3 Home-Renovation Projects for Impact and Investment
If you’re like many homeowners, the start of the new year finds you ready to finally tackle those home-improvement projects that have lingered on your wish list. But where do you begin? First, prioritize those renovations that will have a maximum impact, both in terms of aesthetics and investment values. Also prioritize the projects that will enhance the livability and enjoyment of your home. Next, decide whether or not it makes sense to handle these projects on your own or call in a professional for help. According to the experts at Sears Home Services, while taking on home remodeling yourself can seem daunting , enlisting the right help can make the process simple and seamless. Here are three areas of the home to put at the top of your list this year: The...
Read More5 Remodeling Tips for Busy Homeowners
Between family, friends and work, life is hectic. If you—like many Americans—are trying to relocate or remodel your current home, the added stress is enough to make anyone throw in the towel. The following tips, provided by the American Homeowners Foundation and the American Homeowners Grassroots Alliance will help you plan and execute your home renovation with ease. Tip 1. Compare the Cost Of Moving to Remodeling. Moving is expensive, typically involving a 6 percent commission on the sale of your current home, plus another 2-4 percent for closing, moving, and other costs. If you like the present neighborhood then look into what improvements you could make with 8-10 percent of your home’s current value before you decide to move. Tip 2. Design...
Read More10 Tips for Homebuyers
Making the decision to buy a new home is a life-altering event…in a good way. But the process can be daunting. Take the following advice from CNNMoney into consideration before heading out on your home-buying journey. Don’t buy if you can’t stay put. Given today’s challenging marketplace, don’t buy a home unless you can commit to staying there for at least a few years. The days of flipping for profit are long gone and you stand to lose money if you sell too soon after buying. Shore up your credit. Securing a mortgage in today’s market requires excellent credit so take the time to clean up your credit report well before you begin looking for a home. Be honest about what you can really afford. The rule of thumb is that you can buy housing...
Read MoreA Fresh Assessment
By Keith Loria Let’s say you just purchased a new home that has a large property tax commitment. You may be able to do something about it. In today’s housing market, having the property reassessed is very in vogue. “A tax assessment is an estimate on the value of your property solely for the purpose of determining how much you owe in property taxes,” says Peter Hoegen, an attorney with Hoegen & Associates, PC in Pennsylvania who specializes in tax assessments. It’s a good bet that you may have bought the house for a price lower than the property value, so sometimes taxes can be lowered if the value has changed. Not that it’s only about the taxes. Another reason for a reassessment is for insurance purposes, to make sure the home has an appropriate...
Read MoreAvoid Money Pit Homes on Your Next House Hunt
Homebuyers should pay close attention and avoid money pit houses as the rules of navigating local real estate continue to change. These rapidly changing rules are happening in every area of the home buying process. Some of these rules have to do with the condition of the homes themselves. Bank owned properties and short sale homes tend not to be in the best shape and could have hidden conditions. New requirements for homeowners insurance policies have made changes on roof and sinkhole coverage limitations. Changes to Federal government regulations for banks and lending requirements make navigating an FHA loan quite tricky. According to REALTOR® Ginny Zukowski, the “money pit” can not only be a home that has hidden repair costs, but homeowners insurance...
Read More
Bev Schow
DRE #01867018
As a highly energetic and creative broker/agent and stock broker, Bev Schow has sold over 80 million dollars of real estate, is a member of the President’s Circle (the top 3% of all sales associates in the country), and holds both CRB and GRI designations. Read More.
Follow Me!