Real Estate Archives - Our Towne Guilderland

What a Realtor Knows….. (That online sites don’t!)

May 15, 2017 By Katherine Burbank

Guilderland, NY – Realtors all pay to be on the regional MLS (Multiple Listing Service) system which allows us to post houses and allows your realtor to look at them. The information gets picked up by Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, etc; however, all of the information isn’t correct and it can be outdated. The following information is what a realtor uses that you may not be able to get online!

A history of the home’s sales, listings, expired listings, sales that fell through, etc.
The lot size, zoning designation, any additions and their size, flood info and more.
Maps of the location, which yes, you can see, but also the school district, taxing municipality, and other local information that may not be on an internet site.
The “comp” data! You like a home, but how much is it really worth? Realtors look at sold homes over the last year that are exactly alike, as well as homes for sale to see how prices compare.
Knowledge about home types and their differences; for example, older homes often do not have large bedrooms-no one cared way back when!! Or, what’s a raised ranch, split level and just plain ranch? We know, and know how each can fit your family and needs.
We know about the eras of home building and materials, like asbestos tiles, siding and pipe wrapping, vermiculite, lead paint and more.
And last but not least…the house just went under contract or isn’t for sale!! I have so many clients send me a list of houses they found on the internet, for me to say half are pending sales and 2 were never for sale; it’s great to use both, but the living breathing realtor has the best knowledge.

Many of my clients come from people who just want info like the above; how much is their home worth, what they could easily do to resell, will it pass inspection, what elementary school the kids would go to.

I give a lot of free advice; it always benefits me as much as the person asking- I know they have the right info and that I am a pro! Call me with your questions, trust me, I know more than Zillow!!

Katherine Burbank

Kathy Burbank is with CM Fox Real Estate- a locally owned and run company with deep ties to the Guilderland Community. The company now has approximately 50 realtors; most who also live locally. CM Fox Charity has 2 charity events a year; and Kathy is actively involved in them. Call Kathy today at (518) 461-8032.

CM FOX Real Estate, 2390 Western Ave, Guilderland NY 12084

http://www.cmfoxrealestate.com

April 2017 – Boomer Home Buyers

April 21, 2017 By Katherine Burbank

Guilderland, NY – A huge group of buyers these days are the downsizing baby boomers setting themselves up for the next phase of their lives. These home buyers want flexibility, ease of use and plenty of fun things to do! Baby boomers are the largest American generation-76 Million-that are retired or nearing retirement age. This presents a huge opportunity when you are selling your home.

For today’s sellers-Here are just a few pointers that will catch a boomers’ eye:

Baby Boomers Preparing for the next phase!

Consult with a realtor-if you are starting the process of selling, or even want to plan, just talk to a realtor, its free. They WILL tell you what to prioritize and how-valuable info that can get you thousands more in the sale.

Even out your lawn and simplify your landscaping-boomers want an easier lifestyle that includes exterior maintenance. They still want yards but maybe a little smaller and more manageable.

Open up you space– opening up your living space is appealing to most anyone, but especially boomers. By now, they are specific in what they really want in a home; they usually want an easy flow for entertaining and hanging out at this point.

Large First floor bedroom-this is a must; many boomers are looking for the house they will live in when the old knees don’t work so well.

For buyer boomers-

Use a realtor-even if you want to buy your neighbor’s house! Realtors have specific info like how many bedrooms and full baths are on the first floor and can get a floor plan and lot size if you are looking for more specifics.

Know what you want-Many boomers thinking of “downsizing” think square footage, and that may not be the case. It may be a larger family room and first floor master, so the square footage may be the same. Know how big your current house is and your lot dimensions too-your realtor can help you with that.

Consider semi or totally maintenance free, where a company (Homeowners Association) maintains the general grounds and maybe mows and shovels, or total maintenance free like a condo community where you are not responsible for exterior, roofs, etc.

Katherine Burbank

CM FOX Real Estate, 2390 Western Ave, Guilderland NY 12084

http://www.cmfoxrealestate.com

George Rozell Painting

March 13, 2017 By Lowell Knapp

Guilderland, NY – With over 20 years of experience, George W. Rozell III strives to always provide the best in quality and customer service. At the age of 15, he began learning the painting trade during his summer vacations by working with his father. Drawing from his father’s 35 years of painting experience, not only was he taught proper techniques and skills, but also the value of doing the job right the first time.

George Rozell Painting

In 1999, at the age of 21, George W. Rozell Painting was established when George decided to go into business for himself. Since that time, hard work, pride, and a strong work ethic have enabled him to grow his business and continue to be successful. His business currently includes five employees who each have many years of painting experience. This small business approach allows him to be present on his job sites and ensure high quality craftsmanship and client satisfaction.

Services available throughout the Capital Region include, but are not limited to, interior and exterior painting, new construction, wallpaper removal, deck staining, and power washing. With 85% of their work being residential, most referrals are word of mouth from previous customers. Local commercial clients include Sunset Bowling Alley, 99 Restaurant, Carpet Warehouse, and various retail stores in Colonie Center. George maintains a close working relationship with local paint stores, which makes it possible for him to remain current on the latest products on the market and offer the best to his customers.

Maintaining an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, George is strongly focused on providing high quality service and meeting every customer’s needs. There is no job too big or small for his business, and the same attention to detail will be given to all clients. He sums up his business motto as this, and feels it is the reason for his continued success. “I don’t just want to do business with you, I want to do business with everyone you know. I want every customer to feel confident referring me to their family and friends because of their satisfaction with my service.”

Serving the entire Capital Region for over 17 years!

All phases of painting | interior/exterior | residential/commercial

518-858-0297 | www.georgerozellpainting.com

Lowell Knapp

Started Our Towne Marketing in 2005. In addition to publishing Our Towne Guilderland each month we also provide print and web design services. Serves as a Board Member with the Guilderland Chamber of Commerce and a Member of the Ethics Board for the Town of Guilderland.
Lives in Guilderland with wife Kristen, son Ryan and daughter Kyra.

https://www.ourtowneguilderland.com

March 2017 – March into the Sale

March 12, 2017 By Katherine Burbank

Guilderland, NY – Selling Green-Go Self-Sufficient homes: Two concepts that with a few of the ideas below becomes one great way to improve the value of your home! We all know MANY people are looking for ways to be more environmentally friendly, but did you also know there are many people in the world concerned about being too dependent on the power grid, gas and oil, and more? A home with some additions below is more marketable to them!

Selling Green-Go Self-Sufficient homes

Tankless Water Heater-Install this space, time and energy saver the next time you need a hot water heater -or at least wrap your current heater in a thermal blanket made for hot water heaters.
Wood/Pellet Stoves supplement heat and make you self-sufficient in an emergency power outage. Pellet stoves are slightly more expensive but are also green
Flooring-Add Bamboo, Cork, or any Eco-Friendly Wood Flooring, there are tons of options now!
Solar Roof Panels can be installed with different arrangements for either free panels but the company gets the energy, or bought outright and you sell the energy.
Cool Roofs use new technology and engineering on the materials to lower cooling costs in warm places.
Reclaimed Wood can be expensive but you can also go to salvage yards, craigslist or even the dump, and re-use perfectly good wood for so many projects.
Dual Pane Windows-sorry folks but new windows rank up there as a top home improvement well worth your investment….take the plunge!
Programmable Thermostat-This is probably the easiest thing you can do in your house to save money-program it to adjust heating and cooling for when you are not home or sleeping.
Low VOC Paint and Carpet-You can absolutely buy low VOC (volatile organic compound) paint and carpet for home improvement projects pretty much anywhere, and these are good for you, good for the environment, and good for your home value!

Katherine Burbank

CM FOX Real Estate, 2390 Western Ave, Guilderland NY 12084

http://www.cmfoxrealestate.com

Guilderland Home of the WEEK

March 10, 2017 By Kelly Kieley

806 Rainbow Dr.
Guilderland, NY 12303
MLS # 201700782

$329,800

Exceptional New M.A. Schafer Construction ranch in a quiet & conveniently located Guilderland neighborhood, ready for its new owner. Features inc: an open flr plan with a high end kitchen, custom cabinetry, timeless granite, SS appliances, a spacious island, LR with fp & cathedral ceilings, dining area, impressive HW flrs, 3 BR, 2 BA, Master BR with trey ceilings, WI closet & gracious bath, huge mud room, 1st flr laundry rm with, composite deck, daylight basement with egress windows. Still time to choose your Bedroom floors! 1,908 Sq. Ft.

Kellie Kieley
Associate Real Estate Broker
Cell: 518-225-0454

kkieley2@gmail.com

Kelly Kieley

Kellie has consistently been an award-winning producer in her field. She has a vast knowledge of Guilderland and the market. Kellie’s network of local resources and professionals will help ensure a smooth and worry-free transaction for you and your family.
Kellie is a proud gradute of Siena College and a life long resident of the Capital District. She and her family live in Guilderland. She has two children in the Guilderland School District and is actively involved in many community organizations. To help give back, Kellie will be donating $100 from every closing in 2017 to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Together we can help defeat childhood cancer.

http://www.guilderlandproperties.com

February 2017 – A Sweet Situation!

February 22, 2017 By Katherine Burbank

Tips and plusses in a seller’s market

Younger buyers get in-You would think having scarce inventory of homes would make it harder to get a home, but consider this-with a seller’s market, those who want to sell but maybe the house needs updating can put their house on the market as is-these houses may not appeal to an experienced buyer but for a new home buyer, it is perfect. People are willing to forgive some of the flaws of a house when the number of homes for sale is so few.

Sell Your Home Fast with Kathy Burbank

Multiple offer situations allow for negotiation-Multiple offers are a blessing and a curse-it may increase the price but also makes people stressed out; someone is going to lose. For a seller, you can negotiate for price, earlier/later closing, or repairs found during inspection. For the buyer, these things also apply-put your best price out there, but also let the sellers know you are willing to work with them on closing and inspection repairs, MANY times an experienced realtor will know that maybe the highest price isn’t everything.

You can sell a not-so-updated house–what to fix, what to let go? The basics for any market apply first and foremost, CLEAN, DE-CLUTTER, PRUNE! But in a seller’s market, don’t spend $ 10,000 on a new bathroom when you can’t see daylight from your windows, or your house from the street!!

A realtor costs nothing for a buyer! –The realtor must be motivated, able to negotiate (i.e. nice) and knowledgeable about what houses to focus your time on. They must be able to write the contract and get everything signed and submitted ASAP in this market. If they take 2 days to get back to you; the house is probably sold.

Understand the process before you start-a good realtor will go through step by step what you need to do, a good mortgage lender, whether a bank or company, SHOULD explain costs and the process to you also. Get preapproved so you know your bottom line, AND know what you owe!! -many deals are sidelined by an old phone bill you thought went away!!

Katherine Burbank

CM FOX Real Estate, 2390 Western Ave, Guilderland NY 12084

http://www.cmfoxrealestate.com

WHO GETS THE HOUSE?

January 20, 2017 By Leyla Kiosse

Guilderland, NY – Many unmarried couples buy homes together. When making what is generally the largest investment in one’s life, most people do not take into account consideration what will happen if the couple breaks up, or when one of them dies.

For unmarried couples, title to real property can be held in several different ways:

Joint Tenants with Right of Survivorship: This means that the couple owns the house by the “whole” and when one person dies, the other person automatically owns the house.

Tenants in Common: This means that the couple owns the property by the “part” and not by the whole. Each party can leave his or her share upon death to whomever they choose. Further, if the couple break up each owns his/her share.

While owning property as Joint Tenants is wonderful if your only concern is dying, it becomes much messier if the couple breaks up. If the property is owned by the whole, there is no easy way to sever the shares. While a partition action can be brought (NY RPAPL Art. 9), it is a difficult and expensive proceeding, but if successful forces the severing of the tenancy and the sale of the property.

Tenants in Common is often a good method to own property if you want to leave your share to someone upon your death (it can be your partner), or, in the event of a breakup, you want to sell your share. While this makes it easier to divide the property, how many of us are going to want to be roommates with your ex? It is important that the deed specifically states what percent each person owns (is it equal or unequal?).

However, how you hold title does not address issues such as recoupment of down payments, closing costs, or how the costs will be shared during the time that you own it.

The best and simplest way to address all of these issues is to have a partnership agreement. You would not go into a transaction with a business partner without this type of agreement, and yet, most people are willy-nilly about addressing these issues with a loved one. A partnership agreement can include who is paying what expenses; addressing what happens to the house in the event of a dissolution of the relationship- recouping closing costs and down payments; who will live in the house upon a breakup, and how expenses will be shared while the property is on the market for sale.

If an unmarried couple buys a home together and at some point marries, the partnership agreement can continue or be amended. If a home is titled to “me” before the marriage, it does not automatically become “ours” when we marry, or vice versa.

While we all hope for the best, we always need to prepare for the worst (a breakup) or the inevitable (passing away). It is always wise to prepare for the worst-case scenario which is why we stock pile disaster kits, buy insurance, and take other measures to protect ourselves and our loved ones.

Leyla Kiosse

Leyla A. Kiosse is a partner at Tabak & Kiosse, LLP, a law firm located in Great Oaks Office Park (near Crossgates Mall). Along with her partner (Margaret Tabak), Attorney Kiosse counsels clients on all matters related to matrimonial and family law. A Guilderland native, Attorney Kiosse received her undergraduate degree from Union College and her law degree from Albany Law School. If you have questions about a matrimonial or family law issue, contact Attorney Kiosse for a consultation by calling 464-4095 or by visiting the firm’s website, www.tklawllp.com.

http://www.tklawllp.com

12 Questions You Absolutely Must Ask Before You Hire a Real Estate Agent

October 8, 2014 By Kevin Clancy

Guilderland, NY – We often list and sell homes that have been previously listed with other real estate agents before us without a sale. The owners are always baffled that the home didn’t sell. Almost 100% of the time it has nothing to do with the home. It has to do with the myriad of decisions made in the marketing, pricing, and placement of the home done by the real estate agent. One of the questions we always ask is, “How did you find your last agent? ” The answers are always along the same lines: “We went to an open house and they seemed nice”, “He is a member of our club or church”, “ She lives on our street”. It is understandable. After all, we all want to work with a real estate agent that we know, like and trust. However, the reality is there are some really nice, trustworthy, and sociable real estate agents that are totally ineffective at selling homes! Your home is likely your largest financial asset. Choosing the wrong real estate agent could literally cost you tens of thousands of dollars in lost equity and you might not even realize it!

Unfortunately, very few people go through high school or college with the goal of becoming a professional real estate consultant. The barriers to entry in the real estate industry are minimal and for the most part agents come into the business from other industries after a divorce, job loss, or other life change. It is an industry where generally the top 20% of agents sell 80% of the homes. So how do find a full time professional agent?

Choosing the right agent is like hiring any other professional. You need to interview several agents and ask many probing questions, such as: “How long have you been in the business?,” “How many homes have you sold ?”, “What is your marketing budget ?”, “What is your marketing plan?” These are just for starters. According to a national study, the typical real estate agent will spend more on car repairs than they will on a marketing budget in a year! Asking questions will help you find an effective marketer not an industry socialite. A professional real estate agent will appreciate and thrive on answering your questions. An amateur will stutter and cringe as you ask for data on their track record. However, this simple step will save you time and money.

To simplify the process we have come up with a free report of 12 questions you absolutely must ask a real estate agent before you make a hiring decision. Simply call us at 1-800-448-7016 ext. 7001 and leave your name, address, and email and we will send you the report within 24 hours or you can visit us online at www.clancyrealestate.com

Is the spring the best time to sell your home?

September 9, 2014 By Kevin Clancy

Guilderland, NY – Every fall, home sellers face the dilemma of listing in the fall or waiting until spring. After all, everyone knows that spring is the best time to sell your home, right? The belief that selling a home in the spring is the best choice is common even among real estate professionals. Is this a myth or are there actually facts supporting the common belief that it is better to wait until spring?

A study conducted by Redfin between 2011 and 2013 looked at 1.1 million home listings in 19 markets. The study found that homes listed in the fall had a 9% greater chance of selling within 180 days than those listed in the spring. In some markets, such as Boston, the percentage was as high as 14% greater probability of selling within 180 days in the fall, than in the spring market. Real estate is local so the real question is what is true for the Capital Region? A review of local Capital Region data backs the Redfin study. In the Capital Region, 362 more homes were sold in the fall of 2013 than were sold in the spring of 2014. Sellers who waited until the spring of 2014 listed in a market that had a lower likelihood of selling. This is contrary to what is commonly believed by real estate professional and home sellers. In addition to historic data that supports listing in the fall over the spring market, the National Association of Realtors just put out a report for the Capital Region. Based on the performance metrics they track, they predict the fourth quarter of 2014 will be the most active for our housing market.

So is Spring the best time to sell a home? The answer is that it depends on your personal situation. Trying to time the real estate market is no different than trying to time the stock market. It is difficult and studies show very few can do it effectively. However, the common myth that the spring is the best time to sell a home is clearly not based on facts or sales data. The spring market is a good time to sell a home but so is the fall. There are a myriad of other factors that are part of the decision of when to sell a home rather than just timing the market. Selling a home is a process, not an event, and a real estate professional can help with the decisions on selling a home to maximize your return, sell in the shortest period possible, and sell with the least inconvenience to you. Listing at the wrong time is just one mistake that could cost you thousands in the sale of your home. Our free report, just released, provides the 7 most costly mistakes sellers make when selling their homes and is yours free of charge. Just call us at 1-800-448-7016 ext 9951 and leave us both your mailing address, and your email address, and we will get you the report in the mail.

Choose the Right Materials For Your Project

September 9, 2014 By Russ Stouffer

Guilderland, NY- A quick thanks to all of you who called us after reading last months article about preventing damage to your home due to water, insects, etc. After meeting with several customers, I started thinking about the next step in terms of prevention when it comes to materials to use when building or repairing on the outside of your house. Whether you’re building a new deck, having new siding installed, putting in a new exterior door or window or a perimeter fence I almost always recommend a building product that requires little or no maintenance and is resistant to water and insects.

Twenty years ago when man-made (composite) building products started entering the market to build decks, fences, etc. I was a true skeptic. Up to then all we built were cedar, redwood or exotic tropical wood decks. These wood species will last a long time, but require ongoing maintenance. After we started installing composite and then PVC material for decks I was hooked. We like the ease of install and custom look, and customers like the durability and maintenance free use. Yes, these materials are more expensive, but I remind customers that they can pay a little more now or a lot more later in terms of the up keep.

Installing vinyl or concrete siding, PVC fencing, vinyl, aluminum or fiberglass doors and windows and PVC trim and molding are other ways to bullet proof your home. A good rule of thumb for exterior building materials is this: if its wood or it touches the ground your house may not be safe and sound. All wood products, even cedar, redwood or exotic hardwoods require maintenance even though insects may not touch them. They will discolor or fade, shows signs of wear and crack or check. What this means to the homeowner is annual or bi-annual staining, painting or general maintenance. PVC, vinyl, fiberglass and composite materials usually only require a wash off to stay maintenance free and looking great. They can touch the ground and be installed just about anywhere and insects will not touch the stuff.

With any project, selecting the right materials is just as if not more important than any other aspect of a remodel or repair. I recommend taking the time researching, looking around the internet, visiting showrooms and talking with building professionals about your project and the potential materials that can be used. Today’s market is saturated with numerous choices, colors, technology and gadgets. Any project on your house is an investment. Taking the time to ensure and install the best material options will make your decision that much easier and save you time and money in the long run.

~ Russ Stouffer