Westchester County NY Real Estate Blog - Ralph Ragette Jr

Don't Let Time Run Out!

The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act was passed by Congress in 2007 in an attempt to provide some relief for the millions of homeowners who found themselves owing more on their mortgage than the property was worth as a result of the collapse of the housing and finance industries. This report was created to give homeowners the most accurate information about the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act, which has helped many distressed homeowners find options that were previously unavailable.

The act, which was always intended to be a temporary solution, is now set to expire at the end of 2013. Time is running out. But there is still time to change your financial direction and avoid foreclosure. Reading this report…

Been Thinking About Selling Your Home?

If you’ve been thinking of selling your home, but don’t believe it is worth enough to cover what you owe, you might be pleasantly surprised. The reason? Prices have gone up significantly during the last year!

This simple fact has helped a market that only about one year ago was still bouncing off the bottom, begin the slow, but steady process of recovery. As a result, people are buying homes again.

I have a report that explains in detail why prices have gone up and why your home might be worth more than you think! The report is entitled “The Great Housing Rush,” and I believe you’ll be surprised by when you download and read the report. Once you are done, contact me today for a free market…

Just Sold by Margaret Colavita in Eastchester

Eastchester - Margaret Colavita closed on two home sales yesterday. She represented the sellers in each transaction:

35 Locust Avenue, Scarsdale

In 7 days we generated 47 total showings resulting in 13 written offers to purchase. Sold for a 105% above asking!

Sold for $560,000

22 Hunter Drive, Lake Isle Estates, Eastchester

Listed and Closed within 100 days.  Margaret continues to successfully sell homes in her Lake Isle Estates community.

Sold for $1,070,000

For more information or to schedule a complimentary market analysis, please contact:

Margaret Colavita
(914) 202-1113
mcolavita@ragette.com
www.Ragette.com

5 Ways to Beat Foreclosure!

In the news, there is talk of a housing recovery. Experts feel more optimistic about the state of housing industry in America. However, if you or someone you know is one of the millions of homeowners who is stuck with a home on which you owe more than the property is worth, the feeling of helplessness can be overwhelming and frustrating.

Many people don’t realize that just because they are in danger of losing their home to foreclosure doesn’t mean they have to wait around for it to happen. With help, they can take matters into their own hands.

YOU HAVE OPTIONS!

As a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE), I make it my business to know all of the ins-and-outs of the options available for people who are…

Certified Distressed Property Expert®
"Solving the foreclosure crisis one homeowner at a time.™

Ralph Ragetté Jr Earns Real Estate, Short Sale Designation to Help Homeowners in Danger of Foreclosure

Eastchester, NY – July 26, 2013 – Ralph Ragetté Jr of Ragetté Real Estate in Eastchester has earned the prestigious Certified Distressed Property Expert® (CDPE) designation, having completed extensive training in foreclosure avoidance, with a particular emphasis on short sales. At a time when millions of homeowners are struggling with the possibility of foreclosure, the skills and education amassed by Ragetté will help benefit Westchester area residents and communities.

Short sales allow the distressed homeowner to repay the mortgage at…

Paint has remodeling power when you use it to emphasize
a room's best features or play down the flaws.

Every home suffers a few negatives, but not every solution requires pricey structural changes. Paint (http://www.houselogic.com/home-improvement/painting/) is an often-overlooked, low-cost remodeler's remedy for common complaints with interiors, offering the chameleon-like ability to lighten, warm, enlarge, erase, or attract attention.

"Paint is a powerful tool that can enhance the architectural character and intent of space," says Minneapolis architect Petra Schwartze of TEA2 Architects. "As you choose your paint, think about what the experience in the room should be."

More Schwartze advice:

          •Always sample paint colors…

Before you put your home up for sale, use the right comparable sales to find the perfect price.

Knowing how much homes similar to yours, called comparable sales (or in real estate lingo, comps), sold for gives you the best idea of the current estimated value of your home. The trick is finding sales that closely match yours.

What makes a good comparable sale?

Your best comparable sale is the same model as your house in the same subdivision—and it closed escrow last week. If you can’t find that, here are other factors that count:

Location: The closer to your house the better, but don’t just use any comparable sale within a mile radius. A good comparable sale is a house in your neighborhood, your subdivision, on the same type of street as…

Extra Touches to Help Sell This Fall

Homes can look less inviting in the fall and cooler months, but there are easy ways you can evoke that “homey” feel buyers crave. 

"Inventory is low, so if you have your house on the market and it's priced well, it's going to sell," says Gail Hartnett, a National Association of REALTORS® regional vice president and an agent with Keller Williams Realty Boise in Idaho.

Hartnett offers some of the following tips: 

--Creating a cozy smell. Hartnett says that fall can channel warm childhood memories of family Thanksgiving dinners. To give the home a more “homey” fall charm, Hartnett has spiced cider and freshly baked cookies during showings and open houses. 

--Tidy up the yard. Rake up large piles…

Will the Presidential Election Affect Real Estate?

The next president of the United States -- whether Democratic incumbent Barack Obama or Republican challenger Mitt Romney -- could have a big influence over the recovery taking shape in the real estate market, according to political pundits.

“The next president, whoever it turns out to be, is going to have a couple of big housing issues to address,” Barry Zigas, director of housing policy at the Consumer Federation of America, told The Washington Post. For example, “What is the government’s role in housing finance, and will consumers have access to mortgages at affordable rates?”

Neither candidate so far has outlined a specific proposal for the housing market or mortgage lending.…

Understand which mortgage loan is best for you so your budget is not stretched too thin.

It's easier to settle happily into your new home if you're confident you can afford it. That requires that you understand your mortgage financing options and choose the loan that best suits your income and ability to tolerate risk.

The basics of mortgage financing

The most important features of your mortgage loan are its term and interest rate. Mortgages typically come in 15-, 20-, 30- or 40-year lengths. The longer the term, the lower your monthly payment. However, the tradeoff for a lower payment is that the longer the life of your loan, the more interest you'll pay.

Mortgage interest rates generally come in two flavors: fixed and…