Your kids are grown and gone and without them your Brooklyn home was simply too big and too much work.  So you sold it.  Now you’re asking yourself, “Should I buy Brooklyn Coop Apartment , A Brooklyn Condominium, or relocate to  a new  home in a retirement community?”

The answer depends on what’s important to you. Do you crave the company of others? Would you use many of the amenities provided at the community?  If yes, then you might prefer the convenience of a retirement community.

Many communities offer amenities to attract buyers, such as:

• Golf courses
• Swimming pools
• On-site exercise facilities
• Trails for hikes and biking
• Clubs, associations, and various interest groups.

Other things you need to consider before making your decision are:

• Do you meet the age requirements?  Most senior living communities or Adult communities have a minimum age restriction of 55 for at least one of the residents. Sometimes the age minimum is 60 or 62. If it is 62, then all occupants must be at least that age. Check resident restrictions before purchasing.
• Do you have enough money in your budget?  Like condo ownership, there are usually Community Association fees that must be paid.  These fees pay for the shared facilities and community maintenance costs.  Make sure your budget covers all housing expenses including the mortgage payment, utilities and all community fees.
• Which type of retirement community best fits your needs?

o       Active Adult Communities. These are for those who live independently and have an active lifestyle.

o       Independent Living Retirement Communities. If you can live at home, but still need some help, this type of community  is also called assisted living, and may be for you.

o       Continuing Care Communities. These communities have professionals that are able to care for your health needs.

If you’re looking for a new Brooklyn home,  relocate to a  retirement community , I can help you find a home that fits your lifestyle and budget.  Call me today at Fillmore Real Estate (718)253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected]

Some Brooklyn home buyers have an advantage that others don’t in today’s housing market.  They can qualify for an FHA loan.

Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans help Brooklyn home buyers who would otherwise have trouble being approved for a mortgage.  You can qualify for a loan if you have less than perfect credit.  FHA loans are available even after bankruptcy and foreclosure, if you have maintained good credit for the following two to three years.

What are the requirements for FHA loans?

FHA loans have strict home appraisal guidelines.  The appraisal value helps determine the FHA mortgage limit.  Each state has its own rules regarding maximum loan limits.

What are the advantages to FHA loans?

One advantage of an FHA loan is lower down payment requirements.  You may qualify for a down payment as low as 3.5 percent of the purchase price of the property.  Additionally, most of your closing costs can be included in the loan, so you’ll have less out of pocket expenses.

An FHA loan can also be used to buy a house that needs improvements.  If you need cash to make the repairs, you can apply for a loan to cover the cost of the expected repairs.  The FHA also has energy efficient mortgages which include the costs of energy improvements.

What are the terms of FHA loans?

An FHA loan can take many forms: it may be a fixed-rate loan, an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) or a reverse mortgage.

• A fixed-rate mortgage has a set interest rate for a set amount of time.  Typically, it will be a 15 or 30-year loan.
• An ARM has a variable interest rate for 15 to 30 years.
• The reverse mortgage pays a set amount of money to the homeowner for the entire time they live in the home.

Whether you’d like to finance a Brooklyn home using an FHA loan or a non-FHA loan, I can help.  Give me a call today Charles D’Alessandro of Fillmore Real Estate at (718) 253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected].

One of the least understood aspects of Brooklyn home loans is the different types of lenders.  Many people assume they have to get a home loan from a traditional savings and loan.  Not so.  There are many different types of lenders.

Here are the main types of mortgage lenders and how they function:

1. Mortgage Bankers: Mortgage bankers are loan originators that operate with the sole objective to sell the loan they create to another source. Even though they will sell the loan they must have the ability to finance the loan in the first place and hold it until it is sold.

2. Mortgage Brokers: This type of lender does not originate loans for your Brooklyn real estate, they prepare the paperwork to submit to multiple lending institutions and get offers they will present to you to choose from. Their offers may come from any of the other types of mortgage lenders.

3. Banks and Savings & Loans: These are the most common traditional sources of mortgage loans.  They use the backing of their depositors to fund mortgages.  In turn, they use the money paid by borrowers to repay the depositors’ interest for allowing them to use the money as an investment.

4. Credit Unions: Credit Unions operate in largely the same way a bank or savings and loan does by using money from a pool of depositors to finance investments in the form of mortgages and other types of loans. The difference is that most credit unions are operated out of a collective pool of closely associated people generally through a work place or professional organization.

If  planning getting into the Brooklyn real estate market to buy a home to always get Pre Qualified by a lender before you start.

If you’d like help determining the best type of mortgage lender for your Brooklyn real estate purchase, give me a Charles D’Alesssandro of Fillmore Real Estate call today at (718) 253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected].

This winter has already brought most areas of the U.S. major snow storms, and  we have many more months of winter weather to deal with.  Whether you live in a city that gets snow or you vacation in snowy communities, you need to know how to stay safe and warm in the snow.
1.  Dress in layers. Ideally, the layer against your skin should be made of a synthetic microfiber that wicks moisture away from your body.  Avoid cotton, which gets wet and stays wet. Top the wicking layer with something warm like fleece and finish with a jacket that’s windproof.

2.  Wear boots with good traction.  Make sure they aren’t too tight, either because they’re too small or because you have on bulky socks.

3.  Wear sunglasses and sunscreen. A sunny day in winter is often brighter and more dangerous to your eyes and skin than summer sun.  That’s because of the reflection off the snow.  So before leaving your Brooklyn  home, slip on sunglasses and generously apply sunscreen.

4.  Shovel with care or hire it done. If you’re not in tip-top shape to shovel the snow from your Brooklyn home’s driveway, hire a neighborhood teen to do it.  You’ll give that teen some much wanted income, and save yourself from strained muscles at the least and a heart attack at the worst.  If you do not have a history of heart disease, heart attack, high blood pressure or any other ailment that could result in injury or death, you may decide to shovel the snow yourself.  Here are a few tips for safe snow shoveling:

• Stay well hydrated.  Don’t drink caffeine or alcohol during or immediately before shoveling.
• Take frequent breaks.  Do not remove deep snow all at once; take off an inch or two at a time.  Preferably, start when the snow is not yet heavily packed, and shovel periodically if the snow continues to fall.
• Pick a shovel with a smaller blade.  This puts less strain on your body because you lift less snow at once.
• Use a back-friendly shoveling technique.  Keep the shovel close to your body.  Bend from your knees, not your back.  Tighten your stomach muscles.  Do not twist. Instead, move your body so your feet face the direction in which you’re shoveling.  Do not throw the snow over your shoulder; throw it in front of you.
• Check your body.  Are you experiencing shortness of breath, dizziness or chest pains?  Stop immediately and seek medical help.

5.  Prepare your car for snowy conditions. Clean all the snow off your car before leaving your Brooklyn home.   Make sure your windshield wipers and headlights are cleaned off and working.  Stock your car with a shovel, extra clothes, a blanket, a flashlight, snacks, water, an ice scraper and wood ashes or sand for traction in case you get stuck in the snow.

6.  Go slowly. Whether walking or driving, give yourself additional time to get to your destination.  The roads, driveways and sidewalks get slick, and even a generous amount of salt can leave behind spots of ice and snow.

Stay safe and warm this winter!  If you’d like to buy a safe, warm Brooklyn home, I can help.  Give me  Charles D’Alessandro of Fillmore Real Estate call today at (718) 253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected]

FHA loans are mortgages issued by qualified lenders, including traditional lenders like Citigroup and Wells Fargo, and insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).  The popularity of these loans are skyrocketing and for good reasons.  They feature low down payments, low closing costs and are easier to qualify for.

Despite this popularity, there are many misconceptions surrounding FHA loans.  Here are just a few myths and the facts behind them.

Myth #1: FHA only loans small amounts to buyers of Brooklyn homes.

Fact: To help stabilize the real estate market, the government recently raised the maximum loan amount from its original cap of $362,790 to $793,750. The FHA loan amount a buyer can borrow varies by state and county.

Myth #2:  FHA loans are exclusively for lower-income borrowers.

Fact: FHA loans are available to everyone. There are no maximum income restrictions.  Potential borrowers must verify income and assets to ensure they can afford the loan.

Myth #3:  FHA loans are exclusively for first-time buyers of Brooklyn homes.

Fact: Whether Brooklyn home buyers are making their first home purchase or their twentieth, they can potentially qualify for an FHA loan.
Myth #4: FHA loans are affiliated with the low-income housing program.

Fact: FHA loans have nothing to do with the Section 8 Housing Program or any other low-income or subsidized housing programs. FHA loans are simply mortgages insured by FHA.

Myth #5: FHA loans are risky.

Fact: FHA loans are often easier to obtain, but that does not make them riskier.  The FHA requires full documentation of borrowers’ income and assets to ensure they can afford the loan.

If you’re ready to look at Brooklyn homes to buy, whether you’ll be using an FHA loan or a non-FHA loan, I can help you find your perfect home.  Give me a call Charles D’Alessandro of Fillmore Real Estate at (718) 253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected]  to get started.

Unless elaborate decorations, gourmet food and mountains of mess are your idea of fun, I have some suggestions for you on how to make your holidays simpler and less stressful this year.

Use Fewer Decorations in Your Brooklyn Home

While National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is a fun holiday movie to watch, keeping up with the Griswolds isn’t something you should aspire to. If you’re not sure what to eliminate from your heap of holiday decorations, here are a few tips:

• If it flashes or makes a noise, just say no.  Decorations like that increase stress.
• Display only your most treasured items.
• This year’s mantra should be “less is more.”
• Decorate only those rooms in your Brooklyn home that are used during celebrations.
• Instead of filling every inch of a room with decorations, use fewer items and group them in noticeable spots around the room.

Spending less time decorating your Brooklyn home gives you more time for your friends and family.  It also means wasting less time after the holidays putting away all those decorations.

Entertain Simply

It’s not necessary to spend a lot of money on food or entertainment in order to have a good time.  Some of my most enjoyable gatherings were spent listening to holiday music, playing games and eating a bowl of popcorn with friends and family.

Here are few more ideas to make entertaining easier:

• Don’t cook all the food yourself.  Host a potluck party or pick up already prepared food from your local grocery store.
• Reduce the number of guests.  Do you really need to invite the entire neighborhood?  Invite only those few who you sincerely want to spend some time visiting with.
• Send electronic invitations. It’s free, fast, easy and fun.

The holidays aren’t about your house, food or furniture. They’re about your heart.  Open your heart, relax and truly enjoy your loved ones this holiday season.  Happy Holidays!

Interview Brooklyn Real Estate Agents

Choosing a professional real estate agent or a Realtor, ( National Association of Realtors )can be a very imposing task.  This person is responsible for finding your new home or selling your Brooklyn home, guiding you through the home inspection process and negotiating a good price and terms.  These are important tasks that should be taken seriously.  That’s why finding a skilled real estate agent is key to a successful real estate transaction.

Here are several tips for interviewing Brooklyn real estate agents:

·        Interview at least three agents.  Even if you love the first or second agent you interview, promise yourself you’ll interview all three.  You learn more from each interview, and you never know when that third agent is going to be the perfect match for you.

·        Ask all three agents the same questions so you can compare their answers and ability to communicate.  Write out your questions so you don’t forget any, and take notes during the interviews.  You think you’ll remember what they say, but the specifics will begin to blur as you interview the second and third agent.

·        Ask the Brooklyn real estate agents how long they’ve been in business and how many homes they’ve helped people buy and sell during the last year.  An agent with experience is a very valuable asset, but with the current fluctuations in real estate, an agent with recent experience is even more valuable.   Also ask how long they’ve been helping people buy and sell homes in the area in which you want to live.  You want a real estate agent who is an expert on that neighborhood.

·        Get at least three references of past clients from each of the Brooklyn real estate agents. Then follow up with those references.  Ask a variety of questions such as:

o       What was it like to work with the agent?

o       Would you work with him or her again?

o       What was your least favorite thing about working with the agent?

o       What was the best thing about working with the agent?

If you’re looking for and professional real estate agent and a Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE), I’d be honored to be interviewed for the job.  Call Charles D’Alessandro of Fillmore Real Estate at (718) 253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected] to schedule an interview.

Here are the top 10 reasons people sell their Brooklyn homes.

Selling a home is never an easy decision.  If you’ve ever wondered how most people make this decision, you’ll enjoy this top 10 list.  Here are the top 10 reasons people sell their Brooklyn homes.

1.      Death or divorce. Death and divorce can cause major changes to a family’s financial situation. Homeowners are often unable to cover the maintenance and cost of the home on a single income and are forced to sell their home.

2.School district. People move to certain neighborhoods to be in the school district. They also leave neighborhoods because the schools have changed or to be in a district that better meets their child’s needs.

3.      Job. A very common reason for selling a home is a job change. The family may need to move to a new area because of a new job. A job loss can mean the owners can no longer afford their home.

4.      Marriage. When a couple with separate homes marries, they often choose to live in one home and sell the other. Marriage can also mean a change in finances.

5.      Too much debt. Sometimes medical bills or consumer debt can become so overwhelming that homeowners have no recourse but to sell their Brooklyn homes. Homeowners may sell their homes to avoid foreclosure or bankruptcy.

6.      Need more space. Growing families need more space. A couple may discover that their cozy bungalow does not meet the needs of their small children. They may sell their home so they can upgrade.

7.      Need less space. As children move out, some owners may find they need less space. They may no longer want to be responsible for cleaning and maintaining a large home.

8.      Neighborhood. Neighborhoods change as people move in and out. What seemed like the perfect area when the owners bought their home may no longer fit their lifestyle. For this reason, people sell their Brooklyn homes.

9.      Climate. People living in the north may decide they want a break from the snow. Residents of the south sometimes want to be in a cooler climate.

10.  Home defects. Homeowners may find themselves faced with major repairs that they don’t have the time or money to fix. Selling their home and moving is sometimes a better option.

Trying to decide if you’re ready to sell?  I can help. Call me today at (718) 253-9600 ext.206 or email me at [email protected] for more information

Charles D’Alessandro

[email protected]
tel 718 253-9600
fax 718 253-9573

Brooklyn Real Estate Blog 6 Tips for Selling Your Brooklyn Home During the Holidays

When you have a home for sale in Brooklyn or elsewhere in the nation, you have to know the competition is fierce. Many home sellers think they have all their ducks in a row when a potential buyer comes to view the house, only to have a minor, forgotten issue blow the deal.

The Outside of Your Home

Your home’s exterior is the first thing potential buyers see up close. Online, you may have images of the front yard, back yard, kitchen and other rooms, but pictures can’t do justice to your home for sale in Brooklyn.

To prepare you home for that first up-close viewing, here are 17 outside tasks:

1. Power wash your siding and windows
2. Fix broken siding
3. Give the exterior a fresh coat of paint if it needs it
4. Paint the door and trim
5. Mow the lawn
6. Trim bushes
7. Remove oil spots from the driveway
8. Pick up all tools, toys or trash in the yard
9. Remove lawn ornaments
10. Clear weeds from the walkway and driveway
11. Plant seasonal flowers
12. Rake leaves
13. Clean roof and gutters
14. Sweep the porch, walkway and driveway
15. Clean fences
16. Take photos of a garden if it comes up each spring, as well as the yard when it’s fresh and green
17. Add tasteful landscape lighting if possible

Of course, not knowing what your specific home looks like, I can’t give a complete list, but these 17 items should get you off to a good start. Don’t forget that a few fall decorations can be the added touch that gets your home for sale in Brooklyn sold to a new owner!

If you’re trying to sell your Brooklyn New York home and need more pointers, I can help. Call Charles D’Alessanndro Your Brooklyn Realtor® of Fillmore Real Estate at (718) 253-9600 ext.206 or email me at [email protected] for more information.

Thanksgiving is coming soon to Brooklyn homes near you. It may even be coming to your home, bringing friends, family, good food and happy memories. In the midst of all the activity, take time to think about what you’re thankful for this year.

The last year has been hard for hundreds of thousands of individuals and families. Some who, at the beginning of the year, had a good job, nice house they could afford, 2.5 kids – you know, living the American dream – are now trying to figure out where their next meal is coming from. Some are trying to figure out where to sleep tonight.

Many homeowners – those with Brooklyn homes and homes elsewhere across the nation – seem to think these people must have “done something” to be in their current situation. They believe that as long as they don’t “do something,” they won’t experience similar problems.

This belief is far from the truth. Not all, but most, Americans struggling today paid their bills on time, went to work every day and were just regular, responsible people. Their place of employment closed or their jobs were cut and, with hiring freezes, they couldn’t find new jobs. They could no longer afford their mortgages. The banks foreclosed. This is the true story of all too many people across the U.S.

Did they really do anything? Could they have stopped the companies from letting them go or closing? Could they have forced someone else to hire them?

As Thanksgiving draws near, I urge you to take a look at your own situation. Whether you hate or love your job, be thankful you still have one, when thousands don’t. Look around your warm, safe home and be thankful you can still afford it – even if it’s underwater and/or losing equity. You know where your next meal is coming from – even if you can’t decide whether it’s chicken or burgers tonight.

Be thankful for your Brooklyn homes, your jobs, your families and your good, full life. I know I am. This Thanksgiving, take time to let go of the cares of the world; just enjoy what you have and with whom you have to share it.

Finally, I’d love to hear what you’re especially thankful for this year, so please feel free to add your comments below. I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving for many years to come!

Charles D’Alessandro

[email protected]
tel 718 253-9600
fax 718 253-9573

Brooklyn Real Estate Blog Brooklyn Homes for Sale – Home Selling Questions Answered