Are Your Neighbors Hurting Your Home Value?

We have all heard the story about the neighbor that made selling a home difficult. But the reality is that is your neighbor helping or hurting you to sell your home?

There are many choices out there for a buyer to choose from...One thing that people tend to forget is that a potential buyer is going to be driving through the neighborhood on their way to look at your house. How the neighbors keep their homes can and will have a factor in whether your home gets an offer and for how much....

I was prompted to write this based on an experience I had yesterday. Couple looking for a home preferred this one particular neighborhood. Found a house that was a short sale and could not agree on terms...we kept looking and that same house went on the market as a bank foreclosure a little while later. We went backed and looked at the house; put an offer in and was told before the bank could respond we were in a multiple offer situation. We lost the house and there were six different people looking at the house.

Now fast forward about a month. Same street and neighborhood a similar house a little farther down the road is on the market. We go to look at the house and the layout is very much the same. However; the neighbors on both sides of the house yards and driveways were filled with old car parts and junk cars. The buyers elected to NOT put an offer in on this house because of the neighbors on each side of them....The irony is that a house about seven or eight house up from that one sold in less than 3 days. A similiar home between these two homes also sold in a very short period of time. Based on the sale price of those two homes in the last 30 days this home is priced right in comparison to those homes. But as the agent told me he is gettign very few showings and no offers on the house.

I always look around and drive through a neighborhood before I go to a listing presentation. because no matter how nice the house is and how well kept it is; if the neighborhood does not support it you are not going to get buyers putting offers in on your home. I have had a few listings where the agents told me they never went into the house because there buyers did not like the neighborhood...

I agree these are things you cannot control. however; they will and do affect the value of your home. So, when you are thinking of listign your home for sale; look around at your neighbors homes as well because they can be the reason your home gets an offer or does not.


Dave diCecco
Realtor/Broker
www.davedicecco.com

Buying A Home? Shop Mortgage Lenders

If you are in the market right now to purchase a home; shop for your mortgage approval with a few lenders. In this economy and housing market lenders have a variety of different packages availble. Just because your local bank or mortgage broker said NO you cannot buy right now becuase you need to hae a credit score of X does not mean you cannot buy.

I recently have been working with three individual buyers who were told by their previous lender that they could not buy a house becuase there credit score was to low. All three of those potential buyers are out aggressively looking for homes right now with a pre-approval letter in hand. Why? because I helped them shop around for a lender that had a program that qualified them for a mortgage.

Most rRealtors have a lender they prefer to work with. It is probably someone that has helped them in the past get a loan processed and approved. Thus, if that lender says NO they move on to the next buyer and wait as the lender works with the buyer to get their credit score up and it can take 3 to 6 months.

Well i have a preferred lender as well...does it mean he gets 100% of all my deals? No. but I give him first chance. Not all companies have the same guidleines to approve loans right now. Yes, they all have to fit in the box nice and neat. However; your lender may tell you that your credit score needs to be 620. Another lender could tell you 580 and a third bank could say 600. They are not governed by the same regulations in regards to requirements for credit score. it si up to the individual lender to decide on what credit score risk they are willing to advance a mortgage on.

All three people were told becaue of their credit score they could not buy a house and had to do certain things to get their credit score up. And all three I was able to get approved without increasing their credit score....

So, if you are in the market for a house and the first lender tells you NO; call another lender and see what they say...you may be able to purchase a house based on your current credit score. There are many different guidelines availble right now if your Realtor knows where to look.

Dave diCecco
Realtor/Broker
www.davedicecco.com

Matthews Ale House---Matthews, NC. 28105

This past Fourth of July weekend my family and a few friends attended the matthews parade through downtown and the free concert at stumpton park. Between the running with keeping up with the kids and the heat outside a friend and I decided to stroll up trade street (main street in most areas) and visit the local pub for a quick beer.

Now, I have lived in this area for about five years now and have never ventured into Matthews Ale house. Quite a shame I will admit. When you walk in you are greeted by a friendly bartender/owner who understands the concept of customer service. She greets you with a smile and gives you the feeling of being welcomed into her establishment. Becuase it is "technically' a private club in order to partake in a beverage to quench our thirst we had to join the pub. A modest $2.00 fee to enjoy some fine beer. She has over 45 different beers there mostly imports. She even offered me a shot glass of a beer to see if I liked it before pouring me a pint.

For people who know me; I am not a drinker or bar person. I drink socially and nothing more. But sitting there talking with her the next thing I know i have had two beers and the time went by before I knew it. the patrons that visit there are all very friendly and everyone welcomes you with a smile and a handshake. I will go back and patronize her pub in the future again. For more information and to see the selection of beers offered at the Matthews Ale house visit her website at www.matthewsalehouse.com.

If you are in the Matthews NC. area and have a need for a cold beer stop into the Matthews Ale house you certainly will not be disappointed....I know I was not.

Dave diCecco
Realtor/Broker
www.davedicecco.com

4th Of July--Reason We Celebrate

Today is the 4th of July. A day that most families will be celebrating by cooking outside on grills and having picnics then watching the fireworks at night. It is a day that we as Americans celebrate our Independence day. A Day that is recognized as the day the united States officially separated itself from British control with the signing of the Declaration Of Independence.

I know for some people the day has some greater meaning. I look at all the flags around as Americans young and old wave them in great pride today. i sit and listen to tributes being held throughout the various towns and areas around Charlotte, NC. for fallen soldiers from all branches of the military who gave their lives so that the flag could fly high.

I know as a veteran of the United States Army I was proud to serve and would have given my life to preserve the freedoms we have... Americans do everyday of our lives. We take a lot for granted sometimes. But one thing is for sure; as Americans we know and trust that the soldiers protecting us are doing so with the same passion and desire as the ones who helped us free ourselves from the British. for that reason I feel the Fourth of July is important.

Today, and this weekend, as you drive around and attend various outings in commemoration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence; one variable stands out...no matter what your political affiliation, color of your skin, where you grew up at, whether you like someone or not; as Americans it seems we all come together on the fourth of July. be it at parades, outings or fireworks shows...it seems there is a little more courtesy among Americans today. As we remember today as the day we received our Independence.....

Dave diCecco
Realtor/Broker
www.davedicecco.com.