Lender Checklist

A mortgage lender can generally do a pre-approval over the telephone, but the more information that you can provide will help in securing a mortgage. 

• W-2 forms — or business tax return forms if you’re self-employed — for the last 2-3 years.

• Copies of pay stubs

• Credit card account numbers and any outstanding balances

• Copies of bank statements for the past 2-3 months

• Lender, loan number, and amount owed on other loans

• Previous addresses for the last 5-7 years

• Copies of investment statements for last 2-4 months

• A list of any major assets of value

• Documentation to verify additional income, such as child support or a pension.

• Copies of your federal & state tax forms for the last 2-3 years

Feel free to contact me if you need help selecting a lender (220-2516).

Many of us are seeing the results of the gas drilling in the past year. You may be…

• Hunting for an apartment and experiencing the lack of available housing along with increased prices
• Searching for a home and finding no inventory
• Selling your home in a blink of an eye
• Or simply seeing a sea of white pick up trucks

Regardless of where you are, we are officially in a “Gas Boom”.  The landmen have over 80% of Lycoming County leased, drillers are drilling, the pipeline is moving along, and a massive number of suppliers are coming to town.  Not to mention, the hotels are full, and restaurants are busy.  Williamsport’s economy is a rarity in our nation!  Last month, the Wall Street Journal published an article of the “Ten Housing Markets Where Prices Rose In a Recession”.    Pay special attention to page 2 where Williamsport was #3!  We are recession proof!  A housing bubble has just begun and will continue for another 30 years or more.  Now is the time to invest in real estate!  Contact me to discuss your options!

Failure to Sell

As I mentioned in another blog, the Williamsport market is VERY good! Although, homes are generally selling fast, there still are many that linger on the market. The average days on market for our area is about 4 1/2 months. If you are having problems selling your home, there is something wrong!  Often times it is the condition of a property.  You want your home to be something that a buyer aspires to live in when they walk in the door.  Consequently, I help my listings by providing a free home staging consultation and lots of hands on advice  (additional staging services available at cost).   I strive to help my clients sell their homes fast and for top dollar.

Wow, has Williamsport ever changed in the last 2 years since we started the gas boom! This is just the beginning! We are expecting that it will go on for another 20-30 years or more.

At the current time, finding a rental is the biggest housing problem. To make your search easier, I have been compiling a list on a daily basis of all rentals from these sources: The Sun Gazette, Webb Weekly, The Shopper, Craig’s List, and our MLS system. Everything is at one place! Check my web site daily–it is located at the bottom of the “Search Rentals” page.

Let me know if this is helpful!

Clean, Neat, & Updated

Inventory is very low in the Williamsport area currently.  Look at the pictures on the MLS, and you will find that the homes on the market long term are over priced, in poor condition, or in a bad neighborhood.  Houses in good condition are going VERY fast–sometimes within a few days.  I have even seen properties in questionable neighborhoods sell in a week IF they are well cared for homes.  So if you are trying to sell your home, think “Clean, Neat, & Updated.”  It really isn’t hard–Just make sure everything sparkles, get rid of the clutter, and spend a few bucks on the old, worn, and outdated aspects of your home.  Let me know, and I can help you with this.

Here is a great article from the National Association of Realtors on What Buyers Want.

Read about mortgage rates declining below 5% this week.  It’s a good time to buy!

Attention All Buyers:  Check out the new mortgage calculator that I have installed on my web site!  Let me know your thoughts!

1. They don’t shop around for mortgages and miss out on a good deal.

2. They take too long to make a decision  and someone else buys the home.

3. They don’t find the right agent who’s dedicated to help them through the difficult process.

4. They don’t understand the need to make a strong offer.

5. They don’t think about resale .  An average buyer only stays in their 1st home for 4 years.

Source: Real Estate Checklists and Systems, www.realestatechecklists.com.

New & Improved! $249,900

112 Chiswick Road, Williamsport

Sunday, February 27

Wall paper is gone!  Freshly painted kitchen and family room! Stately home with 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2 car garage in West Hills development.  Slate foyer, wainscoting, 1st floor laundry, fireplace, and more await you.  Come see the home of your dreams!  For more information.

What do you think of the place?

Home Staging Introduction

We all know that spring is a big time to buy/sell a home.  If you are planning to sell, now is the time to start getting your home ready for the market.  There are 3 phases of staging that you should focus your efforts on:

1. Maximize what you have, so it appeals to buyers
2. Purchase investments for your home
3. Do simple yet dramatic cosmetic changes

I will be describing these phases over the next 3 weeks along with free and inexpensive staging tips.

In the meantime, know that a house ready for the market can see up to a 343% return on investment.  It will sell faster than a non-staged house, and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune.  So, why not stage?

Feeling overwhelmed on where to start or where to invest your money in staging.  I can do a complimentary Redesign-to-Sell consult for you.  I am just a call, email, or text away!

Additional links:

Redesign-to-Sell

Staging Facts

Finishing Touches