Q: What is happening in the luxury market?

A: The luxury market’s doing okay, oddly enough.  What we’re seeing is opportunity sieges.  People who have been sitting on the sidelines couldn’t really stomach the prices of land or luxury properties and now they’re sort of coming off the bench and saying, “Hey, this is what I’ve been waiting for.” 

So we’re seeing cash deals in the million plus market.  Some financing, but financing with an awful lot of money down.  Another product that works really well in our area is actually the jumbo VA.  We’re seeing retired military guys buying high end homes using their jumbo VA’s. 

Joe Boylan is a REALTOR with Boyland and Company in Colorado Springs, CO.

 
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What is Happening in the Luxury Market?

If you have pets, you’ll need to consider some extra steps when getting your home ready to show. Keep in mind that not everyone is a pet lover, so all of the pet fur and odor that your furry friend leaves behind might be a turn-off to a buyer. Or, you might run into buyers who won’t even walk in the door if your Doberman is home.

REALTOR® Ariana Loucus of Columbia, MD, reminds sellers to consider the impression your pet might make on a potential buyer:

“As a pet lover and parent, as a vegetarian, and someone passionate about animals rights, I know first hand what our four-legged children mean to us. I also know that not everyone feels the same way about our furry friends and when you’re selling your home, as a pet parent, you want to be mindful of others’ feelings.

For example, I had a client with awful allergies to animals. We entered a home with a nice chocolate lab in his crate in the kitchen. My client was a little fearful of the big bark; I, having Rottweilers, wasn’t so scared so I offered to walk through and see where the dog was before touring the home. Once I noticed the sweet dog in the crate, I walked back to the foyer to share with my client that the dog was in a cage and she can comfortably walk through the home.

Well, in just the short time of my walk to find the pup’s location, and back to the foyer, my client’s allergies became so agitated so quickly that her entire face had swollen, along with her eyes that became pink, puffy and watery. All of this reaction happened just by her standing in the foyer. As a result, we didn’t get to see this home. We had to immediately leave. Granted, this was extreme but we as home sellers want to be mindful of other people’s challenges with pets, whether it’s from allergies, fear or a plain dislike of them..

Consider these tips if you’re selling your home and you are a pet parent:

1. Please do your best to have the home free of pet hair. Hair is what will often cause the odor build up or make a person’s allergies become active.

2. Obviously, this tip is easier to do with dogs than cats, but I strongly suggest, when possible, to take the dog for a walk during a home tour, or take him on a trip to the local Petsmart or dog park. If you do leave the home with your pet, NEVER leave him alone in a car. The car gets much hotter inside than outside and can quickly kill your pet. Or people’s dogs do get stolen from cars so again, if you take your pet with you away from the home for a buyer’s tour, KEEP THE PET WITH YOU. You don’t have to be gone long. Most tours take 15 minutes and a quick walk will be plenty of time to allow the potential owners see your home.”

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Originally posted here:
Pet Parents: Tips on Selling Your Home

One year ago, ” target=”_self”>we launched the ”Ask a REALTOR®” program which matches consumer questions with real estate experts and publishes their answers online. 

The first post debuted on August 25, 2009. From the initial participation of a dozen Realtors, the “Ask a REALTOR” program has developed into a thriving community of experts in the areas of financing, first time buyers, short sale and foreclosures, taxes, and legal issues.

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We’d like to thank our Top 10 contributors over the past year, in alphabetical order:

Karen Crystal – Ewing & Associates/Sotherby’s International Realty, Agoura Hills, CA

Karen was the agent responsible for providing the amazing mansion featured in our
YouTube video “A Dog’s Life.” She has many luxury home listings in Ventura County.

 Amy Downs – Keller Williams Realty, Dallas, TX

Amy responded to questions on a wide variety of topics.  She recently
returned from an amazing motorcycle road trip from Dallas to Sturgis, SD and back.

 Allan Glass – ASG Real Estate, Los Angeles, CA

Allan provided answers to many queries from readers.  His mission is to rid L.A. 
of abandoned and dilapidated homes and real estate eyesores.

Ines Hegedus-Garcia – Majestic Properties, Miami, FL

Ines is the driving force behind the website “Miamism” but still found time to answer
consumer questions. She is also an expert on the subject of mojitos.

 David Kres – Buyers Brokers Only, Boston, MA

David responded to several reader questions this year using his experience as a
lawyer and Realtor.  He recently welcomed a new son.

Sonya Loose – Red Carpet Keim Lake Forest, Gladwin, MI
Sonya dispensed advice to many readers this past year.  She enjoys helping first time
home buyers, second/vacation home buyers, and investor buyers. Sonya is a huge fan
of NASCAR as well as Dirt Track and Go Kart racing.

Tim McBrayer – Coldwell Banker/Howard Perry and Walston – Raleigh, NC
Tim works the Triangles region of North Carolina and answered a large number of
consumer queries to date.  Tim has a profesional and personal pledge to ”never promise
what I can’t deliver and always deliver what I promise,” learned from his father.

Jonathan Osman – Keller Williams/Charlotte House Hunter Group, Charlotte, NC

Jonathan answered local and national questions; he specializes in communication and
marketing through social media. He loves introducing agents to the newest technology.

Bob Stahl – Keller Williams Arizona, Phoenix, AZ

In addition to replying to questions this past year, Bob also wrote special commentaries
on Realtor.com Blogs, most recently about low interest rates.

David Welch – RE/MAX 200 Realty, Orlando, FL

David provided positive answers to several complex questions.  He is a self-proclaimed
“Real Estate Optimist” whose personal mission is “to help others around me make better decisions.”

We also owe a great deal of our success to the readers who submitted wonderful questions – we couldn’t have done it without you.

Here are the Top 10 Questions asked and answered on Realtor.com Blogs this past year:

1.   Can Realtor Fees Be Negotiated?

2.   Why Do Short Sales Take So Long?

3.   Applying the Tax Credit to a Second Home

4.   Fannie Mae Closing Cost Aid

5.   Buy a Condo or Single Family Home?

6.   How Often Can My Landlord Show My Rental?

7.   How to Bid on a Short Sale

8.   What Does Contingent Mean?

9.   Tax Credit for Existing Homeowners?

10. Are Banks Holding Back Foreclosures?

We look forward to an even more successful second year!

~ Audie Chamberlain

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