Welcome back to The Update and Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Hopefully you get the chance to celebrate and enjoy with some tasty corned beef and mashed potatoes, or relax with some friends in some St. Patty’s Day festivities. We have a lot to cover, so let’s get to it!
Market Update
So what does it all mean? Well, it means that the spring market has definitely sprung and it may only get hotter from here. Yesterday, the Federal Reserve did raise the interest rates slightly, but we most likely won’t be seeing any changes to the housing market for quite a while yet.
For Buyers: This is not the time to be low-balling any offers you write, as the market will most likely get crazier from here on out. Write an offer that you are comfortable with first and foremost, and talk with your agent about how competitive it is, and what you can do to make it more competitive! (then make sure again, you’re comfortable submitting that offer.) Try not to wait on if you can see a home (i.e., don’t wait till the weekend if you found that super cute home Wednesday) and make sure your agent is asking questions like:
Does this home have any offers; if so how many?
Is there a deadline by when the seller would like to have all offers in?
Is there anything we can do to make our offer look more competitive?
But know sellers and listing agents do not have to give an answer.
For Sellers: If you want to beat the most insane time of year for home selling (Summer, when most homes are on the market, and historically has more buyers; not including those who have already been looking.) I would get your home on the market now. You don’t have to do a complete overhaul on your house! If you’re looking for a quick spruce up before your house hits the market, check out this edition of The Update that goes over colors and trends for 2022! Price your home to sell accordingly; simply because it is a sellers’ market does not mean to price extravagantly. Price your home to sell.
Keeping with the idea that you’ve priced your home to sell, I recommend the first day or two of the listing-get away! Go spend a few nights in a hotel in a nearby city, or stay with friends and family. It’ll be easier for you so you can simply approve showings without worry about ‘is the house clean?’ and ‘ Can we get out of here in a short amount of time before the buyers show up?’ I tell my sellers if they can, (because hey, this doesn’t work for everyone, and that’s okay) allow me to make the first day (or two) a “go and show” where any request is instantly approved by Showingtime, (a tool used by local agents in the SE WI area use to book showings.) Then after that day (or two) is up, go back to requiring notice and letting you approve or deny every request that comes through. The first few days a home is on the market are the most important as that is when it is the hottest commodity. Why not try to get as many people in the door as you can?
Spring Checklist
Spring is almost here-it’ll be here this weekend! And with it arriving so soon, it never hurts to have those pesky seasonal tasks done and out of the way. Here’s a quick spring checklist of a few tasks you can get crossed off now!
Or, download a printable copy of the spring checklist here.
Listing of the month
141 Main St 410 Racine, Wisconsin 53403
Price: $199,900.00
Floor Number: 4
Year Built: 2007
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Square Ft: 1,157 sqft
Garage Spaces: 1
Appliances Included: Oven/Range; Refrigerator; Dishwasher; Microwave
Heating/Cooling: Natural Gas/Forced Air; Central Air
Common Amenities: Security; Near Public Transit; Exercise Room; Elevator(s)
Water/Waste: Municipal Water; Municipal Sewer
Pets: Yes; Cat(s) OK; 1 Dog OK; Small Pets OK
Condo Fee Includes: Common Area Insur.; Replacement Reserve; Sewer; Water; Parking.
Condo Fee: $345, monthly.
Taxes (as of 2021): $4,166.99
Description: Beautiful downtown rare find with Lake Michigan views! This spacious condo awaits you, just in time for your spring and summer adventures along Lake Michigan. Clean, modern and open concept layout is perfect for entertaining your guests. Live the good life! At the gateway to downtown, and just a short walk to shopping galore, pubs, restaurants, theaters, galleries, library, marina and all the events held downtown throughout the year; from Fridays on the Pavement to ice skating on Monument Square. Watch the parade and Festival grounds fireworks from your own balcony, with views of the harbor and Lake Michigan. Condo amenities include exercise room, party room, media room and courtyard. And then there's the location!
Learn more about this beautiful condominium here.