It's not always enough to be up to snuff on negotiating that reduced price. Sometimes you need to know where to look to find a bargain that's already available. A quality realtor with a proven track record is the first place to start.
Redfin's "Science of Real Estate" center studied the differences between homes that sold for a large discount and those that didn't, and came up with guidance for buyers looking for large discounts.
"Homebuyers have begun crawling out of their bomb shelters hungry for big discounts off the asking price," said Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman.
"Often, their expectations are unrealistic, as many sellers have already aggressively priced their homes. But when conditions are right, we've found that a small but significant number of sellers concede $50,000 or more at the negotiating table. We've tried to take the mystery out of when a seller will give ground and when they will stand firm," Kelman said.
The recommendations aren't negotiating tips but "where-to-look-for-bargains" tips.
Redfin says:
Look for languishing listings. Heavily discounted homes are 83 percent more likely to have been on the market for 90 days or more. Most sellers will hesitate to accept a low offer if the property has been on the market for only a few weeks.
Find fixer-uppers. Heavily discounted homes are 73 percent more likely to need some fixing up. People who sell homes before fixing them up are usually more concerned about speedy selling than peak price. Get the home inspected before you buy so you know exactly what needs work.
Retreat from remodels. Heavily discounted homes are 20 percent less likely to feature a noteworthy remodel. This also means sellers who sink money into major remodels before they list could be missing out on certain buyers.
Hunt homes with long-time owners. Heavily discounted homes are 52 percent more likely to have been seller-owned for 20 years or more. The longer a seller has owned a property, the more equity he has likely accumulated, and the more likely he is to make significant price concessions.
Put your finger on a flip. On the other hand, heavily discounted homes are 9 percent more likely to have been owned for less than five years. A home owner or investor in trouble may be motivated by the need to quickly reclaim capital, rather than wait for equity growth.
Don't bank on bigger bargains from bank-owned homes. Heavily discounted homes are 9 percent more likely to be a short sale or bank-owned. Banks lower prices as much as possible from the beginning to unload distressed properties as quickly as possible, but no so much to take more of a loss than is necessary. 

 

  
We would be happy to assist you or your friends when looking for a home or when you are ready to sell. Visit us today at www.TheMarellas.com

Consumers are expected to spend $3.12 billion on candy, costumes and other Halloween goodies this year, according to a survey conducted by BIGresearch for the National Retail Federation. That's a big pile of candy corn. It's also a lot of crumpled candy wrappers, paper party props and plastic political masks in the trash the very next day. So this Halloween, why not think green?

Putting together a green Halloween is as easy as an orange and black one. Here are a few tips to get you started:
Talk to your kids about what is in candy and why it is not healthy. Ask them to come up with creative, kid and Earth-friendly alternatives that your own family can hand out and feel good about.
 
Tip for parents: Model healthy choices. Remember that your children look to you for cues. When you take good care of yourself, others and the planet, your child is bound to follow in your footsteps. When you show your children that having a Green Halloween can be just as fun (if not more so) than one that is not-so-healthy, your children will be more likely to go along with the changes and may find themselves loving every minute of it.
 
 Make use of all pumpkin parts. After carving a pumpkin, make sure to save the seeds. Bake them and serve them to party guests or feed them to our fine feathered friends, the birds. There's no problem putting pumpkin seeds out for birds, wet or dry.
What to give out instead of candy?
This Halloween, think treasures, instead of candy. Kids love little trinkets like spinning tops, stickers and collectable cards. Most children especially love gifts from nature like polished rocks, crystals and seashells. Think keepsakes, tokens and stocking-stuffer type gifts but don't forget to think healthy and green. Although non-food items are generally healthier than food items, try to avoid non-recycled plastic toys. Here are our suggestions
coins
pencils
plastic spiders
mini pumpkins
seed packets
stickers or tattoos
Green Halloween costume ideas
We once knew a little boy who told his mom he wanted to be a stick for Halloween. "A tree, you mean?" she asked. "No. A stick." He said. And so the mother and son set about finding ways to make him a stick. On brown pants and a brown shirt they sewed little knotholes and a few leaves made of felt and soon that little boy was transformed into the cutest little Halloween stick there ever was. And not only that; his mom was likewise transformed into the proudest mother-of-a-Halloween stick there ever was too! When it comes to costumes, let your child's imagination lead the way.
Host a costume exchange! Get together with friends and trade costumes that your kids have outgrown, this way everyone gets a "new" costume as well.
Energy conservation and Halloween
Halloween is a perfect time of year to think about and practice ways of reducing energy use. What could be better than going lights free for a spooky ambiance?
Phantoms and Vampires
Did you know your home may have phantoms and vampires? If you're like most Americans, you may have as many as twenty! Yes, "Phantom Loads," or "Energy Vampires" as some people call them, happen when appliances and electronics drain energy even when they're turned off or not in use simply because they are plugged in. These nuisances not only suck unnecessary energy and lead to carbon emissions, they cost the average household about $200 a year. Now that's scary.

How to rid your home of these unwanted guests? When not in use, unplug items such as single use appliances (like toasters and coffee makers) as well as all of your gizmo chargers. Unplug appliances such as televisions when you're away on vacation. You can also use what are called "smart" power strips designed to stave off unwanted energy suckers.