When you are purchasing your first home, there is so much emotion that goes through your mind. First is the initial excitement of owning this beautiful home! Your in a complete state of euphoria. Then the nervousness kicks in with whether you can afford it or not. Then your family and friends give you their two cents, and all of the sudden it feels like you just made the biggest mistake.

STOP! Stop right now. Let's be realistic. Before you start looking you most likely have been pre-qualified with a mortgage company. They make a decision based on your debt to income ratio what you can afford. You know in your mind what you can afford based on what you bring home each month, what your monthly expenses are, and what lifestyle you are accustomed to. No matter what anyone says, the home you buy is your decision, your the one who has to live there, no one else.

The most important thing when buying your home is making sure that it makes you happy, no matter what anyone else says. Here are few statistical facts to help support your purchase if you are buying a home now and someone is trying to tell you that your crazy.

1. Economic forecasts show an almost $72,000 equity gain in your home if purchase now. That means your home will appreciate within 7 years of purchase (just don't pull your equity out!)
2. Within 3 years they are estimate an 11% appreciation in home values.
3. By the 2nd quarter in 2011, existing home prices are expected to increase 4.3%

Any home you buy will increase it's value if you live in it, take care of it, and don't pull out your equity. For a consultation to see if you can buy in today's market, email me at abeich1219@gmail.com.For anyone looking for investment properties or second homes, those two will bring you value in the future.



All facts came from http://www.realtor.org/research/research/reportsstatistics

Real Estate Outlook

The world is not coming to an end! Even better, the real estate market is looking up. In Sunday's paper here in Atlantic County the Press of Atlantic City had a entire section devoted to the real estate market in our area. It was a breathe of fresh air to get out hard facts for people to see that everything isn't as bad as most news outlets makes it out to be.

Some key points that I thought were interested was number one chart on median home prices in Southern New Jersey. The most important thing to take from this is that real estate is NOT A BAD INVESTMENT! It's one of the best investments you will ever make, if you do it right. You see, you hear so much about people losing their homes to foreclosure and short sales that you wonder why would I ever buy something so big! Yet if you really look at it, for what you have paid in rent for the last 10 years you probably could have bought 2, maybe 3 houses!

In Atlantic County, over 5 years "they" are projecting that in most towns you will see between a 2%-61% increased return on your investment! In some towns, median home prices even INCREASED from 2008-2009. For example, Galloway Twp saw a $20,000 increase in median sales price. That's substantial considering the market. Overall sals volume has increased each month from last year to this year, but sales priced did fall. So, homes are selling, but the prices are becoming more realistic. You have to remember, for a long time you were paying "bubble" prices on a home.

It's important for everyone reading this to realize that it isn't all bad. There is substantial opportunity out there for those brave enough to reach out and ask the right questions. Anyone purchasing a home right now during this first-time homebuyer surge, if they are smart, will see a return on their investment when they are ready to move again 5-10 years from now. Those who pull out all their equity to buy other things when the market turns around will be the ones suffering years from now, just as some are suffering now.

The point is, invest in your lives the smart way. Buy a home that you can afford based on your own judgement of monthly budgeting. Buy a home you can see yourself living in for the next 5-10 years while you start your family, establish your career. And most of all, buy a home that you can call your own. The tax benefits, tax credits, and pride greatly outweigh the what-if scenerios you could play all day.

I can help you get there. I can show you how much you can afford, I can estimate your payments. I can show you how you can buy with no money down. It's your choice, it's your life, I am only the road-map to get you home. So if you or someone you know is looking to buy or sell, send them my way, they won't be dissappointed.

What Do We Do Now?

The weather is nice, the kids are starting to get anxious for spring break, and your home is starting to feel a little "full." It's time you think about moving up. You've thought about selling, you know what you owe on your mortgage, and you've read so much about the market and how bad it is, your afraid you might not be able to get what you owe. You could think of 101 what-if scenerios to talk yourself out of looking for a new home. What you need to do is get facts. All good decisions are made when you have the facts to make the best decision possible for you and your family. I believe that with a little knowledge, you can stop all of the what-if scenerios and the uncertainty and make the decision to sell or stay.

If this sounds like you, email me with your property address, a brief description of your home, and what you owe on your mortgage. I will provide you with a market analysis so you can see what your home may sell for, with absolutly no obligation to list your home. I am confident that I will be able to answer any questions you have, and give you peace of mind to make a decision.

I am a Realtor because it's what I do. I love making people's dreams come true, expecially when they think something is not possible. Email me today at abeich1219@gmail.com, all I need is 5 minutes of your time, and your willingness to listen.