How Do I Know What My Home is Worth? - What is your home worth, anyway?  Until you put your house on the market, it hard to tell for sure.  There are websites that can estimate what your home is worth, based on your local market.  Unfortunately, these sites can be off the mark, though they can provide a ballpark figure.

    The best way to calculate the value of your home is to talk to a real estate agent.  An agent is a real life person that most likely has seen the market trends and can give you the most accurate figures for what your home is worth.

    I am aware of what is going on in the market and I can tell you how much you can get for your home.  If you are thinking of selling your home and you are in the Logan, Utah area, give me a call or visit my interactive website www.LoganHomeFinder.com.

Mike Whitesides, Realtor, Market Edge Real Estate, Logan, Utah (435) 757-5533.
 
 
Home Improvements Don’t Have to Drain Your Wallet! - Are you ready to sell your home, but afraid it won’t look good to potential buyers?  Do you wish you could remodel your home, but can’t afford a total overhaul?  There is good news!  You don’t have to spend a fortune to make your home appealing to buyers!  There are a few simple and affordable things you can do to increase the value of your home.

    Open up the space in your home.  Homes look larger when there is less clutter.  If you can, move unnecessary furniture out of the house and into storage.

    De-personalize your home.  Take down family pictures and personal keepsakes so that buyers can see themselves in the home.  If they can see themselves living in your home, they may want it even more!

    Pay attention to cosmetic details.  Often, you can add plenty of charm simply by dusting off shelves or polishing appliances.  You may not even need to make any purchases - just make what you already have shine!

    If you are in the market to sell your home in Logan, Utah, I can help you market your home so you can get the most money for your investment.  Give me a call at (435) 757-5533 or visit my interactive website www.LoganHomeFinder.com.

Mike Whitesides, Realtor, Market Edge Real Estate, Logan, Utah (435) 757-5533.
 


 
 
Buying or renting is a common question among first time buyers. Buying a home is part of the American Dream.  In a struggling economy it can be difficult to get to the point where you can buy a home.  Some people own a home as an investment, but most want to own a home to have a place they can call their own.  One of the benefits of buying a home is the interest the government allows homeowners to deduct part of their mortgage. If you own a home, your equity will build over time and the mortgages balances shrink.

Now the renting part of buying or renting. As a renter, you have less liability when it comes to the property you are renting.  If something breaks the landlord is responsible to fix it, whereas for a homeowner repairs come out of pocket.

It pays to consider your credit score when deciding whether to rent or buy.  If your credit score isn't the greatest, build it by renting and paying rent on time.  A good credit score is a key part of getting a great rate on a loan.  Also, consider how long you will be in a particular area.

If you have questions about whether buying or renting is best for you please give me a call at (435) 757-5533 or e-mail me at mike@loganhomefinder.com and we can go over all your options. If you’re looking for homes visit my interactive Web site www.LoganHomeFinder.com to search for homes in the Logan, Utah area. Now is a great time to buy a home for sale in Logan, Utah. I specialize in working with buyers looking for a good deal on real estate in the Logan area.

Mike Whitesides, Realtor, Market Edge Real Estate, Logan, Utah (435) 757-5533.

 
 
Choosing the right real estate agent to represent you as a buyer or a seller is best decision you’ll make when buying or selling a home. It is a very important part of the process.  As a seller, a real estate agent will help you assess the value of your home and advertise the listing to other agents and the general public.  A real estate agent will also arrange for showings and oversee most of the transaction.

As a buyer having a real estate agent working for you is a must. A buyer's agent can provide a variety of information about a home including sales history, assessed value, as well as what to look for in buying a home.  Also, a big part of a buyer’s agent is to negotiate the best price for the property you are considering.

As a real estate agent in Logan, Utah I specialize in helping people find the right home at the right prices. Homes for sale in Logan, Utah are reasonability priced and there are so many reasons to buy right now. I help people from all over the country relocate and buy homes in Logan, Utah. Check out my interactive Web site www.LoganHomeFinder.com or e-mail me at mike@loganhomefinder.com.

Mike Whitesides, Realtor, Market Edge Real Estate, Logan, Utah (435) 757-5533.

 
 
Why is a recession inviting to buyers? Not very many people are excited about the current economic downturn, but homebuyers have reason to smile. We all know there are plenty of foreclosures and short sales in the market right now. This isn’t good for sellers, but buyers and especially first time homebuyers can find great home deals.

Finding deals on homes for sale in Logan, Utah is a reality. The real estate market in Logan, Utah has been relatively conservative which also makes this recession inviting to buyers. Sometimes making offers on short sales and pre-foreclosure properties in Logan, Utah can be frustrating since you are the mercy of the banks and lending institutions. However, if you are patient it can save you thousands of dollars and you can move into a Logan, Utah home with instant equity.

On my Web site at www.LoganHomeFinder.com you can search specifically for short sale and pre-foreclosure properties in Logan, Utah. Please give me a call at (435) 757-5533 or send me an e-mail at mike@loganhomefinder.com if you have questions about Logan, Utah homes for sale.

Mike Whitesides, Realtor, Market Edge Real Estate, Logan, Utah (435) 757-5533.
 
 
A common questions for homebuyers is ‘Is a home inspection worth it? My answer is always ‘yes.’The reason I think a home inspection is worth it is because a home is a considerable financial investment.You want to make sure the home you are buying is in good condition for not only your own enjoyment, but so that the property is resalable.

In general, a home inspector checks for things that could be potentially dangerous or hazardous, such as a faulty furnace or AC, drainage issues, foundation deficiencies, problems with the roof and other health and safety issues. Home inspectors don’t usually disclose repair costs, so if the inspection finds something amiss, hire your own contractor to determine the cost and make repairs. Some repairs may be so minor that you could fix them yourself. After a home inspection the home inspector usually provides a report with all of the conditions of the areas of the home that were inspected.
Remember, no home is perfect. Every home will have some issue on an inspection, even new homes. A home inspection is simply a chance to make sure you will be buying a quality product and getting the most for your money.
For more information about if a home inspection is worth it please give me call at (435) 757-5533.Also if you’d like to buy a home for sale in Logan, Utah please visit my custom search Logan real estate Web site at www.LoganHomeFinder.com or please e-mail me at mike@LoganHomeFinder.com.
Mike Whitesides, Realtor, Market Edge Real Estate, Logan, Utah (435) 757-5533.

 
 
Being a single parent is a challenge, but there is help in finding a stable home for you and your kids. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) offers a loan program tailored to the needs of a single parent. There are many benefits to this program that cater to single parents and this is another way to find a great home for sale in Logan, Utah.
  • Compensating factors can allow FHA underwriters to forgive credit imperfections.

  • Ease of qualifying with flexible debt ratios

  • Using the 2/1 Buy-Down Program can facilitate lowering your front end housing cost ratio for more opportunities to get approved

  • Single parent home buyers can utilize gifts from family members, friends, and distant relatives to meet down payment requirements

  • Borrowers could be eligible for local grants that can help not only pay your down payment, but your Closing Costs as well!

  • Sellers can assist single parents by paying up to 6% of your closing costs

  • The FHA loan program has government regulated closing costs which control what you can be charged for when purchasing or refinancing a home.

  • When using the FHA Streamline program, existing FHA loans can be quickly and affordably modified without having to qualify for a new loan.

  • The FHA mortgage program offers single parents unmatched security for home retention. Ask us about the Foreclosure intervention opportunities the FHA loan affords during unexpected financial crises.

If you are a single parent, you can use this method to buy any home for sale in Logan, Utah or Cache County. Call me if you’d like more information at (435) 757-5533. You can also check out Logan, Utah homes for sale on my Web site at www.LoganHomeFinder.com. This Web site has maps of homes for sale in Logan, Utah and you can search for home for sale in Cache Valley based on your criteria.
Mike Whitesides, Realtor, Market Edge Real Estate, Logan, Utah (435) 757-5533.

 
 
First time homebuyers are eligible for the Live in Logan Grant. The Live in Logan Grant is sponsored by Logan City and the $7,500 grant is available to first-time homebuyers looking to move to Logan that qualify. The money can go toward a down payment or closing costs.

A “first time homebuyer” is defined as someone who has not owned a home in the past three years, those who currently own a trailer that is not on a permanent foundation, those who lease or own a condominium, and/or are a displaced spouse.

The requirements for this grant are:
  1. Be a first time home buyer

  2. Earn no more than 80% of the HUD median for Cache County

  3. Have certain debt to income ratios

  4. Attend a First Time Home Buyer Workshop (the one in Cache County is provided by the Utah State University Family Life Center

  5. Apply at least $500 of your own funds to the purchase of the home

  6. Buy a single family residence within Logan city limits

On top of an $8,000 government tax credit for first time homebuyers, this is a great opportunity!

If you would like more information about this unique program please give me a call at (435) 757-5533. If you’re looking for a home visit my Web site to search Logan Utah homes for sale. There is a map with all the homes for sale in Logan, Utah. You can also send me an e-mail at mike@LoganHomeFinder.com.

Mike Whitesides, Realtor, Market Edge Real Estate, Logan, Utah (435) 757-5533.

 
 
When you are in the market for a new house, it's important to choose a Realtor that will listen to what you need and will use all the resources available to help you get the house you want.

The first thing to know is to be upfront and honest with your Realtor. The more information you give your Realtor, the more they will be able to find the home that you're looking for. Realtors have access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), a comprehensive database of past and present listings in a particular area. There's bound to be a house or two based on what you’re looking for.

The Cache Valley area is listed with the Wasatch Front MLS. I would be happy to help you find what you are looking for. I can get you more information about any listing and arrange a showing for any home in Logan and the surrounding area. Cache Valley, Utah is a great place to live and there is no better time to buy a home in Logan, Utah. Contact me at 435-757-5533 or visit my interactive Web site at www.loganhomefinder.com.
 
 
Housing prices are low and the government is giving first-time homebuyers an $8,000 tax credit for buying. There is a deadline – the transaction must be completed by November 30, 2009. It usually takes 45-60 days to close a deal, so the time to buy is now.

"If you have the cash and a stable job, this is a perfect time to buy a house," said Ilyce Glink, author of "100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask.” "But people are running out of time.”

This credit amounts to $8,000 or 10% of the home's value, whichever is less. The full amount can be claimed by single taxpayers earning less than $75,000 and by married couples who earn less than $150,000.

In spite of the slow economy, Utah is in better shape than many other places around the country. Cache Valley's unemployment rates are lower than the rest of the state at 4.2 percent. Businesses are still seeking to come to Utah because prices are low and the standard of living remains high.

If you are first time homebuyer I would strongly suggest you look into real estate in the Logan area. The housing market is conservative so prices are reasonable and homes continue to hold their value. Cache Valley, Utah is a great place to live and there is no better time to buy a home in Logan, Utah. Contact me at 435-757-5533 or visit my interactive Web site at www.loganhomefinder.com.