November 2010 Newsletter
Here’s What’s Happening in Our Neighborhood:
ACTIVE: 5020 Mead Dr. - an Eaton in perfect condition! 2 full, 2 half Baths, finished basement, granite, greenhouse. A Gutner Team Listing. See the virtual tour at www.gutner.com. NOW $482,500!!!!
4940 Redfield Rd - A Northampton, Granite counters, crown molding, large finished basement with bar. Was $495,000, then $485,000, now $475,000. On the market for 118 days. Just sold last year for $460,000.
4160 Herbst Dr - a Belmont, first floor study with custom built-ins, granite counters, stone gas fireplace,. Originally asking 535,00, reduced to 529,900 and now to $519,900. On the market for 160 days.
4140 Herbst Dr.—A Haverford with master bedroom sitting area and patio. Asking $529,900 for 29 days.
UNDER AGREEMENT: 4810 Redfield Rd, A Gutner Team Listing: Just Listed: The only Dartmouth floorplan in the Hunt! Impeccable condition! Granite and Tile in kitchen, Great Breakfast room, Master Sitting Room. $519,900. See it at www.gutner.com. On the market for 21 days!
SOLD : 4010 Hunt Dr. - a Columbia w/upgraded culinary kitchen, hardwoods through first and second floor, 2 story family room and Jack-n-Jill bath. Asking $579,900, reduced to 569,900 and now to $554,900. Sold price :( $515,000! On the market for 115 days.
IN HEARTHSTONE:
ACTIVE: 4819 Green Heather Court—A Gorgeous “Creamery” with master sitting room addition, finished basement, newer hardwood flooring, granite and a great yard! Another Gutner Team Listing!! See the virtual tour at www.gutner.com! $500,000!
3853 W. Brandon Way - a Creamery, fireplace, finished basement, a SHORT SALE. Listed at $429,900 for 288 days.
4976 Melissa Ct - a Creamery, fireplace, unfin, bsmt.. Originally $485,000 reduced to $439,900; listed for 295 days.
3885 W. Brandon—A Creamery w/ pond views. Fin basement. Was $489,900, reduced to $479,000, now $474,000; listed for 119 days.
PENDING: 3776 Amberton Way—Creamery model with granite, finished basement, side entrance garage, full stone front. Another Gutner Team Listing! Listed at $489,900.
3905 Amberton Way — granite, custom tile backsplash, full finished basement, stone front, fenced yard. Wow! Value priced and only on the market 16 days!!! Listed at $469,900.
SETTLED: None
So . . . What’s Up with your competition? In Buckingham Township alone, looking at homes priced between $450,000 and $600,000, there are 36 homes on the market. Over the past year, an average of 4 homes sell per month. Soooo . . . This means that there is a 9 month accumulation of inventory. In other words, if nothing else came on the market it in this price range, it would take 9 months to clear out the inventory. Same price range, looking at Buckingham, Plumstead and Doylestown, there are 101 homes on the market, 8 sales per month average for an Inventory accumulation of 12 months. If you want to be one of the 8 that sells every month you need to do a few things. Call us, we’ll help you figure out this crazy market!
HOW NOT TO BE ON THE MARKET FOR LONG
If you are thinking that a move is in your future you need to begin NOW. You may think that you don’t have a lot to do to go on the market, but we’ll bet there are things you MUST do that you don’t even know. We are very slow between now and the end of January and if you would like us to help you make your list of to-do’s to get ready for market, feel free to give us a call. We have done this for several people and it will really help you to move your home faster and for a better price.
Still haven’t Re-Financed?
Over the next few months mortgage rates will be at their best. Whenever the market slows down, rates go down and we’re coming into the winter months. If you are staying in your home for 5 more years you should really consider recasting your loan:
Loan Amount: $200,000 Rate: 6.25 Current Payment: $1,714 New Rate: 4.25 New Payment $1,504
$300,000 6.25 $2,572 4.25 $2,256
If you are trying to decide if you should do a 15 year mortgage here’s something to think about:
On a $200,000, 30 year mortgage at 4.5%, you’ll pay $164,813 in interest with a monthly payment of $1,013. Pay down the loan in 15 year (by making prepayments of about $517 per month on the mortgage balance) and your monthly payment would be $1,529 and you’d pay $75,396 in interest. If you went with a 15 year mortgage at 4% instead, you’d pay $66,286 in interest and have a payment of $1,479. So ask yourself if you’d be willing to pay a few thousand dollars more in interest for the flexibility of having an extra $500 a month to cover life’s expenses without tapping home equity. Also assess whether you’re disciplined enough to actually prepay the loan. If the answer is no, then a shorter-term mortgage is a good fit.
Tips to Save $$$$ on Your Utilities
Turn down your water heater. 13% of your home’s electricity goes to heating water. Set it to 130—140 degrees and install an Insulation jacket. Insulate the first six feet of piping that comes off of your heater.
Turn off heat drying on your dishwasher.
Switch to CFL lighting (4X less energy) and look for the new LED lighting options coming to Home Depot soon.
LED bulbs can also save you money in the long term, because an incandescent bulb requires about $300 worth of electricity over ten years of use. The LED bulbs cost $40 (for the 60 watt equivalent Zetalux) and $50 (for the 100 watt equivalent) and their cost to run over ten years is about $38. Multiply that by all the bulbs in your home . . . WOW!
Install a programmable thermostat. Futures markets predict an unprecedented raise in the cost of natural gas this year. In January you will be able to pick an alternative source (other than PECO) and get a more competitive rate. It will still go through PECO for billing and pipes, etc., but you’ll be able to lower your bill a little. YOU CAN DO THIS ON YOUR OWN. Many people are running around selling this but you can do this yourself!!!
Wash your clothes with a full load on cold. 90% of the energy consumed by your washing machine goes to heating the water.
Clean the condenser coils on your refrigerator(s)!! Especially if you have pets! Get out your vacuum and do it NOW! You should do this every 3 or 4 months to cut your energy and prolong the life of your refrigerator.
75% of your energy is from “phantom” users including televisions, VCRs, stereos, computers, phone chargers, etc. Turn them off when not in use!
Keller Williams Coat Drive—WE are working with a Philadelphia organization and collecting coats that you don’t need anymore. If you have a coat or 2 that you are ready to part with, call or email me and I will pick up or you can leave it outside in a bag, or you can drop off to me at my house in Cold Spring Hunt at 4060 Hunt Drive. THANKS!!!
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Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
September 2010 Newsletter
Here’s What’s Happening in Our Neighborhood:
ACTIVE:
4940 Redfield Rd - A Northampton, Granite counters, crown molding, large finished basement with bar. Was $495,000, now $485,000. On the market for 60 days. Just sold last year for $460,000.
4160 Herbst Dr - a Belmont, first floor study with custom built-ins, granite counters, stone gas fireplace,. Originally asking 535,00, reduced to 529,900. On the market for 112 days.
5020 Mead Dr. - an Eaton in perfect condition! 2 full, 2 half Baths, finished basement, granite, greenhouse. A Gutner Team Listing. See the virtual tour at www.gutner.com. Asking $519,900, Reduced to 499,550. NOW $482,500!!!!
PENDING:
4010 Hunt Dr. - a Columbia w/upgraded culinary kitchen, hardwoods through first and second floor, 2 story family room and Jack-n-Jill bath. Asking $579,900, reduced to 569,900 and now to $554,900. On the market for 54 days.
SOLD :
4950 Redfield - an Eaton, 4 bdrms, 2 1/2 baths, finished basement, EP Henry patio. Asking 539,900. Sold for full price—bad appraisal at $495,000. Negotiated to $530,000. On the market for 3 days. A Gutner Team Listing!
5051 Mead Dr. - a Haverford, 4 bdrms, 2 1/2 baths, largest dining room available in C.S.H., double wall ovens, finished walk-out basement. New Hardwoods, new paint, new carpet. A Gutner Team Listing. See the virtual tour at www.gutner.com. Sold for $540,000.
4814 Mead Dr. - a Belmont with finished walk-out basement and large, flat yard with lots of privacy, stainless kitchen, new granite, shadow box moldings. A Gutner Team Listing. See the virtual tour at www.gutner.com. Sold for $510,000.
4965 Grundy Way - a Glenfield, 4 Bdrms, 2 1/2 baths. A Gutner Team Listing. See the virtual tour at www.gutner.com. Hardwoods, granite , back staircase, fireplace, screened sun room, in-ground pool. Settled at $557,000.
While it’s not a great year in Real Estate we have sold 30 homes so far!!!
Need results? Call Jeri and Henri Gutner
Know someone looking for a rental in the area? We have some great homes available:
Fireside, 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath, large deck, backs to protected area and trees, finished basement. $2,100.
Hearthstone, 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bath, great patio, side entrance garage, finished basement. $2,800.
Buckingham, 1 acre, 8 year old custom built home w/4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths. $2,800.
9th Annual Keller Williams Food Drive
Last year we donated more than 1500 bags of food to the New Britain Food Larder along with $1,500 in cash. Believe it or not this only fills the Larder for 2 months. These are local needy folks people!! Please put a bag with canned goods, paper goods, toiletries, pastas—anything you find in your heart to give—put it out at your mailbox by 9:30 on Saturday, October 2nd and we’ll be by to pick it up. Thank You So Much!!! If you’d like to deliver it, bring it to our Food/Drive, Chilli contest (I’m competing!) at the New Britain Church on Route 202 between 10:00 and 1:00 on the 2nd. Would love to see you there!!!
What’s Wrong with My House?
Possibly nothing! But if you are married to a man who prefers to have a food blog and every kitchen utensil available instead of the latest tools, you may want to invest in a Professional Home Inspector. For somewhere between $400 and $500.00 a home inspector will climb up on your roof and let you know what’s happening up there, go into that ridiculously small access space called an attic to look for problems, test your Air and Heat and electric, check for rotted wood and a myriad of other things. In about 2 1/2 to 3 hours you’ll have a complete picture of all the projects you need to attend to. And . . . If you are planning on selling in the next few years, how impressive would it be to hand it over to a buyer with documentation of all that you’ve repaired. Need a name? Call me!
Fix it Now!
Nail Pops:
Let’s face it . . . We all have a nail pop here or there. They come from the nails that hold the drywall to the studs, actually popping through the face of the drywall. It’s either from our houses settling or the wood studs drying out and squeezing the nail out of the wood, pushing it through the drywall. Fixing it isn’t difficult but it is a pain in the neck to match the paint perfectly. Pound the nail through the drywall to the stud and then just above it, place a drywall screw to hold the drywall to the stud. Finish with a few coats of spackle or joint compound and paint. Places like Lowes and Home Depot sell a whole kit that makes the job easier.
Oil Stains On Your Garage Floor:
First, DUH, fix the car. Then get kitty litter to soak up the excess oil. Clear the kitty litter and make a paste of hot water and dry dish or laundry detergent. Use a stiff bristle scrub brush to scrub the area with the paste. Hose and let dry. Spray ‘n Wash on the stain for 10 minutes helps with tougher stains but apply before detergent. Last option is oven cleaner but don’t let it linger. That stuff is strong!
Squeaky Stairs:
We mostly see that the treads (the horizontal surface of the steps) comes loose which causes squeaking. Lately we’re also seeing loose spindles or balusters. If you can get underneath the staircase fixing the tread is easy. You will need to attach an L bracket from the underside of the tread to the stringer (the long piece of wood that connects the treads and runs diagonally up the wall). If you can’t get underneath the staircase, you’ll have to attack it from above. Squeaky stair kits are available that allow you to make this fix even through the carpet. Otherwise you can secure the treat to the stringer with a trim screw.
And when all else fails . . . Call you’re Handy Man! Don’t have one? Call me!
Real Estate Forecast
It’s going to be the winter of our discontent. All forecasts are calling for too much supply and too little demand until the end of 2011. Banks are holding off on Foreclosures because unleashing them all would cause a huge price decline to their inventory—and we are seeing more and more of them everyday—in every neighborhood in Buckingham. The good news is that with about 4 million births, 2 million deaths and 1 million newly arriving immigrants in U.S. each year, there will be a steady demand for homes . . . over time. Historically, the net number of home-owning households rises by 1 million each year. There are 2 million weddings and 1 million divorces that add to change in living arrangements and typically, home owners look for a new place every seven to 10 years. As a result, it is predicted that in the U.S. we will see 50 to 70 million home sales over the next 10 years. The take-away here is that over the next year it’s going to be tough to sell a home. It’s going to take longer and you are going to compete with a lot of homes which means your price has to be aggressive, your home has to be PERFECT and you need to have patience. Know what’s for sale around you so that when you see a dip in inventory and you think that your house and your price will be the winner for the 1 buyer who will buy in the next month, go on the market. Timing IS everything. Call us for our wisdom!
“Neighborhood Discounts”
There’s power in numbers!! Is anyone interested in working with me on getting “Neighborhood Discounts”. I can’t do this alone but with some help I am willing to help negotiate some different deals like: driveway sealing; window cleaning; interior and exterior painting; storm door installation; new garage doors; etc. The possibilities are endless! Send me your ideas and whether you are able to help! jeri@gutner.com
Here’s What’s Happening in Our Neighborhood:
ACTIVE:
4940 Redfield Rd - A Northampton, Granite counters, crown molding, large finished basement with bar. Was $495,000, now $485,000. On the market for 60 days. Just sold last year for $460,000.
4160 Herbst Dr - a Belmont, first floor study with custom built-ins, granite counters, stone gas fireplace,. Originally asking 535,00, reduced to 529,900. On the market for 112 days.
5020 Mead Dr. - an Eaton in perfect condition! 2 full, 2 half Baths, finished basement, granite, greenhouse. A Gutner Team Listing. See the virtual tour at www.gutner.com. Asking $519,900, Reduced to 499,550. NOW $482,500!!!!
PENDING:
4010 Hunt Dr. - a Columbia w/upgraded culinary kitchen, hardwoods through first and second floor, 2 story family room and Jack-n-Jill bath. Asking $579,900, reduced to 569,900 and now to $554,900. On the market for 54 days.
SOLD :
4950 Redfield - an Eaton, 4 bdrms, 2 1/2 baths, finished basement, EP Henry patio. Asking 539,900. Sold for full price—bad appraisal at $495,000. Negotiated to $530,000. On the market for 3 days. A Gutner Team Listing!
5051 Mead Dr. - a Haverford, 4 bdrms, 2 1/2 baths, largest dining room available in C.S.H., double wall ovens, finished walk-out basement. New Hardwoods, new paint, new carpet. A Gutner Team Listing. See the virtual tour at www.gutner.com. Sold for $540,000.
4814 Mead Dr. - a Belmont with finished walk-out basement and large, flat yard with lots of privacy, stainless kitchen, new granite, shadow box moldings. A Gutner Team Listing. See the virtual tour at www.gutner.com. Sold for $510,000.
4965 Grundy Way - a Glenfield, 4 Bdrms, 2 1/2 baths. A Gutner Team Listing. See the virtual tour at www.gutner.com. Hardwoods, granite , back staircase, fireplace, screened sun room, in-ground pool. Settled at $557,000.
While it’s not a great year in Real Estate we have sold 30 homes so far!!!
Need results? Call Jeri and Henri Gutner
Know someone looking for a rental in the area? We have some great homes available:
Fireside, 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath, large deck, backs to protected area and trees, finished basement. $2,100.
Hearthstone, 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bath, great patio, side entrance garage, finished basement. $2,800.
Buckingham, 1 acre, 8 year old custom built home w/4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths. $2,800.
9th Annual Keller Williams Food Drive
Last year we donated more than 1500 bags of food to the New Britain Food Larder along with $1,500 in cash. Believe it or not this only fills the Larder for 2 months. These are local needy folks people!! Please put a bag with canned goods, paper goods, toiletries, pastas—anything you find in your heart to give—put it out at your mailbox by 9:30 on Saturday, October 2nd and we’ll be by to pick it up. Thank You So Much!!! If you’d like to deliver it, bring it to our Food/Drive, Chilli contest (I’m competing!) at the New Britain Church on Route 202 between 10:00 and 1:00 on the 2nd. Would love to see you there!!!
What’s Wrong with My House?
Possibly nothing! But if you are married to a man who prefers to have a food blog and every kitchen utensil available instead of the latest tools, you may want to invest in a Professional Home Inspector. For somewhere between $400 and $500.00 a home inspector will climb up on your roof and let you know what’s happening up there, go into that ridiculously small access space called an attic to look for problems, test your Air and Heat and electric, check for rotted wood and a myriad of other things. In about 2 1/2 to 3 hours you’ll have a complete picture of all the projects you need to attend to. And . . . If you are planning on selling in the next few years, how impressive would it be to hand it over to a buyer with documentation of all that you’ve repaired. Need a name? Call me!
Fix it Now!
Nail Pops:
Let’s face it . . . We all have a nail pop here or there. They come from the nails that hold the drywall to the studs, actually popping through the face of the drywall. It’s either from our houses settling or the wood studs drying out and squeezing the nail out of the wood, pushing it through the drywall. Fixing it isn’t difficult but it is a pain in the neck to match the paint perfectly. Pound the nail through the drywall to the stud and then just above it, place a drywall screw to hold the drywall to the stud. Finish with a few coats of spackle or joint compound and paint. Places like Lowes and Home Depot sell a whole kit that makes the job easier.
Oil Stains On Your Garage Floor:
First, DUH, fix the car. Then get kitty litter to soak up the excess oil. Clear the kitty litter and make a paste of hot water and dry dish or laundry detergent. Use a stiff bristle scrub brush to scrub the area with the paste. Hose and let dry. Spray ‘n Wash on the stain for 10 minutes helps with tougher stains but apply before detergent. Last option is oven cleaner but don’t let it linger. That stuff is strong!
Squeaky Stairs:
We mostly see that the treads (the horizontal surface of the steps) comes loose which causes squeaking. Lately we’re also seeing loose spindles or balusters. If you can get underneath the staircase fixing the tread is easy. You will need to attach an L bracket from the underside of the tread to the stringer (the long piece of wood that connects the treads and runs diagonally up the wall). If you can’t get underneath the staircase, you’ll have to attack it from above. Squeaky stair kits are available that allow you to make this fix even through the carpet. Otherwise you can secure the treat to the stringer with a trim screw.
And when all else fails . . . Call you’re Handy Man! Don’t have one? Call me!
Real Estate Forecast
It’s going to be the winter of our discontent. All forecasts are calling for too much supply and too little demand until the end of 2011. Banks are holding off on Foreclosures because unleashing them all would cause a huge price decline to their inventory—and we are seeing more and more of them everyday—in every neighborhood in Buckingham. The good news is that with about 4 million births, 2 million deaths and 1 million newly arriving immigrants in U.S. each year, there will be a steady demand for homes . . . over time. Historically, the net number of home-owning households rises by 1 million each year. There are 2 million weddings and 1 million divorces that add to change in living arrangements and typically, home owners look for a new place every seven to 10 years. As a result, it is predicted that in the U.S. we will see 50 to 70 million home sales over the next 10 years. The take-away here is that over the next year it’s going to be tough to sell a home. It’s going to take longer and you are going to compete with a lot of homes which means your price has to be aggressive, your home has to be PERFECT and you need to have patience. Know what’s for sale around you so that when you see a dip in inventory and you think that your house and your price will be the winner for the 1 buyer who will buy in the next month, go on the market. Timing IS everything. Call us for our wisdom!
“Neighborhood Discounts”
There’s power in numbers!! Is anyone interested in working with me on getting “Neighborhood Discounts”. I can’t do this alone but with some help I am willing to help negotiate some different deals like: driveway sealing; window cleaning; interior and exterior painting; storm door installation; new garage doors; etc. The possibilities are endless! Send me your ideas and whether you are able to help! jeri@gutner.com
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