Judy Niemeyer

Is bigger better? Should I move up to a larger home is a question many Mobile Eastern Shore homeowners are asking. The questions below will help you decide whether you're ready for a home that's larger or in a more desirable location.

1. Have you built substantial equity in your current home?

If you have owned your Mobile Eastern Shore home for a number of years you might have built up some equity. Look at your annual mortgage statement or call your lender to determine your loan balance. Then give me a call to determine your home's market value. The difference between your loan amount and market value is your equity.

2. Has your income or financial situation improved?

If your income has increased, you may be able to afford a higher mortgage payment.

3. Have you outgrown your neighborhood?

Often, the neighborhood or location you buy your first home in may no longer suit your needs. You may want to be closer to work, be in a better school district or have a home on a lake rather than close to it.

4. Are there reasons why you can't remodel or add on?

Sometimes adding on to your current home is the answer. If you will end over-improving for the neighborhood, moving may be a better option.

5. Are you comfortable moving in the current housing market?

In the current Mobile Eastern Shore real estate market, your home may not sell quickly for what it would have a few years ago, but the home you buy also less expensive expensive.

6. Are interest rates attractive?

A low rate not only helps you buy a larger home, but also makes it easier to find a buyer and interest rates are currently at record lows.

If you answer yes to most of the questions, it's a sign that as a Mobile Eastern Shore homeowner, you may be ready to move. If so, please visit JudySells.com to learn more about the Mobile Eastern Shore real estate market or give me a call. I'm glad to help!

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More and more Mobile Eastern Shore home buyers looking for green features in the home they buy. The green trend is a means of lowering costs, becoming more environmentally friendly, and adopting a healthier lifestyle.

The average green buyer will shell out $12,400-on average-for green features, according to the National Association of REALTORS. National Association of Home Builders green-building standards program manager Kevin Morrow expects the market share of green-certified homes to rise to 20 percent in 2010 from about 10 percent in 2009 and 2 percent in 2006.

Green features Moble Eastern Shore home buyers are looking for include energy efficiency, water efficiency, resource efficiency, and indoor air quality and include such elements as Energy Star appliances, low-flow shower heads, carpets and paint with low volatile organic compounds, and building materials procured from local suppliers.

Today's Mobile Eastern Shore home buyers benefit from tax credits and other financial incentives.

Learn more about buying green by visiting JudySells.com or give us a call anytime.

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Spring is coming! If you are thinking of selling your Mobile Eastern Shore home this spring, now is the time to start getting ready to sell. Below are 5 things to do before putting the ‘For Sale' sign in the yard:

1. Have a pre-sale home inspection. Be proactive by arranging for a pre-sale home inspection. An inspector will be able to give you a good indication of the trouble areas that will stand out to potential buyers, and you'll be able to make repairs before open houses begin.

2. Organize and clean. Pare down clutter and pack up your least-used items, such as large blenders and other kitchen tools, out-of-season clothes, toys, and exercise equipment. Store items off-site or in boxes neatly arranged in the garage or basement. Clean the windows, carpets, walls, lighting fixtures, and baseboards to make the house shine.

3. Get replacement estimates. Do you have big-ticket items that are worn our or will need to be replaced soon, such your roof or carpeting? Get estimates on how much it would cost to replace them, even if you don't plan to do it yourself. The figures will help buyers determine if they can afford the home, and will be handy when negotiations begin.

4. Find your warranties. Gather up the warranties, guarantees, and user manuals for the furnace, washer and dryer, dishwasher, and any other items that will remain with the house.

5. Spruce up the curb appeal. Pretend you're a buyer and stand outside of your home. As you approach the front door, what is your impression of the property? Do the lawn and bushes look neatly manicured? Is the address clearly visible? Are pretty flowers or plants framing the entrance? Is the walkway free from cracks and impediments?

Learn more about selling your Mobile Eastern Shore home at JudySells.com.

What is my Mobile Eastern Shore home worth?

www.REALTOR.org/realtormag Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine Online by permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® . Copyright 2003. All rights reserved.

Mobile Eastern Shore home buyers will benefit this year from the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009," which was signed into law last week by President Obama provides an $8000 tax credit for first-time home buyers.

Important Provisions:

1. It is a tax credit to home buyers, not a loan as in last year's program;
2. It is only for first time home buyers, defined as someone who has not had an ownership interest in a principle residence in the 3 year period prior to the date of the 2009 purchase;
3. The buyer must remain in the home for a minimum of 3 years;
4. It is applicable to purchases between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009; and
5. Full credit is available to those with adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less ($150,000 for married filing jointly). The credit is phased out entirely for those with adjusted gross income over $95,000 ($170,000 for married filing jointly).

If you bought a home last year under the old $7,500 tax credit rules, those rules still apply to your 2008 home purchase.

If you purchased a home after January 1, 2009, or are thinking of buying a Mobile Eastern Shore home this year and want to learn more about the $8,000 tax credit, give me a call or visit JudySells.com.

Issues you will want to consider are the definition of adjusted gross income, how to apply for the credit, what happens if your total tax liability is less than the credit, definition of ‘principle residence', and other issues. I am happy to advise you as to how you can benefit from the tax credit.

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Your Mobile Eastern Shore home is most likely the largest investment you have and choosing a Realtor to assist you with the sale is a major decision. Below are questions to ask when choosing your Mobile Eastern Shore Realtor:

Make sure you choose REALTOR® who will provide top-notch service and meet your unique needs.

1. How long have you been in residential real estate sales? Is it your full-time job? While experience is no guarantee of skill, real estate - like many other professions - is mostly learned on the job.

2. What designations do you hold? Designations such as GRI and CRS®, which require that agents take additional, specialized real estate training, are held only by about one-quarter of real estate practitioners.

3. How many homes did you and your real estate brokerage sell last year? By asking this question, you'll get a good idea of how much experience the practitioner has.

4. How many days did it take you to sell the average home? How did that compare to the overall market? The REALTOR® you interview should have these facts on hand, and be able to present market statistics from the local MLS to provide a comparison.

5. How close to the initial asking prices of the homes you sold were the final sale prices? This is one indication of how skilled the REALTOR® is at pricing homes and marketing to suitable buyers. Of course, other factors also may be at play, including an exceptionally hot or cool real estate market.

6. What types of specific marketing systems and approaches will you use to sell my home? You don't want someone who's going to put a For Sale sign in the yard and hope for the best. Look for someone who has aggressive and innovative approaches, and knows how to market your property competitively on the Internet. Buyers today want information fast, so it's important that your REALTOR® is responsive.

7. Will you represent me exclusively, or will you represent both the buyer and the seller in the transaction? While it's usually legal to represent both parties in a transaction, it's important to understand where the practitioner's obligations lie. Your REALTOR® should explain his or her agency relationship to you and describe the rights of each party.

8. Can you recommend service providers who can help me obtain a mortgage, make home repairs, and help with other things I need done? Because REALTORS® are immersed in the industry, they're wonderful resources as you seek lenders, home improvement companies, and other home service providers. Practitioners should generally recommend more than one provider and let you know if they have any special relationship with or receive compensation from any of the providers.

9. What type of support and supervision does your brokerage office provide to you? Having resources such as in-house support staff, access to a real estate attorney, and assistance with technology can help an agent sell your home.

10. What's your business philosophy? While there's no right answer to this question, the response will help you assess what's important to the agent and determine how closely the agent's goals and business emphasis mesh with your own.

11. How will you keep me informed about the progress of my transaction? How frequently? Again, this is not a question with a correct answer, but how you judge the response will reflect your own desires. Do you want updates twice a week or do you prefer not to be bothered unless there's a hot prospect? Do you prefer phone, e-mail, or a personal visit?

12. Could you please give me the names and phone numbers of your three most recent clients? Ask recent clients if they would work with this REALTOR® again. Find out whether they were pleased with the communication style, follow-up, and work ethic of the REALTOR®.

When you are ready to interview Mobile Eastern Shore Realtors, give me a call. I am glad to answer the above questions and any additional questions you might have.