Friday, September 30, 2011

Mortgage Applications on the Rise!

Mortgage applications rose 9.3% this past week as borrowers refinanced their home loans at exceptionally low interest rates.

The Mortgage Bankers Association said refinancing applications grew dramatically, with the refinance index jumping 11.2%. Meanwhile, the purchase index grew 2.6%, suggesting an increase in new home applications at the lower interest rates.

"With lower rates, refinance application volume increased to its highest level since August 19, 2011," said Mike Fratantoni, the MBA's vice president of research and economics. "Purchase application volume also increased. However, the increase was in conventional purchase applications, which were up by 4.9 percent. Purchase applications for government loans fell by 0.6 percent over the week, likely influenced by the pending decline in FHA loan limits."

The refinancing share of mortgage activity grew to 79.7% of all applications, up from 78.3% the previous week.

The average interest rate for 30-year fixed rate mortgages with conforming loan balances of $417,500 or less fell to 4.25% from 4.29% this past week. Meanwhile, the average contract interest rate for 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages with jumbo loan balances fell to 4.51% from 4.55%.

In addition, the interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages backed by the FHA fell to 4.05 percent from 4.07 percent.

The 15-year, FRM increased to 3.47% from 3.46%, while the average contract interest rate for 5/1 ARMs fell to 2.95% fro 2.96%.

Now is a great time to contact a loan officer today!

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

WCR 15th Annual Fashion Show and Charity Auction

We hope you can attend! Tickets are $40.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Helpful Moving Tips

Preparing for a move is often stressful and overwhelming, not to mention expensive. Below are some tips to keep in mind to make your move go smoothly when planning, whether making a short or long distance move.

Determine your type of move:
You have three basic choices: do-it-yourself, full service or a hybrid move. Doing a move by yourself is the cheapest method with only the cost of the truck rental, gas, packing material and maybe some lunch or dinner for anyone who helps.
With full-service moves, moving within a state is charged by the hour, while moving across state lines is charged by weight and mileage.
With a hybrid move, a mover will drop off a large container at your home for you to pack. The mover will then load the container onto a truck, drive the belongings to your new location and drop off the container for you to unload. Because you’re doing the manual labor of packing and unpacking, it’s far less costly than a full-service move. Also take into consideration tipping your movers $3-$5/per hour.

Hire a quality mover: If you do hire help, get at least three price quotes and do some research. Investigate a company’s reputation with the Better Business Bureau and a company’s complaint history at the federal government site. Look for two things when hiring a moving company: A full-service mover should visit your home in person, not give a quote over the phone or online, and should provide a written estimate, according to experts.

Declutter: No matter what type of move you’re making, taking less stuff is cheaper and less hassle. Set up a staging area, perhaps in a garage, with various piles, such as throw out, recycle, donate and sell. For many items, use the rule of thumb, ‘If you haven’t used it in a year, you probably don’t need it.’

Be flexible: Like airline fares, moving rates depend on when you book. The busiest time for movers, and thus the most expensive time for consumers, is summer weekends near the 15th and 30th of the month. If you have time flexibility, ask what rates would be for different days or seasons. If you have extreme flexibility, ask about moving standby: waiting until the mover has extra space and needs to fill a truck.

Save on boxes and packing materials: Buying new boxes from a moving company is the most expensive choice. To save some money on packing materials, ask if you can buy used boxes from your moving company or find free boxes. Free boxes can be found from people who have just moved (your realtor can help you), or from various stores in your area that are throwing boxes away. If you’re packing your belongings yourself, start to fill suitcases, laundry baskets and plastic containers with unbreakable items. Use pillows, scarves and towels to wrap fragile belongings.
Mail books: If you have a large collection of books, pack them yourself and ship them at the postal media mail rate as it might be cheaper than paying a mover—a 70-pound box would cost less than $30.

Insure it: Check your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy to determine whether it provides coverage for your belongings while in transit. If not, you’ll probably want more than the basic free valuation coverage a full-service mover provides. The standard valuation is 60 cents per pound per item. That means breaking a 10-pound, $1,000 stereo system would net you $6. You’ll want full replacement-value insurance, which reimburses you what it will cost to replace broken items. But don’t necessarily buy that insurance from the moving company. Moving insurance is likely cheaper from a third party, but be aware that you probably cannot get insurance on boxes you packed yourself.

Be prepared: Plot out where furniture and boxes will go before moving day arrives. The less time movers spend rearranging, the less expensive it will be. In urban areas, reserve a space or two in front of your new home for the moving truck by parking your own vehicle there ahead of time. If the movers have to park too far away to unload, you could incur a ‘long carry’ surcharge.

Stake your claim: If you’re moving for a job, negotiate the best relocation package you can. Unreimbursed expenses might be tax-deductible. For details, see Publication 521.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Need Any Documents Shredded?


Do you have important documents that need shredding?
Nothnagle Realtors Fairport branch offers you a day of free shredding at 65 S. Main Street, Fairport, NY 14450 (located in the Village).
Saturday September 24, 2011 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Call to reserve your time 585.223.9000

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Join Us to Make Strides Against Breast Cancer!

On October 2nd at 10:00AM, Nothnagle Realtors will be walking together to "Make Strides Against Breast Cancer". Together we are aiming to raise $5,000 to donate to the American Cancer Society. If you would like to join our team, please click here and follow the steps. There is no minimum amount of money to raise, but any amount you can get as a donation to support our cause is appreciated.

The walk begins at Frontier Field. It is a great time and over 10,000 people participate, if you haven't walked before or would like to walk with us, we would love to have you join us!

Friday, September 16, 2011

Nothnagle Donates to Ronald McDonald Charities


Nothnagle REALTORS® presented a donation to Ronald McDonald House Charities on September 14, 2011. The donation was a result of proceeds raised at Nothnagle’s Annual Golf Tournament. Over 140 agents and guests participated in the tournament held at Durand Eastman Golf Course on August 15, raising $3,500 for the charity.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Rochester has two locations in the area. The first one is a 20 bedroom house located at 333 Westmoreland Drive, where Nothnagle presented the check, and The House Within the Hospital in the Intensive care Unit at Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong. The houses are specifically meant for families of children who are in the hospital due to illness, cancer, injuries or accidents, as a comfortable home away from home with minimal expenses. The House on Westmoreland has a three work station kitchen that invites volunteers in to cook for the families staying at the house. There are over 300 houses worldwide that help to alleviate financial and emotional stress for families seeking care for their children at state-of-the-art medical facilities away from home.

“This is such a worthy cause to donate to because it really helps the families of sick or injured children to be able to stay close and save on expenses. We are proud to have had such a successful event this year and I am happy to be giving it to such a worthwhile charity,” said Armand D’Alfonso, President & CEO.

Special thanks to this year’s Golf Tournament sponsors is extended to:
Davie Kaplan
Woods Oviatt
WROC
Andolina Insurance Agency
Gannett/D&C
Trevett Cristo Salzer & Andolina
Pheterson, Stern
NHSC
Premium
2-10 HTW
Property Source
AllState
Ralph Rizzo-Hidden Pet Fence
Brett Brien, Electrimech
David Dollinger
Spotless

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Nothnagle's Brighton Branch Relocates


Nothnagle Realtors is celebrating the Grand Opening of their newest office location today September 14th. In July 2011, Nothnagle’s Brighton branch relocated from 1415 Monroe Avenue to 2349 Monroe Avenue to accommodate the expansion of the office.

Branch Manager Garry Britton has plans to continue to grow the office from the current 54 agents associated with it. The former office consisted of 3,300 square feet while the new location is nearly triple the size with 9,003 square feet. “The building at 2349 Monroe Avenue and Nothnagle are landmarks in Brighton and we're proud to be part of the Brighton community for over 51 years”, said Branch Manager Garry Britton.

The Brighton Chamber of Commerce is partnering with Nothnagle Realtors for the official ribbon cutting at the new location. New York State Senator Joseph Robach and Brighton Town Supervisor, Sandra Frankel, will be present at the ceremony which begins at 4:30 p.m. “We really appreciate the community support that has been given to Nothnagle and I would like to thank everyone for taking the time to join us today,” said Armand D’Alfonso, President & CEO.

Garry Britton can be reached at (585) 473-1320.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

What Do Today's Buyers Want?

The United States had tax credits in 2009 and 2010 for both first-time homebuyers and move-up homebuyers. The nation saw a spike in sales because of this incentive, but has recently slowed now that there is no pressure to buy under a deadline. Buyers are taking their time before making a decision which is why your home must stand out to potential buyers. There are not as many buyers these days, so sellers have to meet expectations. Prospective buyers have the upper hand in the current real estate market.

So what are they looking for? Buyers today want move-in ready homes and they are willing to pay extra on a price tag if it will save them time, money and effort in the long run. Buyers are typically looking for amenities such like granite counter tops, fresh paint, hardwood floors in great condition and airconditioning. There are really two seperate trends emerging: one with houses that are in good condition and priced well and another with higher priced homes that need work.

If you are a potential seller thinking about putting your home on the market, make sure to read articles and get tips for easy aesthetic home improvements. Sometimes just a fresh coat of paint and new hardware can get you up to another $1,000! Also remember that kitchen and bathroom upgrades are worth the most value to buyers!

Friday, September 9, 2011

Preserving Your Home's Value

Proactive maintenance is essential to preserving the value of your home—without it, your home could lose 10% of its value. Regular, routine maintenance enhances curb appeal, ensures safety, and prevents neglected upkeep from turning into costly major repairs.

Outright damage to your house is just one of the consequences of neglected maintenance. Without regular upkeep, the property could easily lose 10% of its appraised value. That could translate into a $10,000 or $15,000 adjustment.

In addition, a house with chipped, fading paint, sagging gutters, and worn carpeting faces an uphill battle when it comes time to sell. Not only is it at a disadvantage in comparison with other similar homes that might be for sale in the neighborhood, but a shaggy appearance is bound to turn off prospective buyers and depress the selling price. Remember, first impressions mean a lot to potential buyers.

A study by researchers at the University of Connecticut and Syracuse University suggests that maintenance actually increases the value of a house by about 1% each year. However, maintenance costs money. How much money is required for annual maintenance varies. Some years, routine tasks, such as cleaning gutters and changing furnace filters, are all that’s needed, and your total expenditures may be a few hundred dollars. Other years may include major replacements, such as a new roof, at a cost of $10,000 or more.

Setting aside a cash reserve that’s used strictly for home repair and maintenance can be helpful. That way, routine upkeep is a snap and any significant replacements won’t blindside the family budget.

Some other strategies include:



Play offense, not defense: Proactive maintenance is key to preventing small problems from becoming big issues. Take the initiative with regular inspections. Create and faithfully follow a maintenance schedule. If you’re unsure of what needs to be done, a $200 to $300 visit from a professional inspector can be invaluable in pointing out quick fixes and potential problems.



Plan a room-per-year redo: Pick a different room every year and go through it, fixing and improving as you go. That helps keep maintenance fun and interesting.



Keep track: Having a notebook of all your maintenance and upgrades, along with receipts, is a powerful tool when it comes to sell your home. It gets rid of any doubts for the buyer, and it says you are a meticulous, caring homeowner. A maintenance record also proves repairs and replacements for systems, such as wiring and plumbing, which might not be readily apparent.

Not familiar with Nothnagle Home services?
Learn about it here.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Join Us October 2nd to Make Strides Against Breast Cancer!

On October 2nd at 10:00AM, Nothnagle Realtors will be walking together to "Make Strides Against Breast Cancer". Together we are aiming to raise $5,000 to donate to the American Cancer Society. If you would like to join our team, please click here and follow the steps. There is no minimum amount of money to raise, but any amount you can get as a donation to support our cause is appreciated.

The walk begins at Frontier Field. It is a great time and over 10,000 people participate, if you haven't walked before or would like to walk with us, we would love to have you join us!

Monday, September 5, 2011

Top Ten Reasons to Sell

Not sure if you should sell or not? Below are the top ten reasons why people consider selling. If you are facing a similar situation, you may want to consider listing your home on the market with a real estate professional.

1. Relocating: This reason is pretty obvious because in today's economy, people go where there are jobs. However, if you are financially able the home is in a stable area, you might want to consider keeping it as a rental property. If you do not plan on keeping the property and need to sell it quickly, contract a Realtor to help you get the best offer.

2. Downsizing: As people enter retirement they are faced with empty nests and changes in daily life. Many will decide to sell in order to downsize to smaller, more manageable homes.

3. Risk of Foreclosure: Many homeowners find themselves in mortgages they cannot afford, whether due to job loss or to rising monthly payments. It is far better for your credit score to sell or do a short sale before being foreclosed upon.

4. Job Loss: similar to the above reason, if you have lost your job, but are still not behind on your payments, now could be a good time to take a pre-emptive strike to avoid foreclosure.


5. It's a Seller's Market: You won’t find this trend in most of the nation right now. There are, however, spots that are hot beds of activity. These homeowners may wish to sell to make a profit or to avoid the risk of attempting to sell later in a down market.

6. Dream House: It is a great time to buy, interest rates are at historic lows and home prices are stable. If a homeowner has a solid amount of equity in their current home, it may be a good time to sell and move up to their dream home.

7. Changing Locations: A downtown loft may have been a perfect choice for a young bachelor, but as a family evolves and children enter the story, a move may be needed to get to the best school district.

8. You Need Money: Your home can be one of your biggest assets. If you are in need of some liquid money, selling can free up cash.

9. Flipping: Investor may flip a house and sell it in order to make a quick profit.

10. Personal Matters: This could mean people relocating to be closer to their grandchildren, selling to free up cash for an investment, moving to warmer climates, etc.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Mortgage Rates Continue to Decline

This morning Freddie Mac released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey®, showing mortgage rates at all time lows. While the 30-year fixed held steady, the 5-year adjustable rate mortgage set a new all-time record low having fallen for the eighth consecutive week and now standing at 2.96%.

This past week, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.22%,. Last year it averaged 4.32% during the same week. The 15-year fixed rate mortgage was also lower compared to last year at 3.39%, which is down from 3.83% a year ago.

Vice president & chief economist at Freddie Mac states "Weaker economic data reports eased upward pressure on mortgage rates this week and kept them at or near all-time record lows."

Contact a mortgage professional today to take advantage of the great rates or check out or mortgage calculator.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Find the Support You Need at Nothnagle!

If you are thinking of getting into the real estate business or considering a switch from your current broker, let us tell you how easy it is at Nothnagle!

Nothnagle provides agents with the most support services of any real estate company in the region. We also give agents the largest support staff—over 100 people working behind the scenes to support you.

As one of our agents, you can use as many support services as you like. It’s completely up to you and the way you work. All services are provided free of charge too!

Here is a sampling of the support services we provide:

•Placing company-paid print advertising
•Placing company-paid self promotion ads
•Preparing presentation packets
•Preparing listing packets
•Producing online Guided Tours for your listings
•Listing your home on Rochester’s most popular real estate web site
•Scheduling appointments for showings
•Entering new listings into MLS
•Providing agents and sellers with copies of all paperwork
•Coordinating transactions and paperwork for house closings
•Ordering “Just Listed” postcards
•Sending out mailings
•Maintaining your mailing list
•Providing one-on-one support
•Providing training
•Brainstorming innovative sales strategies
•Providing carefully screened contractors to facilitate home sales
•And much more

All of these support services are available to Nothnagle agents, free of charge. Use as many—or as few—as you like. It’s totally up to you.

There’s a lot that goes into being successful at real estate. No real estate company does more than Nothnagle to give you the support you need.

Talk to us about switching to Nothnagle. Find an office near you and then call a Branch Manager to learn more. Our agents tell us they wish they had switched sooner!