Written by Colleen Kulikowski on 02 September 2010
Are you starting your search for a new home? A great way is to visit several open houses in the neighborhoods that you are considering to get the feel for the community. Once you are ready to get serious, working with an experienced Realtor will be of benefit for you in saving you time and aggravation.
It is great fun for many Western New York buyers to search for the perfect home in WNY. They visit open houses, call listing agents to see homes that they find on the Internet. Many buyers mistake this as being in their best interest. Exactly who is that agent that they are calling loyal to? You might just be surprised that their loyalty lies with the Seller unless you have a Buyer’s Broker Agreement with the Buffalo area agent.
Open Houses don’t sell houses! Open Houses are a place that agents look to find you — BUYERS to work with. So don’t be surprised when you register at an Open House to hear from the agents again.
Just as important to Buyers, Open House is an excellent resource to check out agents by Sellers. If you are considering listing your home for sale and you want to check out a particular agent — see them in action at an Open House…
What information do they bring?
Do they have information on other homes for sale in the neighborhood?
How do they advertising for an Open House? Ask them why they do what they do.
How do they stand out and are different than every other Open House?
How do they interact with people? What are the questions that they ask visitors?
Do they follow up after your initial meeting? And how do they follow up?
Here is a selection of Open Houses in Erie & Niagara Counties that are happening this weekend according to the Buffalo Niagara Association of Realtors. This list is updated each Friday with the latest list of homes that will be open over the weekend. You will also find links to the latest market reports for these communities
Located in the Northeastern part of the United States, New York is known for its big history as a financial, cultural, entertainment and manufacturing center. Attracting millions of tourists every year, New York is also the third most populated state in the country.
The path to owning a home is a wonderful experience and is regarded as the investment of a lifetime. Gaining assistance from real estate agents and home inspectors can help in dealing with making that all important decision. Many homes will also require repairs or remodeling. Asbestos is a natural fibrous mineral used in millions of homes throughout the twentieth century as a form of insulation, piping, roofing and flooring.
Potential Buffalo New York home buyers or those remodeling homes built before 1980 should be aware that the potential for asbestos materials to be present exists. This does not mean you should be overly concerned because asbestos exposure is easily prevented by taking simple precautions.
If any suspected asbestos is in good shape, it’s posing no apparent risk. If it’s in bad shape, it could be a problem. If a home inspector suggests removal is necessary, it must be performed by a licensed abatement contractor who is trained in handling hazardous materials. They can perform the removal in public facilities, homes and work places. At the present time, there is a growing list of green insulation alternatives which replace the need for asbestos.
The inhalation of its fibers can cause a rare lung-ailment known as mesothelioma, which accounts for three percent of cancer diagnoses in the United States. The risks involved with asbestos were hidden from public or worker knowledge for financial gains by manufacturers. The negligence involved with most asbestos-related incidents has lead to mesothelioma lawyer firms providing assistance in advocating and protecting victims’ rights for their wrongful illness. Read the rest of this entry »
Waterfront homes are highly desired around the country and so often not obtainable around the country with homes selling for millions in Florida it is hard to believe the incredible values we have right here in Niagara County. Not only do you have some of the most incredible views on the Niagara River or Lake Ontario, you have the countless creeks that cut across Niagara County in addition to the Erie Canal.
Market Report – Niagara County Waterfront Homes
August 20, 2010
There are 54 active listings with an average list price of $277,011 ranging from $67,900 to $999,999
Of the homes for sale 46.30% have been on the market longer than 90 days
14.81% have been on the market less than 30 days
There are 14 pending/under contract sales and in the past 30 days there has been 5 closed sales with an average sold price of $201,842 spending an average of 92 days on the market
YTD there has been 40 closed sales with an average sold price of $202,646 spending an average of 83 days on the market
Highest closed – $661,000 – 348 days on the market
Lowest closed – $52,000 – 2 days on the market
60% of the closed sales YTD sold in under 60 days
YTD same time period in the past sales looked like:
Year
# Closed
Average
Sold Price
Average Days
on Market
2009
12
$172,003
80
2008
28
$199,597
106
2007
17
$140,119
83
2006
32
$132,350
64
Selection of Niagara County Waterfront homes for sale
There is much interest in purchasing homes that are Bank Owned, are short sales or are foreclosures. Many times consumers think that they get the best deals purchasing homes in this status. There are no guarantees and yes some people get some great deals, while others have many unexpected expenses.
Often buyers are caught off guard on how difficult it can be to purchase these homes. Often the homes sit vacant for months or years before the bank releases it for sale. And when they do release them for sale they basically make it very difficult to purchase these homes.
There are 265 active listings with an average listing price of $202,260 ranging from $5,900 to $1,900,000
There are 75 pending/under contract sales and in the past 30 days there has been 17 closed sales with an average sold price of $153,106 spending an average of 64 days on the market
YTD there are 274 closed sales with an average sold price of $138,504 spending an average of 61 days on the market
Every WNY foreclosure is a tragedy and an opportunity.
A Western New York property enters foreclosure when the original mortgage holder can no longer pay or settle a debt to the lending institution. The property then enters foreclosure, with the lender taking full possession of the WNY property. In most cases, the lender then puts the real estate up for public auction at a reduced price.
When you buy a foreclosed home, you’re cashing in on a home or investment someone was no longer able to pay for. Foreclosures are difficult–both to locate and to execute the transactions–but the potential to turn them over for a tidy profit may be there for the savvy Western New York buyer.
Buffalo / Niagara Foreclosures
Here are a few homes that are listed on the MLS as Bank Owned, Short Sale or Foreclosure homes:
Are you interesting in purchasing Foreclosed Real estate? Interested in finding out the current market value of your single family home, condo or investment property? Then call Colleen Kulikowski at (716) 650-0051 to discuss what is happening in today’s Western New York Real Estate Market. View additional WNY Market Area Statistics here.
There are 35 active listings with an average list price of $192,153 ranging from $69,900 to $364,900
There are 7 pending sales and in the past of 30 days there has been 2 closed sales with an average sold price of $201,000 spending an average of 19 days on the market
YTD there are 22 closed sales with an average sold price of $125,564 spending an average of 53 days on the market
Description: Our organization, now 41 years strong, continues to define the artistic identity of our community while providing cultural delights to visitors and residents alike. Our year-round schedule of events provides tens of thousands of people the opportunity to commune with art and nature.
The Council’s original event, the annual Lewiston Outdoor Fine Arts Festival (now in its 44nd year), will be held August 14th & 15th this year, and has become the premier show in Niagara County. Festival attendance is estimated at 30,000 with over 170 participating artists from the U.S. and Canada.
Our objective is to bring creative talent and public appreciation together to create an artistic soul for the beautiful and historic Village of Lewiston, New York. Our proximity to Canada encourages the bi-national interchange of artists and performers and contributes to the abundant cultural richness of the Niagara region.