Divide Between Appraiser and Homeowner Perceptions

Accordingly to the Detroit-based Quicken Loans, appraiser home value opinions continues to fall below homeowner estimates.

The trend of a widening gap between appraiser and homeowner opinions continued in April, according to the Quicken Loans study of home value perceptions. The Home Price Perception Index (HPPI) showed appraiser opinions were 0.69 percent below homeowner estimates in April. The index dipped compared to March when appraiser opinions were 0.40 percent below homeowner estimates. April marks the third consecutive month of appraiser opinions falling below homeowner estimates.

It is not surprising to most appraisers that homeowners are overestimating their home’s value on a national average. There is nothing more disappointing to a homeowner than learning that the value of their home is less than they expected. This index is important for homeowners as they set reasonable expectations.

At the same time the national Home Value Index (HVI), a measure of home values based solely on appraisals, increased in April after a drop in March, gaining 0.28 percent nationally. Values also continued their strong year-over-year increases, rising 5.54 percent since April 2014 on a national level.

Even though the home values increased in April, it was not enough to cancel out March’s decline around the country. Homeowners that are still underwater are looking for large increases, but those increases can in fact price homebuyers out of the market. Home affordability could become a worry if home values increases get too far ahead of the modest pace of wage increases, which are sitting at about 2 percent annually.

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What's Desirable in a Home Today

There are plenty of home buyers these days dreaming about a brand-new house with the outdoor kitchen, the two-story foyer, and the luxurious master bathroom, complete with a whirlpool tub. But today homebuilders across America have decided to cut out those kinds of features in favor of efficient, organized, and pragmatic ones.

Walk-in closets, laundry rooms, energy-efficient windows and appliances, and programmable thermostats are on the rise. It’s all about efficiency, both of time and resources. A working couple trying to get out of the house in the morning needs a walk-in closet in the master bedroom, they need a laundry room that’s well-lit and well-organized. That’s how they improve the efficiency of the household, find clothes, get organized, and hide the clutter.

Today's buyers are fixated on comfort and affordability. It’s part of a postrecession cultural shift toward pragmatism, and homebuilders have adjusted their creations accordingly, appealing to a segment that’s willing to forgo a two-story foyer or family room to get a better price.

Their list of most and least likely features does offer a few surprises; it’s not all about the decline of luxury. Once a high-end item, granite countertops are now the norm. Specialty spots such as media rooms or sunrooms are being replaced by spaces that are more flexible, especially additional bedrooms. And communities with jogging and walking trails, previously coveted, are now less popular than a two-car garage. Just because some features are less common doesn’t mean you can’t get your hands on a house that includes them. All you have to do is spend more money.

Hear are the features most likely to be found in new homes:

         1. Walk-in closet                             6. Energy Star windows
         2. Laundry room                              7. Ceiling 1^st floor 9’
         3. Low-emission windows                8. 2-car garage
         4. Great room                                  9. Programmable thermostat
         5. Energy Star appliances              10. Granite countertops

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Don't Argue When Selling Your Home

Tips to Avoid Home-Design Arguments

Design and style preferences when when staging your home to sell may create quite a bit of drama. comes to your home. Here is some advice on how to stop the fights that have kept you from painting the walls or tiling the floors. 1. Make a plan Making a list of how each room has to function and look before embarking on a design project is not a bad idea. This will help couples and families prioritize and understand why one idea might be better than another. Think realistically about how you’ll use the space or how potential buyer might use it. Look through pictures online or in magazines, and talk openly about your likes and dislikes. 2. Listen to each other Communicate openly, and don’t forget to listen. Interior designers say the majority of their job comes down to listening to clients. Sometimes your spouse or partner might just want his or her ideas heard. Discussing concerns helps to avoid conflict, and will help you determine what he or she likes about a particular color, pattern or piece of furniture. 3. Combine your ideas Not everything has to match. There are ways to mix style preferences. This could be as easy as using one person’s color choices with the other person’s fabric selection. 4. Hire an interior designer Bringing in reinforcements often helps see eye to eye, but it could cost you between $100 and $300 for an initial one-hour consultation. For more tips visit http://findneworleansproperties.gardnerrealtors.com/

Getting Your Home Ready to Sell

When it comes to selling a home first impressions are everything. Majority of buyers make up their mind whether or not they like a house within minutes of stepping foot inside.

Here is what to do and what not to do when getting your home ready for the market:

• Do work on curb appeal. Curb appeal is a huge draw for buyers, invest in a new doormat and keep the driveway clear of junk. Warm lights glowing in the window will also be welcoming.

• Don’t expect people to use their imagination. If you have wild colors in your rooms, you might think that people will look past that. But that can prove difficult for buyers. Paint over those wild colors and put away any crazy items that might raise eye brows or bring on laughter.

• Do invest in updates that matter. People will pay top-dollar for homes with updated kitchens and bathrooms. If you make improvements to these rooms, you will see a huge return. At the very least, purchase new shower curtains, bath rugs, and the like.

• Keep it light, bright and airy. Open all the curtains, turn on all the lights. Replace all dead light bulbs. Crack open doors to the pantry or laundry room so people won’t be afraid to peek inside. And tidy up in forgotten places like inside the fridge or oven…people will be looking in there.
• Read more at http://findneworleansproperties.com/

Who Should You Trust to Sell Your Home

So you are ready to move on to the next chapter in your life, and you need to sell your home. Who are you going to hire to do this job?

You need a great agent, you need to be able to trust that agent, you need to know that the agent you chose will make YOUR business his or hers top priority.

Here are some tips published recently by Rismedia http://rismedia.com/rrein/18662/1023666/5079737/71884?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email

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2015 is going to be great for the housing market.

There are numerous strong indications that this year housing market will improve even more than in 2014. Click the link and listen for yourself.

For more good information or to search for homes go to

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What's The Right Price For Your Home?

If you are tempted to try listing your home for sale at a high price just to see if you can get it, don't do it.

It’s not unusual for homeowners to think that the list price should be based on what they paid for their home, the balance of their mortgage, or on the profit they want to make so they can move into another home. In reality, your home is worth only what the market is willing to pay for it. If you price your home too high, some potential buyers won’t want to look at it at all, while others will simply walk away without making an offer. Future price reductions will negatively affect the net you will collect.

Choose the right professional to help you with your home sale. A knowledgeable Realtor can factor in all of the issues in the context of your local market conditions, including whether home prices are rising or falling and whether it’s a buyer’s or seller’s market. Listen to your Realtor’s advice and your transaction is more likely to go through quickly and smoothly from the beginning.

For best information on how to sell your home visit http://findneworleansproperties.gardnerrealtors.com/