Tips for Selling Your Home Fast

There is a great article I want to share with everyone today about selling your home fast! That seems to be what most sellers are most interested in, yet have a hard time implementing. This article by Lisa Ross has a great list of must do's to get your home out there and be seen and sold quickly! It may seem like it's coming up on the season where things tend to slow down but this year is expected to be different. Don't hold out on listing your home this winter, you may be shocked at how fast it sells!

She goes into detail about how these ways can help you whether you are a realtor, photographer, or just a homeowner. It doesn't matter what your title is, you all have the same goal in mind! Take a look at her article here to make sure you are on the right track!

Exciting News: Baltimore REIA Event Tonight!

We have some exciting news to share! I will be teaching a class at Baltimore REIA tonight and would love for you to come!

  

Want to rehab with your self-directed IRA? And build capital fast? Learn how at the...

Strategies IRA meeting

Join us at Ocean Pride restaurant in Lutherville on Tuesday, October 28, from 6:30 to 9:00.

FREE admission for Baltimore REIA members.

Just $19 for non-members.

Special presentation by Ben Smith, Founder and

Managing Partner, Magnolia Property Solutions, LLC

Rehabbing real estate (also known as flipping) is a popular strategy for generating capital -- and, yes, it can be financed through Self-Directed IRAs.

This month you'll hear from Ben Smith, Founder and Managing Partner of Magnolia Property Solutions.  Ben has over 10 years of experience developing real estate, directing rehab projects, wholesaling, and buy-and-hold investing.  He has done more than 15 transactions this year -- in his spare time!  Ben will:

• Explain his business model and decision-making process for evaluating properties
• Share tips he has learned over the years, so you can do what works and avoid what doesn't
• Show you why investing through your Self-Directed IRA is such a powerful way to build your financial future and minimize taxes

Don't miss this presentation from someone who doesn't just talk the talk, but also walks the walk.  Learn how you can amass more wealth with less capital and lower your taxable income.

About the Strategies IRA meeting

WHEN:  The fourth Tuesday of each month from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

WHERE:  Ocean Pride restaurant, 1534 York Rd., Lutherville, MD, 21093.  About a mile north of Beltway exit 26.  (Map.)

NO RESERVATION NEEDED -- JUST SHOW UP.  Admission is FREE for Baltimore REIA members.  For non-members the charge is just $19 in cash, collected at the door, to support our marketing and meeting costs.

Not a member?  To attend every Strategies IRA meeting FREE and gain many other benefits, join Baltimore REIA now.  You get members-only website content... savings on meetings and classes... vendor discounts, including a 2% rebate from Home Depot... and a FREE Goody Bag with $197 worth of DVDs available only from Baltimore REIA.  Check it out. 

EXTRA BENEFIT:  Bring your promotional flyers, business cards, or other materials to display on the info table.  Unlike at our Main Event, you needn't be a member of Baltimore REIA to set out your wares.  This benefit is available to all attendees, including non-members.

NOTE:  Please plan to order food and/or beverages so we can continue to meet at this venue.  The restaurant will give you a separate check.

YOUR MEETING MODERATOR: John "Jack" Kiley, CPA, CISP, Managing Partner, MidAtlantic IRA, LLC.

 

QUESTIONS?  Contact MidAtlantic IRA at 800-607-0145 x260 orinfo@MidAtlanticIRA.com.

See you at the Strategies IRA meeting!

P.S. Want even more education from Baltimore REIA? With one-on-one, personal attention? Check out our new Mentoring Program.

www.BaltimoreREIA.com

Fall is Here!

Don't let the fall weather fool you! It's still buying season for real estate and it's said to be a great market in January as well! Why is that so?

via homestoriesatoz

Buyers aren't necessarily concerned with starting late in the school year or moving during the holiday season, they have better things to be doing like like checking out their next spot to be. Thanks to virtual listings, buying season is now almost all year long!

via thewoodgraincottage

Buyers are also catching on with the trend that there is less competition on off season. This spring and summer it was really hard to catch a break if you were trying to buy a home. With most offer's being cash and multiple offers on almost every house, it was almost inevitable that you were going to be outbid.

via dearlillie

Why are we hearing that January will be a good buying time as well? Because the holidays will be over and people will be ready to make their next move in the next year before the competition gets hot again.

via dearabigail

This is looking like a good season to have a home for sell!

Five Interesting Things for Investors!

As if my reasons about why investing in homes was a great idea post before wasn't good enough for you, here are five things that realtytimes put together that make it even more intriguing:

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1. Rising prices:

The buying market is low and the houses are starting to sell for more! This is the perfect time to see appreciation in a home with little input. This includes rental properties which are going to raise in profits as well!

via apartmenttherapy

2. Affordability:

With everything still on the cusp of going up, you can snag a great house for a great deal! Mortgage rates are low, which offers a great opportunity for those who do want to rent and can raise the prices later without the mortgage rising!

via stylecarrot

3. Rental Prices:

In some markets the rental rates have already shot up! You can already get a great low mortgage rate and a high rental rate and start off on the right foot.

via apartmenttherapy

4. Capital:

Capital is more accessible. Private investors are able to find financing for parts of their returns. Gain some insight on what opportunities you have to for investing in real estate.

via sfgirlbybay

5. Stress Free:

When you think of being a landlord you certainly do NOT thing of being stress free, well now you do! With service oriented businesses and technology-based solutions these days, you can divvy out all the stressful parts of being a landlord to someone else! Consider a property manager.

Home Inspiration: Fireplace Layout

Making the fireplace the centerpiece of your home! We've had so many homes lately with stunning fireplaces in the living room, I thought we'd share some great ways to style your furniture around it:

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Keep the view open to the fireplace with furniture surrounding it's view on all but one side.

via sunnysideup

Use an L shaped couch to divide the view from the entertainment center and fireplace if you aren't willing to give up your TV view!

via everythinglab

Divided couches with chairs facing the fireplace gives you a great open view with the big furniture to the sides.

via theinspiredroom

Keep it cozy in a smaller room with two chairs nestled in close and a bench that doubles as a table and extra seating but doesn't take away from the view.

via lizmarie

Chairs all around! Make this an intimate social space without cluttering the room with large furniture!

How would you style around your fireplace?

Melbourne Video Tour

Check out our video tour of Melbourne in Fayetteville, North Carolina!  

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taWEKq4aIsk&w=560&h=315]

You don't want to miss out on this house - it's amazing!

Before & After Melbourne

Here are some pictures of the before and after of Melbourne! Remember this house is available for purchase if you are interested check out the buy tab on our site!

before

after

before

after

in progress

after

before

after

before

after

Don't forget to check out the complete finished progress on our previous post.

Melbourne Complete!

This three bedroom two bathroom home is now on the market!

If you are interested in purchasing this amazing property in Fayetteville, NC - check out or Buy tab on our site!

Perks of Being an Investor!

There are plenty of perks for being an Investor when it comes to investing in homes that are being remodeled or rehabbed! Here are just a few:

via houzz

1. You don't have to find the home!

The rehabbers do that for you! Being an investor means you get handed options of homes you'd like to invest in, or to invest in the company rehabbing itself! No searching required for a good opportunity required!

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2. You don't have to worry about the details:

No calling and checking up on contractors, no extra expenses or hidden fees, no stress or worries!

via housebeautiful

3. You don't have to sell the home and worry about the financial ends of it:

You invest X amount and receive a percentage of the income - really just coming out with anything extra is a bonus right!?

via bungalowhomestagers

4. It doesn't cost a fortune to invest.

Depending on the person/company you are working with, they will have a minimum investment number so you can go with the lowest option and still make out pretty well!

via timelesspaper

5. You can reinvest and reinvest!

There are so many homes on the market and plenty of homes that need a little rehab to move forward with. The opportunities are almost endless!

Interested in investing? Call us for some details!

Worried About Capital Gains Tax?

Here's something you might want to do some research on before you sell your home! If you are one of the lucky few in this economy that have made a profit on your home, you might be worried about capital gains tax.

via housplansandmore

Not sure what capital gains tax is?

"Capital gains taxes are charged when you sell something that’s increased in value such as an investment like a stock or property. If you held onto the asset for more than a year before you sold it, then you are taxed on a long-term capital gain at a tax rate of 0% to 20%.

If you owe taxes, the amount you will pay depends on your tax bracket.

• If you’re in the 10% to 15% tax bracket, your capital gains tax rate is zero.
• If you’re in the 25% to 35% tax bracket, your capital gains tax rate is 15%.
• If you’re in the 39.6% tax bracket, your capital gains tax rate is 20%"

- via Michelle, Realtor.com

via krunkatecture

Luckily there are some exemptions for those who may have to pay tax!

If you are single there is a $250,000 exemption from your taxes, if you are filing joint there is a $500,000 exemption from your taxes. Sounds great huh!? But there are some requirements. The home must be your primary residence, you must have owned the property for a minimum of two years, and you must have lived there for at least two of  the past five years. This alone can save some from having to pay a huge amount when it comes to taxes.

via indulgy

Don't qualify for that? There's one more way that you can possibly be exempt from taxes. If you have put any money on home improvements toward the house, then you can use those improvement costs to take away from the income of the home. This is one of the many reasons you should always keep track of how much you've invested in your home.

There may be other ways to be exempt but that would require talking to a tax consultant or your tax adviser! Make sure you know all of your options before you make a move you might regret.

Melbourne In Progress!

This little gem in Fayetteville North Carolina is getting a makeover!

We can't wait to show off the outdoor transformation we have been working on for this amazing property.

The change of color makes the stone pop and the white trim just cleans it all up! It's amazing what a little change can do!

We are prepping the front for some curb appeal as well.

And a new HVAC is being installed! If you are interested in buying this property check out our site under the BUY tab!

Home Inspiration: Small Bathrooms

Small bathrooms are pretty common when it comes to any bathroom except the master! Working in those small bathrooms to make use of most of the space, create storage, and keep it looking clutter free and gorgeous is a hard accomplishment. Here are some really well done bathrooms for some inspiration:

via bhg

via theultralinx

via indulgy

via thewoodgraincottage

What Windows Can Really Do

Windows are one of the things that we look at when renovating a home. You may not realize the benefits of new windows in a home, but they can really make a difference and not just by how they look!

via lizmarieblog

Windows can provide a home with many great things like natural light, warmth from the sun coming in, and ventilation when needed! It can also be burden to a home when it isn't properly maintained, taken care of, or installed properly. A homes energy efficiency relies on all of those things in order to keep the costs down. This is where we keep an eye out when purchasing a home to make sure it will benefit the new home owners.

via thelilypadcottage

Things you want to look for in order to decide if you need new windows or not is caulking, weather stripping, air leakage, cracks, gaps, and be sure to check the joints as well. Is the window operable, does it open and close to ventilate, and can you safely lock them? Are they going to withstand a storm and weather for your location? These are questions you need ask yourself when looking both inside and outside at windows.

via livesimplybyannie

The next important thing is choosing your replacing windows. There's no point in replacing them if you aren't going to invest what's best for your home. Check the energy efficiency ratings before you buy and since there are so many options these days, you shouldn't have trouble finding ones that are beneficial and beautiful! The last step is to make sure they are installed properly. Improperly installed windows are just as bad as old windows!

I hope these tips help if you are in the process of buying a home or renovating home!

All Cash Making A Mark

The results are in and according to CNN money the stats are showing that cash deals are making a hit on homes this year! Partially due to investors but also due to the fact that cash deals look pretty great right about now. With the economy taking longer than expected to pick back up, it's not a surprise cash is making a mark.

via lizmarieblog

With the banks already hurting, this is going to make it a little harder for the banks to hang on to loans. Which would you prefer, all cash or a bank loan?

Home Inspiration

A little home inspiration to start the week off right! Today I want to show off some crisp, clean, and clutter free bedrooms. Starting off your morning in a bright clean room can really make a difference on your mood, especially if you aren't a morning person!

via decorpad

via domainehome

via thewoodgraincottage

via pinterest

The best way to stay clutter free is to start clutter free! If you are in the moving process or considering moving, that is a great time to get rid of all the extra things and start of with a fresh new room. Interested in buying a newly renovated home? We have a few for sale you won't want to miss here!

Palmer Before & After

Here's a look at the before and after pictures of Palmer!

Before & After Front

Before & After Living Room

Before & after Kitchen

Before & After Den

Before & After Room

Before & After Bathroom

Before & After Garage

Before & After Backyard

Before & After Back Porch/Deck

What do you think? This house is for Sale in Fayetteville, NC, click here to see the details!

A Look Inside

After finishing Palmer we decided to give it the royal treatment and really show you all why we fell in love with this property.

Can't you see why we fell in love with this gem!? This gorgeous property is in Fayetteville NC and up for sale for $144,900! Check out the website to get more details on here.

More fun pictures of this property coming soon with before and after pics you don't want miss!

Palmer Finished!

Property Address: 1520 Palmer, Fayetteville, NC 28303

Offered at $142,500

Three bedrooms with two bathrooms with expanded great room, home office / gym, fenced in back yard, fireplace, and garage!

Updates on Melbourne!

Check out some of the updates we've done on Melbourne:

Brand new counter tops!

The tile floors are in and looking great!

The cabinets and appliances are all new!

And the new light fixtures are going in as well.

Property Address: 6934 Melbourne, Fayetteville, NC 28314

Offered at $84,000

 Three bedrooms with two bathrooms and a fenced back yard, garage, fireplace.

Updates on Palmer!

Check out the awesome updates happening at Palmer:

The yard and front of the house are getting some necessary TLC!

The kitchen cabinets and granite counter tops are in!

The back splash tile is going up!

The tile floors and new carpet are coming together!

It's amazing what a transformation this house is making! If you want to see more details about the Palmer house or purchase it - check out or For Sale Section on the website!