Let’s be honest — a lot of the time, life gets in the way and our homes take the brunt of the abuse. Whether you’re selling your home or not, it may be time to upgrade your property. Here are a few ways to upgrade your home:

1. Get rid of the clutter. Everyone says that you need to declutter your home, but what exactly does that mean? I recommend getting three or four large plastic bins for things that you haven’t used in the last couple of years. If you plan on storing these items, make a list of everything in each box before you put the boxes in your garage or attic. That way, if you do need something before you move, you will know exactly which box it is in. You can also donate things you don’t need anymore.

2. Paint your home. Make sure you are cutting in and making those edges perfect. Consider taking a painting class ahead of time to learn better techniques and which colors complement each other.

3. Upgrade the hardware. Replacing the kitchen hardware, doorknobs, or bathroom fixtures is an easy way to upgrade your home. Whether you go with an antique brass look or a brushed bronze, whatever you choose will really clean up the look of the house.

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Changing the doorknobs or kitchen hardware is a great way to update your home.

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These are just a few ways to make your home stand out from the competition. Even if you’re not selling your home, you can enjoy these new changes and the updated look of your property.

If you can’t do these jobs on your own and you need a recommendation, please let me know. I can put you in touch with a painter, electrician, or plumber who will do a wonderful job. Also, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions. I would be happy to help you!

I’m asked quite often about short sales, so I’d like to discuss them with you today.

A short sale is what happens when a homeowner or a seller owes more money on the home they are selling than what a buyer would potentially pay for it. 

If, for instance, a seller owes $400,000 on their home but is looking to sell it for around $300,000, they would be considered upside-down on the property. A short sale would take place when they notify a Realtor that they’re looking sell, the house hits the market, and the seller is fully aware that they will have to negotiate with their current mortgage company to allow them to move on from the property after they find a buyer willing to pay fair market value.

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A short sale happens when a seller owes more on their home than what it’s worth.

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This is a very brief summary of a short sale, so if you’re finding yourself interested in the idea of a short sale while you’re searching for a home, please give me a call or send me an email for a more in-depth explanation about what kinds of control you do and do not have as a purchaser.  I hope to talk to you soon!

I wanted to talk today about what exactly a market analysis is. You may also hear it referred to as a CMA (current market analysis).

It really consists of all the data from your neighborhood related to homes selling, failing to sell, or going under contract which affect the value of your home. Be warned, though; while this information is very useful, it should only be interpreted by professional Realtors who are very familiar with marketing, market analysis on home trends, and what's going on in your specific neighborhood.

I personally don't like using the term "comp," which is short for comparable, for a home that's similar to yours that recently sold. Every homeowner is really specific with the upgrades they have made and the individual care they take of their home. It's really difficult to say that a home nearby is "just like yours." I try to avoid doing that.

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I always suggest that my clients have a plan B in case things don’t line up.

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The most important thing in understanding market trends and market value is to really zero in on the buyer behavior. Track what buyers are looking for in a particular area or neighborhood like layout, spacing, the yard, or the school district.

That's why it's so important to hire a Realtor who understands what buyers are willing to spend for your home today. Feel free to contact me for a more in-depth look at your home and neighborhood if you're looking to sell.

In the super-hot market we’re in right now, lots of people are calling me asking, “Hey Jeff, how do I sell my home and actually buy another home without being homeless?” That’s definitely a fair question. There are three ways to accomplish this:

If you’re looking for more details on any of these three options, just contact me by phone or email. I'd be happy to help you!

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I always suggest that my clients have a plan B in case things don’t line up.

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Is it too late in the summer to find a home and get into the school district that you want your children to be in?

Maybe you've been searching for the perfect home and haven't been able to find it, or maybe the idea of moving just came to you. My first suggestion is to find a professional Realtor like myself who can explain the process and find the perfect house for you and your family.

There are a few options.

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Contact the school district for the exact details about registration.

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The first is to move into a home that is vacant. However, to find the perfect home that's also vacant is maybe a 50-50 shot. Maybe you find one that is vacant, though, and you have an amazing lender who can close the loan in 30 to 45 days and have you in the home in time for the school year to start.

I recommend starting by contacting the school district to find out everything that's necessary to register your children for that school. Most schools only require a contract to be signed to register your children at the school district of your choice.

If you have more questions or you need the help of a professional to find a home in an area you want, contact me. Let's go get your perfect home!

Lots of people are always asking me, “How exactly do property taxes of a home I’m going to be purchasing affect me and my monthly payment?” Basically, your bank will collect 1/12 of the property taxes within your mortgage payment once you close on your new home. This can affect you in several ways.

First, they can determine how much the bank gives you for your mortgage. When the bank is approving you for a mortgage, they determine how much they’re willing to lend you per month, which has to include principal and interest (the actual mortgage payment), 1/12 of your taxes, and 1/12 of your homeowner’s insurance.

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Property taxes determine your buying power and your mortgage rate.

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Here on Long Island, where the taxes are typically above $6,000 and somewhere below $15,000, they also have a huge impact on your buying power. What do I mean by that? Let’s just assume that the bank approves you for a mortgage of $300,000, with taxes of $10,000 a year. That equates to a monthly number we won’t discuss here. However, if you were to find a home with a tax of $8,800 a year instead of $10,000, that would equate to $1,200 a month less, which would give you an additional $100 a month to spend on your mortgage payment. $100 a month on today’s interest rates is approximately $20,000 more you can spend on a home!

So, property taxes also determine your buying power. When you’re searching with your Realtor, make sure that you pay attention to the property taxes because that definitely affects how much you can spend on your home.

If you’re searching for a home or know someone who is, please contact me by phone or email.

Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report. Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale.  Today, we will discuss a common buyer mistake. I actually ran into this problem recently, so let me tell you the whole story. Wednesday night, I received a message from a friend of mine who claimed that her friend’s daughter is having an awful time trying to find a home. I cannot stress enough how often I hear this. I reached out to her friend via text message because it was fairly late and I didn’t want to disturb her. The message goes  like this: “Hi, so-and so. Someone mentioned to me that your daughter is having trouble finding a home.” I asked about the problem, and the response was, “She needs a three bedroom home. They’re not afraid to do work, but they also have to be able to live in.” Now, that is a description of what they are looking for, not the problem they’re having. I said, “Okay, they’re having a hard time locating a home like that?” The response: “Yes. Also, every time they find a house, it’s already in contract or an offer has been already made. It’s very frustrating.” That is frustrating. I asked if they had been working with one agent the whole time or different agents for each home. What I was trying to do was determine whether the problem was one agent’s inability to obtain a home for them or lack of loyalty to an agent. This nice lady said they were looking with different agents. Right then I knew that one of the problems is they don’t have an agent working for them. The agents they are trying to deal with work for the sellers. That makes the entire process very difficult and clumsy. They have to fight for knowledge and they are in the dark about what is actually going on. I followed up by asking if the daughter would like to sit and talk about buying a home. The response was she is incredibly busy and didn’t know when she could. This daughter was expecting a baby and running her own business, which means she probably needs a write off. To me, the motivation is there, but the reality is, she doesn’t have time. If you don’t have time to dedicate to searching for a home, that can be incredibly frustrating. I said I understood and if she wanted a professional, I would make myself available.  Now, I decided a very long time ago that I will not be that agent who runs around searching for a home without even knowing what that person wants in a home. In this situation, it sounds like there are too many cooks in the kitchen. The takeaway today is work with a professional agent and do your due diligence when you’re looking for a home. Have a consultation with your agent so they know your time frame, motivation, and what you’re looking for in a home. Don’t run around dealing with seller’s agents. Work with a buyer’s agent. If you have any questions about today’s video, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you.

Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report. Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale. A lot of my clients seem to ask me about escrow and escrow accounts. It’s a bit of a confusing topic, so I would like to clear a few things up today. An escrow account is basically a third-party account set up during a real estate transaction so that the transfer of money to seller from the buyer can be handled safely by a third party. Basically, it’s an account for buyers to put money into in order to pay for a seller’s home. Another form of an escrow account is when you have a mortgage that you’re paying to the bank. You’re giving them money and they’re depositing it in there, but you’re also giving them 1/12th of your property taxes and they will be paid out twice per year. Another escrow account is one that might be opened up by two real estate attorneys in order to take care of something that was necessary with the home after the purchase and the closing has taken place. A common example might be an open certificate of occupancy. Maybe a homeowner added a shed, and the buyer wants some insurance to know that are funds available if something goes wrong while he/she owns the home. These are a few different examples of what escrow accounts can do and be used for. I know it’s all a bit complicated, so please don’t hesitate to ask me any questions. 

Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report. Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale. It’s tough to pinpoint the exact moment when you should realize it’s time to move to a new home. Today we are going to discuss five obvious warning signs that it’s time for you to move into a new home. They are: 1. Money The first reason you might need to move is money. Do you need a new kitchen? How long will it take and how much will it cost you to do that renovation? It might make more sense to put that money into the sale of your home and buy a home that already has the features you want in it. 2. Clutter If you’ve been catching yourself tripping over objects and constantly running out of storage space, that’s another sign it’s time to move. 3. A growing family If you already have kids with more on the way, it may be time for you to branch out. 4. A shrinking family On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you have kids that have left the home and you are utilizing less and less space, it might make sense for you to downsize. Moving into something smaller will save on all your bills, as well as give you a nice bit of profit when you sell. 5. Neighborhood Does the neighborhood you're living in meet your needs as far as home appreciation goes? It might make more sense for you to sell now and re-invest in a neighborhood where market values are rising at a quicker pace. If you need to discuss any of these reasons to move, or have any questions for us, give us a call or send us an email. We would love to help out!

Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report. Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale. Today we’ve got three different tips for you on how to sell your Long Island home in this spring market. Doing these things will help you sell your home faster and for more money. 1. Amp up the curb appeal When you’re visiting a home and are drawn in from the time you get out of the car, that’s when you know you’ve got great curb appeal. It’s important to have well-maintained landscaping and a clean yard to draw buyers in. 2. Fix anything and everything A pre-sale home inspection is really helpful when you’re trying to be proactive about the sale of your home. If you have this inspection done and take care of the items on the report before you list, you can have a much smoother home sale with fewer negotiations. 3. Have an aggressive marketing plan With lots of competition on the market, you need to hire someone who is going to be aggressive with their marketing plan. You want targeted and proactive marketing.   If you’re thinking about selling your home this spring, we’d love the opportunity to show you our aggressive marketing plan. If you have any questions, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!