Internet & Mortgage Calculations
July 29, 2006
"You’ve been approved!" The words you have always wanted to hear when you filled out the home loan application. It swirls through your mind the opportunities and memories you will cherish in your new home. Before you even start shopping for a home it is best to understand in real terms what you can afford. Your income level may make it tight for you every month to make the mortgage payment if you purchase too much home.
You may wish to know how much the home may cost you before you sign your contract. So you will need to be a financial calculator to figure out the monthly paper in real-terms. There is an easier way. The Internet has become the best place for mathematical equations and there are some great websites that will do the figures for you should you know the absolute basics of the transaction. Here are some of the factors that can help you determine what your monthly interest rate will be:
The Best Time to Inspect Your Home!
July 29, 2006
Home inspections conducted prior to a home being placed on the market is one of the wisest moves a seller can make. The initial response from sellers when approached with the idea of an inspection done as the home is about to be put up for sale is most always the same - “What?!”
Let’s review a few of the most common concerns about Pre-Listing Home Inspections.
1. “The buyer will not accept an inspection done for the seller.”
That is correct! The inspection done for the seller is not intended to replace the inspection done for the buyer. The purpose of the pre-listing inspection is to put the seller in control!
Given that no good surprise can come to the seller during the home inspection, regardless of when it is done or whom it is done for, it makes perfect sense to get every strand of information as soon as it can be gotten. Bad news doesn’t get better with time.
If there is some bad news, or more correctly, some items that needs attention or might have an impact on the home’s value, who better to receive that information than the seller? And when is a better time to receive that information than before the home is placed on the market?
Quick And Easy Bathroom Decor Changes
July 28, 2006
Are you tired of the way your bathroom looks? Don’t feel bad, a lot of folks are in the same boat. The bathroom is one room in the home that can look drab and run down very easily. And what if you don’t have an unlimited budget to make changes in the fixtures and plumbing? Well take heart, there is lots that you can do for very little money that will totally and radically improve the decor of your bathroom.
One of the biggest problems with bathrooms is their tendency to get cluttered. You know, towels hanging all over the place, bath products on top of the vanity and on the shower floor, and things like that. So if you really want to make a 100% improvement in your bathroom clean up the clutter.
Fortunately, that is very easy to do and inexpensive. If you go to any WalMart or Target store, you will find plenty of organizer products for use in the bathroom. They are also very cheap. So get some of them and start to install them so that the most used products and items are within easy reach of wherever they would be used in the bathroom. If you make the storage spot convenient most people will continue to put it back in it’s place after they use it. If you make the storage spot even a little difficult to access, you will see those items left all around wherever someone finds a spot for it.
The Organized Move: Preparing Your Home for the Publics Eye
July 28, 2006
(This is the first in a series of three articles on “The Organized Move”)
The thought of moving can set most of us in a tailspin, but what is more frightening is imagining the parade of realtors and home buyers marching through your very personal space and judging you on: neatness, maintenance and upkeep, and tasteful décor. (There will be a handful of buyers that are looking for a “fixer upper” and projects that last for years, but unfortunately only two exist to date).
So let’s discuss a few easy tips to get your home in market condition. Remember — realtors and prospective homebuyers can tell how a home has been cared for over the years. If your home is in need of major repairs it is always best to consult a professional to ensure proper technique and installation.
The month before you list your home, walk around with a notepad and write down everything that is in need of some minor repair or a little freshening up. It is very natural to focus on just the main living areas of your home and forget about the closets and storage areas, but this is a big mistake. In every home I ever bought or sold closets and storage areas were part of the public viewing. So lets divide the space of your home and get moving:
Patio Design ? Expanding Your Home Outdoors
July 28, 2006
A patio can be just like another room in your house. Effective patio design can mean that your increase the floor space of your home, by adding an outside room that allows you to entertain like never before. A patio can just be a rectangular slab of concrete with some plastic chairs and griller, but it can also be so much more.
What comes to mind when you think of a patio?
Patio design gives you the opportunity to create an outside living area ? an extension of your home ? for entertaining and relaxing all year round. For instance, people who like to entertain may want to consider a patio with an undercover kitchen and dining area. By adding a barbecue grill, a built in fridge and some quality outdoor furniture, the patio can, in itself, become a feature of your home.
Reverse Mortgages Learn The Facts First!
July 28, 2006
Reverse Mortgages, Most Common Features:
Many offer special appeal to older adults because the loan advances, which are not taxable, generally do not affect Social Security or Medicare benefits.
Depending on the plan, reverse mortgages generally allow homeowners to retain title to their homes until they permanently move, sell their home, die, or reach the end of a pre-selected loan term.
Generally, a move is considered permanent when the homeowner has not lived in the home for 12 consecutive months. So, for example, a person could live in a nursing home or other medical facility for up to 12 months before the reverse mortgage would be due.
However, be aware that:
Reverse mortgages tend to be more costly than traditional loans because they are rising-debt loans.
The interest is added to the principal loan balance each month. So, the total amount of interest owed increases significantly with time as the interest compounds.
Reverse mortgages use up all or some of the equity in a home. That leaves fewer assets for the homeowner and his or her heirs.
Lenders generally charge origination fees and closing costs; some charge servicing fees. How much is up to the lender.
Are You In or Out of Balance?
July 27, 2006
CLUTTER: When clutter starts to accumulate in an environment, imbalance in our personal, professional and social lives always follows. This can range from health and financial challenges to struggle and conflict with friends, family, co workers, affiliates, as well as with buyers and sellers. Feng Shui is the communication that takes place everyday between you and your environment. At a glance, take a look at your home, office, desk, car and briefcase and check to see if you are in or out of balance!
DE-CLUTTERING: This is the first step in reclaiming your health, vitality, energy and business! Creating a sense of harmony and peace in your space will reflect the same in your life and career. Consciously letting go of “things” that no longer serve your highest good, will invigorate and energize your personal Ch’i, and empower you to attract blessings, abundance, health, wealth and good fortune in your life.
FENG SHUI…
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
“Should I include porches and decks in the Ba-gua when I Feng Shui my listings?”
Poster, Print or Painting. Where Are You Going To Put It?
July 27, 2006
If you are redesigning or decorating a room, or house, care has to be taken where your piece of art is to be displayed. Even if you have bought a picture on impulse there are a few tips that will not only enhance the picture but its surroundings.
As a good rule of thumb it is good to hang a picture so that its centre is roughly at eye level. If you have a grouping of pictures then also the centre of the group should be at approximate eye level.
Wall size.
ˇ For a narrow wall go for a smaller picture, or group of small pictures.
ˇ For large walls go for the larger pictures.
ˇ For walls that link to a low ceiling go for pictures that are vertically longer as this will help give the illusion that the ceiling is higher and open the room up.
Picture framing.
ˇ As a guide neutral coloured, plain or soft /delicate paintings will suit a more basic plain frame.
ˇ Dramatic pictures may deserve a much bolder frame.
ˇ Will the frames go together if pictures are hung in a group?
Kitchen Decorating Is Easy To Do
July 27, 2006
Kitchen decor themes can turn a dull kitchen into a beautiful living space. Being the central gathering place for family and friends, the right theme can make any occasion a memorable event.
Kitchen decorating can be bright and simple or with a little more work can become a great conversation piece. Because you spend so much time in your kitchen decorating to suit your taste is very important for long lasting enjoyment.
One of the more important aspects of kitchen decor themes is creating areas of open space. Next, large counter tops with easy to clean surfaces are always a good idea. And picking materials for the floor which are both beautiful and durable belong in anyone’s modern kitchen.
Kitchen decor themes have many advantages but be sure you give plenty of time for careful planning and thoughtful consideration for a kitchen that is stylish and functions properly according to your families needs.
Kitchen design themes can be made to fit anyone’s taste and budget. Here are some of the more common themes:
Antique Kitchen Themes
Home Sweet Home Kitchen Themes
Bright Colors Kitchen Themes
Country Kitchen Themes
Italian Kitchen Themes
Grape Kitchen Themes
Rooster Kitchen Themes
Mexican Kitchen Themes
The Great American Dream
July 27, 2006
Are you ready to starting building your dream home. House plan designs are abundant and easy to customize. Just getting started can sometimes be quite confusing.
There’s nothing more exciting than building your dream home. Take a look at your living area now. What would you change? The floor plan for more open space, the flooring or maybe add more windows.
How about a big kitchen with a bar or a spacious family room. An office or study is a great retreat for family members. Get your family together and sketch out your ideas. Make your dream come true.
Planning is crucial, therefore have a well developed plan and put it in action. Knowing what features you need will simplify the process. Consider everyone’s needs when deciding on a home plan.
Carefully research home design plans and make scetches of your own for comparison. Often planners will customize pre-designed plans that will functionally meet your needs. Deciding on a home plan should be fairly easy, it’s the choice of materials that can send you reeling.
