Tips for negotiating the 2017 spring market

Everyone knows that spring is the time when the real estate market heats up right? Traditionally, it’s a time when lots of new listings come on the market and buyers who have been waiting patiently for more selections get to really explore all their options. That’s not how spring 2017 is shaping up. So far, inventory has remained tight and the homes that are well priced and nicely updated are going under contract quickly and often with multiple offers. This is great news for sellers who have a realistic notion of their home’s value and who have kept up with design trends. It’s not necessarily bad for buyers, especially those who know what they want, have a clear idea of their budget and have some flexibility in when they purchase a house. But it certainly is stressful for both parties.

Here are some tips for successfully selling and buying a house in this current market:

Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about …. siding

If the roof is the hair-do of a house, the siding is the outfit. Pragmatically, siding protects the outer walls of a house from extreme weather, creating a barrier against wind, moisture, and uncomfortable temperatures. But like all outfits, it’s prized not only for its function but also for its form. From shingles to clapboard to metal sheeting, the type of siding chosen for a particular house has as much to do with logistical factors, like budget and climate, as it does with the owner’s aesthetic style or preference. Whether you’re in the market for a new (or new-to-you) home, or whether you’re considering an exterior renovation, here are some of the pros and cons of popular siding types.

Everything you ever wanted to know about… Roofs

When poring over the MLS listings and looking for your starter home, your dream house, or your empty nest, you can sometimes get a little lost in all of the terminology: What is a gambrel roof? How are double-hung windows different from other windows? Why do I care if the siding is cement board? What’s the difference between radiant heat and forced air anyway? In this new series of posts, we’re going to explore the house from top to bottom to learn about all of those “house things” you always wanted to know. Today, it’s everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the roof. Okay, well, maybe not everything — I’m not going to tell you how to raise it — but you will know more about roof styles by the time we’re done. 

House style - New Constuction

History

With single-family homes sprinkled generously across the American landscape, it can be easy to forget that this housing type was once a radical new concept, reflecting the independent and self-reliant spirit of the early settlers. Prior to the 17^th century, European communities often centered around manor houses which required large staffs of servants, skilled workers, and groundskeepers to keep them running. Those not living or working within the confines of the main house, often lived in multi-generational cottages, where one would be born and reared until married, at which time a new wife would leave her family to join the household of her husband. 

House Style - Mid Century Modern

By the end of World War II, America was primed for change. Soldiers were returning home to a country that was eager to put the past behind it and move boldly into a newly imagined future. This optimism created both a baby boom and a housing boom, as expanding families migrated into new “sub-urban” settlements. Emerging technologies created opportunities for innovation in building.

House Style - The Colonial Revival

The nation’s centennial celebration in 1876 had many American’s clambering for the past and a return to America’s historic roots. The following year, this spark of interest in early colonial settlers was further fueled by a collection of noted architects, among them McKim, Mead, and White. Upon completing a tour of the original homes of New England, the group took up the battle-cry to preserve these “important colonial houses,” which at this point had begun to age into states of disrepair, and to create new connections to the country’s treasured past with the design and construction of new homes that would further this homage. 

House Style - The Bungalow

For our second installment of the House Style series, we are exploring the bungalow. It's a style we see (and love) throughout the Capital Region in both our urban and suburban neighborhoods.

House Styles - The Victorian

You’re in the market for a new house. Maybe it’s your first time buying. Maybe you’re a seasoned homeowner ready to make a change. Whatever your experience, there are many factors for you to consider as you wade through the myriad of home listings in your chosen area. One such factor is style.

In today’s market, there are many different styles of houses available to buyers: Victorian, Bungalow, Mid-Century Modern, Contemporary and Center Hall Colonial for example. Each of these housing styles has its fan base, those who would live in no other — who laud the qualities and benefits of their chosen style. And truthfully, each have fine qualities to consider. So, how do you choose which style is best for you? Well first, you want to understand the differences between them, and specifically, what these differences mean for you and your family.

Should you refer your family and friends to McSharry and Associates?

We work primarily by referral, getting new business from repeat clients or via recommendations from past clients, friends, and business associates. We love working by referral because it allows us to spend our advertising dollars promoting our listings rather than promoting ourselves. And that just feels better to us. We aren’t the type to be comfortable with our faces on a billboard or a shopping cart. We find it much more interesting to think of new ways to market our listings than to worry about marketing our business and we are grateful that we get to focus our energies in the way we want. Referrals have made us successful and referrals are what keep our children clothed and fed.

How’s the market doing?

“How’s the market doing?” and its close cousin, “What do you think the market is going to do?” are questions we are regularly asked – by clients as they plan their next real estate move, and by friends and acquaintances at social gatherings, waiting in line at the grocery store, or in the stands at children’s’ sporting events. Many of us own real estate, and for the vast majority of us, our homes are our largest financial asset so we are naturally interested in the ebbs and flows of the market.