If you plan to sell your home soon, especially in this tough economy, you want to take steps to get the highest price for your home. It’s your money. Maximize it! These Five Easy Steps will insure you get the most for that home!

Tip #1: Improve Overall Condition

The first thing is to make sure the home is in good shape…curbside. That means you take the time to make the home “presentable”. Paint is cheap and REALLY makes a difference. So, paint the exterior or just the trim. Paint the front door and the garage door, too. Plant colorful flowers, trim those trees and bushes and get the grass looking its best.

Tip #2: Get Good Exposure for your Home

Let’s face it – no one is ever going to buy your property if they don’t know it is on the market. To that same end, you will not be able to enjoy top dollar for your home unless you reach the right potential buyers. The simple truth is that, the more people who see your home, the greater the chances will be of getting the price you are after. Therefore, it is important to develop a solid marketing plan that includes ample local and national advertising.

Tip #3: Pick the Right Time to Sell

Sell in a seller’s market – duh! That’s not going to happen any time soon. But, you can maximize your position by selling in the busy real estate season…Spring through early Fall. There are more buyers in the market during those months. Also, improve your position by selling during times of lowest interest rates and terms. When the lending conditions improve the number of qualified buyers in your price range increases. The more of them, the merrier for you!

Tip #4: Don’t Delay, Sell Today

Price and market the home to sell quickly. It’s the only smart strategy in a declining market. In fact, agents and buyers view homes that linger on the market longer than average as “stale”. That is, they immediately wonder why others have not purchased the home and they often do not even tour. If you do “miss the mark” on price or advertising, and the home remains on the market longer than average, you may want to take it off the market for a time and start over with a fresh price and marketing effort.

Tip #5: Choose a Reasonable Price

Resist the temptation to overprice. It’s a winning strategy in an expanding market but it’s the kiss of death in a declining or flat one. First of all, you will not get the number of viewers online and live tours that you want. Internet auto-searches are entered by price-range and you’ll simply miss out on contacting some appropriate buyers if you price it higher than is reasonable.

Getting the top dollar on your home sale is within reach. It’s not a secret formula and it’s certainly not just luck. These Five Steps will help you succeed.

About the Author: John Allen represents buyers and sellers of fine Sarasota real estate, including condos. Also, special thanks to Yorba Linda Homes for Sale.

With interest rates at the lowest they have been in 40 years, you are in a great position to buy a home with Colorado fixed rates mortgages. It pays to find out what you get for these low rates, and how you can benefit. If you are looking to buy a new home, your timing could not be better. There are some sweet deals on the market, and the low mortgage rates really make the purchase of your dreams possible.

You can do some research about current rates and mortgages by visiting sites such as bankrate.com. After you’ve learned a few things about current mortgages, consult a mortgage professional who will personally advise you about the best mortgage for your financial situation and your purchase. You can find professionals who follow best practices and uphold a code of ethics by going to the Colorado Mortgage Lenders Association. When you apply for a loan online, you are not really doing it yourself; there are professionals behind the scenes. One of those professionals might as well be working personally for you!

You’ll want to know if the term should be 30 years or 15 years. There are advantages to both. A 30 year “conventional” fixed rate mortgage will have a lower monthly payment. However, if you are paying off the loan in 15 years, you are building equity at a faster rate, and will save money over the life of the loan.

Find out what the fees are that come with the loan. Lenders must disclose these up front, so there are no surprises at closing. You can expect fees for application, appraisal, and others. Also find out if you need to pay points at closing to get the low rate. A point is one percent of the amount of the loan. A mortgage professional can help you decide if it is better for you to pay points, or take a higher interest rate.

A lender will also need to disclose to you if there are any prepayment penalties for paying off the loan early. You’ll also need to decide if you are paying your taxes and home owners insurance with the monthly mortgage payment, or separately. The advantage of paying for these with the mortgage is that you are assured they are paid, and you don’t have to come up with a lot of money in one lump sum. However, many people prefer to pay them when they are due, and keep them separate from the mortgage.

The time is right to buy a home and consider Colorado fixed rates mortgages. Consult your mortgage professional, and make the plans to purchase the home of your dreams.

To learn more about Colorado fixed rates mortgages, take a look at these articles by Jane Doyle.