St. Louis MO Real Estate

Three very important reasons to buy now are:

• Interest rates are near all time lows;
• Home prices have declined to levels not seen in years;
• Qualified buyers are now elegible for an $8,000 tax credit

Tax credits are much more valuable to you than tax deductions.  Tax credits reduce the amount of tax you owe, dollar for dollar.  Ex. If you owe $10,000 in IRS taxes for 2009 and you buy a home in 2009, you will only owe $2000 in tax instead of $10,000.   To clarify the 6 most important things you need to know about the new $8000 tax credit go to this website: http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/2009/glance.php

What should buyers look for, or look out for when purchasing a home in the St. Louis, Webster Groves, Kirkwood Missouri areas? This article will help sellers look into some important aspects of selling their home and what potential buyers look out for as well.

The way you live in your house is not the way to sell your house. So, what makes a house a home for sale on the market, and one that soon has a “SOLD” sign out on the front lawn? And what aspects are important to look at because potential buyers will ask the question, “How much work are we going to need to do prior to moving in and beyond?” The appearance and cleanliness of the home are significant. Always have your home ready to be shown at a moment’s notice with me, your agent, Sandie Hea because this is what buyers are looking for. And a tip- burned out lights need to be replaced; classy lighting and upgraded fixtures can ameliorate the value of a home. Also, buyers said they would be willing to pay more for a home with a renovated kitchen.

Here are some things a buyer will look out for when dealing with the purchase of a home. The buyer will consider the following:

• Exactly what property is included in the sale? Lighting fixtures, drapes or blinds, refrigerators, stoves, washing machines and dryers are often problem areas.
• Is the neighborhood quiet, friendly? Are the homes well kept?
• Are there any development plans that will affect the property?
• The inspection report - are there any substantial problems with the house?
• Real estate taxes - what are the current property taxes, and what impact will your purchase have on the taxes?

Another issue that raises concern regarding buyer appeal is that sellers often mistakenly think that viewing empty properties will give the buyers an accurate sense of the space available. On the contrary, it is more difficult to really judge the size of a room without furniture and other objects as reference points. An empty room even allows buyers to focus on negative details instead of getting a sense of the overall space and the flow of each room to the next. Buyers need to ask themselves the question, “Can I see myself in this home?” Therefore, staging really helps buyers envision themselves in the space.

The idea of “staging” a home to make it look alluring to buyers has become popular during the last decade, as manifested by the proliferation of numerous home staging companies offering advice about how to make the house more attractive to buyers. Check out next’s months article about “Staging a Home.”

When selling your home with myself, Sandie Hea, your agent keep in mind what buyers look for, or look out for before coming to look at your home in the St. Louis, Webster Groves, Kirkwood Missouri areas.