Appraisal….One of the “big three” as far as typical contingencies go in the home buying process. An appraisal is the act or process of developing an opinion of value. The valuation is done using a systematic procedure wherein the appraiser derives a market value for the home in question. What influences the derived value? Social, economic, governmental and environmental forces are considered as well as local market conditions such as supply and demand. While factoring these extraneous elements in the appraiser looks closely at property characteristics that might impact the value. The finishes, the condition of the property, the size of the property etc. These property-specific elements are examined and compared to that of competitive properties. Talk to your Realtor about the appraisal process. He or she should be able to support the purchase price via a comparable property analysis thereby ideally limiting potential appraisal issues.

Very interesting and accurate depiction of the mindset and practices of current first time home buyers as seen nationally and as experienced by this RI Realtor. The tendencies of looking online for 6 months before contacting a Realtor, making down payments less than 10 %, putting in sweat equity to up the value of the home and being enticed by low mortgage rates are all witnessed as I engage with first time home buyers on a daily basis. It’s a GREAT time to purchase in RI with interest rates still low, inventory increasing, list to sold prices at 96% ratio and predictions of a solid market forecast encouraging many to pull the buying trigger sooner rather than later.  Take a look deeper into current market practices by the first time home buying subset; many of which are also utilized by veteran buyers as well.  Reach out to me if I can assist you in purchasing and/or selling in my home state of RI. I truly love what I do!

https://www.greensboro.com/life/how-first-time-buyers-are-entering-the-home-market/article_793a6ef8-50fc-50eb-a5cc-228e63bf4993.htmll

Thinking of waiting until 2020 to purchase a new property??? Read the informative article below and gain insight on why buying in 2019 may make the best sense for you and your family! Reach out to me for help!

4-reasons-your-buyer-clients-need-to-purchase-before-2020

It’s been a busy 2nd quarter in my home state of RI! The four upcoming closings I have are indicative of just how hot the market has been. While days on market has been increasing in towns like Barrington,(Average DOM of 96 days), the average list to sold price remains high at 96%. Single-family home sales rose 10% from July 2018 to July 2019 and the median price of those sales increased 6.5% to $297,500 according to a recent report released by the RI Association of Realtors.  These strong numbers reflect the steady market I’ve been experiencing throughout my small home state.  This trend has been seen in my condo sales and my multi-family sales so it is not single-family-specific nor is it town specific. With sales in Smithfield, Richmond, Newport, Barrington, and the East Side I can attest that the market is solid across RI. With interest rates low, unemployment low and consumer confidence still high now is a great time to consider selling and/or buying. Reach out to me please if I can be of any real estate help! Helping my clients is the reason behind the “Huard Hustle” and the accompanying smile every darn day!

Click on the link below to more information regarding single-family home sales in the second quarter and happy fall!

https://www.rirealtors.org/r-i-single-family-home-sales-rise-in-second-quarter/

Click on the link below to gain insight into the July real estate market here in Rhode Island. It was as hot as our above-average temps! It’s been a very busy summer for me listing wise and sale wise and I would love to help you out in any of your upcoming real estate needs! I truly love helping my clients.It is why I am a Realtor!

http://mottandchace.rezora.com/public/6998049?fbclid=IwAR0FL-wkJQoYjYhumwP4r76xFAroWy5qLgD3wY1fzGWtrfZe12Q8dgLSgwo

Click below for the May RI Real Estate Market Report! With list prices up over 3%, sale prices up 9%, inventory up 5% & the number of closed sales up over 9% this Realtor can attest that May was one of solid market activity!

https://indd.adobe.com/view/fb0ea39b-7d88-479e-adf0-c5dc5d381a1c

Spring is here!!!! If you are like me, you are just beginning to look outside your cozy interior to see what “lies” outdoors in regards to your yard, landscape, driveway etc…It is that time of year in New England where after months of being cooped up we are rarin to go on all “outdoors related” cylinders!!! Pumping up the bike tires, putting up the screen doors, washing the car in the driveway, hooking up the hoses…….seeing how many hockey puck dents you have in your shingles….:):)…..All customary “must do” actions when “we” New Englanders get that first sunny, warm, spring-like day.  While we take a look at our exterior conditions we should also take a close look at some interior conditions.  Many items can be addressed rather easily while others may require the help of a service provider. If you live in Rhode Island, most likely I have a name of a supplier that I can offer to you.  As my clients like to say ” Sarah knows just about everyone”:) I am happy to extend any suggestions on “who you should use” to tackle items like plumbing issues, chimney sweeps etc.  Just call me, text or shoot me an email and I’d be happy to help.

With mortgage rates dropping even further last week and with no sign of increasing, home buyers are out in numbers. With consumer confidence high and the spring temps finally arriving, the buying ” temp” right now is high. If you are thinking of selling, now is definitely time to tackle some of these items. Whenever I list a home for a client I look through the interior and exterior of the home with them,  come up with punch lists of items that should be addressed and/or fixed and I offer contacts and solutions for each and every ” issue”. Tackling some of these great homeowner maintenance steps listed in the article highlighted below, may serve to avoid future problems AND you could be addressing issues now that will need to be addressed later should you decide to sell.  I am happy to come by and take a look at your home with you to give you not only a sense of market value but also to provide for you a list of simple fixes/tweaks that will serve to heighten your value AND get your home ready for the market.   I hope you find the article below valuable and as always please reach out to me if you would like my assistance with anything real estate related!

https://siouxcityjournal.com/advertorial/siouxland_homes/your-official-spring-home-walk-through/article_ce8abeb6-8d61-5da8-a77f-df6391d20392.html

Seeking some clarification on common tax deductions? Look no further than this great article below that demystifies some of the new conundrums presented by recent changes in the tax laws.  With a determined focus there ARE ways to lessen your tax expenses particulary in the areas of real estate and income taxes. Let me know if I can be of any real estate assistance in the year to come! I would love to be of help!

https://www.providencejournal.com/opinion/20190201/my-turn-david-bussius-some-big-changes-with-your-taxes

As we close out 2018 and take “stock” of our own personal growth and areas we’d like to improve upon in 2019, it’s a great time to also take a glance at our immediate surroundings to perhaps seize upon some unique opportunities in the year ahead. For myself, it’s real estate opportunities I strive to claim while for others it may be cultural “improvements” or to branch out a bit more socially, intellectualy or otherwise.

Goals such as going to Trinity Rep more often or going on a tour of Blithewold Mansion or the Hereshoff Museum in nearby Bristol, or  going to an art exhibit at RISD, or seeing a Brown exhibit at List Art Center might be ones to add to your “RI To Do” list . Maybe it’s  something adventurous like taking advantage of the outdoor bumper cars in downtown Providence, or  venturing  to a new restaurant or two or three!

Here are some articles to get you there , to take you where you may want to go to embelish your cultural side in 2019! Wherever your adventures take you in 2019 both professionally and personally , I hope they surpass all your preconceived goals!!!

https://www.providencejournal.com/entertainmentlife/20181225/year-in-review-2018-was-another-delicious-year-in-ri-from-brunch-to-cocktails

http://www.explorebristolri.com/things-to-do/arts-and-culture/arts/museums

https://www.trinityrep.com

https://www.brown.edu/campus-life/arts/bell-gallery/about/about-the-gallery

https://theprovidencerink.com

Looking for some fun weekend actiivites that get you out into the wonderful winter outdoors??? Check out these great suggestions for things to do in and around Providence! Heading to Patriots Place to skate on their outdoor rink is always a big hit in my hockey loving household as is skating on local town/municipal ponds that may be frozen. Be sure to check if they are frozen first!!! Perhaps you might want to take in an Open House?? There are many great homes currently listed throughout Rhode Island. I have been very busy showing buyers homes all over the areas of Smithfield, Lincoln, Scituate, Providence , East Providence and Barrington. With the low inventory and low buying pool, now is a great time to look for a new home! Reach out to me if I can be of any assistance and Happy Holidays!!!

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/rhode-island/winter-activities-ri-2/?fbclid=IwAR2jh_bqj4JxLhquw1PbF9fY-QgPRAAV914v59h3yk3zTK8HgbMRXkkon6s