Blog entries from Crystal Webster

Why Your House Hasn't Sold

Crystal Webster — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 12:22:37 +0100

Market Facts for Uncertain Times

Crystal Webster — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:34:17 +0100

The economy is growing, slowly.
The private sector is finally creating some jobs.
Consumer confidence remains low, through clearly off the bottom
The 30-year mortgage rate is at generational lows.

The national median-home price is stabilizing.
Other hRead More...

Money for Nothin' and Rental Properties For Free

Crystal Webster — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:42:41 +0100

At least it will feel like it's free. Below is an article from a personal financial blogger I follow occasionally. He puts together a very nice (and easier to follow) argument for why you should own investment properties in your portfolio.

Whether you're a first time home buyer or just looking for a second property take a look at this article. If you purchase the property properly to begin with and then have a great property manager and tax accountant on your team you'llRead More...

Want Cheaper Rent?

Crystal Webster — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:52:44 +0100

Yeah, don't we all :) Smart Money says that it could be getting tougher to negotiate lower rental rates - but that doesn't mean it can't be done.

Negotiating Rent Gets Tougher - by Kelly B. Grant

The clock is ticking for consumers looking to negotiate a more favorable rent on a home or apartment. Not only are landlords less willing to offer some of the price breaks common last year, but in many markets they are actually raising rents.

“The recovery of Read More...

What's Important about Buying Your First Home

Crystal Webster — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 00:13:40 +0100

You're Not an Investor. You're buying a home to live in and enjoy. It's not an 'investment' in the traditional sense. If the value of the home falls a little bit because of the market, that's OK, you're not trying to sell right away anyway.
You're Making Others Rich. The money you pay in rent goes to buy a home for someone else to own.
Homes are Inexpensive. You may be able to make your mortgage payment AND save a little bit for the same amount you're paying in rent righRead More...

Hire Hot Help!

Crystal Webster — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 19:06:21 +0100

(That got your attention didn't it?)

Sometimes 'common sense' doesn't always make sense says an article published by Smart Money.

Preliminary results show that both men and women may be willing to pay a higher price for a home if they find the seller's female agent attractive. (Although they wouldn't necessarily like to admit that they would fall prey.)
Out-of-Towners, especially those coming from higher cost of living areas, tend to pay more for a hoRead More...

Sell Your Home With These Landscape Tips

Crystal Webster — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:52:36 +0100

Curb appeal – or lack thereof – can make or break the sale of a home. So many people form a lasting impression based on the first impressions of a home. Yet, when we’re trying to sell a home, the last Read More...

Thinking Green When Shopping for a House

Crystal Webster — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:49:58 +0100

The move to improve the energy efficiency of the country's homes is picking up speed. As big home builders anticipate greater demand for green homes and seek to differentiate themselves in a crowded marketplace, many are using green features to draw buyers.

For instance, Pulte Homes has built 10 communities that offer standard or optional solarRead More...

Plan Your Move and Save Some Cash

Crystal Webster — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 19:14:38 +0100

By Susan Johnston:

According to Moving.com, the months between May and August are the most popular for moving in the United States.

Whether it’s down the street or across statRead More...

Interest Rates Hit 50 Year Lows

Crystal Webster — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 19:29:45 +0100

Interest rates are super low these days so whether you're looking to purchase a new home or stay put for a while it may be worth a call to your bank.

Buying?

The average loan payment will decrease about $50 for every .5% the interest rate drops. That's an evening out a month you'll save!

Refinancing?

Don't jump quite yet. There are a few things you'll want to consider first:

How long do you plan on staying in your home?
Do you have the cash to pony up for Read More...

Want to Keep From Closing on Your New House?

Crystal Webster — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 21:30:46 +0100

Here's a great article I found on Bankrate.com about the best ways to have your home loan fall through:

Want a lender to delay or even cancel your mortgage closing? Then change your "borrower circumstances" between the day you apply for and the day you close a home loan.

Lenders have gotten stricter in response to the mortgage meltdown. The latest tightening of the screws comes from Fannie Mae. The mortgage titan's Loan Quality Initiative, which went into effect June 1Read More...

Tricks to Keep Your House Cool this Summer

Crystal Webster — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 12:07:21 +0100

I found this great article recently and thought I just had to share. Stay cool this summer!

By Paige Tepping

RISMEDIA, June 17, 2010--As the temperatures continue to rise this summer, so does the cost of keeping your home cool. While homeowners across the country come to depend on air conditioners to keep the temperature down during the warm summer months, there are other options that will keep you cool while keeping your energy bill low.

Fans and ceiling faRead More...

Free This Weekend - KC Strip Trolley

Crystal Webster — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 14:45:37 +0100

Kansas City is trying to 'tie' all the bar districts together, solve the dilemma of not being able to find a taxi, and provide a great night out!

Check out the new trolley system for free this weekend that connects:

Power and Light
Plaza
Brookside
Westport
18th and Vine
Waldo
Martini Corner

For more details check out the About.com article HERE.

Could the Tax Credit Be Extended Again?

Crystal Webster — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:36:27 +0100

I would love to get your feedback on this one. I, of course, have my own opinions on the matter but would love to hear what others think:

The pressure is increasing on Congress to renew the homebuyers tax credits for a third time.

The first $7,500 tax credit was passed in 2008 and required first-time buyers to repay the credit over 15 years. A new months later in 2009, Congress expanded the credit to a maximum of $8,000 that didn't have to be paid back.

At the end of lastRead More...

Don't be a Secret Agent

Crystal Webster — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 03:14:24 +0100

Insert the popular 60's song here.

My mentor reminds me of this on a regular basis. What’s the use of being in real estate (or insurance, or sales, or anything for that matter) if no one knows? You’re not a super spy, you’re not doing covert ops, and you’re not Read More...

Remember to take advantage of the Energy Tax Credits

Crystal Webster — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 19:17:52 +0100

Many people don’t completely understand the energy tax credits that are available to them through the end of 2010. The Kansas City Star published a nice article detailing what qualifies for the energy tax credit. And no, it’s not all furnaces and water heaters – think doors, windows, and even window coverings!

Take a look at the article here to see if the home improvement projects you completed in 2009 are eligible or befoRead More...

The Heritage Home Team Is Now Offering Property Management in Kansas City!

Crystal Webster — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:42:00 +0100

The Heritage Home Team is pleased to announce that we now offer property management services to our clients.

I discovered that, with the economy the way that it is, many people are choosing not to sell their homes when they relocate – to another area of the city or across the globe – when I was going out to discuss selling possibilities with my clients.

When I couldn’t recommend a company to manage theirRead More...

10 Home Features Buyers Want

Crystal Webster — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:45:54 +0100

Home Designers and builders speaking at the recent International Builders Show in Las Vegas say that buyers are seeking cost-effective features and rejecting things that don't have lasting value.

"It's all about family togetherness - casual living, entertaining and flexible spaces," says Carol Lavender, president of the Lavender Design Group of San Antonio

Paul Cardis, CEO of Avid Ratings, which conducts an annual survey of buyer preferences, identified these must-haves in new hRead More...

10 Inexpensive Ways to Wow Buyers

Crystal Webster — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 03:24:22 +0100

Now is the time for home owners contemplating a spring sale to spruce up their properties in anticipation of what Mike Larson of Weiss Research calls a potentially vibrant home-selling season.

"If you have been beating your head against the wall, this is going to feel a lot better," he says.

Here are 10 cheap ways to make a property more attractive to shoppers:

Improve first impressions. Touch up the paint on the front door and other areas that buyers see first.
Clean upRead More...

This Whole ‘Work/Life Balance’ Thing

Crystal Webster — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:41:23 +0100

At my former corporate job, “work/life balance” seemed to be the catch phrase of the month. I worked in a very demanding job (90+ hours a week most weeks demanding), but as long as the façade of work/life balance was there, it was all good.

Fast forward a few years tRead More...