REALTOR® Nationwide Open House Weekend Kicks-Off Spring Home Buying Season

April 16, 2013 - West Babylon, NY - Purchasing a home is one of the most important decisions in a person’s life and deciding on a particular house comes with many options. Forty-five percent of recent buyers used open houses as a way to narrow down their choices and find their dream home. Buyers in Nassau, Suffolk and Queens will have the opportunity to do just that on April 20 and 21 as Realtors® hold open houses all weekend long as part of the Long Island Board of REALTORS® Nationwide Open House Weekend.   

“Spring is typically a busy season when it comes to home buying, and to kick-off the season Realtors® throughout Nassau, Suffolk and Queens Counties are taking part in Realtor® Nationwide Open House Weekend,” said Moses Seuram, President of the Long Island Board of REALTORS®, Inc (LIBOR).  “This event is a great way for buyers to get an idea of what they can afford and what kinds of homes are available in the local market. It’s also a chance for sellers to market their home and attract potential buyers.”  

Realtors® will be available at open houses to answer consumer questions about the home buying process and local market conditions. Visit thousands of open houses throughout Nassau, Suffolk, and Queens Counties. A list of specific homes featured during this open house weekend can be found on LIBOR’s public listing system at mlsli.com.

In an effort to motivate would be buyers to attend open houses this weekend, LIBOR will be giving away an iPad with Retina display to one lucky Open House attendee.  All open house attendees will receive printed instructions at each open house on how to enter the iPAD sweepstakes.

According to data from the National Association of Realtors® the typical recently purchased home was 1,860 square feet and was built in 1996. The typical buyer purchased a home with three bedrooms and two full bathrooms, while slightly half of the homes purchased were on a single level. When it comes to home features, buyers prefer central air conditioning the most, while walk-in closets were second. The two most common rooms buyers were willing to spend more for were a laundry room and a den/home office.

“Buyers need to have a clear idea of what features are important to them and know where they are willing to compromise;” said Seuram. “That is where visiting open houses can be helpful. Also, working with a Realtor® can be a real asset. Realtors® visit hundreds of homes with buyers each year, and have a unique understanding of what buyers value in their local markets. Their expertise and knowledge can help you achieve the dream of home-ownership.”

For a list of participating NOHW offices, weekend open houses, and the sweepstake form, please visit: www.lirealtor.com/hom.