Fox Cities Real Estate Hotline--- Bob Edwards- Appleton, WI

Buying a home should be fun, not stressful. As you look for your dream home, keep in mind these 10 Tips for making the process as peaceful and stress free as possible.

1. Find a Real Estate Agent who you can connect with. Home buying is not only a big financial commitment, but also an emotional one. It's critical that the Realtor you choose is both highly skilled and a good fit with your personality.
2. Remember, there's no "right" time to buy, just as there's no perfect time to sell. If you find a home now, don't try to second-guess interest rates or the housing market by waiting longer- you risk losing out on the home of your dreams. The housing market usually doesn't change fast enough to make much difference in price, and a good home won't stay on the market long.
3. Don't ask for too many opinions. It's natural to want reassurance for such a big decision, but too many ideas from too many people will make it much harder when it's time to make a decision. Focus on the wants and needs of your immediate family- the people who will be living in the home.
4. Accept that no house is ever perfect. If it's in the right location, the yard may be a bit smaller than you had hoped. The kitchen may be perfect, but the bathroom is dated. Make a list of your top priorities and focus in on the things that are most important to you. Let the minor ones go.
5. Don't try to be a killer negotiator. Negotiation is definitely a part of the real estate process, but trying to "win" by getting an extra-low price or by refusing to budge on your offer may cost you the home you love. Negotiation is give and take.
6. Remember your home doesn't exist in a vacuum. Don't get so caught up in the physical aspects of the house itself- room size, kitchen, etc, -that you forget about important issues such as noise level, location to amenities, and other aspects that also have a big impact on your life.
7. Plan ahead. Don't wait until you've found a home and made an offer to get approved for a mortgage, investigate home insurance, and consider a schedule for moving. Presenting an offer contingent on a lot of unresolved issues will make your bid much less attractive to sellers.
8. Factor in maintenance and repair costs in your post home buying budget. Even if you buy a new home, there will be costs. Don't leave yourself short and let your home deteriorate.
9. Accept that a little buyer's remorse is inevitable and will probably pass. Buying a home, especially for the first time, is a big financial commitment and it also yields big benefits. Don't lose sight of why you wanted to buy a home and what made you fall in love with the property you purchased.
10. Choose a home first because you love it; then think about appreciation. While U.S. homes have appreciated a historically stable average of 5.4 percent annually (National Association of Realtors), a home's most important role is to serve as a comfortable, safe place to live.

An important thing to remember is that you don't have to go through the home buying process alone. I can't emphasize enough how important it is to have the right Realtor by your side. For a smooth, easy and stress-free as possible home buying experience in the Fox Cities Valley and Appleton, WI; call Bob Edwards from Coldwell Banker- The Real Estate Group today! 920-202-2431 is my cell phone or email me at bedwards@coldwellhomes.com to schedule a no cost, no obligation consultation.

The Holidays are upon us... here's 7 tips you should keep in mind.

1) Maintain the Curb Appeal

It's easy to neglect the outside of your home when the weather frightful, but curb appeal is just as important in the fall and winter as it is in the summer. Keep the leaves raked and the sidewalks and driveway clear of snow.

2) Add a Wreath

Adding a seasonal wreath to the front door is a great way to make a positive first impression. A fall inspired wreath will carry you through Thanksgiving and then it's a good time to switch to an evergreen wreath with a bow. A wreath made from live branches can be messy so artificial is the way to go.

3) Keep It Cozy

It's cold outside, you want your Buyers to be comfortable so crank up the heat. Soft music in the background and a plate of fresh baked cookies will make your Buyer feel right at home.

4) Decorate for the Holidays

Feel free to decorate, but keep it simple. It is very important to not cover up features that may help sell your home.n In place of the traditional floor to ceiling tree, use a table-top tree with just a few gifts around it.

5) Holiday Scents

Cinnamon, Spice and everything nice... a hint of holiday in the air stirs emotion and gives the feeling of Home.

6) Be Safety Conscious

Keep ice-melt on hand to ensure safe walks and driveway. Never leave candles burning unattended.

7) Choose the Right Real Estate Agent

The right agent will be available when you need them and help ease the stress so you can enjoy this wonderful time of year.

Remember too, Buyers looking during the Holidays tend to be serious about making a purchase ina short time frame. Also, many Sellers withdraw their homes from the market during the Holidays so your competition is reduced.

I hope you found these 7 Tips helpful and better yet; change that For Sale sign into SOLD. I'm always available to answer questions or share more Tips, so just give me a call or send me an email: Bob Edwards/Coldwell Banker - the Real Estate Group (920) 202-2431 or bedwards@coldwellhomes.com

Thursday, June 12th, 2008 Kaukauna, WI will host a Town Hall meeting at the Kaukauna High School with Barack Obama right here in the Fox Valley. I pondered about attending this historic event and then this morning I was in Kaukauna previewing a home and decided to swing by the school and see if tickets were still available.

There was a moderate line of people and it seemed to be moving fairly quickly so I parked the car and got in line. Ten minutes later I had two tickets in my hand and I was on my way. I'm curious as to what the event will be like, the inter-party mud slinging should be done so what topics will Obama focus on now? As a Realtor with Coldwell Banker The Real Estate Group my interest will be in what specific steps Obama and his Administration would take to alleiviate the housing crisis including; mortgage interest rates, jobs and the over all economy.

We've been very fotunate in the Fox Cities area to resist the housing slump however the nation wide effects do "trickle down" to us. Between now and tomorrow I'll have lots of thoughts running through my head and most prominently, if given the opportunity, what would I ask Barack Obama?

Assuming nothing major comes up to prevent me from attending the Town Hall meeting, I'll report back tomorrow. In the meantime let me ask you this; if given the opportunity, what would YOU ask Barack Obama?

No it's not an April Fool's joke and it's not a typo; Donald Driver, wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers is taking over Brett Favre's position, as host for the annual Packers Offense-Defense softball game that is. The game which will be held at the Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium and home to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers is a Fox Valley summer tradition.

Brett Favre has been host for the event for the last seven years until his retirement at which time Double D took over the position. The game is scheduled for June 15, 2008 at 1:00 pm and features Donald Driver with the Green Bay Packers Offense against the Green Bay Packers Defense. All of the proceeds from the game go to The Donald Driver Foundation helping homeless families and addresses lack of quality education issues throughout Wisconsin and Driver's hometown of Houston.

For more information: Green Bay Packers or The Donald Driver Foundation.

I wanted to share a little trivia with you about the Fox Cities in Outagamie Co., WI. Did you know that the Fox Cities are a combination of ten communities along the Fox River in what is known as the Fox Valley? They are Appleton, Neenah, Menasha, Kaukauna, Kimberly, Combined Locks, Grand Chute, Little Chute, Freedom and Vandenroek.

Wisconsin became a state in 1848 and Outagamie County was created in 1851 (it was originally a part of Brown County). The first inhabitants in the Fox Valley were Native Americans of the Winnebago, Menomonee and Outagamie tribes. Europeans settled along the Fox River in the early 1600's; Jean Nicollet, a French explorer was the first to the Outagamie area. The name, Fox Cities, came from the Outagamie Indians because the French nicknamed them "les renards", meaning foxes.

Since those early days along the Fox River many things have changed but the Fox Cities still remain a hub of activity and community. If you ever wondered how the Fox Cities got it's name... now you know.