by Jeff Pittman | Sep 28, 2015 | Sellers
5 Prep Steps To Make Your Listing Photos Instantly Look Better Real estate is all about presenting your listing in the best possible light (literally), which means having great listing photos. 92% of home buyers go online while searching for a home so the photos you put up need to be top notch to get you top dollar for your home. How much you spend on those listing photos is entirely up to you but no matter what you spend, stick to these 5 prep tips to ensure your photos look great online and off. 1. DECLUTTER. SERIOUSLY. Remove refrigerator magnets, put away remotes, make sure there are no trash cans in the shot, get rid of unnecessary furniture such as end tables and desks and really whittle down what’s in your shot. Making a room as empty as possible makes it look way bigger. Your listing photos should show off the property – not your life. The less clutter, furniture and accessories you have in each photo, the bigger the space will look. Don’t subtract square footage by cluttering your photos with unnecessary stuff! 2. DEPERSONALIZE. Remove any personal photos, make children’s rooms as bare and simple as possible, put away personal style, and take down any religious paraphernalia, etc. Depersonalizing is a step beyond decluttering. You may have a hard time removing personal style and homey touches that have become such a big part of your life but remember – this is just for the photo shoot. Once the pictures are taken you can put your home back together again. 3. CLEAN UP/BEAUTIFY THE BACK & FRONT...
by Jeff Pittman | Sep 25, 2015 | Buyers
On The Beach: What Does $5 Million Buy? Homebuyers with $5 million to spend are in a prime position to buy a luxury beachfront property in a host of fantastic coastal locations around the world. In the US, buyers can opt for their own private beach retreat in the jet-set destination of the Hamptons or the surfer’s paradise of Maui, Hawaii. Europe’s legendary beach resorts offer a timeless appeal; a beachfront villa on the fashionable island of Sardinia offers exceptional value as well as luxurious living spaces and breathtaking views of the Mediterranean. And in the tropics, the stunning property choices include a lavish oceanfront haven overlooking the tranquil turquoise waters of the Turks & Caicos or a stylish residence on world-famous Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro. Explore what $5 million buys on the beachfront, ordered by homes with the largest square footage to the smallest: Redington Beach, Florida 8 Bedrooms, 8,627 sq. ft. This is one of the largest gulf-front properties in Pinellas County. The spectacular one-of-a-kind home has over 8,600 sq. ft. of custom designed, heated space spread over three stories, an 11-car garage and large gated driveway for more than 10 cars, and more than 3,700 sq. ft. of covered verandas. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico 7 Bedrooms, 6,072 sq. ft. A spectacular beachfront setting in Playa Tortuga in East Cape with all modern conveniences, yet completely self sustainable with solar power. The setting is second to none as the house rests on a view point looking East with endless beach and ocean views. Private patios, terraces, and guest houses allow for great entertaining for events and family....
by Jeff Pittman | Sep 21, 2015 | Buyers
5 Obstacles Millennials Face When Buying A Home It’s no surprise that there are obstacles standing in the way of homeownership, but there is good news – according to recent survey from Carrington Mortgage Services over half of millennials still plan to buy a home in the next two years. Here are the top 5 obstacles millennials face when trying to buy a home so you know what to look out for yourself. Via First Team Real Estate. Thank you for reading. I hope you found this information useful. Jeff Pittman, Realtor in Ladera Ranch – Orange County,...
by Jeff Pittman | Sep 16, 2015 | Sellers
5 Reasons Why New Construction Presents New Competition For Home Sellers Since the great recession and the real estate market crash, home sellers have had to compete with distressed properties i.e. foreclosures and short sales. But now there’s a new kind of competition – new home construction. According to the latest RealtyTrac distressed home report, foreclosure sales dropped to a 15-year low because the market is normalizing. However, with a normalized market comes competition from newly constructed homes. According to the National Association of Realtors’ Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers new home sales accounted for 16% of all homes sold in 2014. This graph lays out the 5 reasons buyers choose new construction over a pre-owned home such as yours: The top three should not come by surprise. With a new home comes the ability to customize the design of the home and the ability to avoid having to renovate or deal with existing problems. The 10% of respondents who cited “Lack of Inventory of Existing Homes” could very well increase throughout 2015. Existing home inventory in SoCal is currently at 2.5 months (Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties), well below the six-months needed to be at a historically normal market. National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reports that there is currently a 5.4 months supply inventory of new construction available for purchase. HOW CAN YOU COMPETE? Get your house on the market now! There’s a steady buyer demand on the market at this time but a lack of existing inventory. If you’re ready to put your house up for sale now, you will avoid additional competition coming onto the market....
by Jeff Pittman | Sep 10, 2015 | Buyers
Are You Prepped and Ready For A Second Home? Could it be time to invest your hard earned money into a second home and the real estate market? The potential income from a second property is a profitable solution on the housing market that you could benefit from. You would do well, however you have to consider whether you are really ready for it. Having a vacation home or a new investment property is an excellent way to expand your existing real estate portfolio. However, before you decide, you should look at the facts and prepare for the responsibility a second home brings. ARE YOU READY TO COMMIT YOURSELF TO THE TASK? Consider whether you’re ready to take on the maintenance and tasks of a second home and or whether you would be better off renting a vacation home rather than being a landlord yourself. There are a lot of things you will need to take care of in terms of prepping a home and maintaining the property throughout the year. Plus if you are the owner and renting it out, there’s even more work to be done dealing with renters and legal matters. If you decide you do want to own and take on the responsibilities, companies like our First Team Property Management division can help with the upkeep and renters. CONSIDER THE FINANCIAL IMPACT Just because you have money for a property that doesn’t automatically mean you will be successful in finding what you need right away. You would do well to consider the long-term financial impact on you and your wallet for maintaining a new property...
