Archives for January 2014

Living the HIGH Life!

Most people think of tree houses as classic hallmarks of an American backyard. A father might build one for his children as a little hideout or as a quiet place to read comic books. However, it is now time to expand your definition of a “tree house.” In recent years, the idea of the tree house has gradually captivated the creative minds of famous architects around the world, from Italy to Japan. And the resulting structures have been quite remarkable.

Blending the idea of a tree house with traditional elements of Japanese culture, Fujimori designed a tree house-teahouse amid beautiful cherry blossom trees. Swedish architecture firm Tham & Videgard also broke conventions by designing an elevated aluminum and glass “treehotel” in Harads, Sweden. Other firms throughout Europe, the United States, and Asia have also added tree houses to their design repertoires.

Many may see this as merely a temporary fad among architects and designers. Still, a vast number of these projects have inspired new, creative ideas about sustainable living in an increasingly environmentally conscious world. Indeed, perhaps tree houses will come to represent ideal real estate for individuals hoping to minimize their carbon footprints.

Credit Repair: How to Tell Fact from Fiction

While the real estate market and the overall economy continue to demonstrate signs of improvement, the current lending environment is still a dicey road for many prospective homebuyers. Stringent credit requirements are still widespread among lenders, making improving your credit profile integral to securing a mortgage.

The good news: There are many proactive steps you can take to repair less-than-perfect credit. The bad news: There are many bogus organizations that claim they can fix your credit problems quickly. Make sure you understand fact from fiction before proceeding with any such firm. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC ) offers the following red flags to watch for to help identify a credit repair scam:

Claim: The company wants you to pay for credit repair services before they provide any services.
Fact: Under the Credit Repair Organizations Act, credit repair companies cannot require you to pay until they have completed the credit repair services they promised.

Claim: The company doesn’t tell you your rights and what you can do for yourself for free.
Fact: The law allows you to ask for an investigation of information in your file that you dispute as inaccurate or incomplete. This investigation doesn’t cost any money.

Claim: The company recommends that you don’t contact any of the three major national consumer reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) directly.
Fact: Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the consumer reporting company and the information provider (the person, company, or organization that provides information about you to the consumer reporting company) must correct inaccurate or incomplete information in your report. To take advantage of all your rights under the FCRA, contact the consumer reporting company and the information provider in writing.

Claim: The company tells you they can get rid of most or all of the negative credit information in your credit report, even if the information is accurate and current.

Fact: Watch out for any credit repair company that claims to be able to legally remove accurate and timely information from your credit report. Improving your credit takes time and a conscious effort to pay your debts.
Claim: The company suggests that you apply for an Employer Identification Number to use instead of your Social Security number so you can invent a “new” credit identity – and then, a new credit report.
Fact: If you follow illegal advice like this, you may find yourself in hot water. It’s a federal crime to lie on a loan or credit application, to misrepresent your Social Security number, or to get an Employer Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service under false pretenses. You could be charged and prosecuted for mail or wire fraud if you use the mail, telephone, or Internet to apply for credit and provide false information.

Your real estate professional or financial advisor can point you in the right direction for learning the specific steps you can take to repair your credit. They can also suggest lending options that might be available to you.

Top 4 Tips for Selling a Vacant Home

A vacant home, regardless of how nice the property, can seem eerily empty and lacking in character and warmth. Selling a vacant home is may be more difficult than selling a furnished one, no matter the market conditions. However, if you are trying to sell a vacant home there are a few key tips that can make the process easier and help provide a quicker selling time, and a better selling price.

Sweat the small stuff. Once furniture is removed from a space, even the slightest imperfections become apparent. An older carpet that was once disguised by a modern sofa and coffee table is now blaringly out-of-date. Holes in the wall or a hallway in need of a fresh coat of paint are now obvious. Spend extra time fixing up any noticeable damages, repainting, and caulking, getting new carpets, pressure washing and fixing up anything in need of repair.

Air it out. It’s amazing how quickly an empty house can begin smelling stale and musty. Before a showing, throw open windows and doors to allow for fresh circulation, and consider some mildly scented candles or air fresheners.

Amp up curb appeal. Since the house may be lacking inside in terms of character, make sure the exterior packs a punch. Not only should you clear clutter and debris from your yard (children’s toys included), keep grass neat and repair those broken fence posts, but you should also consider planting new flowerbeds, upgrading that tired front walk or even hiring a landscaper.

Consider staging. Even if you have moved all your furniture out, you may want to consider hiring a staging company that offers furniture rental. These professionals can make an empty space into a scene of warmth and comfort.

Remember, potential buyers are not just looking for a roof over their head. They are looking for a place to start a new chapter in their life.

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.