Buying a New Home in Maple Valley

Now more than ever, there are great opportunities for anyone wanting to buy a brand new home in Maple Valley. Builders have brought prices down to a point where previously lukewarm buyers are beginning to sit up and take notice.

Currently prices for New Construction range from 309,000 to over 1.5 Million, and offer a wide variety of amenities, square footage and lot sizes. The majority of the new construction inventory is between 300-500k.

Whenever I’m showing new construction to clients, we begin the process by weeding out developments based on price and/or amenities-is there a nearby park? What’s the proximity to shopping, schools, etc. Once we’ve narrowed that down, I begin to guide them through the differences between builders and locations. The pros and cons of each neighborhood, home style and overall product offered by the builder. Once you’ve settled on a neighborhood, turn your eye towards resale down the road. Is your lot one which a buyer (in 3-5 years) might find more attractive than another you’re considering? Do you really need to invest all that money in the master bath? How much of that, if any, might you get back when the time comes to sell? Because many of the Maple Valley area new construction developments have smaller lots than older neighborhoods, my best tip would be to find the largest rear yard you possibly can with the floorplan you like. One of the most common objections I hear when showing newer homes is that the back yards are just too small. And lastly, I would encourage you to have representation other than the Builder’s agent during the negotiation process. Many Builders use proprietary contracts which are very one-sided (and it’s not yours). Make sure you understand all your options prior to signing on the bottom line!

Colleen Fischesser is the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Select in Maple Valley, WA. She has been successfully selling and marketing properties all over South King & North Pierce counties since 1990 but specializes in the greater Maple Valley area. She may be contacted directly at: 425-432-5400

Copyright 2008 Colleen Fischesser All Rights Reserved

Maple Valley Bank Owned Homes

Sometimes Bank-owned properties (or those which have gone through foreclosure and are now owned and available for sale by the Bank/Lender/Asset Management Co) are a “good deal” and sometimes they aren’t. Here are a few tips if you’re looking at Bank-owned properties:

• If you’re looking to purchase a bank-owned property, enlist the help of a professional in your area who knows your  market and can help you navigate the Bank-owned process. These companies will often have their own forms and “quirky” requirements. Make sure you understand all the implications before signing on the dotted line
• Do your due-diligence, talk with the neighbors, find out about all “the skeletons“, if any,  before you buy. Sometimes the bank will have conducted an inspection of the property but there are things even an inspector cannot find….for instance flooding in the back yard, past leaks or plumbing problems now undetectable. Hire your own inspector! Even if he/she finds nothing, it will be money well spend on future peace of mind.

Currently (as of 12.26.07) there are 4 Bank Owned Properties for sale in the Maple Valley Market, this is a higher number than we’ve seen in the past, but certainly better than many other areas of the Country and hopefully a trend we will not see increasing.

 

Colleen Fischesser 

www.MapleValleyRealEstate.com       www.ColleenFish.com

 

Colleen Fischesser has been marketing and selling Homes in the Maple Valley area since 1990. She is the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Select RE.

Want to be S-O-L-D in Maple Valley in ‘08? Make your Plan Now!

Most successful Business Owners I know spend time in November and December working on and fine tuning their business plan for the coming year. It’s not always fun to do, and is a little like homework, but every year I begin January with a detailed business plan.

I have been selling real estate in Maple Valley since 1990 and have experienced all kinds of market conditions and the one thing I can tell you is  if you want or need to sell in 2008 you’d better sit down with your agent and make a plan.

Here are some things to consider:

What do you Want? You must have a goal in mind. Do you really want or need to sell? Or do you “kinda wanna sell” but only if you can get your dream price? If you’re in the latter group, I’d suggest chosing another goal for the New Year. This isn’t the time. If you have to sell or NEED to sell get busy on your plan and you should be able sell before Spring brings an even greater Inventory increase.

Know Your Numbers! When I begin my business plan strategizing, I have to know my numbers for the last year. It’s no different for you when selling. How many homes are on the market in your price range? In your neighborhood? How many have sold, what’s the average price, average market time?

Hire a Professional who not only knows the area, but will be around in the New Year! Is the agent you’re hiring full or part time? Is he/she familiar with the nuances of Maple Valley? Why one neighborhood might attract more buyers and for a slightly higher price than another? With numbers tightening, many agents will be leaving the business. Does he/she have a solid commitment to this industry or will you be left holding the sign up by yourself? (or worse assigned a new agent by the Broker?)

Take off Your Owner’s Hat! If you want to sell, you must become a SELLER. Your property is now “the product”. But on the Buyer’s glasses and take an objective look at the market. What is the competition? How does it compare? Which other listings stand out to you and why? Are they staged? Priced aggressively? Which house would you buy today, if you were a buyer in the market? Why? These are all questions which you and your agent can discuss to help you get to S-O-L-D

Consider this: As of the writing of this post, there are 330 Active NWMLS listings in the 98038 zip code. 48 homes are under contract in Escrow. If you want to be one of those 48, because you want or NEED to sell it’s time to forumulate your plan. And please, if you’re in a position where you owe more than your home is worth, CALL ME or another agent who is experienced negotiating Short Sales. You don’t have to lose your house in foreclosure!

Here’s to your success!

Colleen “Fish” Fischesser

www.MapleValleyRealEstate.com      www.ColleenFish.com

 “The Maple Valley Specialist!”

Colleen Fischesser is the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Select. She has been successfully listing and selling real estate in the greater Maple Valley area since 1990. She is the author of MapleValleyBlog.com