211 N Warsaw Ursa, IL 62376

Property Site: http://tour.circlepix.com/home/ECL7MB/211-N-Warsaw-Ursa-IL-194804

If you are looking for a home where you walk in the door and can see the pride of ownership, this is that home. New laminate floors 2013 through the kitchen, dining, living room and main level bedroom. Washer and dryer are conveniently located on the main level. 2 full bathrooms. One on the main level and the other on the upper level near the 3 large bedrooms. Landscaped yard that could be expanded by moving the fence out to the property lines. The oversized 2 car garage provides lots of storage and is connected to a breezeway so you are out of the elements when bringing in groceries. Plenty of parking for all of your fun toys. New in 2015 central air, furnace, water softener, water heater. 2016 paint throughout, Updated patio and extended, re-seeded side yard and fenced in area. 2017-garage door opener, garbage disposal, basement floor painted. Roof 2011.

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 2

Square feet: 1,783

Price: $118,000

For more information about this property, please contact Misty Dowling at 2172244600 or misty.dowling@century21.com. You can also text 4220704 to 67299.

See more listings at: http://homesforsale.century21.com/agent/misty.dowling@century21.com

MLS ID: 194804

Happy Spring! Great time to build a fire pit. Sharing my favs with you today! Quincy, Il "Really Real REALTOR®"

Oh, happy day! The sun is out and the real estate market Spring season has taken off! 
 All the beautiful new of Spring inspires buyers and sellers to make a change.  It also inspires home owners to work in the yard and gardens to prepare for warm summer days and evenings.  This is the perfect time of year to add a fire pit. Enjoy those cool spring nights around a toasty fire. Check out may favorite fire pits below. :) 

  

1) The sunken fire pit!  This sunken, stone-surrounded design would be a great choice if you needed to cover the fire pit with a topper when not in use.  This would make mowing much easier! 

2) Store bought fire pit with charm. Just add the lighting and the chairs to make it a relaxing backyard getaway.

3) This is an extreme fire pit. If you love to entertain this would be a wonderful option. You can add the outdoor pillows when you have company giving it that simple but chic look. Another great option to add a cover over the fire pit and use it as a table by day!

4) Creating an area just for entertaining. You would have the best fire pit in the neighborhood with the natural stone. Plenty of seating. HUGE stone fire pit surround. Love the actual stone look of this fire pit – very organic and natural. 

5)There are also many unique fire pits available on the internet. (I bought my husband a tiki fire pit for our pool area)   Here are a few unique fire pits that you can use in your yard if you don't want to have something so permanent.

There are so many great backyard fire pit ideas. Pinterest has so many tutorials you can check out. A fire pit is a great way to bring entertainment space into any yard. Spring is the perfect time to build it before it gets too hot.


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For Sale By Owner VS REALTOR® Quincy Il "Really Real REALTOR®" Misty Dowling

                         

                                                  

The Spring season is upon us! This means you will see for sale signs popping up every where. Buyers and sellers find Spring to be the perfect time to make a change. You sell or buy a home in the Spring time and move in the Summer. The best timing for families also. This means you will move when your child/children are out for Summer break.  Today I am going to be both blunt and direct with the differences in buying or selling a home For Sale By Owner VS using a Realtor®.   You may not like everything I have to say but, I am the really real REALTOR® and promised to deliver you nothing but the truth! Let's get started

*According to the National Association Of Realtors homes listed with a Realtor® generally sell for more.  
   When a For Sale By Owner seller sells their home they are not trained like a realtor® through continued education and licensing to price a home. In my experience when I call a For Sale By Owner because my buyer is interested in seeing their home this is how the conversation goes.   Realtor: " How did you come up with your price?"  FSBO Seller: "My neighbors house sold for x amount of dollars and I think my home is in much nicer condition"

Do you see the problem here?  The price for a FSBO can be all over the place and for various reasons.  They are not trained to price a home for sale. Of course we all have a biased opinion of our home. We know exactly what we have invested in our home since we bought it and we want that money back when we sell.  Sellers, this is where you need a trained Realtor®!  Let a Realtor® help you get the most money that the current market will allow. You could be selling your home far below market value. The 6% that you are paying a Realtor for their services pays for itself 10x over in a transaction.  It starts with pricing. I have had FSBO sellers tell me "It doesn't matter what the market says on price, if a buyer wants my house they will pay it". This is not how real estate works.
1) Your home is only worth what a buyer will pay
2) A buyer can say they will pay your over priced amount but when the bank orders the appraisal and it comes back short because it is over priced. THE BANK WILL NOT LOAN THAT AMOUNT. This means the buyer can't buy your home unless they plan to take a loan for the appraised amount and pay you cash for the difference.
  **I don't know about you but as a buyer if I know I can get the same product for less I usually buy the better priced item if it is the same thing.
Buyers- When you are getting involved in a FSBO transaction remember you have no legal paperwork to protect your interest. When it comes to negotiations you could be missing out on thousands of dollars of items that should be negotiated in a contract. Things such as Appliances, HVAC,outdoor items,roof,replacement windows and much, much more.  With an experienced Realtor® they know these items can be negotiated in a contract and save you money.

*Realtor
A Realtor® has access to the multi listing service and has access to thousands of buyers who can potentially look at and buy your home.  If you are a seller represented by a a REALTOR® your marketing is professionally done. All social media platforms are utilized and you can tell your friends and family to check them out if they know someone interested in your home and call your Realtor®.  You can go to work or on vacation and know that your Realtor® is working 24/7 to find you a pre-approved buyer for your home.  When it comes to negotiations your Realtor® will give you the best advice for your negotiations so you walk away with the most money.   During the process of the sale of your home your Realtor® will set up and attend all inspections and ensure that you are represented in the transaction. Your  trained Realtor® will set up your closing with the lenders and make the entire process seem simple. In reality if selling a home was easy there wouldn't be a Realtor®. Selling a home without a Realtor® is like being a new Skier at the top of a tall mountain with one ski and no poles.  

*For Sale By Owner
A for sale by owner seller does not have access to put their home on the MLS.  They have to pay out of their pocket to market their own home. $$$$$ More money that a seller is paying to sell. (For as low as 6% you could have a professional marketing your home, a trained Realtor®)

** According to the National Association Of Realtors https://www.nar.realtor/sites/default/files/Study-Digital-House-Hunt-2013-01_1.pdf   ----->      90% of buyers are searching for homes online!!!
As a seller if you are going at this alone these statistics are saying you better be very techie to reach these buyers.  There are lots of platforms that home buyers use to search for a home.  Let's just discuss a few Pinterest, Youtube, Realtor.com, Twitter, Facebook,Snap Chat, Instagram, Trulia and even Zillow where Zillow Zestimates are not accurate!  These are where your buyers are. This is also what a Realtor® specializes in, MARKETING YOUR HOME.  You can't just market your home on these sites and be done. You will have lot's of buyers reach out to you and it will become a full time job to figure out who is an actual qualified buyer and who are the "lookie loos" who don't really have the funds to buy a home.  You will now have to make time in your day to set up showings, keep track of buyers and negotiate your sale. You now have a "buyer" and will have to be available to have a home inspector, appraiser, termite inspector in your home.
 Do you have the legal forms to even accept a contract on your home?  

*FSBO buyer- You are now working with a seller who is showing their home to many people and you have nothing to protect your interests. The seller can say they accept terms you agree on to purchase their home and another buyer comes along and they offer more money and the seller tells you that you are out of luck.  You have no protection buying a home FSBO without a REALTOR®.

* REALTOR®
A Realtor® knows the legal ins and outs of a home's sale.
Continued education and licensing prepare a Realtor® for the job of buying and selling homes. 

*For Sale By Owner
Buyers who don't know the legal ins and outs of a home's sale could be SUED. This goes for a seller also. 


If you are reading my blog it's because the title probably enticed you. Everyone wants someone to be honest with them. I am not trying to insult anyone trying to sell their home on their own. It can be done but is not recommended for a buyer or seller because of the many loop holes in real estate that raise questions of law and ethics.  My blog is to educate and provide a service. If you are buying or selling a home without a Realtor® I highly recommend seeking legal advice.

Avoid all of the headache and interview a Realtor® to help you in the home buying or selling process. There are so many misconceived ideas of using a Realtor®. Truth is that little 6% commission is priceless for you to have peace of mind as a seller.Especially when it comes to money.Every seller wants to walk away with more money in their pocket. A Realtor® wants that for you also. As a buyer there is no charge to work with a Realtor® and you will be represented with a legal contract.


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You can also set up a personalized search on my Century 21 Broughton Team Website and receive notifications directly to your email when a home that fits your criteria hits the market.  https://homesforsale.century21.com/agent/misty.dowling@century21.com


Thank you for reading my blog! See you next time for more really real real estate information!

How much does it cost to sell your home? Quincy, IL "The really real REALTOR®"

How Much Does It Cost to Sell a House?

 

If you’re selling a home, you’ll want to know how much it’s going to cost you to close the deal. That way you can make a plan for buying your next house.

In addition to what’s needed to pay off your mortgage, it’s smart to plan to spend about 10% of the home price in selling costs.

Selling your home: common costs

Real estate agent commissions: The seller’s agent usually charges 5% to 6% of the home purchase price when the deal closes. This is likely the biggest expense you’ll pay. Seller’s agents usually split commissions with buyer’s agents, who generally don’t charge their clients.
Commission fees are negotiable, however, and many real estate agents charge less. Some even accept a lower flat rate for their services, so it can pay to shop around. You can ask for recommendations from friends and neighbors, and search home shopping websites for local referrals. Whichever seller’s agent you choose, make sure you agree on commission terms in writing.


Taxes and neighborhood fees:

 You’ll owe a prorated share of property taxes when you sell your home. The amount could be close to zero if you’ve recently paid taxes, or several thousand dollars if the due date is around the corner.
In some states, you may also be charged a local transfer tax, which the seller pays in order to change the title from one person to another. Depending on location, the tax is generally 0.01% to 2% of the sales price. In addition to the local taxes, you may also face capital gains taxes if the profit you make from selling your home is more than $250,000 ($500,000 for married couples on joint tax returns).
If your neighborhood has a homeowners association, expect to pay prorated membership fees. You or the buyer may also need to pay an HOA transfer fee.

Title insurance for the buyer:

 This protects the buyer in case there’s an issue with the home’s ownership history.
Buyers also purchase a title policy if they apply for a mortgage, but that policy only protects the lender. Traditionally, the seller buys a separate policy for the new homeowner. The cost ranges from about $500 to $1,000.
The title company will run a title search on the property during the sale process. If a lien on your home is revealed, you’ll also need to settle it before you can sell the house.

Your current mortgage: 

 It’s no surprise you’ll need to pay off your mortgage when you sell your home. But the payoff amount is probably different from the balance due listed on your last mortgage statement, because of interest charges. You’ll want to know the payoff amount. If your mortgage has a prepayment penalty, that will be added to the amount due.


Home repairs:

 Your buyer will probably order a home inspection before closing. If the report reveals problems, you may be asked to pay for repairs.


Moving costs:  

Whether you buy boxes, pack and move them yourself or hire a company, you’ll want to budget money for the actual move.

Selling your home: optional costs

Depending on how competitive your local market is, it can be smart to pay for extra services to attract potential buyers. They’re not always necessary, but in a sluggish market they could help your home stand out.
Home warranty: 

 To ease potential worries about buying an older home, sellers can offer a home warranty that covers most of the repair costs if a major system breaks soon after the home is sold. A typical one-year warranty costs $350 to $500.

Home staging:

 It’s wise to remove clutter and give your home a good cleaning before you put it on the market. But your agent may suggest going a step further and hiring a home stager to make your home more visually appealing.
Stagers may rearrange furniture, change the interior design and even rent furniture to display while selling your house. Most stagers charge from $250 to $1,000, according to HomeAdvisor.com.

Portion of buyer’s closing costs:  

Buyers are usually responsible for mortgage fees, home inspections and appraisal expenses, which can add up to about 2% to 5% of the selling price. If you’re in a slow market, offering to pay some of those closing costs for the buyer could help close the deal.

 If you would like more information on the local real estate market and what your home is worth, please call me. It is a sellers market right now. This means your home will sell for top dollar. What are you waiting for? Let's get your home sold together! 


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Kitchen Countertops Quincy,Il "The really real REALTOR®"

Kitchen countertops can make an old kitchen look renewed. When I show homes to clients and we make it to the kitchen area the first thing the client does is rub their hands across the countertops. Countertops have come along way design wise. You can now buy laminate that look like granite and quartz that appear to have diamonds. Let's do a little run down of what each style is.

Laminate Countertops

Solid Surface Countertops

Granite Countertops

 

 

Quartz Countertops

  This local home (Payson, Il) had one of the best kitchens and countertops I have seen. I think it's safe to say this kitchen had realtors talking.   After showing this house, I went home and told my husband I think I found the countertops I wanted. We went to the store and priced these exact countertops and decided we would have to sell a kidney on the black market in order to buy these. 😆  None the less they are absolutely stunning. One day Stellar Snow Quartz you will be mine!

 I hope todays blog on countertops gives you and idea of what is available and the differences.If you need help finding a home with a stunning kitchen, call me!

"The Really Real REALTOR®" Quincy, Il Writing a contract on the home you ♥

Writing a Real Estate purchase contract that can set you apart from other Buyers.

 
 #1  –What is earnest money? Why are there different amounts for different homes? What does an agent say to a seller about your offer?

 Keep in mind that, as a Buyer, an escrow deposit can clearly show a Seller how serious or committed you are in buying their home.  If you want the Seller to know that you really love their home and want to buy it, your escrow deposit is one thing that can let them know.  If you’re buying a $400,000 home and your Real Estate contract reveals a deposit of $1000, does this really show the Seller how serious you are about purchasing their home? That’s less than 1%, which screams; not too serious, not too committed.  A bit of seriousness begins at a minimum of 1% and as you go up from there, lets the Seller know of your intentions. Depending upon the type of financing you’re utilizing, your loan type can set forth the amount of your deposit.  There are a number of different options that will show the Seller of your good intentions. These options can be discussed with your trusted Realtor.  Just remember, that if you try to skimp on your deposit, there  could be another Buyer that comes by offering a more attractive deposit, which the Seller may read as a more interested Buyer. It’s a good time to put your money where your mouth is, so to speak.  You don’t want your offer to appear as being nonchalant.  Now is not the time to show you don’t care.

Before looking at homes your trusted REALTOR® will explain your price range and what amount of earnest money is typically expected in that price range when making an offer. Prepare yourself, don't be shocked when you find your perfect home and you are writing the offer and your agent asks for a earnest check. BE PREPARED! You should not be looking at homes if you haven't saved for earnest money. Let me explain... If you find your perfect home and 3 other buys think it's their perfect home, all 4 will write an offer. If you have a solid contract it will include earnest money. If your offer was up against the 3 other offers and they all had earnest money and your offer didn't , guess who's contract won't be chosen by the seller to buy that perfect home! 

Earnest money is typically due upon acceptance of the contract. When you write a contract you will be asked to provide a check. If the contract is accepted by the seller, your check will be deposited into an escrow account. Yes, your check will be CASHED. The funds will sit in the escrow account through the inspections and up to the closing date.  If a buyer backs out on a contract for an unjustified reason, the seller will get to keep the earnest money. Don't forget this money shows you are a serious buyer. Serious buyers don't walk away from a contract unless there is a justified reason such as something coming up on the home inspection and the seller refusing to fix it and it makes or breaks buying the home for you.

Sellers depend on their agent to explain to them when a contract comes in on their home if it is a good buyer. How I check for a good buyer contract is by first looking at the FINANCING, will this be a more strict inspection for a specific kind of loan like FHA, next is EARNEST money, are they serious about this home, did they show they were serious with the appropriate amount of earnest money. The next thing I go over with my seller is the buyers request for INSPECTIONS.  (Writing a good offer doesn't mean don't write in inspections.)  A good offer has a typical inspection time frame allowed. This means they have so many days to have inspections done. It is important that this time frame isn't left open to long. The typical amount of days allowed is 15-20 in our local market. If you have a large amount of days for inspections you are not allowing time for repairs and this can push back a closing date. I don't know about you but when I am a seller and moving, that closing date is pretty important to me! FYI- If you have a long inspection time that runs into another month as a seller you have to pay another mortgage payment! Yuck!
Make sure that you really want to purchase the home and then show that you agree to do what you have put in the contract.   
If you’re not serious, don’t present an offer.

*Your lender will explain to you how earnest money will A)Be applied to your loan or B) Given back to you at closing. 

#2 – Be prepared with your Financing commitment due date

 I’m sure it was recommended to you that you get Pre Approved from your Mortgage Lender regarding your financial ability to make a Real Estate purchase.  Your Lender should then be able to provide you with a date in which they can provide you with a financing commitment.  This should be a written commitment that indicates you have received a go ahead from your Lender for them to provide you with the financing needed to purchase your home.  This will typically come with a few conditions that must be met with the formality of gathering certain documentation.  On our standard Illinois Real Estate contract, the average commitment date is 30-45 days.  Of course, check with your Lender to confirm their capability to meet such a date.  Remember, that any date that you put forth in the Real Estate purchase contract, will need to be met, so as not to be in default.  If you state on the contract that you will provide commitment within 15 days and you provide a written commitment on the 18th day, you are now in default of the contract and any attempt by you, as a Buyer, to cancel the contract can result in you forfeiting your escrow deposit.

Pre-approval, Pre-approval, Pre-approval! I will not show a home to a buyer who is not pre-approved. Why would I mislead you to look at homes that may be way under your allowed budget or way over your allowed budget? Why would I show you a station wagon when you could own a Corvette? That's what pre approval is for. It let's you and your REALTOR® know what homes you qualify for and it let's a seller know when you are ready to write an offer that you are so serious, you have your financing in order and you can afford their home! 

Call me and I will give you lenders names who can typically pre-approve you the same day if you qualify!

I’ve listed a few of the important terms to speak about when presenting your offer to buy a home, so the Seller can see your a serious buyer! Perhaps you have other questions about buying a home – call me now!

 To see new listings and local marketing statistics, let's be friends on Facebook! 
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 This BLOG is not intended to provide legal advice, as you should hire a Real Estate Attorney to provide legal advice.

Quincy, Il "Really Real REALTOR®" Simple ideas for curb appeal! :)

More buyers will want to stop and look at your home if you have CURB APPEAL!

I have provided a few simple curb appeal ideas that can help you sell your home for more money and quickly!

Studies show that homes with great curb appeal take a shorter amount of time to sell — plus they fetch higher selling prices. Even if you’re not planning to sell in the near future, these 15 upgrades will make you happy every time you pull into your driveway.

1. Shutters

Decorate your home with attractive shutters or striking accent trim to add an interesting element of contrast to your façade. Pick from a range of styles, which may include cottage chic or French country to enhance the personality of your home.

2. Landscape Lighting

Virtually nothing creates more ambiance than mood lighting, especially at night. Install solar lighting in your yard for a great look without the need for electricity. Try using a spotlight to highlight a gorgeous tree, and don’t forget about path lights.

3. Front Door

Many homeowners are apprehensive when it comes to painting the front door. But, by choosing just the right shade that perfectly harmonizes with your home’s color palette and overall architectural style, it can really set the tone and grab everyone’s attention.


4. Walkway

Decorative bricks and pavers laid in an eye-catching pattern will draw the eye straight to your beautiful front door.

5. Landscaping

Adding bushes, trees, and shrubs that will complement and frame your home will add a huge dose of gorgeous curb appeal in addition to keeping a well-maintained yard. Here are some more landscaping ideas.

6. Potted Plants

Place big potted plants full of beautiful blooms to revitalize both your front entryway and welcome your visitors.

7. House Numbers

House numbers are a very important part of overall curb appeal and are literally one of the first elements that catch the eye, which is why they should be visually interesting and large enough to read from the curb.

8. Hardware

Replace your tired hardware with fresh new knockers, hinges, kick plates, and knobs to dramatically enhance your home’s style.

9. Window Boxes

Use window boxes to instantly add energy to your house with lush foliage and colorful plants and flowers.

10. Driveway

For a cost-saving, quick update, simply fill in the cracks of your driveway and re-coat the surface using a blacktop refinishing compound or perhaps install a unique border with paver stones or concrete to embellish the look.

11. Storm Door

If your front door is super attractive or highly unique, show it off by using a storm door that’s primarily made of glass to enhance your front entryway.

12. Paint

Is there anything paint can’t do or fix? If your entire home doesn’t actually need a coat of paint, then just repaint the trim in a fresh, lively color to add a splash of personality to your curb appeal.

13. Fences and Railings

Consider replacing or painting any railings or fences that lead to your front entryway in order to improve your lawn’s visual appeal.

14. Garage Door

A fresh garage door makes your whole property look more appealing. You can instantly breathe new life into a drab-looking garage door with a fresh coat of paint.

15. Mailbox

Why not turn your boring but functional mailbox into a work of art that turns heads? There are many unique options available today.

Unfortunately, many homeowners don’t put a lot of thought or time into their curb appeal until it’s time to actually sell their home and move. This, however, doesn’t make much sense. Take the time to optimize the look of your home as much as possible while you’re currently still living there. Don’t you deserve it? Doesn’t your home?