Rent to Home

RENT TO HOME!

Learn more about how rent-to-home by calling Heidi today! 

Selling a Vacant Home

Selling a Vacant Home

11 Tips for Selling a Vacant Home

You’ve moved to your new home but have yet to sell your former property. What should you do to ensure the safety and security of the vacant house?

1. Set the thermostat at no lower than 60 degrees to prevent frozen pipes. If necessary, your Realtor can turn up the heat the day before a showing, but not by much as sudden shifts in temperature can also damage pipes. If you have gas heat, check the level on your tank so it doesn’t run out.

2. Another tip to avoid frozen pipes: Leave faucets dripping ever so slightly.

3. Check the batteries on your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Some automatically send a signal to local authorities even if a home is empty.

4. Add a lock-bar in the pane of sliding windows for extra protection.

5. Install a timer on lights to give the appearance that the home is occupied.

6. Stop your mail and ask a neighbor to scoop up flyers, takeout menus or phonebooks that may accumulate on your porch.

7. Check your weather stripping for cracks or tears and replace worn-out strips. You’ll keep out mold-producing moisture and prevent critters from setting up shop.

8. Unplug any appliances. It saves energy and also prevents dangerous short circuits. Prop open freezer or fridge doors a crack to prevent potential mold buildup.

9. Let your neighbors know your home will be empty, and how they can reach you and your Realtor in case of an emergency or if things just don’t look right.

10. Clean the gutters. Clogs can cause water to freeze and tear away from your home.

11. Arrange to have your yard mowed regularly and weeds tended to during warmer months.

I can help you with all of these tips!!! Contact me today! 

Vacant Land For Sale- Ready to Build on!

Vacant Land For Sale- Ready to Build on! 

RE/MAX Fit To Sell - Why a Home Doesn't Sell

RE/MAX Fit To Sell - Why a Home Doesn't Sell

I can help you get it SOLD, Heidi Buchberger RE/MAX Realty Center

Looking for a new home?

Looking for a new home? I love to work with Buyers!!

Free Market Analysis

Serving all home owners in Waukesha County, Milwaukee County, Jefferson County!

Well, HELLO there

Well, HELLO there!

7 Ways to Meet Your New Neighbors

Now that you’ve settled into your new home, it’s time to the meet the neighbors. Here are a few tips to break the ice. Go ahead, don’t be shy!

1. Throw an informal happy hour
After all that unpacking (or staring exhaustedly at those boxes that need to be unpacked) hosting a party may be the last thing you want to do. But a casual gathering involves little effort. A couple bottles of wine, a few snacks and you’re set to meet new friends. Plus this is the one time you can get away with a disorganized house and still have people over — take advantage.

2. Get some fresh air
Hang out in your front yard or on your porch. Neighbors are much more likely to stop by to say hello if they see you sitting outside with a cup of coffee than if you’re inside and they have to knock on your door.

3. Go exploring
Jog through your new neighborhood instead of hitting the gym. Neighbors will at least wave, if not stop you for a quick chat.

4. Puppy pride
Walking your dog, or playing with him or her in your yard or local dog park, is an excellent way to meet people, especially other dog lovers.

5. Cruise garage sales
You might not want to actually buy anything since you just gave away a lot of accumulated junk before your move, but perusing garage sales is a great way to meet your neighbors. Check out the local paper or Craigslist to find out where to go.

6. Hang out with your kids
Volunteering at school or chatting with other parents at the playground can result in new friends for you and your kids.

7. Dust off those oven mitts
Bringing homemade cookies to the neighbors makes a great first impression. If you haven’t unpacked your kitchen, bakery or store-bought goodies will also be appreciated. Don’t forget to stop by with dog treats to make new canine friends as well!

Applying for a mortgage?

Applying for a mortgage?

Applying for a mortgage? Make sure you can answer these 6 questions

Lenders will perform extensive research into your financial history before they approve you mortgage application. Prepare for your meeting with a loan officer by finding the answers to the following questions:

1. What is your credit score?
Not only should you know the score, you should take a look at the items on your record. Say you missed the final electric bill from your last apartment and it ended up in collections. You can call the agency and ask them to remove it from your report (they’re under no obligation to do so, but it’s worth a shot). It’s also important to check for instances of mistaken identity, especially if you have a common name. And never pay for your credit score: You’re legally entitled to a free report every 12 months.

2. What is your annual income?
Don’t forget to add in income earned through bonuses and investments. Track down your most recent W2s and tax returns for easy reference.

3. How much debt are you in?
Tally up all of those credit cards, car loans, student loans and other monthly payments. This will be important information to help you and the lender determine your debt-to-income ratio, a tool for figuring out how large of a mortgage is appropriate.

4. What are you worth?
Lenders will want to see documentation of your assets, including automobiles, investments and income properties. Did you recently receive an inheritance? Loan a family member money? Be ready to explain any large deposits or withdrawals.

5. How much can you put down?
All this financial reckoning will help you determine how much cash you’re able — and willing — to spend on a down payment. If family members plan to help, the lender will most likely require a letter from them.

6. How much house can you afford?
A general rule of thumb: Your monthly housing payment (principal, interest, taxes, insurance, HOA, etc.) should not take up more than 28 percent of your income before taxes. There are plenty of online calculators to help give you an idea of what your monthly mortgage payment will be.

An experienced Realtor can help you find a lender and prepare to apply for a mortgage. Contact me today!! 262-443-2672 heidi.buchberger03@gmail.com

CONDO FOR SALE! 7937 S Scepter Dr. #3 Franklin, WI

FRANKLIN CONDO FOR SALE!

7937 S Scepter Dr. #3 Franklin, WI

Features That Date Your Home

Features That Date Your Home

7 Features That Date Your Home

There’s a fine – and often subjective—line between “vintage” and “dated” when it comes to home features. Buyers tend to be willing to pay more for a contemporary-looking property. But how do you determine whether to invest in an update? Here are a few features it’s pretty safe to say are long past their expiration date.

1. Popcorn ceilings
Also known as acoustic, or cottage cheese ceilings, they were styled using a popular spray-on ceiling finish for decades. Fortunately, the finish is easy enough to remove using a variety of DIY methods.

2. Tiled countertops
Even if they’re not from the 40s or 50s, once you’ve wasted time scrubbing grout clean, you’ll understand why these should go.

3. Brass
Back in the 80s, brass fixtures shone from everywhere they could be screwed or plugged in. That kind of home bling worked back when everyone wondered who shot J.R. To appeal to today’s buyer, update to a more neutral shade such as black or gray, or you can go with the very trendy copper.

4. Mauve
Also known as dusty rose, in the 80s this color infested everything from walls and carpets to Don Johnson’s “Miami Vice” blazers. Try swapping out for more neutral colors.

5. Short backsplashes
Popular in the 90s, colored glass and funky tile short backsplashes added color to kitchens. But they also visually shortened the kitchen walls. Replace them with tiles that reach all the way to the ceiling to make the space look larger.

6. Light wood cabinets
They were everywhere in the 90s, but are a quick, inexpensive update. Just grab some paint or stain from the hardware store.

7. Wood paneling
Generally speaking, if you can envision Marsha, Cindy and Jan giggling in front of it, it needs to go.

Not sure what to scrape, paint or replace? Your Realtor can help suggest what updates may be worth the investment.

Tips to Lower your Utility/Energy Bill and put money in YOUR pocket

Tips to Lower your Utility/Energy Bill and put money in YOUR pocket

Tips to Lower your Utility/Energy Bill

1. Adjust your thermostat.  As a rule of thumb, every degree you lower a thermostat's set temperature in the winter or raise it in the summer will save 1% of energy costs over an 8 hour period.

Wisconsin weather is calling for thermostats to be turned on soon.... so lower your thermostat at night and use extra blankets on your bed. Not home during the day? Then adjust accordingly.

2.  Turn down the water heater temperature to a maximum 120 degrees.  Lower it to 80 degrees if you are going to be away from home for more than a couple days.  If you have a gas water heater, this tactic will save you gas, not electricity.

3. The refrigerator is one of the biggest energy users in the home.  To operate at maximum efficiency the door should only be opened briefly and adjust the COLD control according to the manufacturer's directions.  Vacuum refrigerator coils to remove excess dust.

4. Unplug appliances like microwaves, stereo's, VCRs and printers that do not have to be plugged in all the time, but use energy when plugged in.  Simply unplugging these appliances can save a lot of energy.

5.  Use the microwave as much as possible, instead of heating up the stove or oven.

6. Replace standard incandescent light bulbs with high efficient compact fluorescent bulbs, which use from about one quarter to one third the energy to produce the same amount of light. Though most cost more than conventional lights, they last up to 13x longer.

7. Don't use nightlights that remain plugged in an outlet. Instead, use motion sensor night lights that only light when they detect motion.

8. To help lower water bill, install low-flow shower heads and toilets.  Take shorter showers and turn the water off while brushing teeth.  Collect rain water in a container and use that water to water your plants.

Terms every home buyer/seller should know (Part 2: F-Z)

Terms every home buyer/seller should know (Part 2: F-Z)

Like any industry, real estate has its own language and jargon. Below are some terms to help you translate. Before you dive in, be sure to check out Part 1 of the list.

Fannie Mae: The Federal National Mortgage Association, created during the Great Depression as part of the New Deal to encourage home ownership. This government-sponsored lender is one of the biggest mortgage providers in the country.

FICO: Abbreviation for the Fair Isaac Company, the former name of the company that provides the software used to calculate your credit rating. Lenders use your credit rating to determine the amount and conditions of your mortgage. Your FICO score is based on the amount you currently owe on your debts, your payment history, recently opened lines of credit, length of credit history and the types of credit you use.

GFE: The Good Faith Estimate form gives you an idea of what your closing charges and loan terms will be if you are approved for the loan you are applying for.

Lien: A legal claim against a property that must be satisfied before the property may be sold. Common liens include tax liens filed by the government if you haven’t paid your taxes, judgment liens from losing a lawsuit or an unpaid attorney, and mechanic’s liens from unpaid contractors or repairmen.

Lock-In (Rate Lock): A lender's promise to guarantee a borrower a certain interest rate and loan terms for a specified period of time.

MLS: Short for the Multiple Listing Service, a database of all properties for sale.

PITI: Stands for Principal, Interest, Taxes and Insurance. This is your monthly mortgage payment. The principal is the part of the payment that pays down the loan, the interest is the part of the payment that pays the lender for loaning you the money to buy the property, and the taxes and insurance are usually paid into an escrow account each month.

Settlement Statement: The standard document with the details of the sales transaction and the closing costs.

Short Sale: When a home is sold for less than the amount the current owner owes the mortgage company.

Title: The document that proves ownership of a property, publically recorded in the county in which the property is located.

Walk-Through: This is the final inspection the buyer makes of the home before closing to make certain the conditions of the property match the contract.

Hopefully this vocab lesson helped you feel more comfortable in the world of real estate. For more information about the process of buying or selling a home, contact a RE/MAX agent

Terms Every Home Buyer/Seller Should Know (Part 1: A-E)

Terms Every Home Buyer/Seller Should Know (Part 1: A-E)

Thinking about buying a home? Study the terms below to help you make informed decisions throughout the process.

Amortization: The distribution of payments into installments over time. The terms of the agreement will determine how much of each payment goes toward interest and how much goes toward paying down the principal.

A.R.M.: Abbreviation for Adjustable Rate Mortgage. An A.R.M. is a loan program with an interest rate that changes throughout the life of the loan, as opposed to a fixed rate mortgage. This means if interest rates rise, a house payment may increase. 

Balloon: The whopper of a payment due at the end of some loans.

CC&Rs: The covenants, conditions and restrictions overseen by Homeowners Associations.

Comps: Short for comparable properties to the home you’re buying or selling, used by Realtors to help determine property value.

Contingency: A section of the purchase agreement that spells out certain conditions that must be met before the sale can proceed. For example, necessary repairs recommended by the home inspector.

Closing: The meeting between the buyer and seller where mortgage documents are signed and the deed is transferred.

Deed: The legal document that transfers ownership of the property.

Disclosures: Information about the home that a seller must provide to a buyer. The extent of disclosures varies by state.

Earnest Money: A deposit of money buyers pay to sellers to prove their genuine intent to purchase. If the buyer walks away through no fault of the seller, the seller may keep the earnest money.

Escrow: Don’t worry — it’s not what you eat if you’re on the losing end of a bidding war. An account held by an independent third party while the buyer and seller negotiate the contract. Funds for earnest money, property taxes and homeowners insurance may be held in escrow.

Equity:  What’s left of the fair market value of a home after subtracting the amount the owner still owes on the mortgage. “Sweat equity” refers to the manual labor performed to maintain and improve the property over the years.

Is your head spinning from all the industry jargon? A real estate agent can help translate.

Lot For Sale- Oconomowoc, WI

Lot For Sale- Oconomowoc, WI

Beautiful 3/4 Acre lot ready to build in lovely River Hills at Monterey. Close to everything, convenient, just north of Oconomowoc. Great community. Priced to sell now!

$71,400

10% down investment property

I can offer 10% down investment property,  no PMI, on non-owner occupied investment properties.
2-4 units.

Fannie mae guidelines require 25% down payment. I can offer much better options.  Look at it this way... for the same investment an investor can purchase two properties!

Contact me today! 262-443-2672

Pickets Country Store - For Sale

Pickets Country Store - For Sale 

Click Here to Visit their Facebook Page

Accepted Offer in 12 Days!!
1651 Haymarket Rd. Waukesha, WI 53189

For more available listing in Waukesha County, 

contact me for a list!! 

Build your next home here!

Build your next home here!!
  Sullivan, WI 

Here is a great opportunity to own 1.85 acres and build a beautiful home in Jefferson County! Property is in the Village of Sullivan at a very attractive price. Country life style, yet close to amenities. The lot is close to the Glacial Drumlin Trail, Rome Pond, and an easy 5 miles to I-94 for commuting to Madison and Milwaukee. This is one of four similar lots available at this price. It is a Great Value, and Desirable Location!! *Electric, Natural Gas, & Phone at road access.

Do you Know What Your Home is Worth?

Do you know what your homes is worth?

Title Policy Question

Questions about your home owners Title Policy? Find out the answers to all your questions!



In the home sale process, Title Insurance is a big deal! Contact me today for more info! 

Home For Sale In Waukesha

Home For Sale In Waukesha

RE/MAX Realty Center - First Time Home Buyer Seminar on YouTube

RE/MAX Realty Center - First Time Home Buyer Seminar on YouTube 

Watch Below!

RE/MAX In Wisconsin

www.heidibuchberger.com

May 2016 Housing Report- REMAX is a National Company

If You are Thinking of Selling, Now’s the Time

If You are Thinking of Selling, Now’s the Time

If you thought about selling your house this year, now may be the time to do it. The inventory of homes for sale is well below historic norms and buyer demand is skyrocketing. We were still in high school when we learned the concept of supply and demand: the best time to sell something is when supply of that item is low and demand for that item is high. That defines today’s real estate market.

Jonathan Smoke, the chief economist of realtor.com, in a recent article revealed:

“Our preliminary review of April activity on realtor.com shows that traffic, searches, and listing views are up more than 35% over last year. With 3 million jobs created and close to 1.5 million new households formed in the past 12 months, many more people want a new home of their own, and they want it bad. Their patience will be tested with tight supply—indeed, the No. 1 impediment of active shoppers in April was not being able to find a home that meets their needs.”

In this type of market, a seller may hold a major negotiating advantage when it comes to price and other aspects of the real estate transaction including the inspection, appraisal and financing contingencies.

Bottom Line

As a potential seller, you are in the driver’s seat right now. It might be time to hit the gas.