David hibbins real estate

After a few red-hot years for home sellers, rising mortgage and interest rates along with widespread economic uncertainty have cooled the market, leaving many buyers out in the cold and forcing sellers to reevaluate their pricing strategies. In recent months, we started to see rates drop — for example in January 2023, they were at their lowest in four months (then in February, rates crept up again ).

But keep in mind that mortgage rates hit a 20-year high (subscription required) in late 2022 at more than 7%, so we’re still better positioned than we were last year. In fact, I’ve noticed that offer activity seems to be resuming as buyers return to the table with pent-up demand; this should help balance out higher interest rates.

Regardless of market conditions, the decision to sell your home is generally based on personal circumstances like stage of life, financial situation, family changes or career moves. Some homeowners can wait until the market starts trending up again, while others will have to sell despite market conditions.

The more homeowners know about their selling options, the better equipped they are to take control of their sale and come out ahead, even in a slower market. Assuming a relocation is in your future this spring, here’s what you need to know.

The Factors Driving Home Selling Success: Exposure and Price

The more buyers you reach, the more offers you’re likely to get. One of the easiest ways to widen exposure is by listing your home on the Multiple Listing Service ( MLS ). This can be done either through a real estate broker or a licensed online home selling platform (but it’s not available to “For Sale By Owner” (FSBO) sellers). When your home is on the MLS, it will automatically appear on the biggest real estate search sites (e.g., Zillow, Redfin, Trulia and Realtor.com) — and hopefully capture the attention of buyers nationwide.

Marketing your home through the MLS is only one key step; equally important is setting the sale price. Educate yourself about what homes are selling for in your neighborhood, how your home compares to current inventory (known as “comps”) and how long comparable homes are generally on the market. Over-pricing a home usually means it languishes — and the longer a house is on the market, the more it seems stale or even undesirable to prospective buyers. Finding the sweet spot (sometimes even slightly under-pricing the property) could lead to the coveted bidding war.

By considering these factors in advance, you can maximize your chances of success.

Budget for Pre-inspections, Repairs and Staging

Before you dive into the home selling process, make sure you budget for repairs and staging.

First, determine if there are any issues that need to be addressed before listing—this is known as a pre-inspection. Consider hiring a certified home inspector to conduct a pre-inspection, evaluating factors like the HVAC, furnace, windows, water heater, plumbing, appliances, toilets and even kitchen cabinets. It’s smart to invest in large repairs up front, rather than waiting for issues to be discovered during the buyer’s inspection. More deals fall apart during that phase than any other, and it’s usually due to buyers learning the home needs a significant amount of unforeseen work.

Next, budgeting for staging, which includes painting in neutral tones and upping curb appeal through yard work and minor landscaping, can go a long way in making a strong first impression. You can also consider making small improvements if they fit in your budget, like adding smart thermostats or energy-efficient appliances.

But not everything about prepping your home costs money. It’s key to disconnect yourself from the personal character of your home. Buyers want to picture it as theirs, not yours — and you can achieve this for free. Family photos, knickknacks and kids’ trophies detract from this illusion, so declutter and depersonalize as much as possible. Make sure every countertop and surface is bare and bookcases are minimally but tastefully styled. And color code your closets so they look neater, better organized and bigger; buyers care about storage space.

Choose the Best Selling Approach for Your Situation

As I wrote recently, there’s more than one way to sell your home. Options include working with an agent, FSBO or online selling platforms — and it’s up to you to figure out which best meets your individual needs.

Working with a real estate professional is still the most popular option, but it comes at a steep price (usually 6% commission). For some, the full-service offering real estate agents provide justifies the price; others may prefer a route that allows them to preserve more equity and control.

For example, a number of technology platforms are helping to democratize a market that estate agents once had a monopoly over. (Full disclosure: My company is one such platform.) They generally charge a flat fee rather than a percentage of the sales price. These tools can help home sellers streamline and automate the selling process and retain more control throughout. But not all platforms offer the same value; look for those that are easy to use, harness advanced technology and include guidance from licensed real estate professionals.

Finally, you can sell your home yourself and avoid paying commission, but keep in mind that FSBO homes can sell for up to 26% less than assisted real estate transactions. However, FSBO may make sense if you already have a potential buyer in mind.

Of course, you need to account for seller closing costs, which will be deducted from your equity payout. Generally, closing costs for a seller can amount to roughly 6% to 10% of the sale price , including agent commissions, transfer taxes and fees.

Final Thoughts

Sellers looking to capitalize on the spring market should start planning now. Take the time to carefully think through every aspect, from pricing and listing all the way to fixing creaky cabinets and dusting behind the furniture. The more ownership you take of the process early on, the better positioned you will be for long-term success.

A 67-year-old Auckland real estate agent has been sentenced to five years and eight months imprisonment for multiple sexual offences against two pre-teen girls who considered him their grandfather.

Both girls were between the ages of 11 and 12 when they were indecently assaulted. He attempted to rape one of the girls as well.

He previously pleaded guilty to charges including indecent assault, attempted rape and unlawful sexual connection.

Judge Evangelos Thomas said the offences were an “outrageous betrayal” which would have a significant impact on the two girls through their lives.

One of the girls was the man’s step granddaughter, while the other considered him her grandfather, Judge Thomas said.

“It’s not the touching so much that causes the harm, but the depths of that betrayal, a 12 or 13-year-old doesn’t understand that.”

Judge Thomas granted the man permanent name suppression to protect the identity of his victims, and noted the man had never sought suppression for himself.

The offending occurred three years ago and continued for “an extended period of time” until the man handed himself in to police.

Defence lawyer Paul Borich KC said his client was sorry for what he had done to the children.

“The complainants should have expected loving support from him, and instead they got the opposite,” for which he expressed “profound remorse”, Borich said.

But he said despite the man being of good character for much of his life, he had offended against the two girls, Judge Thomas said.

“This didn’t happen once, it wasn’t a brain implosion… it was part of a pattern of conduct that extended over a period of time.”

The man was given a 40% discount on the starting point of nine and a half years imprisonment in consideration of his early guilty plea and his remorse.

Where to get help

• Rape Crisis 0800 88 33 00, click link for local helplines.

• Victim Support 0800 842 846.

• Safetalk text 4334, phone 0800 044 334 webchat safetotalk.nz or email [email protected]

• The Harbour Online support and information for people affected by sexual abuse.

• Women’s Refuge 0800 733 843

• Male Survivors Aotearoa Helplines across NZ, click to find out more (males only).

• If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 111.

• If you or someone you know is in a dangerous situation, click the Shielded icon at the bottom of this website to contact Women’s Refuge in a safe and anonymous way without it being traced in your browser history. If you’re in our app, visit the mobile website here to access Shielded.

YouTube superstar KSI is set to go toe-to-toe with Joe Fournier – who once went the distance with David Haye .

Fournier is an undefeated light heavyweight – having held a perfect 10-0 record before his bout with Mustapha Stini was declared a no-contest due to a positive test for banned substances from Fournier. However, Fournier has since started participating in exhibition bouts.

His latest bout was against ex-champ Haye, who was making his return between the ropes. However, Haye quickly shook off any ring rust, and he dominated Fournier with apparent ease – Haye was unlucky not to record a stoppage.

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Fournier is now set to square off with KSI, who said: “I can’t wait to show the world what Jake Paul couldn’t – knock out a pro boxer. Each fight, people are seeing a better KSI and I’m honestly scared for Fournier because once I land my right or left hand on his chin, it’s night night.

“As soon as people enter the ring with me, they realise they are in hell. And they either leave the ring bruised, battered or sleeping. In the ring, I am an evil man.”

Paul squared off with Tommy Fury earlier this month after years of animosity between the pair, and Fury won via split decision. KSI and Paul have thrown jabs at each other with the Brit already beating Logan Paul, twice.

What do you think of YouTubers entering the world of boxing? Let us know in the comments section below

Fournier added: “This is huge, it’s as big as it gets, it’s on DAZN pay-per-view at Wembley, against one of the biggest global superstars, not just in boxing.

“But I am going to break a lot of little hearts when they see KSI unconscious on the canvas. This is way too soon to fight me, but the deal is done, and just like Jake Paul, he will find out that when he gets into the ring with a real boxer, it’s a whole different ball game.

“He is in for a rude awakening.”

The pair will square off on Saturday 13 May on KSI’s Misfits 007 card – a promotion that’s already featured stars such as Elle Brooke and Astrid Wett.

It’s the first of KSI’s four bouts this year, and he will reportedly hang up his gloves at the end of the year.

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The only deserved penalty at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix would have belonged to the FIA for deploying the Safety Car when Lance Stroll “couldn’t get any further off the track if he’d tried”, says David Coulthard.

Sunday’s race around the Jeddah Corniche Circuit saw Aston Martin in the headlines as Fernando Alonso was penalised for a grid box infringement and his team-mate Stroll retired, bringing out a controversial Safety Car.

But it didn’t end there as Alonso, having already celebrated on the podium, was then hit with a 10-second penalty for his rear jack operator touching his car when he came in to service his grid box penalty.

That decision came after the podium but before the FIA’s official post-race press conference with Alonso in the first and George Russell, elevated to P3, attending the latter.

The drama, though, wasn’t over as three hours later with Aston Martin having appealed, the stewards overturned Alonso’s 10-second penalty based on the ambiguous wording of the ‘worked on’ car regulation.

Coulthard weighed in on the night’s various incidents, starting with Alonso’s grid box penalty with the Spaniard ruled to have been too far over to the left.

“I’m really disappointed on a number of things,” he told Channel 4. “I think it’s about consistency.

“If you’re stealing a length then that’s fair enough but if you’re left or right there is no advantage in being left or right.

“The rubber that’s been laid down by Porsche Supercup, F2 and F3, is in the middle so an oversight from Fernando – he takes that on the chin.”

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‘Lance couldn’t get any further off the track if he’d tried’

The former F1 driver was also perplexed by Race Control’s decision to bring out the Safety Car when Stroll was told to stop his car immediately.

That happened on lap 18, the Canadian pulling halfway down an escape road with his AMR23 well away from the track.

It opened the door for those who hadn’t yet pitted, such as Max Verstappen, to grab a free stop with the Dutchman leapfrogging the Ferraris, as too did Lewis Hamilton.

Coulthard reckons all that was required was a Virtual Safety Car.

“Let’s be realistic as to where the real penalty should be,” he continued. “Safety Car. Lance couldn’t get any further off the track if he’d tried and they said they needed camera angles to tell us. I’m sorry, but they’ve got more camera angles than we’ve got cameras.

“I just find that a little bit frustrating because a Virtual Safety Car would have been fine.”

Aston Martin didn’t work on the car, it was a ‘tiny little touch’

The Scot also believes the stewards got it wrong when it came to Alonso’s post-race penalty with Aston Martin deemed to have worked on the car when the rear jackman slid the jack underneath his car as he stopped.

The team then paused for the five seconds, went onto change Alonso’s tyres, and he raced his way to third place with seemingly no issues.

However, on the penultimate lap Mercedes informed Russell that Alonso could have another penalty for the team working on his car, that subsequently confirmed by the stewards only to later be rescinded.

Coulthard wasn’t impressed with how that played out, especially the time lapse between Alonso’s pit stop and the penalty being announced.

“And then finally, after the podium, we get the 10-second penalty for a touch of the car,” he said. “It wasn’t working on the car, a tiny little touch and watch the rear jackman, he moves into position.

“They haven’t gained an advantage, I would say, and what it has done is stolen and affected the podium, that the podium we’ve seen is not the podium that should have been if we had that information a minute or so before.

“Not even a minute, 35 laps as Fernando said to come up with that solution. Even George Russell says it’s harsh.”

Fernando Alonso saw the ‘bigger picture’

But while Alonso wasn’t happy with the timing of the penalty, calling that a “poor show” from the FIA, he was pragmatic.

“It doesn’t hurt much, to be honest,” he told Sky Sports before the penalty was overturned.

“I was on the podium, I did the pictures, did the trophy, celebrated with the champagne and yeah, now I have apparently three points less – I don’t have 15, I have 12.”

Coulthard reckons he could adopt that attitude because he knows more podiums are going to come this season.

“I think he’s seeing the big picture,” said the former McLaren and Red Bull driver. “He’s seeing he’s got a quick car, there’s going to be many more podiums to come.”