Selected Rates as of May 7, 2009:

Market Conditions

The latest report from the National Association of Realtors reports that pending home sales rose 3.2 percent in March.

NAR President Charles McMillan, a broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Dallas-Fort Worth, said the increase in buying power is quite remarkable. “Compared to a year ago, the typical family can pay much less in mortgage costs for the same home, or buy a better home without necessarily increasing their monthly payment,” he said. “For buyers who’ve been on the sidelines and have good jobs, the market has never looked more favorable. Homeownership has always offered immediate benefits and long-term value, but the advantages in today’s market are unique.”

Regionally, the South saw the best outcome in pending home sales, rising 8.5 percent.

The biggest decrease was seen in the Northeast, dropping 5.7 percent.

Written by Realty Times Staff
May 5, 2009 

10 Ways to Make Your House More Saleable

1.      Get rid of clutter. Throw out or file stacks of newspapers and magazines. Pack away most of your small decorative items. Store out-of-season clothing to make closets seem roomier. Clean out the garage.

2.      Wash your windows and screens to let more light into the interior.

3.      Keep everything extra clean. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates. Mop and wax floors. Clean the stove and refrigerator. A clean house makes a better first impression and convinces buyers that the home has been well cared for.

4.      Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows.

5.      Put higher wattage bulbs in light sockets to make rooms seem brighter, especially basements and other dark rooms. Replace any burnt-out bulbs.

6.      Make minor repairs that can create a bad impression. Small problems such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression that the house isn’t well maintained.

7.      Tidy your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, trim the bushes, and edge the walks. Put a pot or two of bright flowers near the entryway.

8.      Patch holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.

9.      Clean your gutters.

10.  Polish your front doorknob and door numbers.

5 Things to Do Before You Sell

1.      Get estimates from a reliable repairperson on items that need to be replaced soon, a roof or worn carpeting, for example. In this way, buyers will have a better sense of how much these needed repairs will affect their costs.

2.      Have a termite inspection to prove to buyers that the property is not infested.

3.      Get a pre-sale home inspection so you’ll be able to make repairs before buyers become concerned and cancel a contract.

4.      Gather together warranties and guarantees on the furnace, appliances, and other items that will remain with the house.

5.      Fill out a disclosure form provided by your sales associate. Take the time to be sure that you don’t forget problems, however minor, that might create liability for you after the sale.

5 Ways to Speed up Your Sale

1.      Price it right. Set a price at the lower end of your property’s realistic price range.

2.      Get your house market ready for at least two weeks before you begin showing it.

3.      Be flexible about showings. It’s often disruptive to have a house ready to show on the spur of the moment, but the more often someone can see your home, the sooner you’ll find a seller.

4.      Be ready for the offers. Decide in advance what price and terms you’ll find acceptable.

5.      Don’t refuse to drop the price. If your home has been on the market for more than 30 days without an offer, be prepared to lower your asking price.

© 2005 – 2007 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

OUR BUYER BENEFITS

1. You will find a new Listing faster!

You will be contacted or see Properties sometimes before they even hit our Multiple Listing Service and other agents.  Some of the best properties and deals are made quickly in this market. 

1. You will save time!

We know every property, every street and have access to all of the necessary documents that you need to get the right information to make a decision.

1. You will save money!

Our 25 years of negotiation, can help you identify savings including: title insurance, surveys, rental maximization (if chosen), negotiation strategies and how to identify opportunities.  (Sellers pay commission with a published co-op)

1. You Will Get The Help You Need!

Jane Hyers and I are full time and on call every step of the purchasing process. You will find that we love helping you with every detail and are on call from the time you start your search, through negotiation and closing…

1. You Will Love Our Convenience!

We are located in the center of Hilton Head Island on 278 at Palmetto Dunes entry. (M-S, 7:30am-6pm, or Sundays, noon- 6.  We love visitors to share a cup of coffee and our latest properties and best buys.

Robbie Bunting

& Jane Hyers     

                     842-0805 or (800)932-3652                           
Fax: (866)680-1137

islandrealtor@hargray.com

www.robbiebunting.com

Þ     Robbie Bunting is a licensed Real Estate Broker negotiating real estate for sellers and buyers on Hilton Head Island.   Robbie is also a registered representative of Dunes Securities that sells condo hotel units on the beach at the oceanfront Hilton Resort.  He lives on the Island with his wife and two children.

Þ     Jane Hyers is the teams licensed Associate.  Jane provides client services, including feedback, client follow up and marketing coordination.  Jane lives in Palmetto Dunes with her husband.

Þ     Robbie and Jane work at Dunes Marketing Group in the center of Hilton Head Island.  Through this affiliation they gain the strength of 100 full time agents in developing sellers and knowledge of properties before they are put on the market.

Þ     Robbie Bunting is in the top 5% of the REALTORS in the Hilton Head Island Area and one of the top agents with Dunes Marketing Group.  He can get the job done for you

Our Goal

Þ     Robbie Bunting and Jane Hyers goal is to “WOW YOU” with outstanding service before, during and after the Sale (buying & selling.)

Þ     We are focused and full time in our endeavors and personally serve each client the way in which they like to be served.

Þ     Results and relationships matter.  Our long history of satisfied buyers and sellers provides you with a level of comfort in initiating business with us and we would be happy to share our client’s successes with you.

Þ     We offer you the latest in technology, marketing and creativity when it comes to selling property or finding property to purchase.   We know what it takes to provide outstanding service.

Þ     Our target is to create “Raving Fans” in the real estate business.  In order to EARN your future business, your present referrals and your trust we will do what it takes.  We know serving you is an opportunity and a privilege and we take it very seriously

Þ     Upon our first transaction and thereafter, we seek your feedback and your input on our performance in order to become better in the level of service we can provide to you.

Þ     We offer our past clients programs that maximize their ownership.  

Why Choose Us

Þ     We work full time and are easy to reach 7 days a week

Þ     We help our buyers and sellers negotiate the best terms and prices

Þ     We offer creative marketing strategies that have successfully helped our buyers and sellers achieve their individual goals.

Þ     We assist our clients in every aspect and detail of the real estate purchase, sale, ownership and enjoyment of their Hilton Head Property.

Þ     We have established a network with 1,300 REALTORS ®, 100 Dunes Marketing Agents, thousands of buyers and sellers through our 25 years of helping others sell and buy real estate on Hilton Head Island.

Þ     We are centrally located on Hilton Head Island and convenient to all the Island Locations and know the ins and outs of the Island Market.

Þ     We have a long list of satisfied “clients for life” that continue to buy and sell utilizing our expertise and knowledge of the market.

Þ     We are upbeat and enjoyable to work throughout the process of buying and selling.

Þ     We will make a difference and feel that you can always call on us and count on us for integrity, competence, comfort and performance.

Call on us!  We would love to prove to you how hard we work for you>

Thanks!

Robbie Bunting & Jane Hyers

800-932-3652

Greetings from Hilton Head IslandJ

We invite you to join the E-Club!  This monthly and brief email will include current events with links to areas that interest you, including:

• Best Restaurants – Find the best early bird or discover The Islander’s favorite restaurants and the entres they specialize in with this link
• Trade Opportunities – This link will include trade properties like those that are on the enclosed list.  (See the attached Palmetto Dunes Trades.)
• Red Hot Deals – This link will be updated with real estate deals, not just our best buys!
• Real Estate Links – This link will help you remodel, rent, or repair anything in your home or villa including special reports from real estate gurus. 
• New Offerings-  New ground floor properties as they come up can be found on this link.
• Sellers Trends – This link will include trends to help sellers like the simple table attached. (See the attached Sellers Trends Sheet.)
• Accommodations – Rent direct and save $$$.  This link will include home and villa rentals direct from our owners or discounts @ Hilton, Marriott, or Westin Resorts.
• Current Events– When we send out our email club newsletter, the one paragraph hello will include a list of current events on the Island in the month ahead.

Please help us and refer this club to a friend who may benefit from its resources. (And if this email club was recommended to you and you would like to join our mailing, simply email us today!)  Thank you.  I hope you find the information I provide valuable in achieving your Island goals and dreams.

Respectfully~

Robbie Bunting &

Jane Hyers

P.S.  Sign up in the next 30 days and you will receive a free one year AHS warranty with your next sale or purchase with us as a thank you for joining our E-Club J