Tag Archives: Real Estate acquisition

Potential Meth Lab Homes now complicate the buying process even more

Buying a home sometimes can be a roller coaster ride. You now have to watch out for meth labs when buying any home. Not only the production, but also casual smoking of tenants or seller will contaminate the house, Continue reading Potential Meth Lab Homes now complicate the buying process even more

Paying for your investment properties

Since the mortgage meltdown, it has become harder and harder for Real Estate investors to receive financing through a traditional lending company and many of them have to find additional means to finance their investment properties. Continue reading Paying for your investment properties

Settles Report for 9/1/2014 to 9/8/2014

Last week we did not publish the Settles Report. We questioned some of the reported numbers that where subsequently corrected, but too late for us to publish the report during that week.

Continue reading Settles Report for 9/1/2014 to 9/8/2014

New rules that go into effect January 21st 2015 that will affect FHA loans

lawSince the housing crash we have witnessed more and more rule and regulation changes that affect the way loans are written. Making changes and adjustments to current rules, and writing new rules, has not slowed and I don’t see them slowing down anytime soon. The new changes that will go into effect in 2015 will not affect your current FHA loan unless you refinance. Continue reading New rules that go into effect January 21st 2015 that will affect FHA loans

Settles Report for the week of 08/11/2014 – 08/18/2014

Every week we pull information for the Central Indiana real estate market and look at the last week’s market condition for central Indiana. To simplify the process we are pulling the information for three counties that are part of the Central Indiana real estate market.

Continue reading Settles Report for the week of 08/11/2014 – 08/18/2014

Marion County Indiana new rental proposals

gavelBe aware Proposal 195 which is being introduced to create a Marion County Indiana landlord registry. Landlords have to re-resister themselves on an annual basis as a landlord. The reason given for this registry is that many properties in disrepair and vacant are owned by investors. About 50% or more of them are owned by owner occupants who no longer can pay for their mortgage.

Continue reading Marion County Indiana new rental proposals

Why is my house not selling?

Have you ever driven though a neighborhood and noticed For Sale signs coming and going but there is that one house that has not sold and it is still sitting there waiting for a buyer?

I spoke to a friend of mine the other day who actually sold his home as a for-sale by-owner and he had his house sold within 4 days. His neighbor’s house has been on the market already for several months.

Most the time you hear agents speak about location, location, location.

Many times you cannot control the location of your home unless you are willing to pick it up and move it. With trending neighborhoods, a good location might turn into an undesirable location and an undesirable location may turn into the new hot spot. Location is one of those things you cannot control so focus on the things you can control.

cleaningWhat is under your control?

  • Cleanliness of the inside and outside
  • Yard maintenance
  • Property maintenance
  • Interior decoration

Have your ever gone to the grocery store with the intention of picking up only one item and discover when returning to your car you had many items, but not the one you wanted? Think of your home like that grocery store. It is up to you and you’re listing agent to spark the interest of a potential buyer to as many characteristics of your house as possible.

G&G Custom HomesIn a store, the end caps at the end of each isle have a specific purpose and your end cap is the exterior of your home. The purpose for the end cap, and your exterior of your house, is to entice the buyer to take a look inside. The stores use high profit items to lure you to the end cap and all of the sudden you are inside the isle and see other things you think you would like to have.

Each item in each isle is strategically placed on the shelves. Have you ever noticed the more reasonable priced items are on the bottom shelve and the more lucrative items are right at eye height? Your isle is the interior of the house. So let’s put the more “reasonable priced” items like personal pictures, trophies and additional clutter on the very bottom of the shelve (storage) and put the more buyer appealing items at eye height. And remember, sometimes less is more.

lightThe next time you go grocery shopping check out the lighting in the store. Have you ever noticed that the store has different types of lighting? Some areas have a more cool looking lighting and others have brighter lighting. Now translate this to your house you want to sell. The more inviting the lighting is in your house the more appealing it looks to the buyer.

Keep this in mind! Think of your home like that of a grocery store. It is up to you and you’re listing agent to entice the buyer to make them shop.

When you have any questions, or would like to have the Settles Team help you make your home look more appealing to a buyer, contact the Settles Team.