Thank you, Shannon Sinclair for this review.

Shannon reviewed Volkan Andic

Helped me buy a home

As first time homebuyers, this was a very big step and learning experience for us. Volkan was there to help us throughout the entire process. He was very knowledgeable about the process and walked us through each step. He had excellent communication and responded to us very quickly with answers to any questions we may have had. We looked at many houses and Volkan was very patient and understanding with us throughout the entire process. I would recommend Volkan to anyone who is looking for a relator in the future!

Please let me know if you need any kind Real Estate related advise.

FEMA releases flood information for Abington, Springfield, Upper Dublin and Whitemarsh

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released its proposed base flood elevation determinations for various communities in Montgomery County. A release includes a preliminary Flood Insurance Study (FIS) and Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) reflecting new or modified Base Flood Elevations (BFEs) within the townships of Abington, Springfield, Upper Dublin and Whitemarsh. 
The BFEs and modified BFEs are the basis for the floodplain management measures that a community is required to either adopt or show evidence of being already in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Management Program. 
Before the BFEs or modified BFEs are effective for floodplain management purposes, there is a 90-day period provided for appeals. 
Please visit http://www.fema.gov/plam/prevent/fhm/bfe for a detailed listing of the proposed BFEs and the addresses where copies of the FIRM are available for review.

If you need help with your with flood maps or for a detailed listing of the proposed BFEs you can also call me at 267-838-4005 or email volkan.andic@everyhome.com

Source: Times Herald; 10/19/2014

Staging Your Home to Sell in Early Autumn

It’s no secret that home staging is necessary to showcase your home’s best features to prospective buyers, and these four ideas will keep your home cozy and festive this fall!

1. Curb appeal! Maintaining a beautiful exterior is the easiest way to attract buyers, and fall-specific maintenance is an important part. Rake up unwanted leaves, patch up brown spots in the grass, and consider pressure washing your siding.

2. A few decorations can go a long way! Hints of seasonal foliage, a couple of pumpkins, or cornstalks outdoors are a great way to keep your home feeling seasonal, but be careful to not go overboard. Potential buyers want to see your home, and too much extra clutter can be distracting.

3. As the days get shorter in the fall, you may want to check that your home is adequately lit. Buyers tend to prefer well-lit homes, and the fall is no exception! Consider adding a few more lights around your home, amping up the wattage, or installing exterior lights to make your home stand out in the evening!

4. Appeal to all of the senses by lighting a fall-scented candle, leaving out a bowl of candy corn, and lighting the fireplace for added warmth.

Recent Mortgage rates

The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage are around this week to 4.14%. While these rates have not climbed significantly from last week's average of 4.12%, interest rates in the 4-5% range are historically very low. 

There are compatible rates offered by local companies.

Give me a call (267-838-4005) for the information for those companies we always work with and praise their work ethics.

Industry leaders have suggested that rates may continue to climb through next year, with many experts believing they will reach over 5%.

15-year fixed rate mortgages averaged 3.37%.

What You Need to Know About Seller's Property Disclosures

If you're in the process of buying a home, you're probably familiar with a Seller's Property Disclosure (SPD). It's exactly what it sounds like--a legal document that the seller fills out to disclose any known defects that may negatively affect the value of the home (such as known termites, leaking roofs, flooding, pets, and even deaths in the home). Similarly, the SPD can also include any work and upgrades that may positively affect the value of the home. Here's what you need to know:

1. Seller's Property Disclosures are extremely important--for both the buyer and the seller. The buyer must (carefully!) review & sign the SPD, and the seller must diligently and honestly fill it out to the best of their knowledge.

2. In our market, buyers generally review the Seller's Property Disclosure before putting in an offer on the home. In fact, SPD's are generally available for agents to access online. Interested in seeing one for a home you like? Just ask us.

3. Seller's Property Disclosure requirements vary by state and county, but sellers are generally obligated to disclose everything that they know. Unfortunately, a lack of proper disclosure can lead to messy conflicts down the road...and even lawsuits.

4. Seller's Property Disclosures are very different than home inspections. Generally, the sellers do not have the knowledge of a home inspector, and therefore an inspection can reveal quite a bit more than a SPD. We always recommend making any purchase contingent on a satisfactory home inspection.

Nationwide housing market

Nationwide, home prices, including distressed sales, rose 7.5 percent in June 2014 compared with June 2013, according to a report released Tuesday by CoreLogic, a data company. This is a moderation in the double-digit price gains seen last year, but still represents 28 straight months of year-over-year appreciation.

"Home prices are continuing to rise fueled by ongoing tight supply, low rates and aggressive investor buying on the East and West coasts," said Anand Nallathambi, CEO of CoreLogic, in a release. "The expected surge in the number of homes for sale has not materialized to date, as many homeowners are staying put and waiting for better economic times and higher prices."

Supply issues are easing somewhat and should continue to moderate price gains, but other issues in the mortgage market are also keeping the price of home ownership higher. While builders complain of construction regulations, mortgage lenders argue they are being handcuffed by a still backward-looking housing finance system.

"Regulators today and Fannie and Freddie are still reacting to the financial crisis and trying to prevent taxpayer liability," said Anthony Hsieh, CEO of loanDepot. "New guidelines or rules are never published or disclosed. This puts everyone at a disadvantage. Lenders don't know how to help credit-worthy consumers become successful borrowers, and consumers don't know what they need to do or have to become successful borrowers.”

Diana @ cnbc

Act Now To Refinance Your Home Before Rates Rise

As the federal government contemplates increasing home-financing rates, now is the best time to refinance your home. There's a program the government created in the past few years called the Home Affordability Refinance Plan, commonly referred to as HARP, which enables Americans to save big on refinancing. It provides you the opportunity to refinance at surprisingly low rates, which could reduce your monthly payments. The average reduction was a savings of about 33% last year. On a $200,000 loan, that translates to an average savings of $4,100 in the first year. And with the low rates, 39% of homeowners were actually able to shorten their loan terms as well.

Homeowners are becoming increasingly savvy, and many are surprised to learn how much they're able to save on their mortgage while refinancing. The program started in March of 2009, but is set to expire at the end of December 2015, so it's vital to act fast.