Kat Geralis Home Team Wilmington DE Real Estate News Archives

More homebuyers will be looking to the Wilmington real estate market this spring and summer. As a home seller, you would do well to highlight your Delaware home's best features. In many cases, staging can make all the difference! Some popular features a Wilmington DE homebuyer looks for are the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, storage space, and updated appliance, but they will be looking to see themselves in the home. Your home's overall flow, neutrality and ability to help the buyer feel comfortable are important— and much of this can be achieved by you, the home seller, with home staging. Below are a few staging tips to help you attract more homebuyers to the property:

Update the Spaces
It doesn't take much money to update the rooms in your Wilmington and Newark homes. For instance, a new coat of paint and shiny, upgraded hardware can all be done in a weekend, but really give the spaces a fresh, welcoming feel. To begin, make a great first impression and give your front door a fresh coat of paint. This little detail can help the potential buyer feel invited inside and give them a sunny outlook on the home overall.

Let There Be Light
Bright, airy homes are a must for many homebuyers in today's real estate market. And as a seller, you can add this factor yourself in your homes in Newark and Wilmington DE with updated light fixtures. But if adding in new or additional lighting is not an option in your home, simply swapping out low wattage light bulbs for high wattage bulbs can bring up the lighting factor with little effort. If you notice that updated light fixtures is one area where your home is lacking, replacing these is a great investment and can add charm to your home.

Bathroom/Kitchen Updates
Do you find that your kitchen is one of the areas of your home you spend the most time in? Homebuyers will notice that too! These are two areas where you'll want to focus your staging. You don't need a complete remodel, but updating appliances and fixtures here can peak homebuyer interest. At the very least, replacing the caulk and grout in these rooms is always a nice idea.

Curb Appeal
Again, first impression are everything when it comes to Wilmington, DE real estate. Take some time to amp up your landscaping, clean up the yard, replace railings and old outdoor hardware, make sure windows are clean and functioning— overall, take note that your home looks inviting from outside. Many homebuyers will begin their search online and if your home shows well in photos, it can bring them to your door!

Katina Geralis
Wilmington, DE Real Estate Expert
Keller Williams Realty
Wilmington Real Estate
Wilmington Homes for Sale
Visit My Website
Contact Me
Find me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter

Key Listing Stats: There are 2,235 homes on the market with the average sales price of $213,190. For the first quarter of 2014, there have been 939 closed home sales.

Key Listing Stats: As you can see in the graph above, the number of homes for sale, as well as the number of closed sales, have decreased slightly from the first quarter of 2013. 

The coming months will be a great time to look into buying a new home in Wilmington or Newark! Take a look at these stats to get a better idea about the current real estate market in our area. Want more information? Let the KG Home Team help you discover your real estate options and move closer to purchasing your next home— we even offer FREE first-time homebuyer seminars! 

Katina Geralis
Wilmington, DE Real Estate Expert
Keller Williams Realty
Wilmington Real Estate
Wilmington Homes for Sale
Visit My Website
Contact Me
Find me on Facebook

Tax time has come and gone once again, but it will be back next year! If you're one of those people who hate paying taxes, you'll want to pay attention to the cities that offer the best "effective tax rate," or lowest amount taken for property taxes, sales tax, excise tax, and income tax. But before you pack your bags, consider this: Wilmington, Delaware is one of those cities! For those who despise paying taxes, here are just a few reasons Wilmington is the place for you:

Effective Tax Rate
Like I mentioned above, the effective tax rate is important to pay attention to for homeowners in a given city. And Delaware tops the list for most effective tax rate as this number for all of its citizens is under six percent! While it may be the second smallest state in the U.S., Delaware has no sales tax and boasts a relatively low cost of living for its residents.

Lots to Offer, Low Taxes
Wilmington could be characterized as one of those cities with the most bang for your buck. The largest city in the state, it has all of the charm of a small town and a deep history, offering residents quaint parks and gardens, but also all of the perks of a big city. Wilmington is rich in culture with attractions like the Playhouse, Grand Opera House, and Delaware Theater Company as well as many music festivals during the warmer months. What's more, the city offers all of this without the burden of a heavy tax rate.

Low Cost of Living
The low cost of living, compared to the state and U.S. as a whole, may be what drives many to build businesses and homes in Wilmington. For instance, "the median household income from 2008 to 2012 was $39,761," which is quite a bit lower than the state's $60,119," reported Credit Card Insider. "The nation's median income was $53,046, higher than Wilmington but lower than Delaware."

​Low Cost of Housing
Wilmington also has a low cost of housing— "the median value of owner-occupied housing was $179,300, which was lower than Delaware's $241,100 and the United States' median home value of $181,400," Credit Card Insider added.

Wilmington is a great place to live and its low taxes allow both residents and budding businesses to grow and succeed. Ready to call Wilmington your home too? Whether you're relocating or simply ready for a change, contact us today and we'll fill you in on the area's real estate market, plus how you can succeed in buying a home!

You can also learn more about the buying process at our FREE First Time Homebuyer Seminars! 

Katina Geralis
Wilmington, DE Real Estate Expert
Keller Williams Realty
Wilmington Real Estate
Wilmington Homes for Sale
Visit My Website
Contact Me
Find me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter

Have you been dreaming of buying a home in Wilmington or Newark this year? Come visit us at the Homebuying Fair in Wilmington tomorrow! We'd love to chat about potential properties for sale in the local real estate market, financing your new home purchase, and answer any questions if you're a first-time homebuyer in the Wilmington area. Details on the Homebuyer Fair below:

2014 Homebuyer Fair
Saturday, April 5, 2014
8 AM to 4 PM
Chase Center on the Riverfront
815 Justison Street
Wilmington, DE 19801

There is no cost to attend this local real estate event and you can even enter to win prizes! The 2014 Homebuyer Fair is a great industry resource for those planning to buy Wilmington real estate this year, especially as it will feature many industry exhibitors and service providers. 

You can also expect:

• A live broadcast by TOM-FM throughout the day
• Refreshments served
• Free parking
• Door prizes
• Credit to earn towards your HUD Homebuyer Education Certificate requirements

Come on out to visit the Homebuyer Fair and chat with the Kat Geralis Home Team at Keller Williams. There will be seminars held throughout the day, presenting valuable information on finding your next home in the Wilmington area, options for financing and downpayment assistance, home inspections and so much more.

If you're ready to buy a home, we hope to see you there! Walk-ins are welcome.

We're here to help you with your homeowner goals! You can also learn more about the buying process at our FREE First Time Homebuyer Seminars! 

Katina Geralis
Wilmington, DE Real Estate Expert
Keller Williams Realty
Wilmington Real Estate
Wilmington Homes for Sale
Visit My Website
Contact Me
Find me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter

In Newark and Wilmington, DE real estate, spring is characteristically a busy buying season and this year, it seems home sellers are already getting a head start. Now is the time sellers have actually begun preparing for the infusion of buyers into the local real estate market. Growing increasingly confident in how fast their homes will be able to sell, many of them are listing their Wilmington homes now. 

As you may have noticed, housing prices for Wilmington and Newark homes are on the uptick, mortgage rates are continuing to rise, and more homeowners are regaining positive equity in their homes— a few of these all new to homebuyers for 2014. Given these factors, many sellers are ready to take advantage of the current state of the market and are listing their properties now to prompt homebuyers to strike before spring.  

But why the big push right now, many Wilmington homebuyers may wonder? According to one real estate expert, sellers are "nervous about what the spring is going to bring," the expert told Realtor.com. In fact, "they don't know if everybody will list this spring— then you’ll have a big counterbalance toward too much inventory — or if there’ll be a crunch again. They figure they’ll get out ahead of the market, list, sell, and be done with it.”  

Real estate economists and outlets are also predicting that with the increasing number of home sellers listing properties right now, the shortage of homes is on its way out. Last year's market was notorious for a lack of homes for sale in Wilmington and Newark, but now insiders suggest the current rising home prices will encourage more to sell and bring more homes into the market.  

In fact, "in the last four months of 2013, year-over-year inventory levels of homes for sale began to climb after 30 straight months of declines," reported the National Association of Realtors.

Wilmington and Newark DE homebuyers will want to take advantage of the added inventory they may notice in the area before mortgage rates and housing prices rise even further. And despite a waning enthusiasm for real estate over the past year, both sides— Delaware homebuyer and home seller— have now seen a confidence boost.  

“In some markets, prices may rise further and buyers will want to catch it, before the increases put them out of their budget," Realtor's chief economist told Bloomberg.  

Ready to list your home this spring? Prepared to make a move to a new Wilmington home before the busy spring and summer seasons? Contact us today to reap the homebuyer (and seller!) benefits at this time!

New to the real estate market? No problem! You can also learn more about the buying process at our FREE First Time Homebuyer Seminars! 

Katina Geralis
Wilmington, DE Real Estate Expert
Keller Williams Realty
Wilmington Real Estate
Wilmington Homes for Sale
Visit My Website
Contact Me
Find me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter

Want to learn more about the Wilmington and Newark real estate market? Ready to begin your Wilmington, DE home search? Let us help you discover your real estate options and move closer to purchasing your next home!

Katina Geralis
Wilmington, DE Real Estate Expert
Keller Williams Realty
Wilmington Real Estate
Wilmington Homes for Sale
Visit My Website
Contact Me
Find me on Facebook

These stats should be helpful for those looking to purchase Wilmington homes for sale or Newark, DE real estate this year! Ready to begin your Wilmington, DE home search? Let us help you discover your real estate options and move closer to purchasing your next home— we even offer FREE first-time homebuyer seminars! 

Katina Geralis
Wilmington, DE Real Estate Expert
Keller Williams Realty
Wilmington Real Estate
Wilmington Homes for Sale
Visit My Website
Contact Me
Find me on Facebook

The local Wilmington DE real estate market saw an improvement in 2013, with housing prices improving, more homeowners gaining positive equity in their homes, and builder confidence on the up and up. Forbes recently released a list of predictions for the coming year and as it turns out, 2014 will be another great year for real estate in the Wilmington and Newark DE area. 

More Inventory
2013's housing market saw a shortage of homes for sale in Wilmington and going forward, homebuyers will see a change in inventory numbers. According to Realtor.com, inventory has been softening since February and will continue to do so in 2014. "New construction and rising prices should bring more homes, both new and old, on to the market in 2014, helping inventory return to traditional levels," the industry insider reported.

Mortgage Rates Will Increase
Mortgage rates have been seen rising in Wilmington real estate and will continue to increase. In fact, by the end of 2014, mortgage rates will be hovering around the 5 percent range— but homebuyers should note, rates near 5 percent are still relatively low. In Forbes' list of housing predictions, a prediction is included from Zillow which suggests "rates will hit 5% by the end of 2014–well up from the 4′s and 3′s of late, but still well within normal levels." 

Home Prices Will Rise
In 2014, real estate insiders Redfin and Zillow are predicting home prices will rise somewhere between 3 and 5 percent. This is a similar increase to what Wilmington homebuyers saw in 2013 where prices jumped 5 percent and in some hotspot areas in the country, more than 20 percent. This coming year, with mortgage rates increasing and more expensive home prices, the rate at which these prices climb will begin to slow and stabilize in local housing markets. This is also driven by more homeowners moving out of the underwater status in their homes and more new construction powered by builder confidence in the area.

Fewer Homeowners Will be Underwater
Again, more homeowners are regaining positive equity in their homes and this trend is set to continue through 2014. According to Realtor.com, "rising prices helped 2.5 million homeowners with underwater mortgages regain positive equity status during the second quarter of 2013," and while millions of homeowners are still underwater in their homes, that number will shrink significantly in 2014.

Ready to take advantage of the seller's market and sell your Wilmington home? Let us help you with your selling options and move closer to purchasing your next home— we even offer FREE first-time homebuyer seminars! 

Katina Geralis
Wilmington, DE Real Estate Expert
Keller Williams Realty
Wilmington Real Estate
Wilmington Homes for Sale
Visit My Website
Contact Me
Find me on Facebook

Annual Holiday Art Market
Through December 31, 2013; 11 AM to 3 PM Tues-Sun, 11 AM to 6 PM Thurs. and Sat.
Newark Arts Alliance, Newark DE

A great place to pick up last minute holiday gifts and creative bits for those on your list! Shop for locally-made art and crafts for holiday gift giving at this FREE Newark event. All art by local artists is guaranteed to be unique and to make your loved ones feel special. There will be 11 artists selling jewelry, mosaics, felt ornaments, photography, watercolors, handweaving, fiber art, pottery, tie dye and batik and window ornaments. A portion of the proceeds benefits NAA programs. 

Santa Claus Express
Through December 22, 2013; 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM
Wilmington and Western Railroad, Greenbank Railroad Station
Wilmington DE

Why stand in line at the mall and wait to see Santa when you can ride the train and have Santa come to you? The Jolly Old Elf himself rides the train and greets everyone on board and gives all children a chocolate treat. PLUS he may even bring Mrs. Claus with him! Be sure to bring the camera and have Santa pose for pictures with your child during this 1½-hour round-trip to Ashland. This event is powered by one of the railroad's antique steam locomotives. 

The Sound of Christmas
December 14, 2013; 8 PM
Grand Opera House, Wilmington DE

A festive opportunity to listen to the sounds of the season at Grand Opera House in Wilmington. Come enjoy familiar songs of the holidays starring Elisabeth von Trapp, acclaimed granddaughter of the "Sound of Music" family, with the Carolina Brass.

Christmas Brunch at the Rail
December 22, 2013; 10 AM to 2 PM
White Clay Creek Country Club at Delaware Park
Wilmington DE

Reservations are required for this special holiday brunch in Wilmington. There will be special performances by "The Yuletide Singers" to give the event a festive flair at 11 AM, Noon, and 1 PM. Guests can also partake in pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus from 10 AM to 2 PM.

The Nutcracker at the DuPont Theatre
December 21 and 22, 2013; Saturday 2 PM and 7 PM, Sunday 2 PM and 6 PM
DuPont Theatre, Wilmington DE

Presented by Wilmington Ballet Academy of The Dance, this holiday event is one for the whole family! Come watch this classic production of The Nutcracker, featuring New York City Ballet principal dancers and music by Wilmington Ballet orchestra and chorus.

The Nutcracker at The Grand
December 21 and 22, 2013; Saturday 2 PM and 7 PM, Sunday 2 PM
Grand Opera House, Wilmington DE

A second opportunity to enjoy this age-old production that's always a crowd favorite. At the Grand Opera House, First State Ballet Theatre will present its magical production of The Nutcracker staged by Kirov trained artistic director, Pasha Kambalov, and featuring spectacular dancing by the company's 22 professional dancers, beautiful costumes created in Russia and Tchaikovsky's beloved score.

Want to learn more about the Wilmington and Newark areas? Ready to begin your Wilmington, DE home search? Let us help you discover your real estate options and move closer to purchasing your next home!

Katina Geralis
Wilmington, DE Real Estate Expert
Keller Williams Realty
Wilmington Real Estate
Wilmington Homes for Sale
Visit My Website
Contact Me
Find me on Facebook

Many homebuyers have the mindset that moving to a new home in the Wilmington or Newark DE area is a hassle during the winter months, but what they might not know is that buying real estate this time of year is actually beneficial! For home sellers, here's why you'll want to sell your Wilmington home before spring:

Serious Buyers
This homebuyers in the Wilmington DE real estate market this holiday season are serious about buying a home. You can be assured there will be less "looks" and more serious inquiries at this time of year as spring is technically where more homebuyers come out to simply begin their searches.

Less Inventory
During the holidays, there will be less inventory for homebuyers to choose from. And the lower the number of homes for sale in Wilmington, the more likely a serious homebuyer will be to choose your home from those available. 

All about the Homebuyer
When it comes to buying a home during the holiday season, homebuyers are more emotional which means they are more likely to become attached to a home that catches their eye. Some homebuyers are also interested in buying Wilmington real estate before the end of the year for tax purposes. It's all about the homebuyer this time of year! 

You Can Capture the Market
January is a time when many employees begin new jobs and you as a home seller can capture that market by having a home for sale during the next month. Also, due to the limited inventory of Wilmington homes, you can place a higher price tag on your home and expect to see a sale price at or close to that number. You as a home seller have power during the holidays.

Ready to begin your Wilmington, DE home search or sell your current home? Let us help you discover your real estate options and move closer to purchasing your next home— we even offer FREE first-time homebuyer seminars! 

Katina Geralis
Wilmington, DE Real Estate Expert
Keller Williams Realty
Wilmington Real Estate
Wilmington Homes for Sale
Visit My Website
Contact Me
Find me on Facebook