Kristen Wahl

If you listen to the evening news, chances are good you've heard some negative news about the real estate market recently. The housing market continues to drop, another large financial institution declares bankruptcy, foreclosure rates remain at their peak, etc. It's no wonder many buyers are afraid to purchase a home!

You may be surprised to learn, then, that many experts believe it's actually an excellent time to buy! This is especially true in the Rochester area. Why? Here are just a few reasons:

Interest rates are low (hovering around 6% for a 30-year loan), which can save you a bundle over the course of your loan. In addition, the subprime loans that got many homeowners into trouble are nearly nonexistent.

Prices are stable! The Rochester area never even saw the decline in prices that created turmoil in many parts of the country. Our prices have actually seen a slight appreciation during the "down" market!

It's a buyer's market! There are more sellers than buyers, so the inventory of homes is relatively high and listings are spending more time on the market. That means it's a great time to swoop in and snatch up some good deals.

Owning a home has more tax benefits than renting. You can deduct all sorts of things on your taxes, such as mortgage interest and property taxes.

Still not convinced? How about the first-time home buyer tax credit? This interest-free loan up to $7,500 is only available for about seven more months.

If you're ready for the responsibility, owning a home can be a wonderful and rewarding experience. Just make sure you have a good buyer's agent by your side to guide you through the process and negotiate on your behalf!

The time is right. Go for it!

In a little over a week, Lollypop Farm in Fairport will be hosting their 11th annual Barktober Fest!

Date: 9/27/08
Time: 9 am-3 pm
Location: Egypt Park (next to Lollypop Farm)

Barktober Fest features a 5-mile run for the most ambitious canines (and owners!), a more leisurely 1.5-mile walk on a scenic nature trail, and tons of other contests and fun events!

You can also raise money to help offset the costs of this fantastic non-profit organization.

Take a look at the complete schedule of events on the Lollypop Farm website.

For those who don't know, Lollypop Farm is an animal shelter in the Hamlet of Egypt that does a wonderful job caring for and protecting our local animals.

I know I'm looking forward to the Barktober Fest. Bear and I would love to see you there!

These are my pets.

Fluffy is a 17-year-old cat I've had since he was a kitten, and Bear is a 4-year-old Border Collie Mix I adopted from Lollipop Farm this past spring. I adore them both and can't imagine life without them. They bring me so much joy and contentment.

As I was trapped on the couch this afternoon with Fluffy dozing on my lap, I began brainstorming about the importance of factoring your pets into the sale of your home.

Everyone loves their pets. They tend to take over our homes and our hearts, to the point that we don't mind the food dishes scattered across the kitchen floor or the drool-covered toys in the living room. They must be endearing to potential buyers, right?

Wrong! The bad news is that if you're selling your home, there's always the chance that potential buyers won't feel the same way you do about your pets. Imagine if someone who isn't an "animal person" walks into your basement and is instantly overtaken by the smell of your cat's dirty litterbox. Talk about a turnoff!

Here are some simple steps you can take to head off any pet problems and present your home in the best light!

Address odors. When you live in a home, sometimes you become so attuned to animal smells that you don't even notice them anymore, but I assure you, buyers will! It can be useful to have a good friend come over and be completely honest with you about what they smell in your home. Then, armed with Febreeze and a laundry basket, you can do whatever it takes to remove the offending odors. Shampooing your carpets may be necessary if Febreeze doesn't seem to do the trick. Believe me, it's worth it.

Nature's Miracle also makes an amazing set of pet products! It was recommended to my by a fellow agent, and it really is miraculous at cleaning up all those little messes. You can find it at most pet stores.

Remove animal items. Do your best to cover up the fact that your pets reside in your house. Not only can their toys and dishes clutter up your home, but they also distract buyers from important features. You can simply hide them in a cupboard or drawer during showings.

Litterboxes can be harder to remove. According to Murphy's Law, the moment you hide it somewhere is the moment your cat will need it! However, cleaning them on a regular basis and scooping the clumps every day should keep offensive odors away. Just hide them away in a corner if possible.

Get your pets out. I showed a house to some buyers recently, and the owners had their huge, imposing German Shepherd crated in a small downstairs bedroom. Every time we even got near the door, the dog started barking like crazy. He may have been a very nice dog, but he scared my buyers' small daughter half to death, not to mention the fact that we couldn't even get a good look at the bedroom. My buyers ended up passing on that home.

Best case scenario: go for a walk or a drive with your dogs during showings. Most dogs will love it, and buyers won't have to hear them barking. If that's not possible, make sure to crate them in an unobtrusive place such as the basement or garage. As for cats, crating them is also best. Tripping over your cat won't leave a good impression in a buyer's mind!

In today's buyer's market, making your home truly shine is more important than ever. With potential animal issues taken care of, buyers can focus on the beauty of your home!

I guess this is one way to attract buyers...

I want to share some statistics about area home sales. My plan is to post them every Friday so you can see for yourself the trends that are happening in our local market.

Note that Gananda homes are spread out between the towns of Macedon and Walworth.

Macedon

Active: 49 homes (+ 2 townhomes)
Average List Price: $172,168

Under Contract Since 9/6/08: 1 home
List Price: $127,900

Closed Since 9/6/09: 0 homes

Walworth

Active: 68 homes (+ 2 townhomes)
Average List Price: $184,455

Under Contract Since 9/6/08: 0 homes (1 with Walworth mailing; see Macedon Under Contract)

Closed Since 9/6/08: 1 home
Sale Price: $223,000

Palmyra

Active: 38 homes
Average List Price: $135,298

Under Contract Since 9/6/08: 1 home
List Price: $199,900

Closed Since 9/6/08: 0 homes

What can be extrapolated from that data? Compared to the number of homes on the market, there are relatively few offers being written and closed. That's typical of a buyer's market, which is definitely what we're in throughout the Rochester area, excluding some popular niche areas.

Combined with the recently lowered interest rates (around 6% for a 30 year mortgage, give or take), this data illustrates why it's a great time to buy!

If you would like to see data from anywhere else in the Rochester area, just drop me a line and let me know. I'd be happy to keep you up to date!