Suzi's Blog

Update

Suzi Kutsche (Sine GMAC) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:23:34 -0500

For those of you who have been wondering where I’ve been and why my blog hasn’t been updated – I didn’t fall off the face of the earth. I’ve just moved my blogging activities to my primary website. www.suzishomesite.com

GMAC aid boosts market

Suzi Kutsche (Sine GMAC) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 11:20:37 -0600

Detroit Michigan is still a viable place to live. This is not just an opinion; this is backed up by the government. If it wasn’t a viable place then GM would not have gotten their $5billion and made it possible for GMAC to start lending again. Michigan has been and continues to be a place for people to live, work, and raise their families.

To read the full article about GM’s “bailout” see The Detroit News

Housing Market Slopes Downward

Suzi Kutsche (Sine GMAC) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 11:03:26 -0600

Home prices take record fall

The housing market seems to still be on the down slope, with record declines in sales. Interest rates are at a historic low. Homes buyers are not willing to make that final step to actually purchase a ridiculously low priced home: fearful that values are still dropping, as well as job security. The up side is that we as Michigan residents are not alone.

Read the full article here

The Holidays in St. Clair

Suzi Kutsche (Sine GMAC) — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 08:42:02 -0600

Christmas was right out of the movies. First of all it was a picturesque white Christmas. The snow was clinging to the evergreens and the streets were white. Everyone’s lights glistened through the frosting making it look almost magical. Who needs the movies, when you can live in St. Clair?

Now everyone is scurrying around readying for the New Year and all of festivities it brings. Parties are being planned; dinner preparations made, and let’s not forget what to wear. There’s also been a lot of talk about those New Year resolutions that have to be made. It seems that all of St. Clair is in a cheerful state. Throughout all of the celebration preparations and hustle and bustle, the one thing I’ve noticed is that the people of St. Clair have not forgotten their neighbors. Every day I witness an act of kindness on the streets of this town, which makes me even more proud to represent the properties located here.

To everyone that reads this – I wish you all a happy and healthy New Year!!!

St. Clair, Michigan – The Place

Suzi Kutsche (Sine GMAC) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:35:09 -0600

St. Clair, Michigan is not the same as St. Clair Shores, Michigan. Many times I have to make this distinction when asked where I live. It is very important the people know the difference between the two.

St. Clair Shores is just another area with hundreds of homes in various subdivisions located in a suburb outside of Detroit, where as St. Clair is a small town with a strong sense of community. St. Clair is located in southeastern Michigan along the St. Clair River, between Lake Huron and Lake St. Clair.

The town of St. Clair is filled with charming homes and neighborhoods that all seem to be connected through our sense of community. There’s a variety of unique shops as well as everyday shopping areas within walking distance to most homes in St. Clair. There’s everything from car dealerships to swank, friendly, internet coffee shops available to the residence of St. Clair: yet it maintains that small town friendly atmosphere of yesteryear.

St. Clair is a wonderful place to raise a family. The schools offer an upscale curriculum and are located among the neighborhoods and homes in the area. This provides a safe environment for the students to learn and obtain a good education. Being that the homes and neighborhoods are closely connected, the children in St. Clair always have a neighbor watching out for them.

The kids in St. Clair know that they are supported by their community. They experience this first hand whenever there’s a big school event, like Homecoming. Everybody walks from their home to the downtown area to watch the parade and wish the football team good luck during their game. Then at the actual game, again everybody drops whatever they were doing at home to come watch the big game and support the team.
In essence, if you’re looking to move to southeastern Michigan, come to St. Clair and experience what it is to be a part of a real community!

Green Living: Tips for Saving Energy

Suzi Kutsche (Sine GMAC) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 08:50:34 -0600

Save Energy on the Road

The Problem

In the U.S., cars are responsible for about 25 percent of the greenhouse gases produced -- 1/5 of the greenhouse gas total worldwide. Cars and other motor vehicles are a major source of pollutants that create smog and acid rain, and release other harmful substances that exacerbate conditions such as asthma and heart disease, and damage the lungs.

What you can do

1. Look for more fuel-efficient, less polluting cars - Think about trading in that old gas guzzler for a more fuel-efficient car. A car that gets 20 miles to the gallon will emit about 50 tons of carbon dioxide over its lifetime. Double the gas mileage and you cut the emissions by half. Investigate the many new ultra-clean alternative fuel vehicles available. Reconsider extra features such as automatic transmission and 4-wheel drive -- they are often unnecessary and eat into gas mileage.
2. Keep your car in good condition - Get your engine tuned up regularly, change the oil, and keep your tires inflated properly -- proper maintenance can increase your car's fuel efficiency by 10 percent and reduce emissions.
3. Cut driving miles - Each gallon of gas used in your car releases about 24 pounds of atmospheric-warming carbon dioxide. Cutting your driving by just five miles each day would contribute to keeping tons of carbon dioxide from entering the air.
4. Carpool - If every car carried just one more passenger on its daily commute, 32 million gallons of gasoline (and the pollution produced by it) would be saved each day.
5. Leave the car at home - Get in the habit of riding buses or trains as often as you can (just think of all the new people you'll meet!). For short distances, ride a bike or walk whenever possible.
6. Encourage streets for bikes and pedestrians - Encourage officials in your community to increase features such as bike lanes and pedestrian malls, and push for traffic-calming techniques like speed bumps, raised crosswalks and extended and widened sidewalks. The more pedestrian- and bike-friendly an area is, the more people will walk and ride and the less they'll drive. This means less congestion, less energy consumption, less pollution.

Save Energy at Home

The Problem

On the average, Americans waste as much energy as two-thirds of the world's population consumes. That's largely the result of driving inefficient cars, using inefficient furnaces and appliances, and living and working in poorly insulated buildings.

What you can do

1. Buy energy-efficient products - When buying new appliances or electronics, shop for the highest energy-efficiency rating. Look for a yellow and black Energy Guide label on the product. It compares the energy use for that model against similar models. New energy-efficient models may cost more initially, but have a lower operating cost over their lifetimes. The most energy-efficient models carry the Energy Star label, which identifies products that use 20-40 percent less energy than standard new products. According to the EPA, the typical American household can save about $400 per year in energy bills with products that carry the Energy Star. Did you know your refrigerator typically accounts for 20 percent of your electric bill? On the average, new refrigerators and freezers are about 75 percent more efficient than those made 30 years ago, so investing in a state-of-the-art refrigerator can cut hundreds of dollars from your electric bill during its lifetime.
2. Switch to compact flourescent bulbs - Change the three bulbs you use most in your house to compact fluorescents. Each compact fluorescent bulb will keep half a ton of carbon dioxide out of the air over its lifetime. And while compact fluorescents are initially a lot more expensive than the incandescent bulbs you're used to using, they last ten times as long and can save $30 per year in electricity costs.
3. Set heating and cooling temperatures correctly - Check thermostats in your home to make sure they are set at a level that doesn't waste energy. Get an electronic thermostat that will allow your furnace to heat the house to a lower temperature when you're sleeping and return it to a more comfortable temperature before you wake up. In the winter, set your thermostat at 68° in the daytime and 55° at night. In the summer, keep it at 78°. Remember that water heaters work most efficiently between 120° and 140°. In your refrigerator, set the temperature at about 37°and adjust the freezer to operate at about 3°. Use a thermometer to take readings and set the temperatures correctly.
4. Turn off the lights - Turn off lights and other electrical appliances such as televisions and radios when you're not using them. This is a no-brainer, but it's surprising how many times we forget. Install automatic timers for lights that people in your house frequently forget to flick off when leaving a room. Use dimmers where you can.
5. Use your appliances more efficiently - The way you use an appliance can change the amount of energy it wastes. Make sure your oven gasket is tight, and resist the urge to open the oven door to peek, as each opening can reduce the oven temperature 25°. Preheat only as much as needed, and avoid placing foil on racks -- your food won't cook as quickly. Your second biggest household energy user after the fridge is the clothes dryer. Dryers kept in warm areas work more efficiently. Clear the lint filter after each load, and dry only full loads. And don't forget that hanging clothing outside in the sun and air to dry is the most energy-efficient method of all.
6. Check your utility's energy-efficiency incentives - Some utility companies have programs that encourage energy efficiency. Check with your utility to find out if it offers free home energy audits, cash rebates for using energy-efficient lighting and appliances, and lower electric rates for households meeting certain energy-efficiency criteria.
7. Weatherize your home or apartment - Drafty homes and apartments allow energy dollars to leak away. Seal and caulk around windows and doors. Make sure your home has adequate insulation. Many old homes do not have enough, especially in the attic. You can check the insulation yourself or have it done as part of an energy audit.
8. Choose renewable energy - Many consumers can now choose their energy supplier. If you have a choice, choose an electric utility that uses renewable power resources, such as solar, wind, low impact hydroelectric, or geothermal. Residents of California, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Texas can get help choosing clean power from the Power Scorecard, developed by NRDC and other groups.
9. Let the sun shine in - The cheapest and most energy-efficient light and heat source is often right outside your window. On bright days, open blinds, drapes, and shutters to let the sun light your home for free. Also remember that sunlight entering a room equals passive solar heating. Even on cold winter days, sun streaming into a room can raise the temperature several degrees.

Save Resources at Home

The Problem

Most of the materials that go into making what we use -- from airplanes to toilet paper -- are made from nonrenewable resources that are being rapidly depleted. U.S. reserves of oil, aluminum ore, and iron ore are disappearing. At today's rates of consumption, world copper reserves will be depleted in less than 100 years. The world's forests are falling quickly under loggers' saws.

What you can do

1. Recycle materials you use - Recycling saves resources, decreases the use of toxic chemicals, cuts energy use, helps curb global warming, stems the flow of water and air pollution, and reduces the need for landfills and incinerators. Make an effort to participate fully in your town's or your building's recycling program. If there's no recycling program where you live, encourage local officials to start one. If you have a recycling program where you live, work to expand it. In the meantime, learn where you can take items such as paper, cardboard, glass, aluminum, plastic, and tires to be recycled, then make an effort to go there.
2. Buy recycled products - Look on the label for the products or packaging with the greatest percentage of post-consumer recycled content, which ensures that the materials have been used before. Try to buy paper products that have more than 50 percent post-consumer content.
3. Compost - Composting reduces the burden on overcrowded landfills and gives you a great natural fertilizer for plants and gardens. Buy a composting setup at a garden supply or hardware store. Start with yard trimmings, fruit and vegetable food scraps, and coffee grounds. If you don't know how to compost, check out this handy guide.
4. Buy products with less packaging - A large percentage of the paper, cardboard, and plastic we use goes into packaging -- much of it wasteful and unnecessary. When you buy a product, look at the packaging and ask: Can it be reused? Is it made of post-consumer recycled materials? Is it necessary at all? Reward those companies that are most enlightened about their use of packaging by purchasing their products. Contact companies that overpackage and tell them you will be more likely to buy if they change this policy.
5. Use durable goods - Bring your own cloth bags to local stores (join NRDC and get a stylish tote!). Replace plastic and paper cups with ceramic mugs, disposable razors with reusable ones. Refuse unneeded plastic utensils, napkins, and straws when you buy takeout foods. Use a cloth dishrag instead of paper towels at home, and reusable food containers instead of aluminum foil and plastic wrap.
6. Leave grass clippings on the lawn - Grass clippings make good fertilizer when they decompose. Leaving them on your lawn keeps them from occupying limited space in the local landfill.

Save Resources at Work

The Problem

The average workplace uses thousands of supplies on a daily basis -- and accounts for a lot of what we use and throw away.

What you can do

1. Buy energy-efficient office equipment - Energy Star-rated equipment is an option at work as well as at home. Energy Star equipment has power management features that allow it to reduce its power use or turn itself off when not in use. According to the EPA, Energy Star-labeled equipment can save up to 75 percent of total electricity use.
2. Recycle - If your office doesn't have a recycling program, work with your office manager and custodial staff to set one up. Paper, aluminum cans, and plastic bottles are easy to start with, and additional materials can be added as the staff gets used to recycling. Set up bins in convenient areas to collect each type of material your office recycles, and make sure everyone knows they are there.
3. Commit to environmentally friendly purchasing practices - Encourage your company to make a commitment to purchasing paper and plastic materials made with post-consumer recycled content. Companies should avoid paper products made from 100 percent virgin fiber content, and switch to paper that is 30 percent post-consumer content at minimum. For more on how green purchasing practices can push the paper industry toward more sustainable production methods, click here. Also look for plastic and metal products made with recycled or scrap material.
4. Be thrifty with paper - Don't print out each memo or email you receive. Read and delete the ones you don't need to save and electronically file others you might refer to later. Make sure your office copier can make two-sided copies, and badger everyone to get into the habit of doing so. If people don't take the hint, arrange to have your copier's default set to the two-sided rather than one-sided option. High-speed copiers that are set to automatically make two-sided copies reduce paper costs by $60 per month -- and, of course, save paper. Save even more paper by using the blank sides of used sheets of paper for note-taking and printing drafts.
5. Use reusable utensils for office parties - If you work in one of those offices where there's no excuse too small for a mid-afternoon get-together, encourage the office manager to invest in a set of dishes, cups, and utensils that can be used each time, rather than breaking out plastic utensils and paper plates.
6. Bring a waste-free lunch - Store your food in reusable containers rather than wrapping it in foil or plastic. Keep a knife, fork, spoon, and cloth napkins at work to avoid the need for plastic utensils and paper napkins. Bring your hot or cold drinks in a thermos, and drink them from a mug you keep at your desk or in your work area.

Conserve Water

The Problem

Groundwater is being used at a rate 25 percent greater than its rate of replenishment. As more pollutants spill into our water systems, it leaves even less clean, fresh water available for consumption.

What you can do

1. Take smarter showers - Showers can account for up to 16.8 percent of home water use. The law now requires that all showerheads sold be low-flow models. Installing a low-flow showerhead will save 2 gallons for every minute of showering. A family of four using low-flow showerheads can save about 20,000 gallons of water per year. Another simple way to save on gallons is to take shorter showers. A typical shower lasts about eight minutes and uses about 17 gallons, while an efficient shower lasts three or four minutes and uses 7.5 gallons. Purchase a shower timer if you need a reminder. You can also turn off the water while soaping up or shampooing, and keep a bucket in the shower to collect excess water. You can use this extra water to irrigate your plants. If you have small kids, you can save additional water by turning bath time into play time: Wash the kids together and save time, money and a couple tubs of water.
2. Install an ultra-low-flush toilet or a toilet displacement device - Toilets are water hogs. About 28 percent of the water you use in your home gets flushed down the toilet. That amounts to more than 4 billion gallons of water in the U.S. each day. That's why federal law now mandates that all new toilets installed for residential use be low-flush toilets. Conventional toilets generally use 3.5 to 5 gallons (sometimes more) of water per flush, while low-flush toilets use 1.6 gallons of water or less. If you're not building a new home, you can still benefit by installing one of these toilets. Still have an old toilet? You can save more than 1 gallon of water per flush with a displacement device -- a brick or plastic milk jug filled with water or pebbles placed in the toilet tank to reduce the amount of water used per flush.
3. Install flow restrictor aerators - Placing these inside faucets saves 3 to 4 gallons per minute when you turn on the tap. Of course, you can also help out by doing simple things such as not running water in the sink while soaping your face or brushing your teeth.
4. Repair leaks - Fix leaking and dripping faucets as soon as possible to save water and lower your water bill. A dripping faucet can waste up to 20 gallons of water per day. A leaking toilet can waste up to 200 gallons every day. Not all leaks are visible: Diagnose leaks in your toilet by placing some food coloring in the tank, waiting 30 minutes and checking if it appears in the bowl. If it does, you've got a leak. You can also check for other types of leaks by reading your water meter when no one is home and no appliances are in use. Then check it again later. If the meter numbers have gone up, you've got a leak. It's easy to find do-it-yourself instructions online if you'd like to do the repairs yourself.
5. Landscape in tune with the natural environment - Planning on new landscaping? Try succulents or native plants, as some can go more than a week without watering. Cluster plants together with similar water needs and design your irrigation system to give them just what they need. Remember to adjust your irrigation controllers as weather conditions change. You can even buy a smart controller that automatically adjusts for weather conditions. To manage your current lawn or garden, water early (before 6 a.m.) or late (after midnight) or on cooler days to reduce evaporation. Allow your grass to grow a bit taller to reduce water loss by providing more ground shade for roots and promoting soil water retention. Don't fertilize, because the faster your vegetation grows, the more it eats. Avoid daily waterings, because skipping days encourages deeper roots. And use a rain barrel to water your plants when possible.
6. Use water wisely in everyday activities - Wasting water is easier than you might think. An open faucet lets about 5 gallons of water flow every 2 minutes. In the kitchen, you can save between 10 and 20 gallons of water a day by running the dishwasher only when it's full. You can save even more by washing dishes by hand in a sink or dishpan containing water, rather than by running the tap continuously as you scrub. Run the clothes washer only when full as well. Sweep sidewalks and driveways instead of hosing them down -- washing a sidewalk or driveway with a hose uses about 50 gallons of water every 5 minutes.

Support Organic & Sustainable Farming

The Problem

Pesticide use -- which has increased 50 percent over the last 30 years -- has been linked to cancer, birth defects, and reproductive problems. NRDC's own studies show that pesticides are among the five worst environmental threats to children's health. In addition, pesticides contaminate water and often poison wildlife. Non-sustainable farming has also been shown to lead to topsoil erosion, toxic runoff from farmland into rivers, lakes, and streams, and decreased biodiversity.

What you can do

1. Ask for organic produce - Often, organic produce costs more and is more difficult to get, but many supermarkets and greengrocers are willing to stock organic food if they know customers will buy it regularly. Talk to your friends and neighbors about their willingness to buy organic and then let your produce manager know that many customers are interested.
2. Deal directly with organic food growers and suppliers - If you can't find a local grocer who will stock organic food, contact organic growers and suppliers directly.
3. Become a Community Supported Agriculture supporter - Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) cooperatives bring together local farmers and consumers. As a member of the cooperative, you pledge to cover farm operation costs for the season. In return, you share in the harvest. CSA farms are not all organic, but they all strive to operate sustainably.
4. Farmers: cut down on pesticide use - Innovative and successful farmers around the country are switching from conventional pest management practices, which are heavily reliant on pesticides, to profitable alternative agricultural practices that substantially reduce pesticide use. Read profiles of these farmers and their methods in Fields of Change.

6 Tasks to Get Your Real Estate Site to Rank Well in Google

Suzi Kutsche (Sine GMAC) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:40:22 -0600

I've found this to be some very useful information for starting a new website, or for increasing a website's visibility.

Via Marc Rasmussen - Sarasota FL Real Estate (Michael Saunders and Company):

Are you trying to get your real estate website to rank well in Google? Here are six tasks that you can do to get your real estate website to rank well.

1. Find a search engine friendly website provider

If you are serious about building a web presence, start with a good foundation. You can always change providers once you have created your website but it is less of a hassle if you just start with a good company from day one. Not all website designers are the same so do your research and get recommendations from existing clients. It is much easier to spend a little time up front and make a wise choice than to jump into something that you will regret down the road.

I use Real Estate Webmasters and am happy with their services and content management platform (CMS). Check them out and call some of their customers to see if they feel the same as I do.

Another possibility would be to use Wordpress software to create your website. Wordpress is a very popular blogging content management system (CMS) that is quite search engine friendly. It has a templating system, which includes widgets that can be rearranged without editing PHP or HTML code and also has themes that can be installed and switched between.

Here are a few questions to ask of a website provider:

• Do any of your clients rank well?

• Can I see some of your clients and contact them?

• How easy it is create a page?

• What language is the site written in?

• Can I customize the site? If so, how much does it cost?

• Do you offer a property search? Whoever you decide on make sure it is easy to build pages.

One of the important elements in ranking well in Google is plenty of good content. Do not use a provider where it is difficult to build website pages easily. Otherwise, you will just be swimming up stream.

2. Choose your key phrases

Write down a list of key phrases that visitors might search for in Google. Come up with as many as you can. You will use these phrases when you are creating and optimizing your website. There are several tools on the internet to determine the popularity of the key phrases. Google adwords has a keyword tool that you can use to measure search volumes.

Use these phrases when you are building your web pages. Many SEO professionals will tell you to target one to three key phrases per page. Use the key phrase in your page titles, description tag, heading, URL and page content.

Keep in mind that it is harder to rank for highly searched phrases like 'Sarasota real estate’ than phrases like ‘condo on Siesta Key with a water view’. Some agents ignore the highly searched phrases and optimize their sites to rank well for hundreds of these long tail phrases.

3. Provide a good property search to your visitors

In my opinion a good real estate website should have a quality property search. Most visitors come to a real estate site to view homes for sale. The competition for web traffic is getting stiffer so it is important for you to have a good home search to keep visitors on your site. That does not mean you have to go spend thousands of dollars on a custom IDX search. There are several affordable solutions that you can add to your website.

A good search will also help your rankings in the search engines. Google rewards good, useful websites that consumers enjoy with higher rankings. Their business model is built on the goal of providing the best websites in their search results. With all else equal Google will rank real estate website A over real estate website B if it provides a better user experience for the visitor. There are many reasons why a property search can help your rankings in Google but the most important one in my opinion is that it improves your visitor experience.

There are many real estate websites that rank well in Google with average or poor property search solutions. However, I think the importance of a good property search will grow as the competition for traffic grows.

4. Write good content

Good, unique, original content is important to good rankings. Do not even think about cutting and pasting content from one of your competitors. Search engines know when you do that so they won’t trust you as much as someone that creates their own content. You need to be an authority on your field of expertise and prove that to Google by writing original content. If you are not a good writer hire someone or just do your best. Not only will the content tell Google that you are an authority on the subject but more importantly it will prove to your visitors that you know what you are talking about so they will hopefully become clients. Make a point to add quality content as often as possible.

5. Post in your blog

Blogs are short for weblog. It is a website that is typically maintained by an individual with consistent entries of events, commentary or other content like video or images. The content is displayed in reverse chronological order. Blogs are a great way to consistently and quickly add content to your website. They allow you to write short thoughts or blurbs of information that may not merit a whole page by itself. Realtors can use them to give updates on the market, show inventory levels, new listings and properties that they recently sold.

There are many blogging platforms to use. The most popular is Wordpress. A blog can be a stand alone site or added on to a more traditional website. More and more Realtors are using Wordpress to as the platform for their entire website.

Blog as often as you can since Google loves the frequent updates. The more often you write in your blog the better your chances of ranking well. Your visitors will also come to love the frequent updates and you might build a loyal following of visitors.

6. Find Links

Last but certainly not least are links to your website. Google puts a lot of importance on the links that point to a website. With all else equal real estate website A will outrank real estate website B if it has more and higher quality links pointing to it. Books have been written about the importance of links, how to get them, how to judge them and everything else you wanted to know about them. Article writing, posts on other people’s blogs, social networks, commenting on blogs and trading links with other Realtors and people are a few ways to get links to your website.

Be careful linking with other Realtors. In 2007, Matt Cutts of Google penalized numerous (me included) real estate websites for abusing reciprocal linking. Take some time and learn more about link building and how to judge the quality of a link. Links are very important to Google and cannot be ignored.

To reiterate, performing these six tasks will help your rank well in Google:

• Use a search engine friendly platform

• Optimize your site for key phrases

• Provide a good property search to your visitors

• Write unique content

• Post in your blog frequently

• Get some links

You don’t need to be a search engine expert to get your site ranking well in Google. Perform these six tasks well and your site will do well. I have barely touched on search engine optimization (SEO) in this article. There is much more to learn.

To keep it simple - your goal should be to build a great website on a search engine friendly platform with tons of unique content, a useful property search, a frequently updated blog and to have plenty of links pointing to your website. While not easy, if you accomplish these tasks your sites rankings will improve.

10 Things to Check Before Buying a Builder House

Suzi Kutsche (Sine GMAC) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:36:09 -0600

When buying a brand new builder house, potential buyers often think they can dispense with the need for a house inspector. If it’s new, it must be in good shape, right?

Not always true.

New homes can be just as problematic as old ones. In fact, because they haven’t been tested by years of use and abuse, they can be filled with problems. Hiring a qualified house inspector before you buy is a major hedge against very expensive surprises.

Here are ten clues for determining a house's overall quality before you commit to hiring a house inspector:

1. The structure. From a reasonably distant vantage point, look at the house. Do the walls appear to be plumb and flat? From inside, are any walls bowed or not square at corners? When you jump in the middle of the living room floor, does it flex or feel solid?
2. Water control. Does the ground slope away from the base of the house? Will gutters, downspouts and drainage pipes carry excess water away from the house...or into the basement? Is there any evidence of water damage?
3. The roof. Is the roof new and in good shape? Does it look neat and properly applied?
4. Details. Do you see signs of quality workmanship in the finish details such as moldings, tile work, hardware and paint?
5. Kitchen & bath fixtures. Are sinks, toilets and tubs quality fixtures? Do they work properly? Is the water pressure good when you turn on the faucets and flush the toilet?
6. Electrical system. Are the number and locations of receptacles adequate to the needs of the house? Is the main circuit breaker marked at least "100 amps"?
7. Water heater, plumbing. Is the water heater gas or electric (gas is much more efficient)? Water supply pipes from the water heater to fixtures should be copper.
8. Heating. Where is the furnace or heater located and what type is it? Are any rooms not heated? Do registers look adequate for heating the spaces? Is the house air-conditioned?
9. Insulation. Look in the attic for insulation; R-19 (6 inches of fiberglass, for example) is a minimum in moderate climates; up to R-38 (12 inches of fiberglass) is required in cold climates. Remove a receptacle cover on perimeter wall to check for wall insulation.
10. Fireplaces. Do they have screens or glass doors (doors are more efficient). What about dampers and log lighters? Is there a combustion vent that draws air from outside and a spark arrestor at the top of the chimney?

Toxic Black Mold - Basics

Suzi Kutsche (Sine GMAC) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:11:00 -0600

*The Basics*

Mold spores are everywhere and cannot be avoided. They float in through your open windows and doors, or come inside by riding on your clothing or your pets. Real problems in homes and buildings rarely occur unless there has been intense flooding, usually in basements, sometimes from leaky roofs, or where there has been an extensive plumbing problem.

If spores land on a moist or damp surface, usually in a poorly lit area -- they can grow.

So the key to mold control is moisture control. Water-damaged areas must be dried within twenty-four to forty-eight hours to prevent mold and mildew growth.

*Health Risk*

Most people have a natural immunity to antigens present in mold, but some are more sensitive than others – and a moldy home is not a healthy home. At-risk individuals are mostly infants, the aged and asthmatics being treated with steroids. The highest level of danger is for those with pre-existing respiratory diseases such as tuberculosis or cystic fibrosis and those undergoing chemotherapy or other treatments that adversely affect the immune system.

The most common health concerns include symptoms similar to hay fever. Others may experience respiratory difficulties or skin and eye irritations. There are some reported extreme reactions, too.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, determining the level of health risk is mostly a factor of looking at the individual and assessing whether they fall into one of the risk groups. However, exposure to mold is not a desirable living condition and it should be removed, just like you would also throw away moldy bread without eating it.

Toxic Black Mold - Basics

Suzi Kutsche (Sine GMAC) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:11:00 -0600

*The Basics*

If spores land on a moist or damp surface, usually in a poorly lit area -- they can grow.

So the key to mold control is moisture control. Water-damaged areas must be dried within twenty-four to forty-eight hours to prevent mold and mildew growth.

*Health Risk*

The most common health concerns include symptoms similar to hay fever. Others may experience respiratory difficulties or skin and eye irritations. There are some reported extreme reactions, too.

Selling a Home on a Busy Street

Suzi Kutsche (Sine GMAC) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:08:53 -0600

Selling a house on a busy street requires a determined effort from the home seller and the Realtor to emphasize the many positive aspects of the home, to reach your goal of a successful home sale.

There are many advantages to owning a home on a busy street. There are more people consistently coming by and more potential buyers are seeing your home daily, so it is very important that your Realtor understands the challenges that come with the busy street. It is important that your Realtor use a clean and new sign if possible, one that is larger and more prominent would be best. On these busy streets it is important to give the people who might be interested something they can easily remember to get more information. Usually a web address which is easily remembered where they can go to get more information about the home works well.

Pricing (though important with all homes) is extremely important with homes that are on busy streets. The home has to present a great value to the buyer who most times would rather be buying a home that is on a less busy street. Usually the difference in pricing is someplace between 6% and 16% depending on what type of traffic is traveling on your busy street and at what times.

Home buyers have gotten very savvy, so they'll shop on-line for six months or more before contacting a Realtor. They will see many of different homes in lots of different towns and can take virtual tours, see all kinds of other information, but many times they have no idea which homes are on busy streets and which homes are not until they actually get out there and start looking in person. At this point it is the Realtor's job to emphasize the positives and the value the home presents. The look and value the home presents have to give the home buyers every reason to want to go inside and take a look around.

In today's market conditions, home sellers on busy street or non-busy streets need to make sure their home is value-priced. If you own a home on a highly-traveled street, value pricing your home is even more important. Remember when you were looking at homes, making the decision about which home to make a offer on? You probably found that the home you purchased, your house on a busy street, was larger or nicer than other homes you could purchase at the same price. You got a discount over homes on non-busy streets then, and now you must give a discount as well. Actually you are not giving up any real home value by doing this, since you never had the home value to begin with. If a home is well-maintained and priced properly, it likely will sell in a reasonable amount of time for very close to asking price.

Trying to save money in this process is admirable but often fool hardy. Many times home owners will wish to hold off on freshening up their home (new paint, cleaned up landscaping with fresh flowers and mulch) claiming that the buyers may not like their choices. If you don't do these things you can be assured the buyers will not like your choice and likely will like your home less than they should. Many times home owners will hire a discount real estate agent or try to sell their home For Sale By Owner. Without going on a tangent, be advised that you get what you pay for. Often times the services of a good professional Realtor will more than pay for any additional commission you pay him or her. You're better off saving yourself the headaches later on by interviewing 2 or 3 good Realtors with strong internet presences before you hire one.

Selling a Home on a Busy Street

Suzi Kutsche (Sine GMAC) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:08:53 -0600

Selling a house on a busy street requires a determined effort from the home seller and the Realtor to emphasize the many positive aspects of the home, to reach your goal of a successful home sale.

When is the Right Time to Sell My Home?

Suzi Kutsche (Sine GMAC) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:08:10 -0600

This is a frequently asked question, When is the right time to sell my home? Well, most people prefer the spring or summer months to move so this is when the real estate market is brewing, but the market can start heating up as early as February. This is especially true of families with children because they’d prefer to move during the summer vacation and get settled into their new home before the new school year begins. The market usually stays active through the fall, But when November comes things slow down pretty quickly and stay that way through January. People don’t generally like showing their homes in the winter months because you have the holidays and a lot more maintenance on the home to always keep it in showing condition.

Here are some of the Pros and Cons of selling a home in the winter:

• Showing your house in the winter can get messy, a potential home buyer can be walking through your home with snow, mud and salt covered boots and we all know salt is no friend to your wood floors.

• A potential home buyer visiting your home won’t really be able to see what the landscaping looks like and the truth is sometimes beautiful landscaping can help sell your house fast.

• The sellers who list their house for sale during November, December & January need to price their home conservatively because home buyers won’t overpay in the winter months.

• An advantage to selling in the winter is you’ll be placing your home for sale before many other homes in your neighborhood, possible giving you a head start.

• Another possible advantage occurs when home buyers are forced to relocate.. If they’re moving into you neighborhood your home will be among the fewer homes on the market.

So it’s pretty clear if your going to sell your home the best time to list your house for sale is in the spring and summer, but if you are selling your home in the winter try to stay on top of winter maintenance so you can maintain a higher value for your home. A neatly shoveled driveway and cleared walkway can add a nice touch when welcoming visitors. Make sure your furnace is in good working condition and that the room temperature is kept at a comfortable level. It is important to also check in on the basement and make sure you don’t have any leaks or drafts coming in. Also, try not to go overboard with your holiday decorations; buyer should have a chance to see you home in its normal everyday condition.

When is the Right Time to Sell My Home?

Suzi Kutsche (Sine GMAC) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:08:10 -0600

Here are some of the Pros and Cons of selling a home in the winter:

• A potential home buyer visiting your home won’t really be able to see what the landscaping looks like and the truth is sometimes beautiful landscaping can help sell your house fast.

• The sellers who list their house for sale during November, December & January need to price their home conservatively because home buyers won’t overpay in the winter months.

• An advantage to selling in the winter is you’ll be placing your home for sale before many other homes in your neighborhood, possible giving you a head start.

• Another possible advantage occurs when home buyers are forced to relocate.. If they’re moving into you neighborhood your home will be among the fewer homes on the market.

Remodeling Do's And Don'ts

Suzi Kutsche (Sine GMAC) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:07:19 -0600

When Jack and Jill Smith moved into their new house, the first thing they decided to do was renovate the outdated bathroom. “The tub and tiles were avocado green,” Jill complained. “It was straight out of the 70s.” But soon, they’d completely transformed their bathroom, complete with bright track lighting and a Jacuzzi tub. “I love the bathroom now—it’s so luxurious and relaxing. It was definitely worth both the time and the money,” Jill said.

And as it turns out, this was one of the wisest home renovations the Smiths could have undertaken to increase their property value. When looking at houses, buyers consider the kitchen one of the most important selling points in the house, with bathrooms—especially master baths—coming in a close second.

When it comes time to selling a home, homeowners often consider remodeling to try to increase the market value. Remodeling may be smart in some circumstances, but it can also be a double-edged sword: While most home sellers would be unwise to do absolutely nothing to improve their homes before they sell, they’d be equally unwise to improve everything. However, by following a few simple guidelines and avoiding some potentially costly mistakes, you can make home renovation work for you.

*TAKE CARE OF YOUR INVESTMENT*

One of the smartest things you can do to increase the value of your home is to take care of it while it’s yours. Annual maintenance makes a huge difference on the amount of wear and tear that shows up on your home when it’s time to sell. Therefore, keep the gutters clean, watch out for water damage, take good care of the yard, and slather on another coat of paint every few years. And keep records of everything you do—it will be a strong selling point to show to potential buyers.

*START SMALL*

We all know a little can go a long way. So before you decide to add on another room or install a fireplace, you might find that minor improvements make a major difference. For instance—as we’ve discussed, bathrooms are one of the most profitable renovations you can make. But instead of installing a Jacuzzi tub, why not start out by changing the toilet—an improvement that can cost as little as $200 and make a drastic difference. Similarly, try a new coat of paint, new fixtures, upgrading towel racks, or a new medicine cabinet before relaying the vinyl or replacing the tile. You might find you don’t need major changes after all.

*DON’T GO TOO FAR*

The details of a home certainly do contribute to the property value, but just as important are neighborhood values. If the improvements bring your house up to neighborhood standards, they’re probably going to be worth it in the end. But adding features above and beyond the other homes on your street or in your complex will actually be detrimental. In a row of Toyotas, a Porsche sticks out, and if you create a white elephant, you’ll actually be making it more difficult to get your asking price.

Before undertaking any major renovation projects, check out the other homes in your neighborhood to make sure you’re sticking with the neighborhood standards.

*KNOW WHAT WORKS*

It’s true that homes in nicer condition often sell for a higher price. After all, most buyers don’t have the time, money, or energy to invest in a major renovation project. However, making unnecessary improvements may impress buyers, but may not actually pay off.

The biggest mistake most people make when they set out to renovate is expecting to get a dollar-for-dollar return on their upgrades. However, even the most desired upgrades rarely yield a 100% return. In the case of the Smiths, remodeling the bathroom would probably yield an 80% return on their investment, similar to major kitchen remodeling (80%), bathroom addition (81%), and adding a second story (83%). The most profitable renovation tends to be minor kitchen remodeling, while the lowest includes replacing windows (68%) and converting a bedroom into a home office (68%).

It may seem strange, but adding a pool actually added no value to a home and was often considered detrimental. Not only are pools a tremendous liability, but few new homeowners want to take on the responsibility of maintaining a pool.

Look at your house objectively and decide which features actually need renovation, and which renovations will go the farthest. If your kitchen still has a Frigidaire from 1950 that could have a negative affect on the entire kitchen. But re-facing the kitchen cabinets just so they look nicer won’t make a difference to anyone but you.

*STAY TRUE TO YOUR HOUSE*

You might be moving out of your home because the old-fashioned fireplace just isn’t modern enough, but don’t assume potential buyers will feel the same way. Don’t add steel appliances to a country kitchen, or sliding glass doors in a rustic family room. Make sure that renovations match the style of your home—not your personal style.

Similarly, don’t change the function of the rooms in your house. If a potential buyer needs a home office, they can easily transform a bedroom by bringing in a desk and some filing cabinets. However, if you designate the room as an office yourself and install permanent bookcases, you’ve limited potential buyers by eliminating an actual bedroom. Customizing the features of your house might make it perfect for you—but can alienate potential buyers.

And finally, don’t waste time and money finishing an attic or a basement, as those features tend to be at the bottom of the priority list. When was the last time you looked at a house and thought, “If only the attic were nicer?”

*TURN TO THE PROS*

Another big mistake sellers often make is trying to undertake renovations themselves. If you have no experience laying tile or hanging wallpaper, hire a professional! In most circumstances, you’ll cause more trouble trying to do-it-yourself if you’re unqualified, and you’ll probably just end up having to hire someone to fix your mistakes. Doing it right the first time is always best for the bottom line.

*BUDGET YOUR MONEY— AND YOUR TIME*

When undertaking a renovation project, most people underestimate their budget by 20-30%. For instance, the average minor bathroom renovation can cost upward of $9,800. It’s smarter to plan for unexpected expenses and to have a little cushion than it is to be on the losing end of a very expensive bargain.

And don’t just underestimate money—time is also a crucial consideration. You can’t expect to completely redo your bathroom in one weekend. Potential buyers are usually turned off by half-finished projects.

*MAKE RENOVATIONS PAY OFF!*

Renovations can definitely pay off in the end—if you approach them wisely and with realistic expectations. With a little planning and objectivity, you can strike that perfect balance between your personal tastes and what will appeal to potential buyers—and then reap the rewards!

Remodeling Do's And Don'ts

Suzi Kutsche (Sine GMAC) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:07:19 -0600

*TAKE CARE OF YOUR INVESTMENT*

*START SMALL*

*DON’T GO TOO FAR*

Before undertaking any major renovation projects, check out the other homes in your neighborhood to make sure you’re sticking with the neighborhood standards.

*KNOW WHAT WORKS*

*STAY TRUE TO YOUR HOUSE*

*TURN TO THE PROS*

*BUDGET YOUR MONEY— AND YOUR TIME*

*MAKE RENOVATIONS PAY OFF!*

Repair Your Credit before Applying for a New Mortgage

Suzi Kutsche (Sine GMAC) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:06:33 -0600

Fooled into satisfaction by the fact that they can make a larger down payment on a new home with funds received from the sale of their “old”, some sellers fail to address negatives on their credit reports and thereby suffer such consequences as higher interest rates and additional costs associated with obtaining their new home loan.

Simply put, Home Sellers should repair their credit before selling and buying a home. It’s easy to get out of focus when you concentrate on your current home’s selling price. Points, prepayment penalties and higher interest charges on your new home can easily erase all the profits you gained in the sale.”

There is a difference between strong credit and the credit needed to obtain a mortgage. Indeed, you can buy real estate with poor credit but you’ll pay higher, non-prime interest rates. Consider: a mortgage loan of $150,000, 30-year, fixed rate mortgage, interest rate of about 5.72% will cost approximately $870 monthly. With poor credit, the interest rate could easily exceed 9% costing over $1,200 in monthly mortgage payments. That means that, over the course of the mortgage, you could pay the price of a second home in mortgage payments simply because you didn’t take the time to repair your credit.

When buying or selling a home good credit can make a big difference in mortgage payments which could help you buy the home of your dreams or purchase an additional property, so do what you can to have the best possible credit rating.

Repair Your Credit before Applying for a New Mortgage

Suzi Kutsche (Sine GMAC) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:06:22 -0600

Escrow: Property Taxes

Suzi Kutsche (Sine GMAC) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:17:33 -0600

What About Property Taxes?
The terms of your transaction and the resultant escrow instructions determine how the property taxes will be handled. If there is no mention of the proration of taxes, your escrow officer will not deal with any credits or charges for prorated taxes. However, if your escrow calls for a proration of taxes, there will be an item in your closing statement that will reflect either a credit or charge to your account. If the taxes are not paid (even though there has been a credit or charge against your account), the buyer is obligated to obtain a tax bill and pay the taxes. If the buyer does not have a tax bill with which to pay the taxes, you can request a bill from the Tax Collector; send a photocopy of the deed.

Supplemental Property Taxes is another concern of the buyer. Upon transfer of real property, a supplemental tax bill is generated. This is accomplished in cooperation with the County Assessor and the County Tax Collector.

Shortly after the close of an escrow involving the conveyance of real property, the County Assessor will request information about the property from the buyer. This information assists the Assessor in determining the value of the property for taxation purposes. The escrow holder may have previously supplied some of the information at the time of the closing of the escrow, via Preliminary Change of Ownership form that should accompany each deed when it is recorded.

The Perfect Escrow; Does it Exist?
Perfection is sometimes difficult to achieve, especially in dealing with the complexities of the escrow, the desires of the parties and other matters that are sometimes far beyond the control of the escrow officer. It is human nature to err on occasion, but your escrow officer has the background, training, education, support and systems in place necessary in order to accomplish the objectives of the escrow instructions.

In the event you have any problems in the handling of your escrow, you should first contact the escrow officer.

If you problem is not resolved, you should next contact the management or owner of the company.

If the matter requires additional attention, you can call the proper regulatory agency.

Escrow: Cancellations

Suzi Kutsche (Sine GMAC) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:16:45 -0600

What About Cancellations?
No escrow is opened with the intention that it will cancel, but there are occasions when a contingency cannot be met or when the parties disagree during the pendency of the escrow. Some escrow holders provide for such an event by incorporating an instruction in the typed or printed General Provisions.

Ordinarily, an escrow holder will take the positions that no funds on deposit can be refunded until the escrow holder is in receipt of mutual cancellation instructions signed by the principals. The escrow holder cannot normally make a determination as to who is the "rightful" party in a dispute on a cancellation and therefore will not return the funds or documents until the principals agree; the escrow holder is not a judge.

Do expect to be charged a cancellation fee, as this is a charge for professional services rendered and quite often for several "out of pocket" expenses that have been incurred on the client's behalf. These fees can vary from company to company depending upon their policies.

Sometime, when a dispute exists, the escrow holder may be forced to allow a court to decide which party is entitled to what documents or funds; this is called an Interpleader Action. Fortunately, most disputes are resolved before the Interpleader is filed, as the costs for such legal actions are extreme. Those costs, incidentally, are normally paid out of the funds on deposit in the escrow.

What about Title Insurance?
Title Insurance is usually obtained when real property is purchased. The policy of title insurance insures the owner and/or the lender of ownership of the property. There are various coverages afforded, but a basic policy insures that the buyer is the owner and that any lender shown on the policy is an "insured" lender. Many different types of extended coverages are available; for example, an ALTA policy is quite often required by institutional lender to afford them additional protection under the title insurance policy. The title policy is written after an extensive examination of the public record is made and the recording of the required documents as called for in the escrow.

The title insurance policy fee is a one-time fee, paid at the close of escrow. The determination of who pays for the policy is not uniform from county to county in California. In some counties, the buyer will pay while in others the seller will pay. In other counties the seller will pay for the lender's title policy. But in almost every case, the question of who pays closing costs is a matter of agreement between the parties. Usually this agreement is based on the customary practice in your county or area. In the case of some FHA or VA transactions, the escrow officer must follow the guidelines as required by the lender and/or government.

Escrow: What Is A Closing Statement

Suzi Kutsche (Sine GMAC) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:13:49 -0600

A closing statement is an accounting, in writing, prepared at the close of escrow which sets forth the charges and credits of your account. The items shown on the statement will reflect the purchase price, the funds deposited or credited to your account, payoffs on existing encumbrances and/or liens, the costs for all services and a determination of the funds you are entitled to at the close of the escrow. When you receive your closing papers, review the closing statement; it is extremely logical and reflects the financial aspects of your transaction. If anything does not make sense to you, you should ask your escrow officer for an explanation.

When going through your closing papers, examine all of them; there may even be a refund check hiding in there. Cash the check quickly, please. Be sure to have the check properly endorsed. All payees must endorse the check. This will eliminate the check being returned unpaid due to irregular or missing endorsements.

Your closing statement and all other escrow papers should be kept virtually forever for income tax purposes.

Your accountant will need the information about the sale or purchase of the property. IRS and other agencies may require you to prove your costs and/or profit on the sale of any property. The closing statement will assist in this task.

Do not rely on your escrow holder retaining the escrow file so that you can "always call and get copies of the closing statement." Most escrow holders will be destroying the files after the statutory retention period, usually five years. Maintaining and storing the closed escrow files is a costly endeavor to the escrow holder. Therefore, a nominal fee may be charged by your escrow holder for the retrieval of a file from storage, photocopying the requested documents and returning the file to storage.

What Fees and Costs will be Charged?
Escrow fees are not regulated by the State. Escrow holder, like any other businesses, will charge fees that are commensurate with the costs of producing the service, the liability undertaken, and the overhead expenses which include a profit factor. Therefore, the fees will vary between companies and from county to county. Normally, the escrow holder will follow its minimum fee schedule, which will provide for extra charges based upon the differing elements of your escrow. On occasions, an additional fee will be charged for unusual expenditures of time on a given transaction.

The escrow holder has no control over the costs of other services that are obtained, such as the title insurance policy, the lender's charges, insurance, recording charges, etc.

Your escrow officer, upon request, can provide you with an estimate of the escrow fees and costs as well as fees charged by others, provided such information is available.

Escrow: Basics

Suzi Kutsche (Sine GMAC) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:13:02 -0600

Escrow: What is it?
Very simply defined, an escrow is a deposit of funds, a deed or other instrument by one party for the delivery to another party upon completion of a particular condition or event.

Why Do I Need an Escrow?
Whether you are the buyer, seller, lender or borrower, you want the assurance that no funds or property will change hands until ALL of the instructions in the transaction have been followed. The escrow holder has the obligation to safeguard the funds and/or documents while they are in the possession of the escrow holder, and to disburse funds and/or convey title only when all provisions of the escrow have been complied with.

Escrow : How Does it Work?
The principals to the escrow : buyer, seller, lender, borrower : cause escrow instructions, most usually in writing, to be created, signed and delivered to the escrow officer. If a broker is involved, he will normally provide the escrow officer with the information necessary for the preparation of your escrow instructions and documents.

The escrow officer will process the escrow, in accordance with the escrow instructions, and when all conditions required in the escrow can be met or achieved, the escrow will be "closed." Each escrow, although following a similar pattern, will be different in some respects, as it deals with your property and the transaction at hand.
The duties of an escrow holder include; following the instructions given by the principals and parties to the transaction in a timely manner; handling the funds and/or documents in accordance with the instruction; paying all bills as authorized; responding to authorized requests from the principals; closing the escrow only when all terms funds in accordance with instructions and provide an accounting for same : the Closing or Settlement Statement.

Who Chooses the Escrow?
The selection of the escrow holder is normally done by agreement between the principals. If a real estate broker is involved in the transaction, the broker may recommend an escrow holder. However, it is the right of the principals to use an escrow holder who is competent and who is experienced in handling the type of escrow at hand. There are laws that prohibit the payment of referral fees; this affords the consumer the best possible escrow services without any compromise caused by a person receiving a referral fee.

What Do I have to do while in Escrow?
The key to any transaction as important as your sale, purchase or loan is to read and understand your escrow instructions. If you do not understand them, you should ask your escrow officer to explain the instructions.

Your escrow officer is not an attorney and cannot practice law; you should consult your lawyer for legal advice. Do not expect your escrow officer to advise you as to whether or not you have a "good deal" or are doing things the right way. The escrow officer is there to follow the instructions given by the principals in the escrow.

In order to expedite the closing of the escrow, you should check with your escrow officer as to what specific items you could do to assist. Ask the question: "What can I do to expedite the closing of this escrow?"

Respond quickly to correspondence. This will assist in the timely closing of the transaction.

If you are required to deliver funds into the escrow, make sure that you provide "good" funds in the form required by the escrow officer. Company procedures differ in this regard, and there are many ways you can help at the time of closing; check with your escrow officer. Do not give the escrow officer a personal check and expect the escrow to close immediately; the escrow can only close on cleared funds, and the processing of a personal check can take days, possibly even a week or more.
When the escrow officer closes the escrow, some of you may want the closing papers, checks, title policies, statements, etc. Made available immediately. There are many aspects to the closing of the escrow, and some of these cannot be processed on the day of the closing; they may take several days. If you have a special need, for example, a cashier's check on the day of closing, you should communicate that need to the escrow officer early in the processing of the escrow.

Escrow and Your New Loan
If you are obtaining a new loan, your escrow officer will be in touch with the lender who will need copies of the escrow instructions, the preliminary title report and any other documents escrow could supply. In the processing and the closing of the escrow, the escrow holder is obligated to comply with the lender's instructions.

It has become a practice of some lenders to forward their loan documents to escrow for signing. You should be aware that these papers are lender's documents and cannot be explained or interpreted by the escrow officer. You have the option of requesting a representative from the lender's office to be present for explanation, or arrange to meet with your lender to sign the documents in their office.

So You Want To Buy A Home: Moving In

Suzi Kutsche (Sine GMAC) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:12:00 -0600

It's Yours - Time To Move In
By Sara W. Peterson
Sara works exclusively as a buyer's agent in Roseville, California and the surrounding area.

Actually, you've probably been preparing for this moment for several weeks. Your home is probably stacked with boxes ready to move. Let your friends know well in advance when you are planning to move if you want them to help. Don't keep it a secret. You should have also made a reservation for the truck or trailer, furniture pads and hand truck that you plan to use well before the date you plan to move.

If you're planning to hire a moving company, please make sure that you do your homework. Make sure that everything you agree to is in writing! Verbal promises and quotes are useless. Check with the Consumer Protection and Better Business Bureau people for problems others have encountered. And make sure that when you solicit moving company bids that you ask for their Annual Performance Report.

Now you will need to move the core utilities into your name if you haven't already done so. This includes electric, phone, gas or propane, cable TV, water, sewer, and trash removal. Much of this can be scheduled to happen by phone before closing. We'll help to identify who your new providers are and what numbers you need to call.

If you're moving within their territory, the cable company is generally glad to have you move any converters that you may already have. And if your move is from another city, make sure that you bring your old phone books along with you. They can come in very handy if you need to address issues with your old home or locate friends.

If the move changes schools for your children, you'll need to enroll them in the new schools. This is generally done by picking up an application at the new school. Again we'll do everything that we can to make this as smooth and easy as possible for you.

You'll need to get new checks from your bank and change your Driver's License. With your license address matching your checks life is easier that constantly explaining why everything doesn't match.

The Post Office is where much of the rest of the activity takes place. You will need to file a change of address. They can also provide you with a Voter Registration Address Change form which takes care of getting you re-registered. Watch your mail for the yellow labels that indicate who still needs to be notified of your new address and either give them a call or send them a Change of Address Card to correct their records.

Settling In - It's Time To Enjoy Your New Home
I doubt very much whether you need any help here - life always presents us with more things to do than we will ever have time to do, so pick the best and have fun!

The last few details are more in the way of organization. Put all of the documents associated with the purchase of your new home in a secure place. You'll need to refer to them for tax purposes. Yes, they did change the law on taxing the proceeds of the sale of a home, but they can just as easily change it back. The information is also necessary in calculating your net worth and other fun enterprises. Put the deed, insurance policy and your mortgage papers in a Safe Deposit Box, keeping working copies in a easily accessible location.

So You Want To Buy A Home: Closing

Suzi Kutsche (Sine GMAC) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:10:49 -0600

Closing - Almost There

When all of the inspections are done and all of the paperwork is complete (the lenders paperwork is usually the last to be completed) and in the hands of the Escrow Officer, the final documents will be generated. We will be looking at the Estimated Closing Costs Statement that the Escrow Officer generates for you . This is where the final errors are corrected before you and the seller sign the final documents. We usually do a split signing where the sellers sign first, and then you sign all of the paperwork. The seller's give the keys to the Escrow Officer at this time.

You may be instructed to come to the signing with a Certified Check for about $100 more that the Escrow Officer's Estimated Closing Costs Statement indicates. This will cover any miscellaneous charges that come up at the last minute. The unused balance will be returned to you shortly after closing, normally within a week.

Once the paperwork is signed, the loan documents are sent back to the lender if a mortgage is involved. The lender makes sure that their instructions were carried out and they have all of the signed documents that they need. When this happens, the lender will wire the funds to the Escrow Officer -- this is the event everyone has been waiting for. The Escrow Officer then has the Deed recorded at the County Recorder's Office. As soon as this is done you get your keys and the moneys are disbursed.

So You Want To Buy A Home: Escrow

Suzi Kutsche (Sine GMAC) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:09:46 -0600

Escrow
By Sara W.Peterson
Sara works exclusively as a buyer's agent in Roseville, California and the surrounding area.

Once the contract is ratified, that is all of the negotiation points are agreed upon and the final contract is signed by both you and the seller and copies delivered, its on to escrow.

The escrow companies job is to act as a neutral third party for both you and the seller. They hold all of the money that you provide and the clear title that the seller effectively provides by signing the contract. They make sure that all of the terms of the contract are met and that everyone gets paid what they are due. This includes the pest inspection company, the appraiser, lender fees, any inspectors, title insurance, us as your agent, the seller's agent if any, etc., with the balance of the funds going to the seller as payment for the transfer of the deed.

One of the key activities that takes place in escrow is the researching of the title. This is done by the Title Insurance company. The purpose is to prove to you and the lender that the seller has clear title to the property and that is not encumbered by any liens or has other problems that cloud the title. If the title is clear, the Title Company commits to insure both the Lender and you should any covered problems be discovered after settlement.

Title companies have become very customer service oriented in the last few years and have even created a floater signing accommodator, a fancy name for a person who will come to any place we select, even your home, to complete the transaction.

Sometimes, the sellers feel that they have the "right" to select the Title Insurance company which is often the escrow company as well. According to RESPA which is the governing regulations concerning real estate settlement procedures, the buyer has the absolute right to make the determination as to which Title Insurance company to use.

One of the final, but critical tasks for you to accomplish before closing is to arrange for homeowner's hazard insurance and flood insurance if required. Before closing you will need to provide to the Escrow Officer evidence that you have obtained this insurance.