Mistie English, Realtor I Have the Power to Move You! CENTURY 21Pacesetters Real Estate

2012 Blackhorse Lane For Sale, Lexington KY Real Estate

2010-02-28T04:57:00.000-08:00

2012 Blackhorse Lane For Sale, Lexington KY Real Estate

2009-09-15T03:57:00.001-07:00

Setting the Price

2009-09-05T17:41:00.000-07:00

A key part of the marketing plan is setting the list price. If a home is priced too low, you won’t benefit from the optimal profit. If a home is priced too high, potential buyers may be scared away. To determine the best asking price review the cost of recently sold homes, evaluate the competition and study marketplace trends. As your CENTURY 21 Sales Associate I am trained to use this information to help you reach the right asking price. It is also helpful to discuss other terms and conditions, such as timing and items that can be included with the sale of the home. Both of these can make your home more attractive to potential buyers.

1) Location: You can't get away from this one. If your house is located in a desirable area that is in demand, you will be able to get a higher price than you can for the same house in a less desirable area.

2) Condition: A house that has been better maintained and shows better will always sell for more than one that has had deferred (neglected) maintenance and needs work.

3) Desirable amenities: If a house has amenities that are currently popular in the marketplace, it will bring a higher price.

4) Calculate the price per square foot: The average price per square foot for homes in your neighborhood shouldn't be the sole determinant of the asking price for your home, but it can be a useful starting point. Keep in mind that various methodologies can be used to calculate square footage.

You may want to call and get a formal written appraisal if your have a unique property, if there hasn't been much activity in your area recentley, or if there is any other circumstance that makes it difficult to put a value on your home.

Appraisers consider the location of the home, its proximity to desirable schools and other public facilities, the size of the lot, the size and condition of the home itself and recent sales prices of comparable properties, among other factors.

Create a Marketing Plan

2009-09-05T17:39:00.000-07:00

Selling can entail a variety of marketing strategies. Once listed, it's likely that the home will be quickly entered into the local MLS (Mulitple Listing Service) and placed on Century21.com. Much of an agent’s work will be quiet and unseen – yet important. The quiet telephone calls, the work with contacts, arranging for and marketing open houses, the follow-ups with open-house visitors, conversations with ad respondents, web postings and other outreach efforts are all part of the process required to sell homes.

I will create a marketing plan for your home that will help distinguish it in your local marketplace and attract buyers to your property. This may include posting your home on the Internet, holding an open house and more. As your CENTURY 21 Sales Professional I often use the CENTURY 21 Customized Marketing System to create a personalized selling program for my clients. My purpose is to sell your home at the best price possible in the shortest amount of time.

Upromise

2009-07-15T19:45:00.000-07:00

Upromise - I am proud to be a part of the Upromise program,the revolutionary service that is making it easier for families to save for college. Just join Upromise for free at upromise.com and request Mistie English at CENTURY 21 Pacesetters Office at the “Services” section of the Upromise web site. If you have any questions concerning the Upromise program please give me a call.

U.S. FHA to apply $8,000 credit to home buying costs

2009-05-31T19:15:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Housing Administration will allow the new $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit to be applied directly toward home purchase costs when using an FHA-insured mortgage, the Department of Housing and Urban Development said on Friday.

The plan to "monetize" the tax credit up-front is aimed at more quickly stabilizing the housing market, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan said in a statement.

But in detailed rules, the FHA will still require home buyers to provide a minimum 3.5 percent downpayment from other sources.

The $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers was created as a part of the Obama administration's $787 billion stimulus plan. Some private lenders already were allowing buyers to apply the credits directly toward purchase costs through special financing schemes.

With the FHA following in a similar vein, a significant portion of the first-time homebuyer market will have up-front access to the credits instead of waiting until tax returns are filed.

"What we're doing today will not only help these families to purchase their first home but will present an enormous benefit for communities struggling to deal with an oversupply of housing," Donovan said in a statement

FHA-insured loans, which largely have replaced the subprime mortgage market, now accounts for about 25 percent of new mortgages, senior HUD officials said, versus about 2 percent of the market two years ago. At this pace, the agency will insure some 2.2 million mortgages this year.

The National Association of Home Builders estimates that the $8,000 first-time homebuyer credit will stimulate 160,000 home sales across the United States -- 101,000 purchases from first-time buyers and another 59,000 purchases by existing homeowners who sold dwellings to first-time buyers.

(Reporting by David Lawder; Editing by Theodore d'Afflisio)

Looking for a New Career?

2009-05-01T19:15:00.000-07:00

CENTURY 21 Pacesetters

If you are an experienced sales associate or considering a real estate career, CENTURY 21 Pacesetters has the very best platform from which to sell real estate in the Bluegrass area. Please take a moment to learn more about the many opportunities available for you at CENTURY 21 Pacesetters.

Thinking about a career in real estate, but not sure if it would be the right career for you.

Join us at the Top!

http://www.century21.com/careerfranchise/career.jsp

Call Mistie today for more information - 859.338.3169

$8000 Home Buyer Credit at a Glance

2009-02-22T05:23:00.000-08:00

Call Mistie Today for more information - 859.338.3169
The tax credit is for first-time home buyers only.

The tax credit does not have to be repaid.

The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000.

The credit is available for homes purchased on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009.

Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 qualify for the full tax credit.

Looking for a Buyers Agent

2009-01-19T18:35:00.000-08:00

Our First Meeting

I will conduct an in-depth interview to understand your goals,
your timetable, and your concerns about affordability and
financing. I want to hear about the type of property you are
interested in purchasing, including size and features, and any
other special desires and needs you may have. By listening
carefully to your needs, our time together will be efficient and
direct. I believe your experience as a buyer will be a positive one
and I look forward to handing you the keys to your new home.

I will:

– Explain "agency" relationships in our state.

– Explain what "full disclosure" means

– Provide you with the most current literature and industry
resources to help you become an expert in the market

– Assist you throughout the pre approval process by referring
qualified mortgage brokers to you and helping you choose a
loan that fits your plan

– Discuss the best means of communication during our
search, i.e., email, telephone, fax, etc.

– Outline the property buying process and create a time line
for us to follow

– Constantly review disclosures, contracts, inspections, and
any other pertinent material

– Once we have found the property you desire, I will negotiate
on your behalf until you are completely satisfied

I Will Always Listen to your Needs!!

6 Primary REasons a Home Will or Will Not Sell.

2009-01-19T18:18:00.000-08:00

1) LOCATION: No Control

2) MARKET CONDITION: No Control. I do, however, constantly analyze market conditions to assure that your home is competitive with like properties in the marketplace. I will be in constant communication with you to make you aware of market trends. You will then be able to make sound decisions based on reliable information.

3) TERMS OF SALE: Seller's Control. I will help you with innovative ideas if needed.

4) CONDITION OF THE HOME: Seller's Control. I will help you stage your home to make it as appealing as possible to the buying public.

5) PRICE: Seller's Control. It is my responsibility to educate you as to what buyers have been willing to pay for properties comparable to yours. I will offer guidance and information, but the final pricing decision is yours.

6) MARKETING: This is my area of expertise. I work aggressively and persistently to assure that your home is exposed to as many potential buyers as possible.

Home Buying Tips

2009-01-13T12:30:00.000-08:00

Home Buying Tips
Many people find the process of buying a home a little daunting and sometimes overwhelming. You're not alone. No two buying experiences are the same, but these home buying tips provide an idea of the different steps you may encounter when buying a property.
Despite recent slowdowns in some markets, housing remains a good long-term investment, and demographic demand favors housing over the longer term. Homeownership offers immediate benefits and long-term value. Homeowners accumulate wealth for the future while enjoying the benefits of a shelter that they can use, improve and sell.

And our CENTURY 21 Agents are ready to help you make an informed decision to get you on your path home. Download our Consumer Confidence brochure to gain a better understanding of what to expect in the home buying process. For your convenience, helpful resources are also included in this brochure.

You will learn:
Why is Real Estate Still One of the Best Investments You Can Make?
Is Now the Right Time For Your New Home Purchase?
How Much House Can You Afford?
What is Right For You?

Download Free Brochure below:
http://www.century21.com/pdfs/buyercontent/consumerconfidencebrochure.pdf

ACCORDING TO SELLERS, SILENCE ISN'T ALWAYS 'GOLDEN'

2008-12-28T14:45:00.000-08:00

When trying to sell a home, silence isn't always golden especially when you're expecting your real estate agent to call. In fact, it's one of the leading complaints among sellers in the real estate market. Often times you find an agent who is more than willing to take on your listing, but once the relationship is made, the seller enjoys getting a call at least once a week.

"A seller should establish with the agent up front the expectation that regular communication will occur. Even if it's just to check-in, the seller will be more satisfied being kept 'in the loop'," said Mistie English, CENTURY 21 Realty Group Hagan.

Keeping the communication lines open between the two parties assures the seller that the agent is keeping them apprised of any and all offers. In addition, agents often provide valuable tips on why prospective buyers weren't interested. Often times, an agent is privy to the buyer's dislikes of the property. For instance 'this room's too dark' or 'the kitchen has a funny smell.' This allows the agent to give the seller constructive feedback and offer important tips on how to make the home more attractive to future buyers.

If you're a seller and are not hearing from your broker, be sure to keep calling them until they get the message that you expect a regular update. If the broker doesn't return your calls, leave a message for your broker's office manager. The manager will see to it that your broker becomes more attentive to your listing.

Selling a home can be a lot of work and sometimes quite stressful. It is incumbent upon an agent to satisfy the seller's expectations of routine updates, this will ensure the possibility of future business not to mention a successful sale. Furthermore, as a seller you must demand the communication exchange between you and your agent. If both parties work in a cooperative effort, the selling experience will be more successful and enjoyable for both the agent and the seller involved.