Making Dreams of Mountain Living Come TrueSearch
Search Result
-
Deck-staining that can't fail
Category: Real Estate/Home Improvement
... A good deck stain will penetrate into the wood, where it offers moisture protection by helping the wood to shed water. This prolongs the life of the wood, and helps prevent splintering and loosening around ...Tuesday, 07 October 2008 -
Two-day, $2,000 room makeover not reality
Category: Real Estate/Seller
... I have seen on this subject has shown a good success rate for retrofitted wall insulation, providing the installation is done properly. The most common material used for this process is cellulose, since ...Tuesday, 07 October 2008 -
Changing out windows tricky with aluminum siding
Category: Real Estate/Home Improvement
... a wide air space between the panes, and good weatherstripping, solid latches and smooth operation on operable windows. I would contact an experienced window dealer in your area -- stay away from the home ...Thursday, 20 March 2008 -
Kitchen is no place to skimp on lighting
Category: Real Estate/Home Improvement
... from fixtures that are strategically placed to provide good lighting for performing specific operations, such as cooking or cleaning up. Since the general lighting sources are located high up on the ceiling ...Thursday, 20 March 2008 -
Beware of kitchen-range fire hazard
Category: Real Estate/Home Improvement
... have an experienced granite installer take a look at it. Good installers have a variety of techniques they can use for blending colors -- they do it regularly to help conceal the seams where the pieces ...Thursday, 14 February 2008 -
Three must-haves for a good paint job
Category: Real Estate/Home Improvement
... it, but it's essential to a good paint job. So, like it or not, it's a step that you don't want to skip or do poorly, since the quality of your finished product pretty much depends on it. There are three ...Thursday, 14 February 2008 -
Picking the right sander for the job
Category: Real Estate/Home Improvement
... the direction of the grain, and the smaller sanding surface and lighter weight make these a good choice for finish sanding and paint removal on a wide variety of projects. Pad sanders utilize standard ...Sunday, 27 January 2008 -
The Mortgage Checklist
Category: Real Estate/Mortgages
... borrow. Only verifiable sources of income may be used in this calculation, so it's important to be thorough and keep good financial records. When supplying debt verification, any debt that will be ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
Should you Refinance your Adjustable-Rate Mortgage?
Category: Real Estate/Mortgages
... a good credit rating, a steady income, and a certain amount of equity in your home. Bear in mind that taking out a new mortgage will mean another round of closing costs, and you may also have to pay ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
The Dangers of Not Using a Home Inspector
Category: Real Estate/Buyer
... home inspectors and can recommend the services of a good inspector. If this doesn’t turn up any possibilities, check the Yellow Pages or the internet. Whatever the source you use, make sure to ascertain ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
Rethinking your home search
Category: Real Estate/Buyer
... that preempts the desire for a perfect house. You'll settle for the right number of bedrooms and baths, a yard and a good school district. You may be willing to give up on the Old World charm or character ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
Make your condo purchase a smart one
Category: Real Estate/Buyer
... heat and air conditioning. 3. Is the condo association professionally managed? Unless it is a small condo building of five units or less, professional management is a good sign. The cost usually ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
Pros and Cons of Buying Fixer-Upper Home
Category: Real Estate/Buyer
... market, a listing that has been on the market for awhile might be a good buy if the seller's ready to negotiate. But, if a fixer has been on the market for some time with no offers, ask yourself ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
Top Renovation Mistakes
Category: Real Estate/Home Improvement
... you're trying to sell a home without a garage. Closing off open spaces is definitely something to be avoided. If you have an open-plan kitchen and dining room, walling those rooms off isn't a good ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
Warm Up an Empty House for Faster Sale
Category: Real Estate/Seller
... likely to get vandalized. The longer the house is on the market, the lower your chances are of selling at a good price, so it's much better to spend a little extra money on getting the house sold ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
Is it Time to Sell?
Category: Real Estate/Seller
... - then it's not a good time to sell. If you're thinking of selling in the off-peak months, it might be better to reconsider and wait a while before putting your home on the market. If you do decide ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
When to Fire Your Mortgage Lender
Category: Real Estate/Mortgages
... you no closing costs or points usually have bigger penalties and penalty charges built into their contracts. Lenders should provide you with a "good faith estimate." This is an estimate of expenses ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
Investing in Foreclosures
Category: Real Estate/Investing
... Issues Once you've found potential foreclosures, you'll want to figure out how these particular properties would be a good investment. If during your inspections you find structural repairs are ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
6 Reasons to Get a Move On in the Summer
Category: Real Estate/Buyer
... will be maximized by the lush and fragrant summer-blooming flowers. This also gives buyers a good idea of the amount of yard maintenance to expect to keep it looking beautiful. Garage sale seasonWhat ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
TV star reveals home-flipping secrets
Category: Real Estate/Home Improvement
... add to the easy understandability of this book. Written in a practical manner, with lots of good and bad examples from the author's personal experiences renovating houses, this guidebook shows how ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
Tips for First-time Buyers
Category: Real Estate/Buyer
... bids from buyers who have mortgage pre-approval. Don't use this as a reason to rush into getting a mortgage. Take the time to find a good deal, and carefully consider your options when it comes to ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
Open Houses '101'
Category: Real Estate/Seller
... you don't have to keep an eye on children or dogs at the same time. It's a nice gesture to let your neighbors know a few days in advance that you're planning an open house. If you're on good terms ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
Moving Made Easier and More Affordable
Category: Real Estate/Moving
... pays to have a detailed plan and to start preparing early. Before You Move It's a good idea to begin packing early for two reasons. It gives you a time advantage when you're ready to move to your ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
Cut Your Closing Costs
Category: Real Estate/Buyer
... and property taxes. Hidden CostsSo-called hidden costs are those which lenders are not required to disclose in the Good Faith Estimate. These can include: Courier fees Notary fees Documentation ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
All About Escrow Accounts
Category: Real Estate/Mortgages
... as well as earnest money (a small deposit made by the purchaser as a show of good faith, to demonstrate that the offer on the property is serious) and closing costs. To prevent closing delays, the ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
Deciding on a Mortgage Lender
Category: Real Estate/Mortgages
... is important to you, a mortgage banker may be a good option. Additionally, if you consolidate all your financial affairs with a single bank, it may make it slightly easier to get favorable interest ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
Mortgage Glossary
Category: FAQs/General
... Money - Deposit made by a buyer towards the down payment in evidence of good faith when the purchase agreement is signed. The deposit becomes part of the down payment if the offer is accepted, is ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
Everything You Need to Know About Mortgage Interest Rates
Category: Real Estate/Mortgages
... to quote you a rate that they can actually deliver. When you apply for a mortgage, lenders are required by law to provide you with a Good Faith Estimate within three days of application. However, ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
Is an Interest-only Loan for You?
Category: Real Estate/Mortgages
... or if mortgage interest rates rise sharply (most interest-only loans have an adjustable interest rate). And if the worst happens and the value of your property decreases, you stand a good chance ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
Tighter Lending Rules Could Backfire
Category: Real Estate/Mortgages
... however, would have little impact because it can be so easily (and legally) evaded. This may be a good thing because the consequences of an effective rule might well be unacceptable. Borrowers ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
Four Reasons for Getting a Home Equity Loan
Category: Real Estate/Mortgages
... you can borrow against the equity, and what you do with the cash you receive is up to you. However, there are good reasons and bad reasons for getting a home equity loan. Before you start shopping ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
When you can and can't claim homeowner tax breaks
Category: Real Estate/Mortgages
DEAR BOB: My husband and I recently purchased our first home. Although we both earn good money, our credit isn't so good. On the advice of our mortgage consultant, we obtained an interest-only 100 ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
How to Finance a Remodel
Category: Real Estate/Mortgages
... recycled fixtures or building materials. Habitat for Humanity offers salvaged goods for 50% of retail value. Auctions are another cheap supply of building materials and fixtures. Do the cleanup each ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
What should I consider when buying a condo or loft?
Category: Real Estate/Buyer
... condo projects with a high ratio of tenants to owner occupants. In larger complexes, the property management company can be a good source of information. Otherwise, talk to one of the officers of ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
The Best Way to Sell Your Home Quickly
Category: Real Estate/Seller
... a Good Agent An agent will be able to give you advice on how to price your home competitively, and their knowledge and impartiality will aid in pinpointing problem areas that might reduce your property's ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
Home Sellers Hit Roadblocks in Today's Market
Category: Real Estate/Seller
Spring is the traditional peak sales season for houses and condos. Summer is also usually very good until the traditional August slump, especially for families who want to relocate before school starts. ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
The New 40-Year Mortgage
Category: Real Estate/Mortgages
... equity in the house to make refinancing a good option. In short, a 40-year loan may not be the best idea, unless you're planning to refinance or move within five to seven years. If you can't afford ...Wednesday, 26 December 2007 -
What do School Test Scores Mean for the Value of Your Home?
Category: Real Estate/Seller
... success. And real estate agents often use test scores as a means of generating interest in properties, too. There's no doubt about it - more and more parents are putting a district with good schools ...Tuesday, 25 December 2007 -
Borrowers get tips on dealing with mortgage brokers
Category: Real Estate/Mortgages
... rate shoppers. Brokers in this situation typically quote the best price possible -- if the information required to price accurately is not used, this price is as good as any other. Some brokers will ...Sunday, 23 December 2007 -
Mortgage Mistakes to Avoid
Category: Real Estate/Mortgages
... save thousands of dollars. When considering a mortgage loan, you'll also want to ask for a GFE or Good Faith Estimate from the lender. The GFE resulted from the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act ...Sunday, 23 December 2007 -
How to Find a Good Investment Property
Category: Real Estate/Buyer
... an investment property to rent or to renovate for resale, a large part of your success will come down to the neighborhood you buy into. Developing or undervalued neighborhoods are both good prospects for ...Saturday, 22 December 2007 -
What's Your Sales Strategy?
Category: Real Estate/Seller
... receiving offers from buyers. What Should a Good Strategy Include? Your sales strategy should incorporate two mini-plans, one for marketing your property, and the other for financial considerations ...Saturday, 22 December 2007 -
Increase Your Home’s Value through Energy Efficient Upgrades
Category: Real Estate/Home Improvement
... its value due to the resulting lower monthly utility costs. Insulation Good insulation is perhaps the most effective way of improving the energy efficiency of your home. However, some insulators ...Saturday, 22 December 2007 -
How to Avoid 8 Costly Moving Mistakes
Category: Real Estate/Buyer
... Keep receipts for moving household goods, utility change fees and lodging and travel expenses. However, if your employer covers those costs, you won't be allowed to deduct them. HouseValues ...Friday, 21 December 2007 -
Putting your ducts in a row
Category: Real Estate/Home Improvement
... or completely covered with insulation, it's a good idea to have the heat on while you're making your inspection. Feel along the ducts for air leaks, and also listen for any sounds of escaping air. Repair: ...Friday, 21 December 2007 -
Secrets to Making a Lowball Offer
Category: Real Estate/Buyer
As the property market cools down, it becomes a good time for property buyers. If you don’t have that much money to spend on a house, but you’re absolutely convinced that it’s the right time for you to ...Friday, 21 December 2007 -
Shopping for the Best Mortgage
Category: Real Estate/Mortgages
... mortgages are a good option if you’re planning to own the property for only a few years, or if you expect your income to increase over the years so you can comfortably afford higher payments if interest ...Friday, 21 December 2007 -
Luxury Home Trends
Category: Real Estate/Investing
Photo Courtesy of LambertGray, Inc. One of the best ways to update your home and ensure a good resale value is to adopt trends from the luxury home market. These cutting edge ...Friday, 21 December 2007 -
Best ways to attract fixer-upper buyers
Category: Real Estate/Seller
... sale. But, is it worthwhile to fix a property up before selling if it is in a dismal state? It's usually worthwhile to fix up a needy property in a good location that has great potential and ...Thursday, 20 December 2007 -
Don't buy a house with these problems
Category: Real Estate/Buyer
... installed in millions of U.S. homes for fireproofing, insulation, roof shingles, and floor tile. In good condition, there is nothing harmful about asbestos. However, when it deteriorates and the particles ...Thursday, 20 December 2007