How Lighting and Paint Can Improve Your Home

Want to sell your home? Get a free home value report  
Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale

Today, we’ll discuss lighting in the home. As the days grow shorter and the nights get longer, lighting becomes even more important in the sale of your home. Those bright Indiana days become less frequent as we move closer to winter. Here’s some tips we’d like to share with you!

Ditch the low-wattage incandescent bulbs. They make your home look dark and dingy. Daylight bulbs, however, brighten things up. They’re full spectrum light bulbs that mimic natural light and can also boost your mood. When shopping, be sure to look for daylight bulbs that have a range between 5,000 and 6,500 Kelvins!

Use bright interior paint. Did you know that paint manufacturers have a scale for the reflective value of the different paint colors? The LRV scale begins at zero with black and rises to 85 with the brightest whites. The next most reflective color is yellow. Specially formulated paints can reach an LRV as high as 90! Check with your local paint store about information on LRVs. Ceiling recommendations are between 60 and 90 LRV. Wall recommendations are from 35 to 60 LRV. Experts suggest avoiding paints with a glossy sheen because they can create an annoying glare.

If you’re looking for more ideas on how to make your show better, please contact me. We can get your home to sell for top dollar. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Three Things that Deter Home Buyers in Bloomington

Want to sell your home? Get a free home value report  
Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale

Today I'd like to talk about three very common buyer turnoffs. If you can avoid these issues when you're selling your home in Bloomington, then you have a much better chance of selling quickly and for top dollar.

One major turnoff is a dirty kitchen and dirty bathrooms. These are major selling points in your home, and they need to be sparkling clean, along with the rest of your home. Putting in a little elbow grease can pay dividends when you close on a property. You may even need to hire a professional to come and clean your property.

The second thing that can turn buyers away is a home that is cluttered and disorganized. We accumulate a lot of things when we live in a home, but they don't belong in the home when you're trying to sell it. Buyers don't want to see a wall covered with trophies and photos, they want to see your home for what it is. Remove collections of photographs, artwork, or anything else that obscures the buyer's perception of your home. Aim to put away at least half of the things that you own, or take this time to donate some things to charity.

The third thing that can literally push buyers away is a smelly home. You may have infants, or pets, or maybe you cook a lot of cabbage or curry. It may not even be that your home stinks, it just smells differently than what people are used to. Try to neutralize your home with Febreze, but don't use too much because people will then think that you're trying to hide something.

If you can avoid these three things, you home should impress buyers and that will increase your chances of selling quickly and for top dollar in Bloomington!

Pre-Qualification and Pre-Approval in Bloomington

Want to sell your home? Get a free home value report  
Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale

Today, we’ll talk about the difference between pre-qualification and pre-approval with Brandie Denton at Waterstone Mortgage.

What is a pre-qualification letter? Normally, a pre-qualification letter includes obtaining a credit report and gathering information from the borrower directly. We can do this in just a few minutes over the phone.

What is a pre-approval letter? A pre-approval letter is issued after receiving required documentation by an underwriter. This can be issued in as little as two to three days once we receive all the required documentation.

What’s the advantage of having a pre-approval to the buyer? The advantage here is the chance of a better negotiation with the seller because it will give the seller more confidence in your offer.

Is there a checklist for the process? Yes, Brandie uses a checklist that I email immediately to clients after pre-qualification. She sends it to her client and Realtor. Also, we use closeyourloanontime.com here at Waterstone Mortgage because it has a check list.

We hope you found some of this information helpful today. If you’re looking to buy or sell a home, please give us a call!

As a Buyer, Should You Trust a Listing Agent?

Want to sell your home? Get a free home value report  
Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale

When you drive by a home for sale in Bloomington, you'll see the name of a real estate agent on it. That agent is representing that seller, and that's who you need to go through if you wish to purchase the home.

However, don't think that this listing agent is going give you a good deal on the home. They are working on behalf of the seller, and they have no obligation to assist you when you buy the home. This is called an exclusive listing agreement, and the listing agent has a legal obligation to work on behalf of the seller. Any information you share with the listing agent is fair game for the seller, so be careful what you say to the listing agent.

If you are trying to buy a home, you need to link up with a qualified buyer's agent. A buyer's agent will represent you and communicate with the listing agent in order to get you the best price and terms on the home.

Don't forget who works for who! As a buyer you will need an agent to work for you as well!

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. Right now is a great time to enter the Bloomington real estate market!

The Indiana Housing Market in 2015

Want to sell your home? Get a free home value report  
Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale

Today, we’ll discuss Indiana’s housing market this year. Good news: we’re back on track!

Indiana University recently released a 32-page report on this year’s housing market. The research shows overall home sales were up more than six percent compared to last year. In June, Hoosiers purchased 9,080 existing homes. That makes this June the state’s second-largest sales tally in a month within the last dozen years. 

Particularly, Bloomington experienced a nine percent improvement in sales. According to our data source in Monroe County, homeowners purchased 240 homes in June 2015. 

The recent data also shows that foreclosures are at their lowest level since 2001. Indiana has moved from the ninth-highest foreclosure rate in the nation to the seventeenth. Furthermore, Indiana had the eleventh highest home ownership rate in 2014. 

Indiana’s existing home sales have risen this year. As of mid 2015, the state registered 78,440 existing home sales. This is Indiana’s largest four quarter total since 2007.

Researchers found that Indiana’s average median price for existing home sales rose more than three percent over the last year and nearly fifteen percent above the low point in 2009.

According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s Price Index, our state had the fortieth fastest price appreciation rate in the country. 

We have been feeling a demand for housing in Bloomington with a low inventory. If you’ve been thinking about making a move, it’s a good time to act. Feel free to contact me about a free real estate consultation. I'm always available to help!

How to Avoid Issues With Your Foundation

Want to sell your home? Get a free home value report  
Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale

Today I'm with Joe Walton of KAT Home Repair. Joe is his company's foundation expert and he's going to be discussing what you can do to avoid issues with your home's foundation. The foundation is extremely important, and Joe recently had to do some work on a home that had foundation problems detected during a buyer's home inspection.

Joe says that issues most often arise as a result of deferred maintenance. Most issues aren't obvious to the naked eye, such as a missing sump pump in a crawl space.

In order to keep your foundation healthy, Joe recommends that you pay attention to your down spouts. Make sure that they are at least 15 feet away from your home. If you have grading issues, then 15 feet may not be enough. 

It's also important to maintain a positive grade around your home. For example, you don't want a home with a moat around it. You want the dirt to slope downward away from your property if possible. 

The third thing you must do is keep your gutters clean and free of debris. This is probably the most simple thing that you can do to protect your foundation.

If you'd like to reach out to Joe, you can call 317-408-0997. He can assist you with any foundation issues that you may be experiencing.

As always, please refer to me as your resource for real estate in Bloomington!

Do You Need to Put a Large Down Payment on a Home?

Want to sell your home? Get a free home value report  
Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale

Today we are discussing one of the most common mortgage-related questions we are asked. We are excited to be joined by Brandie Denton of the Waterstone Mortgage Corporation to discuss whether you should wait to put down a bigger down payment, or buy now while rates are low.

To be sure, there are a lot of great advantages to saving up and putting down, let's say, a 20% down payment. It will automatically qualify you for a lower interest rate off the bat, and you get to avoid paying private mortgage insurance. If you put down anything below 20%, you have to pay that private mortgage insurance.

However, the cost of waiting until you have a 20% down payment could outweigh the benefits of not having that PMI payment, depending on your situation. We will have to look at the pros and cons to decide what you should do. Brandy and her team have many different programs to suit different situations, so you never know what you could be passing up.  Housing prices and interest rates are going up and if you aren’t saving fast, it might be a good idea to make a purchase now because conditions are so good. 

Before you make a decision either way, you need to sit down with a mortgage professional like Brandy to identify your goals, what you want to accomplish, and whether buying now makes sense. 

If you have any questions for us, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!

How Can You Easily Improve Your Credit?

Want to sell your home? Get a free home value report  
Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale

Today I have Brandie Denton with me to discuss how you can positively impact your credit score. Brandie works with Waterstone Mortgage (https://www.facebook.com/mortgageloanexpert.net) and she's always the person I refer my clients to when they need help financing a home in Bloomington.

I've been hearing a lot about trade lines lately, and trade lines are pretty much anything that will show up on your credit report. This will include things like car loans, credit reports, and mortgage payments. These kinds of trade lines are what make up your credit history and determine your credit score.

So, is it better to have a high credit limit or a low credit limit? A credit limit is your available balance of what someone is willing to lend to you, so it's better to have a higher credit limit but it's not necessarily better to have a higher credit balance. 

Is the length of time that your credit is open important? Every 30 days your credit will be reported, but some mortgage products require up to a 2-year credit history.

If you have any more questions about credit, please don't hesitate to contact myself or Brandie. We both look forward to speaking with you!

Avoid Disaster by Asking Your Inspector these Four Questions

Want to sell your home? Get a free home value report  
Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale

Home inspections are crucial for home buyers. However, they can get a little confusing and overwhelming if you don't know which types of questions to ask your home inspector. We'll examine some common questions that you should ask your inspector in order to make sure nothing goes awry during this process.

1. What does the inspection cover? A normal inspection covers basic things like plumbing, electrical, roofing, mechanical components such as AC, and other things. You want to know if your inspector is looking at issues like bugs, radon, and rodents. Sometimes these special inspections aren't included in a standard one, so it's a good idea to ask about them specifically.
2. How long has your inspector been inspecting homes? You want a licensed, experienced inspector, not a new one prone to making mistakes and causing issues down the road.
3. How much will the inspection cost? Cost shouldn't be your main concern. You want to worry about the quality of the inspection. As a buyer, you will be expected to pay for an inspection on your own.
4. How long will the inspection take? In Bloomington, it's not uncommon for an inspection to take 2-3 hours.

If you need a home inspector, we have a list of preferred vendors that we would be happy to give you access to. Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns that you might have about this issue.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Don't Skip the Radon Inspection When Buying a Bloomington Home

Want to sell your home? Get a free home value report  
Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale

Buyers often ask me if they should get a home inspection. The simple answer is yes. Since buying a home is usually one of the most expensive purchases you will make, a good home inspection is money well spent.

A qualified home inspector can uncover defects that aren't obvious to the untrained eye. Then you can decide if you want the seller to make any repairs before closing, or if you would be willing to take on the repairs yourself. It's important to understand the extent of the repairs so you understand how they impact the value of your investment.

Another thing buyers don't always consider is a radon inspection. Radon gas is common in the Bloomington area. The radon inspection is separate from the home inspection, and usually costs under $200. Radon is a radioactive gas formed by a naturally occurring breakdown of radium, and it is hazardous to your health.

Radon gas from natural sources can accumulate in homes, especially in attics and basements. Radon gas naturally fluctuates, so testing for high levels is very important. If a radon test comes back high, there are ways to reduce the levels to an acceptable reading.

If you have any questions about today's video, or about real estate in general, give me a call or send me an email. I'd be happy to answer any of your questions.

What Changes Are Happening to IU Health?

Want to sell your home? Get a free home value report  
Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale

Welcome back, today we are excited to discuss some of the exciting changes going on at the IU Health Bloomington Hospital. A lot of clients have been asking us about these changes lately, so we thought we would send you a blog post that covers everything!

On April 15 of this year, IU, IU Health, and IU Health Bloomington Hospital announced that they are creating a regional academic health campus in Bloomington, including a new home for the hospital, currently located at 2nd and Rogers.

The new facility will be located on the current site of the IU golf driving range on 75 acres, just off the SR 45/46 bypass adjacent to the IU technology park.

According to Dan Evans, president and CEO, this campus will provide opportunities for collaboration among the clinical, research, and medical staff at IU. Mr. Evans also said that it will pave the way for a robust research program that will bring more clinical trials and innovative treatment methods to our area. It will bring all of the health science and technology areas in one place, and we are very excited!

To learn more about this, head on over to iuhealth.com/bloomingtonrahc, and if you have any questions for us, feel free to give us a call at (812) 360-3863.

What is the Eight Second Decision?

Want to sell your home? Get a free home value report  
Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale

Statistics have shown that buyers decide whether they like a home or not in the first eight seconds of seeing it. After this, they either fall in love or are just honoring the appointment. This may be unnerving for you if you're trying to sell in Bloomington.

This is why it's so important to repair your home before you try to sell it, because it's likely that buyers will be turned off if you have glaring problems with your home. If you have time and a budget, you can hire a professional to assess the problems and fix them. This is more expensive than making your own evaluation, but it will likely end up being a better solution. 

Once you do take a look at your home and notice the small problems, you may feel a bit overwhelmed, but all of these little repairs will pay off in the end. Make sure your landscaping is done well and that any other noticeable issues are taken care of. 

If you're thinking of buying or selling your Bloomington home, please don't hesitate to call me at (812) 360-3863! I would be very happy to do a free consultation with you.