Will a bigger or smaller abode appreciate most in a few years?
Small is so big right now!

You may dream of walk-in closets, a roomy master bedroom, and a three-car garage, but bigger isn't always better. Turns out the smallest homes actually appreciate the fastest: Homes of less than 1,200 square feet have appreciated at 7.5% a year for the past five years. Meanwhile, homes larger than 2,400 square feet only inched up 3.8% a year.

The demand for smaller homes is driven by the two largest and most influential groups of buyers: millennials and baby boomers. Millennials are entering the market hungry for more affordable starter homes, and boomers are seeking to downsize.

Yet the supply of smaller homes is limited—housing developers still prefer to focus on the high-end market, so they can get more bang for their buck. Furthermore, those who own smaller abodes aren't trading up quickly enough to meet market demand.  Because the market [for smaller homes] is tighter, prices tend to increase more quickly.

Inventory is still low!  The colder weather appears to be holding back the spring market. Yet, there are qualified buyers still lined up to buy.  Nice homes that are priced right are selling in a matter of seconds with multiple offers.
 
For buyers, rates have gone up overall this year and are now holding around 4.25 to 4.5.

• The average 30-year fixed-mortgage rate is 4.27 percent. A month ago, the average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage was higher, at 4.30 percent.
• The average 15-year fixed-mortgage rate is 3.69 percent.

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So, if you are a buyer, now is a great time to buy, while interest rates are still low!  Just a small increase in the rate can mean a higher mortgage payment.  Why not save that money, or better yet, use it and pay a little more money each month towards the principal of the loan and get it paid off early!
 
If you are thinking about selling, our next home selling seminar will be on May 17, at the Lower Southampton Library at 6:30.  

​I have a lot of clients ask me,  "Should I invest in Central air, will it increase my home value?"  And my answer is YES!  Most buyers today search exclusively for homes with central air.   When I sit down to do a needs analysis consultation with a buyer, 9 times out of 10 they put in their search criteria - Central air.  So, if your home doesn't have central air, you maybe losing a large pool of buyers.  

If your home doesn’t have central air, it won’t even come up in many buyer’s searches.  We talk at our home selling seminars about creating demand to net the most for the home. To create demand for the home you have to get the most buyers interested as possible.  So adding central air will increase demand for your home which will in turn increase your sales price! 

So it is well worth it!  If you are interested in selling in the future and want to net the most, come out to our next educational home selling seminar - 5/17/18 at the Lower Southampton Library in Feasterville at 6:30pm

If you have a topic you would like us to cover, let us know. 

One of your best return on investments with your home is your curb appeal.   Your front door enhances your curb appeal.
 
After all, the front door is one of the very first features that every potential buyer sees. Interestingly, not all door colors fare equally well when it comes to fetching a good price. Zillow found in their 2017 Paint Color Analysis that on average, doors painted in shades of blue or gray -- ranging from navy to pearl -- sold for $1,514 more than other color choices. 
 
Then there is always advice from Feng Shui
Feng shui says that each direction is associated with an element, which will guide you in selecting the best paint shade.
 
North’s element is water, making a blue or black door ideal. South is associated with fire, which is nourished by red, pink, purple, and orange hues. East's is wood, suggesting greens and browns. A westward-facing entrance has metal as its element and white and gray as recommended door colors.
 
If you live in a condo community or within a homeowners association don’t forget to check your regulations!

When it comes to creating outdoor use-able space, there are so many different options out there, but for a majority of homeowners, it always comes down deciding between either a deck or a patio.   So which is the right choice for you and your home? Here are my top deciding factors for each:

Decks
• According to the Gallop Organization a good deck can increase a home’s perceived value by up to 10 percent by increasing the available living space.
• When it comes to costs, decks will always be the less expensive option.
•Installation is also a big benefit for choosing a deck. The way a deck is built allows you more creativity in location. The actual structure is built above the ground. This means that tree roots, wet ground, even big slopes can be easily overcome without adding significant expenses.
• Traditionally, the lifespan of a wood structure is about seven-eight years if its not cared for. This average is getting longer with more options coming into the market like composites and all-weather stains.

Patios
• Patios reign supreme when it comes to home Return-On-Investment (ROI) with a perceived increased value of up to 12 percent according to Gallop.
• While patios may be a large initial investment, a well-built patio can exceed 25 years with no maintenance, holding its value for the entire time.
• Originally, patios were limited to flat surfaces, but with new retaining walls and multi-level systems, patios can now tackle almost any front or backyard situation.
• Visually, patios offer one design element that makes them very desirable. Patios can be built flush to the ground. If you have basement windows, you get to keep natural light that could be lost with other structures.

At the end of the day, both of these selections have fantastic merits. When faced with making a choice, homeowners need to understand that creating use-able space outdoors is by far one of the smartest renovating decisions they can make.
Way the pros and cons of each option, but feel confident that investing in the outdoors is not only good for your family, its good for your largest asset; your home.

Have a topic you would like to learn more about? Let us know.  

Coming Soon!...April 2, 2018!  To learn more about this home or to schedule a tour in advance, please call 215-757-7257 or email us at: TheSwainTeam@gmail.com.

​Tucked away in lovely Bensalem Village, you are going to love this well maintained townhome! The first floor boasts a laundry room with storage, powder room, eat in kitchen, living room and dining room. Exit onto a large deck through the newer sliding glass door with blinds between the glass. The home is ideally located with no homes in the rear. Sit and relax as you enjoy your morning coffee on the deck. Upstairs hosts the spacious master bedroom with it's master bathroom is a great place to escape at the end of the day. The master bathroom is sure to please with granite, ceramic tile floor, newer cabinetry, shower with framless glass door, subway tile and more!  The second floor also features two additional bedrooms and a hall bath. The third floor offers additional living space or a bedroom.  The finished basement is another living space area that also comes with additional storage. In addition to all of the homes features, enjoy all that Bensalem Village has to offer with it's pool, clubhouse, playground, basketball court, tennis courts and so much more. Easy commute to all major thoroughfares, shopping, and restaurants. There's something for everyone. Come enjoy both the benefits of home ownership, and the maintenance free lifestyle this home offers! 

​Coming Soon!...April 2!

The market everyone waits for is here!  The Spring Market!  Our inventory is still low.  We have more buyers than we have homes for sale.  So, if you’re a seller, it is a great time to sell and capitalize on the market before rates go up further.  If you’re a buyer, act soon because we have seen rates rise.  
 
If you are a buyer, educate yourself because there are several ways you can lose money when you buy a home even though you don’t pay the commission.
 
Hire a Buyer's Agent who represents YOU and works for YOU.
Your home is most likely your largest asset. So, you need to choose an experienced expert realtor, one who is aggressive and will fight to get you the best price possible.  There are so many inexperienced agents out there, you need to do your homework and find an agent who works exclusively with only a few buyers at a time. 

When you hire a Buyer Representative they will sit down with you and review your needs, explain the process and how you will work together as a team.  You need to trust your Realtor because they can ensure you are getting the best mortgage and rate!  Having someone look over your mortgage options can save you thousands!   A buyer's agent educates you and walks you through each step so you understand what is coming next; therefore, alleviating some of the stress associated with purchasing a home.  The bottom line is that a professional, experienced Realtor always has your best interests in mind because their business is built on recommendations from other clients.
 
If you are in the market to purchase, contact The Swain Team for a free buyer consultation where we explain the process and give you advice based upon your needs.   
 
If you’re a seller, we have three home selling seminars coming up.  So if you want to learn how to Net the Most when you sell, come out and learn how.  
 
See you next month!

There are several ways buyers can lose money when they buy a home even though they don’t pay the commission.
 
1. They don’t educate themselves to the process
2.  They don’t explore their mortgage options
3.  They don’t hire proper representation
 
Buyer Representation when buying a home is key!  As you have heard me say,  Your home is most likely your largest asset. So you need to chose an experienced expert realtor, one who is aggressive and will fight to get you the best price possible.  There are so many inexperienced agents out there, you need to do your homework and find an agent who works exclusively with only a few buyers at a time.  You want a realtor that will devote time to you and represent your needs.  Many realtors will run all over showings homes to anyone who calls.  They are only interested in making a sale, not in educating you, the buyer, on what is in your best interest.

When you hire a Buyer Representative they will sit down with you and review your needs, explain the process and how you will work together.  Then they will send you homes for sale that meet your criteria.  They will be on the look out constantly for something that fits your needs.  When you are represented there is someone to show you a home as soon as it comes on the market so you don't miss out!  They are there to answer your calls.  A buyer's agent is organized and walks you through each step so you understand what is coming next; therefore, alleviating some of the stress associated with purchasing a home.  The bottom line is that they are a professional, experienced Realtor who always has your best interests in mind because their business is built on recommendations from other clients.
 
If you are in the market to purchase, contact The Swain Team for a free buyer consultation where we explain the process and give you advice based upon your needs. 
 
 If you have a real estate topic that you would like to learn more about, please contact The Swain Team – we are happy to help!

There are several ways buyers can lose money when they buy a home even though they don’t pay the commission.
 
1. They don’t educate themselves to the process
2.  They don’t explore their mortgage options
3.  They don’t hire proper representation
 
Knowing your mortgage options is essential.  There are many different programs out there and different lenders offer different programs.  Hiring an expert Realtor who is knowledgeable about the various programs can save you money.  An expert realtor is going to have contacts with reputable loan officers who are there to help you.  The costs associated with the different types of mortgages varies. There are two basic types of mortgages FHA & Conventional.   

FHA: This is a government-backed program that requires a 3.5% down payment. FHA loans are best for borrowers who have lower credit than it takes to qualify for a conventional loan. Still, those with higher credit might choose it for other reasons. 

Conventional: This is an “open market” loan type. In other words, the loan is not directly backed by the government. Instead, investors on the open market buy investment instruments containing conventional loans. Since free market investors want low-risk investments, conventional loans are geared for lower risk – i.e. higher credit – borrowers.

Thinking about purchasing a home and want to explore your loan options?  Contact The Swain Team, we would be happy to sit down with you and help connect you with the loan program that is right for you.

If you have a real estate topic that you would like to learn more about, please contact The Swain Team – we are happy to help!