Brooklyn Real Estate Blog

Buying Brooklyn Homes: Up-and-Coming Real Estate Trends

Charles D'Alessandro — Wed, 23 May 2012 19:55:05 +0000

As a result of the changes in the real estate market and economy over the last few years, several new real estate trends are appearing. Here are four of them you might want to take into consideration when searching for Brooklyn homes to purchase.

Buy a home you can afford. In the past, some buyers bought more home than they could really afford. Today’s trend is to buy within your means (or even below your means). You still want to get pre-approved for a loan so you know the maximum you can spend, but don’t let that be your only guide to determining how much home you can afford. Consider your lifestyle. Do you want to spend your hard-earned income on vacations, hobbies, clothing, charity or your children rather than spending it all on mortgage payments? Do you prefer to live frugally now so you can save for your retirement? Or is your home where you prefer to spend the majority of your earnings?

Consider live-in value as well as resale value: Buy a home that you’ll enjoy living in for the next five to seven years, rather than focusing exclusively on the future resale value of the home. The rule in the past was that you needed to own a home for about five years in order to break even when you sold it. Now that real estate values are increasing at a slower pace, you may need to stay in your home up to seven years in order to break even or earn a profit when you sell it.
Search for Brooklyn homes based on proximity: With the increasing price of gas, your daily drive to work can be very costly if it’s a long commute from your home. Consider buying a home that’s close to your work place or close to inexpensive mass transit. If you can find a home you enjoy that’s also close to where you shop and play, even better. You’ll save travel time and money.
Compare the benefits of a well-planned smaller home to a rambling McMansion: According to Sarah Susanka, architect and author of Not so Big House, you can comfortably live in one-third less space than you think you can. Buy a home that you find beautiful and functional, and the size won’t matter.

Whether you’re looking at large or small Brooklyn homes, I can help you find and buy the home that fits your needs. Give me a call today Charles D’Alessandro Your Brooklyn real estate agent with Fillmore Real Estate a call at 718/253-9600 ext 206 or email me at charles@brooklynrealestatesales.com.

How to Catch a Brooklyn Home Buyer’s Eye

Charles D'Alessandro — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:09:23 +0000

How to Catch a Brooklyn Home Buyer

In this economy, every leg up on other sellers will help your home sell faster and at the price you want. If you’re not getting the offers you want on your Brooklyn home, here are nine ideas to get things moving in the right direction:

Get an appraisal. Knowing what a professional appraiser thinks your home is worth gives owners a reality check. It also helps you determine the best price for your home.

Get a home inspection before listing your home. Find out the hidden problems with your Brooklyn home and correct them in advance. If you get your home inspected and find problems but elect not to repair them, be sure to include the problems on the property condition disclosure form.
Consider offering a home warranty. Everyone likes a security blanket and a home warranty gives buyers an assurance that if something goes wrong with major appliances, plumbing or electrical systems, they will not have to spend a lot of money to get it fixed.
Pay for lawn care through the summer. This lets the buyer know you’ve thought of everything, and it’s one less worry for them when moving. Taking care of the pool cleaning tab is another incentive you may want to consider including.
Pay the HOA dues. If you’re in a homeowner’s association (HOA), pay the new buyer’s fees for the first year.
Pay all or part of the buyer’s closing costs. This can be deducted at closing from the proceeds of the sale.
Pay the buyer’s property taxes for a year. You may already have paid a portion or all of it anyway.
Offer to leave furnishings. If you have a couch that perfectly fits an unusually shaped living space, offer to include it in the sale of the home.
Have some flexibility on the price. Being willing to negotiate on the price shows a buyer you are willing to work with them.

If you’re looking for a real estate agent who can get your Brooklyn home sold at a good price, give me a call today call Charles D’Alessandro Your Brooklyn real estate agent with Fillmore Real Estate a call at 718/253-9600 ext 206 or email me at charles@brooklynrealestatesales.com.

Brooklyn Real Estate Sales Deal Of The Day

Charles D'Alessandro — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:44:44 +0000

Charles The Brooklyn Realtor Presents !

Just Listed Brooklyn House For Sale

CLICK ON PICTURE BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION

Spacious Center Hall Style Home For Sale

Located in the heart of Brooklyn’s Midwood community

- This detached central hall home for sale boasts a large living room and formal sized dining room,

3 spacious bedrooms + a first floor den, a bathroom on each floor, plenty of closets,

a huge 3 room finished basement with laundry room and bathroom,

private driveway and garage on large property. Priced to sell!

For more information, please call

Charles D’Alessandro Your Brooklyn real estate agent with Fillmore Real Estate a call

at 718/253-9600 ext 206 or email me at charles@brooklynrealestatesales.com

Four Steps to Buying Short Sales in Brooklyn

Charles D'Alessandro — Tue, 01 May 2012 16:05:58 +0000

There is still an opportunity to profit by buying short sales in Brooklyn, but you need to know how to proceed in order to achieve success. Here are four steps to follow to increase your chances of success when buying short sales:

Step 1: Hire a short sales expert.
Hire a real estate agent who has experience helping people buy short sales. You need someone who can find short sales in Brooklyn for you and help you through the complicated process. Although the short sale process has gotten better over the last few years, it’s still a slow and frustrating process.

Step 2: Have your finances in order.

If you’re buying with cash, fabulous! Otherwise, visit a lender and take the steps necessary to finance a short sale. Many short sale banks want to close within 30 days of short sale approval. Ask your lender up front if they can guarantee a 30-day closing. If they cannot, you may want to consider finding a new lender.

Step 3: Move quickly.

When you find a short sale you want, move quickly. With any luck, you’ll be the first to submit a market value offer. Lenders look for offers that are reasonable and equal to market value. To make your offer even more attractive, eliminate as many contingencies as possible.

Step 4: Negotiate with the bank.
Banks don’t enjoy taking a loss, but short sales remain a necessary evil for lenders. Be firm, polite and patient. Don’t ever be forceful or rude. Lenders are busy and overworked, and they want to see you as somebody who is minimizing the damage and the hassle of the bad debt.

If you’re interested in buying or selling short sales in Brooklyn, give me a call today at call Charles D’Alessandro Your Brooklyn real estate agent with Fillmore Real Estate a call at 718/253-9600 ext 206 or email me at charles@brooklynrealestatesales.com.

Brooklyn Real Estate Sales Deal Of the Day!

Charles D'Alessandro — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 19:15:33 +0000

Brooklyn Real Estate For Sale

Click on Picture for more information

Brick One Family For Sale Located in Brooklyn's Madison Community

Detached brick home on prime Brooklyn Street for sale, bright and sunny rooms, excellent condition with driveway and garage. Present all offers, with bank qualification. For more information, please call Charles D’Alessandro Your Brooklyn real estate agent with Fillmore Real Estate a call at 718/253-9600 ext 206 or email me at charles@brooklynrealestatesales.com

Renting versus Buying a Home in Brooklyn

Charles D'Alessandro — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:49:07 +0000

Just because you can buy a home in Brooklyn does not always mean that you should. It’s important for you to consider if it is better for you to own or rent a Brooklyn home.

Here are five reasons you might want to rent:

You may be moving within five years. It usually takes five years to break even on your home purchase or investment.
You don’t want the responsibilities associated with being a homeowner. It can be expensive and time consuming to maintain a home.
You have a bad credit report. If your score is below 620, you will not get a good interest rate.
You have a high debt ratio. A high debt ratio means you may not qualify for a loan.
You have job instability. If your job is not secure, it’s not a good idea to buy.

Here are four reasons you might want to buy:

You want to build equity. The longer you own your home the more equity it will build. When you pay rent, that money goes down the drain.
You get a tax break when you deduct mortgage interest.
You want the emotional satisfaction of owning your own home in Brooklyn.
It’s an investment. With low interest rates and home prices, buying investment property is a wise decision.

If you are ready to buy a home in Brooklyn or purchase investment property, call Call me at Charles D’Alessandro of Fillmore Real Estate at (718) 253-9600 ext 206 or email me at charles@fillmoresbest.com..

Buying a Brooklyn Home From a Motivated Seller

Charles D'Alessandro — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 17:42:23 +0000

When you see “motivated seller” in real estate listings, does that mean the sellers are desperate to sell their Brooklyn home and are open to negotiation? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Do not assume it means you’re going to get the home at a bargain price.

When you see “motivated seller” in real estate listings, it could mean a wide variety of things including:

The seller is willing to accept a lower price or give some concessions.
The Brooklyn home could be near foreclosure.
The sellers want to see an offer before canceling the listing.
It’s a marketing strategy. (In other words, it means nothing.)

Here are some tips on how to deal with motivated sellers:

Decide if you really want to buy the Brooklyn home. Don’t buy it just because you think you might get it at a greatly reduced price.
Have your agent ask the listing agent why the seller is so motivated to sell. If there is no realistic reason, you could be wasting your time.
Consider giving a low-ball offer to see how the seller responds. If the seller does not give a counter offer, you have your answer. If they give a reasonable counter offer, they’re obviously willing to negotiate.
Wait for a price reduction. Most listing agents will ask the sellers to reduce their price when the property hasn’t gotten any offers or sold in the expected time frame.
Ask if other offers have been made. If yes, find out why they were rejected, and try to overcome the seller’s objections.

Owning a home is the American Dream. Figuring out if it’s the right time for you to buy, and which property is best for you to purchase, is something only you can decide.

When you’re ready to find your American Dream home, I’d love to help. Call me at Charles D’Alessandro of Fillmore Real Estate at (718) 253-9600 ext 206 or email me at charles@fillmoresbest.com..

Deal Of The Day Queens Village Home For Sale

Charles D'Alessandro — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:42:39 +0000

Click on Picture Below for Details

Brooklyn Real Estate Sales Offers Queens Village

Queens Village, NY 11427
Type: Residential
Bedrooms: 4
Baths: 2.5
Living Area: 20 x 30 Square Ft.
Lot Size: 32 x 100 Square Ft.
Just Listed – Queens Village Detached 1 Family
Offered at $465,000
MLS Number 368354

Call Charles D’Alessandro of Fillmore Real Estate at (718) 253-9600 ext 206 or email me at charles@fillmoresbest.com today. to schedule an appointment.

Brooklyn Real Estate Sales Deal Of the Day!

Charles D'Alessandro — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 17:39:16 +0000

Click on the picture for more information

Mill Basin Detached Two Family Home For Sale

Brooklyn’s Home For Sale Deal Of The Day !

Detached 2 family high ranch – Beautiful Street, on large property –

Handicap accessible, priced to make a deal today! For more information, call.

Please call Charles D’Alessandro of Fillmore Real Estate at

(718) 253-9600 ext 206 or email me at charles@fillmoresbest.com. .

Brooklyn’s Bedford Stuyvesant Real Estate Deal Of The Week!

Charles D'Alessandro — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 19:20:37 +0000

This one will not last. Located in Brooklyn’s Bedford Stuyvesant

One family Brooklyn home for sale needs some love but worth it!

Check it out just click on the picture!

Waiting for you ! Brooklyn House For Sale

Open House Sunday April 15th 1pm to 3pm

Call or e mail me Charles D’Alessandro your Brooklyn Realtor