The Keller Williams Team

When I was first researching the Utah real estate field and deciding what brokerage to join, I spent a lot of time researching different opportunities. At the end of the day (well actually it was more like months), I made the decision to join the Keller Williams team.

Sure, there are lots of other reputable brokerages looking for agents, but none of them appealed to me like Keller Williams. I valued the unique culture of Keller-Williams, it is very family-oriented, supportive, and provides opportunities that other brokerages don’t. At Keller Williams we really are a team, working together to ensure the greatest outcome for our clients.

And it doesn’t stop there, we work together to support one another as well. I mentioned yesterday that we were able to raise over a thousand dollars at our summer party for KW Cares. I realize that a lot of you may not be familiar with the program so I thought I would share a little bit about the mission of KW Cares.

KW Cares

KW Cares is the philanthropic division of Keller Williams.  KW cares was established in 2003 and raises money through all Keller Williams offices across North America and has established a fund to provide emergency financial assistance to any member of the KW family in need and to other organizations and charities that support the mission and values of the Keller Williams team.

For example, when the devastating tornado tore through Joplin, MO, KW Cares was quick to contact over the 100 KW agents who was living in that area. Then KW offices across the country raised money to support these agents as they struggled to rebuild their lives.

I don’t know, it’s just nice to know that if something were to happen to me and my family that my KW family would be there to support us and get us through the tragedy.

And that is just one of the many reasons I decided to join the Keller Williams team. If you are considering a career in real estate, I can assure you…there is no better team to join. Contact us today if you want to hear more about the opportunity that awaits you in becoming  a KW agent.

Client Appreciation Party

As you know, our business is built by your referrals and our 2011 End of Summer Party is just one small way to show our gratitude to our clients and friends.   What we love most about being in Real Estate is that it is a  personal business where we have the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people on a daily basis. We truly appreciate all of our clients that make our personal lives and business lives so fulfilling.

So come and join us for a party and send the summer out in style!

We’ve rented a huge venue that has tons of fun things to do for all ages – Including a full size castle! We will be serving hot dogs, chips and drinks. We will also have cotton candy, snow cons, popcorn and there will be plenty to keep you busy with volley ball nets set up, balloon animals, and face painting !

Come see us tomorrow (Saturday the 24th)

11:00AM-2:00PM

110 South Main Street

Lindon 84043

This is a casual event so feel free to drop in for a few minutes or to stay the whole time. We would love to see you and get a chance to thank you personally for all that you’ve done to help make us Utah’s best real estate team!

Hope to see you there!

Fall

Can you feel it? There is a chill in the air! It is hard to believe that summer is fading fast. Two weeks ago we were splashing around at 7 Peaks and now I am wearing my hoodie out on my morning jog. Summer seemed extremely short this year, with all of the rain in June. We hope you had a fantastic summer and enjoyed every moment. And while hopefully we still have a few weeks of spectacular late summer weather it is time to start thinking about preparing your home for fall and winter.

When the temperatures drop our homes begin to require extra maintenance to keep everything running smoothly through winter. These simple winterizing tips will help you keep your utility bills lower throughout winter and protect your Utah real estate for our harsh winter weather.

• Furnace Tune-Up: For as little as about $100 a trained technician will come and inspect your furnace and heat pump to ensure that your system is in good repair. The inspector will also investigate carbon monoxide leakage.
• Purchase a programmable thermostat. According to ENERGY STAR you can stave about $180 annually on heating and cooling bills if you keep your thermostat set no higher than 70 dgs when you are at home and awake and no more than 62 dgs when you’re away or asleep. An initial investment in a programmable thermostat is about $50-$100 but you will save more than that in your first year of use.
• Check Out Your Roof.  Check for damaged, loose or missing shingles that could leak during a winter storm or when snow melts.  Hiring a roofer or handyman to repair a few shingles now will save a lot of money and heartache if a missing shingle causes a leak in your house.
• Caulk. Caulk around your windows and doors. Check window glazing putty as well (the stuff that seals glass into your window frame). Seal cracks around exposed entry points and pips. Use weather striping around your doors to prevent cold air from entering your home. If your home has a basement you can also consider covering your window wells with plastic shields.
• Service Weather-Specific Equipment. Drain gas from your lawnmower, tune up your snow blower. Replace worn rakes and snow shovels. Clean, dry and store your summer gardening equipment. Buy ice melt / sand. You’ll be glad you are prepared when the first snow storm slams us and you don’t have to dig around looking for your winter equipment.
• Clean your gutters! Leaves and debris can cause water to back up and damage your roof. Also make sure that your gutter does not deposit water directly at the foundation, you can get tubing or gutter extensions to direct the water further away from the foundation of your home.
• Turn off exterior faucets. If water freezes in your pipes, it will expand and can burst. Disconnect your garden hoses and rain the water still in faucets. Be sure to turn off the shut-off valve inside your home.

An Impending Housing Shortage

As we were considering selling our home in Texas in 2007 there were dozens of homes for sale in our neighborhood. Some were foreclosures, some still had residents who were eager to find a buyer, but most sat vacant. The neighborhood next to ours was still in the building phase and houses sat unoccupied waiting for owners for months. It seemed there was definitely a surplus of homes available.

Some real estate researches are predicting that there will actually be a shortage of new homes in many real estate markets starting in the next few years. During the recession builders have cut back production of new homes and have stopped developing new land projects for building as rapidly as they were several years ago. Add to this that securing the financing for new developments has been more stringent and difficult to obtain.

As the economy recovers over time home buyers will return to the market, and the reduced inventory of new homes could create a shortage as builders struggle to keep up with the rising demand for new homes.

This could mean several things for the Utah real estate market. First it could lead to tighter markets. Though home prices are low right now, a limited supply can quickly drive prices up and tighten the Utah real estate market.  If you live in a non-distressed real estate market, construction will respond to the demand for new homes more quickly than in distressed markets that are saturated with foreclosures and short sales.

How soon could this new home shortage happen? We don’t know. But certainly as the economy recovers home prices will increase as well, as will interest rates. These are all just things to keep in mind as you consider whether or not now is a good time to purchase a home. Prices are incredibly low  and mortgage rates are at 60 year lows. We would love to talk with you and discuss the pros and cons of buying in today’s real estate market.

Buying a Distressed Home

With so many short sales, foreclosures, and REOs available in the Utah real estate market, it is hard to imagine that anyone would not want to take advantage of these great properties. After all purchasing a distressed property can offer the buyer substantial savings (an average of 28% savings last year). The truth is that there are lots of advantages to buying a distressed home, but there are also lots of potential pitfalls.

For starters, it isn’t just potential home buyers that are out looking for properties at a discount. Investors flock to distressed properties, and the more competition there is for a property the higher the price can go, so you may not get as much of a bargain as you were hoping for.

Secondly, the transaction process for buying a short sale or a foreclosure often takes significantly longer than a traditional transaction. The negotiation of a short sale can take months and it is riddled with uncertainty. The banks will continue to market and accept offers on a home after you have submitted your offer. It definitely can be a roller coaster!

Some foreclosed properties are in rough condition. Homes were meant to be lived in and as such there are problems that crop up if a home has sat idle for a long time with little maintenance. Not to mention that some home owners aren’t all that thrilled to find out that they are getting foreclosed upon and will stop maintaining the property and even deliberately damage the property.

But, there is a bright side! The market is full of distressed properties and lots of them are well maintained and cared for homes. The economy has forced lots of people to walk away from their homes who generally wouldn’t be in that situation.

Another bright side is that when you are purchasing a distressed property you are likely going to be working with a highly motivated seller. Whether it is the bank in the case of a foreclosure, or in a short sale, with sellers who are in financial trouble and anxious to get out of a mortgage they can no longer afford. No matter what type of distressed property you are interested in purchasing, you can bet that the seller wants to get the property sold!

It is vital to work with an experienced and well trained real estate professional when you consider purchasing a distressed property. We can help you determine if this type of purchase is the right choice for you and your family. We can help you navigate and overstep the common pitfalls in these types of purchases. We will be there throughout the entire purchase to make the process as stress free as possible. We look forward to working with you!