Archive for June, 2018
How to sell your home fast and for top dollar
Thinking of selling your home?
Are you thinking of selling your home but the process seems too overwhelming and hard? Maybe you have already decided to sell your home but aren’t sure about the process and how to get started. The AskAngie team has all of the answers for you in either situation. We know deciding to sell your home is not an easy decision and can be a very stressful time in your life. Most people want to sell it quickly in order to purchase the next place and everyone wants to get the most money they possibly can out of their home. We have all the tips to help you do just that.
Declutter and bring in the light
One tip we always recommend to our clients is to declutter before listing your home for sale. Having a lot of clutter around your home or on counter tops can really take away from the big picture of what you’re selling. Most buyers want to be able to come into your home and picture it as their own in order to decide whether or not they want to make an offer, seeing your items everywhere might make it hard for them to picture themselves and their family living there. We also suggest removing any dark drapes or window coverings to really brighten up the space and make it more approachable to a buyer. Bright areas and natural light catch buyers attention every time.
An example of a light and bright living room
Changing perspective
In order to get top dollar for your home you have to mix it up and change buyers perspective of what they are looking at. One way to do this is using drone photos for your online postings and MLS site. This allows possible buyers to see the area around your home including the neighborhood, parks, or schools nearby. It also provides a different look at the home itself. We also always suggest that our sellers invest in a stager for their home. Making it look its absolute best is a stagers job – and we have some really good ones! This will help you get top dollar because buyers are seeing it at its best.
Without this drone image you wouldn’t be able to see the AMAZING surroundings this home has. What a change in perspective 🙂
Knowing the market
We believe educating yourself via your Realtor about the current market before listing your home is a good way to prepare yourself for what is to come. Being prepared and knowing what you’re up against is a good idea for selling your home quickly. It is currently a sellers market here in the OC, and we are always looking for people wanting to sell their homes. There’s a lot of buyers looking but never enough houses for them to buy. Knowing this information before posting your home for sale can be very motivating and encouraging as you begin your journey with your house on the market.
Bring the whole package from day one!
We always bring our sellers perfect package to the MLS day one of its listing. In order to do this you need a good Realtor, good photos, and be completely ready to sell. If people have online searches saved they are only sent properties via email the day it’s added and if the price drops, because of this you want to have your pictures and postings perfected before it is listed on the MLS. We also provide a property website for each listings that you are able to share on social media and with any buyer who is interested in your property.
29 more home selling tips waiting for you!
These are just a few additional tips that we added on to share with you. but our team has created a report, 29 Essential Tips That Get Homes Sold Fast (And For Top Dollar). If this report is something you are interested in reading or you know someone who is thinking of selling their home and could use some tips just fill out the form below to have it emailed to you! If you need any additional advice or are looking for someone to help you sell your home quickly contact Angie at 949-338-7408!
Vow2Save – How to Own a Home After Your Wedding
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Wedding Registry Tips
Are you engaged or know someone who is? We’ve got an amazing new tool to share! When you think about your wedding day and what will come after, most people dream of buying a home with their spouse. However, in today’s market it isn’t near as attainable after paying for a wedding. We’ve created a easy down payment registry for all new brides and grooms to make it easier for them to purchase a home using wedding funds! This way you can stress less about earning the down payment for your future home and only focus on the wedding planning.
Easy Down Payment Bridal Registry
Vow2Save , as seen in South County magazine, was designed especially for brides and grooms who can’t afford to buy a home. It’s as simple as connecting your own personalized wedding website with your PayPal account. Our registry and website is completely FREE. The account is in your name and earns YOU money towards your future home. This registry program makes it easy for your family and friends to donate towards your goals and dreams as your wedding gift. Forget the shower curtain and bed spread you were going to put on your Target registry and dream BIGGER. If everyone just donates a little bit, then it can really ease the burden of paying your down payment and closing costs. When you’re ready, we will be happy to help you find your new home! Now you can enjoy your marriage knowing you have a solid investment to begin it with – homeownership!
Wedding Website
Not only does Vow2Save allow you a free wedding registry to save for your down payment, it also gives you the space to have you own wedding website and blog on the easy-to-learn WordPress platform. Now your family and friends can pull up your site to see your pictures, love story, details on the ceremony and reception, RSVP, and donate towards your wedding gift all at once! No more worrying about the time and expense of sending RSVPs with the invitations, or having your family shop around at the three different stores you’re registered at. Everything they need once they get their invitation is right on your personalized Vow2Save site! And they can even send you messages along with the donation that will give you digital memories for years to come.
If you or someone you know is engaged and you want to set up a website with us – fill out the form below! If you check out Vow2Save main page and have any questions please feel free to email us at info@vow2save.com. We look forward to helping you register and purchase your first home!
How foreigners can buy property in Spain
Travel much? So many of our client’s do, which is why I recently got my CIPS designation. Having international connections with real estate agents around the world is important so our team can make sure you’re real estate needs get served…literally everywhere! I recently had the pleasure of attending the SIMA convention in Madrid and had a chance to network while learning all about the process of buying and selling in Spain.
Fun fact: Spain is in the top 3 countries where foreigners make purchases. Not surprising, because it’s beautiful. We’ll save that for a different post 😉
The process of buying a property in Spain
First things first, financing. It does not make sense to begin your search until you know how much you are comfortable spending. Of course, cash is easiest. But this is a post for normal people, not cash cows…
Options for financing foreign property
So… you have a couple options. HELOC is a great one if you have more than 30% equity in your current home. Every time I mention the acronym HELOC (Home Equity Line of Credit) I feel it necessary to remind you to ONLY do this for appreciating assets. Do not use your HELOC for cars, boats, or babes. Only to buy more property. ONLY.
If HELOC is not an option for you, foreign financing is also currently available in Spain. Here’s a quick video we recorded with Lola from B. S. Bank in Madrid:
Current interest rates may actually be better than your HELOC, so it’s something to consider!
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Finding your home in Spain
Like most countries, first steps are determining an area for your new home or vacation rental, and then selecting a buyer’s agent. Make sure to consider all the factors when determining your area. Here’s just a few to think about:
- Proximity to airport
- Walkable to restaurants
- Local tourist attractions & festivals
- Amount the property could rent for, both nightly & monthly
- Noise levels (planes, trains, bars, church bells)
- Crime statistics
- Parking accommodations
- If you’re vacation renting, does the area embrace that?
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Once you’ve got an area in mind, it’s time to get connected with a Realtor who works that region. Just like I mentioned in our post about how to buy property in Costa Rica… a quality agent is crucial in these countries where they don’t offer a Multiple Listing Service or a centralized listing database. We never recommend DIY buying, especially in a foreign land. You need someone who will actually go scout for you and someone who gets along with the other agents in the area so your chances of obtaining your favorite property are higher.
It’s always our pleasure to interview and pair people with quality agents. Please fill out the form below if you would like to find an English-speaking match in your desired area of Spain.
If you’re still nervous about buying overseas, or have any questions about getting started on the process, we would be happy to help. Contact Angie at 949-338-7408!
Orange County Real Estate Success 