With the London Olympics kicking off this month, athletes from all over the world are putting their competitive strategies into place to be one step ahead of the competition and go for gold. Channel the world’s champions this summer to establish a game plan, analyze what’s worked in the past and beat out the competition by presenting your Brooklyn home at its best!

Athletes constantly stay informed on the statistics of their biggest competitors, and so should you when it comes to selling your Brooklyn home. Below are the basic components to consider when using comparables to price your real estate:

Make sure the comparable house has sold. Before using a property as a comparable, it needs to have sold so that you know the selling price. Consider the original listing price as compared to the selling price of the home, when developing your winning strategy. Pay close attention to price reductions and how many months the house was on the market. These are essential indicators to pricing your property right the first time.

• Look to see if it is the same type of home as yours. Find comparable sales that are similar to your home in square footage, style, construction material, number of bathrooms and bedrooms and other amenities.
• See if it’s in the same location. Real estate pricing is largely based on location, so make sure any houses you consider as comparables are close to your own house or in proximity to the same conveniences.
• Double-check the research. Just because someone hands you papers that they claim to be comparables doesn’t mean they actually are. You know your house best, so do your own research and read the fine print to make sure that the comparables you’re using to determine your property’s resale value are a good match.

Starting off on the right foot might help you sell your house faster than an Olympic track star. Dedicate yourself to researching comparables so that you can contribute educated facts when discussing the list price of your Brooklyn home.

If you need help pricing your property or need a real estate agent to help you beat out the competition, 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.

Call Charles for help with your Brooklyn Short Sale

Whether you own a property in distress or you’re looking to make a good investment. Buying or selling Brooklyn short sales can be tricky ,and a frustrating process. The best-case scenario is that sellers reduce their debt and buyers get a great deal, but that outcome is ultimately up to the bank.

Below are some standard short sale trials that both sellers and buyers should be aware of before getting their hopes up:

Sellers need to prove hardship. As a seller, you should talk with your bank and then gather all of the documents they require to put together a hardship portfolio to apply for a short sale. These usually include tax returns, employment status and other personal and financial information. Be quick about it, because the bank has the final say, and you don’t want to leave them hanging.

• Everyone needs to get used to the waiting game. This is probably the most frustrating part, so don’t plan your life around a bank’s approval. They could take anywhere from a couple days to a couple years to make a decision.
• Banks are waiting on banks. Not only are you waiting on the bank that has the mortgage, but there could also be other liens taken out against the short sale. Those third parties also have to sign off on the debt.
• Buyers should get a thorough home inspection. If you’re considering buying a short sale property, make sure you hire a professional home inspector.
• The home could go into foreclosure. Sometimes [city] short sales take so long that the owners cannot keep paying their mortgage and the home goes into foreclosure. Then the bank takes it over and starts a new waiting game.

If you’re considering buying or selling short sales, you’ll want to enlist professional help to navigate the tricky waters. As an expert on Brooklyn short sales, I can help. Please call 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]. for more information.

Economists say and statistics show that there are true signs of improvement in the most recent housing figures for U.S. and Brooklyn real estate markets. Here are a few of those stats:

Investors bought 1.23 million homes in 2011, up 64.5 percent over 2010, according to data from the National Association of REALTORS®. 

• The median investment-home price was $100,000 in 2011, up 6.4 percent from $94,000 in 2010.
• Single-family home sales rose 3 percent in April.
• New home sales increased 3.3 percent in April, according to new Commerce Department data.
• Sales of existing homes rose in April, up 10 percent from April of 2011.
• The median price of existing homes nationwide also moved up to $177,400 from $164,800. This is the biggest year-to-year gain since January, 2006.

In addition to good news in both nationwide and Brooklyn real estate, there’s also good news about the economy:

Economic growth is now projected to grow by 2.4 percent this year, up from a 2.2 percent forecast in February.

• The new job creation forecast, which is the most watched economic indicator, has also improved. The data now shows that 188,000 new jobs will be created each month this year, which is up from the 170,000 new jobs per month forecasted earlier this year.

As you can tell from this data, if you want to buy Brooklyn real estate while prices are at their lowest, you shouldn’t wait a minute longer. Give me a call today at 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].. to get started!

 Most property owners getting ready to sell their Brooklyn real estate understand the importance of cleaning, de-cluttering, updating and staging in order to make a quick sale. However, there are also many other steps you can take to ensure your home appeals to potential buyers, draws them in and seals the deal.

Below are five tips to help you not only get your house in tip-top shape, but also make it extremely marketable:

1.     Find a good Brooklyn real estate agent. While many people think they can sell their home themselves and save money, they’re wrong. Relying on a professional’s expertise and experience has been proven to net you a bigger profit — and definitely reduce your stress and frustration.

1. 2.      Clean and de-clutter. While this goes without saying, we’re going to reiterate it anyway. Make sure your home is spotless and depersonalized. You also might want to consider hiring a staging professional to make it inviting and memorable.
2. 3.      Have your home inspected. Many sellers are getting their property pre-inspected so they can head off any potential deal breakers. If an inspector finds a major issue, you might want to hold off putting the home on the market until you get it fixed.
3. 4.      Offer a home warranty. Especially if you have an older home, you should consider sweetening the deal with this tempting proposition. While you know your water heater works perfectly fine, today’s buyers want everything new and might be wary of used appliances. So, set their minds at ease, even if it’s just for a year.
4. 5.      Develop a marketing strategy. Utilize your real estate agent and come up with a solid plan for marketing your home. Whether listing just on the web or also in local classifieds, you want to make sure as many eyes as possible see your home.

Don’t jump into the market without doing your homework! Follow these five tips and you’ll be on the way to setting up your Brooklyn real estate for a quick sale.

If you’d like more strategies for getting your home in order before putting it up for sale, 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]..

Pricing your real estate right is essential to a quick sale

Pricing for your real estate right is  essential it is the most important factor to get it sold quickly and at a price you’re happy with. Why is it so important?

A high price can turn people away. Pricing doesn’t just influence how much money you’ll make off the sale of your Brooklyn real estate, it also dictates whether buyers will even take the time to look at your home. Price your home too high and it could sit on the market for months until you lower your asking price. Identify your home’s true value in today’s market, and set the price slightly under that price if you want to sell your home as quickly as possible.

• • Your home’s appeal drastically decreases after the first two to three weeks of showings. The amount of traffic that a listing gets in its first week is five to seven times higher than it gets in the following weeks. Buyers are wary of a home that’s been on the market for a long time. They suspect that something’s wrong with it.
  • Buyers shop by price brackets. If your home is priced one hundred dollars too high or too low, it can move your home into a different price bracket and exclude an entire set of potential buyers from even seeing that your home is for sale. Being in the wrong price bracket can reduce traffic to your listing by as much as 7%. Price brackets vary by market and by price. An experienced agent will know the best price bracket for your Brooklyn  real estate.
  • There’s a lot of competition. With so many homes for sale, yours has to stand out as a good value immediately or buyers will move on.
  • Dropping your sales price can be the kiss of death. If you need to lower your price, you’d better make it a reduction that counts. Small reductions give buyers the idea that you might drop it again a month from now. Buyers will realize you’ve dropped the price. The best listing sites show how many times a price has been reduced and by how much.

Pricing your home right is essential when it first hits the market is the key. Let me help you set the right price and position your home in the best price bracket to get it sold. 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]..

How to Catch a Brooklyn Home Buyer

In this economy, every leg up on other sellers will help your home sell faster and at the price you want.  If you’re not getting the offers you want on your Brooklyn home, here are nine ideas to get things moving in the right direction:

Get an appraisal.  Knowing what a professional appraiser thinks your home is worth gives owners a reality check. It also helps you determine the best price for your home.

1. Get a home inspection before listing your home.  Find out the hidden problems with your Brooklyn home and correct them in advance. If you get your home inspected and find problems but elect not to repair them, be sure to include the problems on the property condition disclosure form.
2. Consider offering a home warranty.  Everyone likes a security blanket and a home warranty gives buyers an assurance that if something goes wrong with major appliances, plumbing or electrical systems, they will not have to spend a lot of money to get it fixed.
3. Pay for lawn care through the summer.  This lets the buyer know you’ve thought of everything, and it’s one less worry for them when moving.  Taking care of the pool cleaning tab is another incentive you may want to consider including.
4. Pay the HOA dues. If you’re in a homeowner’s association (HOA), pay the new buyer’s fees for the first year.
5. Pay all or part of the buyer’s closing costs. This can be deducted at closing from the proceeds of the sale.
6. Pay the buyer’s property taxes for a year. You may already have paid a portion or all of it anyway.
7. Offer to leave furnishings. If you have a couch that perfectly fits an unusually shaped living space, offer to include it in the sale of the home.
8. Have some flexibility on the price.  Being willing to negotiate on the price shows a buyer you are willing to work with them.

If you’re looking for a real estate agent who can get your Brooklyn home sold at a good price, give me a call today 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].

Located in the heart of Brooklyn’s Midwood community

– This detached central hall home for sale boasts a large living room and formal sized dining room,

3 spacious bedrooms + a first floor den, a bathroom on each floor, plenty of closets,

a huge 3 room finished basement with laundry room and bathroom,

private driveway and garage on large property. Priced to sell!

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]

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]

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]..

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]..