| |
I myself had a pretty special Dad and Grandpa! I wouldn't ever forget them today! I am proud of my husband for the role he plays in our family and the load he carries being called a DAD!
I think Dad's Life video is a must see and repost you tube for the day.
I think The BEST TV DADS is also a great laugh! Maybe you can relate to one of them. It does depend on the time you grew up. (Some might be offensive)
Happy Father's Day!
All rights reserved, Charlene Hammontree, Flexit Realty, 2011
I found this blog post on tips to update your home and found it very simple and great inexpensive items to do. Sometimes it really doesn't take much to give it a great new feel to you or a new home buyer. Check with your agent as well for any updates they feel would be a better investment. I you need a new garage door because it is falling off, that has to take priority over accents or even paint. Via Herb Johnson Northern Kentucky Realtor, Remax (REMAX Affiliates):
It happens to most homeowners. Rooms that once looked fresh have aged themselves. For some it's an excuse to redecorate. For others it becomes a chore. Either way homeownership is a process. As one project ends usually another begins. To bring your home current consider these room freshening tips.
1. Decorative Accents: Curtains are the frame to any well-designed room. Choose colors and patterns that fit the scale of your room. Heavy curtains made from chenille or jacquard work best in large rooms with tall ceilings. Lighter weight fabrics, such as silk and chiffon, are great choices for small or airy rooms. Decorative pillows and throws are also an inexpensive way to change the accents of your room. Have a teal room but want to go contemporary? Don't be afraid to play with color!
2. Paint: Paint is relatively cheap and easy to do yourself. Getting a professional finish is simple, thanks to the myriad of products now on the market. From tape to edgers to color changing paint, you're sure to get a quality finished product. Research zero-voc paint before starting your project. Traditional paint leaches fumes into your home for years. Zero-voc paint, however, exposes you to fewer odors during the painting process and fewer risky fumes in the years to come. This is well worth the effort of searching out zero-voc. Olympic brand paint offers their full line of colors in zero-voc. Plus, the cost difference per gallon is minimal. Paint does wonders for hiding dirt, wear, and tear. Bring your home into the new decade with a fresh coat!
3. Trim: The current trend is for trim to be white instead of natural wood. It is contemporary and clean. If your trimwork is in good repair, simply puttying holes, sanding scuffs, and painting can update the look. Dated trim that is too thin for your large rooms can be replaced with new baseboards. Amateur handyman can tackle this task with table and coping saws. Trim is all about getting the angle cut correctly. Already have current looking trim? Upgrade your room with crown molding. These beauties can be real show-stoppers!
4. Flooring: While flooring is not a simple fix and may require the help of a professional, it can make all the difference in a dated room. Scratched and worn wood floors should be sanded and refinished to show the natural beauty of the wood that lies beneath. Laminate wood flooring is a cheap and easy solution for budget conscious homeowners who want a clean and modern update. It can be a wonderful solution for worn out carpet.
5. Cabinet Hardware: From oil-rubbed bronze to beautiful vintage pieces, old is in. Hardware can easily be added to any existing cabinetry or changed to bring a new feel to a tired room. Shop in your local home improvement stores, online, and at local auctions to find the pieces that speak to you.
All The Best,
Herb Johnson
859-372-8019 Direct Line
Herb@HerbJohnson.com Email
www.HerbJohnson.com Website
Buyers and Sellers wanted. Referrals Appreciated!
4895 Houston Road
Florence, Kentucky 41042
This is a great post about how banks could make things so much better for everyone! I couldn't agree more with the ideas here. I do believe there are some banks that are great while others do not know what the left hand is doing! Via Henry Pailles Chula Vista Real Estate San Diego Real Estate, San Diego Realtor (Chula Vista Realtor,Short sale,Eastlake Real estate,Realtor):
Eastlake CA – Many Americans are concerned about the housing market. If they housing market continues to decline, then it could drag the entire economy with it. At least that’s what some economists are saying. We want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. So, we decided to propose a solution
Here Are 3 Ways The Big Banks Could Stabilize Housing Prices And Increase Their Profits At The Same Time. Get my Free, Step By Step Loan Modification Guide by clicking here.
#1: Approve more Loan Modifications. Every loan modification is one less home that has to be sold as a distress sale. Distress sales are dragging down home prices. In addition, many loan mods are rejected, only to see the lender lose even more money when the home sells. Here is an example.
A homeowners offers to pay their lender an amount equal to a $300,000 mortgage. That means the homeowner would pay the same as someone borrowing $300,000 to buy a home. The lender rejects their loan mod offer and forecloses on the home. It sells for $200,000. Don’t kid yourself, this happens every single day. The loan owners lose millions as a result.
#2: Make short sales easier. Yes, short sales do close. But, many don’t. The ones that don’t are usually sold for less money as a foreclosure. An extreme example is a home that received a $380,000 offer as a short sale.
The lender rejected the short sale. The home was foreclosed upon and sold for $230,000. The reason that lenders usually lose more money on foreclosure compared to short sales.
First, most foreclosures are usually left empty for several months. Mold, mildew, and other things make the home undesirable.
Second, most foreclosures are taking 18 months or more. That is a lot of time that a home can sit empty. In addition, interest, attorney fees, unpaid property taxes and other costs are growing each day.
#3: Handle foreclosures better. We have seen many foreclosed homes sit empty for months and months. In one extreme example, a foreclosed home has been sitting empty for over 2 years. (The picture above is the front of that home.) In that time period local housing prices have dropped by 20-30%. Interest and property taxes have accrued over those two years.
Here is how banks could do a better job handling foreclosures.
First, put all foreclosures on the market within a week. There are a lot of hungry, aggressive real estate agents that would love to market these properties. Put them to work getting the homes sold for top dollar as quickly as possible. The typical 2-3 month wait it not acceptable, especially with all the hard working agents available.
Second, maintain the vacant homes. The home pictured above is wide open. The doors are not locked. Anyone can walk right in and vandalize the place. I have seen profanities spray painted on the walls of vacant, bank owned homes. Think that affects the sale price?
These are just a few ideas. The next time you hear your local banker tell you how they “care”, ask them how their bank is handling the recommendations in this blog post. To us, a banker telling us about how they supposedly “care” just rings of hypocrisy. And it will ring of hypocrisy as long as these problems continue to hurt homeowners, the housing market, and the American Economy.
Thinking about a loan modification?Our Eastlake loan modification kit will show you how to reduce your mortgage payment, keep your home, and get back on your feet. Send me an e-mail at henry@houseinsandiego.com to request a Free Copy. Or, click here to request a copy.
Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property so you can move on with your life. Send me an e-mail at henry@houseinsandiego.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.
When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at 619-517-6791 Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here. Thanks for reading this, Henry Pailles. Henry is a Real Estate Broker at houseinsandiego Realty. Eastlake Short Sales Realtor: Phone: 619-517-6791. henry@houseinsandiego.com. Are you at risk of losing your home? ...We can help! View My homes for sale at www.houseinsandiego.com.
Henry Pailles specializes in loan modification assistance and short sales in Eastlake California. Eastlake Loan Modification Help, Eastlake Short Sales. Eastlake Short Sale Realtor. Chula Vista CA Loan Modification Help, Chula Vista CA Short Sales. Chula Vista CA Short Sale Realtor. Eastlake CA Short Sales. Eastlake Realtor. Copyright 2011 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Important Notice Henry Pailles, houseinsandiego Realty, and the Stop Foreclosure Institute are not affiliated in any way, shape, or form with the government. Our services have not been reviewed or endorse by the government or your lender. Most lenders willingly work with agents on short sales. Why? Because most short sales are beneficial to a lender. If you accept our offer to help you on a short sale, your lender may not agree to a short sale or to modify your loan. We do offer a loan modification kit. However, the likelihood of negotiating a modification is like everything else in life.
It takes work and persistence to convince your lender to modify your loan. No matter what you or we do, your lender may not approve a loan modification. We do not recommend that you stop paying your mortgage, because this will cause damage to your credit and could cause you to lose your home. Because we know avoiding foreclosure is so important to any homeowner, we recommend that you speak with the appropriate legal or tax advisor before making any decision.
This is not intended as legal, technical, or tax advice. Please speak with a licensed professional before making any decision. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of the date of writing. You have the option to reject a short sale or loan modification from your lender if it does not meet your approval. If you decide not to go thru with the short sale, then you do not have to pay us our fee. We normally make a real estate sales commission for helping you on a short sale. The views expressed here are Pailles's personal views and do not reflect the views of houseinsandiego Realty.
This information on Three Ways The Big Banks Could Stabilize Housing Prices And Increase Their Profits At The Same Time is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.
I thought Paula wrote a great blog on why it is a great time to buy and thought I would share it with you all! Via Paula Swayne, Realtor-Land Park, East Sac & Curtis Park -Dunnigan, REALTORS (Dunnigan, Realtors, Sacramento (916) 425-9715):
In a New York Times article today, a gentleman was quoted as saying "I have flirted with buying again many times over the past few years. Let's face it; people are not rational creatures." It goes on to say "But he always resists, figuring housing is still overpriced, and even when it stops declining it will stumble along the bottom for years and years. He says there is plenty of time to get back in if he should ever want to."
At the same time, a summary of the recent California Association of Realtors Board of Directors 531st session paints a new reality we have yet to deal with. At a time when the government is trying to eliminate Fannie and Freddie loans, they are also implementing the Quality Residential Mortgage. This legislation will require buyers to come up with 20% down and have a debt to income ratio of 28/36. Loan terms will be shorter and credit will have to be stellar. FHA is also trying to decrease the number of loans they are making. One of the ways to do this is to make qualifying even more difficult.
What is the result of all of this maneuvering? Fewer buyers will be able to qualify for a loan. To entice buyers to purchase, home prices will have to go down. This will increase the default rate and increase the short sales and foreclosures. Fannie Me is also proposing to decrease the loan limit by substantial amounts and many more buyer will not be able to qualify for a loan and buyers in high cost areas will have to come up with higher down payments.
If buyers aren't seeing the light now and purchasing, they may very well regret their delay in a few years. We sound like a broker record, but the sky hasn't fallen yet and if you don't want to hit the wall, better get ahead of the rock!
Excellent post about buying a home! You have to have a plan as in any investment as to what you want to do. If we all had crystal balls, we would buy low and sell high. However, most people just need a home and have other plans. Make sure you talk to an agent who is willing to help you think about the long term plan. Just had to share this post! Via Robyn Heathcock (IRG Real Estate):
Buying a home is still a good investment. By in large and in our area, homes appreciate about three percent a year. Some years more, some less. It can even vary from neighborhood to neighborhood. Two percent may not seem like that much at first.
But take a second look…
Presumably, if you bought a $250,000 house, and you didn't pay all cash for the it, then you got a mortgage. Let’s say you put 20%down – that would be an investment of $50,000.
At an appreciation of 3% a year, a $250,000 home would increase in value $7,500 during the first year. That means you earned $7,500 with an investment of $50,000. Your annual "return on investment" would be over 6%.
You can also consider the fact that if for some reason we don't get the appreciation that is typical, there is always inflation, that averages about 2.5% each year so either way the "return on investment is there.
Realize, you are making mortgage payments and paying property taxes, and some other miscellaneous costs. Remember, the interest on your mortgage and your property taxes are also both tax deductible, therefore the government is effectively subsidizing your home purchase.
All this considered, this means your rate of return when buying a home is higher than many other investments you could make right now.
The Home and Building Association of Greater Grand Rapids is underway with one of the best events this spring! This year offers 51 Homes and 5 Remodeled Homes and 2 Conceptional Homes which can be viewed on line.
The 52 Annual Grand Rapids Spring Parade of Homes which runs from May 27th - June 11th allows many to see the fine workmanship of area builders, contractors and interior designers. This is a great way to see learn about building, remodeling are all about. Plus it gives you a great feel for the current market prices for real estate in given areas. Builders will be available to answer any questions you may have.
Cost - Tickets again this year are $12 for adults (13 and up) and still FREE for those 12 and younger. Tickets can be purchased at all Parade Home locations but are also sold at any Lake Michigan Credit Union branch at a discount ($10 each) or online at The Home Builders web site. Tickets which are purchased for the Grand Rapids Parade are also good for the Kalamazoo Parade of Homes. Tickets again include a gas coupon. Who couldn't use that!
Hours - 1-9 p.m. Memorial Day weekend; 1-9 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Remodeled homes are open for tour from 1-9 p.m. June 10 and 11.
Suggestions for a great tour! - Wear sandals or something easy to get on or off. Some builders/homeowners do not allow naked feet (socks welcomed). Some builders offer booties cat some homes. Please leave booties after your tour.
You will be asked to show your ticket at each home. The home builders track visits to each home and this helps them for future parades as well. If you need to purchase a ticket, cash is always best. You may be asked to show ID. Sometimes they will take checks, but please ask at the home.Be sure to pick up a tour guide which always includes a map. Sometimes they could have an error, but the staff at parade homes know the area, so will be more than willing to help you find a local place to grab a bite or directions to the next home.
Have one person if you are in a group, be responsible for tickets. This helps against loosing tickets or creating a wait at home to tour.
Be courteous to the staff at the parade. Most of the homes are staffed by non profit volunteers. This helps group raise needed funds for their group. They are doing their best and hope to offer you a pleasant experience.
Most homes DO NOT offer public rest rooms. Please be respectful of that.
No Food or Drinks are allowed in the home.
Some homes require you to sign a guest book as well.
Some Builders/Home Owners will not allow photos. PLEASE Check with each home to see what they are requesting.
Please be respectful of items in the home. Some of these are the owners personal items or the home may be staged and items are rented or loaned.
Mainly.... have fun and enjoy the tour, dream big like I do!
All Rights Reserved 2011 by Charlene Hammontree, REALTOR of Flexit Realty
New Day Church on the Hill has something to Celebrate today (May 22, 2011). They are now proud property owners! As of January, 2011 New Day Church on the Hill purchased the property located at 2965 Wycliffe Dr SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546. This is located at the corner of Thorncrest SE and Cascade Road.
Today they will host a wonderful celebration to kick off the beginning of joining a great community. Today will also feature the Christian band of Carpenter's Cross from 2-4 today.
Punch and cake will be served and tours will be given of the grounds and church itself. Meet families and friends within the community to share the wonderful work New Day has in store...
Come Grow with us!
www. NEWDAYGR.org
2965 Wycliffe Dr. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
616-682-0253
soulwise@comcast.net
All Rights Reserved 2011, Charlene Hammontree REALTOR, ABR, SRE
Flexit Realty
I just posted a blog about the top 5 things to blog about to connect with community and this is a perfect blog I wanted to share. Maya has done her homework and has not passed her own judgment but shared a news worthy item that is important to many! Always check AR to find ideas to blog about also! Does your community have a recycle place that is of news to your community? Via Long Beach, First Time Buyers, Real Estate and Loans:
Long Beach Banning Plastic Bags
Long Beach Environment
 Long Beach, Calif., has become the eighth community to enact a plastic bag ban this year, bringing the number of bans in the United States to 22.
The Long Beach ban on plastic, compostable plastic, and degradable plastic bags was passed unanimously May 17. It will go into effect Aug. 1 for larger grocery stores and pharmacies with at least 10,000 square feet or annual sales of $2 million or more.
Starting Jan. 1, the Long Beach ban will additionally apply to smaller grocers and pharmacies under 10,000 square feet, as well as convenience stores, delis and farmers’ markets. There is an exemption from the ban for plastic produce and product bags.
The Long Beach law also requires that reusable bags offered for sale be designed for a minimum of 125 uses, have handles, be machine washable and not contain lead, cadmium or any other heavy metals in toxic amounts. It permits reusable plastic bags with handles that are at least 2.25 mils thick.
Long Beach City Council estimated that each household in the city used 1,600 plastic carryout bags in 2007. They said they expect that number to drop in half by 2013, and that the city will achieve a 50 percent reduction in the number of bags sent to landfills by 2013.
While the plastic bags are a major problem in the way they block our waterways this needed to be balanced against the greater space paper bags occupy in landfills. Additionally the paper bags and re-usable bags are significantly bulkier than plastic bags. That would result in a a greater number of truck-miles used to deliver the paper and reusable bags and greater impact on our air quality. While many theories abound the net effect on our environment has yet to be determined.
One good thing for Realtors about the high gas prices is that clients are going to be more willing to listen to the steps to make home sales less stressful and frustrating.Short sales and Foreclosures have already done most of that, but I am not going to cover those topics here.
Here are my 5 Tips to keep the gas in your tank and shop for a home that won't break you:
1) Get PREQAULIFIED - PLEASE!!!!!! Many people want to look for homes to see if they might like something. Let me tell you this.... YOU WILL FIND SOMETHING YOU LIKE AND CAN NOT AFFORD! or you will look and find something and find out your credit is not ready to move you into your dream home. And please don't be offended if you call a Realtor about a home and they start drilling you about this. First of all, a Realtor has an obligation to his seller to make sure the buyers are credit worthy, not "just want to see" their home! It is part of our job! Second, it helps us better understand your needs to make your experience pleasant. Realtors that don't ask about this and want to drive you around to "just look" will be out of business before you get to the closing table because there gas tank is empty! The lender (your local bank or credit union) might be able to recommend a real estate agent if you don't have one.
2) Select an Real Estate Agent. Talk to friends, family, co-workers, your lender (as mentioned above). Our job is about helping you sort through the buying process. I do recommend to select one to be come your agent. (ABR - Acredit Buyers Agent) They can eliminate so many steps and I know a few, including myself will pre-view homes for their clients to see if it is even something they would consider. They can set up a listing search for you on line so you know what is new on the market or has had a price drop. They ask questions to help you find out what is most important in your home so that you are not looking at homes that don't meet that critera.
3) Do your search on line first. As mentioned above a Realtor can set one of these up for you. I do caution about using Zillow or Truila as some of the information is not accurate, however they have gotten a little better. I do recommend your local real estate broad and Realtor.com
If you don't know the area you want to be in, then again, an online search would be helpful to narrow that down. View local Chambers, Towns, City's and even schools can give you the information you need to make the perfect choices. One factor for sure...how far from work? Your dream home might be 40 miles away from work? Today you have to review your budget as to what you can afford for that as well.
4) Have your agent call and set appointments. Pick a day to see homes and let your agent call for setting up showings. You are not 'bothering" your agent! As a buyers agent we represent you. If you call the listing agent directly you may potentially exclude your agent from getting a commission. When you call on a listing and the experienced agent will ask you? "Are you working with a agent?" tell him/her the truth! The listing agent is working for the seller, NOT for you, that is why the buyers agent is a good thing! Your agent can map out the best route and save you a ton of time as well as gas!
5) YOU DON'T NEED TO LOOK AT EVERY HOUSE! On the same street or near by within reason, yes. You can look at 100 in your PJ's without leaving your home on line. (Tip 3) In my opinion if you looked at more than 15 your needs/wants need to be reviewed. If 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and a 3 stall garage is your liking, than if your agent is setting up 2 bedrooms or only 1 bath and 1 stall garages in your tours, you might want to reaffirm your wants. Most of my clients have looked at 8-12 homes. Some fall in love with the first one. If you are finding after the first 4 homes you toured with an agent, they just don't have the feel, it might mean you need to review your shopping list. Price, Location and Condition are the biggest factor than.
Agents will be more causious now with making sure a buyer is ready, willing and able so don't be offended. Remember, we don't get paid until the closing which could more than 30 days. Actually, more like 45-90 and even then could be longer. Agents have had more deals fall apart over the last few years that this too is affecting the way we do our business. As much as we love looking at home too, it has to produce something for our families too! I recommend interviewing the lenders and the real estate agents as well. Knowing you have someone you trust can limit the time you are on the road. Most agents are happy! Excited! No Giddy about driving you around to show your homes if you have followed these tips!
Finally, Yes, Agents may get a hefty check at the closing, but remember there are many expenses for Agents as well. We Don't get all of it! Sometimes not even half! They are in business and if gas keeps raising it is going to be an expense that hits everyone! Mostly those who drive....a lot...like Realtors! So enjoy the process of finding your new home and let the experts help you keep the money for your mortgage payment out of your gas tank! Enjoy the Ride!
All rights reserved. Charlene Hammontree JGR Real Estate, 2011
|
|
Charlene Hammontree, Rockford Michigan, ABR, SRES
Rockford,
MI
More about me…
Flexit Realty
Address: 1930-B Fuller NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49505
Cell Phone: (616) 481-1401
Email Me
 Links
Archives
|
;)
;)
