9 Easy Room Makeovers That Wow Buyers

A home has only one chance to make a first impression on potential buyers, and a poorly designed room can be a quick turnoff. Misplaced furniture, overwhelming paint colors, "busy" accessories, clutter, floral prints, and outdated fixtures are some of the most common problems in staging a home for sale. REALTOR® magazine asked readers to send in stories of how they took action against their home's trouble spots. View before and after photos of room transformations and borrow some ideas for sprucing up your own property here.

Tax Credit Can Be Used on Closing Costs

FHA-approved lenders received the go-ahead to develop bridge-loan products that enable first-time buyers to use the benefits of the federal tax credit upfront, according to eagerly awaited guidance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on so-called home buyer tax credit loans that was released today.

Under the guidance, FHA-approved lenders can develop bridge loans that home buyers can use to help cover their closing costs, buy down their interest rate, or put down more than the minimum 3.5 percent.

The loans can't be used to cover the minimum 3.5 percent, senior HUD officials told reporters on a conference call Friday morning.

Thus, buyers applying for FHA-backed financing with an FHA-approved lender that offers a bridge-loan program can get a bridge loan to bring down the upfront costs of buying a home significantly but would still have to come up with the minimum 3.5 percent downpayment.
Read more here...

Jefferson City Area Board of Realtors Honor Society

13 local Realtors were awarded Honor Society status at the last General Membership meeting of the Jefferson City Area Board of Realtors. This honor is in recognition of a Realtor's participation in board activities such as, education, civic events, committees, volunteering, and over-all involvement in the board. This is the second year since its inception and I have been given the award both years. Once a member reaches 10 years in the honor society, they become lifetime members.

Jefferson City Realtors raising money for Council for Drug Free Youth

On May 2, 2009, the Jefferson City Area Board of REALTORS, Inc. held the 3rd Annual Cinco de Mayo 5K Run/Walk and 1 Mile Fun Walk. Thanks to the overwhelming support of our contributors and sponsors and the 100 runners and walkers, we raised over $3,012.13 for the Council for Drug Free Youth.

For complete list of sponsors, volunteers, race results and pics, click here

June - Home tip of the Month

Add some color!

Fresh paint in vibrant but neutral tones will give your rooms a clean updated look. Painting is one of the simplest, most cost effective improvements a homeowner can make.

Jefferson City in Spring

Just a few pics I took around Jefferson City this spring -

Top 15 Ways to Sell Your Home in the Spring

The warmer weather has us flinging the drapes open, pushing up the windows and taking a deep breath of fresh air into our lungs. Yes, it's spring, and it's time to shake off winter's dust and give our homes, and ourselves, a shiny makeover.

Spring is the optimum time to sell a home. Regardless of whether it's a buyers market or a sellers market, inventory almost always rises in the spring. Why? Because the largest number of buyers are actively searching for a new home during the months of April, May and June.

Here are 15 things you can do to improve the odds that your home will stand out among the sea of new listings flooding the spring-time real estate market:

1) Wash windows inside and out / polish all mirrors
Sparkle is free, and sparkle sells homes. A potential buyer may not realize why your home seems so inviting but will feel drawn to it if the windows are spotless and your mirrors reflect sunlight. Cleaning is the first step to preparing your home to sell.

2) Rake the yard / trim back bushes
Clean out dead leaves and debris in your lawn. Don't let overgrown vegetation block the windows or path to the entrance. Cutting bushes and tree limbs will let the sun inside and showcase the exterior of your home. More tips here

Jefferson City Real Estate Stats

Statistics for March 2009

Active listings --------------- 771

New listings ----------------- 200

Units sold ------------------- 86

Average sales price --------- $127,643

Average days on market ---- 117

Total units sold YTD -------- 190

The territorial jurisdiction of the Jefferson City Area Board of REALTORS®, Inc. includes Cole, Callaway, Moniteau, and Osage Counties. This representation is based in whole or part on data supplied by the Multiple Listing Service of the Jefferson City Area Board of REALTORS®, Inc. Neither the Board nor its MLS guarantees or is any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the Board or its MLS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.

Mortgage Loan Rates for Jefferson City Area

Rates effective as of 05/06/2009

CONVENTIONAL FIXED RATE MORTGAGES
Term (Fixed) Rate:

30 year 5.00%
20 year 4.875%
15 year 4.625%
10 year 4.625%

Rates subject to change at any timeProvided by Lynne Bateman, Mid America Bank, 573-896-4790 Rates quoted above are for qualified borrowers with a 95% loan-to-value (LTV) or less. Please call for rates on mortgage loans with 95.01%-97% LTV. Rates subject to change at any time without notice Credit scores may adversely affect quoted rates.

If you're thinking of selling or buying in the Jefferson City Missouri Area, contact me direct at (573)761-3485 or online at http://www.hankshouses.com/ . “I want to be your Jefferson City Real Estate Resource ~ I am at your service!

The Jefferson City Area Board of Realtors will host the 3rd Annual Cinco de Mayo 5k run/walk 1 mile fun walk. The proceeds from this event benefit the Council for Drug Free Youth. The previous two years we raised over $6,000 to help area youth to have the resources to lead a drug-free life. All registrants will receive a t-shirt, gift bag, and refreshments. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards will be given in each age group of 5 k walk/run. Please come out and help us support this worthy cause.

Date: May 2, 2009
Location: Memorial Park, Jefferson City MO, 111 Memorial Park Drive.
Course: Leaving the park, turn left onto West Main, turn left onto Boonville Road (return same course).
Time: Registration begins at 7:00 a.m. race begins promptly at 8:00
Online registration form: www.jcabor.com
Phone: 573-636-6721
Fax registration: 573-636-6723

Jefferson City Real Estate Statistics - February 2009

Average days on market -- 91

Total properties sold -- 69

Median list price -- $129,900

Median sell price -- $127,900

List price to sales price ratio - 94%

According to the statistics from one year ago the number of homes sold stayed exactly the same at 69. The average number days on the market went from 95 days last year to 91 in 2009. The median sales and list price increased by about 3% while the list to sales ratio decreased by 3%.

This representation is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the MLS of the Jefferson city Area Board of Realtors. Neither the board nor the MLS guarantees or is any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the board may not reflect ALL real estate activity

Jefferson City Realtor / Multicultural Forum connection

In February I received recognition for service and support of the Jefferson City Multicultural Forum. The Jefferson City Multicultural Forum exists to foster understanding of and communication between races and cultures by: Promoting harmony; Welcoming diverse groups into the existing population; Encouraging acceptance and acknowledgement of our diversity; Working with individuals of all origins to develop capable, productive citizens; Providing information regarding multicultural issues; Facilitating networking opportunities with regard to multicultural issues; and, Educating employers and potential employees regarding hiring practices and opportunities for diverse populations. Everyone who decides to make their home in mid-Missouri deserves to feel at home. That is the ultimate goal of the Jefferson City Multicultural Forum. I am honored by this recognition, and happy to now be a part of the Board of Directors. Each year the Jefferson City Area Board of Realtors participates in the Forum's Fall Festival and have taken diversity training through the Forum. The Forum has also helped promote the Board of Realtors activities surrounding our "Diversity Awareness Month" and educating the public about fair housing. If you would like to learn more about the Forum and its many projects in the community, click here.

Jefferson City Realtors attend Capitol Conference

The Jefferson City Area Board of Realtors Board of Directors members attended the 2009 Capitol Conference in Jefferson City in January. During this conference we met with lawmakers serving the districts our MLS/Board covers. At these meetings, Realtors advocated for such things as home owner's rights, inspector licensing, and against such things as "sales tax" on home purchases, and funding for social issues through the sale of homes. Our opinions and ideas were well received by the legislators and were promised support on issues on the pro side of home ownership and taxes and fees relating to it.

Stimulating the Housing Market

As you probably already know President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law last week. A portion of this package affects the real estate industry. Below you will find a summary of the changes or new legislation that is now in place.

1. First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit.*
a. Maximum credit amount - $8,000
b. All principal residences eligible
c. First time homebuyer (3 year rule applies)
d. Program effective to December 1, 2009
e. No repayment of credit on homes purchased in 2009
*Other rules may apply. Consult a tax professional for full details.

2. Rural Housing Service
a. The bill provides an additional $500 million to existing USDA Rural Housing programs.
b. The RHS provides both a guaranteed loan program and a direct housing loan program for those meeting the program's eligibility criteria.
c. The direct loan program will receive $270 million while $230 million will be allocated for unsubsidized guaranteed loans. It has been reported that this level of funding would provide for an additional 192,000 homeowners.

3. Missouri incentives
Missouri is also looking to provide some stimulus to the housing market on its own. The Missouri Housing Development Commission has turned the existing federal tax credit program into a down-payment program, in which first-time homebuyers in Missouri can use up to 6 percent of the home purchase price, or a maximum of $6,750of the credit, toward a down payment on a home. For more information on this program visit the Missouri Housing Development Commission online at http://www.mhdc.com/ and click on Tax Credit Advance Loan Program for homebuyers.

4. Other provisions that could help housing markets and communities include:
FHA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Loan Limits
Neighborhood Stabilization
Commercial Real Estate
Rural Housing Service
Low Income-Housing Grants
Tax Exempt Housing Bonds
Energy Efficient Housing Tax Credits & Grants
Broadband Deployment

Mortgage Loan Rates for Jefferson City Area

Mortgage Loan Rates-Febraury 27, 2009

30 year --- 5.50%
20 year --- 5.375%
15 year --- 5.00%
10 year --- 5.00%

Rates subject to change at any timeProvided by Lynne Bateman, Mid America Bank, 573-896-4790 Rates quoted above are for qualified borrowers with a 95% loan-to-value (LTV) or less. Please call for rates on mortgage loans with 95.01%-97% LTV. Rates subject to change at any time without notice Credit scores may adversely affect quoted rates.

If you're thinking of selling or buying in the Jefferson City Missouri Area, contact Hank Vogt direct at (573)761-3485 or online at www.hankshouses.com . “I want to be your Jefferson City Real Estate Resource ~ I am at your service!

Linen Closet Bliss

Is your linen closet a jumble of sheets, towels and pillow cases? Here's how to turn your closet from cluttered to calm and make it hold even more.

1. Create topple-proof stacks. Sheets falling into hand towels? Beach towel tower toppling over? Try vertical shelf dividers to keep everything separate.

2. Fold for more room. Neatly folded sheets and towels take up about 25% less space because they are compact.

3. Know the trick to keeping it all together. After you do laundry, sort sheets into sets for each bed, then store each inside of its own pillowcases. This not only saves space, but your sheet sets are always kept together.

4. Free up at least half a shelf. Bulky table cloths take up a lot of room in a closet -- plus they end up with a permanent fold crease down the middle. Hang them up instead. Use a skit hanger with spring clips and put them in a coat closet. Or mount a towel rack on the back of your linen closet door and hang them there.

5. Lose a shelf to find more space. Most linen closets have prefabricated holes in the sides that allow you to move shelves around, so all you have to do is lift the bottom one out. You'll have room for a rolling drawer unit or dresser.l Use it for napkins, hand towels and wash cloths, and double your space.

TIP -- Natural herb sachets containing lavender, peppermint, thyme, or cloves give linens a fresh scent while repelling moths.

Pillar to Post "postnotes" news and information http://www.pillartopost.com/

Remodels hold value better than home prices

The Right renovations pay off in slow market

Remodeling Magazine's 2008-2009 Cost vs. Value Report, produced each year in conjunction with Realtor Magazine, contains good news about the value of remodeling projects.

The recent Cost vs. Value Report showed that renovations on a nationwide basis held their value better than home prices did in 2008. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), home prices declined 7 percent in 2008, while the value of homeowners' investments in remodeling dropped only 2.8 percent in 2008.

During slow real estate cycles, many would-be sellers postpone their move and remodel instead. This makes sense as long as the projects are selected carefully for maximum return on the investment. It's important to avoid renovations that would overimprove the property for the neighborhood. Read more here....

February Home TIp

A kitchen makeover can yield a great return when deciding to sell your home. Even small improvements like a new stainless microwave or lighting can be highly appealing to home buyers.

First Time Home Buyers Tax Credit

Opportunity of a Lifetime

for First-Time Buyers

For aspiring home owners who find their goal stubbornly elusive, newly enacted legislation providing a tax credit of as much as $7,500 for first-time home buyers might just be the opportunity of a lifetime. But like so many of the good things in life, time is of the essence for buyers who want to take advantage of this outstanding opportunity. Only homes purchased on or after April 9, 2008 and before July 1, 2009 are eligible. Click here for more info

Jefferson City Area Real Estate Sales Statistics

MLS Residential Statistics as of January 26, 2009

Current Month Statistics January 1-26, 2009
# New Listings - 108
# Under Contract Listings - 35
# Sold Listings - 20
Average Sales Price - $127,340
List-to-Sell Ratio - 95.5%

Year-to-Date Statistics January 1 - January 26, 2009
# New Listings - 108
# Sold Listings - 20
Average Sales Price - $127,340
List-to-Sell Ratio - 95.5%

Previous Year-to-Date Statistics January 1 - January 26, 2008
# New Listings - 147
# Sold Listings - 33
Average Sales Price - $136,238
List-to-Sell Ratio - 92.6%

The territorial jurisdiction of the Jefferson City Area Board of REALTORS®, Inc. includes Cole, Callaway, Moniteau, and Osage Counties. This representation is based in whole or part on data supplied by the Multiple Listing Service of the Jefferson City Area Board of REALTORS®, Inc. Neither the Board nor its MLS guarantees or is any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the Board or its MLS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.

Did foreclosures really kill our economy? The numbers don't add up

According to this 2007 report by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau, there are (were) 128,203,000 housing units in the United States.

Of those, 64,231,000, or 50%, are owned free and clear.If 1.2 million homes are in foreclosure at any point in time that would equate to less than 1% of all homes in the country or 1.9% of the 63,972,000 homes that have at least 1 loan on the property.

Then let's assume that each quarter 1.2 million homes go into foreclosure. That equates to less than 4% of all homes in the country (4.8 million homes) or 7.5% of homes with at least 1 loan on the property.

Are we really to believe that because 7.5 out of every 100 homes in the country went into foreclosure our economy was thrown into a recession, mutliple financial corporations were forced to shut down and the stock market tanked? Unless I'm severely off on my math the numbers just aren't adding up.

Current Mortgage Loan Rates for Jefferson City

Mortgage Loan Rates-January 15, 2009

30 year --- 5.00%
20 year --- 4.875%
15 year --- 4.75%
10 year --- 4.75%

Rates subject to change at any timeProvided by Lynne Bateman, Mid America Bank, 573-896-4790 Rates quoted above are for qualified borrowers with a 95% loan-to-value (LTV) or less. Please call for rates on mortgage loans with 95.01%-97% LTV. Rates subject to change at any time without notice Credit scores may adversely affect quoted rates.

If you're thinking of selling or buying in the Jefferson City Missouri Area, contact Hank Vogt direct at (573)761-3485 or online at www.hankshouses.com . “I want to be your Jefferson City Real Estate Resource ~ I am at your service!

Winter Home Protection Tips

While you can't change the weather, you can minimize some of winter's biggest threats to your home. Remember the phrase out of sight out of mind? That could also go for portions of your house. And with these cold temperatures that could cost you big.
For instance, when did you last check pipes underneath your house?

read more..... and here

Current Mortgage Loan Rates for Jefferson City

Mortgage Loan Rates-December 5, 2008

30 year 5.375%
20 year 5.25%
15 year 5.00%
10 year 5.00%

Rates subject to change at any time

Provided by Lynne Bateman, Mid America Bank, 573-896-4790 Rates quoted above are for qualified borrowers with a 95% loan-to-value (LTV) or less. Please call for rates on mortgage loans with 95.01%-97% LTV. Rates subject to change at any time without notice Credit scores may adversely affect quoted rates.

If you're thinking of selling or buying in the Jefferson City Missouri Area, contact Hank Vogt direct at (573)761-3485 or online at www.hankshouses.com . “I want to be your Jefferson City Real Estate Resource ~ I am at your service!

Have Yourself a Safe Little Christmas

Keep your holidays happy by following these easy safety tips

It's that time of year again. Time to deck the halls, hang the stockings and create your very own winter wonderland. However, before you jingle your first bell, you should develop a holiday safety plan for your family and home.

Your plan should start with your tree. If its a natural Christmas tree, keep it away from heavy traffic it won't be bumped into. Make sure the tree is protected from heaters, stoves and fireplaces, and never use lighted candles to decorate a live or artificial tree. Read more ...

Online home listings don't tell whole story

The Internet has changed the way we buy and sell houses. Most listings of homes for sale can be found on the Internet. Realtor.com, the world's largest real estate database of homes for sale, carries information on more than 3 million listings.

According to the 2007 National Association Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 84 percent of home buyers used the Internet for information at some point during their home search. This is up from 37 percent in 1999.

Real estate Internet sites allow home buyers and sellers to peruse the inventory of homes for sale relatively effortlessly. Many sites allow visitors to set up a notification system that will alert them when new listings that fit their search criteria hit the market. Read more....

Tip of the Week

How to clean up your yard and leaves for fall

Cleaning up your yard after all the fall leaves have fallen can be an overwhelming job. It is important to rake, blow, mulch, or bag up your leaves though. If you let them go, your yard will be dead come Spring time. Here are some hints to making this job a little easier and maybe even a little (just a little fun)! Read more....

*** Jefferson City provides a location to drop off yard waste. The hours of operation vary with the seasons. There is No Charge to City residents who haul their own waste. Free first ground compost is available. Yard Waste (leaves, grass clippings, tree trimmings) will NOT be picked up by the trash collection company. For location and hours, Click Here ...

If you're thinking of selling or buying real estate in the Jefferson City Missouri Area, contact Hank Vogt direct at (573)761-3485 or online at www.hankshouses.com . “I want to be your Jefferson City Real Estate Resource ~ I am at your service!”

Purchase offers: How low is too low?

Buyers on today's market who think every seller is desperate, or who think that every desperate seller is willing or even able to accept a lowball offer, are being unrealistic and setting themselves up for failure. Unfortunately, some buyers have to lose their dream home (or two) before they acknowledge that a buyer's market does not mean that you can buy a home for 75 percent below market value.

There are a number of important considerations that should factor into your decision of what to offer. Read more.....

If you're thinking of selling or buying real estate in the Jefferson City Missouri Area, contact Hank Vogt direct at (573)761-3485 or online at www.hankshouses.com . “I want to be your Jefferson City Real Estate Resource ~ I am at your service!”

Termite Control

Termites cause billions of dollars in damage each year. They primarily feed on wood, but also damage paper, books, insulation, and even swimming pool liners and filtration systems. Termites can injure living trees and shrubs, but more often are a secondary invader of woody plants already in decline. While buildings may become infested at any time, termites are of particular importance when buying or selling a home since a termite inspection/infestation report is normally a condition of sale. Besides the monetary impact, thousands of winged termites emerging inside one's home are an emotionally trying experience — not to mention the thought of termites silently feasting on one's largest investment. Read more....

If you're thinking of selling or buying real estate in the Jefferson City Missouri Area, contact Hank Vogt direct at (573)761-3485 or online at www.hankshouses.com . “I want to be your Jefferson City Real Estate Resource ~ I am at your service!”

Tip of the Week

The Consumer Products Safety Commission estimates that there are over 24,000 dryer fires each year, causing over $96 million in property damages. When lint builds up in dryer vents, the dryer motor has to labor harder, and can overheat, igniting the lint!
Do you want your appliance to work more efficiently? If it’s taking longer than usual to dry your clothes, it’s time to get your dryer vent cleaned out!

Schedule your dryer vent cleaning at the same time you clean your fireplace, furnace and air ducts.

If you're thinking of selling or buying real estate in the Jefferson City Missouri Area, contact Hank Vogt direct at (573)761-3485 or online at www.hankshouses.com . “I want to be your Jefferson City Real Estate Resource ~ I am at your service!”