Featured Property of the Month on the Schwartz-Stanton Group Blog is 671 Fairview Boulevard located in Incline Village on the Read the rest of this entry »

Yes, there are some good deals out there and many are thinking buying a foreclosure property is the way to go.  Whether you are savvy, experienced real estate investor or not, there are some things to keep in mind if you are going the foreclosure route and buying property.

See the property.  Just like any other major purchase, you don’t want to buy the property site unseen.

Research the neighborhood.  Here is where doing your homework is important.  Gathering as much information and data will help.  Is the area depressed?  Will you be able to recoup remodeling dollars?   These are just a sample of questions you should ask yourself.

How long has the property been empty?  The longer the property is vacant, there is the risk of a lot of maintenance items including plumbing, pests, etc.

What is the condition of the exterior and landscaping. As a foreclosure property, there is a pretty good chance the property hasn’t been maintained.   Take a look at the siding, roof, windows as well as the yards.  Trees, bushes, vines left untrimmed can cause problems.

Get an inspection.  If you’re paying cash still get an inspection if you can.  If you are getting a mortgage the lender usually requires a current inspection.

Have a realistic budget.  While the price of the property may be a “great deal”, think about repairs and/or remodel expenses.  If you are planning to rent out the property, can you carry the overhead if the property doesn’t rent quickly.  These are just a few of the budgetary items to consider.

Good luck on your real estate adventure.

If a home is being sold for below what the current seller owes on the property—and the seller does not have other funds to make up the difference at closing—the sale is considered a short sale. Many more home owners are finding themselves Read the rest of this entry »

Homeowners worried about missing mortgage payments and entering foreclosure may have another option: a loan modification.  Despite some signs of stability in the housing market, Read the rest of this entry »

Strong gains in existing-home sales were the predominant pattern in most states during the fourth quarter, with many more metro areas seeing prices rise from Read the rest of this entry »

Pending home sales have leveled from a market swing driven by response to the home buyer tax credit, according to the National Association of Realtors®.   The Pending Home Sales Index,* a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in December, increased Read the rest of this entry »

Getting your home ready for sale can take anywhere from one to six months, depending on the condition, age of the house and how long you’ve lived there. So go over the property to determine Read the rest of this entry »

Schwartz-Stanton Group, Coldwell Banker Incline Village Realty, is pleased to introduce you to The Ridges at Hunter Creek.  This development is an intimate enclave of wilderness home sites that have been set aside within a gated Read the rest of this entry »

Contract activity for pending home sales fell after a surge of activity in preceding months to beat the original deadline Read the rest of this entry »

Exclusively listed with Schwartz-Stanton Group of Coldwell Banker Incline Village Realty, Red Cedar Estates #19 is a perfect Tahoe getaway or year-round home.  This unit offers fantastic lake views and has Read the rest of this entry »