WNY/Buffalo NY Real Estate News Blog: Are You Searching For A WNY Home With Lifestyle In Mind?

WNY/Buffalo NY Real Estate News Blog: Are You Searching For A WNY Home With Lifestyle In Mind?

WNY/Buffalo NY Real Estate News Blog: Are You Searching For A WNY Home With Lifestyle In Mind?

Staging Small Rooms In WNY! Why Should You?

Living with a home stager! “I am one who’s very certain of the subject, my wife is a certified interior designer/Home stager I have seen her make a room look remarkable” Rooms that came from plain and dull to something life styled approved. For that reason I will like to point out the reasons why WNY Homeowners should consider Home Staging. I feel that a large part of the value I bring to my homeowners’ is the wide array of services I offer them to get their homes sold. Adding home staging is a MUST these days.

"People buy what they see" and if they don't like what they see, they don't buy!  It takes just a few seconds to form a first impression.   Home Staging is a must in an empty or furnished property! Many buyers cannot envision what their own furniture may look like or how to place it and that is why providing such services to my client are essential

How to sell small spaces?

A lot of homeowners have small spaces rather it’s a small living room, bedroom or bathroom you have to do all you can to maximize the space that you’re selling. As a WNY Realtor, in an effort to embrace the small-space lifestyle I chose to have my listings staged and make the most out of that space. A buyer often looks at a room and say” that there furniture can’t fit” and often  that would be their deterring factor of why they don’t buy that particular home but if you can  show a buyer that a small room can fit their king or queen size bed, buyers will be more inclined to consider that home. 

Remember that you are selling square footage and lifestyles. My wife’s slogan has always been “Bigger isn’t always better”. What she does with small rooms is amazing and it always has you taking a second look when she stages that room for sale. Selling a lifestyle is what she does best, by laying a robe or the daily newspaper on the bed or a book with glasses sitting at a desk. When she's done who wouldn't want to curl up and read a good book. So what I'm trying to say is designing a small room is just like designing a large room!! Roll out the red carpet for that small space also and it too will shine.

When selling Your WNY Home, Clutter Kills! Don’t keep it pack it or ditch it!

Getting rid of the clutter believe it or not is half the battle of staging your WNY home. Do not allow a lot clutter to stop you from selling your home. Sometime a homeowner doesn’t realize how clutter their homes are unless there told. When you are close to the subject matter you can’t see it, sometimes you have to see it through someone else’s eyes and that’s where a home stager comes in. My Home Stager let you know exactly what  holds back the sale of your home and then goes on to tell you how to fix the problem.  Remember With so many homes on the market, professional Home staging will definitely help your home stand apart from others on the market. Although most people think staging is only for high-end homes, most stagers offer a range of services to fit most any budget.

Having a stager help with the de-cluttering and furniture layout can make a dramatic difference. And, if you stage before listing, it makes the agent's job much easier since the home is show-ready and in move-in condition. Of course, the listing price has to be competitive to bring buyers in your door. But when you list you home with me Mark Key Staging comes with the listing contract. I have a home stager that gives you a free consultation and real advice to get your home sold quick and for top dollar.

If you will like to know more about how I can get your home sold with the help of staging feel free to contact me at 716-603-8649 or e-mail me mkeyrealtor@gmail.com

Staging Small Rooms In WNY! Why Should You?

What’s Most Important in Buying Your WNY home?

When it comes to buying your WNY home what is the order of importance? Lately I’ve been helping clients find out just that, some of my clients have been struggling over what order you should buy a home. Is the white picket fences, stone and brick front homes with lots of landscape the most important? Or is it location, price, property condition and then curb appeal.

Well while writing this I’m wondering should I even have this fight or do I really have to talk about this but clearly over the last weeks this is something of importance at least to my clients. If I had to put the buying process in order this is how I would do it but yet that’s me and my situation.

First I believe that when buying a new home spending just a small amount more could pay big dividends when it is time to sell which makes location, location, location very high on my list. The quality of the home and the architecture of the home is the property condition. Timeless curb appeal helps with lasting home values.

1.      Location, location,location

2.      Property conditions.

3.      Curb appeal

Now writing this showed me that on my list I broke it down to three steps and number one is the only thing that truly matters to me and it has to be my front runner location, location, and location.

Because what comes with location obviously all the rest will follow, as you can see that I didn’t mention how important schools were to me because likely in a great location there will be very high rated schools. If the home property condition isn’t the best I’m sure I can fix that as longs as the house is sitting where it should. Curb appeal can also be fixed.

In my opinion lowest price is not always your best option. You should look for quality, inside and out of the home and make sure to find a community that you love and do not settle for less.

I’m asking what your order of buying a home is. Please feel free to share your opinion.

What’s Most Important in Buying Your WNY home?

Are You Searching For A WNY Home With Lifestyle In Mind?

Before deciding which house to buy, think about your lifestyle, you’re present and projected housing needs, and your budget. It’s a good idea to create a prioritized list of features you want in your next home – you'll quickly discover finding the right house involves striking a balance between your "must-haves" and your "nice-to-haves.“

To start, consider your lifestyle. If you love to cook, you'll want a well-outfitted kitchen. If you're into gardening, you'll want a backyard work area. If you're planning your office at home, you may want a room for a separate library or work space. If you have several cars, you may require a larger garage. Use this list as your search guide.

Next, think about what you might need in the future. As you consider your housing needs, it's important to consider how long you may live in your home. If you're recently married, you might not be concerned with a school district right now, but you could be in a few years. If you have aging parents, you may want to look at homes that offer living arrangements for them as well as you.

It’s imperative to think about your new home’s location just as cautiously as you do about a house’s features.

Location is a enormous part of any move. In addition to considering the distance to work, you need to evaluate the availability of shopping, police and fire protection, medical facilities, school and day-care, traffic and parking, trash and garbage collection, even recreational facilities.

So what I'm trying to articulate, its not just about the 4 bedrooms and the 2 baths its about how you live life and what you want for your life in your future home, its about a lifestyle. While searching for your WNY home know what you want and how to get it, don't allow your lifestyle to be compromised by a few bedrooms. Choose wisely and be sure to get a WNY Realtor that understand your lifestyle needs. I'm Mark Key and your Life style needs are important to me. If you should need a reliable Realtor on you side I'm raising my hand for the job.

Mark Key 

Realty Edge 

716-603-8649

Are You Searching For A WNY Home With Lifestyle In Mind?

What's Happening in Real Estate for The Month Of June

Check out this video of whats happening in real estate for the month of June



 Thanks for watching! Did you notice that 30yr fixed Mortgage Avg Rate: 4.6% WOW interest rates are looking good and if you want to know what's happening in real estate in Buffalo and WNY stick with me Mark Key I will see to you knowing all the latest news in our neck of the woods. And be sure to always get your Home inspection when it comes time for you buying your home.


Mark Key
Realty Edge
716-603-8649

And remember Every Home Needs A Key

What's Happening in Real Estate for The Month Of June

Moving from WNY outside the U.S How to Begin Your Search?

At some point in our lives, we fantasize about owning a vacation home in some beautiful part of the world.

Or great escape may be in a home, cabana, cabin or a chalet near a lake or by the ocean. Buried in a lush forest or among a mountain range, or whatever scenery seems more appealing to live, vacation, or even retire to.

Turning a fantasy like this into a reality is possible, but buying a home outside the United States is a complicated process. Buying a home in a foreign country often requires complicated contracts that must be translated, larger down payments and higher interest rates.

The United States mortgage lending institutions will not loan money to individuals for the purposes of buying a home on foreign soil. Individuals must obtain a loan through a mortgage lending institution in the country they wish to buy in.

American home owners have the advantage of the U.S. tax write off. This is when the Internal Revenue Service will make deductions on the mortgage interest of the primary home and the second home for up to one million dollars, no matter where in the world the second home is located. As long as all requirements are met for the primary and second residences, this is true.

Gathering all the necessary paperwork and organizing it in a way that the Internal Revenue Service will find acceptable may take some time to do. Especially if the paperwork must be translated into English.

Mortgage interest paid on the property, along with all money involved, will have to be converted to American funds. This entire process will come along more smoothly if the individual employs a tax preparer to help convert these transactions.

The value of the American dollar can be a bonus when buying a home on foreign soil. The buyer should expect some headaches with the amount of paperwork involved though. Some countries have laws that regulate what types of properties and locations can be bought by non-citizens. For example: In Mexico, non-citizens are not allowed to buy beach front properties.

Usually, buyers can overcome many problems once they have found the property of their dreams with plenty of patience and persistence and the right mortgage lending institution. Buyers must make sure to find a real estate agent and mortgage lender that are familiar with the rules about non-citizens buying property in their country. 

Buying properties in Canada and Mexico is a fairly easy process compared to buying properties in other foreign countries. Buying properties in other parts of the world may prove more challenging and would be best if the buyer checked in with the United States Embassy in the country where they would like to buy properties.

Mortgage requirements are pretty much the same in foreign countries as it is in the United States. First the buyer will need an appraisal on the property to prove that it is worth the asking price. Then the buyer will have to prove their credit worthiness to the lending institution by providing income tax statements, references and proof of employment. The buyer may have to make an extra effort to prove that they will be able to make the required monthly payments.

There may also be extra costs involved in obtaining a credit report that must be sent internationally and if the credit report must be translated. Interest rates on foreign property can vary throughout the world. So regardless of the value of the American dollar, don’t expect to save a lot on interest rates.

Down payments on property in Canada can be as high as 25% and the entire transaction can be done in English, in exception of Quebec, where law requires the transaction to be done in French. Mexico often requires a down payment as high as 60% for a 15 year mortgage.

All Mexican transactions must be done in Spanish. Many lending institutions in Mexico deal with Americans on a regular basis, mostly in Guadalajara, where more Americans have retired to or maintain a summer home.

Buyers interested in buying a home outside the United States to retire to may have to pay both U.S. and foreign residence taxes. Most often the Internal Revenue Service will allow the buyers to deduct any foreign taxes paid from what is owed in the United States. All tax matters regarding foreign properties are best left to the experienced tax preparer or personal financial advisor before making any decisions to buy property outside of the U.S. With all this being said you will always be welcome back to WNY. If you should need any info regarding this post or any other post please feel free to contact Mark Key direct.

Mark Key

Realty Eldge

716-603-8649

Moving from WNY outside the U.S How to Begin Your Search?

WNY Home Buyers What You Need To Know About Easement, Right of Way, and Restrictive Covenants: What are they and why do you need to know?

When you are in the market to buy a home, you are going to come across a lot of terms and real estate lingo that you have probably never heard of before. Buying property is like stepping into a whole new world with so much to learn, processes to endure and rules and regulations that must be followed to a T. Most home buyers are amazed on how much they learn so fast. Take for instance the importance and benefits of an easement, right of way and restrictive covenants. What are they and why do you need to know? Well, let’s take a look.

Easement. An easement is the right to use someone else’s property for a specific purpose. Normally these easements are granted to telephone companies or to public utility services to run lines under joint properties or perform other work on or under your property to neighboring houses. A housing developer may also possess an easement to allow him to build or maintain a water storage facility on your property.

Long ago easements were limited to the right over flowing waters and other rights that would only be attached to adjacent properties to benefit all parties involved and not just one specific person. Easements can be beneficial to a property as well as significantly affecting the value of the property. All easements should be included and described in your deed and remain there until your land is sold.

Usually a land owner who grants an easement cannot install fences or build other structures within the easement area that would impede access. Before purchasing any property, you should be fully informed of where all the easements are placed and any restrictions associated with them.

Right of Way. A right of way is a different form of an easement that has been granted by a property owner to give permission to others to have reasonable use of your property as long as it doesn’t interfere with your personal time. Ownership rights to the property may be lessened by an easement, but there can be a great amount of benefits due to the additional freedom.

Restrictive Covenants. They may not sound like it, but restrictive covenants are actually a good thing. Restrictive covenants are basically deed restrictions that apply to groups of homes as in a subdivision.

The restrictions are normally placed there by the developer and can be different, depending on what area you live in. These restrictive covenants help give a development a more common appearance and market value and will also help control some of the activities taken place within those boundaries.

When enforced, these covenant restrictions can help prevent homeowners from letting the appearance of their property fall into disarray and actually protect the property values.

Although these restrictions are normally a plus, all home buyers should always do their homework and study the restrictive covenants before making an offer on any home. It’s important for home buyers to understand restrictive covenants and other deed restrictions because these restrictions dictate how you can use the property. Home buyers need to be certain that they will be able to live with the rules and regulations before deciding to buy.

Other issues you may see in a restrictive covenant may be:

1. Easements for pathways and other land use that must be described.

2. Maintenance or other amenity fees.

3. Rules regarding pets and other animals, e.g., prohibitions on breeding domestic animals, livestock or having unchained pets.

4. Rules regarding home businesses or renting homes.

5. Clauses that dictate what types of fences, if any, can be used.

6. Clauses that prohibit home owners from storing clutter, inoperable vehicles or other recreational vehicles within view on the property.

This is only an example of what can be expected in a restrictive covenant. This is why it is so important to thoroughly investigate what restrictions apply before placing an offer. Your WNY Realtor or the seller of the property should supply you with a list of restrictions before you make an offer. These restrictions may or may not benefit you, it all depends on the buyer and what you are looking for. It’s important for you, as the buyer, to be well informed to protect your own interests.

WNY Home Buyers What You Need To Know About Easement, Right of Way, and Restrictive Covenants: What are they and why do you need to know?