I answered a question on Trulia Voices last night that inspired me to write this blog post. It's a question that I hear in various forms on a regular basis. The question was from a prospective first-time buyer in the Rochester area who was wondering if she should buy now or wait a few months. She had heard that things were only going to get worse for sellers in our area and thought waiting might be the way to go. In other words...
She was considering trying to "time the market".
First of all, I applaud her for asking her question on Trulia in the first place. So many people would have taken their friend's and family's advice for gospel rather than asking the experts for advice. She received four answers last I knew, and they were all very helpful. This is the advice I gave her, and I think it's something every prospective first-time buyer in the Rochester area should hear.
There are two huge advantages to buying your first home now in the Rochester area: the $8,000 tax credit and the super low interest rates. The $8,000 tax credit no longer needs to be repaid, and you can take advantage of it through December 1, 2009. That means if you buy a house in 2009, you get $8,000. How can you beat that?
The tax credit will be around if you decide to buy in a few months, but consider the interest rates. Our interest rates are currently hovering just above 5% for a 30-year fixed mortgage. That's a historical low, and you never know what's going to happen to rates in the next couple of months. Plus, I've heard talk that we actually might be heading back into a seller's market.
The moral is, things are good for buyers. Could they get better? Sure. But you never know. Trying to "time the market" could help you or hurt you. I say whenever you feel you are ready is the time to take the plunge. It's probably the best time in history to buy a home in Rochester. How exciting that buyers in our area will be able to take advantage of it!
Buyers... on your mark, get set, GO!!
I am proud to help buyers and sellers in the Greater Rochester, New York area find the homes of their dreams. If you are considering purchasing or selling a home in the Rochester area, don't hesitate to contact me. I pride myself in providing the best possible service for my clients!
When you work with me... 
Visit my website at www.YourNYDreamHome.com to learn more about the services I offer!
Contact:
Kristen Wahl
Realtor
(585) 455-5524
KWahl@RealtyUSA.com
This time of year, many sellers are on the fence about listing their homes. Are you in this position? Are you asking yourself, "Should I list now and beat the crowds, or should I wait until Spring when my home shows better?"
Here's how I see it. Let's face it, every single home shows better in the spring than the winter. Flowers are in bloom, birds are singing, and buyers aren't freezing their butts off.
But (and this is a big but!) there is also a LOT more competition in the spring! Your home won't only have to look good, it will have to look better than scores of other homes that have popped up on the market in the early spring months.
I think pictures really are worth 1,000 words, so take a look at this graph that shows the inventory of homes on the market in Rochester from February 2008 through the present.
If you look, you'll see that the number of homes on the market started climbing right around this time last year and didn't stop until it topped out around July and August. That's going from just over 700 homes to well over 1,350!! Holy competition!
Obviously, these numbers pertain only to Rochester, but I bet you anything the trend is the same wherever you are.
If you want my opinion, it's better to avoid all that spring and summer craziness altogether. The buyers are out now, and they're serious. It's time for you to get serious and get your home SOLD!
I am proud to help buyers and sellers in the Greater Rochester, New York area find the homes of their dreams. If you are considering purchasing or selling a home in the Rochester area, don't hesitate to contact me. I pride myself in providing the best possible service for my clients!
When you work with me...
Visit my website at www.YourNYDreamHome.com to learn more about the services I offer!
Contact:
Kristen Wahl
Realtor
(585) 455-5524
KWahl@RealtyUSA.com
The temperatures are supposed to be unseasonably warm this Sunday... all the way up in the 30s! Why not get out there and have some winter fun? I've never been to this event, but it sounds like great old-fashioned fun for the whole family!
View the full-sized flyer here.
Take a look at the complete schedule here!
I am proud to help buyers and sellers in the Greater Rochester, New York area find the homes of their dreams. If you are considering purchasing or selling a home in the Rochester area, don't hesitate to contact me. I pride myself in providing the best possible service for my clients!
When you work with me...
Visit my website at www.YourNYDreamHome.com to learn more about the services I offer!
Contact:
Kristen Wahl
Realtor
(585) 455-5524
KWahl@RealtyUSA.com
Today is Superbowl Sunday. I have to confess, I'm not a huge fan of football. But when I was making my plans for the weekend yesterday, I decided to leave time to watch the big game, because it's history in the making.
While lying in bed last night, I was thinking about that fact, and it dawned on me that everything we do is "history in the making". It may not be remembered by as many people as the Superbowl... but then again, it might.
On July 13th, 1863, Jennie Wade was baking bread for Union soldiers in her home in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. A stray bullet passed through two wooden doors and killed her on the spot, making her the only civilian casualty in those three intense days of battle. Now, over 100 years later, her home is a museum, visited by thousands of people a year. I'm sure she didn't wake up that morning knowing she would "make history". Many history-makers don't.
But, even more importantly, we're writing our own personal histories every day of our lives. All the decisions we make, all the people whose lives we touch, change who we are and who we will become. It's exciting to think that we have the power to create our own histories. It's never too late to write ourselves the way we want to be.
Whether we're remembered by millions of people, like a famous Superbowl quarterback or Jennie Wade, or by one person, it doesn't matter. The important thing is, history happens around us and through us every single day, whether we're famous or not.
So, on this historic Superbowl Sunday, take a minute to think... What will history remember about you? And is it what you would want to be remembered for?
If not... the next page in your life is blank. Start rewriting yourself now!
I am proud to help buyers and sellers in the Greater Rochester, New York area find the homes of their dreams. If you are considering purchasing or selling a home in the Rochester area, don't hesitate to contact me. I pride myself in providing the best possible service for my clients!
When you work with me...
Visit my website at www.YourNYDreamHome.com to learn more about the services I offer!
Contact:
Kristen Wahl
Realtor
(585) 455-5524
KWahl@RealtyUSA.com
It's hard to believe it, but February is almost here. That means it's almost time for the next issue of my monthly e-newsletter.
If you're interested in staying up-to-date on the Rochester real estate market and receiving some of my favorite tips about home improvements, buying and selling, staying healthy, and more, just e-mail me with the word "Newsletter" in the subject line! You'll receive it via e-mail on the first of every month, and I promise to keep your information confidential.
Enjoy the rest of January, and stay warm!
I am proud to help buyers and sellers in the Greater Rochester, New York area find the homes of their dreams. If you are considering purchasing or selling a home in the Rochester area, don't hesitate to contact me. I pride myself in providing the best possible service for my clients!
When you work with me...
Visit my website at www.YourNYDreamHome.com to learn more about the services I offer!
Contact:
Kristen Wahl
Realtor
(585) 455-5524
KWahl@RealtyUSA.com
A full-time, full-service Realtor serving the Greater Rochester Area. Kristen strives to guide buyers and sellers through every step of the process.
When you work with me...
I specialize in the eastern suburbs of Rochester, consisting of Monroe, Wayne, and Ontario counties. As a native of this area, I feel very strongly about the value of its communities.
I have experience working with first-time homebuyers. I enjoy the hands-on nature of teaching them about the home buying and selling process.
Kristen Wahl was an amazing Realtor! I would recommend her to anyone trying to buy or sell a home! She sold our home in 7 days and assisted us in finding our new dream home!" -Dale and Gina Fair, Hilton
"Very honest agent and was available to us day or night. She's also great with our kids!" -Stacy and Frank Gulick, Penn Yan
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