Tag Archives: for sale

Home Sales, Home Seller, Real Estate

Selling a Home in Winter

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Selling a home can be frustrating in the winter market.  While there are advantages to having a home on the market through the winter, there could also be disadvantages.  What works best for you as a seller, is a very personal decision.  Let your real estate agent help you sort out whether to keep your home on the market through the winter.

Here are a few advantages to keeping your home on the market:

  1.  There are less homes on the market making inventory low.  You have a better chance of being noticed when there is less inventory.
  2. Buyers looking in the winter months are serious buyers.  You have a better chance of selling when the buyers are looking through the snowy season.
  3. Prices can be a bit higher because of low inventory bring in a sales price closer to your list price.

The disadvantages can be downplayed by keeping a good attitude about your move.

  1.  Moving in the winter is not fun – but with a little research you can find a good moving company and save yourself a lot of work.  Companies are looking for work in the winter and offer deals to you.
  2. Keeping the way clear of snow.  Yes, this is especially important for the winter snowbirds. 2Hire a company to keep your drive clear of snow.  This makes it easier to get in for showings and gives the buyer the message that you care about your home.
  3. Buyers are looking for deals, deals, deals.  They sometimes want to offer lower prices thinking that you are desperate to sell.  This is not always the case, so be strong during negotiation if you have a good product.
It’s only a few short months and we will be talking about spring and summer.  You can make it though the winter with an agent that is resourceful and able to help you out with services needed during the winter months.  Hopefully, by spring you will see a big SOLD sign on it.
1 MainFor more information on this beautiful winter home for sale – click on the photo above.
Real Estate

‘Tis the Season

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWaagvWm7tM

‘Tis the season for buyers looking for a new home!

Contrary to popular belief, there are buyers looking for homes during the winter months.  This is the time of year that many sellers either lower their price or take the home off the market for the winter.  This leads to low inventory.  That make it nice for sellers who are sticking with it for the winter.  They have a better chance of selling their home.  So if you are looking for a home this winter, you know you have a motivated seller – get out there and make a deal!

Buyers look here for current home deals!

Canadian Lakes, Homes, Real Estate

Color Tour at Canadian Lakes – Kathleen Adams – Canadian Lakes Homes Blog

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Wow!  Beautiful color is everywhere in Canadian Lakes.  The colors are vivid this year.  We expect the color will last a couple of weeks yet.  Take a drive to see Canadian Lakes and the beautiful colors.  While you are at it, stop by and see me at Coldwell Banker to get our latest deals.  It’s a great time to buy a home!  Click the photo for more information on homes at Canadian Lakes:

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Canadian Lakes, Homes, Real Estate

Hot Deals, by Kathleen Adams, Canadian Lakes Homes Blog

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Hot deals on lake front property will be out there. Just look around and see what is still on the market and if they are willing to make a deal.  Now is the time, Labor Day weekend marks the  end of summer for many lakefront homeowners.  Most people are done using their cottage this weekend.  They are getting the kids back to school.  The retirees are getting ready to go back to their winter homes.  Generally if the home has not sold by now, they are reducing prices.  If they haven’t reduced prices, they will be ready to negotiate something to get it sold.  So, check out the hot deals, summer may not be over just yet!

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VISIT www.canadianlakeshomes.com to see homes for sale.

Canadian Lakes, Homes, Real Estate

Let’s Go To The Cottage – Canadian Lakes Homes Blog – Kathleen Adams

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Let’s go to the cottage!  These words bring sweet memories as I think back about our cottage years.  In fact, they are never ending times.  The cottage was a place we went to year-round and spent quality time together with family, extended family and friends.  Memories abound when you have a cottage and they are years that you will always cherish and want to continue with each generation. We visited friends last night that are here from Lake Tahoe.  And when I say here, I mean they are at the cottage on Horsehead Lake.  They, like our kids, grew up at the cottage.  They are now married and having children and have come to spend two weeks at the cottage.  This is home away from home, a haven, a place to go to recharge.  And we recharged each weekend in the summer, and many of them spring, fall and winter.

When our kids were in college and had time to come home, it was to the cottage they roamed.  The cottage was home because that is were their fondest memories were made. There is nothing like a cottage; and what a time to invest in a cottage.  We have a good inventory of cottages around the lakes in the area.  A changing of times for many families that have to sell for some reason.  But what a great time for someone to start their cottage memories by investing in this vacation market.  I can remember a time when you could not find a cottage on our lake to buy.  If someone did want to sell, there was someone in the neighborhood that knew someone who wanted to buy it.  They never hit the market!

I think this is one purchase you will never regret.  A cottage is so much more than a vacation property.  It permeates the very people it houses with sights, sounds, smells, and great times!  Our first cottage was 700 square feet, had three bedrooms and a pull out sofa – one bath.  We had the best times there and still recall all the fun things we did when we are all together.  Our second cottage was 5 bedrooms and baths, and I remember having 50 people for my 50th birthday and what a celebration weekend it was!  Big or small and cottage does it all.

Thinking about a cottage?  Come and see what our area has for you!  There is a nice selection to choose from with prices all around good!

Check it out —- we may have something for you: 

Cottages For Sale

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Hells Kettle New View

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Canadian Lakes, Homes, Real Estate

Summer is Here – Kathleen Adams, Canadian Lakes Homes Blog

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Summer is here!  Finally the season we all long for has arrived.  Thankfully it has brought along some warm weather.  The weekends have not been the best weather so far this June so we welcome the warmth and the sun!  Boating season has begun as has the golf season.  At Canadian Lakes we have many clubs and activities that have started as well.  It is a great time to look at homes and we have a great selection of water front properties to choose from as well.  Join the fun at Canadian Lakes and the surrounding area lakes with vacation home ownership.  Check out all the great homes here:

Lake Fun

Canadian Lakes, First Time Home Buyers, Homeowner Tips, Homes, Real Estate

Up, Up and Away, Kathleen Adams Blog

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Up, up and away is something my first time home buyers are now crying.  After doing pre-qualification work, then shopping for their first home, it all comes down to offers.  Some of what they see, and like, while shopping is beginning to get “scooped-up” quickly.  They are starting to see the trends of upward prices and limited inventory.  That’s good news for sellers, but not especially for first time home buyers on a tight budget.  How you can get ahead of the rest of the buyers is to be prepared.  Here are a few tips to keep it straight and get it done:

  1. Have your pre-qualification letter ready, printed and in the hands of your Realtor.
  2. Have your good faith deposit ready to go.  Not, I will have it when I get paid next week.  Set it aside and be ready when you find that perfect home.  In today’s market of “bank owned” properties, the typical deposit requirement is $1,000.00.  That is CASH.  Not money they will “take out” at closing.  You need CASH, today, to write the offer.
  3. Probably the most important tip, do not shop out of your budgeted amount.  Last year this would have been different.  Everyone was shopping in a bit higher price range because you could get deals.  Today, the prices have corrected to the point that banks are marketing the property at prices that are bringing in multiple offers.  So, if your budget will not allow a full price, or sometimes, an over full price offer, expect to be disappointed when the offer is rejected or outbid by another buyer.  This disappointment can lead to a deflation in spirit and sometimes can turn a buyer to renting longer.
  4. Roll off disappointment and start over.  The best thing to remember is the ultimate goal – owning your home and not paying rent.  We all know the foreclosure market has led to more renters and higher rent prices.  Don’t get caught in the disappointment of losing a bid on a home.  It’s a lot of work to shop, and write offers, etc. for all parties involved; but so worth the reward when you finally accomplish your goal.

Get it done should be your mindset when shopping for a home.  With the proper planning it should not be hard to accomplish your goal of buying a home.  So don’t let that perfect home go up in price, up in a bidding war, and away from your hands!  Get it done!

See an inventory of the area’s homes here:  kathy_adams_header2

Canadian Lakes, Homes, Real Estate

Canadian Lakes Winter Carnival 2013

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Today is the Canadian Lakes Winter Carnival 2013 at the Highland Haus.  I stopped in this morning to serve hot dogs with our Coldwell Banker Lakes team.  Since they were so well equipped to handle that job, I ventured out to see the action.  The kids were having so much fun, it made me want to be a kid again.  Sledding, ice sculpting, ice skating, sleigh rides, face painting, clown balloon making, arts and crafts all were going on while the Mom’s, Dad’s, Grandpa’s and Grandma’s were all hanging out and having fun catching up with other families.  Out on the patio the Morton Township Fire Department were grilling up the dogs.  The Canadian Lakes Association and Coldwell Banker Lakes were inside serving the dogs.  There were cookies galore, hot cocoa, chili donated by Gregory’s Grill, popcorn and snacks for all.  The event is still going on through the day, but I had office duty this afternoon so all of the Coldwell Banker Lakes team could enjoy the event.  I would say the Canadian Lakes Winter Carnival 2013 has to be one of the best ever with all the wonderful snow we were blessed with this week!  A perfect day all around.  See the Canadian Lakes Winter Carnival event here – click on the photo!

Canadian Lakes Winter Carnival 2013
Canadian Lakes Winter Carnival 2013

For information on Canadian Lakes real estate visit my website at http://www.canadianlakeshomes.com

Canadian Lakes, Homes, Miscellaneous Stuff, Real Estate

Fall Home Buying

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Fall is a great time for home buying.  The weather is still nice most of the time and the kids are in school.  It’s a nice time for home buying trips to look at fall colors.  Retired people are also slowing down in the fall as the kids are busy with their families this time of year.  Fall home buying is a great time to invest in a property.  Prices are lower than in the summer and you still have time to get into a new home before the winter holiday season.  So if you are thinking of a fall home buying trip, let me help you with your shopping.  I can set up homes for viewing and walk you through the home buying process.  Let this fall be your time for home buying.  Come and see our great inventory today.  Click here for more information on fall home buying.

Fall Home Buying
Canadian Lakes, Homes, Miscellaneous Stuff, Real Estate

Time for School

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It’s official – the time for school has come.  While parents are proud to see their little ones going off to new and exciting school days, somewhere deep down they are thinking, whew – summer was hectic and I’m glad it’s over.  Time for school can mean more time for parents to do parent things.  Time for school can also be a time for parents to reflect on the summer past and wonder what would make it more relaxing.  Have you thought about a summer cottage?  It could be just the thing to bring the family together and help you relax while having fun.  There are still plenty of warm sunny days to explore homes for sale.  So while your little one is spending time in school, do a little parent shopping.  I can help you find that perfect summer home – and make your next summer an unforgetable one.

Click photo and shop here:

Canadian Lakes Homes
Canadian Lakes Homes