Home Monthly Real Estate Magazine
04 Apr 2010
Showing posts with label Santa Fe real estate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Santa Fe real estate. Show all posts
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
What's Up With the Santa Fe Real Estate Market?
It's been a wetter and grayer winter than normal in Santa Fe. While we're all eagerly awaiting spring, this wetness (127 inch snow base at Santa Fe Ski area) will ensure a verdant landscape and full reservoirs.
Meanwhile, the local real estate market is slogging along with signs of pent-up buyer energy. With much inventory from which to choose and increasing motivation by many sellers, coupled with interest rates holding around 5%, qualified buyers have an excellent opportunity to seize upon their dream of owning a home in Santa Fe.
Having recently taken an 8-hour National Association of Realtors course to be certified in short sales and foreclosures, I can tell you that the frustration, uncertainty and lack of care on the part of banks is generally not worth the effort.
While buyers are being marketed to about the "great deals" in short sales and REO (bank owned) properties, that's not what we're seeing in Santa Fe. I am happy to discuss this with you. Call me: (505) 995-0195.
Moving along with changes and improvements to GreenRoads Realty, please visit our new eZine, www.GreenLivingNewMexico.com for articles about Santa Fe arts, cuisine, non-profit organizations and green real estate.
Meanwhile, the local real estate market is slogging along with signs of pent-up buyer energy. With much inventory from which to choose and increasing motivation by many sellers, coupled with interest rates holding around 5%, qualified buyers have an excellent opportunity to seize upon their dream of owning a home in Santa Fe.
Having recently taken an 8-hour National Association of Realtors course to be certified in short sales and foreclosures, I can tell you that the frustration, uncertainty and lack of care on the part of banks is generally not worth the effort.
While buyers are being marketed to about the "great deals" in short sales and REO (bank owned) properties, that's not what we're seeing in Santa Fe. I am happy to discuss this with you. Call me: (505) 995-0195.
Moving along with changes and improvements to GreenRoads Realty, please visit our new eZine, www.GreenLivingNewMexico.com for articles about Santa Fe arts, cuisine, non-profit organizations and green real estate.
Friday, February 26, 2010
7 Ways to Make Your House More Salable
If you're serious about selling your home and want to give it the best advantage in the marketplace...or if you're thinking of remodeling with an eye for future value (and who wouldn't?), here are 7 ideas worth considering.
1. A Pleasant Entry
This is the first impression, like the front door and porch, take into consideration sprucing up and defining the space where a prospective buyer first enters your home. A small table with a vase or sculpture, a coat rack or wall mirror with shelf can define even a home that does not have a formal or delineated entryway.
2. Hardwood Floors
Most buyers prefer hard surfaces to carpet as they are easy to clean, don't gather dust and can be enhanced with area rugs. (If you have ever seen a carpet underlayment filled with dirt, even a year after installation, you know why wall-to-wall carpet is gross!) Tile that is timeless (like saltillo or travertine) and in good condition is also a plus. Pergo, or other laminates, are also superior to carpet and less expensive. However, the plastic quality of the surface is not like the richness of real wood flooring and is best suited for secondary spaces like offices or play rooms)
3. Beautiful Bathrooms
Dated bathrooms (unless they're truly vintage) are a turn off. Fixtures don't need to be expensive to look attractive. Continuity of color and style gives any room a pleasing finished look, especially a bathroom. Get rid of the old brown-stained vanities, the formica or faux-marble countertops, the uncomfortable small tub and fiberglass shower surround, the cheesy light fixtures and faucets. Use tile or real stone, choose fixtures (lights, sinks, mirrors, towel racks) that match the style of the cabinets (traditional, modern, etc.). Walls can be painted with a semi gloss or venetian plaster. (See post on Decorating with Paint). Match soft goods (shower curtain and towels). Dimmers on lights, as in any room, can create atmosphere. Voila! A remodeled beautiful space to entice and enjoy.
4. Kitchens
Countertops make the biggest impression. Most people want solid surfaces, not tile with grout lines or formica. Slab granite (pricey) is particularly popular but there are imitations and substitutes in soapstone and Corian composite surfaces. Butcher block, a less expensive alternative can give more of a rustic feel. If you're buying new appliances, stainless steel is the most popular, followed by black. Be sure to ask about rebates for Energy Star appliances and discounts for everything you buy (even if just free delivery and hauling away old appliances). Declutter and organize your cabinets and pantry.
5. Closets
Closet organizers bring order to chaos. Get matching hangars, sort hanging clothes in some logical order (all shirts together, pants together, by color, etc.). Organization creates a sense of calm. Home buyers may not notice this consciously, but it registers as positive feelings about your space.
6. Lighting
Lighting, like organization of stuff, can be a subtle and often overlooked aspect of preparing a home for sale. There are 3 types of lighting of which to be aware and balance in every room: ambient, decorative and task. Balanced natural light is best for daytime, but many homes have too much or too little and, in any case, evening lighting is ultimately what concerns most people. Every room should have an overhead light or lamp that can be switched from the doorway. Replacing an overhead fixture for style is an easy option. Auto lights for closets or touch-sensitive under-counter lights can solve some task lighting problems, using batteries, without requiring an electrician.
7. Landscaping
In the Southwest, where water conservation is always in style, tidy rock gardens, colorful bushes and perennials, well-installed hardscape (flagstone, brick, stamped concrete), stone walls, a water feature can give definition to otherwise chaotic or bland spaces. In other parts of the country, a small lawn and defined flower and tree areas are attractive. As in all remodeling or changes in a home, consider ease of maintenance, cost, resource and energy efficiency.
If you are considering listing your home for sale, call us for a free consultation in the Santa Fe, NM area - (505) 995-0195 - or for referrals to excellent brokers wherever you live.
Paraphrased from HGTV article: http://www.frontdoor.com/Sell/10-Things-That-Make-Buyers-Bite/64/p1
1. A Pleasant Entry
This is the first impression, like the front door and porch, take into consideration sprucing up and defining the space where a prospective buyer first enters your home. A small table with a vase or sculpture, a coat rack or wall mirror with shelf can define even a home that does not have a formal or delineated entryway.
2. Hardwood Floors
Most buyers prefer hard surfaces to carpet as they are easy to clean, don't gather dust and can be enhanced with area rugs. (If you have ever seen a carpet underlayment filled with dirt, even a year after installation, you know why wall-to-wall carpet is gross!) Tile that is timeless (like saltillo or travertine) and in good condition is also a plus. Pergo, or other laminates, are also superior to carpet and less expensive. However, the plastic quality of the surface is not like the richness of real wood flooring and is best suited for secondary spaces like offices or play rooms)
3. Beautiful Bathrooms
Dated bathrooms (unless they're truly vintage) are a turn off. Fixtures don't need to be expensive to look attractive. Continuity of color and style gives any room a pleasing finished look, especially a bathroom. Get rid of the old brown-stained vanities, the formica or faux-marble countertops, the uncomfortable small tub and fiberglass shower surround, the cheesy light fixtures and faucets. Use tile or real stone, choose fixtures (lights, sinks, mirrors, towel racks) that match the style of the cabinets (traditional, modern, etc.). Walls can be painted with a semi gloss or venetian plaster. (See post on Decorating with Paint). Match soft goods (shower curtain and towels). Dimmers on lights, as in any room, can create atmosphere. Voila! A remodeled beautiful space to entice and enjoy.
4. Kitchens
Countertops make the biggest impression. Most people want solid surfaces, not tile with grout lines or formica. Slab granite (pricey) is particularly popular but there are imitations and substitutes in soapstone and Corian composite surfaces. Butcher block, a less expensive alternative can give more of a rustic feel. If you're buying new appliances, stainless steel is the most popular, followed by black. Be sure to ask about rebates for Energy Star appliances and discounts for everything you buy (even if just free delivery and hauling away old appliances). Declutter and organize your cabinets and pantry.
5. Closets
Closet organizers bring order to chaos. Get matching hangars, sort hanging clothes in some logical order (all shirts together, pants together, by color, etc.). Organization creates a sense of calm. Home buyers may not notice this consciously, but it registers as positive feelings about your space.
6. Lighting
Lighting, like organization of stuff, can be a subtle and often overlooked aspect of preparing a home for sale. There are 3 types of lighting of which to be aware and balance in every room: ambient, decorative and task. Balanced natural light is best for daytime, but many homes have too much or too little and, in any case, evening lighting is ultimately what concerns most people. Every room should have an overhead light or lamp that can be switched from the doorway. Replacing an overhead fixture for style is an easy option. Auto lights for closets or touch-sensitive under-counter lights can solve some task lighting problems, using batteries, without requiring an electrician.
7. Landscaping
In the Southwest, where water conservation is always in style, tidy rock gardens, colorful bushes and perennials, well-installed hardscape (flagstone, brick, stamped concrete), stone walls, a water feature can give definition to otherwise chaotic or bland spaces. In other parts of the country, a small lawn and defined flower and tree areas are attractive. As in all remodeling or changes in a home, consider ease of maintenance, cost, resource and energy efficiency.
If you are considering listing your home for sale, call us for a free consultation in the Santa Fe, NM area - (505) 995-0195 - or for referrals to excellent brokers wherever you live.
Paraphrased from HGTV article: http://www.frontdoor.com/Sell/10-Things-That-Make-Buyers-Bite/64/p1
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Living in the West Makes You Feel Younger!
A recent report from the Pew Research Center found that older adults feel younger out west. Fully 78% of adults ages 65 and older who live in the West say they don’t feel old, compared with 67% of older adults who live in the rest of the country.
According to their statistics:
Two-thirds of Westerners ages 65 and older say they feel younger than their chronological years, compared with 57% of older Americans in other regions.
Among older Westerners, half say they feel 10 or more years younger than their actual age and one-in-five say they feel 20 or more years younger.
Older folks living in the West also feel healthier than older folks elsewhere. Among adults ages 65 and older, some 72% of those living in the West say they are in excellent or good health. This compares with 63% of those living in other regions of the country.
So, celebrate the new year and all the possibilities it brings. Don’t worry about that extra candle on the birthday cake. Embrace the future and remember you can always join us Out West. We welcome you in 2010.
To search all properties in the Santa Fe MLS, go to www.GreenRoadsRealty.com.
Call us to discuss property in northern New Mexico. There is no charge to buyers: (505) 995-0195.
According to their statistics:
Two-thirds of Westerners ages 65 and older say they feel younger than their chronological years, compared with 57% of older Americans in other regions.
Among older Westerners, half say they feel 10 or more years younger than their actual age and one-in-five say they feel 20 or more years younger.
Older folks living in the West also feel healthier than older folks elsewhere. Among adults ages 65 and older, some 72% of those living in the West say they are in excellent or good health. This compares with 63% of those living in other regions of the country.
So, celebrate the new year and all the possibilities it brings. Don’t worry about that extra candle on the birthday cake. Embrace the future and remember you can always join us Out West. We welcome you in 2010.
To search all properties in the Santa Fe MLS, go to www.GreenRoadsRealty.com.
Call us to discuss property in northern New Mexico. There is no charge to buyers: (505) 995-0195.
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