they like that is coming onto the market soon. So again, when you sign a listing contract, always make sure you also sign the MLS Waiver form. In other news, we have another home selling seminar coming up on June 12 that you will not want to miss. If you attend, you will learn more about our “coming soon” listing program and earn a free professional photo shoot for your home. As always, you can find out more at www.homesharkseminar.com. If you have any other questions about today’s topic or you are thinking of buying or selling a home soon, give me a call or send me an email anytime. I would love to speak with you.

Having good exterior photos of your home stored away can help you sell it quickly and for top dollar any time of the year. Spring is here, and that means if you’re selling your home soon or in the near future, it’s important that you get outside and take pictures of it. You need to have good pictures of your home no matter when you put it on the market, and the only way to guarantee that you always have good photos is to have some stored away. Exterior photos of your home are the first thing buyers see when searching online, and good photos will encourage your target market to see your home in person. Remember, your home’s first showing happens online—not at the house, itself. If you can’t keep a buyer’s interest past four or five pictures, you’ll never get them to come visit and look inside. AndiIf you can’t get a buyer inside your house, I can’t sell it for you. In the video above, I’ve provided a photo showcase to show you exactly what I mean. Starting at 0:58, you’ll see a slide of an exterior photo of a home that was taken last June. I sold this same home in January 2018 in just three days because it was the only listing that showcased beautiful outdoor pictures. In the next slide at 1:23, you’ll see an exterior photo of another home. This time, we included the property’s backyard and all its foliage in the photo. We took that photo a full two years before we put that home on the market, and when we did, we sold it in three days for $10,000 over asking price.   “Having good exterior photos of your home stored away can help you sell it quickly and for top dollar any time of the year.” In the next slide at 2:04, you’ll see an outside photo of a home taken three years before we listed it. This home sold after just two days on the market, and it did so during a snowstorm for $23,000 over asking price. This particular seller attended one of my seminars first to learn about the importance of a photo showcase, and it paid off for them. In fact, my sellers who attend my seminars sell their homes four times faster than my sellers who don’t. In the next slide at 2:43, you’ll see a home whose exterior photo captured a tree in full bloom in its front yard. This picture was taken a year before the home was listed, and we sold it in nine days to a relocation buyer. That buyer was from Minnesota, and I doubt they would’ve been interested in seeing that house without that specific picture. In the next slide at 3:23, you’ll see some examples of how we incorporate drone photography into our listings. You’ll also see a couple of our drone videos. I only see drone photography used for about 1% of all the homes on the market, and usually only for high-priced listings. My team and I use it for all of our listings, no matter what price, and we do it because it captures everything. Most importantly, it gets buyers to click on those photos four times. After four clicks, you’ve got their attention. Those two drone videos were able to interest two relocation buyers for homes listed in very high-priced neighborhoods. One of those homes sold in just two weeks. The other sold before it even hit the market. You can learn more about taking good photos and other tips to sell your home at my next Home Selling Sharks Seminar on June 12 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania. For more information, check out www.homesharkseminar.com. As always, if you have any other questions or real estate needs, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d be happy to help you.

The latest numbers from our real estate market are in. Today I’d like to go over what trends we’re seeing and how they might impact your real estate goals this year. Spring has finally sprung. Let’s celebrate the end of winter by taking a look at the April edition of our hot-off-the-press market report.  Many people right now are wondering, “What’s going to happen to home prices?” They want to know whether this ongoing rise in prices is truly sustainable. They’re also wondering whether we’re headed toward another bubble.  Let’s take a look at some recent market statistics. You can follow along in the video to see charts and additional information pertaining to today’s topic.  Housing inventory is very low right now. As of February, inventory has decreased just over 8% year over year. This low level of supply has been driving buyer demand up so significantly that we currently have more buyer traffic than what we saw in May of last year. “Whether you’ve been thinking of buying or listing, now is a great time to make your move.” In the words of Rick Palacios Jr. (the director of research from John Burns Real Estate Consulting): “Buyers thought they could wait forever because rates were going to stay low forever. They’re starting to realize that if they’re going to buy, they should probably buy now.”  With all of this in mind, it’s important to realize that market statistics will vary by location. While average home prices have risen 6.6% year over year on a national level, the year-over-year change in price does vary between individual states.  As the numbers show, the reason behind the upward pressure on prices is as simple as supply and demand. Demand goes up as supply goes down. But does this mean we’re on the verge of a bubble? This is unlikely as rates are slowing. Currently, most experts predict that we will see an appreciation rate between 4.5% and 5.9% in 2018. Not all market trends this year have been this consistent, though. After rising steadily for the first few weeks of 2018, interest rates have been bouncing around lately. Therefore, I don’t recommend waiting around for a better time to buy. Whether you’ve been thinking of buying or listing, now is a great time to make your move.  If you would like to learn more about the listing process, you cansign up today for our next Home Selling Sharks Seminar. This seminar will take place on June 12, 2018, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fort Washington. To learn more about the event, visit http://www.homesellingsharks.com/.  If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Changes are coming to our market. Today, I’d like to review a few expert predictions on what we can expect. It’s time for the April edition of our hot-off-the-press market report. Spring is here and the market is on fire! If you’ve been thinking recently about the value of your home, I’ve got some great news to report. CoreLogic’s chief economist Dr. Frank Nothaft recently said that “[…] the net result of rising demand and limited for-sale inventory is a continued appreciation in home prices.” Also, according to the most recent Case Shiller report, appreciation was steady between June and November of last year. While there was a small slowdown in December, this doesn’t mean prices went down. All it means is that we went from an appreciation rate of 6.4% in November to 6.3% in December. This slowdown is very normal for the last month of the year. Sellers whose properties didn’t move off the market sooner are simply ready at that point to have their transaction over and done with. This translates to lower prices. Next, I’d like to give you a look at the average annual appreciation rates we saw in the past, including rates from during the housing bubble between 2000 and 2007. To give you some historical context, we can see that the pre-bubble appreciation rate for the 12 years between 1987 and 1999 was 3.6% per year. During the bubble, the appreciation rate was at more than 7% per year. Then during the bust period between May 2007 and December 2011, values depreciated by 5.5% per year. Since then, appreciation rates during the recovery period to date have been at 5.3% per year. “If recent predictions are true, we will soon be back to normal appreciation rates.” Now that we know what has led us to where we are today, let’s look at what is being projected as we move forward into the next five years. A survey conducted by a panel of over 100  economists, real estate experts, and market strategists found that most experts believe we will finish 2018 with an appreciation rate around 5%.In 2019, the rate is projected to slow down to around 4%. Then, appreciation is expected to level off at 3% per year from 2020 until 2022. Personally, I believe that anything past 2019 is too far off to accurately predict. However, if these predictions are true, we will soon be back to normal appreciation rates. So, what about cumulative house appreciation by 2022. The Bulls are at 27.4% and the Bears are at 8.3%, with the average projection being 18.2%. With all of that being said, is it a good time to sell? Well, according to Daren Blomquist, senior VP at ATTOM Data Solutions, “It is the most profitable time to sell a home in more than 10 years.” However, he also said that homeowners are staying put much longer than we’ve ever seen. So, if you are thinking of putting your home on the market, I’d like to invite you to join us for our next Home Selling Sharks Seminar on April 7. The event will be at Hilton Garden Inn in Fort Washington, beginning with a breakfast at 8:15 a.m. with the seminar starting at 9:15 a.m. To sign up, visit http://www.homesharkseminar.com. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

If you’re selling your home, don’t hire a traditional Realtor just because they have signs on the lawn. Hire a team with an expert negotiator and marketer on staff. When hiring a Realtor to sell your home, you need to understand what you’re looking for and you need to know what goes on behind the scenes in a real estate office. If you want to sell your home for top dollar, you need a marketing and negotiating expert instead of just a Realtor with a license. An expert will have a team of specialists around them to take care of the different parts of a real estate transaction. Big money gets put into your pocket as a result of marketing and negotiating, so you need to hire a company that does that day in, day out for their clients. You don’t want to look for a traditional real estate company. What does a traditional Realtor know about marketing? Do they have a marketing degree or any negotiating skills? There are hundreds of traditional companies out there, and traditional franchises are being bought out by real estate tycoons. They spend thousands of dollars marketing their company to get as many signs in the lawn as possible in the hope that some of them sell so they can get paid. A traditional company pays anywhere from 70% to 100% of the commission to the agent, which is paid by you—the seller. They’re not making money selling your house, so they’re not going to spend money either. They make money by charging the Realtor’s fees—monthly fees, copy fees, internet fees, etc. It’s a profitable gambit, but it’s one that ignores the customer experience. When I sell houses, as an expert negotiator with an MBA in marketing, I come out every day fighting the home selling sharks. Traditional companies, on the other hand, try to get as many people working at their companies as possible so they can pay them their good commissions and make money off the other side. So, would you rather work with a Realtor who has a lot of signs on the lawn or one who actually does something to earn their fee? Buyers aren’t calling on signs anymore. They see properties on the internet and then email or text. Signs don’t bring buyers. As I discussed in a previous video, there are three majors mistakes people make when hiring a Realtor: they hire them because they have lots of signs in the lawn, they hire them because they’re local, or they hire them because they’re someone they know. “Big money gets put into your pocket as a result of marketing and negotiating.” If you want to hire the right Realtor, your first step is to start earlier than you think. If you start earlier than you think, you’ll have more time to make a plan and dot your i’s and cross your t’s. One mistake can cost you thousands, so you don’t want to start today if you plan on going on the market a week from now. You want to start closer to a year in advance. Once you go on the market, you want to crush the competition by differentiating yourself, and that’s what a marketing expert does. Traditional companies don’t do that. In the video above at the 3:58 mark, you’ll see a slide I’ve provided that shows a cartoon explaining how a traditional, single Realtor at a traditional office works. Basically, they’re trying to juggle too many different balls at once, and they don’t know how to market to buyers online. As a result, their customer service drops. The next slide after that illustrates how a team approach works. In this picture, everyone is working to their expertise as a team under one roof, thereby providing a solid foundation from which to sell your home. There is no “I” in team, and when you hire a team, you want to hire a good one. So, the next time you hire a Realtor, get started early and do your homework. Don’t hire a traditional company or a traditional Realtor just because they have signs on the lawn. Hire a team with an expert negotiator and marketer on staff. If you’d like to learn more about this topic, you’re invited to attend our next home selling seminar on April 7. To get all the details, visit www.homesellingsharks.com. In the meantime, stay tuned for my next market report. If you have any other questions or you’re thinking of buying or selling a home, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.

SEMINAR DETAILS Thinking of selling your home because it’s either too big, too expensive or too difficult to maintain with climbing property taxes? Or is your home too small and you need a larger home for your family? Come learn how to keep up to 10% more equity in your pocket where it belongs. Diane will show you her 8 Secret Strategies and how you sell your home 4 TIMES Faster than using the methods of a Traditional Realtor. Also, learn about the following and how you can get your  “26 Day Home Sold GUARANTEE”: Eliminate All Unnecessary Expenses! Avoid unnecessary costs when preparing your home for sale and defend yourself against unwarranted inspection repair demands from Buyers. Avoid the 3 Top Mistakes! Home Sellers make 3 common mistakes when choosing a Realtor: Hiring a Realtor because the company has lots of signs on the lawn, Hiring a Neighborhood or Family Realtor, and Hiring a Realtor because of a price they give you. Stop Home Selling Shark #1! Hire a Marketing and Negotiating Expert with a Real Estate Broker’s License, stop looking for a Realtor. Avoid Lifestyle Disruptions! Sell your home quickly for top dollar and keep showing hassles to a minimum. Reduce Stress! Learn how easy selling your home can be with the right tools, real estate agent and preparation. Have peace of mind! Know that you hired an EXPERT real estate team to market and sell your home. This seminar specifically caters to home sellers who understand they need to start preparing from 1 month to 2 years in advance in order to get top dollar when selling their home. Thousands of people have attended our seminars. Whether you need tips on Staging, Pricing, Marketing, Negotiating or Overseeing Transactional Details, you will leave our seminar much more savvy than when you walked in! # RESERVE YOUR SEATS TODAY! Today’s real estate market requires home sellers to employ countless marketing strategies to help protect their asset from the Home Selling Sharks.  Learn why it is so important that your real estate consultant spends $, has an extensive marketing background and has creative marketing systems already in place. All attendees will receive a 40 page Home Seller Handbook, a Seminar Graduate Certificate and a tee shirt that says “You Have Survived The Home Selling Shark Seminar. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions pertaining to your specific needs. Also, all attendees will get a Home Shark Seminar Diploma upon completion of the Seminar. A new secret tip will be mailed to every graduate on a monthly basis to continuously educate you through the home selling process! We are looking forward to sharing everything that we know about the home selling process in this New World of Real Estate. 2018 Dates Saturday, January 27th, 2018 @ Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington 9:30amSaturday, April 7th, 2018 @ Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington 9:30amTuesday, June 12th, 2018 @ Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington 6:00pmSaturday, October 13th, 2018 @ Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington 9:30am The Breakfast Seminars, in January,March and October are on Saturdays and will begin at 9:30am and you are invited to join us for a fabulous Breakfast prior to the seminar beginning at 8:30am. Dom Giordano, Talk Show Host from WHPT 1210am will be the at 8:30am for a Private Meet and Greet. The Evening Seminar in June will begin at 6:00pm. At 5pm, please be our guest at the Meet and Greet with Dom Giordano, serving fabulous Hors d’oeuvres. Please join us the hour before the Seminar so you can get a good seat, enjoy some delicious food,  and be ready to learn about creating your personal Home Selling Strategy! RESERVE YOUR SEATS TODAY! #

I’m back with a hot-off-the-press market. Here’s what you need to know. Our old friend Punxsutawney Phil has predicted six more weeks of winter. Phil doesn’t exactly have the best track record for predictions, and recently, we’ve experienced unusually warm weather. Just in case our four-legged, state-appointed meteorologist is wrong, you might want to consider getting started on spring cleaning early. Spring is fast approaching. We know this is the time of year that people want to start the home selling and buying process. “The pool of interested buyers at the end of the year significantly outweighed what was available for sale,” said Lawrence Yun about inventory last year. The biggest challenge we have is a lack of inventory at a time when we’ve had tremendous demand. There has been talk over the last couple of years that maybe Americans don’t believe in homeownership the way that they used to. New stats suggest that this isn’t true. As a matter of fact, The Wall Street Journal published an article this past week that said: “The US homeownership rate rose in 2017 for the first time in 13 years….The annual increase marks a crucial turning point because it comes after the federal government reined in bubble-era policies that encouraged banks to ease lending standards to boost homeownership. This time, what’s driving the market is a shift in favor of owning rather than renting.” “The number of homes for sale nationwide has declined on an annual basis for the past 35 months straight.” Homeownership was dropping, and, from what we’ve seen, there were economic reasons behind that. Last year, we can see that in each quarter, homeownership was on the increase. It seems that owning a home is still a part of the American Dream. Again, the biggest challenge we have is the low inventory. We don’t expect that much will relieve this current shortage. The number of homes for sale nationwide has declined on an annual basis for the past 35 months straight. If you’re thinking about selling or buying a home, according to Bill Banfield, vice president of capital markets at Quicken Loans: “Homeowners received the gift of added equity this holiday season. With several years of growth, owners may have more equity than they realize. Many consumers use the tax season at the beginning of the year to reevaluate their entire financial life. It also provides a good opportunity for them to consider how best to take advantage of their equity while mortgage interest rates and borrowing costs are still near record lows.” There you have it. If you’re selling this year, get on my “coming soon” listings website and have buyers waiting to pay you listing price or more. If you’re planning to sell, but just not this year, you’re invited to our next home seller seminar on April 17 at the Hilton Garden Inn. Here, I’ll give you great and strategic information on how to make more money and sell your home fast. To sign up for the seminar, visit http://www.homesellingsharks.com/. For any other questions, feel free to reach out to me. I would be happy to help you!

How can you avoid putting your home sale in jeopardy? Start by hiring the right Realtor for the right reasons. I’m back once again with the February edition of the Hot off the Press Market Report. Today I will reveal the three major mistakes that end up costing home sellers thousands. Hiring a Realtor whose company has lots of signs on the lawn. The traditional real estate company markets itself on TV and radio to attract consumers. This also attracts Realtors to work at their company by luring them in with large commission splits so the consumer thinks the company sells lots of home because they see all the signs on the lawns. They think signs bring buyers. However, buyers are not calling into the office from a sign—they see the property online, hit a button and it calls the Realtor. Signs do not bring buyers to your home and the consumer does not know the difference. These big real estate corporations are buying out the smaller offices to get as many realtors in the office to sell, sell, sell, and they are not making money on the commission so they do not spend money marketing your home. They make money by charging the Realtors a monthly management fee, per sale admin fee, copy fee, internet fee, etc. They also capitalize on the title mortgages and other components. With every transaction, they are making an additional $5,000 to $10,000 or more off of a gambit that completely ignores the consumer’s experience and the money left in your pocket at the end. The consumer can see the prices drop on the internet—that is the last sign you want on your lawn, and that is what you see on all these traditional signs. Hiring the “Neighborhood Realtor.” Do you really think the neighborhood Realtor will net home sellers more money and have a more stress-free sale? What does locality or neighborhood have to do with how qualified the person is to sell a home? Since having a marketing and negotiating expert on your side when selling your home nets you the most money, does this local Realtor have an MBA in marketing and are they a certified negotiator? I can sell homes on the moon. Just because someone is local does not mean they have the unique ability to market and negotiate the sale of your home that leaves more money in your pocket. Hiring a Realtor because of the price they give you. Realtors will do that to get you to sign with them and they hold you hostage for six months and have to keep putting reduced price signs on the lawn. It’s better to price the home at market value and let them fight over it. That keeps lots of money in your pocket. “Inventory is low and it’s a great time to figure out what you need to do to sell.” There you have it! The three deadliest mistakes when hiring your Realtor. If you have any questions, please call me or email me at dianecardano@cardanohomservices.com. Inventory is low, and now is a great time to figure out what you need to do to sell your home in just one day for over the listed price. If you are thinking of selling a home in the next three months to three years, come to our next home seller seminar on April 7 at the Fort Washington Hilton Garden Inn. I will give you great and strategic information on how to make more money and sell your home fast and stress-free. Go to www.homesharkseminar.com to sign up or just call us at (215) 576-8666. See you in two weeks!

There has been a lot of confusion recently about changes to our tax system. Today, I’d like to clarify how the new laws will actually impact our market. Winter is here! Our weather hasn’t been consistent, but the good news is that our housing market is still hot. That being said, I know many of you are likely wondering how the new tax code will impact residential real estate. Originally, there were three major proposed changes being examined by the House and the Senate. The first was the change of requirements for the exclusion of gain on the sale of a principal residence, the second was a reduction on the limit of the mortgage interest deduction (MID), and the third was the elimination of the state and local tax deduction (SALT)—which would include property taxes. However, the tax code has now evolved from this original proposal. Let’s take a look at what impact experts believe it will have on the housing market. Starting with the capital gains tax exclusion, the proposal stated that owners would have had to have lived in their primary residence for five of the last eight years to qualify. But this change did not come into being for the final version of the new tax code. In fact, this portion of the tax code is unchanged from its former framework. Homeowners still only need to have lived in their primary residence for two of the last five years to be exempt from capital gains tax. “People purchase homes for many reasons other than the tax advantages.” Moving on, many people were concerned that the MID would be eliminated. This did not happen, but the bill has made some changes. The new bill reduces the limit on deductible mortgage debt to $750,000 for new loans taken out after December 14, 2017. Current loans up to $1 million are grandfathered in, however. Additionally, homeowners may refinance debts of up to $1 million existing on December 14, 2017, and still deduct interest, so long as the new loan does not exceed the amount refinanced. The new tax law also repeals deductions for interest paid on home equity debt through December 31, 2025. When it comes to home equity loans, interest is still deductible if proceeds are used to make improvements to the residence. On second homes, interest remains deductible but is subject to limitations. The last changes we need to examine are those made to SALT deductions. Despite the concern of many, these deductions were not eliminated. The final bill allows an itemized deduction of up to $10,000. Higher-taxed regions and homeowners who now have a cap on these deductions are likely to be impacted by this change. As for the impact these changes will have on you, personally, I recommend that you sit down with an accountant or financial planner. Of course, it’s important to remember people purchase homes for many reasons other than the tax advantages. These personal reasons, such as needing room to raise a family, will never change. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

The latest numbers are in for our real estate market. Here’s what you need to know. I’m back with the December edition of the Hot off the Press Market Report. Winter is coming and so is another tax season. The GOP tax plan looks promising, but we need to pay attention to this more as we go into 2018. As the legislation is passed, we’ll know exactly what the ramifications are. If it’s passed as it looks, some upper-end buyers and other people who use a lot of itemized deductions, they’re going to be hit pretty hard. The vast majority of the country is going to probably get a little bit more of a tax break, and that might mean that they’ll be more ready to go ahead and purchase. Now let’s take a look at our housing inventory. Inventory is very low right now and prices are rising. So, let’s take a look at the impact of monthly housing inventory on home prices. If we have less than six months’ inventory, that’s a seller’s market where home prices will appreciate. If we have between six and seven months’ inventory, historically, that’s a neutral market, home prices will only appreciate with inflation. If we have greater than seven months’ inventory, that’s a buyer’s market where home prices will depreciate. We only have to go back to 2010 and 2011 to know that we had nine months’ inventory overall and in some places more than nine months’ inventory. Prices were sliding then, but right now we’re below the six-month level of inventory.  As a matter of fact, Lawrence Yun, the Chief Economist at the NAR, said in the latest report:  “Existing inventory has decreased every month on an annual basis for 29 consecutive months. Until new home construction climbs even higher and more investors and homeowners put their home on the market, sales will continue to severely trail underlying demand.” “Demand is getting stronger and stronger.” Demand is getting stronger and stronger as inventory is shrinking. As a matter of fact, if we take a look at inventory, and we take a look at October (which is the last month with available statistics for this year) I compared it to the Octobers of 2014, 2015 and 2016. The month’s supply of inventory each and every year has actually decreased, which you can see in the video above. As more and more buyers are coming to the market there are fewer and fewer houses ready for sale. That’s the reason prices are going up. But we have to also understand, according to Bill Banfield, Vice President of Capital Markets at Quicken Loans: “Compared to the previous year our economy continues to improve and attract homebuyers who may have been on the sidelines during the past few years. This will add additional demand to the equation.” Well, there it is, ladies and gentlemen, it’s pretty simple. Every single month we have more and more buyers, and less and less inventory to sell. Even with limited inventory, there are more and more buyers out there. We have more buyers looking at houses even though we have a lot less houses to look at. Just this month I sold six homes for an average of $10k over the listed price. These were homes that were not selling just 30 days ago. And if you are thinking of selling in the next three months to three years, come to our next Seller Seminar on January 20th at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fort Washington. Here I will give you great and strategic information on how to make more money and sell your home fast, stress-free, for top dollar. Imagine that. Make sure you come to it. Go to http://www.homesellingsharks.com/ to sign up or just give us a call. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

These tips will keep money in your pocket, just watch this short video! Save thousands by using this one strategy, Room by Room Review. Give your home the opportunity to work for you! Go to www.FreeRoomByRoom.com. Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home search Selling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation Call me at 215-576-8666 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation It’s almost the end of the year, and many of you may be thinking about the possibility of selling your home in 2018. So, what can you do right now to prepare? What I recommend is to get a room-by-room review. Doing this will help you to have a quick, lucrative, and stress-free transaction. A room-by-room review is a free 30-minute appointment where we send out a listing specialist to evaluate your home’s current saleability. The agent will be able to give you tips on staging, paint colors, and decluttering. This review is like having a real estate doctor make a house call for your home. Some home seller seminar graduates aren’t aware of how important it is to take advantage of this opportunity months or even years ahead of when they plan to sell. Some people may think their home isn’t ready for this sort of room-by-room review, but the point is that it doesn’t have to be. This review can help sellers put together a plan of action. The agent who assists you will look past any clutter to let you know where you should begin, and how to concentrate your efforts moving forward. Give your home a chance to shine and get top dollar by scheduling your free room-by-room review. We’ve been doing this service for years, and we have tons of testimonials from seller seminar graduates who were able to sell within 26 days or less. “GIVE YOUR HOME A CHANCE TO SHINE AND GET TOP DOLLAR BY SCHEDULING YOUR FREE ROOM-BY-ROOM REVIEW.” Pat Ingram is one of these happy sellers. She initially didn’t quite agree with some of my ideas, but once she implemented them she was able to sell in just three days. To see just how well this service can work for you, go to www.FreeRoomByRoom.com to schedule an appointment. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email.

This market report is hot off the press! Learn about what the increase in homeowners recently means for buyers and sellers. Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home search Selling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation Call me at 215-576-8666 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation I am back with the September edition of the hot-off-the-press market report! Summer’s over and homes are still flying off the market. More and more people are jumping into homeownership. Market Watch quotes consumer confidence rose in July to the second-highest level in 16 years. Americans shrugged off all the drama of President Trump’s Washington, and took heart in the best labor market in a decade. Homeownership rates in the US actually went up 63.7%—the highest rate in three years. The bottom line is that the economy is strong and improving. Interest rates remain low, and employment is high. When combined with the coming demographic shift as more millennials enter the prime household creating years, this suggests that the housing market is on a steady course for the foreseeable future. As a matter of fact, people were surveyed with this question: “What would be the best way to invest your money—money that you wouldn’t need for 10 years or so?” Sure enough, real estate was the No. 1 answer. Another reason why more and more people are becoming homeowners is wealth. According to state representative Loretta Sanchez, homeownership is the first rung on the ladder of wealth creation in our nation. The average worth of a family that owns a home is $225,000, while that of one who is renting is only $5,000. This means that the net worth of a homeowner is 45 times more than a renter. “THIS MEANS THAT THE NET WORTH OF A HOMEOWNER IS 45 TIMES MORE THAN A RENTER.” Of course, because more people are becoming homeowners, the supply of homes continues to be very low. This makes the current market an even better time to sell. That’s why my coming-soon listing program is so vital in this new market. Check out these next stats: Homeowners who sold in the second quarter realized an average price gain of $51,000 since the purchase—the highest average price gain for home sellers since 2007. This represented an average return of 26% on the previous purchase price of the home. Homeowners who sold in the second quarter of 2017 had owned an average of 8.05 years. Additionally, mortgage rates are projected to go up by next year, which could cause some buyers not to be interested in moving anymore. Waiting will cost more in price and interest rate for the buyer, making your home less affordable for buyers, and possibly lowering the value of your home. These next statistics always make me chuckle. The difference between what a homeowner believes their house is worth and what the appraiser thinks its worth is just short of a 2% difference. When selling, I run the home through my pinpoint pricing analysis to make sure that we get the price that the home will appraise for, and save thousands for my clients. If you’re thinking of selling in the next three months or three years, come to one of my home selling seminars—the next one is January 20th at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fort Washington. It’s a great way to get information and tips on how to sell your home, and I’ll give you my eight secret strategies guaranteed to save you thousands on buying a home. Visit HomeSharkSeminar.com or give us a call.

Today I’ve got three great tips on getting top dollar for your home. But if you want to hear my full advice, join me at my upcoming seller’s seminar. Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home search Selling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation Call me at 215-576-8666 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation Today I want to go over the three things you need to do to get top dollar for your home. Low inventory means that homes are selling quickly and sellers have the advantage, but why not aim for getting even more money in your pocket? When you’re thinking of selling one, two, or even three years from now, there are three things you can do to ensure your success down the line. 1. Start way earlier than you think. Consider Noah when he was building the arc. When he was building the boat and gathering the animals, he did so well in advance. This is exactly the mindset you need to apply to selling your home. Come to one of my home seller seminars, where we’ll teach you eight secret strategies to getting you top dollar. This will guarantee you a quick sale and more money in your pocket. People who come to our seminars are getting their homes off the market in just seven days and for at or above list price. 2. Crush the competition. Imagine a sports game where the final score ended up being something like 101 to three. This would make for an amazing win and an amazing story, and that’s exactly what you should aim for in your transaction. Having a competitive mentality will help put you far ahead of the competition. There are other homes out there that want to sell too; you need to make sure that your home is better than the rest. 3. Have buyers lined up outside of your door. This is something that happens at every one of our open houses. If you follow these first two steps, this is going to be the result. If you have this vision and follow through, it can come true for you too. “HAVING A COMPETITIVE MENTALITY WILL HELP PUT YOU FAR AHEAD OF THE COMPETITION.” You can learn all of these things at my upcoming Home Selling Sharks Seminar on October 7th at the Hilton Garden Inn. Free breakfast will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the seminar will start at 9:30 a.m. There will also be a meet and greet with various speakers during the breakfast. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Using this one strategy, sellers can feel confident that they are getting the most money in the least amount of time. Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home search Selling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation Call me at 215-576-8666 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation When it comes to selling a property, it is never too early to get a jump start on the process. Today, we want to let you in on a secret that can save you thousands: a pre-marketing home inspection. We teach future home sellers each month at our seminar how to sell for up to 18% more. One of the ways to do this is by fighting off the “staging shark.” Real estate is a new world these days, and it’s a world where differentiating your home from the others is essential. I’ve taught over 1,000 home sellers so far, and from doing so I’ve learned that most sellers want three key things. They want to sell for the most money, in the least amount of time, and they want to sell hassle free. Having a pre-marketing home inspection takes care of all three of these points. When you get your home inspection taken care of prior to listing, you’re saving yourself a lot of money. If you discover anything in your property that needs a repair, you can choose from Cardano’s List—a compilation of business contractors my team and I trust to meet your needs. When you have your inspection done in advance, you can have repairs done at your own pace and with your own preferred contractors instead of ones chosen by the buyer. Additionally, buyers love being able to read home inspection reports as well as any receipts from the repairs you’ve made. This makes buyers more comfortable and will let them make you a clean offer at top dollar. In fact, a recent statistic says that 100% of home buyers feel more comfortable buying a pre-inspected home. “100% OF HOME BUYERS FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE BUYING A PRE-INSPECTED HOME.” A pre-home inspection also saves you time, since most buyers won’t feel the need to perform another after seeing your report. This eliminates the 14 to 21-day contingency period, and offers tend to be submitted in just days. This strategy means home sellers don’t need to worry about a buyer backing out because of a home inspection. All cards are on the table. Sellers will be able to put their market on the home feeling confident that they’ve already taken care of all repairs. So make sure that when you’re listing your home, you choose an expert advisor who utilizes this strategy. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Home prices are continuing to rise. What does that mean for you? Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home search Selling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation Call me at 215-576-8666 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation Today I’ve got the July edition of the Hot Off The Press Market Report. It’s real juicy this month, and we’re going to focus on pricing because prices continue to be an issue. Prices are continuing to rise, and we’re going to see more and more headlines about prices as we move through the rest of the summer. However, they’re going to be talking more about the challenges of these rising prices. Right now, interest rates are said to be rising, so buyers are a little nervous. This is not just the first-time homebuyer that’s nervous, but the trade-up seller that’s also being affected. Prices are higher than they were during the housing boom in 2006. Some people are saying that this is evidence of the housing market heading for another crash. That is not the case. When you compare the current price increases with what normal appreciation would have looked like if there wasn’t a bust in 2008, then we’re right on track with current prices. Home values are where they should be, and now is the time to sell. In the last 12 months, prices have gone up 6% nationally and, in most markets, the level of appreciation is actually accelerating. “HOME VALUES ARE WHERE THEY SHOULD BE, AND NOW IS THE TIME TO SELL.” There will be a surge in prices in this fall market, so get me to your home right now so we can get your home ready to sell by the time fall comes. We offer a free room-by-room consultation online at FreeRoomByRoom.com, and if you’re thinking of selling in 2018, come to our next Home Selling Sharks Seminar. Our next seminar is October 14, 2017 at 8:30 a.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fort Washington, PA. If you have any other questions or you’re looking to buy or sell your home, give us a call. We’d be happy to help!

Our spring season was crazy—but why? Homeowners are realizing the tax advantages of owning a home. Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home search Selling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation Call me at 215-576-8666 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation Thank you for joining me for another Hot Off the Press market report. We had an incredible spring, where 90% of the metro areas are boasting year-over-year gains. Why is this happening? Buyers are starting to realize the tax advantages of homeownership right now. I looked at the four major tax advantages of home ownership, according to the Tax Policy Center’s Briefing Book. 1. Mortgage Interest Deduction. “Homeowners who itemize deductions may reduce their taxable income by deducting any interest paid on a home mortgage.” 2. Property Tax Deduction. “Homeowners who itemize deductions may also reduce their taxable income by deducting property taxes they pay on their homes.” 3. Imputed Rent. “The return on homeownership is excluded from taxable income.” 4. Profits from home sales. “Homeowners may exclude from taxable income up to $250,000 of capital gains on the sale of their home.” Americans still think that real estate is the American Dream. 34% believe that real estate is the best long-term investment. Why are prices going up? It is generally a result of supply and demand. As a nation, we are at 3.8 months of inventory. That’s nothing! That’s what’s driving prices up, but not in every price range. Right now, we have way less than six months inventory for first-time buyer homes, so we have a seller’s market. A little more inventory for move-up homes will bring it closer to a neutral market. In the premium market, we’re in a buyer’s market because we have more than seven months of inventory and in our area, more than nine months of inventory. “INVENTORY IS HISTORICALLY LOW COMPARED TO THE LAST SIX YEARS.” June is our “Celebrate National Homeownership Month.” Homebuyers want more privacy, a place for their family to grow, some stability, control over their future, and putting their hard-earned money to work for them. Homeowners: if you have any thoughts about moving, you need to get started now. There’s not a lot of inventory on the market. In the next few weeks, we’ll talk about some great tips for homeownership. If you have any questions or you’re looking to buy or sell a home, give me a call. I’d be happy to help!

The traditional real estate process is no longer a method that works for sellers, and I’ll tell you why. Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home search Selling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation Call me at 215-576-8666 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation The traditional real estate process is lengthy and confusing for sellers. The first step that agents usually take is the listing interview, where they may be afraid of giving staging suggestions to the owner of the property for fear of insulting the owner. They’ll suggest a starting price and put the house on the market immediately without taking the time to adequately stage the home. The seller will sign a long-term listing contract with no “easy out guarantee” in case they aren’t satisfied, and after a month on the market they’ll put the price reduced sign out on the front lawn. Does that sound like a successful process to you? The average traditional Realtor lists one to two homes a year. They might not own a digital camera. The photos on the MLS may not be updated as the seasons change. They don’t do premarketing or a pre-inspection on the home, and one broker monitors hundreds of agent’s listings in those large corporate real estate offices you think of. There are no systems for monthly marketing meetings, either. There are so many unstaged homes with ineffective pictures online that a well-staged home will stand out from the competition and be noticed. Something as simple as updating photos to match the current season will make a world of difference to potential buyers. “THERE ARE SO MANY UNSTAGED HOMES WITH INEFFECTIVE PICTURES ONLINE THAT A WELL-STAGED HOME WILL STAND OUT FROM THE COMPETITION AND BE NOTICED.” In my next video, I’ll take you through the four steps in what I like to call the new world of real estate. These steps will help you list your home for the price you want and sell it quickly. If you have any questions about real estate or you would like to know more on this topic, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d be happy to help.

When is the best time to take exterior photos of your home? How should you stage the exterior so that your listing stands out to potential buyers? Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home search Selling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation Call me at 215-576-8666 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation Your listing photos are key to a successful home sale. When it comes to exterior photos, you should make sure those are taken when your house looks its best. It’s important that you plan ahead for exterior photos. Make repairs to the outside of your home, cut down any trees you’ve been wanting to get rid of, and consider power washing or painting your home. Now that it’s spring, your home probably looks really good right now. We offer to do a free video and photoshoot of your home, and we can come over after your landscapers are done to take some great photos and video for your listing. We use a flip camera or iPad to film your home; that way, we can post your listing to social media right away. Make sure that you work with a Realtor who is tied into social media. “WORK WITH A REALTOR WHO UNDERSTANDS HOW TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA.” If you aren’t planning on selling your home quite yet, we can post your listing photos to our ‘Coming Soon’ listings page on our website. For example, if you are selling your house in the fall, odds are your buyer needs to sell their current home before they can purchase a new one. Move-up buyers use ‘Coming Soon’ listings to secure housing after their home sale. These are just a few of the top tips that I like to share at our Home Selling Sharks Seminars. Visit HomeSellingSharks.com to sign up for our next monthly seminar. In the meantime, if you have any real estate questions, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

Home prices and interest rates are both going up in our market; however, as you’ll see, this is good news for both buyers and sellers. Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home search Selling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation Call me at 215-576-8666 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation Hello raving fans and welcome to the latest edition of my Hot Off the Press Market Report. Spring is here and people are very confident about the economy right now. Prices are rising—they went up an average of 7.2% across the United States compared to last year. In the video above, I have a few slides to show you that reveal some interesting numbers about our current market and what the future holds for buyers and sellers. The first is a home price expectation survey of where experts project prices will be over the next five years. There are three different projections ranging from most optimistic to most pessimistic. Overall, they are all projecting prices to rise at least 6.3%, and the most optimistic predicts an increase of 26.7% over the next five years. These are important figures, and I mention them because as I take these projections and apply them to a house purchased in January 2017, you can see they have a considerable impact on that home’s equity just based on appreciation. Year over year, if you would’ve bought that house for $250,000, it would be worth $292,000 in five years. That means you and your family’s net worth would increase by almost $43,000 just by purchasing a home. The chief economist from Quicken Loans says “Tight inventory has been a key to contributing factor to the year over year growth in home value prices. This steady growth could very well lead to more availability, driving homeowners to consider cashing in on their growing equity by putting their home on the market.” He is 100% correct. With prices going up, there’s more equity in every single homeowner’s home. I want to make sure you are aware of that equity, and if you decide to make a move, I’ll help you understand that you have the ability to move because there is extra equity in the house. If you are looking to making a move, now might be a great time. “IF YOU’RE LOOKING TO MAKE A MOVE, NOW MIGHT BE A GREAT TIME.” Interest rates are projected to go up along with prices this year. If you’re looking to buy a house right now, you should be aware of the two things that will determine what you pay on a monthly basis: interest rates and the original price. Both of them are increasing, which is phenomenal. There is no reason to wait to buy right now; if you wait, you’ll only pay more. Do increases in prices and rates mean that people will stop buying homes? No! Since 1988, the median asking price for rents has steadily increased. Historically, the cost of renting is much higher than the cost of buying. The percentage of income needed to afford median rent is 29.2%, while the percentage of income needed to afford a median home is just 15.8%. As I keep saying, if you’ve had any thoughts about moving, now’s the time. There are not enough homes on market and there are lots of buyers who can’t find homes. If you’re thinking you can’t get a mortgage, don’t decide anything before you talk to one of our trusted lenders. Just call us at 215-576-8666 for their contact information. Are you, or someone you know, going to be selling their home within the next 2 years? Sign up for our FREE Home Selling Shark Seminar Tuesday, June 20, 2017 at 6:00 p.m @ The Hilton Garden Inn, Fort Washington. Sign up now! www.HomeSharkSeminar.com seating is very limited for our Spring Seminar and our event will fill up fast! Stay tuned for my next video where I’ll address the topic of home staging. If you have any other questions in the meantime, feel free to contact me any way you can. I’d be happy to help you.

We’re creeping up on the second quarter of 2017, which means that interest rates are rising and many home sellers are about to enter the market. Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home search Selling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation Call me at 215-576-8666 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation Welcome to my latest market report! Today I’m coming to you live from Hawaii, so let’s jump right into the news. Right now, research shows that people are very confident in the economy, the job market, and what’s taking place in real estate. In fact, a recent Gallup poll states that Americans view the economy more positively since the election in November than they did in the previous nine years. Now I have a question for you: When do you think most listings come on the market? The answer is the second quarter of each year, which is coming up. This means if you’re thinking about selling your home but waiting until April, May, or June to put it on market—don’t! That’s when everyone else puts their homes on the market. We know that buyers are out there right now and we can get your house sold quickly. Let’s put it on the market now before the rest of the competition—including some new construction in many markets—hits the market too. “IF YOU’RE THINKING ABOUT SELLING YOUR HOME, DON’T WAIT UNTIL SPRING.” I’m not the only one saying this. Jonathan Smoke, the chief economist at realtor.com, stated in his latest article that “In most markets most years, the optimal time to list is in the spring so that the maximum number of potential buyers view the home. This year, the conventional wisdom of buying and selling may need to change. Inventory levels at the beginning of 2017 are at multi-year lows. Sellers now face very little competition.” If you’re a move-up buyer or just want to buy another home, pay very close attention to interest rates. The 30-year fixed rate skyrocketed at the end of 2016 and then came down a little bit, but now it looks like it’s bouncing around. I don’t think this will have a major impact on how many people will buy houses. Also, in a recent survey of loan officers that asked them how they thought rising rates will impact demand for purchase mortgages, 16.7% said it would have no impact because there is not enough supply to fulfill current demand. Another 16.7% said rising rates will weaken demand. I agree with that assertion. The vast majority of people moving on—they’re just going to have to pay more. If you’re a first-time buyer or a seller who’s thinking about buying, you have to take into consideration that if you wait until later in the year, you will have to spend more money. The Mortgage Bankers Association, Fannie Mae, and the NAR are all projecting that interest rates will continue to rise throughout the year. As you can see in the slide in the video above, if we average out the mortgage rate projections of the next three quarters, interest rates are going to be almost a half a point higher this time next year than they are right now. Why would anybody wait until the end of the year when they know they’ll pay more on an interest rate? Some people assume that because interest rates are going up, prices will decrease. That’s not what the experts think. In the past month, home prices have risen 1.1%, and it’s likely going to rise even further. As the CoreLogic Chief Economist Frank Nothaft said, “Very low mortgage rates sparked demand, and with inventories low, the result has been a pickup in home-price growth.” If you want to sell your home fast in 26 days, we have two Home Selling Shark Seminars coming up this month. The first is a breakfast seminar on March 25th from 8:30 a.m and 9:30 a.m. The second is an evening seminar on March 28th. They will both be held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Ft Washington, PA. To sign up, just go to www.HomeSharkSeminar.com. We are also having Homebuyer Workshop on March 23rd at 6 p.m. at the Abington Township Library. For more details on that, just visit www.CardanoBuyerWorkshop.com. If you have any questions about our market or are thinking about buying or selling a home, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. In the meantime, be on the lookout for my next video where I’ll discuss different parts of the staging process in the home sale.