Easy and Inexpensive Home Updates for Spring

Spring is Here!! Although home values have been increasing nationwide this year, the market in the Oklahoma City Metro is still generally in favor of Buyers. With the competition in inventory, it is so important that your home for sale is in an acceptable condition and is as “show ready” as possible to give you an edge on other available homes. However, you don’t want to find yourself spending money on an update that you will not see a return on.

Watch this great video from Yahoo!’s Financially Fit featuring Sabrina Soto, a design & lifestyle expert. Sabrina goes over 6 projects that will help you get the best return of investment this spring market without spending too much time or money. Even if your home is not for sale, these great tips will help you make your home look its very best!

6 Lazy – But Valuable – Home Improvement Projects

Anya Taschereau
Licensed Realtor
The Allen Real Estate Group

**Introducing ** – Dream Home of the Week-13252 Big Sky Drive Edmond, Oklahoma

How To Add Space To Your Home Without Building On

Reblogged from The Brand Group, OH-IO Homes:

Richard Taylor, contributor to Zillow and architect has recently shared information on how to add more space to your home without adding square footage. This information is great for anyone in an apartment, condo, townhome, or single-family home that restricts the possibility of building onto your living space. Even for homeowners who are allowed to build on, this can be a great way to increase space without emptying your bank account.

Read more… 384 more words

Real Estate Market Predictions 2013 – The Allen Real Estate Group

The last year has illustrated a promising future for the real estate market nationwide as we continue to recover from the 2008 “Housing Bubble.” With mortgage rates reaching historical lows in the past year, the market was able to gain some new footing. What did we see in the Oklahoma City Real Estate Market 2012?
- Many first time buyers made the home ownership commitment due to enticingly low payments for a moderate home.
-With some citizens still struggling with improving their credit, the investment market has also been very active. The rental rate is typically much higher than the mortgage payment, making investing in rental property a profitable decision.
-CoreLogic reported that 1.3 million homeowners were lifted out of negative equity in the first 6 months of 2012.
-While the inventory is still decreasing, the Oklahoma City Metro market has remained a buyer’s market.

The speculations for next year’s market are mostly positive. What do economists and analysts have to say about our coming year?
-Modestly rising home prices, how high of a rise will depend on newly constructed home inventory. Appreciation around 3-5% on existing homes (Forbes).
-Steady mortgage rates similar to what we’ve seen due to the Federal Reserve’s efforts to stimulate the housing market (The Street).
-Visible recovery in home prices with a nationwide increase of 4.9% (Kiplinger).
-Little change for investor/landlords from the previous year, the boom from the last year is not expected to increase further (Forbes).
-Overall decrease in inventory of foreclosed homes (Kiplinger).

-Increasing home values in both existing and new construction markets transitioning from a winter’s buyers market to a spring seller’s market starting in February 2013.  Expecting record sales industry wide since 2005! (the Allen Group).

If you are considering buying or selling a home in the coming year, let The Allen Real Estate Group “Open Doors For You!”  We will be glad to give you our professional opinion on your market area and assess your personal goals to find the best home for you!

Best wishes for the New Year!

Anya Taschereau
Licensed Realtor
The Allen Real Estate Group