SELL YOUR HOUSE FASTER…

Most everyone knows about curb appeal today, but what about house appeal? Take the first step by looking at your house with fresh eyes as a potential buyer. When we have lived in our house for several years, we tend to overlook a major non selling point – CLUTTER! By using fresh eyes you will notice the ten pairs of shoes by the front door, the pile of papers all over the desk or counter. A buyer may think by seeing this that there is not enough storage or closet space.
Ways to be clutter free include…

• START BY THE FRONT DOOR…and create an open area free of shoes, coats, umbrellas and backpacks. Clean out the hall closet, it will look bigger and able to accommodate the buyers storage needs.
• CLEAR OFF ALL SURFACES. Pack up your collections, you want the buyer to look at your house, not your stuff! This includes personal photos on the wall. You want the buyer to feel as if they can move right in, not visit.
• CLEAN UP AND PACK UP the prime areas such as kitchen cabinets, counters, bathroom vanities and linen closet, bedroom closets. Show off how much storage you really have!
• OUTSIDE COUNTS! Have a clear pathway to the house and out the back door. Pack up out of season items so your house is appealing and current with the time of year.
• LESS IS MORE…think of this way, you will be packing up early and saving time in the long run.
• Speak to your CENTURY 21 At The Shore Realty Agent to show you more ways your house can outshine the competition with home staging.

The Treasury Department has been granted temporary authority to purchase debt and equity of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac through 2009. This is meant to provide financial stability for the mortgage giants. The regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) will have enhanced authority to raise capital standards and take corrective actions if the government sponsored enterprises (GSE) are undercapitalized. Since this agency will be funded through fees assessed upon the GSEs, these fees will likely be passed along to lenders.

The legislation also permanently increases the maximum loan limit to $625,500 for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. This will help buyers seeking homes in high-priced markets such as California and the Northeast. The bill also creates a new affordable housing fund to be financed by the GSEs. The fund will be used to finance the construction, maintenance and preservation of affordable rental housing projects nationwide.

What the legislation does: Provides each new first-time homebuyer a tax credit equivalent to an interest-free loan of 10 percent of the purchase price of the home (up to $7,500) to be repaid over 15 years.
See Tax Credits - Page 2

NOTES FROM THE BROKER: Looks like a bountiful crop this harvest season in Ocean County. . . a bountiful crop of open houses, that is. Throughout October, CENTURY 21 is promoting its national campaign for “OPEN HOUSE MONTH” and CENTURY 21 At The Shore Realty, located at 333 Route 9, Bayville, will begin hosting public Open Houses in their local market. As this is a national campaign, now’s the time to see some of Ocean Counties great listings in one shot. Drop by the office, located in the Super Foodtown Plaza, Bayville, visit us on the web at www.century21attheshore.com, and let one of our agents help you pick your dream home.
This is a great time for sellers to get additional exposure for their house, and for buyers to get a strong understanding of what is on the market right now. For more information, please feel free to call (732)606-9002. Looking forward to seeing you. We can put you on the path to your new home.

Most of us relate hurricanes to the southern half of the East Coast, but it’s important to know here in Ocean County we are just as vulnerable. There are important steps you can take to properly protect your home and family.

Step 1: Be Informed Familiarize yourself and your family with the terms that are used to identify a hurricane. A hurricane watch means a hurricane is possible in your area. Be prepared to evacuate. Monitor local radio and television news outlets or listen to NOAA Weather Radio for the latest developments. A hurricane warning is when a hurricane is expected in your area. If local authorities advise you to evacuate, leave immediately. Hurricanes are classified into five categories based on their wind speed, central pressure, and damage potential. Category Three and higher hurricanes are considered major hurricanes, though Categories One and Two are still extremely dangerous and warrant your full attention.

Step 2: Make a Family Emergency Plan. Your family may not be together when a hurricane strikes, so it is important to plan how you will contact one another, how you will get back together and what you will do in case of an emergency. Identify ahead of time where your family will meet, both in and outside of your immediate neighborhood. Identify several places you could go in an emergency, a friend's home in another town, a motel or public shelter. An out-of-town contact you could call may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members. If you do not have a car, plan alternate means of evacuating. If you have a car, keep a half tank of gas in it at all times in case you need to evacuate. Take an Emergency Supply Kit. Take your pets with you, but understand that only service animals may be permitted in public shelters. Plan how you will care for your pets in an emergency. Inquire about emergency plans at places where your family spends time: work, daycare and school. Make sure you have a “to-go bag” ready in case you need to evacuate, include: Water and non-perishable food; Battery operated radio and batteries so you can get important information from local officials; First aid kit; Flashlight; Maps; Important documents such as proof residence, pictures of your family including pets, insurance policies, and tax records; Comfortable clothing and blankets; Unique family needs such as prescription medications, pet supplies, infant supplies or any other unique need your family may have.

Step 3: Prepare Your Home: Cover all of your home's windows with pre-cut ply wood or hurricane shutters to protect your windows from high winds. Plan to bring in all outdoor furniture, decorations, garbage cans and anything else that is not tied down. Keep all trees and shrubs well trimmed so they are more wind resistant. Turn off utilities if instructed. Otherwise, turn the refrigerator thermostat to its coldest setting and keep its doors closed. Turn off propane tanks. Ensure a supply of water for sanitary purposes such as cleaning and flushing toilets. Fill the bathtub and other large containers with water.

Practice your emergency plan at least once a month during hurricane season.