I have great news!  I recently moved my blog over to a WordPress.org account.  Please join me at my new blog-SALEM OREGON REAL ESTATE AND HOMES FOR SALE.  Thank you!

SALEM OREGON REAL ESTATE—WHAT A DIFFERENCE A “STAGE” MAKES-HOMESTAGING, THAT IS! SALEM OREGON HOME SELLERS, COULD STAGING BE THE ANSWER TO GET YOUR HOME SOLD? SEE THE BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES FOR YOURSELVES….. AND YOU DECIDE

If you are currently a SALEM OREGON HOME SELLER, or thinking seriously about putting your home on the market, I am sure you are aware of the fact that in the current SALEM OREGON REAL ESTATE MARKET your home must be the best home, at the best price. There is competition all around you, and your home needs to stand out as the BEST HOME in that price range!

Now, I am going to fess up right now…. In the past, I have not been a huge fan of home staging because my listings sold within a short time after putting them on the market. The last couple of years have shown a huge shift in the LOCAL SALEM REAL ESTATE MARKET.

I recently had the opportunity to get to know a local home stager, Margaret Oscillia, of Creative Concepts and Contracting, through some local blogging and social networking classes. After several months of my many, numerous questions, and viewing her before and after photos and results once she staged a home, I decided that maybe there was something to this “staging stuff”. I went ahead and booked her for two of my listings/sellers.

Here are some before and after pictures of one of my seller’s homes. This home began as a vacant home, but the great thing about a home stager is that they have several different levels of staging. You can do a full stage, or a partial or minimal stage. You can also start off with a consultation to see what kind of suggestions they have that can bring you a “Top Dollar” offer. Many times they can work with your current furnishings, just making minimal changes, and adding a little “pop” to the rooms.

ENTRY

LIVING ROOM/DINING

FAMILY ROOM

MASTER BEDROOM

MASTER BATH

So, you decide, which pictures are more likely to peak your interest, and cause you to pick up the phone to schedule a showing appointment with your Realtor?

If you would like more information about SELLING YOUR SALEM OREGON HOME, you can contact me directly at 503-931-1846, or email me at MelWagnerBroker@msn.com.

If you would like to schedule an appointment with Creative Concepts and Contracting, or if you would like to see more of their before and after photos, here is the link to their blog.

Of course, after seeing just a few of the photos for this fantastic home, you may want to see more. So, here is all of the information on this wonderful single-level 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home in South Salem. This home is listed at only $249,900.

Lovely Single Level 3/2.5 with indoor sauna

Overview Maps Photos Features Description Novak Audio Tour Open House

$249,900 Single Family Home For Sale Main Features 3 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms 1 Partial Bathroom Interior: 1999 sqft Lot: 0.14 acre(s) Location 5559 Novak CT SE Salem, OR 97306

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Mel Wagner Coldwell Banker Mtn. West Real Estate, Inc. (503) 931-1846 MelWagnerBroker@msn.com http://www.MelWagnerBroker.com Listed by: Mel Wagner

Our recent listings Dual Living!! 4/3 in West Salem Lovely Single Level 4/3 in West Salem Gorgeous Single Level-Move in Ready Horse Property and Private Country Home Setting close to Town and I-5 Salem, Oregon Lovely Single Level 3/2.5 with indoor sauna Subscribe to our listing feed

See more Salem, OR real estate for sale

SALEM OREGON REAL ESTATE HAS GREAT NEWS FOR SALEM OREGON HOME  BUYERS AND SELLERS—THE FIRST TIME HOME BUYER TAX CREDIT WAS OFFICIALLY EXTENDED TODAY, AND NOW INCLUDES SOME HOME SELLERS THAT WILL BE BUYERS!!

Earlier today President Obama signed the unemployment bill which also includes an extension for the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit, and a new tax credit for sellers who will also be home buyers once they sell, if they qualify.

Here is a basic rundown of what exactly this means to Salem Oregon Home Buyers and Salem Oregon Home Sellers:

• Extends the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit of up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers until April 30, 2010.
• Expands the credit to grant up to $6,500 credit to current home owners purchasing a new or existing home between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010.

There are some qualifications that buyers must meet to be eligible for the tax credit:

• First time home buyer must not have had an interest in a principal residence in the last 3 years.
• Sellers must have lived in their home for 5 out of the last 8 years as their primary residence. 
• All purchases must be in contract by April 30, 2010.
• Buyers have until July 1, 2010 to close on their purchase.
• Home purchase must be $800,000 or less.

Buyers must also meet income guidelines:

• The single person income cannot exceed $125,000 to qualify for the full credit.
• The married persons’ income cannot exceed $225,000 to qualify for the full credit.
• There is a “phase out” in place for incomes exceeding that which may still qualify the buyer for a partial tax credit.
• Married persons filing separately have different amounts of credit that they can qualify for-first time home buyers is $4000, and current homeowners is $3250.

If you would like to view a comparison of the previous credit vs. the new credit, the National Association of Realtors has put together a chart.

So, what could this mean to the Salem Oregon Real Estate Market, you may be asking?  The hope is that by extending the credit, it will keep those first time buyers buying.  In addition, by extending this credit to current home owners, these home owners will be moving up or down in size, which will bring more buyers into the market for those middle and higher price range homes.  That portion of our market has been lagging behind for some time now.

If you are a first time buyer, or a seller, that has questions, or would like assistance to get started, you can contact me directly at 503-931-1846, or MelWagnerBroker@msn.com.    

If you are relocating to the Salem Oregon area, I have a relocation package that can provide you with current information on home prices in Salem, Oregon.

If you are a Salem Oregon Home Seller that would like to know what the current market value of your home is, you can request a free, no obligation market analysis here.

If you would like to stay updated on new and breaking information regarding Salem Oregon Real Estate and Homes for Sale, be sure to join my business page on Facebook, and subscribe to my blog.

If you are just curious about whether or not the Salem Oregon Real Estate Market is stabilizing, or would like more information about a neighborhood that you may be interested in moving to, you can visit my Salem Oregon House Values site to see what is going on in any neighborhood that you are interested in.

SALEM OREGON HOMES FOR U HAS GREAT NEWS FOR SALEM OREGON HOME BUYERS AND SELLERS—THE FIRST TIME HOME BUYER TAX CREDIT WAS OFFICIALLY EXTENDED TODAY AND NOW INCLUDES SOME HOME SELLERS THAT WILL BE BUYERS!!

Earlier today President Obama signed the unemployment bill which also includes an extension for the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit, and a new tax credit for sellers who will also be home buyers once they sell, if they qualify.

Here is a basic rundown of what exactly this means to Salem Oregon Home Buyers and Salem Oregon Home Sellers:

 • Extends the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit of up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers until April  30th, 2010.

• Expands the credit to grant up to $6,500 credit to current home owners purchasing a new or existing home between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010.

There are some qualifications that buyers must meet to be eligible for the tax credit:

• First time home buyer must not have had an interest in a principal residence in the last 3 years.

• Sellers must have lived in their home for 5 out of the last 8 years as their primary residence.

• All purchases must be in contract by April 30, 2010.

• Buyers have until July 1, 2010 to close on their purchase.

• Home purchase must be $800,000 or less.

Buyers must also meet income guidelines:

• The single person income cannot exceed $125,000 to qualify for the full credit.

• The married persons’ income cannot exceed $225,000 to qualify for the full credit.

• There is a “phase out” in place for incomes exceeding that which may still qualify the buyer for a partial tax credit.

• Married persons filing separately have different amounts of credit that they can qualify for-first time home buyers is $4000, and current homeowners is $3250.

If you would like to view a comparison of the previous credit vs. the new credit, the National Association of Realtors has put together a chart.

So, what could this mean to the Salem Oregon Real Estate Market, you may be asking? The hope is that by extending the credit, it will keep those first time buyers buying. In addition, by extending this credit to current home owners, these home owners will be moving up or down in size, which will bring more buyers into the market for those middle and higher price range homes. That portion of our market has been lagging behind for some time now.

If you are a first time buyer, or a seller, that has questions, or would like assistance to get started, you can contact me directly at 503-931-1846, or MelWagnerBroker@msn.com.

If you are relocating to the Salem Oregon area, I have a relocation package that can provide you with current information on home prices in Salem, Oregon.

If you would like to stay updated on new and breaking information regarding Salem Oregon Real Estate and Homes for Sale, be sure to join my business page, and subscribe to my blog.

If you are just curious about whether or not the Salem Oregon Real Estate Market is stabilizing, or would like more information about a neighborhood that you may be interested in moving to, you can visit my Salem Oregon House Values site to see what is going on in any neighborhood that you are interested in.

‘TIS THE SEASON…..FOR SOUP THAT IS!! YUMMY TACO SOUP!! SALEM OREGON REAL ESTATE’S FAVORITE TACO SOUP RECIPE!! 

Now that the beautiful fall colors and colder weather are here, nothing warms me up like sitting in front of the fireplace with a warm bowl of soup. This soup is super easy to make, and you can just throw in the crockpot in the morning before you leave for work, and its ready and waiting for you when you get home in the evening.

I usually double this recipe and add another can of tomatoes and kidney beans. I substitute a can of yellow hominy for the second can of corn, and add 1 or 2 cans of garbanzo beans. I also add an additional half packet of taco seasoning mix and salad dressing mix.

The basic recipe:

1 lb hamburger browned

1 onion

1 can of diced tomatoes-I like to use the ones that have green chilies and spices

1 can each-kidney beans and black beans-don’t drain

1 can corn-don’t drain

1 pkg taco seasoning

1 pkg Hidden Valley Ranch salad dressing mix

My additions:

1 can yellow hominy

1-2 cans garbanzo beans

1 can of olives sliced up

You can garnish this soup with broken up tortilla chips, salsa, cheese and sour cream.

SALEM OREGON HOMES AND REAL ESTATE WANS YOU TO KNOW—There is a great new store in town!!  Today is the Grand Opening for Real Deals in Salem, Oregon. Real Deals will be open only two days a week-Thursdays and Saturdays! They are located at 1320 Liberty ST NE (corner of Liberty and Gaines). Hours of operation are 10-6 on Thursdays and 10-3 on Saturdays.

Whether you are a seller that could use some new home decor for staging your home, or a new home buyer looking for some home decor for your new home,  Real Deals has some great items for you at WAREHOUSE PRICES!!!    As a seller in the  Salem Oregon Real Estate market, you know that staging can make all the difference in having your home stand out to our Salem area buyers.  If you are interested in learning more about staging your home to sell,  or would like to set up a consultation for home staging services, you can visit Creative Concepts and Contracting. 

If you are just getting started with the home buying or selling process, please visit my website for some great tips for buyers and sellers, and also free reports. 

Happy Shopping!!

OCTOBER IS FIRE PREVENTION MONTH-SALEM OREGON REAL ESTATE  WANTS TO KNOW-DO YOU HAVE AN ESCAPE PLAN??

October is Fire Prevention Month and a good time to ask the question, “Do you have an escape plan?” That is, a plan to get out of your home safely if a fire breaks out?

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), only about one in four of us has taken the time to draw a home escape plan and practice it. That means a lot of us are in danger of doing the wrong thing, with possible tragic results.

In addition to not being prepared, many of us are also misinformed! For example, in a recent survey the NFPA learned that one-third of us think we’d have at least six minutes before a home fire became life-threatening, but the available time is often much less. And only eight percent said their first thought on hearing a smoke alarm would be to – get out!

Are your smoke alarms working?  Now is a great time to change your batteries.

Speaking of smoke alarms, the survey also found that in one out of every five homes equipped with at least one smoke alarm, not a single one was working. Do you recall when you last tested or changed your smoke alarm batteries?

And while many of us think of our kitchens as the “heart” of our homes, cooking is the leading cause of home fires and injuries, and unattended cooking is the leading cause of cooking fires.

The NFPA and I want this month – and every month – to be a safe one for you and those you love, so please visit http://www.nfpa.org/ for a wealth of safety information, fire prevention tips, and resources.

Let’s not forget our brave firefighters!!

SALEM OREGON REAL ESTATE NEWS-NEW LAW TAKES EFFECT AIMED AT HELPING HOMEOWNERS FACING FORECLOSURE.

Oregon homeowners facing foreclosure have new rights thanks to a new Oregon law-Senate Bill 628.  This law now requires lenders to meet with borrowers, either in person or by phone, to determine whether or not they qualify for a loan modification.  A loan modification could lower house payments and allow homebuyers to remain in their home.

Oregon RealEstateRama has the complete article along with tips for homeowners to follow once they have received their Notice of Foreclosure.

If you know someone who is struggling to make their mortgage payment, please forward this article to them.

SALEM OREGON HOME SELLING-100 FABULOUS FALL DECORATING IDEAS FROM SOUTHERN LIVING.  ALSO, GREAT FALL PARTY IDEAS,  PUMPKIN CARVING TEMPLATES AND DIRECTIONS!!

As we say goodbye to Summer and head into fall, if you are currently trying to sell your Salem Oregon Home, you may be looking for some quick decorating ideas to “spruce up your home” for a Fall look.  The Salem Oregon Real Estate Market currently has many options for buyers looking to purchase a home in our area.  Make your home stand out by feeling warm and inviting, while sporting a new fall look.  Here is a two minute video highlighting some great decorating ideas for you!

Make your pumpkins stand out with these great pumpkin carving designs and directions.  Need some more pumpkin carving ideas?   Be sure to check out the other videos on the sidebar of the 100 Fall Decorating Ideas to see all of the great party ideas such as spooky trees, ghost cakes and how to use all of those pumpkins for decorations.

Happy Fall Everyone!!

Salem Oregon Home Buyers-How to Cut Your Spending up to $500 a Month.  CNN Money shows us how! 

Whether you are saving for your first home, or a homeowner already, we can all use some tips to save money on our monthly expenses. If you are saving to buy a home in Salem, Oregon these tips can help you get your downpayment together in no time.  If you save $500 a month for one year, you will have saved up $6000 for a downpayment.  That is enough down for a 3 bedroom, 2 bath home in our area.  These tips for saving money cover everything from grocery shopping to insurance savings and more.

If you would like more information on the Salem Oregon Real Estate Market or buying or selling a home in the Salem Oregon area, please let me know.