Donna Littlefield, Real Estate Agent & Broker in WNY

real estate tips

Why do Some Homes Stay Longer on the Market than Others?

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Why do some homes stay on the market longer than others? Generally, price is the biggest factor. Owners who think their home is worth much more than what the market is willing to pay often find themselves listing their homes for months or even years to no avail. Even though the owner thinks the home they put so much time, energy and sweat equity into may be worth a million bucks, if the majority of homes nearby are all selling in a particular range, the owner would sell his or her home faster by dropping the asking price to a more reasonable amount.

There are, of course, other reasons homes may linger on the market. Besides price, there’s appearance. If there are two similar homes in a neighborhood, priced similarly, the one that’s better looking (or more “up-to-date”) is likely to sell faster. Curb appeal matters a lot, after all. People want to buy a nice looking place, preferably updated to today’s standards. And just like people dress up to look their best for a first date, a home’s front yard needs to look its best. Has the lawn been mowed or not? Is there paint peeling on the window shutters? Did a gutter become loose? Are there more weeds than flowers in the garden? These “little things” matter!

The interior of a home also matters. Some people, for whatever reason, refuse to make any stylistic upgrades to their homes. When potential buyers walk in to see stained old rugs, cabinetry from the 1970s, and appliances that haven’t been changed since the Nixon administration, they’re not going to be too eager to buy the place. Also, if a place appears cluttered, that can deter buyers as well.

Finally, things like an older roof can contribute to a home not selling quickly… people worry they’ll have to replace an old roof, which can tack on $10,000 or more– an expense they may not want.

If you’re having issues selling your home in Western New York, contact Donna Littlefield for help today.

Things to Consider When Searching for a New Home

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Just like in business, where location is “everything,” the same can be said for house hunting. Indeed, that’s the number one thing to consider when searching for a new home. Location determines so much– from commute times to how big (or small) your yard will be. It’s important to research locations and do a pros/cons list of each one, ultimately deciding a “top 3” list of potential locations where you could see yourself living comfortably.

With regards to location, there are several factors. For most people, it’s “how close to work is it?” If you have a job in Rochester, but live in Buffalo, that one and a half hour commute might not be ideal, especially in winter. But if you have a job in Tonawanda and a house in Wheatfield, that fifteen minutes or less commute works well.

Many couples who want to get married have to decide where they’ll live. What happens when she’s used to living in the rural country and he’s a suburban guy at heart? Perhaps they compromise and choose to live in an area that straddles the border between rural and suburban.

How much does public transportation matter to you? Do you have a need to be close to things like Tim Horton’s, Wal-Mart, and/or a certain mall? What about a church you attend or a school system you’d like your kids to be enrolled in? Location matters– a lot! Spend time in the neighborhood(s) you’re thinking of moving to, both during the day and at night, to get a proper “real feel” for what life is like there. Does a siren from a firehouse go off too many times nearby? Are there noisy train tracks in the vicinity? What about industrial smokestacks around the area? Of course you’ll also want to consider how safe a place feels: can you walk outdoors, alone at night and feel good about sending your children outdoors to play?

Searching for a new home also involves your personal situation and what your future holds. For instance, one woman who is single and in her early sixties currently lives in a two-story home may love her property, but she may be worried that as she gets older she won’t be able to easily climb up and down stairs, and may prefer a ranch home elsewhere.

Other things to take into consideration about a potential new place to live include aesthetics: does the new place look nice? Could you see yourself living there? Does the feel of the house fit your personality and lifestyle? Is there enough room for your stuff? How’s the landscaping?

Finally, people tend to focus on bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens, since those are places in a home where they spend the most time. Therefore, pick the home which offers the best versions of those rooms to meet your specific needs.

If you need help finding the right home for your needs in Western New York, contact Donna Littlefield today.

Things First Time Homebuyers Should Know

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Buying your first house is a big deal. It’s also not something you do everyday. Before you take the plunge and buy your first house, there are plenty of things to consider.

First, it’s all about the money, isn’t it? It comes down to this: how much can you afford? Think about how much money you have saved up over the years. Then talk with mortgage brokers to see what options are available to help finance your purchase. Factor in other costs, such as yearly taxes. Some homes can have taxes that are cheap– say, $600 a year– while others, especially if they’re near water like the Niagara River, can have taxes over $10,000 a year. Do some calculations and come up with the best price range for your situation. Most first time homebuyers around Western New York tend to pick homes in the $70,000 to $159,000 range.

When meeting with a mortgage broker to discuss buying a house, they’re going to want to know your credit score. The higher the score the less risk you pose to them. In other words, they don’t mind lending money to people with high credit scores because it’s easily assumed they’ll get paid back on-time and in-full. So, if you have a “low” credit score, it’s time to stop buying things you don’t need using your credit card. Pay down your debt. That can help improve your credit score, and you’ll want to aim for this months in advance before talking with a mortgage broker.

Since buying a house involves a big amount of time, money and sweat, it’s best to consult with a realtor. He or she knows more about the process of buying a house than you do. Their expertise, especially at negotiation, can prove invaluable when buying a home. It’s better to have a realtor as your trusted advocate than to go it alone.

Also, consider having the home inspected before you buy it. This way you know, for sure, if there are any problems with it that could/should be fixed before you take ownership. You’re better safe than sorry– an inspection report gives you a detailed idea of exactly what you’re getting into!

Take time to familiarize yourself with real estate terminology so you’re not ignorant. For instance, look up the terms “down payment,” “closing costs,” and “real estate comps” using Google.com so you’re informed about the process. Real estate, like sports, has its own language/jargon.

For help buying your first home in Western New York, don’t hesitate to connect with real estate broker Donna Littlefield. Her number is 716-578-1788 and she specializes in Wheatfield, Pendleton, and Amherst, which are all desirable northern suburbs of Buffalo, New York.

Factors to Consider When Selecting a Community to Live In

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Finding a Community to Live InIn real estate, it’s “location, location, location.” Why are some houses really expensive while others aren’t? Usually it depends on their location. There are other factors, but location matters most.

How do you decide what community to live in? You make a list of what you want around you, and then you have a real estate agent like Donna Littlefield help you find a neighborhood that meets those needs.

Most people want to live close to where they work. A commute that’s twenty minutes or less is ideal. Few people want to live somewhere that’s over an hour commute to their work, unless they’re willing to live far from a city simply because they value nature more than the convenience of having stores and lots of people nearby.

Consider a location’s amenities. People love living near parks– even if they don’t use them! There’s something nice about living near a park, which is a dedicated green space that helps “up” property values. Other neighborhood amenities to look for when deciding where to live include community pools for the summer, gyms for the winter, malls for shopping, and a nice variety of restaurants for when you don’t want to cook at home.

If you have kids or plan to have kids, then schools become a major factor in deciding where to settle. You can do some research to find out how certain schools rank in the region and discover the ideal ones.

Besides schools, parks, and amenities, the other major thing people care about is safety. How much crime does the area have? What kind of crimes happen there? Basically, no one wants to live in an area where their car will be broken into or they’ll be robbed on the street. They want to be in a well-lit place where neighbors look out for one another and they don’t have to fear for their life.

If you’re looking for a nice place to live in Western New York, contact Donna Littlefield at 716-578-1788 today. She can find you a great, safe location with quality schools, parks, and amenities nearby.