This is Christina Swain with The Swain Team of Keller Williams.  Our local housing inventory is scarce.  We did not see many homes come on the market in January.  Often sellers want to wait till the spring to sell when really now is ideal.  Think about it…  If everyone is waiting for the spring to sell there will be more houses on the market then.  Sell now while there is no competition and before rates go up. 

We are starting to see homes values grow at a slower pace despite the low inventory.  Nationwide, home prices only increased by 4.7 percent year-over-year and 0.1 percent month-over-month in December, a stark drop from the yearly average of 5.8 percent and a signal that a buyer’s market may be approaching.
In 2019 Core Logic is projecting home values to rise only 3.4%. A main factor most likely driving the decrease and the change in the market is the fact that mortgage rates have been on the rise and are around 5%.

If you are thinking about selling in the future come out to one of our upcoming educational Home Selling Seminars where we teach you how to new the most for your home.  Remember there is no cost or obligation.  Attendees always rave about how informative the seminar is.  Even if they are 5 years away from selling. 
Until next month I am Christina Swain with The Swain Team of Keller Williams

​Often we go out to a client’s home for a home salability assessment, which is where a client who is preparing the home for sale in advance and they have a broken window seal.  Broken seals result in a build up of condensation between panes, creating a dirty or foggy appearance on the window.
 
A common misconception among homeowners is that they have to replace the whole window.  That is FALSE.  
As a service to our clients The Swain Team can recommend reasonable and reliable contractors that can fix a broken seal at an affordable cost. 
Remember, we also offer Home Salability Assessments for those thinking about moving in the future who want to plan to net the most.
If you have an idea for a video, let us know.  This is Christina Swain with The Swain Team of Keller Williams.

The New Year is here!  The housing market is hot right now.  What we saw was all the motivated buyers purchase what little inventory there was at the end of November into December, leaving the homes that are priced above the market. So inventory is now drastically low, and we haven’t seen any homes come on the market.  So if you are thinking about selling, now is an ideal time.  Many sellers want to wait till the spring market, why wait?  If everyone is waiting till spring to sell then there will be more competition.  Right?  Sell now when you have little to no competition and the buyers are out looking.  This will net you more money!
Also, we start hosting our Free educational Home Selling Seminars  this month at various locations .  Remember there is no cost or obligation.  So if you’re thinking about selling now or in the future come out to one of our upcoming Home Selling Seminars where we teach you how to plan to net the most money when you sell your home.
Stay tuned into our Home and Garden Facebook- HGFB page!  If you love HGTV, then you will love this page!  We have began another "Diary of a Flip" progression at a home in Bensalem!  We also share tips on home and garden decor, what looks are best for selling, as well as informational videos on decorating and home improvement projects that offer the best return on investment.  Visit our page here: HGFB Home Decor Tips
 The Swain Team Facebook page has homes that are Coming Soon! to the market as well as other interesting Real Estate news!

The holidays are here.  But that doesn’t mean the real estate market has slowed down. We still have low inventory.  Despite what most people believe, The housing market doesn’t come to a standstill during the holidays.  Buyers shopping for homes during this time are more motivated.  When a home is priced in line with the market it is getting a good number of showings.  So if you thinking about putting your home on the market, now is a still a good time.
So the question remains do you decorate while your home is on the market?
Decorating your house will allow you and your family to celebrate the season while also offering any potential buyers a festive experience, and helping them to envision how the home will look dressed up for any occasion.  Many experts feel “Houses show better when decorated for the holidays.”
When decorating remember to:

• Stick to neutral colors and decorations that complement your current décor
• Keep it simple – decorations could give your home a cluttered appearance, and pose as safety or tripping hazards
• Avoid decorations that block or hide important features of your home

If you are thinking of selling your home now or in a few years, come on out to one of our Spring Home Selling Seminars!  Check out our website here for Dates & times.

 The Swain Team Facebook page has homes that are Coming Soon! to the market as well as other interesting Real Estate news!

1. People who look for a home during the holidays are more serious Buyers!

2. Serious Buyers have fewer houses to choose from during the holidays, and less competition means more money for you!

3. Since the supply of listings will dramatically increase in January, there will be less demand for your particular home! Less demand means less money for you!

4. Houses show better when decorated for the holidays!

5. Buyers have more time to look for a home during the holidays than they do during the work week!

6. Some people must buy before the end of the year for tax reasons! 

​7. You can still be on the market, but you have the option to restrict showings during the six or seven days during the holidays!

​We are starting to see a the market quiet down do to the holidays.  Yet, inventory is still low and there are buyers still looking!   The market is different in each municipality and in each price range.  Of course starter homes are the hottest along with 55+ housing right now.  With all this being said there is another shift happening.  Sellers who want to price above the market, even as little as $10,000 above the market are hurting themselves.  You want to price the home within 3% of the market to generate the correct demand and offers!  Buyers aren’t looking at homes priced above the market.  You may get a few initial showings, then activity dies off quickly.  Make your market adjustment quickly before the home sits on the market and you end up accepting less simply because the home sat.  Buyers know the market well because they have been online looks at homes often 2-5 months before they start physically looking at homes. 
If you are thinking about buying, interest rates are starting to creep up.  Now is a great time.  Make sure you hire an agent that works for you.  Expert agents are three to consult with you every step pf the way.  An agent’s job goes beyond showing houses.  Your agent should be analyzing y our mortgage costs as well. We just saved a buyer $8000 in closing costs.  Yes you heard me right $8000 in closing costs.  So make sure you are protected when you purchase with an experienced, expert Realtor. 
If you are thinking about buying or selling, Christina would be happy to sit down with you for a free consultation.

​Looking for a completely remodeled home with character and charm in Neshaminy School District? Look no further! Walk up the hardscaped paver walkway and take notice of the lush landscaping and curb appeal. Step inside the home to the foyer and you will see architectural curves and angles, high ceilings, built in shelves and detailed mill work. Natural light floods the living room through the floor to ceiling windows highlighting the gleaming hardwood floors. Just imagine relaxing on a fall evening by the propane fireplace with a cup of tea. The hardwood floors extend into the dining room which is ideal for a holiday dinner. The remodeled kitchen features stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, beautiful cabinetry with automatic closing drawers, a pantry, and an island with storage and bar seating. Just off the kitchen is the laundry room and remodeled half bath with ceramic tile, pedestal sink. As you walk up the steps take notice to the custom railing. Laminate wood flooring extends throughout the upstairs hallway and bedrooms. The main bedroom offers a cozy window seat. The remodeled full bathroom is spacious offering a newer vanity, newer fixtures, and ceramic tile. Don't miss the walk-up attic or the unfinished walk out basement. The rear yard features a huge hardscaped patio ideal for entertaining. Just imagine yourself relaxing with a glass of wine as you look out at the beautiful landscaped garden or entertaining friends for a summer BBQ. The home also features a newer roof, newer upgraded electric (200amp), newer central air (2016), and newer heater. All this for just $2,571 in taxes a year!