 I remember first visiting Saranac Lake. 1987. Roads bordered by beautiful lakes. A festival in the park. Quaint Main Street shops and restaurants. Mountain vistas all around me. People I didn’t know saying “good morning”. Cars actually stopping to allow me to cross the street. I was smitten with this mountain village, and I still didn’t know the half of it.
Saranac Lake is special; just ask anyone who lives here. Saranac Lakers know their village is like no other, and will happily share their love for this community with anyone willing to listen. The area's rich history, natural beauty, artistic vibe and local food scene may be what attracts visitors, but the close knit sense of community is what keeps many from ever leaving, and calling Saranac Lake home. 2/25/2019 The Costs of Home Ownership As a Realtor, I earn my living helping people buy and sell homes. That said, once in a while it’s important to help both buyer and seller clients consider other options.
I met with a wonderful older woman in Lake Placid last year who told me that she wanted to sell her home and move into a condo. After my second visit and a conversation over coffee it became apparent that what she really wanted was to not sell her home, but she would need her sons to help her maintain the property.  Purchasing a home can be quite a bit easier and more simple than you may imagine, as long as you have thought out your intentions, and have done your homework. The following are a few tips to help you navigate the start of the home buying process and avoid costly mistakes.
 Happy Winter!
February has been a busy real estate month in the tri-lakes with quite a few home sales, meetings with perspective home buyers, and speaking with sellers who are preparing their homes for market after the snow melts. “Do I need to do renovations or updating before listing my house in the Spring?” is one of the questions home sellers have today. The following remodel ideas may help you add some value to your home.    When most folks think of “red hot” real estate in the Adirondacks, they rightfully think of Lake Placid. “Insiders” will tell you however that Wilmington is just as “red hot”, with very high demand, low inventory, and exceptional growth in market values.
As the above graphs demonstrate, the average sale price of homes in Wilmington over the last 6 years is up 62% in value. Obviously this is not to say that a home that sold in 2012 is now worth 62% more, but the data does show us that values have increased along with an investment in the Community. 2/4/2019 Who ya gonna call? You're probably aware that you have to disclose any known physical issues with your house when you're selling it—such as a leaking roof or a cracked foundation. But did you know you might have to disclose spiritual problems, as well?
Seriously. Disclosures are a key part of your real estate transaction requiring sellers to document any known defects to potential buyers.  Buying a house is just a little more complicated than buying a pizza at Little Italy. Buying a home will require much more money, thought, and preparation. Since purchasing real estate is not something you often do, it’s understandable that you may not be fully familiar with the process. Luckily, if you’re partnered with the right Realtor, the process should go smoothly, and maybe even be fun. That said, there are certain things you need to do. So, here’s my list of things I wish every one of my clients understood about buying a home.
 Let's be honest. You want to sell your home for as much as you possibly can. Who wouldn't?
The Lake Placid area real estate market is very active, and demand is very high. This is a great time to consider listing your home for sale, but, if you want to get the most for your home, there are things you need to do. Here's a list of my top 8 secrets for selling your home for more.  Yes, the walkways do need shoveling this time of year, and if you're as lucky as I am, your wife helps you with it.
Growing up on Long Island, I don't remember my parents enjoying winter very much. I think for them winter snow was a hassle. Higher fuel bills, a driveway to maintain, and Lord help us, what do we do if school closes? When Ellen and I moved to Lake Placid in 1990, we met one of our neighbors, Gary Hodgson, a State Forest Ranger. He told us that the former owner of our home had purchased in the summer, went through one winter, and then moved quickly back to Connecticut, vowing to never go through another cold season. Gary told us "You kids better learn to embrace winter. If you don't, you'll never make it here".  The importance of a quality home inspection, and questions you should ask.
Congratulations, you found your Adirondack dream home, and successfully negotiated an agreement to purchase. Now it’s time to schedule a home inspection. Ask your Realtor for suggestions on hiring a professional, certified home inspector. In the Lake Placid/Saranac Lake/Wilmiington area we have several highly qualified inspectors that can be recommended based on particular situations. |
AuthorBob Miller is an Associate Broker with 10 years of real estate experience as well as 15 years of service as a former Lake Placid School Board member, and is currently a 3-time elected Town Councilman in Lake Placid. Archives
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2/25/2019
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