Real Estate Information

As all of you know, Thanksgiving is right around the corner and that means that winter is basically here.  There are many things that must be done to get your house ready for winter.  If you properly prepare your house for winter, you and your family will be able to enjoy all that winter has to offer without worrying about getting cold inside.

• Have someone out to your house to check your HVAC system  is a good idea.  You want to make sure you stay nice and cozy warm during the winter and that your heating system doesn’t go on the fritz during the coldest months of the year.  Typically you should have your HVAC system checked twice a year; right before summer and right before winter.
• Go up into your attic to make sure you have adequate insulation.  This is especially important if you have just purchased a house.  If the home you have purchased is an older home you may have to add a bit more insulation or replace what has been there for years to get optimal benefit from it. It is currently recommended to have at least a 16 inch depth of blown insulation in the attic. Fiberglass bats should be between R-49 and R-60.
• It’s also a good idea to have your duct work checked.  If the home you have just purchased had a lot of pet’s living inside previously you will likely have to have your duct worked cleaned so that your air system works properly.  You will also want to check for mold (especially if there is or you use a duct mounted humidifier) so that you and your family will be able to breathe easily. 
• Purchase some draft dodgers for your doors and windows before winter starts.  You may be surprised at just how much cool air these crafty little things can keep out of your home and how much they can help with your heating bill.  You can purchase draft dodgers at most stores or you can even make them yourself with some fabric and beans. 
• Pull your space heaters out of the attic and put them to use.  They will help a lot with your heating bill as well and can be used in whatever room you wish.
• Winterize your outside faucets. Sometimes that means shutting the water line off inside and then opening the outside faucet to drain them. Newer designs are easier to winterize but no matter what the design is, NEVER leave a hose attached to the faucet in winter.
• Once the leaves are down, either clean your gutters or have your gutters cleaned. Most landscaping companies will clean gutters at this time of year.
• If you have a car that you don't use much, make sure to fully charge the battery. Batteries loose 1% of their charge every day and a battery with low charge can easily freeze - which ruins the battery.
• If you feel you would like a recommendation of a local contractor/handyman to help with any of these chores, please feel free to call or email me, Tucker Robbins. (302) 777-7744 or Tucker@RobbinsRealEstate.com 

The days that the cold air starts to take the place of the much warmer days of fall are here.  Do your part to make sure your family stays warm this winter by getting your house ready for the cold months ahead.  I am sure your family will be happy you took the time to make sure they are comfortable and your home will be a much happier place as a result. 

Information courtesy of Wilmington Real Estate Expert Tucker Robbins.

Not to be confused with homeowner’s insurance, which covers the structure and contents of your  home, a warranty service contract is designed to cover systems and appliances that stop working due to normal usage.  Basic coverage generally includes the repair and replacement of major appliances such as heating/cooling system, water heater, refrigerator, dishwasher, stove, etc.  Plumbing and electrical systems are also usually covered, and some companies include washer, drier, microwave, and roof maintenance in the basic tier.

Gaining in popularity with both buyers and sellers, warranty service contracts serve to reassure owners that they won’t face major repair/replacement costs.  Sellers use them to protect the home while it’s on the market and as an incentive to attract buyers.  Buyers rely on them to protect them from unexpected and expensive repairs.  Even Freddie Mac will offer a $500 home warranty credit to home buyers who purchase a qualified, foreclosed single-family home, townhouse, or condominium through their HomeSteps® division.

A warranty plan is fairly inexpensive, typically ranging from $250 to $400, depending on coverage. The policy is prepaid for a year in advance, at which time it expires or can be renewed.  The usual procedure for service needs is as follows:

• If a home system or appliance breaks or stops working, the home owner calls the home warranty company.
• The home warranty company calls a provider with which it has a business arrangement.
• The specific provider calls the home owner to make an appointment.
• The provider fixes the problem. If an appliance is malfunctioning and cannot be repaired, depending on contract coverage, the home warranty company will pay to replace and install the appliance.
• The home owner pays a small trade service fee (less than $100) for each service call.

Most home warranty companies offer a variety of plans, each providing different levels of coverage, so be sure to read the details of any contract before buying. If you choose to renew the contract from year-to-year, double-check the details of your plan each time since coverage can change annually.

According to the Service Contract Industry Council, 32 states require home warranty companies to register or obtain a license with that state's department of insurance and comply with applicable laws and financial standards. Membership lists are available at their website.

Information provided by Wilmington DE Realtor Tucker Robbins.

Next to spring, fall is the busiest real estate time of the year. Although you can buy and sell houses at any time, the fall real estate market offers certain benefits to home buyers, including year-end tax breaks, pleasant weather conditions for moving, wider selection of houses, and more. If you are shopping for a home during the fall and don't want to miss out on a great deal, it's a good idea to explore the possibility of pre-qualifying for a loan and to know what type of house you are looking for and what you can realistically afford to buy.

Who’s buying in the fall? According to an ERA survey, the fall buyer mix in the fall typically consists of:

• First-time homebuyers : 27 percent
• Move-up buyers: 20 percent
• Buyers downsizing/retiring: 17 percent
• Investors: 14 percent
• Relocating military: 11 percent
• Vacation home buyers : 6 percent
• Other: 5 percent

Benefits of fall buying include the following:

• End-of-the-year tax breaks: Come September and October, people are starting to think about what year-end tax breaks they may be eligible for. Fortunately for homebuyers, owning a home can yield great dividends in tax returns. For example, both mortgage interest and property taxes are deductible from gross income. Furthermore, if you have prepaid some interest before the due date of your first payment and you close your loan before the year's end, that amount will also be deducted.
• Motivated sellers: Often sellers will opt to lower their price in the fall because they're afraid of trying to sell during the holidays. They also know that potential buyer traffic drops in the fall, so their prices (and most likely incentives) have to be competitive.
• Low interest rates: With interest rates on 30-year mortgages dropping from 4.55 percent last July to 3.55 percent today, buyers who've been riding out the economic downturn and housing crisis should certainly consider making a move at this time.
• Uninterrupted holidays: A fall home purchase will ensure that you will be comfortably ensconced in your new residence before the winter holidays, allowing you to enjoy family and friends without worrying about packing and moving.

Information provided by Wilmington DE Realtor Tucker Robbins.

Last Thursday a friend that is on vacation offered me his CSA half share. This is a program that you sign up for at a local farm and they provide 22 weeks of fresh vegetables for your enjoyment. Everything is "farm fresh" (literally) and you drive out to 543 Way Road once a week to pick up your allowance (either a full share or a half share).

I was blown away! I brought a bag (next week two) and met farmer Dan O'Brian for a very nice overview of the 352 acre farm. Dan only farms 7 acres of vegetables, but that was enough to supply me with an over abundance of fresh veggies - and it's only a half share!

We are now in possession of

1 bunch carrots                                  1 head broccoli

1 red boc choi                                     2 green boc choi

2 Kohlrabi                                           2 heads of lettuce

1 Bunch Turnips                                  1 Acorn Squash

1 head of cabbage

All the people there were helpful and delightful. They were even offering freshly made apple cider!

If you are interested, you have to join the Delaware Nature Society in order to sign up for either the $700 full share (intended for a family of four) or the $425 half share. Pick up days are either Tuesdays or Thursdays (your choice) from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM.. Prices go up on January 1st. Each week of the 22 week program you will get approximately 6 - 10 seasonal produce items.

It’s that time of year again, when little ones dress up and go out into the streets looking for tricks or treats.  Many older children as well as adults love to look for haunted houses to visit during this time of year as well.  While Halloween is all good and fun, no one wants to end up purchasing a home that gives them nightmares!  In this article we will look at a few tips on how to avoid haunting situations when buying a home.

• Avoid buying a home in a bad neighborhood  by going to your prospective place of residence during the weekends.  On the weekends folks typically get outside and do yard work around their homes.  You may even be able to talk to some of  the folks who live there to see what they are like before you make a home purchase in that neighborhood.  It’s also a good idea to drop by on a Saturday night to see if there are any loud parties and such going on.
   
• If the home you want to purchase is covered in siding, make sure to have it checked for any water issues so that you don’t end up being haunted by mold once you move in. 
   
• Always have a thorough home inspection   before you purchase a home.  This way if there are problems that need to be dealt with, you might be able to negotiate with the sellers to get the issues fixed before you buy.
   
• Whether or not your loan officer requires a water test, be sure to have one done before making an offer on a home.  You never know what may be in the water, especially if the home is in a rural area.  Don’t let hard water or water with worse issues haunt you…check to make sure it is safe and clean before you buy.
   
• Ask your Realtor to see the latest insurance bills for the home you are looking into buying.  This way you will have an upfront idea of what you may be charged each month and you will be able to set your budget around it. If the home you are looking at is in an area with high flood rates you need to definitely make sure you have all of your bases covered so that you don’t end up with a bill that is going to haunt you each month.

Lastly, ask your Realtor as many questions as you possibly can so that you will feel comfortable enough to make an offer without any fears or doubts looming over you.

Information courtesy of Wilmington Delaware Realtor Tucker Robbins.

In today's market virtually 100% of the buyers are first introduced to a property via a photograph. Knowing that you never have a second chance to make a good first impression, you need that photograph to make that fabulous first impression. It is far too easy to use a smart phone or a point and shoot camera to take the photos, but that will not do justice to your home.

Professional grade photographic equipment is an absolute must here. Keep in mind that in the world of photography, one should spend more on the lenses than they will on the camera. For photographing homes you absolutely want a super wide angle lens. If the home sits on a hill, it is necessary to elevate the camera for that all important front picture. This is done using a pole (camera mounted on top with a remote shutter controller), bucket truck or ladder.

When a room includes a window with sunlight, exposure can be a problem. A technique called HDR (High Dynamic Range) can be the solution. Three photos are taken bracketing the exposure. One too light, one normal, and one too dark. HDR software will combine all three images to present a room that shows at it's best. While HDR techniques are quite controversial in professional photography circles, they work exceedingly well in real estate.

No matter what price range a home is in, photography can and will make a difference when it comes to attracting the perfect buyer.

For the more than 36 million Americans who will turn 65 in the coming decade, the best cities and towns to retire in now have a much higher bar to clear: They can't just be great places -- they have to be affordable. Each week, SmartMoney.com tours a different state to find less-expensive alternatives to the most well-known golden year destinations.

Tiny Delaware is often forgotten on lists of places to retire, but residents say many of its cities and towns offer many of the things retirees are looking for in a community, including beautiful beaches and relatively low taxes. Indeed, the state has no sales tax, Social Security benefits are tax-exempt, income tax rates max out at 6.95% and seniors can exempt $12,500 of investment and pension income from state taxes. Plus, it's located just a short drive from Philadelphia, and just a couple of hours from Baltimore, Washington D.C., and New York. Delaware residents enjoy a high quality of life, especially in the beach towns, says Thomas McGlone, the managing partner at Heirloom Wealth Advisors in Lewes.

That said, retirement pros recommend that seniors looking to relocate to The First State (it was first of the 13 original states to ratify the U.S. Constitution) pick their spots. Residents point out that the medical services in many towns across the state haven't kept up with the growing number of older Americans moving there. Travel can be an issue too: you may have to drive to Philly, D.C. or New York to get a direct, international flight, says McGlone.

On top of that, the state's cost of living is about 14% higher than the U.S. average, according to Sperling's Best Places. Some of the more popular retirement towns like Rehoboth Beach, with its many boutiques, boardwalk and restaurants, are even pricier. The median home costs $650,800 and the cost of living is 81% higher than the national average.

But for retirees, there are cheaper alternatives than Rehoboth. Here are three places advisers say to consider.

New Castle: For the history buff

This historic town, with its cobblestone streets and historic homes, draws comparisons to Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia. It's home to five museums, including the Old Library Museum, which houses thousands of classic books, and the Velocipede Museum, which displays vintage bikes, tricycles and related memorabilia. "A lot of people in the older generation work or volunteer at the museums," says mayor Donald A. Reese. About 15 blocks in New Castle are designated a "National Historic Landmark Area" so all home renovations and restorations must be carefully supervised -- one of the reasons this town has retained its historic charm so well. Plus, "it's a very friendly and warm town where everyone knows each other," says Reese.

Retirees looking for more action may be disappointed: Restaurant and shopping options are pretty limited, though residents point out that it's only a 15-minute drive to nearby Wilmington, the largest city in Delaware.

Bethany Beach: For the beach bum

This community isn't exactly a bargain, but it's still less expensive than its coastal neighbors Rehoboth Beach and Lewes, according to Sperling's Best Places. Nicknamed one of the "the quiet resorts," (along with Fenwick Island), Bethany Beach prides itself on its ability to take life down a notch or two on the intensity scale -- a quality that certainly appeals to many a retiree, says Carrie Subity, the Executive Director of the Bethany Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce.

Of course, the clean beaches are a major draw, but so is the "ecofriendly" lifestyle. One major downside of a beach town is that some of the local businesses shut down in the winter. That said, "with the miles of bike friendly roads, walking trails, great kayaking and tons of other outdoor activities where one can experience the beautiful scenery and wildlife, it is a great place for anyone to spend their retirement," says Carrie Subity, the Executive Director of the Bethany Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce. The quaint boardwalk and downtown area, which is lined with restaurants and shops, are another big perk, she adds.

Newark: For the young at heart

Retirees pick Newark, home to the University of Delaware, for "the college town experience" says Dana Johnston, the community affairs officer for the city. The university helps bring in "good theater, college sports, lots of entertainment programs and adds to an already vibrant downtown," she says. In the downtown alone (which is walkable), residents have their pick of 30 to 40 restaurants, she says, as well as a variety of shops. One warning, say residents: The town can get a little rowdy when school's in session.

The town also has a lot of outdoor activities. There are bike-friendly areas like the James F. Hall trail and the Pomeroy Newark Rail Trail, which is under construction and scheduled to open this year and runs through downtown. In addition to the city's fifteen miles of trails and thirty three parks totaling over 650 acres of parkland, there are roughly 12,000 acres of parkland surrounding the city, which offer walking, biking and birdwatching opportunities. Newark is right off Interstate 95, so it's an easy trek to New York City and Washington D.C., and there's a train stop in town that can easily whisk one away to both places in less than two hours. And there are eight 55 and over communities here and two major hospitals within 5 to 10 miles of town, adds Johnston.

The information above was reprinted from SmartMoney.com.

New Castle County Delaware Real Estate Market Report for August 2014.

Below is convenient property tax bill information for New Castle County residents.

Property Tax Bills

Applications for Exemptions and Credits

For more details and to view your property information and payment status, click here.

I saw a very interesting video on what leads to success. Richard St. John spent 7 years and 500 interviews to determine these are the secrets:

Passion -Be driven by your passion

Work - It's all hard work

Good - find one thing and get good at it

Focus - focus on just one thing

Push -yourself physically, mentally

Serve - serve others something of value

Idea - find a good one

Persist - The number one reason for success

If you want to see the video:

http://www.ted.com/talks/richard_st_john_s_8_secrets_of_success?language=en