Staging a home for sale is one of the hottest topics in residential real estate. In today’s challenging property market, you want all the ammunition you can get to sell your home at top dollar--and sell it fast.

So what is staging? It’s literally showcasing your home in its absolute best light. You draw buyers’ attention to your home’s most appealing features--and skillfully divert their attention from those that are less-than-stellar.

In short, staging is creating visual “eye candy” that emphasizes your home’s positive features. It’s part art, part science--and all marketing. It can involve everything from fresh paint to clever carpentry, new lighting to new window treatments. And don’t forget the borrowed (or rented) furniture to define and enhance each room!

To see staging in action, watch an episode or two of
HGTV’s Designed To Sell
The Unsellables
The Stagers 

And for some simple staging techniques presented with tongue-in-check humor, see Top 10 Home-Staging Dos  and Top 10 Home-Staging Don’ts by Designed To Sell’s Donna and Shannon Freeman.

Should you try to stage your own home--or hire a professional? My real estate experience has taught me there are two essential staging tricks that every home seller can do:

• Clear it out. You have stuff--lots of stuff. And your house is overloaded with all that stuff. Go through each room and get rid of the clutter everywhere you see it. Your rooms will look bigger, more restful, and more inviting. And all you did was pick up!

• Clean it up. Make sure everything shines inside and out, from windows, floors and countertops inside to the deck, garage and yard outside. Pay particular attention to the kitchen and bath. A little well-applied elbow grease will go a long way in selling your home. And it’s free!

Do these two simple things, and you’re already ahead in the staging game.

But should you keep going and stage other aspects of your own home? That depends on whether you have the eye, the skill--and the objectivity. Can you put yourself in the buyer’s shoes and see your home as the buyer will see it--positive points and negative points? Are you prepared to tackle those negatives? Do you have the “designer’s eye” for color and other design elements? Do you have the technical skills to complete improvements?

Staging can definitely help sell your house for more if it’s done right, whether you do it on your own or you hire a professional stager. Your real estate agent will be happy to share staging ideas and recommend a professional, if needed. All you have to do is ask!

The days of putting little money down to buy a home aren’t over.

After years of risky mortgages backed up by small down payments, most lenders aren’t underwriting mortgages without a significant sum up front and a high credit score. But a decades-old loophole can still put home buyers in a house for next to nothing. Mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) allow borrowers to get approved with a down payment as small as 3.5% of the agreed selling price of the house and don’t require a high credit score.

As millions of Americans have come to realize, getting into a house for little money down has its disadvantages. Borrowers who’ve pumped little equity into their home are often more willing to walk away from it during lean times that keep them from making payments; this risk is further elevated when home values are in decline and troubled borrowers are unable to refinance or sell the home at a price that covers their losses.

Once you have selected the type of loan you prefer and qualify for, the lender will ask you to complete a loan application, which will require a great deal of personal and financial information, including the following:

1) Your residence history
• Your previous addresses for the past two years
• The length of time you’ve lived at each address
• If you currently rent, your landlord’s name and addresses (for past 12 months)

2) Your employment history
• The names and addresses of all your employers for the past two years
• The dates you worked at each place of employment
• If there have been any gaps in your employment, explain why

3) All outstanding loans and credit cards
• The creditor’s name(s) and address(es)
• Your account number(s)
• The current total balance you owe and the months left to pay
• The amount of the monthly payment

4) Savings, checking or investment accounts
• The names and addresses for each financial institution
• Your account numbers • The current balance or value

5) Real estate you currently own
• The property address(es)
• The estimated market value
• The outstanding loan balance
• The amount of your monthly payment (including taxes, insurance, homeowner’s association dues)
• The amount of your rental income (if applicable) 6) Personal property you own • The net cash value of your life insurance
• The make, year and value of your automobile(s)
• The value of your furniture, jewelry and other personal property 7) Tax records • Some lenders may require copies of your tax records from the previous two years

If you would like to discuss the loan process and to become a pre-qualified buyer, please call us or request a loan analysis.

The Count-Down is on for The First-Time Home Buyer $8,000 Tax Credit
By now you have most likely hear about the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit that is available till November 30, 2009.

What a great opportunity to invest in your future and build financial security for you and your family.  And, it is a buyer’s market out there right now and the ability for individuals to use the tax credit at closing should have a meaningful impact on home sales and will allow thousands of families to achieve the dream of homeownership.”

The process in purchasing a home is involved and you need to ensure that everything goes smoothly so your closing will take place before the November 30, 2009 deadline.

You need to allow four to six weeks for the loan process, which means your offer should be accepted by mid October and no later than Oct 31.

Don’t let this amazing opportunity pass you by.  Call me so we can discuss your options and receive your free mortgage pre-approval.  We can start looking today and just think you could be a home owner by Nov. 30, 2009 – Just in time for the holidays.

I would be happy to assist anyone you know that would like to become a first time homeowner as well.

The San Mateo Market Snapshot offers you the most up to date and accurate information on homes sales in your neighborhood including community and school information. 

Once you have completed the information on the Market Snapshot you will receive an email showing you specific information about your home and the local market, which will look something like the below.  You will have interactive links to learn more about the local real estate market. 

On August 31, 2009 you will hear the bell ring for the San Mateo school district which is the first day of school. 

This is a very exciting time for your children regardless of age, so make the most of it.

Start them off with a healthy breakfast and make sure they have a healthy lunch to take with them or the schools provide what your child needs.

To make the morning go smoothly have them choose what they are going to wear the night before, pack their back packs with the right esstenials and look over their schedule of classes.  If your child is young take them to the school and show them around so they will be familiar with the settings.  It is always a good idea to have them meet their teachers and other school officals.

This will give your younger children a sense of security and build their self esteem.

You can gather more information from the San Mateo ISD website by visiting. San Mateo-Foster City School District.

Remember to make a note on your calendar for the Parent/Superintendent Coffee Chats.  Stay informed and a great way to know what is going one with your childs school.

By now you have most likely heard about the Cash for Clunkers.  If you feel you qualify for this rebate make sure you do your homework before assuming you can trade that old clunker in for a new one.

Visit www.CARS.gov for information on how the Cash for Clunkers rebate system works.

Here are some important thing to know:

Consumer Bill of Rights:

• Qualified consumers may participate in the CARS Program between July 1, 2009 and November 1, 2009 or when authorized funds are no longer available.
• Qualified consumers will receive a credit of $3,500 or $4,500 for an eligible trade-in toward the purchase of lease of an approved vehicle under CARS Program.
• Qualified consumers will receive the $3,500 or $4,500 credit at the time the purchase their new vehicle.
• Dealers must provide consumers with any other advertised rebates or discounts in addition to the credit they receive through the CARS Program.
• Consumers should expect to conduct their deals at their dealership of choice, not on the Internet.
• Consumers should expect the dealers to provide their best estimate of the scrap value for their eligible trade-in vehicle. Dealers are allowed to deduct $50 from this value for their administrative costs.
• Consumers should expect that all information collected through the CARS Program will be kept confidential. Social Security numbers are not required for a CARS transaction.

Everyday we hear of new reports and statistics regarding climate change and global warming. These reports indicate how imperative it is that we all do our part to help preserve this fragile planet we live on. Not everyone knows what they can do, or how to start.

The easiest place to start would be at home. Listed below are few simple things that all homeowners can do to kick start a home recycling plan. Don't feel like you have to do everything at once, unless you want to, which would be great. Implementing a home recycling program  will change some of the current processes in your home, but it shouldn't take long to get use to these new ways of doing things and change your habits.

Curbside or Drop-off Recycling
According to Earth 911, curbside recycling is offered to half the U.S. population which provides homeowners a convenient way to recycle a variety of different materials such as, plastic, paper, aluminum cans, glass bottles and steel/tin cans . For those areas where curbside recycling is not offered, recycling drop-off locations are a fabulous alternative.

Stop Using Plastic Shopping Bags
Plastic bags are not biodegradable and are threatening our marine life and clogging our landfills. A simple step in your home recycling plan would be to stop using plastic shopping bags. There are so many alternative shopping bag sources out there now with many large, and small, stores offering canvas reusable bags for less than a dollar each.

Composting
Composting is a fabulous way to limit the amount of garbage in your garbage cans and ultimately the amount of garbage you add to our landfills. An added benefit of composting is the nutrient-rich fertilizer you will create for your gardens using organic  materials from your home.

For additional information visit Earth 911 or contact your local home waste collection service provider.

It is no secret that the current buyers market that we are in has left home sellers wondering what it will take to get the best possible price for their home and as quickly as possible.

Many homeowners are turning to renovating their homes in an attempt to set themselves apart from other homes for sale in the community, but what renovations can be done to get the largest rate of return?

First and foremost it is important to keep in mind, whether you are selling now or in the future, general maintenance and upkeep of your home is a logical investment. Homebuyers are drawn to “move-in-ready” homes so they are not burdened with having to tend to basic repairs after moving in.

With that said, there has been a lot of discussion, articles written and blog posts made that outline the types of renovations, beyond general maintenance, that are commonly taken on, resulting in a reasonable return on your investment when selling your home. These renovations include:

•    The Kitchen
•    Bathrooms
•    Floors and Wall Finishes
•    New Siding
•    Extra Living Space
•    Windows
•    Decks
•    Energy Efficient Improvements

Before you decide to jump into any major renovations before selling, it is always a good idea to consult with your Realtor® to evaluate the market values in your community.  Ideally you want the renovations you decide to spend your time, effort and money on, to get you the best possible price for your home (within a reasonable neighborhood price point) and the largest return on your investment.

Major renovations before selling can be pricey, time consuming and a great investment, but shouldn’t be entered into lightly. Depending on your time frame and when you need/want to be out of your home, all renovations should be carefully planned and reviewed with your agent.

In a day and age when technology seems to rule a big part of our lives, it is important to make sure that our “identity” is protected. As we have all read the horror stories of the victims of identity theft, there are steps we can take to protect ourselves and our personal information.

For starters we should be clear about what identify is and how we are identified as individuals in this high tech world we live in. Identity theft occurs when our personal information is collected without our permission and utilized, most of the time, for criminal activity. What personal information do these people target?

1.      Your Name

2.      Address

3.      Birth Date

4.      Social Security Number (SSN)

5.      Credit Card Numbers

6.      and Other Personal Identification Numbers

This is the type of information someone would need to open credit card or bank accounts, apply for cellular phone service, purchase vacations packages, forward your mail, etc. So how can you protect yourself from this information getting into the wrong hands?

1. If asked to provide personal information, ask why is it needed, how will it used, if it will be shared and with whom.
2. Carry the least amount of personal information with you as possible.
3. When asked for your credit number over the phone or internet, make sure that you know who you are dealing with and the communication line is secure.
4. It’s always a good idea to take extra security measures when dealing over the internet (i.e. digital signatures and data encryption).
5. Knowing your billing cycles can prove to be very useful should you not receive your bills in the mail. This could help in determining if you mail has been illicitly redirected.
6. Order your credit report at least once a year and review for any inaccuracies or any unusual activity.
7. Report lost or stolen credit cards immediately.
8. You can also request that your accounts require passwords before any inquiries or changes can be made
9. Choosing the right password is extremely important. You don’t want anything obvious and you DON’T want to write them down.
10. Always protect your pin number when using debit machines, bank machines or telephones.
11. Review your credit card cardholder agreement. A number of companies offer protection from credit card fraud.
12. Lastly, be aware of your garbage. Anything with the above mentioned personal information on it should not just be thrown out. Shredding this type of documentation (especially financial statements, receipts, etc.) is an effective step in preventing identity theft.

Taking the necessary steps above to protect your identity is not difficult. It’s as simple as being aware of what these identity thieves are looking for and arming yourself with the knowledge on how to properly protect your personal information.