Category Archives: Real Estate

Gray’s Home Solutions Providing Answers For Washington County Homeowners

Local Real Estate Experts Create Amazing System To Help Homeowners Sell Quickly,

 Regardless of Situation.

Today’s real estate market can be stressful and unpredictable. Traditional advice says fix up the house, hire a realtor, pay for advertising, schedule open houses, wait for an offer, negotiate the offer, have a home inspection, repair those items, give concessions at closing, pay the realtor’s commission…

Anyone who is trying to sell a house knows what a slow, expensive process it can be.

“Around 2008, we were seeing lots of people devastated by the housing market crash, upside down on equity and facing foreclosure,” says Darren Gray, co-founder of Gray’s Home Solutions. “And the traditional methods of selling a home weren’t working anymore.”

In addition to market changes, homeowner finances can be strained by any number of events, including divorce, a change of jobs, relocation demands or medical bills. Even an inherited home can be a burden if the new owner doesn’t decide to live in it. Insurance, upkeep and property taxes still need to be made while the house sits on the market.

“I got tired of seeing good people get stuck in bad situations, with no one helping them out.”

That’s why Darren and his son, Jerred, started the company in 2009.

 

By embracing new, innovative and proven methods, these real estate experts are able to help homeowners sell quickly and fairly.

Area residents are probably familiar with the friendly, smiling house seen on Gray’s Home Solutions signs. The Middletown, MD based company offers various options, since no one approach is right for everyone. This multi-solution approach is what makes the company so unique, and so successful.

“I can’t tell you how many homeowners we’ve helped that others said were doomed. We’ve helped folks avoid credit killers like foreclosure and sell houses in so-called bad neighborhoods. We’ve even helped fatigued landlords get out of their rental properties,” says Jerred.

“In many cases, we are able to help these sellers in under a month. One of our colleagues says we’re like real estate pros on steroids,” Darren jokes.

The process starts with a phone call and a free consultation. Call 240-347-3141 or visit GraysHomeSolutions.com for more information.

More and More People Getting Into The Flipping Industry

Flipping Industry Heating Up

It looks so easy on TV. Buy a bargain-basement house, pull up some nasty carpet, re-tile the bathroom, paint away the wall stains and sell it for a hefty profit.

It’s not, however, all those popular shows that are driving the flipping market today. It’s pure and simple prices — and profit. There is a severe lack of good quality, turn-key homes for sale, and that has created a seller’s market across the nation, even for those reselling homes.

After cooling off in 2014, home flipping is on the rise again — its share of all home sales is up 20 percent in the first three months of this year from the previous quarter and up 3 percent from the same period a year ago, according to a new report from RealtyTrac, which defines a flip as a property bought and resold within a 12-month period.

While flipping today is nothing like it was during the housing boom a decade ago, when investors used risky mortgages, it is reaching new peaks in 7 percent of the nation’s metro markets, including Baltimore, Buffalo, New Orleans, San Diego and even pricey Seattle.

Dana Rice, real estate agent and home flipper, at her latest project in Bethesda, Maryland, a very small colonial, within walking distance to shops and Metro.

Diana Olick | CNBC
Dana Rice, real estate agent and home flipper, at her latest project in Bethesda, Maryland, a very small colonial, within walking distance to shops and Metro.

“While responsible home flipping is helpful for a housing market, excessive and irresponsible flipping activity can contribute to a home price pressure cooker that overheats a housing market, and we are starting to see evidence of that pressure cooker environment in a handful of markets,” said Daren Blomquist, senior vice president at RealtyTrac.

That’s because flippers today largely use cash — 71 percent did in the first quarter of this year. Compare that to just 27 percent who used cash at the height of the housing boom. That helps keep most flippers conservative, but it also exacerbates the problems for entry-level homebuyers, who are facing one of the tightest housing markets in history. They simply can’t compete against all-cash buyers.

Usually flippers look for distressed properties either in the foreclosure process or already bank-owned. These are not always listed on public sale sites. There are fewer of those today, so flippers are moving to the mainstream market, creating that new pressure.

“A telltale sign is when flippers are acquiring properties at or close to full market value. Those markets are so competitive that even the off-market properties flippers are looking to buy are not selling at much of a discount — and there may be very few distressed properties available,” said Blomquist.

Examples of these markets include San Antonio, where Blomquist says flippers are actually purchasing at a 7.8 percent premium above estimated full market value, as well as Austin, Texas; Salt Lake City; Naples, Florida; Dallas and San Jose, California.

Despite the premium to buy, flippers are still seeing growing gains in profit. Home flippers realized an average gross profit of more than $58,000 in the first quarter of this year, the highest since the third quarter of 2005, according to RealtyTrac.

Real estate agent Dana Rice and her husband flip houses in the tony D.C. suburb of Bethesda, Maryland. Prices there are well above the national median, and there are few distressed properties. Instead, they target old, small fixer-uppers. Even those command a hefty purchase price up front, but they can also offer big rewards.

“I didn’t want a teardown. There is so much character in this part of Bethesda,” said Rice. “I don’t think that everybody wants a brand new build. There is a hole in the market because not everyone wants to do a renovation. If you put a little bit of effort in, these numbers can be huge.”

Rice purchased her latest project, a very small colonial, within walking distance to shops and Metro, for $680,000. She expects to put half a million dollars into the renovation, adding both square footage and high-end finishings; she is confident that in this competitive market she will see an 18-25 percent return on investment.

“It’s like birthing a baby. … If you’re overpriced, you’re dead in the water.”-Dana Rice, real estate agent and home flipper

“It’s like birthing a baby,” she said, noting that she will wait to list it until she feels the market is just right. “If you’re overpriced, you’re dead in the water.”

The lack of inventory is certainly a double-edged sword for flippers. Their initial investment price can be high, and flippers are often competing against local builders, who may want to tear the house down and put something up that is twice the size. On the other hand, not everyone wants or can afford a huge, new, expensive home, and that gives flippers the edge.

“The key here is that there is particularly a dearth of listed inventory in good condition,” said Blomquist. “That is the inventory flippers are competing against when they sell.”

Facing Foreclosure ?

Can an Investor Buy Your Home if You’re in Foreclosure and Sell It Back to You?

Short sales fraud is rising as investors seek to profit from lender losses.

Short sales fraud is rising as investors seek to profit from lender losses.

Government initiatives have helped to facilitate widespread and legitimate alternatives to foreclosure, such as short sales. Lenders work with homeowners to sell their home for less than the balance owed and accept the sale proceeds as settlement. Homeowners in foreclosure are financially distressed and often desperate to keep their home. Investors take advantage of short sales to make money off of financially distressed homeowners by re-selling the home to them for a profit.

The Basics

Short sales take place in the pre-foreclosure stage and sometimes before the homeowner defaults. This is because the lender is convinced the homeowner’s financial circumstances will cause him to end up in foreclosure eventually. Nonetheless, convincing a lender to short sell a home is not easy. The transaction takes several months to complete, requires full documentation of the homeowner’s financial situation, marketing of the property and negotiating sales price and terms with the lender. Lenders prohibit homeowners from benefiting from the short sale by living in the home after the sale.

Mortgage Fraud

Lenders consider a homeowner who remains in the home after a short sale as a tenant or buyer a participant in mortgage fraud. When short sales rise, so does fraud, says Freddie Mac, one of the major owners of the nation’s mortgages. As a result, most lenders require homeowners to sign an Arm’s Length Affidavit, a disclosure provided to all parties to the transaction before the close of escrow. It stipulates that behind-the-scenes arrangements that allow the homeowner to benefit financially from the short sale are illegal. In a typical short sale fraud, as detailed in a CNN report, a real estate agent obtains a legitimate bid on a short-sale home. The agent sandbags the bid while presenting the bank a lower bid from an accomplice scammer. After the bank accepts the low bid, the real estate agent sells the home to the original higher bidder, thus cheating the bank and pocketing the profit.

Considerations

A homeowner in foreclosure cannot afford to pay the mortgage he already has and therefore cannot acquire a new mortgage in the near future. The impact of missed payments and the short sale itself diminishes credit. Furthermore, a waiting period set by lender seasoning requirements prevents a borrower with a prior short sale from obtaining a new mortgage for at least several years. If the homeowner buys back his home with cash, the lender may consider it fraud because he claimed financial hardship before the short sale.

Tips

The real estate professional selling your home is aware of the Arm’s Length Affidavit and that he may also be held liable for any involvement or knowledge of a short sale scheme in the transaction. If an investor approaches you directly with the plan, the real estate agent is required to act in your best interest, not the investor’s, and support you in rejecting the offer.

 

Location Is Key

4 WAYS YOUR LOCATION CAN BOOST OR BUST YOUR HOME VALUE

Close More Deals – Qualify homebuyer leads fast and free

A few years back, “the Starbucks effect” became a legitimate term to explain the higher real estate values associated with living close to the coffee house. But being within easy striking distance of a Grande Skinny Vanilla Latte isn’t the only thing that can help boost your home value. Then again, not every location can help build equity. Chose wrong, and you could see your value drop – even if the house is great.

1. Being close to schools

The good:

 

Families seek out neighborhoods with good schools for obvious reasons. Living close to a quality elementary school is especially desirable for parents who envision walking with their young children in the morning.

From a value standpoint, a location close to well-performing schools can be a smart decision for buyers regardless of their family status. “Living near a high-scoring school can increase your home’s value by over $200,000, according to the Brookings Institution,” said AOL.


The Columbia County News-Times
The not so good:

But, being too close to a school – no matter how good it might be – may be a deterrent for some buyers, which could end up hurting your bottom line. If you’re in the path of the school pickup and drop-off, which creates considerable traffic, or directly across the street from a playground, which means there is noise throughout the day, you could have trouble when it comes time to sell. A location that is close enough to be easily accessible but out of range of the daily inconveniences is often the best option.

2. Being close to area conveniences

The good:

“The Starbucks effect” is tangible: Data has shown that, “Between 1997 and 2013, homes closer to the coffee shop increased in value by 96%, compared to 65% for all U.S. homes,” said CNN Money.

Now Starbucks has company, with a new report that shows that proximity to a high-end grocery store – namely Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods – can also raise home values considerably.

“Between 1997 and 2014, homes near the two grocery chains were consistently worth more than the median U.S. home,” said Business Insider. “By the end of 2014, homes within a mile of either store were worth more than twice as much as the median home in the rest of the country. The analysis found that 2 years after a new Trader Joe’s opened, home values within one mile went up by 10 percentage points more than homes in the rest of the city.

The not so good:

But, that doesn’t mean all area amenities boost home value. Adult entertainment spots, industrial businesses, a nearby airport that puts the home in the path of flights, and small businesses like tattoo parlors, check cashing, cash advance, or pawn shops that can be indicators of a lower-income or high-crime area can drive people away.

3. Being convenient to freeways

The good:

A location close to major thoroughfares can be a selling point since it helps homeowners cut down on the dreaded daily commute. Many suburbs require an additional 10 to 20 minutes in the car after exiting the highway. Promoting the convenience of a home closer in can help it stand apart.


USA TODAY
The not so good:

Having a car fly off the freeway onto your roof is not ideal. Neither is having to endure the daily noise, congestion, and pollution of living right next to the freeway. If it bothers you, it’s going to bother buyers when you sell. Being close – but not TOO close – is key.

4. Quiet location

The good:

A home that’s in a peaceful area surrounded by nature may be a benefit to buyers seeking a serene setting. A house that backs up to nature or is close to hiking trails can sell for more than a house in the same neighborhood that’s only surrounded by other houses.


Design rulz
The not so good

There is such a thing as too quiet…

Tips for Buying a Home With Good Resale Value

When you’re in the midst of buying a home, chances are that selling it are far from your mind. The stresses of homebuying are overwhelming enough without the added headache of thinking about whether future homebuyers will be interested in buying your house once it comes time for you to sell. However, it’s always wise to plan ahead and there are certain features that homebuyers are always on the lookout for. Learn about how to make the best investment possible by buying a home with a good resale value in this week’s blog.

resale-value

Buyers are always looking for certain features.

Tips for Buying a Home With Good Resale Value

Location

A good location never goes out of style. As the old adage goes: it’s always better to buy a cheap house in an expensive neighborhood than the other way around. While desirability of locations can and does fluctuate, but looking at the long-term stability of the neighborhood and moving trends can be a good indicator. If an area or neighborhood has remained popular for decades, chances are things won’t change any time soon. Is the area improving? Often, residential neighborhoods lack the infrastructure they need to thrive and so signs of development such as grocery stores and retail shopping can indicate that the area is poised for growth.

Who’s buying homes here?

It’s always a good idea to look at the demographics of homeowners in the area you’re interested in. Is it mostly college students, senior citizens, or working professionals? This will let you know the type of buyer who is likely to look at your home in the future. So if you’re looking at a neighborhood that’s popular with the over 60 crowd, perhaps investing in a 4 story rowhome with lots of stairs is not the wisest move. But if the neighborhood is mostly filled with families with young children then that gorgeous rancher with a huge back yard may prove to be a great investment.

Make sure it’s current

Outdated features can lead to a long time on the market. Nowadays, most buyers are looking for homes with more than one bathroom so unless you want to undertake an expensive renovation, maybe skip over any homes that have fewer than 2. Other deterrants include popcorn ceilings, kitchen and bathroom features in outdated color schemes or bad condition, and carpeting (depending on the application as many of today’s homeowners prefer the look and feel of hardwood floors).

Sell Your Maryland Home Quickly with Grays Home Solutions

Consider selling your home with Grays Home Solutions. We’re a home buyer working throughout Maryland and the Tri-state area. Interested in learning more? Use our fast response contact form or call us at 240-347-3141. We’re a free service and we’re here to help.

What’s the First Step of Buying a Home in Maryland?

Home ownership is one of the best, most reliable ways to build wealth. But for first time buyers, the process of buying a home can seem pretty intimidating. There’s no way to sugarcoat it, buying a home in Maryland is no walk in the park. But if you go into the process armed having done your homework, you can definitely make it easier on yourself.

That’s why over the next few weeks we’re going to talk about the process of buying a home, from start to finish. Our blog will serve as a general overview, but remember you can always come to us with any questions you have!

This week, we’re going to cover the first step of buying a new home, which is taking a look at the financial requirements of buying a home.

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How much home can you afford?

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Stop Foreclosure and Sell Your Frederick Home This Week

While the housing crisis is over, Marylanders are still dealing with the fallout even today in 2015. The state continues to have one of the highest rates of foreclosure in the country, largely due to a backlog in foreclosures that has been making its way through the courts over the past few years.

If you’re facing foreclosure on your Frederick home, you know that you need to find a solution that works for you. The more time you have until your foreclosure date, the more options are available to you. You can see our blogs on bankruptcy, short sales, and loans to learn more. But if that date is just around the corner, you may find yourself wondering if there’s anything you can do to put a stop to it.

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We can help you sell your Frederick home this week!

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Sell Your Hagerstown Home in Just 7 Days

Maryland remains in the top 5 among states with the highest foreclosure rates in the nation. As a result, there are a number of Maryland homeowners who are still looking for a way to stop foreclosure. As the final date gets closer, options become more limited. Read our blogs on bankruptcy, loans, short sales, and deficiency judgments to learn more.

But, there is a solution out there that you may not have known about. Did you know that you can sell your Hagerstown home in just 7 days? And that you may be able to walk away from your home with cash in hand? And that you don’t have to do any repairs on your home, or put out any for sale signs?

Sound too good to be true? It’s not. We’ve helped Marylanders in the exact same situation as you, facing foreclosure and coming down to the wire, wondering what else can be done. We’re Grays Home Solutions and we’re a home buyer in Maryland, and throughout the Tri-state area. We can buy your Hagerstown home in just 7 days. Learn how to do it below.

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Sell your Hagerstown home now!

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How Can I Sell My Home Now in Howard County?

Are you looking for the fastest way to sell your home in Howard County? Are you trying to find some way out of a foreclosure date that is coming up fast? You may think you’re out of options, but you’re not.

Grays Home Solutions is a home buyer in Howard County and throughout Maryland and the Tri-state area. We do one thing: buy homes fast. How fast? Find out below.

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Sell your home in Howard County now!

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How to Sell Your West Virginia Home ASAP

When most people think of selling their home ASAP, they’re talking about selling their home within a few months, if they’re lucky. But when Grays Home Solutions talks about selling your home ASAP, we’re not talking about months, or even weeks. We’re talking about selling your home in a few days, a week tops. That’s because our specialty as a home buyer is helping you actually sell your home as soon as possible. Not in a few months, not next month, not even in a few weeks. If you sell your home in West Virginia with Grays Home Solutions, your sale will be complete within one week.

Are you interested in learning how to do this? Keep on reading to learn more.

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How can you sell your West Virginia home ASAP?

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