Your Fort Worth Home-Selling It Quick!!!

Fort Worth homes are fairing much better than the national average in length of time to sell and the prices that sellers are receiving.  In general homes that are in great single family neighborhoods are fairing very well when the sellers are realistic and have owned their homes for several years.

Condominiums, while still selling, have a lot of competition and the sellers who have successfully sold this year have been the sellers who have drastically reduced their asking prices to attract buyers who might otherwise be only looking at foreclosure condos.  There is an over-supply of condos and many are brand new...with developers who are willing to "deal" on the pricing to keep their project viable in this market.

No matter if your home is a condo or a single family residence, it is imperative that you have the home in as pristine condition as possible.  Examples of a home being "staged" to sell would be that it has a great drive-up appeal, i.e. The yard will be landscaped and neatly mowed, trimmed etc. The front door will be a color or have a feature that will draw the eye to the entrance. The more bland the exterior color, the more eye-popping the accent needs to be.  This can be done with a door decoration or with potted plants near the entrance.

A home with great drive up appeal will automatically attract "lookers" who may be potential buyers.  It is ok to test your exterior for a while before doing these updates, but if you are not getting showings....the time to act is soon! 

The same is true for the interior of your home.  The interior photos, which are necessary in today's market, must be clear and bright.  The rooms must show as uncluttered and neatly organized.  Again, if you, as a seller will compare the photos of your home with your competition, often you will be able to tell if you have a cluttered look, or if you need to make some changes.  Generally, the homes that you like, are also the types of homes that others will like too.  If you are guilty of thinking that you will wait and see what happens before you clean out and clear the clutter...........Just listen to Nike...."just do it"!  You will reap the rewards much faster.

DiAnne us available to visit by phone or inperson to discuss selling your home in the Fort Worth area anytime. If you are worried about your mortgage and fearing foreclosure, there are solutions.

A 3day Immersion in Keller Williams Rea Estate Practices

The past 3 days of 10000 real estate agents in Austin at Keller Williams MegaAgent Camp were exciting,fun, exhausting, and full of great information to help agents be the best that they can be! We began at 7:30 each morning and we had great energizing music to rev us up for the first session.

I will be posting several ideas in the next 5 blogs and whether or not you have a real estate career, you will gain some great ideas. Look for the next post tomorrow.

Fort Worth Real Estate Outlook.....Do you know???????????

Did you know that the real estate outlook here in the Fort Worth area which includes Tarrant Cty, Bedford, Hurst, North Richland Hills, Keller, Haslet, Colleyville, Saginaw, Southlake, Arlington, Mansfield, Grapevine, Euless, Eagle Mountain Lake, Aledo, ....and many other small communities..........

is ACTUALLY pretty good! 

After attending a Fall real estate forecast meeting on Wednesday, I felt like things are darn good here in our area....which reminds me that our Greater Fort Worth Board of Realtors adopted the saying;
"Thank God it's Fort Worth!".......and that has proven true.

Now...with that beginning, here is the situation.  While many states were increasing their values by 40 to 100 per cent annually.........Fort Worth and our "neck of the woods" was just clipping along at a snails pace.........never gaining too much, but also not falling too much....As as you may know by now, even within a city or county, there are places that do better than others....due to location, quaility, size of the properties, the schools, etc.

Yes, we have had a lot of foreclosures..........and again those have been more concentrated in specific areas.............and those areas were and are hit with lower valids...because a foreclosure does have an effect on the house next door and the area's comparables.

This new listing that I began marketing on Monday, Sept. 12 is a great family home. The area has has a few foreclosures and the values have been effected somewhat, but on this street...Long Rifle, there have been very few, and the homes are well maintained and there is a park at the end of the street.

With great schools nearby, this seller should have a successful sale in a short time.

The biggest thing to remember is to talk with a knowledgeable agent and discuss the outcome that you want.  Perhaps your home will bring a price that you want, or perhaps you will be able to get a really good buy on where you are moving.  There is more to real estate than the price!

Please call me to discuss your specific questions and any concerns that you may have about buying or selling in Tarrant County.

Fort Worth Real Estate: How's the market?.....Pay attention.

Everyday I visit with people in shops, having coffee, getting my hair done, or at actual buyer and seller appoinments and there is one major question that they have.  "What is the real estate market doing in our area?"

That question cannot be answered with a few words or a simple word. It requires discussion about the particular area that they are interested in knowing about.  More than even a general area, it requires discussing the description of the homes in an area and sometimes even more details to really know how to approach answering their question.

With 20% of our national economy in real estate, this is an important topic.  This question gets very personal and very local with each person.  In other words, it is not a "global" question.....it is a "local" down to the specifics of "my own neighborhood and my own home".  What is more important than your home to you....only one thing...your family....right?

Just yesterday I met with a lovely couple who are listing their home with me and also purchasing another one locally.  I have already supplied them with information about the market for their home and also information about the area where they want to purchase.  They asked a very good question:
"Why is the price per sq. ft. for the homes where we want to buy so much higher than the price per sq. foot of our home that we are selling?"  Great question.....and it illustrates exactly my point.


Homes are differenct depending on the age, area, size, neighborhood, and design................this home to the right, which is a newer home, would not be a good comparison to the older Vintage home below.

The homes they are considering to purchase are in an area with a little acerage, they construction is much higher quality, and there have been very few, if any foreclosures in that area.  The home they are selling is a nice starter home in a great neighborhood on a small lot, and with homes that are more the "tract home types" that first time owners are normally interested in buying.  While both where they are selling and where they want to buy are great areas...........they are just different.  Just like a 10 year old car in great condition, but still not a newer, more plush model.

This point is easily shown when I shar a market analysis with my clients.  I hope this is good information for you as well.  My next blog will talk about appraisals in our area.  I hope you will check back and sign up to be a follower.

END OF SUMMER AND THE REAL ESTATE IS BLAZING!

Here in Fort Worth at my Keller Williams office, we are all amazed at the calls that we are getting this week!  People who just noticed a new listing in Fort Worth, or folks who want to lease a home near a certain school.  ....Just as sure as the school calendar, when the tides turn to the beginning of school, people decide they need to move.........to or from the area!

Coincidentally, the end of Summer marks the time when motivated Sellers will be sure to consider a negotiated sales price, rather than the prospect of still having their home on the market in November!

My advise to BUYERS:  Get busy..........look, and make offers.  Your agent should be advising you on market values that are current.  Those values are your map to an offer.  MY advise to SELLERS:  Encourage your showings.  Don't be picky about the time notice of your appointment.........remember, unless they see it, they are not going to buy it!  When an offer comes in expect it to be low..........BUT just negotiate.  It is not a price or a deal until everyone has agreed.    If you do not have an offer within 10 showings, you need to step back and revisit the price of your home!  What is your exterior saying about your home........check the front door.  When you open the door, does it look inviting......lights on, ....as in the stage.....lights, camera, action!

We want the action on your home to result in an offer.  So get busy, and get aggressive about your home and what it says to your potential buyer!

Remember if you have real estate questions for Fort Worth, Texas area (Keller, Colleyville, Southlake etc.)
give me a call..........I want to help!

Why Fort Worth is a Great Place to Call Home!

Ok, I may be partial to wide open spaces and clean air, and the fact that within 45 miles there is the "best of the best" in anything that you want! Take into consideration that Fort Worth has these things to just love:

Some of the best Museums in the country

(Kimbell, Amon Carter,the Modern, and more)

One of the best concert venues (Bass Hall) nightly

The Botanic Gardens which is fabulous year round

A great Symphony, Ballet,Opera etc.

Neiman Marcus...and most other big stores

All of the smaller, national chain decor stores, etc.

Sundance Square (downtown) with activities daily

Fort Worth Camera Club which is one of the best in the nation

Good Schools, both public and private

Large Lakes nearby, Eagle Mt. Lake, Lake Grapevine, Lake Joe Pool and more

Granbury 30 miles away with quaint shopping and a large lake

Affordable housing which is much lower than the national average

The nicest people you will ever meet!

Low Crime rate

Billy Bob's Texas.......nationally known music and entertainment venue

20 min. from DFW International Airport

30 miles from Dallas...for anything that you might "think" you need

Short commute times for most areas

and the list goes on and on.

If you live in Fort Worth and want to add to this list...just add your comments.

I sell real estate and it is a pleasure to drive Tarrant County on a weekly basis and see the positives that we have to offer.........it is one the the Top places to Live in our great Nation.........Move here, and help us keep it that way.

Etsy Selling...Team Fort Worth and Me

I am so excited to go meet up with the Team Fort Worth group of our local Etsy seller's/designers this week. I am interested in seeing the ladies who are all so talented in different ways.

Now...as a new Etsy seller, I really still do not have the "hang" of it. Although I am so happy when I see that I sold something, I still don't know how I was found, and how one gets "found" consistently.

Last Friday, I listed several items and when I got ready to look at my site and see how it all looked, I couldn't find one of the listings. Then I looked at the sold area...there it WAS! It had sold in 3 seconds! I was so amazed!..not to mention happy! I felt successful and that my work was appreciated....I was just sure another item would sell immediately....and I am still waiting!

Well that's ok. I will discover the magic method soon. I just know I will.

BPO ORDERS...

"BPO" STANDS for Broker Price Opinion and I have done these for various relocation companies and lenders for years....Never thought that my expertise in this would be so needed. I was just contacted by a BPO company in Arizona and did one for them that day. I actually enjoy doing them because my mind works in stats easily.

For the "home owner" who is in trouble and needing help by way of a Short Sale, this is one of the first things that your lender will order. It may be done by a knowledgeable agent or an appraiser...they will want to see what the current market value of your home is.

When I am doing Short Sales, when I am notified that the lender has ordered this, I am relatively sure that we are going to get approval...

If you need Short Sale information...or a BPO....I will be happy to help you.

dianne@diannearnette.com

Tarrant County and What is Happening in Real Estate

Calling all buyers! This is the time to be a first time buyer. The announcement came yesterday that first time buyers can use the $8K in tax rebate for their closing costs, but not their 3.5% downpayment on FHA loans. This is huge! The issues that I have seen in first time buyers is that they could qualify for the loan, but did not have closing costs........Well now there is a different source! Take advantage of this........IT WILL NOT LAST FOREVER!

The house to the left is an example of a great house for a first time buyer.It is in the 76137 zip code and is NOT A FORECLOSURE. Therefore, it is move in ready and very cute!

---------------ON A DIFFERENT SUBJECT: What is you are having trouble making your mtg. payments? Have you missed some? How many? ETc. I can help any seller if they call soon and avoid their foreclosure. I have had good success with Short Sale transactions and this is a good solution. You will be selling your home and not having a bad credit ding on your record for years to come. CALL TODAY IF THIS WOULD HELP SOLVE YOUR PROBLEMS.

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www.diannearnette.com

dianne@diannearnette.com

And...my hobby: www.wantzit.blogspot.com