Happy Valentine’s Day
What Buyers Should Know About Home Inspections
For many first-time buyers, buying a home can be a scary experience. They know they’ll be maintaining or improving a home with little to no maintenance experience, so the solution is to buy a home in perfect condition. So they hire a home inspector to point out all the flaws.
The problem is — no perfect home exists. Air conditioners break, plumbing pipes leak, and roof tiles blow off in the wind.
If you’re buying a home, start with a reasonable expectation of what home inspectors can do. Their job is to inform you about the integrity and condition of what you’re buying, good and bad.
A home inspection should take several hours, long enough to cover all built-in appliances, all mechanical, electrical, gas and plumbing systems, the roof, foundation, gutters, exterior skins, windows and doors.
An inspector doesn’t test for pests or sample the septic tank. For those, you need industry-specific inspectors.
The problem is — no perfect home exists. Air conditioners break, plumbing pipes leak, and roof tiles blow off in the wind.
If you’re buying a home, start with a reasonable expectation of what home inspectors can do. Their job is to inform you about the integrity and condition of what you’re buying, good and bad.
A home inspection should take several hours, long enough to cover all built-in appliances, all mechanical, electrical, gas and plumbing systems, the roof, foundation, gutters, exterior skins, windows and doors.
An inspector doesn’t test for pests or sample the septic tank. For those, you need industry-specific inspectors.
Click Here to Learn More
14 Ways To Make Your Home – And Your Life – Easier
Life is busy. Everyday, so many things to do. Finding a few shortcuts is key to keeping on track—and keeping your sanity. Employ a few of these tricks to make your life easier (and better!)
1. Put it on the list
It stinks to be driving home from Lowe’s only to remember the one thing you didn’t pick up. Or be reminded of four other things you wanted your handyman to fix—after he’s already left. Keep two running lists on your phone: one for the home improvement store and one for your fix-it person. That way you’ll always have the lists accessible and can add to them as necessary.
2. Stock up on vinegar
It can be used to unclog a drain, take ink off a wall, freshen up your washing machine, clean your coffeemaker, get rid of bugs, and about 90 other things.
3. Throw that newspaper in the trash the right way.
Wadding it up at the bottom of your trash gives you a place to soak up food juices and keep your trash can fresher.
4. Personalize your luggage.
Run a line of colorfully patterned tape across the top of your suitcase. When everyone else is trying to figure out which black bag is theirs, you can easily swoop in, gather your stuff, and be on your way.
1. Put it on the list
It stinks to be driving home from Lowe’s only to remember the one thing you didn’t pick up. Or be reminded of four other things you wanted your handyman to fix—after he’s already left. Keep two running lists on your phone: one for the home improvement store and one for your fix-it person. That way you’ll always have the lists accessible and can add to them as necessary.
2. Stock up on vinegar
It can be used to unclog a drain, take ink off a wall, freshen up your washing machine, clean your coffeemaker, get rid of bugs, and about 90 other things.
3. Throw that newspaper in the trash the right way.
Wadding it up at the bottom of your trash gives you a place to soak up food juices and keep your trash can fresher.
4. Personalize your luggage.
Run a line of colorfully patterned tape across the top of your suitcase. When everyone else is trying to figure out which black bag is theirs, you can easily swoop in, gather your stuff, and be on your way.
Click Here for 10 More…
Home Renovations To Invest In And Avoid In 2015
Conventional wisdom tells us that any home renovation is a positive thing: money in is money out. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Some remodeling projects are a better investment than others, and the projects that yield the best return on investment can change from year to year. According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2015 Cost vs. Value Report, these five replacement projects will make the greatest percentage impact on the value of your home this year — accounting for cost-to-value ratio, the key to making smart home improvements with resale in mind:
Click Here to see what they are
Case Shiller January 27th 2015
The S&P/Case-Shiller 20-City Composite Home Price Index seeks to measures the value of residential real estate in 20 major U.S. metropolitan areas: Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa and Washington, D.C.
Click Here to see the Full Report
Getting the Best Mortgage Interest Rate
When you go online to look at mortgage rates, it can be confusing. The only way to get the best rate is to talk to real lenders.
First, decide on which loan program you’re going to compare. You need to decide between a fixed, an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) and a hybrid. A fixed rate is fixed throughout the life of the loan, an ARM has an interest rate that can vary throughout the life of the loan and a hybrid is an ARM that is fixed for a predetermined period then adjusts into an ARM.
In the current rate environment, with interest rates near historical lows, most people select a fixed rate, but that depends on how long you want to stay in the home. If you think you’ll sell within five years, go for an adjustable rate. If you believe you’ll occupy your home for longer, you’ll be better off with a fixed rate loan.
You also need to select a loan term, or its amortization period. The most common fixed rate term is the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. You can also select a 15, 20, and 25-year term. The shorter the term, the lower the interest rate, but the higher your monthly payments will be
First, decide on which loan program you’re going to compare. You need to decide between a fixed, an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) and a hybrid. A fixed rate is fixed throughout the life of the loan, an ARM has an interest rate that can vary throughout the life of the loan and a hybrid is an ARM that is fixed for a predetermined period then adjusts into an ARM.
In the current rate environment, with interest rates near historical lows, most people select a fixed rate, but that depends on how long you want to stay in the home. If you think you’ll sell within five years, go for an adjustable rate. If you believe you’ll occupy your home for longer, you’ll be better off with a fixed rate loan.
You also need to select a loan term, or its amortization period. The most common fixed rate term is the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. You can also select a 15, 20, and 25-year term. The shorter the term, the lower the interest rate, but the higher your monthly payments will be
Click Here to Learn More
Super Bowl XLIX – Seattle or New England?
Who are you pickiing for Super Bowl XLIX? http://www.nfl.com/
Use Technology to Search with Friends
Depending on your desired area of residence, budget and personal preferences, searching for a new place to call home can be tedious. Whether it be an apartment, condo, townhouse or single-residence you’re in the market for, including close family and friends in your search can alleviate some of the stress associated with the process. But, if you live in a different city, you can still include your friends via technology.
Click Here to Learn How
Small Remodeling Jobs Deliver Better ROI
Your home may need some work, but that doesn’t mean you want to lose money on it when you sell. That’s why you might be interested in the 2015 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report from Remodeling Magazine and the National Association of REALTORS®.
It may surprise you to learn that large remodeling jobs won’t return their full cost in home price gains, while other could return 100 percent or more of their cost.
Any improvements should help your home sell faster and for more money in the aggregate, but if you’re choosing remodeling projects, you may need to decide which ones are more important for resale, and which ones will bring you and your family the most enjoyment.
Keep in mind that buyers may not get excited about your choices unless the improvement is attractive and makes sense for them, too. It also has to look organic to the home, not like an add-on or afterthought.
It may surprise you to learn that large remodeling jobs won’t return their full cost in home price gains, while other could return 100 percent or more of their cost.
Any improvements should help your home sell faster and for more money in the aggregate, but if you’re choosing remodeling projects, you may need to decide which ones are more important for resale, and which ones will bring you and your family the most enjoyment.
Keep in mind that buyers may not get excited about your choices unless the improvement is attractive and makes sense for them, too. It also has to look organic to the home, not like an add-on or afterthought.
Click Here to Learn More
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 139
- 140
- 141
- 142
- 143
- …
- 146
- Next Page »