The Davis County Market

The average price for homes in Davis County is $288,000, Check out this awesome Clearfield home way under the average price at only $149,900.

Beautiful Ogden Canyon

Pineview Reservoir is one of Utah's summer hotspots and one of the local favorites for boating and swimming! check out this home just minutes away from the Reservoir.  In Mountain Green http://www.utahrealestate.com/1177217

Isn't this home Fantastic?!!

There are tons of Homes just like this one in our own back yard! Davis County is full of beautiful and affordable homes, great for families in wonderful neighborhoods.

You can see more of this Kaysville home in this link http://www.utahrealestate.com/1186770

Gorgeous Kitchen!

Check out this Beautiful Kitchen! It has everything you want, Stainless steel appliances, tile floor, and granite countertops. Its open and has tons of cabinet space! Its ideal for the family! Let us know what you think! To see more on this West Kaysville Home check it out at http://www.utahrealestate.com/1182823

10 Tips for Avoiding Back to School Clutter

As we slip out of the lazy days of summer and back into the routine of school it's easy to get overloaded with the transition. Houselogic.com came up with these 10 tips on how to avoid the back to school clutter.

Read the complete article.

Existing-Home Sales Spike in July

Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist of the National Association of Realtors reported recently that existing home sales increased 17.2% from July 2012.

East Bountiful Gem

Beautiful area in East Bountiful! Fantastic yard! Features include: Updated and renovated, original hardwood floors, all appliances, new dishwasher, updated roof, furnace, AC and patio, speaker system, covered patio, wood shutters, extra insulation in attic, and home warranty.

South Weber Home

Sale failed due to financing! Must sale quickly! Wonderful cul-de-sac lot w/ beautiful views! Fully finished basement w/ second kitchen. Updated kitchen, granite countertops, updated master suite, jetted tub, basement entrance, central vac. New furnace, roof & covered patio! MLS#1167995

Wonderful Layton Home

PRICE REDUCED!! Beautiful home, Great neighborhood! Excellent condition. Walking distance of elementary school and park. Features include: Large trex deck, beautiful backyard with trees, fully fenced, large formal dining room, new roof in 2006, AC added in 2008, new water heater, refrigerator, granite counter tops in bathrooms, and home warranty.

Beautiful Hooper Home

5 CAR GARAGE!!! Features include: gorgeous finishes, immaculate condition, fully finished basement, covered trex deck, arched entries, tile floors, built in cabinetry in office and laundry room, garage with pre-plumbed workshop for HVAC and heavy insulation (perfect place for your toys), and home warranty included. MLS# 1176010

Kaysville Home!

Beautiful home with great views of Antelope Island. Great floor plan! Large 3 car garage! Huge kids bedrooms and awesome loft! Features include: Granite tops, new paint, new trim work, Grand master suite, Unfinished basement for future growth.

Utah Association of REALTORS reports on June 2013

The UAR recently reported on the June 2013 Housing Statistics. State wide we are still seeing some significant gains.  Over all, the Median Sales Price for a home in Utah increased 16.7% from June 2012 to June 2013. Here's how things fared along the Wasatch Front.

Box Elder County +10.3%

Weber County +8.8%

Davis County +2.7%

Salt Lake County +19.5%

Utah County +14.1%

Considering buying or selling a home in Utah? Give our team a call, we can help. 801-725-9900.

Here's a link to the complete report.

Source: Utah Association of REALTORS, Local Market Updates by County June 2013.

Emergency Preparedness Kit

You may never need it, but you'll be glad you had it. Here's some great information on being prepared in an emergency from Houselogic.com.

Create a Home Emergency Preparedness Kit

Property taxes and what you should know

You probably recently received your county tax assessment.  We recently found this article on KSL.com about property taxes and what you should know.

What does it mean to be "Pre-Qualified" and why is it important

Pre-Qualification is just what it sounds like.  It is the process of getting qualified for something.  In this case it is a mortgage.  Said another way it is getting financing approval with a lender based on various lending guidelines.  It is finding out how much of a mortgage you qualify for and finding out what payment meets your needs.  A Pre-Qualification will let a seller know you are serious.  It is somewhat like having cash in hand that tells the seller you can back up your purchase offer.  It moves you to the head of the line in the sellers mind.  Realtors like a Pre-Qualification because they can then show you homes that fit your budget and that you are qualied to buy. 

The process of getting Pre-Qualified is straight forward.  You meet with the lender either in person or over the phone.  The lender will ask questions about your job and your income.  They will ask where you currently live and how long you have been there.  And what assets and debts you have.  The whole process is free and shouldn't take longer than 15-30 minutes.  The time you spend with the lender is also a great time to ask them questions and educate yourself about financing a home.  Feel free to call me if I can be of service.

Jon Southwick, Mortgage Banker NMLS# 314699

Republic Mortgage Home Loans NMLS# 3148

801-628-2890

Convert a door into a wall organizer

Here's a video on how to convert a door into a wall organizer.

Mortgage Rate Tracker

Utah Mortgage Rates

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Utah Association of REALTORS reports on May 2013

The UAR recently reported on the May 2013 Housing Statistics.  State wide we are starting to see some significant gains.  Over all, the Median Sales Price for a home in Utah increased 16.1% from May 2012 to May 2013.  Here's how things fared along the Wasatch Front.

Box Elder County +23.1%
Weber County +12.4%
Davis County +6.6%
Salt Lake County +15.3%
Utah County +17.9%

Here's a link to the complete report.

Firework Safety - How to Have a Safe Independence Day

We were able to pull this information from the Consumer Product Safety Commission about how to stay safe when working with fireworks.  Here's their 9 tips.

1. Use fireworks outdoors only.
2. Obey local laws.  If fireworks are not legal where you live, do not use them!
3. Always have water handy (a hose or bucket of water).
4. Only use fireworks as intended. DO NOT try to alter them or combine them.
5. Never re-light a "dud" firework (wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water).
6. Use common sense when using fireworks. Spectators should keep a safe distance from the fireworks. The person lighting the fireworks should wear safety glasses.
7. Alcohol and fireworks do not mix! Have a "designated" person light fireworks.
8. Only persons over the age of 12 should be allowed to handle sparklers of any type.
9. DO NOT use homemade fireworks or illegal explosives; they can kill you! Report illegal explosives to the fire or police department in your community.

Here's an interesting infographic on injuries related to fireworks.  Click the image to view the complete report.

New Listing in Fruit Heights

Don't miss this one of a kind town home in Fruit Heights. Built in 2012, this home has 3 bedrooms and 4 baths with a spacious two car garage.  This is low maintenance living at it's best.  Priced at $267,900.

New Listing in South Weber

South Weber rambler with 6 beds and 4 baths located at 8080 S. 2575 E. This home is on a .41 acre lot and is priced at $279,870.

Relief for Recession Foreclosures

$1,500 worth of relief is in the mail for 7,000 foreclosed homes in Utah. A $50 billion settlement took place last year with the five largest mortgage services.  The Associated Press reports that about $1.5 billion of that will go to people who lost their homes, including $10 million to Utah borrowers.

KSL.com - On the Market Utah

Thinking about selling your existing home or buying a new home?  We would love to help, give us a call. 801-725-9900.

New Listing in Kaysville

2007 Rambler with partially finished basement at 1643 Leola Street in Kaysville. 7 bedroom, 4.5 bath on a .52 acre home site. Priced at $469,900.

Interested in Housing? - Who to subscribe to on YouTube

YouTube has become a behemoth when it comes to video content.  After all, it's what they do and they do it really well.  Like everyone else, I've used YouTube to help me figure out how to get things done when it comes to home improvement projects. Here are five YouTube Channels we recommend you subscribe to if you're interested in housing and home improvement.




1. This Old House - The original home improvement program.  7,548 subscribers

2. DIY Network - 20,403 subscribers

3. Build.com - 24,477 subscribers

4. The Home Depot - 28,359 subscribers

5. Lowe's - 49,101 subscribers

Houselogic.com

Houselogic.com is a new website that's sponsored by the National Association of REALTORS.  If you haven't had a chance to take a look at this website, you should.  This site is a great resource for all things housing. Renovation ideas, green living, protecting your home, taxes, financing and so much more are all covered.  Take a minute to check it out.

They also have a YouTube channel, Twitter Feed and Facebook Page.

Boring but Important - Radon Awareness

Radon Awareness

Even with your health-conscious routine, you develop lung cancer. Radon gas in your home could be the cause. There is no way you could have known the odorless, tasteless, invisible gas was slowly giving you cancer. It becomes a health risk when it seeps into a home, becomes trapped and accumulates to elevated levels.

20,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the U.S. are radon-related. 12.5% of Utahns surveyed had tested their homes for radon exposure. They found that 30% of Utah homes have high levels of radon.

Should home buyers and sellers test for radon? Absolutely! Testing for radon is easy and inexpensive. Homeowners can purchase do-it-yourself kits through a local home improvement store or through the Utah Department of Environmental Quality at www.radon.utah.gov.

Contributed by Cal Musselman

New Listing in Syracuse!

2003 multi-level with a finished basement at 2063 South Lake Mesa Drive in Syracuse. 3 bedroom, 3 bath on a .14 acre home site. Priced at $196,000.

New Listing in North Salt Lake!

2005 rambler at 1099 W. Haworth in North Salt Lake. 3 bedroom, 2 bath on a .09 acre home site. Priced at $199,870.

Kaysville Home Values Rebound

Your home may be worth more than you think. It seems like the housing funk may be in the rear view mirror. At Discover Realty we have seen an increase in activity on both the buying and selling of homes.  Here's a good example of how things are shaping up. Kaysville home values have increased by 9% over the past two years.

Source: WFRMLS average sales price of a home in Kaysville, UT. Q1 2011 ($254,000) compared to Q1 2013 ($278,000).

New Listing in Bountiful!

1975 rambler with a finished basement at 2284 S. Claremont Drive in Bountiful. 6 bedroom, 3 bath on a .24 acre home site. Priced at $375,000.

New Listing in Syracuse!

2002 two story with a partially finished basement at 2389 S. 2885 W., in Syracuse. 5 bedroom, 2 bath on a .34 acre home site. Priced at $209,870.

New Listing in Kaysville!

2006 rambler with finished basement located at 1448 West Ramola Street in Kaysville. 4 bedroom, 5 bath on a .37 acre home site. Priced at $499,870.

5 Reasons to Sell Your Home Now

KSL.com recently published a story entitled "5 Reasons to Sell Your Home Now". The story was written by Amber Wykstra who publishes her articles on her blog called accordingtoamber.com.  Here's a brief recap of her article. To read the complete article check out the story on KSL.com

5 Reasons to Sell Your Home Now

1. Home Prices are Stabilizing
"In January 2006, the average sales price for a home in

Utah was $240,000. December 2012 UAR statistics show the average sales price per home was $242,524."

2. Get Ahead of the Competition
"According to the Utah Association of Realtors, absorption rates have improved by almost 33 percent, down to a 5.2 month's supply. This means there are fewer homes for sale on the market, creating a greater demand."

3. Only Serious Buyers are Out
"With the mortgage qualifications tightening up, only those purchasers who are serious about buying a home will be in the market."

4. There Will Never be a Better Tim to Move Up
"Selling your home will give you the opportunity to continue to ride the appreciation wave, especially if you are looking at a larger, more expensive home."

5. Lenders are Paying Attention
"Most lenders have changed their processes to accommodate a purchase market. That means that they have strategically chosen to process purchase transactions in a shorter timeline that refinances. As a result of this, you should be able to close within 30 days of accepting your offer. If your buyer asks for more time than 30 days, don't be afraid to ask why."

We've Moved!

We recently moved to our new office location in downtown Kaysville! We are now in the Park Place complex off of 300 West and just north of 200 North. We are in suite 504, next door to Apple Tree Schoolhouse. Feel free to stop by and say Hi!

Tips for the Best Move Possible

Moving can be a stressful time, but with the correct preparation and planning many challenges can be avoided.  Here's a video with some great tips on what to do to make moving day a success.

New Listing in Kaysville!

2006 rambler with bonus room located at 2138 Buffalo Trail Drive in Kaysville. 3 bedroom, 3 bath on a .35 acre home site. Priced at $379,870.

First Impressions: 13 Tips For Getting the Inside of Your Home Ready for the Market

You never get a second chance to make a first impression. Taking care of these items before you put a sign in your front yard will save you time and money in the long run.

1.       Start with lighting, replace any burned out or missing bulbs.

2.       Declutter – Put a cardboard box in the middle of your kitchen and go through all the cupboards. If you haven’t used it in the last 4-6 months, put it in the box. Label the box and store it out of the way.

3.       Make sure that table tops, dressers and closets are free of clutter.

4.       Wipe down your kitchen cabinets, fridge, range and microwave.

5.       Repair any wall dents or scratches. Paint walls as needed.

6.       Remove any hard water spots in the kitchen and bathrooms.

7.       Repair or replace any leaky faucets or showerheads. A call to a plumber is a wise investment.

8.       Review your furniture situation – remove any excess or very large furniture.

9.       You want your home to appear as large and specious as possible – avoid using your garage, attic and basement to store extra things. This may require getting a small storage unit for a short period of time.

10.   Replace or clean any worn out carpets.

11.   Repair or replace and cracked or pealing caulk.

12.   Store RV’s or old vehicles elsewhere while the home is on the market.

13.   Replace all the batteries in your smoke detectors and replace your furnace filter.

Curb Appeal: 9 Tips to Help Get the Outside of Your Home Ready for the Market

Spring has sprung and now is a great time to sale your existing home. Preparing your current home for the market can be intimidating and downright overwhelming. It’s important to remember the best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. Start with the outside of your home. Here are a few tips that will cost a little money, but will save you thousands in the long run.

1.       Keep your lawn mowed and trimmed.

2.       Fertilize your grass 4 times each year, once for every season.

3.       Trim the bushes and shrubs so more of your home can been seen.

4.       Focus on the front door area; wipe down the front door and trim. If needed, apply a fresh coat of paint.

5.       Replace all burned out light bulbs on the exterior of the home and if possible use matching wattage bulbs to balance the lighting.

6.       Wash the windows and keep your front porch clean of dust and debris.

7.       Make sure your doorbell looks good and is in good working condition.

8.       Repair or replace any missing address numbers.

9.       Repair or replace any damaged concrete to walkways and steps.

If you're considering selling your home, we would be honored to help. Submit your information here or give us a call at 801-725-9900.

New Listing in North Salt Lake!

2004 two-story home located at 930 W Stonehenge in North Salt Lake. 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath on a .11 acre home site. Priced at $229,870.

Sellers Who Delay May Miss Out.

The National Association of Realtors recently published an article titled "Sellers Who Delay May Miss Out".  In the article they interviewed Daren Blomquist, a VP from RealtyTrac and CEO of Redfin Glenn Kelman. Here are three great quotes from the article.

"Home owners who purchased their home during the sluggish market the last two to three years may find moving up in 2013 may be their prime opportunity." Daren Blomquist, VP RealtyTrac

"If you're selling one house just to move up to another, it does you no good to wait for prices to rise - the price of the move-up home will increase faster than the price of the place you're leaving behind."
Glenn Kelman, CEO Redfin

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, mortgage rates are expected to come off the 3.5% range and reach 4.4% in the next year.

To read the complete article visit The National Association of Realtors website.

New Listing in North Salt Lake!

2005split-entry home located at 986 W Stonehenge in North Salt Lake. 4 bedroom, 2 bath on a .11 acre home site. Priced at $219,900.

Easter Eggs - How to Dye Them & Hide Them

Easter eggs are a great tradition! Here's two videos, one on how to dye them and the other on how to hide them.

New Listing in Roy!

2001 tri-level home located at 4119 W 4600 S in Roy. 3 bedroom, 2 bath on a .18 acre home site. Priced at $175,000.

Inexpensive Updates for Any Home

Here are two inexpensive updates you can do to any home.

New Listing in Bountiful!

1954 rambler home located at 622 E. Crestwood Circle in Bountiful. 4 bedroom, 2 bath on a .24 acre cul-de-sac home site. Priced at $239,900.

New Listing in Layton!

1978 split-entry home located at 2607 N 2600 E, in Layton. 3 bedroom, 2 bath on a .39 acre home site. Priced at $239,870. This one will go fast!

New Listing in Clinton!

2000 multi-level home located at 2378 W. 2000 N. in Clinton. 4 bedroom, 3 bath on a .21 acre home site. Priced at $188,900.

A Green Lawn

Getting that thick, green lawn isn't as difficult as you might think. Here are two video's on how to get that perfect lawn that will make your neighbors green with envy.

New Listing in Layton!

1972 split-entry home located at 370 N 850 E, in Layton. 4 bedroom, 2 bath on a .24 acre corner home site. Priced at $159,870.

Has the Housing Pendulum Swung?

On the first day of spring, National Public Radio ran a story about the housing recovery. In some markets, housing inventory has dropped to record lows.

Listen to the complete story.