Any time supply is bigger than demand, businesses start looking for a way to set themselves apart from the competition.  If you have a Brooklyn home for sale, you’re probably doing the same thing. What is the competition like, though? Are you looking for similar houses, similar neighborhoods – or is the competition nation wide? By paying attention to homes that are selling nationwide, you can find out a lot about what buyers want.

Once again, CNN Money published their “Top 100 Best Places to Live” for 2009. If your Brooklyn home for sale is in a place similar to the Top 10, you just might have a much better chance at selling, especially if you market those positive attributes. Here are just a few of the things these places have in common:

• Small towns: Whether a place is small or not is always relative. For instance, someone who lives in a town with less than 3,000 people would think Bryant, Arizona, with a population of almost 15,000 was a big place. However, the Top 100 list points the way; the population numbers range from 8,000 to 50,000. If your home is in a low population area, this could be a great selling point.

• Robust, needed industries: High-tech industries, energy services and health care are just a few sectors that haven’t been hit as hard by the recession. These industries will be needed for years to come, and the demand for trained workers is higher in areas with these industrial sectors than in others. If your home is located in an area with lower than average unemployment, brag about it!

• Low crime rates: For most, if not all of the top 100 places, crime is low, if not almost nonexistent. For instance, Papillion, New England has around 22,000 people. They also have less than one personal crime per 1,000 people. If you aren’t sure what the crime rate is around your home, check! Low crime rates are an excellent selling point; one that you could be missing out on.

• Education: Education has always been important to most people – a fact that is clear with the Top 100 list. The list averages 20 universities or professional schools within 30 miles, and over 71% of the population per place has had some college. Do you have great universities? Do you live in a highly educated community? It may not seem like a big deal to you, but it will to the buyer.

From population demographics to the number of recreational activities available, everything goes into making your Brooklyn home for sale attractive to buyers. Do the research and find out what makes your area special.

If you’re trying to find your home’s selling points, I can help. Call me Charles D’Alessandro at Fillmore Real Estate (718) 253-9600 ext.206 or email me at [email protected]  for more information.

Charles D’Alessandro

[email protected]
tel 718 253-9600
fax 718 253-9573

Brooklyn Real Estate Blog The Clock is Ticking on that Home for Sale in Brooklyn – Again

The Clock is Still Ticking on that Home for Sale in Brooklyn ! Hurry before the tax credit runs out. Extended in November, 2009, the first-time buyers’ tax credit is set to expire in April, 2010, and there are no plans for another extension. Time is running out!

What does this mean for you? If you’re a home seller, it’s time to look over your home for sale in Brooklyn, make sure all your t’s are crossed, i’s are dotted and that you’ve done everything you can to put your home at the front of the buying line. If you’re a first-time or repeat buyer hoping to take advantage of the credit, it’s time to start looking for your new home; the binding sales contract has to be signed by April 30, 2010.

Making the Buying Process Easier

Many times, the buying process can take forever.  Red tape, failing negotiations and more has caused several possible sales to fall through. So, what can you do to make the buying process easier? Here are a few tips:

1. Find out if you qualify for the first-time or repeat buyer tax credit. The home buyer requirements are many.  If you can’t afford to buy a home without the tax credit, make sure you qualify.

1. Shop for lenders before hand. Choosing a mortgage lender can be a lengthy process, so finding one you want to use before you start looking for a home will cut down on the time it takes to buy the house.

1. Get pre-approved. Getting pre-qualified is the first step in the loan process, but it’s based on an estimate, not verified facts. By getting pre-approved for a mortgage, you know exactly how much you qualify for, and how much house you can afford. Because this is a large part of the buying process, once you’re pre-approved, the lender can expedite the rest of the deal for a quicker closing.

1. Negotiate wisely. Remember that you’re on a time-line and try not to let negotiations with the seller turn into a contest of wills. Yes, negotiate, but make sure your counteroffer on the home is realistic.

Buying a great home for sale in Brooklyn before the tax credit expires is definitely possible, even with only four months to go.  Following the tips outlined above can make the sale go as smoothly and quickly as possible.

Have questions about the home buyer tax credit?  I can help. Call me now at (718) 253-9600 or email me at [email protected].

Charles D’Alessandro

[email protected]
tel 718 253-9600
fax 718 253-9573

From national and Brooklyn real estate to the U.S. economy, the predictions for 2010 are in.  Like any predictions, they vary from somewhat bright and cheery to doom and gloom:

CNBC’s Realty Check predicts:

• the beginning of a housing market recovery mid-year
• higher foreclosure inventory
• rising mortgage rates, probably leveling off around six percent.
• suffering commercial real estate

The National Association of REALTORS®’ (NAR) chief economist is projecting:

• A sustainable recovery.  The tax credit expansion will help to relieve extra housing supply through mid-2010.
• A rise in existing home sales.  The NAR is expecting existing home sales to rise as high as 5.69 million, even with continuing unemployment issues.  That’s a 13.6 percent increase.

In fact, the U.S. forecasts for national and Brooklyn real estate are overall positive for 2010.

Housing Predictor, one of the first places to predict the wave of foreclosures, also forecasts positive numbers for 2010.  They anticipate rising home sales, market improvement and even value appreciation for some places. Again, the magic period for the start of stabilization is the middle of the year.

Although no one knows for certain what will happen in the future – especially for such struggling sectors as national and Brooklyn real estate – we can all gain a little hope from the 2010 forecasts. There is one thing that is fairly well agreed upon according to these predictions:  there will be a real estate recovery in 2010.

If you’re struggling to sell your home, I can help. Call me at 718 253-9600 ext.206 or email me at charles@brooklynrealestatesales for more information.

Here is my first newsletter for the new year, Brooklyn Real  Estate news letter feel free to take a look and if you would like to receive it by e mail each month please sign up it’s free! Just another way  to keep you informed on your Brooklyn Real Estate Search .

Charles D’Alessandro

[email protected]
tel 718 253-9600
fax 718 253-9573

Brooklyn Real Estate Blog 2010 and Rebuilding or Protecting Your Credit Score

As everyone knows, the Virtual RE Bar Camp (VREBC) event was a smash hit not only within the Fillmore family, but with brokers and agents all across the nation. A record 127 participants came to our HQ location to learn, share ideas, and network.

By popular demand, another Virtual event is being held on January 04, 2010. While the first VREBC was extremely well organized and fulfilling, the second one promises to be an even better experience, as the organizers now have the luxury of hindsight to help guide them in preparing for January’s session.

Fillmore Real Estate is both proud and anxious to be hosting another Virtual RE BarCamp. As before there will be pizza and refreshments served.

Kick off the New Year right by diving into what promises to, once again, be an informative and inspiring day!

Visit The Reinhardt Blog for additional info.

Charles D’Alessandro

[email protected]
tel 718 253-9600
fax 718 253-9573

Brooklyn Real Estate Blog 2010 and Rebuilding or Protecting Your Credit Score

If You are still looking for that perfect home, try searching  the Brooklyn NY MLS ! Thousands of Brooklyn Homes in one search. Or just click here to search Fillmore Real Estate listing

If you’re New Years Resolution is to try to sell your home, or looking for a great home to buy, I can help. Call me Charles D’Alessandro of Fillmore Real Estate at (718) 253-9600 ext. 206 or email me at [email protected] for more information

Charles D’Alessandro
Fillmore Real Estate
[email protected]
tel 718 253-9600
fax 718 253-9573

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