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NEWEST TREND IN LUXURY LIVING – LOW MAINTENANCE

While Millennial and Empty-Nester are decades apart in age, when it comes to home buying they often look for the same qualities: quiet sanctuary, comfort, upgrades and low-maintenance. For Baby Boomers, luxury living was commonly thought of as large homes on acreage. Today the allure of a custom home on a low-maintenance lot has both Empty-Nesters looking to downsize as well as first-time home buying Millennials in the market for the same type of home.

LOCK AND LEAVE LIFESTYLE

Builders have noticed the need for low-maintenance living and are designing and constructing luxury homes designed to do just that. Thoughtfully designed, moderate square-footage homes, with custom upgrades throughout, on zero-lot lines is the new building trend.

The perfect design for Empty-Nesters, young professionals and families who don’t want their time to be consumed with the upkeep of an expansive home or property. The lock and leave lifestyle allows the freedom to travel or just enjoy all the amenities Central Coast living has to offer rather than being tied to household chores.

EMPTY-NESTERS

Once the kids are gone, many home-owners are deciding between remodeling their existing home or start looking for a new home. The daily maintenance and upkeep of lawn, landscape and cleaning can cut into valuable time spent relaxing, traveling and pursuing much-loved hobbies.

Remodeling a home designed for larger families can often be an expensive, daunting task. Many home buyers have decided to find a new home designed to meet their pre-sent-day lifestyle. The perks of new construction in a luxury community, such as builder home warranties offers peace of mind for future maintenance and upkeep costs for homeowners.

MILLENNIALS

Millennials are not interested in fixer-uppers the way past generations have been, and do not budget for significant repair and maintenance costs when planning to buy a home. According to the National Realtors Association, nearly half of millennials who bought newly built homes did so to avoid major repairs and renovations.

Another important factor for these young home buyers is value for money. They want unique details, not cookie cutter layouts, made with durable high-quality materials. Zero-lot line developments allow home-buying dollars to be invested in custom upgrades within the home which make them an appealing option.

In order to satisfy the growing demands of both Millennials and Empty-Nesters, low-maintenance, luxury living will continue to be a building trend in future neighborhood developments.

For an example of low-maintenance, luxury living, check out Oak Arbor Court, Arroyo Grande’s newest neighborhood.

Oak Arbor Court, Arroyo Grande

About CENTURY 21 Hometown Realty – Hometown Realty is the leading real estate firm on the central coast of California with offices spanning Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo county offering expert agents and convenient locations.

Should You Use a Professional Stager When Selling Your Luxury Home?

If you’re planning to put your luxury home on the market, consider staging it first.

Staging is the process of “styling” a home to maximize its appeal to potential buyers. It can be as simple as eliminating clutter or reorganizing a bookcase, or staging can involve removing, replacing or re-arranging furniture, adding accessories or taking down heavy draperies that block the light.

According to StagedHomes.com, which provides training and awards the Accredited Staging Professional designation to real estate agents, designers and others interested in becoming stagers, staging a home helps it sell faster and at a higher price. In fact, in a recent survey, the site found that a staged home sells in an average of 10.3 days, compared to a non-staged home, which averages 84.6 days on the market.

Ask your real estate agent about staging options when listing your home. Some agents have a background in design and feel comfortable handling the staging themselves, especially if the home doesn’t need much to prepare it for sale, while others may recommend a staging professional.

GETTING YOUR HOME SOLD FAST

Whether you’re selling your home to upgrade or downsize, having your house on the market can cause extra stress and cost valuable time and money. Week after week of making sure your house is presentable at all times, can cause extra stress for the entire family. And buyers are most interested in your home the first few weeks it’s on the market, which is the best opportunity to gain top dollar for your property. Here are just a few tips on making sure your house sells fast:

STEPS TO SELLING FAST

1. Declutter your home. First impressions make a big difference and buyers need to imagine themselves living in your home. The general rule is to get rid of a third of your stuff so start with closets, cupboards and the garage. Can’t part with it? Opt to get a storage unit and stash away all of the seasonal decorations, nostalgic items and gadgets you won’t be using. If you use a portable storing company, you can have it all delivered to your new home.

2. Find an agent to do the work. 87% of buyers recently purchased their home through a realtor, according to a 2018 report by the National Association of Realtors. Real Estate Agents can help you get maximum exposure to buyers by providing professional pictures, distributing your home on the local Multiple Listing Service and several real estate websites, create a virtual tour video for YouTube, create custom marketing tools and host open houses.

3. Price to Sell. You will need to determine a realistic asking price for your home. Your agent can help you strategize on the right price for your home which includes many factors. Time of year, interest rates, marketing conditions, knowing what houses have sold or are about to sell are all key elements in determining a price.

4. Make minor repairs. You don’t need to renovate your house, but making minor repairs will help you get top dollar for your home. Simple fixes like repairing leaky faucets, replacing light bulbs, replacing war our bedding and drapery, patching holes and fixing doors that don’t open properly will improve the overall look and feel of the home.

5. Make the house shine. Make your home warm and inviting by make sure your home shines from top to bottom. Cleaning carpets, windows, mirrors, bleaching grout and sinks, hanging fresh towels, adding a fresh coat of paint and even pressure- washing the outside of the house will help make that great first impression.

6. Stage your home. Before your agent has photos taken, take a look at your home with a fresh set of eyes. Hiring a professional stager can often highlight your homes strengths while downplaying it’s flaws. If budget is an issue, consider having a friend walk through (pick one who binges watches all the popular HGTV design shows) and offer ideas on any more decluttering or furniture rearrangement. Then your agent can offer their input before taking the listing photos that will be the buyer’s first impression!

7. Create curb appeal. Make the buyers want to stop and look inside. Add curb appeal by mowing the lawn, planting flowers, trimming bushes, cleaning sidewalks, add a new welcome mat.

8. Choose an experienced agent. When it comes to selling your home fast, not all realtors are equal. C21Hometown Realty is the central coast market leader with more homes listed and more homes sold than any other company. By using a C21 agent you can be assured that they have a track record of selling homes in your area. Also, C21’s proven marketing strategy will ensure your home stands out.

9. Negotiating the best deal. Getting an offer or multiple offers is just the beginning of what a C21 agent does for you. Once the offers come in, your C21 Agent will help you negotiate the best deal that can include price, down payment amount, contingency requests, closing and occupancy dates and much more.

A lot goes into selling your home fast and choosing the right real estate company can make all the difference. Put your trust into a C21 Hometown Realty Agent who can walk you through the step-by-step process of selling your home and help you sell it fast!

About CENTURY 21 Hometown Realty – Hometown Realty is the leading real estate firm on the central coast of California with offices spanning Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo county offering expert agents and convenient locations.

Beware of Wire Fraud

BEWARE OF FAST GROWING WIRE FRAUD SCHEME

THE NIGHTMARE
You are hours away from closing escrow on your dream home when the unimaginable happens…you receive an email from what looks like your real estate agent changing wire instructions. In your hurried, so much to do, so little time state, you follow the instructions and before you know it your down payment and ultimately your dream home are gone!

FASTEST GROWING CYBERCRIME
Wire fraud in real estate is one of the fastest growing cybercrimes in the country. The FBI reportedly received 301,580 complaints in 2017 and losses exceeded $1.4 billion, and in the real estate/rental sector alone, more than 9,600 victims lost over $56 million in the same year.

GONE FOREVER
According to a CNBC report quoting Ryan Kalember, senior vice president of cybersecurity strategy for email security company Proofpoint, “It’s important to remember that in these cases, they lose the funds permanently.” Banks are rarely are responsible for a wire authorized by the customer, even if the customer was tricked into sending it. And if the funds are overseas, there’s little U.S. law enforcement can do to recover it.

PROTECT YOURSELF
There are steps homebuyers should take to make sure they are protecting themselves from falling victim to fraudsters, according to Kalember and the FBI.
1. Be vigilant: Homebuyers should first just be aware that they may be a targeted by scammers in this manner, and should act accordingly to verify any suspicious correspondence associated with their home purchase or sale.

2. Voice verify: It might seem cumbersome in an already long home buying process, but following up emails with a voice verification is a must, Kalember said. That’s especially true if the email involves e-signing a document, logging into a new website, transacting money or supplying any kind of financial information

3. Talk to your bank: While not all banks may follow the guidelines you suggest, most will honor your request to not allow any wire transfers without a voice verification or other checkpoint from you. This is especially true for business accounts, but even individuals going through a real estate transaction can request a note be added to their primary accounts to put additional steps in place before allowing wire transactions to go through.

4. Don’t react immediately to email: Emails asking you to take some type of action, purporting to be from the title company, attorneys, realtors, bank lawyers or others involved in a transaction may not be authentic. Regard any of them with suspicion, and you should follow up on known phone numbers for the individuals making the request to confirm.

About CENTURY 21 Hometown Realty – Hometown Realty is the leading real estate firm on the central coast of California with offices spanning Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo county offering expert agents and convenient locations.

SPRING CLEAN IS GREAT PREP FOR SPRING FLING

The “Spring Fling” frenzy for real estate is right around the corner! When the temperatures start to rise, the real estate market will also heat up bringing competition or home sellers who want to get top dollar. If you’re planning on selling your home in the next few months, here’s what you can do now to make your house at the top of the “hot buy” list!

START PACKING

We’re not suggesting to pack up your kitchen and camp the next few months, but start packing and get rid of what you don’t want to take with you. By getting rid of any junk and boxing up storage closets, attics, the garage, your home will actually look larger and neater when it’s time to show your home. CLEAR THE

CLUTTER

To help prospects focus on the beauty of your home, here’s a spring cleaning checklist to de-clutter:

Entryway: This is the first area prospective homebuyers will see, so remove coats, umbrellas, or shoes from your mudroom or foyer.

Cabinets, pantry, nightstands, closets: Remove items (e.g. medications, tissues, etc), other than those used for decorative purposes. Closets shouldn’t be packed so much they’re bursting.

Kitchen: Countertops should be clear of everything except for decor and essential kitchen equipment (e.g. toaster). The fridge should be free of magnets, bills, flyers, or coupons.

Bedrooms: Beds should be made; clothes and shoes shouldn’t be on the floor.

Furniture and electronic equipment: Keep these to a minimum. This will give the impression of a more open floor plan. Organize cords for electronics (e.g. computers, TV).

REMOVE PERSONALIZATION

Home staging is all about allowing prospects to imagine your home becoming their home. Making your home neutral and fresh, yet still warm and inviting is key. Here are some tips on helping you achieve a balance:

Personal effects: Pack up family photos, sports memorabilia, trophies, figurines or artwork. In the bathrooms hide razors, deodorants, and other personal items.

Collections: What you collect (e.g. books, religious artifacts, etc.) may not necessarily be the same things your prospects would collect. Reading material should reflect neutral subjects, such as architecture or food.

Repaint walls: The color palette of the house should be neutral. You want buyers to project themselves onto the house, not feel like your personality is the overarching theme of the house. Use color psychology to know how each tone or color affects your buyers.

Wall coverings: Remove or replace wall treatments that have not been changed in the past five to seven years.

CLEAN EXTERIOR

First impressions are important and many buyers decide within seconds if the home has the right look and feel so make sure your curb appeal is actually appealing.

Yards: Winter can leave your yard looking dirty. Trim shrubs, weed flower beds, and throw away leaves and garbage. Planting flowers around the yard can go a long way in raising its appeal, especially during the spring.

Porch and patio: Springtime gives people a great excuse to sit out and bask in the weather, so make sure your porch and patio offer that. For a more appealing porch or patio, you can add potted plants along the walkway, even hang a beautiful wreath on the front door. Make sure you remedy any peeling paints, or repaint if needed.

OPEN UP YOUR HOME

Take advantage of the fresh spring weather by opening your windows to let the fresh air and sunlight come in and make your house feel (and smell) vibrant. Bright rooms aren’t just aesthetically-pleasing, they also look bigger.

If natural light doesn’t suffice, add floor or table lamps to areas that are darker or dimmer than others. You can even add some (subtle) air fresheners to give that springtime feeling a bit of a boost.

Spring cleaning for the upcoming Spring Fling will be great for your home and wallet! People tend to buy, whether it be a home or a box of breakfast cereal, for emotional reasons — then back it up with logic. And this is especially true with the real estate spring selling season.

That’s because spring carries with it powerful symbolism; the feeling of renewal, a fresh start. And this can be a powerful metaphor when selling your home. But it’s key you remove any obstacles to this motivating factor. By ensuring your home is clean, free of trouble areas, and looking as fresh as possible, you might just enjoy a fantastic return on your investment this spring. (Which required little more than a bit of elbow grease.)

(article information taken from “5 Ways Homeowners Can Prepare For The Spring Selling Season” by JD ESAJIAN, FortuneBuilders.com)

About CENTURY 21 Hometown Realty – Hometown Realty is the leading real estate firm on the central coast of California with offices spanning Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo county offering expert agents and convenient locations.

HEARTFELT THANKS FOR A GREAT 2018!

HEARTFELT THANKS FOR A GREAT 2018!

As the hustle, bustle and chaotic pace of the holidays continues, we want to just take a moment to stop and express our heartfelt gratitude and reflect on what you, our treasured customers and Hometown Realty Team mean to us!

TO OUR CUSTOMERS

Here at C21 Hometown Realty, it is our privilege to help you make one of the most important decisions you will make. It’s not just about a property or a house, it’s about helping you find a home where we hope your family builds wonderful, lifelong memories filled with love, laughter and joy! Thank you for trusting us and we value not only your business, but the many cherished friendships we have made along the way.

TO OUR HOMETOWN REALTY TEAM

C21 Hometown Realty is truly blessed to have the hardest working, most caring real estate professionals on the Central Coast!  We want to say “thank you” for going above and beyond and taking extra special care of our valued customers whom we can now call friends.  You are the heart and soul of our team and we treasure each of you as part of our Hometown Realty family!  Thank you for your unwavering professionalism and dedication, you continue to inspire us.

2018 HIGHLIGHTS

It’s hard to believe it’s time to say goodbye to 2018, but we are so THANKFUL for a great year!  Here are just some of the highlights:

  • C21 Corporate Rebranding – new contemporary update of the C21 Brand to assure customer relevance for upcoming generations.
  • Zillow Partnership – strategic alliance of market powerhouses, Zillow and C21 Hometown Realty, providing an incomparable competitive edge to agents and customers.
  • Cartus Relocation Program – closed double the amount of transactions.
  • In-House Realty/Quicken Loans – large increase in traffic and customer leads.
  • Touchpoint In-House Marketing Agency – increased traffic and development of website, social media, digital media and individual agent consulting.

Happy holidays  and we look forward to a tremendous 2019!

About CENTURY 21 Hometown Realty – Hometown Realty is the leading real estate firm on the central coast of California with offices spanning Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo county offering expert agents and convenient locations

SLO MILLENNIALS TO TAKE THE BUYING PLUNGE

San Luis Obispo rent is steadily increasing at the highest rates in the state. Central Coast Millennials may soon follow the national trend and take the plunge into home ownership. The National Association of REALTORS® recently reported Millennials hold the highest share of home buying activity out of all other generations for the fifth consecutive year.

Rents in San Luis Obispo have increased an alarming 39.42%. An increase from September 2017 to an average of $1512 for a 1-bedroom and up to $2600-$2800 for 2 to 3-bedrooms, according to Rent Jungle. The tight rental market has forced Millennials into considering home-ownership as an alternative. They are discovering they are getting more bang for their buck.

MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK

A recent rent.com survey indicates that 51 percent of millennials are spending more than 40 percent of their annual income on rent. The factor most important to them is affordability.

But here’s what most Millennials don’t know. Instead of paying $2,500 a month in rent to a landlord, they can purchase a $435,000 home with only 5% down conventional financing, and also have no monthly mortgage insurance “PMI”, for the same total monthly payment.

With very limited supply of rentals and increasing costs, successful realtors are doing well to educate these potential first-time home buyers on the comparative cost of renting and buying.

Other important factors at the top of the millennial renters wish list are size and amenities so Realtors are focusing on the facts that they can get something bigger, with more amenities, if they buy.

FIRST-TIME HOME BUYERS

Because of their age, most millennials qualify as first-timers and usually have less funds for a down payment and might also have student debts, poor credit, or financial worries that make it hard to finance a purchase. Realtors at Century 21 Home can guide potential buyers by knowing the best programs out there to deal with their unique financial situations.

MOST LIKELY GENERATION TO USE REALTORS

Millennials are the most likely generation to use a real estate agent. 90% of Millennials are purchasing through an agent. Among the trends Realtors are seeing in the younger home-buying generation, they are more likely to live closer to friends and family, rather than in select areas of the city or certain schools. They are also buying condos in the city at a very low rate. Millennials answered that the top benefit their agent provided was understanding the buying process.

About CENTURY 21 Hometown Realty – Hometown Realty is the leading real estate firm on the central coast of California with offices spanning Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo county offering expert agents and convenient locations.

REALTOR® is a federally registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. C21 Hometown Realty is proud to have all their agents as members of REALTOR.

SEASONS CHANGE…AND SO HAS THE MARKET

You can feel it in the air! The season has changed and Fall has arrived. Historically, fall is the time when the real estate market slows down after the summer rush as families settle into a new school year. And this year is no different…or is it?

In the last few weeks, we have seen a flurry of price reductions and listings are now taking longer to sell. Could this slow down be more than seasonal cyclical changes or is it the market correction certain economists have been predicting for real estate?

Fortunately, today’s market lacks the key indicators of a a true market correction such as:

Creative Lending – as real estate professionals, we know lenders are diligent in ensuring today’s buyers can properly qualify for home loans.

Unemployment – “Help Wanted” signs are everywhere and the national unemployment rate is 3.7% and decreasing.

Economic Expansion – Since June of 2009, the US has experienced ongoing economic expansion making this the country’s second longest on record. In fact, if growth continues as expected by July of 2019 this expansion will become the longest in history.

Foreclosures – According to ATTOM Data Solutions, in the first six months of 2018 showed foreclosures down 15% from a year ago and 78% from 2010.

What does this mean for Central Coast Buyers? Buyers are in a great position, especially renters and first-time home buyers. Lenders have great incentives and programs for first-time home buyers and bidding wars over a desired property are no longer the norm. Also, the $650 tax credit allotted to renters pale in comparison to the thousands of dollars in mortgage interest deductions making purchasing home financially prudent.

Should Central Coast Sellers be worried? Not at all! In fact, here at C21 we encourage sellers to take part in “Fall Ball” vs. “Spring Fling”. During the Fall, buyers have less inventory to compare and choose from rather than the multitude of properties during the “Spring Fling.” Sellers that do not have unique selling features such as ocean views and stellar locations can find selling a home easier.

Real estate is still in full swing here on the Central Coast! So enjoy the change in the weather and look for the opportunities that the new season brings!

About CENTURY 21 Hometown Realty – Hometown Realty is the leading real estate firm on the central coast of California with offices spanning Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo county offering expert agents and convenient locations.

Cheri Wieland Awarded CRS Designation by RREC

Century 21 Hometown Realty is proud to announce Cheri Wieland, a Presidents and Centurion Producer, has been awarded the prestigious Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) Designation by the Residential Real Estate Council, the largest not-for-profit affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).

In every field, there exists a “Gold Standard” of excellence: a level of experience, advanced education, and professional performance that sets those who’ve earned it above the rest. In real estate, that Gold Standard is the CRS Designation. Only 3% of REALTORS® nationwide have earned this distinction and it comes as no surprise to us at Century 21 Hometown Realty that Cheri Wieland is among these elite. Congratulations, Cheri!

Cheri Wieland – Wieland Team

CENTURY 21 SALUTES FIVE CITIES “DREAM TEAM”

History was recently made by a “Dream Team” of 13 year-olds. The Five Cities Babe Ruth youth baseball team won the World Series on Thursday in Mountain Home, Arkansas. For 43 years, a 13U Babe Ruth league from the Five Cities had been trying to win state to advance to regionals. The one and only time it’s been done was in 1975. This year, the team secured the state title then went onto beat Eagle Pass, Texas, 7-6 on Thursday, taking home the national championship.

The team says the secret to it’s success is the ability to have fun. Although the kids know how to have fun, they transform into serious players during games. Five Cities coach Mike Afzali explained to the Baxter Bulletin, “Eight of our boys have played together for the past five years. I’ve coached my son since he was 4, and I’ve never seen a more tight-knit group than these boys. They’re like brothers.” Century 21 Hometown Realty salutes the hard work, dedication and camaraderie that made this group of young men champions.

Century 21 Hometown Realty also recently celebrated our own “Dream Team” of C21 agents at the Annual Hometown Realty Beach Bash. Over 65 agents turned out to enjoy the final days of summer and embracing the hard work of fellow agents. “Just like the young Babe Ruth baseball team, we understand the value of having fun together and rewarding jobs well done,” explains Jack Hardy, CEO. Agents not only enjoyed the summer sun, a delicious barbecue but took home a treasure trove of prizes including Costco gift cards, movie tickets, beach chairs, umbrellas and Bille Jean Chadwick won a 50’ HDTV! If you missed it be sure to look for our upcoming Christmas Party that is always a huge holiday hit!

About CENTURY 21 Hometown Realty – Hometown Realty is the leading real estate firm on the central coast of California with offices spanning Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo county offering expert agents and convenient locations.

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