ATTENTION BUYERS! Another reason you should buy a home NOW

If you are a buyer who is looking to secure an FHA loan, NOW IS THE TIME!

In April the FHA will be increasing the MIP mortgage factors for all FHA loans. 
In 2009, the FHA charged 0.55 percent

• In 2010, the FHA charged 0.90 percent
• In 2011, the FHA charged 1.10 percent
• In 2012, the FHA charged 1.25 percent

In April 2013, the FHA may get the ability to charge 2.05 percent for annual mortgage insurance premiums. This would be the highest annual MIP in FHA history.

Here is what that looks like on a $150,000 loan.

Old Rate = 1.25% so the monthly MIP payment would be $156.25

New Rate = 2.05% so the monthly MIP payment will be $256.25

In addition, in June of this year the FHA is no longer going to remove the MIP after 5 years or when the loan reaches 78% LTV.  Instead, the MIP may be required for the entire life of the loan.

As further details are released, I will update all of you.


(Courtesy of Fred Dopman, VanDyk Mortgage Corporation)

Top Five Reasons to Stage Your Home Professionally

If you are thinking about selling your house, staging is a great investment to sell faster for more money!

1. MAKE MORE MONEY
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the average staging investment is between 1 and 3 percent of the home's asking price.  But staging generates a return of 8-10 percent!

2. THE HOME WILL SELL FASTER = More Money, Less Stress
A National Association of Realtors survey found that the longer a home stays on the market, the further below list price it drops.  Homes that sold in the first 4 weeks averaged 1% more than the list price; 4-12 weeks averaged 5% less; 13-24 weeks averaged 6.4% less; and 24+ weeks averaged more than 10% less than list price.

3. YOUR LISTING WILL STAND OUT FROM COMPETITION
Over 90% of buyers, according to a NAR profile of buyers, are searching for homes online first before deciding to visit.  Homes today are being eliminated from the "must-see" list based on photographs from the internet.  Don't let this happen to your vacant or unstaged home.

4. ONLY 10% OF HOMEBUYERS CAN VISUALIZE THE POTENTIAL OF A HOME
That's why staging is critical!  You don't want the advantages of your home overlooked and left up to the buyer's imagination.

5. LEAVING YOUR HOUSE "AS-IS" CONDITION WILL ONLY HELP SELL THE COMPETITION
Right now the number of homes for sale on the market is at a record high.  Competition is stiff and buyers have very high expectations, as well as many choices.  Successful agents know that the key to competing is professional staging because it creates compelling online presentations, drives buyer traffic to the home, and turns prospects into buyers.

60 Tips for a Stunningly Great Life

This blog post comes from Robin Sharma (Robinsharma.com) but I thought it was too good not to share...

60 TIPS FOR A STUNNINGLY GREAT LIFE

I want to shift gears from leadership to a pure focus on crafting an exceptional life for this blog post. Ultimately, life goes by in a blink. And too many people live the same year 80 times. To avoid getting to the end and feeling flooded regret over a live half-lived, read (and then apply) these tips:

1. Exercise daily.
2. Get serious about gratitude.
3. See your work as a craft.
4. Expect the best and prepare for the worst.
5. Keep a journal.
6. Read “The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin”.
7. Plan a schedule for your week.
8. Know the 5 highest priorities of your life.
9. Say no to distractions.
10. Drink a lot of water.
11. Improve your work every single day.
12. Get a mentor.
13. Hire a coach.
14. Get up at 5 am each day.
15. Eat less food.
16. Find more heroes.
17. Be a hero to someone.
18. Smile at strangers.
19. Be the most ethical person you know.
20. Don’t settle for anything less than excellence.
21. Savor life’s simplest pleasures.
22. Save 10% of your income each month.
23. Spend time at art galleries.
24. Walk in the woods.
25. Write thank you letters to those who’ve helped you.
26. Forgive those who’ve wronged you.
27. Remember that leadership is about influence and impact, not title and accolades.
28. Create unforgettable moments with those you love.
29. Have 5 great friends.
30. Become stunningly polite.
31. Unplug your TV.
32. Sell your TV.
33. Read daily.
34. Avoid the news.
35. Be content with what you have.
36. Pursue your dreams.
37. Be authentic.
38. Be passionate.
39. Say sorry when you know you should.
40. Never miss a moment to celebrate another.
41. Have a vision for your life.
42. Know your strengths.
43. Focus your mind on the good versus the lack.
44. Be patient.
45. Don’t give up.
46. Clean up your messes.
47. Use impeccable words.
48. Travel more.
49. Read “As You Think”.
50. Honor your parents.
51. Tip taxi drivers well.
52. Be a great teammate.
53. Give no energy to critics.
54. Spend time in the mountains.
55. Know your top 5 values.
56. Shift from being busy to achieving results.
57. Innovate and iterate.
58. Speak less. Listen more.
59. Be the best person you know.
60. Make your life matter.

Happy New Year!  Let's make 2013 the best year ever!

Top 10 Reasons to List Your Home During the Holidays

10.  You can sell now for more money and we will provide for a delayed closing or extended occupancy until early next year!

9. Even though your house will be on the market, you still have the option to restrict showings during showings during the days around a holiday!

8.  January is traditionally the month for employees to begin new jobs.  Since transferees cannot wait until spring to buy, you need to be on the market during the holidays to capture that market!

7.  Some people must buy before the end of the year for tax reasons!

6.  Buyers have more time to look for a home during the holidays than they do during a working week!

5. Buyers are more emotional during the holidays, so they are more likely to pay your price!

4. Houses show better when decorated for the holidays!

3. Since the supply of listings will dramatically increase in January, there will be less demand for your particular home!  Less demand means less money for you!

2. Serious buyers have fewer houses to choose from during the holidays and less competition means more money for you!

And the number one reason why you should list your house during the holidays...

1. People who look for homes during the holidays are more serious buyers!

If you are interested in getting more details please contact me at 754-229-9299 or cyndisellshouses@gmail.com

If you live in the Fort Lauderdale area, I would be happy to meet with you and if you live elsewhere I can refer you a a great agent in your area!

Welcome to my blog!

Welcome to my new blog!  I will be posting information about real estate in Fort Lauderdale.  Stay tuned for updates on the market, new homes for sale, and other important real estate news.

Are you looking to buy, sell, invest, or rent property in Fort Lauderdale, Florida?  I am here to help you with all of your real estate needs.  I have a successful business that improves everyones' lives, including mine!

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