EXIT of The Carolinas

Thinking of Selling? Why Now May Be The Time

It is common knowledge that a large number of homes sell during the spring-buying season. For that reason, many homeowners hold off on putting their home on the market until then. The question is whether or not that will be a good strategy this year.

The other listings that do come out in the spring will represent increased competition to any seller. Do a greater number of homes actually come to the market in the spring, as compared to the rest of the year? The National Association of Realtors (NAR) recently revealed which months most people listed their home in for 2015. Here is a graphic showing the results:

The three months in the second quarter of the year (represented in red) are consistently the most popular months for sellers to list their homes on the market. Last year, the number of homes available for sale in January was 1,860,000.

That number spiked to 2,280,000 by May!

What does this mean to you?

With the national job situation improving, and mortgage interest rates projected to rise later in the year, buyers are not waiting until the spring. They are out looking for a home right now. If you are looking to sell this year, waiting until the spring to list your home means you will have the greatest competition for a buyer.

Bottom Line

It may make sense to beat the rush of housing inventory that will enter the market in the spring and list your home today.

David Kaufmann – Realtor ® / GRI - Market got you lost? Take the next EXiT!

Specializing in commercial, high-end waterfront, as well as more modest, residential dwellings in Annapolis, Stevensville, Queenstownand the surrounding areas.

www.DavidKaufmannEXITRealty.com- 443-223-3026 cell, 410-304-2115 office,

410-304-2031 fax;DavidKaufmannEXITRealty@gmail.comemail

What to do AFTER the storm has passed:

From the official website of the Department of Homeland Security 01/23/2016

Hello Maryland, now that “Jonas” #Blizzardof2016 has passed, here are a few tips on what to do next.

After Winter Storms And Extreme Cold

• If your home loses power or heat for more than a few hours or if you do not have adequate supplies to stay warm in your home overnight, you may want to go to a designated public shelter if you can get there safely. TextSHELTER + your ZIP code to 43362 (4FEMA) to find the nearest shelter in your area (e.g., SHELTER20472)
• Bring any personal items that you would need to spend the night (such as toiletries, medicines). Take precautions when traveling to the shelter. Dress warmly in layers, wear boots, mittens, and a hat.
• Continue to protect yourself from frostbite and hypothermia by wearing warm, loose-fitting, lightweight clothing in several layers. Stay indoors, if possible.

Learn From Every Storm

Restock your emergency supplies to be ready in case another storm hits.

• Assess how well your supplies and family plan worked. What could you have done better?
• Take a few minutes to improve your family plan and supplies before the next winter storm hits.
• Talk to your neighbors and colleagues about their experiences and share tips with each other.

David Kaufmann – Realtor ® / GRI - Market got you lost? Take the next EXIT!

Specializing in commercial, high-end waterfront, as well as more modest, residential dwellings in Annapolis, Stevensville, Queenstown and the surrounding areas.

www.DavidKaufmannEXITRealty.com - 443-223-3026 cell, 410-304-2115 office,

410-304-2031 fax; DavidKaufmannEXITRealty@gmail.com email

Waterfront Estate for Sale in Queenstown MD

1132 Cheston Lane in Queenstown, Maryland 21658, is finally a manageable estate.

This Waterfront Estate on the Prestigious Wye River in Queenstown, MD, comes with deep water access. The brick Colonial Residence with southern exposures was built in 1987 and features 6 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, for a total of 7,588 square feet!

This exceptional 16 acre pastoral parcel contains a guest house, carriage house, green house, a lap pool, two docks with boat lifts and has a professionally rip-rapped shore line. There is also a detached 4 car garage, for your toys.

The easy commute from and to Annapolis (20 mins), Washington, and Baltimore (50 mins) 7500sft, and 16 acres make this waterfront property truly a manageable estate.

David Kaufmann – Realtor ® / GRI - Market got you lost? Take the next EXiT!

Specializing in commercial, high-end waterfront, as well as more modest, residential dwellings in Annapolis, Stevensville, Queenstown and the surrounding areas.

www.DavidKaufmannEXITRealty.com - 443-223-3026 cell, 410-304-2115 office, 410-304-2031 fax;

email DavidKaufmannEXITRealty@gmail.com

The Most Appealing Aspects of Homeownership

A post from my site at SimplifyingTheMarket.com published this past week . What is most appealing about homeownership to you?

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) just released their first issue of the Housing Opportunities & Market Experience Survey (HOME). In the report, NAR revealed what Americans believe to be the most appealing aspects of homeownership.

Here is a graph showing the results:

It is interesting to see that the two most appealing aspects had nothing to do with money, but instead, addressed the non-financial benefits of homeownership.

David Kaufmann – Realtor ® / GRI - Market got you lost? Take the next EXiT!

Specializing in commercial, high-end waterfront, as well as more modest, residential dwellings in Annapolis, Stevensville, Queenstown and the surrounding areas.

www.DavidKaufmannEXITRealty.com - 443-223-3026 cell, 410-304-2115 office,

410-304-2031 fax; DavidKaufmannEXITRealty@gmail.com email

How to Keep Energy Costs Down within the Home!

Q: As a homeowner, how can I keep my energy costs low while keeping my house in great condition?

A: August is typically one of the hottest months of the year. It seems like the only logical way to stay comfortable inside is to crank up the air conditioning and sit in front of the air vent. However, this method shoots up the energy bill and can take a toll on the cooling systems in a house. Instead of running the air conditioning throughout the hottest months of the year, there are simple tips to keep the energy costs down, and at the same time, keep the value of the home up. By following these tips, much less stress will be put on the home, paving the way for a smoother home inspection when the time comes.

Keeping the House Cool

Open windows at night: It usually cools off during the night. By keeping the windows open, the naturally cool air can take the place of an air conditioning unit. During the day, keep the windows and blinds closed to capture the cool air and hold it longer throughout the day. It may be tempting to open the blinds to let in the sunshine, but this will also let in a lot of heat.

Seal window and door cracks: Cracks in the windows and doors can allow warm air to seep inside and raise the air temperature. By sealing the cracks around the windows and the doors, cool air can remain trapped inside.

Take advantage of ceiling fans: Ceiling fans are a great way to keep the house cool. Along with trapping in the cool air at night, using ceiling fans during the day can help keep the air circulating throughout the house. Using standing fans is another inexpensive tool.

Keep the thermostat high: It's difficult to resist the temptation to bump the thermostat down to 65 and just sit back and relax. But keeping the thermostat high and using ceiling fans as mentioned above will save more money in the long run.

Keeping the house at a cooler temperature is certainly important in the summer, but saving energy is necessary all year round. With these methods, it is possible to decrease stress on all of the intricate systems that keep a house standing. This also means better home inspections in the winter months.

Save Energy All the Time

Use the microwave: There is no other way to cook and save more energy than by using a microwave. Aside from being fast, microwaves use a third of the energy to cook the same food when compared to a stove.

Avoid using appliances during peak hours: The peak hours of the day are typically during daily business hours when there is a very high demand of electricity. If possible, avoid using appliances such as the washer, dryer and dishwasher during those times to avoid power surges. Also, keep in mind that it is more efficient to wash clothes at night. If the weather outside is nice, drying clothes on a clothesline is free. This not only saves energy, but it keeps the home in better condition.

The dishwasher is more efficient than hand washing: Believe it or not, washing the dishes in the dishwasher saves more water than hand washing. However, don't use the dry setting on the dishwasher. Instead, put the dishes on a dry rack and let them air dry or use a towel.

Turn off lights and appliances: Turning off the lights when leaving a room is an easy way to conserve energy and it's not difficult to remember. Yet, turning off appliances and electronics when not in use is a little harder to keep in mind. By simply turning off the home desktop computer or television, a lot of energy can be saved. Even unplugging those things can make an impact.

Stock the fridge: It's not practical to turn off the refrigerator and unplug it during peak hours. But there are ways to make it run more efficiently. By stocking a lot of food in the refrigerator, the warming process slows down when the door is open, thus trapping the cool air inside and allowing the refrigerator to work less.

Get rid of old light bulbs: Traditional incandescent light bulbs have been around for more than a century and the technology really hasn't advanced until the last few years. In fact, 90 percent of the energy needed to light the bulb is lost in the form of heat. In order to keep up with the demands of a modern house, different options are needed. Energy-saving incandescent light bulbs can save up to 25 percent of the energy. And compact fluorescent lamps and light emitting diodes can save almost 75 percent!

Some of these things may come as a surprise, but the real shock is how much they can help the upkeep on your home.

Matthew T. Smoot-Your "Whatever it Takes" REALTOR®

Memorial Day - the day America humbly gives thanks to those men and women who lost their lives while serving in our country's military. You and I can freely enjoy countless privileges envied by many other countries. Our Constitution grants our rights as citizens of the United States; however, let us never forget how these rights were earned by those who fought and died, so we may live the lives we choose today.

The traditional moment of honor is 3:00 PM on Memorial Day. At that time, please stop and give thanks. Pray for the gift of life given, for the families who lost their loved ones, for the safety of those serving now, for their families, and for our citizen rights and freedoms earned by those who sacrifice so much every day.

While we're at it, let's do our best to not wait until after a service man or woman is lost to give our sincere thanks. Whenever we see a man or woman in uniform, whether military, public safety, fire or emergency, let's strive to let them and their families know that we and our families truly and deeply appreciate their daily sacrifice.

 

Did you miss the latest blogs from Team Bouleris? Click the links below:

 

Most Viewed Columbia, SC Homes - May 4-10, 2014

Most Viewed Irmo, SC Homes - May 4-10, 2014

Most Viewed Chapin, SC Homes - May 4-10, 2014

Most Viewed Lexington, SC Homes - May 4-10, 2014

Most Viewed Lake Murray Waterfront Homes - May 4-10, 2014

Columbia, SC Luxury Homes - Listed April 2014

Lexington, SC Luxury Homes - Listed April 2014

Irmo, SC Luxury Homes - Listed April 2014

Lake Murray, SC Waterfront Luxury Homes - Listed April 2014

Luz and Jim Bouleris are award-winning, full time REALTORS® located in Lexington, South Carolina. Together with their assistant Marilyn McMillan, they are Team Bouleris, dedicated to providing true Service Beyond the Sale.

 

Service Beyond the Sale blog: Memorial Day: Acknowledging the Ultimate Sacrifice
A Greater Town blog:  Memorial Day: Acknowledging the Ultimate Sacrifice
WordPress blog:  Memorial Day: Acknowledging the Ultimate Sacrifice