Lars Hedenborg

In most of the U.S. the real estate market is a buyer's market. A few years ago, home owners did not have to do much to sell their home. Sometimes a few repairs of upgrades would be negotiated, but overall you could pretty much sell your home "as is". That has changed drastically. More and more sellers are finding they need to do some home improvements BEFORE they can sell their home. Appraisers have given a few tips to help home owners make their home stand out from the rest.

The biggest thing you can do is paint the walls and replace the carpets! Give your home a mini facelift so to speak. The new flooring and fresh paint will give your home more of a new feel. The old adage remains true when it comes to the color palette; go neutral. If you aren't sure how neutral to go, you can always fall back on white with the paint. Not only does it brighten a room, but it can make it feel clean and fresh too!

Speaking of clean, don't even think of putting your home on the market without making it spic and span. If your home is dirty, there are 3 others down the block your potential buyer is more than willing to go see. Wipe down walls, mop the floor and yes clean the baseboards. If you have a lot of stuff, then your best friend could be a storage unit. The more of the floors you can see, the bigger your home will feel! Don't forget the curb appeal! Keep the yard clean and neat! Make any repairs needed to the sidewalk or driveway. Again, remove as much clutter from the yard as you can. This will make your home inviting from the moment they pull into the driveway!

Real Estate still remains one of the best investments you can make. If you are not ready to sell your home, but may be in the next few years, start planning now. Keeping an eye towards the resale value of your home you can't go wrong! Capitalize on this by slowly upgrading your home. There are some things you should avoid though. These things may limit the buyers you attract. One good example of that is a pool. You may love the idea of a swimming pool, but it is definitely one of those things you may want to wait on if you may be selling your home. Not everyone wants one in their backyard so you may lose some potential buyers.

Just because it is a buyer's market doesn't mean it is a bad time to sell. Interest rates are still historically low. There are many first time and repeat buyers taking advantage of the Home Buyers Tax Credit. Now could be the best time to sell your home! If you want to know if it may be the right time to sell your Greater Charlotte home, call Lars Hedenborg! He can answer your questions on getting sold in Charlotte!

There are many people in the Charlotte area who are considering selling their home. Trying to decide if the time is right has become the name of the game in real estate. While Charlotte home prices were at an all time low recently, things are turning around. Home prices are starting to go up and the extension and expansion of the Home Buyers Tax Credit mean more people will be looking to purchase a home in the greater Charlotte area. This is good news for those who are ready to list their home!

First Time Home Buyer

The extension on the Home Buyer tax credits has opened up more doors of opportunity for sellers. Not only is there a tax credit for first time home buyers, some current home owners will qualify for a credit as well under the expansion. For first time buyers much of the criteria remain the same. The income guidelines for sales after November 6, 2009 are $75,000 for single tax payers and $150,000 for married tax payers filing jointly. The time frame is as follows: if you have your contract signed by April 30, 2010 you can qualify for the credit as long as you close no later than June 30^th.

Repeat Home Buyers

The newest twist to the Home Buyer Tax Credit is for repeat buyers. Under the old credit, only home buyers who had not owned a principal property in the last three years qualified for the program. In the extended version, if you have lived the same home for 5 consecutive years out of the last eight years, you are considered a repeat buyer. These buyers can qualify for a tax credit of 10% of the homes purchase price up to $6,500. The income guidelines are similar to those for first time homebuyers.

Getting the Credit

Whether you are a first time home buyer or a repeat buyer, you would use IRS Tax Form 5405 to determine the amount of your credit. You then enter the amount to line 67 for the 1040 form on your 2009 return. There is no application for the credit and you do not have to be pre-approved for the program!

Time to sell!

What does all this mean for sellers? There is now a whole new set of potential buyers for your home! If you have been riding the fence on listing your Greater Charlotte home, call Lars Hedenborg! If you would like a current market analysis or if you have questions about listing your home, his team will be glad to help!!

When you are looking at listings lately, you may have noticed something new; the Walk Score. The Walk Score indicates how well you can get around an area on foot. The higher the score, the less you would need to depend on a car for your every day needs. One study recently looked at how the Walk Score affected the value of a home. Over all, for a one point increase in the score could raise home values by $500-$3000!

Homes that are located within walking distance to amenities are becoming more and more in demand. Rising gas costs and growing environmental awareness are causing more people to rethink the way they live. Owning a home where you can walk to the corner market is becoming more and more attractive to buyers. This is where the Walk Score comes in. A score of 70 or more usually means you can forgo driving if you want to. With schools, parks, public transportation and shopping nearby, a higher score may mean a home in the area may hold its' value better, according to the study.

Let's take a look at a current listing in Charlotte; 1166 Montford Dr. The walk score for this address is 82. Less than a mile away another beautiful Charlotte home, 970 Blackberry Cir, has a walking score of 43. The score can change drastically by just a few streets. For some, the convenience of having all you need within walking distance is very important. By utilizing the new Walk Score system, you can narrow your search to homes that meet your family's lifestyle.

If you have questions about home values or buying tips for first time homeowners, call Lars Hedenborg! His team can help whether you are ready to walk into your own new home, or sell your current home. He is your local real estate expert for Greater Charlotte!

A man's home is his castle. We have all heard that before, and while your home may be your castle, what about the kingdom that lies beyond your front door? A neighborhood has far more impact than just resale value. This is the place you and your family will be living. The area will determine some pretty important aspects of your life. From where you shop to home security, where you live helps determine how you live. Finding the type neighborhood you want is the first step in your house hunting journey.

Family First

Making a list of what you want in the area depends greatly on your family needs. If you have children or are thinking of starting a family, you will want to check out the school district. The education department for your town should be able to provide you with test scores, average class size, student to teacher ratios, and extra-curricular activities available. Your realtor may have information on the schools available in the area, so be sure and ask! Even if you don't have children, buying in a good school district can be a selling point for your home in the future.

Doing What You Want

Next you should take a look at what the area has to offer when it comes to the things you love. What is important you? If you workout daily, then having a good health club nearby may be important. If you eat out or order in a lot, then you may want to see what types of restaurants are located nearby. If you are not sure what should be on your list, then just think about the activities you do throughout the week. This will show you what to look for when it comes to amenities in the neighborhood. Be sure to consider churches, grocery shopping, and other errands you do throughout the week.

In the Neighborhood

So you have found several neighborhoods that fit the bill to become your new kingdom, what now? Check with the local police departments for local crime statistics. Don't ask for just the amount of crime, ask what type of crime, if any, that has been a problem in the area. You should also ask your Realtor® if this is a neighborhood that is stable, up and coming, or on the decline. There is certain information you Realtor® cannot give in view of Fair Housing laws, but asking about the pricing trends and average time on market for the homes in the area can give you a general idea of how the value of your home will hold up.

Once you decide what type of "kingdom" you want to lie at your own front door, you can begin to look for a castle to call your own. Moats are optional!! If you are ready to start the hunt for a place to call home in the Greater Charlotte Area, give Lars Hedenborg a call! His team will treat YOU like royalty and help you find a castle to call your home!

As we enter into the full swing of flu season, many people are evaluating the way they go through their day. H1N1 is causing concern. Some people may opt for drive thru instead of going inside; others are trying to cut back going anywhere they don't have to go. But what does the flu season mean if you are in the market for a new home, or if you are considering putting yours on the market?

Safe Selling

Let's first take a look at selling your home. When you put your home on the real estate market, you may be concerned with the people who will be viewing your home. Most people who are really sick will not be out looking at houses, so for the most part you don't have a lot to be concerned with. One of the BEST ways to show off your home is to see if your realtor offers Virtual Tours! This will help keep down the number of "looky Lous" who are just out window shopping. A Virtual tour also helps potential buyers see your home, so they are a win-win marketing tool.

If you do want to take extra precautions, here are a few simple things you can do. Keep some hand sanitizer and Kleenex on the counter. If you make it available, people will usually take advantage of it. After a showing, sanitize the countertops and doorknobs. These are the places most likely to be touched by someone visiting your home. You can use something like Clorox or Lysol wipes. Just taking these simple precautions can go a long way in keeping your family healthy!

House Hunting

So what should you do if you are in the market to buy a home? Many of the same principles apply. Keep a travel size tissue pack and hand sanitizer with you. If you can, try to avoid touching as many door handles or countertops as you can. Always sanitize your hands after you have been in a home. Washing your hands is the number one way to avoid getting sick!

Also, take advantage of those Virtual Tours. You can get a general idea of whether a home needs to be on your "must see" list without ever stepping a foot outside your door! The best tool at your disposal is a great real estate agent! They will help you zero in on the homes that are right for your needs, instead of you tromping through homes that aren't really what you are looking for!

The bottom line is it is OK to go house hunting!! It is safe to list your home! With a little care and planning, there is no difference in buying or selling a home in October than in doing so in July. If you are thinking of selling your home in the Greater Charlotte Area, call Lars Hedenborg! Buying or selling, his team can help you get it done!!