Blog

Choosing A Realtor to Help you Find Your Home

Choosing the right agent to help you find your dream home is an important decision. As a top agent in your area of interest, I can provide the expert support you need and deserve. Here are just a few of the services I provide:

Access to every home for sale (some that may not even be on the market) in the neighborhoods you’re interested in
Advanced Internet technology
Review of services offered
Determine your buying power
Get you pre-qualified for a loan
Find the best home for your needs
Successfully negotiate on your behalf

Sit back and let me do the work, saving you the time, energy and resources it takes to research the housing market. I am ready to simplify the process for you when the time is right. Please feel free to contact me anytime!

Rent or Buy? How to Make the Right Decision

When it comes to choosing a place to live, you have two options: rent or buy. Which is the better choice? The answer depends upon a variety of lifestyle and situational factors. Here are a few of the pros and cons of renting and buying that will help you decide which option is right for you.

Why You Should Rent :

• Less money upfront: When renting a home or apartment, you’ll usually have to pay first and last month’s rent and maybe a security deposit. When buying, however, you will need to fund a substantial down payment as well as a variety of added fees, such as closing and inspection costs. If money is tight at the moment, renting may be the best option for you.

• More control over your money: The money you save on upfront costs as a renter can be invested somewhere else for future gain.

• Time to think: Renting allows you to test out different areas before committing to a location long term. This is especially helpful if you’re between jobs or in a short-term employment situation. Renting provides the freedom to pick up and relocate more easily.

• Minimal maintenance hassles: As a renter, you have the luxury of calling the landlord when a plumbing or HVAC issue occurs. Homeowners must deal with the cost and headaches of dealing with all maintenance issues that arrive.

Why You Should Buy:

• Long-term investment: As a homeowner, the mortgage payments you make each month increase your degree of equity in the home, which you can borrow against in the future to fund home improvement projects or a college education. As a renter, the money you pay each month goes to the landlord and does nothing toward building your own future wealth.

• Tax deductions: The major advantage of homeownership are the deductions you can take at tax time on both your mortgage interest and property taxes.

• Complete control: As an owner, you have complete creative control (within zoning laws and/or homeowner association rules) over your home. So go ahead and paint the dining room purple or build a loft in the family room.

• Achieving the American Dream: Owning a home remains one of the ultimate goals of most every American. Taking part in the pride of homeownership is one of life’s great moments.

Source: Zillow for Yahoo Real Estate

Making A Color Statement: Hot New Interior Color Trends!

No matter your budget or time constraints, says Hollywood interior designer and set consultant Stephan St. Orang, nothing can change the mood and beauty of your home more significantly than interior paint and lighting.

“This is the year to look for color combinations that take their zing from nature,” St. Orang maintains. “You need only to take a nature walk to find surprising combinations that are vibrant, dynamic and that harmonize with one another in a joyful or pleasing way.”

Break away from the safety of neutral whites, greys and beiges, so popular in the last few years of economic uncertainty, with bold and optimistic color combinations like these, he suggests:

• Spring forest ambience – Wake up bedrooms or living rooms with walls of forest moss or leafy green and accent with splashes of yellow, vibrant pink and lavender in pillows and other accessories.

• Sense and sensibility – Begin with an exuberant rush of bold color, such as walls of rich copper-orange to create a sense of warmth. Add calming accents of cool blues and light yellows to create a cheerful and uplifting space.

• Earth and sky – Create a look of stylish, airy elegance in the dining room with walls of blue accented with darker wood trim. Add a soothing pale blue ceiling to soften the formality and accent one wall with a weathered, artistic stencil pattern to add visual interest.

• Spiced life – Add interest and cheer to a rec room or home office with an unexpected pairing of natural pewter on the walls and a pop of persimmon on the ceiling. Or stick with a more neutral ceiling and make creative use of color by painting a wide swath of your favorite hue along one wall to create an interesting backdrop for favorite works of art.

Where Can I Find Foreclosure Properties?

Real Estate Agents are the best source for information about foreclosures before they begin. Often a property will be listed and the agent will know if it is approaching foreclosure. Perhaps the best way to get the information is to have your agent put the word out that you are looking for properties with pending foreclosures.

You can also look in the legal notices section of your local newspaper. A notice is also usually posted on the property itself and somewhere in the city where the sale will take place.

Another source can be the bank or financial institution that holds the mortgage. Of course, they generally will not give you the names of those who are facing foreclosure, but they may give the property owner your card or phone number.

Buying foreclosures is not easy. Savvy investors are highly skilled at nabbing these properties. Inexperienced buyers may find themselves surrounded by pretty stiff competition. They will need to get as much information as possible, including a “foreclosure inspection report” and an appraisal from the lender.

Remodeling Done Right!

Whether you need more space to accommodate a growing family or are wanting to update a desperately dated kitchen or bathroom, there’s no better way to improve the livability and value of your home than with a major remodel. But as you probably figured out, pulling off a major remodel involves more than a few major decisions. And while we can’t help you make them, we’ve got the cost and project info that will help you make the right decisions for your project, whether you’re remodeling your bathroom or kitchen, or building an addition.

Bathroom Fixtures

Whether it’s new sinks, faucets, toilets or a jetted tub, changing out fixtures is one way to quickly and easily update the look of the bathroom. Prices vary widely depending on brand, size and style. And while it’s tempting to buy the fixtures yourself, buying them through your contractor is often the way to go, as they typically are able to get below-retail discounts.

Bathroom Flooring

When it comes to flooring, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all of your options. However, one thing is true about all of them: as your square footage rises, so too will the cost of the materials and installation costs.

Kitchen Remodel

National Average Kitchen Remodeling Costs

Few projects come close to matching the impact of a kitchen remodel. From improving the livability and value of your home, to dramatically altering its look, it’s no wonder that a kitchen remodel is the one project almost every homeowner dreams of. And while the right remodel will boost the value of your home, it’s one of the most complicated and expensive projects a homeowner can tackle. The cost will vary depending on the size of your kitchen, the quality of materials, the quality of the appliances and whether you’re changing the layout of the room.

Kitchen Countertops

Countertop options can make your head spin: stone, tile, concrete, marble, butcher block, stainless steel, recycled glass, formica… the list goes on and on. Within each category of material, you’ll find huge price swings, depending on quality. The key is to choose a material that fits in with your lifestyle and your style preferences.

Kitchen Cabinets

As the saying goes, first impressions are everything. If your kitchen has dated cabinets, your room might not be making the impression you want it to. The cost of new cabinets will vary depending on whether you go for standard sizes or custom, as well as the quality of the materials. Want to give your old cabinets a new look for less? Refinishing or refacing them allows you to change the color, look and feel without blowing through your savings.

Kitchen Appliances

Choosing the right appliances is always one of the toughest decisions during a kitchen remodel. What you choose depends on your budget, kitchen layout, and lifestyle. If your goal is to build the perfect cook’s kitchen, you’re going to want appliances that are durable, easy to use, and easy to clean. If you have a smaller kitchen, you might want to think about installing built-in appliances that give you the flexibility to put your appliances where you want them. Working with a limited budget? Freestanding appliances are typically less expensive and easier to install.

Additions

National Average Addition Building Costs

Many homeowners eventually come to that daunting dilemma: whether to buy their dream house or transform their current home into their dream home. If you’ve decided to go with the addition, it’s likely a decision you’ve been thinking about for quite some time. And while you recognize that this will be a profound investment in time and money, you also know that, if done properly, it will enhance the value and, more importantly, the livability of your home.

Architects

Depending on the complexity of the addition, you might need to hire an architect, especially if the project involves dramatically altering the flow and functionality of the space. An architect will certainly add to the upfront costs, but it’ll be worth it since they’ll be able to ensure that your addition meets your functional and lifestyle requirements.

Will the Addition Add Value to Your Home?

Even if you have no plans to sell anytime soon, consider the resale value of your project. You might not always turn a profit on your home-expansion investment, but you should go into the job with realistic expectations about at least some kind of payback. Because they’re among the most expensive home projects, additions sometimes return less on your investment than remodels. But if you’re significantly adding to the square footage of your home or adding important types of rooms, such as bedrooms and bathrooms, your investment may pay off considerably.

New Year Resolutions or Goals?

The New Year is all about making resolutions. But while 45 percent of Americans say they usually make them, just 8 percent of Americans manage to keep them. Losing weight, getting organized, spending less and saving more are the top promises we make (and break) at the end of each year. Here are five tips for making New Year’s Resolutions that you’re more likely to keep.

Set achievable goals. Losing 25 pounds may not be within your control, but opting to eat more healthily can be. Getting a promotion may be up to your boss, but learning more transferable skills is something you can vow to do yourself. Be real when you make a resolution. Rather than commit to running a marathon, set yourself up for success and map out your course by making appointments with yourself to be active. If you treat your goals like set appointments, you’re more likely to achieve them.
Reach out to others. Let your closest friends and family members in on your goals; they’ll help hold you accountable, provide support when you feel your willpower starting to slip and serve as a sounding board when you need to figure out a problem. Having a support network is crucial in achieving your goals.
Do unto yourself as you would do unto others. Yes, you read that correctly — it’s a twist on the Golden Rule, and something we tend to forget to do. Consider resolving to treat yourself with just as much love and respect as you do your closest friends and relatives. Anytime you catch yourself beating up on your own normal human imperfections … consider how you might counsel your loved ones were they in the exact same situation. Because you deserve to love and respect yourself too; no doubt, doing so will confer onto you tremendous health and life benefits.”
Find ways to feel happier. Thousands of studies have shown that having an attitude of gratitude can make for positive change in your life. Gratitude isn’t passive reflection. It’s active. It’s not about the past, it’s there to help direct our behavior in the future. At the very least, it can make you feel happier — and there are real physical and emotional benefits to being more upbeat. “You’re 50 percent less likely to have a heart attack, you get sick less often, and you can be a lot more productive at work. With a little practice, feeling happy can become a habit (check out Kogan’s 21-day Happier Courses for inspiration). And happiness is contagious. “If you’re happier, you’ll make the people around you happier, too.
Forget resolutions; pick a theme instead. Tired of making the same resolutions year after year? Instead of focusing on “lose 10 pounds” or “hit the gym more often,” pick a theme like “activity,” “movement” or “fitness” and strive toward that instead. “The theme should be a word that resonates with you and embodies something that has been missing from your daily life. Instead of defining specific behaviors that you want to do, you simply keep your theme in mind and allow your days to unfold from there.