What Does the Future Hold for the Utah Market?

Halloween may be over, but that doesn't mean I can't take advantage of this fortune teller costume to cast some predictions about the future of the Utah housing market.

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Since I dressed up as a fortune teller for Halloween, I thought it was all too fitting to give you a psychic prediction of what will happen in the Utah real estate market in the fourth quarter and beyond!

So what's in the cards for the Utah market? To me, it looks like Utah still has one of the strongest job economies in the nation. We're currently below 4% for unemployment, which essentially means we're fully employed. If you couple that with our affordability, you can see that housing prices are still well in line with the median income.

This all means that we are in great shape.

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Low unemployment and housing affordability are making our economy strong.

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At the moment, we're experiencing very low inventory levels. If you're a seller at this time, this means you're going to have your pick of the crop when it comes to buyers making offers on your home. We're also experiencing historically low interest rates, meaning that affordability has never been better.

Halloween may be over, but our market is seeing all treats and no tricks. I predict that it's still a great time to be either a buyer or seller in the Utah real estate market. If you have any questions for me or you're thinking about buying or selling a home in this fantastic market, give me a call. I'd love to speak with you!

Are You Living in a Haunted House?

Home sellers don’t have to disclose whether their home is haunted under the Stigmatized State Property Act. What can you do if you encounter unwanted visitors?

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There is a funny state law that most folks aren’t aware of. It’s called the Utah Stigmatized State Property Act, and it states that home sellers do not have to disclose whether their house is haunted. What should you do if you think that you’ve accidentally bought a haunted house? Fortunately, Rita Morgan from Crone's Hollow has a few answers.

One thing that Rita encourages home buyers to do in this situation is to try and speak with the spirit of the house to let it know that they are the new owner of the home. Because the spirit may think that the house belongs to them, it’s important to let the spirit know that you are the new owner and that your rules are the ones that apply.

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Claim the home as your own.

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If the spirit is still being destructive or difficult, there are a few things that you can do to help cleanse the house. Though burning sage is a good way to begin the cleanse, it creates a vacuum, and Nature abhors a vacuum. If you’re going to use sage, you’ll need to replace the energy that you’re getting rid of with something else—like incense or Florida Water—so that the spirit doesn’t come back in.  Once you have replaced the energy, Rita suggests following up with some kind of sound, like a bell, in order to create a vibrational energy and ensure that the spirit cannot re-enter.

The most important thing you can do as a homeowner in a haunted house is to claim the home as your own. If you have things going bump in the night in your home and need advice about getting rid of or living with spirits, give Rita a call at (801) 906-0470 or visit her at Crone’s Hollow at 3834 South Main Street in Salt Lake City, just north of the intersection. She’s got the tools necessary to handle your every ghostly need.

In the meantime, if you have any questions about buying or selling a home in the Salt Lake City area, give me a call, shoot me an email or reach out to me via Ouija board. I’m looking forward to hearing from you!

Add Pre-Sale Value to Your Home in 5 Easy Steps

When you prepare to sell your house, there are a lot of positive changes you can make without spending a lot of money. Today, I'm going over five things that will improve your home before you sell.

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Today I wanted to give you some really great things you can do to your home to prepare it for the market. By spending as little as $500, you can pick up an extra $5,000 on your sale. That's not a bad return!

In the video above, you can also see some examples of photos that really illustrate these five points.

1. Declutter. Box up all personal items and the things you don't need for your day-to-day life.
2. Give the house a deep clean. Yes, this includes all those things we don't get to normally, like grout lines, baseboards, and blinds. If you're like me, I say forget doing it yourself. Hire a one-time maid service because it's well worth the cost. 
3. Take care of the little fix-up projects. We're all guilty of letting these things slide over time. Who has the time? Well, now is the time! Before your home hits the market, take care of leaky faucets, loose handrails, and everything in between. Take care of everything maintenance-related. Another service that's worth its weight in gold is to call a furnace guy to tune up the furnace, clean it, and put in a new air filter. You will impress the heck out of the home inspector with this step.
4. Paint. Dollar for dollar, this is the best investment you can make in your property. Go through your home and paint in a light, neutral color, and I promise you your home will look bright, open, and modern. It will make a great impression on buyers.
5. Curb appeal. This is the one everybody talks about because there are some amazing things you can do to pump up your home's curb appeal. Consider painting your front door, and possibly your garage door if it really needs it. I also recommend getting a cute door knocker or wreath, placing some potted plants on either side of the door, a bright welcome mat, and some light sconces. I promise that you'll love what this does to your bottom line.

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Paint is the best dollar-for-dollar investment you can make.

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Again, these are the kinds of fixes that I've seen sellers spend $500 on and get an extra $5,000 for on their bottom line.

Before we go, remember that Halloween season is right around the corner. Stay tuned for my next video that will feature an interview with a spooky and cool little shop here in Salt Lake City. We'll talk about what to do if you honestly think you're living in a haunted house.

Until then, if you have questions or topics you'd like to see me cover, give me a call, send me an email, or contact me through the website. I hope to hear from you soon!