Debbi Jacob Wins Platinum Award, Named Nothnagle's Top Individual Agent for 2010

Debbi Jacob, Associate Broker with Nothnagle Realtors, has been named Top Individual Agent for 2010 at Nothnagle’s Annual Meeting and Awards, held January 28th, 2011. The volume of Debbi’s real estate sales for the year amounted to fifteen million dollars.

Debbi has more than 28 years of sales experience and obtained her real estate license in June 2006. A short five years in the real estate business, with the first year part time, she has built up a following of solid referrals from her clients. Debbi previously won Nothnagle’s “Rookie of the Year” award and in 2008 was named by Real Estate Magazine’s (an RIS Media publication) one of the nation’s “Top 50 Realtors on the Rise.” In addition, she has achieved numerous sales awards including Gold Club, Top 30 and Sales Master Platinum. At this year’s awards event, she was also presented with the Nothnagle Platinum Sales award, the highest sales award level at the Company.

Robert J. Maves, Senior Sales Manager of Nothnagle Realtor’s Pittsford branch, stated, “Debbi has an engaging personality and great ability to listen to the needs of her clients. She consistently exceeds their expectations. Always positive and willing to go the extra mile for her clients whether it’s helping to stage a home, cleaning out a basement or de-cluttering a room, she never lets them down. She has risen to the top of her profession and is a role model for our industry. Debbi is always gracious and always finding time for clients, family, friends, colleagues and now her two grandchildren.”

Armand D’Alfonso, President and CEO of Nothnagle Realtors stated, “Combined with her positive attitude and determination, I knew Debbi would be very successful in this business. We are thrilled to have Debbi as part of our Nothnagle family of agents and couldn’t be happier for her ongoing success.”

Debbi is married with three grown children and two grandchildren. In addition to selling real estate, Debbi enjoys skiing, boating, antiques, gardening and is an active volunteer with Breast Cancer awareness.

Debbi can be reached at the Pittsford branch of Nothnagle Realtors at 585-389-4019.

Rochester's #1 Real Estate Company Congratulates The Glenn Advantage Team, Marcia Glenn and Christie Nesello, Nothnagle's #1 Sales Team

Nothnagle REALTORS® held its annual awards event on January 28, 2011, at the Doubletree Hotel. The Glenn Advantage Team was recognized as the company’s Top Sales Team based on 2010 sales. This is the third consecutive year that The Glenn Advantage Team, Marcia Glenn, Associate Broker and Christie Nasello, Salesperson, has achieved the #1 ranking at the company. The Glenn Advantage Team has placed within the “Top 30” from 1994 to 2009. This year Nothnagle replaced the “Top 30” with the Platinum Sales Award. In addition to The Glenn Advantage Team achieving the Platinum Award, Marcia Glenn was named to Nothnagle’s newly formed Platinum “Circle of Excellence” award category. This elite group of agents were honored by the company for their significant achievements over the course of their careers.

Marcia Glenn (licensed since 1992) and Christie Nasello (licensed since 2004), became business partners in 2005. They are innovative, efficient and work proficiently as both seller and buyer agents. Their hard work and dedication has placed them in the top 1% of all REALTORS® in Rochester, Monroe and surrounding counties. The Glenn Advantage Team achieved over $30 Million in sales in 2010, this was an increase of over 31% in sales volume and an 18% increase in the number of transactions. These numbers go against the market trend, statistics released last week by The Greater Rochester Association of REALTORS® indicated overall sales for the market were down 5% in 2010 compared to 2009.

“Not only did The Glenn Advantage Team achieve the top ranking in the company for the third consecutive year, but they continue to be growing at an exponential rate. Even in an up market, to increase sales by 31% is exceptional; to achieve it in a down market is practically unheard of. This is a testament to the team’s hard work and dedication to their clients. Marcia, Christie and their team consistently deliver an exceptional real estate experience that exceeds expectations time and time again. The proof is in the numbers,” said Armand D’Alfonso, President and CEO of Nothnagle Realtors.

Marcia credited Nothnagle REALTORS® for contributing to their success saying, “We are proud to be affiliated with this outstanding company. Their commitment to providing agents with support and innovative ways to serve our clients is unsurpassed in the real estate industry.” Marcia went on to say, “Achieving the top position within the company is never able to be accomplished alone. The combination of the business partnership between myself and Christie Nasello coupled with the collective and collaborative effort of each member of the Glenn Advantage Team, along with the support of each department within Nothnagle, all agents within Nothnagle and the Company’s management team is what drives our success.”

The Greater Rochester area has been both Marcia and Christie’s home from birth to present and they have chosen to raise their families here, believing strongly in the strength of our community and all that it has to offer. As the housing market continues to face new challenges in 2011 it is especially important for sellers and buyers to choose a REALTOR® with a proven track record of success. Focusing on excellent customer service has inspired Marcia and Christie to build an effective combination of results oriented professionals, the highest ethical standards and superior technology - all working to provide their clients with the best real estate experience possible.

Secrets to a Better Credit Score

As you prepare to apply for a mortgage understand that you should have your best possible credit profile BEFORE applying. Working to improve your score during the mortgage process can be done, but there are two problems. One, time to clear up items can become an obstacle when compared the time you are anticipating a closing. And two, lower scores upfront can give an underwriter an additional reason to be uncomfortable with a file. Take care of looking into your credit scaore sooner than later. Here are some tested ways to do it:

Credit Cards – Revolving Debt proportions

Look on the credit report for revolving debt (not installment loans, or “open” accounts). As a general rule of thumb, the balance should be no more than 30% of the credit limit. So, if it’s more than that, have you should make every attempt to pay it down.
If there are many revolving accounts with high balances, you will most probably need to pay down most or all of them for the best score.
If there is nothing derogatory on the credit report, just high balances on revolving debt, you can often improve the score significantly. But, if there are many derogatory items on the credit report, paying down revolving debt may not help the score very much.
Many lenders have software programs that can quickly determine which (if any) revolving accounts need to be paid down, and to what balance.

Collections/Judgments:

Paying off or satisfying such a derogatory account does not normally improve the score because the derogatory account still exists, and so still hurts the score. In fact, paying off an old collection may even make the score drop.
However, for collections, the borrower can ask for the account to be completely removed or deleted. If you have not yet paid the collection, you can use that as a bargaining chip.
If there are many collection accounts, removing just 1 or 2 may not do much good. Always look at the overall picture.
Your lender likely has a What-if Simulator to experimentally see what affect removing an account has on the score.

Late Dates

When you look at the overall credit report and you see a lot of late dates, especially ones from within the last year, there is not much you can do to help the score, they just need to drift into the past.
However, if you just see one recent late date on one account, and just one other recent late date on another account, you should call those creditors and ask for those single late dates to be removed as a courtesy. It may also be that the late dates were a mistake, but don't assume that. Just ask them to remove it as a courtesy since you have an otherwise perfect payment history.

Piggybacking on someone else’s account can help or hurt your score.
If that account has recent late dates, you can most probably improve the score by having the actual account holder remove you as a user.
If the account is a revolving credit card and it is maxed out, you might also improve the score by removing it, but only if you will still have other revolving credit cards on your report.
What about adding someone as an authorized user to a credit card? This may help, but the better course of action is to get the actual card holder to make it a joint account with you. This guarantees that the account will show up on the credit report within a month or two. But be careful…the account should have a lot of history, no late dates, high credit limit, and low balance.

Other Things to Help

Keep old revolving credit cards open, even if you haven't used them in a long time.
Regularly check your credit report to catch errors early. You get a free one each year from each bureau. Don’t do all 3 bureaus at the same time, space it out throughout the year.

This advice may have answered many of your questions, however, it may not have touched on your particular situation, which is why you should contact a Loan Officer as soon as possible to get your questions answered.

Nothnagle's Relocation Department has Outstanding Performance.

Just last year, SIRVA Relocation honored Nothnagle with the 2009 “Excellence in Performance” award; given to one real estate company each year. Now, for the second year in a row, Nothnagle receives recognition from the company. Earlier this month, Nothnagle was praised for their “outstanding performance and quality” by SIRVA Relocation.

In a study that evaluated broker’s performance, customer satisfaction, financial outlook, and continuous improvement, Nothnagle Realtors received an ‘A’ rating and earned 98.8 out of 100 possible points. This score gives Nothnagle a #1 ranking out of all of the 159 preferred brokers nationally, and makes Nothnagle eligible to be named SIRVA Relocation’s “2010 Broker of the Year.”

Whether you are moving a corporation or a family, coming to Rochester or moving from Rochester; whatever the reason you can count on Nothnagle Realtors for a seamless transition. Our in-house relocation department can move you from anywhere to anywhere – across the state, across the country, even around the globe! Our Move Managers can access information on over 10,000 communities worldwide and help you pinpoint your exact preferences. An agent is then carefully handpicked for you to ensure you receive the same quality service you’ve come to know and expect from your local Nothnagle agent.

67% of Americans Think NOW is the Time to Buy!

Two major points have been emphasized within the last few months. First, if you are selling a house, you must sell now and if you are buying one, you most also buy now. This may sound impulsive, but it is true. PRICE is the most important thing to a seller. With prices projected to fall through the first half of 2011, if you want to sell, do it now. The alternative might be to wait over a year just for prices to recover to current values.

The second point revolves around the fact that buyers are more concerned with COST (price and interest rate). Fannie Mae, the National Association of Realtors, the Mortgage Bankers Association and the PMI Company are all projecting interest rates to rise this year. If you want to buy, your best time to purchase could be right now.

To support the second point, a new survey says that the majority of Americans agree. Gallup just released a poll showing that 67% of Americans think this is a good time to purchase a home. The interesting thing is that the same poll showed that more people believed that prices would decrease (27%) than increase (21%). Most people realize that this is an opportune time to purchase even if prices continue to soften.

Here is what Gallup said on the subject:
Overall, there is good reason for most Americans to think now is a good time to buy a house. Interest rates remain near historic lows. Home prices are down sharply, providing many incredible buys.

There may be people advising you to use caution before buying a home right now. That is probably good advice. However, there is a difference between caution and fear. Fear could prevent you from making a good decision. Caution will make sure you make the right decision. And remember: if you do think it makes sense to buy your home today, 2 out of 3 people agree with you.

Checking Up on Your Homeowner's Insurance

If you haven't checked up on your homeowners insurance lately, it's time! This is a task you should complete once a year, ideally around renewal time. This will ensure your policy still provides the right level of coverage for your family, and your premium isn’t costing you more than it should.

Remember, homeowners insurance is essential. The coverage is designed to protect your home and its contents, as well as shield you from liability for accidents and such on your property. Block out an hour of your time, call an insurance agent, and get answers to these three important questions.

What type of coverage do I have?
The most effective type of coverage is known as “replacement cost,” which covers, up to your policy limits, what it would take today to rebuild your house and restore your belongings, according to a national law firm partner who has represented homeowners in litigation against insurers.

“Extended” replacement cost coverage provides protection to your policy limit, say $500,000, and then perhaps another 20% of the cost after that. Percentages vary, but in this example you could recoup up to $600,000 on a $500,000 policy, assuming your losses reach that high. Extended coverage can compensate for any unanticipated expenses like spikes in construction costs between policy renewals. Now harder to find due to the industry shift toward extended replacement coverage, “full” or “guaranteed” replacement coverage covers an entire claim regardless of policy limits.

A less attractive alternative is “actual cash value” coverage that usually takes into account depreciation, the decrease in value due to age and wear. With this type of policy, the $2,000 flat-screen TV you bought two years ago will be worth hundreds of dollars less today in the eyes of your claims adjuster. Replacement cost coverage can be favorable unless you can save at least 25% on the premium for going with actual cash value coverage instead.

Even if you have replacement cost protection for your dwelling and personal property, don’t assume everything is covered. Structures other than your home on your property—such as a detached garage or swimming pool—require separate coverage. So too do luxury items like jewelry, watches, and furs if you want full replacement cost because reimbursement for those items is typically capped.

How much coverage do I really need?
OK, now that you’re clear on what type of policy you have, you need to figure out how much policy you truly require in dollar terms. Let’s say you purchased your home five years ago and insured it for $200,000. Today, it’s worth $225,000. Simply increasing your coverage to $225,000 may nonetheless leave you underinsured. Here’s why:

The key to determining how much dwelling coverage you need isn’t the value of your home but the money you’d have to pay to rebuild it from scratch. Call your local contractors’ or homebuilders’ association and inquire about the average per-square-foot construction cost in your area. If it’s $150 and your home is 2,000 square feet, then you should be insured for $300,000.

There’s no rule of thumb for how much your homeowners insurance should cost. Insurers use numerous factors—age, education level, creditworthiness—to determine pricing, so the same policy could run you more than your neighbor. In recent years the average annual premium was $804. Avoid scrimping on insurance because big increases in coverage probably cost less than you’d think. A recently purchased a liability policy that cost $250 for the first $1 million in coverage. Adding another $1 million increased premiums only $12.50 more.

How can I lower my premiums?
The higher your deductible, the amount you pay out of pocket before coverage kicks in, the lower your premium. Landing on the appropriate deductible level requires remembering that insurance should cover major calamities, not minor incidents. Most homeowners should be able to absorb modest losses like a broken window pane or a hole in the drywall without filing claims. If you can, then you’re wasting money with a $250 deductible.

If you’re a first-time homeowner and don’t have a lot of savings, moving up to a $500deductible will probably stretch your budget. However, if you live in a more luxurious home and drive an expensive car, then you should be able to afford a $1,000 deductible.

Every major insurer offers discounts to various groups, such as university employees or firefighters. Figure about 5%. Ask which affiliations would entitle you to a discount and how much. If an AARP membership would result in a $50 savings, pay the $16 dues and pocket the $36 difference. Many insurers also offer discounts ranging from 1% to 10% or more for installing protective devices like alarms and deadbolt locks, for going claim-free for an extended period, or for insuring both your car and your home with the same carrier.

Rochester is #4 for Best Recovering Housing Market

Slow and Steady Wins the Race for Rochester's Housing Market

Rochester has seen major changes within the last few decades through its previous mega companies that are not once they what were. However, Rochester has recently seen an emergence in newer companies that have really taken off in the area.

The current unemployment rate in Rochester is 8.1%, which is well below the national average of 9.6%. Rochester home prices never bubbled during the boom, but they have enjoyed slow, steady growth during the bust, gaining 5.2% over the past three years. Since many of the area's jobs pay reasonably well (the median household income is $63,000, which is above the national median), the relatively affordable housing market has been open to most of the population. The prices also meant few homebuyers resorted to toxic mortgages, and New York's strong consumer protection laws tended to discourage predatory lending. As a consequence, Rochester has been less burdened by foreclosures than most big markets. Only one property for every 276 had a foreclosure filing against it during the first six months of 2009, about a third the national rate.

Tax Credits for Windows, Doors and Skylights

To continue the still existing tax credits, there is also one for windows, doors and skylights:

The 2010 energy tax credit is gone, but there are still some smaller tax credits to take advantage of! From 2009 to 2010, the government helped out, letting you take $1,500 in tax credits for adding insulation. If you took full advantage of this credit make sure to file IRS Form 5695 in 2011.

If you didn’t take advantage and you wished you had, you still have options. At the last minute, the government added a suite of less generous but still useful energy tax credits, available only to those who didn’t take advantage of the 2009-2010 program.

Tax credit limits and deadlines:

10% of expenditures, up to $500 for the year, for all energy improvements combined.

Install the relevant doors, windows, and skylights by Dec. 31, 2011 and save your receipts and labels.

For doors, you can claim up to a $500 credit.

For windows and skylights, you can claim only up to a $200 credit. (That’s total—not per window.)

Installation is not covered!

To qualify, windows, doors, and skylights must have:

U-factor of 0.30 or less. Measures how well a product prevents heat from escaping.

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) of 0.30 or less.

Labels carry information on light transmission, air leakage, and condensation resistance.

Energy Star may modify these requirements, so check online before making a purchase.

According to the NFRC, says 80% to 85% of the manufacturers in North America provide NFRC labels. All Energy Star-qualified windows carry an NFRC label, according to Energy Star, a joint program of the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that promotes energy-efficient products and practices.

Resist the urge to trim costs by purchasing cheaper windows, doors, and skylights with poor U-factor and SHGC ratings. Not only will you miss out on the tax credit, but energy bills won’t come down much.

By mid-January the official Energy Star site will be posting new guidelines on what exactly is covered.

Do your windows need to be replaced?

Most home inspectors will agree not to worry if windows are less than 15 years old. Savings on your energy bills will be negligible since window technology hasn’t changed that radically and the integrity of your windows should still be intact.

What about poor installation or manufacturing? Those might be exceptions to the 15-year rule. Windows that are 20, 30, or more years old are prime candidates for replacement.

Most of your focus should be on windows, since that is what you have the most of in your home. However:

Skylights are notorious for energy loss, too, not to mention water leaks.

Exterior doors tend to outlast windows, so keep them unless the upgrade is purely for aesthetic reasons. Besides, weather stripping and snug sweeps can boost the energy efficiency of exterior doors for a whole lot less money.

Yes, There are Still Tax Credits Available!

Tax Credits for Adding or Replacing Insulation


The 2010 energy tax credit is gone, but there are still some smaller tax credits to take advantage of! Whether it’s summer heat or winter cold, insulation makes your house a lot more livable. From 2009 to 2010, the government helped out, letting you take $1,500 in tax credits for adding insulation. If you took full advantage of this credit make sure to f

ile IRS Form 5695 in 2011.

If you didn’t take advantage and you wished you had, you still have options. At the last minute, the government added a suite of less generous but still useful energy tax credits, available only to those who didn’t take advantage of the 2009-2010 program. Among these is a $500 credit for insulation. Tax credit limits and deadlines: 10% of expenditures, up to $500 for the year, for all energy improvements combined. Install the insulation by Dec. 31, 2011.Save receipts and labels for the IRS! 
By mid-January the Energy Star site will be posting new guidelines on what exactly is covered. It’s your safest bet for information on how to get the credit. Here is what is covered so far:

Batts

Rolls

Blow-in fibers

Rigid boards

Expanding spray

Pour-in-place

Products that reduce air leaks also qualify

Weather stripping (such as fabric, foam, or metal to provide a seal)

Spray foam in a can, designed to air seal

Caulk designed to air seal

House wrap


Installation isn’t covered. What is the Cost?

Adding insulation is a relatively affordable home improvement project, and the savings can be felt almost immediately. Some DIYers can even tackle the project themselves over a weekend. Cost for adding attic insulation to a 2,200-square-foot home: $1,000 to $2,500 including labor, depending on how much you put in and how easy it is to install. Effort and expense go up when you add it to exterior walls or around hard-to-reach ductwork.

Three Questions to Ask Before Buying a Home

If you are thinking about purchasing a home right now, you are probably getting a lot of advice, some of which may be not to buy. A key factor to keep in mind is that buying a home is situational. Maybe it is not the best time for some, but it may be the perfect time for you to buy. There are three questions you should ask yourself before purchasing in today's market.

1. Why should I buy if house prices are still depreciating?

When you are buying, COST should be your primary concern. Your monthly payment (cost) is definitely impacted by the price of the home you purchase. The other major component is the interest rate. Waiting for prices to bottom out while rates are increasing can wind up costing you more over the life of the mortgage. Waiting for prices to bottom out seems to make perfect sense. Yet, at a time when rates are increasing, it might NOT make sense. Make sure you have a mortgage professional to help you with this math before making a decision.

2. When will I begin to see appreciation if I buy now?

This is a great question. Marco Markets, LLC is a company that studies housing prices. They started their Home Price Expectation Survey in 2010. They ask 100+ housing industry experts to project housing prices through 2015. By 2015 they project that prices will rise to reach a cumulative appreciation over 10%.

Purchasing a home today makes great sense from a financial standpoint. You want to buy low and sell high. We may be at the low point regarding the COST of a home, but buying a home should not be purely a financial decision.

3. Why am I interested in buying a home?

This is the most important question of all and is not to be monetarily based. Think about why you began to consider purchasing a home in the first place. The Fannie Mae National Housing Survey shows that the four major reasons people buy a home have nothing to do with money:

• A good place to raise children and for them to get a good education
• A place where you and your family feel safe
• More space for you and your family
• Control of the space

What non-financial benefits will you and your family derive from owning a home? Don't allow money to get in the way of you making the right decision for you and your family.

Nothnagle's 4-SALE LINE Just Got Better!

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.

Now is the Time to Sell!

Why You Should Sell Now!

If you are looking to sell in 2011, there may not be a more opportune time than this right now. Serious buyers, great move-up deals and less competition from very motivated sellers and foreclosures creates the perfect situation for a seller. Don’t miss it! There are fantastic opportunities available right now. Meet with your real estate agent and mortgage professional today and see whether it is the right time for you and your family to make a move.

Here are five reasons you should consider selling in the first 90 days of 2011.

1. Buyers are serious during winter months.

We all realize that the market has slowed down since last spring. Buyers are not finding urgency to buy with the supply of eligible properties at all time highs. However, at this time of year, the ‘lookers’ are either staying warm (in the North) or just busy with other priorities. The home buyers left in the market are serious and are more apt to buy.

2. Interest rates are rising.

Rates have jumped over half a point in the last several weeks. The short term result of increasing rates is a surge of buyers jumping off the fence to purchase in fear that rates may continue climbing upward. This is a short window of opportunity. If rates fall again, buyers will jump back on the fence. If rates continue to rise, it limits the number of buyers who can qualify at each price point. Now is the best time to sell your house while rates are still decently low.

3. If you are moving up, you can save thousands.

If your goal is to sell your current house and take advantage of the great selection of properties currently available to buy the home of your dreams a at fantastic price, do it now! Prices will continue to soften in most markets. However, if you are buying, cost should be more important than price. Cost can be dramatically impacted by rising mortgage interest rates. Do the math and decide if now is the time.

4. You beat the rush of inventory that is coming next year.

Every year there is an increase of inventory listed from January through April as homeowners put their houses up for sale in preparation for the spring market. Here is the number of listings for sale in 2010.
• January – 3,277,000
• February – 3,531,000
• March – 3,626,000
• April – 4,029,000

We believe there is a pent-up selling demand (homeowners who have held off selling over the last year) that will lead to an increase in these numbers this spring. You won’t have to worry about this increasing competition if you sell now.
5. You have less ‘discounted’ inventory with which to compete.
This year, sellers have been given an early holiday present. With banks trying to rectify their foreclosure procedures, there has been a large supply of discounted properties removed from competition. No one knows how long it will take banks to return to the normal flow of foreclosed properties to the market. However, until they do, every homeowner has a better chance of selling their property.