The winter season makes staging, or the concept of showing your Brooklyn home for sale  at its best, even more important.  Follow these tips to make your home irresistible:

1. Make every surface shine: Shine bathroom fixtures, stove, refrigerator and faucets.
2. Sweep your front porch: Sweep away all those leaves stuck in the corners.
3. Clean, Clean, Clean: Everything from lamps and light fixtures to bulbs and baseboards.
4. Add fresh flowers: Put them on the entry table, dining room table and anywhere else that needs a splash of color.
5. Remove all clutter: Put it in a storage locker or a friend’s garage. Take down all your personal pictures.  Buyers want to picture their belongings in the house, not yours.
6. Burn potpourri: Or bake something to leave out for potential buyers.
7. Leave every light on: And every interior door open.
8. Keep snow and ice at bay:  If your Brooklyn home is under winter conditions, be sure to keep walkways and driveways clear of snow and ice.
9. Warm it up. Adjust the thermostat so your home is warm and inviting.

10.  Take advantage of natural light: Encourage showings during daylight hours. Have all curtains and blinds open during the day and closed at night.

11. Wash the windows: Buyers act on first impressions; the strong winter sun can reveal grime and turn away prospective buyers.

12.  Create a little atmosphere: Play music softly in the background. Tune the radio to a classical station, and turn it down so that you barely hear it in the background.

13.  Show off hardwood floors: Pull up that wall-to-wall carpeting, clean the floors, store the throw rugs and show the wood!

14.  Freshen the walls: At a minimum, clean the walls from top to bottom.  If they still look dingy, give them a fresh coat of paint.  That is the quickest and fastest way to freshen up a room.

15.  Use the rule of 3 – Three items per surface, in every room.  Make it look uncluttered and clean by doing this.

If you are ready to sell your Brooklyn home , I can help you get it on the market and sold.  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.

Brooklyn Home For Sale !

Located in the beautiful

Midwood Community

Midwood spacious grand home located in the heart of Brooklyn’s Midwood community ,

House needs TLC! House sold “as is condition”. Lots of potential! Priced to sell!

For more information, Call Charles D’Alessandro your Brooklyn Realtor®

with Fillmore Real Estate today (718) 253-9600 ext 206

or e mail me at [email protected]

For private tour , and or Open House Schedule !

for these or any other Brooklyn House For Sale, priced to deal !

Charles D'Alessandro your Brooklyn real estate agent!

While we all know the economy has taken a hit on the real estate market, that doesn’t mean purchasing a Brooklyn home and putting down roots has turned into an unreachable dream. In fact, you can grasp it quite easily, and there are many benefits to doing so.

Start 2012 off right by setting new life and financial goals for yourself. If you’ve been renting and are planning to remain in Brooklyn, then it’s definitely time for you to consider buying a house. Here are some benefits you should take into account:

• You’ll build equity. If you take out a loan, you’ll be using someone else’s money to turn your property into a piggy bank and eventually make money as your Brooklyn home appreciates. Plus, when you sell down the road, you won’t have to share the proceeds — what’s not to like about making money with your bank’s money!
• You’ll receive tax breaks. The government supports purchasing homes by giving you significant tax breaks on your federal taxes. And when it comes time to sell, you won’t have to pay capital gains taxes either, until you hit a certain ceiling.
• You’ll be able to count on consistent payments year to year. If you can get a fixed-rate mortgage, you won’t need to worry about an annual increase in your housing payments. When you’re renting, you never know what your payments could be from lease to lease, which makes it hard to determine if your current residence will always be within your budget.

While the appreciation on a house you purchase now might not shoot up as fast as it did a decade ago, buying a home is still a wise long-term investment. Paying rent is no investment at all.

If you’re on the fence about the benefits of purchasing a Brooklyn home in the New Year or you’d like to see what’s available, 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] I’m happy to help.

Brooklyn’s Midwood Community !

Click on pictures for more information

Brooklyn Home For Sale

Spacious detached two family on 44 x 100 property with 2 car garage. Close to all!

Come see, and compare! 24 hour notice! Call today!

Charles D’Alessandro your Brooklyn Realtor® Fillmore Real Estate at 718-253-9600.

Midwood Property for Sale !

House needs TLC! House sold “as is condition”. Lots of potential, priced to sell! Prime Midwood Location!

For more Information, call

Charles D’Alessandro your Brooklyn Realtor® Fillmore Real Estate at 718-253-9600.

Brooklyn's East Flatbush Brick One Family Home For Sale

East Flatbush/Flatlands border is where you’ll find this solid cameo brick home for sale featuring –

living room, large formal dining room, modern eat in kitchen with center isle, 3 bedrooms, 3 baths + full finished basement and new heating system

Studio Apartment Blocks from Brooklyn's Kings Highway's Beth Israel Hospital

Low Price low maintenance renovated and convenient

to all!

Call Charles D’Alessandro your Brooklyn Realtor®

with Fillmore Real Estate today (718) 253-9600 ext 206

or e mail me at [email protected] today for private tour and or Open House Schedule !

for these or any other Brooklyn House For Sale, priced to deal !

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]

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Before you sign on the dotted line for your new Brooklyn home, be sure to get the information you need to make a sound financial decision. That includes getting a thorough home inspection by a qualified professional.

This may seem like one more hoop to jump through, but a detailed and complete inspection can reveal some unpleasant surprises about your new Brooklyn home purchase. It can also impact the price you pay for the property. Remember, part of your offer should include a clause that specifies who will pay for any necessary repairs discovered by the inspection.

When looking for an inspector:

• Ask your friends: Word of mouth is still the best way to go, as their good experience can lead to yours.
• Ask your real estate agent: Agents have worked with many buyers and sellers and have heard the stories of money saved by a solid inspection.
• Ask Google or the Yellow Pages: If no one has a good recommendation, you can always go in blind. Research any prospects you find thoroughly.

No matter how you find inspectors’ names, take the time to check them out.

Once you have a home inspector in mind, be sure to:

• Check licensing: Licensing varies from state to state. Know the rules for your area.
• Check references: Any reputable inspector should have a list of happy former clients. Call a few of them.
• Check the Better Business Bureau: A few minutes can save you some headaches. You don’t want an inspector with 20 complaints lodged against him no matter how wonderful Uncle Eddie says he is.
• Request sample reports: Review sample reports from the inspector. The reports should be thorough.
• Check qualifications: Make sure your inspector has a background in engineering, architecture or contracting work. You want someone who can recognize and identify problems. Ask inspectors about their education, experience and professional association membership (such as the American Society of Home Inspectors).

If you’re looking to buy a Brooklyn home, give me a call Charles D’Alessandro your Brooklyn Realtor® today at (718) 253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected]. I’ll take you step-by-step through the buying process, including getting the home thoroughly inspected by a qualified professional.

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.

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!

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]