Guest Post – Karen's Perspective

Negotiating for Your Dream Home

Guest Post

If you are looking to buy a home right now, you’re in luck. The national housing market is in a slump that has given new meaning to the term “buyer’s market.” Property owners are looking to shed properties, often stagnant, often stupendous, for pennies on the dollar. It is important to remember a few things when you’re buying a home. Here are a few tips for the prospective home buyer:

Look at the deal from the seller’s point of view. The more you can find out about the seller, the better off you’ll be. If it is obvious that the seller is looking to shed the property ASAP, for example, if the furniture has been completely moved out, you’ll have a much better chance of making a deal. Try meeting with them face to face or, if that’s not possible, glean as much information as possible from their real estate agent.

01 / 20 / 2012
No Comments

Self-storage: Choosing, Packing and Organizing

Self storage is not only about choosing the right storage facility. Storing things in an arranged manner is important. Whether you are moving or are settled in your new home, self-storage services are indispensable. These services can be utilized during a home or an office relocation.

Often, homeowners have to stay in a temporary accommodations while their new property is being renovated or painted. Whatever the reason to rent a self storage unit, browse and do research on what different storage companies are offering. Here are a few things to take good care of while considering a self-storage unit:

01 / 09 / 2012
No Comments

Guest Post

Hardwood or Laminate Flooring: Which is Right for Your Home?

One of the many dilemmas for a homeowner doing some remodeling is what type of flooring to install. Hardwood and laminate flooring are two of the popular choices. Each choice has advantages and disadvantages to be considered. Let’s look at what differentiates these two types of flooring so you can make a more informed decision before moving forward with your remodel.

Hardwood or Laminate Flooring: Which is Right for Your Home?

Hardwood Flooring

It’s tough to beat the natural beauty and allure of hardwood flooring in a home. The natural look and feel of real hardwood is something that laminate flooring cannot match. Hardwood flooring can also add considerable value to your home, which may be especially useful if you are remodeling with the intent to eventually sell. Many people shopping for a new home consider hardwood flooring very appealing, whereas laminate flooring is usually not considered a significant bullet point for home shoppers.

12 / 19 / 2011
No Comments

Why You Need an Estate Plan

Prepared by MetLife – Presented by Lee Thomas

A common misconception is that estate planning is only for the wealthy. Too often individuals neglect putting an estate plan together for this very reason, leaving loved ones to make complicated, heart-wrenching decisions without proper input and guidance from the individual who should have the most say – you.

In its simplest form, an estate plan helps ensure that that your wishes are carried out. This protects your family from making tough decisions and ensures that your assets are divided in the way you want. It includes how your assets transfer to chosen beneficiaries, at the right time with the right supervision, while minimizing tax consequences. Also, proper documents ensure that your financial and medical affairs are handled according to your wishes.

Getting Started

12 / 12 / 2011
2 Comments

Guest Post

Tips for Reducing Fire Hazards in the Home

Thanks to Phill from Fire Safety Store for this post.

With the approaching holidays and holiday decorations abounding in the home, fire hazards and dangers increase. Here are a few tips to increase fire safety in your home.

  Install a Smoke Detector   -The holidays are a great time of year for decorating and bringing the family together. To avoid fire dangers in your home, install smoke detectors and keep them in good working order. If you do not already have smoke detectors installed in your home, now is a great time to put one in. Smoke detectors are inexpensive and you can find them at any home improvement center or home department retailer. Install a smoke detector in every region of your home, including the living areas and bedroom hallway. If you already have smoke detectors installed, check the batteries to make sure they are in good working condition.

Christmas Tree Safety   -

12 / 07 / 2011
No Comments

Turn Your Underused Attic into the Loft You’ve Always Dreamed Of

Guest Post

Thanks to Christa Blair of Buildables.net for this post.

There are a ton of boxes and memories stored in your attic and, while you cherish them, they just take up too much space. The truth is that you store most memories on the inside and getting rid of some of the clutter can turn into a wonderful and therapeutic experience. It will also give you the space to turn that attic, no matter the size, into a dream loft or hideaway spot in your home.

Cleaning up is just the start; there are many ways to turn that attic into the perfect loft and here are some trusty ways to do it.

• Use light colored paint – It is not the norm for attics to have a lot of space. If your attic is small with little head room, try a light colored paint. This brightens the room to give the illusion that it has more space.

• Try not to section the room – Sectioning your attic gives it too much definition and takes away from the loft feeling. Remember a loft has few partitions and a lot of space. To mimic this in an attic, you must not use furniture or other objects to define specific areas.

11 / 28 / 2011
No Comments

Why Some Homes Sell Faster

Home Solar Power Discounts – One Block Off the Grid

What a great post. Thanks to One Block Off the Grid.

11 / 23 / 2011
No Comments

Make Your House Stand Out in the Crowd

Muzammil Bashir lives in London. His percentage of increase in home value may vary in your area, but these are good approximations of renovation value from someone in the business. Thanks to Muzammil for this post.

A home in an area with several other houses that look just like it will not have an advantage that will motivate home buyers to choose it over any other house in the area that is for sale. Homeowners can increase the odds that they will sell their homes faster by spending some money on renovations before they put their houses on the market.

Add a Second Bathroom

If a home has only one bathroom, one of the best ways to increase its value is to add a second bathroom. The homeowners, if they decide to sell, will be able to sell the home for a much higher price than they would before the addition, and they can expect a 71 percent return on their investment. Without a second bathroom, the homeowners would find that it will much harder to sell the house because a house with at least two bathrooms is more desirable.

11 / 17 / 2011
No Comments

Lease Option Purchase

Guest Post

Thanks to Scott Shubert of Benchmark Financial Services for this post.

Have you considered a lease option purchase when looking for a home? Are you in one now and wondering, ‘am I doing this right’? If you can buy now, it may be wise to do so, but sometimes there are good reasons to do a lease purchase. Maybe there are credit blemishes that need time to heal, perhaps one needs time to save for a down payment, or relocating from another state and a trailing residence is still on the market. Whatever the reason, it is important to make sure as the renter (and future buyer), that you handle your financial affairs properly. Here are a few key things to remember…

* Always pay rent/deposit with a check from your personal banking account. Once the check clears, print a hard copy of the canceled check and file it away. A lender will need to verify that rent was paid on time and may require 12 months of canceled checks. It is easy to get canceled checks on line as they occur, but difficult after time goes by. Often, a portion of your monthly payment goes towards earnest money or the down payment of the home. It is necessary to verify this as well to make sure you are credited the proper amount at closing.

11 / 08 / 2011
No Comments

Our Real Estate Economy is Rebounding

Guest Post

Thanks for this article to Jim William, real estate investor and coach of the Triad Mastermind group for real estate investors here in the Triad of North Carolina:

Here are some random thoughts about the past 90-120 days of our own team’s activity.

What we have seen in every area of our business is GROWTH. We have recently experienced more profitable activity than in the past three years. Prices are stabilizing and we see median priced homes, $100k-$200k, being sold, rented or rent-to-owned in lightening time. Add to that the fact that our tenants are paying more consistently than ever!

While some activity is seasonal, some of it shows signs of the end of the down cycle. I expect an overall flat lining for another year or so, then an upward trend with a slight bounce at first, followed by a more steady strong climb within the next three to four years.

It’s important that you be in the real estate game NOW before this growth takes place because, when the climb happens, wealth will develop easily through Automatic Appreciation.