My Appraisal Came in Low, Now What?

Whether you are buying or selling a home, the appraisal matters. Even when the buyer and seller have agreed on a price, the deal could fall apart if the appraisal comes in low.

In a sellers’ market when there are plenty of qualified buyers, multiple offer situations can drive up the purchase price higher than the sale price of the comparable properties.
In a buyers’ market, there are more properties on the market and there are fewer buyers purchasing, so values will be soft or falling.

Either way, the appraisal can be cause for concern.

There are several other reasons that an appraisal can come in low.  There could be an abundance of foreclosure or short sales that would drive values down. The appraiser could be from outside the area and not have local market knowledge, or they could be inexperienced.  Or the seller could have overpriced the property in the first place.

So your appraisal came in low, well here is what you can do. First, don’t panic because there are options so that the deal will not fall through. The buyer can make up the difference in cash by adding to the down payment to reach the agreed upon purchase price. If you are the seller, you could have a pre-sale appraisal completed when you list the property for sale.

The seller could lower the sales price to meet the appraised value. The buyer or the seller could order and pay for a second appraisal. You could ask the listing agent or buyers agent to provide a list of comparable properties that do support the value, and ask the underwriter to re-evaluate the appraisal. There is always the chance that they will consider new or overlooked information.

The deal doesn’t have to fall apart, but some do. If you remember that most problems are correctable
and address the problems one at a time, you should be able to work through them and get the deal to closing. If you have any questions on appraisals, feel free to call me directly at 215-519-1399.

Ready For Spring Yet?

I promise you – it may not seem like it right now, especially with the snow on the ground and the cold wind gusts – but spring is coming. All of us are patiently waiting for its arrival!

While you’re waiting, you can actually start on a little bit of spring cleaning (which will completely allow you more time outside once the weather breaks). Winter cleaning is great – especially when your snowed in or don’t feel like venturing outside and feeling the cold.

While this cold weather has all of us bundled up and waiting for warmer days, you can get your home organized and ready for spring!

Clean up your closets. Divide everything into two piles – Keep and Giveaway. If you haven’t worn it or used it in two years, and it doesn’t have sentimental value (in other words, it’s a family heirloom), this is a great time to declutter and make your closets more organized.

Go through your spice cabinet. This is a great time to start anew – getting rid of expired spices, or even spices that barely have anything left in the container.

Grab those piles of papers that should be filed. Make two piles – papers to keep and papers to be recycled. Make sure to shred any documents you are planning to recycle if they contain personal information. File papers you need to keep.

Clean up your computer. This is a great time of the year to clear old files off your computer that are no longer needed, empty the trash folder, and even defragment the disc. These simple steps will help your computer live longer.

Looking for a new home in Bucks County? Call me today at 215-519-1399 or visit my website for more information.

Thank you for your service!

Thank you to everyone who has served in our military forces – for your dedication and pride in our country.

Thank you for protecting our country. Thank you for ensuring our safety. Thank you for giving us freedom. Thank you for being a part of the history of the United States of America. Thank you for serving in our military.

If you are thinking of moving to Yardley, Doylestown, or New Hope, or considering selling your home, call me today at 215-519-1399 or visit my website for more information.

Keep your lawn green – even in this heat!

Many local businesses in Bucks County can help keep your lawn looking fantastic throughout the seasons – fall, spring and even summer! If your lawn is not looking its best, consider contacting one of the following small businesses to see how they can help.

Evergreen specializes in landscape design, large property landscape management and landscape installation. They are located in Richboro and are a full-service landscaping company.

Located in Doylestown, Central Bucks Landscapers specialize in outdoor scenery, lawn maintenance and garden maintenance. They also provide tree and brush services, snow removal and fall/spring cleanup.

Contact Iggy’s Landscaping in Doylestown to renovate and restore your lawn and landscaping. They also offer snow removal, and sell premium mulch and firewood.

Infinite Landscaping of New Hope provides mulching, lawn maintenance, landscaping services, lawn drainage, rock gardens, hardscaping and much more.

Throughout Bucks County, I encourage you to patronize our local businesses and merchants. If you are thinking of moving to Yardley, Washington Crossing or Doylestown, or considering selling your home, call me today at 215-519-1399 or visit my website for more information.

Go Green – Easily!

Now that the weather is getting warmer, there are some great alternatives to helping our planet and becoming a “green” person. These are very simple steps that can be taken everyday – which will help you save money, help the planet, and make you feel wonderful!

1. Purchase a composting bin. These are great to toss your leftover vegetables and fruits. They will turn into a rich compost which is perfect to mix into your vegetable garden, flower garden – or anywhere you would like to add fertilizer naturally to your plants.
2. Keep your lint from your dryer. Birds love using lint to line their nests!
3. Donate your old newspapers to animal shelters. It will be used as cage liners.
4. Buy houseplants – they are great at bringing not only color but also oxygen into your home.
5. Use cloth napkins instead of paper – they add a bit of class to your meal and help to save our precious trees.
6. Recycle. Be sure to separate your trash from all recyclable items. If you are not sure what is recyclable, you may check this online list.

If you are thinking of moving to Yardley, Washington Crossing or Doylestown, or considering selling your home, call me today at 215-519-1399 or visit my website for more information.

Why Move To Washington Crossing?

Located in Upper Makefield Township, Washington Crossing is famous for General George Washington’s crossing of the Delaware River in 1776 during the Revolutionary War.  Every Christmas Day, the town reenacts the crossing of the Delaware with an actor portraying General Washington.

The town has many landmarks such as Washington Crossing Historic Park and Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve. The town also has many shopping opportunities which offer a “hometown feel”, such as Crossing Vineyard, Colonial Farms,  and Francisco’s On The River.

Living in Washington Crossing is not only a step back into history at times, but the town is also known for its relaxing factors. The area offers hiking, bike trails, wildlife sightings and much more.

If you are thinking of moving to Yardley, Washington Crossing or Doylestown, call me today at 215-519-1399 or visit my website for more information.

The Meaning of Mother’s Day

What does Mother’s Day mean to you?

Created in 1908 by Anna Jarvis who simply wanted to honor her mother, Mother’s Day became an official holiday in the United States in 1914. Originally, the holiday was meant as a day of personal celebrations between mothers and their children – however over the years Mother’s Day has been a celebration of all mothers in our lives.

Some of us might celebrate Mother’s Day with our own families, and some might remember mothers who have passed away and left cherished memories. No matter how you might celebrate Mother’s Day and how your life may have been changed or enriched, I hope all moms have a great Mother’s Day this Sunday!

If you are thinking of moving to Yardley, Washington Crossing or Doylestown, call me today at 215-519-1399 or visit my website for more information.