Happy New Year!

Are you tired of making New Year’s resolutions year after year only to see them turn into unfulfilled goals? Make 2013 the year you achieve those goals! Whether you wish to become more financially secure, physically fit or to improve your mind, the first step for making your resolutions stick is to establish a plan. Remember: if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

If your 2013 New Year’s resolutions include buying a home, start the year off right by making sure you are financially healthy. This includes structuring your debts and liabilities properly so you can afford a new house. Also, organize your payroll documents and bank statements to make the process of buying a home easier. Overall, be sure to take some time this January to get your financials in order; it will make your life a little less stressful as you start looking at properties!
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If you would like to see 2013 be the year you move into a new house, give me a call at (310) 909-6769 or email me at bridgetannstuart@yahoo.com. Let’s work together on fulfilling your New Year’s resolution of home-ownership. Happy New Year!

4 Reasons to Sell During the Holidays

The end of the year is here and so many people are asking me whether they should sell now or wait until spring. The truth is now is one of the best times during the year to sell.

1. Buyers are more serious - No one wants to take time out of their holidays plans to look at homes if they don't really need to buy.
2. There is less competition - Everyone waits until spring to put their home on the market. Spring is always our highest inventory levels.
3. You will get a better price - Because there is less competition, your home is more desirable and you can get a better price for it. 
4. Homes look better - Who doesn't love seeing a home in holiday lights and decorations?

If you have any questions, or would like to come in and talk more about whether selling now is right for you, please give me a call!

What Are the Best Ways to Prepare Your Home for the Market?

Welcome back to my video blog. If you are thinking about selling your home, it’s critical to prepare it properly.

Our team takes the time to customize a plan specific for your home: what needs to be done to appeal to the most buyers?

I have three tips to keep in mind when getting ready to list your home.

1. Remove all items prior to listing that won’t be included in the sale - I’ve been in situations where the buyer and seller have argued over a chandelier or the washer and dryer, etc. 
2. Depersonalize (to a degree) - I am not a firm believer in completely neutralizing the property. Buyers do want to see some connection and emotion in the home. A rule of thumb is no more than 5 percent of the decor should be personal items.
3. ‘Declutter’ - Unless you are an extreme minimalist, you will probably need to remove 30-40 percent of the items from your home, including furniture, books, movie, kitchen appliances, etc. We will help you go through the items in your home and determine what would be best in storage.

These are three main ideas to help you prepare your home. We also look at whether your home needs a fresh coat of paint, how the front door and front lawn look and the condition of the back yard.

If you have any questions, please give me a call.

The Importance of Pricing Correctly

When selling your home, one of the most important aspects is pricing it correctly. If you price too high, you won’t get any offers. If you price too low, you’ll lose money on your sale.

Pricing properly from the beginning is crucial. We are in a competitive market and buyers want to find value in your home. That doesn’t mean you have to have the lowest price out of all your competition, but your home should be in good condition.

If you have any questions about how to get your home ready for the market or how to find the best price for your property, give me a call at 310.909.6769

Thanks for watching!

How Will the Rising Interest Rates Affect the West Los Angeles Real Estate Market?

As you may know, interest rates have been on the rise the last couple of months. While they are still at a phenomenal rate and historically low, we don’t know when they will increase again.

So, how do increasing rates affect you? The biggest impact is on buyers. Every point rate that increases, decreases buying power by $11,000. You are getting less house for your money.

It also, affects sellers. Because a buyer’s power decreases, fewer people will be able to afford your home. As a seller, you want to get as many potential buyers interested; this helps drive price up and get you the best terms and conditions.

So, if you are thinking of buying or selling, now is the time! Give me a call so I can help!

Thanks for watching!

West LA Summer 2013 Market Update

If you are interested in buying a home, check out our full home search.
If you are interested in selling your home, check out our free home value report.

Hello everyone! My name is Bridget Stuart; I am with Keller Williams in Santa Monica and I work with buyers and sellers all over the west side of Los Angeles.

What’s happening in our current real estate market compared to last year?

It’s amazing how much things have changed within the past year. We already saw the market improving a little bit last year, especially for sellers. In some ways last year was a little bit better than this year in terms of buyers being to get houses because things are a lot more competitive now.

There is so few choices for buyers out there. In some of our towns, we have inventory as little as six weeks! It’s remarkably competitive and a great time to be a seller; prices are up nearly 30% compared to last year.

If you are a buyer, the market is very competitive. We are seeing multiple offers, even on luxury homes. I just did an offer for an investor and there were 20 offers on the property after only being on the market for a day.

I would love to assist you with any of your real estate needs so please give me a call at 310.909.6769