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Bathroom Renovation: 4 Tips to Enhance Your Everyday Lifestyle

Whether you’re getting ready to put your home on the market or you’ve been stashing away money to finally redo that outdated bathroom that just doesn’t work for your family anymore, updating or remodeling your bathroom is a great way to not only add value to your home, but to enhance your everyday lifestyle as well. If you aren’t sure where to get started, these design tips will help you hit the ground running.

Whether you plan on undertaking an extensive remodel or even a small project, most designers agree on the following tips:

Create the illusion of space. A sleek, stylish glass shower enclosure will help your bathroom appear more spacious, and in most instances, a frameless shower enclosure will provide the cleanest, most open look. If you decide to go with a framed shower enclosure, you have two choices: frameless sliding doors or framed doors. If you choose framed doors, be sure the finish of the metal framing and handles matches your bathroom fixtures.

Let the creative juices flow. Taking a creative approach can help you make the most of your space. For instance, the majority of shower enclosures are square or rectangular, but that doesn’t mean you can’t think outside the box and take other shapes into consideration. Redefine the space and make your bathroom more versatile with a circular or oval-shaped enclosure. You may even want to consider a triangle or standard shape with an artfully bowed glass door.

Look on the bright side. Repainting your bathroom with light colors can make it feel more spacious. If your bathroom has windows or skylights, use window treatments and accents that maximize the amount of light that comes through.

Maximize your space. Don’t be afraid to move things around, especially if you don’t have a lot of storage space in your bathroom. Cleaning items, extra towels and even toiletries can all be placed in a hall closet, freeing up more space in the bathroom. If you really want to maximize the space you have available, consider adding built-in compartments.

A Look at the Local Housing Market: May Single Family Home Sales

Whether sitting down with a client to discuss their housing goals or standing around at the beach, hanging out with friends, the most common question every Realtor^® gets is, “How’s the market?” According to statistics from the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors^® (ECAR) Multiple Listing Service (MLS), the housing market is heating up.

May Sales Heat Up

On the Emerald Coast, our common real estate “season” falls between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Because we’re a military area and just a great place to live, people move in and out through the year. Don’t forget, many families wait until school let’s out to move their families, as well. With all of this, it’s no wonder, single family home sales heated up a bit in May.

In May, single family home sales increased 4.5 percent over 2013. A total of 511 homes were sold, the highest volume of sales in a given month in more than a year. Buyers recognize this is the time to purchase a home. Sellers also realize the power of this current market as inventory rose 27.3 percent in May. More homes coming on the market for buyers to choose from breeds competition.

It’s Not Just About Closed Sales

The state of the real estate market isn’t solely determined by how many sales closed during a given time period. The median price, which has fluctuated slightly over the course of the last year, decreased just under four percent when compared to last year. In May, the median price of a single family home along the Emerald Coast was $224,900. Median prices mean half the homes sold for less and half the home sold for more.

Another factor to look at is the length of time a home spends on the market, known as the median days on market. Remember, this means that half the houses spent less time and half the houses spent more time on the market. In May, the median days on market fell nearly 11 percent from last year to 66 days.

Pricing is Key

It’s not unheard of in this market for a home that’s priced well to receive multiple bids and to go under contract in a short amount of time. On the flip side, a home that’s not priced well might sit on the market for a long time.

For sellers, pricing your right the first time means your home as a higher chance of selling quicker than a home that’s priced too high. For buyers, understand that several other people may be interested in the same home you are, and you’ll want to make the best offer you can in order for your offer to be considered.

So there you have it, a quick look at single family home sales along the Emerald Coast for May 2014. Sales are heating up, inventory is rising, and prices are holding steady with no major increases or decreases.

The statistics made available from the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors^® are comprised of data compiled from the MLS and other sources by the Florida Realtors^® Research and Statistics Department. The Emerald Coast refers to Okaloosa and Walton counties, and the data comes from all participants in the ECAR MLS.

Image via Flickr by Ed Hart.

Lethal Home Showing Killers (and how to Conquer Them)

Just when you’re ready to breath a sigh of relief… You’re taken the right photos. You’ve listed on the right websites. You’ve e-mailed, called, staged, and nurtured the leads. And now… it’s the home’s time to shine.

It’s time for the deal-making or –breaking showing, and then it happens. No response from the buyers agent, no offer, and another day on the market.

Why? The reason could be that one of these showing killers is sabotaging your hard work and ultimately delaying or killing the deal before you even get to the negotiation.

1. The Odor of the Offerlessness

Showing successfully is about eliminating the obstacles that prevent buyers from seeing a home value. One huge showing killer can be a home’s odor. Whether it’s the stench of cigarette smoke, pet odor, or an unfortunate bachelor’s “musk”, make sure you remember these handy hacks for eliminating the stinky showing killers you can’t see:

• Bowl of Vinegar Overnight – Sit a bowl of vinegar in a smelly room overnight and it will help soak up the unwelcomed odor. Queen of Clean, Linda Cobb, also says that if you pour white vinegar over a towel, ring it out, and then wave it around in the room it can help soak up smells in a flash.
• Happy Hour Spray – Add 2-parts water and 1-part cheap vodka into a spray bottle and spray almost any area in the room. The mixture grabs the smell and evaporates. Bonus tip: This is also called “poor man’s dry cleaning” and used to freshen a suit when you don’t have time to hit the cleaners.
• Have Coffee and an Orange – Coffee grounds and orange peels are great odor neutralizers. Add one of them to a bowl in the room, inside the trash can, or down the garbage disposal to help eliminate odors.

Yes, you could bake cookies too, but faintly oatmeal raisin covered stench might not go over as well as one  would hope.

2. A Scummy Situation

Another thin layer that can stand between your sellers and a sale is soap scum. Two of the most important rooms to show are the kitchen and bathroom. Unfortunately, these two have the biggest chance of (1) being used right before a showing and (2) carrying the showing killer called soap scum.

The Glove and the Dryer Sheet

If you find a filmy listing and you want to get rid of the soap scum in quickly, grab a plastic glove and a dryer sheet. Cover your hand with the glove and wipe away the scum in a fast with a dryer sheet. This is one of the fastest ways to clean tubs, showers, sinks, and countertops in a flash.

3. The “Necessary” Clutter

Clutter’s a killer. This we know. However, the battle with many clients is that the clutter meets a need and storage is the real problem. To find a happy medium and offer sellers a stylish option for putting things away, suggest some of these chic basket options:

• Wonderful wicker for the traditional home
• Cool canvas for the modern spaces
• Rugged rubber boxes for outdoors and/or garages

Learn How to Prep for a Showing Fast – Become a Showing Prep Ninja

First impressions can mean everything. It doesn’t just happen on TV. Everyday some buyer prospect spots one décor decision or unpleasantry that turns them off and causes them to miss the value of a great listing. Make sure you’ve got the skills to get your listings showing-ready in a flash.

5 Financial Risks to Consider in Retirement

The National Institute on Retirement Security reports that 45% of working-age American households have no retirement savings. This statistic, coupled with the fact that 3.5 million baby boomers are now retiring, shows that the need for proper planning is crucial. Consider these potential drawbacks.

• Inflation: During the second half of your financial journey, it’s critical that you’re able to maintain your purchasing power. Inflation simply means that every year your money buys a little – or a lot – less than it did the year before. Currently, inflation is 3.5 percent, which doesn’t sound like much. However, even if the rate holds steady and doesn’t increase, prices will have doubled in 20 years.

• Longevity: According to U.S. Census Bureau figures, the over-80 population is increasing five times faster than the overall population. By 2030, the demographics of 32 states will resemble those of Florida today. With more golden years to play, you’ll want the funding to make them fun!• Health/long-term care: Sadly, the escalating costs associated with long-term care during retirement can make the possibility of outliving one’s retirement income a reality for many. Statistics reveal that as we age, there’s an increased probability of our eventually needing assistance with basic daily activities. The truth is that most of us will need long-term care in our later years.

• Market risk: Economic recessions have occurred throughout the history of modern economics and always will, averaging one almost every nine years. If the market loses 50 percent one year and then increases 50 percent the following year, where are you? Many people get this wrong; after the fall and subsequent rise of 50 percent, you will have lost 25 percent.

• The sequence of returns: Gains or losses, or the order in which you receive your returns, can have a major impact on your retirement portfolio. It can mean the difference between having enough income in retirement and running out of money too soon. Be careful when an analysis states that you should achieve your goals by obtaining a specific rate of return. In most cases, this statement has not accounted for the sequence of returns.

UP TO $10,000 DOWN PAYMENT AND CLOSING COST ASSISTANCE

UP TO $10,000

DOWN PAYMENT AND CLOSING COST ASSISTANCE

%0, 30-Year Deferred Second Mortgage

 

Program Highlights

• FHA-insured, VA-guaranteed or USDA-RD 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgages.
• Assisted Low Rate: 4.25 %* Mortgage with a 0%, non-amortizing 30-year Deferred Second Mortgage up to $10,000.
• Discount/Origination Fee any combination not to exceed 1% of the principal loan amount.
• Continuous Funding
• NO Intangible Tax
• NO Doc Stamp Fee

 

What home Qualifies?

The single family home may be attached or detached, a condominium, townhome, certain manufactured homes or PUDs. Home must be located within Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa or Walton Counties (or one of the 13 Participating Counties). The total purchase price of a new or existing home ranges from $250,200 – $334,882.

 

Who Qualifies?

• Borrowers must be first-time homebuyers who have not had a present ownership in a principal residence during the past three years.
• Borrowers must meet normal mortgage requirements to demonstrate credit worthiness. Borrowers must have a minimum 640 FICO score to participate.
• Borrowers must occupy the purchased home as their principal residence.
• Qualified Veterans and homebuyers purchasing in a designated targeted area do not need to be first-time homebuyers.
• Household income may fall within the following limits within Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton Counties.

Maximum Income Limits

       

Non-Targeted:

Family of 1-2:          $67,889-$78,000

Family of 3+:            $78,072-$90,361

Targeted Areas (Escambia County):

Family of 1-2:          $69,240

Family of 3+:            $80,780

 

Down Payment & Closing Costs Assistance

• The Authority will provide a 0% non-amortizing 30-Year Deferred Second Mortgage up to $10,000 to be used exclusively with the 4.25%* Mortgage, which is not forgivable and becomes due when first mortgage is satisfied or upon sale, transfer, rental or disposition of property.
• The down payment assistance offered with FHA-insured First Mortgage Loans can provide up to 100% of the homebuyer’s cash to close (as long as there is no cash back to the borrower).
• Maximum Income and purchase price limits are the same as the limits for First Mortgage Loans.
• The down payment assistance proceeds may be used for any eligible use associated with the Mortgage Loan closing process, including but not limited to closing costs, Lender fees, Servicer fees, pre-paids, mortgage insurance premiums, discounts and the reimbursements of earnest money and pre-close fees, such as credit report and appraisal fees.

 

Questions?

If you have questions please contact the Escambia County Housing Finance Authority at 800-388-1970 or 850-432-7077

 

Gourmet Dining Literally Reaches New Heights

If you happen to be traveling to Las Vegas, Paris or Tokyo, and also happen to have a love of extreme dining, this just may fit the bill. Not for the faint of heart, this restaurant straps its guests into their chairs before hovering 165 feet above the ground. It offers diners quite an exhilarating view; just please don’t drop your fork.

Part of the growing trend known as “extreme dining,” which also includes supper in the dark and eating in the jungle, Dinner in the Sky takes the concept to, well, new heights, with a select group of guests seated around a table suspended 165 feet in the air. The aim is to elevate dining to out of the ordinary.

Such was the case with the Brussels edition of Dinner in the Sky, which carried 22 diners above such sites as the Royal Palace, the Atomium and the Cambre forest.

Belgian creator Stefan Kerkhofs designed and built 40 platforms and charges up to 250 euros ($310) a head for the experience, with Las Vegas, Barcelona, Paris, Monaco and Tokyo among the many popular destinations. While the views from up above are spectacular, the aim is to ensure that the food is too, with some of the world’s top chefs preparing the meals. Of course, safety is another priority. Diners are carefully strapped into seats not dissimilar to those on a rollercoaster and hoisted gently by crane to the dining altitude, which depends on wind and other weather conditions, but hits a maximum of 165 feet.

You can see pictures of the experience on the Dinner in the Sky website, www.dinnerinthesky.com.

Source: Yahoo! News