Archive for the ‘News’ Category

Make Your Brooklyn Home Stand Out with Ceramic Tile

Sunday, January 22nd, 2012
Charles D’Alessandro your Brooklyn Real Estate Agent

If you’re looking for ways to update your Brooklyn home, consider ceramic tile. There are myriad ways to implement tile for a new look.

Ceramic tile is the ideal material to use where water is an issue—think the kitchen, bathroom and plant room. It’s also the best option where fire is an issue—again the kitchen, fireplace and woodstove. For a durable and classic look, consider these possibilities for ceramic tile in your Brooklyn home:

  • Flooring. Compared to wood, tile is affordable and more durable. Compared to carpet, tile is hypo-allergenic and more durable. Compared to vinyl, tile is classic and more durable.
  • Countertops. If your kitchen countertops have seen better days, you can get a whole new, custom look with ceramic tile.
  • Entire bathroom. From the floor to the walls, ceramic tile can withstand the water and steam of the bathroom environment.
  • Hearth. Ceramic tile around the fireplace or woodstove equals peace of mind.
  • Windowsills. If you have houseplants, you know how easy it is to ruin the woodwork of a windowsill. Tile is a much more forgiving material to host your plants and their watery needs.
  • Backsplash. A backsplash is installed wherever you need to protect a section of wall. Above the kitchen or bathroom sink, ceramic tile will protect your wall from water damage. Another place you can install a backsplash is behind the stove, where food and grease splash up. With ceramic tile, clean up is easy and a backsplash will add stunning interest to your décor.

In today’s buyer’s market, you need to make sure your Brooklyn  home stands out from the rest. For more tips on how to get your home sold, contact me 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]

How to Sell Your Brooklyn Real Estate this Winter

Sunday, January 22nd, 2012

Charles D'Alessandro your Brooklyn Realtor®

If you need (or want) to sell your Brooklyn real estate this winter, you’ll have to step up your game a bit. People tend to be less likely to buy in the winter because the weather keeps them indoors rather than out house hunting. And let’s face it, most homes just don’t look as good in the brown, drab winter as they do in the spicy spring and summer.

If you’re one of the lucky owners with a home for sale in an area that stays beautiful all year long, you can still find a few tips here to help get your home ready to sell.

Six tips to help you sell your Brooklyn home this winter:

  1. Keep it cozy. You want your home to be warm so people can comfortably take their time viewing your Brooklyn real estate. Saving money on heating costs isn’t worth it if it means freezing out your potential buyers.
  2. Turn up the light. Keep curtains and blinds open during the day. Turn on your lights, both inside and out, at night. Put your lights on timers if you won’t be home until after dark. Use motion detectors to light up in the evening when a potential buyer approaches your doorstep.
  3. Point out cold-weather benefits. Have mass transit within walking distance? That’s a big benefit in bad weather because you don’t have to de-ice or dig your car out of the snow in order to get to work. Have an attached garage? Ditto.
  4. Take advantage of good winter locations. If your home is in a location that people flock to in the winter, say an area with great outdoor winter sports such as skiing or a warm-weather area like Florida, now is the time prime time to promote your house! Put all you’ve got into marketing the benefits of living where it’s always sunny or where winter living is fun.
  5. Set the mood. Play soft, classical music. Toss afghans or throws across the back of your sofa. Hang plush robes in your bedroom or bathroom.
  6. Clear away snow and ice. Shovel a path through the snow so potential buyers don’t have to get out their snowshoes. De-ice your driveway, sidewalk, steps and porch to prevent slips and falls.

If you’re ready to sell your Brooklyn real estate this winter, I can help. Give me a call today 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] for more information.

Brooklyn Real Estate Deals of The Week!

Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

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What Do Buyers of Brooklyn Homes Want in a Neighborhood?

Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012

What Do Buyers of Brooklyn Homes Want in a Neighborhood?

What Do Buyers of Brooklyn Homes Want in a Neighborhood? So, what do they want? Based on the data just in from the 2011 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, here are what buyers want in a neighborhood in order of importance:

67 percent favor a quality neighborhood

  1. 49 percent of buyers said they want convenience to jobs
  2. 45 percent look at the overall affordability of Brooklyn homes in the neighborhood
  3. 39 percent prefer to live close to family and friends
  4. 28 percent of buyers are interested in having shopping close by
  5. 27 percent want a quality school district
  6. 22 percent ask for a neighborhood that is convenient to schools
  7. 21 percent like to live close to entertainment or leisure activities

Assess your neighborhood. Which of the attributes most desired by buyers does your neighborhood have? Showcase those features in the marketing materials for your home:

Mention the schools, shopping, entertainment and leisure activities that are close to your home.

  • Give statistics on the quality of your school district.
  • Take photos of your neighborhood that flaunt its quality.

Need help marketing your home? I am a Realtor® that specializes  in selling Brooklyn homes in your neighborhood. If you’re ready to sell your home, let me market your neighborhood and home to get it sold now. Please  call me today 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] for more information.

What You Need to Know About First-Time Buyers Before Selling Your Brooklyn Real Estate

Thursday, December 22nd, 2011

Should you be marketing to first-time home buyers in order to sell your Brooklyn real estate? The 2011 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers has a wealth of information on first-time home buyers and will help you figure out if you should market to this large and important group of buyers.

Here are the stats (courtesy of AgBeat.com) you need to know about first-time home buyers before selling your Brooklyn real estate:

  • Long-term survey averages show that 4 out of 10 buyers are typically first-time buyers. This segment is critical to a housing recovery because they help existing home owners sell and make a trade.
    • The median age of first-time buyers was 31 and the median income was $62,400, up from $59,900 in the 2010 study.
    • The typical first-time buyer purchased a 1,570 square foot home costing $155,000.
    • First-time buyers who financed their purchase used a variety of resources for the down payment: 79 percent tapped into savings; 26 percent received a gift from a friend or relative, typically from their parents; and 7 percent received a loan from a relative or friend. Nine percent sold stocks or bonds and 8 percent tapped into a 401(k) fund.
    • Ninety-four percent of entry-level buyers chose a fixed-rate mortgage. Fifty-four percent of first-time buyers financed with a low down payment FHA mortgage, and 6 percent used the VA loan program which requires no down payment.

What this Information Means to You

If you’re selling an existing, entry-level home, you’ll most likely be selling to a first-time home buyer with a median age of 31 and a median income of $62,400. First-time home buyers are most likely to get a fixed-rate, FHA mortgage. Gear your marketing toward that buyer to have more success.

If you’re ready to sell your Brooklyn real estate, whether it appeals to first-time buyers or other types of buyers, I’ll market it to get it sold quickly and for as much as possible. Give me a call  Charles D’Alessandro Your Brooklyn real estate agent with Fillmore Real Estate for more information. at 718/253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected]

Brooklyn Home for the Holidays

Friday, December 16th, 2011

As a Brooklyn real estate agent, I spend a lot of time rushing in and out of  Brooklyn homes. It’s easy for me to get caught up in the hustle-bustle of real estate transactions, and I forget to slow down to appreciate the pleasures of owning a home. So today, I want to take a moment to reflect on the home aspect of real estate.

My job (one I love) is to help people just like you find a house that suits their lives.  Once you move in, you make that house into a home.

Holiday Traditions

Your Brooklyn home is where you and your loved ones celebrate holidays and where you create and continue family traditions. Whether you deck the halls with layers of tinsel and wreaths or have the whole family over to spin Hanukkah dreidels, the spirit of the season comes from the energy of the people gathering together in your home.

Season of Family Warmth

While you’re making your famous sugar cookies or spiking your secret-recipe punch with extra holiday cheer, pause for a moment to enjoy the warmth and beauty of your Brooklyn home. My wish for you is that you live every day like it’s a holiday, being thankful and spending time with loved ones.

Happy Holidays!

May your home be filled with the joy of family and friends this holiday season. There’s truly no place like home for the holidays!

Are You Considering Selling Your Brooklyn Home for Sale by Owner?

Thursday, December 8th, 2011

Hiring a real estate agent still gives you the best chance of selling your home

Are you Considering Selling Your Brooklyn Home for Sale by Owner ? Should you try to sell your home on your own as a Brooklyn home for sale by owner (FSBO)? The 2011 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers has new information about FSBOs here is the Need to Know If  that can help you decide if you should try to sell your home without the help of a real estate professional.

Here are the top 4 facts you need to know if you’re considering selling your Brooklyn home for sale by owner:

  1. It’s harder to sell your Brooklyn home for sale by owner in today’s market. FSBO transactions accounted for 10 percent of sales. That’s slightly above the record low of 9 percent in the 2010 study, but well below the record high of 20 percent set in 1987. The share of homes sold without professional representation has trended lower since 1997.
  2. If you know someone who wants to buy your home, you’ll be more likely to be able to sell it on your own. Many FSBO properties are not sold on the open market. Factoring out private sales between parties who knew each other in advance, the actual number of homes sold on the open market without professional assistance was 6 percent.
  3. If you’re good at attracting buyers, pricing your home and filling out paperwork, selling your  Brooklyn home for sale by owner may be the way to go. The most difficult tasks reported by unrepresented sellers are attracting potential buyers, getting the right price, and understanding and completing paperwork.
  4. Hiring a real estate agent still gives you the best chance of selling your home. 89 percent of buyers used real estate agents and brokers. 7 percent bought directly from a builder, and 4 percent purchased a FSBO.

Ready to hire a real estate professional to get your home sold? If you’re thinking about selling your Brooklyn real estate and would like more tips on how to get it ready, 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], for more information and discover how I can help you.

Changes in the National and Brooklyn Real Estate Market You Need to Know Before Selling

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

The data from the 2011 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers is now available. Here are the significant changes you need to know that will help you market your Brooklyn real estate and get it sold:

  1. Most buyers are married: 64 percent of all buyers are married couples (up five percent from 2010), 18 percent are single women, 10 percent single men and 7 percent unmarried couples.
  2. Your property is competing against 12 other homes: Buyers searched a median of 12 weeks and visited 12 homes, both unchanged from 2010.
  3. Multiple bedrooms and bathrooms are preferred: The typical home had 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
  4. Most buyers want single-family homes: 77 percent of respondents purchased a detached single-family home, 9 percent a condo and 8 percent a townhouse or rowhouse.
  5. You need to promote your home to buyer’s agents: 60 percent of buyers working with real estate professionals were represented by a buyer’s agent.
  6. Hire a Brooklyn real estate agent to sell your home: 87 percent of home buyers use real estate agents to find their home. 91 percent of buyers who used the Internet to search for a home purchased through a real estate agent.
  7. Market your home online, with yard signs and at open houses: When buyers were asked where they first learned about the home they purchased, 40 percent said the Internet; 11 percent said a yard sign or open house.

Want to work with a Brooklyn real estate agent who knows how to market your home to get it sold? Let me show you my proven marketing plan. Schedule an appointment with me today by calling me at (718) 253-9600 ext 206 or emailing me at [email protected].

Top Ten Reasons to Invest in Brooklyn Short Sales

Sunday, November 27th, 2011

Reasonsons to invest in short sales

Now is a fabulous time to take advantage of today’s real estate market and boost your investment portfolio with Brooklyn short sales. Here are the top ten reasons why investing in short sales might be beneficial for you:

Short sales benefit buyers, sellers and investors. You get to help a lender and homeowner out of a tough financial situation.

  1. You can make a nice profit because Brooklyn short sales are priced at or below market.
  2. Banks are closing them faster than ever before and, from start to finish, it’s not as painful as it used to be.
  3. There is a huge inventory of short sales from which to choose.
  4. The competition is low because there aren’t enough investors to gobble them all up.
  5. It doesn’t take a ton of time. You’ll spend even less time when you work with a real estate agent who specializes in short sales.
  6. Short sales are generally in better condition than foreclosures.
  7. You can work with luxury home short sales. Luxury short sales require the same amount of time and work as short sales on less expensive homes, but the profit margins are much higher.
  8. In some cases, the banks will pay closing costs and Home Owner Association transfer fees.

10.  You can work real estate short sales in all markets: urban, suburban and rural areas.

If you’d like more information on investing in Brooklyn short sales, give me a call today at (718) 253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected]

Second Mortgages on Brooklyn Homes: What You Need to Know

Tuesday, November 15th, 2011

Second mortgages on Brooklyn homes are used by people who need to access the equity on their homes. Here’s some information to help you decide if a second mortgage is right for you.

What is a Second Mortgage?

A second mortgage is taking out a second loan on top of the existing mortgage on your home. The collateral for the second mortgage is your home. The loan process is similar to getting a primary mortgage, including the need to pay for appraisals and closing costs.

The maximum amount of the second mortgage is determined by the equity in your home. The equity is the difference between what you owe on the home and the current fair market value of your home.

Why Get a Second Mortgage?

People take out second mortgages on their Brooklyn homes to:

What Should I Consider Before Getting a Second Mortgage?

Taking out a second mortgage is a big risk because your home is your collateral on the loan. Second mortgages on Brooklyn homes are riskier for the lender, so they usually have a much higher interest rate than your first mortgage.

According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, almost 40% of homeowners who took out second mortgages are underwater on their loans. This is more than twice the rate of owners who didn’t take out second mortgages.

Make sure that you can afford the monthly payments as well as the costs associated with getting a second mortgage including the appraisal fee, closing costs, etc. Before signing on the dotted line, investigate financially safer alternatives such as refinancing, selling or renting out.

If you’re considering getting a second mortgage, please think it through very carefully and weigh all your options before making a final decision.

If you’d like help determining if refinancing, selling or renting out your home is the best option for you, give me a call Charles D’Alessandro Your Brooklyn real estate agent with Fillmore Real Estate at 718/253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected],