blog/web-journal

Curb appeal has been discussed over time on ‘the journal.’ It is as important now as it ever has been and should be given careful consideration.

Tip 3: Landscape both the front and back gardens for real value. For an investment of anywhere between $300 and $425 at the time of sale a seller can expect back somewhere between $1,050 and $1,535. Return on investment - approximately 258%. 

Another plus is that it generally improves on the ‘ time to sale.’ It doesn’t require much; a few shrubs, a bit of color, new mulch and some good fertilizer.  This is certainly worth the investment.

WESTRIDGE PLAZA

Finally construction is getting under way on this project after nearly two and a half months of ground preparation.  We last looked at this project on December 13, 2008.

With the footers being poured, it won’t be long before the walls go up.

This will be a nice location for a number of small businesses.  No word on who all of the tenants will be.  (Bets are though, that one will be a property management company, and most likely a pizza shop as well.)

BELLA VIDA

It’s always interesting for folks to see new construction going up, even in economic times such as these.  Again, it shows that location and community features have a big impact on potential buyers.

Many economic reports and stories look at the mid-2004 through 2006 as a standard for comparison rather than the aberrant period that it was.

This means the current new-home market appears to be in much worse shape than it actually is; especially when it comes to pricing.  In those two years, the closing price of a single family production home rose 51%, while in the 25 years prior, such homes only rose at a 5% rate annually.

If you started in 2003 and added 5% annually through 2009, the average price of a home, not including the bubble years, would have been $290,985.  The current national average is $295,800.  Thus, “We are not experiencing unprecedented declines in home values.  Instead, we are experiencing an unprecedented return to normal.”

- Jim Lewis, President: Charles Wayne Consulting 2009 -