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Homeowner’s Toolkit Archive
Bathroom renovations have become extremely popular in recent years. Many consumers choose to renovate their bathroom before any other room; not only is the bathroom a major focal point when it comes time to sell,
(MCT)—With mortgage interest rates hovering around 50-year lows, refinancing is an appealing prospect for many homeowners. I think this is especially true considering the stock market’s August gyrations. Taking nervous energy and using it to focus on
While certain tips like properly staging your space will help get your home sold no matter what the economic climate, picking a talented real estate agent is one of the most crucial assets in getting your home sold fast and for the right price.
If you’re on the verge of losing your home, or you know someone who is, then you also know about the long, bureaucratic process involved in applying for a loan modification from a lender. The most common approach is to apply under the new Home Affordability Mortgage Program (HAMP), but lenders also accept modifications from mortgage holders because lenders really don’t want to take the house—they just want their money.
There is no perfect formula for selling your home efficiently, but by following these five tips prior to listing you can increase your chances to close quickly at a higher price.
1.) Update your old garage door(s). Garage doors seem like a non-issue, but many times they make up a significant percentage of the front of a home. Because of this, they are one of the first things that buyers notice when they pull in the drive way. Replacing, or even just painting, these central fixtures will do wonders when it comes to instantly impressing perspective buyers and standing apart from your competition.
RISMEDIA, June 30, 2011—Even with home sales and prices continuing to fall nationwide, millions of Americans will still navigate the process of buying and selling homes this summer, and for many, the sheer volume of details and decisions can be
RISMedia, June 14, 2011—Officially launched in December 2005, YouTube now has over 500 million subscribers worldwide. YouTube receives more than 2 billion viewers per day and is now the second largest search engine in the world (next to Google).
Anyone can surf YouTube as often as they like in anonymity. When you want to do something interesting however, like upload your own video, create playlists, subscribe to YouTube channels, etc., you have to create an account. The account is free and YouTube makes it very easy and hassle free by only requiring a few simple pieces of information and a promise to agree to play by their rules.
RISMEDIA, June 2, 2011—The spring and summer seasons launch a busy time for home remodeling and improvement projects as homeowners spruce up for entertaining, listing their home for sale, or increasing the property's value. A slowly warming housing market has made staying a popular trend among homeowners who choose to remodel versus losing money on a sale. For those who must move, cost-effective projects that make a home more visually appealing or structurally sound is a great way to entice potential buyers.
RISMEDIA, May 9, 2011—Every year home electrical problems cause more than 28,000 house fires and massive property damage. Electrical wiring is the root cause of many of these fires, of which countless could have been prevented. May is Electrical Safety Month. MXenergy, an independent energy provider, is encouraging
RISMEDIA, May 9, 2011—(MCT)—For home buyers who need to finance their purchase using a mortgage, a cash buyer can be their worst enemy.
That's because when a buyer makes a cash offer, the seller knows it's a solid deal—and that financing hiccups won't delay a closing. Sometimes, that's enough for the seller to accept a lower bid for a cash deal instead of a higher bid from a financing buyer.
It happened to a client of Dan Quinn, a real-estate agent who works for Prudential Carruthers Realtors in Silver Spring, Md. Against a cash buyer, the financing borrower just couldn't compete, Quinn says.
RISMEDIA, May 9, 2011—(MCT)— With new-home sales at historical lows, builders are doing a lot of head-scratching about what kind of houses buyers want.Changing demographics and tougher lending standards are influencing their decisions, too. The industry is trying to get a handle on where home designs
RISMEDIA, May 6, 2011—Severe weather continues to be a concern for many areas in the United States. The weather system which leveled parts of the southeast last week also dumped record rainfall from Arkansas to Vermont. Additional rainfall has some concerned about the flooding that is worsening in the Ohio and Mississippi River Valleys.
As standard homeowners, renters or business-owners policies do not cover flood damage, most flood insurance is written through the National Flood Insurance Program, which is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
RISMEDIA, April 29, 2011—Potential homeowners who participate in pre-purchase education and counseling programs may be more likely to pay their mortgages on time, although the evidence on this point is not consistent and compelling, according to a study released today by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). The study also finds that those who participate in default counseling are more likely to have their loans modified.
RISMEDIA, April 28, 2011—(MCT)—As weather warms in most parts of the country, many homeowners will incur the expense and hassle of hiring professionals to help beautify their yard through grass mowing, landscape design or tree trimming and removal. These specialty services can be quite costly; that's why it's important
RISMEDIA, April 26, 2011—Eighteen national, regional and local lenders will participate in a new two-year pilot program that will offer qualified borrowers living in certain parts of the country low-cost loans to make energy-saving improvements to their homes. Backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), these new PowerSaver loans will offer homeowners up to $25,000 to make energy-efficient improvements of their choice, including the installation of insulation, duct sealing, replacement doors and windows, HVAC systems, water heaters, solar panels, and geothermal systems.
