selling: Mortgage Payments When You Are In Financial Trouble
- 05/17/16 08:10 AM
None of us can appreciate -- nor anticipate -- the future. Although we always believe it will never happen to us, once in a while, calamity strikes, and then we have to address these very hard and difficult questions.
You own a house, with a sizable mortgage. Suddenly, you (or your spouse) lost their job, and you cannot make the monthly mortgage payments.
There are a number of options you should immediately consider. However, the very first thing you should do is to talk with your lender. Don't just discuss your issues with a low-level employee. Try to go as high up the … (0 comments)
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selling: A Seller's Guide To A Winning Open House
- 05/16/16 02:31 AM
Holding an open house for your soon-to-be-listed or newly on the market home is a lot like being on a game show where edging out the other contestants in a short period of time is key. In TV game shows, such as "Jeopardy," the contestants don’t automatically know answers to so many trivia questions; they study and they plan and they make it appear to viewers like they walk around with that body of knowledge every day. Open houses need to be thought of similarly. Once your home is on the market, an open house is your opportunity to plan and … (1 comments)
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selling: Vacation Home Safety Tips
- 05/16/16 02:26 AM
Among the fastest ways to kill a post-vacation buzz is returning home and discovering your house is in shambles. Maybe a water pipe broke and now you're trudging through ankle-deep sludge. Perhaps a burglar slipped inside, ransacked the place and gallivanted away with your most valued possessions. Or it could be that you forgot to clean out the fridge before leaving, and now mold has infested every nook and cranny. Just like it's important to shop for an excellent vacation deal, it's crucial to make sure returning from that well-earned trip isn't a headache or disaster. Here are six easily-skipped steps … (0 comments)
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selling: So You Want To Purchase A Condominium Unit?
- 04/25/16 11:11 AM
Condominium sales are hot throughout most of the country. People want the advantages which a condominium can offer -- such as not having to shovel snow, cut the grass or worry about making arrangements for maintenance and repairs.
But before you buy, you must do your homework. It is not the same as buying a single family home. All condominium associations have rules and regulations which must be honored by all owners; all associations have budgets which may or may not be adequate.
State laws differ as to whether potential buyers are entitled to receive certain information -- before they go to closing … (2 comments)
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selling: 6 Tips for Turning Your Home Into a Cash Cow
- 04/22/16 11:45 AM
According to an analysis by JP Morgan, Americans earn an average of $533 extra each month by working with sharing economy sites like Uber and Airbnb, as well as outsourcing errands like on TaskRabbit. Earning thousands of dollars each year can be as easy as signing up for a website. Turn your home into a cash cow and get money back in your pocket with these six easy tips.
Rent out a Room
Turn an extra bedroom, basement or finished attic into a short- or long-term rental to bring in extra money. List your digs on sites like Airbnb and HomeAway for travelers … (1 comments)
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selling: Mold Officially A Bad Thing
- 04/22/16 11:40 AM
Effective January 1 of this year, the presence of mold in a California building containing dwelling units is a condition sufficient to declare the building to be substandard. This, in turn, enables a code enforcement officer to issue the landlord or property owner a "notice to repair." That is the result of Senate Bill 655 (Mitchell) which was signed into law by the Governor on Oct. 9, 2015.
According to reporting by the California Senate's legislative analyst, "indoor mold growth in homes is one of the most common housing complaints received by tenants' rights groups, legal aid organizations, and code enforcement agencies … (0 comments)
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selling: Fixing Your HOA's Governing Documents
- 04/18/16 01:20 PM
Governing documents are often overlooked until an issue spotlights deficiencies. When this occurs, it's often too late to amend the governing documents to correct the deficiency. HOAs should periodically review their governing documents to identify areas which may warrant an amendment. This is especially true for communities with older governing documents. Here are some important reasons to amend:
Complying with The Law. The older the documents, the more likely that they do not comply with state and federal statutes. Some outdated provisions may subject the HOA to litigation if deemed to be discriminatory or in violation of the Fair Housing Act, Bill … (0 comments)
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selling: How Landscaping Increases Home Value - 6 Tips
- 04/11/16 12:11 AM
Whether you're looking to sell your home or simply improve its overall appearance, consider upgrading the landscape. These six tips will help you utilize landscaping to increase your home's curb appeal:
1. Freshen your mulch
Mulch eventually dulls and blends in with the surrounding plants and shrubs. Adding new mulch doesn't cost very much and can greatly improve the appearance of your flowerbeds.
2. Add potted plants
Container plants allow you to add mobile color to your home. Add attractive containers to your porch, driveway or any other place that company enters your home.
3. Plant shrubs
Make sure to trim existing bushes for a well-manicured appearance. … (3 comments)
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selling: Feng Shui for Family: Improve Your Home, Improve Your Energy
- 04/10/16 11:57 PM
As a mom, you have no shortage of responsibilities, and the energy of your home can be easily overlooked. The ancient art of feng shui can help you transform your home from busy and buzzing to calm and serene with some simple decluttering and furniture rearrangement.
Rearrange Your Living Room
As the heart of your home, the flow of energy in your living room is essential to your family's overall energy. To create a cozy, nurturing space, start with a seating area where you can connect and relax together. The couch and chairs should be arranged close together for easy conversation, without having … (0 comments)
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selling: The Future Of Real Estate In The U.S.
- 03/29/16 12:33 AM
When Donald Trump said, "Well real estate is always good as far as I am concerned," he could have been referring to the state of the real estate market today. Unemployment is 4.9 percent as of February 2016. Previously stalled projects are receiving multi-million dollar funding by state and federal governments and sellers are finding highly motivated, if not desperate buyers.
The Urban Land Institute Center (ULI), conducted a survey, ULI Real Estate Consensus Forecast, from August 28 to September 21, 2015. It involved real estate economists and 36 organizations. The experts predicted "three more years of favorable real estate conditions."
Real Estate … (0 comments)
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selling: 4 Incentives to Close Deals With Homebuyers
- 03/27/16 09:47 PM
Almost a third of sales representatives say the hardest part of closing a deal is competing against lower-priced competitors, a Richardson survey found. Home sellers and real estate agents expect to face this challenge over the next few years, especially if Bank of America's predictions about falling home prices starting in 2017 happen. Analyst Chris Flanagan, who correctly predicted bleak conditions in the subprime mortgage market in 2007, projects that the rise in housing prices will slow to 0.8 percent in 2016 before sliding into a modest decline of 1.7 percent in 2017, 2.1 percent in 2018 and 0.8 percent in … (1 comments)
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selling: 8 Tips For Getting The New Home You Want In a Competitive Market
- 03/27/16 09:04 PM
Late last year, eager homebuyers lined up overnight at a new-home community in the Dallas suburb of McKinney, TX to get first crack at a new phase release. Shades of pre-recession days when campouts for new homes were common? In the mid 2000s, we bought a new home in a popular California suburb that became so in-demand, the builder started splitting phases in half to accommodate larger price increases per phase. The homes that sold at the tail end of the community were $150,000 more than those purchased in the first phase.
Are we headed there? Maybe not. There have been a … (1 comments)
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selling: 5 Ways to Freshen Up Your Home For Spring
- 03/24/16 03:01 PM
It may still be snowing in some parts of the country, but spring is almost here. Before the flowers start budding outside, refresh the inside of your home to give your interior spaces that springtime glow.
Bring the outdoors inside
Adding fresh plants or flowers to an otherwise ho-hum space can spice things up in the blink of an eye. Even if you don't have a garden full of fresh flowers to choose from, greens make a lovely addition to your living room, or even an eye-catching centerpiece for your dining room table. Better Homes and Gardens suggests gathering a few fresh fern … (1 comments)
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selling: Poor Communications Can Lead to Transaction Problems
- 03/24/16 02:58 PM
During the past few weeks I have participated in Realtor® meetings where, during open discussion, members spoke with considerable concern about a growing lack of civility among agents engaged in transactions. No one predominate cause was suggested as the source of this phenomenon, though a good deal of blame was directed to the fact that, nowadays, agents who are counterparts in the same transaction are often likely not to know each other, not to see each other, or to become acquainted during the course of the transaction. They may not even converse with each other on the phone.
To an increasingly greater … (0 comments)
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selling: Acoustic Panels: Beautiful Sound Solutions
- 03/23/16 10:38 PM
If the "must have" list for your new home, recreational property, or office includes hardwood flooring, large windows, high ceilings, open-concept design, and lots of marble and granite, you may be shopping for trouble…sound-wise, that is.
These sought-after, high-end features can add up to noisy, distracting spaces. They look great, but are hard on the ear and, therefore, on conversation, hearing, relaxation, and sleep.
Sound design is no longer restricted to concert halls, sound studios, and restaurants. The trend to "must have" sound spaces in our homes -- theaters, media rooms, music practice space, gyms, studios -- requires professional attention beyond interior design. … (0 comments)
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selling: Smartphones, Tablets and Hybrids: What Devices Do You Need?
- 03/23/16 09:38 PM
It can be difficult to stay on top of your game and ahead of other real estate agents when technology is constantly changing. However, updated technology makes the purchasing process more advanced and intuitive when working with your clients. Before deciding on what technology you want to purchase, consider the following points:
Should You Consolidate or Expand Your Devices?
Since devices are able to handle more and more tasks, you might think that real estate agents are consolidating the number of devices they use. However, recent trends show that professionals and consumers in mature markets are expanding the number of devices they use. … (1 comments)
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selling: Change For The Better In Your HOA
- 02/28/16 06:46 AM
Boards of homeowner associations are often challenged to change the status quo for the better. A common scenario includes a newly elected board that promises to start enforcing rules or architectural policies. Problem is, there are HOA members that like it just fine the way it is and they loudly resist the board's proposed changes. If certain board members are single minded about forcing change, the resulting brouhaha will take center stage, the goals moved to the peanut gallery and little accomplished other than ruffling feathers. Flexibility is the key to success. Consider the following observation:
"What prevents human beings from successfully … (2 comments)
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selling: 5 Front Yard Landscaping Tips That Will Wow Home Buyers
- 02/28/16 01:37 AM
Your front yard is the red carpet inviting buyers into the beauty that is your home. If it's rugged, messy and unkempt, buyers will take one look and then keep on driving to the next property on their list. Don't let that happen by making your front yard luscious and as amazing as the inside of your home.
What areas should you focus on in your front yard? Where do you start? To help you break down the revitalization of your front yard, here are the steps you should take:
1. Cut the grass.
Buyers don't want to trudge through high grass as though … (2 comments)
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selling: How To Know If Your Home Is Making You Sick?
- 02/28/16 01:14 AM
Between flu season and spring allergies and surprise summer colds, it can be difficult to stay healthy. But what if the biggest culprits aren't high pollen counts or people who don't cover their mouths when they sneeze? It could be that your house is making you sick.
"Toxins, pesticides, gases, mites, and molds are everywhere, and the more you're exposed to them, the greater your risk for developing the health problems they can cause," said WebMD.
And the numbers are a bit staggering. According to the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, "More than 30 million homes have … (1 comments)
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selling: Increase Your Living Space With A Converted Garage
- 02/17/16 04:46 AM
Out of room and looking for a way to create more usable space at home? You might not need to move or add on. Look to the garage, where the ideas for what you can create with a space you already have are endless.
"The solution to your need for more space may already be attached to your house," said Bob Vila. "Converting an existing garage is less expensive than building an addition—and it's a lot less complicated too! Remaking your garage into an extra bedroom, den, or kids' playroom can improve not only the resale value of your home but also … (0 comments)
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None of us can appreciate -- nor anticipate -- the future. Although we always believe it will never happen to us, once in a while, calamity strikes, and then we have to address these very hard and difficult questions.
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