Donna Bosze's Blog

1409 Goose Landing Virginia Beach, VA 23451

Donna Bosze (Keller Williams Elite, Realtors) — Thu, 31 May 2012 07:57:52 -0700

1409 GOOSE LNDG
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
1409 Goose Landing Virginia Beach, VA 23451

Home

Donna Bosze

Licensed In Virginia

Mobile:	(757)338-5334
FAX:	(757) 257-2220
Website:	Visit Website

Price	:	$199,900
Bedrooms	:	1
Bathrooms	:	1
Square Foot	:	745
County	:	Virginia Beach
Property Type	:	Detached
Year Built	:	1984
MLS Number	:	1220595

click for more information and pictures

Property Description

This home gleams! Everything New! Shows like a model! Easy bike ride to the oceanfront. Neighborhood park with picnic tables, playground equipment, tennis courts. Super first home or vacation home. Open house June 2 from 1-4PM.

Equal Housing Opportunity.

Keller Williams Elite : 4016 Raintree Road - Chesapeake VA 23321 : (757)338-5334

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Revealed

Donna Bosze (Keller Williams Elite, Realtors) — Thu, 31 May 2012 06:08:02 -0700

People have to live in houses through all kinds of weather. Instead of waiting through the rain, or waiting till everything drys up, maybe it is a better practice to see what the house and property do in the wet and rain. This is a good blog post on just that subject.

Via Jay Markanich - Northern VA Home Inspector (Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC):

In the past week we have had a lot of rain around here.

For some time I have had a pre-drywall inspection scheduled. The clients called to ask if we might want to reschedule it due to the rain.

Of course I said no, things are often revealed by the rains that we might not otherwise notice.

This is a very nice house, with very nice window wells, with their own very nice drainage, all connected to buried drain tile, bringing water from around the house to a very nice sump pump in the furnace room.

While not hooked up yet, I can see where the tubes enter the sump pump pit, but they are still capped, so no water is inside the pit yet.

Walking around back I noticed this stairwell full of water!

I said to my client that the drain lines are not functioning yet so this water is to be expected.

But, swishing my hand around in the water (which I really like doing) it was revealed that there is no drain installed!

And this stairwell is a good 30' of concrete basement slab from the sump pump!

Do you mean to say that nobody noticed the lack of drain before now?

REVEALED!

My recommendation: don't ever let a builder talk you out of a pre-drywall construction inspection with the statement that "we are here every day and our supervisor and the County conduct dozens of inspections." Don't buy it when the sales lady calls your home inspector a "placebo." And don't believe your builder when he says he won't do anything about what the home inspector notices unless the inspector includes the code along with it. Of course he will! It isn't the home inspector's job to quote codes! Get your own home inspector with his own set of eyes! And try to go just after a big rain storm! You never know what might be revealed!

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia

www.jaymarinspect.com

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How Dropping the Sales Pitch Can Build a Stronger Business

Donna Bosze (Keller Williams Elite, Realtors) — Wed, 30 May 2012 06:35:48 -0700

When you drop the sales pitch and deal with people in an ethical manner, you will gain more trust and a higher standing in the community. More trust equals more referrals and this will eventually translate into more success. When was the last time you reviewed the history of mortgage rates in our country? Don’t just tell your buyers that interest rates are great right now… give them the facts! Don’t just point out how low rates are…show them how financing a loan with a low rate will affect their lives, by explaining the implications in terms of dollars and cents.

If you did your job up front by asking your buyers detailed questions, learning about their lives and finding out what’s important to them, then you should be able to help them understand the benefits of home ownership. The opportunity to take advantage of today’s interest rates and excellent deals should not be missed. If you can’t prove to your clients that it’s a great time to buy, then perhaps they should consider leaving the market. Remember that first and foremost, we are here to help people make the best decisions for them.

Our clients have always deserved to have the best consultants on their side fighting for their best interests. As the impact of the Information Age continues to grow, more and more people are going to expect to receive the type of service provided by a consultant over that of a sales associate. What’s great is that you get to choose if that person is going to be you. You are the one who gets to choose, because you are the only person who can decide whether or not you will do what it takes to be the consultant that your clients will demand to have working on their behalf.

If you are apathetic and unwilling to apply the effort and time it will take to advance your knowledge of the industry, then you are making an active choice to not play the role of a consultant. To put it simply, if you genuinely do your best to help people achieve their goals, then everything else will fall into place.

The real estate industry constantly tests our belief in the value of our daily actions. I’m certain that all of us have stories about the necessity of having blind faith in the fact that what we are doing will work. Everything you do and everyone you help will not result in a closed sale or a commission. But at the very least, if you apply an ethical approach to your business, you can take comfort in the idea that you are helping a fellow American and their family who trusted someone in our industry in the past.

Playing the role of a consultant and doing the work that it takes to add a substantial amount of value to the service you provide for your clients will leave you feeling fulfilled, purposeful and enriched. Doing what’s right for your clients will not only enhance your personal reputation and advance your career, it will help our industry gain a more positive view in the public’s eye. If you believe in Karma, then you know that acting as a consultant for your clients is the equivalent of making a deposit in the ‘good’ account—and this will pay substantial returns in the future.

Elevate yourself to the level of a consultant in 2012…and make it an incredible year!

by Alan Shafran

Alan Shafran is the No. 1REALTOR® in San Diego for Prudential California Realty, President of ShowingSuite.com, author of BluePrint for 100 Deals Per Year in Real Estate.

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20 Insanely Easy Ways to Use Pinterest in Your Business

Donna Bosze (Keller Williams Elite, Realtors) — Tue, 29 May 2012 06:29:16 -0700

As social media continues to evolve, so do the tools. Stepping up to the plate with a fierce vengeance is the new social media darling Pinterest. Haven’t heard of it? Let me give you a quick description before we dive into the “why” behind using Pinterest within your business.

What Is Pinterest

Pinterest is a simple way to capture and save any picture you find on the web. Now before you think it’s just another version of Facebook, let me explain. Pinterest is at its core a visual experience. It takes magazine clipping online by offering a way to explore the web, consolidate your favorites and then share your eye-catching photos with your network of followers.

While Facebook has a wall, Pinterest has “boards” that are nothing more than buckets of similar content. For example, you might create a board titled, “Kitchen and Bath Designs” and then add content by pinning (capturing) pictures of kitchens or bathrooms that you find attractive. As you pin items onto your boards, anyone following you is able to see that pin and either “like” it (sound familiar?), comment on it or re-pin it onto their own board.

Being used to capture pictures and articles on everything from planning a wedding to your next vacation; Pinterest has an endless amount of uses!

Why Use Pinterest for Business

If you’re currently using Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn for business marketing, Pinterest is a new tool you will want to strongly consider. Growing at lightning speed, Pinterests numbers are impressive to say the least. According to recent statistics , Pinterest has over 10 million registered users, nearly 12 million monthly unique visitors each month and over a fifth of their users connecting through Facebook.

Oh, and did I mention that each “pin” leads you directly to the website where the pin originated? Think of the possibilities!

Pinterest Marketing for Real Estate

1. Tell a story about your city - This is a great way to use pictures you’ve taken around your city and highlight some of your favorite locations. Give buyers relocating into the area a good look at what certain neighborhoods or communities in your city look like.

2. Home Styles & Architecture - Architecture and style are so different from one state to the next. Whether the homes in your area are New England colonial, Spanish Revival or Cape Cod, providing pictures will allow buyers to connect with the look and feel of your city.

3. Historic Locations – Historic locations such as buildings, churches and monuments are a fun way for anyone new to your area to better understand the history. What “insider” details can you share that offer unique insight into your towns past?

4. Local Business Spotlight – Create a board that shares your favorite vendors such as local supermarkets, gas stations, hairdressers, pet store, auto repair, plumbers, electricians and more!

5. Top Things to Do in Your Area - Spotlight fun things to do or attractions to see within your area. Choose the top sites exclusive to your neck of the woods.

6. First Time Homebuyer Tips - Pin your blog posts or links back to pages on your website. What questions do first time homebuyers have? Answer those on your blog and you have ongoing content for this Pinterest board!

7. Tips to Prepare Your Home For Sale - If you are selling a home, what do you need to know? Help prospects make an informed decision by answering questions about prepping their home for sale, how the appraisal process works, and specifics about the community and how to correctly price their home.

8. Curb Appeal – Curb appeal means different things to different people. Pin colorful landscapes, cascading waterfalls and lush gardens to display the various looks within your area.

9. Staging Tips - Pin pictures of stunning before and afters that encourage re-pinning (think of retweets on Twitter) and paint a vivid picture of what a sellers home should look like to offer maximum appeal to buyers.

10. Mortgage process – The stages of the mortgage process can leave anyone swimming in a sea of questions. Offer answers to FAQ about the loan application process, what to avoid and how to make an informed decision.

11. Guide to your city – Create a guide by pinning your favorite parks, museums, neighborhood restaurants and nightlife. This can be anything you deem awesome enough that someone new to the area would want to visit.

12. Pet friendly locations – As a dog lover and someone who frequently travels with my two little guys, I am always on the lookout for pet friendly places to hang out. Pin restaurants, hotels, coffee shops, bars, dog parks and any other pet friendly location in your community. Believe me; they will love you for it!

13. Decorating on a dime – Everyone is looking to save wherever they can these days. Offer home decorating “do it yourself” tips that are easy and affordable. You can also pin shops within your area that sell unique but inexpensive home décor.

14. Home improvement ideas - From a complete kitchen makeover to DIY; pin home improvement projects that inspire and advise!

15. Gardening tips - For new homeowners, learning basic gardening skills is important to the care and upkeep of their home. Provide tips on how to cultivate a stunning garden and landscape.

16. How to make a move with children - If you look at moving as an exciting adventure full of fun and new possibilities, your children will be more apt to get on board. Help clients moving into your area go through this change minus the drama by offering the how-to’s of a smooth move.

17. Cool coffee shops in your area - As a self diagnosed coffee addict, I am always on the lookout for local coffee shops with a cool, funky vibe. I love anything with big, comfy chairs and a quiet atmosphere. Where do you enjoy spending your time? You can bet your clients will too!

18. Moving day tips - When you’re making a move, you can use all of the tips you can find. From checklists to supplies, planning a move is a huge undertaking. Pin tips on how to find free boxes, how to best pack breakables and how to budget for all moving expenses.

19. Things to do for free within your city - What sites can newcomers enjoy for free in your city? Whether it’s a museum or a beautiful garden in the heart of the city, pin colorful pictures of your favorite locations.

20. Pictures of annual activities - Pin pictures of popular annual events such as fundraisers, school events and town hall meetings that someone new to the area might be interested in attending.

Most importantly, have fun with it! While we all know that using social media as a business-marketing tool is exciting; injecting ‘you’ into your social efforts is vital. Yes it is great to connect with your past clients and prospects in an environment where you lead the conversation, but simply “pushing” out business information is not enough.

Pinterest gives you one more way to find and connect with your target audience and offers a little insight into your personality. What are your likes, your hobbies, your passions? Don’t be shy to share!

Get Started!

Posted By susanne

http://rismedia.com/2012-05-21/20-insanely-easy-ways-to-use-pinterest-in-your-business/

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“I Love My Kitchen, But I Hate Where My House Is”

Donna Bosze (Keller Williams Elite, Realtors) — Fri, 25 May 2012 06:45:47 -0700

Location, location, location. Great kitchens can be made in a house that already has a great location. Sometimes we have to point out to buyers that one great feature in a house is not always enough to buy it.

Via Barbara Altieri, REALTOR® Fairfield County CT Real Estate (RealtyQuest, CT Homes for Sale and Real Estate):

At a recent party I had a conversation with a fairly new homebuyer from out of state.   She was telling me that she moved into her new home a year ago and was thinking of moving out.

My first thought, not knowing her, was that there were financial problems. That was not the case. She told me she purchased the house because, among a few other features, she LOVED the kitchen, with its sleek granite and shiny stainless appliances. It was something she always dreamed of having.

Her problem was that she did not think through the location of the house enough. She was attracted by the kitchen and general appeal, and didn’t really give much thought to the following:

The house was on a busy cut-through street

The location was much further ‘out’ than she estimated. Too far away from family, friends, work and shopping. The few trips she made to/from the house before closing didn’t seem so bad. But when she moved in and had to schlepp around all those extra miles every day, it was just becoming very tedious.

The house was not really in a ‘neighborhood’. Now that she and her husband were expecting a baby, she would like a place to walk the baby and play safely in the yard. With all the traffic and speeding cars and a lack of a true neighborhood appeal, this was not, in her mind, the right location to bring up a family.

She really wanted a flower/vegetable garden and there was no place for that on her property without having to excavate and cut down a considerable amount of trees.

The house across the street has multiple cars parked around at various times of the day and night and there is excessive partying going on. She had only visited her house during the day prior to closing and other than 'some' reservations regarding the amount of cars passing through, the area seemed relatively quiet.   It changed its personality a bit after the sun went down.

I felt sorry for her as she really loved that kitchen and the house, enough to buy it, but had not thought the location through.

You can always change the house, but you can’t change the location.

Buyers need to think their location needs through FIRST, then focus on the house.   If the house didn’t have the beautiful kitchen she wanted, that is something that could have been changed after purchase. BUT, she couldn’t change anything location related.

If you’re thinking of buying or in the process, satisfy your location requirements FIRST. Loving the kitchen is a nice requirement to satisfy, but it's not the most important. You can change almost anything in a house…..but NOT the location.



Barbara Altieri, REALTOR
Listing and Buyer's Agent
Certified Short Sales Specialist
RealtyQuest Real Estate Sales and Services
30 Huntington Street, Shelton CT 06484
203.929.1752

Email
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SheltonBuzz - Facebook Community Page

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Curing Corporate A.D.D. Caused by Being Overly Connected

Donna Bosze (Keller Williams Elite, Realtors) — Thu, 24 May 2012 06:20:12 -0700

With the connectedness of modern society, it seems like work never ends, and the sense of pressure can lead to corporate A.D.D., but there are ways to circumvent this from happening or continuing in your life.

What is corporate A.D.D.?

It’s not uncommon for work to take over your life in today’s world. Gone are the days where at 5:00, you leave work and enjoy a relaxing evening at home. Today, with cell phones, laptops and tech tablets, you have access to your work email at all times, and if clients have your cell phone number, forget it. They know how to reach you at all hours. These are helpful technology tools, but they also can become distractions that actually take away from your work productivity. Enter Corporate A.D.D. — the common disorder that is stressing you out.

Corporate A.D.D. refers to the stress that you feel to get a large number of tasks accomplished each day. Instead of remaining focused on the work that you need to get done, you get easily distracted by the phone ringing, emails flooding your inbox and the text messages that seems to create an endless buzzing on your cell phone. When you add these additional stressors to your workload, it is easy to see how you can actually spend a longer time on any given task, thereby slowing you down and taking some of your much-needed free time away.

Three tips for overcoming corporate A.D.D.

So, what is the cure? Well, while we can’t ignore these tech tools altogether (although some days, you might be temped to), instead, you should try employing some of these time management tools:

• Try to stay in the “Proactive Zone.” Think of your stages of activity as being proactive, reactive, distraction, or waste. Reactive refers to urgent demands. In my opinion, the definition of “urgent” has gotten far too relaxed. If a client is genuinely upset and panicked, then yes, by all means, make them a priority and stop what you’re doing to help them. If they simply want a question answered within the next 24 hours, finish what you’re doing and then address it.

If you spend all day in the “Reactive Zone”, you’ll never get anything done. Proactive refers to planning and preparing for your day and executing the important tasks that need to be done. This also includes down time and re-charging your batteries. Your quality of work will never remain high if you don’t take some time to relax. Try and stay away from the distraction and waste zone, as they refer to unneeded interruptions or excessive trivial activities. If you focus on staying proactive all day, and know when to enter the “reactive zone”, you’ll get more done even faster.

• Try time-blocking. Whether it’s your weekly Zumba class or time spent checking and responding to emails, block a few times each day or week to do important tasks. Whether the activities are personal or professional, you need to block time for the things that are important to you. Here’s the kicker: don’t compromise that time block for anything that isn’t urgent. This isn’t easy to do, but it’s important to staying stress-free and positive.

• Keep your personal time personal. No, really. You can claim to be spending time with your loved ones but if you’re spending the whole time on your phone checking and responding to work emails, are you really using it as free time. Unless there is something urgent that needs to be addressed immediately, (again, this is REALLY urgent, not a false sense of urgency), just stay out of your inbox and let work calls go to voicemail. Your quality of work will go down if you’re burnt out, so your personal time is important. Don’t be afraid to take it.

Improving productivity, curing corporate A.D.D.

If you can put some of these practices into use as you go about your work week, (and stick to them), you’ll find that you’re less stressed out, more productive and able to grow your business. Cure that corporate A.D.D. by managing your time and knowing when to ignore outside distractions. This won’t be easy to implement-it’s easy to give in to the temptations of distractions both inside and outside of work, but if you stick with it, you’ll find yourself easily able to get things done. Best of luck!

by Carrie Gable in Business News - May 20, 2012

Carrie Gable & the Real Estate Virtual Assistant team at RealSupport, Inc. work virtually for many top real estate agents & brokers nationwide, offering marketing campaigns, branding, website & logo design, listing marketing efforts, lead management, technical support, marketing presentations, social media setup & management, copywriting, blogging and much more.

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FHA Ready to Ease Rules for Mortgages on Condos

Donna Bosze (Keller Williams Elite, Realtors) — Tue, 22 May 2012 06:44:52 -0700

I live in a beach area that thrives on condo sales for both tourists and for the locals. Where else can you buy affordable ocean front property that is not a condo? However, outside of 10-20% down payments, you just can't find financing. To take matters worse, I also live in a busy military area. We have 5 bases in the Hampton Roads area. That means roughly 96% of all financing is either FHA or VA loans. However, these buyers can't even think about buying most condos because of the current strict guidelines imposed by VA and FHA. I was thrilled to see such articles as this over the last few days. I might start listing condos again!

WASHINGTON — Thousands of condo unit owners and buyers around the country could soon be in line for some welcome news on mortgage financing: Though officials are mum on specifics, the Federal Housing Administration is readying changes to its controversial condominium rules that have rendered large numbers of units ineligible for low down-payment insured mortgages.

The revisions could remove at least some of the obstacles that have dissuaded condominium homeowner association boards from seeking FHA approvals or recertifications of their buildings for FHA loans during the past 18 months. Under the agency’s regulations, individual condo units in a building cannot be sold to buyers using FHA insured mortgages unless the property as a whole has been approved for financing.

According to condominium experts, realty agents, lenders and builders, FHA’s rules have become overly strict and have cut off unit buyers from their best source of low-cost mortgage money, thereby frustrating the real estate recovery that the Obama administration says it advocates.

Christopher L. Gardner, managing member of FHA Pros, LLC, a national consulting firm based in Northridge, Calif., that assists condo boards to obtain FHA approvals, said barely 25 percent of all condo projects that are potentially eligible for FHA financing are now approved. That is despite the fact, says Gardner, that FHA financing is the No. 1 mortgage choice for half of all condo buyers and is crucial to first-time and minority purchasers.

Moe Veissi, president of the National Association of Realtors and a broker in Miami, says FHA’s strict rules “have had an enormous impact on individuals” across the country, especially residents of condo projects who suddenly find they are unable to sell their units because their condo board has not sought or obtained approval from FHA as the result of objections to the agency’s strict criteria. This, in turn, depresses the prices unit owners can obtain and ultimately, said Veissi, harms their equity holdings and financial futures.

FHA officials defend their requirements as prudent and necessary to avoid insurance fund losses, but have expressed a willingness to reconsider some of the issues that have upset condo owners and the real estate industry. Among the biggest areas of criticism of FHA’s rules are its limitations on:

• Non-owner occupancy: The agency requires that no more than 50 percent of the units in a project or building be non-owner-occupied. This rule alone has made large numbers of condominiums in hard-hit markets ineligible for FHA financing, where investors have purchased units for cash to turn into rentals.

• Delinquent condo association fee payments: FHA refuses to approve a project where more than 15 percent of the units are 30 days or more behind on payments of condo fees to the association. Given the state of the economy, this has been a problem for thousands of associations, even in relatively prosperous markets. Steve Stamets, a loan officer with Apex Home Loans in Rockville, Md., says some unit sellers and buyers have been so frustrated by the rule that they have offered to pay the amount of delinquent fees needed to bring the overall project into compliance “just to get the deal done. This is a ridiculous situation,” said Stamets, who added: “When somebody calls up now and says they want to buy a condo with an FHA loan I cringe.”

• Non-residential space usage: FHA has set a cap of 25 percent of the total floor space in a project for commercial use. Critics say this is too low and unrealistic for condo projects in urban areas, where retail and office revenues can be important to overall financial feasibility.

The agency has imposed a long list of other requirements on insurance and reserves, plus a highly controversial rule that associations interpret as creating severe legal liabilities for condo board officers if applications for FHA approvals contain inaccuracies. Andrew Fortin, vice president for government and public affairs at Dallas-based Associa, one of the country’s largest homeowner association management firms, says that many boards, facing the prospect of up to 30 years in prison and heavy financial penalties, have refused to apply solely because of this personal liability requirement.

FHA is expected to clarify the personal liability language and make other modifications in its forthcoming rules. Whether the changes will be enough to convince condo boards to apply for approvals in large numbers is uncertain, but industry experts say they — and condo unit owners — are likely to welcome whatever loosening of the current restrictions FHA can offer.

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10 Best Iconic Modern House Tours in North America

Donna Bosze (Keller Williams Elite, Realtors) — Mon, 21 May 2012 06:16:43 -0700

—Anyone with a pile of money can build a big pile of a house, and back in the day, that’s what you did. (See, for instance, “Downton Abbey.”) But during the 20th century, a group of architects staged a controversial revolt. Why, they asked, couldn’t less be as impressive as more?

Across North America, sensational — but often reasonably-sized and usually deceptively simple — homes stand as their legacy. Here are 10 of the best. All of them are open to the public, but make advance reservations.

1. Farnsworth House, Plano, Ill.
Architect Mies van der Rohe is known for putting his unique stamp on gargantuan urban renewal projects in cities like Detroit and New York, but this 1,500-square-foot jewel box nearly two hours west of Chicago’s Loop, built for a friend, is perhaps one of the most Miesian structures Mies ever built, reducing the idea of architecture to, in his words, “almost nothing.” Homeowner Dr. Edith Farnsworth was inclined to agree, so angered by the extreme minimalism of the house that she ended up suing her friend. She lost, retired to Italy and the two never spoke to each other again (farnsworthhouse.org ).

2. Fallingwater, Mill Run, Penn.
Frank Lloyd-Wright is easily one of the most famous American architects of all time; this remarkable home in the Laurel Highlands, built for Pittsburgh retail magnate Edgar J. Kaufmann, is one of his most well-known works, notable as much for its timeless, earthy interiors as the iconic, tiered exterior. The risky design — who ever heard of building a house over a waterfall, really? — proved a headache for its caretakers from the very beginning; after a lengthy closure for restoration, it’s back and looking better than ever (fallingwater.org ).

3. Phillip Johnson Glass, House New Canaan, Conn.
You’d expect a man like Phillip Johnson, one-time associate of Mies van der Rohe and later an architectural legend in his own right, to live in a pretty amazing house. And he did, in a section of Connecticut’s fancy-pants Fairfield County, not far from New York City. Built in the 1940s and opened to the public in 2007 following the death of David Whitney, Johnson’s partner of many years, the Glass House is but one piece of architectural art standing on the 47-acre estate, which also includes art galleries, outdoor sculptures, buildings that look like sculptures and more (philipjohnsonglasshouse.org ).

4. Eames House, Los Angeles
The Pacific Palisades section of Los Angeles has no shortage of envy-inducing estates, but this one — designed by furniture guru Charles Eames as a pre-fab out of industrial materials for a project sponsored by Arts & Architecture magazine — stands out for its simplicity and restraint. Completed in 1949, Eames and wife Ray liked the simple, sunlit house so much that they ended up staying there until their deaths, decades later. The home’s location on a cliff overlooking the Pacific could have had a little something to do with its staying power (eamesfoundation.org ). (And while in L.A., don’t miss Case Study House 22, designed by Pierre Koenig; stalhouse.com ).

5. Miller House, Columbus, Ind.
Before he went on to design the iconic TWA Terminal at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport, or St. Louis’ world-famous Gateway Arch, Eero Saarinen was commissioned by industrialist J. Irwin Miller to design that’s been called the most significant midcentury modern home ever built. True or not, the house is pretty darn cool — and pretty darn large, nearly 7,000 square feet of glass and steel, its presence enhanced by the equally impressive surrounding gardens. After being donated to the Indianapolis Museum of Art and undergoing a $2 million dollar renovation, it’s now open for a visit (imamuseum.org).

6. Luis Barragan House, Mexico City
Mexico has no shortage of intriguing architecture, and one of its modern godfathers is Luis Barragan, who worked in the mid-20th century to translate the new style exploding around the western world to best suit the Mexican environment, so heavily influenced by Spanish colonial tradition. One of the best examples of the resulting product is the architect’s colorful and striking home, in the Mexico City suburb of Tacubaya, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and open to the public for tours (casaluisbarragan.org ).

7. Neutra VDL House, Los Angeles
The man that Time magazine in 1949 called second only to Frank Lloyd Wright may not have quite the name recognition today, but any West Coast architecture lover will be more than acquainted with the striking work of Richard Neutra, a midcentury-Mod icon who built — and subsequently lived and worked in — this open-to-the-light compound in the Silver Lake section of Los Angeles (neutra-vdl.org ).

8. Gropius House, Lincoln, Mass.
Squeezed out of Germany by the Nazis and lured to the United States by Harvard University, Bauhaus school founder Walter Gropius built this home for his family on a quiet road near Boston back in 1938. It may not appear like much today, but in its time, the use of glass block, chrome and other modern materials was considered revolutionary, particularly when you consider the location of the home, between the ye olde villages of Lexington and Concord. The dream-bigness of Gropius’ long-time inspiration Frank Lloyd-Wright is present here, but so is the Bauhaus’ classically German common sense, too — a rather happy hybrid (historicnewengland.org ).

9. Taliesin West, Scottsdale, Ariz.
While Frank Lloyd Wright’s striking Spring Green, Wis. HQ, Taliesin, certainly has its charms, they are significantly harder to nail down during a chilly Midwest winter. Beginning in the early 1930s, Wright and his crew began spending time out in Arizona during the colder months; in 1937 Wright purchased a pristine plot not far from Phoenix and embarked upon a mission to build a campus that would harmonize with the beauty of the surrounding Sonoran Desert. Night time tours, which allow participants to view the home from outside, lit up and almost sculpture-like, are a must (franklloydwright.org ).

10. Sunnylands, Rancho Mirage, Calif.
There’s nothing modest about this sprawling estate home built in the 1960s by Los Angeles architect A. Quincy Jones on a 200-acre spread just up the road from Palm Springs. With 11 lakes, a 9-hole golf course and a ton of other amenities, Sunnylands is more like a private resort than just another winter house. Then again, its owner, Walter Annenberg, was hardly just another snowbird. Born into a publishing family, Annenberg went on to create TV Guide and Seventeen magazine, was at one time the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom and, later in life, dedicated himself exclusively to philanthropic pursuits. Referred to as the Camp David of the West, Sunnylands has hosted seven U.S. presidents, Britain’s royal family, Frank Sinatra and many more big names (sunnylands.org ).

George Hobica is founder of the low-airfare listing site Airfarewatchdog.com.

© 2012, Airfarewatchdog.com.
Distributed by MCT Information Services

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6 Cool Apps for Real Estate Agents

Donna Bosze (Keller Williams Elite, Realtors) — Fri, 18 May 2012 06:27:28 -0700

Help buyers compare floor plans, investment returns, instant home valuations

With the exponential increase in the use of smartphones and iPads, real estate apps are springing up everywhere. The question is which apps are right for your business?

What's new at your local app store that you may have missed? Here is a list of apps that you may want to consider adding to your smartphone or tablet.

1. No address required
Have you ever been showing property and your buyers asked about the value of a property but you couldn't see the exact address? If so, you'll love this new iPhone app from HomeSnap. Here's how it works:

"Using a combination of mobile phone sensors to determine location and orientation as well as MLS and public records data, HomeSnap can tell you everything about a home, including how many square feet it has, number of bedrooms/bathrooms, estimated price, and more. And it can do so even if the house is not on the market."

All you have to do is to take a picture of the property with your iPhone, and the app will generate all this data without you having to go online.

HomeSnap is even more powerful on listing appointments. When the seller asks, "What do you think my home is worth?" respond by saying, "Let's find out." Next, open the app and walk outside with the seller to take a picture of his home. Have the seller snap the picture, and the app does the rest. Once the app processes the picture, the seller can see the HomeSnap price instantaneously.

One important caveat here: If the HomeSnap does not have a realistic price, avoid using it. You can also cross-reference the price using Zillow or the Chase Bank online evaluation tool as well. The best choice, of course, is the comparable sales data from your local multiple listing service.

2. Real Estate Calc from Skynetric
This app makes calculating mortgage payments as well as the complete amortization and payment balance schedule super simple. The app allows you to compare various types of loans, including how much a loan will have amortized at any time during the payoff period. It also provides the loan balance, interest paid, and the amount of principal reduction.

3. Tap into the investment market
If you're new to investing or would like to be more knowledgeable in this important area of real estate, MBA Learning Solutions has an educational app that trains you right on your phone. The app costs $9.99 and is designed to provide a "complete professional level business real estate investment course including real estate financing, basic investment concepts, as well as how to interpret and understand the housing economy." They also have an app for business math as well.

4. Real Estate Back of the Envelope and Property Evaluator (Wasatch Digital Media)
Virtually all investment real estate apps are set up for single-family residences. The Real Estate Back of the Envelope app and Wasatch Digital Media's Property Evaluator are designed to assist investors who are purchasing multifamily or commercial real estate. The app allows you to "calculate property values and pro forma investment returns with only a few inputs."

Important caveat: Some states prohibit real estate licensees from doing pro forma investment calculations unless the agent has a securities license. You can tell a client about an app, but you have to be sure to advise your client that you cannot make any representations as to the amount or type of return a given property may generate.

5. MagicPlan
This is an iPhone 4 and iPad 2 app that measures, draws and publishes an interactive floor plan on the Web, just by taking pictures. Rather than having to pay $100 or more to have a house professionally measured, MagicPlan allows you to do this in minutes, no moving the furniture required. The app is available in five languages and allows you to export the floor plan as a PDF, JPG or in XML.

On the downside, one reviewer noted that the app displayed room sizes in meters rather feet, and another noted that there were issues trying to measure rooms when there was furniture in the corners. The fee for commercial use is $5 per listing; however, MagicPlan has a subscription program for agents who have a large listing inventory.

6. Not quite an app, but way cool
Swivl is a combination of an iPhone app with hardware that allows you to capture your videos hands-free. All you have to do is to set it up and your iPhone will follow your motions in the room. This is an especially powerful app in terms of creating videos for your business. You can use it to do a virtual showing of a house without having someone there to shoot the video for you. Once you are connected to Swivl, it will automatically follow your motions as you move about the room. In addition to the real estate applications, it's great for recording seminars, classes, or even just catching your children at play.

Which apps are the best? The answer to this question is simple: "The ones you use every day." Several of the apps in today's column are lots of fun. Explore which ones are best suited for your business.

Bernice Ross, CEO of RealEstateCoach.com, is a national speaker, trainer and author of the National Association of REALTORS®' No. 1 best-seller, “Real Estate Dough: Your Recipe for Real Estate Success.” Hear Bernice's five-minute daily real estate show, just named "new and notable" by iTunes, at www.RealEstateCoachRadio.com. You can contact her at Bernice@RealEstateCoach.com or @BRoss on Twitter.

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8 Things to Know About Buying a Home Today

Donna Bosze (Keller Williams Elite, Realtors) — Thu, 17 May 2012 06:48:49 -0700

Use mortgage preapproval to your advantage

The home-sale market is showing signs of life. More buyers are confident now than they were a year ago that now might be a good time to buy. Interest rates are near all-time lows and home prices in some areas are back to 2002-2003 levels.

Some analysts are finally suggesting that we may be headed for recovery. If you have a secure job, plan to stay put and feel this is the right time for you to buy a home, consider the following.

In most places in the country, home prices are still declining. It has only been recently that the market picked up and it's too soon to know if this will result in a sustainable increase in prices.

The recent home sales in areas around California's Silicon Valley defy the norm. Significant job growth in the area combined with a low inventory of good homes for sale has resulted in multiple offers with buyers bidding the price up sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars over the asking price.

In other high-demand, low-inventory areas, you may find yourself bidding against other buyers, perhaps even more than once. This doesn't necessarily mean that the price will be bid up significantly over the asking price. This will vary from one listing to the next depending on property location, condition and price.

It's important to research the local community where you want to buy. Find out what homes are selling for, if multiple offers are common and if listings are selling for more than the asking price. This will help you make a realistic offer that might be accepted when you find a home you'd really like to buy. It helps to work with an experienced local real estate agent.

Some sellers in high-demand niche markets intentionally list their home at a low price hoping to stimulate multiple offers. If you see such a listing and there are a lot of buyers wanting to make offers, you will be better able to know how high your offer would need to be to win the contest if you have done your due diligence.

HOUSE HUNTING TIP: Whether you're anticipating competition or not, you should be preapproved for the mortgage you'll need to complete the purchase before you write an offer. In competition, this will make a big difference, particularly if everyone else who is offering is preapproved. It also lets you know what you can afford. And, it puts you in a good bargaining position with the seller.

Buyers aren't the only participants in the housing market that have heard the news that the market has improved. Some sellers are putting their homes on the market because they've been waiting for a better time to sell. This is good news for buyers looking in low-inventory markets.

You should expect that you will have to negotiate. Many of today's sellers are selling for less than they paid. Even though the market has improved a bit, sellers may be disappointed with the current market value of their home. Be prepared to negotiate, not just the initial price, but after inspections are completed if items come up that you hadn't anticipated.

Include realistic contingency time frames in your purchase contract for loan and appraisal approval if you're applying for a mortgage. The recent uptick in the market means that lenders are suddenly overwhelmed.

In mid-March, buyers in Oakland, Calif., who were seeking approval for a jumbo loan were told they could close a transaction in 21 days. Not only could they not close in 21 days, it took more than 21 days for loan approval due to lender backlog.

THE CLOSING: Underwriters could require that additional conditions be met before you can be approved. Act quickly to avoid further delay.

Dian Hymer, a real estate broker with more than 30 years' experience, is a nationally syndicated real estate columnist and author of "House Hunting: The Take-Along Workbook for Home Buyers" and "Starting Out, The Complete Home Buyer's Guide."

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Builder Confidence Rises Five Points in May

Donna Bosze (Keller Williams Elite, Realtors) — Wed, 16 May 2012 06:24:03 -0700

Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes gained five points in May from a downwardly revised reading in the previous month to reach a level of 29 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released today. This is the index’s strongest reading since May of 2007.

“Builders in many markets are reporting that buyer traffic and sales have picked back up after a pause this April,” says Barry Rutenberg, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Gainesville, Fla. “It seems we have resumed the gradual upward trend in confidence that started at the beginning of this year, as stabilizing prices and excellent affordability encourage more people to pursue a new-home purchase.”

“While home building still has quite a way to go toward a fully healthy market, the fact that the HMI has returned to trend is an excellent sign that firming home values, improving employment and low mortgage rates are drawing consumers back,” says NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. “The pace of this emerging recovery could be stronger were it not for the significant impediments that the market continues to face with regard to builder and consumer access to credit, inaccurate appraisals, and more recently, rising materials prices.”

Derived from a monthly survey that NAHB has been conducting for 25 years, the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index gauges builder perceptions of current single-family home sales and sales expectations for the next six months as “good,” “fair” or “poor.” The survey also asks builders to rate traffic of prospective buyers as “high to very high,” “average” or “low to very low.” Scores from each component are then used to calculate a seasonally adjusted index where any number over 50 indicates that more builders view conditions as good than poor.

Each of the index’s components rebounded from declines in the previous month. The component gauging current sales conditions and the component gauging traffic of prospective buyers each rose five points in May to 30 and 23, respectively, with the traffic component hitting its highest level since April of 2007. The component gauging sales expectations in the next six months rose three points to 34.

Three out of four regions registered improving builder sentiment in May. This included a six-point gain to 32 in the Northeast, and five-point gains to 27 and 28 in the Midwest and South, respectively. The West posted a two-point decline, to 29.

HMI tables can be found at www.nahb.org/hmi. More information on housing statistics is also available at www.housingeconomics.com.

Posted By susanne On May 15, 2012 @ 3:26 pm In Business Outlook,Consumer News and Advice,Finance and Economy,Real Estate Information,Real Estate Trends

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What You Should Know About Pocket Listings

Donna Bosze (Keller Williams Elite, Realtors) — Tue, 15 May 2012 06:24:56 -0700

Over the past year or so, “pocket listings” have become a more mainstream option for quietly marketing a home. If you haven’t heard this real estate term before, you probably will. Here is what today’s homebuyers and sellers need to know about pocket listings.

A pocket listing is an unofficial, off-market listing

Also known as a “quiet” or “off-market” listing, a pocket listing is a property that an agent keeps tucked away in his or her “pocket.” Though the seller has a signed listing agreement with a real estate agent, the property for sale isn’t officially listed in the MLS. Other traditional forms of marketing may be downplayed, too.

Pocket listings started many years ago as a way for high-profile people or expensive homes to be quietly marketed. They were seen as exclusive because they were listed under the radar of mainstream agents, buyers and even the press.

Pocket listings are growing in popularity

As the real estate market has become more challenging, pocket listings have become more mainstream.

In many markets, there are few good properties and low inventories, coupled with buyers who are motivated to see more homes. You’d think that would be a perfect reason to push homes on to the market.

And yet, there are sellers who have been interested in selling but aren’t comfortable with current home values. These sellers may sit on the sidelines and will only sell if they can get the price they want.

As soon as a home is listed in the MLS, the infamous “days on market” clock starts ticking. The longer your home sits on the market, the more “stale” it becomes and the less money you’re likely to be offered. Buyers, seeing that a home has been for sale for 30 or 60 days or even longer, will inevitably make low-ball offers. And so, instead of going on the market, a seller who wants a certain price may engage their real estate agent and put the listing out there as a “pocket” listing.

Pocket listings let sellers test the market

With a pocket listing, a seller and their agent can quietly test the market without adding it to the MLS. They can gauge reaction to the price they’re asking and see what kind of traffic they get and how the market receives the property without the MLS clock ticking.

The agent can get the word out about the home using various marketing methods except the MLS — maybe even holding a small open house, doing a private broker’s tour, and stimulating word of mouth with other agents.

Sometimes, pocket listings eventually get entered into the MLS. But in other cases they’re sold without ever making it into the database.

Pocket listings have become a secondary home market

In some markets, there are entire websites devoted to pocket listings or networking opportunities with other agents about upcoming listings and properties. What started as a way to get the word out about future listings has turned into a secondary market of homes for sale for well-connected real estate agents.

While sellers may agree to a pocket listing and dictate how the information about their home is disseminated, many boards of Realtors have procedures and rules for how listings are to be input into the local MLS. Those rules include fines for agents who don’t input their listing within a certain time period.

Time will tell if pocket listings are here to stay or just a direct result of our current real estate market.

What pocket listings mean for sellers and buyers

If you’re a seller, you should consider testing the waters with a pocket listing, even if it’s just for a week or two. You’ve got nothing to lose.

For buyers, it’s important to work with a local agent who has established relationships with other agents in the community. That way, you can be certain that you’ll be made aware of all potential homes for sale.

Author:Brendon DeSimone

Brendon DeSimone is a Realtor® and real estate expert based in San Francisco and New York. He is a contributor to Zillow Blog, has collaborated on multiple real estate books and is often quoted by major media outlets. Follow Brendon on Twitter.

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The Difference Between an Obstacle and an Opportunity?

Donna Bosze (Keller Williams Elite, Realtors) — Mon, 14 May 2012 06:14:07 -0700

For early Monday morning, this was inspirational. What a great reminder that it is all about how we see things, and respond to them. Attitude is everything. Have a great Monday!

Via Lou Ludwig CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC, e-PRO, (Ludwig & Associates):

Motivational Power Quote

The Difference Between an Obstacle and an Opportunity?

“What is the difference between an obstacle and an opportunity?

our attitude toward it. Every opportunity has a difficulty,

and every difficulty has an opportunity.”

J. Sidlow Baxter 1903 – 1999, Author and Theologian

As I see it . . . . . . .

The difference between an obstacle and opportunity?

We look at the conditions in our life through the eyes of our attitude what we see in a condition is a direct reflection of our attitude.

There is an opportunity in every obstacle and an obstacle in every opportunity. Our frame of reference will determine what we see how we respond it or if we overact to it.

A positive frame of reference is in our attitude and in the way we think.

When we come at things with a positive expectations and attitude we will see the opportunity in the obstacles we encounter and we will focus on maximizing our opportunities.

The difference between an obstacle and a opportunity is in our attitude. With a positive attitude we will seek out the positive in the circumstances that we find ourselves in.

©2012 Lou Ludwig, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

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OPEN HOUSE 1-4 PM Saturday 5/12/12 5024 Bruce St. Norfolk, VA 23513

Donna Bosze (Keller Williams Elite, Realtors) — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:52:29 -0700

5024 BRUCE ST
Norfolk, VA 23513
5024 Bruce St. Norfolk, VA 23513

Donna Bosze

Licensed In Virginia

Mobile:	(757)338-5334
FAX:	(757) 257-2220
Website:	Visit Website

Price	:	$199,900
Bedrooms	:	4
Bathrooms	:	2.5
Square Foot	:	1,720
Community	:	Pennsytown
County	:	Norfolk
Property Type	:	Detached
Year Built	:	1998
MLS Number	:	1208346

click for more information and pictures

Property Description

This is a one owner, well maintained home! Super location/Perfect 'first home' and move in ready. New LG Stainless appliances. Nice size bedrooms w/walk in closets! Nice deck w/private backyard shed.

Financing Provided By:

Stacey Seim/ Senior Mortgage Banker
Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group
Mobile: 757.343.4599
Office: 757.213.1671
NMLS# 116909
http://www.atlanticbay.com/staceyseim

Equal Housing Opportunity.

Keller Williams Elite : 4016 Raintree Road - Chesapeake VA 23321 : (757)338-5334

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5 Secret Sources of Down Payment Money

Donna Bosze (Keller Williams Elite, Realtors) — Fri, 11 May 2012 06:14:25 -0700

Down payment: the mere utterance of the term strikes dread in the hearts of many a homebuyer-to-be. Coming up with a down payment often seems like an obstacle that must be overcome, as it is the biggest test of our ability to save money most of us will ever face and it’s a test that stands between us and our ability to become a homeowner.

I think it’s time to flip the script on how we think about down payments. What if we looked at them less as an obstacle, and more as an opportunity? Saving and collecting a down payment takes time, discipline and financial planning. It forces us into creating and practicing sound money management skills and habits, and into making clear choices about what’s important to us - things that will stand us in good stead throughout our tenure as home owners. To boot, the more money we have to put down, the more choice we have in terms of our purchase price range and the more control we have over our monthly payment.

All that said, down payments can be take years to save for, and some buyers are concerned they might miss a good market opportunity by continuing to wait. If you count yourself in that number, here are a handful of less-well known sources for boosting your down payment stockpile:

1. Your City. Most of us remember the days of the zero-down loan, the federal home buyer tax credit era, and even have memories of when we could use tax credit funds toward our down payment and closing cost requirements. The keyword here is ‘memories’ - those days are long gone, as are the times when there were nationwide programs that allowed a home’s seller to ‘gift’ the buyer a down payment from the overall purchase price of the home.

Where have all the down payment assistance programs gone? Local, that’s where.

The best programs of this sort are now largely operated by local governments, primarily cities and counties. As such, the rules vary widely. Some are exclusively operated for buyers with low or moderate incomes. Others are dedicated to helping first-time home buyers, usually defined as someone who hasn’t owned a home in the past 3 years. Many of these programs have a limited pool of funds that may run out over the course of the fiscal or calendar year, and almost all of them require buyers to jump some major hoops in terms of:

bringing their own funds to the table
picking a home that meets certain minimum condition criteria and/or
completing a course of homeowner education classes

in order to qualify for the funds. Some state and local programs in areas which were particularly hard hit by the recession also offer big-time bonuses for buyers who agree to purchase a bank-owned home or a property in a designated economic recovery zone.

To find these programs, just run a series of Google searches to find your city, county and state websites. Most will have a link for Residents, Housing, Homebuyer Assistance or some similar category of resources. And here’s a hint - make sure you’re on a site that ends in .gov - scammers posing as governmental agencies abound. Also, talk with your trusted, local real estate agent or mortgage broker; they often know the ins and outs of the local programs that can help a home buyer out.

2. Your Parents, Family and Friends. Many more home buyers than you might think get by with a little help from their friends (and relatives). Most mortgage programs will allow for some portion of your down payment to come in the form of ‘gift money,’ which is exactly what it sounds like: money someone gives you to help you buy a home. Check in with your mortgage pro about how much of your down payment needs you can satisfy with gift money - guidelines varies widely based on how much of your own cash you have to put down and what loan programs you’re applying for.

While gift money sounds great, it’s far from a panacea to the problem of coming up with a down payment. Taking gift money from a relative may create relationship issues or come with emotional strings attached, something you should consider and evaluate before you even have conversations about it with your potential benefactors.

And gift money generally also comes with lender strings attached, as well. Namely, lenders almost always require that gift money be contributed along with a gift letter that states that the giver is a relative and that the money is a gift, not a loan. The lender may also require to see a bank account statement from the giver showing that the money was theirs to give - just to be sure they didn’t go out and get some sort of loan that they expect you to help them repay.

Most insiders think of gift money as large gifts exclusively allowable in the context of a familial relationship, but at least one program I know of allows any general well-wisher to contribute any amount to your cause, whether or not they are a relative. The FHA Bridal Registry program allows couples to open a down payment registry account with their lender, and to deposit checks into that account from anyone who wants to give any amount to help them become home owners. Talk to your FHA mortgage broker for more information on how to open such a registry account.

3. Your Employer. Universities and the municipal agencies that employ first responders like police and fire personnel frequently make available down payment and other home buying assistance programs to their staffers. So do some large employers or even smaller companies who are seeking to lure top-level recruits, in the form of relocation assistance programs. Check in with your employers’ Human Resource division to explore whether any such assistance is available - and if you happen to find yourself a hot prospect on the job market, consider trying to negotiate relocation or down payment assistance into your offer package.

4. Your Income. This is not about cutting out a cup of coffee here or there. Euro-style austerity measures are just too hard to keep up for the months or years it can take to save up a down payment. Rather, the idea is to get gut-level real with yourself about what’s really important to you. And if the answer is buying a home, then it’s time to go through your spending with a fine tooth comb and look for the leakage you can stop up - cash you can redirect to your down payment savings.

If you spend $20 a workday on oatmeal and coffee at breakfast and your takeout lunch, that’s $400 per month - almost $5000 a year, you can save by simply bringing these things from home (not to mention the health and other benefits you’ll gain). And those numbers are not inflated, if you work in a big city. Nor is the $100/month cable bill, the $15 yoga class or the $2,000 vacation.

Fact is, you can have much of the enjoyment of these things for much, much less than you’re used to spending - at least while you’re in down payment-saving mode. Stream TV shows and movies online at Netflix, Hulu or Amazon - you can also find great workout videos on some of these channels for 10 percent of what you’d pay to go to a class! Bring the staycation back, or cut hotel costs by renting a private room or small apartment on a site like VRBO or Airbnb (you might be surprised at how nice the experience is if you stick with the vacation rentals that have rave reviews - I certainly was.)

Redirecting the dollars you would normally spend - whether intentionally or on autopilot - for some of these big-ticket items back into your down payment savings account is like pressing fast forward on your home buying timeline. The key is to click out of money-spending autopilot and to transfer the saved money, asap, into a separate down payment savings account - ideally one that is online, so you have to think hard and wait a few days before pulling money out.

5. Your Assets. Some retirement accounts allow you to borrow against or pull out funds, penalty-free, to apply them toward your down payment on a home. Is it advisable for everyone, in every situation to deplete their 401K or IRA to plug that cash into a house? Absolutely not. But there are situations in which it may make sense to get your down payment up to 20%, say, by borrowing a few thousand dollars from yourself.

If getting your down payment to the 20 percent mark by borrowing from your 401K gets your mortgage interest rate down and allows you to repay that cash to your own retirement account (vs. to your mortgage lender) with interest, you and your financial advisor might agree that this move is the right move for you. Or not - this is a highly personal decision that must be made strategically, but some home buyers should at least explore whether their retirement accounts are a sensible source of some portion of their down payment funds.

And these aren’t the only assets that can help fund your down payment. I know a young family who has given themselves a complete financial makeover over the last few years by getting rid of unnecessary belongings and selling them at flea markets, yard sales and online. Don’t underestimate what reselling your stuff can yield; my own Mom has had a few four-figure yard sales over the years!

Do you have ‘stuff’ you don’t need or use that someone else would love? Consider liquidating it online or taking it to a consignment store, and using the cash to fluff your down payment savings. Side benefit: you’ll have less to move when you’re ready to move into your new home!

By Tara-Nicholle Nelson

Ask Tara@ Trulia

www.trulia.com

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Foreclosures Down to 69,000 in March, Inventory Also Down

Donna Bosze (Keller Williams Elite, Realtors) — Thu, 10 May 2012 06:12:25 -0700

Year-over-year, the number of completed foreclosures decreased about 19 percent to 69,000 in March 2012 compared to 85,000 in March 2011, according to CoreLogic’s National Foreclosure Report for March. Month-over-month, with the number of completed foreclosures in February 2012 at 66,000, foreclosures increased about 4.5 percent in March 2012.

On a quarterly basis, foreclosures decreased to 198,000 in the first quarter of 2012 compared to 232,000 through the same quarter a year ago.

Overall, since the start of the financial crisis in September 2008, there have been approximately 3.5 million completed foreclosures.

In addition to the yearly and quarterly decreases in completed foreclosures, the number of loans in the foreclosure inventory decreased by nearly 6 percent, or 100,000, in March 2012 compared to the year before.

“Since the foreclosure inventory is also coming down, this suggests that loan modifications, short sales, deeds-in-lieu are increasingly being used as an alternative to foreclosures to clear distressed assets in our communities. This is what was envisioned with the recent National Foreclosure Settlement, and can often be a better outcome for both borrowers and investors,” said Anand Nallathambi, CEO of CoreLogic.

Out of all homes with a mortgage, approximately 1.4 million homes, or 3.4 percent were in the national foreclosure inventory as of March 2012 compared to 1.5 million, or 3.5 percent, the same month a year ago, and 1.4 million, or 3.4 percent, in the prior month of February.

Delinquencies are also down, with the share of borrowers nationally that were more than 90 days late on their mortgage payment, including homes in foreclosure and real estate owned (REO) assets, dropping to 7 percent in March 2012 from 7.5 percent a year ago, and remained unchanged compared to the prior month.

“The overall delinquency level was unchanged in March, remaining at its lowest point since July 2009,” said Mark Fleming, CoreLogic’s chief economist.

The distressed clearing ratio for March was up at 0.81 compared to 0.76 in February 2012. A higher ratio indicates a faster pace of REO sales relative to the pace of completed foreclosures.

As for individual states, strides were more notably made with non-judicial states.

“Non-judicial foreclosure markets like Nevada, Arizona, and California are experiencing significant improvements in their shares of delinquent borrowers. Some judicial foreclosure states are also improving, like Florida, but not to the extent of non-judicial markets,” said Fleming.

Year-over-year, the percentage of 90-plus delinquencies in Nevada decreased 3.7, while in Arizona the drop was 3.2 percent and in California 2.2 percent. Judicial state Florida saw a 1 percent decrease in its percentage of delinquent borrowers.

Highest % of Foreclosure Inventory

Florida (12.1 percent)
New Jersey (6.6 percent)
Illinois (5.4 percent)
Nevada (4.9 percent)
New York (4.9 percent)

Lowest % of Foreclosure Inventory

Wyoming (0.7 percent)
Alaska (0.8 percent)
North Dakota (0.8 percent)
Nebraska (1.1 percent)
South Dakota (1.4 percent)

Five States with the Most Foreclosures
(Over 12 months ending in March 2012)

California (150,000)
Florida (92,000)
Michigan (62,000)
Arizona (58,000)
Texas (57,000)

The five states account for 49.1 percent of all completed foreclosures nationally.

CoreLogic is a provider of consumer, financial and property information, analytics, and services to businesses and the government.

Author: Esther Cho • Date: 05/01/2012

DSNews.com

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A Mother's Day Thought

Donna Bosze (Keller Williams Elite, Realtors) — Wed, 09 May 2012 06:39:00 -0700

Seeing this sign made me think about things my Mother said over the years. Were they always good or helpful, not really. However, I know they came out of a desire for me to do my best.

We are never too old to remember some of the basics.

1. Be kind to those smaller than you, or those who can not care for themselves.

3. Take everything with a grain of salt. Not everything will be perfect.

4. A joyful heart goes a long way to a joyful life.

5. When you are in a bad place, help others that are worse off than you. It will give you perspective.

6. Live life fully as if today is your last.

7. Have no regrets.

9. Be honest.

10.Take care with how you treat others.

If we follow these things that many of us heard from our Mothers, it will make working with clients, brokers, other agents, home inspectors, etc. so much more rewarding.

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4 Ways to Capitalize on Shift to Seller's Market

Donna Bosze (Keller Williams Elite, Realtors) — Tue, 08 May 2012 06:07:54 -0700

Some see signs of the next housing shortage

It's the spring selling season and good news is popping up like wildflowers in many places. The rocky bottom may be behind us with a new challenge ahead: a seller's market with higher prices and not enough inventory.

"A seller's market? Are you serious?" the naysayers will say. "NAR just announced that prices declined again and that the current sales pace puts us on track for doing about 4.93 million home sales in 2012. That's less than the typical 5 million home sales that constitutes an average year."

Signs of the next housing shortage?

There's no question that many areas are still suffering from high unemployment and a glut of foreclosures. Nevertheless, there are rumblings on the lending side of the business about easing credit restrictions. This means more borrowers can qualify for loans. Increased demand will absorb the current glut of properties. This, in turn, will result in prices flattening and then beginning to inch up again.

Pent-up demand is also growing. The 80 million members of Gen Y (born between 1977 and 1994) are in their prime time for starting careers, getting married and having babies. These major life milestones are usually tied to changes in housing, most often a move from being a renter to becoming a homeowner.

Moreover, as inflation raises its ugly head again and the Federal Reserve ponders a third round of quantitative easing (QE3), investors are fleeing to tangible assets. While precious metals and commodities are certainly popular, real estate has almost always kept place with inflation over the long haul.

Couple these facts with the tremendous decline in new housing starts and you have the formula for a housing shortage in the very near future.

Reading the tea leaves

What does this all mean for your business? First, it's important that you are tracking how many months of inventory are on the market in the areas and the price ranges in which you work. The rule of thumb is that if you have six or less months of inventory, you are either entering or are already in a seller's market. If there are seven or eight months of inventory, your market may be flat or transitioning. If you have nine or more months of inventory, you are still in a buyer's market with too much inventory.

There are some important points to note here. First, sometimes you can have a seller's market and a buyer's market on the same street. For example, single-family homes under $250,000 may be selling well, but $180,000 condos are languishing with virtually no sales. Since most MLS systems supply this data, it's important to watch whether the number of months of inventory is increasing or decreasing. This will give you an idea about which way the market is trending.

What's especially fascinating about the shift from a buyer's to a seller's market is how far the prices actually lag behind the shift. For example, inventories began to grow back in 2004 and 2005. Nevertheless, prices continued to increase in many areas well into 2007.

You can expect to see the same thing now. Inventories are decreasing, multiple offers are occurring, and overall prices are still continuing to decline. The bottom of the market has already passed in terms of the demand, but hasn't shown up yet in terms of the price.

Capitalize on the shifts

What can you do to take advantage of this in your market? Here are four suggestions:

1. Fish where the fish are
Determine where the activity is the greatest and where there is the least amount of listings. This is a prime area for prospecting for new listings. You can call on FSBOs (for-sale-by-owner listings), owners of expired listings, or hold open houses where you invite the neighbors. The idea is to increase your visibility in the area so that when someone is thinking about buying or selling a home, they will contact you.

2. Use print marketing to get the word out
Many buyers have been waiting for the market to bottom out. You can use your print marketing materials including postcards, letters or newsletters to show people that the properties in their area have already bottomed out. A simple way to do this is with a graph that shows how many months of inventory were available over the last 12-24 months. Draw a line at six months. Your caption says, "When the inventory dips below six months, the market has already bottomed. Prices typically bottom out in the next 90 to 180 days after the inventory drops below six months. If you want to get the best price and the best financing, buy now."

3. Reach out through social media
If you have a Facebook business page or if you use Twitter, link to any data from your board of REALTORS® or other resources that show the state of your local market. Remember to remind recipients that different price ranges may be experiencing different market conditions.

4. Show buyers it's cheaper to buy than rent
A real shocker was recently released from Trulia showing that it is now cheaper to buy than rent in 98 of 100 large U.S. metro locations.

Is a seller's market around the corner in your area? If the months of inventory have crossed the "six months" threshold, it's time to load up on your listing inventory as well as dust off those unused multiple-offer forms. Also, don't forget to prospect first-time buyers, because it's the best time to buy since the Great Depression.

By Bernice Ross
Inman News®

My Homes for sale in Virginia Beach

Renters More Optimistic About Buying

Donna Bosze (Keller Williams Elite, Realtors) — Mon, 07 May 2012 06:09:04 -0700

A PulteGroup survey of renters says more expect to buy homes in the next two years.

They may have watched the value of their parents’ homes soar then crash. And, chances are, they know someone who is losing their home to foreclosure. Still, the hope of homeownership is alive among people who rent and want to buy, according to a recent survey by PulteGroup.

The home builder’s survey results showed that 60% of renters who say they want to buy a home in the future have increased their intent to buy compared to a year ago. And 61% of that group says they plan to purchase a home within the next two years.

It also indicates that homeownership continues to be as much an emotional desire as a practical one. Nearly half said they wanted to own a home because they would like being able to call themselves homeowners.

At the same time, 44% still said they thought buying a home is a good investment. And then there were the practical respondents, 36%, who said they wanted to own a home for more space. The percentages were similar across the country.

The results mirrored PulteGroup’s on-the-ground anecdotal information. "We are seeing a renewed sense of optimism, especially from young professionals and young families visiting our communities nationwide," Deborah Meyer, PulteGroup senior vice president, said in a news release of the results. "In fact, in the first quarter of this year, sales and traffic for our Centex homes, which cater to the value-conscious and first-time buyer, saw a significant improvement over last year—yet another sign of an improving housing market.”

But the survey, which PulteGroup conducted with Russell Research, also identified deterrents to buying that these want-to-be owners say they face. The first is an age-old problem that pre-dates the housing recession. Just over half, 54%, said they don’t have enough money for the down payment.

A few other perceived barriers to buying a home also showed up in the survey. Just over a fourth thinks that renting is cheaper than buying, and just under a fourth are still worrying about their jobs.

The research company conducted online surveys for two groups, one that focused on current renters only and another completely random sample of people that included both renters and homeowners.

The results were similar in the two groups. In the random survey group, 65% of the renters said they plan to buy a home in the future and, of that 65%, 61% plan to buy in the next two years.

ByTeresa Burney

Teresa Burney is a senior editor for Builder magazine.

From: BUILDER 2012
Posted on: May 1, 2012 11:36:00 AM

My Homes for sale in Virginia Beach

Don't Defer Joy

Donna Bosze (Keller Williams Elite, Realtors) — Fri, 04 May 2012 09:51:49 -0700

In real estate, the list of things to do is endless

Are you deferring joy?

I ask because a) it's so easy to do, and b) having a happy heart is imperative to becoming a successful Realtor.

I'm learning firsthand about joy thanks to my beautiful 16-month-old. Certainly, I had joy before she was born, but recognizing your own joy and actually seeing it in someone else are two different things.

In real estate, the list of "things to do" is endless. There are money-making activities and then there are business maintenance activities. And both have to get done.

Diabolically boring data entry is a perfect example: Someone must physically upload listing information and make sure it is properly syndicated to all the real estate websites. Someone must also physically put signs in the dirt. And fill-up flier boxes. And attach lockboxes.

As one professional characterized it: We are hamsters in an exercise wheel. Stop running, and your business stops working.

Systems and assistants can make all the difference. But even with the menial tasks taken care of, many professionals continue to define their success (and subsequent joy) by the numbers.

If they only had two more listings, they would feel good about this month. They think, "One more under contract and then a weekend with the wife." Or, "An additional sale next month would push earnings over the year-end goals, and then there'll be time to relax."

See, that's human nature. Meet a goal, create a new one. And it's not wrong! It's the way we all "get ahead" in life. Of course, sometimes we get so caught up in the next milestone to meet -- the one that "must" be accomplished before we can take the time to relish life -- we forget the joy that sits unclaimed right in front of us.

Every morning my daughter runs down the hallway laughing her head off. In her hand she carries a washcloth, which the dog dutifully attempts to take away from her. This game can go on for hours. HOURS! I can't think of a better example of claiming joy, than this little vignette. The washcloth game is not a money-making activity or a business tool. It's a moment of unencumbered living.

Even those of you who say, "I love this job so much, I willingly work seven days a week!" need to step back once in a while.

While endless spinning on the hamster wheel has its own rewards -- there's always a plan, total control, predictability -- it leaves little room for new experiences, delightful surprises or growing relationships. You can get so set in your plans as to x-out what really counts.

My friend, a mortgage broker, is like this. I can actually set my watch by her -- no exaggeration. I can tell you exactly what she has in her refrigerator right now. I know where her car will be parked, what she will say when she answers her phone, and the two sentences I can expect on every thank-you card.

She has her life down to a science. But where's the fun in that? Every day needs a margin. Every day needs a washcloth!

So don't wait until you have three more listings to be content ... that's just disappointment waiting to pounce. Make a list of five things you are so thankful for they crack your face in half! Then celebrate them. Don't defer your joy; you'll be a better REALTOR® (and person) for it.

Alisha Alway Braatz is a buyer's broker for Coldwell Banker Advantage One Properties in Eugene, Ore., and a real estate humorist.

By Alisha Alway Braatz
Inman News®

My Homes for sale in Virginia Beach

There is no perfect temperature for your water heater

Donna Bosze (Keller Williams Elite, Realtors) — Thu, 03 May 2012 09:03:42 -0700

So often we over-look the temperature in our water heater, or assume it is set correctly. This is a good read on temperature as well as how to solve the problem of scalding injuries. While Minnesota requirements are mentioned, it is a good information for all areas.

Via Minneapolis Home Inspections - Reuben Saltzman (Structure Tech Home Inspections):

What's the best temperature to set your water heater to? There's no single great answer. The American Society of Sanitary Engineering Scald Awareness Task Group recently released a white paper on this topic, which essentially says that there is no perfect temperature to set you water heater to.

What's a safe temperature for water?

On the side of most water heaters you'll find a warning that says water temperatures of 125 degrees Fahrenheit can cause burns or death. To be safe, the water coming out of the plumbing fixtures in a home shouldn't be any hotter than 120 degrees. The handy photo below (courtesy of Charles Buell) shows how fast second and third degree burns can happen at temperatures that any new water heater is capable of producing.

Just turning down the temperature at your water heater until you're at a safe 120 degrees isn't enough to solve potential scald hazards because the thermostat on a water heater isn't designed to keep the water at a constant temperature; it's just designed to keep the water within a certain range of temperatures. Seattle home inspector Charles Buell has posted a couple different blogs explaining how this works - one explaining how water heaters sometimes run out of hot water faster than they should, and another on the different temperatures that will be produced by a water heater during different stages of the heating cycle.

During a recent inspection of a large home that was heated with two high-efficiency water heaters, I found quite a range in temperatures. When I first turned the hot water on at a fixture, the water temperature started out cool; this was because the water in the hot water pipe had cooled down to room temperature. As the hot water from the top of the tank arrived at the plumbing fixtures, the water temperature rapidly jumped up to nearly 154 degrees - this was hot enough to cause first degree burns instantaneously, and second degree burns within one second.

The water only stayed at this temperature for a few seconds; it quickly dropped back down to about 135. While there was a tempering valve installed to mix cold water in with the hot water right at the water heater outlet, it wasn't enough to completely control the water temperature at the fixtures.

Minnesota has no requirements for residential water temperatures. Anti-scald devices are required in all new or remodeled showers or shower-bath combos in Minnesota (4715.1380 Subp. 5), but this does nothing to address the final temperature of the water coming out of a fixture. Anti-scald devices only help to prevent people from getting scalded by a sudden swing in temperature while taking a shower. With old shower valves that didn't have the anti-scald feature, if a toilet would flush while someone was taking a shower the pressure on the cold water line would drop, quickly increasing the water temperature at the shower.

Lower Temperatures Allow Bacteria Growth

It seems as though the solution to help prevent accidental scalding would be to turn down the temperature at the water heater to say, 115 degrees, but lower temperatures actually create other problems.

At temperatures below 135 to 140, Legionellae bacteria, which is responsible for Legionnaires' Disease, can survive and even multiply in the water heater tank. Estimates by LegionellaPrevention.org say that up to 600,000 cases of Legionnaires' Disease are misdiagnosed as pnemonia each year, because this is something that isn't tested for in hospitals. The diagram below shows the time it takes to kill Legionellae Bacteria at different temperatures.

To help prevent bacteria growth, the ASSE recommends keeping the water in your water heater tank at about 135 - 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

Of course, this creates a scalding hazard.

So What's the Answer?

To help prevent bacteria growth and to lower the risk of scalding, have a plumber install a tempering valve and crank up the temperature at your water heater to about 135 - 140, as ASSE recommends. Last year I wrote about how I installed a tempering valve on the hot water outlet at my own house in order to get more water out of my water heater. These valves would be a good thing to install in every home. A tempering valve allows you to keep the water at a dangerously high, Legionellae-killing-temperature inside the water heater tank, yet it mixes cold water in with the hot water right at the outlet, making it so you don't get this hot water at the rest of the fixtures in your home.

As I mentioned in my story about the recent inspection with dangerously hot water, a tempering valve won't guarantee safe water temperatures, but it will get you a lot closer.

Reuben Saltzman, Structure Tech Home Inspections - Email - Minneapolis Home Inspector

My Homes for sale in Virginia Beach

Natural Remedies for Mosquito Control

Donna Bosze (Keller Williams Elite, Realtors) — Wed, 02 May 2012 07:33:32 -0700

With hot days and warm nights approaching, the natural enemy of outdoor activities, the mosquito, is beginning to show itself. With such a warm winter many are predicting a much larger population of these biting bugs. Thankfully there are natural ways to protect you, your family and even treat your yard.

What are these products?

Natural products for you and your family, and ones that seem to really work, are those with several plant derived ingredients. These are topical applications replace other spray or wipe on products. Common ingredients included in these products are: Geranium Oil, Wintergreen, Citronella, Cedarwood, Peppermint, and Lemongrass. There are many other additions, but these seem to be the most common. Treating your family and your pets will help keep all kinds of biting insects away and insure hours of outside fun.

Treating your yard brings other plant extracts into the picture. Garlic oil is one that works well for your yard. It kills the mosquitoes on contact as well as coating any standing water. While it may smell like garlic as it is being applied, the sent does dissipate quickly. There are also other mixes of plant extracts to treat the yard. These mixes include: Lemon Eucalyptus, Citronella, and Citric Acid along with some of the same ingredients from the topical products. These are safe to use around children and pets. Treating your yard gives added benefit of repelling many other pests.

Is there anything else I can do?

You may also choose to treat your yard only as you use it. For this option there are many choices. Citronella candles, torches with citronella oil, and mosquito attracting traps. These are good ways of controlling mosquitoes without putting anything on skin, or on plants in the yard.

Where can I get more information?

There are many sources on the net regarding natural products, from product web sites to other blogs. One article that was particularly informative is on moneycrashers.com. http://www.moneycrashers.com/best-natural-mosquito-repellent/

Solving the problem of mosquitoes gives you peace of mind and the enjoyment of your yard through the long days of summer. So, get out there and enjoy!

My Homes for sale in Virginia Beach

Getting the Best ROI with your Renovations and Upgrades

Donna Bosze (Keller Williams Elite, Realtors) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:21:57 -0700

"So what will give me a high return on investment?" The answer is usually "it depends!!"

Remember that while some home improvements might improve your quality of life they might not increase the value of your home.

There are many factors that affect the return you can get when you upgrade. Where you live, province, city neighbourhood, socioeconomic status, economic conditions such as interest rates and jobs in the area, perceived value, fashion, weather (very hot, very cold), number of kids in area, age of your home.

Sometimes the answer is easy. Renovations such as painting almost always give good return, in particular, if the paint is a bit tired or colours are dated.

On the reverse side some renovations and home improvements offer bad return from the point of view of getting your money back when selling. In this category we find upgrades that are valuable to the current owners but are not attractive to all potential buyers. (IF the right buyer is found however return can be very good).

Very strongly coloured tiles in bathrooms or kitchens, swimming pools, wine cellars, dance floors, expensive very specific build-in entertainment centres, outside hot tubs, unusually high quality materials, fixtures and finishes, or elaborate basement bars, are all examples of home improvements that will not appeal to everyone and will not payback as well.

Another factor in how well a renovation or upgrade will payback is the "emotional appeal" of the renovation. Although a new roof might be a more solid investment, its hard for a buyer to get emotionally involved with it. A nice new clean room with a fresh coat of paint goes straight to the "feel good" area of people's brain and return in much larger percentage. Its a bit illogical but emotional appeal is a big factor.

Enough talk, How much are we talking about?

All agree that a home that is in good shape, has modern amenities and is attractive and has curb appeal, sells better than one that looks dated and tired, but what is the actual return on investment for renovations and improvements?

Not surprisingly, there is a difference of opinion on the return to the seller depending on WHO you ask! Probably the most reliable source of information comes from a survey of several hundred appraisers conducted in 2008 by the Appraisal Institute of Canada.

Most common renovations being done

Energy efficient upgrades such as new heating systems, windows and insulation
Ground floor home office
Hardwood flooring upgrade in kitchen
Whirlpool bath separate from shower
Built-in kitchen appliances
Addition of kitchen cooking island
Non-neutral interior paint colours
Spa style shower systems.
Home theatre room
Skylights

Return on investment for renovations and upgrades according to the Appraisal Institute of Canada.

Expected Return (Range of Return)

Poor Return on Investment

Skylight installation (0% - 25%)
Swimming pool (0% - 25%)
Whirlpool Tub installation (0% - 50%)
Interlocking Brick walkways (25% - 50%)
Home Theatre (25% - 50%)
Building a Fence (25% - 50%)
Paving with asphalt (25% - 50%)
Landscaping (25% - 50%)

Medium Return on Investment

Central Air installation (25% - 75%)
Roof Shingle Replacement (25% - 75%)
Deck Building (25% - 75%)
Paving with Concrete (25% - 75%)
Basement Renovation (50% - 75%)
Construct A Garage (50% - 75%)
Recreation Room (50% - 75%)
Fireplace installation (50% - 75%)
Flooring upgrade (50% - 75%)
Heating System upgrade (50% - 75%)
Windows and Door replacement (50% - 75%)
Garage Construction (50% - 75%)

High Return on Investment

Bathroom Renovation (75% - 100%)
Kitchen Renovation (75% - 100%)
Exterior Paint (50% - 100%)
Interior Paint (50% - 100%)

The Appraisal Institute of Canada has a useful worksheet that calculates potential return according to the above range. If you are planning to upgrade have a look.

Return on Investment on upgrades according to The National Association of the Remodeling Industry

Not surprisingly they are more optimistic than the Appraisers' (conservative) return estimates, but the order of return remains much the same.

Renovation
Paint
Add a Bathroom
Add a Fireplace
Kitchen Renovation (minor)
Kitchen Renovation (major)
Bathroom Renovation
Add a Skylight
New Siding
Add Insulation
Addition
New Roof
Deck
Greenhouse Addition
Replace Windows /Doors
Add a Swimming Pool

Average Cost
$700
$10,000
$4,000
$8,500
$24,000
$7,500
$4,000
$7,500
$1,750
$35,000
$4,600
$6,000
$17,000
$12,000
$24,000

Resale Recovery
200% plus
96%
94%
79%
70%
69%
68%
67%
65%
62%
61%
60%
56%
55%
39%

National Association of the Remodeling Industry

Ontario Contractors Return on investment table

HGTV ROI article written by Mike Holmes, about Where to put your Reno Dollars.

ROI figures according to the Wall Street Journal.

Painting the outside of your home enhances the curb appeal of your home relatively inexpensively and is an excellent investment bringing substantial ROI.

Kitchens and Bathrooms remodel is one of the best way to add value to the home and is repaid at the rate of 88% of the cost of a kitchen remodeling and 82% of the cost of remodeling a bathroom. (These are average American figures but are similar in Canada)

Additions of a room or garage is one of the more expensive improvements you can make, but the Return on investment (ROI) can be good. Up to 84% of the cost of an addition is recouped when a home is resold. But be warned: good design and execution are the only way to get your money back.

Additions of garages and extra rooms is subject to municipal by-laws, so check before you build.

Finishing Rooms such as a basement into more functional space can make the house more livable, but you won't necessarily get all your money back. On average you'll get a 75% return if you convert your attic into a bedroom and about 69% back if you refinish your basement.

Landscaping and Decks makes the yard look better and improves curb appeal. But don't go overboard on gardens. The deluxe landscaping job will simply not give the best return for your money. Adding a deck can make it more enjoyable, but you'll probably only get half of the cost when it comes time to sell.

Pools if you have enough space for one are one of the least rewarding upgrade you can add in terms of resale value. Adding a pool usually gives a bad return and has been known to reduce the appeal of a home.

Customized Changes that reflect your lifestyle closely do not offer best return.

Return on Investment (ROI) according to National Association of Realtors (American)

Kitchen Remodeling 88%
Adding Room/Garage 84%
Bathroom Remodeling 82%
Converting Attic 75%
Refinishing Basement 69%

THE ROI CONDENSED VERSION

Important in any reno: Don't eliminate options for future buyers when you remodel.

The Toronto New Beach has shown that the above principles and percentages hold. Painting a tired room or stained woodwork gives high return on your investment, while expensive spectacular landscaping does not.

Although Granite counter tops don't always pay back particularly if the colour is "wrong" for the new buyers, it is expected in high end homes and buyers feel it should be there at the price!

Surprisingly, a finished basement is not always a bonus. Pot lights are desirable but the cost of installing them by the builder was high and are not paying back as well as if the installation costs had been more moderate.

Because of the quality and price of the properties it is essential that upgrades be well done. Materials and finishes should be perceived as high quality. Brand new upgrades done with less desirable materials have been penalized. For example, while being a perfectly acceptable material, laminate flooring is sometimes perceived as less desirable, particularly in the upper levels.

Investing in fixing little things that are broken is usually well repaid. Fence gates that don't shut, torn window screens, rusty gas lines and meters and mailboxes, uneven paving stones are examples. Remember the Curb Appeal. Also essential, is fixing any leaks that might have come through sun decks, or water damage from overflowing bathtubs.

One upgrade we often recommend is upgrading the light fixtures. The original fixtures chosen by the builders can usually be improved upon [!!] and do not require a substantial investment. Another benefit of improving the light fixtures is making the home brighter.

Although exact figures stating the best return differ sometimes quite alot depending on who you ask the RELATIVE ORDER of return is much the same no matter who you ask.

To maximize return on investment for renovations and upgrades your priorities should be:

Paint outside and inside
Upgrade Kitchen and Bathrooms if they are dated or tired. Don't go overboard.
Improve light fixtures. If you intend to keep a fixture when you move it is better to replace it before showing, that way a potential buyer will not feel ripped off and resentful that he cannot have the light.
Curb Appeal, make sure the first impression is great. Don't go overboard on Landscaping
Fix what is obviously broken.
Before doing any major work, design carefully and plan the execution in detail. Use good materials.
Don't expect to get your money back on highly customized work.
Don't eliminate options for the next owners when you upgrade.
Remember if an upgrade will improve your standard of living and enjoyment it might be worth investing in it even if you don't get it all back.

Home Gain Survey on ROI from various Home improvements is well worth reading.

Nick Boothby, inthebeach.com April 30, 2012

My Homes for sale in Virginia Beach

Feng Shui Gardening

Donna Bosze (Keller Williams Elite, Realtors) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:39:15 -0700

Photo by Marpa Landscape Design Studio

Feng shui is an ancient Chinese philosophy of form and placement that helps to improve the flow of chi (also qi)—the universal life force. In the Western world, we’ve mostly heard of feng shui in home design, but the Chinese use feng shui first and foremost for landscaping. In fact, the exterior is far more important than the interior. If you have feng shui problems outside your home, no amount of cures inside will remedy it.

A feng shui garden strives to achieve balance and harmony, and raise auspicious energy levels. The landscape is what we and visitors first experience at our home, so it makes sense for this space to be welcoming and calming.

Feng shui garden design has three basic concepts: energy flow or chi, the balance of the yin (female) and yang (male) energies that make up chi energy, and the balance
of the five elements: earth, metal, water, wood and fire. The landscape elements of feng shui are mountain, vegetation and water, which can be represented in the gar-
den by rocks, plantings and water features.

Flow & Balance
You can increase the chi in your garden with gently flowing paths and curves. The idea is to allow energy to flow smoothly throughout your site, rather than having it run abruptly into obstacles. Right angles are not recommended, as they stagnate the energy flow.

Yin and yang are opposites, e.g., good and evil, dark and light, female and male, low and high, cold and hot. In Chinese philosophy, feng shui supports this duality. The goal is to achieve balance between the yin and yang energies, meaning that no element overpowers another. For example, plants and a water feature can balance a large amount of stone that could overpower a landscape, making it feel heavy. Just make sure the water flows toward your home and never away. Water that flows away from your home is said to carry your wealth and finances with it.

If you don’t want a water feature because of maintenance or cost concerns, you could create the impression of water with a stream of river pebbles or rocks.

The Bagua
The bagua is an “energy map” with eight sides and nine directions that correspond to colors and elements. At the top of the bagua is the direction south, represented by fire. It’s the direction of fame, representing dreams, aspirations and opportunity. The color connected to south is red. To represent these elements in the garden, you can add fire pits, barbecues and red flowers in the south.

Southwest is represented by earth. It’s the direction of marriage, representing love, relationships and partners. The color connected to southwest is pink. To represent these elements in the garden, add benches, dining areas, spaces for outdoor activities and greenery in the southwest.

West is represented by metal. It’s the direction of children and creativity, representing community, entertaining and harvest. The color connected to west is white. To represent these elements in the garden, add play areas, outdoor entertainment spaces and healing gardens in the west.

Northwest is the direction of helpful people and travel, representing trade, mentors and international travel. The color connected to northwest is gray. To represent these elements in the garden, add garden statues, wind chimes and arches in the northwest.

North is represented by water. It’s the direction of career, represented by inspiration, growth and new ideas. The color connected to north is black. To represent these elements in the garden, you can add ponds and hot tubs in the north.

Natural features like rock, stone, vegetation and water are fundamental landscape elements of feng shui. Photo by Marpa Landscape Design Studio

Northeast is the direction of knowledge, represented by wisdom, meditation and intellectual growth. The color connected to northeast is blue. To represent these elements in the garden, add rock gardens, stone benches and statuary in the northeast.

East is represented by wood. It’s the direction of family, represented by rejuvenation, health and healing. The color connected to east is green. To represent these elements in the garden, sow medicinal plants and herbs, and add exercise areas in the east.

Southeast is the direction of wealth and opportunity, representing abundance and communication. The color connected to southeast is purple. To represent these elements in the garden, add columns and wood and create a special planting display in the southeast.

Simple Steps
To get started, stand in the center of your garden and locate your directions. In each area decide what is favorable and what is not, then remove what’s not. Next, decide what areas in your garden you’d like to enhance. Use the elements that will raise the energy level of that specific direction.

For example, if you’d like to increase wealth and abundance, the southeast sector of your garden would be a good place to plant a special display. If you’d like to enhance the overall chi of your garden, hang a wind chime and install gently curving paths.

Color in the garden can raise the energy level and create calming spaces. The yin colors—blue, purple, white and black—help relax the space. So you might plant black mondo grass, mingled with purple-leaved coral bells and blue-flowered bluebells. If you want to create a feeling of passion and positive energy, use the yang colors of yellow and orange to enhance the area.

Incorporating feng shui elements into your landscape will increase its movement, vitality and energy. But if you want a truly feng shui garden, consult a practitioner. Feng shui is a very complicated, ancient aesthetic that requires years of study. The simple suggestions provided here can help you start improving the chi in your garden—and your life.

Julie Hauser is the owner of Indigo Landscape Design. She specializes in designing gardens that incorporate edibles in an ornamental style.

Photo by Marpa Landscape Design Studio

THE FIVE ELEMENTS

Earth, metal, water, wood and fire are the five elements in feng shui that are considered the “qualities” that make up the world. These qualities are associated with colors and shapes that we can re-create in our landscapes. Each element creates or feeds another when in proper balance. When out of balance, the elements create disharmony and conflict in a space. “Earth creates metal, metal holds water, water nourishes wood, wood fuels fire and fire creates earth” is a phrase to remember the elements’ proper order.

According to feng-shui.lovetoknow.com, here are ways to represent the five elements in your landscape.

Earth Soil, rocks, boulders and clay flowerpots.
Metal Wind chimes, metal sculpture and decorative borders.
Water Fountains, birdbaths, creeks and reflecting ponds.
Wood Arbors, planter boxes, benches and trellises.
Fire Landscape lighting, lanterns, torchiers, chimineas and fire pits.

By Julie Hauser, homeandgardenmag.com

My Homes for sale in Virginia Beach

Clever Organizing Tricks and Storage Ideas

Donna Bosze (Keller Williams Elite, Realtors) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:09:12 -0700

Use Jewelry Boxes

Those little boxes are so sturdy and trim that you hate to throw them out. So don’t. Instead, clip them together to create tidy divided storage for pens and pencils, lipsticks, plastic flatware, whatever it is that clutters your drawer (maybe jewelry?).

James Baigrie

Use Glass Jars

“Grandpa’s wood-shop solution of attaching glass jars underneath a table or a shelf is tried-and-true,” says Ted McCann, a Brooklyn-based custom woodworker. This trick works in the garage, the basement, and the craft room (or even possibly the home office, if you have an appropriate area): Nail or superglue the lids to the underside of a surface near where you store your tools, then twist the jars into place. Put like-size nuts and bolts in one jar, wood screws in another, nails in another. Also attach an empty jar so that when you’re working on a project, you can gather the necessary hardware and stow it there.

Use Shower Curtain Hooks

If space allows, place hooks on a closet bar and hang purses from them to keep your carryalls at eye level. Say good-bye to a mess of accessories on your closet floor.

Use a Tissue Box

Dispense plastic grocery bags with ease by stuffing empties into an old tissue box stored under the sink; simply pull out one when you need it. For a slimmer solution, try a cardboard paper-towel tube.

Use a Paper Towel Holder

Marathon gift wrapping? For easy access to ribbon, slide spools onto a paper towel stand’s post. Stack them from largest to smallest, bottom to top. When done, tape the ribbon ends to their spools to keep them neat.

Use a Dish-Drying Rack

Keep coloring books and art supplies organized in a dish-drying rack. Stack the books, like plates, between the prongs. Store markers, crayons, and pencils in the utensil caddy.

Use Spice Containers

These squat, clear-topped jars (sold at kitchen supply stores) can keep the loose bits that accumulate on your desktop and in your drawers—stamps, Post-it notes, paper clips, rubber bands, etc., etc., etc.—under control.

Use Velcro Tape

There are plenty of cord organizers on the market, but Carrick Rowe, an interior designer in New York City, suggests using Velcro tape to keep electronic cords in check. “I’ve screwed a small hook into the bottom of a desk and hung bundled wires up and out of the sight line,” she says.

To keep tabs on which cord belongs to which machine, attach adhesive file-folder labels with the names of the cords’ owners (lamp, TV, DVD, phone) near the plugs.

Use a Tension Rod

To keep pot lids from rattling around and getting lost in kitchen drawers, position a short tension rod to create a divider. Stack pots and pans in the larger section and lean lids against the rod on the smaller side.

Use a Coat Rack

Hang your best-loved (and most frequently worn) necklaces and bracelets within easy reach on a wall-mounted coat rack. Bonus: They’ll stay tangle-free when not decorating your neck. Or mount corkboard—available in various sizes—on a wall and drape necklaces from straight pins.

Use Hangers

Keep individual sheets of wrapping paper crease-free by clipping them to a pants or skirt hanger. Do the same with gift bags, or loop their handles over the hook of the hanger. (You can also use a shoe organizer: Stash scissors, tape, gift tags, and other decorating supplies inside the compartments.)

Use a Pegboard

Keep sports equipment of all shapes and sizes tidy with an adaptable pegboard. Tim Fooks, a designer for Home Depot, recommends buying a pegboard with 1/4-inch holes, which will hold more weight than other sizes. The holes will also be able to accommodate hooks in the three common sizes: 1/8, 3/16, and 1/4 inch. Be sure to hang only lightweight items on the skinnier hooks, so they won’t pull out of the pegboard, says Fooks.

Use Zipper-Sealed Bags

Keep sets of napkins and place mats in large sealed plastic bags and label how many are in each bag.

Use a Desk Organizer

Sort cookie sheets, cutting boards, and jelly-roll pans in the kitchen for easy access (and no more cymbal-crashing sounds) in an overstuffed cabinet.

Use Votive-Candle Holders

Put empty votive-candle holders to work: Fill them with toothpicks and offer along with appetizers. Or put them on a desk or inside your junk drawer, and give small items like paper clips or bobby pins a place to call home.

Use Clear Boxes

For scissors, glue sticks, crayons, and the like, Lucite or other plastic containers provide smart storage and consolidation (no more forcing crayons back into a disintegrating cardboard box to make a matched set). Kids can easily see what each container holds, and they can find the right shade of green at a glance and put back what they’ve taken out when they’re done.

Use a Desktop Organizer

A standard desktop organizer can hold bathroom essentials, such as makeup, cotton swabs, brushes, and combs.

Use Colored Bins

Assign a colored bin or basket to each family member to hold items they’ll want to grab as they leave the house (keys, permission slips, mail, umbrellas, gloves, etc.).

Color-coded bins also work for sorting recyclables (green for glass, white for paper); instead of letting junk mail pile up, dump it directly into the appropriate bin.

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