Bulletin Board

You just never know what you are going to find here! This is your place to post whatever. Contact us with your special quotes, public announcements, pictures, etc... Just complete the contact form and check "yes" to add to the bulletin board. Or send me an email and put "bulletin board" in the subject line!

What is My Home Worth Now?
Most likely less than it was worth in 2004. Unless you’ve invested in significant cosmetic updates. The best thing that you can do to improve the value of your home is to maintain it properly. Protect your investment! Kitchen updates are the most beneficial improvements. Since more than 80% of the homebuyers are searching for homes online, pictures of kitchens have become a top priority. As are bathrooms. Yes, over new windows, furnace, roof, etc. which are more important to the structural integrity of a home. The appeal of the cosmetics will initiate an offer. The latter will help survive the second round of negotiations – the inspection. Any improvement must be considered thoughtfully and done well. All too often amateur work creates a negative impact on the resale value of a home. Those sellers who dedicate funds toward a home improvement budget and maintain the condition of their home on a regular basis reap the rewards when selling. Complete article available upon request.

Have you paid attention to your tax assessed value?
Everyone else is – realtors, buyers, appraisers, loan officers, online sites. We NEVER used them in consideration of pricing until recently. Now they are much more closely alligned with fair market values and more equitable among real estate taxpayers. However, the foreclosure and short sale market have impacted values everywhere and the trend is to see tax values above actual sales prices in some communities and price ranges. If a home has been held by an owner for a lengthy period of time (about 9 years or more) and few improvements had been made which require city permits; chances are quite good that the tax value is less than the fair market value. If a tax assessor hasn’t personally viewed the home within 4 years, the tax value may not be as accurate. If NOTHING has been done to update or maintain a home, it is very possible that the tax value is higher than the fair market value. Tax values are a consideration, not true market value.

Dan's singing group, Living Proof
Free Concert Wednesday, August 25 at Westwood Community Church at 6:45 to 8:45. CrossRoads Chapel at the State Fair. Sunday, August 29 from 7:00 to 8:30.