Brooklyn’s Marine Park Community! Price Adjusted !

Brooklyn’s Marine Park Community CLICK PICTURE FOR MORE INFO!

Marine Park Location!! 3 bedroom duplex with 2 baths, finished basement

with 2 extra bedrooms, just a short walk to great schools,shopping ,

houses of worship and transportation to Manhattan.

Priced to sell today!

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 !

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.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have been in the news quite a bit over the last year, so it’s a good time to do a refresher on who they are and what role they play in the Brooklyn real estate market.

Who are Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac?

Fannie Mae is the Federal National Mortgage Association. Freddie Mac is the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. They were originally created to raise homeownership levels and increase the availability of affordable housing.

Fannie and Freddie don’t sell mortgages directly to homeowners. They buy mortgages from lenders, so the lenders can use the money to issue new home mortgages.

In 2008, due to mismanagement resulting in billions of dollars of losses, Fannie and Freddie were taken over by the government.

How do Fannie and Freddie impact Brooklyn real estate?

• They contributed to the financial crisis and real estate downturn, by loosening underwriting standards, buying and guaranteeing risky loans and increasing purchases of mortgage-backed securities.
• They are key players in the government’s Making Home Affordable foreclosure-prevention program. If your mortgage is owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, you may be able to refinance your loan and take advantage of lower interest rates.
• They influence mortgage interest rates and the availability of home loans. Freddie, Fannie and the Federal Housing Administration together now guarantee about 90 percent of all new mortgages, far above their historic level.

What’s going to happen to Fannie and Freddie?

Fannie and Freddie’s future is uncertain. The House Republicans and the Obama administration agree that the pair should be done away with. But this will not happen soon, if at all. Congress must agree on a plan, which could take years, and then the market’s dependence on the companies and the financial backing they provide must be reduced.

If you have questions about Brooklyn real estate or how national or international events impact Brooklyn real estate, please give  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.

If you’re thinking about taking the plunge into homeownership, before you even start looking, talk to a qualified mortgage professional to get preapproved for a home loan. Armed with that information, you can make better decisions on the type of  Brooklyn real estate you can afford to buy.

Follow these steps to get preapproved for a mortgage:

1)      Get referrals. Ask family, friends, neighbors and your Brooklyn real estate agent for referrals to a lender with whom they have had a good experience. Talk to several lenders to compare service, rates and other options.

2)      Review your credit report. If anything unexpected appears on your report, do what you can to resolve the issues before you apply for preapproval.  Lenders will review your credit report before preapproving you for a home loan.

3)      Provide financial information to the lender. This usually includes documentation of your income, recent statements for all your checking and savings accounts, assets and debt (for instance, credit card debt and car payments).

Even though the preapproval process is rigorous, obtaining a preapproval still does not guarantee that the lender will ultimately fund your loan. Lenders still need to look at property appraisals, verify your information and potentially check your credit again before agreeing to give you a mortgage.

Preapproval helps you narrow the focus of your Brooklyn real estate search to properties that are within your financial reach. It also helps you check out lenders to find one that is the best match for your situation. When you find the Brooklyn real estate of your dreams, you’ll be ready to move to the next step!

If you’re looking for more information on the home buying process, I can help. 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]

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]

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.

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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.