Real estate auctions were once considered to be the last resort to unload unwanted junk properties onto an unsuspecting public. With the addition of broader portfolios and better marketing, however, the use of auctions is now gathering momentum as an effective sales tool in the real estate community.

One recent Sunday afternoon in Santa Clara, Calif., Maria Hagan of Dividend Development Corp. sold $8.2 million worth of real estate in less than two hours. But there were no real estate brokers, for sale signs or multiple listings--and the only fast talking was done by an auctioneer.

The Santa Clara-based development firm put 50 townhouses of the 103-unit San Tomas Court project on the block. Homes in the development had been selling for $169,500 to $215,000 through conventional real estate brokers for the last year. There was no minimum bid for the auction, which attracted 1,000 people, including 450 registered bidders.

The new breed of auction begins with weeks of advertisement on television and radio and in newspapers. Glossy brochures and fliers are part of the sell, and the day itself has a party atmosphere, replete with catered buffets and live music.

Though real estate auctions are more common in the Midwest, the new style of auctions is a phenomenon. The public really likes buying at auctions. There's a certain equity that comes from selling in an open forum--you feel good about what you just bought because you know there's someone else out there who was ready to buy it for just $1,000 less than you.

Although buyers do have a chance to purchase property for far below asking price, experts say that, on average, the price paid for real estate at an auction is usually market value.

The reason is that auctions bring together everyone who's interested in a property. The effect of potential buyer bidding against potential buyer ultimately sets a fair-market price.

Developers are attracted to auctions because they represent a quick way to liquidate remaining units in a large project after the initial sales momentum has worn off.

During real estate auctions, bidders are usually pre-qualified: They tour models, inspect partially completed dwellings and assess how much they are qualified to borrow.

While banks and other institutions with foreclosed property on their hands and developers looking for a quick turnover are the usual source for auction property, individual home sellers can put their homes up for bidding. This can be done by contracting an auctioneer to sell the house as part of a larger auction, or by auctioning the house by itself.

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in real estate. For complete information about the real estate market including current homes for sale, property values and more please visit the most complete website online dedicated to everything real estate. So please feel free to contact me with any of your real estate questions and I will me more than glad to answer your queries. Call me on my cell at 801-518-4599 or email me at kathyo@kathyohomes.com.

A sale will often depend upon the way it looks. Buying a home is often an emotional decision. The use of aesthetics has a powerful ability to affect the way in which you feel. This article covers a few of the biggest errors in terms of appearance that sellers in the area make, so you can avoid these mistakes and fetch a higher price for your house.

Lighting is crucial when showing your house to a buyer.

Mistake #1 - Poor Lighting Bright and inviting, a naturaly lit house with bright light seems to draw you in. Dark and gloomy,a dark house seems.

Make sure the windows are open and the curtains are pulled back. If the house is naturally poorly lit, get some extra lights in the house to help with the lighting.

2nd error - Neglecting Fragrance

The subtle scent of your home plays a large role in the purchaser's attitude. While it's nice to have a faint, clean scent to the house, what should absolutely be avoided are any noticeable strange smells or odors.

Aroma's that remind the buyer of the current occupant are not welcome. Use of some air fresheners prior to showing the house can work wonders.

The inside of your house is not the only place you should pay attention to.

Mistake #3 - Poor Exterior First Impression The exterior, including the paint and the front yard, both play an important factor in the buyer's decision making process.

Your buyer will get a first impression from viewing the exterior of your home.

Perhaps you have a teenager who's painted his walls orange.

Mistake #4 - Strange Colors Pink may be your forte and it may look good with the paintings you own. But, for the individual shopper, the hues might or might not be appropriate.

Why chance it? Make sure all the walls are painted a neutral color,before showing your house.

Spray WD-40 on any squeaking hinges.

Mistake #5 - Not Making Obvious Repairs If you are having issues with major utilities be sure to have those problems resolved first. Replace any damaged or old kitchen cabinets and counters.

Tiles need to be completely cleaned of grime and dirt. Often times it could even pay to replace old windows.

You can acquire a lot of information regarding buying, selling and investing in , all at no cost. real estate. I will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have about real estate or mortgage, please feel free to contact me. Call me on my cell at 801-518-4599 or email me at What was kathyo@kathyohomes.com?.

There is a lot of free information available about buying, selling or investing in Holladay and Salt Lake City, Utah real estate.  For complete information about the Salt Lake City real estate market including foreclosures, short sales and more, visit the website dedicated to everything Salt Lake City Utah real estate.

For a FREE Weekly List of Foreclosed Homes with 4-5 Bedrooms in Salt Lake City, UT under $150,000 fill in the form below and you will receive home listings as they hit the market.  You will get all the hot listings as they come up even before most agents see them!

Just fill in the form below with your correct name and e-mail address and we will set it up to have the list automatically e-mailed to you.  Just add it in the comments if you have an interest in Short Sales and HUD homes too!

If you or someone you know are in need of a competent and caring real estate professional in or near Salt Lake City, Utah, I will be happy to help, just call me at 801-518-4599.

Have you thought about your insurance lately by real estate expert Kathy Opolski
Are you a homeowner that bought insurance when you first purchased your home in , and then continue to pay the monthly payment, but don’t give your policy a second thought? Is there something special and unique about your home in that at the same time may make it difficult to insure? Do you have special possessions that may need some additional insurance? Each of these questions represents a definite reason to carefully analyze your homeowner’s insurance to make sure that you are fully covered. In our discussion today, we will offer specific tips to help you know what to analyze in relation to your homeowners’ insurance policy.
Tip #1. Update your insurance coverage
It is important to review your insurance policy at least once a year. A lot of things change in regards to your life situations. A death or birth may have occurred. You might have done some remodeling so that value of your home in increased. Another thing to remember is that costs to replace different items also change. So as costs rise, you may need to change your limits and coverage.
Tip #2 – Have you insured for special situations
As you analyze your insurance needs, you need to look at your situation, where you live, specific collections that you may own as well as the location of your property in . Let’s look at some examples of what you may run into especially if you are an investor or a person that likes to restore homes in . If you have remodeled your home in and have used some special materials, then you definitely want to insure yourself accordingly. If you live in a state such as UT that often has some natural disasters such as tornados, you want to check with your agent to see how you will be covered or if there are some special riders that you might need to add to your policy. You want to be aware of events such as earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, and even fires. Again, these are all questions or situations that you should discuss with your insurance agent.
Tip #3 – Do you have a special collection?
Do you have a stamp collection, coin collection, model railroad collection or even a collection of fine art? If you do, it is vitally important that you make this known to your insurance agent and that you cover it accordingly. These may not be covered in a normal household policy, so you definitely want to find out if you are properly covered.
There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in real estate. For complete information about the real estate market including current homes for sale, property values and more please visit the most complete website online dedicated to everything real estate at www.BuySaltLakeHomes.com. Please feel free to contact me with any of your real estate or mortgage related questions and I would be more than glad to answer your questions. Call me on my cell at 801-518-4599 or email me at kathyo@kathyohomes.com.

As a real estate agent who has experience in , I have assisted many individuals in buying and selling homes. In this article, I will show some top practical tips that I have discovered to help anyone sell any house. market. When you finish reading this article, you will know exactly how to manage a quick, stress free sale of your house.

Staging your home will lead to more success than not staging it.

Even if you have not staged a home before, you will find that it does not require any previous experience; you will be able to do it with a minimum amount of effort.

1Fixing things. Before showing the house, any repairs needed to the house, floor, appliances and fixtures should be taken care of.

Two-Organize your things. Store anything that seems out of place.

Third,Get your house as clean as it can be. Beautify the front of your home, steam clean the carpet, shine the windows daily.

Price is key. If your asking price is too low, you won't realize enough profit from the sale. One of the biggest pitfalls that a seller may encounter is pricing their home to high. Many believe that they can take a lower offer if they start out first with a high price. Overpricing can greatly limit marketability. The most important factor in selling your house is that you have the correct price.

If you want a smoother and easier experience with selling your home then make certain that you are working with an experienced real estate agent. Moreover, the commission you pay will be more than covered by the 16% saving that you will achieve on an average as compared to selling to FSBO.

It is very difficult to select the right real estate agent. It is in your best interest to locate an agent who is well-versed in the area. You will want to find an agent that is trustworthy. You'll want to seek out an agent with the ability to market as well as sell.

On the chance you have yet to find an agent Give me a call first for a free consultation, what can it hurt, and who knows I may just be what you need. Call me anytime at 801-518-4599

There is a lot of free information available about buying, selling or investing in Holladay and Salt Lake City, Utah real estate.  For complete information about the Salt Lake City real estate market including foreclosures, short sales and more, visit the website dedicated to everything Salt Lake City Utah real estate.

For a FREE Weekly List of Foreclosed Homes with 4-5 Bedrooms in Salt Lake City, UT under $150,000 fill in the form below and you will receive home listings as they hit the market.  You will get all the hot listings as they come up even before most agents see them!

Just fill in the form below with your correct name and e-mail address and we will set it up to have the list automatically e-mailed to you.  Just add it in the comments if you have an interest in Short Sales and HUD homes too!

If you or someone you know are in need of a competent and caring real estate professional in or near Salt Lake City, Utah, I will be happy to help, just call me at 801-518-4599.

Internet Real Estate Expert Kathy Opolski Explains How to Use the Internet to Sell a House in

The internet can be a powerful asset in selling your home in . One of the toughest parts in selling your home is getting enough qualified buyers to look at your property. By using a wide range of internet resources near , we can maximize the chances on making a sale by getting more qualified buyers to look at your property.

One great source of leads is the Multiple Listing Service, MLS for short. The MLS is an internet based system that real estate agents and buyers can access in order to find homes they're interested in. By putting your property on the MLS, you drastically increase the chances that your home will be sold.

Another great source of buyers is Craigslist. Craigslist is a popular web based classifieds website, where buyers and agents go to find houses that they may be interested in looking at. By posting compelling advertisements on Craigslist, you can drasticically increase your house's exposure.

No matter where you're posting your house, the key to getting qualified buyers to physically come and look is a great ad. The most important thing is to have photos that are compelling. Often times that means hiring a professional photographer to take the photos.

If you don't have pictures at all, most people will just skip over your ad completely. Afterall, there are so many houses that do have pictures. Why would they risk wasting their time on a house that doesn't?

It's also important to put down your price and whether or not you're willing to negotiate. Remember, the idea is to get qualified buyers in to your house, not just anyone. If you have a set price and you're not willing to negotiate, then buyers who want to make lowball offers are just wasting your time.

In this article, we've briefly covered some of the ways to use the internet to sell your house quickly. There's a lot of information available to you about selling a house in . For complete information about the real estate market including current homes for sale, property values and more please visit the most complete website online dedicated to everything real estate at www.BuySaltLakeHomes.com.

Please feel free to contact me with any of your real estate or mortgage related questions and I will be more than glad to answer your questions. Call me on my cell at 801-518-4599 or email me at kathyo@kathyohomes.com.

First Impressions On Selling Your Home

When you're ready to sell your home you want to make sure that it is appealing to everyone that pulls up.  After all, first impressions are important and like meeting someone, you only get one chance to make a good one.  Here are a few simple rules to get their attention..

First and foremost is curb appeal.  If someone doesn't like the looks out front they may not initiate looking inside.  Properly mowed grass, trimmed hedges and even some freshly planted flowers will speak volumes on your behalf.  An aesthetic front will show buyers that you take pride in your home which in their eyes means the inside is probably appealing, too.

Along the same lines is the mailbox.  Believe it or not, people pay attention to it.  If your yard looks like a Zen garden and your mailbox is dented and hanging on by one screw you paint an incomplete picture for buyers.  Go the extra mile and replace it, if it is worn.  Paint wooden mailbox posts and replace faded numbers. 

Next, enter your front door as if you were a potential buyer.  What is the first thing that your eyes, and your nose experience?   If you see clutter, then you need to remove it.  buyers like to see organization.  When they enter your home they are trying to picture their stuff in the place of your stuff.  Don't distract them by having piles all over the place.  Along the same lines, make sure you are presenting an appealing aroma when you come in, not wet dog from last night's bath or that garlic dish you served for dinner.  It's hard to enjoy a home when you're fixated on a dominating odor.

It is also very important to remember that women and men have their favorite rooms in a home.  Women tend to gravitate towards the kitchen and master bedroom and bath.  For men, it's the living room, garage and yard.  Focus more of your attention on these areas.  Since this is where most of the living will be conducted.

If you would like to get more information on selling your home, be sure to contact Kathy Opolski with RE/MAX Associates at 801-518-4599.

There is a lot of free information available about buying, selling or investing in Holladay and Salt Lake City, Utah real estate.  For complete information about the Salt Lake City real estate market including foreclosures, short sales and more, visit the website dedicated to everything Salt Lake City Utah real estate.

For a FREE Weekly List of Foreclosed Homes with 4-5 Bedrooms in Salt Lake City, UT under $150,000 fill in the form below and you will receive home listings as they hit the market.  You will get all the hot listings as they come up even before most agents see them!

Just fill in the form below with your correct name and e-mail address and we will set it up to have the list automatically e-mailed to you.  Just add it in the comments if you have an interest in Short Sales and HUD homes too!

If you or someone you know are in need of a competent and caring real estate professional in or near Salt Lake City, Utah, I will be happy to help, just call me at 801-518-4599.

If you're a seller or investor who wants to get the best price for your property, chances are at some point you're going to have to work with a contractor. In this article, we'll go over 3 essential things you must know about working with contractors to ensure the most affordable, most timely, and highest quality work.

Tip #1 - Be Very Specific

When you're requesting a bid or when you're talking about a job with a contractor, be very very specific about what you're looking for.

After you've agreed on a number, you should also be very meticulous about being specific in what you put in writing.

Taking this precaution will ensure you get exactly what you want, no more and no less.

Tip #2 - Find a Good, Reliable Contractor

Speak with several contractors before you decide on one for sure. Get a feel for the quality of the contractor's quality of work and integrity. Don't just decide based on price.

If your contractor is experienced, they should have references you can check. Check them.

Once you find a contractor you might want to work with, double check their license with the Secretary of State website. Remember, you're entrusting your property with this person, so it absolutely makes sense to do careful due diligence beforehand.

Tip #3 - Payment Tips

In general, it works in your favor to pay your contractor by project rather than by hours. A contractor can estimate how many hours it will take to complete a job, but that's just an estimate and the contractor can always exceed that estimate.

Rather than overpaying because your contractor billed by hour, agree to pay per project only.

Do not release payment until the job is complete. Once a contractor has been paid, often times they won't finish the job or the finished work will be of lesser quality. Even if the contractor asks, do not pay release payment for the job until the work is complete.


There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in real estate. For complete information about the real estate market including current homes for sale, property values and more please visit the most complete website online dedicated to everything real estate at www.BuySaltLakeHomes.com. Please feel free to contact me with any of your real estate or mortgage related questions and I will be more than glad to answer your questions. Call me on my cell at 801-518-4599 or email me at kathyo@kathyohomes.com.

Real Estate Agent [Kathy Opolski Explains What Home Sellers Need to Ask Any Real Estate Agent Before Listing Their Home

Choosing the right real estate agent to help you with the sale of your home  in can seem like a very challenging task. There are thousands of real estate agents in , so finding the perfect one that will do the job right for you might seem impossible. However, there are some questions that you should ask any local real estate agent before signing on the dotted line to list your property.

First of all, you want to know what the agent's experience level is. However, you should not take this to mean that a new agent wouldn't do a fabulous job for you. What you are looking for is someone who will be honest with you and tell you exactly what level of experience they have. In the end, however, what really matters is how motivated they are to get your home sold. This leads us to the second thing you need to ask.

An agent needs to provide you with a documented, detailed marketing plan that they will use to sell your property. As the market has been quite challenging recently, it is important that an agent is not flying by the seat of their pants when it comes to marketing your home. They need to have a set plan of action that will give your house the greatest chance of selling quickly and for the most money. A good agent will have no problem going over with you the details of their marketing plan.

Something else that you need to ask your agent is what your home is truly worth in the current condition, in the current market. Sometimes homeowners get a little bit offended if an agent prices their home lower than what they would believe it to be. However, you must sometimes defer to the experience of the real estate agent because they are out in the market place each day. Of course, if you think that their numbers are way off base, you should certainly ask them to show proof of why they believe your home is worth what they are saying.

For more free information on the real estate conditions, visit my site at www.BuySaltLakeHomes.com or call me directly at 801-518-4599 anytime. I can provide you with current market details as well as recently sold homes in the area.

Real Estate Agent [Kathy Opolski Explains What Home Sellers Need to Ask Any Real Estate Agent Before Listing Their Home

Choosing the right real estate agent to help you with the sale of your home  in can seem like a very challenging task. There are thousands of real estate agents in , so finding the perfect one that will do the job right for you might seem impossible. However, there are some questions that you should ask any local real estate agent before signing on the dotted line to list your property.

First of all, you want to know what the agent's experience level is. However, you should not take this to mean that a new agent wouldn't do a fabulous job for you. What you are looking for is someone who will be honest with you and tell you exactly what level of experience they have. In the end, however, what really matters is how motivated they are to get your home sold. This leads us to the second thing you need to ask.

An agent needs to provide you with a documented, detailed marketing plan that they will use to sell your property. As the market has been quite challenging recently, it is important that an agent is not flying by the seat of their pants when it comes to marketing your home. They need to have a set plan of action that will give your house the greatest chance of selling quickly and for the most money. A good agent will have no problem going over with you the details of their marketing plan.

Something else that you need to ask your agent is what your home is truly worth in the current condition, in the current market. Sometimes homeowners get a little bit offended if an agent prices their home lower than what they would believe it to be. However, you must sometimes defer to the experience of the real estate agent because they are out in the market place each day. Of course, if you think that their numbers are way off base, you should certainly ask them to show proof of why they believe your home is worth what they are saying.

For more free information on the real estate conditions, visit my site at www.BuySaltLakeHomes.com or call me directly at 801-518-4599 anytime. I can provide you with current market details as well as recently sold homes in the area.

In today's litigious society, home sellers and real estate professionals in should take preventative steps to avoid after-the-sale problems which are experienced statewide in the real estate industry, according to leading industry professionals.

Learning about a home and the area surrounding , disclosing all factors affecting a home's value and obtaining a thorough inspection as well as a warranty plan are among the steps which can help reduce potential law suits.

Real estate professionals and home sellers should be aware of a neighborhood's zoning -- one of the factors which can affect a home's value in the future.

It is important to be informed about certain residential properties which can also be zoned for other uses such as commercial or multifamily housing. In a residential neighborhood for example, an adjacent lot which is later converted into an automobile body repair shop will most likely lower the value of surrounding single-family homes.

Other factors which can affect a home's value include nearby projects in the planning stages and environmental hazards. Real estate professionals should check with local officials about future projects such as a new freeway or re-routing of streets which can increase traffic and noise.

'Real estate professionals and sellers in should always disclose to the buyer this type of information about the area as well as any known environmental hazards such as a nearby landfill.

At the time a seller lists a home for sale in , the real estate professional should be thoroughly aware of its condition and any problems to avoid future surprises during negotiations or after the close of the sale.

Termite and home inspection should be used in every transaction. A home inspection not only reveals defects in a home that can be addressed before closing the sale, but it can give buyers a comfort level, knowing what they're getting and reinforcing their decision to buy.

Another important tool to help reduce after-the-sale problems is a home warranty plan. Home warranties are a good perk and give real estate professionals an opportunity to follow up with the homeowner who has had a positive experience and is usually happy.

Most litigation arises from anger caused by resentment building up from smaller problems. Home warranties help keep anger down, so if a larger problem occurs, the home buyer is more likely to call the seller and real estate professional to discuss the problem rather than file a lawsuit.

Before home warranties, most real estate professionals and sellers received calls within the first six months about broken dishwashers, disposals, water heaters and leaking roofs on rainy days. Now, however, most calls are regarding problems about zoning issues and non-permitted add-on rooms.

The following points which are perhaps more important than price when selecting a home warranty company and plan:

1. Consider the financial stability of the company.

2. Read the contract carefully and note what items are covered.

3. Check how fast the company services calls.

4. Check how the company handles claims which are in dispute.

Be knowledgeable about the condition of the property in , disclose any known problems to the buyer and provide a warranty plan for unexpected mechanical breakdowns after the close of escrow. Taking these necessary steps will prevent after-the-sale problems and help limit future liability.

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in real estate. For complete information about the real estate market including current homes for sale, property values and more please visit the most complete website online dedicated to everything real estate. So please feel free to contact me with any of your mortgage questions and I will me more than glad to answer your questions. Call me on my cell at 801-518-4599 or email me at kathyo@kathyohomes.com.

Staging a home is a detailed and intricate process. You're going through the process of making your home as nice as possible to get the highest price possible. When it comes to staging, there are many things most real estate agents to right. However, based on my years of experience in the market, Iíve found that most agents tend to leave out these three important factors.

Factor #1 - Scent

Scent plays a big part in staging a home. Remember that a home purchase is an emotional decision. The sense of smell plays a big part in influencing oneís emotions.

Having any odors, stale air, muskiness or strange smells will kill your chances of making the sale. Itís absolutely critical that your house smell at least neutral, if not good.

There are many ways to change the scent of your house. You could burn incense an hour before showing the house. You could install some air fresheners. You could even use essential oils that are used in aromatherapy to truly create a luxurious feel.

Factor #2 - Lighting

Lighting is another very important factor that many agents overlook. The lighting in the house literally colors everything else. A house that appears bright will feel vibrant, happy and alive to the buyer. A house that's dim will feel gloomy, dark and dead.

Natural lighting is the optimal source of lighting. If you canít get natural lighting to work or to be well lit enough, the get some artistic indoor lighting. Avoid hard lights and avoid fluorescent lights.

Factor #3 - Furnishing

It's very common for agents to show an empty house. While this does create a clean and open look, the reality is that most people donít have a very strong ability to imagine what a house will look like with furnishing.

Itís important to have good furnishing in the house when you're staging it so that the buyer can really get a feel for what the house will feel like when itís furnished. Pick just a few key pieces to help the buyer do that.

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in real estate. For complete information about the real estate market including current homes for sale, property values and more please visit the most complete website online dedicated to everything real estate at www.BuySaltLakeHomes.com. Please feel free to contact me with any of your real estate or mortgage related questions and I will be more than glad to answer your questions. Call me on my cell at 801-518-4599 or email me at kathyo@kathyohomes.com.

The ability to reap additional profits on the sale of your home in can be accomplished easily enough if you make the right improvements. Many changes can provide the prospective buyer with enhanced feelings about your home, feelings of more space, more light, more rooms, more closet space, greater privacy, warmth and security.

Basic, simple and inexpensive improvements can provide an improved emotional response in a potential buyer.

An example could be something as small as a crack in the paint on a wall. Simply by applying some plaster and touch up paint, you eliminated what may be an unstated concern that your home in was poorly maintained.

Though the feeling may be unconscious, it’s just as important that the potential buyer feel an overall desire for your home.

If you are working with a small budget these simple techniques will work absolute wonders:

The Magic of Mirrors!-Mirrors can provide a greater sense of space and elegance when properly placed. Be careful not to overdo it, but when placed properly throughout your home, each area will seem larger to the potential home buyer.

Try looking in your attic or basement for any old mirrors, but be sure they have a nice frame or at least give the frame a new coat of paint. You may also want to visit a local flea market or garage sale; you can almost always get a great deal on an old mirror or two.

Putting one foot square mirrors on a closet door in the master bedroom is always an attractive touch.

Adding Additional Closet Space-One of the biggest complaints heard from potential buyers in is that there just isn’t enough closet space! Simply purchasing an inexpensive closet organizer and installing it in any or all of your closets can make all the difference.

You can also try putting a rod across one corner of a bedroom for hanging clothes. Also you could try hanging a screen made from a variety of materials. The screen could match the material of the bedspread, drapes etc. The idea here is to be creative so that the "fake closet" looks as though it was a part of the room.

Make a Bare Wall Beautiful-Wallpaper is inexpensive, quick and easy to do! The right wallpaper can brighten the room or hallway and bring it back to life. Be careful to choose something with a neutral design or pattern. Remember, you’re trying to move out.

Bring Old Floors Back to Life!-Nothing turns off a potential buyer quicker than dull, dingy, disgusting looking floors. Whether you have wax, wooden or tiled floors, do whatever you can to make them shine again! For wax floors, either rent a floor machine and do it yourself, or if it’s in your budget, hire a professional.

Have a professional give you an estimate and explain exactly what they would do to bring your floors back to life. If you have them explain what they would do, it may be just as easy to do it yourself.

If you have carpeted floors, you should either have the carpet steam cleaned or install new carpeting. This may sound expensive but new carpeting can add thousands of dollars to the value of your home.

Add Attractive Plants-Having plants in the house is not only healthy for you but you create a warm feeling with them. Many indoor plants are far less expensive than you might imagine.

Attractive pots such as ceramic, brass or even designer plastic will add a designer flair to your home. Hanging plants such as Boston ferns are inexpensive, easy to care for and would go great in your new home whenever you move.

Adding a Room Without Calling in the Contractor!-This simple but seldom used technique, can give a buyer the feeling there are more actual rooms in your house. Floor to ceiling room dividers are inexpensive and simple to install.

When a buyer walks through your home in , they will generally count the rooms in a subconscious manner. Each room will present an emotional response as they walk through your home.

By dividing and designing each side of your room, you create a "separate room" feeling in the potential buyer. It may sound crazy, but it works!

Clean Up the Bathroom-We’ve probably all heard that phrase a hundred times growing up! Well, guess what? It’s still valid. Give your bathroom a face-lift if needed; fresh paint, decorative moldings, tile grout, new designer faucets are all attractive eye catchers.

What is That Smell?-Though people don’t like to admit it, everyone's home has a certain smell to it. We just never notice it because we live with it day in, day out. Strategically placing fresh scent devices throughout the home will be pleasant to the nose of any potential buyer.

As a matter of fact, an old Realtor trick is to pop some cinnamon rolls in an oven 5 minutes before a showing. I bet you thought all Realtors just had a sweet-tooth!

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in real estate. For complete information about the real estate market including current homes for sale, property values and more please visit the most complete website online dedicated to everything real estate. So please feel free to contact me with any of your mortgage questions and I will me more than glad to answer your questions. Call me on my cell at 801-518-4599 or email me at kathyo@kathyohomes.com.

It is time to sell your Salt Lake City Utah home and you know that you will be leaving memories behind. On top of the stress of moving, you must also deal with the sorrow of saying a final goodbye to the Salt Lake City Utah house you had grown to love as a home. Here are a few tips to help you deal with these emotions and get on with it.

Tip#1 View your Salt Lake City Utah home as a marketable commodity

Hard as it may seem to realize, you are putting a tangible object up for sale. The people that come in to view your home in Salt Lake City Utah are not viewing the memories that you hold; they are looking at the house and the potential it holds for them as a home. Try to take their point of view when selling your home and try to see what they are looking at. This will help you deal with any sadness you may be feeling.

Tip#2 Take pictures - plenty of them

Take some time to walk around your house in Salt Lake City Utah and take some pictures of anything you have become attached to in the home and that you will be leaving behind. Maybe it is a growing chart you kept as your children were growing, with nicks on the wall. Maybe it is a crack or dent in the wall, a special stain on the ceiling, it can be anything that is associated with a positive feeling that you will miss. You may find that some of the pain of leaving dissipates when you take pictures that you can bring with you to your new Salt Lake City Utah home.

Tip#3 Leave the past by focusing on the future

The more attention you give to the immediate present and future, the less time you will have to think of the past. Look at all of the pleasant things you have to look forward to in the future. You are embarking on a new housing experience in Salt Lake City Utah that will begin a new string of memories. Focus on the future as much as you possibly can.

Try these tips when it hurts to part with your Salt Lake City Utah home. They can really help you deal with it.

If you need more free information about selling, buying or investing in Salt Lake City Utah real estate feel free to contact Kathy Opolski. For complete information about the Salt Lake City Utah real estate market, including the most recent homes for sale, current property values and more, please visit the most complete online website dedicated to meeting all of your Salt Lake City Utah real estate needs at www.BuySaltLakeHomes.com. Do not hesitate to contact me anytime with any of your real estate or mortgage related questions and I will be happy to answer your them for you. Call me on my cell at 801-518-4599 or email me at kathyo@kathyohomes.com.

If you are unemployed and have a loan with Citigroup this may be of interest to you.

It is reported by Associated Press that Citigroup has announced that it will lower mortgage payments for some homeowners to an average of $500 a month for three months as part of a new program to help the unemployed.

Customers who may qualify for this assistance include those that are 60 days or more past due on their mortgages or in foreclosure, can pay the reduced amount and have a first mortgage loan that meets certain specifications.

The New York-based Citigroup Inc. says if customers are still without jobs after three months their mortgages will be handled on a case by case basis to come up with the best payment option.

Homeowner Unemployment Assist is geared toward helping people avoid foreclosure.

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in Salt Lake City Utah real estate. For information thats about the Salt Lake City Utah real estate market including current homes for sale, property values and more please visit the most complete website online dedicated to everything Salt Lake City Utah real estate. So please feel free to contact me with any of your mortgage  and real estate questions and I will me more than glad to answer your queries. Call me on my cell at 801-518-4599 or email me at kathyo@kathyohomes.com.

Or you can just fill out the form below!

It always makes me cringe when I hear people scamming on other peoples misfortune.  Some make me cringe more than others. As an example if you feel the need to send your money overseas to someone you never heard of and they promise to pay you back (and guess what, they don't), I don't feel too sorry for you.  But when a person in need turns to someone for help and they instead get scammed and end up in a worse predicament, it makes my blood boil.

Even though the housing and credit markets are down doesn't mean that real estate fraud is going away; instead, it's just changing. Foreclosure fraud is the new trend nationally, and the Utah Attorney General's Office is expecting to see it much more here in the coming year.

This information is from a special report by Andrew Adams of KSL-TV.

"It makes me sick that somebody would do that at the worst time for someone," says Chief Deputy Attorney General Kirk Torgensen. "The worst time really in anyone's life is at that point when you think you may be losing your home, (and) you're not sure how you're going to survive. There is something really despicable about that."

The schemes vary widely, but often they involve a person or company offering to help make payments on a troubled loan if the title of the home is deeded over them.

"If somebody's asking you to do that - while there may be legitimate reasons - it ought to be a huge red flag to people to say, ‘I've got to slow down. I've got to check this out,'" Torgensen says.

The advice from law enforcement and prosecutors is, in short, to simply take great care.

"If you get an ad or someone approaches you with a deal, do your due diligence," Torgensen says. "Check the person or company out."

Torgensen says if the deal is difficult to understand, present it to somebody who will understand it. He also recommends checking with the Department of Commerce to see if a company is legitimately licensed and with the Better Business Bureau for complaints.

The growth in foreclosure fraud comes after the unbridled expansion of mortgage fraud through the middle of the decade. In FBI numbers reported by MSNBC last fall, suspicious activity reports filed by banks grew from 6,900 in 2003 to 46,700 in 2007.

It's a time period that also saw significant growth in mortgage fraud in Utah. A mortgage fraud law was added to state books last year, and attorneys are now prosecuting cases under that law now, instead of one related to communications fraud.

"The mortgage fraud in general, and the magnitude of the fraud that we've seen that led up this crisis, was staggering," Torgensen says. "To me, it was greed at a level that was unbelievable, and it was greed every step of the way."

Now, as criminals change their schemes, Torgensen isn't surprised.

"They look for opportunities," Torgensen says. "And wherever there really is an opportunity where people are stressed out, people are at their wits' end, that's where criminals thrive."

For information about the Salt Lake City real estate,morgage industry and excellant references to turn to call me at 801-518-4599 and I will be happy to point you in the right direction.  If you would like property listings before anyone else gets them or would like to know what your home is worth go to the Salt Lake City Real Estate Resource Center at www.BuySaltLakeHomes.com or just fill out the form below.