Google Maps Hit a Home Run

October 31, 2009 1 Comment

Google unveiled its latest innovation for real estate this past week and they crushed a 3-2 pitch in the bottom of the ninth into the upper deck!  Every time Google tinkers around with its website, real estate people get a shiver of anxiety and this latest innovation is likely to give many within the industry a full-blown case of hives.

Since Google announced the ability to see lots of real estate listings directly on Google Maps back in July of this year, they’ve been working hard to make it even easier to use.  They’ve added things like brand new high-resolution Street View imagery and detailed map data.  Now they’re making Google Maps an even more useful tool for online real estate searching.   Here are a couple of things you can look out for next time you visit their website:

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Filed under Agents, Buyers, Consumers, Sellers, Technology Tagged with , , , , , , , ,

Lancaster County Heads Retirement Relocation Options

August 11, 2009 Leave a Comment

Lancaster County was recently cited in ”Where to Retire” magazine as one of the eight best places to live during one’s golden years.  What other locations did we share this distinction with?  Fort Myers, Fla.; Winston-Salem, N.C.; Greeley, Colo.; Spokane, Wash.; Chattanooga, Tn.; Salem, Ore. and Chico, Calif.  I’d say we’re in pretty fair company.

“Where to Retire” magazine was launched in 1992 with the goal of helping its readers find the ideal place to retire.  Now published six times a year, the magazine covers the best retirement regions, towns, and master-planned communities, and has a national average circulation of 220,000 and an average readership of 500,000.

According to the magazine’s editor, Mary Lu Abbott, it’s a prime time for retirees to find affordable places to relocate, as an excess inventory of homes provides great values at low cost.  She’s states that as the housing market recovers, much of the buyer traffic will be active adults looking toward retirement and the cities that offer the opportunity for a well-rounded lifestyle coupled with great home buys should see increased interest from relocating retirees.

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Filed under Buyers, Condominiums, Lancaster, Market Conditions Tagged with , , , ,

Now More Than Ever – Use a REALTOR!

February 3, 2009 Leave a Comment

    
A recent survey by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) finds that the reason most often cited by people who aren’t moving forward with the purchase of a home is that they can’t sell their existing house.  In fact the percentage is shockingly high at 91%.  Why do I say ‘shockingly’?  Because usually you can’t get 9 out of 10 people to agree on anything.  If you couple this with the other top reasons cited, you have a real crisis in confidence. 

I’m not telling you these negative perceptions by home buyers so that you can run away and hide and come out next spring when the real estate fairy has had a chance to wave her magic wand and make everything better.  No – far from it.  Because of the challenging market that we find ourselves in today, it is essential that a professional Realtor be consulted when one is thinking about buying or selling real estate.  The days of sticking your home in the MLS, placing a sign in the front yard and getting three offers before sundown are over.  If you place your home on the market today, it must be priced right and in tip-top shape.  The only way to do this is to consult a professional Realtor who does this for a living and has seen your competition up close and personal.  Not only do you need to consult a Realtor, but you need to actually listen to their advice.  If they say to trim the shrubs – trim the shrubs.  If they advise you to paint the purple bedroom off white - paint it.  If they tell you that your home should be priced at $199,000 – list it at $199,000.  No more, “I think I’ll try it at $225,500 for a couple of weeks to see if I get any nibbles” stuff.  If you overprice in this market you will pay the price by having your home languish on the market and ultimately get passed over because real buyers will think you aren’t serious.

In today’s real estate market, only a professional Realtor is equipped to guide you through this sea of uncertainty and help you dock in a safe harbor.

Filed under Buyers, Market Conditions, Sellers Tagged with , , , , ,

Take the Guesswork Out of Moving

January 14, 2009 Leave a Comment

Screencap of White Fence

Screencap of www.whitefence.com

So you’ve just bought a house – - – Congratulations!  Now the tough part; trying to figure out how to physically get from Point A to Point B without losing your sanity.  There are so many small, medium, large and ultra-gigantic details to deal with.  How do you remember everything?  Well help is just a click away!  There is a relatively new website out there that will make your transition smoother than you ever thought imaginable.  It’s called “White Fence.”  As you click through the site you will find “To Do” lists, phone numbers, discount coupons, etc.

Filed under Buyers, Sellers Tagged with , , ,

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