Monday, November 21, 2016

Staging tips on selling your home

Get Rid of it... Before Selling Your Home
Posted by Joe Samson on Wednesday, April 30th, 2014 at 8:41am.
Decluttered HouseIf you're thinking about moving to a new home in the future, whether it's larger or smaller, then it's important to de-clutter your existing home and get rid of the stuff that you don't want, need or use. By doing this you will be able to make moving easier, but you'll also be able to make your home look cleaner! Although it can be difficult getting rid of things that you've been holding onto for a while, it is very much worth it. After all, what's the point of saving all of the things that just sit in boxes never to be seen? Below you'll find some tips for making the cleanup process easier and as stress free as possible.

Getting Started

The first step in the de-cluttering process is to have a friend who is good at cleaning up come over and help you. It's important to have someone that will give you an honest opinion of the things you really should keep (your blender) versus things you should let go of (those 6 inch heels you can't stand in). Start in a room that you have been avoiding, and have a fresh cup of coffee in hand to give you energy. As you go through, have different areas that are designated as "keep", "toss" and "charity". That way you can keep everything organized and minimized the amount of work you have to do once you're done going through everything.

As you progress through tossing or keeping things, make sure you are really thinking about whether or not they are useful. If you haven't used or worn something in over a year, then it's probably best to get rid of it. This doesn't mean you have to throw it away, as you can easily give it to a friend or family member. You might want to even consider selling things online, as it's very easy to do, and will ensure you get some money for things that you never use. It's also important to think of ways to consolidate your belongings, and to find unique storage pieces that store items you want to keep more effectively.

Achieving Less Clutter

Once you are done with one area of the house, go onto the other or take a break and continue on the next day. You want to go to all rooms of your home so that you can clean up, get rid of junk and minimize the "things" that you have. One important tip to keep in mind is that you should make sure members of your household agree with the things you are getting rid of, as you don't want to toss out someone's favorite shirt or pair of jeans. Once everyone is on board with the things that are going, take the appropriate actions to actually get the things out of your home (there are a lot of junk removal services that will come and get things for FREE).

In the end you're going to be left with a home that is simplified, cleaner and that has a whole lot less clutter. You'll especially notice this when you move, because there will be a lot less things that you have to move from one place to another. So, take a look at the housing market and then at your own home so you can get rid of things you don't need.

Sunday, November 20, 2016

5 Tips for Selling a Luxury Property — RISMedia

5 Tips for Selling a Luxury Property — RISMedia: Selling a luxury property is slightly different than selling a more moderate home or property. To begin with, the new owners will often be more able to tailor the property to their own specifications and may not even view the property themselves; rather, they may purchase the property through an agent, sight unseen. Here are …

When is the Right Time to Sell Your Home?

When is the Right Time to Sell Your Home?:

There are no invalid reasons to sell your home; there are only the reasons why now is the right time for you.
If you are like so many homeowners today, you are not living in your "forever home" right at the moment. Rather, the home you currently reside in is a stepping stone to get you just that much closer to your dream house.
It is likely that you are always keeping one eye on your home and the other eye on the housing market, trying to figure out when the time is ripe to sell and move to the next stepping stone home on your list. Here's how to know for sure when it is a good time to sell your home.
When your current home is no longer a good fit for your needs.
Stepping stone homes are bought for a specific reason at a specific time in life. Maybe you move because you are expecting a baby and you need more room. Conversely, maybe your "baby" just went off to college and suddenly your formerly cozy home feels like an echoing cavern. Perhaps you just got a job on the other side of town and the commute is killing you, or now you work from home and you discover you hate your neighborhood. Regardless of why, when your home no longer works for your situation in life, this is a clear sign it is a good time to think about selling.
When the market favors the seller.
If there is one thing you can count on the real estate market to reliably deliver, it is shifting trends. Some years, it will be a buyer's market and in other years, it will be a seller's market. If you've been feeling like a move might be welcome and the real estate market just happens to be favoring sellers at the moment, you might as well throw your house in the ring and see what you reel in!
Your mortgage is paid.
Once your mortgage is paid off in full, every dollar you earn over what you paid for it is pure profit. Very few people in this country today get to enjoy the great feeling of being debt free, but if you sell your home after it is paid off and pocket the profits, you can be one of them.
Your current interest rate is high.
Right now, interest rates on mortgage loans are at historic lows. If you are currently carrying a mortgage on a home that has a high interest rate attached (and especially if even a refinance won't fix this adequately) then you can know for sure that now is a good time to sell.
At this point in time, real estate is scarce and homes are in demand. Interest rates are low and the market is strong overall. Whether you choose to sell and just rent for awhile or you decide to turn around and buy another home at a low interest rate, it is a win-win to sell and get out of that higher rate.
Every single day, homeowners become former homeowners for all kinds of different reasons. There are no invalid reasons to sell your home; there are only the reasons why now is the right time for you.

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Friday, November 4, 2016

The 4 Emotions of the Home-buying Process

The 4 Emotions of the Home-buying Process: More often than not, a buyer’s decision to purchase a new home is based on emotion, not logic. While they may have a checklist that includes the number of bed

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Buying Remains 38% Cheaper than Renting!

In the latest Rent vs. Buy Report from Trulia, they explained that homeownership remains cheaper than renting with a traditional 30-year fixed rate mortgage in the 100 largest metro areas in the United States.
The updated numbers actually show that the range is an average of 5% less expensive in Orange County (CA) all the way up to 46% in Houston (TX), and 36% Nationwide! 
A recent study by GoBankingRates looked at the cost of renting vs. owing a home at the state level and concluded that in 36 states it is actually ‘a little’ or ‘a lot’ cheaper to own, represented by the two shades of blue in the map below.
Buying Remains 36% Cheaper than Renting! | Keeping Current Matters
One of the main reasons that owning a home has remained significantly cheaper than renting is the fact that interest rates have remained at or near historic lows. Freddie Mac reports that rates fell again last week to 3.43%.

Nationally, rates would have to rise to 10.6% for renting to be cheaper than buying – and rates haven’t been that high since 1989. 

How To Use Mental Mortgage Math

Let’s use a 6% interest rate as an example:

Payments - The payment for principal and interest equals about $600 on a $100,000 30-year loan. Use this as your benchmark. (Actual is $599.55.)

Principal Paid - At this rate, figure 1/10th of 1% of the loan amount each month. Example: $100,000 loan = $100 of principal paid. (Actual figure starts at $102.33, increasing with each payment.)

Interest Paid - Subtract the principal from the payment to determine the approximate cost of interest. Example: $600 payment - $100 principal = $500 interest.

As rates change all the time, call for an update on current levels, and we'll calculate a current benchmark applicable to today's markets.

Mental Mortgage Math is not meant to replace your calculator but is a great way to estimate numbers quickly on the fly. Call when you want us to do the rest.

How Do Rising Prices Impact Your Home Equity?

Yesterday, we shared the results of the latest Home Price Expectation Survey by Pulsenomics. One of the big takeaways from the survey is that over the next five years, home prices will appreciate 3.5% per year on average, and cumulatively will grow by around 18%.

So what does this mean for homeowners and their equity position?

For example, let's assume a young couple purchased and closed on a $250,000 home in January of this year. If we only look at the projected increase in the price of that home, how much equity would they earn over the next 5 yrs How Do Rising Prices Impact Your Home Equity? | Keeping Current Matters Since the experts predict that home prices will increase by 4.5% this year alone, the young homeowners will have gained over $11,000 in equity in just one year. Over a five-year period, their equity will increase by over $46,000! This figure does not even take into account their monthly principal mortgage payments. In many cases, home equity is one of the largest portions of a family's overall net worth.

Bottom Line

Not only is homeownership something to be proud of, it also offers you and your family the ability to build equity you can borrow against in the future. If you are ready and willing to buy, find out if you are able to today!

Monday, August 15, 2016

Top Producing Agents in 2012

Top 100 Producing Agents of 2012


  • Congratulations to the following PRO members for being the top producing agents in Pinellas County in 2012! Keep up the great work and make 2013 a prosperous and successful year!
    1Martha H. ThornColdwell Banker Residential
    2Dania PerryCentury 21 Jim White & Associates
    3Alexander  JansenCoastal Properties Group International
    4Rafal  WazioSand Key Realty
    5Nancy S. LeslieRE/MAX Realtec Group Inc
    6Gary A. UbaldiniKeller Williams Realty
    7Tammy Campbell-PlummerColdwell Banker Residential
    8Carole W. MerrittColdwell Banker Residential
    9Rhonda Sanderford & Marian YonMaguireSmith & Associates Real Estate Inc
    10Wendy L. LockhartLockhart & Associates Real Estate LLC
    11Sandra A. HartmannRealty Executives Adamo
    12Debbie Newman & Scott AllenSmith & Associates Real Estate Inc
    13Clifford L. RoeCliff Roe Realty Inc
    14Kenny R. HayslettRE/MAX Realtec Group Inc
    15Donna B. NettestadRE/MAX Realtec Group Inc
    16John E. KellerJack Keller Inc
    17Peter G. ChicourisEquity Realty of Pinellas Inc
    18Steve BusseRe/Max All Star
    19Scott A. SamuelsKeller Williams St Pete Realty
    20John H. DietzRE/MAX Realtec Group Inc
    21Pat KellyColdwell Banker Residential
    22Peggy W. NarunsNorthstar Realty
    23Marcy S. DanielsColdwell Banker Residential
    24Richard K. DoyleRichard Doyle Real Estate
    25Lori L. FamigliettiKeller Williams St Pete Realty
    26Michael A. LynchColdwell Banker Sun Vista
    27Estelia M. MesimerKeller Williams St Pete Realty
    28Cynthia A. FazziniRE/MAX Realtec Group Inc
    29Natalie R. BaroneRE/MAX Realtec Group Inc
    30Debi A. BaloghColdwell Banker Residential
    31Terry L. Tillung PAColdwell Banker Residential
    32Sandy PapadakisRE/MAX Realtec Group Inc
    33Raymonda  AbunassarColdwell Banker Residential
    34J Matthew BrashearRe/Max Elite Realty
    35Dave and Maggie SmithRE/MAX Metro
    36John B. SeeResults Real Estate Inc
    37Thomas E. HallisColdwell Banker Residential
    38Frank MalowanySmith & Associates Real Estate Inc
    39Deborah L. GarriganGarrigan & Assoc Realty Inc
    40Tom SmithCoastal Properties Group International
    41Linda CarusoKeller Williams Realty
    42Barbara G. ZaccariaColdwell Banker Residential
    43Christopher S. HounchellKeller Williams St Pete Realty
    44Kim BeiningenCentury 21 Beggins Beach Properties
    45Dottie J. NashSand Key Realty
    46Steve J. CapenKeller Williams St Pete Realty
    47Kathryn Krayer ZimringRE/MAX Metro
    48Ronald J. JacksonColdwell Banker Residential
    49David PriceColdwell Banker Residential
    50Peter P. NemethyRE/MAX Metro
    51Debra E. CunninghamThe Debbie Cunningham Team
    52Dean D. RibbleRe/Max 1st Class Realty
    53Bonnie StricklandRE/MAX Metro
    54Tami R. DollColdwell Banker Residential
    55Alona DishyRealty Executives Adamo
    56Sandee D. Dillon-MooneyRE/MAX Realtec Group Inc
    57Allison  EstabrooksRe/Max Preferred
    58Richard W. BlakeRE/MAX Realtec Group Inc
    59M Sam McLaughlinRE/MAX Realtec Group Inc
    60Julie A. FoldenColdwell Banker Residential
    61Gregory R. ChassinRE/MAX Metro
    62Cynthia Serra & Connie LancasterSmith & Associates Real Estate Inc
    63Debbie Momberg & Colleen StrattonSmith & Associates Real Estate Inc
    64Susan Carl-SingletonJMC Resort Properties, LLC
    65Jacqueline B. DiazKeller Williams Gulfside Realty
    66Alison D. BearnarthSmith & Associates Real Estate Inc
    67David P. GriecoColdwell Banker Sun Vista
    68J. David VannRE/MAX Metro
    69Stephen L. KeplerEngel & Volkers Clearwater Downtown
    70Angela I. MorrisKeller Williams Gulf Coast Seminole
    71R Andy Burwell Jr PA SFRKeller Williams Gulfside Realty
    72Kathie C. Lea e-PRO, CDPERE/MAX Realtec Group Inc
    73Donna L. MillerRE/MAX Realtec Group Inc
    74Belinda S. BishopKeller Williams Gulfside Realty
    75Retha M. WrightPrudential Tropical Realty
    76Carol E. GiovannoniRe/Max Preferred
    77Angela J. ClarkRE/MAX Realtec Group Inc
    78Kathy RodriguezFlorida’s Best Homes Realty LLC
    79Thomas L. DrappColdwell Banker Residential
    80Gayle RoffisPremier Sotheby’s International Realty
    81Bobbie D. KaplanWeichert Realtors Sun Sand & Sea
    82Tim MilesEagle Crest Realty
    83David W. SwansonSmith & Associates Real Estate
    84Karen A. VommaroRE/MAX Realtec Group Inc
    85Kevin P. GallagherColdwell Banker Residential
    86Jill HelgrenCentury 21 Jim White & Associates
    87Timothy J. MalloyRealty Executives Suncoast
    88Judy R. EavesColdwell Banker Residential
    89Jeffrey C. JoynerKeller Williams St Pete Realty
    90Scott A. McNayRE/MAX Action First
    91Nadine  AppeltKeller Williams St Pete Realty
    92Deborah ZitoSmith & Associates Real Estate Inc
    93Garges P. PurteeRealty Executives Homes in Florida
    94Debra J. NobileGolf Host Securities Inc
    95Luigi KalajRE/MAX Realtec Group Inc
    96Aaron & Brooke Hefte & Sarah BunsRE/MAX Metro
    97Marsha  GordonColdwell Banker Residential
    98Jamie L. EverettRE/MAX Realtec Group Inc
    99Eileen A. BedinghausRE/MAX Metro
    100Joe G. VavrickaRE/MAX Realtec Group Inc

Friday, April 22, 2016

Expert Realtor Featured on Realtor.com

Real Estate Agent Kim A. Beiningen was recently been highlighted on realtor.com. Specializing in waterfront property, she has been a trustworthy and reliable source for any inquiries for homes in anywhere along the coastline in her hometown.

A top grossing realtor from the St. Petersburg region of Florida