The Nothnagle 4-Sale Line® just got better! In addition to Nothnagle listings, callers can now access information on all listed properties in the Greater Rochester region.
To get information on a property listed with a Nothnagle agent, nothing has changed. Callers enter the Property Code Number (PC#), which appears on Nothnagle “for sale” yard signs and in advertisements, to get a property description and if desired, connect directly with the listing agent.
To access properties listed by a broker other than Nothnagle, callers can enter the property’s MLS number. The MLS number commonly can be found on most competitors’ advertisements and starts with the letter “R” followed by a series of numbers.
The Nothnagle 4-Sale Line® was established in 1993 and continues to get thousands of calls each month. Callers can obtain information on available homes 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The service provides a brief description of the home, including its rooms, features, location and price. Callers can utilize the option to connect directly to an agent to get more information and to set up an appointment to tour the property.
To access the 4-Sale Line® call 585-292-8500 or toll free at 1-800-295-2797.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
How to Calculate Your Debt-to-Income Ratio
Debt-to-Income ratios are important for helping you to determine how much house you can buy and what your lender will approve for a mortgage amount. There are two different types of ratios lenders look at, the front-end ratio which is your housing expenses, and back-end ratio which is your total debt-to-income ratio.
The front-end ratio indicates how much of your monthly income will go towards your monthly payment, which includes principle, interest, real estate property taxes and homeowners' insurance. The total payment should not exceed 28% of your gross (before taxes) monthly income.
To get an idea of what kind of a payment you can qualify for, take your annual gross salary and multiply it by 0.28 (28%), then divide by 12 months. For example, if your annual salary is $50,000, you may qualify for a monthly payment of $1166 (50,000 x 0.28 / 12 = 1,166).
When searching for a home on Nothnagle.com, each listing has a "Mortgage Calculator" feature that will help you estimate what your monthly payment will be for that particular property.
An additional factor that a lender will look at beyond the front-end ratio, is your total debt-to-income ratio (or back-end ratio). This takes into account not just your housing expenses but your total debts, including car loans, credit card payments and student loans. Your total monthly debt payments cannot exceed 36%. To calculate your back-end ratio, take your annual gross salary and multiply it by 0.36 (36%), then divide by 12 months. Using the same salary of $50,000, your monthly debt payments cannot exceed $1500.
Depending on your other debts, this may reduce the amount of monthly housing payment you can qualify for if you are carrying high credit card debt. To do a quick estimate, add up your monthly fixed payments - minimum credit card payments, car loan, student loan or other fixed debt. If these debt payments equal $600, that leaves $900 for your monthly housing expense.
To find out how much you can qualify for, contact a Nothnagle agent direct or one of our mortgage partners today.
The front-end ratio indicates how much of your monthly income will go towards your monthly payment, which includes principle, interest, real estate property taxes and homeowners' insurance. The total payment should not exceed 28% of your gross (before taxes) monthly income.
To get an idea of what kind of a payment you can qualify for, take your annual gross salary and multiply it by 0.28 (28%), then divide by 12 months. For example, if your annual salary is $50,000, you may qualify for a monthly payment of $1166 (50,000 x 0.28 / 12 = 1,166).
When searching for a home on Nothnagle.com, each listing has a "Mortgage Calculator" feature that will help you estimate what your monthly payment will be for that particular property.
An additional factor that a lender will look at beyond the front-end ratio, is your total debt-to-income ratio (or back-end ratio). This takes into account not just your housing expenses but your total debts, including car loans, credit card payments and student loans. Your total monthly debt payments cannot exceed 36%. To calculate your back-end ratio, take your annual gross salary and multiply it by 0.36 (36%), then divide by 12 months. Using the same salary of $50,000, your monthly debt payments cannot exceed $1500.
Depending on your other debts, this may reduce the amount of monthly housing payment you can qualify for if you are carrying high credit card debt. To do a quick estimate, add up your monthly fixed payments - minimum credit card payments, car loan, student loan or other fixed debt. If these debt payments equal $600, that leaves $900 for your monthly housing expense.
To find out how much you can qualify for, contact a Nothnagle agent direct or one of our mortgage partners today.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
The Difference Between Pre-Qualification vs. Pre-Approval
One of the best things you can do to prepare if you're in the market to buy (aside from hiring a Nothnagle agent!) is to get pre-approved for a mortgage. Pre-approval has far more significance than a pre-qualification.
Nearly anyone can get a pre-qualification letter; the applicant fills out an application and provides basic financial information. At this point in the process, there is no verification of income, debt and credit rating. A lender will issue a "pre-qualification" letter which basically states that based on the information provided, the buyer qualifies for up to $X amount for a mortgage.
A pre-approval letter is only issued after the lender has run a credit report and verified your financial status. The next step after being pre-approved would be to finalize the mortgage commitment. If you are in a competitive situation on a house and one buyer only has a pre-qualification letter but you have a pre-approval, the seller is more likely to accept your offer because they can be assured that it is very likely you will be able to get financing and go through with the purchase of their home.
A pre-approval letter may provide you with some conditions that must be met in order to obtain a mortgage. One common example would be if you own a home now, your lender may condition a mortgage approval on you selling your home first before they will lend you money for your new home. Another example would be a condition that you have to pay off a credit card or student loan.
For more information on financing, visit one of our mortgage partners or contact a Nothnagle agent today.
Nearly anyone can get a pre-qualification letter; the applicant fills out an application and provides basic financial information. At this point in the process, there is no verification of income, debt and credit rating. A lender will issue a "pre-qualification" letter which basically states that based on the information provided, the buyer qualifies for up to $X amount for a mortgage.
A pre-approval letter is only issued after the lender has run a credit report and verified your financial status. The next step after being pre-approved would be to finalize the mortgage commitment. If you are in a competitive situation on a house and one buyer only has a pre-qualification letter but you have a pre-approval, the seller is more likely to accept your offer because they can be assured that it is very likely you will be able to get financing and go through with the purchase of their home.
A pre-approval letter may provide you with some conditions that must be met in order to obtain a mortgage. One common example would be if you own a home now, your lender may condition a mortgage approval on you selling your home first before they will lend you money for your new home. Another example would be a condition that you have to pay off a credit card or student loan.
For more information on financing, visit one of our mortgage partners or contact a Nothnagle agent today.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Nothnagle is Expanding to Central New York Region!
Nothnagle Realtors is pleased to announce the launch of Nothnagle REALTORS®, Moss Ansteth Associates, a franchised office under the ownership and management of industry veterans Aaron Moss and Stephen Ansteth.
The duo has been operating Aaron A. Moss Real Estate, Inc. since 2005 from their location at 1 West Genesee Street in the heart of Skaneateles. The office location will remain the same and all eight agents will be making the transition to the Nothnagle platform. From the Skaneateles location the agents serve all of Central New York, providing a high level of customer service and experience to the clients they work with.
“We want to give local real estate consumers and agents a world-class experience like no other. Both Steve and I have a strong track record of delivering top-quality service to our clients but now through our partnership with Nothnagle REALTORS®, we will be able to offer tools and systems never before available in the Central New York region,” said Aaron Moss, Broker.
“The franchise arrangement allows brokers to maintain their independence while tapping into our successful infrastructure. Aaron and Steve have an exceptional business-sense. We share the same vision and believe that by empowering agents with the most innovative tools in the industry, we can offer the best buyer and seller experience in the Central New York market,” said Armand D’Alfonso, President and CEO of Nothnagle Realtors.
Nothnagle REALTORS®, Moss Ansteth Associates will be the first operation in the Central New York region for the franchise under this platform.
About Aaron Moss
Aaron Moss, a Skaneateles native, opened Aaron A. Moss Real Estate, Inc. in 2005. Prior to that, most recently he served as Chief Operating Officer at Jordyn Taylor Properties, Inc., located in South Florida. In less than four years with Jordyn Taylor, Aaron oversaw the opening of 17 real estate offices, hired and trained over 1,500 agents and the company transacted over 25,000 sales.
Aaron currently resides in Skaneateles with his family. He is a Director for the New York State Association of REALTORS® and is past Treasurer of the Cayuga County Association of REALTORS®. In addition to New York, Aaron is licensed in Connecticut, Virginia and Florida.
About Stephen Ansteth
Steve Ansteth has spent the last 5 years as owner/operator of Aaron A. Moss Real Estate, Inc., in Skaneateles. Throughout his time in real estate, Steve has developed a knack with buyers and sellers alike, using his outstanding customer service skills and innovative communication systems.
Steve, from Skaneateles, currently resides in Auburn. He is Treasurer of the Cayuga County Association of REALTORS® and is the co-chairman for the Association’s successful Charity Golf Event which benefits local charities, most recently The Matthew House.
About Nothnagle REALTORS®
Nothnagle REALTORS® was founded in 1948 and is a full-service real estate brokerage boasting 26 offices in Upstate New York and more than $1.1 billion in annual sales. Nothnagle.com was recently named #8 Top Real Estate Brokerage Website in America by 1000watt Consulting and REALTrends. For more information, please visit www.Nothnagle.com.
Nothnagle REALTORS® previously operated the “Gallery of Homes” franchise system for over 30 years. The first real estate franchise in the country, at its peak there was a network of 1,100 Gallery of Homes locations throughout the U.S., Canada and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Company sold off the franchise in the 1980’s.
The duo has been operating Aaron A. Moss Real Estate, Inc. since 2005 from their location at 1 West Genesee Street in the heart of Skaneateles. The office location will remain the same and all eight agents will be making the transition to the Nothnagle platform. From the Skaneateles location the agents serve all of Central New York, providing a high level of customer service and experience to the clients they work with.
“We want to give local real estate consumers and agents a world-class experience like no other. Both Steve and I have a strong track record of delivering top-quality service to our clients but now through our partnership with Nothnagle REALTORS®, we will be able to offer tools and systems never before available in the Central New York region,” said Aaron Moss, Broker.
“The franchise arrangement allows brokers to maintain their independence while tapping into our successful infrastructure. Aaron and Steve have an exceptional business-sense. We share the same vision and believe that by empowering agents with the most innovative tools in the industry, we can offer the best buyer and seller experience in the Central New York market,” said Armand D’Alfonso, President and CEO of Nothnagle Realtors.
Nothnagle REALTORS®, Moss Ansteth Associates will be the first operation in the Central New York region for the franchise under this platform.
About Aaron Moss
Aaron Moss, a Skaneateles native, opened Aaron A. Moss Real Estate, Inc. in 2005. Prior to that, most recently he served as Chief Operating Officer at Jordyn Taylor Properties, Inc., located in South Florida. In less than four years with Jordyn Taylor, Aaron oversaw the opening of 17 real estate offices, hired and trained over 1,500 agents and the company transacted over 25,000 sales.
Aaron currently resides in Skaneateles with his family. He is a Director for the New York State Association of REALTORS® and is past Treasurer of the Cayuga County Association of REALTORS®. In addition to New York, Aaron is licensed in Connecticut, Virginia and Florida.
About Stephen Ansteth
Steve Ansteth has spent the last 5 years as owner/operator of Aaron A. Moss Real Estate, Inc., in Skaneateles. Throughout his time in real estate, Steve has developed a knack with buyers and sellers alike, using his outstanding customer service skills and innovative communication systems.
Steve, from Skaneateles, currently resides in Auburn. He is Treasurer of the Cayuga County Association of REALTORS® and is the co-chairman for the Association’s successful Charity Golf Event which benefits local charities, most recently The Matthew House.
About Nothnagle REALTORS®
Nothnagle REALTORS® was founded in 1948 and is a full-service real estate brokerage boasting 26 offices in Upstate New York and more than $1.1 billion in annual sales. Nothnagle.com was recently named #8 Top Real Estate Brokerage Website in America by 1000watt Consulting and REALTrends. For more information, please visit www.Nothnagle.com.
Nothnagle REALTORS® previously operated the “Gallery of Homes” franchise system for over 30 years. The first real estate franchise in the country, at its peak there was a network of 1,100 Gallery of Homes locations throughout the U.S., Canada and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Company sold off the franchise in the 1980’s.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Are You Considering a Career in Real Estate?
Nothnagle Realtors is hiring! Have you ever considered a NEW CAREER in Real Estate Sales? Have you already taken the licensing course and don't know what to do next? You've come to the right place!
If you're thinking of real estate as a career, we invite you to find out more about the licensing process and what Nothnagle has to offer you at one of our upcoming Career Day seminars. The seminars are free and there's no obligation, no pressure...just a source for information gathering.
What are some of the benefits of a career in real estate?
• Offers unlimited earning potential.
• Flexibility! As an independent contractor, you make your own hours.
• You are the boss of your own business…..we give you the support and guidance, but it’s your business.
Nothnagle has training and unprecedented support to ensure your success in a new career. If you already have your NYS salespersons license, learn about our exclusive Fast Trac training. New sessions are being added. Call 585-624-3370 x. 223 for dates and for registration information.
Our Fast Trac course offers comprehensive training on every aspect of real estate sales. Attendees graduate from Fast Trac and are prepared to hit the ground running. This course will teach you not just the fundamentals but will give you the confidence you need to be successful.
All real estate companies are not the same....Nothnagle can make the difference! See what our agents have to say about us.
If you're thinking of real estate as a career, we invite you to find out more about the licensing process and what Nothnagle has to offer you at one of our upcoming Career Day seminars. The seminars are free and there's no obligation, no pressure...just a source for information gathering.
What are some of the benefits of a career in real estate?
• Offers unlimited earning potential.
• Flexibility! As an independent contractor, you make your own hours.
• You are the boss of your own business…..we give you the support and guidance, but it’s your business.
Nothnagle has training and unprecedented support to ensure your success in a new career. If you already have your NYS salespersons license, learn about our exclusive Fast Trac training. New sessions are being added. Call 585-624-3370 x. 223 for dates and for registration information.
Our Fast Trac course offers comprehensive training on every aspect of real estate sales. Attendees graduate from Fast Trac and are prepared to hit the ground running. This course will teach you not just the fundamentals but will give you the confidence you need to be successful.
All real estate companies are not the same....Nothnagle can make the difference! See what our agents have to say about us.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
5 Reasons to Buy a Home Today
1. Mortgages are cheap! These are the lowest rates on record! Since less money goes towards interest, more money can go towards your principal meaning you get more house for your money.
2. Save on Taxes. Homeowners that itemize on their annual tax returns can take deductions for the mortgage interest and real estate property taxes you pay. The tax breaks become more valuable the more you earn and the bigger your mortgage.
3. It is YOURS! To do whatever you want with it. If you want to paint your bedroom purple, take out a wall, add an addition....you can! Owning a home allows you to personalize your living space whereas most landlords will not allow you to make any major alterations.
4. Great selection available. There is a healthy supply of inventory to choose from on the market today. Buyers start your search on Nothnagle.com, where we have over 25,000 properties currently featured.
5. Build personal wealth. A home is often the most valuable asset you will ever own. As you pay down your mortgage, you continue to build equity...your "nest egg" for down the road when you sell your home someday. Most real estate is a sound investment, with the real estate market outperforming the stock market over the last 50+ years.
So what are you waiting for?! Contact a Nothnagle agent today to get started finding your new home!
2. Save on Taxes. Homeowners that itemize on their annual tax returns can take deductions for the mortgage interest and real estate property taxes you pay. The tax breaks become more valuable the more you earn and the bigger your mortgage.
3. It is YOURS! To do whatever you want with it. If you want to paint your bedroom purple, take out a wall, add an addition....you can! Owning a home allows you to personalize your living space whereas most landlords will not allow you to make any major alterations.
4. Great selection available. There is a healthy supply of inventory to choose from on the market today. Buyers start your search on Nothnagle.com, where we have over 25,000 properties currently featured.
5. Build personal wealth. A home is often the most valuable asset you will ever own. As you pay down your mortgage, you continue to build equity...your "nest egg" for down the road when you sell your home someday. Most real estate is a sound investment, with the real estate market outperforming the stock market over the last 50+ years.
So what are you waiting for?! Contact a Nothnagle agent today to get started finding your new home!
Friday, September 17, 2010
Get More with Nothnagle!
The key to selling your home fast (and for the most money) is to get it exposed to the widest pool of prospective buyers possible. The combination of Guided Tours, Nothnagle.TV, YouTube and the Sunday Showcase of Homes provides multiple outlets for buyers to find your home.
• Guided Tours have drawn 83,117 views in the first eight months of 2010.
• Nothnagle.TV has 94,741 views in the first eight months with consumer sessions averaging 12.48 homes viewed.
• We will make your home a star on YouTube, the 2nd largest search engine in the world! Buyers find it easy to locate your home on this popular site by searching agent name, price, area, amenities….and also have the ability to connect direct to your agent to schedule an appointment to see the property in person.
• Nothnagle’s Sunday Showcase of Homes has been bringing buyers home since 1985 when it debuted as the first real estate TV show aired in the nation. Homes featured on the show are guaranteed to get more activity at open houses. The show has been the #1 real estate show for decades and draws an average of 40,000 viewers each week.
• Guided Tours have drawn 83,117 views in the first eight months of 2010.
• Nothnagle.TV has 94,741 views in the first eight months with consumer sessions averaging 12.48 homes viewed.
• We will make your home a star on YouTube, the 2nd largest search engine in the world! Buyers find it easy to locate your home on this popular site by searching agent name, price, area, amenities….and also have the ability to connect direct to your agent to schedule an appointment to see the property in person.
• Nothnagle’s Sunday Showcase of Homes has been bringing buyers home since 1985 when it debuted as the first real estate TV show aired in the nation. Homes featured on the show are guaranteed to get more activity at open houses. The show has been the #1 real estate show for decades and draws an average of 40,000 viewers each week.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Get More Print Advertising with Nothnagle
No one advertises in print like Nothnagle. Guaranteed. We know that newspapers and the Internet work best when working together. A recent study conducted by Google shows that print advertising drives web traffic – 67% of respondents who see an ad in print go online to research it further. Nothnagle listings average a 34% increase in traffic to the web in the three days after the print ad runs. Our competitors will tell you “print ads are dead, the Internet is where it’s at” simply because they’re trying to reduce their costs. Print ads cost money! We know they work, which is why Nothnagle invests over $1 million in print advertising each year. Sellers know the Internet is a given today. What can Nothnagle do beyond the web? Print ads.
FACT: The Saturday Democrat and Chronicle reaches on average 370,000 adults each week. No real estate website can reach that audience in a single day.
Find out more about our Guaranteed Print Program by contacting a Nothnagle agent direct or call 899-MOVE.
FACT: The Saturday Democrat and Chronicle reaches on average 370,000 adults each week. No real estate website can reach that audience in a single day.
Find out more about our Guaranteed Print Program by contacting a Nothnagle agent direct or call 899-MOVE.
Monday, September 13, 2010
What is SONYMA?
The State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA) provides safe, low interest fixed rate mortgages, down payments assistance and other programs specifically designed to help low- and moderate-income families become homeowners. SONYMA loans are designed to make your home purchase more affordable.
Current interest rates are at the lowest level in the 40 year history of SONYMA, offering a strong incentive for buyers in today's post-tax credit market. Coupled with Nothnagle's healthy inventory of homes to choose from, this is a great time for qualifed buyers to purchase a home.
To qualify, you must meet certain eligibility requirements, including Purchase Price Limits (depending on the SONYMA program you are interested in) and Income Limits.
Contact your Nothnagle agent for more information or one of our Mortgage Partners who can assist you in finding the mortgage product that is right for you.
Current interest rates are at the lowest level in the 40 year history of SONYMA, offering a strong incentive for buyers in today's post-tax credit market. Coupled with Nothnagle's healthy inventory of homes to choose from, this is a great time for qualifed buyers to purchase a home.
To qualify, you must meet certain eligibility requirements, including Purchase Price Limits (depending on the SONYMA program you are interested in) and Income Limits.
Contact your Nothnagle agent for more information or one of our Mortgage Partners who can assist you in finding the mortgage product that is right for you.
Friday, September 10, 2010
SONYMA Rates Reduced to Lowest Level in 40 Years
The State of New York Morgage Agency (SONYMA) is now providing the lowest interest rates ever offered for its two primary programs in the agency's 40-year history. SONYMA's core program, the Low Interest Rate Program, is now being offered at a rate of 4 percent and it's Achieving the Dream Program, for low-income first-time homebuyers, is being offered at 3.5 percent.
SONYMA offers several competitively priced mortgage products, designed primarily for first-time homebuyers, to enable low- and moderate-income New Yorkers to become homeowners. In addition to the low interest rates, SONYMA loans offer the following features:
* Down payment assistance of up to $10,000 is available;
* Availability of 40-year mortgages;
* Rate lock periods of 100 days (240 for new construction and rehabilitation properties);
* 97 percent financing for most property types and as little as 1 percent borrower own funds towards the down payment;
* No upfront mortgage insurance premiums and no borrower-paid points;
* No higher interest rates or add-ons for different property types, loan amounts over $417,000, properties located in declining markets or borrowers with lower FICO scores;
* Flexible condominium and cooperative project requirements.
SONYMA encourages responsible and sustainable homeownership and is proud that its delinquency rate is about 2 percent, substantially lower than the national rate of 10.5 percent.
Contact your Nothnagle Agent or one of our Mortgage Partners for more information.
SONYMA offers several competitively priced mortgage products, designed primarily for first-time homebuyers, to enable low- and moderate-income New Yorkers to become homeowners. In addition to the low interest rates, SONYMA loans offer the following features:
* Down payment assistance of up to $10,000 is available;
* Availability of 40-year mortgages;
* Rate lock periods of 100 days (240 for new construction and rehabilitation properties);
* 97 percent financing for most property types and as little as 1 percent borrower own funds towards the down payment;
* No upfront mortgage insurance premiums and no borrower-paid points;
* No higher interest rates or add-ons for different property types, loan amounts over $417,000, properties located in declining markets or borrowers with lower FICO scores;
* Flexible condominium and cooperative project requirements.
SONYMA encourages responsible and sustainable homeownership and is proud that its delinquency rate is about 2 percent, substantially lower than the national rate of 10.5 percent.
Contact your Nothnagle Agent or one of our Mortgage Partners for more information.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Properly Pricing Listings is Critical in Today's Market
Great article from the Democrat and Chronicle about the realities of pricing listings in today's market. Here is an excerpt:
Much has changed in the market since the expiration of the federal tax credits at the end of April — pricing on a home, for one thing. These days, real estate agents say, the home should be priced right from the start.
"You don't get a second chance to make a first impression," said Sam Morreale, an agent with Nothnagle Realtors' Irondequoit office.
Some people think that they can lower the price as the market demands, but it's impossible to recreate that excitement of when a house is initially listed on the market, he said. Right now, there's a bit of a disconnect between what sellers hope to get for their home and the new reality of the market, Morreale said. When sellers look at their neighbor's home that sold four to five months ago for $120,000, it's hard for the sellers to grasp that their home is only going for $109,000 in this market.
"When you're a seller and it's your money, you're hearing it, but you're not believing it," Morreale said.
Sellers need to be aggressive — and realistic — with pricing and use data within the last three months, said Janet Campbell, an agent with Nothnagle Realtors' Spencerport office. Too much has changed "after-tax credit" and relying on data that is 6 months old is just not accurate.
The seller might even want to consider pricing the home a few thousand dollars lower than the comparable price to adjust for the lost tax credits.
The tax credits "did drive more sales and did drive prices a little higher," Morreale said.
After verifying the data, because sometimes there are sellers' concessions factored into the price, the sellers need to rate their home to see how it stacks up against current competition, Morreale said. Check on curb appeal and improvements compared with other homes in the same area, for example.
(From the 9/4/10 edition of the Democrat and Chronicle's Real Estate and Rentals section)
Nothnagle agents are up to date with current market conditions and trends. Interested in selling? Call a Nothnagle agent today to discuss pricing strategies that will help you sell your home in the shortest amouont of time for the most amount of money. Looking to buy? A Nothnagle agent can help you negotiate the best price on your next home.
Much has changed in the market since the expiration of the federal tax credits at the end of April — pricing on a home, for one thing. These days, real estate agents say, the home should be priced right from the start.
"You don't get a second chance to make a first impression," said Sam Morreale, an agent with Nothnagle Realtors' Irondequoit office.
Some people think that they can lower the price as the market demands, but it's impossible to recreate that excitement of when a house is initially listed on the market, he said. Right now, there's a bit of a disconnect between what sellers hope to get for their home and the new reality of the market, Morreale said. When sellers look at their neighbor's home that sold four to five months ago for $120,000, it's hard for the sellers to grasp that their home is only going for $109,000 in this market.
"When you're a seller and it's your money, you're hearing it, but you're not believing it," Morreale said.
Sellers need to be aggressive — and realistic — with pricing and use data within the last three months, said Janet Campbell, an agent with Nothnagle Realtors' Spencerport office. Too much has changed "after-tax credit" and relying on data that is 6 months old is just not accurate.
The seller might even want to consider pricing the home a few thousand dollars lower than the comparable price to adjust for the lost tax credits.
The tax credits "did drive more sales and did drive prices a little higher," Morreale said.
After verifying the data, because sometimes there are sellers' concessions factored into the price, the sellers need to rate their home to see how it stacks up against current competition, Morreale said. Check on curb appeal and improvements compared with other homes in the same area, for example.
(From the 9/4/10 edition of the Democrat and Chronicle's Real Estate and Rentals section)
Nothnagle agents are up to date with current market conditions and trends. Interested in selling? Call a Nothnagle agent today to discuss pricing strategies that will help you sell your home in the shortest amouont of time for the most amount of money. Looking to buy? A Nothnagle agent can help you negotiate the best price on your next home.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Only Nothnagle Offers TWO TV Shows!
When we launched the "Showcase of Homes" in 1985, it was the first real estate TV show to air in the country. Now we've taken TV to a whole new level with Nothnagle.TV. Our #1 rated Showcase of Homes continues to deliver proven results but consumers want MORE! Nothnagle.TV allows you to create your own TV show, viewed in high-definition. Each show is customized by you, especially for you. Simply go to www.Nothnagle.TV, select your county/area, price range and get started. Only properties meeting your criteria will be aired. Connect direct with the listing agent if you want to get more information. Nothnagle.TV...another exclusive service only available at Nothnagle Realtors.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Now More Than Ever You Need a Nothnagle Agent!
The key to getting your home sold in today's market is to get your house exposed to the widest pool of potential buyers. No one does that better than Nothnagle! And the proof is in the number. In 2010, Nothnagle agents have sold homes on average 10 days faster than the competition and our listing market share has increased roughly 2% each year for the past two years.
Why do sellers choose a Nothnagle agent? Because no one advertises like Nothnagle. We know that newspapers and the Internet work best when working together. A recent study conducted by Google shows that print advertising drives web traffic – 67% of respondents who see an ad in print go online to research it further. Nothnagle listings average a 34% increase in traffic to the web in the three days after the print ad runs. That’s why Nothnagle invests over $1 million in print advertising each year. Sellers know the Internet is a given today. Competitors offer the Internet because of the reduced cost. What can we do beyond the web? Print ads. Guaranteed.
We recognize the power of the web and Nothnagle.com takes the Internet to a new level. We have the highest trafficked real estate site in the region because Nothnagle.com offers the best user experience. While the site has over 25,000 properties listed, only properties listed with a Nothnagle agent have our exclusive Guided Tour, can be pulled up on Nothnagle.TV and are also distributed to YouTube.
If you're looking to sell, then look no further! Don't leave it to chance if your agent says that people will "find your property online." Choose the company that can deliver proven results. Exclusive tools and services that will sell your home faster. Contact any Nothnagle agent direct or call 899-MOVE to get started today!
Why do sellers choose a Nothnagle agent? Because no one advertises like Nothnagle. We know that newspapers and the Internet work best when working together. A recent study conducted by Google shows that print advertising drives web traffic – 67% of respondents who see an ad in print go online to research it further. Nothnagle listings average a 34% increase in traffic to the web in the three days after the print ad runs. That’s why Nothnagle invests over $1 million in print advertising each year. Sellers know the Internet is a given today. Competitors offer the Internet because of the reduced cost. What can we do beyond the web? Print ads. Guaranteed.
FACT: The Saturday Democrat and Chronicle reaches on average 370,000 adults each week. No local website can attract that kind of traffic!
We recognize the power of the web and Nothnagle.com takes the Internet to a new level. We have the highest trafficked real estate site in the region because Nothnagle.com offers the best user experience. While the site has over 25,000 properties listed, only properties listed with a Nothnagle agent have our exclusive Guided Tour, can be pulled up on Nothnagle.TV and are also distributed to YouTube.
If you're looking to sell, then look no further! Don't leave it to chance if your agent says that people will "find your property online." Choose the company that can deliver proven results. Exclusive tools and services that will sell your home faster. Contact any Nothnagle agent direct or call 899-MOVE to get started today!
Friday, September 3, 2010
Our Sellers Are Offering 8,000 Incentives to Buy a Home Now!
The tax credit may have ended but our sellers are keeping the momentum going! Our participating sellers have REDUCED their homes by $8,000 or more and they are priced to sell! Don't delay, this is a great opportunity and these properties won't last long at these prices.
What's the catch? Nothing! No income limits, no additional paperwork, no additional eligibility requirements.
Click here to see our list of featured properties. Check back often as our list gets updated frequently.
What's the catch? Nothing! No income limits, no additional paperwork, no additional eligibility requirements.
Click here to see our list of featured properties. Check back often as our list gets updated frequently.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
8 Solutions to Common Wet Basement Problems
Solving wet-basement problems is one of the most important things you can do to protect the value of your home and health of your family.
Nothing poses a greater long-term risk to your home's value than a wet basement. If left unchecked, basement moisture can ruin floors and walls, encourage mold, even damage roofing. Some wet basements are easy to cure, simply by making sure gutters stay clear and by diverting gutter water well away from the foundation. But if the problem comes from other sources-water flowing toward the house on the surface, seeping in from underground, or backing up through municipal storm drains-you've got to take more aggressive action.
Here's help with figuring out what may be causing your water trouble, and eight basement waterproofing strategies to try, from the simplest and least expensive to the most challenging and costly.
1. Add underground piping
If downspouts are dumping too close to the house, you can get water the recommended five feet or more away from the foundation by adding roll-out plastic or metal gutter extenders. But they aren't the neatest or most effective long-term solution, especially if you're likely to trip on them or run over them with a lawnmower. Permanent underground piping is invisible and capable of moving large quantities of runoff much farther from your house. For about $10 a foot, a landscaper or waterproofing contractor will dig a trench and install piping to carry the water safely away.
2. Plug gaps
If you see water dribbling into the basement through cracks or gaps around plumbing pipes, you can plug the openings yourself with hydraulic cement or polyurethane caulk for less than $20. Plugs work when the problem is simply a hole that water oozes through, either from surface runoff or from wet soil. But if the water is coming up through the floor, or at the joint where floor and walls meet, the problem is ground water, and plugs won't do the trick. For that, see Solutions #5 though #7 below.
3. Restore the crown
If the gutters are working and you've plugged obvious holes, but you still see water dribbling into your basement or crawl space from high on the foundation walls, then surface water isn't draining away from the house as it should. Your house should sit on a "crown" of soil that slopes at least six inches over the first 10 feet in all directions. Over time, the soil around the foundation may have settled. All you need to do to build it back up is shovel in more dirt. One cubic yard of a water-shedding clay-loam mix from a landscape supply house costs around $30 (plus delivery) and is enough for a two-foot-wide, three-inch-deep layer along 57 feet of foundation.
4. Reshape the landscape
If you can't add soil without bringing it too close to the siding-six inches is the minimum safe distance to protect against rot and termites-then you may be able to redirect surface water before it reaches the house by creating a berm (a mound of dirt) or a swale (a wide, shallow ditch). In small areas, berms are easy; a landscape contractor can build one for a few hundred dollars. On bigger projects, berms make less sense because you'll have to truck in too much soil. In that case, dig a swale (about $1,000). Once landscaping grows in, berms and swales can be attractive features in your yard.
5. Repair footing drains
If water is leaking into your basement low on the walls or at the seams where walls meet the floor, your issue isn't surface water, it's hydrostatic pressure pushing out water within the ground. The first thing to do is check whether you have footing drains, underground pipes installed when the house was built to carry water away from the foundation. (Look for a manhole or drain in the basement floor or a cleanout pipe capped a few inches above the floor.) The drains may be clogged, in which case you can try opening the cleanout and flushing the pipes with a garden hose. If that doesn't work, a plumber with an augur can often do the job for about $600.
6. Install a curtain drain around the house
If you don't have footing drains or can't get the existing ones to function, there's one more thing you can try before you invest in a costly interior or exterior basement waterproofing system: Install a curtain drain to divert water that's traveling underground toward your house. A type of French drain, a curtain drain is a shallow trench filled with gravel and piping that intercepts water uphill of your house and carries it down the slope a safe distance away.
7. Pump the water out from the inside
If you can't keep subsurface water out, then you have to address it on the inside. To create an interior drain system, crews saw a channel around the perimeter of the floor, chip out the concrete, and lay perforated pipe in the hole. The pipe drains to collection tank at the basement's low spot, where a sump pump sends it away. Starting at about $3,000, an interior system may be the least expensive and disruptive option if you have an unfinished basement with easy access, or a lot of mature landscaping that digging for an exterior system would destroy.
8. Waterproof from the outside
Installing an interior drainage system gets the water out but doesn't actually waterproof the walls. For that, you need an exterior system: a French drain to relieve hydrostatic pressure and exterior waterproofing to protect the foundation. It's a big job that requires excavating around the house, but it may be the best solution if you have a foundation with numerous gaps where water is getting through. It also keeps the mess and water outside, which may be your choice if you don't want to tear up a finished basement. The downside, besides a price tag that can reach $20,000, is that your yard takes a beating, and you may need to remove decks or walkways.
Article From HouseLogic.com
By: Jeanne Huber
Published: August 28, 2009
Jeanne Huber is the author of 10 books about home improvement and writes a weekly column about home care for The Washington Post. She solved her first drainage mystery when her family's frequent sneezing attacks led her to discover mildew coating the underside of their house's roof. Turns out basement flooding (see Sign #6) was to blame.
Nothing poses a greater long-term risk to your home's value than a wet basement. If left unchecked, basement moisture can ruin floors and walls, encourage mold, even damage roofing. Some wet basements are easy to cure, simply by making sure gutters stay clear and by diverting gutter water well away from the foundation. But if the problem comes from other sources-water flowing toward the house on the surface, seeping in from underground, or backing up through municipal storm drains-you've got to take more aggressive action.
Here's help with figuring out what may be causing your water trouble, and eight basement waterproofing strategies to try, from the simplest and least expensive to the most challenging and costly.
1. Add underground piping
If downspouts are dumping too close to the house, you can get water the recommended five feet or more away from the foundation by adding roll-out plastic or metal gutter extenders. But they aren't the neatest or most effective long-term solution, especially if you're likely to trip on them or run over them with a lawnmower. Permanent underground piping is invisible and capable of moving large quantities of runoff much farther from your house. For about $10 a foot, a landscaper or waterproofing contractor will dig a trench and install piping to carry the water safely away.
2. Plug gaps
If you see water dribbling into the basement through cracks or gaps around plumbing pipes, you can plug the openings yourself with hydraulic cement or polyurethane caulk for less than $20. Plugs work when the problem is simply a hole that water oozes through, either from surface runoff or from wet soil. But if the water is coming up through the floor, or at the joint where floor and walls meet, the problem is ground water, and plugs won't do the trick. For that, see Solutions #5 though #7 below.
3. Restore the crown
If the gutters are working and you've plugged obvious holes, but you still see water dribbling into your basement or crawl space from high on the foundation walls, then surface water isn't draining away from the house as it should. Your house should sit on a "crown" of soil that slopes at least six inches over the first 10 feet in all directions. Over time, the soil around the foundation may have settled. All you need to do to build it back up is shovel in more dirt. One cubic yard of a water-shedding clay-loam mix from a landscape supply house costs around $30 (plus delivery) and is enough for a two-foot-wide, three-inch-deep layer along 57 feet of foundation.
4. Reshape the landscape
If you can't add soil without bringing it too close to the siding-six inches is the minimum safe distance to protect against rot and termites-then you may be able to redirect surface water before it reaches the house by creating a berm (a mound of dirt) or a swale (a wide, shallow ditch). In small areas, berms are easy; a landscape contractor can build one for a few hundred dollars. On bigger projects, berms make less sense because you'll have to truck in too much soil. In that case, dig a swale (about $1,000). Once landscaping grows in, berms and swales can be attractive features in your yard.
5. Repair footing drains
If water is leaking into your basement low on the walls or at the seams where walls meet the floor, your issue isn't surface water, it's hydrostatic pressure pushing out water within the ground. The first thing to do is check whether you have footing drains, underground pipes installed when the house was built to carry water away from the foundation. (Look for a manhole or drain in the basement floor or a cleanout pipe capped a few inches above the floor.) The drains may be clogged, in which case you can try opening the cleanout and flushing the pipes with a garden hose. If that doesn't work, a plumber with an augur can often do the job for about $600.
6. Install a curtain drain around the house
If you don't have footing drains or can't get the existing ones to function, there's one more thing you can try before you invest in a costly interior or exterior basement waterproofing system: Install a curtain drain to divert water that's traveling underground toward your house. A type of French drain, a curtain drain is a shallow trench filled with gravel and piping that intercepts water uphill of your house and carries it down the slope a safe distance away.
7. Pump the water out from the inside
If you can't keep subsurface water out, then you have to address it on the inside. To create an interior drain system, crews saw a channel around the perimeter of the floor, chip out the concrete, and lay perforated pipe in the hole. The pipe drains to collection tank at the basement's low spot, where a sump pump sends it away. Starting at about $3,000, an interior system may be the least expensive and disruptive option if you have an unfinished basement with easy access, or a lot of mature landscaping that digging for an exterior system would destroy.
8. Waterproof from the outside
Installing an interior drainage system gets the water out but doesn't actually waterproof the walls. For that, you need an exterior system: a French drain to relieve hydrostatic pressure and exterior waterproofing to protect the foundation. It's a big job that requires excavating around the house, but it may be the best solution if you have a foundation with numerous gaps where water is getting through. It also keeps the mess and water outside, which may be your choice if you don't want to tear up a finished basement. The downside, besides a price tag that can reach $20,000, is that your yard takes a beating, and you may need to remove decks or walkways.
Article From HouseLogic.com
By: Jeanne Huber
Published: August 28, 2009
Jeanne Huber is the author of 10 books about home improvement and writes a weekly column about home care for The Washington Post. She solved her first drainage mystery when her family's frequent sneezing attacks led her to discover mildew coating the underside of their house's roof. Turns out basement flooding (see Sign #6) was to blame.
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