Real Estate Information Archive

14 Park Place Court - Wichita Falls, TX

Serious about selling your home? Before you sign anything, read about these common mistakes that home sellers make:

1.     Pricing Too High: It's no secret, price is everything. Overpricing does more to discourage buyers than any other single factor. When you overprice, you put your home in competition with homes that may be newer, larger or have more amenities than yours. You help your competition sell their home. This leads to long days on the market, and costs you, the seller, money in the long run. Make sure you get your pricing advice from a professional agent who knows the market.

2.     Poor Condition: A home that is in ill repair, or otherwise poor condition, does not excite buyers. A home like this is looked at by buyers as a work project and money pit. Having your home in good repair and great showing condition will significantly improve your chances for a sale at top dollar value. Having your home pre-inspected by a termite and dry rot inspector will also have a positive impact on buyers.

3.     Poor Curb Appeal: Most buyers today want to drive by. If your home is an attractive drive-by, it will gain more attention and certainly more showings. Doing the little things to help your home's curb appeal will make a huge difference.

4.     Dreary Dark Homes Don't Sell: Buyers like updated, light and bright homes. Dark carpets, paint, and curtains are often buyer turn-offs. Go through your home and remove clutter; touch up and update paint, counter tops, and carpets. Open your home up and make sure the sun shines in. Offensive odors from pets and smoking are also huge turn-offs to most buyers. Rid your home of offensive smells by burning scented candles and create a pleasant aroma. The most important rooms to concentrate on are the living room, family room, kitchen and master bedroom. Your entire home's atmosphere is set off by these rooms.

5.     Don't Over-improve: Get your home in good showing condition, but don't over do it. Huge projects such as complete remodels of kitchens, adding decks, and expanding room sizes may not pay back your investment. Before you jump into a huge improvement project, get some good advice.

6.     Be Financeable: Bad roofs, exterior paint, or structural problems may make your home un-financeable. The wider the scope of financing that your home can qualify for, the higher the overall market value. Remember -- government programs like VA and FHA will be the most picky.

7.     Get Good Advice and Good Market Exposure: Hiring a professional agent will help you get your home priced right, and will also get you started with the best fix ups. A strong agent will get your home exposed to the largest number of potential buyers. Paying the agent fee is often the least expensive part of selling your home. Trying to sell your home yourself can be costly. Most 'for sale by owner' homes close for less than comparable homes listed with an agent, and you have no representation.

8.     Don't Be Present During Showings: When your home is being shown, go for a drive or a walk. Take yourself, your family, and pets and let the agent and their clients have the freedom they need. An agent can always do their best job of showing your home when you are not underfoot. Buyers are more at ease and much more likely to spend time looking at your home's features and benefits.

9.     Let Your Agent Do the Negotiating: If there is ever a good reason to have a veteran agent working for you, it's during the negotiation of your home sale. A good negotiator can mean thousands of dollars to you, and will protect your interests. Don't let your emotions run wild during negotiations. Try to separate your emotions from your business side. Remain cool and calm during this time.

10.   Act Fast With Offers: When you do get an offer on your home, act quickly and decisively. Letting offers sit around without acting can be a huge mistake. Things can change quickly in the mind of a prospective buyer. Acting quickly while the excitement and interest level are at a high point can be very important. Typically, a buyer's motivation level decreases with time. Buyers' remorse can even set in. Acting in a timely manner is essential.

Empty Bowls is a community-wide event to ensure that fewer people in the Wichita Falls and surrounding communities go home to an "empty bowl." The basic premise of Empty Bowls involves MSU graduates and instructors working together to create handcrafted bowls. This juried ceramic exhibition will run through October 20 at the Museum of Art at MSU. The juror is Keith Williams, past president of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts. The curator will be Pamela Moller (’82). All money raised will be donated to the Wichita Falls Area Food Bank. For more information, click on www.mwsu.info/wfma/event/empty-bowls/.

Here's a great story on the first graduating seniors from Christ Academy here in Wichita Falls, TX.

Click here to read the full story.

Here's a great article on Christ Academy and their forward thinking education for their students enrolled in high school.

See link below!

http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2012/sep/02/new-type-of-learning/

Wichita Falls Two Biggest Weekends Approaching

We are coming up on the two biggest weekends for Wichita Falls for the year. This coming weekend is the Texas Ranch RoundUp and next weekend is the Hotter'N Hell Hundred Race! If you have never experienced either of these events I strongly encourage you to do so. Be sure to visit these sites for more information.

Market Pulse

Typically, the residential real estate markets are paused a bit between August 1 and the latter part of the month. We have continued to see good activity in the marketplace, however, you can definitely feel that the market has slowed a bit with school about to start again. Nevertheless, we are aggressively serving our customers and are still on track for a record year in our office.

Be sure to stay tuned to the market at TheFallsHomeFinder.com and WichitaFallsHomeValues.com.

Deer Fest is a one day event to be held at the MPEC Exhibit Hall in Wichita Falls, Texas on August 4th. All proceeds for this event will help fund the Adopt A Box Program. Adopt A Box is a local charity designed to provide children in need with basic hygiene items. Deer Fest and Operation Game Thief will team up to bring their “Wall of Shame” trailer to Wichita Falls. The “Wall of Shame” features some of North Texas largest game animals killed illegally and confiscated by Game Wardens. Bass Tubs of Oklahoma brings us the Ultimate Shootout Archery Trailer. New this year Duck Dynasty!! You have seen their show, now come see the Duck Man and Duck Commander in person!! Other attractions include vendor booths, live and silent auction items, Junior Anglers Catch tank and live entertainment. Deer Fest will be an exciting fun event for the whole family with a corner of the exhibit hall designated as Kids Corner! Join us in a family friendly day of hunting and fishing fun while supporting the Adopt A Box Program, at Deer Fest on Saturday, August 4th beginning at 9:00 a.m.

http://www.deerfestwichitafalls.com/

If you know who The Pioneer Woman is, then you would probably be THRILLED to know she is coming to Wichita Falls Friday, April 13th for a Christ Academy Fundraiser luncheon!  If you don't know her, you should definitely look her up (www.thepioneerwoman.com) because you WILL want to meet her too!

See information below for details!

It is hard to believe, but 2012 has roared in and we are all moving forward into the New Year! I wish you a Happy and prosperous 2012!!!

2012 starts out with a bright spot in the Real Estate market and that is the continuation of historic low mortgage interest rates. 2011 saw rates hit record lows and hold that pattern throughout the year.

 In Freddie Freddie Mac's results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey®, the average fixed mortgage rates finishing the year near their all-time historic lows helping to keep homebuyer affordability high. Averaging 3.95 percent, the 30-year fixed has been at or below 4.00 percent for the past nine consecutive weeks and only twice in 2011 did it average above 5.00 percent. This has certainly helped the national Real Estate market by making home purchases affordable and helping to make loan qualification a possibility for many who otherwise would be out of the home purchase market.  

Will mortgage rates continue this low level during 2012?  Indications at this time point to a positive "YES"!  This should hold true for no less than the first half of 2012.  With the prediction that homes values will continue their decline in most national markets through 2012, the possibility on home ownership may become even more realistic for many.