The Benefits of a Comparable Market Analysis

I’ll help you buy or sell your home in Louisville, KY. If you’re looking to buy a home, I’ll help you pick the right home for you. If you’re thinking about selling, call me and I’ll tell you what price your home is most likely to sell for. Click here to search all available homes on my website.

No two homes are alike, which is why pricing a home for sale can be so challenging.

You may have an idea of what your home is worth on the open market, but in order to sell it, you’ll have to support your price to buyers with comparable homes – other similar nearby homes that have sold recently or are currently for sale.

To help determine the right asking price for your home, your real estate professional should prepare a comparative or comparable market analysis, or CMA.

The CMA is a professional report that real estate agents give to their clients. CMAs are generated by a computer program from your agent’s multiple listing service, (MLS). 

The MLS is available to members only, and they pay a fee to get access to the service’s public and proprietary data, including tax information, sold transactions, and listings input by all cooperating MLS members

Your agent puts search perimeters into the CMA program for homes for sale or those that have recently sold that are most similar to your home. This information is sorted according to fields of information such as neighborhood or zip code, number of bedrooms, number of baths, age of the home, square footage, price range, sold dates within 3-6 months, and other data.

The program then creates a report that tells the agent which homes most similar to yours have sold recently and which homes are for sale.

Having a CMA report done for your home is key to pricing it well and making sure you have a smooth transaction. If you have any question about CMA's or anything else real estate related, please give us a call or send us an email. We'd love to help out.

How to make moving easier for military families

Military families frequently relocate from base to base all over the United States. Even though these moves aren't unusual, they can cause some stress for all members of the family, especially if the relocation happens without a lot of warning.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) and Personally Procured Moves (PPM) come with military assistance to help soldiers and their families make the transition. Families can also take advantage of the do-it-yourself (DITY) option offered by the military, which could make the overall transition much smoother.

No matter how quickly the move happens, or what kind of moving assistance your family requests, here are some moving tips from Penske Truck Rental to keep in mind to help keep everything in order.

* Planning - PCS notifications can come without a lot of warning, or families may know about a potential move far in advance. For both instances, getting a plan in place is a good start. Gather important information into one folder, containing phone numbers, contact names, dates, receipts and checklists in this folder so you can easily track everything about your move. For some planning tools that focus specifically on military moves, visit the U.S. Department of Defense website.

* Moving - Many families choose the DITY option because it gives them more control over the move, and they can also potentially make some money in the process. The military provides an allotted cost for moving, and if you can come under that cost through your own planning, the military will pay you the difference. For example, Penske Truck Rental offers active military personnel a 20 percent discount for every truck rental, and will price-match any competitive offers on one-way truck rentals as well. Visit www.DITYmove.com to learn more.

* Weights - Military rules require soldiers to certify the weight of the rental vehicle when empty and after it's fully loaded. Weight limit reimbursements are set depending on a soldier's rank and dependents, but the traditional weights are estimated at 1,000 pounds per room, excluding bathrooms and storage areas. Then add in the estimated weight of large appliances, garage items and items in storage. Compare this number to what is allowed and determine if you can reduce the load in any way to avoid paying overweight costs. To help with weight certifications, Penske offers a Certified Public Scale locator tool online to help DITY movers in finding weigh stations.

* Contact info - File a change of address form at your local post office so mail can be forwarded, and also make certain your new information is updated with your specific branch of the military.

* Explore - Get to know your new neighborhood, both on and off base. If you have children, explore the schools and the after school activities available. Learn a bit about the city's history and gather information on the services the city offers so that on moving day, your water and electricity will be available when it's needed.

When in the military, a move is practically inevitable, but the process can be much less stressful on both emotions and finances with a little organization and planning from the get-go.

Courtesy of BPT

How to Evaluate an Offer on Your Home

How to Evaluate an Offer on Your Home

Multiple offer situations have become the norm in our market today: over the asking price, under the asking price, cash offers, etc. As a seller it can be hard to decide which one is best for you.

The first mistake many sellers make is choosing the highest offer without doing any research. Does that buyer have the funds or financing to make such an offer?

Find out which buyers are preapproved. Preapproval is different than a prequalification letter. When someone is preapproved, they have worked with the lender, given the proper documentation, filled out an online application and income has been verified. Prequalification is when a lender tells a buyer what they would qualify for if the information given, such as income, assets, etc., is correct and verified.

Once you know they are preapproved, what type of loan is it? How are they making their down payment? Some buyers will have contingency, where they must sell their home first in order to close with you.  There is nothing wrong with this, but it’s important to know you could face potential problems if their home doesn’t sell.

Another thing to consider is the closing date. Is it long period or short period and why is this? Closing a home typically takes 30-45 days. Is there a reason they need more or less time?

What about cash offers? Just as you want to make sure someone has the financing by preapproval, find out if the seller has the funds. This can be done by seeing a bank statement.

If you have any questions on multiple offer situations or how to get preapproved, please call me 502.220.4663 or email me at toddmartin@realtor.com

Too many good ideas, not enough resources

One of the biggest challenges facing business leaders today is sifting through all the potential projects that cross their desks and deciding which initiatives are worth pursuing and which aren't.

Recently, I got a wild hair and decided I wanted to build a boat. I've searched the Internet for the last several weeks looking for the right "project." I found a builder in Maine who's website convinced me that I wanted to buy the plans to build one of his boats. I measured my garage to see how much space I had to work with and narrowed my choice down to two styles.

Late last night I wrote him, explained my level of experience, and asked him if he had any advice. His reply came early this morning. He described the characteristics of each boat, including building and sailing, and asked me questions about what I wanted to accomplish with my boat. What was I looking for in the building process as well as what I wanted in sailing the boat later?

Basically, he presented the business case for each boat including:

1. My goal for building and sailing

2. The unique characteristics of each boat

3. The costs associated with building each boat

Business leaders today often face the challenge of too many good ideas and not enough resources to act on them all. Sometimes difficult choices need to be made by organizations doing project based work. Work management tools should facilitate the evaluation of potential projects to help make those decisions based upon something more than whether or not a project is a good project. In today's economy the decision must be based upon whether or not the project is the best project, or will provide the most value. And doing that requires decisions based upon predetermined metrics that include:

1. Alignment to strategy and vision

2. An understanding of the potential risks along with any risk mitigation plans

3. The rewards of the potential project

4. The costs, including the opportunity cost of not doing a project

5. The resource requirements

How does your organization evaluate potential projects for execution? Does your project management software help facilitate those decisions?

By: Ty Kiisel
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/business_and_finance/article_15928.shtml

Tenant screening: Check those tenants out!

The usual landlord/tenant relationship goes something like this. The tenant rents an apartment, pays the rent, the landlord maintains the property and all is well. The times that the landlord/tenant relationship goes sour can often be traced back to the tenant screening process.

Bad tenants usually do not just develop overnight, they have been bad tenants for a while and they leave a trail. Your job as a landlord is to sniff out this trail before you allow them in your property. You can save yourself many headaches by rigorously screening your prospective tenants. In fact, I might even go so far as to say that tenant screening is the key component to being a successful landlord.

Bad tenants may present themselves very well. They may dress and speak well. They will say all the right things. They may even have cash in hand and be ready to move in. When someone is holding $500 in front of you to move in, it can be very tempting. Do not do it! Screen them! Screen everyone thoroughly. Check every reference and verify everything on their application. Oh, you don't use a written application?!? Well there is your first problem.

Here are some tips when screening tenant applications:

Pull credit and criminal history on everyone. This is your first line of defense against the bad tenant. Compare the data in the reports you receive with what is stated on your application. Does it match? If it does not, dig deeper. Why is the info different? If we discover lies, that is immediate cause for disapproval.

Verify their work history. Do not do this by calling the number they have listed on the application if you can help it. A friend may be waiting for your call on the other end. Instead, call the main office and get transferred into the department where the person says they work. In this way you can avoid the "friend" set up.

The current landlord may want them out and will therefore lie to you. It is best to talk with the previous landlord or to get an accurate view.

People forge documents. It has happened to us. Do not believe the paycheck stubs, letterhead, whatever. Verify everything with the issuer.

The old adage is true; do not judge a book by its cover. We had a well dressed, well spoken man fill out and application, say all the right things and pay the application fee in cash. He must have assumed we would pocket the fee and not check. He had never paid a bill in his life. Even the phone company was after him! There are professional scammers out there, be vigilant. It would have taken us at least 4 months to get him out. I know that time frame could be a year or more in some parts of the country.

Ask their place of employment if there are any planned layoffs. We had a tenant get laid off the day he was approved to move in.

Most people are good, tell the truth and try to do the right thing. Your job is to weed out the bad ones by finding the lies. And they will lie to cover up their past, and get into your property. Evictions are neither fun nor cheap. So save yourself some hassle, set up a rigorous tenant screening process. Also, be sure to treat every applicant in the same manner by using the exact same screening process. Don't set yourself up for a discrimination lawsuit because you treated one perspective tenant differently.

Author: Kevin Perk

Kevin's Website: http://www.smarterlandlording.com

Help for teaching kids money management skills

Even though financial education courses for children are proven to contribute to improved savings rates and other financial measures, only 12 states require a personal finance course for high school graduation, according to the Council for Economic Education's Survey of the States.

In classrooms, studies show teachers want to provide personal finance instruction, but only 20 percent believe they have the capability to teach the subject, according to a study by the National Endowment for Financial Education. The benefits to students are real: Treasury Department research shows that high school graduates in states that mandate financial education have higher savings rates and a greater net worth than graduates from states without financial education.

As a result of the growing awareness about the importance of financial education, more resources are becoming available to teachers and parents. To help with funding for schools, a program called Pathway to Financial Success (www.PathwaytoFinancialSuccess.org), from Discover Financial Services, recently announced thousands of dollars in grants to public high schools to implement financial education curriculum and test students to make sure they are learning the content. Schools can apply for the grants via the website, and Discover will fund the grants up to a total of $2 million annually. Additionally, nonprofits like The Council for Economic Education are training teachers around the country, helping them teach children from kindergarten through high school about personal finance topics, such as saving and investing.

At home, parents can help reinforce what children learn about money. Unfortunately, these conversations are often not happening, as experts say parents are often more comfortable talking about sex, drugs and alcohol than they are about money - usually because parents do not trust their own financial acumen.

Indeed, it can be an awkward conversation, as the issue of money raises other concerns and priorities. But a number of resources are available to help parents talk to their children about money, such as the Jump$tart Coalition (www.jumpstart.org).

Pathway to Financial Success also offers an online resource center for parents, providing tips on how to talk to their kids about how to manage money effectively. Additionally, through the site parents can identify their school district contacts and find resources to reach out to their school administrators and teachers about bringing financial education into their children's classrooms.

For teachers, PathwaytoFinancialSuccess.org also provides sample lesson plans and other resources they can use in their classrooms.

Parents can start helping ensure their children are financially savvy by talking to their kids about money using a few simple steps at home:

* Use everyday experiences to talk about money. With tax season around the corner, talk to kids about the process, or engage them in the discussion of purchasing a large item and weighing the "wants" versus "needs" of the purchase.

* Talk to your kids about saving for a special purchase, and set small, manageable goals for them to reach.

* Be honest about your financial situation or poor financial decisions you have made in the past, and then talk to your kids about how you could have handled the situation differently.

* Make it fun by playing online games that teach common lessons of budgeting and saving.

Talking about money may not be fun - or even comfortable - but it is an issue that all families and young adults should confront with as much information as possible. There are resources available to help for all situations.

Courtesy of BPT

Can internet marketing be a long term business?

Here is the basic, honest, truth: most of the people get into Internet Marketing because they are convinced it is an easy way to earn quick money. Their approach is to make a fast website, put up some advertising and a few affiliate links and then sit back and watch while they earn real cash. There are a large amount of individuals who do this and also earn lots of money on the internet. But what if you want more than some extra or even quick cash (quick cash, naturally being a misnomer)? Can Internet Marketing really be leveraged to produce a worthwhile and long term career?

The quick and dirty answer is that yes, you are able to make Internet Marketing your long term and sustainable career. You only need to take on the project properly. The procedures and programs you use to build something to earn fast money are not all that different than the methods and systems you will use to build long term profits. So what would you do if you need to develop a sustainable career on the internet?

It is very important that the first thing you do, in order to earn long term money online, is accept the fact that you are going to have to do real work. You will have to do actual and real work on a daily basis and you will have days when you feel fantastic about what you do and days when you wish you could find something else to take on. This causes it to be just about like every other occupation that is out there. If you want to produce lasting cash flow by working lots right now and not at all later on then you are going to be in for a rude awakening in a little while. So be ready to roll up your sleeves and get to work.

There are a few ventures that lend themselves much better to a long term career than others will. Affiliate marketing, to use one example, is a great task for someone who wants to earn money on a part time basis or to supplement your already existent income. Is it truly possible to earn a full time income in this manner? You could if you pick out only the right products and then work like crazy to promote them. A far better approach, nevertheless, is to create your own products or websites and then promote those. This gives you full control over the projects you take on and how you accomplish them. And you will end up more likely to stick with it in the long run. If you want to give a service on the web this works much the same way. Writers, for example, need to create websites for themselves and create portfolios that they can point to as examples of their work.

Finally, perhaps the most significant thing that you need to recognize is that, when you want to build a long term and reliable income on the internet, you need to truly dedicate yourself to your task. You might have fun and feel rewarded by your efforts but first you should tell yourself "yes, I really want to do this." Making a half hearted effort is not about to get you anywhere.

by: Tanaka Ara

http://www.articlecity.com/articles/marketing/article_6729.shtml

Invest in family-healthy diets by growing half your plate

Healthy eating is defined in many different ways, but the United States Department of Agriculture replaced the former Food Pyramid with MyPlate - creating an easy visual for everyone to enjoy healthy and balanced meals.
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The MyPlate graphic shows a place setting. The dinner plate is divided in half. One half of the plate is composed of fruits and vegetables, and the other half grains and proteins. To see exactly how much that amounts to for each member of your family, visit www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov.andnbsp; If you're interested in changing your family's eating habits, how can you get them to fill up half of their plates with fruits and vegetables?
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This season, consider adapting your family's eating habits to mimic the MyPlate graphic. Although most on-the-go families don't eat that many fruits and vegetables, it's easy to do, especially if you plant a garden and buy from local farmers markets. When you grow your own fruits and vegetables it can help save time and money, but the benefits go much deeper. Growing fresh produce is a rewarding experience that provides your family with quick and healthy alternatives to snack foods. Even a finicky child will most likely eat a carrot that they grew themselves or snack on some salsa from their very own garden.
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Growing enough fruits and vegetables to fill half your family member's plate is easier than it sounds- here are some tips to accomplish this task:
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* Plan a garden. Map out a space in your backyard that will make a nice garden plot. Keep it in a sunny spot, away from trees and buildings. Consider installing a fence around the spot, especially if your backyard is frequented by bunnies or deer. If you don't have a backyard, check out your city's community garden plots to borrow or rent. Or consider creating a container garden on your deck, balcony or patio. It is easy to grow veggies in any space.
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* Make a list. Write down the vegetables and fruits you want to grow, keeping in mind what plants thrive in your zone, as well as the spacing you have available. If you don't have space for enough fruits and vegetables to last you the entire summer, consider participating in a co-op or making a visit to your local farmers market once a week to add in a variety of fruit and vegetable options.
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* Start planting. Give your plants all the nutrients they need to grow well, so you can experience a bountiful harvest. If planting in containers, the Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Potting Mix works perfectly for smaller pots or more arid environments, the Miracle-Gro Organic Choice Potting Mix provides an organic potting soil option and the Miracle-Gro Expand N Gro Concentrated Potting Mix is lightweight and expands with water, making it easier to move larger containers while planting.
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* Weeding, pruning and watering. Once planted, fruits and vegetables will likely need a little growing assistance in the form of pulling weeds, pruning back overgrown plants and of course, watering. For best results, water deeply each morning before the heat of the day has taken its toll. Container gardens tend to need to be watered more frequently because growing plants can quickly soak up water added to the container. With good maintenance, your plants should provide you with a large and delicious harvest.
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* Serve up those fruit and veggie dishes. When you're ready to harvest, start planning menus that will make good use of your garden's growth. Visit www.groyourown.com to find many delicious recipes that will use different fruits and veggies from your garden.

And don't forget about the USDA's MyPlate proportion recommendation. When serving, try and keep half of the plate full of what you harvested out of your own backyard to maintain healthy eating habits. If you find yourself with more fresh produce than your family can eat, consider donating to a local food pantry or sharing your harvest with friends and neighbors.

Courtesy of BPT

A woman's 'rare' journey: life with an uncommon disease

Everyone has a rare quality or a characteristic that sets him or her apart from others - a special talent, a unique interest or, for some, a rare disease. A disease is considered 'rare' if it affects fewer than 200,000 people in the United States. There are 7,000 known rare diseases affecting 30 million people, or one in 10, Americans. For comparison, one common disease, diabetes, affects more than 25 million Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

People living with rare diseases are extraordinary in many ways, often demonstrating exemplary traits when faced with extraordinary challenges. Lacey Williams, a young adult who is currently attending college in Spokane, Wash., has overcome difficulties that other people her age will likely not face in their lifetime because of her rare disease, hereditary angioedema (HAE). andnbsp;

Williams' rare disease journey began at age 4 when she was diagnosed with HAE. HAE is a genetic disease that affects about 6,000 people in the United States. People with the disease can get repeated swelling attacks anywhere in the body, including their arms, legs, hands, feet, stomach, genitals, face or throat. HAE attacks can be unpredictable, painful, debilitating and disfiguring. This often makes everyday activities like walking, driving or even fastening a button difficult, or even impossible. Many patients with HAE also live in fear of a swelling attack in the tongue or throat, which could be fatal if the airway closes. andnbsp;

Growing up, Lacey, like many people living with a rare disease, found her condition embarrassing and alienating. She wanted to fit in and be "normal," so she hid her HAE from her friends and classmates. Williams feared that people would treat and look at her differently if she told them the truth about her disease. But during her senior year of high school, Williams' perspective on having a rare disease changed. She hesitantly revealed her condition to some close friends and family, finding them to be not only understanding, but remarkably supportive. Embracing their support, she realized she no longer needed to deny her rare disease. Instead, she saw the importance of using her story to help other people with rare diseases accept and embrace them as unique. andnbsp;

Williams was determined to not let HAE set her back. She maintained a positive outlook and stayed involved in school and sports, including basketball and lacrosse. "My swelling attacks affect me physically, but I don't let them stand in my way," says Williams. "I live my life and keep up with my priorities daily, even if I'm dealing with a swelling attack."

Williams feels lucky that there are now treatment options available for HAE; 95 percent of rare diseases do not have treatments available. Since opening up about her disease, Williams has given speeches at local schools about HAE, as well as discussed her condition in her college essay. Her story was even featured in a newspaper and on a TV news segment in her hometown. She hopes that this recognition will continue to raise awareness about rare diseases like HAE, encourage tolerance for people with differences that make them rare, and improve the road to diagnosis and treatment for those dealing with a rare condition.

"Hereditary angioedema has taught me to put up with hardships and continue on with my responsibilities. The most important thing that I've learned from this disease is not to let uncontrollable adversities overtake my ambitions," says Williams.

For those living with HAE, please visit www.HAEA.org. For those interested in rare diseases, the people living with them, as well as ways to embrace being "rare," please visit www.globalgenes.org.* To learn more about HAE, including how HAE impacts people living with the disease, visit www.HAEandMe.com, an online resource for people with HAE, their friends and family members that offer tips and advice for people of all ages. (*These links will take you to third party sites containing information that is reviewed or managed by the respective parties responsible for the content.)

Courtesy of BPT

How to improve your YouTube videos: Five tips from professional filmmakers

More than 4 billion videos are viewed each day on YouTube, according to statistics from the online video site. This means it's a great place for aspiring filmmakers to showcase their work to a large, international audience. However, only 30 percent of all YouTube videos get 99 percent of the views on YouTube, according to media-monitoring authority Cision.

"While advances in digital cameras and technology make it easier for everyone to create their own videos, it's challenging for aspiring filmmakers to create videos that reach the right people and get noticed on crowded outlets like YouTube," says Gail Fisher, award-winning photo editor and department chair of the School of Film/Communication at Brooks Institute, a leading provider of higher education for film, visual journalism, graphic design and photography. "The good news is that there are simple things you can do to increase the quality of your videos and maximize exposure based on what works for professional filmmakers." andnbsp;
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Here are five tips from Fisher and Karen Farfan, a visual journalist and student at Brooks Institute, on how to make your YouTube videos stand out from the crowd:

* Find inspiration. Everyone has a story to tell. Take inspiration from your surroundings and people you know - go visit your favorite place, try something new, observe people in their everyday lives - and use what moves you to tell a story that will appeal to the masses. According to Farfan, the trick is telling a story in a way that will intrigue an audience - even those who don't relate well with your subject matter.

* Establish an audience and engage viewers. To build an audience, recruit friends and family to watch and share your videos, and post links to your videos on your blog, website and social networks. Use compelling keywords and cover images for your videos to attract people browsing for the content you've created. If users can find your video easily through common search terms and are captivated by your cover images, they're more likely to watch your videos and share them. Then hook your viewers within the first 30 seconds. Use beautiful imagery, an eye-opening quote or something unexpected, followed by a conflict that will encourage them to continue watching for a resolution.

* Less is more. Both with the length of your video and the text throughout, brevity will make your videos more engaging. Instead of using text or quotes to explain your story, let your videos communicate through visuals for a succinct message. To keep it simple, Farfan ensures that her stories can communicate a message well visually before even adding in text or audio during the editing process.

* Post often. Create content as often as possible without letting the quality of your work suffer. Keeping your YouTube site updated will encourage your followers to keep coming back for more and also attract new viewers. Farfan sets a goal of posting one new video per month to her site. Create your own goal, taking other work and personal commitments into account, and work to achieve it, whether it's daily, weekly or monthly.

* Have fun. If you're passionate about your work, it will show in your videos.

Courtesy of BPT

Five golden choices for investors

In the dark about how to invest in gold? Despite gold's increasing value and popularity, many folks don't know where to get started.

If that includes you, you're not alone. A recent survey shows that nearly half of US investors don't believe they're knowledgeable enough about the precious metal to make a decision about adding gold to their portfolios. The World Gold Council highlights these five options to get you started:andnbsp;

1. andnbsp;Gold Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)

Since 2004, U.S. investors have been able to buy Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) backed by physical gold through their brokerage accounts on a regulated stock exchange, just like a share of a company's stock. Ownership of gold ETF shares provides investors with a vehicle that reflects the performance of the price of gold bullion, less expenses of the ETF. andnbsp;With these gold ETFs, individuals do not need to physically store gold, so no need for a safe or safety deposit box. Different types of gold ETFs are available on the market but not all are 100 percent backed by physical gold, so read the prospectus carefully and ask your financial adviser to help you select the one that best suits your needs.andnbsp;

2. Gold mining stocks

With this option, you are investing in a gold-mining company, rather than gold bullion. Depending on the company, you may be able to generate income from dividends. While the value of gold stocks has historically been closely tied to the price of gold itself, other factors can determine the value of the individual companies. More than 300 gold-mining companies are listed and publicly traded in the U.S.andnbsp;

3. Gold Accumulation Plans (GAPs)andnbsp;

Similar to a conventional accumulation plan, GAPs allow investors to set aside a fixed amount of money every month in order to purchase gold on various days. This cost averaging cushions investors from short-term variations in the price of gold. When the account closes, investors could have one or more of the following alternatives: receiving bullion bars or jewelry or simply selling the gold for cash.

4. Gold bars

Gold bars range in size from just a few grams to the 400 ounce London Good Delivery bars most people have only seen in the movies. There are many different refineries that produce gold bars and most companies that sell gold will offer a variety of sizes to suit various budgets. andnbsp;

5. Gold coins

Issued by governments around the world, gold bullion coins are a popular choice for investors. Their value is primarily based on their fine gold content. Bullion coins differ from numismatic or collectable coins, which are valued on rarity, design and finish rather than their gold content. Many mints will offer "proof" versions of the bullion coins at a premium to the gold content for collectors and those looking for an heirloom gift for milestone celebrations such as a birthday or wedding. American Eagle coins are a common form of bullion coin in the U.S. and other popular bullion coins that are widely available include the Gold American Buffalo, Canadian Maple Leaf, South African Kruggerrand and Chinese Panda and Austrian Philharmonic.

Where to buy: Both bullion coins and gold bars may be purchased online or by phone from companies that specialize in precious metals.

"There are a number of ways to invest in gold and each can play its own role in your portfolio. Owning an ETF, bars or coins and mining shares may be viewed as complementary investments," says Juan Carlos Artigas, Global Head of Investment Research at the World Gold Council.

The World Gold Council (www.gold.org) provides useful information on why, how and where to invest in gold.

The information provided is for educational purposes only. Consult your financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

Courtesy of BPT

How to write a professional real estate property description that sells

There are do's and don'ts when it comes to writing a professional property description that sells. An effective property description can determine whether or not you sell the property.

Headline:

To begin, your headline must jump out from the page and catch the attention of the buyer. Make the headline appealing with captivating and positive words.

Description:

Always begin your description with the selling points of the property. List the best features first to keep the attention of the buyer. Use adjectives to spice up the description. For example, instead of stating dining room, try spacious dining room for your family to gather and share a meal. Let the buyer know why they will want the selling points of the house.

It's important to sell the area to potential buyer as well. Are you selling to someone looking for a single family home or a multi-million dollar estate? Highlight points in the area that appeal to your buyer like schools, shopping, public transportation, etc.

Location:

Include the geographical area in your description. Many buyers are looking to buy in a specific area.

Price:

Including the price of the property is especially important for the sale by owners. Price inclusion is also a way to screen potential buyers.

Call to Action:

End your description with encouraging words for buyers to call you. Give them a reason for a call to action. "This beautiful property will go fast, call now for more details."

Wording:

Choose your words wisely and keep them positive. Certain words sound better and are more appealing to potential buyers. For instance try cozy instead of small.

Now that you know what should go into an effective property description, you need to know what shouldn't. Avoid the following:

* Spelling, grammar and punctuation mistakes

* Uncommon abbreviations

* Clichés

* Jargon

* Passive voice

* Over the top vocabulary

Write in the present tense and make sure to include words like you and your in your description. This way potential buyers will feel as though you are speaking directly to them.

by: Rose Manning
Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/home_improvement/article_7348.shtml

3 Industry Secrets for Getting Top Dollar When Selling Your Home

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The market is on fire! Partly because of the time of year we are in and partly due to the dramatic shift in our marketplace. As of just a few months now, we are completely in a seller’s market where there are far fewer homes for sale than there are buyers. So how does a seller in this environment get top dollar on their property? It’s more than just time of year or general buyer trends; it’s a matter of actively, aggressively going after the best outcome. Here are three tried and true strategies that we use to get our sellers top dollar.

Price Your Property Effectively
I'm not suggesting you set a price lower than everyone else in the neighborhood to get it sold. But we are saying it’s critical to know and understand the market pulse in your area as it relates to today. The key word here is today. It’s no secret that one of the most prevalent methods used to determine market value is by evaluating comparable properties.

Appraisers and Realtors® in general, look at homes sold in the last 6 months to a year when considering values. However, when we are dealing with the drastic change that is our housing market today, it’s important to look at under contract values. This is what shows the truth of what buyers and sellers value in the market right now.

Follow the Laws of Supply and Demand
In any marketplace, whether real estate or otherwise, the basic principles of supply and demand play a huge a role in market activity. With real estate, we tend to see an upswing in activity beginning the spring months and it stays active until the fall when people slow down from their home search. Listings also follow closely with those trends.

When there is increased supply, demand goes down. Conversely, the fewer homes available for sale will dictate increased demand – a phenomenon we are experiencing these days. This translates to the spring and summer markets being better for sellers, with the expectation they will earn top dollar if the home is well priced.

Promote, Promote, Promote!
You can have any number of homes on the market but until and unless the word gets out, they will just sit there. Promotion is the key word and the way you promote your listing is also critical. In today’s fast paced, very NOW world – it is essential to cater to buyers’ needs. That means putting your property on social media, on every syndicated property home search site possible and advertising in other locally preferred ways.

Kick it up one more notch by working with a broker that has an extensive database of active buyers that are just waiting to be matched with the right property. Imagine – finding a buyer that is willing to pay over and above your asking price because your home is exactly what they’ve been looking for!
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The first step to getting top dollar on your home is to know and understand your local neighborhood’s buying and selling trends. Contact us today for an updated market analysis that’s catered to your locale. We’ll give you real time values so you can move forward with your listing with all the leverage you need to come out on top!

Six Ways Buyers Can Turn Up the Heat and Make an Offer Sellers Can’t Resist

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When you’re in the midst of a seller’s market there really is very little you can do but just watch the market, find the right home and jump on it! Because if you don’t, there’s a good chance someone else will beat you to it. But if you are making an offer, there are some ways you can make it one the sellers can’t refuse. Here are six key strategies to use as a buyer making an offer on a home in a very competitive seller’s market. 

Prove Your Ability to Pay
Gone are the days when you could present an offer on a home with the expectation that you would apply for a loan after it’s accepted. Even when we’re not in the midst of a seller’s market, sellers today expect to see proof of your financing or funds. They want to know that your offer is a viable one and having a preapproval from a lender gives them the peace of mind needed to proceed. Unlike being prequalified, preapprovals entail a credit pull and a look at your financial position, including things like debt-to-income ration, job history and more.

Make It Reasonable
As you may already know, an earnest deposit accompanies an offer. So as you decide the amount to put toward your earnest money deposit, be sure to be reasonable. Typically 1% of the purchase price, you can go up or down depending on your interest but generally, you should stay at or above 1%.

Don’t Lowball the Offer
There was a time when buyers could get away with making lowball offers but those days are long gone. Contrary to popular belief, making a reasonable offer will increase your chances for stronger negotiations. A higher offer is the better offer because you won’t offend the seller.

Go Easy on the Contingencies
When buying a home there can be a lot of contingencies in place ranging from waiting for the sale of another home, to inspection results to mortgage contingencies as well. Some are unavoidable but whenever possible if you can reduce the length of time for some of these processes or better yet, eliminate the contingency altogether – the seller will be more inclined to accept your offer.

Keep It Simple
Rather than bog down your offer with complex language that is hard to read and complicated to understand, make it as simple as possible. There is no need for legalese and if you can, put things in bullet point form to really make it easy for the seller. Less is more but be sure not to leave out anything important. 

Make It Personal
Sometimes multiple offers will come in and they are all very close to one another in price, terms and contingencies. Believe it or not, these are the opportunities for buyers to turn on the charm – literally. Write a personal letter explaining what you love about the house. Introduce yourself to the seller and do it in a handwritten note or card that will be memorable to them when they are considering all offers.

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Keep in mind, no two offers are the same and no two situations are the same – so you will benefit from having a strong Realtor® by your side, working in your best interests. Contact us today so we can work to getting you the home of your dreams!