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Health & Fitness

Spring is the Best Time for House Prices

Garden City House Prices and steps homeowners can take to increase their home value.

Real Estate data will reveal that the best time to sell/buy a house is during spring. House prices are usually down during the months of March, April and May. The reason for this is that there is a much larger number of buyers who are searching for new homes during these three months than any other time of the year.

Let’s look at the Real Estate Market Report for Zip code 11530, for a period of three years 2010- 2012 to see the trend in the prices for homes. The current available inventory shows that there are 230 homes and the current median list price is $699,000. A look at the data reveals that market prices were over $600,000. For 2010 the listing price was $670,000, it was $715,000 in 2011 and $722,500 in 2012.

The information for the same period, March and April 2010 to 2012 shows the price for condos was above $600,000 in 2010 but fell below $600,000 in 2011. So the actual price in 2010 was at $618,500. It was down to$557,500 in 2011 and went up to $605,500 in 2012.

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Co-ops’ prices for March and April were above $200,000 but under $300,000. In 2010 and 2011 the price for a co-op was $255,000, but was at $275,500 in 2012.

Market trends for Zip code 11530 also indicate that in May 2010, the price for homes was at $650,000, in June the cost went up to $660,000 and was at $690,000 during the months of August to November in that same year, but it fell again from December 2010 – January 2011 to $678,000. However, by May 2011, homes were now at $655,000. By July – November 2011, prices had fallen to $6550, 000. In January 2012 it went up $680,000 and by March 2012 it was down to $679,000.

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Looking at the trend and making a comparison will help you to realize that spring is really the best time for buying homes. So if you want to sell your home make certain that you have it on the listing during March to May. Here are a few guaranteed tips that will help you get your home into the hands of a buyer:

  • Establish an umbrella stand at the entrance of your home so that buyers will have somewhere to put umbrellas in the case of rain. Adding an outside mat is great for wiping feet before they enter your home. Be careful of using plastic runners across your floors as these can spoil the shiny polish job you did.

  • Create some excitement by attaching helium balloons to your open house signs. Pick them up at party supply stores at a dollar for one. If these can get your home off the market and into the hands of a buyer, that’d be great!

  • Select flyers that are printed in colors. Why? Simple, you can use flyers to advertise different financing options. Buyers need to know what they are getting into. So let them know exactly what the monthly mortgage payments will be.

  • When advertising, use color pictures. People are more drawn to color than black and white. Add a color picture in your newspaper and online advertising. Choose seasonal pictures from your photo album. Photos that show-off the best of your home will be a definite advantage to you pulling off that sale.

  • Utilize the help of your local title company and get a free direct–mail listing of neighbors in your community. Get some oversized four-color postcards, with UV coating. Mail using first class postage. Wow! You are on the market!

  • Leave chilled bottles of water for buyers. How? Place several bottles of water in a sink. Add some ice in the sink and your guests will have water to drink if they need it. If you want to be more forthright, print labels with a picture of your home, your phone number and address. Tape labels on bottles. Your guests know exactly how to contact you.

  • Buyers are often hungry when touring homes. So why not give them something to eat by having individually wrapped treats for them? It’s a great way to get them to take a good long look at your kitchen and its accessories.

  • Choosing the right Realtor is the most effective way to get it sold. It’s just a matter applying the correct strategies and analyzing the market trends.

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