Heated pool in Cornerstone Place

Buyers line up to move into Cornerstone Place; homes don’t stay on the market very long. Here's your chance. Cinco Ranch schools. Great location, convenient to the Energy Corridor. 3 BR, home office, island kitchen, covered patio plus your very own pool with a bath house. But wait till you find out about the fabulous, yet small neighborhood with less than 200 homes! There are BBQs, parades, swim parties, and cook offs, and one of the lowest tax rates in Katy. What are you waiting for? FREE RECORDED INFO CALL 1-888-266-0724 CODE # 2626 Click here to see the photos.

10 Staging Tips to Help Your Home Sell

I found this absolutely informative article online. 

Posted By susanne On March 18, 2010 @ 3:50 pm In Homeowner's Toolkit, How to Sell Your Home, Real Estate, Today's Marketplace, Today's Top Story, Today's Top Story - Consumer
Comments Disabled
http://rismedia.com/2010-03-18/10-staging-tips-to-help-your-home-sell/print/


[1]RISMEDIA, March 19, 2010—(MCT)—Want to sell your home? Get out the bucket, mop and Mr. Clean. The key to making a positive first impression is simple, said Sandra Rinomato, host of HGTV’s popular “Property Virgins” show.


“Get it clean, clean, clean,” said Rinomato. “If your house isn’t clean, it instantly sends up negative thoughts that the home is not well maintained. If your house is spotless, you’re ahead of the game,” she said.


But don’t stop there, advised Rinomato. To increase your chances of making a sale, “stage” the house to make it as attractive as possible. Until recently, “Staging meant pulling out all the stops—setting the dining table with your best china and crystal, arranging flowers, lighting candles,” she said. “Now we take the minimalist approach. Basically, you want to strip the house to its bare essentials, depersonalize it so potential buyers can superimpose themselves and their lifestyle on the house.”



Rinomato offered the following tips for staging a home:



1. Visit model homes and examine shelter magazines for inexpensive decorating ideas. Always keep in mind you are not decorating for yourself but for the general public.



2. Start with the outside. Give the house a fresh coat of paint, add shiny hardware to the front door and plant a few flowers to send a subliminal message the house is loved and well cared for.



3. Declutter every room to make it look larger. Get rid of family pictures, trophies and knickknacks. Closets and drawers should be no more than 30% full.



4. Invest in eco-friendly but bright lights. Open the drapes or remove them completely. “Light, bright rooms give the impression this is a happy place—and everyone wants to move into a happy place,” said Rinomato.



5. Feature only a few pieces of furniture with mainstream appeal. Pull pieces away from walls to make rooms look bigger.



6. Make sure a room’s primary use is obvious. A bedroom should look like a bedroom, not an office, hobby center or gym.



7. Bedrooms and kitchens are difficult to stage because they are in daily use, but make the effort. Clear everything off the counters and nightstands, roll up the rugs and hide the laundry hamper. Buff the cabinets with car wax and clean under the sinks. Invest in pristine white bed linens and towels.



8. Minimize the “pet effect.” Remove food bowls and litter boxes to the utility room. Deodorize thoroughly.



9. Organize the utility room and garage. Hang up the bicycles, roll up the hose. Renting a storage locker is worth the cost if it helps you sell faster and for a higher price.



10. Once your house is staged, invite your friends or Realtor over and walk them through to get an objective opinion.



(c) 2010, The Orlando Sentinel (Fla.).



Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.



RISMedia welcomes your questions and comments. Send your e-mail to: realestatemagazinefeedback@rismedia.com [2].



For more top headlines on RISMedia.com, be sure to see:

Foreclosures Take Heavy Toll on Hearts and Minds [3]

Even in Tough Times, 77 Percent of Americans View Homeownership as a Part of Their Own Personal American Dream [4]



[5]



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Article printed from RISMedia: http://rismedia.com



URL to article: http://rismedia.com/2010-03-18/10-staging-tips-to-help-your-home-sell/



URLs in this post:



[1] Image: http://rismedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/home_staging.jpg



[2] realestatemagazinefeedback@rismedia.com: mailto: realestatemagazinefeedback@rismedia.com



[3] Foreclosures Take Heavy Toll on Hearts and Minds: http://rismedia.com/2010-02-03/foreclosures-take-heavy-toll-on-hearts-and-minds/



[4] Even in Tough Times, 77 Percent of Americans View Homeownership as a Part of Their Own Personal American Dream: http://rismedia.com/2010-02-03/even-in-tough-times-77-percent-of-americans-view-homeownership-as-a-part-of-their-own-personal-american-dream/



[5] Image: http://www.addmarx.com/

Awesome Home for First Time Buyers

This is what you have been waiting for. It won't be here very long, though. Fabulous 3 BR-2 BA-2 Gar home has so many recent updates: roof with 40 yr shingles, fresh paint inside and out, kitchen cabinets, microwave, dishwasher, countertops, several of the light fixtures, kitchen sink and faucet, tile floors, carpet, both bathroom vanities and sinks. Make your appointment now before it is too late. This is one home you better not "sleep on it". Only $105,000.  FREE RECORDED INFO CALL 1-888-266-0724 CODE # 2247 Click here to see the photos.

This Month in Real Estate

This Month in Real Estate-a monthly update on the health of the real estate market.

Cornerstone Place in Katy Texas

Curious how 2009 in real estate stacked up in Cornerstone Place in Katy Texas? Were things as bad as everyone expected them to be? Have we lost all of the equity in our homes? Well let’s take a look and see.
During 2009 there were six homes that sold in Cornerstone Place with an approximate average sale price of $175,000. The six homes that sold in our neighborhood in 2009 were a whopping two thirds less that the 18 homes that sold in 2008, but with a slightly higher sales price, up from $173,000. The chart below shows the historical average sales price in Cornerstone Place since 1997. The low number of homes sold in our neighborhood in 2009 is not surprising given the fact that 2009 was an extremely difficult year for the U.S. economy in general. Unemployment in this country reached staggering levels while those who still had jobs worried about losing them.
However, it seems that the outlook is improving somewhat. While I am not ready to declare that what many are calling “The Great Recession” to be completely over, it does seem that many are starting to emerge from their hiding places with renewed determination to move on with their lives. I read an article, (I can’t remember where) that said that people are tired of being scared and are just deciding that they are not going to be anymore. Economic activity seems to be on the rise, including in the real estate segment of the economy. To me this seems to be a testament to the optimistic spirit of the American people. You just can’t keep them down for long. It seems like we are trying to claw our way out of the recession despite all odds.
MLS area 36 (Katy south of 1-10) saw a 1.5% increase in the number of home sold in 2009 over 2008 with a 2.5% increase in the average sales price. That is also another indicator that things aren’t as bad as they seem to be.
I recently saw a study on Forbes.com that ranked the top 10 cities in the US for buying homes. Of course I was looking to see where Houston ranked on the list. Since it focused on things like market stability, foreclosure rates and inventory to determine the list, I wondered how we fit in. There are two ways to look at a housing market. One would be “can I get a home for a steal because the foreclosure rate is so high”, a bottom feeding mentality. While there are definitely some opportunities like that out there, that doesn’t seem like a healthy, sustainable market to me. The other way to look at a market would be “is there a fundamentally sound home buying market, and are there good opportunities to purchase affordably priced homes”. The Forbes study focused on the latter as a basis to determine their list. In this type of analysis Houston ranked number 3. Dallas/Ft. Worth and Austin were also on the list at numbers 9 and 10 respectively. That’s not bad, if you ask me, particularly since I live in Houston and I own a home. We know that homes are more affordable than they have been in decades thanks to low home prices and bottom-of-the-barrel-scrapping interest rates. In fact according to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) the payment on the median home is only 15% of median home buyer’s income as of the end of 2009. That is an incredible number when you consider that the 40 year average is over 21%. If you combine that with the soon-expiring tax credits for home buyers then it’s probably never been a better time to buy a home. According to Forbes.com, Houston is the 3rd best city in the US in which to buy that home.

But nothing lasts forever. Part of the reason Forbes.com ranked these cities as good places to buy homes is because of rising home prices. After all, who wants to buy a home that is going to decrease in value? Combine that with the expectation of rising interest rates and the best opportunities to own a home may soon be coming to an end. There is a saying among real estate investors that you “make your money when you buy.” Now might be the best time in our lifetimes to do that as homeowner. Most people wait for the bottom of the market to buy and miss the opportunity because unfortunately the bottom is almost always viewed in the rearview mirror.
So to answer our opening question it appears that 2009 wasn’t all that bad in our little corner of Katy. Cornerstone Place is a great place to live. 

SHOWS LIKE A MODEL

We know you have so many choices right now but you owe it to yourself to see this gorgeous yet practical home before the tax deadline arrives. Extremely convenient location near Hwy 290, Hwy 6, West Rd with schools, shopping, medical facilities just down the road. 4 BR-2.5 BA apprx. 2728 SF. Fresh paint in many rooms and great floors mean you can move right on in and unpack. Lots of storage, whirlpool tub, high ceilings, huge gameroom, elegant staircase, island kitchen, abundant counterspace, plus more. Also for rent.  FREE RECORDED INFO CALL 1-888-266-0724 CODE # 2620 Click here to see the photos.

Convenient cul de sac location

Charming single story brick 4 BR Perry home on cul de sac in Waterside Village. Custom cabinets; ceramic tile in den and kitchen; pantry; island; sep tub/shower/2 sinks in master bath. Formal dining room.  Convenient location: Grand Pkwy-Westpark Toll; Pecan Grove C/Club just minutes away! FREE RECORDED INFO CALL 1-888-266-0724 CODE # 2536 Click here to see the photos.

Classy Condo in Sugar Land

Located in the heart of thriving Sugar Land, just ½ mile from Sugar Land Town Square and First Colony Mall, this 2 BR–2 BA condo has a panoramic view of lake fountains. No neighbors above or to one side. Updated unit includes granite, w/d unit, refrigerator. Loft up/screened patio down. FREE RECORDED INFO CALL 1-888-266-0724 CODE # 2269 Click here to see the photos.

Deerfield Village Cul de sac

Located on a cul de sac in desirable Deerfield Village, framed by stately trees. Centrally located to I-10, Hwy 6, Hwy 529, Hwy 290 with a short drive to the Energy Corridor. This 4 BR, 3½ bath home has a gameroom upstairs. Recent updates: roof ’03, furnace ’04, a/c up ’07, ext paint ’05, hot water heater ’08 plus more. Check out the sizes of all the rooms, especially the bedrooms and the yard. Come see it yourself to appreciate this home’s beauty. FREE RECORDED INFO CALL 1-888-266-0724 CODE # 2129. Click here to see the photos.