What can we do to make our house more appealing?
Jul/100
Many times Sellers ask us, “What can we do to make our house more appealing?” Besides the obvious-fresh paint, lawn manicuring, etc.-TACKLE YOUR CLUTTER ZONES!!
Peter Walsh, author and host of TLC’s “Clean Sweep”, says, “Later is the best friend of clutter. Clutter is just decisions delayed.” So true!!
That three year old magazine has a recipe on page 150 that you possibly may use in the future. The boat shaped cookie cutter has never been used, but some day….
Common “clutter zones” are kitchen drawers, bedroom closets, shoes, and garages. Let’s talk about those.
THE KITCHEN DRAWER:
Take all items out of the “gadget drawer”, place in a card board box. Whenever you use an item, place it back in the drawer. At the end of a month take a look at the items still in the cardboard box-then ask this question, “Will I EVER use any of these?” Now you know what to do-with the exception of items used during holidays such as a turkey baster.
THE BEDROOM CLOSET
Let’s face it; we wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time!! Conclusion: The rest of the items in our closets are CLUTTER! Need a way to handle clothes clutter? Try the “reverse clothes hanger trick.” All clothes on a hanger reverse them from back to front or inside out, whichever you prefer. For six months or so every time you wear something hang it back the right way after laundering. After the allotted time, whatever is still hanging back to front or inside out, ask yourself: “Will I EVER wear this item?” This is an efficient way of de-cluttering your closets.
SHOES
This is probably the most traumatic thing for women!! Parting with shoes! Oh, my! We may have to have some psych counseling on this item!
Line your shoes in a long hallway or large room. Sort the shoes by type-sensible pumps, sandals, sports shoes, color etc. Set a ratio for yourself. Start out at 10 to 1. For every ten you keep, get rid of one pair. Or give a ratio of 5-to-1. Whatever your heart can handle!
THE GARAGE
Make divisions in the garage-an area for mechanical tools, gardening tools, etc. Hang as much stuff up that you are able to hang. Make sure there is enough room to put cars in the garage. This may be crucial to a buyer to have room for cars.
If you have to, rent a storage facility until your home sells. Homes that show to have spacious closets and kitchens and are neat and tidy will sell in a faster time frame.
Sellers and their Realtors® must work together to obtain the common goal of the sale of a house. The Franke Team pays for two hours of staging on our listings. This truly makes a difference how a property is perceived by a buyer. Another factor is pricing. Hire a listing agent who knowledgeable will assist with both of those key areas.
Contact the Franke Team for commercial or residential real estate. Kim Bowling, Realtor, Website and blog: www.MyLakeConroe.com phone: (936)-203-3351.
Will Home Sales Take A Dip or Continue To Rise
Jul/100
With the end of the first time homebuyer credit on the horizon, the question is:
“Will homes sales take a dip or continue to rise?”
This Realtor® is “cautiously optimistic” that the trend will continue with an upward swing. As a matter of fact, I perceive an influx of re-sales in the near future. Why? Think about it! During the last few years there has been a huge drop in new home construction. That alone would indicate more previously owned homes will be on the market for sale.
According to the National Association of Realtors®, “During the boom years of 2003 to 2006, production (of new home) far exceeded the historical average, with builders producing a cumulative surplus of 1.3 million units.” Many investors with easy money “gobbled” up the excess property, and this “overproduction remained hidden”.
With so many homes currently on the market, it is hard to fathom a housing shortage! However, we may be taking the slow train in that direction. Lawrence Yun, chief economist of the National Association of Realtors®, says, “…the great underproduction in the past three years is an issue that will need to be reconciled, especially if the trend continues. Once we start seeing new household formation again, a housing shortage is something we won’t be able to dismiss too quickly.”
What’s happening in Montgomery County? Multiple Listing statistics indicates that there were 499 sales in May, 2009 as opposed to 558 sales in May, 2010. The number of sales in April, 2009 was 406, with 558 sales in April, 2010. Of those May, 2010 sales, 16.4% were new construction. May, 2009 new construction was 19.4%. April, 2009, new construction was 16% as opposed to 17.2% of April, 2010. Interesting that April and May of 2010 number of sales was exactly the same. This comparison is based on all areas in Montgomery County.
Did you know that ten percent of all foreign buyers who purchased property in the United States between May 2008 and May 2009 did so in Texas? According to the Texas Realtor magazine, “Texas is third behind Florida and California for international activity”. The 2009 NAR Profile of International Home Buying Activity indicates that “Texas is the top U.S. destination for buyers from Mexico and India. One of three buyers from Mexico and one in six from India choose the Lone Star State”. Another interesting statistic is: “46% of all international homebuyers paid cash; 29% of homebuyers from Mexico and 16%of buyers from India paid cash”. Montgomery County certainly has an international market including Mexico, India, Canada, Du Bai, Qatar, etc. Many of these buyers coming from these countries are American citizens moving back to their native land.
All in all, Montgomery County is doing well! As residents and property owners in this great county, we need to be ever thankful for our state of economy in the real estate market!
– Marion Franke
Contact the Franke Team, Kim Bowling, Realtor, for residential real estate. Website and blog: www.MyLakeConroe.com; phone: (936)-203-3351.
Kim Bowling of the Marion Franke Team Earns National Luxury Home Designation
Jul/100
Conroe, Texas – June 1, 2010 – Kim Bowling, real estate agent with The Marion Franke Team in Lake Conroe was recently awarded the Accredited Luxury Home Specialist (ALHS) Designation from The Luxury Home Council.
The Accredited Luxury Home Specialist (ALHS) Logo is testimony to the agent’s training and expertise in the luxury home marketplace. To display the ALHS logo and be accepted into the Luxury Home Council, each member must successfully complete the Accredited Luxury Home Specialist Course, represent a buyer or seller in at least two transactions where the purchase price is at least twice the average sales price and the agent must be in good standing with the National Association of REALTORS®.
Luxury Home Council Members receive numerous benefits to assist in marketing and selling upscale properties. Advantages of membership include access to the members only section of www.luxuryhomecouncil.com and www.luxuryhomesandproperties.com to market luxury listings, a subscription to The Luxury Home Expert a monthly online magazine, discounts on products and services, access to the REALTYU® Alumni Association and the ALHS database for networking and referral opportunities.
Kim Bowling joins an elite membership of top real estate agents throughout the United States.
Members must subscribe to a dedication like no others. They strive to provide exceptional service to affluent clients through rigorous education focusing on the Luxury Home Market and their understanding of the special demands of affluent buyers and sellers. Members of the Luxury Home Council are professionals; they value the client/agent relationship and are assuredly, the best in the country.
For more information contact Kim Bowling at (936) 203-3351 or The Luxury Home Council at
1 (800) 480-5150, email: support@luxuryhomecouncil.com.
How is the Housing Market in Montgomery County?
Jul/100
Let’s compare single family listings & sales year to year using January 1 through June 30 of 2009 to 2010.
ACTIVE LISTINGS
January 1, 2009 – June 30, 2009 6,365
January 1, 2010 – June 30, 2010 6,670
PENDING SALES
January 1, 2009 – June 30, 2009 3,264
January 1, 2010 – June 30, 2010 3,569
SOLD PROPERTIES
January 1, 2009 – June 30, 2009 2,516
January 1, 2010 – June 30, 2010 2,821
WATERFRONT PROPERTIES ACTIVE LISTINGS
January 1, 2009 – June 30, 2009 364
January 1, 2010 – June 30, 2010 388
WATERFRONT PROPERTIES SOLD
January 1, 2009 – June 30, 2009 95
January 1, 2010 – June 30, 2010 119
WATERFRONT PROPERTIES SOLD OVER 1 MILLION DOLLARS
January 1, 2009 – June 30, 2009 1
January 1, 2010 – June 30, 2010 4
WATERFRONT PROPERTIES SOLD OVER 2 MILLION DOLLARS
January 1, 2009 – June 30, 2009 0
January 1, 2010 – June 30, 2010 3
Very interesting statistics!! What does this mean? As we all know, the Montgomery County area is known as “Houston’s Play Ground”. People are loosening their purse strings to buy recreational homes, permanent homes and weekend homes. Consumer confidence has improved. The economy is slowly, but surely building toward a solid stabilization.
All is bright in Montgomery County! As residents and property owners in this great county, we need to be ever thankful for our state of economy in the real estate market!
Contact the Franke Team for commercial or residential real estate. Kim Bowling, Realtor phone: (936)-203-3351.