Recently there has been a lot of talk about home prices and if they are accelerating too quickly. In some areas of the country, seller supply (homes for sale) cannot keep up with the number of buyers out looking for a home, which has caused prices to rise.

The great news about rising prices, however, is that according to CoreLogic’s latest US Economic Outlook, the average American household gained over $11,000 in equity over the course of the last year, largely due to home value increases.

The map below was created from CoreLogic’s report and shows the average equity gain per mortgaged home from June 2015 to June 2016 (the latest data available).

Read more HERE!

Hoping to sell your home before the end of the year? Staging is an important step for all home sellers. It helps potential homebuyers visual themselves in the space and can increase the perceived value of your home. Adding seasonal touches add a nice touch but don’t over do it.

Make your Wellesley & Metrowest Boston home extra cozy and welcoming this season by following these 5 fall home staging ideas.

Add Curb Appeal. The outside of your home is the first impression for homebuyers. You want to entice the buyers into your home by making sure it looks its best before they walk through the front door. The first step to ensure curb appeal is to make sure that you maintain the landscaping. As the weather begins to cool, your garden and lawn can start to lose some of its beauty. Rake up leaves, remove dead plants, and trim trees and bushes. You can also add a few seasonal decorative touches to the front entryway.

Mums the Word. Add splashes of beautiful autumnal colors inside and out with gold and orange chrysanthemums. Pick up a perfectly round pumpkin to really add some fall decor to your space. Just don’t overwhelm any room with too much color. You just want to add some accents for points of interest.

Let in the Light. The changing season also means shorter days. Natural light help make your home look its best. Always keep drapes and blinds open to let in the sunshine. Turn on overhead lights in darker rooms or for showings that occur later in the day. If more night is needed, add some accent lights with tabletop and floor lamps.

Entice with Fall Smells. Your home will feel especially homey by adding fall scents, such as pumpkin spice, cinnamon, apple pie, or leaves. Add some scented candles or air fresheners throughout key spaces in your home to add a cozy feeling for all home buyers.

Keep a Cozy Fireplace. With crisp fall nights and the upcoming winter months, a fireplace can be an attractive feature for a Massachusetts homebuyers. You want to make sure yours looks its best. Keep it clean and highlight it with simple decor. It can be dangerous to leave a fireplace unattended. If you are able to monitor it during an open house, however, a fire can really add some warmth to your home.

If you are a Buyer looking to find your dream home this fall in the Wellesley area, Team Lynch Real Estate Consultants is here to help! We have incredible Featured Properties currently available! Give us a call today or visit our website at http://www.teamlynchrealestate.com/.

Fannie Mae’s “What do consumers know about the Mortgage Qualification Criteria?” Study revealed that Americans are misinformed about what is required to qualify for a mortgage when purchasing a home.

Myth #1: “I Need a 20% Down Payment”

Fannie Mae’s survey revealed that consumers overestimate the down payment funds needed to qualify for a home loan. According to the report, 76% of Americans either don’t know (40%) or are misinformed (36%) about the minimum down payment required.

Many believe that they need at least 20% down to buy their dream home. New programs actually let buyers put down as little as 3%.

Read the remainder of this blog here.

There are some people that have not purchased a home because they are uncomfortable taking on the obligation of a mortgage. Everyone should realize that, unless you are living with your parents rent free, you are paying a mortgage - either yours or your landlord’s.

As The Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University explains:

Read the rest of this blog here

You've decided to Sell your Metrowest home this summer....BRAVO!  That's a fantastic decision! As you go through the many different tasks to get your home ready to be put on the market, don't forget one of the most important, it's face. Well, not literally, but truly it's first impression it's going to make to your potential home buyers when they drive-by your home, come to a showing or open house, or even the first photo they usually see as a 'Listing Photo'...the front of your home.  We call it 'CURB APPEAL'!

In the summer we have so many fantastic choices to create award winning curb appeal, but the basics are always the same...so we'll start there:

1) Pride of Ownership- Nothing puts a potential home buyer more at ease than driving up to a home that shows an owners 'pride of ownership' from the moment you see the home, and it all starts with the state of the exterior of the home.

2) Homes Exterior- Choose your upgrades carefully. Siding is largest visible surface on your home. Make sure to power wash the entire surface and make any necessary repairs before putting your home on the market. Windows & Screens should also be perfectly cleaned and windows should sparkle (yes I did say sparkle!). If your siding is a hideous color, painting then becomes a serious consideration! 

3) Front Door & Porch- This is an area where you can introduce some pops of color and have a little bit of fun! First make sure you have thoroughly cleaned all surface areas. Once you've accomplished this, then evaluate your front door. A New Front Door has one of the greatest ROI's. If your's is looking a little rough, then this is a great area to invest....and you may want to look for a fantastic complementary color. Again, don't get wild and crazy, we're talking complimentary, not outrageous. Once that's chosen take a look at the porch and decide if you need to repaint any railings or decking. Then you can choose whether a chair, table, rug or other fun, small, uncluttered choices would be a nice touch for your "Welcome" area.

4) Lighting- Do you have adequate lighting on your front porch? How about Landscape Lighting? Have you enhanced any area of the yard that you'd like to highlight? Get rid of dated fixtures and take advantage of outdoor living! Home Buyers rate the yard as 25% of their decision in the summer months! If your yard is a big selling point, don't let it go to waste! Illuminate your walkways as well.

5) Landscaping- Todays homeowners and home buyers love outdoor living and take pride in having their yards landscaped. Take time to give your yard extra attention. If you don't have a lot of extra money to spend, concentrate on the front yard first. Consult a landscaper or even a local garden center and ask for lower cost alternatives that can be implemented for a great look and flow. Add a few solar lights for a walk-way and you'll have a beautiful front yard before you know it....without having to spend a fortune.

For more Home Selling Tips give Team Lynch a call or visit our website at www.teamlynchrealestate.com.

CoreLogic’s latest Equity Report revealed that 92% of all mortgaged properties are now in a positive equity situation, while 74% now actually have significant equity (defined as more than 20%)! The report also revealed that 268,000 households regained equity in the first quarter of 2016 and are no longer under water.

Price Appreciation = Good News for Homeowners

Frank Nothaft, CoreLogic’s Chief Economist, explains:

Continue reading at this link: EQUITY REPORT

In today’s market, with home prices rising and a lack of inventory, some homeowners may consider trying to sell their home on their own, known in the industry as a For Sale by Owner (FSBO). There are several reasons why this might not be a good idea for the vast majority of sellers.

Here are the top five reasons:

1. There Are Too Many People to Negotiate With

Here is a list of some of the people with whom you must be prepared to negotiate if you decide to For Sale By Owner:

• The buyer who wants the best deal possible
• The buyer’s agent who solely represents the best interest of the buyer
• The buyer’s attorney (in some parts of the country)
• The home inspection companies, which work for the buyer and will almost always find some problems with the house
• The appraiser if there is a question of value

Read the rest of this blog at this link:  5 Reasons Not to FSBO