Innovative Partnership formed to counter challenges in the housing market

June 1st, 2009 by Miguel Berger in Real Estate

TechValley Homes Real Estate and East Elm Interiors announce their joint venture to bring a new feature to local home sales.  East Elm Interiors, a Glens Falls based decorating firm, will be offering Home Staging assistance to clients of TechValley Homes Real Estate, and additional home setup support to clients of TechValley Relocation.

As reported on CNN and Fortune Magazine, “As the housing market cools, it’s more important than ever to pull out all the stops”.  Home Staging prepares a house prior to going up for sale in the real estate market. By making the home look more appealing to potential buyers, staging is known to help sell a home quickly, and for the most money possible. Improving a property to make it appealing to the largest number of buyers, can raise the value of a property by way of reducing the home’s flaws, depersonalizing, decluttering, cleaning, and landscaping. When homes are already vacant, rented furniture is used to create a living space the buyer can visualize themselves living in. Properly executed staging leads the eye to attractive features while minimizing flaws.

Services will range from a Staging Consultation for homeowners to prepare their homes for a showing, to full staging services including furniture and décor rental.  “In a slow economy, this gives our clients an advantage over other similar homes selling in the area.  We are trying to provide a one stop service, giving them the best tools available to market their home.” Says Miguel Berger, President of TechValley Homes Real Estate.  According to Berger, “Our agents are always looking for ways to improve the marketing of our listings”.

In addition to the Staging services for home sellers, East Elm Interiors will provide decorating and setup services to clients of the relocation division, TechValley Relocation.  Assistance will range from the purchase of  large furniture items, to preparation of a home “soup-to-nuts”.  Paula Binyamin, Director of Relocation notes: “With so many of our clients relocating from overseas on short-term visas, quite a few of them arrive with a only suitcases.  This home setup service will be a wonderful tool to allow our clients to move in to a home already prepared for their needs.  Then they can focus on the job they moved here for, not the myriad details of setting up a new home.”

East Elm Interiors is a collaboration between designers/principals Shelly Walker and Chris Liberty.  With over 30 years of combined experience, their work has been featured in the 2007 Saratoga Summer magazine and Trading Spaces on TLC. Shelly and Chris are well aware of the challenges facing the local housing market, and know that their Staging assistance will help homes sell faster and at a better price.  “We are thrilled to be partnering with TechValley Homes Real Estate.  Both of our companies share a common goal of providing the highest quality service, while reducing the stress and worries of our clients.  Homes we have staged have sold for significantly more and notably faster than other similar houses in the same market.  This is a priceless tool for home sellers”.


Is it a Buyer’s Market? GCAR releases quarterly statistics

May 27th, 2009 by Miguel Berger in Real Estate

The big question remains: “Is it a buyer’s market?”

 

All depends who you ask, according to the statistics released today by the Greater Association of Realtors.

 

In retrospect, the data released today reflects contracts that went into effect 2 to 3 months ago, is that a good snapshot of today’s economy?

 

Even though the numbers, at first glance, don’t look great, let me explain:

 

To get a true perspective, only Resale data is relevant.  New Construction is not reflective of the market, since most new construction has not yet been completed, and the builders can hold onto their vacant land.

 

Looking and understanding the Resale numbers:

 

                                                April 09                       2009 to date

Entire CRMLS                     -22%                           -24%

# Residential

Closed Sales (Units)

 Median Sales (Price)           -3%                             -5%

 

 

Albany County

#Residential                          -19%                           -17%  

Closed Sales (Units)           

 Median Sales (Price)           +1%                            -1%

 

Saratoga County

#Residential                          -21%                           -24%  

Closed Sales (Units)           

 Median Sales (Price)           -2%                             -5%

 

Schenectady County

#Residential                          -13%                           -22%  

Closed Sales (Units)           

 Median Sales (Price)           +13%                          -6%

 

 

Rensselaer County

#Residential                          -26%                           -33%  

Closed Sales (Units)           

 Median Sales (Price)           +30%                          +28%

 

 

This data shows clearly that the Capital Region is a steady market with no desperate sellers.  So is it a Buyer’s Market or a Seller’s Market?  In my opinion, this is a NORMAL and STABLE market with no major swings either way.

 

My advice to Buyers is that this is a great time to buy, with the interest rates at historical lows, the tax credit and the potential of future appreciation.

 

If you are a Seller, this is a good time to sell. Buyers are looking, and if your home is priced appropriately, it will sell.

 Data provided by the Greater Capital Association of Realtors


TechValley Team gets ready for the Freihofers run

May 19th, 2009 by Miguel Berger in Community

I’m proud to say that we have the TechValley homes team getting ready for the Freihofers run for Women. Is a 5K run “It’s not just a competition. It’s a celebration of women. Come experience the thrill of a lifetime at the Freihofer’s Run for Women in Albany, NY” as quoted in their website http://www.freihofersrun.com/

Our team members are:
Jill Birdsall
Mary Bolognino
Beth Kaufman
Michele Burns
Susan Sommers
Way to go!!!!!


Does creativity sell the house?

May 17th, 2009 by Miguel Berger in Real Estate

I just saw a report on the news, were the report spoke about getting creative when selling the house, this particular agent decide to have an open house and serve wine and have an art expo.

I truly believe that the only thing that sells the house in the price, not the location, wine or anything else that we might try. At the end of the day the buyer decides how much is the house worth to them and no matter how creative we get at the end of the day is the House….

I would truly suggest that if you like to sell your home as quickly as possible listen to your Realtor’s suggestions and they will get the job done.