creeping up. Here’s how people are taking advantage of the market now.

We're in for a very competitive stretch in the

real estate market.

First off, mortgage rates have started

increasing. For the first time since last summer, the 30-year average mortgage rate is now over 4%. This follows a

long period when mortgage rates were near record lows.

This latest increase might be more than just a temporary bump. Some

experts predict that we've seen the last of sub-4% mortgage rates, thanks to

strengthening inflation and broad-based economic growth.

Second, mortgage

applications are also increasing. Applications were up in January by 4.1%

compared to last year. This has been led by people looking to refinance their

homes, while mortgage applications by homebuyers remained at steadier levels.

Third, housing supply continues to be

increasingly tight, with 10% fewer homes

on the market than a year ago.

What do all of these numbers mean for you?

Homebuyers are looking to lock in the current, low rates.

The growth in mortgage rates shouldn't affect

the number of eager homebuyers very much because there is so much more demand

than supply right now. However, this

rise in mortgage rates might actually reduce the number of homes for sale

even further.

Homebuyers should be looking to lock in the

current, still fairly low mortgage rates. When mortgage rates increase further,

incentive to sell their current home and buy a new home, which will require

a mortgage at a new, higher rate.

If you have any questions about where the

current rates are at or you have any real estate needs we can assist with,

please don’t hesitate to reach out and give me a call or send me an email. I

look forward to hearing from you soon.

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } What can you do to set your home apart from the competition? I have three tips to give your listing a competitive edge. Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home searchSelling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation What can you do to give your home a competitive edge once it hits the market? 1. Get your home pre-inspected. By ordering the inspection, you show the buyer that you’ve done some due diligence. It also shows that you addressed any issues head-on. Another benefit of the pre-inspection is that you will save more money in the long run. When the buyer does the inspection, they are trying to find everything they need to know about the property while looking for a way to renegotiate with you on pricing and repairs. Depending on what comes up during the home inspection, buyers can get very nervous. Their idea of what something might cost to repair can be a little skewed. If you’ve done the inspection and addressed those issues head-on—and you have the report and receipts to show it—you will save money in the long run. You also won’t be blindsided by any surprises. Staged homes sell in 11 days and for 17% more money than non-staged homes. 2. Have your home staged. According to the National Association of Realtors, homes that are professionally staged sell in 11 days or less and for 17% more than non-staged homes. Staging will yield you more money in a shorter amount of time. Staging also helps buyers see where things can be placed in the home to make it warm and welcoming. 3. Have professional photos taken. We always use a professional photographer on all of our listings. Everyone knows that a picture says 1,000 words, but I think a picture says a million words. People get emotional when it comes to buying, and those photos are their first impression of your home. If you follow these tips, you will set your listing up for a successful sale. If you have any other questions about selling in today’s market, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

What can you do to give your home a competitive edge once it hits the market?

1. Get your home pre-inspected. By ordering the inspection, you show the buyer that you’ve done some due diligence. It also shows that you addressed any issues head-on.

Another benefit of the pre-inspection is that you will save more money in the long run. When the buyer does the inspection, they are trying to find everything they need to know about the property while looking for a way to renegotiate with you on pricing and repairs.

Depending on what comes up during the home inspection, buyers can get very nervous. Their idea of what something might cost to repair can be a little skewed. If you’ve done the inspection and addressed those issues head-on—and you have the report and receipts to show it—you will save money in the long run. You also won’t be blindsided by any surprises.

Staged homes sell in 11 days and for 17% more money than non-staged homes.

2. Have your home staged. According to the National Association of Realtors, homes that are professionally staged sell in 11 days or less and for 17% more than non-staged homes. Staging will yield you more money in a shorter amount of time. Staging also helps buyers see where things can be placed in the home to make it warm and welcoming.

3. Have professional photos taken. We always use a professional photographer on all of our listings. Everyone knows that a picture says 1,000 words, but I think a picture says a million words. People get emotional when it comes to buying, and those photos are their first impression of your home.

If you follow these tips, you will set your listing up for a successful sale. If you have any other questions about selling in today’s market, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

lot about tax reform lately. Here’s a few ways The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will

affect the real estate market.

There's a lot of uncertainty about The Tax

Cuts and Jobs Act and its effect on real estate. Let’s first take a look at the

four key tax changes impacting the housing market at this moment:

Deductions for property taxes. Prior to the new tax

bill, if you itemized your deductions, you could deduct all of your property

tax. Going forward, this amount will be capped at $10,000.

Deductions for mortgage interest. The final bill

reduces the limit on deductible mortgage debt to $750,000 for new loans taken out

after 12/14/2017. Other loans of up to $1 million are grandfathered in.

sales exclusion for capital gains. If you sell your

home and turn a profit, then up to $500,000 of that profit is exempt from

capital gains tax. Although earlier versions of the bill required you to live

in the home for five out of the last eight years, the final bill made no

changes to the capital gains exclusion. In order to qualify for this exclusion,

you must have lived in your home for two of the past five years to claim this

exemption—just like before. 

Deductions for moving expenses. The final bill

repealed the moving expense deduction, except for those who are members of the

Armed Forces. 

first two changes increase taxes on current homeowners

and make homeownership less attractive. This

is a part of why the National Association of Realtors claims that home prices

could drop by more than 10% due to the new tax plan.

other hand, the last change makes it more expensive to sell your home. As a consequence, they could keep some homes off the market.

These reforms may drive home prices down in the midterm.

We'll have to see how the different changes

play out in reality, and how they interact with other real estate conditions.

However, there does seem to be a consensus among experts that current reforms might drive home prices

down somewhat in the midterm.

On the bright side, home sellers do still get

to take advantage of the home sales exclusion for capital gains. That is a

major victory for real estate.

That's why if

you've been thinking of selling your home, now might be a good moment to start

the process. If you have any questions, whether you are buying or selling,

you can always call me or shoot me an email. I can give you more specific

recommendations based on your unique situation. I look forward to hearing from

you soon.

optimistic than they have been in the past few years? Here’s what we found.

Here’s a paradox for you: Right now, homebuyer confidence is at an all-time high,

according to a survey performed by Fannie Mae. Furthermore, an increasing

number of people, particularly renters, think now is a good time to buy a home.

Yet at the same time, housing inventory

remains very tight. It’s down 6.5% nationally from last year. Home prices

are also up 6.9% nationally over last year.

In other words, homebuyers are optimistic at a time that the market seems to be

favoring sellers. So, what's going on? Why are homebuyers so optimistic all

of a sudden? Here are three possible explanations:

Lending is loosening up. Over the past several years,

mortgage rates have seen historical lows. This has meant that homes are

actually more affordable, in spite of the increase in prices. However, lending

has been very tight. Fortunately, that’s changing. Lenders are approving mortgages at the highest rate

since 2011, with 77% of mortgages for home purchases approved.

Lenders are approving mortgages at the highest rate since 2011.

are looking good. At the moment, fewer homebuyers are

worried about losing their jobs, according to the same Fannie Mae survey. It's

not just job security that's contributing to greater optimism about buying a

home. Overall income is higher, making homes more affordable by comparison. The

the income needed to buy a median home, compared to a historical average of

just 125%.

Long-time renters are ready to buy. Millennials, the

generation of people born after 1980, have largely opted out of homeownership

until now. They have been renting for a longer time, putting them higher up on

the pay scale compared to previous generations of first-time homebuyers. But

now, many millennials are finally hitting an age when they are willing to

commit to buying instead of renting. This is reflected in the Fannie Mae

report, which states that much of the increase in homebuyer optimism comes from

current renters.

What all does this mean for you? If you're

looking to buy a home, all of the above reasons should give you confidence that

now is indeed the right time to buy.

If you’re thinking

about buying or selling a home, click the links above to search for homes on

the MLS or find out how much your home is currently worth.

And if you have any questions about the Southern Maine real estate market, whether you're thinking of selling or buying, give me a

call at 207-553-2602. I'm here to help. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

There are a few common myths that exist around the subject of buying a home.

First of all, many people falsely assume that mortgage payments are unaffordable.

In fact, the tax savings you gain from a mortgage actually makes up a large portion of the difference between a rent payment and a mortgage. Mortgages are a lot more affordable than many people think.

The second myth I’d like to bust is that buying a home is too complicated. Though the process does involve some fine details, working with a quality Realtor will alleviate any confusion. The job of a Realtor is to walk you through the transaction from start to finish.

From helping with the pre-approval, talking about your goals, all the way into guiding you to the best home, Realtors are here to help.

Third, there is a common misconception that buying a new home requires a substantial down payment. This is simply not the case. Many programs exist, such as the VA program for veterans, that require zero money down.

There’s also the FHA program, which allows first-time homebuyers to put as little as 3.5% down. Conventional loans can also be as low as 5%.

It’s a great time to buy a home.

Rates are still low right now, so it’s a great time to buy a home.

If you’d like to hear how I can help you buy a home, 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 often asked what homeowners can do to get their homes ready for listing. Today I’ve got a list of five things you can do to your home without breaking the bank:

A tile backsplash in the kitchen. This is a relatively inexpensive thing to do and Home Depot offers classes on how to create the look if you’re a DIY’er like myself. This simple project can completely update the look and feel of your kitchen without having to spend the money on an entire remodel.

Painting rooms. Fresh paint really goes a long way without costing too much money. Be sure to choose neutral colors that will help the buyer visualize themselves in the room and give them a fresh canvas on which to work if they want to personalize the home once they’ve moved in.

Replace kitchen and bathroom faucets. Updating these items throughout the home gives everything a fresh look without having to replace the cabinets in a larger remodel. You can find new fixtures for a great price at Home Depot.

Spruce up your entryway. Adding a few simple decorations inside, as well as some potted plants outside your front door will go a long way towards adding positive curb appeal to your home.

Add a fresh layer of mulch to your gardens. Doing this simple thing will give your yard a cleaner, more put-together look and do great things for your curb appeal.

These simple things will go a long way to adding value to your home, and you don’t have to break the bank to do it.

If you have any other questions or you’re looking to buy or sell a home in our area, give me a call. I would be happy to help!

Before you sell your home, there are four key questions you should ask.

1. How does your home size and layout compare to other homes on the market? One of the first steps you can take in answering this question is going online to look at properties in your area. When you examine your home using other comparable homes as a point of reference, you’ll get a better idea of how to value your property. In addition, you might also find that this will help you decide on which upgrades, if any, might help your listing.

2. What are the key selling points of your home? Your property is unique. Along with looking at other properties to see what sets them apart, you should also be considering what is special about your own home. Do you have a security system, a fenced in yard, or other unique amenities? Determining these items will help you to better market your home.

“

Consider what is special about your home.

”

3. What are small upgrades and improvements you can do prior to putting your home on the market? Before you list, your home should be in the best condition possible. Small improvements like painting can make a big difference. But also don’t forget to take care of any repairs, as well. The front entrance is going to be especially important. Make sure it looks attractive in terms of curb appeal.

4. What type of buyer should you be looking for? Having a target demographic for your listing will make the process of marketing much easier. If you have a multi-family home you’ll most likely seek investors or an owner-occupied person looking to supplement their income. If your property is on the water, you might be looking for buyers who are seeking out a second home.

If you are thinking of selling, even if you aren’t planning to do so in the immediate future, I would love to help. I’d be more than happy to visit your property and help you answer each of these questions about your property.

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.

If you're selling your home, you may have looked to Zillow.com to see what your home is worth. Many times, Zillow will say your home is worth more than what your Realtor says it's worth. Why is that?

For starters, Zillow's home value calculators rely on a formula that only considers things like square footage and recent home sales in the area. As you know, however, most homes aren't perfect after years of wear and tear. Realtors dislike Zillow's Zestimates because they involve no human interaction. Zillow can't physically come see your home. Instead, it relies on an algorithm and statistics.

Secondly, these online estimates miss the details of a home. Your home might have wallpaper from the 1950s or a kitchen that hasn't been upgraded in 20 years. If your neighbor's home has those upgrades, the Zestimate can give you false hope because it doesn't know that your home needs the updates. On the other hand, if your home actually has all these updates and renovations, Zillow still doesn't know that. It could miss value that your home has.

“

Zillow can't come see your home in
person like a local Realtor will.

”

Third, these Zestimates are strictly guidelines. They give homeowners a lot of false hope, and even though it's easy to tell ourselves that the values they provide aren't always accurate, it's not always easy to remember. When you think your home is worth more than it actually is, you will be disappointed when you find out that it might be different.

You can do some homework on the Internet to look at recent sales in your area to get a better idea. To get the best idea of your home's value, you should consult a local Realtor who sells a lot of homes in that area. They can show you what has sold recently and compare the benefits and features of those homes to yours to help you come up with an accurate value for your home.

The southern Maine market is a very attractive seller's market right now, so if you'd like to know what your home is truly worth or you're ready to sell now, give me a call or send me an email soon. I'd be happy to help you!

Today I’m excited to tell you about Two Brothers Pizzeria and Deli, a great spot located at 213 North St. in Saco, Maine. I’m joined by Brady and Justin, the two brothers who are the inspiration for Two Brothers and the reason it’s here.

They use a hand-tossed pizza dough and make their own sauce in-house. Check out the video above for a live demonstration of how they make their handmade dough for their brick oven pizza.

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Both their hand-tossed dough and
pizza sauce are made in-house.

”

Some special items here include their marinated steak tips and chicken breasts as well. They also hope to be doing deliveries by the middle of next summer. For more info, you can check out their Facebook page.

If you come, mention Deja Lett and you’ll get $1 off your next pizza!