Truth about the 2013 Real Estate Tax of 3.8%

To start, I must say that I am not a tax professional or an attorney. In fact, I have no desire to be involved in either of these professions (though I respect them) and urge you to seek counsel from someone other than a real estate professional writing a blog post.

First of all, it is not a sales tax nor does it impose any transfer tax or recordation tax. It is called a “Medicare Tax” because the money received will be allocated to the Medicare Trust Fund, which is part of the Social Security System. This tax will not affect everyone and in fact will impact a very small percentage of people selling.

People are confused for good reason.  The actual legislation will make your head spin…take a look.

SEC. 1411. IMPOSITION OF TAX.
(a) IN…

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A Guide for a Smooth Trip to Mortgage Commitment

In processing a borrower’s paperwork, it can seem like we fail our way towards the closing and then ask our customers: “How was the trip?” But in reality we should be guiding the customer towards the closing based upon our expertise…for many borrowers in the marketplace this is not happening. We should be saying, “This is the route you must follow to get where you need to go.”

There may be roadblocks and obstacles along the way and at times the journey to home ownership can be bumpy, but the Loan Officer should view their job as that of a guide…one who helps the borrower reach their ultimate destination.

Think of a good tour guide or a concierge you may have encountered while traveling. Not only is the guide familiar with the area to be…

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Should I Rent Out My Home Or Sell It?

Would it be better to sell this home now, or rent it out and sell later?  Making an informed decision can impact your financial well being for decades to come.  Often times moving goes hand in hand with selling a home…..but not always.  In some cases people know that they will only be leaving for a few years while they pursue a degree, project for work, or perhaps a sabbatical.  Sometimes the wannabe seller has no choice but to rent as the value of the home is less than the mortgage and they do not have enough cash to cover the difference at closing. Maybe the market is on the verge of an uptick which will cause the value of the property to surge.  

Regardless of the reason, it is extremely important to understand the financial ramifications of…

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What Home Additions Will Net You the Most?

If you’re thinking about remodeling your kitchen, or finishing your basement, you probably want to get your investment back when you sell your home. But when it comes to payback value of home improvements, some are definitely more profitable than others. As a general rule, kitchen and bathroom projects usually get a nice return on investment, typically 90% or more. Things like adding rooms or finishing basements tend to pay back the least. Finishing a basement usually returns less than 50%, so it’s not a project likely to show profit at selling time.

There are a number of factors that go into determining how well a project will pay back. Payback value depends a lot on the current market conditions in your area. If the market is hot and homes are…

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Fundamentals - Why Won't My Property Sell?

Over the past decade, as pricing began to inflate artificially, we were lead to believe that the real estate market was lined with gold. All of the fundamentals no longer seemed to matter. Values of commercial properties were no longer correlated to income but to projected future appreciation. Residential properties were experiencing a similar scenario where you could not lose. People were anticipating that the market would forever increase and the Market Value of their properties would do nothing but compound.

Some of the fundamentals ignored were as follows:

Competition: If a certain type of property is introduced to an area and begins to sell at higher than normal prices then this will cause other properties of similar caliber to be built in hopes…

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Which waterfront community will you choose?

Which waterfront community will you choose?

Seaport Real Estate Group actively tracks over sixty waterfront communities along the Connecticut Shoreline from the seaports of Stonington to the beaches in Branford. Each of these communities offer unique attributes, amenities and property types that cater to the lifestyles of its residents. For more information about Waterfront Communities & Shoreline Properties for sale in southeastern Connecticut please visit Seaport Real Estate Groups Shoreline Guide.

Find the Perfect Home at the Right Price 

When buying a home it is important to determine exactly what you want and need in order to make smart decisions. But, a waterfront home is not just any home. Special considerations need to be taken to ensure…

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A New Way to Search for Homes Priced Well Below Market Value

The following example can be applied to properties in all price ranges in every town in CT. We are extremely excited to be able to add even more value to our clients than ever before.

Are you planning to purchase a home in these towns in the next 6 months?  Did you know that there are currently 130 properties on the market between $200,000-$300,000?

What if you could have inside information on the pricing for these 136 properties?  How helpful would it be to know which of these 136 homes are priced well below their current market value? Don’t you think having access to this kind of information would help you to make the right decision about which properties to consider buying? 

I have developed a system that can give you access to just this…

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The Value of Being a Client Vs. Customer

 What is the difference between a Customer and Client when buying Real Estate in CT?

One of the factors leading to our success has been a strict adherence to morals and ethics as well as obedience to State and local real estate laws.

As a Customer I CAN do the following for you…. (A Customer has not yet entered into a written buyer-agency agreement)

1.        Send you an automated list of properties available in the market place.
2.        Give you information about our firm
3.        Give you information about local reputable business people.

As a Customer I CAN NOT do the following for you….

1.        Show you properties.
2.        Ask you to disclose confidential information.
3.        Express an opinion or give advice about…

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Getting the BEST PRICE for your Home

Effective marketing is the key to selling your home quickly and getting the highest price. Aggressive, effective marketing of our Client's homes by every available medium is how we've become  top real estate agents in the Mystic area. It's our job to assure that you get as many qualified offers as possible, allowing you to extract the highest price the market will bear.

One of the most important elements of marketing your home effectively is setting the price right. Set the price too high, and you won't get any offers and your home will take too long to sell. Set it too low and you cheat yourself by not getting your home's full, fair value. As  experts in the Mystic area real estate market, We analyze the market and set area home prices every…

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Closing - Beginning or End of the month.

Closing ~ Beginning or End of the month

It is very important to be strategic when writing an offer so that your goals and objectives are defined and met. Work closely with a reputable local lender to determine your strengths and weaknesses as a buyer. Closing at the beginning or end of the month can have financial advantages and disadvantages.

First, you must understand that mortgage interest on your mortgage begins accruing on the date that you close on your property. The majority of mortgages are due on the first day of the month. At the closing table, you will pay (PITA) Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance from the date of closing to the last day of the month. Please note that the majority of this payment goes towards the mortgage…

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