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Colleen Kuchta

Open House Safety

April 13, 2010 at 07:00 PM · Posted under Colleen Kuchta

We all know that holding an Open House is a great way to attract buyers to your home. An Open House is also a great way to attract people that are not looking to buy. Recently, there have been reports of people attending an Open House to rob the Realtor holding the house open, or the owner of the property. One easy way to avoid becoming a victim, is to keep valuables locked up. Never leave jewelry or money out for people to see. These items can tempt even the most honest person. Instead, keep these items in a safe deposit box, a personal safe or pack them away for safe keeping. You are planning on moving once you receive an offer, so it would not be unheard of to get a head start on boxing things up. Prescriptions are also becoming a popular item to steal. If you do not have a medicine cabinet that can lock, I would recommend you bring your medications with you. If you have more medication than you wish to carry, put the medicines in a safe place where they are not easily detected. Remember, when buyers attend an Open House, it is not uncommon for closets & cabinet doors to be opened. Don’t become a victim - plan ahead and keep your family safe. For more tips on staying safe, contact The Kuchta’s - Kelly & Colleen!

Posted by: Colleen Kuchta

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When Should I Buy a New Home?

April 08, 2010 at 04:08 PM · Posted under Colleen Kuchta

If you are playing with the idea of buying a new home, but can’t quite make a decision, maybe this will help you decide. I have 5 great reasons for you to buy now.

Home Buyer’s Tax Credit - The Federal Government is offering a tax credit of $8,000 to eligible first-time home buyers. There is also a $6,500 tax credit to eligible move-up buyers. The tax credit is available to buyers that have an accepted offer on a property on or before April 30, 2010 and successfully close on that same property on or before June 30,2010. To find out if you qualify for the tax credit go to http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/home.html.
Low Mortgage Interest Rates - When I checked my rate sheet from Wisconsin Mortgage today, the rates for an FHA Mortgage were 5% and Conventional Mortgage rates were 5.25%. The interest rates are still pretty low considering they are no longer being backed by the Federal Government. Remember, the lower the interest rate - the lower your monthly payment will be!
Supply & Demand - The number of homes for sale is high. In Real Estate, just like any other market place, when there is an over-supply, then prices are driven down. Low prices, along with low interest rates could mean that your monthly mortgage payment is the same or less than a monthly rent payment.
Real Estate is Still a Great Long Term Investment - Although prices continue to fall in the current market, the day will come when the value of properties climbs above todays values. In the long run, real estate will offer a great return on your investment. Even in the past decade, real estate has been a better investment than the stock market.
A House Becomes Home - There is no better feeling than being able to walk through your front door and know in your heart that you are home. Whether you own a condo, a modest single family home or a large extravagant home; your house is quickly filled with happy memories and becomes your home - your refuge from the outside world.