Today we just wanted to reach out for a moment and wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season from our entire team here at Tim Majka Real Estate Experts.
We are very appreciative of all the support you have shown to us this past year and because of that, we were able to help over 30 families buy or sell a home. We are looking forward to another great year in 2016, helping even more families realize their dreams of home ownership.
Have a safe, happy, and fun holiday season, everyone! If you have any questions for us, or are interested in buying or selling a home in the near future, give us a call or send us an email. We can’t wait to hear from you!
First, let’s talk about the cons. The biggest one is that no one wants to spend the time during the holidays to show their home. That is a valid concern, but there are ways you can limit when your home is shown to potential buyers. We can reduce the number of days your home is available for showings, and can even make certain days throughout the holiday season “off-limits” for showings.
The other big con that this presents is moving during the holidays. We can help reduce this problem for you. If your home is for sale in December and scheduled to close at the end of the year, a lot of times we can negotiate either a delayed closing or a 2-4 week rent-back period, so you don’t have to add that stress on your plate until after the holidays are over.
While there are a few drawbacks to listing your home on the market right now, there are also plenty of advantages to selling now that you don’t get at other points in the year.
The biggest pro to selling during the holidays is the low inventory. Right now, we have the lowest level of inventory that we’ve seen in the last 10 years all over Orange County. With less homes to compete against on the market, your home stands out more to buyers.
Another great reason to list right now is because of all the serious buyers out on the market right now, looking to close on a deal before the end of the year, either for personal or tax reasons. A lot of times these buyers don’t mind allowing a rent-back for the holiday season, because they don’t want to move then either.
These are just a few of the pros of selling during the holidays. We have found that this time of year is a great time for home sellers to list their homes and get back the equity they have gained in recent years. If you have any questions for us, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We would love to hear from you!
I know a lot of people who choose to rent out their properties instead of selling them. Not everyone is cut out to be a landlord, and I sometimes see people making mistakes that can cause a lot of turbulence in the process. I have four tips to help you through this process.
1. Not doing a proper financial check on your applicant:We always recommend obtaining a credit report with FICO scores and eviction checks. We also like to have a pay stub and a bank statement to ensure that the applicant is financially capable of paying for the property.
2. Not knowing the law:Tenants are afforded a bevy of rights, and you need to know when you or your tenants are overstepping your bounds. Consult an attorney if you need to, because these issues can become dicey. Research your local laws as well as national ones.
3. Not maintaining your property:Landlords often don't want to spend any money on their proeprties, but this doesn't make sense to me. It's your biggest investment, so make repairs when necessary. Ideally you can be proactive so that nothing disastrous happens, and tenants appreciate someone who keeps things in working order. You might be surprised at how your relationship will improve if you put more effort into maintaining your property. Yearly inspections are generally something that we recommend.
4. Renting your property for less than it's worth:This seems pretty logical, but a lot of landlords charge less than they should. You don't want to have to pay down the mortgage, that is the job of your tenants. Run a rental analysis in the neighborhood to ensure that you're keeping your rent in line with the market.
As a real estate broker and property managerI take a lot of pride in helping people with their real estate issues.Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or comments.
