Kat Geralis Home Team Wilmington DE Real Estate News Archives

While housing inventory across the country is beginning to increase— along with mortage rates, housing prices, and buyer confidence— Wilmington, DE homebuyers are urged to act quickly if purchasing a home in the area is something in their near future. You've started your home search and you think you've found the perfect home, but are hestitating to make the jump to finalize all of the real estate plans. Don't think twice! Homes are beginning to sell quickly on the local real estate market and homebuyers will need to respond and be decisive if they wish to secure their dream home purchase.

Cash offers are becoming more apparent and lender standards are starting to loosen. According to data from the National Association of REALTORS®, in May, 45 percent of all homes sold were on the market for less than a month. So what can you do as a Delaware homebuyer to act quickly and land your dream home? Here are some tips to start the process:

1. Get preapproved, not just prequalified 

Getting preapproved for your Wilmington home's mortgage helps to show the seller that the buyer is serious about this home purchase and has a greater likelihood of being approved for a loan and making it to closing. 

2. Be responsive to your lender

If a lender asks for more information, be ready to respond. When you are willing and able to provide everything the lender requests, you should have no problems making it to your closing within a month, pending the title company and others involved work within your time frame as well.

3. Be decisive, not careless

It's important that you as a homebuyer are decisive in what you want and need out of your future home, but do not act on a whim to purchase quickly. Experts still advise that no matter how much of a hurry you are in, you should still set your sale contingent upon a home inspection. Afterall, you may love the home but you don't want to get stuck with a problematic one after the sale. 

Are you ready to take a look at the area homes for sale and invest in your piece of Wilmington, DE real estate? Let me help you decide which type of property best fits your needs for homeownership. Together we will work to find the best home for both you and your family. You can also learn more about the buying process at our FREE first-time home buyer seminars! 

As always, feel welcome to contact me for more information about homes for sale in Wilmington and Newark. I am here to help you with your home ownership goals!

Katina Geralis
Wilmington, DE Real Estate Expert
Keller Williams Realty
Wilmington Real Estate
Wilmington Homes for Sale
Visit My Website
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Have you been thinking of purchasing a new home in Wilmington, DE? Recent real estate studies show now is a great time for Wilmington homebuyers to jump into the market— and purchase more expensive homes at that. According to a study by the National Association of Home Builders, Americans may be able to afford a higher-priced home if they buy newer properties. "Due to lower operating costs with new homes, buyers can purchase a newer home that is more expensive and still achieve the same annual operating costs as an older, existing home," the NAHB study found.

The NAHB study took into account how utility, maintenance, property tax, and insurance costs vary by the age of the home. According to the study, homes built prior to 1960 had an average maintenance cost of $564 per year, where homes built after 2008 had average maintenance costs of $241. Those homes built prior to 1960 have operating costs that average nearly 5 percent the home's total value as compared to the homes built after 2008 which had operating costs of less than 3 percent of the home's value.

NAHB Chairman Rick Judson stressed the importance of homebuyers looking beyond the initial sales price when considering whether to buy new construction or an existing home. “They will find that with the higher costs of operating an older home, they can often afford to spend more to buy a new home and still have annual operating costs that fit their budget.”

And while mortgage payments will naturally be greater with the higher purchase price of a newly-built home, "the lower operating costs mean the home buyer will have annual costs that are about the same as if they’d bought a lesser-priced, older home with a smaller mortgage payment and higher operating expenses,” the NAHB stated.

This news comes at a great time as seller confidence has begun to increase, allowing more housing inventory to open up and current homeowners to feel comfortable placing their properties up for sale. home buyers have recognized recently that buyer demand just simply cannot keep up with the limited inventory available and now, with more homes coming into the Wilmington, DE real estate market, home buyers will appreciate more choices should they choose to purchase either higher-priced new homes or existing properties.

Are a first-time homebuyer in Delaware or simply looking to find a new place to call home? Let me help you decide which type of property best fits your needs for homeownership. Together we will work to find you the best mortgage options for your new home. You can also learn more about the buying process at our FREE first-time home buyer seminars! 

As always, feel welcome to contact me for more information about homes for sale in Wilmington and Newark. I am here to help you with your home ownership goals!

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  

The word is out across the country that mortgage rates and housing prices are rising. But along with these two important homebuying factors, two others are stronger than ever— homebuyer confidence and demand. Now is the time for Wilmington, DE homebuyers to come off of the sidelines and jump into the real estate market before the current low rates disappear. 

According to the KCM Blog, real estate and finance experts have projected that U.S. home prices will appreciate by 5.4% in 2013 and The Mortgage Bankers Association, Fannie Mae and the National Association of Realtors have also projected that the 30-year mortgage rate will be at least 4% by the end of 2013. For instance, that means if your dream Wilmington, DE home has a current listing price of $200,000, you could see your mortgage rate increase by $56 if you delay your purchase by one year and in just one year, that listing price may seen a price increase of $10,000. 

Affordability is still high for Wilmington, DE real estate as it's currently coupled with low interest rates and low housing prices, as compared to last year's levels. In fact, Bankrate reports that houses have been at their most affordable level in the past year since the National Association of Realtors began tracking the data in 1970. The real estate market is now offering homebuyers the chance to purchase homes at a rate they can afford— but in observing the ever-rising mortgage and housing prices, the window will not last forever.

So don't sit back and wait for a better time to buy your Delaware home or even jump on a shortsale or foreclosure, the time is now to optimize your homebuyer wants and needs, especially if you are making the transition from renter to first-time homebuyer! 

If you are a first-time home buyer in Delaware, you need to be well-equipped to handle the competition! Find out how to get approved for a mortgage and learn more about the buying process at our FREE first-time home buyer seminars! 

As always, feel welcome to contact me for more information about homes for sale in Wilmington and Newark. I am here to help you with your home ownership goals!

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  

It’s getting hotter and hotter outside. That can only mean that it’s time to get your house ready for the summer months. So here are some important tips every Delaware homeowner should keep in mind to usher in this steamy season.

Take Care of Your Air

As soon as it starts feeling warm outside, you might automatically want to pump up your air conditioner. But before you do, it’s important to change or clean the air filter first. This is not just a one-time thing either. You’ll need to change the filter every couple of months while the system is in use. Your owner’s manual should have all the details on the type of filter you need and the steps involved in the changing process.

Now is also the time to do an annual performance check. Have a professional inspect your air conditioner and furnace. The company that installed your unit or another heating, ventilation and air conditioning specialist can get this done for you.

Window Washing

Take full advantage of all the sunny days to come in Wilmington and Newark by washing your windows. First, remove the curtains and blinds. Then clean the windows and window trim both inside and out. You can start with brushing or dusting. If your windows are really dirty, wipe them down with a rag and some soapy water. For the outside of the windows, use a hose and rinse off all of the soap.

You can also get a good quality squeegee to make sure you get all the dirt and grime off the glass surfaces. You also might want to try some TSP (trisodium phosphate). This is a powdered stain remover and degreaser you can get at any hardware store.

By using a few drops of TSP, you will have a streak-free finish on your windows. Be sure to read all of the instructions on this cleaner, though. In a hot solution, you run the risk of taking the gloss off paints and there is the chance it can darken aluminum or wood. So use caution! If your house has two floors, you might consider hiring a professional to clean those upper story windows.

Screen Cleaning

The glass isn’t the only part of your window that deserves a thorough cleaning. Screens get filthy and dusty, too. So be sure to give them some loving care with a soft cloth and brush off the dirt. You can also gently scrub them with soapy water and then hose them off. You can leave them outside to dry in the sun.

When taking them out of your windows, be gentle. You don’t want to tear them. But for small rips, you can easily use some needle and thread to fix them right up again.

Exterior Attention

The exterior paint on your Wilmington home is designed to prevent deterioration caused by dirt, sunlight and dampness. On average, a paint job will last six to eight years. But you can extend that lifespan by addressing the exterior of your home. Trim shrubs that tend to brush against siding or windows. Make sure there is at least two feet between your home and plants to protect from damaging insects and moisture.

You might think about hiring a professional to power wash your house, too. Unless you know how to use this machine, you could dislodge shingles or siding. And that’s the last thing you’d ever want to do.

Furthermore, if you see blistering or peeling paint anywhere on your house, don’t ignore it. Make sure to schedule a paint job before fall.

As you can see, there is a lot to do when it comes to maintaining your home. If you would like more information or tips, I’m here to help. Also, I’m available to guide you through every step of the home buying process here in Wilmington. So feel free to contact me at any time. I look forward to meeting you!

If you are a first-time home buyer, you might be anxious to get in on a good deal for a Wilmington or Newark home. Prices are reasonable, mortgage rates are low, and the homes you see on the market today could be sold tomorrow. Naturally, there is some sense of urgency. You have competition from investors and other home buyers. You might find yourself tempted to limit, or even omit, contingencies from your purchase offer, in the hopes of getting it accepted by the seller. 

The danger in this notion is the fact that a purchase offer is a legal contract. Your contingencies allow you to cancel the offer if certain stipulations are not met. Without contingencies, you have no legal escape from the deal. You could end up on the hook for failing to go through with the purchase, even if the circumstances were beyond your control. It pays to understand contingencies!

Here are the most common home buyer contingencies included in a purchase offer:

1. Financing contingencies. This states that your purchase is conditional upon obtaining a mortgage at suitable terms. You can be specific and identify the mortgage terms that you need. Even if you are pre-approved for your mortgage, it's wise to have a financing contingency, in case something falls through for an unforseen reason prior to closing.

2. Appraisal contingencies. Your mortgage lender will require that the home has sufficient collateral value to cover the mortgage in case of default. If the appraisal falls short of the sale price, your contingency allows you to exit the deal. Otherwise, you could be expected to cover the difference, in cash, between what the bank is willing to lend you, and the sale price of the home.

3. Home inspection contingencies. This allows you to have a third party inspect the home and check for any signs of obvious defects. While sellers are expected to disclose any known issues with the home, there are things that may escape their notice, or their memory. If any significant, undisclosed issues are found by the inspection, the contingency allows you to cancel the deal, or at least negotiate the needed repairs with the seller.

These are very basic examples, and there are a host of contingencies you may wish to use depending on the situation. You may have a contingency that says the deal is subject to the approval of your financial planner, or your attorney. You could have a contingency that is subject to the homeowner association allowing you to have an above-ground pool. Or a contingency subject to the town allowing you to operate a business out of the home. You don't want to go bananas with contingecies, but any key points affecting your ability and desire to purchase the home should be covered.

As your Wilmington and Newark real estate expert, I will guide you through using contingencies and help you write an offer that protects your interests!

There is a lot to know when it comes to home buying! Fortunately, good information is available, and it's free! Attend a free home-buying seminar and learn about home buying in a pressure-free environment. The next one is in Newark on May 11! See the Registration Page for a list of upcoming dates and locations.

Contact me for friendly, knowledgeable help with your home buying questions!

 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
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According to the National Association of Realtors, 2013 could be the best real estate market for home sellers that we've seen in years. Home buyer demand is outpacing the supply of homes for sale in many areas of the country. Great news if you're a home seller - not so much, if you're a home buyer!

Here in Wilmington, we still have a good amount of home inventory, but prices have been increasing. Median home prices during the first quarter 2013 were 21.3% higher than the same period last year. There may be plenty of homes on the market, but as prices rise, fewer of them may be in your price range. And because real estate investors target lower-priced homes that would make profitable rentals, you can find yourself competing with cash buyers in addition to traditional home buyers.

This means that you need to be ready to compete for the home you want to buy. One way to accomplish this is to know what makes a purchase offer appealing to a home seller. I have a few strategies to help you!

1. Have a mortgage approval letter in hand, ready to submit with your purchase offer. An approval letter from your lender declares that your loan application has been processed, verified and approved by mortgage underwriting. It is more binding than a pre-approval or pre-qualification. It's about as close as you can get to being a cash buyer without having your own cash.

One piece of red tape: the home must meet the appraisal guidelines to support the loan. Fortunately, with home prices on the rise, this isn't as daunting as it used to be.

2. Be aware of current market conditions and make your best offer first. If you are up against another buyer for the same home, you may not get a chance to offer more in a second round of negotiation. This doesn't mean you should overpay, however. I can help you determine if the asking price on a home is fair.

3. Keep your contingencies to a minimum. You need to have the right contingencies to protect yourself, but going overboard can cause your offer to appear to be more hassle than it's worth. Make it easy for the home seller to say "yes" to your offer.

4. Be open to the home seller's requests. Sometimes you have to give a little to get a little!

5. Work with an experienced real estate professional who will walk you through the fine points of contingencies and negotiations, and who will put you in a good light with home sellers and their agents.

Buying a home in Newark or Wilmington doesn't have to be stressful! If you are a first-time home buyer, I strongly encourage you to attend a free home-buying seminar so you can immerse yourself in good information. The next one is coming up in Newark on April 20! See the Registration Page for a list of upcoming dates and locations.

Contact me for expert help with your home buying questions!

 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     

Most Delaware home buyers are familiar with FICO - the traditional credit scoring model that is used by lenders to determine borrowing risk. FICO has dominated the credit scoring market for the past 20 years, but the new VantageScore system is gaining ground!

Per a recent CNN Money article, VantageScore is now used by 4 of the 5 top mortgage lenders in the country. VantageScore is also used by:

7 of the top 10 financial institutions
6 of the top 10 credit card issuers
4 of the top 10 car loan companies

VantageScores have been around awhile, but have been confusing because the scoring range was different than FICO. The latest version of VantageScore solves this.

Going forward, VantageScore and FICO will have a credit score range of 300 to 850, with 300 as the lowest score and 850 as the best possible score.

There are some differences in the scoring models that could benefit Delaware home buyers. VantageScores will count rent payments, utility bill payments and public records in their computations. This will provide credit scores for consumers with little or no borrowing history, who usually fall through the cracks with FICO.

Another big plus of VantageScore: collection accounts will not hurt your score if the balances are zero.

In other respects, the two scoring models are very similar - and neither one is going to tell you exactly how they come up with your score. Nor is your lender likely to tell you in advance which credit score company they will use in their lending decision. Lenders may use both FICO and VantageScore for a more complete picture of credit risk.

No matter what type of score is used by your lender, paying your obligations on time, and keeping your credit use to a minimum, will strengthen your score!

Understanding how credit scores work can help you get approved for a mortgage, and potentially save you thousands of dollars in mortgage interest. For a complete overview of the home buying process, including how to qualify for a mortgage, join us at our FREE first-time home buyer seminars! The next one is in Newark on April 20, 2013! Register here to save your seat!

Always feel welcome to contact me for more information about homes for sale in Wilmington and Newark! I am here to help you with your home ownership goals!

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

A recent article in Real Estate Economy Watch poses a popular question: just how good of a deal is a foreclosed home, anyway?

It depends on the condition of the home, and the bank’s motivation, and the home location. The strength of the local economy also plays a role. The amount of discount can also be influenced by the supply of foreclosed homes on the books, and the price that investors are willing to offer on them.

How cheap can a foreclosure get? The amount of reported discount varies by source. Per a national appraiser, the average foreclosure discount was 12.2% off of fair market value at the end of 2012. During 2011, the average foreclosure discount was 13.4%.

But according to the National Association of Realtors, the January 2013 discount levels are about 20% below market value. They estimate that discounts averaged 25% or more during the peak of the foreclosure crisis.

Foreclosures that require repair have seen greater discounts in recent months. According to HousingPulse, the average price for a damaged foreclosure in January 2013 fell to $88,100. This is 17.1% below the average price recorded a year ago, and also the lowest average price for this kind of property in the past four years.

As home inventory narrows, one might expect foreclosure discounts to soften, but in parts of the Midwest and Northeast, we are seeing the opposite trend. One reason is that investors are dominating the foreclosure market, with fewer buyer-occupants entering the fray. It is difficult for a home buyer who needs a mortgage to complete with a cash buyer who can close tomorrow.

When you look at foreclosure discounts city by city, the degree of price discount can be vastly different from the national averages. Here is a sample of where foreclosure discounts stood in major markets at the end of 2012:

• Baltimore, MD 29.6%
• Pittsburgh, PA 30.2%
• Philadelphia, PA 33.3%
• Boston, MA 33.0%
• New York, NY 28.2%

Thankfully for homeowners, we are seeing fewer foreclosures and a higher ratio of short sales in the market. But it’s clear that the foreclosures coming to market are being priced aggressively. For this reason, home values in Wilmington and Newark will continue to be impacted by foreclosure discounts. How much of an impact depends on how many foreclosures we have vs. market value sales.

As your professional Wilmington and Newark, DE real estate agent, I have the experience in short sales and foreclosures to help you buy or sell distressed properties successfully! Please contact me today with any questions you may have!

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

If you are a first-time home buyer, you may already be leaning towards an FHA-backed mortgage to finance your Wilmington or Newark home. Recently, the Federal Housing Administration announced changes to their mortgage guidelines, which are being made to stem the losses from sour loans.

In case you are not familiar with it, the FHA is a government entity that insures mortgage loans made by banks and other front-line lenders.

Without the FHA, home buying would be tough for buyers who cannot meet high down payment and credit score requirements. After the collapse of subprime lending and the tightening of credit, FHA-backed mortgages became the only game in town for many first-time home buyers.

FHA guidelines are also more forgiving when it comes to credit history, making it the only practical option for home buyers who had a prior bankruptcy, foreclosure, or short sale in the past few years. For these reasons it's a good idea to understand the FHA role in our housing market!

Here are the 4 FHA rule changes slated for 2013, and how they may affect you:

1. FHA loans require the borrowers to pay for mortgage insurance. This insurance protects the lender in the event you default on the loan. It used to be that you could get the monthly mortgage insurance premium waived after you achieved a certain amount of equity. This is no longer the case; effective in 2013, the mortgage premium will be on your mortgage payments for the life of the loan.

2. The cost of monthly mortgage premiums will go up by .10 basis points. This is a relatively small amount; it would add an extra $20 a month to a $200,000 mortgage. Keep in mind that this is only the increase effective in 2013, and not the entire premium.

3. For large mortgages, the FHA will require higher down payments beginning in 2013. The minimum down payment for a $625,500 mortgage will be 5%. This is an increase from the prior minimum of 3.5%.

4. Those who have credit scores in the 580-620 range will face stricter debt-to-income ratios in 2013. In other words, the less debt you have, the better.

The good news is, these changes shouldn't derail anyone's plans to buy a Delaware home. Even with the new changes in 2013, FHA-backed mortgages remain attractive.

Need more information about buying a Wilmington or Newark home? As your experienced real estate professional I'm here to help you! I can also refer you to FREE home buying seminars and help you find the best home for the right price.

Contact me for neighborhood price trends, recent sales, and expert guidance in our fast-changing real estate market.

If you're a Wilmington, DE homeowner who is concerned about your property value, you're not alone. Between 2009 and 2011, Delaware experienced an alarming increase in foreclosures, averaging 300% above historical norms.

Recent improvements in short sale timelines, along with stronger pre-foreclosure mediation, are helping to slow the tide. But for many Wilmington homeowners, the questions remain: Should I ride this out? Should I sell before my home value gets worse? What if I can make my mortgage payments now, but my neighborhood is declining? What should I do?

If you're agonizing over these questions, take heart: the first step involves gathering all the information you can. Having solid facts and professional guidance will go a long way towards curing indecision. Here's how I can help you:

• Provide the most recent sales activity and prices for homes in your area
• Perform a market analysis of your home's value
• Provide compassionate counseling about your options, addressing the what-if scenarios
• Present the honest pros and cons of selling now vs. selling later

Ultimately, the decision to sell, or stay put, is yours. Your risk tolerance for real estate market changes will depend on your personal resources and how secure you feel about your income. If there is any possibility that you may struggle with your mortgage payments in the near future, educating yourself about the options now will save you stress down the road.

As your Wilmington, DE real estate agent, I have helped many sellers successfully navigate short sales and avoid foreclosure. My experience with short sales and foreclosures can help protect you from the uncertainties surrounding complex transactions and changing markets. If you have questions about your home value, or you'd just like to talk about your situation, contact me! I will be happy to help you.

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