Archive for April, 2012

Brooklyn Real Estate Sales Deal Of the Day!

Thursday, April 19th, 2012

Brooklyn Real Estate For Sale

Click on Picture for more information

Brick One Family For Sale Located in Brooklyn's Madison Community

Detached brick home on prime Brooklyn Street for sale, bright and sunny rooms, excellent condition with driveway and garage. Present all offers, with bank qualification. For more information, please call Charles D’Alessandro Your Brooklyn real estate agent with Fillmore Real Estate a call at 718/253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected]

Renting versus Buying a Home in Brooklyn

Thursday, April 19th, 2012

Just because you can buy a home in Brooklyn does not always mean that you should.  It’s important for you to consider if it is better for you to own or rent a Brooklyn  home.

Here are five reasons you might want to rent:

  1. You may be moving within five years. It usually takes five years to break even on your home purchase or investment.
  2. You don’t want the responsibilities associated with being a homeowner.  It can be expensive and time consuming to maintain a home.
  3. You have a bad credit report.  If your score is below 620, you will not get a good interest rate.
  4. You have a high debt ratio. A high debt ratio means you may not qualify for a loan.
  5. You have job instability.  If your job is not secure, it’s not a good idea to buy.

Here are four reasons you might want to buy:

  1. You want to build equity.  The longer you own your home the more equity it will build. When you pay rent, that money goes down the drain.
  2. You get a tax break when you deduct mortgage interest.
  3. You want the emotional satisfaction of owning your own home in Brooklyn.
  4. It’s an investment. With low interest rates and home prices, buying investment property is a wise decision.

If you are ready to buy a home in Brooklyn or purchase investment property, call Call me at Charles D’Alessandro of Fillmore Real Estate at (718) 253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected]..

Buying a Brooklyn Home From a Motivated Seller

Wednesday, April 18th, 2012

When you see “motivated seller” in real estate listings, does that mean the sellers are desperate to sell their Brooklyn home and are open to negotiation?  Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Do not assume it means you’re going to get the home at a bargain price.

When you see “motivated seller” in real estate listings, it could mean a wide variety of things including:

  1. The seller is willing to accept a lower price or give some concessions.
  2. The Brooklyn home could be near foreclosure.
  3. The sellers want to see an offer before canceling the listing.
  4. It’s a marketing strategy. (In other words, it means nothing.)

Here are some tips on how to deal with motivated sellers:

  1. Decide if you really want to buy the Brooklyn home. Don’t buy it just because you think you might get it at a greatly reduced price.
  2. Have your agent ask the listing agent why the seller is so motivated to sell. If there is no realistic reason, you could be wasting your time.
  3. Consider giving a low-ball offer to see how the seller responds.  If the seller does not give a counter offer, you have your answer.  If they give a reasonable counter offer, they’re obviously willing to negotiate.
  4. Wait for a price reduction.  Most listing agents will ask the sellers to reduce their price when the property hasn’t gotten any offers or sold in the expected time frame.
  5. Ask if other offers have been made. If yes, find out why they were rejected, and try to overcome the seller’s objections.

Owning a home is the American Dream. Figuring out if it’s the right time for you to buy, and which property is best for you to purchase, is something only you can decide.

When you’re ready to find your American Dream home, I’d love to help. Call me at Charles D’Alessandro of Fillmore Real Estate at (718) 253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected]..

Deal Of The Day Queens Village Home For Sale

Thursday, April 12th, 2012

Click on Picture Below for Details

Brooklyn Real Estate Sales Offers Queens Village

Queens Village, NY 11427
Type: Residential
Bedrooms: 4
Baths: 2.5
Living Area: 20 x 30 Square Ft.
Lot Size: 32 x 100 Square Ft.
Just Listed – Queens Village Detached 1 Family
Offered at $465,000
MLS Number 368354

Call Charles D’Alessandro of Fillmore Real Estate at (718) 253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected] today. to schedule an appointment.

Brooklyn Real Estate Sales Deal Of the Day!

Wednesday, April 11th, 2012

Click on the picture for more information

Mill Basin Detached Two Family Home For Sale

Brooklyn’s Home For Sale Deal Of The Day !

Detached 2 family high ranch – Beautiful Street, on large property –

Handicap accessible, priced to make a deal today! For more information, call.

Please call Charles D’Alessandro of Fillmore Real Estate at

(718) 253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected]. .

Brooklyn’s Bedford Stuyvesant Real Estate Deal Of The Week!

Tuesday, April 10th, 2012

This one will not last. Located in Brooklyn’s Bedford Stuyvesant

One family Brooklyn home for sale needs some love but worth it!

Check it out just click on the picture!

Waiting for you ! Brooklyn House For Sale

Open House Sunday April 15th 1pm to 3pm

Call or e mail me Charles D’Alessandro your Brooklyn Realtor

Banish Bad Luck During the Sale of Your Brooklyn Home

Tuesday, April 10th, 2012

There are many ominous superstitions associated with Friday the 13th. From black cats to broken mirrors, bad luck can stem from almost anywhere and many sellers like to blame it for their Brooklyn home sitting on the market for too many months.

Without casting a single spell, you can banish bad luck this month and sell your Brooklyn home fast by ensuring you’ve fixed all the pesky problems that home inspectors focus on. Below is a list of problems to address to help you turn your bad luck to good.

Electric shock – Faulty wiring, which is especially common in older houses, might spook some inspectors into suggesting that the entire electrical system needs to be replaced. Have your wiring checked and update what you can before putting your house on the market.

  • Structural damage – While damage can be minor and not of immediate concern, you can be sure the inspector will point out potential long-term issues. Repair problems early, so that prospective buyers will feel at ease knowing you’ve taken the necessary precautions.
  • Water and air infiltration – This is probably the easiest and most inexpensive way to avoid scaring off a buyer. Just replace the caulking around windows and doors.
  • Hazards to health – If you live in an older house that contains asbestos or lead-based paint, before you put your house on the market, determine if these are a direct health hazard. If so, check with your insurance provider to see if any of the renovation costs will be covered.

Be proactive and banish bad sales luck this Friday the 13th. Fix the little issues that spook property inspectors. You’ll sell your Brooklyn  house quickly and take good luck with you to your new  home.

If you could use more information on problems inspectors love to hate, please call Charles D’Alessandro of Fillmore Real Estate at (718) 253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected].

The Basics You Need to Know About Short Sales in Brooklyn

Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012

Short sales in Brooklyn are used by homeowners to prevent losing their homes to foreclosure.  When you see an advertisement for a short sale, the home is in pre-foreclosure.

What is a short sale? It is an agreement between the sellers of a home in the beginning stages of foreclosure and their lender which allows the home to be sold for less than the existing loan balance. If an agreement is reached by all parties, a short sale could save the sellers’ credit by avoiding a foreclosure.

A short sale is not a short process, however.  It is a lengthy process with many legal and financial aspects.

The basic short sale process flows as follows:

  • The seller contacts the lender to discuss the possibility of a short sale.
  • The seller issues a letter authorizing release of the loan and property information to the buyer or escrow agency.
  • A settlement statement is reviewed by the lender. The statement includes the proposed selling price, the amount left to be repaid and itemized expenses.
  • The seller completes a hardship letter for short sale in Brooklyn, including a description of all the financial difficulties the seller is going through.  The lender validates and confirms all financial difficulties.
  • The seller provides the financial documents including paycheck stubs, bank statements, a personal financial statement, monthly budget assessment and anything else required by the lender.
  • Once approved, the buyer can proceed with the purchase.

What are the benefits of a short sale?  The seller is relieved of the debt they cannot afford, a foreclosure proceeding by the lender is avoided and the buyer purchases the home at a discounted price.

Whether you’re a seller who is interested in selling your home as a short sale or a buyer who wants to purchase a short sale in Brooklyn, I can help. Please call Charles D’Alessandro of Fillmore Real Estate at (718) 253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected].

Outdoor Spring Maintenance Checklist for Your Brooklyn Real Estate

Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012

Preventive maintenance is crucial to the value and upkeep of your home. Keeping your Brooklyn  real estate in great shape with regular check-ups will save you the headache and cost of emergency repairs.

Here are six items to add to your outdoor spring maintenance checklist:

Clean the Gutters:  Gutters work best when clean and free of gunk.  Check yours for foliage, tree limbs, etc., especially if trees hang over the roof.

  1. Make sure the downspouts are clean: They should point at least two feet away from foundation walls.
  2. Check exterior paint: Look for chipped, cracked paint.  Scrape off any failing paint, sand it down, prime the surface, and paint it with a high-quality, low-VOC exterior paint.
  3. Brighten your Brooklyn real estate with a good power washing: Rent a power washer or borrow your neighbor’s. This should always be one of the first things you do after winter to brighten and freshen the exterior of your home.
  4. Trim overgrown trees and hedges: Trim away from the home to discourage growth of mildew and moisture.  Don’t forget to trim along your property line to make it appealing to potential buyers.
  5. Rake up all the downed leaves: Leaves will suffocate your grass and stop it from growing.  Pull up weeds and dead flowers and replace with low-maintenance varieties such as pansies, begonias or mums.
  6. Inspect trees for broken branches. If the limb is high up, hire a licensed arborist. If you can reach it from the ground, take it down using the three-cut technique, which prevents bark from tearing and creating an open wound on the trunk. If you had heavy snowfall this winter, look for bending branches and check to make sure they produce leaves this spring.
  7. Repair cracked pavement: Before weeds have a chance to take hold, repair cracks in your asphalt driveway and concrete walkways. On surfaces that have ruptured from the effects of frost heaving, hire a professional to pour or pave a new surface.

If you’re thinking of selling your Brooklyn real estate, I’d be happy to do a walk through at no cost to help you identify repairs or maintenance that will help your home sell faster and for more money.  Call Charles D’Alessandro of Fillmore Real Estate at (718) 253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected] today. to schedule an appointment.