A Great Team = Great Properties

Hi there!



Let me start by thanking Carmen Lonardo (Remax Realty Group) for inviting me to his blog. He and I have been working together for some time, and in that time Ive come to see the drive and dedication he and his colleagues have for their profession. They value professionalism and customer service above all. It didn't take me long to realize that they only surround themselves with great people and companies to work with. I'm proud to be apart of their business infrastructure.



My name is Josh Zamiara, I own and operate Artisan Techniques, INC. We provide residential and commercial customers, in the Rochester area, with exceptional remodeling and renovations. Customer service and quality are the TOP priorities.



Artisan Tech engages in great deal of real estate projects, both on the purchasing and selling side. Much of this originates from Mark Siwiec (Remax Realty Group)and his team. When I say "real estate projects" it generally means customers getting their property in top condition to list and/or making the new house they purchased become their home.



Each of these aspects are exciting and rewarding. Both involve the obvious constraints of time and money, yet both allow for the collaboration of client, realtor, designer, contractors and vendors. Each using their talents to make a house more marketable or desirable to live in. Its amazing what THIS team can accomplish on literally any budget!

Credit Cards Impact Your Credit Score?

I am always asked questions about credit scores and what factors are important in establishing and maintaining good credit scores. Credit cards impact our credit scores but its not always bad.  RISmedia's magazine, Real Estate, featured a very helpful article in its January 2010 issue.  Read it here  How Many Credit Cards in Too Many?

Bullish on the Rochester Real Estate Market

It really is beginning to look like the local real estate market is about to experience another shift. A positive one this time! The basis for the 2010 real estate market shift is pent-up demand, fueled by government stimuli and low interest rates.

There is no question that the 2009 federal tax credit for first time homebuyers helped stimulate real estate sales. Many new buyers, however, remained on the fence at the end of the year. Some were cautious but many others were just joining the market in the fall and did not have a selection of new listings to choose from. These holdovers, along with new market entries enticed by the extension and expansion of the tax credits for both first time and move-up homebuyers, both groups poised to take advantage of continuing low interest rates, present a motivated pool of home buyers.

In spite of increased market activity last year, sales of homes in the upper price points languished. Home buyers were active at the $200,000 price point and below. Sales of homes listed above this threshold were slower and virtually non-existent higher up the market. There seemed to be no compelling reason to buy at the $300,000 and up price point. As a result, and unless personal circumstances trumped otherwise, there was no compelling reason to sell at this level either.

Is there pent up buyer demand at the higher price point? Are sellers at the higher price point confident enough to finally join the market? Whether this ready pool of buyers will help sales at the upper end of the market remains to be seen but I am quite bullish on the market

There is significant evidence that we are in the midst of an economic recovery. Sellers at the upper market level who have been patiently waiting for a recovery smell the opportunity. I am expecting to see a large influx of new listings at the higher price points this year. Entry level buyers will re-create the market activity of 2009 at the affordable end which will cause move-up buyers to take advantage of the stimuli expansion and lower rates and help create a market at the middle and upper ends of the market.

Call me overly bullish but I see the potential for this market shift firsthand. I am blessed to be part of the Mark Siwiec Team within the RE/MAX Realty Group organization. Our team alone will be putting approximately $8 million of listings on the market within the next several weeks. We are ready for the market to take-off. Are you? Check out our new listings at www.realestateonthemove.biz

Generation Yers, A Different Kind of Consumer

Generation Y, the up and coming age cohort that will have significant impact on the world economy, is made up of a different kind of consumer. This article has some thoughtful insight for real estate and any industry. Gen Y – Leading the Charge into the Future | RISMedia

Questions to Consider Before Purchasing a home

RISMEDIA, December 15, 2009—(MCT)—Interest rates on the benchmark 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage dipped to a 38-year low recently, giving consumers another reason to consider purchasing a home or refinancing their current one.

Freddie Mac recently stated the average rate on a 30-year loan was 4.71% with an average 0.7 point, the lowest rate since the agency began its weekly tracking of long-term interest rates in 1971. A point is equal to 1% of the loan amount, payable as a lump sum at closing. While the decline wasn’t overly dramatic, the dip is likely to get people wondering whether it’s time to sign on the dotted line.

The 5 following questions may help you decide if now is the time to go ahead and purchase a home or refinance your current home.

Q: Why are rates so low?
A: Since early January, the Federal Reserve has been purchasing mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae in an effort to stabilize the housing market by making homes more affordable for consumers. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York, which is managing the program, plans on purchasing $1.25 trillion of securities.

Read more: 5 Questions to Consider Before Purchasing a Home | RISMedia