Posts Tagged ‘homes’

There are a lot of things the go on during house hunting. First, you need to figure out the location. Second, there is the actual home-buying. Lastly, and if things go well, there is closing. For the first-time homebuyer looking at Miami Beach luxury homes, it is important to know just how the whole thing works. Even if luxury homes carry a lot of considerations, there are the basic mindsets and concerns that every homebuyer must know in order to get the gist of the house-hunting process.

Clearly know what you want 

Before you even set out to look at Miami Beach luxury homes, you have to know what exactly you are looking for in a home. Your real estate agent won’t be of too much help if you can’t communicate with him properly. This is even harder if you haven’t prepared the list of the things you need and want with the home. 

Although home-buying isn’t exactly a racing event, you still need to save as much time as you can during the initial stage of the process. Set your priorities straight in order to create a clear view of the home you want. This will make things easier and limit your choices of Miami Beach luxury homes to the ones you actually prefer or within your specifications. 

Think about getting pre-approved 

A pre-approved mortgage is almost always the de rigueur for homebuyers. Without the proper must-haves to back your offer, the seller will not see you as a serious homebuyer, which you need to be able to snag a good deal with the property. Try to work hard in getting a pre-approved mortgage and set your eyes on the homes that are well within your price range. Things will be much easier that way. 

Lessen your property must-haves 

Features are important when buying a home. But the features of the home, or lack thereof, shouldn’t stop you from catching a potentially good deal. Try to minimize your deal breakers and focus on the things that are vital. Create a flexible vision of your home; all the features you want and need don’t have to be in it. 

Visit the homes in person 

Even if you’re checking out Miami Beach luxury homes online, you shouldn’t forget to visit them yourselves – with your Realtor. Don’t rely on your agent to relay the appearance of the property to you. You are the one going to live in the property; be sure it’s up to your standards. 

Mark Michael Ferrer 
Miami Beach Luxury Homes

Homeowners in Britain are going green and beginning to opt for homes that are more environmentally friendly. Rising fuel prices and greater environmental awareness are changing the way house purchases are viewed with more and more buyers considering how much it will cost to run the home as well as the impact on the environment.

How ‘green’ a home is now factors during the buying process with householders claiming they are willing to pay an average of around £3,350 more for an environmentally friendly home.

There is no doubt about the fact that value can be added to a home by installing a range of energy saving, water conserving and waste reducing measures. Actively conserving energy will cut the running cost of a home so a little extra cash spent buying a greener home will be recuperated quickly when considering the money saved on energy bills.

It makes perfect sense to keep the running costs of your home as low as possible and you will be helping to cut down on your carbon dioxide emissions as well as saving money.

If you are selling your home there are several things you can do to make it greener, and thus more appealing to buyers. It is obviously still important to pay attention to aesthetic aspects and make sure your home is uncluttered and looks as appealing as possible but research shows that more than two thirds of potential buyers will look past cosmetic improvements to more important factors, such as the condition and age of the boiler or quality of the windows.

Start at the top of your home in the process to make it greener. The loft is a common place for heat to escape, especially if there is no insulation.

Insulating your loft is not very expensive and can save up to a few hundred pounds on heating bills every year. Even if your loft is insulated, check the quality and if you know the insulation was carried several years previously then you might want to consider simply upgrading your existing insulation which can still save around £60 a year.

Cavity wall insulation is another straightforward way to make our home more appealing to buyers and do your bit for the planet.

When it comes to windows nearly a fifth of buyers are put off by single-glazed windows so you may want to switch to double glazing if you haven’t done so already. As well as lowering bills double glazing can significantly reduce noise which is another positive selling point, especially if your property is near a road or street where traffic is common.

For the ultimate in green energy take a look at your heating system. More than a third of buyers are put off buying a property with an out of date heating system so upgrading to an energy efficient boiler will make your home more attractive and easier to sell.

There are several reasons why people sell their house. One is because they have plans to move to another location. Another is they have noticed for foreclosure and they can no longer afford to make payments. Whatever the reason for selling the real estate, it is important that they manage to acquire the highest possible value of the property.

In order to improve the value of your house, you have to allocate enough time to check it in and out. A few repairs will add more to the value of the house. You may not be able to mimic those by Gilbert Homes but you are able to generate a good sum of cash when you finally close the deal.

Here are some ways to improve the value of your house:

1. If you were the buyer, what would you think? What would you want your potential house to look like? What would you expect from a house that is within a particular price range? Once you are able to answer these questions, look at your house. How much would a buyer like you pay for it? Why do you think the value is just as much?

2. The next best thing to do is to consult a home inspector. The inspector will check what needs repair in your house. He will check all parts like the wall, ceiling, roof, air conditioning system, and other features that the buyer will most likely expect to be in top form. Follow make the necessary changes as suggested by the inspector. Having a home inspection ahead of time will allow you to choose the contractors and materials that are within your budget.

3. Do minor repairs and save from it. Things like repainting and changing the doorknobs are simple repairs that you can handle. You can also improve how your yard looks like. Clean it from trash. Remove anything that is unpleasant to the eyes.

4. Remove clutter inside your house as well. If you are going to move, it is best that you pack all personal items. You can leave some furniture behind to make it more appealing to potential buyers. However, do not overstuff the house. Most buyers want to have a fresh start. They want to redecorate and add their personal touch.

5. Make sure that you acquire permits for the additional structures in your house. Keep in mind that the appraiser will not add value to your property if you cannot present any permit. If you were going to add structure, it would be better if it were functional and pleasant looking.

Buyers will not want to pay for something they cannot use. They will also have doubts of purchasing a house with awkward looking structures.

If you are wondering how Gilbert Homes does it, you do not need to look too far. You can start by asking yourself what you want from a house.

However, you have to be willing to spend some time, money, and effort to ensure a good market value for your home.

Illinois is an attractive destination for many people because it is one of the most populous and demographically diverse states in the Midwest. In fact, Illinois has often been referred to as a microcosm for the entire nation.

With its strong economy of businesses, industry, manufacturing, agriculture, timber and energy production, a lot of people are drawn by employment opportunities as well. Additional benefits of living in Illinois include the recreational opportunities in more than sixty state parks or the halls of several world-class museums and the beautiful prairie landscape.

As such an appealing area to settle, Illinois draws thousands of new residents every year. And, with the current conditions in the economy, many Illinois homes are more affordable than ever.

For example, Illinois Realtors report that home sales across the state fell by about twenty-five percent and the median price for a single-family home dropped from $206,000 to about $192,500. This is about a six or seven percent price difference.

The building market in Illinois has also slowed down. In fact, business has dropped so much in Chicagolandthat two of the area’s largest builders, Neuman and Kimball homes, have declared their intent to file for bankruptcy.

This means that there are a lot of empty new homes on the market for great prices and building can be more affordable than ever. With fewer homes being sold and the prices dropping to make real estate listing more appealing, most of Illinois is definitely a buyer’s market.

When it comes to Illinois real estate, Chicago still stands in a league of its own though. For example, even though sales have also dropped in Chicago, the median price for a single-family home has actually increased about five percent.

Whether you shop in Chicago, the suburbs, or central and southern Illinois, the most plentiful listing on the market is going to be single-family homes. High-rise apartments, loft homes, town-houses and multi-family units are also available in many areas, but the single-family homes tend to appreciate better than other housing units.

You will also find that there are hundreds of listings to choose from. Consequently, if you want some help sorting through the choices and scheduling a walk-through in your favorite listings, the services of an Illinois Realtor would be a valuable asset.

In addition to their access to the most recent listings and their ability to take you from place to place, a Realtor will have a lot of information on each neighborhood you consider to help the home buying experience go faster and smoother. When you work with an Illinois Realtor, you can depend on high moral standards as well.

It’s an unfortunate thing, homes that are listed on a given real estate market and do not sell. This can be a huge cause of anguish and stress for the owners as they have to reduce their price to eventually sell the home. There are a variety of reasons that homes don’t sell, some of them are financial, some are related to the home itself, and finally some are related to the market. The last of these reasons, a typical seller has no control over so it’s pointless to try. The most that can be done is to research the current market trends and list your home at a time when its a sellers market.

The other two reasons, a seller does have some control over. One of the main reasons that homes don’t sell is the fact that they are overpriced. It is a natural want when selling your home to try to get top dollar for it. However when considering your asking price you cannot tie your emotions and memories into the decision. It is acceptable that you place a higher value on your home than a buyer. You have an emotional tie to the home which can cause homes to be priced above their market value. The best way to discover the current market value of your home is to have a comparative market analysis done by your realtor. This compares your home with other homes of like size and amenity that have sold recently in your area. This will give you a decent number to start the pricing of your home from. Use it as a baseline, not an absolute.

Another reason for a home’s presence on the market for a long time can be the home itself. Have you taken the time to ensure that you home is as attractive as it can possibly be? Buyers are a finicky lot and will pick out any imperfection in a home in order to get a lower price. If a home is not presented properly, that is; completely clean and in order and in pristine shape it becomes more difficult to sell. You must also be ready to show the home at any time. Ideally you will have some notice as to when shows will happen but if someone wants to see the house immediately, it needs to be ready to show immediately. Hopefully this has helped to shed some light on reasons why homes sometimes languish on the market, make sure yours isn’t one of them.

The Golden Hill region is located near Downtown San Diego County, California. The community is located between Interstates 5 and 15, just south of the famous Balboa Park.

For the period observed (January through July 2006 compared against January through July 2005), the number of homes sold remained relatively consistent. Approximately 74 single-family homes sold in 2006 and 76 homes sold in 2005.

One method to analyze pricing trends for a particular community is to evaluate the median and average price of homes for a particular month, and compare that data against the same period last year. What follows is a comparison of the median price and average price of homes for the past seven months (January through July 2006), compared against the data for the corresponding time period in 2005.

The median price of homes represents the point at which half the homes are above a particular price point, and half the homes are below a particular price point. The average price of homes is calculated by adding up the sales price of all homes sold in a particular month, and dividing that value by the number of homes sold.

The median price of homes in July 2006 was $572,000, compared to $425,000 in July 2005, which represents a 34.6% increase. The average price of homes in July 2006 was $551,875, compared to $466,636 in July 2005, which represents a 19.5% increase. Approximately 8 homes sold in July 2006 and 11 in July 2005. In summary, there was an upward price trend in July 2006 compared to the same period last year.

The median price of homes in June 2006 was $451,500, compared to $540,000 in June 2005, which represents a 16.4% drop. The average price of homes in June 2006 was $457,600, compared to $514,846 in June 2005, which represents an 11.1% decline. Approximately 10 homes sold in June 2006 and 13 in June 2005. In summary, there was a downward price trend in June 2006 compared to the same period last year.

The median price of homes in May 2006 was $500,000, compared to $430,000 in May 2005, which represents a 13.9% increase. The average price of homes in May 2006 was $545,067, compared to $465,727 in May 2005, which represents a 10.5% increase. Approximately 15 homes sold in May 2006 and 11 in May 2005. In summary, there was an upward price trend in May 2006 compared to the same period last year.

The median price of homes in April 2006 was $442,500, compared to $510,000 in April 2005, which represents an 8.3% drop. The average price of homes in April 2006 was $448,071, compared to $512,067 in April 2005, which represents a 10.9% decline. Approximately 14 homes sold in April 2006 and 15 in April 2005. In summary, there was a downward price trend in April 2006 compared to the same period last year.

The median price of homes in March 2006 was $415,250, compared to $437,500 in March 2005, which represents an 8.2% decrease. The average price of homes in March 2006 was $451,886, compared to $428,375 in March 2005, which represents a 5.5% increase. Approximately 14 homes sold in March 2006 and 12 in March 2005. The data was mixed for March 2006, as the median price dropped and the average price increased from the same time last year.

The median price of homes in February 2006 was $452,500, compared to $512,500 in February 2005, which represents a 6.7% drop. The average price of homes in February 2006 was $483,128, compared to $503,625 in February 2005, which represents a 1.7% decline. About 8 homes sold in February 2006 and 8 in February 2005. In summary, there was a downward price trend in February 2006 compared to the same period last year.

The median price of homes was $455,000 in January 2006, compared to $500,000 in January 2005, which represents a 9% decline. The average price of homes in January 2006 was $446,280, compared to $467,483 in January 2005, which represents a 1.3% drop. Approximately 5 homes sold in January 2006 and 6 in January 2005. In summary, there was a downward price trend in January 2006 compared to the same period last year.

So what does the data tell us? Well, the data above does not reveal a consistent pattern. The home prices for May and July 2006 were up year-over-year in the range of 10% to 35% from the same period last year. However, prices were down 1% to 16% during January, February, April and June 2006, compared to the same time last year. The data for March 2006 was mixed, with the median price dropping 8.2%, and the average price increasing 5.5% for the same time last year. Given the ups and down described above, a longer period of evaluation is needed to determine if a clear pattern emerges. Contact an experienced Realtor to obtain additional insights about the pricing trends in the Golden Hill real estate market.

The College Grove region (also know as the College Area) is located in central San Diego County, California. The community is located off Interstate 8 just east of Interstate 15. San Diego State University is located within the borders of the College Grove area.

The real estate and homes for sale in College Grove fall into the low to mid-income categories. The number of homes sold in a particular year is relatively high. For example, during the period from January through July 2006, approximately 211 single-family homes sold. Approximately 268 homes sold for the same period in 2005.

One method to analyze pricing trends for a particular community is to evaluate the median and average price of homes for a particular month, and compare that data against the same period last year. What follows is a comparison of the median price and average price of homes for the past seven months (January through July 2006), compared against the data for the corresponding time period in 2005.

The median price of homes represents the point at which half the homes are above a particular price point, and half the homes are below a particular price point. The average price of homes is calculated by adding up the sales price of all homes sold in a particular month, and dividing that value by the number of homes sold.

The median price of homes in July 2006 was $545,000, compared to $497,000 in July 2005, which represents a 9.2% increase. The average price of homes in July 2006 was $583,476, compared to $528,602 in July 2005, which represents a 10% increase. Approximately 25 homes sold in July 2006 and 38 in July 2005. The data provides evidence that there was an upward price trend in July 2006 compared to the same period last year.

The median price of homes in June 2006 was $475,000, compared to $506,500 in June 2005, which represents a 5.9% drop. The average price of homes in June 2006 was $492,427, compared to $516,078 in June 2005, which represents a 4.1% drop. Approximately 38 homes sold in June 2006 and 40 in June 2005. The data provides evidence that there was a downward price trend in June 2006 compared to the same period last year.

The median price of homes in May 2006 was $522,000, compared to $518,500 in May 2005, which represents a 0.7% increase. The average price of homes in May 2006 was $544,812, compared to $537,085 in May 2005, which represents a 1.4% increase. Approximately 30 homes sold in May 2006 and 46 in May 2005. The data provides evidence that there was slight upward price trend in May 2006 compared to the same period last year.

The median price of homes in April 2006 was $520,000, compared to $495,000 in April 2005, which represents a 5.1% increase. The average price of homes in April 2006 was $523,421, compared to $524,306 in April 2005, which represents a 0.2% drop. Approximately 41 homes sold in April 2006 and 47 in April 2005. The data for April 2006 was mixed, as the median price showed a moderate increase from last year, while the average price had a slight drop.

The median price of homes in March 2006 was $515,000, compared to $489,000 in March 2005, which represents a 5.3% increase. The average price of homes in March 2006 was $564,690, compared to $499,856 in March 2005, which represents a 13.4% increase. Approximately 41 homes sold in March 2006 and 44 in March 2005. The data provides evidence that there was an upward price trend in March 2006 compared to the same period last year.

The median price of homes in February 2006 was $472,500, compared to $465,000 in February 2005, which represents a 0.50% increase. The average price of homes in February 2006 was $502,600, compared to $476,932 in February 2005, which represents a 4.6% increase. Approximately 20 homes sold in February 2006 and 25 in February 2005. The data provides evidence that there was an upward price trend in February 2006 compared to the same period last year.

The median price of homes was $530,950 in January 2006, compared to $483,000 in January 2005, which represents a 9.9% increase. The average price of homes in January 2006 was $528,416, compared to $551,904 in January 2005, which represents a 3.20% drop. Approximately 16 homes sold in January 2006 and 28 in January 2005. The data for January 2006 was mixed, as the median price showed a moderate increase from last year, while average prices dropped.

So what does the above data tell us? Overall, there was a 21.3% decline in the number of homes sold during this period from 2006 to 2005. Four months out of seven (February, March, May and July) demonstrated increases in both median and average prices from the same period last year. The magnitude of the increase ranged from half a percent to 10%. The months of April and January had mixed findings, with average prices decreasing slightly (less than 3.2%), and median prices increasing 5% to 10%. In contrast, the June data showed a downward trend in both median and average prices with a range of 4% to 6%.

The data above suggests that although there are monthly variations, on balance, homes in the College Grove area continue to demonstrate price gains. Continued monitoring of sale data in subsequent months is needed to identify enduring market trends.

Be sure to consult your Realtor on other factors that influence home pricing before buying or selling real estate in College Grove.

It may sound a little strange to many of our readers that old homes are selling for almost the same price as new homes. Now thoughts that strike the minds are how can this be possible? Let’s try to analyze and understand the various reasons behind this.

Old homes have “mature landscaping” already installed, that will require less maintenance than nurturing new landscaping in a new residence. Who doesn’t want a beautiful landscape around the house that comes with the least amount of labor? Well, this is one of the reasons that make older homes a better choice over newer ones.

Old homes are usually located in well established areas, where you can get access to various stores and schools within your neighborhood. A trust that needs to be developed in a neighborhood is given to you pre–established; all you need to do is ask neighbors and residents around to know what kind of reputation the locality holds. In new construction, you could be surprised that undeveloped land close to your home has just been sold and planned for something you don’t want to live near.

Old homes usually have hardwood floors, arched entryways, brick/stone construction, and stained glass windows that are difficult to find these days in newer homes. Also existing homes have décor matching appliances already placed, so the buyers don’t have to buy microwaves, refrigerators, freezers etc. that can add a heavy amount to your “home buying” budget.

Majority of the new homes are constructed in less- developed areas, which may impose higher taxes on you because there are subsidizing fewer inhabitants than the central metropolitan areas. New communities require sidewalks, sewers, fire and police coverage and maybe a new school. Older homes take an upper edge in this respect and have little or more predictable tax structure.

With the rising value of Land, value of old homes have also increased because they are usually built in much larger areas compared to new homes of today. All these reasons have lead to high demand for old homes and thus the rates of old homes are high and would still get costlier with time.

Buying a new home is an exciting thing there is no doubt about it. Sometimes our excitement can lead us to make hasty decisions, especially if our buyer is looking for their first home. The purpose of this article is to take a quick look at a few of the options available.

Buying a Pre-Existing Used Home

Buying a home that has already been built and is on the market is the quickest and most straightforward way to go. On the positive side we have a home that is somewhat cheaper because it is used. It has records of the costs to heat and cool it, as well as, the ability to see exactly how the finish home will look because your standing in it. On the flip side a used home can have a host of hidden damages that even an average inspection cannot find. This could include structural problems, termite damage, water damage, and energy inefficiencies. The first time home buyer with no plan on staying for longer than 10 years would be safe going this route.

Buying a Built to Order Home

This route is immediately more costly than a 5-10 year old home of the same size as there is labor and materials to buy. The positive side to a built to order home is it is brand new. It usually doesn’t come with the myriad of quirks that you get from a pre-owned home. You can also usually make changes to the floor plan to suit your needs. Maybe you want a full basement over a partial or you want the front window to face the sunrise. There is more freedom than with a pre-existing home where you are buying a home that was built for someone else. The negative side is that it costs more and the builders usually have a limit to the types and amount of changes you can make and they are usually very costly.

Buying a Home from a Custom Home Builder

Another option is to get a complete custom design and built home. The positives to this is a complete customization of the homes floor plan and design to your needs. Finding a custom homes builder usually means costs a little less than the built to orders as they don’t charge the hefty fees for minor changes since the whole design is your very own. This type of building means you will be happier with your home longer because it isn’t just a house you bought its the house that was in your mind. This type of home is still more expensive than buying a used home and is more suited for home buyers that are planning on sticking to this home for over 10 years. This type of home is as energy efficient as you want and every room is tailor to your needs. Be prepared to spend a lot of time with the designer if you go this route as they will need you to tell them every detail about what you want.

In conclusion, there are many factors that come into play when buying a home but we settle all to often because of money and time constraints. I urge you to take your time and really think about the purchase. If you aren’t going to stay in one spot for more than 5 – 10 years go ahead a find a used home that you can deal with. However, if you want to enjoy your living space for many many years to come, call a local custom builder in your area and see what they can do for you.

The community of Del Cerro is located in central San Diego County, California. The community is located off Interstate 8 at the College Ave exit.

The real estate and homes for sale in Del Cerro fall into the low to moderate income-categories. The number of homes sold in a particular year is relatively high. For example, during the period from January through July 2006, approximately 137 single-family homes sold. Approximately 142 homes sold for the same period in 2005.

One method to analyze pricing trends for a particular community is to evaluate the median and average price of homes for a particular month, and compare that data against the same period last year. What follows is a comparison of the median price and average price of homes for the past seven months (January through July 2006), compared against the data for the corresponding time period in 2005.

The median price of homes represents the point at which half the homes are above a particular price point, and half the homes are below a particular price point. The average price of homes is calculated by adding up the sales price of all homes sold in a particular month, and dividing that value by the number of homes sold.

The median price of homes in July 2006 was $632,000, compared to $590,000 in July 2005, which represents a 6.2 increase. The average price of homes in July 2006 was $680,557, compared to $620,571 in July 2005, which represents a 9.9% increase. Approximately 21 homes sold in July 2006 and 20 in July 2005. In summary, there was an upward price trend in July 2006 compared to the same period last year.

The median price of homes in June 2006 was $557,500, compared to $545,500 in June 2005, which represents a 2.1% increase. The average price of homes in June 2006 was $622,327, compared to $613,060 in June 2005, which represents a 0.80% increase. Approximately 13 homes sold in June 2006 and 30 in June 2005. In summary, there was an upward price trend in June 2006 compared to the same period last year.

The median price of homes in May 2006 was $620,000, compared to $615,000 in May 2005, which represents a 0.8% increase. The average price of homes in May 2006 was $652,730, compared to $604,844 in May 2005, which represents a 2.7% increase. Approximately 30 homes sold in May 2006 and 16 in May 2005. In summary, there was an upward price trend in May 2006 compared to the same period last year.

The median price of homes in April 2006 was $560,000, compared to $680,000 in April 2005, which represents a 17.6% decline. The average price of homes in April 2006 was $597,593, compared to $726,804 in April 2005, which represents a 17.8% drop. Approximately 27 homes sold in April 2006 and 23 in April 2005. In summary, there was a downward price trend in April 2006 compared to the same period last year.

The median price of homes in March 2006 was $557,000, compared to $635,000 in March 2005, which represents a 12.3% drop. The average price of homes in March 2006 was $639,667, compared to $655,836 in March 2005, which represents a 2.5% drop. Approximately 21 homes sold in March 2006 and 25 in March 2005. In summary, there was a downward price trend in March 2006 compared to the same period last year.

The median price of homes in February 2006 was $594,750, compared to $530,000 in February 2005, which represents a 12.2% increase. The average price of homes in February 2006 was $664,679, compared to $565,882 in February 2005, which represents an 18.5% increase. Approximately 14 homes sold in February 2006 and 18 in February 2005. In summary, there was an upward price trend in February 2006 compared to the same period last year.

The median price of homes was $595,000 in January 2006, compared to $512,500 in January 2005, which represents a 16.1% increase. The average price of homes in January 2006 was $713,909, compared to $575,470 in January 2005, which represents a 24.1%. Approximately 11 homes sold in January 2006 and 10 in January 2005. In summary, there was an upward price trend in January 2006 compared to the same period last year.

So what does the data tell us? Well, the data above does not reveal a consistent pattern. Early in the year (January and February 2006), home prices were up year-over-year in the range of 12% to 24%. However, prices were down 2% to 17% during March and April 2006, compared to the same time last year. And then, for the last three months (May, June and July 2006), moderate price gains were observed ranging from 1% to 10%. Given the ups and down described above, a longer period of evaluation is needed to determine if a clear pattern emerges. Contact an experienced Realtor to obtain additional insights about the pricing trends in the Del Cerro real estate market.

How to Sell a House – Home Selling Tips – Pricing and Staging Homes – Presentation on How Pricing Gets You in the Game and Staging Gets You the Offers, by Sandra Holmes, a Home Stager from, South Florida. Get more Home Staging Tips and Advice from Sandra Holmes and other Home Staging Professionals, on energizedseller.com

Staging Homes – Home stager, Julie Langford, explains in this quick interview with Dan Eason of EnergizeSeller the #1 rule for sustainable organization. Julie is a home stager and designer from San Antonio and New Braunfels, TX. EnergizedSeller.com is a website for real estate and home stager professionals. Get more home selling tips and home staging tips on energizedseller.com.

So what can home owners and agents do, quickly, easily and inexpensively to help the sellers sell their homes?

Increasingly many real estate professionals and even home owners themselves have found that the key to turning a seller’s “house for sale” sign into “home for sale” sign is all in how effectively its been staged. With sellers looking for every “edge” they can get on the competition, today’s real estate professionals need to add value to their service by combining a key element in the process that sellers are looking for – home staging.

Andy Capelluto, a professional home stager and interior designer with over 22 year of experience, created a very compact, precise home staging course for real estate professionals entitled The Power of Staging™. The 8 hour staging course is one of the most thorough overviews of staging available today and delves into all aspects of the home staging process from color to style and from symmetry to placement – both inside and outside the home.

To make it easy for anyone to gain this knowledge the course was transformed into a cutting-edge multimedia online learning experience by RealtyU®. Its innovative e-learning platform created especially for real estate agents and home owners offers a simple yet robust way to navigate through video, audio, PowerPoint slides, examples and more to obtain a comprehensive understanding about the principles of home staging. The course provides insights into every part of the staging process and provides the agent with comprehensive tools and checklists to help them develop an effective staging plan for their clients.

Now available for the first time, The Power of Staging™ can now be experienced online, anywhere, anytime, through http://www.RealtyUonline.com. Upon completion agents the AHS designation (Accredited Home-Staging Specialist). To learn more about the staging process and the AHS course visit http://www.StagingSpecialist.com.

The community of Clairemont (sometimes called Clairemont Mesa) is located in central San Diego County, California. The community is located off Interstate 5 at Balboa Ave and is within the 92117 Zip code.

The real estate and homes for sale in Clairemont fall into the moderate-income category for San Diego County. The number of homes sold in a particular year is relatively high. For example, during the period from January through July 2006, approximately 183 single-family homes sold. Approximately 226 homes sold for the same period in 2005.

One method to analyze pricing trends for a particular community is to evaluate the median and average price of homes for a particular month, and compare that data against the same period last year. What follows is a comparison of the median price and average price of homes for the past seven months (January through July 2006), compared against the data for the corresponding time period in 2005.

The median price of homes represents the point at which half the homes are above a particular price point, and half the homes are below a particular price point. The average price of homes is calculated by adding up the sales price of all homes sold in a particular month, and dividing that value by the number of homes sold.

The median price of homes in July 2006 was $560,000, compared to $562,500 in July 2005, which represents a 0.9% drop. The average price of homes in July 2006 was $575,114, compared to $585,602 in July 2005, which represents a 2.4% drop. Approximately 21 homes sold in July 2006 and 26 in July 2005. The data provides evidence that there was a downward price trend in July 2006 compared to the same period last year.

The median price of homes in June 2006 was $555,000, compared to $570,000 in June 2005, which represents a 2.6% drop. The average price of homes in June 2006 was $586,758, compared to $584,415 in June 2005, which represents a 0.4% increase. Approximately 30 homes sold in June 2006 and 34 in June 2005. The data for June 2006 was mixed, as median prices declined and average prices rose slightly from the same period last year.

The median price of homes in May 2006 was $550,000, compared to $562,000 in May 2005, which represents a 2.3% drop. The average price of homes in May 2006 was $584,012, compared to $582,000 in May 2005, which represents a 0.3% increase. Approximately 33 homes sold in May 2006 and 37 in May 2005. The data was mixed in June 2006, as median prices declined and average prices rose slightly from the same period last year.

The median price of homes in April 2006 was $564,000, compared to $565,000 in April 2005, which represents a 0.20% drop. The average price of homes in April 2006 was $584,722, compared to $612,897 in April 2005, which represents a 4.6% drop. Approximately 32 homes sold in April 2006 and 36 in April 2005. The data provides evidence that there was a downward price trend in April 2006 compared to the same period last year.

The median price of homes in March 2006 was $558,000, compared to $545,000 in March 2005, which represents a 1.5% increase. The average price of homes in March 2006 was $589,161, compared to $576,227 in March 2005, which represents a 3.60% increase. Approximately 29 homes sold in March 2006 and 39 in March 2005. The data provides evidence that there was an upward price trend in March 2006 compared to the same period last year.

The median price of homes in February 2006 was $560,000, compared to $525,000 in February 2005, which represents a 7.4% increase. The average price of homes in February 2006 was $582,435, compared to $571,708 in February 2005, which represents a 2.50% increase. Approximately 17 home sold in February 2006 and 29 in February 2005. The data provides evidence that there was an upward price trend in February 2006 compared to the same period last year.

The median price of homes was $585,000 in January 2006, compared to $525,000 in January 2005, which represents a 10% increase. The average price of homes in January 2006 was $634,524, compared to $542,708 in January 2005, which represents a 16.9% increase. Approximately 21 homes sold in January 2006 and 25 in January 2005. The data provides evidence that there was an upward price trend in January 2006 compared to the same period last year.

So what does the above data tell us? Overall, there was a 19% decline in the number of homes sold during this period from 2006 to 2005. The pricing trends early in the year (January, February and March) were in the upward direction for both median and average prices, which showed increases year-over-year ranging from 1.5% to 16.9%. However, since then, the pricing trend has been downward or mixed depending on the month. For example, April and July demonstrated downward median and average prices ranging from around half a percent up to 5%. For May and June, the median price was down around 2% from the previous year, and the average price was slightly up around half a percent. These findings suggest that at best, prices have leveled off, and at worst, are starting to decline. Continued monitoring of sale data in subsequent months is needed to identify enduring market trends.

Be sure to consult your Realtor on other factors that influence home pricing before buying or selling real estate in Clairemont.

Often with financial help from parents, some college-age students choose to purchase homes or condos in communities where they attend college. This option allows students to live in a property that is usually more spacious and comfortable than typical dormitory-style rooms. For students who value attending a college with a large football program, affordable real estate may be an important criterion when selecting a college or university.

Coldwell Banker, a real estate firm, conducted a recent survey to identify the most affordable college football towns. The survey compared the average price of a single- family home with 2200 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 2