Laurie Schwandt

Those of you thinking of on purchasing a home -- IT'S A GREAT TIME TO BUY! How do I know? I have some AWESOME opportunities for new buyers. The mortgage lender that I work with and my broker are collaborating in order to offer some incentives to SAVE YOU $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!

First, your new mortgage application fee will be WAIVED! That's right . . . applying for a new mortgage is free to you, the qualified buyer. Derek can search his database and find the right mortgage for your individual situation. He is not a fly-by-night lender. He has been in business for over 12 years with an established reputation. He has worked WONDERS with my home buyers!

Second, my broker is offering a FREE HOME WARRANTY! You heard me right . . . a one-year home warranty -- FREE! We want to alleviate any worries for your first year in your new home. We have a great home warranty program that allows you to just call the toll-free number and have any issue on the warranty checked out by a true professional!

So call me to start looking for the home that's right for you . . . and the Mortgage Application Fee and Home Warranty are on us!! Customer service is the key to my business!

Laurie Schwandt, Real Estate Professional, Century 21 Hartford South

Cell: 248-255-1136/E-Mail: lschwandt@cent21.biz

If you're a buyer, this question is a home run for you! The prices in the housing market today are great! Most sellers have realized that the property values have declined and it is reflected in their asking prices. Which makes this a GREAT time for buyers. Not only are the prices FABULOUS . . . but the selection. WOW!

I know in the area of Novi that I currently reside, there are SO MANY apartment buildings. The range of rent is all over the map. What a wonderful time for the apartment dwellers to be looking for their first home. You can get SO MUCH HOME for your buck!

So, my words of encouragement are this . . . it doesn't hurt to look and gather information. Isn't that the decade we are living in?!? I mean, I find home buyers to have a wealth of knowledge before they even start talking to a real estate agent. That's GREAT! I love when my people do their HOMEWORK . . . makes the searching that much easier. I mean, they are equipped with what they want, where they want to be, except one thing seems to be lacking . . . not quite sure what they are able to spend.

There is no charge in sitting down with a mortgage person and finding out what you can afford. Despite what the news reflects regarding FANNIE and FREDDIE, get the advice of a GOOD mortgage expert. When you reach a conclusion as to what your budget can afford, the task is simple from there. TRUST ME, there are great deals in every budget . . . beginning with starter homes on up to luxury.

You want to know how the prices are in our market? Take these simple steps and you could be on your way to home ownership before you know it.

1. Have an idea of what area you would like to move to. Think about your job, schools, family, etc.

2. Be aware of what features in a home you NEED and then a list of those you WANT. With the selection today, you should be able to get the best of both worlds (or very close).

3. GET PRE-APPROVED by a reputable mortgage person. This is one of the first things that sellers are looking for when you get ready to submit an offer. This also helps eliminate those homes that are not in your price range. Stick to a budget! You'll find something you're interested in!

4. Contact a full-time real estate professional. They are there to help. Have them do some of the homework for you. They know the real estate end of things, so let them share their knowledge with you.

In today's real estate market, it is a win-win situation for our buyer friends.

Great home prices + low mortgage rates = a home of your own.

Some agents claim it's price, price, price! Some agents swear by staging. What is the right answer? Well . . . BOTH are the best answer. I mean, look at all of the listings on the market today. Especially in the Michigan marketplace, the words "foreclosure", "short sale" and "undervalued" listings are a reality. I have so many solicitation e-mails in my inbox claiming they have the best "system" to capture these listings that I don't know which end is up!

I can tell you this from my personal experience and expertise in the field -- a well-staged home along with the right target price WILL sell your home! How do I know? Because I come to the real estate field with an interior design background. Not only do I offer staging consultation and services to my clients, I offer analysis to other agents and their clients. There's something to be said about going through a home in a buyers frame of mind and assessing what the majority are looking for and want in that house they plan to make their home.

I attended a broker open house yesterday in a very, shall we say, eccentric home. It will definitely take the right buyer with a keen sense of "artfulness" to appreciate this environment. Don't get me wrong . . . I will admit that I kind of liked it! Being a "lefty", I tend to have an appreciation for an artsy look. But, as I was going through the home, I noticed all of the little things, the details that I thought could have been organized a little better to make a great impression of this space. There was a dog's water bowl on the floor in the upper level, closets in disarray, personal items on public surfaces that could have been tucked away into drawers to make a better visual appearance. I mean, if you're going to sell a $1.2 million home, everything needs to be impeccable! Food was awesome, however, that's not what we're selling. I would think with that listing your could at least spring for some fresh flowers, rent furnishings and make the home more buyer-appealing!

The point I'm getting at is buyers want it all! In this market, they CAN have it all! So, let's give it to them. A friend of mine in the business has ALL of her listings staged. Do you want to know how many of them have sold? All of them! That's right . . . she's now working to pound the pavement for more listings. She's honest and up front with her sellers about what needs to be done in order for the listing to sell. Once she "sets the stage" so to speak, her results prove the point.

STAGING IS THE ANSWER . . . however, staging alone will not do the trick. You HAVE to be at the right price point as well. The best equation is STAGING + PRICEPOINT = SOLD!!