Help Your Good Neighbor Win $100

Do you know of a local community member who has gone above and beyond to make our neighborhood a friendly, safer, and more pleasant place? Nominate him or her for a chance to win $100 Visa gift card in EveryHome’s 2013 Good Neighbor Contest…and a chance to score a $20 Starbucks gift card for you!

  Send us a note to volkan.andic@everyhome.com with a brief description of your nominee’s good deeds, along with your name and contact information. We’ll announce the winner on Facebook on December 15th. Thanks for helping EveryHome make our community an even better place, and good luck!

  Details: Contest is open to all Pennsylvania and New Jersey residents. EveryHome agents and their immediate family members are not eligible to enter. Only one nomination per person, please. All entries must be received by midnight on December 11th, 2013.

Should You Buy New Construction?

With new construction popping up all over our area, buyers are often faced with the choice of buying a new or pre-existing home. Here's what we're lovin' about each:

  New Homes: Customization! Dreaming about that walk-in closet, finished basement, or upgraded fixture? Many builders will allow the buyer to personalize their new home. Plus, you’re unlikely to have to repair anything in the near future. Bonus points? New homes are often way more energy efficient. Helllooo lowered utility bills!

  Pre-Existing Homes: Speed! Price! Potential! You won’t have to wait for the builder to complete your home like you would with new construction, and you’re likely to pay a bit less overall (though its hard to compare). If you’re handy and in the mood for a project, you can buy a fixer-upper on the cheap! Bonus points? Pre-existing homes also tend to be located in better locations on bigger lots.

  Have a great homebuying story? We'd love to hear from you! Shoot us an email volkan.andic@everyhome.com

4 Tips to Beat Out the Competition

With a lower inventory of homes for sale, we’ve seen many sellers receive multiple offers on their home. While these multiple-offers can be great for the sellers, they can lead to “bidding wars” and quite a bit of stress for the potential buyers involved! Here’s how to beat out the competition if you’re shopping for a well-priced home in a popular neighborhood:

  1. Get your financial ducks in a row. Before getting serious about any homes, be sure to secure a pre-approval letter from a qualified lender. You’ll need a pre-approval letter to submit an offer. Plus, getting pre-approved is easy—it just takes a few minutes over the phone. We know lots of great lenders, and we’re happy to refer you and stay with you every step of the way.

  2. Don’t wait to see a home! Instead of waiting for the open house, be sure to check new listings every single day. (We make this easy for you on our “New Today” section!) If you’re working with an agent, he or she will scour the new listings every market, too. The best homes will often sell before an open house, so time is of the essence! 

  3. “Cash is king” can be true…but not always! Unfortunately, buyers that are getting a mortgage can be beat out by all-cash offers, but there are ways to edge your cash competition. Consider shortening the loan and appraisal contingencies, and have your home inspection immediately. While we understand that it’s not ideal, you might want to consider paying a little extra if you know you’re up against a cash offer.

  4. Be sure to work with a highly communicative and accessible agent. You’ll want to trust that he or she is in contact with the seller’s representative and that he or she knows what other offers (if any) are already on the table. Your agent will be guiding you through the whole process, and he or she should be experienced in the local market and help give you an edge in the competitive environment.

source: everyhomerealtors.blogspot.com